PO Box 585, Sale, Vic 850 Phone 03 5144 2992 Mobile 0400 933 112 [email protected] www.saleheritagecruises.com.au

SUBMISSION TO

THE

PARLIAMENT OF

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

INQUIRY INTO HERITAGE TOURISM AND ECOTOURISM IN VICTORIA

BY

PORT SALE HERITAGE CRUISES

1 The Port of Sale Heritage Cruises Pty Ltd was established in May 2013 following the purchase of EMV Rubeena MB7 by the Lewis Family. The boat had operated in Lake Tyers since 1957 after arriving in Lakes Entrance on the 4th April 1912 we are advised that the boat is the longest continuous registered boat and in survey boat on the Victorian register. For many years in various capacities Alan Lewis1 has been involved in the promotion of the Port of Sale and the Swing Bridge as sites national engineering heritage importance and Sale as the central point for the both the Gunnaikurnai who occupied the area for some 10,000 generations prior to European settlement and the first settlers of . The electric powered Rubeena provided that opportunity.

2 A business plan was prepared a copy of which is attached that outlines the vision of the business, our aspirations , marketing strategy, budgets and the key heritage, environmental and sustainable aspects of the business

3 The key issues relating to the establishment of the business, the regulatory environment, lack of infrastructure have impacted on establishment cost and income particularly with respect to charters.

Completion of works on boat as a requirement for maintaining survey at the Government Boat Yard Paynesville impact of availability of skilled shipwrights

Cost associated with the achievement of a coxswain certificate, the availability of courses (Portland and Adelaide) and the regulatory environment that requires a standard of qualification that does not recognise the difference between inland and offshore waters, that an associated work boat that will be used only for recovery purposes requires a three week coxswain aaaa course as we refer to the boat in our operating procedures manual developed as a precursor to achieving TQUAL certification.

Whilst the Wellington Shire have been extremely supportive of the venture the lack of fundamental infrastructure to Jetty such as water and power, cost associated with the extension of the existing floating jetty (an essential element as a consequence of the significant rise and fall associated with flood events) and no infrastructure at the Swing Bridge for passengers to embark are leading to a significant increase in implementation cost particularly when the asset will be owned by the Shire

Date of advertising liquor license has to be extended as a home office where we take booking and store alcohol all be it is lesser quantities than already on site will mean that we will not have a license till January

4 Currently we have advertised in the Gippsland Times, Gippslander, on Radio, have printed 5000 brochures, souvenir tickets and developed a web site www.saleheritagecruises.com.au and a Facebook page www.facebook.com/portofsaleheritagecruises. Since commencement on the last weekend in September we have run a 10am and 2pm cruise daily approximately 400 customers have completed trip and feedback is positive

1 Alan Lewis was City Engineer City of Sale 1968‐1985, Lewis McNaughton Pty Ltd Professional Project Managers 1985 – current, Founding Chair Destination Gippsland 2004‐2006, Project Managers for Bataluk Cultural Trail, River Heritage and Wetlands Trail, Gippsland Plains Rail Trail, Completed feasibility studies on behalf of Sale Rotary and other community groups with respect to establishing a cruise boat business

5 With Respect to the Specific terms of Reference we advise as follows

(1) It is the considered view of the Directors of Port of Sale Heritage Cruises that the Wellington Shire is not recognised as a centre of heritage importance to the development of Victoria as is other regions such as Ballarat and Bendigo. This region was vital to the development of Gippsland i.e. the north south transport link -Sale-Omeo the oldest road in Gippsland and the key transport link for the first three decades servicing the Walhalla and Crooked River gold fields the Latrobe wharf becoming a key entry port in the late 1850’s when the entry of shipping into the commenced.

In pre European times the connection of the high Country via the Macalister, Thomson and Latrobe rivers and overland to Port Albert features in dreamtime creation story of the Gunnaikurnai.

The floodplains adjoining Sale are a designated RAMSAR wetlands (Sale Common to Heart Morass) which compliments the heritage aspects of our tour

The business model for the Port of Sale Heritage Cruises is based on lifting the profile of the heritage of the region so we can capture 20% of the visitors to Sale who are looking for attractions and activities a recent survey indicated that 21% of tourist to Wellington visited heritage sites and 34% National Parks

(2) The Port of Sale Heritage Cruises has developed the business in to ensure that TQUAL accreditation can be achieved. We believe that as tourism operators we must offer a product that will ensure repeat business, growth by word of mouth promotion and extend the stay of visitors to the Wellington Shire increasing yield.

(3) We see great potential to establish relationships with other heritage attractions in that are linked through historic relationships such as Port Albert, Walhalla, Sale, and the staging villages of Glengarry, Toongabbie, Cowwarr and Heyfield ( Gippsland Plains Rail Trail).

(4) In my other business Lewis McNaughton Pty Ltd we have been responsible for preparation of initial assessment, development of concept, facilitation of approval process, preparation of documentation and implementation including the establishment of community based incorporated body to manage the trail or part thereof as Project Managers for the “River Heritage and Wetlands Trail”, “The Grand Strzelecki Track”, “Bataluk Cultural Trail” and the “Gippsland Plains Rail Trail”. From that experience particular with the construction of new trails in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Sale Common and the Billys Creek Valley the Trail can be closed for long periods due to flooding (Sale Common) or become impassable due to landslides high stream flows (Billys Creek) this creates an issue with respect to users requesting Trail upgrades that would impact on the very experience of the these Trails that are Class 4 classification

(5) Our experience would indicate that there is a lack of essential infrastructure associated with relatively new facilities such as the Port of Sale where there are no services (water, electricity) to the public wharf this has added a startup expense on facility designed for the use now contemplated.

Alan Lewis

PORT OF SALE HERITAGE CRUISES

MARKETING AND BUSINESS PLAN

Prepared By

Alan Lewis & Rachel Lewis Lewis McNaughton Pty Ltd

Wayne Brydges Port of Sale Heritage Cruises

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1 Background

Port of Sale Heritage Cruises Pty Ltd has been established by Alan Lewis, Rachel Lewis and Wayne Brydges to purchase the EMV Rubeena an open launch carvel hull boat registered for 42 passengers and fitted with an electric motor. The Rubeena was built in Balmain in 1912 and transported to Lake Entrance 1913 has being in continuous survey as a cruise boat on the Gippsland Lakes. This business and marketing plan has been developed to demonstrate the underlying objectives of the directors, review and define potential markets and to demonstrate project feasibility

2 Port of Sale Heritage Cruises the Concept

The Rubeena will be the utilised to conduct a regular boat trip from the historic Port of Sale to the Swing Bridge both sites being recognised by the Institution of Engineers , Swing Bridge as an Engineering National Landmark and the Port of Sale by an Engineering Heritage Marker. The connecting waterways of some 5km namely the Sale Canal, Thomson and Latrobe Rivers were the key elements of early water transport in Gippsland.

Prior to European Settlement the Gunnaikurnai people and their ancestors occupied Gippsland for many hundreds of generations over many thousands of years, in 1839 prior to European settlement an estimated 3,000 Kurnai lived in Gippsland. The site of the current City of Sale was known as “Wayput” meaning the centre of the Gunnaikurnai nation.

The area is prominent in the Gunaikurnai creation story

“Borun the Pelican and Tuk the Musk Duck”

Who were their dreamtime ancestors as legend tells it, “the first Gunaikurnai came down from the mountains in the northwest carrying the canoe on his head. He was Borun the Pelican. Borun crossed the Tribal River by what is now known as Sale and he walked on alone to Tarra Warackel (Port Albert) in the west. As he walked he heard a tapping sound and could not identify it. When he reached the deep water of the inlets, Borun put down his canoe and much to his surprise there was a woman in it. She was Tuck the Musk Duck. Borun was very happy to see her and she became his wife and Mother of us all, the Gunaikurnai people”1

1 The Creation Sign of the Bataluk Cultural Trail Located at McIntosh Drive car park adjacent to Lake Guthridge a sculpture is currently been installed at the Swing Bridge based around this legend

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To the Omeo natives the Gunnaikurnai were known as the “Warrigals” or wild blacks because of their warlike nature. Conflicts2 between early settlers and natives were common. As the Gunnaikurnai resisted settlement reprisals were brutal and many massacres occurred particularly in the area of Wellington Shire3.

The first record of European involvement was the exploration of Angus McMillan who arrived at the confluence of the Thomson and Latrobe Rivers on the 24th January 1840 McMillan’s when the Omeo natives’ guide search for suitable tree with bark for shaping into a canoe was unsuccessful and unable to find a suitable tree McMillan abandons the journey to find a suitable route to the coast and goes back to his base camp at Ensay4.

The adjacent wetlands was prized by the Gunnaikurnai as a supermarket. Providing much of their food and materials required for survival. The River Heritage and Wetlands Trail5 connects the Port of Sale with the Swing Bridge and forms part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail6 Today the Sale Common state game refuge and associated morass show case the extensive population of water birds and other fauna and flora that frequent this location.

Heritage Cruises will be run twice a day for a duration of one and half hours, at other times the boat will be available for hire and charter.

3 Guiding Principles of This Business

Mission The company is a tourist business providing heritage boating tours from the Port of Sale (Purpose of being) to the Swing Bridge

Vision A high standard, well maintained and funded business providing a unique water based (Aspirational) heritage tourism experience for visitors to Central Gippsland that generate a high yield and an appropriate return on capital for the Directors. Objectives 1 A business focused on providing a safe, educational and comprehensive (Articulation of the tourism experience in Central Gippsland. mission) 2 Ensure that all personnel are appropriately trained for their role, presenting an enjoyable experience for customers 3 Achieve a return on funds invested commensurate with risk , and cost of funds 4 Be a major supplier of integrated tourism products in the Central Gippsland Region 5 Enter into partnerships with complimentary tourism and accommodation providers to provide an integrated tourism experience Strategies Goals Programs /Plans (How are we going to achieve these (Performance Measures) (How we implement our objectives?) strategies) 1 Maintain a high standard Zero corrective actions from audits Implement T-QUAL program of tourist experience 2 Maintain a high level staff Customer survey with zero customer Training programs presentation and criticism of staff Policies and procedures in infrastructure place 3 To have a unique To achieve expected numbers of Develop a marketing plan geographical and historic customers. Develop tourism collateral with location of the business. To be recognised as a tourism business a unique logo For this business to in the Wellington Shire Develop the advertising for the recognised via different business in several different media medias 4 A cost effective No breakdown maintenance required Preventative maintenance maintenance program program developed.

2 Refer to “Gippsland Massacres” The Destruction of The Kurnai Tribes 1800 -1860 P D Gardner 3rd edition 2001 3 October 1840 Nuntin, December 1840 Boney Point (At the confluence of the Avon and Perry Rivers) 1843 Warrigal Creek 1844 , 1846 Yarram, 1846 Central Gippsland (Sale, The Heart ) 4 Refer “Gippsland Lucky City” a History of Sale Peter Synan 1994 5 River Heritage and Wetlands Trail a 25km looped trail was a Rotary Club of Sale Project under the management of Alan Lewis 6 Bataluk Cultural Trail extends from Yarram to Cap Conran and tells the story of the Gunnaikurnai pre and post European settlement project managed by Alan Lewis

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implemented that matches Vessel remains in survey Surveys done as per the needs of the business, regulations patrons and regulators

5 Ensure pricing policy To gain repeat business from customers Investigate pricing policies of provides a secure long similar businesses term income stream Prepare an annual budget. commensurate with requirements for profit, maintenance and marketing 6 Communicate effectively Develop an integrated tourism with appropriate experience in Sale stakeholders

4 Marketing Plan

The focus of the marketing plan is on the target market that will have the highest return for the expenditure. This would be tourists who are looking for attractions or activities who come to Wellington Shire Council.

4.1 Principle Markets  Visitors to Wellington Shire Council - 700,000 People  % of People who go to Sale Visitor Information Centre (VIC) looking for Attractions/Activities - 20% of visitors  Target Market - 140,000 People

4.2 Principle Market Segments  Daily walk up visitor  Speciality cruises o Local food and wine experience o Visit to Sale Common and Heart Morass – nature walks o Special events – birthdays etc

4.3 Promotional Activities  Develop a website – Include internet booking facility  Roadshows for local community groups, schools etc.  Develop a local presence

Required Tourism Collateral and Infrastructure

4.4 General Tourism Collateral Budget  Develop unique logo and branding -$2,000  Develop Tourism Brochure (initial run 10,000) -$2,000  Web site -$1,500  Facebook Page -$500  Apps for mobile phones -$500  Fold up Banners -$500

4.5 Signage  General Signage  Promotional Signage

4.6 Relationships  Membership of Wellington Regional Tourism  Membership of the Sale Business and Tourism Association  Partnerships with Destination Gippsland  Partnerships with local business (e.g. Cafes B&B’s Winery’s and producers)  Partnership with Australian Tourism Accreditation Program

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5 Commercial Assessment Assumptions

Purchase Price Of EMV Rubeena $59,000 Cost Of Moving EMV Rubeena $3,000 Cost Of Initial Maintenance to EMV Rubeena $13,,000 Cost Of Tender & Pontoon $30,000 Safety and other Equipment $4,000 Cost of infrastructure Port of Sale $48,000 Tourism collateral and signage $6,200 Uniforms $1,000 Training $3,000 Technology $2,000 Initial Investment $156,200

Visitors to Wellington Shire 700,000 PA Visitors to Sale VIC looking for Attractions 20% Possible Visitors Market in Sale Looking for Attractions 140,000 PA

Seating Capacity of EMV Rubeena 42 Average Number Customers Per Trip 15 Average trips Per Week 14 Average Weeks per Year Running 42 Expected Customers Year 1 for Regular Cruises 8,820

Cost Per Person $ 19 GST Inclusive Net Charter at $500 X 30 $15,000 Required Return on Investment 20% PA

Year 1 Profit & Loss Statement

Income (Exc GST) $ 167,345

Expenses Survey $ 500 Insurance $ 3,500 Maintenance $ 5,000 Electricity $ 1,000 Mooring Fees $ 1,300 Uniforms $ 1,000 Wages $ 79,800 Other $ 2,700

Total Expenses $ 94,800

Profit $ 73,345

Expected ROI $ 31,200

Nett Profit $ 42,145

A J Lewis R A Lewis

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Appendix 1

Review of Relevant Stakeholders Relationships/ Issues – Port of Sale Heritage Cruises A comprehensive review of key stakeholders was undertaken and an assessment of how the committee will manage the relationships and what the implications on the organisation are.

Stakeholders Relationship / Issues Action

Gippsland Port Authority Controlling authority of Port Of Develop relationship Sale Wellington Shire Tourism Tourism Victoria’s Regional Commitment to Port Of Sale  Wellington Regional marketing and Development Heritage Cruises Tourism Plan 2011-2012 Gippsland Ongoing marketing, joint  Latrobe Tourism promotions and advertising Advisory Board support  Destination Gippsland  Tourism Victoria Government Federal Establish Dialogue (Regional Development Possible grants in future Australia) Victorian Government Regional Development Victoria Apply for appropriate grants (RDV) where applicable Monitor Programs Local community  Possible volunteers Create awareness of Port Of Local community service groups  Sale Heritage Cruises by local promotional activity and events Create a friends group Local Attractions Develop interpretive signs  Wineries sponsorship  Indigenous Heritage Develop ongoing partnerships  Art galleries Communicate about events  Hotels planned for Port Of Sale  Restaurants Heritage Cruises  Accommodation  Agriculture  Industries CFA Emergency Services Develop emergency response plans Local Schools Create awareness of Port Of Sale Heritage Cruises Educational trips VicRoads Approval of signs and installation

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Appendix 2 OPPORTUNITIES RELATING TO HERITAGE & HISTORY

Information from various reports completed by Lewis McNaughton Pty Ltd that will be edited into a promotional script for the journey on the Rubeena between Port of Sale and the Swing Bridge.

REGIONAL HERITAGE OVERVIEW

Prior to European Settlement the Kurnai people and their ancestors occupied Gippsland for many hundreds of generations over many thousand of years, in 1839 prior to European settlement an estimated 3,000 Kurnai lived in Gippsland. To the Omeo natives the Kurnai were know as the “Warrigals” or wild blacks because of their warlike nature. Conflicts7 between early settlers and natives were common. As the Kurnai resisted settlement reprisals were brutal and many occurred particularly in the area of Wellington Shire8. By 1860 just 222 Kurnai had survived. Howitt’s plan of 1880 indicates the tribes of Gippsland. The first record of European involvement is the exploration of Angus McMillan who arrived at the confluence of the Thomson and Latrobe Rivers on the 24th January 1840 McMillan’s Omeo natives’ search for suitable tree with bark for shaping into a canoe. Unable to find a suitable tree McMillan abandons the journey to find a suitable route to the coast and goes back to his base camp at Ensay9.

The Bataluk Culture Trail

A trail established by the Gunnaikurnai to promote understanding of the Gunaikurnai people of the following sites have been nominated as areas of interest those sites are Sale Wetlands, Knob Reserve, Den of Nargun, Keeping Place Krowathunkooloong, Howitt Park, Legend Rock Metung, Buchan Caves, Burnt Ridge Reserve and Cape Conran10.

With respect to Wetlands around Sale it is noted that

“the wetlands were like a supermarket for the Gunaikurnai people of the area. A walk around Lake Guthridge to the Sale Common boardwalks reveals numerous plants and birds which were sources of food and other important raw materials.”

7 Refer to “Gippsland Massacres” The Destruction of The Kurnai Tribes 1800 -1860 P D Gardner 3rd edition 2001 8 October 1840 Nuntin, December 1840 Boney Point (At the confluence of the Avon and Perry Rivers) 1843 Warrigal Creek 1844 Maffra, 1846 Yarram, 1846 Central Gippsland (Sale, The Heart )

9 Refer “Gippsland Lucky City” a History of Sale Peter Synan 1994 10 Lewis McNaughton were the Project managers for the up grade 2009- 2012

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The occupation of Gippsland by pastoralist occurred quickly. By 1842 the area between the Tambo and Latrobe Rivers had been taken under licence starting with McMillan’s occupation of the Nuntin Run in 1840. In 1844 Commissioner Tyers accounted for 40 stations with a total population of 327. At that time there were 20,000 cattle and 62,000 sheep.

RECORDED SITE CONDITIONS EARLY SETTLEMENT TO 1888

The first European settlement of Sale (then called Flooding Creek) occurred in 1844 when Archie McIntosh established a blacksmith shop in the vicinity of York St and McIntosh Drive. The first survey was undertaken by Penrose Nevins 184811. It notes that the said land delineated by the red line was “Low level ground”

Plan No 1

11 Refer “Gippsland Lucky City” A history of Sale Peter Synan Published 1994

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The survey of 1854 shows the said land as comprising “Swamp Permanent Water” and Flooding Creek as delineated in red Plan No 212

The plan of 1857 with the Basin and Canal marked on indicate that the majority of said land was still swamp prior to construction. Plan No 3

12 Maps courtesy of Sale Historical Society

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As indicated in Plans No 1, 2 and 3 the said land as delineated in red was of low level and local drainage was contained within by the banks of Flooding Creek as such it was known in Colonial Times as the Western Swamp or the Western Lagoon and deemed unsuitable for subdivision. Plan 3 indicated that the “Said Land” was reserved for Canal Purposes.

A TRANSPORT PROJECT OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE CONSTRUCTION OF SALE NAVIGATION CANAL & SWING BRIDGE

The construction of the Port of Sale, Sale Canal and the Swing Bridge were key elements in the development of the major Gippsland transport network of the 1880’s

The initial transportation networks in Gippsland followed the 1840 routes of the explorers McMillan and Strzelecki which resulted in the north south network connecting Port Albert – Sale – Omeo and was the dominant network for the first two decades of Gippsland development. In July of 1846 Tyers advises LaTrobe of cost of forming road to , and asks permission to proceed. In March 1847 Tyers surveys the best route for the Melbourne – Sale road. As the road to Melbourne was gradually opened up the main transport axis went from north-south to east-west, the corridor becoming the main exit point not Port Albert.

In 1854 Charles Marshall, assisted by Thomas Chapman brings a whaleboat from into the Lakes and thus opens up the Gippsland Lakes and river systems as a viable transport network. In 1858 Malcolm Campbell steered his schooner Georgina Star through the entrance in order to deliver supplies to Omeo via the Tambo River. From 1860 the Latrobe Wharf downstream from the low level bridge at the confluence of the Latrobe increases in importance as point of arrival and departure for coastal and Lake shipping. Following the discovery of gold by Ned Stringer in 1863 at Walhalla there was a requirement for an improved transport system, either by road to Melbourne or Sale, Sale to Melbourne by water via Lakes Entrance or Sale to Melbourne by road to Port Albert then by boat to Melbourne. Debates continued over the next two decades 1860-1880 about the north-south link rail or canal to Port Albert or the east-west link rail and or canal to Melbourne and the development of the rivers and a permanent opening at Lakes Entrance (Cunninghame).

The passing of the legislation to construct the Sale – Melbourne Railway in 1873 which included a branch line to the Latrobe wharf committed the Government to a complementary transport system of rail and water taking advantage of Gippsland natural endowment of navigable lakes and rivers. The essential elements of this unique transport system were the rail Melbourne to Sale, the branch line to the Swing Basin, the Sale Navigational Canal and the Swing Bridge and creation of a permanent entrance to the Gippsland Lakes at Lake Entrance. In March 1884 Alfred Deakin Commissioner of Public Works declared digging that Canal was a national work of great importance to the eastern portion of the Colony.

The initial report on the concept of Swinging Basin and a Navigable Canal was prepared by Sir John Coode 1880 who assessed two options the alignment from Western Lagoon via McArdell’s Gap and Thomson River and an alternative alignment from Lake Guthridge (Eastern Lagoon) via the Sale Common taking advantage of The Lagoon to connect with the Latrobe River at the Latrobe wharf. Coode recommended the option based on the Western Lagoon which takes advantage of the topography by changing the course of Flooding Creek to form the Swing Basin and Canal as indicated in Plan No 4.

The Plan demonstrates that the “Said Land” was an integral component of the scheme which included the excavation of the Swing Basin and the Canal and for the land surrounding the Canal to filled as demonstrated by the following notation:

“Land around proposed basin to be raised to 5 feet above high floods over the land coloured red and reserved for wharves, warehouses and store yards”

This red coloured land surrounds the current swinging basin including the Said Land on the west side noted by the red line.

In October 1885 the Government of the day resolved to proceed with the construction of the canal and associated works fully financed by Government. The Public Works Department was responsible for the preparation of plans, letting of tenders and supervision of works in three stages.

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Stage 1 Southern End - McArdell’s Gap South for 2,500 feet taking out two bends in the Thomson River - the contract for this work was let in January 1886 to T.G. Mattinson for ₤4,387

Plan No 413

Stage 2 McArdells North to Flooding Creek Contractor T.G. Mattinson

Stage 3 Swing Basin and associated works Contractors T.G. Mattinson and Monie -Construction Plans Drawings No1, 2 and No3 of Contract No4 and signed 19th January 1889 and 11th December 1888 are attached as plan 5-1, 5-2 and 5.3 copies have been sourced from the Public Records Office

13 Original Plan now held by Sale Historical Society

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The Canal was completed in 1890. The “Mercury14”, in early February 1890 noted that the Swinging Basin is near complete, and is indeed a large cutting, being some 300feet long, 500feet wide and 17feet deep.

14 Refer “Highways of Water” Peter Synan 1989

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PLAN NO 5-1

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PLAN NO 5- 2

1

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PLAN NO 5-3

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The region in which the Trail is located has a heritage and history that is unique as illustrated in the following summary

KEY HISTORIC EVENTS

Pre European History

The term Gunai (meaning man) is often used to identify Aboriginal men and women whose territory extended from the Tarwin River to the Snowy River. Due to difficulties the European observers had with a strange language there are several alternative spellings and pronunciations of the original term. Today both Gunai and Kurnai are generally accepted terms for Gippsland Aboriginals. The Gunai/Kurnai were divided into five main groups defined mainly by location. These five groups spoke three different languages between them. A clan of the Brayakkolung, who spoke Nulert, occupied the Sale area. This clan or descent group was the Woollum Woollum who occupied the land along the Latrobe River between Longford and Rosedale.

First recorded account of European Encounter with local natives

24th January 1840 Angus McMillan arrived at the confluence of the Latrobe and Thomson Rivers startling the local natives of the Kurnai tribe in possibly their first encounter with Europeans. McMillan had just led the first expedition of Europeans through the Gippsland Plains discovering luxuriant natural pastures for his employer, Lachlan Macalister. Unable to cross the Latrobe and lacking provisions he returned to his base camp at Ensay (Numbla Mungee).

A Critical Precinct In the development of Gippsland Transport Networks

In 1841 there were four ways into Gippsland, by ship to Port Albert, overland from the Monaro via Omeo following the Trails established by McMillan, or by land from Westernport, either following William Brodribb’s Trail or the coastal route.

1842 James Aitken operates a punt over the Latrobe River (Flooding Creek) later operated by Andrew Gerrand from 1853

1856 – 1858 completion of Longford timber causeway and low level bridge constructed at the confluence of the Thomson & Latrobe Rivers (toll bridge) started the coaching age in the Sale district. In 1859 Cowan’s Telegraph Line of stage coaches was making daily trips between Port Albert & Sale

Thus the oldest road in Gippsland was in three sections Port Albert to Sale, Stratford to and Bairnsdale to Omeo and was the dominant network for the decades 1840-60. As the road to Melbourne was gradually opened up the main transport axis went from north-south to east-west, the Warragul corridor becoming the main exit point not Port Albert.

February 1863 Ned Stringer and party find gold at Stringer’s Creek later known as Walhalla. The access to the goldfields was boat to Port Albert then to Sale, Woods Point, Jordon and Walhalla by the Archie Campbell’s Track via Toongabbie to Walhalla and Tom McEvoy’s Track via Heyfield to Jordon and Woods Point.

The key to developing the goldfields was improved transport systems either by road to Melbourne or Sale, Sale to Melbourne by water via Lakes Entrance or Sale to Melbourne by road to Port Albert then by boat. Debates continued over the next two decades 1860-1880 about the north-south link rail or canal to Port Albert or the east-west link rail and or canal to Melbourne and the development of the rivers and a permanent opening at Lakes Entrance (Cunninghame). The Swing Bridge was the linchpin in enabling both to function. The essential elements that made this unique transport system work namely the Sale Canal and Swing Bridge, still survive and operate.

1875 Construction of the railway from Sale to Melbourne - The first two locomotives, the rails and the workers arrived from Melbourne by boat and unloaded at the Latrobe Wharf, an irony when considering that the rail connection to Melbourne heralded the demise of the importance of north south route.

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HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN SWING BRIDGE PRECINCT

As the precinct developed as a vital component of Gippsland transport network buildings, wharfs and associated structures were erected namely; 1857 Longford Causeway completed using timber corduroy construction technique, Latrobe Wharf, Swan Hotel, Victoria Hotel, Bridge Keeper’s Cottage & sheds, Post and rail fence on northern approach (Punt Lane) and Pump station on Latrobe. The Willows Jetty constructed 1.5km upstream. The following photos illustrate the extent of buildings in the precinct

1858 Low Level Bridge Tanjil at Latrobe wharf low level bridge in background

Swan Hotel Victoria Hotel in background

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Victorian Hotel

Swan Hotel

Bridge keeper’s cottage constructed Punt lane approach on stilts at rear

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Steamer “Omeo” passing through bridge: note sheds on bank

Steamer “Dargo” approaching Latrobe Wharf

The committee recommends that new infrastructure on site may be interpretive of the past structures. This initially could take the form of the erection of a post and rail fence adjacent to the Thomson River approach on Swing Bridge Drive and a building on the site of the Bridge keepers cottage as discussed in 4.3

THE BRIDGE’S ENGINEERING HERITAGE

The key facts

1858 Low level bridge upstream from current site opened as a toll bridge 1879 Commissioner of Public Works invites competitive designs for drawbridge 1880 John Grainger distinguished Engineer / Architect placed his winning design on public exhibition at Sale Council Chambers 1880 3rd February The “Mercury” journalist reports “one great advantage of the design was the transfer of weight from the central moveable span and onto the screw jacks on fixed spans saved the wear and tear of the nine central piers on which the rotating gear assembly was mounted” 1881 Peter Platt Councillor and former mayor of the Borough of Sale and experienced builder commenced works. Castings are manufactured by Messrs Johnson & Co of the Tyne Foundry Melbourne and transported by schooner thru the Gippsland lakes to the work site. 1883 Bridge completed and opened to traffic in September. First bridge keeper George Bailey appointed 1890 Sale Canal Completed

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1903 Mayor of Sale Walter Lyon arranges for a ceremonial opening for Percy Grainger the famous composer and pianist the son of John Grainger 1912 Tom Kivlighon the last and longest serving bridge keeper appointed. In 1938 the position of bridge keeper abolished. 1972 last opening of Swing Bridge prior to its restoration 2003-2006 Restorations works undertaken official opening February 2006

The Swing Bridge is now the oldest intact operational bridge of its type in Australia the bridge is listed on the Victorian Register H1438 the citation reads

“The Swing Bridge is historically significant as possibly the oldest bridge of its type in Australia. Its construction was pivotal in the development and expansion of road and river transport in Gippsland, and confirmed the Port of Sale’s place as the centre of shipping activity in the region. The Bridge was designed and built entirely in Victoria and made an important contribution to development of engineering in the state.

The Swing Bridge is architecturally significant as the only bridge of its type in Victoria, with few others of this type and degree of sophistication elsewhere in Australia.”

The Advisory Group recommends that

Application be made to have the bridge recognized with an Historic Engineering Marker by the Institution of Engineers Australia.

Further research be undertaken with respect to its historic importance in the development of engineering infrastructure particularly as a component of a water based transport network to enable a further application for inclusion on the National Heritage Register The nation building importance of this transport system was eloquently described by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy a former Premier of Victoria in 1875 as “adding a new province in Victoria”.

John Grainger was an engineer / architect of national importance15 who designed numerous buildings, bridges and water supply systems in every Australian state and New Zealand. In 1887-1888 he designed the Sale Waterworks including off take on Thomson River and brick and cast iron water tower in Victoria Park. From 1897 – 1905 he was chief Architect of Public Works in Western Australia. The committee recommends that John Grainger’s projects in the region be noted with a interpretive plaque in Victoria Park

15 Refer Supplementary Material as prepared by Peter Synan andfor ’s second application to Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (April 2007)

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