1902-1906 During this period, 'Bellfield' was known to have had three owners, a Mr Barrett, then a Mr Brand, then the firm Mitchell Bros. and White. C1907 Marshall White bought 'Bellfield' and succeeded in getting the government to improve the road up the valley. 1910 'Bellfield' opened as a guest house with a Mrs Matilda Thompson employed as manageressSundial peak in background overlooking housebuildings, houses, accommodation, bellfield

The original building situated to the right and rear of this complex was moved from Upper Halls Gap C1896. It was bought by James Balmain as a private residence having previously been a school. Additions were made to 'Bellfield' over the next 10-12 years and it became a guest house in 1910 when purchased by Mrs Matilda Thompson. It is likely that she is one of the ladies in the photograph. The message written on the one post card is: "wishing you the best of luck. and a speedy return to Halls Gap and good health from The Bakeryites. Front aspect of Bellfield Guesthouse with 3 ladies and 3 gentlemen on the veranda Wonderland Range in background, One post card has hand written message Total of 4 original postcards and 2 copies of sameThe Rose Series P 1666 Postcard with greetings message reads:" To Mr Ross, Wishing you the best of luck and a speedy return to Halls' Gap and good health from the Bakerites:accommodation, guesthouses, bellfield

Bellfield' was a guest house during the period 1910-191924 Cabins provided additional accommodation for guests. One undated post card had the following words hand written on the reverse side: "Dear Florrie and William I expect you have worried not getting a line lately, it's such a job getting letters posted. This is the back of the house where I go to work. they had 43 boarders last week. 3 pounds each We had to work like niggers Im writing a letter to tell you all about it. With fond love Mary xxx"View of side of building with a number of cabins in foreground surrounded by a picket fence. The southern end of the Wonderland Range is in the background with sundial Peak being the predominant featureThe rose series P 1667 2 post cards and 1 photo of post card 1 original post card has message writtenaccommodation, guesthouses, bellfield

By 1950 Hotel Bellfield was owned by Mr and Mrs McMullin In June 1952 the staff quarters at the rear of the main building was destroyed by fire. As the staff accommodation comprised seven detached bungalows, similar to those in the photograph, it was possible to isolate the fire from spreading to the main building.Guest house with bus in foreground Wonderland Range in backgroundThe Rose series P 4894 copies Kodak Picture maker, Agfaaccommodation, guesthouses, bellfield

Guests on verandah of Bellfield Hotel. Marshall White bought a licenced building from Armstrong (between Great Western & Ararat), moved it to the site of their house and, in 1924 opened it as an hotel. It remained a very popular hotel under many owners until completely gutted by fire in 1967. Currently (2011) the Grampians Motel stands on almost exactly the same site. By the clothing worn by the guest in the photo this was probably taken in the 1930's.Guest on verandah of of a long building. The verandah has a vine growing along it.Quality paper made in Germany Hl Gap 0380 NNNAAaccommodation, guesthouses, bellfield

Early stages of buildings with Warren family before becoming Guest HouseBuilding with residents in foreground with additional buildings1 photo mounted on cardboardbuildings, myrtlebank, people, warren

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

Appears guest house completed at new locationGuest House built, garden not completed People on verandah and car beside buildingPhoto taken by Mr Holmesaccommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Residence of owner of guest house MyrtlebankOriginal residence of Myrtlebank with garden in foregroundKodak professional endura paper buildings, houses, myrtlebank

Large families were the norm, rather than the exception up to the time of the World wars. perhaps the senseless destruction of those young lives sickened humanity- perhaps the increased taxes and cost of living resulting from the wars caused a necessary reduction in family size. Perhaps the independence won by women as they carried on their daily lives without their men, made mothers say, "Enough" The Warren family farmed the fertile Fyans Creek flats in the Grampian Mountains of Western Victoria. Some say Halls Gap was so named because the bushranger Hall holed up there in the early days. The rugged slopes and hidden gullies could have hidden a whole gang of bushrangers, but little remained undiscovered to a wandering family of 12 children growing up with their flocks and herds grazing the ranges. A tired rider could nod off, safe in the knowledge a trusty stockhorse would plod steadily homeward into the night. Responsibility quickly made youngsters capable and reliable. Then Australia went to war. There were three older brothers, then the girls, then young Frank. All the men went, including Frank. So the girls had to run the farm alone. Their mother had her hands full with the youngsters, still attending school, a daily walk over the mountain to Pomonal and return. But the loss of the men's casual wages from timber cutting and labouring jobs, meant great hardship is some method of earning a cash income had to be devised. Paying guests! That was it. So Myrtle Bank Guest House was born. City folk flocked to the mountain resort. High stepping mountain horses met them at the Stawell raid-head, with the tall and beautiful Warren girls driving them in experienced fashion, their auburn hair sometimes falling from its pins to fly free, as the dray bowled along towards the hills. The would hitch up their skirts to saw and chop wood for the stoves and fires. They milked cows and delivered calves. They shore sheep and trimmed their feet. They mustered their cattle as the seasons rolled by, and the paying guests watched and participated, fascinated. With laughter and song, the girls would wash up in a tin dish, throw on their house clothes to wait on table, sing and play piano, violin, accordion, enjoying the talk of the city and that other world so far away from their mountain home. The simple country menu was a hit, and the homemade bread, butter, jams and preserves, fruit and vegetables sent guests staggering to their armchairs. Picnics, hikes, goodbyes and welcomes blurred as the years of the war dragged by. Bookings were made and remade as the new enterprise became established. Peace was declared. the men returned A whole new building rose with two floors, inviting verandahs and bathrooms. Myrtle Bank would remain a family business all its lifetime, until buried below the Bellfield Dam, by which time more than one the girls had joined their beloved Frank, lost on Flanders Field. Article in book or magazine describing life at Myrtlebank during war years Other article written from letter from soldier P Lillis to his sister 3rd article of woman from country enlisting in WAAF Submitted by Carol of Bannockburn, Submitted by D Langley Submitted by Meryl of South Frankstonaccommodation, myrtlebank, people, warren

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

1875-1876 The residence of John and Catherine D/Alton built on site of present Colonial Motor Inn. 1900 Owned by Langley family, "Morningside" was now taking in paying guests. 1909 Leased by James and Grace D'Alton who continued to run a small guest house. Late 1920s a small building was erected to serve as PO and telephone exchange. C1980 Guest house closed. 1982 Morningside demolished.Weatherboard house, picket fence 5 people Alexandria and Laura Sheridan, Catherine D/Alton, Meg Sheridan, a man standing at fenceMorningside 1875-76 John D'Alton and 2nd wife Catherine Fulton nee (Denholm), her mother and Aunt Mrs Sheridan original front now the back of Colonial motel Rose'e Australasian Views. Vitorian Series. Photographed and published George Rose, 123 Chapel St Windsor, Victoriabuildings, morningside, people, d'alton

A small building was erected to serve as PO and telephone exchangeBack View of Morningside facing main road. Picket fence, woman standing at gate, man speaking to driver of old model carMorningside Post Office and Guest Housebuildings, post office, morningside

Norval Guest-House Aginda and Wettenhall The original Norval The story of Norval begins in 1917 when it was built as a private residence for Mr and Mrs William Thompson. Mrs Thompson was a pioneer of the tourist business, having come from Ballarat to Hall's Gap in 1909 to manage Bellfield Guest-house According to Ida Stanton, in her history of Hall's Gap entitled "Bridging the Gap", Mr Thompson and his wife acquired the six roomed shearers quarters at "Hankelow", on land leased by the Wettenhall family, on the south side of Bellfield. Mr Thompson, she says, completely dismantled the quarters, carefully marking each board, then hired George McKeon to cart the material up to where the original Norval house stood. With great care, the rooms were rebuilt into a home for William and his wife Mathilda. Catherine Good, the daughter of Viola (nee Wettenhall) and niece of Dr Roland, in here "Recollections" entitled "Look to the Mountains - Viola's View 1887-1979", mentions Hankelow. Speaking of her days at Glen Holford, the Wettenhall home at Pomonal, Viola says "Verona and Francie Dennis, my cousins, and I went for one very exciting trip. Father (i.e Dr Roland's father) had bought 300 acres in the Gap to take sheep from Carr's Plains in time of drought, and had a little cottage there with one of the Glen Holford men and his wife in charge. It was called Hankelow. So we three set off over the Range from Glen Holford on foot and leading a pack horse with our night attire and no doubt sponge bags. "We stayed the night at Hankelow with Jim and Minnie. Minnie had been a housemaid at Glen Holford. I was very fond of her. It makes one laugh to think of the excitement of "roughing it"! Minnie gave us a lovely dinner with meringues, and cream, I remember, then early morning tea. After breakfast we were driven in the buggy to the foot of the Goat Rock (since renamed Mt Rosea) and off we went - walking in our long skirts and ankle boots. There was no track of any kind, nor blazed trail - we just made for the top. It was rather frightening at times because we couldn't see where the top was an it always seemed to get further and further away. The last mile was so terribly steep, with a lot of lose shale where you went up twelve inches and slipped back six. Now you motor to about a couple of miles from the top and then have a graded path. Anyway, we got there and back safely and were rewarded with a magnificent view" By a strange coincidence, Hankelow, the source of Norval Guest-house in times past (if the name can be applied to the property as a whole, which seems likely) is in fact also the source of our Wettenhall Campsite! Hankelow was named after a property owned by the Wettenhall family in England. In 1917 William and Mathilda retired to their newly built home (Norval) "to escape from the tourist business" However, so many people made requests to stay with them that they found it necessary to add several more rooms and sleepouts to their home. In this way, early in 1921, the guest-house began to take shape. Mr Thompson, a former librarian of the Mechanics Institute in Ballarat, named the house "Norval". The name "Norval" comes from a quotation from the play 'Douglas" by John Home. Written in the mid-16th century the play is set in the Grampian Mountains of Scotland. The story is of a boy who was parted from this mother during his early childhood, and was given to a shepherd who raised him. Some eighteen years later the mother by chance happens to meet here son, and not knowing his true identity, asks his name. He answers, "My name is Norval; and in the Grampian hills my father feeds his flocks." Perhaps it was simply because "Norval" was associated with the "Grampians" that it was chosen by Mr Thompson. He may also have been conscious of feeding "flocks" of tourists in his expanding, guest-house. Norval Guest-house prospered. It was known for its fine cooking and friendly atmosphere - a tradition which has carried through to the modern Norval! It closed between 1940 and 1949 because of the second world war. In 1949 it was decided to almost completely rebuild the house. Most of the old building (Hankelow plus) was demolished and rebuilt to a much larger and more modern plan. And then, on May 1, 1965, it was purchased by the Committee of Management of the Methodist and Presbyterian Conference Centres. At this time the guest-house was owned and operated by Marjorie and Lachland McLennan, Mrs McLennan being the daughter of William and Mathilda Thompson, the pioneers of the establishment. The McLennans had operated the Guest-house since about 1930.Photocopy 2 pages of article from book titled 'In the Making' title of article Norval guest House the original Norvalaccommodation, guesthouses, norval

Land owned by William & Matilda Thompson. They purchased some disused shearers' quarters, consisting of six rooms, and in 1917 moved the building onto their land to provide a home. Mrs. Thompson had only recently retired after being the manageress of "Bellfield" for seven years. They named their house "Norval". Norval. Front view of house with a man and woman on verandah (un-named). Chicken wire fence in foreground.buildings, houses, norval

Photo shows Advertising sheet divided into three sections - 'Boronia cafe and Store Halls Gap'; '"Rocklyn" - Guest House in Halls Gap'; 'Grampians Billiard Parlours'.media, flyers, buildings, shops

Grampians House accommodation. Bus in foreground of building.The Rose Series P.10081accommodation, guesthouses, grampian house

Students and teacher outside D'Altons House which was Silver Springs School Students are: Back Row L-R Syd Monk, Geo D'Alton, Donald and Harvey McDonald, Will D'Alton, Robert and James Wood, and L-R W Wood, Miss Alice Osborne, Front Row Sandy McDonald, T Wood, Emmy and Effie McDonald, Amy and Clare D'AltonStudents and teacher outside of school buildingeducation, schools, silver springs

Buildings in goldfields eg Photographer W. Hale, Hairdresser Leo Williams Photo shows crude buildings in foreground which housed businesses 5 men in foregroundbuildings, shops, mining, mafeking

Photo depicts 2 slab huts in foreground and 2 in back right corner Site of Sony Creek DigginsTwo of the diggers mansions written on frontbuildings, houses, stoney creek

Home in Roses Gap Laharum area Home of Hugh RussellPhoto shows man seated and reading book in front of timber lean to. Towel hanging over leaning door. Cast iron pot hangs from timer rail in foregroundbuildings, houses, people

Kept by A H Barnes, 1922-1924 name changed to Grampians House kept by Miss Allison and Miss Porter 1924-1925 kept by Mrs Anderson Grampians House - The earliest record of Grampians House was recorded in 1918 when the property was known as "Killarney" listed in the Country, Hotel and Boarding House Guide and Tourists handbook. The listing notes it as being kept my Mr A H Barnes The property consisted of 29 acres, the house of 8 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, vestibule, front and side passages, with verandah on front and side of building, also 3 roomed cottage with bathroom, 5 chalets containing 7 bedrooms, storeroom,wash house, water and gas laid on throughout. 4 stall stables and feed house, buggy shed for three buggies, motor shed for 4 cars, cow shed, and yards and pens. Local resident Mrs E Watson who attended school in the nearby public hall remembers going to a side window of the house and being able to purchase biscuits, sweets and drinks. The 1922-24 Handbook the listing was changed to "Grampians House" kept by Misses Allison and Porter. The 1924-25 Handbook listed "Grampians House" being kept by Mrs Anderson.Photo of original building of 8 rooms Proprietor A H BarnesFuji Film Pictor Paperaccommodation, guesthouses, killarney, grampian hosue

Thomas Benjamin Morgan, wife Sylvia Vyanna purchased guest house, children were John (Jack), Thomas, Dorothy (Doll) and Nina In December 1927 the family of Thomas Benjamin Morgan, his wife Sylvia Vyanna and children John (Jack), Thomas, Dorothy (Doll) and Nina purchased the property. In 1931 a major rebuilding project took place with brothers John and Thomas together with the help of local storekeeper Harold Goodwin Taylor designing and building a grand new guest house. The house now comprised of 22 bedrooms plus the original bungalows out the backOriginal Guest House photo with arbour entranceFuji Fijl pictro paperaccommodation, guesthouses, grampian house

A major rebuilding project took place. Brothers John & Thomas Morgan with local storekeeper Harold Goodwin Taylor designing and building a grand new Guest House with 22 bedrooms plus the original bungalows. Unheard of at the time the guests bedrooms had hand basins with hot & cold running water. This was achieved by building a weir on Stony Creek and piping the water to a high holding tank at the guest house. The dining room was a grand affair, a 4.5 metre high ceiling with beautiful gold leaf cornices, art deco ceiling and wall lights with feature plaster lights in the form of blue bells, wall to wall carpet and Kentia palms completed the picture. Ladies & gentlemen dressed for dinner, the ladies resplendent in their long evening gowns and jewellery would come down the stairway from the entrance hall to the lounge then the dining room. The tables were beautifully appointed with damask table cloths & fine silverware. The kitchen was well appointed with a huge coal fired range and a donkey for hot water. Milk & cream, bacon & pork, chicken & eggs together with vegetables were all home grown on the property. A large ballroom with a beautiful timber floor was the scene after dinner for many dances and party nights with guests from other establishments and locals joining in for the night. A huge fernery was also a feature of the gardens. During the day tennis parties would be held on the courts, together with horse riding and guided walks were taken out by local guide Gilbert Rogers.Photo of newly built Grampian Houseaccommodation, guesthouses, accommodation, grampian house

Popular Grampian Mountains (The Blue Mountains of Victoria) Saturday, 1st April, 1922 at 12 o'clock On the property Halls Gap, 17 miles from Stawell Mitchell Bros & White under instructions from the Administrator of Lulu Barnes, deceased, and Mr A. H. Barnes, will offer by public auction on the property, the well known Tourist Accomodation (sic) House, "Killarney" together with 29 acres of freehold land, household furniture, stock, vehicles and sundries. The buildings consist main building of 8 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, vestibule, front and side passages, with verandah on front and side of building, also 3 roomed cottage with bathroom, 5 chalets containing 7 bedrooms, storeroom. wash house, water and gas laid on throughout. 4 cars, cow sheds, yards, pens, and sundry outbuildings. The furniture is all in first class order, consisting of beds and bedding for 30 visitors. Carl Ecko piano, splendid instrument; overmantle (sic) suites of furniture, extension tables, card tables, book case, sideboard, cupboards, dining table and chairs, linoleums, mats, wardrobes, duchess-chests, washstands and ware, curtains, pictures, ornaments, iron safe, kitchen tables, chairs, stove, separator, copper, large assortment of glassware, crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, and everything necessary for running the house. Rolling stock and C, consisting of 5 buggy and saddle ponies, 2 milch (sic) cows, 4 head young cattle, 3 pigs, 30 fowls, single seated hooded rubber tyred buggy, nearly new, 2 seated drag, carry seven, in good order; double seated buggy, gig, waggonette (sic), carry one ton; lorry, spring dray, double furrow disc plough, garden plow (sic), roller, garden roller. 6 saddles and bridles, almost new, large quantity of heavy and light harness, swing bars, chains, and numerous sundries. NOTE - The property will be offered with furniture, rolling stock & c., as a going concern at 12 o'clock sharp; and if not sold the furniture, stock, & C., will be offered TERMS AT SALE. MITCHELL BROS. & WHITE. AuctioneersTyped extract of advertisement for auction of Killarney from Stawell News 25-3-1922 later known as Grampians Housemedia, newspaper articles, guesthouses, killarney

Coonara Teahouse on the WannonPhoto shows Knight home and tea rooms at HenhamFrom W Page Wickliffe P.O. taken on New Years day Hope the address finds you Bark had been removed Billiar room in centrebuildings, shops, houses, knight

Knight's Tea House on the Wannon River was run by Gus (Augustus) and Ellen Knight Tea rooms were known as Coonara Tea - House The Knights previously ran a Tea House at the failed Henham estatePost card shows Knight's Tea Rooms at the Wannon CrossingTea Rooms monument will go where this was Post Card correspondence, address only Kodak, Australi buildings, shops, people, knight

Tea Rooms were known as Coonara Tea House Previously the Knights ran a tea House at the failed Henham estateaPhoto shows Knight's Tea Rooms at the Wannon Crossing A wooden building using slabs of wood creating various patternsbuildings, shops, knight

The back of Warren's/Greer's Bakery on the far right side, with the back of Warrens/Greer's house adjacent (and at right angles to the bakery). The cottage on the left side was rented out. The bed of the Stoney Creek is in the foreground.Postcard shows three buildings with trees and a hill in the background. There are numerous fallen/felled trees and a fence in the foreground. Robert Greer was the baker. He married Ida Warren.media, advertisements, people, warren

This is the Warren Street residence of the owners of the bakery, which was situated behind this building. The owners were John and Florence Warren who ran the bakery until the 1960's when it was taken over by their daughter Ida and son-in-law Robert Greer. A weatherboard house surrounded by a 'chicken wire' fence. There is a wooded hill in the background.buildings, houses