Preface Researched and written by Reverend George W. Edwards of the Anglican Church of St Dunstan about 1984. No attempt has been made to edit the text in this document, only to put it in a new format, with sketches scanned in as images and photographs placed where appropriate. Scattered through the document are notes by the author explaining something, sometimes preceded by G.W.E., the initials of the author. All first-person comments are those of the author An History of Introduction My interest in St. Dunstan's history grew out of reading Mwley Crocker's (and friends) "A Short History (of) Saint Dunstan's Church, Violet Town. In its brevity it left all sorts of questions unanswered; and his own remark that it ought to be enlarged and added to encouraged me to investigations of my own. If in what follows I refer to his work only to seemingly show up its errors - not so; it is only because it was this book that I started my inquiries from. In any case, it seems only fair to explain why I differ from what he gathered in good faith and what has been read by many. He begins by setting the life of St Dunstan's in the context of the township of Violet Town and its origins; and I follow him in that, beginning with what might be called Violet Town's pre-history. 1, "PRE-HISTORY:" (a) begins with the aborigines of the area; but at this stage I know nothing about them except for the attack on the Faithfull stock convoy as it passed through (now) on its way south. It would seem that Violot Town owes its inception to Government's reactions to this attack - see later page. 2. EXPLORATORY EXPEDITIONS; (a) Hume and Hovell. 1824: (i) Cairn consisting of old cast-iron street lampstand set in stones and cement and standing at roadside (High Street) outside Honeysuckle Caravan Park north of Cowslip Street intersection, (former ). On it is "Hume and Hovell passed 4 miles south of this cairn, 28.12.1824 Erected 28.12.1924." (NB. 4 miles south would be about halfway to Marraweeney on the way to Strathbogie). (ii) "From this site (the Honeysuckle Creek squatting station homestead) they (Mitchell Forbes Scobie and his wife Flora) could ... point out about 3 miles to the east among the trees, Hume and Hovell's homeward track of 1824." (G.M.Rathbone, "Flora Scobie.") (NB. Roger Green, present occupant of this area, says the old homestead (Honeysuckle) stood where his house is now, about three minutes (a mile) out from the township on the Hayes' Road) (b) Major Mitchell. 1836: By a handwritten account signed by Mitchell seen in La Trobe Library, , it was on his returnjourney that he passed through this locality after crossing the at or near the later Mitchell's Town, and following more or less taken by the 1838 survey for a road between and . The account reads: "October 11: Cross Violet Introduction page 33 An History of Violet Town

Creek. Encamp. From the hills to the southward, some fine views are to be obtained of the snowy summits of the ." No indication is given of where the crossing was made. A Souvenir Booklet published by the Shire Council in 1979 says that Mitchell camped oa the site of the township and G.M.Rathbone in "Flora Scobie" speaks of "Major Mitchell's Line" as where Violet Town was situated. R Ashley, in North-Eastern Historical Society Newsletter says the crossing was made a few miles east of where the township was made; but this seem in error, as the creek turns southwards just past the eastern side of the town. It is also said that he called the creek 'Violet Ponds', as e.g., "Major Mitchell and his party camped here and called it Violet Ponds because of wild violets growing about the creek and ponds." (A Few Dates Concerning Early History of Violet Town; in North-Eastern Historical Society Newsletter) The Shire Council Souvenir Booklet already referred to, makes the same statement, but whether they are related and which came first, I don't know. On that point note extract above from handwritten account of Mitchell's journey - the simple statement that they camped at 'Violet Creek', without any indication that he had named it; ALSO NOTE that a book' I picked up in La Trobe Library, which read like a transcript of the written account, had only the words about their stay, that his men called it Violet ponds, because of flowers growing there. I don't recall these words in the handwritten account. (The latter account went on to speak of crossing the Swampy river, and finding it difficult and dangerous to cross; and referred to the drowning there of Taylor. This was on Oct 13. 3. OVERLANDERS AND SQUATTERS (a) John Hepburn, Joseph Hawden and John Gardiner: Left Howe's station on the Murrumbidgee with cattle during October 1836, arriving in Melbourne near Christmas time. They followed the Major's (Mitchell) Line and passed the 'Ovens' and what is now called the , to reach the Goulburn River. Only these are mentioned, and with no detail. On 15th January, 1838, Hepburn and Hawden started from Strathallen in N.S.W. - "We reached the 1. I didn 't notice this in the hand written copy 2. from book containing Mitchell's report. Seen 24. 2. 1984 - Comingfiom south after three or four chains - "We encamped - near the bank of a running stream in which were also some deep pools and which, from somejlowers growing three were named by the men Violet Ponds" Introduction page 34 An History of Violet Town

Goulburn, surveying all the fine-looking country, and saw many beautiful spots - very beautiful spots - between the Ovens and the Goulburn ..." (Extract from Letter from Victorian Pioneers,' 1969 edition - but Hepburn's diaries are in La Trobe Library, and may have more detail.) (b) Joseph Hawden, with mailman John Conway Bourke and the first overland mail Port Phillip to Sydney, left Melbourne on January 2, 1838. After arriving at the Goulburn River they rode thirty miles and stopped for the night at a well-watered creek. Next day they travelled sixty miles and reached the . By present maps, it would seem likely that the well-watered creek was at or near the present . No mention of either a "Violet Creek" (or Ponds) or water at present Benalla. (Extracted from his diary - quoted in 1824- 1963) (NB. Further particulars re mails, from E.Baker, Post Office Historian; information from P.O. records, Government Blue Books, Government Gazettes; article in Victorian Historical Magazine, copies 1972-4 bound together. Bourke was met at Howlong by a mailboy who took it to Yass, by coach thence to Sydney. Same on return trip. Time allowed each way - fortnight. Hawdon received £1,200 for the year's contract. On May 12, 1838, quicker mails and a weekly service was petitioned for - to be two days Sydney to Yass and eight days Yass to Melbourne. On Jan 7, 1839, William Rutledge received the contract. Post Offices were opened at Broken River and Seymour Jan 1, 1845, E.B.Green received the contract.) 12 November 1838: Petition for quicker mails between Sydney and Melbourne and a weekly service. Granted it to be two days Sydney to Yass, eight days Yass to Melbourne. ('First years at Port Phillip' - La Trobe Library) (c) Major Mitchell's enthusiastic description of the country he had seen brought many squatters southwards, from 1837 onwards; but there are few comments about their journeys amongst the "Letters from Victorian Pioneers," (1 969 edition) Peter Snodgrass, who arrived at Melbourne in Hay 1838 spoke only of there being no residents north of the Goulburn River except two houses of accommodation at the Murray and Ovens Rivers. John Templeton, who took up the station in Octobor 1838, said there were only two stations occupied between the Ovens and Goulburn rivers - Hughes at Avenel, and Major Anderson at Mangalore. (NB. According to some accounts of the attack on the Faithfulls at the Broken River, a section of the stock were ahead of those attacked further south - qv. Faithful's Creek between Violet Town and Euroa -but I can't recall any mention of a 'Violet Creek or Ponds') 4. First Port Phillip Road Survey: I have a copy of this survey, which is marked,"copied by Robert Hoddle, Surveyor, April 21 st, 1838." I have no record of the actual survey period, which would be contained in Survey Department files of the time. It could be the survey done by H.C. Butler and G.C. Stapylton, who left Gundagai on March 22, 1838; the plan being forwarded to the Surveyor General in Sydney on June 13, 1838. I have been told that Hoddle was acting Surveyor General in Melbourne, (or Surveyor in charge) but in any case the "copied" would mean the drawing out in an office, whether Melbourne or Sydney. (This all needs checking in official files, as above; but the actual surveying obviously took place before the copying out of April 2 1, 183 8. "Violet Creek" is marked on it (only as a watercourse) - a short line either side of the road - and another longer stream is shown on eastern side of road only, dropping away to south. It could the the Violet Creek, which trends that way. Also shown are the Goulburn River and 'Septimus Creek', which is the southernmost of seven creeks close together, south of Violet Creek. By its position it could be the "Seven Creeks." (Did survey run

Introduction page 35 An History of Violet Town further east there?) (NB. There was another road survey in 1839, which, took T.S. Townsend from about August 22, at Goulburn, to September 19, Melbourne. I have no information on this survey, but would be interested to know the name used for 'Violet Creek;' because it was during this year that the name started to change, in both popular and official use. But I would think it was "Violet Creek," because that was the name used in the Government notice of September for the creek on which there was to be a "village." (qv. later references) 5. Lady Franklin (wife of Van Diemen Land Governor Sir John Franklin who later went on Arctic exploration) took the overland journey from Melbourne to Sydney in early 1839. She crossed the Goulburn River between April 10-13, and went on by "the new road, as it is called, instead of the one by Honeysuckle Creek," passing the stations of squatters Hughes, Templeton and Faithfull. On 13th she travelled "12 miles to Honeysuckle Creek;" and on 14th "16 miles ENE to Broken River." Her reference to "the new road, as it is called, instead of the one by Honeysuckle Creek," is puzzling; because still "travelled to Honeysuckle Creek." An 1843 plan still shows a road through "Violet Ponds." A little south of there it turns southwards from a line marked "Old Sydney Road;" perhaps that is the explanation, or some other similar change. But note the two changes of name - for the creek only? or for the town? April 1839, "Honeysuckle Creek" (before site fixed for a town); and 1843, "Violet Ponds" after township land surveyed and sold. It is, of course, not necessarily official use. NB. On April 10, 1839 the Port Phillip Gazette included an item which I didn't note in full, but which spoke of the "new road" which replaced "that by the Honeysuckle Creek." Lady Franklin may well have read this, or had it with her; and used the name given there for the area, "but where did the Gazette (not the Port Phillip Government Gazette) get it from? The style of Lady Franklin's diary suggests that she talked to many people along the way, so she could have got "Honeysuckle Creek" anywhere and from anyone, but the Gazette?? In June 1839 the Honeysuckle Creek squatting run was taken up by Speid, Binney and Anderson. However, it often happened that squatters were on their runs before being officially recognised and paying their occupation licences; and that may have happened here, early enough for the district to be called by the run name. In any case - was it a Government name, or did they find wild honeysuckle growing? Or grow the cultivated variety themselves? VARIOUS NAMES IN USE FOR TOWNSHIP 1 LOCALITYICREEK 1. Hume and Hovell, 1824: passed by c.4-5 miles east. See their records, but I have no information at moment. 2. Major Mitchell, 1836: referred to it as Violet Creek; but said (?) his men called it Violet ponds because of flowers growing there. His camp said to be a few miles east of township, (but this couldn't be because. creek turns southwards. 3. First Port Phillip road survey, early 1838: showed the creek across the road line, and called it "Violet Creek." 4. Governor Gipps' Despatch re Faithful1 attack, c.mid 1838: intention of starting mounted police stations in north-eastern - included Violet Creek. 5 . Title of first survey of a township, made in September 1838 is "Plan of a Township on the Violet Creek." 6. Port Phillip Gazette, Apr 10, 1839, referred to a new road replacing that by the "Honeysuckle Creek." (But it still crossed the "Honeysuckle Creek" as so named on road map of 1843) 7. Lady Franklin, Apr 11,1839: "travelled 12 miles to Honeysuckle Creek." 8. Honeysuckle Creek squatting run officially taken up, June 1839. Introduction page 36 An History of Violet Town

9. Notice that a site fixed for a Village, namely "Violet Creek," on a stream of that name on the road to Port Phillip. 9th September, 1839 10. Land Sales at "Violet Creek," on Jan 8 and 9, 1840. (Govt. Gazette,) 1Oa. 184 1, 1842,1846, 1847 Victorian Directories all give 'Honeysuckle Crreek' for the district - but very few names seem to be squatters and settlers. An entry for 1847 - former Violet Creek Co. Bourke but Co. Bourke is in Melbourne area Rev. J.D. Lang, travelling with mailman, reached the "Honeysuckle station, June 1843, and saw rough bark hut labelled "Post Office." This would almost certainly be the squatting station, as he had been there before. Also - no P.O. in town till 1852. W.PickeringYsroad survey - from "Violet Ponds" to Creighton's Creek 1843. "Violet Poads" in large print along creek course both sides of road. The first official use of this name I've seen. No township shown. Port Phillip Herald, 1846, as quoted by B.Rea in "Up and Down the Sydney Road," 1958: "...the rising village of Violet Town." (Check?) Plan of Murray District squatting stations, named M2 82311 848?/1. In library, use of the question mark means date is unknown, but the dat is given is the most likely, by theri knowledge of events) The township is left unnamed, unless covered by a small smudge, but the creek is named "Violet Ponds." On examination, the plan seems to be an older one on which the runs have been super-imposed. It is similar to Pickering's plan in style and contents, and may be the same one. Title Deed dated Dec. 23, 185 1: Violet Town. Violet Town Post Office. 1852. Victorian Directories for 1851 - with very few names for the district, call it Honeysuckle Creek with one exception - 'publican' the rest are squatters and settlers. 1853, Oct 25, Post Office list of present and future names for Offices gives "Violet Town" for both "present" and "future." Plan of Violet Town Reserve, with creek named Honeysuckle Creekt dated 3 1.7.1 855. Similar plan - "Honeysuckle Creek" as name of creek; 10.8.1855. Government Gazette Notices relating to "Violet-town" (1 861); and Violet Town (and Violettown) - 1862. 21. Bailliere's Victorian Gazeteer, 1865: Violet Town or Honeysuckle, (township); Honeysuckle - see Violet Town; Violet Ponds - chain of ponds, continue c.40 miles, aad falls into (Seven Creeks) Passes through township of Honeysuckle or Violet Town. (Into Goulbourn River) 22. Rev. W.M.Pinn, in book of 1870, "We now enter the old spot called Violet Town, which was better known to old colonists, before the separation of this Colony from N.S.W., as the Honeysuckle." 23. Hew Victorian Counties Atlas, 1874 (P.E. Hiscock): The town is called Violet Town, and the creek is Violet Ponds. (NB. Anglican Bishop of Melbourne visited "Violet Town" in 1862 and 1869. COMMENT: (allowing for the gaps in my present information) The town's name seems to have suffered only one change: from Violet Creek, as officially used in 1839-40? to Violet Town - first seen in newspaper of 1846, then a Title Deed of 1851 and for Post Office of 1852. However, a Gazeteer of 1865 gives dual entries: "Violet Town or Honeysuckle" and "Honeysuckle - see Violet Town", which suggests that although Violet Town is the proper name then, some still know it as Honeysuckle. This is lent support by a remark of Rev. W.M. Finn when visiting'violet Town" in 1870, "better known to old colonists, before the separation of this colony from N.S.W., as the Honeysuckle." All I can say about that is, that if Victorian Directories of the 1840s are any indication, there could have been very few residents in this area other than the squatters, whose addresses are given as the name of their squatting run - in this case, Honeysuckle Creek. Maybe this is how Honeysuckle came to be generally used for both town and

Introduction page 3 7 An History of Violet Town

creek. It's only in the 185 1 Directory is Violet Town mentioned -"K.P.Scobie, Honeysuckle Creek, Violet Town." And this, despite official use of Violet Creek for town and creek. It strengthens the impression that the town hardly existed at that stage, but further investigation is needed on that subject. The creek has, had more changes. Starting as Violet Creek in 1836 (Major Mitchell) and continuing as such in official use of 1838-40; although referred to in newspaper of 1839 as Honeysuckle Creek - (due to, or confused with the Honeysuckle Creek squatting run begun that year?); it becomes Violet Ponds in a road survey plan of 1843, appearing again in a semi-official plan of 1848. In a township plan of 1855 it IS Honeysuckle Greek; and again in 1861. The Gazeteer of 1865 and a Victorian Atlas of 1874 both call it Violet Ponds again. Why so much change I don't know; but Honeysuckle Creek could be connected with the squatting run as already suggested. As to Violet Ponds, the first township survey showed a, continuous succession of pools or ponds all the way along. It is not a large creek, and in dry seasons could easily become a series of pools. As far as I know, it is known as Honeysuckle Creek now.

Introduction page 38 An History of Violet Town Violet Town's Origins: (1) From 1837 the great tide of pastoralists seeking land in the Port Phillip District, as Victoria was then called, began sweeping in from Van Diemen's Land and . Some contact was made with the aborigines on the overland journey - not all of them friendly. (2) On January 2, 1838, the first overland mail left Melbourne for Sydney, carried by John Conway Bourke on horseback, accompanied by the contractor Joseph Hawdon. They reached Hawdon's brother's station at Howlong (on the ) on January 7. Here a postboy from Yass awaited them to take the Melbourne mails on to Yass, and to hand over to Bourke the Sydney mail for Melbourne. In 'Historical Records of , 1838, Series 1, Volume 19' is the following description of this service. (Note 72) A Land Mail - This mail was carried by coach from Sydney to Yass, and thence on horseback to Melbourne. The stages and distances were as follows:- From Sydney to Yass, 190 miles; from Yass to the Mummibidgee River, 65 miles; to the Murray River, 119 miles; to the Ovens River, 46 miles; to the Broken River, 28 miles; to the Goulburn River, 56 miles; and to Melbourne, 72 miles; a total of 576 miles. John Richards of Berrima was the contractor. The time occupied in the journey with the mails between Sydney and Melbourne was 17 days; the journey between Yass and Melbourne taking 14 days. On February 23, 1838. Acting Governor K. Snodgrass wrote to Lord Glenelg (Colonial Secretary?) in London: "The late Governor Sir Richard Bourke brought under your Lordship's notice the establishment of a land mail communication with Port Phillip, which commenced from the beginning of the present year. To this also, it was requisite to afford protection, and by having a party of the Mounted Police at the extremities of the road for the interception of robbers or runaways, this wlll be in a good measure accomplished. Another note of this date said that there were Mounted Police at either end of the Overland mail run, as from its inception on 2.1.1838.

(3) The attack on the Faithfulls at Broken River; (Historical Records of Australia, Series 1, Volume 19) On May 2, 1838, Governor Gipps wrote to Lord Glenelg: The Faithful1 convoy was attacked on 13th ult. (April) on their way to Port Phillip. Eight out of his eighteen men there were killed. The particulars of this occurrence I have not yet received, but have directed a Civil Stipendiary Magistrate and. a party of the Mounted Police to proceed with all possible haste to the spot, and have given them particular instructions for their guidance. (Writing on May 1, he said that the Mounted Police were to act under the Magistrate's orders.) Note (83) re the above says that George Faithful1 left in February 1838 with a herd of his own cattle and a mob of his brother's sheep. He took the cattle to Oxley's Plains, and sent the sheep to the Broken River in charge of the overseer. Property valued at £200 in the drays was stolen. On July 21, 1838 he wrote again:- In order to keep open the communication between Sydney and Port Phillip, it is my intention, with the concurrence of the Officer in Command of Her Majesty's Troops, to establish Military Posts on the road, and I forward a sketch on which the places of these proposed posts are marked; they being, as your Lordship will perceive, the places where the road crosses the following streams on the way - viz. the Murray, the Ovens, the Violet Creek, and the Goulburn. It was between the Violet Creek and the Ovens, and at a distance of 400 miles from Sydney, that the attack was made on Mr Faithfull's convoy of sheep and cattle on the 11th of April last, in which seven of his men were killed and all the rest dispersed. These men (who were chiefly convicts) did not defend themselves but ran at the first appearance of their assailants, though, as there were fifteen of them with firearms in their hands, they ought to have beaten off any numbers however great of naked savages. As soon as information reached me of this aggression, I sent a Magistrate with a party of the Mounted Police to the spot, but after a fruitless search of 41 days, they returned without having seen a single native. I thought it right to send a Civil Magistrate with the party, and I enclose to your Lordship a copy of the Instructions with which I furnished him. (G.W.E. - Uolet Town's Origins page 9 An History of Violet Town

There are differing accounts of this attack.) It apparently took a while to get these Mounted Police operating. N.S.W. Government Gazette, p.395, 1839, March 22, contained an Act to defray the expenses of a Mounted Border Police: "An Act ... the Crown lands of this Colony adjacent to and beyond the limit allowed for occupation as aforesaid, shall he divided into so many districts, and each district shall extend to, and be within such boundaries as the Governor shall appoint, and for each of such districts there shall be appointed by the Governor some fit and proper person, being a Justice of the Peace, who shall be called the Commissioner of such district, and so many men mounted, armed and accoutred, in such manner as shall be appointed by the Governor, as and for a Border Police Force, to be under the orders of and attached to the said Commissioner. All sums of money payable under this Act shall be applied and appropriated as far as may be necessary, to the establishment, maintenance and support of a Border Police ... for the mutual protection and security of all persons lawfully occupying or being upon the Crown lands beyond the limits, allotted for location .. . 7, Did the Government plan anything more than a camp of say 5 or 6 Border Police at Violet Creek? Probably, because a small township was surveyed there later that year (1 838) just as had been done on the Goulburn River two months earlier. However it seems that plans were changed and Broken River replaced Violet Creek as a military post. A Return of the Mounted Police at Port Phillip for April 1839 included:- 6 on the Goulburn River, 5 on the Broken River, and 6 on the Hume (Murray) River. It was in mid-April 1839 that Lady Franklin passed through that place (Broken River) and spoke of seeing the Police there then. Why the change was made I haven't found out yet.3 Still, Violet Town came into existence because a military post was intended, and, seemingly for that reason, a township was surveyed; so it seems fair enough to say that Violet Town owes its inception to a felt need to protect travellers and make passage through the area safe - with the attack on the Faithfulls the immediate cause. "Although surveyed in September 1838 by S.A. Perry, then by H.W.H. Smythe in the following month, the first land sale did not take place until 1840, a survey being made of the area prior to the sale by I.G. Wilmot." (Souvenir Booklet, Shire of Violet Town, April 1979) Which would mean:- survey 1, Sept. 1838, by S.A.Perry; survey 2, Oct. 1838, by H.W.H. Smythe; survey 3 Oct. 1839, by I.G. Wilmot. There are framed copies of the first two of these plans in the Shire Office, and I have seen similar plans in the Central Plan Office of the Lands Department in Melbourne; but there is no copy of plan 3 above, and Central Plan Office has none either and doubt its existence. However, their Historical Enquiries Office said they have not yet been able to sort out all their old plans, and that this one could be somewhere there. He also was strongly of the opinion that the survey plans of September and October referred to above, were really one job with H.W.H. Smythe as their surveyor. S.A. Perry (he says) was head of the Survey Department in Melbourne at that time, and would not have gone out surveying. One has to give weight to this judgment, even if circumstances brought some change later; but there is the obvious question - where did the Shire get its information from? One would expect this to be reliable also. The two plans in question (refer to rough copy in these pages) are identified as V/l Sydney, and V/2 Sydney. V/1 Sydney is entitled 'Plan of the Town on the Violet Creek, 1838, Surveyed and Planned by Asst Survr Smythe, October 30th, 1838"; and shows town allotments on 4 'Sections', just south of the Violet Creek, with unsurveyed land around these, contained within a township boundary of one square mile, with 'Road ro Mitchell's Town,' 'Road to Broken River,' running through its eastern end and a large Reserve on its eastern side. Easterly of this Reserve are nine Suburban Allotments in two groups either side of the Violet Creek. V/2 Sydney is entitled 'Plan of a Township on the Violet Creek, surveyed September, 1838', but no surveyor's name appears. It is a closer view of township allotments and Sections already marked out on V/1 Sydney above. Although the four Sections are enclosed by Tulip, Rose, Cowslip and Crocus

3. I have another note of Police Station formed at Broken River of the beginning of 1839 (source lost) neitherplan has any exisitn buildings etc. as sometimes show on Frst'plans of later days.

Kolet Town's Origins page 10 An History of Violet Town

Streets, allotments are only shown between Tulip Street and what is now called Mary's Lane. There are 10 allotments to each Section4. As well as the streets already named, Lily, Hyacynth and Dahlia Streets are named. The road 'from Port Phillip To Yass', passes by a little east of Crocus Street; and between Tulip Street and the Violet Creek is a 'Reserve'. Now as to the question of two plans or one, and two surveyors or one:- That V/2 should predate V/1 seems odd; but it should mean that V/1 was the first to be filed, The different names given the road through, also suggests two different men at work on the plans; and note 'the town' (V/1) and 'a township' (V12). Vl2 lacks a surveyor's name; and I think this is significant. I have no final answer to this riddle; but at the moment I incline towards the following possibility. That V/1 does predate V/2 in its actual date of survey, and that it is the actual first survey plan and the only one. It was sent to the Colonial Secretary in 1839, (may this bear on the apparent cancellation of the Violet Creek as a post for Mounted Police, in favor of the Broken River? i.e., that there was then no hurry for Violet Creek's establishment?) laid before the Executive Council in August of that year, Approved in September, and used as the basis for Land Sale arrangements for January 1840. It has purchasers' names on only the larger suburban allotments, (the township allotments are too small for this) so has been used subsequent to the Land Sale; by whom is not stated, but see on this point in re V/2 below. V/2 may have been required to record township purchasers' names because V/1 was too small; but a note on it reads,'Transmitted to the Colonial Secretary for the purpose of being forwarded to Mr La Trobe, by my letter No. 40170. S.A. Perry, D.S.G.' Another note reads, 'Returned to the Surveyor General in Colonial Secretary's Letter 44/413 of 10 December for Deposit'. This suggests that a copy of the township section of the original plan was asked for, made, and sent, through the Colonial Secretary to La Trobe, who was Lt Governor at Port Phillip; who would need to know the results of the Land Sale, etc., as being part of his area of authority. "Letter No. 40170 means Peny's 70th letter for the year 1840 - the year of the Violet Town Land Sales. It (this sectional plan) didn't get back to the Surveyor General till 1844; which suggests that it could have been required for further sales of land. (On V/1) 'Approval' almost certainly indicates approval of the plan itself, and perhaps for the establishment of a township there - see entry for September 9, 1839; and also entry for Nov. 18, 1842 - V/3 Sydney. I don't say this is what happened; more research from more sources is needed for that. It seems likely on the information now at my hand. The 1839 survey by I.G. Wilmot isn't accounted for, and must be kept in mind. What would its purpose be? V/1 and V/2 were used for the land sales in 1840. Also, it should be V/3, before the 1842 plan so designated, as noted just above. (I have also a photocopy entitled V/4 Sydney; which as I remember it is part of a much larger plan - being the township area only. I could be wrong about it being part of a larger plan, as I got two or three at the same time from the Central Plan Office. The Historical Enquiries Officer already referred to compared this plan with his micro-negative of V/2 Sydney, and said he felt sure that it was another copy of this V/2 Sydney. This kind of thing was done - sometimes several copies of a plan being made as required to plot in later changes or additions. The only difference I can see is that V/4 Sydney has surveyor's markings along the three visible sides of the town boundary, whereas V12 Sydney does not. Both have buyers' names on the Section 1 allotments. On Vl2 Sydney this was probably because it was the 'master' copy; if V/4 Sydney is another copy it could be that some official or department wanted a plan with the names on it.) SUMMARY: It was intended to have some of the Mounted (Border) Police stationed at the Violet Creek. That plan was apparently altered, so that they went to Broken River instead. Was it also intended to have a township at the Violet Creek, as part of the arrangement for the Police? Or did it arise as part of a plan to encourage population along the road to Sydney, as a form of protection from the aborigines? The attack on the Faithfulls occurred in April 1838, and the survey of a township was made in September of that year - close enough, allowing for the time it would take to get official wheels moving, to leave

4. Note that surveyed allotments allfiont onto the Violet Creek, with a Reserve between them and the Creek (4- Tulip st) Violet Town's Origins page 11 An History of Violet Town the question very open, and either reason a possibility. That the urgency of 'protection' had eased considerably, is shown in that the site of the township wasn't officially declared until September 1839, and the first land sold in January 1840. Again the question arises - why at that point in time? Was there a demand for land then? Anyhow, it can be said that the first moves towards establishment of Violet Town arose out of the flurry caused by the aborigines' attack on the Faithfulls; and the plan to station a protective force of Mounted Police here. Things moved on from that point. "EARLIEST INLAND SURVEYED TOWN'' - this sign greets the traveller coming into Violet Town from the Hurne Freeway. It echoes the Shire Council's Souvenir Booklet of 1979: 'The first inland township surveyed in Victoria.' G.N. Rathbone, in 'Flora Scobie', writes, "... on Major Mitchell's Line was the oldest inland Victorian town, now Violet Town, created by the Colonial Secretary as a depot for troopers and provisions for travellers." M. Crocker, in 'A Short History ... St Dunstan's Church', says, "Two other places were surveyed at the same period, and another, but both these ceased to exist many years ago. This makes Violet Town the oldest surveyed town in existence in inland Victoria." The question will arise for some at least: what does 'earliest inland surveyed town' mean to the reader? Does it mean the earliest inland surveyed town to have existed? or the earliest inland surveyed town still existing? Mitchell's Town, for instance, was surveyed early in the latter half of 18385. On July 3, 1838, R. Hoddle, in charge of Survey Office at Port Phillip, instructed H.W.H. Smythe to survey "a township on the Goulburn River, where a detachment of troops was located.'On October 9, 1838, Government fixed site for a township at Mitchell's Town on the Goulburn. On August 9, 1839, 34 half-acre town lots were sold at (meaning 'for') Mitchell's Town. (Sale held in Sydney) Violet Town was surveyed in September-October 1838, its site fixed in September 1839, and first town land sold in January 1840. It was proclaimed a town in 1861, but I have no information on this for Mitchell's Town. On this basis, Mitchell's Town was the first of the two towns to exist. (I don't know what the third town was.) But Mitchell's Town (soon?) ceased to exist, when the road shifted southwards and Seymour came into being; so (of the two) Violet Town is the 'earliest inland surveyed town' still existing! On the other hand, I believe there is some life at Mitchell's Town, which is still marked on the road maps and visited by people. Whether it would be classed as a town, and is on the same survey, I don't know. Probably Murley Crocker's description is the best: "This makes Violet Town the oldest surveyed town in existence in inland Victoria." (Note: G.M. Rathbone's statement ('Flora Scobie') that Violet Town was "created by the Colonial Secretary as a depot for troopers and provisions for travellers.") [These three items are from 'First Years at Port Phillip': La Trobe Library] Change Of Road Course Affecting The (Yet Unsurveyed) Violet Town Township? The Port Phillip Gazette (newspaper or Government?) of approximately April 10,1839, spoke of a 'new road' replacing that by the Honeysuckle Creek, and going northwards, passing the stations of Hughes, Templeton and Faithfull. And on April 13, 1839, Lady Franklin and her party reached "Honeysuckle Creek" on her journey from Port Phillip to Sydney. (The manuscript copy of her diary, in La Trobe :.,ibrary, gives the following:- page 9: the site of this place is laid out as a township to be called Mitchell's Town. page 10: On with our journey to Honeysuckle Creek - said to be 45 miles. There is another way called the new road which passes by the stations of squatters Hughes, Templeton, Faithfull, and has water at creeks at nine miles, 25 miles, and 10 or 11; but the 25 miles was said to be so much worse than this of 30, that it was thought better to take this one - tedious, no change.

5. In a briefer (day to day) version of her diary also held at La Trobe Library, Lady Franklin spoke of the road as being instead of the one by the Honeysuckle Creek.

Eolet Town's Origins page 12 An History of Violet Town

(Note also; her further comments:- Saturday 13th April, (1839) 12 miles to Honeysuckle Creek (G. W.E. - started from somewhere in the Euroa area?) Thermom 73 at 8 in morning. Had easy morning's journey, and arrived about lpm. Some dead honeysuckle trees about near where we rested, and creek full of water-holes - pretty good water, slightly weeded. Many parasites being blown about by the wind. Rain during night. Light of lantern on ground in front of tent was crossed by shadow. At same time heard little (illegible) too light for horse, and barking dogs. Heard next day it was a native dog that had come down - frightened away by our barking, and rain in night.) A second survey of the Port Phillip Road was ordered on July 19,1839, and carried out by surveyor T.S. Townsend in late August and early September of that year. The date is too late for the 'new road' referred to in Port Phillip Gazette; unless a 'new route' was in mind to take the course indicated therein. The plan of the survey couldn't he found when wanted in the early 1960s, so there's no help there. Both the Gazette aad Lady Franklin speak of the new road as replacing 'the one by the Honeysuckle Creek'; yet I have seen nothing to indicate that the Honeysuckle Creek was 'by-passed', even if it could be. There's an implication in the Gazette report that the new road took a more northerly course in the region, and the mention of creeks only on the new road could mean thet they were not in the course of the old road; but as some of these creeks at least start well behind the Violet Town - Euroa country, this doesn't seem likely. In 1843 surveyor Pickering was sent out to 'define the line of the New Sydney Road' for post office arrangements; (see reference later, 1843) and I have a Lands Department plan entitled 'Old Roads S/3' by Pickering at that time. Starting from a crossing of the 'Violet Ponds', it travels southwest for perhaps two miles. Here the 'Old Sydney Road' is marked a little way further, but at a 'marked tree' a line of road turns south to cross Faithful's Creek and pass Balmattam Range (west of it as a spur of albigger range), reaching 'Templeton's or the main of the Seven creeks' and Templeton's station before turning southwest to a turn off to 'the Devil's River' and then west to Coornoo or Creighton's Creek. How far that approximates to the present road, or to the old road east of it, I can't say. It is impossible (by this) to say whether the two roads of Pickering's survey are the roads referred to by the Gazette and Lady Franklin in 1839. There was, for instance, Townsend's survey of later 1839; but he may not have made very big changes from what he found. It could be that Pickering's 'old road' of 1843 corresponds to the 1839 'old road'; and that the 'new road' on his plan is that of the 1839 Gazette'etc. In any case, there seems no likeness that any road didn't go "by the Honeysuckle Creek." (Note: In re Townsend's survey of the Sydney Road in August-September, 1839: the survey plan was (and is still?) missing. He wrote a letter, quoted in part in 'Wangaratta, 1824-1963', (but not including Violet Town area) which I haven't seen. It may have some local reference.) Notice is hereby given that a site has been fixed upon for a Village in the under-mentioned place, and that a copy of the approved plan may be seen at the office of the Surveyor General, in Sydney, or at the nearest Bench of Magistrates, namely:- Violet Creek, on a stream of that name, on the Road to Port Phillip. By Command of His Excellency the Governor, E. Deas Thornson. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 9th September, 1839. (N.S.W. Government Gazette, of 11th September, 1839; La Trobe Library) Note that the above was a set form of announcement for all villages, etc. A similar notice appeared for , dated 13.4.1839. (page 480) The 'nearest Bench of Magistrates' might well have been at Melbourne then. I'm not sure what 'fixing a site' means, but it seems like declaring establishment of a town, etc., and that land could be bought there. Violet Town's proclamation as a Town didn't eventuate until 1861. Note also previous entry here re plans V/1 Sydney and V/2 Sydney, and notations on same - one being 9 September 1839, and others re Sale of Town land to be held in January 1840. Honeysuckle Creek squatting station: formed and taken up by Alex. Anderson, Jr., with John Wm. Binny and Wm. Speid in 1839. (Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip by Billis and Kenyon) I've seen somewhere a nolet Town's Origins page 13 An History of Violet Town date in June given for this 'start', but can't verify it. It used to happen that squatters 'sat down' on land before actually paying their depasturing licence, and this could have happened here. I mention that in relation to the creek's name from 'Violet Creek' to Honeysuckle Creek - the station's given name may be the reason. The run then included Stony Creek, and was later sub-divided into Honeysuckle North and South, with Stony Creek becoming a separate run. The original, all-in-one run extended west and east - on either side of the Sydney Road.

Violet Town's Origins page 14 An History of Violet Town Violet Town Land Sales First Sale Of Land At Violet Town ("Violet Creek") "Approval intimated by Colonial Secretary's Letter No. 391632 of 9th. Septr. Upset price £4 per acre for the Town Allotments. Announced in the Gazette Notice of 9th Septr, 1839, page 998. Suburban Allotments Nos. 1-9, advertised in Govt. Notice of 2 October, 1839, as Lots 2-10, for Sale in Sydney on January 8, 1840. Vide Gaz. folio 1073." (on plan V/1 Sydney - qv. copy nearby pages here) 'Sale of Suburban Allotments by Auction, in the Market Building, George Street, Sydney, at 11 a.m., on Wednesday 8th January next, 1840." (N.S. W. Government Gazette, 1839.) 2nd October 1839. Lot 2 County unnamed: six acres, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek. Suburban allotment No.7; bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.85 on south-east by suburban allotment No.6. Price £1 per acre. Lot 3, County unnamed, five acres, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek; suburban allotment No.8, bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.95 on south-east by suburban allotment No.7, Price £1 per acre. Lot 4, County unnamed, six acres, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek; suburban allotment No.6, bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.7. Price £1 per acre. Lot 5, County unnamed, five acres, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek; suburban allotment No.9, bounded on north-west by part of a reserve, on south-east by suburban allotment No.8. Price £1 per acre. Lot 6, County unnamed, 10 acres 0 roods 32 perches, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek, suburban allotment No.5, bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.4, Price £1 per acre. Lot 7, County unnamed, 10 acres 0 roods 32 perches, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek, suburban allotment No 4, bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.3, on south-east by suburban allotment No.5 Price £1 per acre, Lot 8, County unnamed, 10 acres 0 roods 32 perches, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek, suburban allotment No.3, bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.2, on south-east by sub-urban allotment No.4, Price £1 per acre. Lot 9, County unnamed, 8 acres 2 roods, parish unnamed, at Violet Creek, suburban allotment No.1, bounded on north-west by part of a reserve, on south-east by suburban allotment No.2. Price £1 per acre. Lot 10, County unnamed, 10 acres 0 roods 32 perches, parish, wnnamed, at Violet Creek, suburban allotment No.2, bounded on north-west by suburban allotment No.1, on south-east by suburban allotment No.3, Price £1 per acre. Comparison between the 1839 Survey plan V/1 Sydney and the gazetted pre-sale notice shows some changes in allotment numbering; also that the plan has no allotment No.1 while the notice does, and the notice numbers the Lots from 2-1 0. What it means I don't know, but everyone seems to finish with their right allotments! The Gazette contains an after-sale notice giving names of buyers, etc., as follows:- Lot County Extent Purchasers Price 2 unnamed 6.0.0 Lewis Gordon £6.0.0 3 unnamed 5.0.0 J.R. Hatfield £5.0.0 4 unnamed 6.0.0 G.W. Newcombe £7.16.0 5 unnamed 5.0.0 W.S. Wilson £7.15.0 6 unnamed 10.0.32 H.C. Sempill £13.5.3

Violet Town Land Sales page 15 An History of Violet Town

7 unnamed 10.0.32 J.T.Hughes £10.4.0 8 unnamed 10.0.32 James Roberts £10.4.0 9 unnamed 8.2.0 G.W.Newcombe £11.18.0 10 unnamed 10.0.32 W.C. Wentworth £16.6.5 (Note: R. Ashley 'A Few Dates' in North-Eastern Historical Society Newsletter, says that the buyers were all Sydney men. I have no information on this. Murley Crocker draws attention to the name of W.C. Wentworth, who had earlier crossed the Blue Mountains with Blaxland and Lawson. B. Rea, in his 'Up and Down the Sydney Road', 1958, says that 'at the first sale of allotments (see note of Town allotments sale following this page) at Violet Creek in 1840 'the inevitable blacksmith put in his bid for a block.' I know nothimg about that either.) [Is there any link betwen W.S. Wilson above and the family in Violet Town now? Any other of the above names] (N.S.W. Government Gazette, October 2, 1839; and qv, plan Vll Sydney, 1838) On 9th January next (1 840) at 11 a.m., at Auction, Market Building, letter C, George Street, Sydney, Town Allotments:- half an acre Allot 1 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 2 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 3 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 4 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 5 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 6 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 7 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 8 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 9 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. half an acre Allot 10 of Section 1 Price £4 per acre. (N.S.W. Government Gazette 1840, page 343) The Town Allotments advertised in the Gazette 2nd October (and other dates?), have been sold to the under-mentioned parties by Auction on 9 January last, and price affixed to each has been paid.

Lot Extent Purchaser Price 1 Violet Creek 0.2.0 Daniel McLean £6.6.5 2 Violet Creek 0.2.0 Daniel McLean £7.0.0 3 Violet Creek 0.2.0 G.W. Newcombe £4.13.4 4 Violet Creek 0.2.0 S. Elyard £8.0.0 5 Violet Creek 0.2.0 J.G. Lennon £8.0.0 6 Violet Creek 0.2.0 C.W. Roemer £6.13.4 7 Violet Creek 0.2.0 C.W. Roemer £8.0.0 8 Violet Creek 0.2.0 Messrs Hughes & Hosking £7.6.8 9 Violet Creek 0.2.0 Messrs Hughes & Hosking £10.13.4 10 Violet Creek 0.2.0 S. Emanuel £1 1.6.8 (G.W.E. - I wonder whether any ever came to live here; and which, if any, was the 'inevitable blacksmith! ')

Violet Town Land Sales page 16 An History of Violet Town

(Note that although the survey had consisted of four Sections, only this one section was put up for sale. (and so advertised) One couldn't very well survey one Section and call it a Town; but it would seem that Government didn't think there would be much demand - or were they still thinking of that mounted police post?) April 24, 1840: John Clark, Innkeeper at the Goulburn River, on the line of the Sydney Road; said his was the only inn for 70 miles in one direction and 90 in the other. This would make his inn the first out of Melbourne (70 miles) with the next at the Ovens River (90 miles on), ie., nothing here or at the Broken River. Lady Franklin (April 14, 1839) said she saw split boards placed on a tent on (her) left; which was said to be intended for brother of Clark's who was going to keep a tavern "here", but "was frightened away by accounts, of natives." It's years since I saw these letters in Public Record Office, but if I recall aright, John Clark, then living with son John at the Goulbm River, wrote to son Thomas in England on May 7, 1839, saying another son Richard was at the Black Swan Hotel, Benalla. (Contradictory!) 1841 'Kerr's Almanac for 1841' (published early in year) Directory included names from the country areas of Port Phillip. They seem to be mainly confined to squatters on the land. Those in a reasonably wide cast around Violet Town included:- Anderson, Major Joseph; Goulburn River. (Lt-Col., at Mangalore station: in "Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip," Billis & Kenyon) Anderson, Alexander; Binnie, John; Speid John; Speid, Binnie and Anderson: All were together on Honeysuckle Creek and Stony Creek Run, 1839-42; Anderson and Binnie were on Four Mile Creek (Warrenbayne) 1839-47; (Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip) Boyd, Chas.; Honeysuckle Greek. (Hy. Chas. Boyd, Templeton's Creek, c. 3 miles above Seven Creeks run, 1840-2. P.P. of P.P.) Brown, Thos; Goulburn River. (Worrough, 3 miles east of Seymour. P.P.P.P.) Cunningham, Archibald; Goulburn River. Davies, Jas. Honeysuckle Creek (near Honeysuckle Creek, 840-6. P.P.P.P.) Devine, Wm., Goulbourn River. (Crossing Place, Goulburn River, 1840-1. P.P.P.P.) Elliot, - ; Faithful Creek. (W.F Elliott, Honeysuckle and Faithfull's Creek, 1840-2. P.P.P.P) Holmes, Benjamin; Goulburn River. (Goulburn River, 1840-5. P.P.P.P.) Le Soueff, Wm., J.P., A.P.A.; Goulburn River. (Not in P.P.P.P.) McGregor, Geo., Goulburn River. (Arcadia, 1839-43; P.P.P.P.) Postlethwaite, T & W., Goulburn River. (Postlethwaite's later Bailleston, 1840-2. near . P. P.P. P. ) Robinson, J.A., junr., Goulburn River. (Goulburn River, 1840. P.P.P.P.)

1842 Directory in Kerr's Melbourne Almanac. Published early in year. Anderson, Alexander, settler, Honeysuckle Creek. (both Honeysuckle and Stony Creeks, 1839-42. P. P. P. P. ) Binney, John Wm., settler, Honeysuckle Creek Kolet Town Land Sales page 17 An History of Violet Town

Boyd, Chas; settler, Honeysuckle Creek (Templeton's Creek 1840-2, above Seven Creeks run - as 1841.P.P.P.P.; Davies, Jas. settler, Honeysuckle Creek, (near Honeysuckle Creek, 1840-6. P.P.P.P.) Elliott, W.F., settler, Honeysuckle Creek, (Honeysuckle and Faithfull's Ck. 1840-2. P.P.P.P.) Grimes, Edward, settler, Euputy-potpon, Broken River (Benalla, 1840-50; Upotipotpon., 184 1-4; Gowangardie, 1841-7. P.P.P.P.) Lawlor, Jas. Innkeeper, Black Swan, Broken River. (Jas. Lawler, Black Swan Inn. Benalla ., 1840- 4. P.P.P.P.) Scobie, Mitchell Forbes, settler, Anderson's Station, Mt. Macedon. (superintendent, Mangalore, 1839- 41 ; Wyuna, 1842-9; Honeysuckle Creek 1844-53; Wyuna, 1849-5 1; McKinlay & M.F. Scobie, , 1841-2. P.P.P.P.)6 Wheeler, H.O., settler, Faithfull' s Creek, Sydney Road. (Not in P.P.P.P.)

1842 Nov 18: Plan V/3 Sydney, of part of the Township of Violet Creek. Copied from the plan in the Surveyor General's Office, Novr. 18th, 1842, Edward I.H. Knapp, Surveyor. There is also a notice saying that no further additions are to be made to this copy; for such, V7(2) is to be used. I have seen this kind of thing on other plans. The plan shows the area contained by Tulip, Hyacinth, Cowslip and Rose Streets, also the Reserve opposite Tulip Street, and the Violet Creek beyond that. Allotments are marked (without names) on both sections (1 and 2) as they were on V/1 Sydney, ie., between Tulip Street and the 'lane' running parallel to it part way to Cowslip Street. Allotments 1 and 2, on the comer of Tulip and Rose Streets are shaded in, and have D. McLean's name on them. Various survey measurements appear in Rose, Tulip, Lily and Hyacinth Streets. The shading of D. McLean's allotments (1 and 2 of Section 1) indicates that they are the particular concern of the survey in some way or other. I've seen others like them, and they have been personal surveys defining the owner's limits for some purpose. There's no clue (yet) about this one. Possibly he was going to use the allotments, or sell. It's possible that it could have something to do with the hotel erected there a little later. 1843 Jan 26; Port Phillip Gazette (Government) gave notice that Post Offices had been established on the Sydney Road at Kilmore and at Ovens on the Ovens River - to function from 1st February, (quoted in 'Wangaratta, 1824- 1963') 1843 June: R.D. Lang (Rev. J.D. Lang?) in 'Phillipsland', published 1847; wrote of arriving at the Honeysuckle Creek Station at 10 o'clock at night in June 1843, and "finding a bark 'Post Office' - also a young Scotsman who had that day ridden a journey of about 35 miles to collect a month's letters and papers for his master, whose station was at that distance off towards the mountains from this central point in the great wilderness of Australia." (The following may refer either to this or an earlier occasion) "When travelling with the mailman on a previous occasion, it was about 10 o'clock at night, pitch dark, extremely cold, and ... all at once, knowing they were approaching the Honeysuckle Creek station, the coachman blew a succession of flourishes on his bugle to announce their arrival." There was no (official) Post Office at Violet Town (Violet Creek?) until 1852, so it looks as though Honeysuckle Creek station could have been one of the places where the mailman changed his horses, the change horse being supplied by the station owner at each visit. As well, the 'bark Post Office' may 6. Kenyon gives two other datesfor his first year of holding @una - 1840 or 1841.' ('Notes'page 313, Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip)

Violet Town Land Sales page 18 An History of Violet Town have been a storage and collecting place for district squatters (and their employees) the mailman leaving mail and collecting it in a loose bag. It would be unofficial, and the mail would come from and go to the nearest official office, or straight through the ultimate destination office. (In my Wangaratta days there was a reference to a mailman carrying an "open bag" over his shoulder, the rest being in sealed bags over the horse. By the time Lang speaks of, there must have been a sort of dog cart seating mailman and passenger.) 1843 March 25: Letter from Survey Office, Melbourne to assistant Surveyor Pickering:- Mr Kemp, postamaster here having represented, to Mr La Trobe that great inconvenience is experienced from want of information as to the relative position of the creeks, and other places to which letters may be addressed, to the post offices recently established on the Sydney Road? His Honour has instructed me to request that you will ... before you return to Melbourne ... define the line of the New Sydney Road. It sounds as though mailmen could have been baffled by "the everlasting sameness" of the Australian bush, and ill-defined roads! But it probably accounts for a number of plans sent me by the Lands Department: signed by W. Pickering, and dated as September 1843 when sent to Head Office. (One is unsigned and undated)

(1) Sydney Road No. 2, Old Roads Sl3, (94) Violet Ponds to Creighton's Creek; sent to Head Office 18 September 1843. (2) Survey of the Sydney Road between Hughes's Creek and the Violet Ponds, Old Roads S/4, (95), Creighton's Creek to Hughes's Creek. Sent in, 16 Sep. 1843. (3) Survey of the Sydney Road from the River Goulburn to Hughes's Creek, Old Roads S/5, (96). Plan is undated, but above information links it with (1) and (2) above, which are 1843. It has note on it "Accompanying letter from Mr Hoddle No. 42/67 dated April 18". "No. 42/67" should mean letter 67 in 1842, but he may have had the letter since then for some purpose. It is puzzling, but may not be relevant. Re Sydney Road No. 2, Old Roads SI3, (94) Violet Ponds to Creighton's Creek: As noted previously, this is the first official use of "Violet Ponds" I have yet seen, even if only by a surveyor on the road. The Plan starts from Violet Ponds, the creek crossing the road, but no township marked. It proceeds about two miles in a southwestern direction to a marked tree, where it diverges from "Old Sydney Road" (which continues on south-westerly) and turns southerly, passing the 'Balmattarn Range' between it and a longer north-south range to the east; turning westerly near Templeton's Creek at Templeton's Sheep Station, and continuing so past a south-easterly turnoff to the Devil's River until it reaches Creighton's Creek. Re Survey of the Sydney Road (No .2 above) Creighton's Creek to Hughes's Creek: the road turns gradually west-south-west, past Col. Anderson's sheep station to Avenel and the Creighton's Creek. (No 3 above, Survey of Sydney Road from the River Goulburn to Hughes's Creek; THE COURSE IS SOUTHERLY, WESTERLY, SOUTHERLY, AND COMES IN TO THE Goulburn River at Clark's Inn. Judging by the positions of Clark's Inn and the Violet Ponds, the 'Old Sydney Road' took a general south-westerly course, like a shallow arc. (see sketch on page 20) 1844. Post Offices established at Benalla (then Broken Creek?) and Seymour. (-. Baker, P.O. Historian; from official sources) 1846. Broken River:- Petty Sessions aad Police establishedj Licenses for Occupation of Crown Land advertised, (p.1603 ff) (N.S.W. Govemment Gazette) 1846 Directory for Melbourne and District of Port Pkillip, 1846; published 1845. (Country names were grouped in areas as follows) Murray :

Violet Town Land Sales page 19 An History of Violet Town

- - -- Violet Town Land Sales page 20 An History of Violet Town

Curlewis & Campbell, Ovens and Broken Rivers and Strathbogie. Campbell, with J. Wardrop (and Curlewis?) at Strathbogie. 1845-1847. "Pastoral Pioneers of Port - Phillip." (P.P.P.P.) Owen and Mullen, Mojalimby. (Chas Mullins witk Owens, Moglonemby, 1844-49. P.P.P.P. Western Port: F.M. Scobie, Goulburn River. (Wyuna 1842-9. P.P.P.P.) Murray: M.F. Scobie, Honeysuckle Creek. (Honeysuckle Creek 1844-53; P.P.P.P.) Thos. Turnbull, Faithful's Creek. (Faithfull's Creek, Ovens River, 1845-53; P.P.P.P.) John Vidler, Caniarnbo. (Caniambo, 1843-52. P.P.P.P.) Samuel Watson, Faithful's Creek. (Stockman's Rest Inn, Faithfull's Creek, 184 1-45; P.P.P.P.) Binney and Anderson, Four Mile Creek. (Four Mile or Warrenbayne, 1839-47; P.P.P.P.) Barnes and Holland, Seven Creeks. (Charles Barnes and Philip Holland, Seven Creeks, 1843-51. P. P. P.P.) Edward Grimes, Gowangardie. (1 841-47. P.P.P.P.) Jas. Kirkland, Urewa. (Euroa, with Holdforth & Barton's, 184 1-5 1; Cropper's Station, 1846-5 1. P. P. P.P.)

1846 Port Phillip Herald, as quoted by B.Rea, "Up and Down the Sydney Road," published 1958. " ...the rising village of Violet Town is progressing rapidly, and may one day develop into the most important town of the Port Phillip district outside of Melbourne. Placed on the main line of road between Melbourne and Sydney, it will ere long be found a valuable acquisition to travellers. Houses are springing up as by an encnanter's wand. A publican's licence has been obtained for the premises designated as the Royal Mail Hotel, which it will to an advantage for travellers to visit." (Note; R.Ashley, in North-Eastern Historival Society Newslrttrr, said Thomas Clarke was the builder and owner of the first hotel, the "Royal Mail," in 1846, on allotment 1 of Section 1. (corner of Rose and Tulip Streets). In "Victoria and Its Metropolis," 1888, an early resident. W.J.Gregmn, "The first hotel was kept by Mr Loundy." H.L. Godden, re "the Violet Town Post Office," said "about 1847 the mail was left at Thomas Clarke's Royal Hotel, when Mr Lundy was the mailman." 1847: Port Phillip Patriot Directory for 1847; published 1847. Includes :- Alexander Andersen, settler, Honeysuckle Creek, Murray, (with John Wm. Binny, Four Mile Creek or Warranbayne, 1839-47. P. P. P. P.) Chas Boyd, settler, Honeysuckle Creek (superintendent for Jas Hodgkinson, Woodstock, 1847. P.P.P. p.1 W. F. Elliott, settler, Honeysuckle Creek. (No P. P. P. P. entry this peried) Jas. Kirkland, settler, Urewa, Murray. (1 841-3 to 185 1, Euroa and 1846-5 1, Cropper's Station P. P. P. p. >

Violet Town Land Sales page 21 An History of Violet Town

Owen & Mullen, settlers, Mejalimbi, Murray. (Chas Mullins with Owens, Moglonemby, 1844-49. P. P. P. P.) Mitchell F. Scobie, settler, Mynna Plains, Mt Macedon (Wyuna, 1842-9; with Sir Jas. Matheson, Honeysuckle Creek, 1844- 1853. P.P.P.P.) John Templeton, settler, Seven Creeks, Broken River (?? , 1838-43 5 Curdle jJrAekTlpso . PPPF . ) Thos Turnbull, settler, Faithful's Creek, Ovens River, (Faithfull's Creek, Ovens River, 1845-53. P.P. P. P. ) John Vidler, settler,Caniambo, Murray. (Caniambo, 1843-55. P.P.P.P.) Samuel Watson, settler, Faithful's Creek, Murray. (Stockman's Rest Inn, (No 1847 entry P.P.P.P.) Faithfull's Creek. 184 1-45. P.P.P.P.) H.O. Wheeler, Faithful's Creek, Sydney Road. (No entry, P.P.P.P.)

1847: "About 1847 the mail was left at Thomas Clarke's Royal Hotel, when Mr Lundy was the mailman." (H.L. GoddenYnTheViolet Town Post Office.") (Note: I don't know Mr Godden's sources, "but haven't seen any mention of him at this time. (See 1849 re G.W. Rusdon at Violet Town) Later directories mention him, I think. I would think that Lundy (or Loundy, as per W.J. Grogan in "Victoria and Its Metropolis," 1888) was a regional carrier of mails along Sydney Road rather than a local deliverer.) 1847: Chief Constable and Clerk of Petty Sessions appointed at Broken River, and Court of Petty Sessions established there. ( N.S.W. Government Gazette, 1847, pp. 1202,1603, etc.) 1848?: "Sketch of the Murray District "by Robert Hoddle, based upon Assistant Stapylton's Survey of the Road, and Pickering's "River Goulbm." I've written on it "Signed. H.W.H. Smythe, Crown Commissioner;" and "Plan by Henry Smythe, C.C.L., based on Stapylton's Survey and Pickering's 'River Goulburn. "' As the question mark indicates, the year of this plan's compilation is not known to La Trobe Library, but 1848 approximates to the librarians' knowledge of events of those years. I think it was about 1848 when all occupation (pastoral) licences were re-issued as from Victoria - they had been issued in Sydney earlier, and this could be why the plan was made up, whether official or private. It shows the position of the Murray District (north-east part of Victoria, as divided for administration) squatting runs. Referring to the part I have copied, (see next page) it eould be that the road line I've marked "OLD" (in black) is the "Old Sydney Road" of Pickering in 1843, and Stapylton's 1839 line of road, for which the plan can't be found. The ''NEW road (in red) corresponds generally to Pickering's 1843 survey. Note also the pencilled "BUSH TRACK" branching of south-westerly from "V Mile Creek;" without any explanation as yet. Notice that townships are outlined at "Seymour" and where Violet Town now is; the latter being unnamed, but the creek being called Violet Ponds indicates that this was part of Stapylton's 1839 plan of road - before there was a 'Violet Creek on stream of that name?' 1849: G.W.Rusden's visit on behalf of Government initiated "National School" system. He was sent to (parts of?) Victoria to explain and promote the system throughout the country. He kept a diary of his visits - a 1849 diary which has as its first note, "Read 1850 to June 10." This fits the course given of his travels as begnning on or about Jwne 1849 and finishing during 1850 - June 1O? He rode south (from end of coach road? at Yass?) and included Albury and Wangaratta - and Black Dog Creek in between - in his calls. I had seen the diary earlier in connection with Wangaratta. It, and an irrelevant later one are in the Manuscripts section of La Trobe Library. His notes for Violet Town are as follows:- 1849 August 13, Monday: (his whereabouts forgotten) Wrote to Dr Murphy amd Mr G. Faithful at the Violet Town Land Sales page 22 An History of Violet Town

Ovens. Saw two gentlemen, one from the Broken River and the other from Violet Town, who promised to advertise persons about the Broken River amd Honeysuckle of my coming. Sept 2, Tuesday: (location? Written above day's space is "at Mr Clark's Inn, Violet Town.") Rode to Warrenbayne - on to Mr Scobie's - not at home. Rode on to Violet Town. Mr Clark said he would give £10, and wished me to wait for Mr Scobie. Hearing that the Goulburn was impassable I consented to wait a day or two ... Wrote to Mr Scobie a long letter explaining how the people at Violet Town must act if they wish for a School, in meeting, appointing Patrons, &c. Children at Violet Town:

Name BOY Girl Total Rel. Distance from Violet Town Morgan CofE 1 112 miles - at Mr Soobie's Lundy CofE Violet Town Garrod* RC Violet Town Crawley RC Violet Town Clark RC Violet Town Reid CofE 3 miles from Violet Town Hogg Presbyt 8 miles from Violet Tow Vidler RC 10 miles from Violet Tow Mullins CofE Distance 5 miles Maxwell CofE Distance 13 miles

Violet Town Land Sales page 23 An History of Violet Town

Stockdale 1 1 2 CofE V.T. not yet arrived Note: see Sept 8 and 10 entries for more names Sept 5, Wednesday; Rode on to Mr Hogg's Inn, ascertained from him that he would send 4 of his children to School at Violet Town. Went then to Mr Turnull a settler near Mr Hogg's Inn. He is willimg to support the matter of a school. Mr Scobie being expected at Mr Turnbull's I determined to remain there. Wrote and sent letters to Mr Kirkland 5 miles from Mr Hogg's, and to Mr Ogilvie 6 miles from Mr Hogg's, begging them to attend at a meeting at Violet Town on 6th. Mr Scobie arrived in the evening 2nd agreed to attend and cooperate, and there seems to be no chance of getting up a school without some dependence on boarders. Sept 6, Thursday; Rainy day. Attended at Violet Town with Mr Scobie, (riding the 8 miles from Hogg's within the half hour). Mr Kirkland and Mr Ogilvie not being in attendance, and it being desirable to know their sentiments on the subject, I was requested to remain a day or two longer so that we might in the meantime communicate with the neighbours. I of course, agreed, and Monday was fixed upon. Returned to Mr Scobie's. Sept 7, Friday: Rode to Mr Hogg's, and on to Mr Kirkland's. Naive reason for not attending was that he did not know what system it might be. He read and approved the rules - promised to ride over with me to the Seven Creeks in the morning to see Mr Ogilvie about it. There are at Mr Kirkland's:- Harrison: 3 girls, ages 9,8,7, Presby religion, Distance from V.T. 12 miles, residence Mr Kirkland's. Mr Scobie went over to Mr Allen today to request Mr G. Allen to attend tke meeting on Monday. Sept 8, Saturday: Rode to the Seven Creeks - waited some short time and saw Mr Ogilvie. Is willing to cooperate but would rather not be a Patron, not being a Proprietor, but he will subscribe. There are at the Seven Creeks;-

Name Boys Girls Religion Distance from V.T. Maxwell 3, ages 9,7,6 CofE 13 miles Williams 1 RC 13 miles Wilson 4, ages 9,8,7 RC 13 miles Holland & Barnes. Wilson, 4 girls, 9,8,7, R.C., ditto. Maxwell promised to send his eldest boy if a school should be established at Violet Town. Wrote a note to Mr Ryan, Mr Ogilvie agreeing to take it over there very kindly. Sept 10, Monday; Rainy day. Attended meeting at Violet Town. Resolved: 1. That a National School be established . 2. Messrs Scobie, Allen, Turnbull, Kirkland, Clark - be Patrons. 3. Mr Scobie, Treasurer; Mr Clark, Secretary. 4. Subscription list entered into - £40.9 in the room. 5. That a representation be made to the Board of the number of children, and amount subscribed, in order to know if the Board will help.

Violet Town Land Sales page 24 An History of Violet Town

Number of children estimated at 19 Day Scholars and 7 Boarders, being:-

Day Scholars Boarders Name No. Religion Name No. Religion Morgan 4 CofE Maxwell 1 CofE Lundy 1 CofE Harrison 1 Presbyt. Garrod 3 RC Wilson 1 Presbyt. Jones (or Jonas) 3 RC Servant of Mr Vidler 2 Reid 2 Stockdale 2 Hogg 4 Presbyt. Mullins 2 Of the 19, nine are Church of England, six are R.C., four are Presbyt. Rode on to Mr Turnbull's. Sept 11, Tuesday: Rainy day. Rode to Mr Hogg's, and on to Mr Kirklaand's, it raining hard. (Note at foot of page:- "Uroa 984 m." Does this mean Euroa? and that he had travelled 984 miles on his interstate journey? There doesn't seem to have been a town of Euroa then, only the squatting run, or runs, there.) G.W.Rusden visit im January 1850: 1850, Jan 24, Thursday (changed from Wednesday) Severely hot. Rested my horse amd determined to travel to Violet Town following day. January 25, Friday: (changed from Thursday) Severely hot. To Mr Kirklamd's, Local Patron at Violet Town. To his knowledge nothimg has been done ... I had been here. On to Violet Town, ascertained that partly owing to Mr Scobie's projected departure for England, partly to serious illness of Mr Garrard, and the leavimg of one or two families, nothing had been done. Thinking that nothing could be done until more families should be residing at the place, I determined not to delay at Violet Town but to push on to Benalla. (Note: "Mr Scobie's" follows in line by itself; as though indicating some kind of contact, actual or projected.) 1849: Population of Violet Town amd district; G.W. Rusden's contacts for the National School system give the first idea I've yet found of Violet Town's size amd growth in the earlier years. The Victorian Directories have been confined, with a few possible exceptions, to the squatters in the country districts. G.W. Rusden was interested in families with children, but even if allowance for the unmarried and the childless, the number still seems small. (The Directories of the 1860s show greater numbers again.) Rusden met the following squatters:- Allen (or Allan), George: Warrenbayne or Four Mile run (with brother John), and Gowangardie (alone), 1847-52. Holland (Philip) & Barnes (Charles): Seven Creeks, 1843-5 1. Barnes was a merchant in Market Square in 1845. Maxwell, Williams and Wilson were employees on this run. Kirkland, James: Euroa (with Holdforth and Barton), 1841-3 to April 1851, and Cropper's Station,

Violet Town Land Sales page 25 An History of Violet Town

1846-5 1, 12 miles north of Longwood. Harrison was employed there. Mullins, Charles: Moglomemby (with Owens), 1844-Aug. 1849; (alone) Nov. 1852-65. Scobie, Mitchell Forbes: Honeysuckle Creek run. (see notes thereon) Morgan was employed there. Turnbull, Thomas; Faithfull's Creek, May 1845-Oct. 1853; and later runs. Vidler, John: Caniambo, June 1843-June 1852. A "servant of Mr Tidlennvorked tkere. Ryan (to whom he wrote) could be Charles Ryan, who was on Five Mile Creek (or Killeen) run, Creighton's Creek north of Longwood, June 1849-Apr 1854. Tke families with children: (a) in the township:- Clark (at the Inn?) one boy, RC. Not in final list of scholars Crawley one girl, RC. Not in final list of scholars Garrod (Garrard?) 3 boys, RC. Lundy, 1 boy, C of E. Stockdale ("V.T.") one boy, one girl, Stockdale to be boarders, boy and girl. (Not stated where lived) (b) outside the township:- Harrison at Mr Kirklamd's (Euroa), 12 miles from V.T. 3 girls, 9,8,7, (one to be boarder) Presbyterian. Hogg Hogg's Inn, 8 miles from V.T. towards (now) Euroa. On an old road to Melbourne, east of present road, towards Balmattum hills. Old unmarked grave on property. 4 boys, 2 girls, (four of school age), Presbyterian Jones 3 children, RC. (but in list of day scholars) Maxwell 3 boys, 9,7,6, (one for school, as boarder), C of E, 13 miles out, at Barnes and Holland Williams one boy, RC., Barnes and Holland as above. Not in final list of scholars Wilson 4 girls, 9,8,7, RC. Barnes and Holland as above. (one only to be boarder) Morgan at Scobie's, two boys, two girls, C of E. 1.5 miles out. Mullins 8 boys, 2 for school, C of E, 5 miles away. Reid three boys, three girls, 2 for school. "B" (Baptist?) 3 miles away Vidler two boys, two girls, none for school, RC. 10 miles away. "Servant of Mr Vidler" 2 as boarders. Note: Two lists

(1) Children at Violet Township including outlying areas = 36; 6 (perhaps 8) in the town, and 30 (or 28) outside it. (2) Children for anticipated school: Day Students: 19, including Hogg 4, Jones (possibly out of stown a bit) 3, Morgan, four children, 1.5 miles out, Mullins 2, five miles out, and Reid, 2, 3, miles out; leaving Violet Town Land Sales page 26 An History of Violet Town only four from the town = Lundy, 1 and Garrod 3. Clark and Crawley aren't in this second list as are others out of town. The overall family numbers divide up as C of E 6, RC 6, Pres. 3, Not stated , 1. Total: 16. (Note: further to school at Violet Town: I have as yet nothing hrther until Government reservation of land for a National School in 1860.) 1850 from Lands Department, with plans of Pickering's 1843 survey of road between here and Seymour: two plans called Survey of Roads from Kalkallo to Seymour; Nos. 1 and 2. No.1, marked as surveyed "by H.G. Foot, Asst. Surv", and dated 1850, starts from "Kalkallo" going north through "Merriang," just after which the road divides; the left hand or western road going past Budd's Station and Broadhurst and Tootle's Station to pass through a rectangle named Kilmore and then turning north-easterly, with Dry Creek along its east side, to join the second road shown in plan. After the separation above Merriang, the eastern or right hand side road passes Malcolm's Out-station, a turnoff "Plenty Road," and Waitemann's (Inn?) just after which the Running Creek starts on the western side and follows the road to the end of the plan, where the two roads start to converge. In plan No.2, the western road crosses Dry Creek to join the eastern read just before the two creeks unite as Running Creek. The now one road swings north-east to keep on the eastern side of the creek, and an "Upper Goulburn Road" (dotted) leaves it, heading northeast. Farther up "Tallarook Road" (dotted) goes off northeast. Nearer Seymour Mr Hawdon's Out-station is passed, a "Road to Tallarook" crosses road to southeast, and the Goulburn River is reached. Here the surveyed road finishes. In the curve of the river is "Seymour Reserve," with "Punt" around the curve, and "Inn" near the end of the plan. 185 1: Directory for 1851 - "Country Districts" section. George Allan, settler, Gowangardie via Benalla. (1 847-1852. P.P.P.P.) John and George Allan, settlers, Warranbayne via Benalla. (as above.) Colonel Anderson, settler, Mangalore, Seymour. (1 838-50, 1850-63 alone. P.P.PP. Alexander Anderson, jnr, settler, Bangal, via Leigh or , (ditto) Barnes and Holland, settlers, Seven Creeks via Broken River. (1 843-5 1. PPPP) John Burkitt, settler, Hughes Creek via Benalla. Fredk John Bury, settler, Hughes Creek via Benalla. ( Tarcombe & Hughes Creek, 9 miles south of Longwood, 1846-Jan 185 1. P.P.P.P.) Thos. Clark, publican, Honeysuckle Creek via Seymour. Richard Clark, postmaster, Broken River. R. Clarke, settler, Junction Station, via Benalla. Neil Clerk, Broken Creek, via Benalla. (Neil Clerk, Broken Creek run, 1845-50 P.P.P.P. J. Cockburn, Broken River; James Hogg, innkeeper, Faithful's Creek, via Seymour. B & L. Jones, settlers, Avenel, Hughes Creek via Seymour. (1 848-53) P.P.P.P. Jas Kirkland, Seven Creeks via Seymour. (Euroa, 1841-3 to 1851 ; Cropper's Creek, 1846-5 1 P.P.P.P.) John Kissock, Strathbogie via Seymour. (1 847-57. P.P.P.P.)

Violet Town Land Sales page 27 An History of Violet Town

Wm Long, settler, Honeysuckle Creek via Seymour. (Wombat Hill, 1846-5 1. P.P.P.P.) Chas Mullan, settler, Honeysuckle Creek via Seymour, (with Owens, Moglonemby, 1844-49: alone 1852-65. P.P.P.P.) C.Ogilvie, settler, Seven Creeks, Seymour. Messrs Rum, settlers, Seymour. Mitchell Forbes Scobie, Honeysuckle Creek, Violet Town. (1 844-53. P.P.P.P.) Tolmie and Bethune, Bailey Hill, Violet Town. (Seven Creeks, 7 miles south of Euroa. 1846-49. P. P.P.P.) Thos. Turnbull, Faithful's Creek, Violet Town. (Faithfull's Creek, Ovens River, 1845-53 .P.P.P.P.) Joseph A.Underwood, Stoney Creek, Violet Town. (Stony Creek, 1845-49. PPPP)

1851 Dec 23 Title Deed ready on payment of fees for (it);- Town Lots, John Bourke, 2 roods, Violet Town. Deed dated 23.12.1 85 1. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1852, p.714; La Trobe Library) Could be allotment 6 of Section 3, facing Tulip Street, between Hyacinth and Dahlia Street, two-thirds way along from Hyacinth Street comer. Name appears on P/AV3 plan, updated, but showing allotments taken up all along the four sections, including the Cowslip Street frontage of section 4 (nearest "Sydney Road") and S.J. Fenton as owner of former National School land. His ownership is given as beginning in 1876. (Fenton's) 1852 July 28: Notice given that Lt. Governor having authorized establishment of Post Offices at (includes) Longwood and Violet Town. Mails will be made up and closed on the Days and Hours specified; the parties whose names are noted against respective offices being duly appointed Post Masters. Violet Town, Thomas Clark. Tuesdays and Fridays at 1.p.m. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1852, p.800; La Trobe Library) (Note; H.L. Godden,"The Violet Town Post Office;" said there was a Post Office at Underwood's Hotel near the creek. He could mean an unofficial office prior to the above; otherwise it would have been at what point Clark gave up the Office or left the district. That I have as yet to find out. "near the creek:" I have been told that the Underwood family had a hotel in (present) High Street or Sydney Road, a little north of the Cowslip Street crossing and on the east side - near the present home of Mr & Mrs "Bill" Underwood. Then Mrs Underwood began a hotel where the Ellen Francis Hotel now stands on the comer diagonally opposite the present Post Office. The earliest date I have seen for an Underwood in the hotel business here is a note in the unofficial "Coles Collection" of Victorian hotels (La Trobe Library) in which is the note, "Underwood had hotel at Violet Town, 12.6.1863" The years 1880 and 1895 are also mentioned. Although annual licence applications were often inserted in newspapers, as also the granting of same, I don't think I've ever actually seen one I was looking for! The country often lacked newspapers in early days, even though applications were heard at the nearest Court of Petty Sessions. I believe "Coles" got much information from newspapers, and so his information is likely to be quite trustworthy. Thos Clarke is listed as 2.9.1845 or 1846; formerly of Retreat Inn, Brunswick. Licence granted, conditional on the house being finished. Mrs Clarke was there 2.1.1862 1853 Oct 25: (Victorian Government Gazette, 1853, p. 1634) List of Post Offices giving the names they had had, together with the names they would officially have for the future, (includes) Present Name, Violet Town; Future Name, Violet Town. Kolet Town Land Sales page 28 An History of Violet Town

1854 Feb 14: First recorded service (Church of England) held in Euroa in the evening by Rev. Wm Singleton of Kilmore, who had come to Marry Edward Williams and Martha Morris, both of Euroa. This first service was held in the dining room of Vidler's hotel. The wedding took place next day. (A General History of Euroa & District, C.W. Halsall, 1980) 1855 July 3 1: "Plan of Violet Town Reserve," by Assist. Surveyor Wilmot, date illegible. I was given date of plan as above by Lands Department, which entitles it as PIA V4, which was explained to me as meaning "Put Away" (not in general use) Plan Violet Town 4 - quite a different set of plans from the Sydney V1, V2, &c. "A Few Dates Concerning the Early History of Violet Town," in North-Eastern Historical Society Newsletter; says that in July 1835, Surveyor Willmott surveyed Sydney Road (Hume Highway) and more streets and blocks. In describing the plan one has to note that it could have later additions, as this did happen; but at first sight, I don't think this is so here. The "Sydney Road" is there, described by surveyor as "Proposed new line of road 3 chains wide To Sydney," - one long straight line, as it is now. It is laid out almost completely along its "east" side, and includes a "VR on west side above Cowslip Street intersection, and in the vicinity of the area tall pine tree near the creek, where, I'm told, the old police station stood. Further along on the east side, is another and larger "VR area. Just beyond this a track "To Webster's" turns off easterly. (Thos. and Octavis Browns were on the Warrenbayne run from April 1852 till August 1860) A track runs from the "Sydney Road" southeast near the present overpass over the Hume Freeway, going to Honeysuckle Station." (then held by Sir Jas. Matheson) "Burial Ground" shown, seems in present position, but access is only by long street parallel to "Sydney Road," (Murray Street?) since closed. On the west side of the "Sydney Road," (the "town side" now) there is a triangle of land bounded by Cowslip, Rose, (Streets) and the "Sydney Road," and containing only dotted "Tracks to Sydney," and another turning north. It looks odd, thus, but I don't know why it was so left, (or not, perhaps included in the plan?) The four original town sections are indicated still as if only the frontage to Tulip Street, but Section 13 has joined them at western end, and is marked as though allotments reach to Cowslip Street. Similar sections 8-12 are across the Honeysuckle Creek from these. West of Section 12 is a large paddock "hatched" but any description is illegible. North of it is quite a large "Government Paddock." (Purpose not indicated) "Government Reserve" see entry 1855 August 10 page 24. West of the triangle already mentioned, the land is surveyed into larger and larger allotments, for "country" use obviously; and north of the sections already mentioned south and north of the creek, allotments are larger and larger still. Along the west bank of the creek out of the town is written," ... bank (banks?) of the creek available for agriculture." The west side of "Sydney Road" beyond the creek, enroute to (now) Benalla, is surveyed into 11 allotments of home or business size. "Plan of Violet Town Reserve" - does it mean by Reserve the original town area on 1838 plan (1 mile square)? - now enlarged to "3 miles" written along the three sides of a square as shown on plan? (Plan from Lands Department) (NB. From Rose Street two parrallel lines of road width approach the creek at an angle bearing slightly northeast, and a narrow bridge is drawn to what I think is the later Baird Street.) * I have a previous note: "July1 855: Surveyor Willmott surveyed Sydney Road (Hume Highway) and more streets and blocks." (A Few Dates Concerning the Early History of Violet Town; North Eastern Historical Society Newsletter) 1855 Aug 10: Plan of "Agricultural Reserve at Violet Town, Parish of Shadforth." Surveyed by "Wilmot, Assistant Surveyor 10 August, 1855, No. 551322. Lithographed Oct. 12, 1855." (Lands Department) (My Violet Town Land Sales page 29 An History of Violet Town

copy from La Trobe Library Collection of Lands Department plans, Book 77, page 7) This plan looks to be basically the same as PIA V4 already mentioned here; which is natural enough with such a short time between them. Taking the outer areas first, they seem the same, except that they are renumbered slightly. A track follows the south side of the Honeysuckle Creek north-west to "Mullins Station." (Mullins, with Owens, was on Moglonemby station from 1844 to Aug. 1849; and then continued alone, Nov. 1852 to March 1865.) The old track to Sydney comes in from about the same distance of "High Street" to the north, as Murray'Street is south of "High Street;" coming closer to meet the latter at the Cowslip Street intersection, after which it wanders off southwards from "High Street," Another old Sydney track branches away north-north-west along Rose Street, turns north-west to the corner of Baird and Hurt Streets, continuing north-west to across Shiffner Street, then travelling almost east to the end of the plan. From this track north of Conelly Street, another one branches off north to cross the One Mile Creek to "Stony Creek." (the station? Thos Bond was there from 1849-73. Others before and after him) Another track leaves opposite to the Mullins track, and goes south-east across High and Murray Streets east of the present overpass on the Hurne Freeway, to "Honeysuckle Station = Honeysuckle Creek station, then occupied (personally, or by a manager?) by Sir J. Matheson. Another track leaves the Sydney track at Ashwin Street southeasterly and then east, for "Websters." (Thos Webster, with Octavius Browne, Wanenbayne, April 1852 to August 1860) The "Government Paddock" of plan PIA V4 (3 1.7.1855 as given) now includes the hatched area of that plan, but without any explanation of the land's purpose, (see also plan P/A V5, page herein) In the town area: the triangle between High Street, Cowslip Street and the continuation of Rose Street is still left empty, The original four sections of 1838 are now so numbered as to include all the land from Tulip Street to Cowslip Street and the land formerly left unsurveyed into allotments is so marked. Section 13 is included at western end, all surveyed, and a triangle formed by High and Crocus Streets and an unnamed street running off Tulip Street at an angle, is marked "Reserve". This corresponds to the (as told to me) old site of the Police Station. (with tall pine tree) The land from "Mitchell Street" (Section 12's western boundary) to Pitt Street, (Section 8's eastern frontage) and between Hurt and Shiffner Streets, is also hlly surveyed into township allotments; and there is another triangular "Reserve" on the comer frontage in Pitt Street. There is another small "Reserve" at the comer Graves and High Streets on the north side of Honeysuckle Creek, Section 5, access High Street from Sections 13 to 4, is surveyed for township allotments (bounded by High, Urmston, Murray and Peel Streets) and the same applies to a small section north of Honeysuckle Creek = Section 6, between Bellew and Ashwin Street on High Street. The Burial Ground is shown as before (PIA V4) and otherwise the survey south (or east) of the High Street appears much the same as P/A V4. (Note: I have another plan, P/A V5, with given date as 10.8.1855; but it is so covered with later additioma that it doesn't seem worthwhile to comment on it here; eg., it shows the State School site and a Public Recreation area next to it.-The Government Paddock shown on the last two plans discussed here remains, but the lower, hatched area is here called Police Reserve, but Cancelled, (see further notes in 1868) All township area is now surveyed out. Of interest (but with no reference to its dating) is the early arrangement by which Hyacinth Street continued on in same direction till it met what is presumably the present Primrose Street, which runs parallel to High Street till it meets the continuation of Rose Street, and then turns to High Street in line with Rose Street. This presumably is how things were before the coming of the rail line to Wodonga required a change. A large area on the east side of Murray Street, from (roughly) the present Meakins Avenue to where Hyacinth Street would reach High Street if it had been continued, is marked "Selected by James King," and next to it southerly is a smaller area "Selected by E.F. Tongue." Dotted lines to the east, south and west of this are marked "87.8.34." (or 134) This probably refers to the year 1887. No dates are given for the two "Selections." And so it goes! 1855-56: John dc Boos held services (Church of England) in his house at the corner of Tarcombe and Violet Town Land Sales page 30 An History of Violet Town

Foy Streets. A Sunday School opened in a bark hut at the rear of the house, with him as Superintendent. Around this time the Dean of Melbourne, the Very Rev. H.B.Macartney, baptised several children in the parlour of Vidler's Hotel, Foy Street. (A General History of Euroa & District, C.W. Halsall) 1856 Oct. 23: Given date for plan PIA V6. (Lands Department) It is only small part:- from the State School and Recreation Reserve in north to a little beyond Murray Street in south; and from just west of a continuation of Rose Street in west to Ashwin Street in east. From the inclusion of the State School and Recreation Reserves it is obvious that later information is included, and I can't be certain of what is what. Another inclusion, almost certain to be later, is a line representing the course of "N.E.Railway." It's hardly likely to have been considered in 1856, although in 1855 the Government had decided to undertake construction of railways throughout the State, and by the end of that year had surveyed routes for the same. Included in these was "a line from Melbourne to beyond Seymour .. also marked out." However, other lines came first, and it was only on January 12, 1869 that the Commissioner of Railways directed the immediate survey of the northeastern line. Contracts were let for construction in 1870. As mentioned, the State School reserve and the "Public Recreation" reserve alongside it are of later date. So is the cancellation of the National School reserve. Another "Reserve for Reservation" (date unknown) is shown with Lily Street (west side) and Primrose Street (south), Hyacinth Street (east) as its boundaries. It "backs onto allotments fronting to Cowslip Street. One of those allotments is marked "Church of England Reserve", on the corner of Cowslip Street and Hyacinth Street, (extended) the allotment "being No.4 of the Section 18. However this reservation wasn't made till 1869. (qv.) The railway line runs through the Recreation Reserve and passes just outside the corner of the Church Reserve. The Reserve referred to on earlier (1 855) plans, between Crocus and High Streets just south of the Honeysuckle Creek is here described as "Reserve for Police Pur., and has a reference number suggesting that it was reserved as such in 1868. (qv.) Other than that the plan looks similar to the earlier plan that has additions, PIA v5. 1856-7: A Government grant of £150 was obtained in 1856 for a Church of England school in Euroa, and in 1857 a schoolroom was "built in Scobie Street on the Church of England Reserve, and used as a Church of England School under the Denominational School system applying then. T.S. Dickson was teacher at this school. He was also Registrar of Births and Deaths, and made the first registration in 1859. (A General History of Euroa and District, 1980, C.W.Halsal1) c.1858-59 A box containing 1000 ozs of gold was taken out of the coach at Violet Town. The robbers were never caught, but it is supposed that they buried the gold somewhere on the flat where the township now stands. (J. Luscombe,"Local History") (Have seen nothing else on this as yet. - GWE) 1860 April 10: Land Reserved at Violettown. The Governor, &c., has reserved ... land described hereinafter ... as a Site for a National School, one acre, county unnamed, parish of Shadforth, allotments 19 and 20 of block 3, township of Violet Town; bounded by Cowslip Street on the south, Hyacinth Street on the west, on the north by a right of way, and on the east by the western boundary of allotment 18. (Notice given this date) Victorian Government Gazette, 1869, p.773; La Trobe library) 1860 February 18; Districts for the sale of Spirits, &c., by wholesale ... includes:- The Violettown District: Commencing at the north-west angle of Country allotment 1, parish of Shadforth, thence east 3 miles, thence south 3 miles, thence west 3 miles, and thence north 3 miles to the commencing point. (Notice given this 'Proclamation of ...' date) Victorian Government Gazette, 1860, p.348; La Trobe Library) 1860 (Victorian Government Gazette, 1860 page 1758: Violet Town included in Daily Service, Melbourne - Beechworth. For 186 1. Tenderer to provide free conveyance for mail guard, a Police Officer, who will have special custody of mails in course of transit. (In 1851 V.G.G. p.122: 1860 Contractor was Jas. Bevan and Co. (coach) - not a contractor before amount recommended for whole service = £1 5,200.

Violet Town Land Sales page 31 An History of Violet Town

1861 (V.G.G. p. 148) Contracts for mail accepted for 1861 = Jas Bevan and Co. $7850. 1861 February 18: Towns. Proclamation dated Feb. 18, 1861 ... Violettown, County unnamed, Parish of Shadforth. Commencing at a point on the Honeysuckle Creek, being the extremity of the west side of Mitchell Streets; thence N 14 degrees E by the western side of same to a point due west of the southern boundary line of portions 13 and 12 in the parish of Shadforth; thence east to the southeast angle of portion 12; thence south to the south-east angle of portion 11 in said township: thence west to the south-west angle of allotment 6 of portion A in said township; thence by a line bearing N 13 deg 8' S to the Honeysuckle Creek, and by the north bank of that creek east to the commencing point. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1861, p. 41 2?; La Trobe library) 1861 February 18: Proclamation (this date) Land near any town shall be a Common for the use of inhabitants shall be entitled to depasture their cattle and horses there ... as a 'Town Common'. Municipal Council may make rules ... as to how many horses and cattle each inhabitant shall be entitled to depasture. 'Violet Town: County unnamed, Parish of Shadforth, Extent 240 acres more or less. Commencing at north-east angle of Violettown township reserve; thence north to One Mile Creek; thence by that Creek north-west to its intersection with the east boundary of section 13; thence by that boundary south totown boondary; and thence by the north town boundary east to commencing point. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1861, p.412) 1861 September 11: Given date for PIA V7 plan (Lands Department). This again seems to have later additions, most notably the "North Eastern Railway Line" - a continuous line flanked on both sides with dotted ditto. (See note for PIAV6, Oct 23, 1856 on this) The line passes through the Recreation Reserve shown between Lily, Primrose and Hyacinth Streets, and the northern dotted line clips the corner of the Church of England reserve. The State School reserve is included, but the Recreation Reserve next to it is unmarked. The triangular reserve between Crocus and High Streets is entitled "Police Barrack," with number suggesting 1868. Otherwise the plan seems much the same as those previous; excepting that the only allotments with names, &c., on them are those contained within triangle formed by Cowslip, Lily and High Streets, and a small group bounded by High, Peel and Murray Streets, and the Honeysuckle Creek. 1861 October 4: Lands temporarily reserved from sale. (No date given9 for reservation, but insertion is Gazette dated as above.) 'Violettown. - Land for Church of England Purposes, in the Township of Violettown, Parish of Shadforth. County unnamed ... subject to Regulation of 14 January, 1861, (pursuant to Order-in-Council of 12 August, 1861.) = 2 acres, being allotment 4 of Section 18, township of Violettown; commencing at north-east angle of proposed reserve, which point is the intersection of the south side of Cowslip Street with the west side of Hyacinth Street; bounded on north by Cowslip Street, bearing N 76 deg 52' W 4 chains; thence on west by allotment 3 of said section, bearing S 13 deg 8' W 5 chains; thence on south by a line bearing S76"52'EY4 chains; thence on east by Hyacinth Street, bearing W13'8' E 5 chains to point of commencement. (6 1.C.6023) (This reservation would have been made after application by the Bishop (or his Registrar) on behalf of the Diocese (Melbourne) how much previously I don't know at this time; but it would have been prior to consideration at the Council held on 12th August,1861 referred to above. But not, I'd think, as far back as the plan of 1856 showing it therein. Again, it looks like later addition to an older plan.

8 Mtchell St: ran from westfiontage of Section 12fiom Honeysuckle Creek. NNE direction. 9 1861 July (18 ? illegible) Bishop Perry to President ofBoard of Land and Works (Melbourne) appluing for a Crown Allotment bounded on East (?) by Hyacinth Street, etc - (Letter Book/ Govenment - Diocesan Registry, Melbourne)

Violet Town Land Sales page 32 An History of Violet Town

The land was, of course, lost when the railway was being planned, and land required along its course was acquired or reclaimed. The church land went more for station yards than for the actual course of the line itself.) 1861 October 23: (Date of Order for Reservation) Land Temporarily Reserved from Sale. - Violettown - for Recreation:". Purposes at Violettown. Six acres, County unnamed, Parish of Shadforth - part of allotment 5, section 18, Violettown. Commencing at south-east angle of allotment 4, bounded on east by Hyacinth Street, bearing S13"8'W, 3 chains 75 links; on the south-east by Primrose Street, bearing S52'19' W, 6 chains 10 links; on the south-west by a line bearing N37"41'W, 7 chains 89 links; on west by Lily Street, bearing N13"8'E, 3 chains 49 and half links; and on the north by allotments 1,2,3,4 bearing east 9 chains 97 links to point of commencement. (61 .D.3952) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1861, p.2368) La Trobe Library) (Note:This again illustrates the practice of adding later information to old plans. It is included on PIA V6 of 1856. It too had to go to make way for the railway. I would like to know why it was put there, and what kind of recreation was intended - active? or reflective? eg., a park?) 1862 January 21 : Lands Temporarily Reserved from Sale included:- Violettown.- Site for Roman Catholic Church Purpose at Violettown. (pursuant to Order of February 3, 1862) subject to Regulations of 14 January, 1861. One acre 3 roods 39.8 perches, County unnamed, Parish of Shadforth, being allotments 16 and 17 of section 19, Violettown. Commencing at north-east comer of allotment 15; bounded on north by Cowslip Street, bearing S76"52'E, 4 chains; on the east by Dahlia Street (Dalhia Street on plans GWE) bearing 13" 8'W, 4 chains 8 1 links; on south-east by part of allotment 1, bearing S52"19'W, 42 links; on south by allotment 11 and part 12, bearing N76" 52'W, 3 chains 93 links; on west by allotment 15, bearing N13" 8'E, 5 chains to point of commencement. (62. F. 3 13.) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1862, p. 3 12; La Trobe Library) (Note: Again inclusion on plan P/A V7 indicates use of old plans for new information. It's said that the railway took just a comer of this site - broad gauge or standard? - or was it for the street that runs along the east side of the railway; which was made some time since the railway came in 1873) 1862 Feb 15: Rev. J.C. Sabine "recently" appointed to the district of Longwood. (The Church Gazette for the Diocese of Melbourne - Anglican). (Notes: A General History of Euroa and District, by C.W.Halsal1, says that Longwood church district included Euroa, and that Sabine used the Schoolroom at Euroa for services. The Church Gazette began this year, 1862 (Feb 15) and ceased publication in March 16, 1866.) 1862 Augugt 16 edition; On 4th July, the Bishop and Mrs (Charles Perry) went from on to Murchison, on the Goulbum, whence he was prevented from proceeding to Violet Town as he intended, in consequence of the flooded state of Muddy Creek ... spent the night at Murchison. (September 1 edition) The Creek remained high, so the Bishop went on to Longwood, which is in the parochial district assigned to the Rev. J.C.Sabine, where on the morning of Sunday 6th July, service was held in a room belonging to the hotel, and in the evening the Bishop went on to Euroa to preach in the schoolroom there. From hence the Bishop renewed his attempt to reach Violet Town, and ultimately succeeded in reaching it ... travelling a considerable distance through mud and water, along a road that at times almost impassable. Passing through Violet Town, Benalla was reached on 7th July. Went on to Belvoir. (Wodonga now) On 21st July (on return trip to Melbourne) the Bishop proceeded to Violet Town, and conducted divine service there in a room in the inn. On 23rd, Bishop and Mrs Perry reached Avenel. Evening Service at the inn, there being no Church and no place more suitable. Violet Town Land Sales page 33 An History of Violet Town

Rev. J.C. Sabine was appointed at the beginning of the present year to the charge of a district which includes Avenel, Seymour, Longwood and Euroa; in each of which places he conducts divine service on alternate Sundays. The district is a large one, and Mr Sabine is the first clergyman who has ever been located between Seymour and Benalla. (Church Gazette, Melbourne; La Trobe Library) (Note: 1. It isn't said whether Violet Town was included in this district, as another note I have says; it would surely have keen included above if it were? The other note says Benalla looked after Violet Town from 1856 to 1878 - but see notes in 1877-8. 2. The report refers to service in "the inn" - was there only one inn in Violet Town then? The "Coles Collection" has only Mrs Clarke there in 1862. (wife of Thos. Clarke of 1845/6?) If so, it was a Roman Catholic family - see 1849 re National School. * C.W.Halsal1, in "A General History of Euroa and District" 1980, quotes the Gazette assaying the Bishop arrived in Euroa in a spring cart drawn by two horse abreast. The Goulburn River at Seymour had to be crossed by boat. (No bridge yet? The punt would have ceased functioning by then, I think) 1863: Contracts for Conveyance of Mails 1863 include:- Melbourne-Beechworth, 6 days a week, Jas Bevan & Co. £6,500. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1863, p.219) 1864 Feb.22: Petty Sessions appointed. Violettown to be a place whereat Court of Petty Sessions shall be held. (Notice dated as above.) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1864, p.476) (Note; Prom Miss E.Harman, Research Officer, North-Eastern Historical Society; I received a copy of information supplied by Wangaratta City Council Archivist, as follows:-

VIOLET COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS Cause List Books 1864 - 1888 1913 Registers 1888 - 1959 1914 Commonwealth Case Register 19 17 - 1958 1915 Licence Registers 1881 - 1886 1916 This would, by previous experience, mean that the above Court books exist somewhere, but I couldn't say. Perhaps in Wangaratta, perhaps in Public Record Office, Laverton. Where was the Court House situated? Older residents say it stood in Primrose Street on or near the comer of Meakins Avenue, for as long as they can remember. Later it became a hall (Friendly Society?) and finally remeved. Was it an official; Government building or hired? One would think the former, but I've found no trace of it, or land reserved for it, in Government Gazettes up to 1876 - as yet. * Where did the Court House stand before the railway came in 1873? There was no road there before then. * Rev. W.M. Finn visited Violet Town mid 1870, and spoke of Mass being held in the Court House earlier in that year. W.J. Grogan ('Victoria and Its Metropolis', 1888; spoke of it having served for Roman Catholic and Anglican places of worship, though 'now' (1888?) each denomination has a church of its own. M. Crocker 'A Short History - St. Dunstan's Church', also speaks of its use by the churches, and tells of

10 Entries in red arefrom"Ear1y History of C of E in Euroa" by E. Badger. Has used Melbourne Diocesan magazine extensively.

Violet Town Land Sales page 34 An History of Violet Town an Anglican Tea Meeting and Concert being held there on 21 February 1878. 1864 Dec. 12: Mr H. Grafton resumed duty as Clerk of Count Court and Court of Petty Sessions at Benalla and Clerk of Petty Sessions at Violet Town vice Mr Hardy, transferred, Order in Council, 5 Dec. 1864. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1865, page 105) 1864 June 1: The Rev. J. Gilbertson was appointed to (the district of?) Tallarook, Seymour, Avenel, Longwood, Euroa. Last service at Euroa in April 1868 (Church Gazette (Anglican) issue this date) Note: 'A General History of Euroa and District', C.H. Halsall, says he was there till 1868 and held monthly services at Euroa. * Was Violet Town included in this? I've seen no mention of it. C.W. Halsall also says that when Gilbertson left, the Rev. J. Sheldon of Benalla began monthly services at Euroa. M. Crocker says 'The early church in Violet Town was attached to Benalla from 1856 to 1878 when it was transferred to Euroa. I would like to see the sources for this. As Bishop Perry was wanting to go to Violet Town in 1862 it could well be that services of degree of regularity were being held before then; but until I can see the records of the time in the Diocese of Melbourne, the matter must rest there. This applies also to the Rev. J. Sheldon's visits. The Benalla connection seems to have stopped a bit before 1878. 1865 Bailliere's Victorian Gazeteer, 1865 contained the following notes about Violet Town. (p. 186) Honeysuckle (Murray District) see Violet Town. Honeysuckle North, Station (Murray District) occupier, T. Turnbull; area 34,000 acres? grazing capability 17,000 sheep; situated on the Violet Ponds, adjoining Violet Town on the N.S. W. road. Honeysuckle South, (Murray District) occupier, Wm Forlonge; area 25,000 acres; grazing capability 3,000 head of cattle; situated on the south of the Violet Ponds, adjoining the Honeysuckle North Station. Stony Creek, (Murray District) a small creek rising near township of Baddaginnie, and falling into the Violet Ponds. Silurian. Stony Creek Station, (Murray District) occupier Thos Bond; area 12,s16 acres; grazing capability 1536 cattle; situated on Stony Creek, on main Melbourne-Beechworth road. North of Violet Town. Violet Ponds (Murray District) Chain of ponds fed by Stony creek and several small creeks, and in wet season by the overflow from Faithfull's Creek. Commences in unimportant creek arising in Mount Separation and continues for about 40 miles, when it falls into the Seven Creeks a short distance above Arcadia. Passes through township of Honeysuckle or Violet Town, where it is crossed by the telegraph line and the Sydney road. Lower Silurian. Violet Town or Honeysuckle, (Murray District) a small township in the Murray District.(electoral district) Situated on the Honeysuckle Creek; on Melbourne and Beechworth road, 116 miles north-east of Melbourne. There is a machine for the preparatian of horsefeed (Hobson's) worked by a steam engine. District is agricultural and pastoral. On the east side of the arc the nearest diggings - alluvial, about 20 miles distant, employing about 150 persons. Baddaginnie is about 8 miles north-north-east, and Euroa 13 miles south-south-east, The hotels are the Commercial, Union, and Violet Town. Population about 150 persons. Lower Silurian. 1865 June 23 : Wm Harris has been removed by the Board of Education, with the consent of the Governor in Council, from the Local Committee of Violettown Common School No.640. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1865, p.1378.)

Kolet Town Land Sales page 35 An History of Violet Town

1865 July 14: Proposed School Committees. At the expiration of one month the Board of Education (Common Schools Act) intends to appoint as members of the Local Committee at Violettown School No. 640, - Samuel Block, James Mullins, Jonn Watt, Joseph Lee. (Notice is dated as above) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1865, p. 1544) (Note: V.G.G. Notice of Aug 24, 1865, saying that the above (see July 14 entry) have been appointed.) * For how long had this Common School existed????? 1868 (Official Postal Directory of Victoria for 1868) Violet Town; Postal Township and Police Station, Electoral District of Murray, Distance 116 miles (from Melbourne), Petty Sessions visited from Benalla. Richard Ryan, Common School teacher; John Fivey, Postmaster and Registrar of Births. Aldridge, Henry; splitter, Boho. Beggs, T.A.; squatter, Moglonemby. Berkley, G., farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. Block, Samuel; storekeeper, High Street. Bond, John; farmer, Balmattum. Bourke. G.; publican, High Street. Bourke, T; storekeeper, Five Mile Creek. Boyle, Patrick; farmer, Shadforth. Calnan, William; farmer, Shadforth. Cantwell, E.; constable, Camp. Carter, Henry; farmer, Tulip Street. Clark, Charles; surgeon, High Street. Clark, Hugh; butcher, Cowslip Street. Cockran, William; blacksmith, High Street. Coughlin, T.; carpenter, Shadforth. Crocker, W.D. ; storekeeper, High Street. Croxford, Jas., John & R.; farmers. Curry, Matthew; farmer, Balmattum. Davenport, Sam.; farmer, Invermay. Eldridge, Mary; lodging house. Evans, Thomas; sawyer, Peel Street. Fivey, John; postmaster, High Street. Frazer, R.; superintendent station, Caniarnbo. Gordon, Neil, farmer, Balmatturn. Violet Town Land Sales page 36 An History of Violet Town

Grogan, John; bootmaker, High Street. Hagan, Francis; machinist, High Street. Hannan, James; farmer, Balmattum. Hare, William; farmer, Balmattum. Hart, James; bootmaker, High Street. Haskings, George; plasterer, Tulip Street. Hoskins, Thomas; storekeeper, High Street. Hunter, Peter; farmer, Tailing Flat. Kane, Patrick; storekeeper, High Street. Kelly, John; farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. Linard, Henry; storekeeper, High Street. Lundy, J. & J.; farmers, Honeysuckle Creek. Maher, Thomas, storekeeper, High Street. M'Gerry, B.; lodging house, High Street. M'Lelland, Robert; farmer, Balmattum. Neal, Mrs J.; dressmaker, Tulip Street. O'Mally, George; carpenter, Cowslip Street. Pilgrim, G.; farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. Quish, Denis; baker, High Street. Ralston, W.H.; squatter, Honeysuckle Creek. Ryan, James; farmer, Balmattum. Ryan, R.; schoolteacher, Cowslip Street. Sanderson, G.; farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. Selway, John; farmer, Shadforth. Sheppard, Jos.; blacksmith, Tulip Street. Shoolbred, Thomas; saddler, High Street. Sherman, Edward; storekeeper, High Street. Stivey, J.; storekeeper, Balmattum. Todd, James; carter, High Street. Underwood, J.A.; innkeeper, High Street. Valier, Jane; farmer, High Street. Wadeson, Richard; farmer, Balmattum.

Violet Town Land Sales page 3 7 An History of Violet Town

Wakenshaw, A,; farmer, Balmattum. Wardle, J.; farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. Walters, J.; farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. White, Eden; farmer, Balmattum. Boho White, William; farmer, Honeysuckle Creek. Williams, Hy.; hotelkeeper, High Street. (La Trobe Library, Melbourne) Also: Benalla: Rev'd J. Freeman, Church of England (also 1869 and 1870) 187 1 =at Winchelsea.

(from Official Victorian Postal Directory of 1868 - separation of names into localities) Tulip Street Henry Carter, farmer. Geo. Haskings, plasterer. Mrs J. Neal, dressmaker. Jos Sheppard, blacksmith. High Street Saml. Block, storekeeper. G. Bourke, publican. Charles Clark, surgeon Wm Cockran, blacksmith. W.D. Crocker, storekeeper. John Fivey, postmaster. John Grogan, bootmaker. Francis Hagan, machinist. Jas. Hart, bootmaker. Thos. Hoskins, storekeeper. Patk. Kane, storekeeper. Henry Linard, storekeeper. Thos. Maher, storekeeper. B. MyGerry, lodging house. Denis Quish, baker. Thos. Shoolbred, saddler. Edwd. Sherman, storekeeper. Jas. Todd, carter. J.A. Underwood, innkeeper. Jane Valier, farmer. Hy. Williams, hotelkeeper. Peel Street (off High Street) Thos. Evans, sawyer. Cowslip Street Hugh Clark, butcher. Geo. O'Mally, carpenter, R.Ryan, schoolteacher. Balmattum John Bond, farmer. Matthew Curry, farmer Neil Gordon, farmer James Hannan, farmer Wm. Hare, farmer Robt. MYLelland,farmer Jas. Ryan, farmer J. Stivey, storekeeper Richard Wadesen, farmer A. Wakenshaw, farmer E. White, farmer. Honeysuckle Creek G.Berkley, farmer John Kelly, farmer J. & J. Lundy, farmers. G. Pilgrim, farmer

Violet Town Land Sales page 38 An History of Violet Town

W.H. Ralston, squatter . G. Sanderson, farmer J. Wardle, farmer J. Walters, farmer Wm. White, farmer. Caniambo R. Frazer, superintendent, station Boho Henry Aldridge, splitter Moglonemby T.A. Beggs, squatter Shadforth Patk. Boyle, farmer Wm. Calnan, farmer T. Coughlim, carpeater John Selway, farmer. Invermay Saml. Davenport, farmer Five Mile Creek T.Bourke, storekeeper Tailing Flat Peter Hunter, farmer. Undesignated Jas., John, & R. Croxford, farmers Mary Eldridge, lodging house.

1868 April 27: Site for Police purposes, temporarily reserved, County unnamed, town of Violettown, by Order of 27.4.1868. (Gazetted 5 May 1868) Commencing at a point formed by the junction of the east side of Crocus Street with north-west side of High Steeet, bounded thence by the last named street, 7 chains 44 links more or less; thence by a street bearing N47" 41' or thereabouts, 5 chains 40 links more or less, to first-named street; thence by that street, bearing S13"8'W, 8 chains 53 links to the point of commencement. 68 Q 2732. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1868, p.886.) (Note: see re Plans:- P/A V5 of 10.8.1855; PIAV6 of 23.10.1856; & PIA V7 pf 1119.1861, herein.) 1868 (as above? check VGG) 27 April qv entry 15.9.1873 + 6.10.1873 Violettown: Site for Police Purposes: temporarily reserved, 43 acres more or less, County unnamed, Parish of Shadforth. Commencing on right bank of the Honeysuckle Creek at a point where the west side of Mitchell Street abuts thereon; bounded by that street bearing N14" E, 16 chains 50 links, more or less, to a point bearing N76" W, 1 chain 50 links, from the north-west angle of Section 12 in the town of Violettown; thence by a line bearing N76"W, 3 1 chains, to the aforesaid Creek, and thence by that Creek bearing SE to the point of commencement .. 68 R.2661. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1868. I have no page number or date; and have either forgotten it at the time, or it was same as last entry above; they follow on one another immediately in my rough notes) (Note: see re above:- Plans PIAV4 of 3 1.7.1855; 551322 of 10.8,1855; P/A V5 of 10.8.1855, herein) 1868 When Rev. J.Gilbertson left the area, Rev. J. Sheldon, who went to Benalla in 1868, began to visit Euroa - a Sunday Service once a month. No mention of Violet Town. (from "Early History of C. of E. in Euroa by E. Badger with official sources) 1869 Henry Linard appointed to the School Committee. (Violet Town) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1869, other details not noted)

Eolet Town Land Sales page 39 An History of Violet Town

1869 (in issue of Jan 28) An article on the Church of England progress in the State includes:- "still a vast number of places ... such as (including) Euroa, Longwood, Maryville . .. left almost entirely without the means of grace .. (issue of April 22, p.9, Itinerary of the Bishop includes:- April 1, to Rushworth. April 2, Creek on road to Violet Town impassable, therefore to Avenel, Mr Lloyd Jones's. April 3, To Violet Town via Longwood and Euroa, 40 miles, started 8 a.m., (Church of England Messenger, Melbourne; La Trobe Library) 1869 Violet Town entries in Official Victoria, Postal Directory read as for 1868. (La Trobe Library) Also: Rev. J. Freeman, Church of England, Benalla 'In the late 1860s' - H.L. Godden, 'The Violet Town Post Office.' 'there was a Post Office at William's Commercial Hotel.' (Note: The 'Coles' Collection of references to old time hotels refers to a Commercial Hotel at Violet Town in 1866-7? Quoting the Victorian Directory of 1866-7 as its source. Henry Williams is named as proprietor. However, it has other references that confuse:- (a) Commercial Hotel Kial la - owned "by Henry Williams, 14.10. 1866 'see other page' (the 'other page' reference is that given above) (b) Above page margin is 'Kialla Hotel - Violet Hotel' ('Kialla Hotel' is mentioned again from 1895 to 1910, and perhaps later) ...There is a Kialla listed in Victorian Postal Districts at present time; it is in the area. Was the Kialla Hotel at that place? Had Henry Williams been its proprietor? Did he call his Violet Town Hotel Kialla Hotel at first? Further work on Victorian Directories might help on this. From North-Eastern Historical Society Research Officer, Miss E. Herman, I received several photos relating to this family, and one has a photocopy of a photo of 'Henry Williams, Half Way Inn, Violet Town, Dies 18.11.1999, Aged 70 years. I have yet to trace 'Half Way Inn.' here, and its site. Along the old Hurne Highway south of Violet Town is an old long low remains of a hotel (stones and brick) with 2 or 3 old fruit trees. I've been told the William's owned this hotel, but no date given. It seems the last Daughter(?) lived on there alone, and wouldn't leave it even when deterioration was well advanced. 1870 Violet Town entries in Official Victorian Postal Directory read as for 1868 and 1869, except for: - G. Bourke reads "George Bourke;" and added is "Thos Kane, farmer, Balmattum." (La Trobe Library) (also) Rev. J. Freeman, Church of England, Benalla. 1870 The Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has appointed the Lord Bishop of Melbourne, Jas.W.Stephens, and Thos T. aYBeckett,Trustees of land set apart for Church purposes at places and on dates hereinafter severally mentioned (including) Violet Town, 12 August 186 1. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1870, p. 1476.) 1870 ("Scenes in North Eastern Victoria, &kc.," Rev. W.M.Pinn, 1870) We now enter the old spot called Violet Town, better known to old colonists before the separation of this Colony from N.S.W., as the Honeysuckle. Here my remark on the sameness of colonial towns is thoroughly verified. The creek, on whose banks it was built, was dried up, except where a few deep holes retain a little water. The hotel is of very large proportions, and is kept in a most respectable manner. Indeed its style and the attention shown to travellers is most creditable on the part of its enterprising proprietor. At the back of the town is situated a portion of the now memorable Strathbogie Ranges, where Power the bushranger seems to be

Molet Town Land Sales page 40 An History of Violet Town master of the situation. It is in the Court House Mass is celebrated, but I was glad to learn that through the exertions of Mr Patrick Keane, a resident of the town, a permanent Catholic Church would soon rear its head in this place. The name "Honeysuckle" was appropriate to the place, and I cannot see why a change to Violet Town was decided upon. It would be a herculean task for a Royal Commission of botanists to discover one charming violet anywhere. (p.17) A start is now made for Violet Town (from Euroa) which is fourteen miles ahead. The road is somewhat of a flat character all the way, and as the main road is avoided as much as possible, you must take the shaking in good part. (pp. 17-18) (Between Euroa and Violet Town) One selection on this stage somewhat surprised me. I saw, in a very lonely part of the bush, a small house going up, and having asked who the individual was about building it, was informed it was no less a personage than a medical Practitioner ... where his going to get patients will, I think, be to him a problem not easily solved ... Well, I hope this bush 'M.D.' has a competency in his pocket, and that the whole scope of his settling down on the lonely plain is on the principle that "prevention is better than cure." (P. 18) There is scarcely anything to remark about the country here only that it partakes of that everlasting sameness to be met with almost everywhere, with rare exceptions in Victoria. (p.20) (In re Benalla) This is not the only town in Victoria where surveyors have played curious pranks in causing the deviation of the old roads and fording places. Even Violet Town is another instance of a similar detour. As it is considered unparliamentary to impute motives ... 1871 (Notice dated 8.5.1871) School Committees Appointed,- Violettown No.640, Henry Williams, Jonah Britnell, Patrick Keane, Henry Linard, Charles Clark, William Cochrane, Wm. Denning Crocker. (Government Gazette, Victorian, p.924) 1871 John Waters, farmer, owner, 29 acres, Parish of Shadforth. (see 1879 from D. Chambersll: in reply to request for information about family of that name in Violet Town in early years. Mrs Jopsephine Bowering wrote me fro information. 1871 From this year the Official Victorian Postal Directories abandon entries for towns, replacing them with an alphabetical list of persons, "Trades and Professions" and other special classifications remain, and from issue of 1871 Samuel Block, John Fivey and Richard Ryan appear as in 1868-70. (and Henry Linard)I didn't follow up other mames. (La Trobe Library) (also) Rev. J. Freeman now appears at Winchelsea. 1873 March 20: "Work had progressed sufficiently for the (North-Eastern) line to be opened as far as Violet Town on March 20,1873. Like the opening, to Longwood, this too was achieved without ceremony .... In keeping with (Railways Chief Engineer) Higinbotham's policy of no permanent passenger structures when the Seymour line was opened, each of these stations (Avenel, Longwood, Euroa and Violet Town) was equipped with the bare minimum of facilities, described by the North-Eastern Ensign, as 'miserable sheds.' The carriages which made up the first passenger trains to run to Violet Town were contemptuously dismissed by the same journal as "the scum of the Ballarat and lines scraped together," Some vigorous running was evidently experienced in the early days of the extension to Violet Town, as the contractors complained bitterly to Thomas Higinbotham of the speeds which some of the more enterprising Government drivers were achieving. The temporary timber (station buildings) at Violet Town was replaced by a permanent building of standard design and weatherboard construction in 1876. The goods shed provided from the opening of the line is still in use." ("Six and a Half Inches from Destiny," K.Turton, 1973)

I1 Dr Don Chambers wrote histoly of Violet Town as yet unpublished.

Kolet Town Land Sales page 41 An History of Violet Town

"By instructions handwritten and dated January 12, 1869, Joseph Jones, Commissioner of Railways, directed Thomas Higinbotham (Engineer in Chief of the Railways Department) to arrange immediately for a survey of the Upper Murray (north-eastern) line. In 1870 contracts were let for constructing the line from Essendon to Wodonga. The line was opened in sections, in 1872 and 1873, and the Longwood to 'Violet Town section was opened on March 20, 1873." ("Victorian Railways to '62," L.J.Harrigan) (Note: "The lane beside the church hall, known as Meakin Avenue, was not in existence in 1864. When the railroad was opened about 1873 and the station was opposite where the Masonic Temple is now, Mr Meakin who owned a hotel in High Street purchased land from J.R.Hart and J.Undenvood. This land is a narrow strip which runs from the railway line to High Street. He cleared the scrub off this land to make a track so that passengers alighting from the trains would see his hotel and go there instead of crossing the railway line into the main street and other hotels!" (M.Crocker, 'A Short History .. St Dunstan's Church') (Note: Why 1864? I was told that his hotel stood diagonally opposite High Street from our Hall - where Mr Jack Knowles has his home now.) 1873 Sept 15: Temporary Reservation: by Order of 27.4.1868; of 43 acres at Violettown, for Police purposes, is about to be revoked. (68 R 2661 ) Notice gazetted 19.1.1873, about Orders of 15.9.1873. 1873 October 6: Temporary Reservations of Lands revoked (included) Violettown. Temporary reservation Sdr police purposes - by Order of 27.4.1 868. Revoked, by Order of 6.10.1 873. (Victorian Government Gazette, 1873, pp. 165 1, 1828) "After 1873" Some time after 1873 when the railway line was built and Cowslip Street became the business (centre?), a Post Office was established there. (H.L.Godden, The Violet Town Post Office - in North-Eastern Historical Society Newsletter) (where?) 1873 ; Lands Temporarily Reserved from Sale. Violettown, (No. 640), Site for State School purposes, to be vested in the Minister of Public Instruction, 5 acres 2 roods 34 perches. , township of Violettown; being Section 23. Commencing at the junction of west side of Caulfield Street with Tulip Street, bounded thence by Caulfield Street, bearing N13"8'E, 5 chains 71 links; thence by a line bearing N76"52'W, 10 chains; thence by a street bearing S13"8'W, 5 chains 71 links; and thence by Tulip Street bearing S76"52'E, 10 chains to commencing point. Bearings are from the true meridian. (73. M. 23486) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1873, p.2087. no date) 1874 Oct 16 It is popularly supposed that Violettown is going to the dogs. This is a tremendous mistake. Our long straggling township is possessed of vital energy. The fact of there being such a thing as a vigilance committee, whose avowed object is to eye carefully all local matters and compel even shire councillors to render a reason for their actions, is sufficient evidence that we are not dead, although we may appear to be sleeping. There is Mr Brown's flour mill, a perfect model in its way with all the working apparatus in splendid condition, and then comes Mr William's Commercial Hotel with its comfort and enjoy-ableness and most picturesque situation, and next Councillor Linard's lovely garden and grounds, with orange and lemon trees newly imported from Oram's, Shepparton. One of the missing links in Violettown is a place of worship. There is no church of any description. Catholics and Protestants use one building, and that building decidedly not holy. However, religious services are held in the court house, and last Sunday the Venerable Archdeacon Tucker preached a capital sermon from 84th Psalm, verses 3,5,7. There is a justifiable row here about the State School, arising from the fact that the plans and specifications

Eolet Town Land Sales page 42 An History of Violet Town for the new school are sadly too narrow for the accommodation required, and consequently there is much grumbling. (North-East Ensign, same date; written copy made for St. Dunstan's Centenary Celebrations) Feb 13 The Government Gazette of Friday last contains the following announcements. Mr John Gall and Mr Humphrey Grattan have been appointed licensing magistrates for the Violettown district. (North- East Ensign, above date; from written material made for St. Dunstan's Centenary Celebrations) Nov 13 Picnic. Violet Town. A correspondent writes that on Monday, the Prince of Wales' birthday, one of the largest gatherings of the residents and children ever witnessed at Violettown took place, the occasion being a picnic, more especially intended for the enjoyment of the children. Through the generosity of the residents in and about Violettown sufficient money was collected by the ladies to enable them to provide the good things necessary for such an occasion, and it is needless to say that these were fully appreciated by both old and young. The number of ladies and gentlemen who came as visitors must be taken as a sign of the great interest taken im the welfare of the children, and also the good feeling which exists here amongst all classes. Amongst those who deserve special mention for their energy as regards the getting up and carrying through of the picnic are Mrs Linard, Misses Powell, Wallis, Sherman, Hart and Underwood, and Messrs Powell, Brown, Sloan, Berkeley, Morgan and Block. The ladies especially deserving credit and praise for all the arrangements, which made the picnic a very great success. (North- East Ensign of above date; from written copy made for St. Dunstan's Centenary Celebrations) 1874: (New Victorian Counties Atlas, P.E.Hiscock & Co., published 1874) "Violet Town is a postal town situated on the Honeysuckle (Creek?) 20 miles east of the Goulburn River on the Melbourne- Beechworth road, 116 miles north-east of the former place; "by rail it is 10. (figure illegible) there being a railway station in the town. Population 255. Geological formation, Lower Silurian. (On map) Town is "Violet Town." Creek is "Violet Ponds." "Electric Telegraph" is printed along road line. (Note: Some information seemed more of the 1860s, and the map seemed basically old too. Updated for railway line? And when was electric telegraph opened? Check whether this so?) 1875: Contract for Erection of new State School, Violettown, 640, £421.10.0 Wm Bolger, a previous contractor. (Contract No.1493) (Victorian Government Gazette, 1875, p. 124. No date noticed) 1875: "R. Ryan appears as school teacher at Violet Town - (official Victorian Official Postal Directory 1875) * This is the only name I looked for - see 187 1 entry for change in Directory listings.

fiolet Town Land Sales page 43

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