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

Establishment and Functions Prior to 1860, the Chief Secretary's Department had been responsible for the administration of the gold fields and associated mining activities. In November 1860 a Commissioner of Mines was appointed and a Department was established under his administration. For the period November 1861 to June 1863, the Postmaster General was responsible for the Mining Department. A Minister of Mines was again appointed in 1863. Responsibilities of the Department of Mines were: 1. Regulation of mining and related public works activities through the issue of miners rights, business and residence licences, mining leases, mineral and other prospecting licences 2. Superintendence of the activities of mining surveyors, registrars, wardens and Mining Boards. 3. Investigation of the state's geological structure, mineral wealth and underground water resources 4. Development of the mining industry 5. Supervision of the safe working of mines, machinery and quarries including checking the credential of mine managers, inspectors and operators 6. Regulation of the disposal of sludge and other waste products 7. Administration of the Victorian Mining Accident Relief Fund. Arising from its initial responsibility for the supply of water on the gold fields, the Department became responsible for rural water supply from the mid 1860s. Statutory responsibility for rural water works during this period rested with the Board of Land and Works. In 1865 the Waterworks Act gave the Board power to construct waterworks, purchase land, levy charges and lease or sell works, while the Public Loans Act 1865 empowered it to provide loans to local water trusts for waterworks. The actual administration of these statutory provisions was undertaken by the Victorian Water Supply Department which operated from 1865 to 1889 as a sub-department of the Department of Mines, from 1889 as a department in its own right, and from 1895 to 1909 as a sub-department of the Department of Mines and Water Supply. For a brief period from 1891 to 1893 the Department of Mines was also responsible for forests and, until 1880, for the Schools of Mines subsequently transferred to the Education Department. In 1895 the Department of Mines and the Victorian Water Supply Department were amalgamated to form the Department of Mines and Water Supply. A snapshot into social history around the 1930s when the Department of works and the Mines Departments were still linkedReceipt Book for the Department of Works; Mines. Receipt No 2801 - 3000. 1st receipt Number 2801, "18th July 1936, for Rent of Cottage: 14 days for 2 pounds, 2 shillings. The inscription on the back is signed by J F Condau in 13-3-33Printed on spine "GENERAL RECEIPTS / 15 / 2801 / TO 3000" Printed on each receipt 'DEPARTMENT OF / PUBLIC WORKS. / MINES." Fill in using ink pen "(DATE) 18th July 1936 / (TO) - - - shields' / BEING) Rent of / Cottage: 14 days / (TO) 17th July / @ (symbol for pound) 1-1. p. week / . (symbol for pound) 2:2:-"Inside cover there is some red pencil writing, words and figures unreadable. Handwritten on back cover "Numbers checked / and found corredt / J S Coudou (?) / 13-3-33" One some receipts "Wharfage / S.S. Koonara"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, department of works: mines, receipt book, rent 1936, imperial currency, living costs 1936, department of works, department of mines, j f condou, 1933, 13-3-33

1. Rent receipts, permissive occupancy, Monument Hill Consolidated. 2. Right to occupy a residence area, Victoria Phillipa Evans 127 Breen Street Bendigo. 3. Plan for applied Lease 10423. 5. Certificate of Registration of tail race. Loose documents.MCCOLL RANKIN & STANISTREETorganization, business, industrial - mining, mccoll rankin & stanistreet

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, South Frederick the Great Co NL. a/ Plan of Residence Areas on No. 10287, by J O Charlton, Parish of Yarraberb. Includes land for school, owners names of blocks, crown land. Signed: Garnet G Birch. Dated 27/4/1935, licensed surveyor. b/ Letter from Department of Mines to McColl Rankin & Stanistreet in reference to letter regarding lease No. 10287. On back of letter are notes relating to blocks of land on lease No.10287. c/ Plan Of Area For On Lease No. 10287 Ben. By John O Charlton. Mining District of Bendigo, Parish of Yarraberb, Lease No. 10287 Ben. By John O Charlton. Mining District of Bendigo. Date 21/6/1934. Signed Garnet G Birch. Blocks include name of purchaser. d/ Plan Of Area For On Lease No. 10287 Ben. By John O Charlton. Mining District of Bendigo, Parish of Yarraberb, County of Bendigo. Dated 21/6/1934. e/ envelope inscribed South Fredrick the Great. 51.organization, business, gold mine, plan of area for on lease no. 10287 ben. by john o charlton. mining district of bendigo, parish of yarraberb, county of bendigo j o charlton garnet g birch department of mines lease no. 10287 ben. by john o charlton mining district of bendigo 1934

Document: Letter from McColl, Rankin & Stanistreet to the Central Napoleon Gold Mining Co N.L. regarding a Residence Licence from Mr R.Roberts, the letter is asking the company whether they have any objections to the request, Land in question is marked on the map contained within the mining lease for document no 2205.704a.organization, business, industry - mining, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, mining, gold mining, central nepoleon, r roberts

Document. North Hustlers Gold Mining Leases on Crown Land. Prospectus for North Hustlers. Applications to apply for right to occupy Residence area. Application for Shares. List of Share holders. Proposal for re organisation of Company (East Moon Gold Mining Co.)McColl, Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, business, north hustlers gmc, mccoll, rankin & stanistreet, north hustlers gmc, east moon gmc, gold mining, leases, shares, land occupation

Lake Bolac Post Office Glenelg Highway. Initially the Post Office was established at the Store in 1868. This official weatherboard building was opened in 1887 incorporating a telegraph office, money order office and post office savings bank. The Post Office business was relocated in 1944 and the building was used as a private residence with the front room leased to Dennys Lascelles. Note the horse hitching rail and kerosene street light.Photograph depicting a weatherboard building across a road. The building is fenced. In front of the building there is a telegraphic or electric post and a lamp post.lake bolac, post office, glenelg highway, dennys lascelles

Document: hard cover journal, brown cover with buff spine, in very poor condition. Journal contains details of leases with number and date of application, name and address of applicant, parish, allotment area, date and issue of lease. Entries mainly for parish of Sandhurst, Bendigo, some for Swan Hill, Kerang, Echuca. On spine ' Bendigo 138 01401 to - then onto cards'Lands Officebendigo, residence and business leases, lands office

2 copies of document, 1original, 1 copy. Information re lease of allotment 49C City of Bendigo and the residence area adjoining. Mentioned in document: sale of Deborah Reef Gold Mining Company's plant and machinery sold by tender to Cameron and Sutherland on the 18th day of May, 1920. Deborah Reef Company's solicitor was the late Mr. F.D. Jones and Miss G. Alice Jones.business, mining, mccoll rankin & stanistreet collection:, mining, allotment 49c, deborah reef gold mining company.