Historical information

Jonathan Falder was considered the founder of Wesleyan Methodism in Tarnagulla. He was said to have preached in 1858 from a tree stump near the Poverty Reef. This letter was written less than a year after the opening of the large Wesleyan Church which still stands, albeit without its roof which was destroyed in a fire in 2000 .

James Cheetham was both secretary of the Shire of Bet Bet and a councillor for the Borough of Tarnagulla. He was the Mayor of Tarnagulla for four years. James also entered the Victorian parliament and was the MLA for the Dunolly Electorate from 1 April 1889 to 1 June 1890. This meant he was holding three positions at the same time. James died in 1890 from injuries received in a buggy accident.


Donald Clark Collection.

Physical description

A photocopy of a letter from Jonathan Falder to James Cheetham, both of whom were residents of Tarnagulla. Transcript of contents attached.