Tarnagulla Historic Township Walk (Blue Plaque Trail)
Tarnagulla is a gold town which still retains much of the character of the heady gold rush era.
Europeans first arrived in 1840 to set up Tarnagulla Station.
Late in the year of 1852, a party of miners en route to the Korong Goldfields camped beside the creek opposite what is now the Tarnagulla golf course. They sank a hole in the creek and discovered gold of such exceeding richness that once their find was made public over 5,000 other miners had rushed to join them on the field that was to become known as the Sandy Creek Diggings. Among thousands who came to try their luck at Sandy creek, a large number were Greek and many were Italian. About 1,000 Chinese were also working the creeks around Tarnagulla.
The Sandy Creek Diggings attracted thousands of eager diggers into the district. Gold of great richness had been discovered and large nuggets were to be had lying just below the surface.
On a field that stretched 2.5 miles along the main lead some diggers were recovering as much as 86 lbs of gold in only a fortnight.
The heaviest nugget found in Nuggetty Gully just south of the township weighed 32 lbs. From around 1853-4 prospectors turned to quartz mining. On other nearby fields deep lead mining did not live up to the promise shown on the rich alluvial fields, however Tarnagulla proved most profitable.
The Poverty Mine, named by its founder Mr. D. Hatt who had once been shipwrecked at Poverty Bay in New Zealand, was being reworked well into its 130th year.
The Prince of Wales Mine had yielded an astonishing 1.25 million pound Sterling by 1866.
The settlement created by these diggers was first known as Sandy Creek, but renamed Tarnagulla in 1860.
These days, the town is at the heart of the 'Golden Triangle' and is charming visitors with its antique shops, historic buildings, churches and surrounding natural bushland.
Walk the blue plaque trail and discover the rich history of Tarnagulla, a town in the heart of the Golden triangle. There are 34 points of interest in the town.
Tarnagulla Historic Township Walk Map
1. Bell's Cottage
Bell's Cottage just out of town was built by Herbert Bell, a sailor during the 1914-18 War. Herbert came to Tarnagulla in the 1930's, he carried the stones with which he built his cottage on his bicycle until it was completed just before the outbreak of war in 1939.
2. Cemetery
The oldest grave in the cemetery dates from 1857.
3. Allen Family First Camp Church
The Allen family camped under the Large Tree upon their arrival at Sandy Creek in 1853.
4. Bowman's Bakery
Frederick George Bowman settled in Sandy Creek in 1858 and started a bakery. The shop was built around 1861. Frederick Bowman died in 1904 and his wife also died that same year. Both are buried in the Tarnagulla cemetery. J.Williamson continued operating the bakery and Frederick Bowman Jnr, boot-maker, purchased the building from his father's estate in 1906.
5. Baptist Church (Ebenezer Chapel) (Privately Owned)
Formerly a store and opened as a Chapel in April 1864. The brick facade was erected in 1872. The building is now a private residence.
6. Birch and Wells
7. Cannon HMVS Nelson
The cannon was taken from the flagship 'Nelson' and presented to Tarnagulla Borough Council in 1898. It was first located at the Recreation Reserve but later moved to its present site after the 1939-45 War. The Cannon has been fired five times. First after the news of the relief of Mafeking (19 May 1900), again on 23 May when a monster picnic was held to commemorate the joyous event. It was fired for a third time during the Coronation Thanksgiving Celebrations on 26 June 1902, and again at the end of the 1914-18 War. It remained silent until 1988 when it was fired once again during the Bicentennial Celebrations.
8. Soldiers' Memorial Park (including Kangaroo Chair, Toilets and BBQ facilities)
The Soldiers' Memorial was unveiled by Brigadier General Brand on the 8th of November, 1919.
9. Community Centre and Wayawa Cafe
10. Victoria Theatre (Public Hall)
The Victoria Hotel & Theatre were opened in 1862. It has been a public hall since 1924. Lola Montez and Dame Nellie Melba entertained miners from its stage.
11. Ruins of Wesleyan Methodist Church
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was opened in 1865 and remained until 1962 when the Uniting Church was formed. The church had a seating capacity of 300. The church was badly damaged by fire in 2000 and is now privately owned.
12. Monument for Poverty Mine
The Victoria Shaft on the Poverty Reef was opened in 1854. 13 tons of gold were taken from the reef in just as many months.
13. Police Station
A Flour Mill stood in this location. First milling took place in 1882 and the steam operated mill closed in 1917. The Mill was demolished and re-erected in Mildura after 1920.
14. Mechanics Institute and Reading Rooms
15. Lochcarron
Lochcarron was built in 1859 for the Union Bank of Australia.
16. Colonial Bank
The Colonial Bank was built in 1866. The bank offered a free gold smelting service, hence the tall chimney. The original chimney was much taller than the present one. It was later sold to the Union Bank in 1888, and was closed in 1942. The buildings became a General Store and served the town until its closure in 1989.
17. Matilda's of Tarnagulla
The title of this property dates from the 1860's. Henry Ison established a butcher shop here in 1880. Henry was elected a Councillor to the Borough of Tarnagulla in 1903. Through a succession of owners, the building remained a butcher until Fred Williams closed up in 1988.
18. Golden Age Hotel
The first Golden Age Hotel was built in 1859 and occupied the same site as the present building.
19. Tarnagulla Post Office
The first brick was laid by Annie Lewis of the Golden Age Hotel on 7th of September 1885.The Post Office opened in March 1886 and telegraph lines were connected on the 28th of May 1886.
20. Old Masonic Hotel and Lodge Rooms
Operational in the 1870's and now a private residence.
21. Historic Cricket Pavilion and Band Rotunda (Toilets and showers available)
The Recreation Reserve originally opened in 1865 and upgraded to a sports arena in 1872. The Rotunda was restored in 1988 as a Bicentennial Project. A two-storey pavilion was planned in 1882 but was not built until 1884. The pavilion was restored in 1990 by Heritage & Council, with the local community providing much-needed voluntary labour. The Sports Area re-opened with a cricket match between the Melbourne Cricket Club, 29ers and a local team.
22. Tennis Courts There is one tennis court in the Recreation Reserve which is free for the public to use.
23. Reservoir
The Reservoir was constructed in 1860.
24. Former St Saviour's Church of England (Privately Owned)
The church was opened in 1864.
25. St Francis Catholic Church
The brick church opened 18th of February 1912 on the site of the original church. The original iron-roofed and weatherboard church opened in 1865 and was relocated to Dunolly in 1911, where it became St. Marys School. In 1923 if was relocated to Murphy's Creek.
26. Tarnagulla Primary School
The Primary School opened in 1874, with an attendance of 236.
27. Old Sandy Creek Post Office (Now Privately Owned)
The Sandy Creek Post Office was built in 1856 as the Golden Warden's Office. It was never used as such and became the Post Office in 1859. It was closed in 1886 and has been a private residence ever since.
28. Court House (Now Privately Owned)
Erected in 1863. County Court was first held in Tarnagulla on 1st June 1865 with Judge F.J.Macaboy presiding. The court house was closed in the 1970's and is now a private residence.
29. Old Police Station and Gaol
The original police camp was situated on the site of the present school. The brick and bluestone two cell lock-up Gaol was built in 1869.
30. Old Presbyterian (Uniting) Church (Now Privately Owned)
The Presbyterian Church (Uniting Church) was built in 1864. Began as a Presbyterian Church and later became a Uniting Church. The Sunday School Hall was originally in Laanecoorie but was shifted to its present site in 1926. Now privately owned
31. Walking Track
32. Golf Club
33. Rostrata B&B Farm Stay
34. Historic Waanyarra Cemetery
Location
Wimmera Highway, Tarnagulla 3551 Map
Web Links
→ Tarnagulla Historic Township Walk Map (PDF)
