Violet Town Heritage Walk
The famous explorer, Major Thomas Mitchell first discovered the area when travelling to Sydney, setting camp in 1836 beside some ponds (Honeysuckle Creek) where wild violets were in flower - he so named the spot Violet Ponds. Two years later the government laid out the village of 'Violet Creek', intending to develop a stopping point for the growing traffic on the road between Port Phillip and Yass in New South Wales. In another first, Violet Town was also the first town to have gas lighting in Victoria.
In 1969, The Southern Aurora overnight express train tragically crashed just outside of Violet Town. A major community recovery effort ensued, however 9 people sadly lost their lives. There is a memorial dedicated to the people lost and injured and the locals who helped in the aftermath of the disaster. The Southern Aurora Memorial Park features a train carriage from the original train service of 1969, along with the history of the crash and stories of those who were affected.
Today, Violet Town is a thriving community with a friendly atmosphere and creative heart, as evidenced by the colourful welcoming entrance signage designed by the well-known cartoonist, writer, painter and philosopher, Michael Leunig, a local of Violet Town.
Map of Walk Route:
Get interactive map
Points of Interest:
There is plenty of interest along this 5km Heritage Walk loop around Violet Town which has many historic features.
Start and finish where you like but the suggested start / finish point is at Lion's Park which offers toilets, water, shelter and shops nearby.
Points of Interest
1. Violet Town Lion's Park
You can start anywhere. However, Lion's Park has advantages: public toilets, potable water, directional & information signs, shelter, seats, BBQ, gardens, shops, even a playground for the kids.
2. Boer War Memorial at Violet Town Community Complex
In memory of two local men, Pte C. Williams and Pte J.E. White, this memorial was moved from the centre of Cowslip St after an accident. Lamps commemorate WW1, WWII, the Korean & Vietnam Wars.
3. Site of Violet Town's first Post Office
Taken over by the PMG in 1891, in the late 1890s Violet Town had one of the first female mail contractors in Victoria.
4. Post Office
Built in 1910 after the former Post Office burnt, this building includes a three bedroom house that is now privately owned. It is the last of a number of Post Office sites in Violet Town.
5. Ellen Frances Hotel
The building was built as Underwood's Railway Hotel in 1886. The upper storey was destroyed by fire in 1993. The external walls of the new building are part of the original structure.
6. Wheelwright, coach maker, blacksmith, undertaker, building, reaper & binder sales
In 1870, this was Riddell Bros store as described above. The Peacocks followed, adding a delivery truck doubling as a hearse. Today: Ian Errey Museum, a produce store, Babblers cafe & BackArts Gallery
7. The Mechanics Institute and Free Library
Built on this site in 1887, the Mechanic's Institute and Free Library were extended in 1929 and replaced with today's Memorial Hall in 1968.
8. The Butcher Shop
Now a Pharmacy, the butchery operated continuously on these premises for more than a century until January 2005. Previously a cordial factory operated in conjunction behind the main building.
9. Violet Town Hotel
From 1884, the site was John McShane's Kialla Hotel until it burnt down. The existing building, now named the Violet Town Hotel, was built in 1908.
10. Supermarket
The Hill's General Store was built on this site in 1896. Later 'Goodfellows' store, this has been the site for a grocery shop for over a century. Some people will remember it as P.W. Harcourts.
11. National Bank
The National Bank was originally a slab hut circa 1873, later a wooden structure, followed by this building constructed in 1910. It is now a private office.
12. Shire of Violet Town, proclaimed 11 April 1895
Now an Antique Shop, the Shire Offices were built in 1899 by Humphrey and Firth of Footscray for 480 pounds. Earlier meetings were held in the Mechanics Institute. These Shire Offices closed in 1979.
13. Home of Sawmiller Mr McDonald
This Federation period home was built about 1912. The family lived here until the late 1980s.
14. Honeysuckle Regional Health
Violet Town Bush Nursing Hospital was built in 1929. By 1963 the demand for acute and obstetric care had declined, leaving the site without a Doctor. It became an aged and community care facility.
15. Honeysuckle Health Wetlands
You can choose to walk straight up Rose St to continue or take a detour around the ponds of the wetland created next to Honeysuckle Health instead.
16. Site of the former Violet Town sale yards
Livestock sale yards were constructed here in 1891. A small section of fence on the south side corner of Rose St and Mary Lane still stands.
17. First surveyed inland block in Victoria.
On the south east corner of the Rose and Tulip Street intersection is the first inland surveyed block in the state. It is Allotment 1, Section 1 Violet Creek, survey map September 1838.
18. Site of the original Flour Mill and later the Butter Factory
Opposite 6 Tulip Street, on the Honeysuckle Creek bank, sat George Gordon's flour mill and later Isaac Wallace's butter factory in 1891. This was the district's first butter factory.
19. Violet Town School
A National School opened in 1849 with 19 students. State School No 604 opened in 1875 and was enlarged in 1908. The original building still stands. Many students rode more than 10km to school.
20. Violet Town Recreation Reserve Memorial Gates
The iron gates date from 1884. The 'Lest We Forget' motto was added in 1957. The cannon are 28 pounders from World War II. This Reserve is home to Violet Town market and many other activities.
21. Site of former Presbyterian Church
The original Church was built in 1893 at this location. The current building houses St Andrew's Uniting Church with a raised bed community garden that is worth visiting on Mary's Lane out back.
22. Major Mitchell historic marker
This memorial rock and plaque commemorates that Surveyor General Major Mitchell and his party camped at this site on October 11, 1836 on their way back to Sydney.
23. St Dunstan's Church & Parish Hall
Built in 1874, this Anglican Church gained a rectory in 1906 and a Parish Hall in 1910. The complex features a scaffolded bell tower, memorial wall and scratching chickens in the attractive garden.
24. Masonic Temple
Construction began in 1929 and the Temple opened in 1931 in support of the Masonic Lodge formed in 1923. The building is now a private residence.
25. St Attracta's Catholic Church
In October 1898, this brick church replaced a wooden one (moved to Rothesay near Tatong). Previous mass service sites were a private home, the National Bank slab building and a wooden chapel nearby.
26. Southern Aurora Memorial Garden
This garden was created to remember those who died or were injured on February 7, 1969. The Southern Aurora crashed head on into a goods train approximately 1km south of Violet Town.
27. Honeysuckle Creek Walk eastern entry
This lovely 3km loop walk through the bushland park along Honeysuckle Creek is not described as part of the Heritage Walk, but make sure you don.t miss it. Get the brochure via the link here.
28. Hume and Hovell historic marker
This rock pyramid and crossed cairn commemorates that explorers Hume and Hovell passed through this area on December 29, 1824. They camped some 6km away. Until 1980, High St was the old Hume Highway.
29. Police Station site
The Police Station was the site of the Farmer's Arms Hotel, built in 1889 and burnt down in 1968.
30. Avenue of Honour
Violet Town's World War I Avenue of Honour lines the western end of Cowslip St. Each tree has a plaque memorialising a local fallen soldier.
31. Grogan's A1 Cash Warehouse
Now a pharmacy depot and Hairdresser, this building was a general store and drapery called "Grogan's A1 Cash Warehouse" and later Wingfilelds and Hazels - originating around 1890.
32. Once home to the Sentinel newspaper press
Recently a greengrocer, hospital cottage shop, formerly Henry Trewella's Hairdressers (1937), Violet Town Sentinel newspaper, Estate's Milk Bar and Strone's Shoemakers. These shops date from 1925.
33. Community swimming pool
Built by the community and opened in 1957, this was the first public swimming pool in the region.
34. Violet Town Garage
Opened in 1931 by George LePage after EW LePage obtained his Automotive Engineering Certificate, the garage was still being run by the LePage brothers in 1951.
35. Violet Town Railway Station
Operating since 1938, the original building opened in 1873 further down the platform. The station is well maintained, including lovely garden beds, by the Violet Town Stationeers community group.
Photos:
Location
49 Cowslip Street, Violet Town 3669 Map
Web Links
→ Violet Town Heritage Walk (Walking Maps)
