Historical information

Towong Hill Homestead is a 110-year-old Federation style mansion situated on a rock outcrop, with views of about 260 degrees. It was built over 2 years by grazier Walter Mitchell from bricks made from local clay dug from the river bank, to be the family home for his new bride Winifred. They established their home in 1904. After the death of Walter in 1917, Winifred relocated her family, but the homestead remained in the families hands.
In 1935, Thomas Mitchell (1906-1984) returned home to Australia, a successful Lawyer, and married city girl, Elyne Chauvel, and settled himself back at his childhood home, Towong Hill. Thomas was a world champion slalom skier, had been a prisoner of the Japanese at Changi, and was elected for the Country Party in 1946 and served as attorney-general in the McDonald government. His wife Elayne (1913-2002) is best remembered for her Silver Brumby series of novels for children. But Elyne also wrote a substantial number of non-fiction works about the Snowy Mountains.

Significance

Photographs demonstrate local Kiewa Valley residents enjoying a community visit to the historic homestead at Towong Hill which holds significance to the early history of the area. Also demonstrates a pictorial history of social activities undertaken during this period

Physical description

2 black and white photographs mounted on buff card. Kiewa Valley residents attending afternoon tea at Towong Hill

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten in black pen underneath photo - T.W.Mitchell Towong Hill. Afternoon Tea