Aitken's Gap, otherwise known as The Gap or Buttlejork, and 3km west of Sunbury, was established as a township in 1845. It is in the area which is now bordered by the Calder Highway and Gap Road. The village was named after John Aitken, a Port Phillip pastoralist who took up the Mount Aitken run in 1836. Aitken's Gap Police Barracks (in the District of Bourke) opened in 1853 and was staffed by two Mounted Constables and one Foot Constable. The gaol (used to house prisoners and also gold en route to Melbourne) was built in 1857 from bluestone quarried in the area. The roof was made of slate. In 1861 it was staffed by 1 Mounted Senior Constable and 1 Foot Constable. The Barracks closed in 1863 when the Bendigo rail line was completed and the gold was transported to Melbourne by rail. All the buildings, except the gaol, were moved to Sunbury. The land was sold in 1870 and in 1989 the current owner donated the building to the Sunbury Police. The original building was dismantled, restored and rebuilt outside Sunbury police station.15 colour photos and 1 black and white photopolice stations; aitken's gap police station

The Aitken's Gap Inn was built and owned by Owen Fisher. He also built the stone wall. He was one of the original settlers at Aitken's Gap in the 1840's.A black and white photograph of the Aitken's Gap Inn.aitken's gap, pioneers, fisher, owen, stone walls, aitken's gap inn, george evans collection

A sepia coloured photograph of a worker on the Millett's Farm at Aitken's Gap, Sunburyaitken's gap, farms, farming, schaefer, carmel, millett family, fences, sunbury, george evans collection

The Aitkens Gap Gaol was removed from its original site at Gap Village on the Calder Highway and relocated in front of the Sunbury Police Station in 1993.A coloured photograph of the resiting and rebuilding of the Aitken Gap Gaol outside the Police Station in Sunbury. The two end walls have been constructed as far as the windows and work has commenced on the front and back walls. Some stones are scattered around the site.peter free, aitkens gap gaol, sunbury police station, police historical association, george evans collection

The Aitken Gap Gaol was originally constructed at the Gap Settlement on the Calder Highway in 1857 for the gold escorts. It was relocated to its present site outside the Sunbury Police Station in Macedon Street between 1989 and 1991.A coloured photograph of the relocated Aitken Gap Gaol. It has bluestone walls and a moss covered slate roof. with 2 solid stained wooden doors and blue painted wooden trims. A small cell window is on the side of the building and a paved brick area surrounds the gaol.aitken gap gaol, gap village, sunbury police station, george evans collection

Aitkens Gap Police Lock up was originally constructed at The Gap which was south of the junction of Gap Road (Sunbury Road) and Calder Highway (Victoria St/Mt. Alexander Road). It was part of a police complex which was a changeover station for the gaol escort. The goal was relocated and rebuilt in the police station grounds in Sunbury in 1993.A coloured photograph of five men working on the removal of Aitkens Gap Gaol from its original site. Two end walls of the gaol are standing and the work is being done on the front and back of the building. Conifers and cypress trees are growing around the site.peter free, aitkens gap gaol, police historical association, sunbury police station, george evans collection

In 1990 the small gaol was dismantled from its site at Aitken's Gap and relocated in Sunbury outside the new police station.A black and white photograph of a small bluestone gaol with a shingle roof and two wooden doors. The modern police station is in the background and a plaque set in bluestone is on the RHS of the photograph.aitken gap gaol, the gap village, sunbury police station, george evans collection

The Bald Hill Hotel was built by George Millett and his wife Susan in 1854 at Aitkens Gap. A fire started by their son caused little damage in 1866. Frank Millett was the licencee until 1910. The hotel closed in 1911.An unmounted black and white photograph of a building which was a former hotel.hotels, hotelkeepers, bald hill hotel, george evans collection

Frank Millett and his nephew Hopper Cahill are the two people standing by the building after spending the day shooting rabbits in 1922. They are standing in front of the Aitkens Gap Police Barracks. In the 1860s the gaol and stables were sold to George Millett and added to the Millett property. The Barracks and the new farm homestead were built by Mick Morrison. The Bald Hill Hotel at Aitkens Gap on the Bendigo Road (Calder Highway) was guilt by George Millett in 1854 and functioned until the gold began to run out after the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s. The Millett family continued to farm until 1967. The family also and operated hotels in the local area. A black and white photograph backed onto a white board of a man and a child holding some dead rabbits and standing in front of the doorway of a bluestone building. frank millett, george millett, aitkens gap gaol, hopper cahill

The four sites featured on the postcard are: Top row L-R Emu Bottom Homestead and Rupertswood Mansion. Bottom row L-R Goonawarra Vineyard and Aitkens Gap Gaol. George Evans built Emu Bottom and William Clarke was the first owner of Rupertswood. Goonwarra was one of Sunbury's early vineyards and the gaol was relocated on the police station from its original site at The Gap village on the Calder Highway.The four sites featured are important historic places in SunburyA coloured postcard featuring four historic sites in Sunbury. The word 'SUNBURY' is printed in orange across the centre of the card. Details of the four sites, the photographer and the postcard company are on the back.emu bottom, rupertswood mansion, goonawarra winery, aitkens gap gaol, george evans, william j.t. clarke

Frank Millet and his cousin, Hopper Cahill are standing in front of the Aitkins Gap Gaol after spending the day shooting rabbits in 1922. In the 1860s the gaol and stables were sold to George Millett and added to the Millett property. The barracks and a new farm homestead were built by Mick Morrison. The Bald Hill Hotel at Aitkens Gap on the Bendigo Road (Calder Highway) was built by George Millett in 1854 and functioned until the gold began to run out after the 1850s Victorian Goldrush. The Millett family continued farming in the area until 1967. They also owned and operated other hotels in the local area. A non-digital scanned black and white photograph of a man and a boy standing in front of a bluestone building while holding some dead rabbits. frank millett, hopper cahill, aitkins gap gaol, calder highway, george millett, bald hill hotel

The memorial for Frederick and Louisa Hammerly who lost their son Alfred in an accident. The memorial is a piece of tapestry.A sepia photograph of a piece of memorial embroidery. It was done in memory of Alfred Hammerly. His photo is in the centre of the piece. This photo is mounted on to black cardboard.aitkens gap, sunbury, hammerly, alfred, louisa, frederick, sunbury football club, sunbury cricket club, sports, cricket, football, excelsior memoriam, george evans collection