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Gold was first discovered in Harrietville in 1852
and the area was soon swarming with prospectors seeking the elusive
metal. All known methods of gold extraction were used from the humble
panning dish to eventually, the largest gold dredge ever to be build
in the southern hemisphere. Today tourists who now flock to the
township to enjoy it's beauty, peace and serenity frequently pan
the river for gold with varying results and in the surrounding hills
a few gold mines are still in operation. The Harrietville Historical
Society is dedicated to preserving the rich history of the men and
women who pioneered this area.
Often tragic, frequently funny
their
site using the facilities of the societies on the banks of
the Ovens river.
population of approximately 250 with Situated in the north
east of Victoria, narrow valley in the foothills of Mount
part of the Australian Alps. There is access by bush track
only, walking in Because of the steepness of the
to Mount Feathertop must leave from area this having road
access via the |
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stories will be brought to you
on museum situated in the Pioneer Park Harrietville is a township
with a
it's prime industry now being tourism. Australia, the township
lies in a Feathertop (1922 meters) which is
no road access to Mount Feathertop summer, overland skiing
in winter. mountain sides overland skiers skiing the Mount
Hotham (1861 meters) Great Alpine Road which runs |
North/South through Harrietville. Although only a distance of approximately
19 miles the drive takes approximately 45 minutes (in good conditions)
along the twisting turning road. No cars for the many gold prospectors
who searched these hills for gold though and no road at first either
it was all bush bashing for them cutting new trails through the
virgin bush carrying there supplies on their backs. A map owned
by the Harrietville Historical Society (HHS) shows the many reefs
that were discovered and named by determined prospectors and these
will be given along with their history in future pages in this site.
The map compiled by the Mines Department is no longer in print but
can be seen in the HHS museum. John Bromley at 19 is credited with
the discovery of gold in this area in 1852 as stated earlier. Obviously
and enterprising young man he drove his mob of cattle from the rich
gold fields of Beechworth to seek new pastures in this area, as
yet at that time, unnamed. There is no substantiated report on how
he discovered gold but there is a story that on filling his billy
at the river he saw the gleam of gold in the riverbed. The HHS wishes
that we could claim the following gold discovery as our own but
we can't so we give you the story anyway to show that now and then
gold was discovered by lucky accident. In another area of Victoria
a shepherd boy was tending a mob of sheep when he saw a crow fly
down to land not far from him. Bending down he picked up a rock
to throw at the crow when to his amazement he saw the rock was studded
with gold. His find caused a great deal of jubilation in the township
and an excited postmaster sent a telegram to the local gold warden
so excited in fact he did not tell the full story. The gold warden
received a telegram that read, "Johnny the shepherd boy picked up
a rock to throw at a crow". The postmaster's laconic reply "Did
he hit it"?
Harrietville Historical Society |
All correspondence to :-
The Secretary,
C/o Post Office,
Harrietville, Victoria. 3741
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Museum located in :-
Athenaeum Reserve,
Great Alpine Road,
Harrietville, Victoria. 3741
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All enquiries to: -
The Secretary,
Doug Humphries,
Telephone/Fax (03) 57592686
Mobile 0409 936050.
Email:
doughumphries@iprimus.com.au |
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Office Bearers
President: Dr. Karl Texler
Vice President:
Ian Stapleton
Secretary: Doug Humphries
Treasurer: John Bakkum
Curator: Kaye Purdon. |
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