History
FAFOW – Families & Friends of Waanyarra
The Families and Friends of Waanyarra is a group of people dedicated to the preservation of the historic significance of this once rich gold mining area. The group had it’s beginnings in 1988 when a highly successful “Back to” was held in March of that year. Descendants of the pioneer families of the district and … Continue reading
Welcome to Waanyarra
This site is dedicated to the historic “Golden Triangle” locality of Waanyarra, in Central Victoria, Australia. Information of its history, pioneering families and fabulously rich gold mining past will be found here. The efforts of the “Families and Friends of Waanyarra” and other interested people to keep the history of the area alive—bring the descendants … Continue reading
“Sly Grogging” at Waanyarra
SLY GROGGING AT WAANYARRA “The TARNAGULLA and LLANELLY COURIER” Saturday April 29th 1893 Selling Liquor without a license Daniel Ferguson Chief Inspector of Exercise Vs Jane Burstall For selling liquor without a license at Waanyarra on the 18th of March. Mr Ferguson conducted the prosecution, and Mr Phelps appeared for the defence, Mr Phelps objected … Continue reading
Aboriginal Occupation From “The Footsteps Echo” by Lynne Douthat
Once large in numbers, they declined to lesser tribes or families by the 1840’s when Methodist Minister E. S. Parker discovered them. Parker established an Aboriginal Mission at Jim Crow (Mt. Franklin)with comparative success. Observers state that Parker was well meaning and laboured for the blacks. He preached to his charges in their native language. … Continue reading
“Murderer’s Hill”
(A Waanyarra tale of Murder, Lust ?, Betrayal and Revenge) Double Murder at Jones’ Creek On Sunday, 29th November, 1857 while crossing the ranges between Dunolly and Jones’ Creek, William Henry Dean, (“a black man”) whilst heading for a new “rush” at Jones’ Creek he had heard about, found the bodies of two men in … Continue reading
The “White Swan” Hotel
From Tarnagulla Courier 15 June 1912. “The Licenses Reduction Board sat at Dunolly recently to hear evidence in connection with the Waanyarra Hotel. Mrs Susan Gray, licensee and owner, appeared on her own behalf. Superintendent Callender said the present owner had purchased the place for 150 pounds. The buildings were old and rather poor. There … Continue reading
The Founding of Waanyarra
Surveyor Phillip Chauncy surveyed the district between Tarnagulla and Dunolly in 1861 and officially named it Waanyarra. Prior to survey, Beverly had been chosen by Lieutenant Governor of Victoria LaTrobe, as the name for the future township. This title was only used by the first discoverers of gold in the area. Charles Jones was prospecting … Continue reading