August 31...

1877

The Priest from Dunolly travelled to the Chinese camp at Ballarat to officiate at the annual ceremony to provide food, clothing and warmth for the ghosts of those who died by accident or violence.
A large fire was lit at dusk with tom-toms, kettle drums and reed pipes played until midnight when food was placed around the outside of the fire, gin and wine spilt on the ground and after the ghosts had taken their fill the paper clothing was burnt while the food was shared out to the paupers of the camp (including lepers from the rifle butts).

August 30...

1936

Fire broke out in a tent behind Mr Rasellis Boot Shop in Broadway, the occupant passing away from his injuries the next day.

August 29...

1909

At the Police Court in Dunolly the licensee of the Windsor Castle Hotel, Mrs O’Dwyer, was fined 20/ for allowing persons on the premises in prohibited hours.
The court awarded 5/ in costs against her, while 2 young men found on the premises were fined 20/ each and awarded costs of 1/6 each.

But...it was a misunderstanding, officer!

Mrs O'Dwyer was just helping them with their needlework.

August 28...

1869

The first cycle in Dunolly was sighted in the Market Square, it was owned by Mr Anketell.

Because he'd left this baby back home in the garage.

August 27...

1858

The Tarnagulla Mechanics Institute held its first meeting in a room loaned by John Beynon.

Not the Tarnagulla Mechanics Institute.

Or is it...?

August 26...

1861

It was reported that...

"The application forms for residence and cultivation of Crown Lands will be received by MW Anderson of Dunolly."

The bonus gift was probably this Mark I GPS.

August 25...

1861

"Designs for a town hall are invited by the municipal council of Dunolly with 15 pounds awarded to the plan approved of and adopted by the council."

"

And here are the moths that were evicted most cruelly when the council opened its wallet...

August 24...

1898

The Tarnagulla Bicycle Club held a successful meeting at the Tarnagulla Reserve; a good turn out with good weather and many races held.
Afternoon tea was supplied by the ladies and an evening concert was held in the Victoria Theatre; entertainment talent came from Bendigo, Dunolly and surrounding districts.
Proceeds of the day will go towards the Tarnagulla Mechanics Institute.

The heels were kicked as high as the moon!

August 23...

1938
The Bealiba branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA) celebrated it’s 4^th birthday at the Bealiba Town Hall, with the teaching of first aid to all members to have been implemented.

August 22...

1884

Mr Cheetham and Mr Williams were shaken and slightly injured when the horse drawing the buggy from Tarnagulla began kicking and bolting through the rear yard of the Bendigo Hotel, Dunolly, until the buggy overturned.

They may have been safer with one of these models.

August 21...

1946

The Transport Regulation Board refused the application of Provincial Motors Pty Ltd to run a 27 passenger vehicle between Bendigo and St Arnaud via Laanecoorie, Eddington, Dunolly, Burke’s Flat and Logan.

Annnnd....there's still people waiting...

August 20...

1931

A Susso worker was working an old gold diggings opposite the White Swan Hotel at Waanyarra when he found a 58oz nugget.

Multi-purpose tool; it can make you rich in the day and cook underground mutton over a fire at night.

August 19...

1880
It was reported by a recent arrival to Melbourne from Dunolly that a carrier walking alongside his cart at Jones’ Creek stumbled on a lump in the road; thinking it was a lump of dirt he kicked at it removing the top dirt and revealing the gold nugget that it was, worth £400.

I'm sure he would have trotted out and bought himself a car.

Had they been invented.

August 18...

1882

A meeting was held in the Dunolly Town Hall to consider forming a Dunolly Fruit and Wine Growers Association and was attended by a large number of men who represent over 200 acres of vineyards in the district.

Chin chin!

August 17...

1942

Death of Mrs Mary Cheetham of Tarnagulla at age 99.
Believed to be the first white girl born in the district 90 years ago, her husband had been a member of the Legislative Assembly 50 years previously.

August 16...

1903

The home of Mr E Peters, proprietor of the Peters Soap works, was broken into by thieves while the family were at church with several rooms thoroughly searched; 3 pounds of money and some items of jewellery were taken.

August 15...

1878

Oldmeadows of Dunolly, jam manufacturers received an Honourable Mention from the food jury at the Paris Exhibition.

Well done!

August 14 - 15...

1871

A reception of Japanese and European artists –including Yama Moto, Matz-Noski and Kami Sama the tightrope walking girl in clogs, European tenors, Irish comic vocalists and Donato the one-legged dancer - was held in the Dunolly Town Hall.

And I'm sure a great merriment of mirth was had.

August 13....

1898

AC Middleton won the Victorian Twenty-five Miles Road Championship for cycling.
He came from a famous cycling famous family; one of 4 brothers all born in Dunolly, AC has won the Eight Hours Wheel event, hundreds of pounds in prizes and the 50 miles road championship of 1897.

Which meant AC went like the clappers, slightly quicker than these pirates.

August 12...

1938

The Maryborough Brass Band gave a recital in the Bealiba Town Hall to assist the fundraising for the Queen of Progress in connection with the special appeal for the Dunolly and District Hospital, the collection raised 8 pounds.

Oddly, the Brass Band failed to drag one of these around behind them...

August 11...Cheesy Fishy Balls

Again the date is bereft of events so you get another recipe.

• Take one 450 gram tin of tuna/salmon, drain and puree (alternatively for vegetarians you can substitute with cooked lentils pureed).
• Add finely chopped sun dried tomatoes (if you're liable to chop your fingers like me just use scissors), onions, pineapple, a dollop of minced garlic (to taste), salt/pepper/herbs/spices to taste and mix thoroughly.
• Chop some cheese into small cubes, set aside.
• Sprinkle in approx. 1 cup of plain flour (this works with gluten-free flour, too).
• Mix well (if still too sticky, add more flour).
• Using a dessert spoon mould the mix into a ball, pressing 1 cube of cheese into the centre, making sure it's fully covered by the mixture, then roll in breadcrumbs/cornflake crumbs.
• Toss with gay abandon into a hot pan with lovely oil and turn til golden brown all over.
• Serve on a bed of salad, on pasta or use in the next game of backyard cricket.

And should your cheesy fishy balls look anything like this then you may have missed a step in the recipe...

August 10...

1920

The License of the Railway Hotel, in Broadway, Dunolly, was transferred from Thomas Hartley to Elizabeth Whelan.

Oh, how they partied!

August 9...

1978
The Dunolly Pre-School was opened in the former Crouch Reel factory by Mr J. Bourchier.

In which the children have had a fab time ever since.

August 8...

1864

Tarnagulla left the Bet Bet Road Board to form its own Borough with 5133 acres of land comprising the townships of Tarnagulla and Newbridge with 163 households.

Where they celebrated with unicorns shooting rainbows and magical dragonflies...

Obviously there's no picture of the unicorns cos everyone knows they burst into flames at the first flash of a camera.

August 7...

1871
James Plumridge of Burnham Pottery (based on 2 acres at Adelaide Lead) gave a public lecture in the Dunolly Town Hall on the ancient and modern pottery methods with art exhibition, admission was 1 shilling which was for the Congregational Sunday School.

With blue vein cheese the highlight of the whole evening...

August 6...

1998

Ginny the circus elephant became lost near Dunolly.

Here's one we prepared earlier....

August 5...

1910

Leslie Lee, delivering goods from Dodd’s store, was pinned to the ground when the cart struck a stump and over-turned. Leslie was admitted to the Dunolly & District Hospital with concussion.

Where he probably enjoyed a lovely hot cuppa...once he woke up.

August 4...

1862

Two miners – a Mauritian and an East Indianman – found ‘a lot of nuggets’ in Dead Mans Gully at Mosquito; they invested a large portion of this gold in firewater (sly grog) and left Dunolly the next day on very unsteady feet.

Possibly singing "Jeramiah was a bullfrog...."

With added air guitar.

August 3...

1874

As the Free Library at Maryborough carried a resolution to exclude the Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser from its list of newspapers, on account of its shameful heterodoxy, the owner of the newspaper opened a large free reading room himself in the middle of the town.

So take that, ner ner ner ner ner!

August 2....

1865

A 35oz nugget was found in Dr Pierce’s ground at the Pound Rush, Dunolly.

I believe this was high on the list of goodies to be got...

August 1...

1890

The Illustrated Australian News announced that a Government Scent Farm was to be established at Dunolly with 20 acres already fenced against vermin with Mr Mellon, of the Viticultural Board, to supervise the planting.