This building was constructed by James Elijah Crook in 1865 as a residence for Doctor Bone. Between 1874 and 1890 it was in use as a Post Office. From around the 1920s F.C Pearce sold motor cars from this site for a number of years. The site is now occupied by the Bacchus Marsh Newsagency and Stationers located at 138 Main Street.Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. Image shows a brick cottage with a verandah attached to part of the building. Four brick chimneys can be seen extending from the building. Part of the building has a white picket fence to the front and side.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, houses bacchus marsh, post offices bacchus marsh, doctors residences, james elijah crook, motor car dealers

This image is one of a series of photographs taken by Melbourne based photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who visited Bacchus Marsh and its nearby districts between September and November 1883. James Elijah Crook settled in Bacchus Marsh in 1841 and soon after held a licence for a lodging house on the Portland Road. In about 1845, he built the first Woolpack Inn, a slab building of eight rooms. This was replaced in 1850 with a “stately country villa” of brick and stone. The stables were also built in 1850 to accommodate twenty horses. In 1851, Crook established a coach service to the goldfields. After being in use as a Court of Petty Sessions, the Woolpack Inn lost its licence and closed in 1862. After this date, Crook took an interest in horse-breeding and continued to use the stables for his horses. His most notable success was with his horse, Saladin, which won the Australia Cup in 1872, after two exciting dead-heats with The Flying Dutchman. James Elijah Crook died in 1889. The Woolpack Inn and Stables were sold and then used as a hay and corn store. In 1910 the site was leased for use as an abattoir. The Woolpack Inn was demolished in 1931. The site is still in use as an abattoir. Little remains of the original stables.Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the Jeremeas Family Album which contains photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The photo is of a gable-roofed commercial stables with shingled roofing, and white-washed render to the walls, standing in a large cleared yard. There is a skillion extension to the south-west corner. On the front (northern) wall can be seen a door and three windows, two large and one small paned window in the centre. The eastern window is paned, while the western window has louvres and a pull-out blind. Three S shaped stays can be seen on the northern wall. Along the western wall are two more windows and doors. A mound of hay lies at the north-western corner. Standing at the front of the stables is a group of five men and two boys, one holding a large dog. Four of the men are dressed in workman’s clothing and some are holding tools of their trade. The man at the back is wearing more formal clothes and has distanced himself from the workmen. The pole against which one of the workmen is leaning appears to have damage along one side. This pole may have been used as a hitching post as there is a footrest installed lower down to make mounting easier. Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district

This image is one of a series of photographs taken by Melbourne based photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who visited Bacchus Marsh and its nearby districts between September and November 1883. In 1850 a new Woolpack Inn was built for Mr. J.E. Crook, replacing the original slab building of 1845. Stables for twenty horses was also built in 1850, and in 1851, Crook established a coach service to the goldfields. After 1862, Crook pursued an interest in horse breeding, using the stables to accommodate his horses. The most notable of his horses was Saladin, which won the Australian Cup in 1872 after two dead heats with The Flying Dutchman. James Elijah Crook died in 1889.Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the Jeremeas Family Album which contains photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by the photographers Stevenson and McNicoll. The photo shows a group of men and horses from The Woolpack Inn stables, seven horses and six riders, one horse being held on a short rein by a rider on a white horse. Most of the horses are heavily clothed in winter rugs while the riders are clothed in sports jackets and hats. The scene is a winter one.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district

This land sales plan shows allotments of land offered for sale in the inner township area of Bacchus Marsh in 1908. The land put up for sale was from the estate of the late Mr and Mrs J.E. Crook. That being James Elijah Crook and his wife Harriet, (nee Athorn). The Crooks had been resident in Bacchus Marsh since the 1840s and were prominent members of the community. They were prominent in the business, social and civic affairs of the town and district. In the 1850s the Crooks acquired the Manor House and nearby land once owned by the Bacchus family. James Crook died in 1889. When Harriet Crook died in February 1908 their estate was offered for sale. This included the large stone home known as the Manor House and various parcels of land including around 50 allotments of land near the Manor House, bounded by Young, Lerderderg, Crook and Main Streets. Most of these allotments of land were sold in October 1908. The Manor House itself was passed in at the sale and continued to be owned by the Crook family for several decades after 1908.A single page map on a single page of a bound volume of maps. The map shows portions of land for sale from the subdivision of the Manor House property in Bacchus Marsh in 1908. The names of most of the buyers of the portions of land have been hand-written into the various allotments they purchased. The maps are pasted into a bound volume containing 76 maps or plans in total. High resolution digital image stored on BMDHS computer network. bacchus marsh victoria maps, land sales bacchus marsh, manor house bacchus marsh, crook family bacchus marsh