Historical information

John Watson's story shows insight to the families that moved to Beechworth and the motivation behind this. It showcases the nuances of life in the district and the day to day ways of living. This history speaks of land cultivation and the innovation of industry in the region, in particular cattle farming and butchering. Watson's account speaks of the way that the practice of breeding cattle effects the rural lifestyle, and the hardships that come with working on the land.

This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth.

These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.

Significance

Watson's account is historically significant due to its ability to illustrate the lifestyle and industry of those in Beechworth during the twentieth century. It is a rare insight into the the practices of residents of this time.

This oral history also shows deep insight into the social structure of the community. It describes the family and community dynamics over a long period of time, the motivations behind behaviour, and the greater community fabric.

Physical description

This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.

Inscriptions & markings

John Watson