Mount Duneed History Group
  • Home
  • Meetings
  • Blog
  • History
  • Cemeteries
  • Municipalities
  • Contact us

Railway Station Names — Their Sources or Native Meanings

29/6/2018

0 Comments

 
On Saturday 14 December 1918 the Geelong Advertiser published a list completed for the Railway Commissioners and the Historical Society of Victoria.​ Backblock towns are not on this list.

​Bacchus Marsh​ — named after Captain WH Bacchus, who settled in the Melbourne end of the valley early in 1838
​Ballan — received its title from a pastoral station close by owned by Robert von Steiglitz, and named after an estate in Ireland
Bannockburn — copied from Stirlingshire, Scotland where Robert Bruce defeated Edward II
Banool​ — is an abbreviation of "Moorbanool." Bannool means "hill."
Barwon ​— is a native word, meaning "magpie," and was applied to the river by JH Wedge in 1835 and written "Barwourne" meaning "Great wide."
Beeac ​— native "Saltwater," a chief of the local tribe of aborigines
Beech Forest — after a forest in the locality containing numbers of so-called beech trees (really myrtle).
Berringa ​— native name for the rainbow bird, "Bee eater."
Berrybank ​— after Mack's "Berrybank" station, near Cressy. Acquired in the early fifties by the late JG Mack, and named by him after the home of his family in Berwickshire, Scotland. The railway station is in or about the centre of the original estate.
​Birregurra — is the native name for the springs on the Birregurra Creek, near Bleak House station; "Burrai Gurray," a kangaroo camp.
Buckley —​ from Buckley's Falls, after William Buckley, the "wild white man."
Colac ​— native "Kolak," sand. There is a high bank of sand along the Colac Lake.
Corio​ — takes its name from Corio Bay. In the native language Corio means a small marsupial.
Cressy ​— is out of compliment to Jean Duverney and his wife "Rosine," after Cressy in France. The place was once known as the "Frenchman's"; the inn opened by the Duverneys is still so called.
Crowes ​— after Mr Con Crowe, a local land owner.
Curlewis — is after an early squatter, who settled in the locality in 1838.
Dean's Marsh — after the owner of the pastoral station. The railway authorities altered the name from Dean's Marsh to its present form.
Derrinallum ​— native "Dherinallum,"white sea bird, tern, or sea swallow. Flocks of these birds frequent the salt marshes in the neighbourhood. "Tirrinchillum,"or "Tarrinallum," a hill of fire.
​Drysdale ​— after Miss Drysdale who with her partner Miss Newcomb, settled in that locality in 1840.
​Duverney ​— followed an early French settler named Jean Duverney, who came to Australia with Messrs McArthur and Nicolas Cole about 1837.
​Elaine — by a reader of Tennyson, after "Elaine the fair, Elaine the loveable, Elaine the lily maid of Astolat."
Forrest ​— after Charles Lamond Forrest MLA for Polwarth for many years.
Geelong ​— was given its title by Governor Bourke in 1837 from the native name of the hill upon which the town was built. "Geelong" means the place of the cliff. Sutherland gives the meaning as "White sea bird of curlew" and Mitchell as "swampy plains, resort of native companions."
Gerangamete  — is after a run or pastoral station in the locality.
Gellibrand ​— from the Gellibrand River, so called after Joseph Tice Gellibrand, a member of Batman's Association engaged in the settlement of Port Phillip in 1835. He was lost in the bush with a companion named Hesse and probably killed by blacks.
Gheringhap — native, the yellow blossom of the black wattle, a species of white gum, the haunt or habitat of the opossum.
Grovedale ​— the name given to his house by one of the early English residents, and selected by the Shire Council as the name of the station when it was deemed advisable to change it from Germantown soon after the outbreak of the war.
Inverleigh — signifies "mouth of the River Leigh" and describes its situation.
Irrewarra ​— native "Nawailah," the name of Calvert's home station nearby. The railway station was formerly called "Ondit Road."
Lara ​— was originally known as "Duck Ponds." It was here that Hume and Hovell terminated their journey in 1824, and rested a few days before returning. The stream appeared on an early map as "Hovell's" Creek, but some of the early settlers called it "Duck Ponds." in the middle seventies the name was changed to "Hovell's Creek," but public protest caused it to be re-christened Lara, which in the language of the natives, means "hut on stony ground." The word is akin to "Lah," which means stone.
​Lavers Hill ​— after Mr Laver, the first settler in the neighbourhood from Gippsland.
​Leopold — in honor of Prince Leopold, a son of Queen Victoria.
​Lethbridge — first known as the "Muddy Waterholes." It was a camping place for travellers on their way to the goldfields. On the completion of the Ballarat railway line the place was called Lethbridge, after one of the leading officials engaged in the construction.
Little River — The name was applied to, rather than bestowed upon, the stream by way of contrasting it with the larger rivers, such as the Werribee, seen by the pioneers in 1835-6. No other name has been applied to the stream, and the station was appropriately named after it though the name Bulban was given to the township a few years ago.
​Lismore ​— was known in the early days as Brown's Waterholes. Situated on the Gala estate originally owned by John Brown, from Galashiels, Scotland. In the fifties it was named Lismore probably by Mr Skene, Surveyor-General after Lismore, in county Waterford, Ireland.
Marcus​ — after Marcus Hill, a remarkable local feature.
Maroona — took its name from an old pastoral station or run in that locality.
Marshall ​— was known as the Breakwater until the men engaged in the tanning industry in that locality established a settlement, which was called Marshall's Town, after Mr Foster Marshall, a prominent resident. The Railway authorities abbreviated the name to Marshall.
Mannerim — after the Mannerim estate, Drysdale.
Meredith — is named after Mr Charles Meredith, of Tasmania.
Moolap ​— native means a gathering place of the blacks when about to procure saltwater shell fish. Moolap was one of the early landing places of the pioneers.
Moorabool​ — the curlew, according to Geelong natives. A corruption of Marrarbool. "Moorroobull" ghost.
Moriac — formerly Mt Moriac, native, "Morack Hill."
Murroon — is a native name, "The forehead."
​North Shore ​— is descriptive of the position of the station in relation to Corio Bay.
Ondit ​— after Lake Ondit, which is near the station.
Pennyroyal ​— is after Pennyroyal Creek near by, where the plant known by that name grew plentifully.
Pettavel — formerly Pettavel Road, is named after a Swiss vigneron, who came from Neuchâtel about the middle forties, and settled in the Barrabool Hills.
Pura Pura ​— is the aboriginal name for the "blow hole," as it is now known. This unique and curious volcanic freak, which is situated on the south-east slope of Mount Hamilton consists of a square opening in the rocky ground, about 15 feet deep, with absolutely unscaleable walls, and with a solid natural bridge spanning it from side to side (about 12 feet across). The cavity is always about half full of clear spring water of the best quality, which was, no doubt, the principal attraction to the blacks for camping operations.
Queenscliff ​— is named in honor of Queen Victoria. Was formerly called Shortland's Bluff, after Mr Shortland, of HMS Rattlesnake, who with other officers of the ship, was engaged in the survey of Port Phillip Bay.
Rokewood ​— is said to have been named by English miners after the Rokewood family of Coldham Hall, Suffolk, England.
​Weeaproinah ​— is taken from the language of a tribe of Tasmanian aborigines, and means "large timber."
​Weerite — ("Weright"), a marsh.
Werneth — after the Werneth estate, a grazing property in the neighbourhood.
Werribee ​— Native, backbone, spine. The name was first applied to the river. In 1824, Hume and Hovell called it the Arndell, after Dr Arndell, of Sydney. It was variously described by Wedge, the surveyor as the Peel and the Weiribee.
Westmere — after the name of a local estate.
Winchelsea — named in honor of the Earl of Winchelsea.
Wingeel — Native, eagle.
​Wyelangta  ​— taken from the language of Tasmanian aborigines of Oyster Bay and Pittswater. It means large timber.​ 

0 Comments

Christmas in July 2018

1/5/2018

0 Comments

 
This year's event Saturday 21 July, 2018
ENQUIRIES: Phone enquiries may be made to Michael Menzies on 0419 546 251, between 7.00pm and 9.30pm weeknights or by email to geelongrailheritage@gmail.com
​
Picture

​The primary activity of the group is the restoration and maintenance of the historic Birregurra Railway Station.  Since 1995, society members, supported by funding grants and employment training schemes, have made major repairs to the station building and continue to restore and maintain it and the station grounds. Open days and displays are held at the station.
Society members undertake research and record local rail history. Occasional bus trips are organised to view the remains of local rail lines.New members are welcome to join and wider community support is sought.

Picture
​A similar goods shed which was once at Winchelsea is now at Muckleford station on the Victorian Goldfields Railway
Picture
J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
History and train enthusiasts may be interested in an upcoming 2018 Christmas in July heritage train ride and dinner. 

The historic Birregurra Railway Station was constructed of Portarlington brick in 1877, with brick extensions added around 1890. It has a veranda along the passenger platform supported by cast iron posts, french doors and open fire places. Restoration works have been carried out over the past two decades and are ongoing.

Travel there and back by 1930 vintage Diesel Electric Rail Motor (DERM) from Melbourne and enjoy over three hours at Birregurra Station. Relax in front of warming open fires while you enjoy a two course hot dinner with drinks.

The DERM will depart from Southern Cross station  picking up at stops along the way. Enjoy cruising through the pleasant countryside surrounded by the polished interior woodwork and the sound of a quaint 85 year old rail motor humming its way back in time to Birregurra.

Two scheduled V/Line passenger trains will pause at the platform during the day with their passengers able to gaze in envy while you enjoy your meal.
​
You will have a relaxing evening ride home without having to be concerned about driving.

You must advise if you wish to be picked up or set down at Newport, Lara or maybe Waurn Ponds, otherwise the DERM will only stop at Southern Cross and Geelong stations.
​
​$149 for adults...$139 concession...under 16 $130. For further information phone Michael Menzies on 0419 546 251, preferably between 7.00pm and 9.30pm weeknights or railexp@bigpond.com
​​
0 Comments

Grovedale Station and Post Office

18/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Grovedale station which was on the west side of Torquay Road had a platform on the south side of the tracks. This station was originally on the east side of Torquay Road but was shifted in 1913 to the west side of the crossing. It was named Germantown when it opened but was changed to Grovedale in 1916 when the suburb of the same name was changed during World War I. The station opened on 25 November 1876 and closed on 1 January 1954. The railway gates were closed at midnight and it was necessary to get the station master out of bed to get them opened.

The station also served as the local post office. When the station closed the post office shifted to a private house. Mrs Parrott operated the post office in the 1960s when it shifted to 291 Torquay Road. It was open in the mornings only and operated from a window which was opened when customers arrived. The first mail deliveries were made in the 1960s in a car. The post office then shifted to a shop in Peter Street and was operated by Des Coughlin.

​The first post office at Grovedale was the Germantown Post Office situated at the store attached to Benari's Germantown Hotel on the east side of Torquay Road. Albert Benari was the postmaster from the time it opened on 20 January 1860 until his death on 27 May 1886.
Picture
Grovedale Post Office in the 1960s — 291 Torquay Road
​A railway station in Boundary Road, east of Ghazepore Road, called Duneed was in the vicinity of the new Waurn Ponds station. This station opened on 25th November, 1876 and closed on 1st January, 1921.
0 Comments

Marshall Post Office

16/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The former Marshalltown Post Office as it is today at the Lakers Siding station on the old Geelong to Queenscliff rail line.
Until the Marshalltown Post Office was closed on 30 June 1979, it was reputed to be Victoria's smallest post office. At 6 feet 6 inches square it had stood on the Marshall station platform since 1873 until the station closed in 1953. It was then shifted across the road to the front yard of a former Victorian Railways residence that was once the station master's home. Mrs Elsie Taylor, the last post mistress and her husband Angus, who was a foreman at the VR works depot at Spotwswood donated the building to the Bellarine Railway. The little building was taken on a trailer to the Drysdale station on Saturday 19 April, 1980. It was placed on the platform and became the booking office when the tourist railway began operating. In 1989 when a replice station building was completed at Drysdale it was moved to Lakers Siding.
Picture
This interprative sign is at the side of the former post office at Lakers Siding station
Picture
Lakers Siding is a station on the Bellarine Railway which is a volunteer operated steam driven tourist railway
0 Comments

Sparrovale

26/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Map dated 1910 showing Geelong Showgrounds Station on the Queenscliff line
Picture
Map dated 1920 showing Geelong Racecourse Station on the Warrnambool line
Sparrovale was named after Edward Rogers "Ned" Sparrow, a former secretary of the Geelong Racing Club. He was born in 5 July 1847 to Edward Rogers and Jane (née Bruce) Sparrow. He was reputed to have been the first student to enrol at Geelong College. He played football for Geelong in 1867. In 1882 he married Anna Maria Wilson and lived at 35 Villamanta Street, Geelong West, a large "B" listed heritage property. He died on 1 October 1918 at East Melbourne.

On 1 August 1864 250 acres in Marshall were leased to the trustees of the Geelong Racecourse. This area was extended on 1 April 1870 by 202 acres. With a further allotment added the total area of the reserve was  630 acres. A rail line which diverged from the main line a short distance south of Marshall then ran straight for slightly over one mile, crossed the Mount Colite Road (now Barwon Heads Road) and curved to the north into the racecourse grounds. The siding, which could accommodate twelve carriages and an engine, was situated behind the grandstand. A platform, 340 feet in length and 25 feet wide  was completed. The first race meeting to utilise the railway facilities was held on Friday 1 February and Saturday 2 February 1878. On both days a special train left Melbourne at 10:15 am stopping where required on both the down and up journeys. Trains also ran to Geelong from Ballarat and Colac. On the first day about 1000 people travelled on local trains from Geelong to the racecourse platform. One train with thirteen carriages got stuck in the tunnel and needed another locomotive to help it along its way. The Geelong Racing Club held races at Marshall until 1908 when it moved to its present site at Breakwater.

Sparrovale was set up as a model farm using best farming methods. The land was drained and irrigated and a levee bank installed. ​
The Geelong Harbor Trust took over the farm of 1077 acres in 1908. ​The trust's operation of the farm was always subject to criticism, and when the trust was reconstituted in October, 1933 the new commissioners decided to relinquish control of this land. The farm, being a Crown grant, reverted to the Lands Department and was disposed of at a Government land sale. The trust was credited with the amount of the sale, at the upset price of £10,500. On 9 December 1936 this land was sold to WH Bailey of Woodside Buangor. The improvements included a substantial residence.

A clearing sale of bloodstock was held on 1 March 1944 under instructions of WH Bailey and also the trustees of the estate of his father Stephen Bailey, who had died on 18 October 1943 at Suma Park, Queenscliff. Top price paid was for "Much to Say", a brown mare, bought by Mr McMeekin of Geelong for 205 guineas. "Patricia Lorraine", a brown mare, went to Mr PM Darcy of Birregurra for 67 guineas.
​
​In 1955 the property was sold to CO Lorimer for £70,000. In 1964 it was again sold to the Perkins family partnership, Sparrovale Pastoral Company.
Picture
Part of the Geelong Racecource line looking east down the line from Drews Road
Picture
1077 acres sold to WH Bailey on 9 December 1936
Picture
from "The Railway Construction Act 1877"
Picture
The railway line to the old Geelong Racecourse left the Colac line just south of Marshall Station.
Picture
An enlargement of the section marked in blue in the map above showing a proposed extention to Barwon Heads is dated 18 April 1906. It was proposed in the 1890s that a line could run to Barwon Heads and then pass through Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and then on to Lorne.

It was planned that an area of 3.7 hectares would be acquired for a 22 metre wide drainage channel and a weir with removable drop boards to temporarily drain water from the Armstrong Creek East Precinct until it can be replaced by future wetlands.

​It is now thought that a large wetland system to protect against flooding in Armstrong Creek will be needed. This will abut the Ramsar listed wetlands. More than 500 hectares will be required to create the wetland before housing can begin in the "Horshoe Bend" precinct. These wetlands are to be known as Sparrovale.
​
0 Comments

Layard

12/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Looking south from Taylors Road — The remains of the rail line to Wensleydale where it crosses the creek. Two posts are all that is left of the bridge.

​​As you travel along Cape Otway Road towards Winchelsea you might notice three roads not far from each other on the left side — Raglan, Lyons and Cambridge Streets. Panmure and Russell Streets run parallel to Cape Otway Road. Mary Synot and brother Simon ran a store. Permanent fresh water was available from the swamp however this swamp dried up in 1902 and eighteen residents partitioned the Winchelsea Shire council to further excavate it.
​
​The township of Layard, as it was then known, was planned by the government and sold in the 1860s mainly to speculative buyers. It was near the southern boundary of the Parish of Modewarre, close to the neighbouring Parish of Gherang Gherang.

​In 1891 a railway station was opened on a short branch line eleven miles long diverging from the Colac line about half a mile from Moriac station and running in a south-westerly direction​towards Wensleydale. It passed through the properties of Henry Larcombe, William Crutch and George McConachy, then after the township of ​Layard through two miles of John Rout Hopkins' land (Wormbete) and after that through the properties of Thomas Hunter, Mrs Mary Field and the Wormbete Wattle Company's selection, finally stopping in about the centre of this company's property. It was uncultivated land, and was only used for sheep grazing and for most of the way it was uncleared, the surface being partly hidden by a mass of fallen timber. There are sixteen bridges in the short line, the largest of which is 83 feet in length, situated about half a mile from the junction with the main line. This line provided plenty of jobs with about 220 men working on the line while about 150 men were employed in the forest in cutting and carting timber for the work. This line, known as the Saddle Line, attracted much ​criticism as the stations were not in the centres of populated areas but it was in the centre of a forest and trucks full of wood kept the Geelong industries supplied. There was also gravel at Gherang to move. The end of the line was within a few miles of Aireys Inlet and it was envisaged that during summer coaches would connect with
Picture
The bridge may have once looked like this
Picture
from Geelong Advertiser 19 May 1894
Wensleydale. As a passenger service it was sadly not up to scratch. The Age reported that passengers could travel in the guards van, but not in comfort: "It is no exaggeration to say that a journey to Wensleydale by train would kill a delicate woman". Coal was first discovered in the area in 1856 by Wesley Anderson. It was loaded onto the rail trucks at Wensleydale. When the line closed coal was transported to Geelong in trucks, mainly to the power station in North Geelong and also loaded at Winchelsea station to go to Melbourne, Ballarat, Bendigo and Western District centres. When the mine closed in 1957 and the mine was flooded to create a lake and is used for water skiing.
​
About a quarter of a mile from Layard station on the Moriac side were railway gates. John O'Donnell was the gatekeeper. Close to the gates was a house which was left open for the accommodation of rail travellers. This line was hoped would be the beginning of a line to Lorne. The line had very few passengers and closed about 1948 after train frequency was down to one per fortnight.
Picture
Russell Street, looking south west from Raglan Street. The road reserve is not cleared from Lyons Street to Cambridge Street
Picture
Picture
The old bluestone school at Modewarre is just up the Cape Otway Road near the corner of Considines Road. On the opposite corner of Considines and Batsons Roads Henry Lawrence operated a store and post office from 1861 which he upgraded in bluestone in 1864. The store was replaced by Lawrence's son, George, in about 1900, after the earlier building had been destroyed by fire in 1899. This building survives at Modewarre today.
0 Comments

Pettavel

22/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pettavel Road, showing location of the station and the school
David Pettavel who came to Australia in 1842 purchased 585 acres from the crown stretching from Reservoir Road to Waurn Ponds Creek in 1848. He established the Victoria vineyard here with about 20 acres of vines and 20 acres of orchard.

​In 1861 a road was opened on the western side of his land starting at Colac Road and continuing south to Louttit Bay Road. This road became known as Pettavel Road. The area in the vicinity of this road became known as Pettavel after his death in 1871.

The facilities were scattered. The first was a Presbyterian school which opened in 1856 on the north east corner of Mount Duneed and Pettavel Roads. By 1858 31 pupils attended this school originally named Duneed with William Savage as head teacher. A stone church was later built on the Mount Duneed Road site by the Presbyterians. The ruins of the church are all that remain today.

A state school was built between Mount Duneed and Dickins Roads on the west side on a one acre site bought from FB White for £20.

​A station named Pettavel Road was opened in 1883. A platform on the northern side had a shelter shed opposite a loop siding and goods platform. The station closed in 1952. 

​A store operated by Louis Mermod  on the Colac Road near the eight mile post was granted a wine licence in the 1870s. He was cautioned that he must keep the store and post office separate from the drinking part of the establishment. There had been complaints of horse racing being carried out on Sundays at his place. In 1874 he had his colonial wine licence transferred from his Pettavel store to Waurn Ponds where he held a rural store license. The post office was then operated by the Marendaz family. It closed on 1 November 1894 possibly when the postmistress was sent to prison.

Harry Kurzmann erected a lean-to against his house at the corner of Dickins and Pettavel Roads, open at one end and with a tarpaulin at the other for weather protection. Local dances and card parties were held at this venue named Joy Ark. Horse races and athletic events were held in an adjoining paddock. Residents of this district and neighbouring Freshwater Creek regularly used this venue.

All of these buildings have now disappeared. Even the stone church which was used to store hay was destroyed after a fire on 19 December 1972.
Picture
A Presbyterian school which opened in 1856 on the north east corner of Mount Duneed and Pettavel Roads had 31 pupils by 1858. It was originally named Duneed with William Savage as head teacher. A stone church was later built on the Mount Duneed Road site by the Presbyterians. — J.T. Collins Collection, La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
The Pettavel Murder
0 Comments

    Blog Created by:

    Gwen Threlfall
    ​
    ​

    Categories

    All
    100 Years Ago
    150 Years Ago
    Barrabool/Ceres History
    Barwon Heads History
    Belbrae History
    Belmont History
    Can You Help?
    Churches
    Connewarre History
    Councillors Barrabool
    Councillors South Barwon
    Fellmongeries-and-tanneries
    Fires
    Freshwater Creek History
    Gnarwarre-history
    Grovedale-cemetery
    Grovedale-history
    Highton-history
    History
    Hotels
    Lost Communities
    Marshall History
    Modewarrehistory
    Modewarre-history
    Monumental-masons
    Mount Duneed Cemetery
    Mount Duneed History
    Mount Moriac History
    Paraparap History
    Past Events
    Railway-history
    Schools
    Waurn Ponds History
    Winchelsea-history
    Ww1

    Sponsors

    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Links

    The Bluestone Cottage at Marshall
    Together They Served
    ​Torquay Museum Without Walls
    ​Barwon Blog
    Geelong and District Database
    Geelong Cemetery Index
    ​Australian War Memorial
    Trove
    Public Records
    ​Surf Coast Early Schools
    Victorian Places
    ​Barwon Heads History

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.