Historical Notes Leonard's Hill (U3A Ballarat Hike 114)

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 LEONARDS HILL STATION-MASTER FAREWELLED. 

Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit, Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle (Vic.: 1914 - 1918), Tuesday 5 December 1916, page 2 

A large gathering assembled at the local hall on Wednesday evening to bid farewell to Mr Dan Holmes, who has been stationmaster here for the past three years and has been transferred to Boolarra. The Railway Department have decided to make Leonard Hill a woman-in-charge station, but the idea does not seem to be too favourable to the residents, as the business transacted here warrants a stationmaster. A euchre party occupied the first part of the evening and the prize takers were Miss A. Lawson for the ladies Mr E. Dwyer for the gents. After the euchre, Cr Wilkie J.P. on behalf of the residents of Leonards Hill and Korweinguboora presented Mr Holmes with a purse of sovereigns. Mr Wilkie in a neat speech regretted Mr Holmes' departure, who during his term here made many friends, by his-genial disposition and his courteous, and civil manner in his official duties. Various other speakers also expressed regret at losing Mr Holmes who will be hard to replace. Mr Holmes in responding said that he had no desire to leave here, but had to obey orders, he sincerely thanked those present for the gift, and hoped to be able to return some day and see the kind friends he was loth to part with. 



About Leonards Hill

Leonards Hill is a rural village 8 km south of Daylesford and 85 km north-west of Melbourne. The hill is 740 metres above sea level and is on a ridge of the Dividing Range: the headwaters of the Moorabool River leave its southern slope and Sailors Creek begins near its northern slope, to become part of the Loddon River system. Leonards Hill was named after a land selector.

The Wombat Forest and the rich volcanic soil brought settlers and timber cutters to the district, and a school was opened in 1867. A railway line through Leonards Hill, from Daylesford to Creswick, was opened in 1880. Within a decade there was also a Methodist church (1875), a mechanics' institute (1884) and a hotel (1871). Leonards Hill was described in the 1903 Australian handbook:

Two kilometres northwards the village of Sailors Falls had gold mining activity. The timber industry continued until the 1930s, and a sawmill operated midway between Leonards Hill and Sailors Falls.

Leonards Hill has farming, timber milling and a public hall. The school closed in 1971.


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