October 31...

1915

Last meeting of the Borough of Tarnagulla before it was incorporated into the Bet Bet Shire and retitled Tarnagulla Riding.

October 30...

1884

Twenty one casks of local wine was sent to Manchester by The Dunolly Winegrowers Association filling many orders requested via wine samples sent some time ago.

October 29...

1853

The Commissioners Camp at Jones' Creek was gazetted for Petty Sessions and officially named Beverley, which most spectacularly failed to stick.

Having a wow of a time at Beverley, glad you're not here *snort*.

October 28...

1899

Influenza had wrecked havoc through the area leaving 2 dead with many staff at the Dunolly and District Hospital battling it, too.

October 27...

1911

Rough earthquake was felt at Bealiba, shaking doors and windows of residences through the town.

October 26...

1889

The 7 yr old son of the Dunolly Railway gatekeeper, Peart, fell down a 30 ft mineshaft and was missing until his dog attracted attention and showed searches where the boy was, who was lifted almost completely unhurt from the mineshaft.

He deserved an extra Schmackos!

October 25...

1892

At the council meeting it was reported that 103 foxes had been destroyed since the previous monthly meeting of the council with £30 paid in bonuses on the fox skins.

Yes.
This is Fox Heaven where the little darlings are juggling and having a ball...

October 24...

1910

William Whittaker, cordial manufacturer, was charged with FAILING to have labels on his cordial bottles and, thus, was fined £1.

New version of 'spin the bottle'.

October 23...

1884

Good rains fell during the week, the crops and orchards will be helped no end.

Raindrops keep falling on my head....

October 22...

1903

Since the railway strike only one passenger train per day tootled through Dunolly (a damn sight more than what tootles through there now) which caused great inconvenience (imagine what no passenger trains cause now) this (the bleeding obvious) was pointed out to the Railway Commissioners who promised (get it in writing) that a second service would begin the following week (don't hold your breath).

Alternative form of transport.

October 21...

1950

The Dunolly Old Boys and Old Girls Association held their annual get together basket tea in the Fitzroy Gardens.

And after they et their fill they hypothetically pinched the roses.
Maybe.
Perhaps not.

October 20...

1921

Papers received by the council state that the Dunolly Borough would amalgamate with the Bet Bet Shire and cease to exist after October 31.
The Dunolly Borough had been in existence for 62 years.

Somehow, I'm doubting that this is the type of message the council received.

October 19...

1865
A monster nugget was found on Belgium Reef.

This is the closest we'll ever get to gold.
So, drink up the antihistamines and enjoy golden wattle!

October 18...

1881

The chaps held a meeting at The Bendigo Hotel and decided to form a Freemasons Lodge.
See the things that happen when you leave some men with time on their hands?

Then this is likely to result.

October 17...

1856

Bushranger Gipsy Smith robbed 16 people on the Korong Road netting himself £300.

This is not Gipsy Smith.
He was not too pleasant to look upon, apparently.

October 16...

1857

The second Dunolly Cricket Club was formed.

But they didn't have gals.
Cos the boys couldn't keep up with the lightning fast bowling and batting.
Hence the slow pace we have today.

October 15...

1946

The foundation stone of the Nurses' Home at the Dunolly and District Hospital was officially laid by Mr Dunstan, MLA.
It is expected that the new building will cost £11,893 and will be completed within 3 months.

Ahhh, those night shift gals.
Always such pranksters.

October 14...

1873

The learnin' at Murphy's Creek School began.

October 13...

1882

On this day the children in the district rejoiced! for they were about to be imprisoned in the new Goldsborough State School, officially opened by Mr Langdon, MLA.

This was written obviously with those children in mind...

October 12...

1953

A Tarnagulla landmark, Reid's Exchange Store (built in 1859), went up in flames with bullets and cartridges exploding, a drum of kerosene blew up leaving the fire brigade hard pressed to contain the fire to Reid's Store but they managed to stop it spreading further.

Cos we don't need reminding what devastation fire brings.

October 11...

1860

Dr Jackson was appointed to the deliriously delightful Dunolly and District Hospital.

Cos every doctor worth his salt should carry a phrenology pin cushion...

October 10...

1911

For the vicious crime of daring to travel between Inglewood and Dunolly WITHOUT a valid train ticket Mr Forrester was fined 4 pounds and court costs.
Tsk tsk.

Please read all tickets carefully before boarding the train....

October 9...

1891

Mr Bosisto, he of the Goanna Oil fame, visited the Govt Scent Farm at Dunolly with the minister of Mines and the Minister of Agriculture and was both astonished yet pleased at the huge progress made.

Sorry.
Not scratch and sniff.

October 8...

1908

A Temperance Society, embracing the whole of Eddington, Middle-Bridge, Bet Bet and Bromley was formed at Middle-Bridge on this day.
Whether the locals wanted to be embraced or not.

And now we shall weep....

October 7...

1885

A deputation from the Bet Bet Shire Council requested HELP! from the Commissioner of Public Works (don't hold your breath waiting for an answer) in repairing damage to the roads caused by recent floods and to construct works to prevent it happening again (now you've lost them by using logic).

I think this is pretty self-explanatory....

October 6...

1874

The first wild hares were sighted in the area when Mr Mathison of Natte Yallock did wantonly display these tasty morsels in FULL VIEW of the general public in a box at the Red Lion Hotel.

And the reason Mr Mathison had such an audience?
The Maryborough - Dunolly railway line was officially opened on this VERY day.
13 miles long the first station out from Maryborough is Havelock shortly followed by Bet Bet then Dunolly.
The goods shed was tastefully decorated in greenery, music bands provided wonderful entertainment while more than 100 sat themselves down for a banquet in the goods shed while that evening's ball was held in the Town Hall.
The reporter on the scene can safely state the ride is smoother than that of the Maryborough-Castlemaine line.

This is not a train.
This is a button-up boot.
Can you see how the more things change, the more they stay the same...?
No, I have nfi either.
Smile and nod.

October 5...

1949

On this day those who held up the bar of The Golden Age Hotel in Tarnagulla were given a new bar-keep when the license was transferred from Marjorie Cummins to John Miller.

This is not The Golden Age Hotel in Tarnagulla.
But if we close our eyes and click our ruby red slippers together 3 times...

October 4....

1864

On this day in Dunolly History the Dunollyites witnessed the Shire Offices being moved into the Dunolly Town Hall.

Which is obviously not this building.
But we can pretend it is.
For a few moments.
If we close our eyes.
And hum a little....

October 3....

1913

Today was Egg Day at the illustrious Dunolly State School where a massive 114 bum nuts were brought in by those delightful rugrats for those in the Dunolly Hospital.
Oh, bless *ahem*.

Although, I trust they were a great deal fresher than some of these....

October 2.....

1865

Detective Frederick Secretan, the future Inspector Secretan Chief of Detectives in the Victoria Police Force, was appointed the first detective to Dunolly owing to the violent thefts and bashings during the gold rush.

Ahhhh.

The 'good old days'.

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October 1......

1862

The Dunolly Town Hall foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, James Bell.

Yes, this may look like the Dunolly Court House but it was originally built as the Dunolly Town Hall.

Until someone said "Halftime, change sides" and it swapped with the Court House.

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