Black & white image on glass negativenonehistoric pubs, diamond creek, nillumbik, goldfield hotels, coffee palace

William West was the proprietor. Miners on the way to nearby goldfields frequented the hotel. The Post Office on left of photo was inside. Situated east of present day pre-school, there was a small right of way by the side of the hotel. Honeymooners would also thay there.The Reynolds family were early settlers in Research. The Reynolds/ Prior collection of photographs were taken by Tom Prior, the maternal uncle of Ivy Reynolds, around 1900 and the 60 photos in the album give a fine overview of many of the landmarks of Research and Eltham over 100 years ago. lvy lived in the family home for many years at 106 Thompson Cres Research. Ivy's father, Ernst Richard Reynolds and grandfather, Richard Reynolds, lived at the same address. Ivy's father Richard worked for Mr. Trail on his property in Research. Reynolds Road is named after the family. Mr Tom Prior (wife Eva) worked at the Melbourne zoo. He was very innovative and made his own camera, using the black cloth hood to exclude the light. The photographs are a reminder of the rural nature of Research and Eltham and its rich heritage. Black and white photograph mounted in an album, the Reynolds/Prior Photograph Collection, this being one of 53 reproduced black and white images of early Eltham.The Reynolds/Prior Photograph Collection, Presented to the Eltham District Historical Society, 14 June 2006 by Ross McDonald. A second copy was also presented to the Andrew Ross Museum, Kangaroo Groundreynolds prior collection, post office, research hotel, the age, the leader, william west

Gold was discovered in Ballarat in 1851. This plan was created six years later and names some of the great gold locations of Ballarat East. It also shows the locality of the Eureka Stockade (1854) and the walking tracks and roads on the Ballarat East Goldfield.In 2007 this map was listed on the inaugural Ballarat Treasure's Register.Large map backed onto linen. The map has read and blue highlights, and identifies areas such as Mount Pleasant, Golden Point, White Flat, Nightingale, Malekoff, Old Post Office Hill, Red streak, Gumtree Flat, Old Gravelpits, Bakery Hill, Ballaarat Flat, The Camp, Specimen Gully, Pennyweight Hill, Warrenheip Gully, Gays Gully, Pennyweight Flat, Eureka, Black Hill, Pinchgut, Crocodile, Hit or Miss, Little Bendigo, Brown Hill, Mopoke, Cricket Reserve, Canadian Hotel, Ballarat Eastmount pleasant, golden point, white flat, nightingale, malekoff, old post office hill, red streak, gumtree flat, old gravelpits, bakery hill, ballaarat flat, the camp, specimen gully, pennyweight hill, warrenheip gully, gays gully, pennyweight flat, eureka, black hill, pinchgut, crocodile, hit or miss, little bendigo, brown hill, mopoke, cricket reserve, canadian hotel, ballarat eastm phillips, john phillips, field draughtsman, ballarat east, ballarat east map

Typical pipe used at home, hotels and at picnicsBowl section and short length of stem (40mm). Repair (glued) near bowl.Clover embossed on both sides of bowl and a harp embossed on the front of the bowl.tobacco, harp, pipe, clay, goldfields, smoking, leisure, clover

An early colour tinted photograph of the intersection of the Buxton Marysville Road and the Marysville-Wood's Point Road.An early photograph of the Buxton Marysville Road and the Marysville-Wood's Point Road intersection. The Marysville-Buxton Road joins the Maroondah Highway which leads to Alexandra. The Marysville-Woods Point Road was originally part of the Yarra Track, constructed in the early 1860s to provide access between Healesville and the Woods Point Goldfields. Despite the steep terrain and engineering difficulties, the Yarra Track soon became a busy route used by pack horses, horse-drawn drays, and wagons. Today this sealed mountain road is a popular scenic drive between Marysville and Warburton. On the right of the photograph can be seen 'The Crossways Hotel' which is circa 1920 and one of the oldest buildings still standing in Marysville. 'The Crossways Hotel' survived the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, through the efforts of the owner using buckets of water from the nearby Steavenson River. In the background can be seen the Poontawan Guest House which later became the Marysville Chalet Guest House which was on the site of the original Steavenson's Hotel. That guest house no longer exists and the Christ Church stands on the land where the guest house once stood. This photograph was published by the Valentine Publishing Co Pty. Ltd as a souvenir of Marysville.marysville, victoria, marysville chalet guest house, crossways hotel, christ church marysville, poontawan guest house, steavenson's hotel, valentine publishing co, souvenir, yarra track, wood's point road, mining, buxton-marysville road, marysville-wood's point road, maroondah highway, alexandra

An early black and white photograph of a hotel along the Yarra Track.An early black and white photograph of a hotel along the Yarra Track. The Yarra Track is the former name of the gold fields road from Healesville to the Woods Point and Jordan Goldfields, in Victoria, Australia. A direct route via the Yarra River and the Great Divide was discovered by Rieck in September 1862 and became known as the Yarra Track. Early in 1863, the Victorian Government decided to construct a 193-kilometre (120 mile) road along the route. Its original width varied between 4 and 6 metres (12 and 20 feet), and was designed to accommodate horse-drawn vehicles. The Track involved the climbing of the Black Spur, descent into the Acheron Valley, and then through Marysville to the Cumberland where it followed the existing route. Unable to ascertain both the location and name of hotel.ARMSTRONG COLLECTION 42 STATION STREET/ SANDRINGHAM 3191/ TEL. (03) 9521 5442/ IAN M.L. ARMSTRONG OAMyarra track, healesville, wood's point, jordan goldfields, victoria, yarra river, great divide, reick, black spur, acheron valley, marysville, cumberland creek

An early black and white photograph of The Scandinavian's Hotel and Boarding House along the Yarra Track.An early black and white photograph of The Scandinavian's Hotel and Boarding House along the Yarra Track. The Yarra Track is the former name of the gold fields road from Healesville to the Woods Point and Jordan Goldfields, in Victoria, Australia. A direct route via the Yarra River and the Great Divide was discovered by Rieck in September 1862 and became known as the Yarra Track. Early in 1863, the Victorian Government decided to construct a 193-kilometre (120 mile) road along the route. Its original width varied between 4 and 6 metres (12 and 20 feet), and was designed to accommodate horse-drawn vehicles. The Track involved the climbing of the Black Spur, descent into the Acheron Valley, and then through Marysville to the Cumberland where it followed the existing route.ARMSTRONG COLLECTION 42 STATION STREET/ SANDRINGHAM 3191/ TEL. (03) 9521 5442/ IAN M.L. ARMSTRONG OAMthe scandinavians', yarra track, healesville, wood's point, jordan goldfields, victoria, yarra river, great divide, reick, black spur, acheron valley, marysville, cumberland creek

An early black and white photograph of The Scandinavian's Hotel and Boarding House along the Yarra Track.An early black and white photograph of The Scandinavian's Hotel and Boarding House along the Yarra Track. The Yarra Track is the former name of the gold fields road from Healesville to the Woods Point and Jordan Goldfields, in Victoria, Australia. A direct route via the Yarra River and the Great Divide was discovered by Rieck in September 1862 and became known as the Yarra Track. Early in 1863, the Victorian Government decided to construct a 193-kilometre (120 mile) road along the route. Its original width varied between 4 and 6 metres (12 and 20 feet), and was designed to accommodate horse-drawn vehicles. The Track involved the climbing of the Black Spur, descent into the Acheron Valley, and then through Marysville to the Cumberland where it followed the existing route.ARMSTRONG COLLECTION 42 STATION STREET/ SANDRINGHAM 3191/ TEL. (03) 9521 5442/ IAN M.L. ARMSTRONG OAMthe scandinavians', yarra track, healesville, wood's point, jordan goldfields, victoria, yarra river, great divide, reick, black spur, acheron valley, marysville, cumberland creek

An early black and white photograph of a camp which was opposite The Scandinavian's Hotel and Boarding House along the Yarra Track.An early black and white photograph of a camp which was opposite The Scandinavian's Hotel and Boarding House along the Yarra Track. The Yarra Track is the former name of the gold fields road from Healesville to the Woods Point and Jordan Goldfields, in Victoria, Australia. A direct route via the Yarra River and the Great Divide was discovered by Rieck in September 1862 and became known as the Yarra Track. Early in 1863, the Victorian Government decided to construct a 193-kilometre (120 mile) road along the route. Its original width varied between 4 and 6 metres (12 and 20 feet), and was designed to accommodate horse-drawn vehicles. The Track involved the climbing of the Black Spur, descent into the Acheron Valley, and then through Marysville to the Cumberland where it followed the existing route.ARMSTRONG COLLECTION 42 STATION STREET/ SANDRINGHAM 3191/ TEL. (03) 9521 5442/ IAN M.L. ARMSTRONG OAMthe scandinavians', yarra track, healesville, wood's point, jordan goldfields, victoria, yarra river, great divide, reick, black spur, acheron valley, marysville, cumberland creek

A history of the Donnelly's Creek gold mine in VictoriaPaperback. Front cover has a drawing depicting two horses carrying packs followed by a man mounted on a horse. There is also two men on foot following with packs and walking poles. They are walking along a forest track that has some tree stumps alongside it.The back cover has two colour photographs. The top one is of an old wooden building with what appears to be an attached lean to. Both of the buildings have stone chimneys. There is a group of people sitting and standing outside the main building. The bottom photograph appears to be the ruins of a building and a fence. There are three people viewing the ruins.The captions accompanying the photographs are: History revisited - O'Sullivans Old Toombon Hotel Recreated and Remnants of a Bygone Mining Era.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P O Box 22 / Marysville 3779gold, gold miner, gold mining, gold field, gippsland, victoria, australia, history, fulton's creek, seaton, walhalla, aberfeldy, jericho, wood's point

Recollections by Richard Mackay of the early history of the Gippsland goldfieldsPaperback. Cover is green. Front cover has a sepia photograph of a drawing with the caption 'Walhalla in its heyday. Back cover has a photograph of an old building with a sign on it that says 'Copper Mine Hotel'. There is a man standing in front of the building. In the foreground is a four wheel drive vehicle.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779gold, gold fields, gold miner, gold mining, gold town, gippsland, victoria, australia, history, jamieson, sale, omeo, big river, wood's point, matlock, jericho, aberfeldy, donnelly's creek, walhalla

Ringbound publication of 212 pagesnon-fictionBeverley Chatham ( daughter of Arthur Chatham) suggested that Commerlghip refers to Watering holes and underground springs found in the Little Woady Yallok and Mt Misery Creeks. Rokewood Junction was proclaimed a township in 1885, originally known as a gold-mining township called Paddy's Gully Diggings. rokewood, rokewood junction, chatham, kurus-a-ruc, henry pitman, elizabeth pitman, william henry pitman, rokewood junction state school, commeralghip, paddy's gully bridge, illabrook, conereyalk, woady yalloak creek, mt misery creek, paddy's gully diggings., dereel, pitfield, wadawurrung, william rutland, squatters, aborigines, aboriginal, charlotte walsh, maurice walsh, julie pitman, ben liston, sheep and wool, george hawkins, natthew wakeling, christopher moody, mt misery goldfield, john bower, mary bower, hyslop's hotel, cumberland store, jane hyslop, edward collyer, jospeh gladstone, lucas's bakery, henry batty, william young, ellen rigby, chinese, joseph anguey, eliza anguey, murder of thomas ulick burke, william achultze, william schiltze, nicholas grenfell, tomas bramley murder, emily malhoff, drowning, ah lin, eliza richards, luisa bupell, eleanor holmes, rachel holmes, joseph holloway, noah holloway, thomas faulkner, robert eli hearn, george todhunter briggs, john robinson fairweather, rokewood common, edward bussell, louisa bussell, irving rachinger, john chatham, doris chatham, peter chatham, jack chatham, imogen chatham, domenico rizzoli, mary rizzoli, rokewood junction railway line, illabrook football and netball club, cape clear, red cross, keith annear, fire brigade, rokewood junction post office, len aarons, dereel pre-emptive right, rokewood junction avenue of honour, arthur chatham

A digital copy of a black and white photograph of the Chester Family who were living at the Golden Secret Mine in the Cumberland Valley. The original photograph was taken in 1906.A digital copy of a black and white photograph of the Chester Family who were living at the Golden Secret Mine in the Cumberland Valley.chester family, william edward chester, maria catherine kirwan, bridget kirwan, william henry kirwan, junction hotel marysville, golden bower mine, donovan's creek, cumberland creek, wreden, alma kathleen barry, alma kathleen chester, robyn mcleod, william john chester, elizabeth miles, mary anne johnes, goldminer, henry wreden, cumberland goldfield, golden secret mine, george locke, golden bower mining company, bridget cussen

A digital copy of a black and white photograph of the Chester Family standing on a verandah of unknown building.A digital copy of a black and white photograph of the Chester Family standing on a verandah of unknown building.chester family, william edward chester, maria catherine kirwan, bridget kirwan, william henry kirwan, junction hotel marysville, golden bower mine, donovan's creek, cumberland creek, wreden, alma kathleen barry, alma kathleen chester, robyn mcleod, william john chester, elizabeth miles, mary anne johnes, goldminer, henry wreden, cumberland goldfield, golden secret mine, george locke, golden bower mining company, bridget cussen, photograph

A digital copy of a black and white photograph of Maria Chester.A digital copy of a black and white photograph of Maria Chester.chester family, william edward chester, maria catherine kirwan, bridget kirwan, william henry kirwan, junction hotel marysville, golden bower mine, donovan's creek, cumberland creek, wreden, alma kathleen barry, alma kathleen chester, robyn mcleod, william john chester, elizabeth miles, mary anne johnes, goldminer, henry wreden, cumberland goldfield, golden secret mine, george locke, golden bower mining company, bridget cussen, photograph

A digital copy of a colour photograph of Maria Chester standing on Mount Sugarloaf in the Cathedral Ranges in Victoria.A digital copy of a colour photograph of Maria Chester standing on Mount Sugarloaf in the Cathedral Ranges in Victoria.chester family, william edward chester, maria catherine kirwan, bridget kirwan, william henry kirwan, junction hotel marysville, golden bower mine, donovan's creek, cumberland creek, wreden, alma kathleen barry, alma kathleen chester, robyn mcleod, william john chester, elizabeth miles, mary anne johnes, goldminer, henry wreden, cumberland goldfield, golden secret mine, george locke, golden bower mining company, bridget cussen, photograph

A digital copy of a black and white photograph of Walter Chester's car loaded up with supplies.A digital copy of a black and white photograph of Walter Chester's car loaded up with supplies.chester family, william edward chester, maria catherine kirwan, bridget kirwan, william henry kirwan, junction hotel marysville, golden bower mine, donovan's creek, cumberland creek, wreden, alma kathleen barry, alma kathleen chester, robyn mcleod, william john chester, elizabeth miles, mary anne johnes, goldminer, henry wreden, cumberland goldfield, golden secret mine, george locke, golden bower mining company, bridget cussen, photograph

A digital copy of a black and white photograph of William Chester shaking hands with an unknown VIP.A digital copy of a black and white photograph of William Chester shaking hands with an unknown VIP.chester family, william edward chester, maria catherine kirwan, bridget kirwan, william henry kirwan, junction hotel marysville, golden bower mine, donovan's creek, cumberland creek, wreden, alma kathleen barry, alma kathleen chester, robyn mcleod, william john chester, elizabeth miles, mary anne johnes, goldminer, henry wreden, cumberland goldfield, golden secret mine, george locke, golden bower mining company, bridget cussen, photograph

Thirty two page green covered book on Ballarat's Lydiard Street, including information on the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat, Art Gallery of Ballarat, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, The George Hotel, Leonard terry. Provincial Hotel, Ballarat Mining Exchange, Ballarat Railway Station, Soldiers Hill, Regent Theatre.non-fictionballarat, lydiard street, old colonists' association of ballarat, art gallery of ballarat, ballarat fine art gallery, the george hotel, leonard terry. provincial hotel, ballarat mining exchange, ballarat railway station, soldiers hill, regent theatre, charles lydiard, government camp, golden fleece hotel

The Victorian Statutes Vol 3 Various Legal Statues /Warrnambool Publisher: John Ferres Government Printer Melbourne Date: 1866 Further Information: Three quarter leather. Corners worn lettering in gilt. non-fictionThis volume is part of the first comprehensive consolidation of laws for the Colony of Victoria after it separated from New South Wales and established its own parliament. Specifically, Volume 3 is the final part of the core "Public and General" Victorian colonial laws. The first three volumes of the 1866 consolidation were organised alphabetically by legal topic. Volume 3 specifically contains all the major public acts running from P to W. Because it covers the tail end of the alphabet, it holds some of the most critical laws that built day-to-day society in 19th-century Victoria. These include: · Police Offences and Public Order: The legal frameworks for policing the goldfield boomtowns, managing public behaviour, and running early colonial prisons. · Public Works and Infrastructure: The acts authorising the construction of roads, bridges, and early municipal water supplies across the fast-growing colony. · Railways: The specific general legislation governing the expansion of Victoria's heavily subsidised, state-expanding railway networks. · Property and Land Transfer: Crucial laws managing land ownership, inheritance, and the foundational transfers of property as the colony shifted away from old squatter runs to permanent towns. · Wines, Beer, and Spirits: The colonial acts regulating the licensing of hotels and public houses, and managing the highly lucrative, tightly controlled alcohol trade.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library

Travellers bound for Victoria’s goldfields would stop at Farmers Arms Hotel, now known as the Greensborough Hotel, to put their feet up and enjoy a well-earned break. In this article, several Greensborough historical sites are discussed. Businesses occupying these sites today are identified.News article 2 page, black text, black and white images.farmers arms hotel, greensborough hotel, greensborough historical society

The first hotel built in Orbost was the Club in 1885 an old wooden place on the corner built for J. A. Petersen of the Mitchell Hotel Bairnsdale, with the licence in the name of Mr Thomas Maguire (stepson of Petersen). William Archer was the proprietor at the time of the photograph. The coach driver was Sam Dyer and the coach is leaving for the goldfields at Combienbar. In June 1889 there was a rush to Mackenzie River, about 28 miles from Orbost, on Twelve Mile Creek. An estimated 80 men rushed the ground, but yields were patchy and large numbers eventually left. They were coming and going almost daily.The Club Hotel was the first hotel built in Orbost and remains a significant building in the town. It was an important hub for the township with many whole town meetings held there.A faded black / white photograph (with two copies) with a horse-drawn carriage loaded with men and the Orbost Club Hotel behind them. The photo is on a grey buff card.on back - " H. Adams. Driven by Sam Dyer - Leaving for the Combienbar Goldfields"orbost-club-hotel combienbar-goldfields

Built c.1868, St Andrew’s Anglican Church is Nillumbik Shire’s oldest timber church and is historically, socially, and spiritually significant to the Shire of Nillumbik. The church is historically significant because it may have given its name 'St Andrews' to the town (another suggestion is that the name came from the local hotel), it is also historically significant as one of only four buildings that remain from the Caledonian goldfields era of Queenstown (now St Andrews) and one of only a handful of buildings that survived the 1960s bushfires. The church is historically, socially, and spiritually significant because it has played an important part in community life for more than 150 years; a proposal to move the church in 1984 met with strenuous opposition. Much of the fires on Black Saturday 2009 were the north of the town. The town itself remained intact - as did this heritage building. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Local significance Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p69 The St Andrews Anglican Church and former St Andrews Primary School, are two reminders of the district’s early days, when it was founded on gold. St Andrews, then called Queenstown, was the earliest goldfield in the Caledonia Diggings.1 It was the Upper Diamond Gold Mining and Administrative Centre, with 3000 miners. Queenstown was also the seat of the Court of Petty Sessions. The church and school then stood close to European and Chinese stores, three hotels, a brewery and a quartz mill.2 In 1861, Queenstown was officially proclaimed a township. From 1865, the name Queenstown was interchangeable with St Andrews, until 1952, when the town was officially named St Andrews. As gold declined from the early 1880s, Queenstown changed dramatically into a settlement of small farms. St Andrew’s Anglican Church, built in 1868, is the Shire’s oldest timber church and possibly gave its name to the township.3 The small timber church was opened on November 1, 1869, by the Dean of Melbourne. Anniversary tea meetings helped raise funds, and in 1889, a three-bedroom parsonage was built alongside. In 1910, the vicar, the Rev Selwyn Chase (and friend of the Scouting Movement’s founder, Baden Powell), established the 1st Queenstown Scout Troop, only two years after Scouting began in Australia. The church was important to the lives of many local residents who were baptised, married and had funeral services there. But by the 1950s the population had decreased and so did the weekly attendances. Around the mid-1960s the church closed, then fell into disrepair. So in the mid 1980s it was sold to the Education Department and was under threat of relocation or demolition. However this caused such opposition from locals,4 that instead, the Anglican church leased it as part of the Panton Hill parish5 and it was reconsecrated in 1987. Queenstown’s first school was held in a tent after transferring from Andersons Creek, Warrandyte.6 From 1858 a church school, Caledonia Diggings, stood west of the main road, a quarter of a mile (0.4km) before Buttermans Track. In 1882 the school was moved from a leased building, owned by headmaster Robert Harris, into a larger building on the corner of the School and the Heidelberg-Kinglake Roads. It had been moved from Smiths Gully and included a teacher’s three-roomed residence.7 In 1887 the school was replaced by the Queenstown State School No 128, although it was also called Caledonia Diggings until 1891. In 1956 it was renamed St Andrews. Still standing, this building is now used as the St Andrews Community Centre and the residence is leased for private use. The original timber-lined room remains alongside the extensions, and is distinctive with its high ceiling and tall small-paned windows. In 1984 a new school was built 500 metres west of the old school. Many residents have contributed much to St Andrews but one family that has done so for several generations is the Harris family. Robert Harris was an active member of the St Andrew’s Anglican Church, and worked hard at improving the town’s amenities until his death in 1887. He was a signatory to the successful 1863 petition to the Chief Commissioner of Police, against the proposed removal of the Court of Petty Sessions and police station at the Caledonia Diggings. The police station stayed in the town until 1917. Harris was Head Teacher of Queenstown State School from 1864 to 1874, then of the Smiths Gully school until it closed in 1882, and he continued teaching at Panton Hill until his death. His son, Robert Charles Harris, was editor and printer of the local newspaper, The Evelyn Observer, from 1873 until 1915. Robert’s son, William Shelley Harris, served in the Boer War and in World War One. In 1928 he became Kinglake National Park’s first park ranger. Robert’s daughter Elizabeth, taught needlework at Queenstown State School, and later ran the post office in Kinglake.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, st andrews, st andrews anglican church

The c1860 St Andrews Hotel, with the c1930 additions, and the Canary Island Palm, and the surrounding site to the title boundaries are historically, socially and aesthetically significant to the Shire of Nillumbik. The St Andrews Hotel is historically significant because it may have given its name 'St Andrews' to the town (another suggestion is that the name came from St Andrews church) and for its connection to Ewen Hugh Cameron (1831-1915) the prosperous local farmer, member of the Eltham Roads Board/Shire Council and local MP. It is also significant as the oldest hotel building in the former Shire of Eltham, as one of the few surviving buildings connected with the Caledonian goldfields era and as one of a handful of early structures to have survived the 1960s bushfires; the additions and alterations to the hotel reflect its long life. The hotel is socially significant because it has served as an important meeting place for more than 160 years. The Canary Island Palm is historically significant as a rare example of exotic tree planting in this rural area. The tree is aesthetically and historically significant as a local landmark and for its contribution to the streetscape and landscape value. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p71 Built around 1860, St Andrews Hotel has changed little since it first welcomed thirsty gold diggers from the Caledonia Goldfields. The timber building, with gabled roof, beamed ceilings and a massive fireplace, is Nillumbik Shire’s oldest hotel and has always been an important community centre, particularly in its early days. Fortunately, the hotel and the near-by Canary Island Palm Tree, which is quite rare in this area, survived the 1960s bushfires, along with a few other early buildings. St Andrews (formerly Queenstown) was founded on gold, as were Panton Hill (formerly Kingstown), Research and Diamond Creek, from the mid-1850s to the 1860s. But by the early 20th century common use changed the name Queenstown to St Andrews, possibly after this hotel or after the church or the mining district.1 The Caledonia Diggings were probably named by Scottish settlers after the Roman name for Scotland, despite this land bearing little similarity to their homeland.2 Queenstown, which was proclaimed as a township in 1861, was the gold-mining centre on the Upper Diamond and in the 1850s had up to 600 European inhabitants and a small camp of Chinese on the flats along the creek. Queenstown was the administrative centre of the Upper Diamond with three hotels, a brewery and a slaughterhouse.3 It is unclear which hotel was the district’s first, as distinct from the earliest unlicensed grog shops, some of which operated in tents. John Corke Knell was one of eight unlicensed storekeepers supplying drink to miners at Caledonia in 1857, named by Sgt. McNamara of the Caledonia Police Station.4 In February 1859, Knell apparently bought most of the present hotel’s site at the first township land sales. As he was a local storekeeper, he might have first established a store there.5 Knell and his wife Eliza were early licensees of the St Andrews Hotel. The hotel had eight bedrooms – including three for public use – and the dining-room seated 30 people. It is thought they named the hotel St Andrews after Eliza’s hometown of St Andrews in Scotland. St Andrews Hotel was an important local centre in several ways. In the same building the Knells also operated a post office and general store. In 1867 Mrs Knell was appointed Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths for Queenstown. The hotel was also used to hold inquests into people’s deaths when the police residence became too small.6 The hotel also became a fashionable destination at Christmas for parties from Melbourne. In 1868, possibly following her husband’s death, Mrs Knell applied for a temporary licence, which was then transferred to Robert Smith after their marriage in 1869. But then, possibly after Robert’s death, Mrs Smith operated the hotel until 1892. This contradicts a report in The Evelyn Observer 1882 that JC Knells of the St Andrews Hotel was granted a publican’s licence in the Queenstown Police Court. At that time he was supposed to have been dead for around 14 years! Although Mrs Smith was a respected citizen, known for her geniality and as an ideal hostess, she had a minor brush with the law when she was fined ten shillings for not lighting a lamp outside her licensed premises.7 From 1892 several publicans owned the hotel including W Atkins, from 1895. In 1909 the licensee was apparently Mrs Smith’s son, Walter Knell, who held the licence until at least the 1920s. Not surprisingly, this old hotel has attracted romantic stories. Mrs Smith is said to be seen roaming the pub in her nightdress – even though she was buried in the Queenstown Cemetery in 1911.8 A musical The Hero of Queenstown, set in the hotel, was written and produced by local actor Reg Evans in the 1970s.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, st andrews hotel