Residence of Warren family overlooked by Upper Halls Gap range Site now under Lake BellfieldBuildings of Myrtlebank overlooking paddock Back drop Upper Halls GapPhoto mounted on cardboardbuildings, houses, myrtlebank

She was a guest house called "Myrtlebank" and she was a very gracious old residence in a near perfect setting, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Grampian Mountains in Victoria. She was visited by thousands in her time, many of whom returned year after year to enjoy her hospitality. I first visited her 40 years ago and she won my heart from the moment I saw her. In those days, guest houses were in their prime - motels were unheard of. To this day, I can recall the delicious meals at "Myrtlebank" with pure country cream and home grown produce featuring largely. All the guests would gather in the enormous sitting rooms warmed by huge log fires in colder weather and , in the evenings, all sorts of games would be played, charades being first favourite with young and old alike. Several days a week a bus would pick up guests, along with those from other guest houses, and surrounding areas would be visited. Mostly, though, we walked - sometimes right across behind the Wonderland Range to Mount Victory. Now, "Myrtlebank" is no more. The site where she once stood is at the bottom of the Bellfield Lake, covered forever with fathoms of water. But I and many others will always remember and love her. Letter to paper with photograph of MyrtlebankSubmitted by Mrs O. Woolcock, Tottenham Vic who won $15 prize describing accomodation for guests at Myrtlebankaccommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Until the closure 40 years ago, the Myrtlebank Guesthouse near Halls Gap in the Grampians was a thriving family - run business. In 1962, all that changed when the government of the day purchased the land on which the guesthouse stood and some neighbouring farms and houses. For almost 40 Years, the remains of the buildings have been submered under the man made reservoir known as Lake Bellfield. Due to drought, the eater levels have dropped steadily and, in the past month, the memories underneath Lake Bellfield have come to the surface. Local resident Don warren 70, has been to have a look. His grandmother Anne Flower Warren, was 56 when she opened the guesthouse in 1916. Widowed, the year before after a horse kicked her farmer husband, Mrs Flower needed to provide for their large family. "She had 13 children - seven daughters. I think she built it to look after the girls," Mr Warren says, "The whole think was built on a 500 acre farm." With the guesthouse sited in the centre of the farm, the land was divided between two of her sons- Mr Warren's uncle working one side and his father taking the other. For Mr Warren, the grounds of the two-storey guesthouse were an extension of a huge rural playground in what he remembers as an idyllic childhood. "I used to get taken over there and I'd sit there and watch her make all the toast for the guests. It was quite full all the time - maybe 40 or 50 people. It was a great big place - very grand. In the bedrooms I can remember the great big bowls full of water to wash your face in. There was a big dining room, too. My grandmother was a great cook." By the time of Mrs Warren's death in 1936, her eldest daughter also Anne, had officially taken over the running of the business. "It was in the family right until the last bit. The youngest daughter, Auntie Hilda, took it over right at the end. they got a notice to say that's it - it's over There was no way out of that one." Mrs Ida Stanton, 78, is the historian for the Halls Gap and Grampians Historical Society. Can she remember it when it all happened? "Of course" she says "It's only 40 years ago" Her memories of Myrtlebank are of a place popular with honeymooners, who would often return year after year, bringing their families with them. "There was a lovely ballroom where they used to invite the Gap people and the tourists in to have balls. During the war it was one means of making money to send stuff over to the soldiers." Seeing just the stumps of the guesthouse and what had been his family home, Mr Warren says the bitterness is still there. "The hardest part was poor old dad. He was 70 years old when he got turfed out. Dad had been a farmer all his life - 214 acres, he had, and he got 22,000 quid. Had to move into town" Also showing beneath the drying lake is the concrete slab of the new home Mr Warren planned after his marriage to wife Anne in 1955. Another lost dream. " I was the only child, I was going to take over the farm, but that all changed. You can't take it over when it's full of water.Newspaper clipping of history of Myrtlebank by Don Warren and photo of Don at old site of pooland guest House photo Article by Claire Halliday from newspaper 2002accommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Kingston Roadliners (F. Kingston, Proprietor) STAWELL - GRAMPIANS DAILY Coach for the Grampians meets mid day train at Stawell Return Daily Make the Grampians your next vacation Daily Conducted Tours, from Hotels and Guesthouses in Stawell and Hall's Gap to WONDERLAND - MCKENZIE FALLS - LAKE WARTOOK - MT. VICTORY - MT ROSEA - WANNON VALLEY conducted Hiking Trips Arranged Stawell booking office: 75 Main Street - Phone: Stawell 214, Hall's Gap booking office: Main Road - Phone: Hall's Gap 35, Bookings also from Vitorian Government Tourist Bureau, Cars for hire GRAMPIANS HOUSE The Most Conveniently Situated Tourist House in the Grampians. Ballroom, electric light, large garage, hot water service, hot water in all rooms, internal sewerage. Tennis, fishing, shooting, Alongside is the Bowling Green, where visitors are welcome to play. Phone: Hall's Gap 28. Tariff on application. Manageress: Mrs, E. MatthewsAdvertisement for Kingston Roadliners, Grampians House and Map of the GrampiansAdvertisement in Broadbents, Guide of western Victoria, and South-East of S.A.media, advertisements, grampian house

Photo is said to be of Schoolers' homestead,Lake Lonsdale. Miss Scouller was the teacher at Halls Gap Primary school in 1921.Spelling of Schooler varies from that on front of photo to 'Scouller' which appears in book "Bridging the Gap'.Photo shows bark roofed building on a bank of a body of water . A number of large gum trees surround the buildings-- tree reflections can be seen in the water. There appears to be extensive fencing around the buildings. The homestead is not visible.buildings, houses

The photo is of the Fyans Valley, taken from Chatauqua Peak. Lake Bellfield and Mount William can be seen in the background. The photo belonged to the Forestry Commission Victoria.A photo of a valley between mountain ranges. A lake can be seen in the background. A road runs through the middle of the valley with houses on both sides."Fyans Vaslley from Chataqua Peak. Incl L. Bellfield & Halls Gap. photo belongs to F.C.V. Stawell. Return to V. Young, Horsham" written on back in green pencil. The "Chatauqua Peak" has been overwritten in black-lead pencil. "LC.71" is also written on the back in black-lead pencil.scenery, grampians ranges

In 1940 Field Headquarters for the Kiewa Scheme were established at Bogong with office, workshop facilities and accommodation for workmen, staff and some families constructed. (There had been a 'tent camp' on this site in 1939 but was destroyed by bushfires) Construction of accommodation continued until 1947. A total of 40 houses plus a hostel for single staff, post office, police station, medical centre and primary school all with water and sewerage and electricity supply. The staff hostel was known as Kiewa House and is now occupied by the Education Department. Lake Guy was named after Mr. L.T. Guy who was the Resident Engineer in charge of construction work and associated activities on the Kiewa area. He held this position from 1939 to November 1946 when he was transferred to Head Office.The Bogong Township was developed firstly as an accommodation centre (base camp) for construction workers employed under the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme. Due to the influx of European workers into the Township the beautification of the immediate surrounds(gardens etc.) had a distinct European flavour. This environment has been very beneficial for tourism in later years. Strict environmental control has not allowed for any extensive redevelopment in tourist accommodation and basically restricted it to the accommodation initially built for the construction workers. Activities such a bike riding, snow skiing, restricted horse riding and bush walking on the Alpine plains and mountains are now a viable part of the Kiewa Valley Tourist Industry. The lake is one of the many water storage storage reservoirs used to supply the power stations their main power to run the huge turbines generating the final product, electricityThis black and white photograph shot from the shores of Lake Guy toward the mountain range of the Victorian Alps details the early construction of the construction worker's accommodation of the Bogong Village. The paper is of 200gms and is not photographic paper and can be assumed to be a reproduction of an original photobogong village circa 1930 to 1950, kiewa hydro-electricity scheme, victorian alpine region mid 1900s

x14 B & W photos of Bogong Village with title, in white, on bottom left hand cornerSome have a title in white on the front. x2 Lake Guy; Spillway; x3 Bogong; Interior of Wall; Trs Workings; Bogong Hostel; The Wall; Snow at Bogong; S.E.C. House

In 1940 Field Headquarters for the Kiewa Scheme were established at Bogong with office, workshop facilities and accommodation for workmen, staff and some families constructed. (There had been a 'tent camp' on this site in 1939 but was destroyed by bushfires) Construction of accommodation continued until 1947. A total of 40 houses plus a hostel for single staff, post office, police station, medical centre and primary school all with water and sewerage and electricity supply. The staff hostel was known as Kiewa House and is now occupied by the Education Department. Lake Guy was named after Mr. L.T. Guy who was the Resident Engineer in charge of construction work and associated activities on the Kiewa area. He held this position from 1939 to November 1946 when he was transferred to Head Office.This photograph is an excellent historical record of Bogong Village in about 1945. It shows the layout of the town in the fairly steep terrain, the workmen's camp between the houses and the lake foreshore, the Commissioner's Lodge on the hill behind the Village, the walkway through the dam wall can be seen to the left of the spillway, the dam is on spill and note damage to the large trees is still evident from the 1939 bush fires. The Commissioner's Lodge was lost in the 2003 fires and the camp buildings were in service until 1962, when they were removed and the site converted into a public picnic area with lawns and gardens.A Black and white photograph"Lake Guy and Bogong" hand written on back of photograph.kiewa, accommodation, lake, dam, bogong

This newspaper holds a collection of usual articles from local and national news,sports news to letters to the editor, advertisements and a supplement on activities for the holiday period. It contains the local advertisements for houses. The Holiday Guide section has articles on the Moscow Circus, Robert Ullmann, Lake Pertobe playground, local national parks, The film Quigley Down Under and points of interest along the coast. An interesting walk back through time and an interesting record of events and advertisements for businesses at the time.Front page has green holly border with photograph of Carols by Candlelight on the Civic Green. Banner headlines are in black.Back cover has a Christmas poem printed in black on pink background. Green holly border.44 pagesSaturday December 23 1989.warrnambool,, warrnambool standard, warrnambool standard december 1989

Dame Nellie Melba was born Helen Porter Mitchell in 1861 and took the stage name of Melba after her home town of Melbourne. Dame Nellie went on to become one of the most successful and highly regarded sopranoes of the late 19th a nd early 20th centuries. She had a number of Farewell tours as she neared the end of her career. When Dame Nellie Melba was a house guest of Miss Florence Lake at "Lyndoch" Warrnambool during her farewell tour in 1927. The bag was purported to have been given to a house maid in recognition of favours done. An item owned by Dame Nellie Melba............ WDHS also has a program from Dame Nellie Melba's Farewell Tour.Ladies evening purse "Made in France" Beige/ecru silk on canvas backing, heavily beaded and sequinned in beige and coffee, some pearl decoration, with an ornate enamelled button closure mechanism for a press stud. Two fabric handles also heavily beaded. A scalloped shape with gusseted side insertions.Bag is too fragile to open.nellie melba, evening bag, warrnambool, lyndoch warrnambool, florence lake, warrnambool

Jean Stirling , born 1901 in Orbost, married Charles Frances Reginald Joyes on 15th July 1922 in Orbost. Jean's father was John Stirling, son of James Stirling and Ann Gray. Her mother was Robina Harvey McNair, Aged 19 James Stirling arrived in Melbourne on January 26, 1842 with his family - parents, three sisters and two brothers. James Stirling moved around a lot to Whittlesea, Ballarat goldfields, Cunninghame, (now Lakes Entrance), then to the Old Station about 36 miles to the east along the coast near the mouth of the Snowy River and for a time settled there with his wife also from Wigton, Scotland, and their family four sons two daughters (James, John, William, George, Margaret and Polly). The first settler to occupy the Marlo township area was James Stirling around the year 1875. He built a bark hut on the bluff that had two rooms, bark walls, earthen floors and a shingle roof. By 1884, this structure had expanded to a 9 roomed accommodation house and in 1886 became the Marlo Hotel when a liquor license was granted. (more information from “Snowy River Mail”, Wednesday, April 13th 1977: MEMORIES OF MARLO by Mrs Elsbeth Conlon (nee Stirling )This photograph is associated with the Stirling family early settlers of Marlo. It is also a pictorial record of styles of wedding dress popular in the 1920s.A black / white studio portrait / photograph of a bridal couple. The bride on the left is wearing a typical 1920s wedding dress. tTe front is short with a hem that is in different length in front than behind. She is wearing a hat in the cloche-style. She is holding a bouquet of flowers and her train is draped to the left. The groom is wearing a three piece morning suit. he has a with a wingtip collar white dress shirt and a cravat tie.on front - hand - written "Jean Stirling's wedding (Marlo) ? Joyce"stirling-jean-wedding melba-&co wedding-clothing-1920s joyes-charles-francis-reginald

In 1861 the Lake Tyers Mission Station was established by the Church of England missionary Reverend John Bulmer, to house some of the Gunaikurnai survivors of the conflict. The peninsula, which has a lake on each side, was known to its traditional owners as Bung Yarnda.A black and white photograph of an older, bearded Aboriginal man. He is sitting outdoors in front of a leafy bush. He is wearing a suit.Black Andy of Lake Tyers ORBOST 1/3/21 L.G.W. photo 741lake-tyers photograph

Typed below photograph, "Looking towards Ringwood from present site of Civic Centre. Old Catholic Church which stood on Maroondah Hwy. and Mt. Dandenong Rd. intersection can be seen on right. Maroondah Hwy. can be seen where it goes past lake, also station masters residence, and houses in Pitt St. and Bedford Rd."

A newspaper article reflecting on the success of a display to promote Marysville and Lake Mountain. This display was the first of four displays over two weeks which was organised by Mrs. Connie Pannan from Nanda Binya Lodge in Marysville; Counselor Malcolm Reed from the Shire of Healesville and Marylyn Guest House in Marysville; Mrs. Val Cockerell from Blackwood Holiday Flats in Marysville; and Mr. Michael Cheshire from the Westernport Healesville Regional Tourist Authority. The display saw the release of a new full colour tourist brochure on Marysville produced with the co-operation of the Marysville Tourist and Progress Association and Westernport Healesville Regional Tourist Authority. It was deemed to be a most successful promotional event for Marysville and Lake Moutain.A newspaper article reflecting on the success of a display to promote Marysville and Lake Mountain. The Association was formed in November 1907 to promote tourism within the area. This included the physical creation of signage, parklands, roads and walks to various attractions. marysville, victoria, lake mountain, marysville tourist and progress association, newspaper article

A free leisure guide to Marysville and the surrounding district published for Autumn and Winter, 1986. This was produced by Michael Cheshire as a free publication to promote tourism in Marysville and the surrounding district. It includes maps of the Big River Valley, Cumberland Valley, Lady Talbot Forest Drive, the Marysville area, and the township of Marysville. It was released in the autumn of 1986 and was sponsored by the Marysville Tourist & Progress Association. The Association was formed in November 1907 to promote tourism within the area. This included the physical creation of signage, parklands, roads, and walks to various attractions. A free leisure guide to Marysville and the surrounding district published for Autumn and Winter, 1986.marysville, victoria, australia, leisure guide, michael cheshire & associates pty ltd, marysville golf club, blackwood lodges, sir colin mackenzie fauna park, lake eildon, fraser national park, yarra valley wineries, marysville coach tours, kooringa, marylands guest house, lady talbot forest drive, wishing well, taggerty river recreation area, athols abbey, phantom falls, keppel falls, the beeches walking track, marylyn guest house, kufstein inn motel, the cumberland, marysville tourist & progress association, marysville newsagency & general store, crossways restaurant & motel, beauty spot walk, tree fern gully walk, michaeldene track, keppel track, woods lookout track, marysville hotel motel, lake mountain ski hire, marysville recreation and fun park, mytanta horseback safaris, upper big river valley, the big culvert, marysville mountain view horse hire, maryton park, amber view holiday lodges, cathedral restaurant, the top shop, tower motel, menzes garage, beauty spot nursery, marysville ski hire, lake mountain ski school, faraway forest, scenic motel, buxton trout farm, marysville hardware, timbertop steakhouse, marysville trout farm, healesville sanctuary, buxton hotel motel, nanda binya lodge, buxton antique and furniture mart, the black spur inn hotel, alexandra, lake mountain, geoffrey pope & associates

A tourist guide outlining services, accommodation, activities and places of interest to visit in and around Marysville, Lake Mountain and the local district.A tourist guide outlining services, accommodation, activities and places of interest to visit in and around Marysville, Lake Mountain and the local district.Acknowledgements/ Mystic Mountains Tourism Association, Marysville Office of the Dept. of Conser/ vation & Natural Resources, Mrs Elaine Postlethwaite, Ms Sue Henry & every/ advertiser without whose support this Guide would not have been possible.marysville, victoria, australia, tourist guide, mystic mountains, lake mountain, tourism australia, graeme haycraft, magic creek nursery, missing links miniature golf, phelps bakery, blackwood cottages, marysville hotel motel, tower motel, kerami house, marylands guest house, lomatia lodge, willowbank at taggerty, barree mud brick cottages, scenic motel, somerled mountain retreat, dalrymples guest cottages, nanda binya lodge, mathilde's of marysville country guest house, the birches resort, mystic mountains tourist information, marysville caravan park, the cumberland, igloo roadhouse, top shop pancake parlour, the silver birch restaurant, steavenson's restaurant, olde yarra track shoppe, danish coffee gardens, oscars take-away, country touch pottery studio & gallery, cumberland memorial scenic reserve, cathedral range state park, lady talbot forest drive, wishing well, taggerty river picnic area, taggerty river, phantom falls, keppels falls, the beeches walking track, mount sugarloaf, maryton park holiday cottages, snowviews, esa camping & conference centre, wirreanda festival, marysville post shop, hidden talent craft gallery, marysville automotive repairs, geoffrey pope & associates, beauty spot walk, tree fern gully walk, michaeldene track, marysville riding school, gerraty's ski centre, marysville holiday cottages, marysville triangle taxi service, fruit salad farm, lake mountain alpine resort, marysville ski hire, lake mountain ski school, cross country ski hire, lake mountain ski hire, marysville country club