YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1 Volume 1: Thematic Environmental History
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YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1 Volume 1: Thematic Environmental History Final 28 June 2012 Prepared for Yarriambiack Shire YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1 Context Pty Ltd 2012 Project Team: David Helms, Senior Consultant Dr Aron Paul, Historian Jessie Briggs, Research assistant Report Register This report register documents the development and issue of the report entitled Yarriambiack Shire Heritage Study Stage 1, Volume 1: Thematic environmental history undertaken by Context Pty Ltd in accordance with our internal quality management system. Project Issue Notes/description Issue date Issued to No. No. 1433 1 Draft 1 27 September 2011 David Young 1433 2 Final 28 June 2012 David Young Context Pty Ltd 22 Merri Street, Brunswick 3056 Phone 03 9380 6933 Facsimile 03 9380 4066 Email [email protected] Web www.contextpl.com.au ii VOLUME 1: THEMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VIII PREFACE VIII INTRODUCTION X Purpose x Historical Overview xi Yarriambiack Shire overview xii 1. SHAPING VICTORIA’S ENVIRONMENT 1 INTRODUCTION 1 HISTORY 1 1.1 The evolution of the natural environment 1 1.1.1 The natural environment of Yarriambiack Shire 1 1.1.2 Creeks and waterways 2 1.1.3 Climatic influences 2 1.1.4 The impact of Colonisation on the natural environment 2 1.2 Yarriambiack Dreaming 3 1.3 Coping with floods and droughts 3 1.3.1 Floods 3 1.3.2 Droughts 6 1.4 Appreciating and protecting natural wonders 7 1.4.1 Protecting natural assets 7 1.4.2 Appreciating and protecting lakes and waterways 7 HERITAGE 10 2. PEOPLING VICTORIA’S PLACES AND LANDSCAPES 11 INTRODUCTION 11 HISTORY 12 2.1 Living as Victoria’s original inhabitants 12 2.2 The Pastoralists 13 2.2.1 Early pastoral runs 13 2.2.2 Pre-emptive rights and Squatter’s homesteads 14 2.3 Patterns of settlement 15 2.3.1 Surveying the land 15 2.3.2 Selection and freehold sales in the nineteenth century 15 2.3.3 Closer settlement schemes in the twentieth century 16 2.3.4 Private settlement schemes 18 2.3.5 The establishment of towns 19 2.4 Migrating to seek opportunity 21 2.4.1 The German Influence 21 2.4.2 The British Influence 22 2.4.3 The Chinese contribution 23 iii YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1 HERITAGE 24 3 CONNECTING VICTORIANS BY TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS 25 INTRODUCTION 25 HISTORY 25 3.1 Establishing pathways 25 3.1.1 Establishing coach services 25 3.1.2 Establishing a road network 25 3.2 Post offices and telecommunications 26 Telegraph and telephones 27 3.3 Connecting Victorians by rail 27 3.3.1 Establishing the railway network in the nineteenth century 28 3.3.2 Extending the railway network in the twentieth century 29 3.3.3 Railways and township development 29 3.3.4 Railways and water supply 30 3.3.5 The railways and transporting of grain 30 3.4 Country newspapers 31 HERITAGE 32 Establishing pathways 32 Post Offices and telecommunications 32 Connecting Victorians by rail 32 Country newspapers 32 4. TRANSFORMING AND MANAGING LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES 33 INTRODUCTION 33 HISTORY 34 4.1 Grazing and raising livestock 34 4.1.1 Sheep 34 4.1.2 Horses 35 4.2 Cropping and mixed farming 35 4.2.1 The rise of grain 36 4.2.2 Experimentation and developing agricultural knowledge 38 4.3 Managing water resources 38 4.3.1 Early water supply schemes 39 4.3.2 The Irrigation Trust schemes 39 4.3.3 The Wimmera Mallee Stock and Domestic Supply System 40 4.3.4 The Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline 2010 42 4.4 Land Management 43 4.4.1 Controlling rabbits and other pests 43 4.4.2 Land degradation 44 HERITAGE 46 Grazing and raising livestock 46 Cropping and mixed farming 46 Managing water resources 46 Land management 46 iv VOLUME 1: THEMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY 5. MAKING TOWNS AND SETTLEMENTS 47 INTRODUCTION 47 HISTORY 48 5.1 Developing regional centres 48 5.1.1. Malleeopolis – Development of Warracknabeal 48 5.1.2 Developing local Industries 49 5.2 Retailing and commerce 50 5.2.1 The country general store 51 5.2.2 Banks 51 5.3 Entertaining and socialising 53 5.4 The rise and fall of small local centres 54 Decline of small centres 55 5.5 Township amenities 56 5.5.1 Electricity 56 5.5.2 Fire Brigades 56 5.5.3 Reticulated water supplies 56 5.6 Making homes for Victorians 57 HERITAGE 58 Developing regional centres 58 Retailing and commerce 58 Entertaining and socialising 58 The rise and fall of small local centres 58 Township amenities 58 Making homes for Victorians 58 6. GOVERNING VICTORIANS 59 INTRODUCTION 59 HISTORY 59 6.1 Forming local government 59 6.1.1 The formation of local government in the Wimmera and Mallee 60 6.1.2 Yarriambiack Shire 60 6.2 Rural political organisation 61 6.3 Aboriginal self determination, Native Title & Land Use Agreement 61 6.4 Maintaining law and order 62 6.5 Defending Australia 63 6.5.1 Country Militias and Rifle Clubs 63 6.5.2 The Great War (1914-1918) 63 6.5.3 The Second World War (1939-1945) 64 6.5.3 Commemorating the wars 64 6.6 Managing water supplies 66 6.6.1 State Rivers and Water Supply Commission 66 6.6.2 Catchment management authorities 66 HERITAGE 67 v YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1 Forming local government 67 Maintaining law and order 67 Defending Australia 67 Managing water supplies 67 7. BUILDING COMMUNITY LIFE 68 INTRODUCTION 68 HISTORY 68 7.1 Maintaining spiritual life 68 7.1.1 Lutheran Church 69 7.1.2 Roman Catholic Church 70 7.1.3 Anglican Church 70 7.1.4 Presbyterian Church 71 7.1.5 Methodist Church 71 7.1.6 Other Religious & Spiritual Affiliations 72 7.2 Educating people 72 7.2.1 Early schools 72 7.2.2 The rise and fall of rural schools 73 7.2.3 Developing higher education 74 7.2.4 Mechanics’ Institutes & public libraries 74 7.3 Providing health and welfare services 75 7.4 Community life in country towns 76 7.4.1 Public Halls 76 7.4.2 Progress Associations and township improvements 77 7.4.3 Agricultural Societies 77 7.4.4 Forming community associations 78 7.5 Preserving traditions and commemorating 80 7.5.1 Historical societies 81 7.5.2 Honouring the pioneers 81 7.6 Cemeteries 81 HERITAGE 82 Maintaining spiritual life 82 Educating people 82 Providing health and welfare services 82 Community life in country towns 82 Preserving traditions and commemorating 82 Cemeteries 82 8. SHAPING CULTURAL AND CREATIVE LIFE 83 INTRODUCTION 83 HISTORY 83 8.1 Participating in sport and recreation 83 8.1.1 Sporting clubs 83 8.1.2 Picnic Grounds 84 8.1.3 Country swimming pools 84 vi VOLUME 1: THEMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY 8.2 Minyip and the Flying Doctors 85 8.3 Towards an Australian cultural identity 85 HERITAGE 86 Participating in sport and recreation 86 9. WHY IS YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE SIGNIFICANT? 87 9.1 Introduction 87 9.2 Statement of significance 87 The pre-colonial land and people 88 Contact and pastoralism 88 Creating new towns and settlements 88 Expanding agriculture, water supply and railways 89 Consolidating and maintaining rural communities 89 Transforming and being transformed by the environment 90 9.3 Conclusion 90 BIBLIOGRAPHY 91 vii YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE HERITAGE STUDY STAGE 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Yarriambiack Shire Heritage Study (Stage 1) was carried out with funds provided by the Victorian State Government through the Public Heritage Program. The following people were involved in the research, production, writing and review of the Yarriambiack Shire Thematic Environmental History. Dr Aron Paul, historian, researched and wrote the majority of the history and sourced images and maps. David Helms co-ordinated the preparation of the history, undertook further research and contributed additional material and images and edited copy. Julia Cusack researched and wrote the sections in relation to Aboriginal themes. Jessie Briggs edited copy. We would also like to thank the Project Manager, David Young of Yarriambiack Shire, who led the Steering Committee, which comprised: Cr. Jean Wise and Cr. John Kemfert Tony Armstrong – Heritage Victoria The Reference Group provided input and feedback throughout the study and their local historical knowledge and insights were invaluable in the production of this history. Our thanks are also extended to the following individuals and organisations: The participants in the three community heritage workshops held during the Study at Hopetoun, Murtoa and Warracknabeal Peter Adler and Val Gregory of the Murtoa & District Historical Society and Community Museum Inc. Doug McColl, Jean Wise and Lesley Stephan of Warracknabeal & District Historical Society George Armstrong, Andrew Clarke, Leigh Hammerton and Ron Wiseman PREFACE The Yarriambiack Shire Thematic Environmental History 2011 comprises Volume 1 of the Yarriambiack Shire Heritage Study (Stage 1) 2011 (the Study). The purpose of the Study is to identify places of potential post-contact cultural significance within Yarriambiack Shire and to make recommendations for their future assessment. As described in the following section, this environmental history provides an explanation of the themes and activities that have been important in shaping Yarriambiack Shire so as to provide a context to assist with the identification of heritage places that illustrate its rich cultural history. It should be read in conjunction with Yarriambiack Shire Heritage Study (Stage 1) Volume 2: Key Findings and Recommendations. That volume provides an explanation of the key findings including a list of places and precincts of potential heritage significance identified by the Study as well as a series of recommended actions and strategies for undertaking Stage 2 of the Study at a future date.