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ISSUE #883 - January 31, 2020 Locky News Lockington’s Priceless Paper To Geoff and Yvonne Stewart, _ $ FREE We wish you well for your new stage in life, living back in Lockington. Thank you for the many years for Australia Day which you distributed the Locky News to the Tennyson Mail Run. in and Around On behalf of the Locky News team, Alison (Editor) Locky An all day feast could have been had in Locky on Australia Day… Volunteering Breaky in the park, thanks to the is the ultimate Locky Lions exercise in democracy. Kids Fishing Comp BYO picnic for You vote in elections lunch, thanks to the Action Club once a year, And a but when you volunteer, you vote every day Buffet meal with speaker at Mill, about the kind thanks to the Milloo CWA of community you want to live in. Author unknown Inside This Issue….. 2 Heritage 3 Notices 4 Australia Day Feature 5 Fuel Station Face Lift 6 & 7 Annual Adverts 8 & 9 Casual Adverts 10 & 11 Annual Adverts 14 Economic Development News 15 Locky Bowls 16 Calendar Next Typing Date MONDAY, February 10 Entries by 10am (Earlier if possible please) See page 2 for details This week’s Locky News was prepared by… Alison, Marilyn See Page 2 for contact and publishing details. Registered No A0024058N ABN 68 147 443 610 Email: [email protected] Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Publisher, Lockington Community News Inc. This paper is prepared for you by volunteers to help our community stay alive. Subscriptions Available. Page 2 ISSUE #883 - January 31, 2019 Lockington & District Living Heritage Complex Complex: 5486 2515 - Open Sunday’s 1pm to 4pm or by appointment President: Kevin “Jack” Oliver - Secretary: Beryl Marshall 5486 2353 Website: http//www.lockingtonvic.com.au Hello Everyone, Mr Bruce who, fortunately, proved to be up to the task. It was an enormous project, the like of which had not been previously I think it’s time to return to the story of the Victorian Railways undertaken in any British colony, but once the contract had been which we first looked at in October last year, in an article from let, work was quickly underway. Where extra efficiencies could the Williamstown Chronicle, dated 13 September, 1856. At that be achieved, new and different methods were put into action. time, the Victorian Government had borrowed an amount of On 3 July, 1858, the Adelaide Observer reported that, using a £8,000,000 from Great Britain with the intention of establishing a system that had been introduced in America, the contractors railway system in this state. As an initial step it was planned that were utilizing the excellent timber available in the Black Forest a major trunk line would be constructed, leading northward from to provide wooden rails for temporary tramways, thus effecting a Melbourne to Sandhurst (Bendigo), and from there to go further considerable saving when compared to the use of iron rails. north and provide a link to the Murray River. In so doing, it was hoped that Victoria could tap into the trade that was then going The first twenty-four miles of railway, across the plains of Keilor to South Australia, as a flotilla of riverboats carried the produce to Sunbury, was made available to traffic on 10 February, 1859. of the Riverina sheep and cattle stations to the seaboard, and However, the next two sections of the line, from Sunbury to brought back supplies to the people of the inland. The news Woodend and from Woodend to Kyneton, were expected to take item in the Williamstown Chronicle outlined the proposal and considerably longer as they included some very large works, described the proposed route. heavy rock cutting, and difficult gradients, involving the crossing of the Great Dividing Range. Through much of 1859, agitation An article published in the Melbourne Age in October, 1862, continued for a deviation of the line at Kyneton, to take the claimed that the first sod had been turned to begin the rail railway through the township rather than skirting around it just project in June, 1856, but I’ve been unable to confirm this in three miles away. In November that year, a deputation to Mr J C reading the newspapers of the period. It seems to be much too King, the President of the Board of Land and Works, met with a soon, as the Victorian Railways first advertised for tenders for favourable hearing. As plans and estimates had already been the line’s construction on 30 May that year. Even looking at the prepared, Mr King promised to lay the matter before the newspapers throughout 1857, it appears that very little was Executive Council with an undertaking that the Government happening, due mainly to disputes concerning the proposed would consult the wishes of the residents of Kyneton as far as route that the line would take. The people of Sandhurst were possible. Ultimately, the proposal was approved. strong in their support for the line as it was first proposed, but this was being contested by residents of the goldfield townships While the line had yet to reach Kyneton, preparations were of Castlemaine, Maryborough and Dunolly, who insisted that, as already in hand for construction beyond that point. From March, they were then making the greatest contribution to the economy 1859, Messrs Cornish & Bruce had made their head-quarters at of the State, their transport needs were of greater importance Castlemaine, taking up residential and office accommodation than those of Sandhurst, and still more so than the districts there. In addition, they had purchased land in the district to set further north. up workshops and a large foundry. There were also major developments at Malmsbury. Some of the heaviest works on Altogether, 133 tenders were received by the Government in the line would be encountered in that vicinity and, with the response to its advertisement for railway contractors; the greater facilities which the neighbourhood afforded for the quarrying of number being for the thirteen separate sections into which the ballast and bluestone, this led to its being described by the proposed route had been divided. The tenders were referred by Argus as a “great railway hive of industry.” The Bendigo the Executive Council to a professional board for examination, Advertiser described the “railway population” as “nearly equal to and, after a very careful analysis of the whole, the board that of the miners” in the district, and upwards of a hundred reported that the tender of Messrs. Cornish and Bruce for the horses were also being put to use there. Mr Enoch Chambers, whole of the Melbourne to Sandhurst Railway line was the the sub-contractor who was engaged to break up 50,000 cubic lowest overall, and considered to be the most propitious. On 3 yards of ballast for the permanent railway, was erecting May, 1858, the Bendigo Advertiser was able to report having extensive machinery at Malmsbury for reducing bluestone to the heard a whisper that Messrs Cornish & Co were the successful necessary gauge. He had also constructed a locomotive engine contractors. Other news sources, a little later, revealed that of 50-horsepower to carry this ballast along the line. This might those particular contractors had undertaken to complete the 94 well have been the first such locomotive to have been ½ mile line for a figure of £3,356,937. The letting of the contract built in Victoria. was soon confirmed with an announcement that, on 12 May, Messrs Cornish and Bruce had deposited the stipulated amount There’s no room for more this time. of security, £40,000, in the hands of the Sub-Treasurer. ‘Bye, Sadly, Mr Cornish died soon after the contract was entered Marg O’Brien upon, and the whole of the responsibility for its execution fell to Lockington Community News Inc. Charges: Minimum 5.5cm x 5.5cm $8.50 incl GST (Locals), $12.50 (Non Contact and Publishing Details Locals). Contact our office re larger advertisements and prices. No charge for non profit organizations. 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Articles printed in this paper are printed in good faith and in no way Postal: 2-10 Market Street, Lockington, 3563 reflect the views held by the 'Locky News' voluntary workers. We Editor: Alison Stewart Ph: 0417 177 807 reserve the right to reject items deemed to be unsuitable. Any Casual Advertisements - must be accompanied by name, address and malicious information will be forwarded to the Police. telephone number (without this information the advert cannot be printed) All news items will be put on website unless we’re advised not to.