Mansfield History & Heritage Discovery Tour
The tour explores historical and heritage locations in Mansfield. The tour starts at the corner of Maroondah Highway and Withers Lane. Follow the numbers on the map. Historical buildings are marked.
1. On the right you pass the C.W.A. Avenue of Poplars. The Display board on the corner of Links Road listing the pioneering families of the district
2. On the opposite side of the Melbourne Road (Maroondah Highway) is a memorial rock marking 150 years of settlement in Victoria.
Continuing towards Mansfield you see:
3. The Old Railway Station and Goods Shed. The first train arrived 6th October 1891, with the last rail motor services finishing on 28th May 1977. Trains ran spasmodically until Monday 6th November 1978. Mansfield Historical Society now operates out of the restored Railway Station.
4. The Roundabout is bordered by the Delatite Hotel, rebuilt in 1895, the former Bank of NSW, built 1877 the Mansfield Hotel, built in 1860s and the Court House, built from local bricks in 1879.
5. The Troopers' monument dominates the centre of the roundabout. This was erected in 1880 by the people of Victoria and New South Wales in the memory of the three policemen who lost their lives at Stringybark Creek whilst pursuing the Kelly Gang.
You now continue up tree lined High Street
6. Most of the trees were planted c1892 and several early buildings line this street. They include
No. 149 Former State Bank building
No. 110-112 Formerly Begley's General Store
No. 111 Buckland Federal Building
No. 101 Formerly Men's Club; has in the past been a pharmacy, restaurant and clothing store.
No. 91 Lolly Shop (Cahn's bluestone Building 1873).
No. 9-11 Home of the Mansfield Courier between 1892-1971
No 76. The National Bank built 1923.
7. Monuments in High Street
a). The Sundial and two Millstones brought out from Scotland and used on Wappan run from 1840, and presented to Mansfield by the Bon Family.
b). Dr Reynolds Memorial and drinking fountain erected in 1902 in memory of Mansfield's esteemed 1st medical practitioner, Samuel Reynolds.
c). Stone Water trough and Hitching Posts re-call the days when horses and horse drawn vehicles were the main mode of transport. This Metropolitan Drinking Fountain originally came from Westminster, London. It was erected in 1914 by the sister of George Fitzmaurice of Preston Station as a memorial.
d). Goodman Obelisk. Erected in memory of Herbert John Goodman, a Sergeant in the Victorian Bushman's Corps, killed in action in 1900 during the Boer War in South Africa.
At the eastern end of High Street you come to
8. The Monier Bridge opened in 1903, which spans Fords creek, designed by Sir John Monash
9. Botanic Park, originally J. Walker Paddock where Mansfield 1st first race meeting was held in 1857. The park has been continually developed over recent years by the community and Shire Council. A footbridge across Fords Creek to Baldry Street was completed in 1994.
10. Built in 1892 as the town's Free Library (Ailsa Street); has also accommodated the Mansfield Historical Society rooms; now under restoration for use by the Mansfield Kindergarten.
Turn into Collopy Street and right at Hunter Street and on the left is:
11. St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church built in 1937 and St. Mary's Hall, formerly the church, built in 1892.
Turn left into Highett Street, there you see the Uniting Church, St Andrews, the foundation stone being laid by John Bon in 1866. Drive south up Highett Street turning left into Malcolm Street.
12. On the left stands Alzburg Inn Resort, formerly the Sisters of Mercy Convent built in 1891. Further along you see St Mary's Primary School. Turn right into Reynolds Street and right again into View Street. You pass the Mansfield Secondary College and Mansfield Performing Arts Centre on the left. Turning left into Highett Street you will pass through the Memorial Avenue trees, planted August 24th 1919 honouring fallen soldiers of Mansfield. On the right you find
13. The Mansfield Cemetery where you'll find the grave stones to mark the burial sites of Sergeant Kennedy, and Constables Scanlon and Lonigan plus many other pioneers of the district.
Returning down Highett Street cross Malcolm Street at the roundabout
14. The Mansfield Hospital, the original section was built in 1871. This year celebrating its 150th anniversary. Some of the original trees still stand.
Further down on the left you find:
15. St John's Anglican Church dating back from 1865.
On the left you now see
Recreation Reserve. Home of the Eagles Football team, skatepark and children's playground. The Memorial Gates were unveiled in 1921, modelled on the historic Menin Gate in Belgium. The edifice bears the names of the 90 young Mansfield people who gave their lives in service of their country. The H.P. William seat was erected in memory of the Veterans of the Great War 1914-1918 by his comrades.
You are passing the Shire of Mansfield Council building.
Mansfield was declared a Shire on 31 December 1866. During November 1994, it was amalgamated with two other shires to become the Delatite Shire. In October 2002 the Delatite Shire split into two - Mansfield Shire and the Benalla Rural City.
Turn left into High Street
16. The Court House on the corner is on the Historical Building Register of Victoria, has a National Trust listing, and is on the National Estates Register. It was here the Kelly Gang were declared outlaws following the Stringy Bark Creek events.
17. The original section of the Post Office was built in 1877.
Further down High Street you come to:
No.110-12 Choices Milk Bar originally Begley's General Store. The Backpackers Inn now forms part of the original store. End of tour. We trust you enjoyed our town.
Other points of interest:
Magnolia House - 190 Mt Buller Rd, now Ros Ritchie Wines cellar door
Highton Manor - 140 Highton Lane, completed in 1896, now B&B accommodation.
Information provided by Mansfield Historical Society
Photos:
Location
Cnr Maroondah Highway and Withers Lane, Mansfield 3722 Map
