Historical Notes Clunes and Mt Beckworth

Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve offers free campgrounds and walking tracks, set in a beautifully rugged landscape just ten minutes from Clunes, Victoria.  

This striking granite outcrop is topped with a huge solitary pine tree known affectionately as the "Lollypop Tree", which is over 100 years old. Visitors to the reserve can hike up to the tree and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside.  

There are three excellent campgrounds within the Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve, all well-structured and free of charge - no bookings required.  

Campgrounds at Mount Beckworth 

• Cork Oaks Campground (Picnic tables, wood fire barbecues, toilets) 

• Manna Gums Campground (Picnic tables, wood fire barbecues) 

• The Dam Campground (Picnic tables, wood fire barbecues, seasonal swimming) 

Other interesting features of the Mount Beckworth Scenic Reserve include a giant spectacular boulder and the remains of a feldspar mine. 

Many natural treasures are protected for future generations in the island of bushland that is Mt Beckworth Scenic Reserve. The Mount's lone lollipop-shaped pine tree is on Victoria's Register of Significant Trees.  

1836 

Around this time Major Mitchell passed through the area and named this granitic outcrop Mt. Beckwith - in honour of Sir Sidney Beckwith, a fellow officer in the 95th Regiment of Foot (Rifles) later known as Rifle Brigade. It became known as Mt. Beckworth after an 1859 Parish survey. 

1918 

A group of students from Glendaruel Primary School plant a stand of five Monterey pine trees on the summit.  

1945 

All but one tree was cleared for the establishment of an aerial survey beacon, leaving the present local landmark known as the 'lollipop' tree - trimmed of its lower branches. 

During World War 2 the lollipop tree was used as a beacon for trainees from the R.A.A.F. No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School (WAGS) based at the Ballarat Airport.  

1962 

Mt Beckworth is protected as a Scenic Reserve. Prior to this it was grazed, quarried and logged - a disaster due to their degrading effects on the Mount's fragile granitic soils.  

The Age (Melbourne, Vic.: 1854 - 1954), Saturday 7 May 1938, page 28 

Maiden Hill and Mt. Beckworth 

A Tramp's Sad Verse. 

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE. 

Sir, — It is with pleasure and interest. I have followed the letters concerning old Victorian School Days, and, seeing none from past pupils of the above schools, I thought I would pen a' few lines about early days at Maiden Hill. This school was situated half-way between Evansford and Springs (Waubra), and was a Methodist' church, which had outlived its original purpose and become a common school. Of the earlier teachers, many would remember Egan and Hubert P. Duffy, splendid teachers, who knew how to use the cane. A stove was placed in the middle of the school, and this had a long chimney pipe with an elbow to go through a hole in the wall. This was turned whichever way the wind blew, so one day the big boys devised a plan to have a joke on Hubert P., and plugged the hole with soft mud. The teacher in vain tried to make a dainty morsel of toast, getting smoked out in the process. Finally, he had to put the fire out. The scholars included Arthur Artel Ted Martin, McKenzie's, Maudsley's Hooper's, Dunn's, Cameron's, Gordons, Youngs. McPhees (of the latter William, Malcolm and Alee became teachers), Sloss's, and a good many more I would like to mention if space permitted. I remember Ted Martin invited the whole school to his birthday party, and nil were let out early to attend the festivity. Many years after he told me he invited us "off his own bat," so what a surprise his parents must have got when we all lined up. Another day my brother, Courtland Young, jumped into the creek and went home to dry himself. Hubert P. said he could have dried him with the cane! A new State school was built about a mile nearer Mount Beckworth, our teacher then being Daniel Cox. A Dublin man and an excellent scholar, he failed to impart his knowledge, either because he was careless or was thinking of other things — perhaps his love affairs. When he went for a walk at lunch time the children would troop into the school, while Bob Dunn, from the master's chair, read aloud Daniel's love letters, Other teachers in the new school were Frank Clark, Joseph Hocking, G. Berriman, &c. Joseph Hocking later became principal of Melbourne High School. Later on, the school had to close, and became a camping resort for tramps, one of whom wrote in charcoal on the wall the following lines: — 

 Don't pull the house to pieces, lads.  Don't act the foolish vandal. 

Some honest tramp will want to camp when you have snuffed out the candle. 

 A wandering fool is again at school. With no thought of top or agate. 

 I was once a scamp, but now a tramp) Because 1 used to wag It.  

There Is no master at the desk, no easel at the door.  

The rabbits frolic underneath While I doss on the floor.  

Those rabbits play beneath the floor, unconscious that a brother Is simmering in the billycan While the trap yearns for another. The school was later transported to another district. — Yours. &c. 

Mrs. W. McCully (nee Minnie Young). Dandenong.