Tag:history
The 1836 Australia Felix Expedition, led by Major Thomas Mitchell, is integral to Australia’s exploration and colonisation history. This expedition, Mitchell’s third significant journey, was notable for discovering and naming “Australia Felix,” a fertile area in western Victoria.
Background and Objectives
Major Thomas Mitchell, a Scottish Surveyor-General of New South Wales, had established himself as a prominent explorer through two earlier expeditions. By the mid-1830s, European settlers in New South Wales were increasingly interested in expanding their grazing lands and discovering new areas suitable for agriculture. Reports about promising territories to the south heightened the need for further exploration.
To address this, Mitchell’s third expedition was authorised with two primary objectives:
1. Investigate the course of the Darling River, which he had partially explored during his second expedition.
2. Explore the lands south of the Murray River to assess their potential for European settlement.
This journey promised to provide vital insights into Australia’s interior and open new frontiers for settlement.
Preparation and Team
Mitchell’s expedition team was meticulously organised and consisted of soldiers, convicts, and Aboriginal guides. The group also included skilled surveyors and draftsmen to map the terrain and hunters and labourers to ensure the journey was well-supplied. They relied on seventy animals, such as horses, oxen, carts, two boats and a boat cart to transport necessary supplies, including provisions, scientific instruments, and weapons.
One of the most notable expedition members was John Piper, a Wiradjuri guide whose knowledge of the land and its resources proved invaluable. Indigenous guides like Piper were essential for navigating Australia’s challenging landscapes.
The Journey
The expedition began in Sydney in March 1836. Mitchell and his team travelled southwest, crossing the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee Rivers before reaching the Murray River. They encountered diverse terrain throughout their journey, including dense forests, open plains, and numerous river crossings. The expedition faced several challenges, such as harsh weather, problematic river fords, and occasional conflicts with local Aboriginal groups.
Crossing into Victoria
Upon crossing the Murray River into what is now Victoria, Mitchell and his team entered a landscape strikingly different from the arid regions they had previously explored. They encountered rolling plains, abundant watercourses, and lush vegetation—a sharp contrast to the harsher environments of New South Wales and central Australia.
Mitchell was deeply impressed by the fertility and beauty of this region. He described it as “a land flowing with milk and honey,” using a Biblical phrase highlighting its agricultural potential. Convinced of its promise for European settlement, Mitchell named the region “Australia Felix,” which is Latin for “Happy Australia” or “Fortunate Australia.”
Further Exploration
The expedition continued westward, travelling through the Wimmera region until it reached the Grampians mountain range. It then continued past Mt Macedon and crossed the Goulburn River at Tallarook before travelling past Nagambie Lagoon, Wharing, Euroa, and Violet Town before returning to Sydney. Mitchell’s detailed observations and maps highlighted the area’s abundant natural resources, including fertile soils, lush grasslands, and ample water supplies. These features made the region ideal for grazing and farming, perfectly aligning with the ambitions of European settlers.
The team’s journey also provided valuable insights into the local flora and fauna. Mitchell documented numerous species of plants and animals, many of which were unfamiliar to European naturalists at the time.
Encounters with Indigenous Peoples
Throughout the expedition, Mitchell and his team encountered various Aboriginal groups who had lived in these lands for tens of thousands of years. These interactions ranged from friendly exchanges to moments of tension and conflict.
Mitchell’s journal reflects a complex and often contradictory perspective on Indigenous Australians. While he occasionally admired their knowledge of the land and resourcefulness, his expedition inevitably disrupted local communities. In some instances, misunderstandings or perceived threats led to violent confrontations, further exacerbating tensions between Europeans and Indigenous peoples.
One of the most controversial incidents took place near the Murray River, where Mitchell’s party clashed with local Barkindjii Aboriginal groups. This violence resulted in seven Barkindji being killed and four wounded. While Mitchell’s writings framed the event as a defensive action, modern interpretations view it as part of a broader resistance pattern against colonisation.
…….It was difficult to come at such enemies hovering in our rear with lynx-eyed vigilance of savages. I succeeded however… Attacked simultaneously by both parties the whole betook themselves to the river, my men pursuing them and shooting as many as they could, numbers were shot swimming across the Murray, and some ever after they had reached the opposite shore as they descended the bank
Major Mitchell’s report
Mitchell named the site of the attack Mount Dispersion. He faced an inquiry in Sydney afterwards but received only a minor reprimand for his actions. On May 27, 2020, the 184th anniversary of the killings, the New South Wales government officially designated Mount Dispersion as an Aboriginal place, granting it legal recognition and protection as a significant site.
Return and Reports
In November 1836, Mitchell and his team returned to Sydney after completing a nearly eight-month journey. His detailed reports and maps vividly illustrated Australia Felix, highlighting its agricultural potential and natural beauty. Mitchell’s accounts were widely published and quickly captured the imagination of settlers eager to expand into new territories.
The discovery of Australia Felix marked a turning point in the colonisation of southeastern Australia. Within a few years, settlers began to move into the region, establishing sheep stations and farms. The area’s rich pastures proved to be ideal for grazing, contributing to the rapid growth of Australia’s wool industry.
Legacy of the Australia Felix Expedition
The Australia Felix expedition is significant in Australian exploration and settlement history. Major Thomas Mitchell is well-known for his role in mapping and documenting the region, but his legacy invites critical reflection.
From a colonial viewpoint, the expedition symbolises success in discovery and progress. Mitchell’s work facilitated the expansion of European settlement and contributed to Australia’s economic growth and development. The region’s fertile lands remain vital to Victoria’s agricultural industry today.
However, the expedition’s impact on Indigenous peoples reveals a darker aspect of colonisation. The displacement, violence, and cultural loss experienced by Aboriginal communities highlight the human cost of European expansion into Australia’s interior.
Conclusion
The Australia Felix expedition is a pivotal moment in Australian history, embodying both the aspirations and consequences of European colonisation. Major Thomas Mitchell’s journey revealed the potential of southeastern Australia’s fertile lands, opening new frontiers for settlement and economic development. Yet, it also marked the beginning of profound and often devastating changes for the region’s Indigenous inhabitants.
Today, the story of Australia Felix reminds us of the complexities of exploration and colonisation. It invites reflection on the achievements and challenges of Australia’s past, fostering a deeper understanding of the nation’s diverse history and its enduring legacies.
Footnote
In 2023, Birdlife Australia renamed the Major Mitchell Cockatoo to ‘Pink Cockatoo’. The name change was made to:
- Remove the association with Thomas Mitchell, who led a massacre of Aboriginal people in 1836
- Make species names more culturally inclusive
- Avoid associating culturally important organisms with violence and murder
further reading
Lanyon Homestead is a beautiful, historic rural estate located on the outskirts of Canberra, Australia. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives and times of the country’s early settlers. Situated at the foot of the beautiful Brindabella Ranges, about 30 kilometres south of Canberra‘s city centre, the estate features rolling plains and woodlands that create a picturesque backdrop for the homestead, which dates back to the 1830s.
Historical Background
The history and growth of Lanyon Homestead are closely intertwined with the early European settlement in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). In 1835, James Wright and his partner, John Lanyon, took out a pastoral lease of a large tract of land along the Murrumbidgee River, which was a vital water source in the otherwise arid Australian landscape.
Initially, the property was used for sheep grazing and cattle farming, taking advantage of the fertile plains and the river. By 1841, 59 workers lived on the estate, around half of them convicts. Eventually, John Lanyon returned to England, and James Wright took over the running of the estate. Wright, however, faced numerous challenges, including droughts and financial difficulties. This ultimately led him to sell Lanyon Homestead in the 1840s.
The estate then changed hands several times before it was acquired by the Cunningham family in 1849. The Cunninghams, a prominent pastoralist family, expanded the estate’s operations. They also built additional buildings and developed the homestead into a thriving rural enterprise.
In 1926, the estate was sold to the Osborne family. They, in turn, sold it to the Field family in 1930. The Fields, however, didn’t live at the estate but used it as a holiday home. While the Fields improved the old dairy and machinery, they respected the history of the house and buildings.
Architecture and Layout
Lanyon Homestead’s architecture blends Georgian and Victorian styles, reflecting the preferences of affluent rural homesteads in 19th-century Australia. The main homestead building, constructed in the 1850s, is a single-story house with a low-pitched roof and wide verandas. It also has thick walls designed to keep the interior cool during hot summers. It is built from locally sourced stone and features timber-framed windows, offering views of the surrounding gardens and the river.
One of Lanyon’s standout features is its meticulously maintained gardens, which include a variety of native and introduced plant species. The gardens were an essential part of the estate’s self-sufficiency, providing fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers for the household.
The estate also includes various outbuildings, such as the woolshed, stables, blacksmith’s shop, and workers’ quarters. These provide a window to the past and illustrate the labour-intensive nature of pastoral life during the 19th century.
Life at Lanyon Homestead
Life at Lanyon Homestead during the 19th and early 20th centuries was centred around agriculture and livestock, mainly sheep farming. The estate produced wool, meat, and other agricultural products essential to the local economy. The river provided irrigation, which was critical for livestock and crop cultivation, allowing the estate to thrive even in challenging conditions.
The homestead was a family residence, but it also functioned as the centre of a small rural community. The Cunninghams employed many workers, including shepherds, stockmen, blacksmiths, and domestic staff, who lived on or near the property. The workers’ quarters, some of which have been preserved, highlight the contrast between the lives of the estate owners and those of the workers. While the Cunninghams enjoyed a degree of comfort and refinement inside the homestead, the workers faced a more rugged and physically demanding lifestyle.
The social life at Lanyon Homestead reflected its time. The family hosted gatherings, picnics, and social events common in rural communities. The homestead would have also been a place where neighbours gathered to exchange news and celebrate important events.
Lanyon Homestead Today
In the early to mid-1970s, the McMahon and Whitlam Governments withdrew the rural leases for Lanyon, Cuppacumbalong Homestead and Gold Creek Homestead. The Federal Government then compulsorily acquired Lanyon for $3.7m in 1974.
Today, Lanyon Homestead is managed by the ACT Government and is open to the public as a museum and cultural site. It is part of the ACT Historic Places network, which aims to preserve the region’s heritage and cultural history. The homesteads guided tours, exhibitions, and educational programs provide information about the estate’s history and the stories of those who lived there.
Visitors to Lanyon Homestead can take a tour through the original rooms. These have been furnished with period-appropriate furniture and artefacts to recreate the atmosphere of a 19th-century rural home. The preserved interiors provide a glimpse into the Cunningham family’s daily lives and domestic routines. Original furnishings, kitchenware, and personal items are on display. The tours also highlight the challenges and hardships the estate’s residents faced. Isolation, disease bushfires and floods were ever-present threats.
Cultural Significance
Lanyon Homestead is a well-preserved example of a 19th-century rural estate and an important site for understanding the broader history of European settlement in the Canberra region. It provides insights into the pastoral economy that dominated Australia’s rural development and the complex interaction between settlers and the Indigenous Ngunnawal people, who have lived there for thousands of years.
In recent years, efforts have been made to recognise and incorporate the region’s Indigenous history into the homestead’s narrative. This includes acknowledging the land’s traditional custodians and highlighting the Murrumbidgee River’s cultural and spiritual significance to the Ngunnawal people. By doing so, the homestead serves as a place of reflection and education, encouraging visitors to consider both the achievements and the darker aspects of Australia’s colonial past.
Nestled amidst the bustling inner suburbs of Melbourne, Ripponlea Estate offers a captivating glimpse into Victoria’s grand colonial past. Step back in time and explore the meticulously preserved Ripponlea Mansion, a magnificent example of Italianate architecture that whispers tales of affluence, societal change, and the enduring legacy of the wealthy Clarke family. As you wander through the ornately decorated rooms, marvel at the opulent furnishings, and lose yourself in the meticulously landscaped gardens, you are transported to a bygone era of elegance and grandeur.
Ripponlea Estate is a historic site in the heart of Melbourne, well known for its cultural heritage and stunning architecture. It features a grand mansion, lush gardens, and a rich history, making it an iconic landmark. The estate dates back to the 19th century when it was established by Sir Frederick Sargood, a well-known businessman and philanthropist from Melbourne.
The Mansion
In 1868, Sir Sargood purchased the land. Architect Joseph Reed was commissioned to design a luxurious fifteen-room mansion that would become the focal point of the estate. The Victorian Italianate mansion, similar in style to Werribee Mansion, was a stunningly beautiful architectural masterpiece. It featured intricate details, a grand staircase, luxurious interiors, an underground watering system, and even its own electricity supply. It was rare for that period to have indoor bathrooms, but Ripponlea had them, adding to its reputation as a symbol of luxury and sophistication.
During the 1880s, the mansion underwent significant renovations. The dining room was enlarged to the size it is today. In addition, a tower was constructed, and a second floor was added to the back wing of the mansion. The kitchens were also remodelled, and a larger fernery was planted. A veranda was fitted on the west front, and the gardens were redesigned. Furthermore, the drainage system was extended to improve the overall functionality of the mansion.
In 1897, the mansion underwent further renovations. These included the addition of the current front entrance, a gentleman’s washroom, and an office. The study was extended to become the drawing room, while the former drawing room was transformed into an informal sitting room. The staircase was rebuilt, and the mansion was expanded from six to eleven bedrooms, some intended for staff. Additionally, a large new bathroom was added upstairs.
The Sargood Family
Upon completing Ripponlea, Sir Sargood, his first wife Marian, and their nine surviving children moved into the mansion. They were accompanied by an entourage of staff, which included seven maids, a butler, seven gardeners, a coachman, and a groom. In 1878, Marian Sargood passed away while giving birth to her twelfth child (a stillborn boy) on her fortieth birthday. Following her death, Sargood took his children and three staff members back to England. However, in 1882, he returned to the mansion with a new wife and another child, a daughter born the day before the ship docked. After his return, he continued with his career as a member of parliament and was later appointed as the Minister of Defence.
In 1901, Sargood was elected to the first Australian Senate. Unfortunately, during a trip to New Zealand in 1903, he fell ill suddenly and passed away. After his death, Lady Sargood sold the property for 20,000 pounds. She then left for England with her daughter, never to return.
New Owners
In 1903, a syndicate led by Thomas Bent acquired Ripponlea from Lady Sargood. Bent, who later became the Premier of Victoria in 1904, used the property for hosting charity events and entertaining guests. However, he also started selling parts of the land. Bent was forced to resign in 1908 due to suspicion of corruption. He passed away the following year during an investigation into his alleged connection to land scandals. His death prevented Ripponlea from being further divided.
In 1903, Benjamin Nathan, a successful businessman, bought the estate. Nathan had made his fortune in the furniture business as the Maples Furniture and Maples Music owner. He moved into the property with his wife and two daughters and introduced more native plants to the garden. He also added a conservatory and 14 glass houses to grow orchids and employed 14-17 gardeners to maintain the garden. After Nathan died in 1935, his daughter Louise inherited the property.
Louise, her husband, lawyer Timothy Jones, and their four children moved into the property and started renovating it. They added a new kitchen and remodelled the dining room. The original ballroom was removed and replaced with a swimming pool, while the billiard room and museum were converted into the new ballroom. The house was cleared of clutter and redecorated in an elegant neo-baroque style featuring mirrors and soft greens.
Saving Ripponlea
In the early 1950s, Louise sold some of her land to ABC, who wanted to build a television studio. However, in 1963, ABC wanted to expand the studio. Subsequently, the federal government issued a compulsory acquisition order for an additional four acres of Louise’s land. She fought the order in the high court but unfortunately lost. A demonstration against the acquisition attracted 10,000 people. Louise knew her father wanted the gardens protected, so she arranged for the property to be transferred to the National Trust upon her death.
In 1972, Louise passed away, and the National Trust inherited Ripponlea. As a result, the acquisition order was withdrawn. Ripponlea was opened to the public for the first time in 1974. Within the first three months, it was visited by one hundred thousand people. Recognising its historical and cultural importance, the National Trust of Australia officially classified Ripponlea as a heritage-listed property in 1979. This designation ensured that the estate would be preserved and maintained for the benefit of future generations.
Today
Ripponlea Estate is a public attraction that allows visitors to travel back in time as they explore the mansion, gardens, and surrounding grounds. Guided tours are available, providing valuable insights into the lives of the estate’s former residents and the historical events that took place there. In addition to being a popular tourist destination, the estate is also a venue for events, weddings, and cultural programs. It is also frequently used as a film location, making it a vibrant part of contemporary Melbourne.
Visiting
192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick 3185 VIC
Entry Fees: General Admission includes garden entry plus a guided tour of the mansion (subject to availability).
Adult: $15
Concession: $12
Child (3-15 years): $9
Family (2 adults + 2 children): $40.
National Trust Members FREE.
Residents of the City of Glen Eira and Port Phillip have free access to the gardens at Rippon Lea Estate.
To obtain an entry card, residents must show acceptable forms of ID with proof of residency and complete an application form available in the Gatehouse on entry to the property.
Nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, Chiltern is a quaint town located in the northeastern region of Victoria, Australia. With a population of around 1,000 residents, this charming town was established in 1857 during the Victorian gold rush. Despite the end of this era in the late 1860s, Chiltern remained a prosperous community with a thriving economy based on agriculture, timber, and small enterprises.
Chiltern was first known as Black Dog Creek, supposedly named after a black dingo that was hunted in the vicinity during the 1830s. It was officially gazetted as a town in 1851, surveyed in 1853, and later named Chiltern after the Chiltern Hills in England.
Famous Sons
- John McEwen (1900-1980), 18th Prime Minister of Australia
- Barrie Cassidy (born 1957), former political journalist
- Nigel Lappin (born 1977), a former Australian rules footballer
- Matthew Lappin (born 1979), a former Australian rules footballer
National Trust properties
Lake View House
The charming red brick house, constructed in 1870, has been recently restored and decorated in the fashion of its era. Significantly, it replicates the ambience of a lakeside country villa in a thriving mining town. Lake View House was also the home of Ethel Florence Richardson (a renowned Australian author who wrote under the pen name Henry Handel Richardson) in 1876. The house has a special significance in Australian literary history due to its association with The Getting of Wisdom.
Richardson cherished the memories of her early years spent in Chiltern, which she referred to as ‘Barambogie’ in her novel, The Fortunes of Richard Mahony. Today, Lake View House proudly displays a collection of Richardson’s personal items as a tribute to her legacy.
- 18-22 Victoria St, Chiltern
- Open 11 am – 2 pm Saturdays and every 3rd Sunday 1 pm – 4 pm.
Dow’s Pharmacy
A pharmacy for over a century, this fascinating commercial premises was built in 1859. One of the early pharmacists was David McEwen, the father of the Australian prime minister, John McEwen. John McEwan became caretaker Prime Minister of Australia following the drowning of Harold Holt. Hilda retired in 1968, closing the doors behind her. Significantly, everything inside remained intact.
Some stock and equipment even predated Hilda’s tenure and are from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Stepping through the doors of the pharmacy is like stepping back in time. With everything still there, it’s like Hilda has just stepped out for a moment.
- Adult: $5, Concession: $4, Child: $3, Family: $12
- National Trust Members: FREE
- 42 Conness Street, Chiltern
- Open Tuesdays from 11 am to 2 pm, Wednesdays from 9 am to 3 pm & Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Federal Standard
The Federal Standard Printing Works is one of the few substantially intact provincial newspaper printers from the gold mining era. Built in 1860, it was founded by Felix Ashworth, George Boyer, and George H. Mott in 1869. Their first publication was The Federal Standard, which ran for 110 years. The printing works also produced newspapers like The Murray Gazette, The Border Post, and The Ovens Constitution.
The printing works are still equipped with printing machinery from the 1870s to the 1930s. The machinery is still in working order and is maintained by volunteers.
- 24 Main St, Chiltern VIC 3683
- by appointment
- (03) 9656 9800
Other notable properties
Star Hotel and Theatre and Historic Grapevine: The Star Theatre is a hall connected to the Star Hotel, located at Main Street and Conness Street. Its construction dates back to 1866. Interestingly, the Star Hotel’s grounds boast the world’s largest Grapevine, which the Guinness World of Records has officially recognised.
From 1902 until 1964, the Star Theatre served as the town’s cinema. A projection box was erected outside near the stage, and the stage was transformed into raised seating. Though the projection booth has been demolished, the projection port holes can still be seen on the rear wall of the building. The theatre later closed and was repurposed as an antique store.
The Star Theatre, which was listed by the National Trust in November 1972, has been restored for films and live shows since 1996. It re-opened on May 18th of that year with a screening of “In the Good Old Summertime” starring Judy Garland. The theatre is fully equipped for 16mm presentations and can be hired for special screenings.
There is a grapevine planted in 1867 located in the courtyard. It has a trunk measuring 1.84 metres and a 12-metre-long branch, making it reputedly the biggest grapevine worldwide.
- Cnr Main St and Conness St
- 03 5726 1395
Chiltern Athenaeum: The brick building was built in 1866 to replace a previous timber structure. It previously served as the Council Chamber, Town Hall, and Library/Reading Room. Despite the Library relocating in 1970, a fascinating collection of Goldfield’s literature remained in the building. Today, the Chiltern Athenaeum Museum continues to operate, staffed by volunteers.
Kelly gang
Chiltern is significant in the Kelly saga, as Senior Constable James Lynch from Chiltern signed a warrant for the arrest of Dan Kelly and his cousin Jack Lloyd on suspicion of horse theft on April 5th, 1878. Unfortunately, this warrant sparked a series of events that ultimately led to the police murders at Stringbark Creek, the Kelly Gang manhunt, the siege at Glenrowan, and eventually, Ned Kelly’s execution by hanging.
Mooroopna, situated in the Goulburn Valley region of Victoria, Australia, boasts a fascinating history. Before European settlement, the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang peoples had occupied the land for several millennia. James Cowper was the first European squatter to establish a residence in the area in 1841. In the 1870s, Mooroopna had already flourished into a thriving agricultural hub. Eventually, in 1865, it was officially surveyed and recognized as a town.
Early History
By 1888 Mooroopna had eight hotels, a flour mill, two banks, four insurance agencies, a State school, a hospital, four churches, and a mechanics institute.
War Years
During World War II, Mooroopna played a vital role in the war effort. The town was home to a training facility for the Australian Army, known as the Mooroopna Recruit Reception and Training Depot. The depot was established in 1940 and provided basic training for new recruits before they were sent to other army camps for further training.
Mooroopna War Memorial
The Mooroopna War Memorial stands at the intersection of McLennan Street and Vaughan Street, situated in the heart of Mooroopna. This monument is a tribute to the brave men and women from the Mooroopna district who selflessly served in the armed forces during World War I, World War II, and other conflicts. Additionally, it bears the names of the 145 enlisted men and 21 serving nurses who received their training at Mooroopna Hospital.
Amidst a landscaped park, pathways lead to a war memorial featuring a stone obelisk within a rotunda. The names of the brave soldiers who lost their lives are inscribed on the sides of the obelisk. Surrounding the rotunda is a circular garden bed with a tall flagpole at the centre. Notably, the memorial was unveiled on ANZAC Day, April 25th, 1928, by Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, and a large crowd of locals, many of whom had lost family members in the war, were in attendance to pay their respects. Trees and benches can also be found in the area, offering a peaceful retreat for those who wish to reflect and remember.
In 2020 the Greater Shepparton City Council allocated $320,000 to upgrade the war memorial. Funding also came from the Mooroopna Rotary Club, the Victorian and Federal governments, and private donors. Significantly the upgrade included new flagpoles and memorial panels. New concrete paths, lighting, a rose garden and irrigation were also added.
Mooroopna Hospital
The Mooroopna Hospital was built in 1876. At first, it began as a small timber hut on the Goulburn River. The hospital treated injuries and accidents as the nearest doctor was forty-two kms away in Rushworth. From 1910 to the 1930s, the hospital underwent a significant rebuild and was the main hospital in the region until the Shepparton Base Hospital opened. This eventually saw the closure of the Mooroopna Hospital in 1974.
Unfortunately, on January 9th 2011, the abandoned hospital was gutted by fire. It had been slated to be converted into a nursing home then. After the fire, the developer applied to demolish the laundry and main entrance. He submitted an engineering assessment that repairing the damage was “probably not feasible”.
The Heritage advisor opposed demolishing the hospital due to its “historical, social, aesthetic and architectural significance”. Independent engineers also determined that 70% of the building was undamaged and heritage elements could be included in any development. Since then, it has sat empty and at the mercy of vandals and graffiti taggers.
Mooroopna Museum
The museum and gallery are located at the back of the old Mooroopna Hospital in a former nursing home. It boasts the biggest historical medical collection in regional Victoria, comprising fifteen rooms and hallways filled with remarkable artefacts. The archaic operating theatre and patient rooms are the museum’s prime attractions. Visitors will also find nurses’ uniforms, medical apparatus, and a dentist’s chair serving as a reminder of how much medicine has progressed since its early days.
Cows and Statues
The main street has a spacious median strip dotted with part of the unique ‘Moooving Art’ herd. Additionally, there is a statue of Jack Findlay, a well-respected local figure. Born in Mooroopna in 1935, Jack Findlay was a skilled Australian Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Findlay is one of only four riders who have achieved a twenty-year Grand Prix racing career. He is recognized for his exceptionally long racing career in Grand Prix history, and his achievements are celebrated through the monument dedicated to him.
While WWII and the battlegrounds of Europe seemed a world away from Australian shores, for some regional Victorians, it was right on their doorstep. The Graytown POW camp was one of eight POW camps established in the Tatura district, holding between 4,000 to 8,000 prisoners of war. Camps 1 and 2 were located at Tatura, camps 3 and 4 at Rushworth, Dhurringile Mansion, camp 13 at Murchison, camp 5 at Myrtleford and camp 6 at Graytown. Camps 1 and 2 were for single males, mostly German and Italian. Camp 3 was for mostly German family groups
Camp 6 near Graytown and Camp 5 near Myrtleford housed enemy servicemen who had been captured from around the world and then transported to Australia. The remaining camps near Tatura held migrants deemed a security risk to Australia by virtue of their nationality.
taken December 1stst, 1943
Graytown
The town was surveyed in 1869 and named ‘Moormbool’ before being renamed Graytown after Moses William Gray, a parliamentarian for the local Rodney electorate between 1860-1864. Graytown is a gold mining ghost town between Heathcote and Nagambie. At its peak in 1868, it had an estimated population of 20,000 Graytown and was known as Spring Creek when gold was discovered in September 1868. Over the next few months, over 30,000 people arrived, drawn by the lure of striking it rich.
The businesses and public houses followed. Tents and rough shanties made way for wooden buildings and by June 1869, there were two hundred and sixteen beer houses! The town also sported thirty-six butchers, fourteen bakeries, seventeen general stores, five banks, four chemists, six doctors, two newspapers, five soft drink manufacturers, ten drapers, eight restaurants, six tobacconists, ten boot makers, six timber yards, eighteen blacksmiths, two watchmakers, three ironmongers, two tin smiths and seventy-two unknown stores.
A Cobb & Co Station and nineteen Police Officers also serviced the town. Life was hard, and illegal mining was a problem, along with larrikinism. Families often had their children sleep on the floor to avoid stray revolver shots. However, the alluvial gold was soon exhausted; by 1870, the population had dropped to around 150. In 1870 a flood inundated the mines and destroyed several buildings. By the 1960s, most of the local population had moved on and the buildings relocated to other towns.
The Kormoran
The German merchant raider Kormoran held 393 officers and men. Of these, 315 officers and men and three of the four Chinese (taken captive when the Kormoran sank the Eurylochus 10 months earlier) were saved when the Kormoran was sunk. Unfortunately, approximately 20 of the crew were killed during the battle, with the remainder drowning when their overloaded raft capsized. The Aquitania picked some up on her way to Sydney; the Trocas recovered others on her way to Fremantle.
Once on the land, nineteen were hospitalised while the remainder were distributed between barracks. Following the interrogations, they were then transferred to Victoria’s internment camps. The officers came to Victoria on the liner Duntroon on December 13th, while the sailors were transported by train in two groups. Two prisoners deemed too ill to travel stayed behind in Fremantle. One of them, Erich Meyer, died three months later of lung cancer. He became the only crew member to die on Australian soil.
Dhurringile
Arriving in Melbourne, the prisoners were transferred to Murchison POW camp, where they were joined by those whom the Aquitania had rescued. The officers were then transferred to Dhurringile, a 65-room mansion about ten miles from the Murchison camp. The military had leased Dhurringile as accommodation for prisoners of war. One of the most successful POW escapes happened at Dhurringile in 1945 when 17 officers and three batmen tunnelled 14 feet down from a large crockery room and under a perimeter fence. The heritage-listed mansion is now a working dairy farm, minimum security prison, and part of Corrections Victoria.
Camp #6
The Graytown POW camp held captured sailors and was designated Camp 6. Approximately 250 Italian and German POWs were detained at Camp 6 Graytown POW Camp. The German POWs mainly were crew members from the German raider ship “Kormoran”, which had sunk the HMAS Sydney off the Western Australian coast. Additionally, some Finnish seamen were also held at Camp 6 Graytown.
Each compound was enclosed by a double row of wire fencing 2 metres high with coiled barbed wire in between. Guard towers stood at each corner, with the perimeter lit at night. Each of the timber-framed barracks held twenty men. Kitchens, mess huts, shower blocks, laundries and latrines were all located within each compound.
The surrounding forest had been cut for firewood since Graytowns settlement, and POWs were put to work cutting firewood in the forest. The area now forms Graytown State Forest, and timber cutting has been illegal since 2002.
All the players are German POWs.
Repatriation
By 1943 the Kormoran men had been transferred from Murchison to Camp 6 (a timber felling camp) at Graytown. Others were transferred to Tatura. Finally, the prisoners returned to Europe on the Orontes in 1947.
Werribee Park Mansion is one of Victoria’s largest and most opulent properties. The 60-room mansion, flowing across several wings, was built between 1874 and 1877 in the Renaissance Revival style by the pioneering pastoralists Thomas Chirnside (1815-1887) and his brother Andrew Chirnside (1818-1890), who emigrated to Australia from Scotland and founded the “Chirnside Pastoral Empire“.
The lush interior contains original furniture, an entry hall with a Minton encaustic tiled floor, niches, Corinthian pilasters, and free-standing columns leading to a grand staircase. Off the main entrance are the main reception rooms, a library and dining room.
Thomas Chirnside
Thomas Chirnside was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, the elder son of Robert Chirnside and Mary Fairs. In January 1839, at age twenty-three, Thomas Chirnside arrived in Adelaide from Liverpool on the ship Bardaster. He then made his way to Sydney in March. Returning to Melbourne, after drought in NSW affected his fortunes, the Chirnside brothers bought the land at Werribee.
As a member of the Victorian Acclimatisation Society, Thomas began importing animals from the old country, such as red deer, foxes, hares, pheasants, and partridges. It wasn’t long before “fine old English gentlemen” were hunting the new arrivals around the vast expanse of Werribee Park.
Western District Families
Thomas returned to Scotland for a holiday in 1845, where he fell in love with his first cousin Mary Begbie. He asked her parents for her hand in marriage, but she refused to move to Australia. His brother Andrew then travelled back to Scotland for a visit with a request from his brother. Bring back Mary any way he could. So in 1852, Andrew returned with Mary. However, he brought her back as his wife. Not quite the outcome Thomas wanted. Regardless, the brothers remained close, though Thomas remained a bachelor for the rest of his life.
The grand staircase
Thomas, and his brother Andrew, built the mansion at their Werribee park property over three years. In today’s money, the mansion cost nine million dollars. Notably, the impressive grand staircase is almost identical to the Barwon Park staircase. In fact, it’s a case of the Chirnsides emulating the Austins, as Barwon Park was completed six years before the Werribee mansion.
In 1877, when complete, Andrew, Mary and their three children moved in. Thomas continued to live nearby at the Point Cook homestead; however, he later moved in with Andrew and Mary. The mansion’s extensive workforce worked across ten acres of farmland and the house staff. The Chirnsides also entertained the shire ratepayers and their families. It was not unusual for the Chirnsides to hold picnics with games, bands and dancing for a thousand people, with Thomas appearing on his horse to resounding cheers. Thomas was a strict Sabbatarian and did not allow any work to take place on Sundays.
In 1887, in ill health, suffering depression, and believing himself bankrupt, Thomas shot himself in the laundry with his shotgun. Andrew then inherited the property and Thomas’s estate.
Sadly, Andrew passed away from heart disease just three years later, leaving his personal estate to Mary and his real estate holdings to his two youngest sons. However, as per his will, Mary was permitted to continue at Werribee park, along with a generous allowance until her death. She died, aged eighty-one, in 1908 at a private hospital in Colac due to burns after her hair had caught alight from a bedside candle.
Werribee, after the Chirnside’s
Unfortunately, George couldn’t mirror the success of his father and uncle, and with dwindling fortunes, he sold the mansion to Phillip Lock, a wealthy grazier from Warnambool, in 1922. Lock, in turn, sold it to the Catholic church in 1923. Under the church’s ownership, it became a seminary, Corpus Christi College. Several wings were added by the monks residing there. These wings have been converted to the 5-star Lancemore Hotel.
Finally, in 1973 the Victorian government bought the property from the Catholic church and restored the mansion and grounds to their former glory, renaming it Werribee Park Mansion. Three years later, the mansion was featured in the film The Devil’s Playground. In 1982, it was one of the sets used in the musical comedy, The Pirate Movie. The mansion was then depicted as an English manor in the children’s comedy series, The Genie From Down Under in 1996 and episodes of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries. Werribee Park Mansion was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in April 1987.
Visiting Werribee Mansion
Open Daily entry is $11.10 for Adults, and children 4-15 years are $8.00. Adult concession is $8.00, and a family of 2 adults and two children is $34.80. Audio tours are available for an extra $3.80. Entry to the mansion also gives you free access to the gardens and State Rose Garden.
Jack London was undeniably a man of many talents. Born into a working-class household, he is best known for his novels, Call of the Wild and White Fang. By the time Jack passed away 40 years later, he had lived an extraordinarily full life many times over. Jack London was a seaman, an oyster pirate, a hobo riding the rails across America, a prospector on the Klondike, a journalist and a war correspondent reporting the Russo-Japanese War in 1903. His widely read books made him a famous and wealthy man. Like many others, I read and loved his books and the films they spawned. However, his largely unknown skills as a documentary photographer piqued my interest.
Early Life
Jack London was born John Griffith Chaney, on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California. Jack’s mother, Flora Wellman, was a spiritualist and his biological father was an astrologist who left town when Flora fell pregnant. Flora then married John London, a widowed, disabled civil war veteran, the same year as Jack’s birth. The family’s economic circumstances were always dire and to help support the family, Jack had held several jobs by age ten.
At thirteen, he left school and worked odd jobs, turning most of his pay over to his parents. Then, with the help of a loan of $300 from a family friend, he purchased a fourteen-foot skiff, the Razzle Dazzle. Jack used the skiff to poach oysters, selling them to local restaurants and saloons. The criminals he fell in with nicknamed him “The Prince of the Oyster Pirates”. He, in turn, called them “the booze fighters”. Unfortunately, they also introduced him to heavy drinking. This led to a lifelong addiction to alcohol.
A Vagabond Life
By the time Jack was fifteen, he worked eighteen hours a day in a cannery enduring appalling conditions for ten cents an hour to support his family. At age sixteen, Jack joined the California Fish Patrol. Then, in 1893, on his seventeenth birthday, Jack signed aboard the Sophia Sutherland, a three-masted schooner, as an able-bodied seaman. Onboard, he headed to the Pacific Northwest and Japan for a seal-hunting expedition.
Off the coast of Japan, the ship ran into a typhoon so fierce each man could only tolerate a one hour turn at the wheel. Fortunately, the ship survived the storm and returned to San Francisco six months later. Jack regarded the voyage as a seminal turning point in his life. Finally, he had returned home a man.
The Hobo Life
Back on land, he was broke again after handing over his wages to his mother. In 1894 Jack was travelling as a hobo across America’s rail tracks. In Niagra Falls, he was arrested for vagrancy and sentenced to 30 days gaol. According to Jack, those 30 days were so degrading it made him decide to return to education and resume writing.
After a brief stint at a jute mill, followed by a power plant, he enrolled and completed high school. Jack then attended the University of California, where he embraced socialism. The San Francisco Examiner printed a speech he wrote and profiled him as a “boy socialist”. However, he left university after one semester due to lack of funds. Jack travelled with his sister’s husband to the Alaskan Klondike for the gold rush of 1897.
Courtesy of Alaska State Library, Winter & Pond Collection
The Writer Emerges
“It was in the Klondike,” London said, “that I found myself. There nobody talks. Everybody thinks. There you get your perspective. I got mine.”
Jack London, Smithsonian Institute
While on the Klondike, he became severely malnourished. He lost several of his front teeth to scurvy, and his failing health forced him to return home. While Jack didn’t strike it lucky on the Klondike, he had brought back a wealth of raw material for his books. Returning to California in 1898, he learned his step-father, John London, had died. The death of his stepfather brought about the decision to dedicate himself to professional writing to support his mother. Drawing on his Klondike experiences, he began writing about Alaska’s bleak, frozen landscape.
Courtesy of Eagle Historical Society
I brought nothing back from the Klondike but my scurvy,” London declared. He netted just four dollars and fifty cents’ worth of gold dust.
Jack London, The New Yorker
By 1899 his stories attracted several major magazines. The publication of these stories gave him a secure, middle-class life. In 1900 he married and had two daughters. The Call of the Wild was published in 1903, and at 27, he became a huge celebrity. His rugged good looks, youthful vitality, travels, and political activism made him the darling of political reporters and gossip columnists alike.
Jack London- war correspondent
A skilled photographer, Jack’s subjects included the homeless in Londons East End Slums to the refugees of the Russo-Japanese war. He was a fearless photojournalist and was arrested by the Japanese secret police twice for taking photographs of Japanese forces.
Jack wrote an eyewitness account of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. He returned two weeks later with his camera to document the city in ruins. 1914 he covered the U.S. invasion of Veracruz during the Mexican revolution for the Hearst newspapers.
People Of The Abyss
In 1902 Jack visited London as he wanted to expose, in his words, the “underside of imperialism”. To pass unnoticed among the working poor, he disguised himself as an American sailor who had lost his ship. Jack lived among them, photographing the conditions of their everyday life. His experiences and photographs of living in Londons East End and the Whitechapel district, sometimes sleeping on the streets, at other times in workhouses were documented in his book “The People of the Abyss” (still available on Amazon)
“Of all my books, the one I love most is The People of the Abyss. No other work of mine contains as much of my heart.”
Jack London
A 1909 report of the Poor Law Commission found that one-third of the East End’s 900,000 strong population lived in conditions of extreme poverty. The report also detailed the squalor of conditions in these areas, with an average of 25 houses sharing one lavatory and fresh-water tap between them. One response to a dire lack of sanitation in London’s poorest areas was the provision of communal washhouses for bathing and clothes-washing; an average of 60,000 people each week used the 50 such bathhouses which existed across the city in 1910
Rare Historical Photos
ever the adventurer
Jack London’s marriage collapsed in 1904 when his wife discovered he was having an affair with Charmain Kittredge, who became the second Mrs London. He continued writing short stories and articles and published The Sea Wolf and White Fang. At thirty, he became the highest-paid writer in the country. Jack began designing a 45-foot sailboat he named the Snark after the Lewis Carroll Poem.
In 1907 Jack and Charmain sailed to Hawaii and the South Seas with a small crew. They followed this by driving a four-horse wagon on a 1500-mile trip through Oregon in 1911. The following year in 1912, they sailed from Baltimore around Cape Horn to Seattle as passengers aboard the square-rigged sailing bark Dirigo.
Ill health
Due to the effects of amoebic dysentery he had caught in Mexico and his heavy drinking, Jack had been in ill health for some time. In 1913 Jack underwent an appendectomy, and doctors discovered his seriously diseased kidneys. However, he ignored doctors’ warnings against a high protein diet, insisting on raw fish and near-raw duck meals. In addition, he continued to smoke 60 Russian cigarettes a day and continued to drink heavily.
The Final Years
In the last two years of his life, Jack endured recurring bouts of dysentery, kidney stones, gastric disorders and rheumatism and his doctors prescribed morphine for the pain. Jack and his wife made two extended trips to Hawaii for Jack to rest and recover. However, on November 22, 1916, Jack London died of uremic poisoning from kidney failure and a probable stroke. In 18 years, he had written 50 books, 20 of them novels, and taken thousands of photographs, most of which remained unpublished until 2010.
Although she was often bedridden following repeated strokes, Charmian lived another forty years. She died in 1955, at the age of 83. Her ashes rest beside Jack’s under the rock that marks their grave near Glen Ellen, California, at Jack London State Historic Park.
I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
Jack London
Note: all photojournalist images used in this post were taken by Jack London
My Travel Buddy had heard about a just completed water tower painted by Cam Scale and Andrew Davis. A big bonus it was only about a short trip from home. So enjoying the first dry day after a week of endless rain, we headed up to Tatura and Murchison.
Tatura
The pretty little town of Tatura is an easy 20 mins from Shepparton via the Midland Highway. Tatura has a strong wartime history and a German war cemetery. The graves of 351 German civilians who died during internment in WWI and WWII are located in the cemetery. The seven camps housed German civilians (deemed ‘enemy aliens’) and prisoners of war during WWII, with the camps spread through Tatura, Murchison and Rushworth. We planned to photograph the new water tower – and visit the wartime museum. Unfortunately, we were there around 11 am, and the museum didn’t open until later.
Situated in the main street and easily seen from the Bendigo and Shepparton approaches is the water tower featuring General Sir John Monash. An engineer and soldier, Sir John is credited as one of the architects of the Allied victory in WW1. He designed many structures around the region – including the water tower he now graces, built in 1912. It is the earliest surviving example of a reinforced concrete tower of this design in Victoria.
Tatura Memorial Garden
While in Tatura, we visited the Robert Mactier VC Memorial Garden, home to a statue commemorating Tatura born Private Robert Mactier for his “conspicuous bravery at Mont St Quenton, France” on September 1st 1918. Robert charged a machine gun nest and killed its six crew. He then charged two other machine guns, killing more squads and causing 40 enemies to surrender. He was then killed by fire from a fourth machine gun and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.
Murchison
Thirty-five kilometres south of Shepparton and 145 km north of Melbourne is Murchison. It is smaller than Tatura but full of charm with lovely old homes and buildings, and it sits on the Goulburn River. In 1853 gold was discovered. So a town sprung up in 1854, named after Captain John Murchison, who surveyed it in 1854.
Due to the healthy river trade from paddle steamers, Murchison at one time boasted six hotels, several general stores, two flour mills, a post office, a sawmill, a cordial factory, two blacksmiths. In 1878 the Kelly gang briefly took over the Murchison Police Station as their base.
War Camps
Between 1940 and 1947, the seven camps housed 10,000 to 13,000 people. Four camps were for civilians, and three were prisoners of war.
In the late 1930s, thousands of refugees – either Jewish or those politically opposed to the Nazi regime fled to Britain for sanctuary. At the outbreak of WWII in one of Britains most deplorable acts. The British Government rounded the german and Italian refugees up as possible enemy spies. They then put them on a ship bound for Australian internment camps at Tatura and Murchison. The ship, the HMT Dunera, had a capacity of 1600 souls – however, the British Government crammed 2000 on it.
After a 57-day journey in appalling conditions, during which the ship was hit by a torpedo, the internees’ eventual arrival is regarded as one of the greatest influxes of academic and artistic talent to have entered Australia on a single vessel. Among those on the Dunera were Franz Stampfl, who helped coach the athlete Roger Bannister to the world’s first sub-four minute mile and Anton Walter Freud, grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud
BBC
Moooving Art
In 1999 the Shepparton’s Marketing Committee introduced Merry Moos for a Christmas campaign. This proved to be so successful it was decided to expand the concept into Moooving Art (rather like how the silo art trail took off). The Shepparton council provided the 3D cows and invited emerging artists to paint them. A ‘herd’ of 90 cows dotted in parks, playgrounds and gardens around the district. We are now on a mission to find them all 🙂 We subsequently found two at Tatura and four at Murchison. There are many more in Shepparton – which is where we plan to head next.
The Moooving art exhibition pays homage to the strength of the dairy industry in the Shepparton region. In 2018, Trip Advisor awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Greater Shepparton’s Moooving Art attraction.