Fire safety needed on December 31

1940

2 acres of oats and 4 acres of straw were burnt on the farm of Mr Robertson at Murphy’s Creek,  his son was driving the tractor when he noticed the fire in a thin part of the crop, a creek and road helped the firefighters prevent the spread of the fire to heavily grassed paddocks.

Licensee in strife on December 30

1907

The Licensee of the Farmers’ Arms Hotel in Eddington, Victoria Sutche, was fined 40 shillings in the Police Court at Dunolly for selling liquor in prohibited hours on December 14.

Another Dunolly-ite left on December 29

1907

Miss Blakely, one of the assistant teachers at Dunolly State School, was transferred to Ballarat but before her departure the scholars and teachers presented her with a handbag and wished her every happiness, while the members of the Church of England and the Sunday School also gave her several presents (as she’d been the organist and teacher).

December 28 saw the bees rampaging at Rheola

1932

A swarm of bees attacked 9 horses Mr Catto of Rheola was using to cart wheat; the horses bolted smashing a telegraph pole and damaging the wagon while Mr Catto escaped with just bruises.

Dunolly hospital patched another one back together on December 27

1904

John Praetez was admitted to Dunolly and District Hospital after he fractured his arm when he fell in a bicycle race at Bealiba.

Scrounger wrecked Murphy's Flat pic-nic on December 26

1865

A group of residents from Tarnagulla travelled to Murphy’s Flat to enjoy a pic-nic and, having eaten, most wandered off to enjoy the beauty of the views when (it was supposed) a fossiker came upon the encampment and drank the ale and wine then casually let fall a spark from his pipe which burned up the entire edibles and all other creature comforts while leaving many of the other items scorched.
The group was not greatly inconvenienced and were able to make their way home again.

Christmas Day went off with a bang, crash wallop in Dunolly

1893

Mr Dillon, of The Telegraph Hotel, was driving his horse and buggy on Christmas morning when the horse became unmanageable and began galloping.
It smashed the buggy into Mr Hancock’s wagonette near the municipal dam opposite the railway line, resulting in Mr Dillion being thrown from the buggy but unhurt.

Dunolly lost another watering hole on December 24

1907

The Licenses Reduction Board awarded the Richard III Hotel in Dunolly £117 compensation, with a further £10 compensation to the occupant.

Tanties galore from Dunolly magnates December 23

1878

Local magnates were arguing at the opening of a section of the Dunolly-St Arnaud Railway so much that no demonstration of the railway took place.

Legacy in Dunolly December 21

1898
James McLoy, former miner from Waanyarra (Jones’ Creek) passed away aged 80, leaving £1,400 each to the Dunolly Ladies Benevolent Society and the Tarnagulla Benevolent Society, £500 to the Dunolly and District Hospital, some legacies to friends with the residue of £5,000 to the Widows and Orphans Fund of the Presbyterian Church.

Drunken bovines in Broadway on December 20

1940

Ten head of cattle were found staggering drunkenly along Broadway after having drunk at the railway station dam into which some opium poppies from the Soldiers Memorial had been thrown.
It was supposed the cattle ate the plants and were seen still lurching about their paddock several hours later.

Playing swappsies between Archdale & Bet Bet State Schools December 19

1935

Archdale State School gained the ANA’s prize for Most Improved School Garden in the District.
Mr Stebbins, Head Teacher at Archdale State School has swapped with Mr Bryant at Bet Bet State School. He was given a farewell social and an 8 day clock, just as his school gained the ANA’s prize for the most improved school garden in the district.

Something extra in their stockings was discovered on December 18

1909

At a meeting of the Tarnagulla Benevolent Society it was found there was £1,428 due to the bequest of several years earlier from Mr McLoy.
It was decided to give each person who was currently receiving assistance a Christmas present of 10 shillings.

GM canola at Dunolly December 17

2009

Genetically Modified canola was delivered to non-GM silos at Dunolly.

A leader of the future were pupped near Dunolly on December 16

1884

John Gunn, politician and Premier of Victoria, was pupped at Rheola near Dunolly, the second of nine children of William Gunn, a Scottish miner, and his Victorian-born wife Mary Ann, née Wayman.

Gold running through the streets of Dunolly on December 15

1856

The gold escort travelled from Dunolly with 6,000 ozs of gold, an increase of 2,000ozs from the previous week.


*Sorry, yes, a repeat of last year's entry but I haven't found anything else. Yet*

Dutch brickmakers in Dunolly December 14

1951

It was announced that the Premier of Victoria, Mr McDonald, would arrange for representatives of a Dutch brickmaking firm to inspect the Dunolly area, as the Dutch firm wanted to come to Victoria and establish a business here.

Murder! Near Dunolly! Double Murder! December 13!

1857

The infamous double murder at Jones’ Creek was reported; 2 bodies were found in an abandoned mine shaft, loosely covered over with dirt.

Dunolly Actors had 'em in stitches on December 12

1924

The Dunolly Amateur Dramatic Company presented the comedy The Private Secretary in the Dunolly Town Hall to a large audience and was a great success.
The proceeds of the play were in aid of the Dunolly and District Hospital x-ray fund.

Sheep were bustin' and boundin' about Dunolly on December 11

1868

A bull in a china shop was rivalled by a sheep in a drapery store when a sheep, belonging to Mr Downs, bounded through the plate glass window of Messrs. McKenna and Co’s establishment.

Farewell to old residents on December 10

1940

Councillor and Mrs Howard were entertained by the Betley residents and presented with gifts as they are leaving the district.

No pulling beer at the Dunolly pub on December 9

1913

The license of the Royal Hotel at Dunolly was opposed by the police at the Maryborough Licensing Court due to the owner, Mr Ray of Maldon, not effecting the repairs as directed.

Goldsborough Quadrille Assembly ran amok in the goods shed on December 8

1893
The Goldsborough Quadrille Assembly Grand Ball was held in the railway goods shed, which was decorated with banners and flowers, with proceeds of the ball going to the free library.

7th December found a tiny scrap of Dunolly pioneer history

1940

The Age reported on the discovery of a very few remnants of Dunolly history in the paper sent to be pulped for the war effort and how we may have inadvertently lost most of our pioneer history.

Dancing was prosperous for Dunolly Hospital on December 6

1935

The recent Dunolly and District Hospital Ball realised £47 for the hospital.

Dunolly hit by a 'hurricane' on December 5

1856

The weather was wet, cold and unseasonable; the Main Street of Dunolly (Broadway) was thick with dust for 10 mins during a ‘hurricane’ which blew down many tents, followed by very heavy rainfall and lightning.

Plenty of oopsies on December 4 in Dunolly

1861

Patrick Flanagan, while in the employ of the brewers at Burnt Creek Colliers & Gunn, was opposite the Old Dunolly Hotel when the horse took fright and bolted, although Flanagan tried to catch hold of the blinkers they came off and he was thrown out with the horse and empty dray passing over the top of him. He was taken to the Dunolly and District Hospital with abdominal and head injuries.
The brother of one of the owners of the brewery, Mr Gunn, was also involved in an accident as he was returning from Bullock Flat with a dray of empty casks when the wheel of the dray went down a hole in the road throwing him to the ground where the wheel passed over his right leg fracturing it at the ankle joint.

3rd of December saw another post office gone

1993

Today saw the closure of the Bealiba Post Office (became a Licensed Post Office).

James Bell got a fright on December 2

1895

Mr James Bell, MLC, received a nasty shock but no lasting injury when he accidentally walked into an open cellar door in Glover & Co’s store in Dunolly.

December 1 saw a new beginning for Dunolly's new church

1860 

A dreadful storm that caused extensive damage at Inglewood also destroyed the newly completed Wesleyan Church at Dunolly, that was due to be opened the following day.
A gable end was left partially open – the wind rushed into this gap and lifted the roof off while knocking down parts of the walls as the mortar had not yet set.
It is planned to rebuild the church as soon as possible.