Woady Yaloak Historical Society

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.

Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.

Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.

Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.

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About

The society aims to encourage the study of Australian history, especially of the history of the district around the Woady Yaloak Creek; to promote the compilation and presentation of authentic records relating to the Woady Yaloak district; and to undertake and encourage historical research.

Our collection

Woady Yaloak Historical Society Inc (1985)

DESCRIPTION: Owned and managed by the Woady Yaloak Historical Society, this collection is located at the Community Hub in Heales Street, Smythesdale. The collection supports the Society?s aim to encourage the study of Australian history, especially of the history of the district around the Woady Yaloak Creek, and to promote the compilation and presentation of authentic records relating to the Woady Yaloak district. The collection contains books, pamphlets, periodicals, manuscripts, microfilms, microfiches, card indexes, photographs, newspaper cuttings, maps, computer records and family histories, often "in progress". There are also some original mining records and other documents in the collection. Gold was discovered in the Woady Yaloak Creek at Smythesdale in 1852, miners soon flocked to the area and numerous townships sprang up as the diggers traced the gold leads along the underground streams. By 1859 the population in the Smythes Creek Goldfields area was 20,000. All the following settlements came into being because of gold, many have since disappeared: Bunker's Hill, Sago Hill, Smythes Creek, Haddon, Nintingbool, Ross Creek, Canico, Smythesdale, Browns Diggings, Scarsdale, Black Hill, Newtown, Brownsvale, Golden Lake, Italian Gully, Staffordshire Reef, Derwent Jacks, Grand Trunk, Piggoreet, Devil's Kitchen, Springdallah, Happy Valley and Lucky Woman's. Specific records in the collection include: the Smythesdale Rate Books (not complete set), the Smythesdale Borough Council Minute Books. 1861-1915, the Smythesdale/Scarsdale Cemetery Records (starting from 1859), school rolls from Smythesdale, Scarsdale, Piggoreet, Happy Valley, Grand Trunk, Ross Creek, Canico and Browns Diggings, and records of baptisms, vaccinations and inquests.

Themes: Peopling Victoria's Places & Landscapes, Building towns, cities and the garden state, Shaping cultural and creative life

Type of organisation

historical society

Opening hours

Tuesdays by appointment. Wednesdays 9am to 3pm / 1st Wednesday of the month 12:30pm - 3pm.

Entry fee

Donation

Contact

See the Valuations page for information on historical item valuation.

Welcome

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About

Our collection

Woady Yaloak Historical Society Inc (1985)