A few months ago we featured a photo of the site of St. George’s Winery at Great Western and asked if anyone had photos of the house and thanks to a member of the Veldman family who lived in the house at one time, we now have a photo which also shows the two winery buildings. The Veldman family came from Holland in 1961 and after a period at the Bonegilla Migrant camp in Victoria, they moved to Great Western and were settled at the St. Georges house which at the time was owned by Seppelt and Son. Mr Veldman and the two older boys worked at Seppelts. Many other Seppelts workers were housed there; Easticks, Browns, Elliott’s and the last tenants were possibly the Waterhouse family. The house and winery buildings were demolished by Seppelts around the 1980’s – another link in Great Western’s history gone.

SPECIAL JURY SELECTION BOX This Special Jurers Reserve box was used here in the Pleasant Creek Court House during its operation in the Gold Mining days in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. It was widely used in Jury selection following the British system until being abolished in approximately 1949. Definition: Special Jury A Jury selected from a special roll of persons with a restrictive qualification, could be used for civil or criminal cases. In a criminal case for misdemeanors such as seditious libel, the person applying for hearing by a Special Jury was charged a fee. The names of the Jurors on the list would be placed in the box or tumbler and the required number selected. In this case numbered corks were used. The names selected were then advised.

How much do you know about your family history? Did you know that August is Family History Month? Take this opportunity to visit the Stawell Historical Society to let our volunteers help you research your family. Alternatively, do you have interesting stories you can share with us? These stories are very valuable to the history of the Stawell and district region. Call us on 5358 3789 or email stawhist@bigpond.com or better still, call in on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10.00am and 4.00pm and meet with our Research Team! We look forward to hearing from you. Photo: The Ginger Family

The Chilean Wheel ... Its back! The only surviving Chilean Wheel from the Stawell and surrounding areas (which we know of) is on display at the Stawell Historical Society. The Chilean Wheel was removed from the grounds of Stawell Historical Society due to building works for our new Research Centre, now that the works are completed and we are well and truly settled in, the Chilean Wheel has now been reinstated to its proper place and is on view in the garden at the front of the Stawell Historical Society. This wheel was possibly made in the 1930’s and is from the South-Eastern side of Big Hill vantage point, Jubilee area. The Rifle Range currently occupies the site where the wheel was found. It is uncertain as to which mine this wheel belonged to but it was probably used by smaller groups. The Wheel is part of a Chilean Mill and the wheel was found next to the Chilean Mill base (see photo - courtesy of Peter Hanson). Horsepower would have been used to rotate the Chilean Wheel in the Mill base. An aritcle from the Stawell Times News 6/3/1973: After an attack by vandals and an abortive attempt to remove it, the grinding wheel from Stawell’s only remaining Chilean Wheel, has now been located at the Old Court House Museum. A Chilean Wheel was a primitive method of grinding soft clay material (and quartz) to recover the gold content, and was similar in operation to a puddling mill....

STAWELL WATER SUPPLY Work began in 1875 on the Stawell Water Supply Scheme which included a Flume which is an open channel for transporting water. As well as the flume (see photos), there was a 975 meter long tunnel and 24 kilometers of pipeline from the tunnel to Stawell and approximately 12 kilometers of open flume from the weir to the tunnel. The Flume no longer exists but in some areas remnants of the original water supply system may be seen.

Did you know.....? Most of us would have heard of road tolls in Metropolitan Melbourne and other cities in Australia, but did you know that Great Western in Rural Victoria had their own toll gate? In 1860 when the roads were virtually only bush tracks, the Government called for the erection of Toll gates in the Western District. On 9th September 1871 it was reported that the number of toll gates in the colony of Victoria was 123 with 67 check gates, and the total derived there from last year was 90,683 pounds The Toll keeper was paid 30/- a week, which is approximately $3.00 The Great Western Toll Gate was known as the Junction Toll-gate. • 1860- Toll House, gates and fences erected near the Junction Hotel, Armstrong • 1869- Toll gates removed to a site near the entrance to Allanvale Homestead • 1876- Toll gate ceased to operate in September. Some examples of fees were as indicted on the toll gate noticeboard. For every sheep, lamb, pig or goat ¼ Pence Ox or head of horn cattle 1 Pence Horse, mare, ass or mule 3 Pence For every Cart, Dray or Wagon, or other such carriage constructed on springs: If drawn by one horse or other animal 1 Shilling If drawn by six horses or other animals 3 Shillings and Sixpence People trying to evade tolls are not new, as it was quite common as reported in newspapers of the time. (From a Shire Report 3rd February 1870): Letter from the lessee of the Allanvale Toll Gate as to the necessity of erecting 1000 yards of fencing to stop the systematic evasion of the toll now practised and stating that he had lost over 10 pounds besides his time during the past month of Jan. The toll gate is now at the Great Western Mechanics Institute and is viewable to the public. (From the archives at Stawell Historical Society)

Fourteen ladies from the Stawell Uniting Church Afternoon Fellowship Group visited the Stawell Historical Museum on Thursday 8th June. After viewing the exhibitions, the ladies enjoyed an afternoon tea which was provided by the Stawell Historical Society. Anyone interested in arranging a group visit to the Museum, please get in touch with us on 03 5358 3789 or email stawhist@bigpond.com.

On Thursday the 18th of May the Pleasant Creek Historic Precinct was officially opened by Danielle Green MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria. The Major of Northern Grampians Cr Tony Driscoll and Stawell Historical Society President Dorothy Brumby also spoke at the official unveiling.

The Stawell Historical Society recently hosted the Western Victorian Association of Historical Societies (WVAHS) AGM for 2017. About forty members from Historical Societies around Western Victorian attended the WVAHS AGM and the meeting was a great success. A dinner followed the afternoon meeting and tours to the Stawell Gift ‘Hall of Fame’ and the Stawell RSL Museum were carried out the following morning. Stawell Historical Society President Dorothy Brumby is seen addressing the members.

Mr Ron Coward of Stawell crafted this amazing replica model of Sloane’s and Scotchman’s Mine Poppet Head which was in operation during the late 1800’s. Mr Coward has kindly donated the replica to the Stawell Historical Society and it will be on display in the Old Court House Museum. We are always grateful for donations of artefacts and memorabilia with historical significance, which are catalogued and recorded as a reminder of our past and which are preserved for future generations to enjoy. Stawell Historical Society thanks Mr Coward for this wonderful addition to our collection.

Just a little reminder that the Stawell Historical Society Court House Museum and Research Centre will be open Easter Sunday from 11.00am till 3.00pm. Pass it on.......

Our Team Members had some fun finding this Newspaper Advertisement from 1834. We are all wondering if the 'Gentleman' found his gal - and more so, did she stick around...???