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Steiglitz

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Little more than an hour's drive from Melbourne and set in the Brisbane Ranges National Park , Steiglitz Historic Park is a window back in time to Victoria's Gold Rush of 1850-90s . Situated between Geelong and Ballarat , Steiglitz is almost a ghost town today but from 1860 to 1890s it was a busy goldmining township with hotels, shops, churches and a population of over 1000. At the height of the 1860s gold rush, Steiglitz township had more than 1500 residents, four hotels, a newspaper, a variety of shops and even an undertaker! Now most of the town and its surroundings are included in the Steiglitz Historic Park. Enjoy a pleasant bushwalk, relax with a picnic or pan for gold. Of course, a trip to the park wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Steiglitz Court House, with its display of photographs, maps and relics of gold year. The court house is open on Sunday and public holidays, and at other times by arrangement. Make sure you visit Steiglitz and wander the ghost-tow...
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Moorabool Reservoir

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Steve Clark from Bolwarrah posted a historical photo on social media from the time of the project (1914-1915), comparing it to contemporary photos of the Reservoir and surrounding area today. According to a piece from The Argus on October 30, 1914, construction of the Moorabool Reservoir required, at the time, "... 150 men and 100 horses employed, and these numbers will not be decreased for the next six months". The project involved the removal of homes and deviation of roads along 380 acres of land, and increased the district's water storage capacity by 150 per cent with a total of 1.365 billion gallons (around 52 billion litres) "Forty tons of steel were obtained from Belgium just prior to the war, to be used in the concrete embankment", and "the contract price for constructing the reservoir was £33,000", the article concludes. Bolwarrah is a rural locality 85 km north- west of Melbourne and 15 km from Ballan. The name is thought to be derived from a...
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W. G. Spence

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  William Guthrie Spence was a prominent trade unionist and politician in Australia, known for his significant contributions to the labor movement and his efforts in organizing various unions.     Early Life and Education : William Guthrie Spence was born on 7 August 1846 in Eday , Orkney, Scotland, and moved to Victoria, Australia, with his family in 1852. He had no formal schooling but was taught by a Trinity College graduate and read widely.1   Early Career : Spence worked as a shepherd, butcher-boy, and miner, eventually becoming a 'shift boss' and manager in mining. He was deeply influenced by his experiences in the goldfields.1   Trade Union Leadership : In 1874, Spence initiated a trade union in the Clunes district, leading to the formation of the Amalgamated Miners' Association of Victoria. He became general secretary in 1882 and aimed to unite all miners in Australia and New Zealand.2   Amalgamated Shearers' Union : Spence was appointed foundatio...
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FISHERMANS BEND HISTORY

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Fishermans Bend (formerly Fishermen's Bend)  is a precinct within the City of Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne. It is located on the south of the Yarra River in the suburb of Port Melbourne and opposite Coode Island, close to the Melbourne central business district. Fishermans Bend originally included the area now known as Garden City, which was renamed in 1929. Since 2012 the area has been designated as a major urban renewal area, with plans for 80,000 residents by 2050. The future framework for Fishermans Bend includes one major employment precinct and four primarily residential suburbs. Early Settlement Fishermen began settling 'Humbug Reach' and 'Fishermen's Bend' along the lower Yarra River in the 1850s. Thirty families lived on the 'Bend', frequently finding additional work in the docks and cargo ships and loading ballast for ships returning to Europe. Habitation was in rough shacks along the Bend, made from corrugated iron, flattened kerosen...
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Lerderderg River

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The Lerderderg River (known locally as The Lerdy) is a perennial river of the Port Phillip catchment, located in the Western District region of the Australian state of Victoria.   Location and features The Lerderderg River rises below the Blackwood Ranges, part of the Great Dividing Range, in the Lerderderg State Forest, near the locality of Blackwood. The river flows generally south by east in a highly meandering course, through the Lerderderg Gorge within the Wombat State Forest where it is joined by two minor tributaries, The Old River and Goodman Creek, before reaching its confluence with the Werribee River within the Melton Reservoir, southeast of Bacchus Marsh. The river descends approximately 383 metres (1,257 ft) over its 40 kilometres (25 mi) course. Diversion Tunnel Photo Andrew Parker The Lerderderg River diversion tunnel, also known as "The Tunnel," is a significant historical site located on the Lerderderg River, approximately 25 km northwest of Bacchus M...
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The History of Ballarat's Victoria Park

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  Victoria Park :  This expansive park, covering 130 hectares, is situated at the intersection of Sturt and Gillies Streets in Ballarat, Australia. Its layout has remained largely unchanged since its initial design and planting between 1890 and 1910. Originally, the land was considered a necessary public reserve, and in 1861, the Ballarat Council sought to specifically reserve it as a park. During that time, it was locally known as   “Royal Park.” Crown Grant:  In 1888, the Crown Grant officially reserved the land as   Victoria (Royal) Park , covering 325 acres. It was vested in the   Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of the City of Ballaarat   for the purpose of a public park and related facilities. Mining Interests  Despite its primary purpose as a public recreation facility, mining interests were also present within Victoria Park. Various companies explored gold within its boundaries, including the United Hand-in-Hand and Band of Hope Company. I...
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