Longerenong in print

The book "Longerenong Homestead : 150 years and beyond : 1862-2012" was launched in Murtoa with an exhibition of art and photography by Susan Devlin.

The foundation stone

In 1844, the land was first settled by Dugald McPherson and William Taylor, and in 1848 subdivided into Ashens (McPherson) and Longerenong (Taylor), then in 1856 it was leased to the Wilson brothers (Alexander, Charles, John & Samuel) who had been in occupation. Various Wilsons held the property until 1874 when the licence was transferred to Austin & Bullivant. The pastoral licence was cancelled in 1884. Other families with long associations with Longerenong were the Delahuntys who bought the estate in 1924, it was then purchased by the Gregorys in 1920 who held it until 2002. Longerenong is currently owned by Donna Bourke and Ian Pausacker.

The stained glass above the staircase

It was Samuel Wilson who had the grand homestead built in 1862. There is Australian cedar throughout, a slate roof, marble floor tiles and fireplaces. The grand divided staircase of carved cedar is surmounted by a  stained glass skylight which has a coat of arms with the kangaroo and emu back-to-back.

The book covers both the Longernong homestead and pastoral run, as well as the township of Longerenong. It contains a variety of information about the homestead from the floor plan and diary excerpts, to flood & drought, and entries from Davey's Longerenong Store book. It is interesting to see photographs of the history of changes to homestead through the years (the earliest is from 1863).

Horsham Heritage

Alleyway with the ubiquitous supermarket trolley

Twenty-one walkers and three guides tramped up and down the lanes of Horsham on the weekend. Locals and visitors, from as far away as Gippsland, heard stories of Horsham's history - the buildings those still standing and those demolished, and the historic record of the drains sewers and gutters.
They ventured up paved alleyways no-one realised existed - the Hidden Horsham. They heard stories of the characters and personalities who have populated and influenced the development of the facilities and utilities.
The Twilight Laneways Walk was part of the Wimmera National Trust's Heritage Festival.

Stick Shed open

The big drawcard of the Wimmera's Heritage Festival will be the Murtoa Stick Shed.
Based on the enthusiasm generated when it opened last year during the Big Weekend, there should be a crowd lined up at the site on Saturday 5th May from 10am to 4pm. No bookings are required, and it will only cost you $5 to enter.
So come armed with your camera to capture that magnificent cathedral like atmosphere.
Check out my other Stick Shed and  Heritage Festival posts for more information.

Hidden Horsham

Local Laneways Twilight Tour

Take a tour of Horsham's local laneways, buildings and their history through the eyes of the night-cart man.
Beginning at the Horsham Town Hall in Wilson Street, at 4pm on Saturday 5th May, the tour will follow the lanes which parallel Firebrace Street.
Returning to the Town Hall, light refreshments will be available at the conclusion of the tour.
The tour costs $5 per person, and bookings are essential, contact or visit the Horsham Library in McLachlan Street, on 53821777.

The 'Times' hits the headlines

I spoke earlier about the added value of the Australian Historical Newspapers project, now that they have added the Horsham Times, well I'm not the only one.

This email message was broadcast recently by the Collaborative Services Director at the National Library -

"It has been wonderful to see how Trove has raised the profile of heritage and contemporary collections held in Australia's cultural agencies and educational institutions.  Just last week, this blog http://mywdfamilies.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/alfred-winslow-harman-stepping-out-of-the-shadows/ shared a moving story about the value of Trove." 

On checking the blog post it refers to 'The Horsham Times', Warracknabeal, Murtoa, Rupanyup, and Hopetoun.

Women in the Year of the Farmer

Off to attend an author event in Robe on Sunday, meeting author Liz Harfull.
Liz is a rural journalist, freelance writer and editor, covering a range of issues from technical aspects of farm management practices and environmental management, to more general pieces about food and fibre production in Australia and overseas, and feature stories about life in the outback and rural identities. She began her career as a cadet journalist on a local newspaper, and later worked for The Advertiser  and Rural Press, winning a prestigious Dalgety Award for Excellence in Rural Journalism. She has had freelance stories and photography published in range of newspapers and magazines in Australia and overseas.

Her new book Women of the land is the inspiring and heart-warming stories of eight remarkable rural women who run their own farms, often juggling the demands of raising a family, they have overcome tragedy, personal fears, physical exhaustion and more than a little scepticism to build vibrant futures that sustain them and their families, in the process inspiring their neighbours and communities with their entrepreneurship, humility and determination. Each chapter explores the personal story of one woman and the people who have inspired her, the challenges she has faced as well as the humorous and heart-warming moments that have sustained her. The book also captures something of the rhythms and routines of daily life on their farms.
Liz will be at "The Whistling Fish Bookshop" in Robe at 2pm on April 8th.
Images from Liz's webpage http://www.lizharfull.com/

Wiki Watchem

I was trawling through the PROV's wiki website, and came across a page which allowed you to trace by location searches that had been performed, and I came across this little gem - http://wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/Royal_Visit_1958,_Lost_Brooch

It is a letter from B. Pickering of Watchem to the City of Ballarat regarding a brooch lost there during the Royal Visit in 1958, the transcript is below.
 "Hoban St.
Watchem. 2.3.58
To the Ballarat Town Hall Clerk
Dear Sir,
You will no doubt get a surprise in receiving these lines.
Yesterday I went down to see the Queen Mother, I lost a spray brooch the stones shine like diamonds, clear stones no colors at all, diagram enclosing enclosing as near as I can remember the top had four or five half circular arms with stones all up these near as I can remember. I lost it not far from where the gentleman was broadcasting in the garden, near a statue not far off the barricade, there was some pushing going on + must have worked off my frock, + I noticed it gone after the Queen had gone past, it also has a safety catch on it.
While I am writing to you, my brother-in-law said he saw a man pick this brooch up + handed it to a woman, + she said she would hand it in, but never said where, but he advised me to write to you, as it may be handed in to your office.
Should it been handed in, would you please let me know, so can forward money for return postage, + should the lady leave her name, I would forward her 10/-, as it was a keep sake from a good friend. 

I am enclosing a stamped addressed envelope for a reply to this, hoping I am not putting you to any inconvenience.I am Yours faithfully. B. Pickering"  Queen Elizabeth & the Queen Mother, being driven along Sturt Street Ballarat (National Archives) The outcome, was the brooch found, returned, pawned, sold? I don't know, there aren't any Pickerings left in Watchem, so maybe we will never know.

A centenial picnic

There are a number of local events scheduled for this year's National Trust Heritage Festival. The main weekend will be the 5th & 6th May.
On Sunday 6th is the Bus Tour of Glenwillan Historical Homestead at Wallup. Celebrating it's centenary this year, the historic "Glenwillan" homestead is a gracious double brick (55 square) Federation-style home situated on 10 hectares of natural native bushland. It has tiled verandahs on three sides, large rooms with open fireplaces, leadlight windows, ornate plaster ceilings and the original furniture. The homestead is surrounded by pleasant old fashioned gardens, and historic buildings, including the original large barn still in use for wool and grain storage, thatched straw stable and cellar.

"Glenwillan" was built in 1912 by Farquhar McRae on land originally cleared by his father Alexander and brothers Duncan and John in the 1880s. It is still owned and operated by the McRae family.
Attendees should take a BYO picnic lunch to enjoy at the grand 20 place dining table or in the grounds under the 100-year-old mulberry tree.
The bus tour departs from the Horsham Town Hall rear carpark at 11am returning at 3pm. The cost is $25 per person and bookings are essential phone 5382 7227 or email haven27@wimmera.com.au

Remembering history

The book As we remember...Edenhope and district stories was launched in Edenhope on Australia Day, and is now available at several library branches.It is the work of author Yvonne McDonell and photographer Christine Bull.

Chris and Yvonne at the launch

The project began as monthly newspaper articles in the West Wimmera Advocate, focusing on the memories and reminisces of local identities.
The popularity of the articles ensured that Yvonne kept interviewing more and more residents, and requests that the articles be available in a more permanent form led to the inevitable suggestions - it should be put in a book.
Grants were sought, and the Edenhope and District Historical Society successfully obtained a grant to assist with publishing costs.
A number of additions - poems, letters (Bill Crabtree’s Letter is a gem) and photographs were added, making it a local history and biography.
Copies are also available for purchase from the Edenhope & District Historical Society