Hotel Bellfield was totally destroyed by fire in 1969 Lou DeClifford was owner at that time and did not renew the hotel licence but later built a motel known as Grampians Motel on the same site.Guest House with car in foregroundThe Rose Series P 10079accommodation, hotels, 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

The party of people approaching the steps include the Victorian Governor and his wife Lord and Lady SomersGuests arriving at Hotel with Flag outsideQuality paper made in Germany 1 copy B/W 1 copy Sepiaaccommodation, 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

C 1910 The Warren family in foreground of buildings of Myrtlebank in early stageEarly stages of building Residents in Halls Gap with out buildingscopy Agfa H/GAP 0007 NNNBAbuildings, 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

Information supplied with accommodation details Victorian Country Hotel, Guest and Boarding House Guide "Myrtle Bank" The Grampians Electric Light, Sewered, Hot and Cold Water Service, Asphalt, Tennis Court, Milk and Cream from our own farm, Motors meet all melbounre Trains, The Most Up-to-date house in the Grampians, Through Tickets issued by Govt. Tourist Bureau, Telephone : No. 1 Halls Gap Tariff: 12/ per day L 3/3/0 per week. Proprietress Mrs A. F WarrenGuest House and grounds with Tariff information and servicesQuality paper made in Germanyaccommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Myrtlebank before bridgeGuest House before bridge Appears to be taken from post card photoThe rose Series P 4971accommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Occasional picnic trains took large groups of visitors to the base of the mountain range & sometimes as far as the quarry. Other journeys terminated at Fyan's Creek station on the south side of Mt. Dryden. Most trips were Sunday School & church outings - some on the annual Good Friday picnic day. spring was also a popular time.Photo shows train at siding. Man standing on engine roof with bucket in hand; woman in right-hand corner looking on; passenger standing at open carriage door. R 333 written on back of engine car. Engine turned back to front.transport, trains

Grampians Halls Gap & Stoney Creek dredge. circa 1909 . 2nd man from right is Alfred D'/alton; 4th from right is James OliverPhoto shows eight men seated, two standing. 3 tents in background.Grampians Hallls Gap & Stoney Creek dredge circa 1909 written on backpeople, d'alton, water supplies, channels

Men in front of Myrtlebank Guesthouse.Four men on horseback and one man standing, in front of guest house108 m CNNA 10A06 Dec 99 Gold reef Photosaccommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Early stages of guest houseGuest House and grounds Driveway leading up to house has a wagon in foreground before the bridge was builtAgfa Quality paper made in Germanyaccommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Guest House and driveway leading up to it with a brdigeThe Rose Series P 10082accommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

Photograph of Myrtlebank Guest House in Upper Halls GapGuest House and other buildings behind wooden fenceThe Rose Series P 13883accommodation, guesthouses, myrtlebank

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

Jack Deller at end of diving board Graeme Chappell diving off of board Darryl Williams left and Doug Bottoms right opposite side of pool Occasion was Graeme's 21st birthdayPeople enjoying pool and diving board at Myrtlebank Guest House overlooked by Mt William Range.AGFApeoplerecreation, sport

George Warren family on their Fyans Valley property George Warren (father) and son Frank seated left died within a week of each other during war at Gallipolli.Photograph of Warren family on property at Fyans Valley AGFA This paper manufactured by Kodakpeople, warren, myrtlebank

Appears to be earlier photo of Warren family prior to C1910Family of George Warren seatedAGFApeople, warren, myrtlebank

Auntie Cole (Goldie Warren) with Warren, Carol, David (Cavanah) Janice, Winnie, and Chick WarrenFamily of children feeding chooks with AuntieKodak paper people, warren, myrtlebank

unknown women but believe a Warren of MytrlebankLady in formal portrait with 2 people partially cut out of photo AGFA 997M BN12 21 MAR03 Wimmera imagingpeople, warren, 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

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

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

In 1900 "Morningside" was leased by the Langley family and was now taking in paying guests. The photo shows 'Morningside" with some of the Langley family in foreground,from left to right, Alice Maud (b. 1879) standing; Arthur Geo. (b. 1886) in front seated on ground; Florence (b. 1880) seated; Charles (father) (b.1853) standing wearing hat; Henry (Harry) (b. 1887) seated on ground in front; Alice Maria (b. 1855, nee Freeman) (mother) seated and Lucy Myrtle (b. 1884) standing. In 1909 "Morningside was leased by James and Grace D'Alton who continued to run a small guest house. The photo shows a weatherboard house with seven people grouped in the foreground. Trees can be seen behind the house.1900s early Morningside Langley familyaccommodation, morningside, people, langley

In 1900 'Morningside" was leased by the Langley family and was now taking in paying guests. The photo shows 'Morningside" with the Langley parents and two of their children in the foreground, left to right Arthur Geo. (b. 1886), Charles (b1853), his wife Alice Maria (b.1855, nee Freeman) and Lucy Myrtle (b. 1884), In 1909 "Morningside was leased by James and Grace D'Alton who continued to run a small guest house.Photo of a weatherboard house with four people standing in fron of it. Mountains can be seen in the background.Mr and Mrs Charles Langley with Walter or Arthur and Lucyaccommodation, morningside, people, langley

Phot copy of Rose Series Post card no 4895 Titled Morningside GrampiansFront view of house, Woman and child on verandah, Man standing under tree, two people seated on deck chairs under tree Bungalow on right of photoThe Rose Series P 4895accommodation, guesthouses, morningside

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

The Langley family owned Morningside at this time and took in paying guestsPhotograph of frame with oval photos plus etching on original frame which appears to be wooden Photos show a man and woman 'Charles John Perry' and Alice Maude May langleyCharles John Perry, Alice Maud May Langleypeople, langley, people, perry