By BARB PYLE, Kiewa Valley Historical Society Inc
LAST weekend the Tawonga District Community Association along with the wider community and visitors, took the opportunity to celebrate the past 180 years of continuous settlement in the Upper Kiewa Valley.
The Kiewa Valley Historical Society Inc works very closely with the TDCA and supported the celebration by assisting the historical display with information and artefacts.
KVHS decided to mark this special milestone celebration by returning to the community and the streetscape the much-loved Bogong Hotel street lights.
When that historic Tawonga icon was burnt down in 2011, the beautiful street lights were rescued by a community member and placed in our care.
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We believe that they belong in Tawonga and the TDCA has agreed to auspice this community project.
Tawonga township itself has a wonderful history.
For many years it was the centre of the universe for the citizens of the Upper Kiewa Valley and its growth ran parallel to the development of the agricultural industry.
The types of agriculture have been many and varied.
Cattle grazing in the valley and on the High Plains in summer led to an almost nomadic existence for the early settlers.
Then, with the introduction of super phosphate for enhanced pastures, the dairy industry flourished and the Kiewa Valley became an iconic dairy brand.
Some of the other types of agricultural pursuits that no longer exist are: pigs, tobacco, viticulture, vegetables and timber.
Over the years Tawonga has had a butter factory, a brick works, a bakery, a butcher, a post office (still operating}, several halls, a bus company, a taxi service, several garages, the Bogong Hotel, a hospital, a school and a boarding house etc etc.
In 1938, when the SECV began building the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme, the Tawonga township became a bustling commercial hub which continued for many years.
Later, another major boost to Tawonga’s fortune was the subdivision of adjacent farming land being subdivided for family homes.
Today, Tawonga is a pretty little rural residential township looking up to the majestic Mt Bogong and straddling the beautiful Kiewa River.
With a growing multi-generational population, the community is keen to improve the quality of the Tawonga experience for all its members and visitors alike.
TDCA is constantly advocating for quality open spaces, parks and gardens, community facilities and a streetscape that will encourage visitors to slow down and stop a while.
Events like the 180th celebrations do not just happen and our grateful thanks go to the TDCA and KVHS members, who did such a wonderful job mounting this very interesting historical display.
Happy 180th birthday Tawonga and best wishes for many more.
SETTLING IN UPPER KIEWA VALLEY
THE place name Tawonga is Aboriginal for “the flight through air as of birds or spears”.
The Upper Kiewa Valley was first settled in 1841 by a James Roberts.
He transferred the property to John Routh in 1849, who then passed it onto Thomas Ibbotson in 1854.
The property was named the Tawonga Station and comprised 20,000 acres of lush, fertile land.
A manager named John Eyre was appointed, and his family were associated with the Tawonga Station for nearly 100 years.
Today, this property is situated in the locality of Mongan’s Bridge.
It has since been divided into many smaller holdings and the only physical evidence of Tawonga Station is a group of headstones which have survived the passage of time and are now being taken care of by Tom Cooper, upon whose land they now lie.
The three graves are those of Thomas Ibbotson who died in 1858, Elizabeth Eyre who died in 1879 and John Eyre who died in 1904.
The headstones which are surrounded by a pole fence and some trees, can be seen from the Kiewa Valley Highway at Mongan’s Bridge.
During the 1840’s government surveyors mapped the Upper Kiewa Valley and divided the area into the parishes of Tawonga, Mullagong and Mullindolingong.
The early selections listed many family names that still have a presence in the Kiewa Valley today.
In the parish of Tawonga, the earliest listings were: W. Snell in 1872 and J. Briggs in 1873.
In the parish of Mullindolongong the listings were: John Ryder in 1869; Fred Roper in 1870; W. Higginson in 1871; N. Herbert in 1871; Cooper, Maddison and Haig in 1873.
In the parish of Mullagong the listings were: J. Briggs in 1871; G. Barling in 1879; and F. Chow in 1883.
