Study of Winter's Swamp commissioned by BEN and completed by BHS. The swamp was named after one of the first European settlers in the district. Winter Swamp LAT -37 32 LONG 143 47, Parish of Dowling Forest, County of Grenville Winter Swamp, on the southwest corner of Ballarat West Town Common, was not included in the original proclamation of the Common in 1861. However, being marshland, it was not considered suitable for grazing, so was added to the Common soon after 1861. Winter Swamp is a large wetland with native and exotic pasture significant for wildlife. John Winter (Jock) was born in Berwickshire, Scotland. He married Janet Margaret Irving the daughter of Robert Irving, advocate, Bonshaw, Dumfries, Scotland. Winter died in Ballarat in 1875 and was buried at the Ballaarat Old Cemetery. He took up the run Bonshaw from 1841; Leigh River Buninyong 1842-46; Junction, Delatite, March 1851 to September 1862; with sons: Carag Carag and Corop, April 1857 to September 1872; Colbinabbin and Stewart’s Plains, April 1857 to December 1872; St Germains February 1867 to March 1871. (The name became Winter-Irving in 1890). Mr John Winter, who died on August 22 at the age of 72, was a man of some note it the mining community of Ballarat. He was a self-made man, and one of our oldest colonists, it being over a quarter of a century age since he took up county about Ballarat and settled at Bonshaw. He died very rich. It is calculated that if he had retained an interest in all his runs, his income must have been not less than £10,000 or £50,000 a year. Some eight or ten years ago he sold his Bonshaw pre-emption to the Bonshaw Gold mining Company for £20,000, and a few years later the ground belonging now to Winter's Freehold Company brought him £50,000 more, the payment being made at the requisition of the deceased in sovereigns. In these relations Mr. Winter has been closely identified with the mining industry at Ballarat. The deceased was a native of Lauder, in Berwickshire, and landed in Victoria several years before the gold discovery.The principle task of this project was the delivery of a report outlining the history of European settlement in the Skipton and Cardigan/Ballarat districts as pertinent to the use of and impact on the natural environment of the two reserves Skipton Common and Winter Swamp. The report was delivered in digital form only. The report, upon completion, was presented to the Network’s Committee in order to discuss the project. The report identified and described the uses of Skipton Common and Winter Swamp, and their impacts. In particular, this report examined farming/grazing (official and informal), mining, vegetation removal (including the removal of woodlands for timber, grasslands for pasture improvement) & use of riparian areas for access to water and timber removal. Recording the more benign and environmentally friendly uses such as picnicking, community activities, nature walks and the roles of organisations such as Field Naturalists’ and Bird Observers’ clubs, school and scout/guide groups will be relevant in helping to depict overall community attitudes towards the reserves; e.g.: has the Common generally been viewed as little more than a grazing paddock and fire hazard; has Winter Swamp always been the unknown natural asset that seems to have been its lot for at least the past 40 years? In this regard, the more contemporary history of actions surrounding the use and management of the reserves is of particular interest, in view of the extant evidence at both reserves; e.g. the actions of the Shire of Ballarat in the 1980s in establishing Winter Swamp as something of a competitor to Lake Wendouree but with a more environmental bent (although almost none of the plants used are indigenous species, but that is part of the story); the trotting track constructed on Skipton Common in the 1960s following representations to Premier Henry Bolte and the cropping of the western section of the Common to raise funds for the town’s new swimming pool, the fertilizing of the land putting an end to the native grassland vegetation. There are obviously multiple sources of information to source in preparing the report, however sources that the contractor is specifically requested to consult are the Skipton Historical Society, the former Skipton Common managers (specifically Graeme Pett), the Cardigan Windermere Landcare Group and the Learmonth Historical Society (believed to hold many of the former Shire of Ballarat’s records pertaining to the Council’s role as the Committee of Management for both Winter Swamp and the Ballarat West Town Common – Winter Swamp was split between 2 separate Crown Land tenures). The contractor is also encouraged but not required to utilise community newsletters, such as the Skipton Community Newsletter, to publicise and seek information about the project. Skipton Historical Society (Mary Bradshaw) contacted on Thursday 12 June 2.30pm. Mary lived on a farm out of Skipton but is currently living in the township. She remembers walking along the creek of the Common especially in spring and autumn in bare feet and that it was a very pretty place. There were a few snakes around the waterway in summer. People put cows and a couple of horses on the commonage to graze. Graeme Pett has always lived close to the Common and would know a lot about it. Other possible contacts would be Nicole Petress, Secretary of the Progress Association, and the Corangamite Council, Camperdown. Digital images of Winter's Swampwinter's swamp, ballarat, john winter, ballarat environmental network, mullawullah

The swamp was named after John (Jock) Winter. John Winter (Jock) was born in Berwickshire, Scotland. He married Janet Margaret Irving the daughter of Robert Irving, advocate, Bonshaw, Dumfries, Scotland. Winter died in Ballarat in 1875 and was buried at the Ballaarat Old Cemetery. He took up the run Bonshaw from 1841; Leigh River Buninyong 1842-46; Junction, Delatite, March 1851 to September 1862; with sons: Carag Carag and Corop, April 1857 to September 1872; Colbinabbin and Stewart’s Plains, April 1857 to December 1872; St Germains February 1867 to March 1871. (The name became Winter-Irving in 1890). Mr John Winter, who died on August 22 at the age of 72, was a man of some note it the mining community of Ballarat. He was a self-made man, and one of our oldest colonists, it being over a quarter of a century age since he took up county about Ballarat and settled at Bonshaw. He died very rich. It is calculated that if he had retained an interest in all his runs, his income must have been not less than £10,000 or £50,000 a year. Some eight or ten years ago he sold his Bonshaw pre-emption to the Bonshaw Gold mining Company for £20,000, and a few years later the ground belonging now to Winter's Freehold Company brought him £50,000 more, the payment being made at the requisition of the deceased in sovereigns. In these relations Mr. Winter has been closely identified with the mining industry at Ballarat. The deceased was a native of Lauder, in Berwickshire, and landed in Victoria several years before the gold discovery. BHS were commissioned by Ballarat Environment Network for a project on Winter's Swamp and Skipton Common. Winter's Swamp was part of Ballarat West Common. The principle task of this project was the delivery of a report outlining the history of European settlement in the Skipton and Cardigan/Ballarat districts as pertinent to the use of and impact on the natural environment of the two reserves Skipton Common and Winter Swamp. The report was delivered in digital form only. The report, upon completion, was presented to the Network’s Committee in order to discuss the project. The report identified and described the uses of Skipton Common and Winter Swamp, and their impacts. In particular, this report examined farming/grazing (official and informal), mining, vegetation removal (including the removal of woodlands for timber, grasslands for pasture improvement) & use of riparian areas for access to water and timber removal. Recording the more benign and environmentally friendly uses such as picnicking, community activities, nature walks and the roles of organisations such as Field Naturalists’ and Bird Observers’ clubs, school and scout/guide groups will be relevant in helping to depict overall community attitudes towards the reserves; e.g.: has the Common generally been viewed as little more than a grazing paddock and fire hazard; has Winter Swamp always been the unknown natural asset that seems to have been its lot for at least the past 40 years? In this regard, the more contemporary history of actions surrounding the use and management of the reserves is of particular interest, in view of the extant evidence at both reserves; e.g. the actions of the Shire of Ballarat in the 1980s in establishing Winter Swamp as something of a competitor to Lake Wendouree but with a more environmental bent (although almost none of the plants used are indigenous species, but that is part of the story); the trotting track constructed on Skipton Common in the 1960s following representations to Premier Henry Bolte and the cropping of the western section of the Common to raise funds for the town’s new swimming pool, the fertilizing of the land putting an end to the native grassland vegetation. There are obviously multiple sources of information to source in preparing the report, however sources that the contractor is specifically requested to consult are the Skipton Historical Society, the former Skipton Common managers (specifically Graeme Pett), the Cardigan Windermere Landcare Group and the Learmonth Historical Society (believed to hold many of the former Shire of Ballarat’s records pertaining to the Council’s role as the Committee of Management for both Winter Swamp and the Ballarat West Town Common – Winter Swamp was split between 2 separate Crown Land tenures). The contractor is also encouraged but not required to utilise community newsletters, such as the Skipton Community Newsletter, to publicise and seek information about the project. Skipton Historical Society (Mary Bradshaw) contacted on Thursday 12 June 2.30pm. Mary lived on a farm out of Skipton but is currently living in the township. She remembers walking along the creek of the Common especially in spring and autumn in bare feet and that it was a very pretty place. There were a few snakes around the waterway in summer. People put cows and a couple of horses on the commonage to graze. Graeme Pett has always lived close to the Common and would know a lot about it. Other possible contacts would be Nicole Petress, Secretary of the Progress Association, and the Corangamite Council, Camperdown. Mary can’t remember any photos in the Skipton Historical Society that pertain to the Common. Digital photos of Winter's swamp surrounds, later known as Mullawullah.winter, winter's swamp surrounds, winter's swap, john winter, ballarat environmental network, ballarat, mullawullah

Coloured photograph of Deep Creek, Mitcham near the foot bridge on the Eastlink Trail - 2012deep creek, mitcham, waterways

Date made December 2011|This bridge is one of the few remaining of the several constructed on the Bairnsdale to Orbost railway line from 1913 to 1915.|Also eight photographs similar views, four taken of the top, four from below the bridgeColour photograph showing different views if the timber railway trestle bridge at Wairewa. Railway line and sleepers have been removed, structure appears to be reasonably intact. Nowa Nowa Victoriabridges, historic site, transport, waterways

Date made December 2012Colour photograph of the railway bridge over Boggy Creek at Nowa Nowa. Bridge is built on combination of solid concrete piers, timber trestle piers on concrete to flood level, and timber piers. Nowa Nowa Victoriabridges, waterways, transport

February 1924 date made.Black and white photograph of the railway bridge over the Tambo River at Bruthen, Victoria.bridges, waterways

Black and white photograph of the first road bridge over the Mitchell River at Bairnsdale, Victoria.township, waterways

Marine Parade has not yet been formed through the low lying marshy area adjacent to North Arm. Very little vegetation on Eastern end of hummocks.Black and white postcard of the western end of Lakes Entrance,showing a glimpse of the North Arm bridge, town situated adjacent to Cunninghame Arm, sand hummocks and ocean in distance. Lakes Entrance VictoriaThe Township at Lakes Entrancetownship, waterways, bridges, hotels

Marine Parade has been formed adjacent to North Arm, low lying swampy area.Black and white small format postcard showing the concrete bridge over the North Arm at Lakes Entrance, showing the Club Hotel and other buildings at western end of town. Lakes Entrance VictoriaNorth Arm and Bridge Lakes Entrancewaterways, civil engineering, jetties

Black and white small format postcard of the Entrance Channel at Lakes Entrance, showing Eastern pier, sandy hummocks and ocean. Lakes Entrance VictoriaView of Entrance, Lakes Entrance, Vicwaterways, roads and streets, transport

Postcard has long personal message on reverse.Colour postcard taken at a bend in the Princes Highway approaching Lakes Entrance, showing a car travelling downhill, two cars parked with five people viewing the entrance from Bass Strait. Lakes Entrance Victoriawaterways, dredging, islands

Two copiesColour photograph showing the entrance to the lakes from Bass Strait, dredge April Hamer working on the bar. Western spit on right, eastern spit hidden behind bush, Bullock Island on left centre, mouth of North Arm in foreground, Lakes Entrance, Victoria.waterways, bridges, islands, township

Date made January 1993Colour photograph showing boats refuelling at Bullock Island, Lakes Entrance, Fishermen's Co-op unloading area in background. Lakes Entrance Victoriatownship, waterways

Sand dumping has commenced in preparation of works to modify and deepen Cunninghame Arm|Also one other copyColour postcard of the view of Cunninghame Arm, Lakes Entrance, from the Glenara Tower. Shows the western boat harbour with private cruisers and professional fishing vessels moored at wharf. Lakes Entrance Victoriawaterways, fishing industry, boats and boating

Colour tinted postcard of Holiday Inn, Kalimna, showing twelve people on veranders, two adults and child on lawn. Guesthouse appears to be a conglomerate of disparate additions to its original tea rooms status. Lakes Entrance Victoriatopography, waterways, jetties

Black and white postcard taken from elevation on Jemmys Point, showing Reeves Channel, Gippsland Lakes, including Kalimna Jetty and Sawmill Flat at entrance to Maringa Creek, timbered cliffs above lake. Lakes Entrance VictoriaKalimna at Lakes Entrancetourism, boats and boating, jetties, waterways

'Scone Cottage' aka 'Cliff Crest' was a popular destination for tourists, who were conveyed to the boat landing by local tourist launches, whence the visitors climbed the steep zigzag path to the cottage.Black and white postcard showing a tourist launch leaving a rustic jetty below timbered cliffs at Nungurner near Lakes Entrance, Victoria.Scone Cottage Cottage, Lakes Entrance.topography, ocean, waterways

Built by Dud Conduit 1960c. Owners Bob & Karen Lewendon.Colour photograph of a group of two bedroom holiday cabins, known as Homelea Flats, with entrances from both Roadknight Street and Esplanade. Cabins and residence clad in fibro cement, lathes over joins painted to represent mock Tudor. Clay tile hip roofs. Ground planted with deciduous trees. Lakes Entrance Victoriawaterways, accommodation

Nyerimilang Homestead is in public ownership, managed by Parks Victoria.Colour photograph of Nyerimilang Homestead showing front view, including rose garden. Situated off Kalimna West Road, Nungurner, it is a large white painted timber homestead, corrugated iron roof of hips and gables, painted green, five internal brick chimneys. Situated above the lake with views of Fraser Island and Flannagan Island, outer barrier and distant ocean. Nungurner Victoriawaterways

Colour photograph of tourist launch Thunderbird and Stormbird at Post Office Jetty. Foreshore boardwalk in foreground, fishing boats moored other side of jetty, small information and ticket building at entrance to jetty. Lakes Entrance Victoriaships and shipping, waterways, jetties, houses

Also in album is photocopy of page from Don Loves book 'Shipwrecks on the East Gippsland Coast', of the SS Bogong 1896Black and white photograph showing boats at jetty, Eva on right and other tourist type boats, several people on jetty and boats. Broomes Federal guest house on left, Venga next, dark house on site of Robin Hood Inn, Kalimna Heights in background. Lakes Entrance Victoriaships and shipping, waterways, retail trade

Black and white photograph showing sleak lines of SS Despatch, , 2 masts, lifeboats and black smoke issuing from funnelwaterways, vegetation, ships and shipping

Black and white photograph showing SS Despatch, in the Mitchell River, shows beautiful lines of ship, masts and rigging funnel and life boats. Vegetation on river bank behind the vessel. Bairnsdale VictoriaHuddart Parker and Company, SS Despatchships and shipping, islands, waterways

Black and white post card showing SS Wyralla leaving Lakes Entrance through the original piers at the entrance . Lakes Entrance Victoriawaterways, ships and shipping

One other sepia copy same. One other copy in spare boxBlack and white postcard showing SS Wyralla in Mitchell River Bairnsdale Victoria.Advertisement on backwaterways, vegetation, ships and shipping

Black and white photograph showing SS Glenelg in Mitchell River. House on bank, vegetation, crowd on ship. Bairnsdale VictoriaThe S.S. Glenelgjetties, ships and shipping, waterways