Inspired by the pioneers of bushwalking exhibition, i turned to an article in the most recent victorian historical journal about the melbourne walking clubs trek to wonnangatta in easter 1936. Australian local history from diversity books browse. Here you will discover photographs, videos, documents, publications and objects which reflect the history of the high country. Wonnangatta station is within the scope of wikiproject australia, which aims to improve wikipedia s coverage of australia and australiarelated topics. This book is not intended as a novel, but simply as a document of facts. Get the best deal for australian history books australia from the largest online selection at. To this day the mystery has captured the imagination of many and has become folklore. A history of the wonnangatta station in eastern victoria, from settlement in the 1860s, into the 20th century. Dec 12, 2011 a similar claim to accuracy is found in the aforementioned mortimer book history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimer, published in 1980. Mar 16, 2014 dargo hotelwonnangatta station loop via billy goats. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Campers carol clay and russell hill presumed dead, but all. Now to some history about the station and the famous murders. Nov 29, 2016 bamford started working at wonnangatta station on december 14th, 1917. The history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimer.
The murder of james barclay, the manager at the wonnangatta station, in victorias high country, occurred on or around december 22 1917. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery ep02 pt. Records images cemetery page showing maps, records, and images of headstones in the wonnangatta station, wonnangatta, alpine shire, victoria, australia billiongraves cemetery and images. Oliver smith was the first man to settle on the river flats. Get the billiongraves app now and help collect images for this cemetery. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. What particularly struck me was that there are no roads at all. Aug 25, 2017 on this trip, we camped at wonnangatta station which is located in the victorian high country. Get the best deals on australian history nonfiction books. The river flows generally south by east, in a highly meandering course, joined by eleven tributaries including the dry, humffray, moroka, wongungarra and dargo rivers, before reaching. The police manhunt, despite many theories, singled out a suspect but nine months later that man was found dead on mt howitt. The last time both barclay and bamford were seen alive was when they left talbotville on december 21, 1917, after voting in a public referendum.
Check out the wirefenced cemetery or the ruined cattlemens hut. History of ownership of wonnangatta station and its purchase by the. The wonnangatta valley is situated 200km north east of melbourne in the high countrys. There is also a short history of the station and valley in which the wonnangatta homestead and station are situated. An inquiry into the unsolved murders at wonnangatta valley. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery ep03 pt. Australian history the resident judge of port phillip. Wonnangatta station, wonnangatta, alpine shire, victoria.
It is nearly 100 years since james barclay was gunned down at wonnangatta station and his murderer or murderers are long since dead, but who were they. This book is about the murders of jim barclay and john bamford in late 1917 at wonnangatta station. Apr 02, 2018 wonnangatta station murder mystery 2018 anniversary. The wonnangatta station homestead was accidentally burnt down by bushwalkers in 1957. Prahran mechanics institute victorian history library. Sometime in the late 1970s mortimer interviewed jim barclay junior for his history of wonnangatta station. According to writer harry stephenson, while it operated, the station was the most isolated homestead in victoria.
These fires have knocked the wind out of my sails a bit and i only hope that relief comes quick to those who need it. Some stockyards and the old cemetery, which has been restored to something resembling its original form, survive. The wonnangatta murders occurred in late 1917 and in 1918, in the remote wonnangatta valley in east gippsland, victoria, australia. I found the book a good piece of work and a great credit to wally. Wonnangatta camping wonnangatta guide trayon campers. Black snake creek, horseyard flat, howitt hut camping area, kingswell bridge bush camping area, dungeys hut, wonnangatta caravan park ph 03 5140 1265, wonnangatta station hut camping area.
The history of wonnangatta station, wallace malcolm. Barclay was a wellrespected and much liked bushman, while bamford was regarded with suspicion, and was known to be easily roused into violent tempers. In wally mortimers book the history of the wonnangatta station on page 98 he. A ride containing a lot of magic and touch of mystery, the ride begins at howqua gap to the bluff, king billy. This book provides the reader with the overall history of the early days of the wonnangatta station through to the unsolved murders. This was the first anniversary in wonnangatta station of the two unsolved murders of station manager jim barclay and station. Discover book depositorys huge selection of wallace mortimer books online. The history of wonnangatta station wallace malcolm mortimer. This book provides the reader with the overall history of the early days of. While it was still in operation, the wonnangatta station, located in a secluded valley in the.
One of the more intriguing stories of the high country from the early 1900s is that of the wonnangatta murders. For corrections and to add details of further or new books, please email linda at. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The high country history hub hchh is a digital library of the victorian high country history from 1834 to now. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The history of wonnangatta station wallace malcolm. In wally mortimers book the history of the wonnangatta station on page 98 he states the search party were at howitt hut. References harrys hut the wonnangatta valley station. After two years solid work, cataloguing 6312 documents and 5449 photos, we are very proud of our achievement to date and committed to growing our digital library for all to enjoy. T his is the title of one of a number of books written about the unsolved murders which occurred at wonnangatta station in victorias high country in january, 1918. Ricketts melbourne wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. This work is a sequel which provides further historical information and considers developments at wonnangatta from 1972 to the 1990s. The wonnangatta mystery by keith leydon and micheal ray.
In a lush valley filled with wildlife, wonnangatta station offers beauty and history alike. Compiled edition with toc wellington cultural history bibliography. What is interesting is that oliver smith had been occupying and living in the wonnangtta valley from circa 1866, he was already there in june,1867 when his son thomas was born as he recorded his address on the birth certificate as wonnangatta river. The article, written by one of the walkers is written in the rather flippant, whatanadventure. Wonnangatta was, until late in the 20th century, victorias most remote high country cattle station. Apr, 2020 the bushland where an elderly man and his female companion are missing has a dark history of murder and vanished hikers. The two day trips to talbortville for sunday church and supplies, the hardships of medical issues, and. Two men arrive at a dark and empty farmhouse looking for the manager, their friend jim barclay. The victims were jim barclay, the manager of wonnangatta station, and john bamford, a cook and general hand. A small collection of images showing harrys hut being restored and the completed hut.
According to writer harry stephenson the station, while it operated, was the most isolated homestead in victoria. Two seniors who went camping in victorias wonnangatta valley almost a month ago are now presumed dead, but police are investigating a. Victorian high country wonnangatta station youtube. Get ready to journey deep into the isolated valley one of the best kept secrets. Fresh twist in mysterious disappearance of pair as mobile. The nearest population centres were the goldfields towns of talbotville, about 20 miles. The wonnangatta station was a cattle station located in a remote valley of the victorian alps, australia. Jun 04, 2010 when wonnangatta station manager james barclay and his cook and handyman jack bamford rode into nearby talbotville in december of 1917 to vote in the referendum on conscription, it was to be the. The chronological unfolding of the wonnangatta murder mystery. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery pt1.
Wonnangatta station was the site of the wonnangatta murders in 1917. This book wally writes is a sequel to his book the history of the wonnangatta station, and is still available for purchase. History the station had been established in the 1860s by oliver smith, a north american who came across the valley while prospecting for gold. I found the book a good piece of work and a great credit to wally mortimers many years of enquiry. Wonnangatta by angus cerini directed by jessica arthur. Wonnangatta station murder mystery 2018 anniversary youtube.
Smiths common law wife ellen or nancy 3 and her son harry joined him and a homestead was built near the junction of the wonnangatta river and conglomerate creek. I would recommend this to anybody interested in rural history and the solving of mysteries. Posts about australian history written by residentjudge. He is the author of the history of wonnangatta station, a widelyacclaimed account of the bryce family and their pioneer settlement in the remote and beautiful wonnangatta valley of victoria. The wonnangatta station history begins what is interesting is that oliver smith had been occupying and living in the wonnangtta valley from circa 1866, he was already there in june,1867 when his son thomas was born as he recorded his address on the birth certificate as wonnangatta river. There is a lot of history in this area and i urge you to do a little research into the wonnangatta. Journey with postcards from the bush to some of australias iconic destinations and the people we meet along the way. The locality is in the alpine shire local government area, 349 kilometres 217 mi north east of the state capital, melbourne. Graphic books, armidale, victoria, australia isbn 0949847003. Wonnangatta station murder mystery 2018 anniversary. The book this book looks at all the evidence including police and forensic as well as many mountain rumours and myths surrounding the case.
The top end of the king billy track meets the high country pastures of the howitt plains, and its only a few kilometres along the allweather surface of the howitt road to reach the intersection of the notorious zeka spur track, the narrow winding track that descends into secluded wonnangatta valley. The history of wonnangatta station, wallace malcolm mortimer. Free delivery and returns on ebay plus items for plus members. Australian history the resident judge of port phillip page 10. A 4x4 adventure wonnangatta valley kaydo fishing world. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Copies can be obtained from wally at the following contact details. Arthur phillips left with jim barclay on the howitt high plains. Hello again, well i was wanting to put up a bit of a story about the wonongatta station and the fact that it wasis a premier victorian high country 4wd mekka. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale this article has not yet received a rating on the projects importance scale. Bamford started working at wonnangatta station on december 14th, 1917. Dec 12, 2011 the photograph below is not the one in the article but it gives an idea of the remoteness of wonnangatta and the splendour of the landscape. Wonnangatta is a locality in north east victoria, australia.
Photo via abc gippsland east gippsland historical society. It did confirm what most of the locals about the upper ovens valley had thought and told me all my life. Nov 04, 2000 the book this book looks at all the evidence including police and forensic as well as many mountain rumours and myths surrounding the case. Wonnangatta station, wonnangatta, alpine shire, victoria, australia. On page 77 ian states howitt hut was the one near where bamfords body was found. The history of wonnangatta station book victoria australia. At the 2016 census, the residential population of wonnangatta was recorded as zero. Harrys hut the wonnangatta valley station and harry. The mystifying double murders at wonnangatta station. He built a log cabin in the early 1860s on the conglomerate creek about 800m from where it flows into the wonnangatta river.
This was the first anniversary in wonnangatta station of the two unsolved murders of station manager jim barclay and station hand john bamford. The wonnangatta murders a mystery in the victorian high. The station and surrounding area are the site of the stillunsolved wonnangatta murders which occurred in late 1917 and 1918. Although these days were into a bit of history, we were way too excited to get to the next stop, so we. At wonnangatta station, a place still alive in the psyche of the mountain cattlemen, the manager had been murdered. Within a year, both barclay and bamford would be murdered, and their deaths would go unsolved. The reason this mystery has captured the imagination of so many is simple, the case was never solved. The wonnangatta station was a cattle station located in a remote valley of the wonnangatta river. Dargo hotelwonnangatta station loop via billy goats mj.
When wonnangatta station manager james barclay and his cook and handyman jack bamford rode into nearby talbotville in december of 1917. The wonnangatta river rises below mount despair, part of the great dividing range, east of mansfield in a remote state forestry protected area, called the wonnangatta river reference area. Wonnangatta station high country victoria hema maps. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery ep03 pt2 info on the episode the wonnangatta murders occurred in late 1917 and 1918 in the remote wonnangatta valley in east gippsland, victoria. If you have any images that could be included here it would be much appreciated. The history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm. The autopsy occurred at the mansfield hospital, discovering the shotgun blast through his shoulder blades claimed his life. The mystery has close links to the mornington peninsula, and hastings in particular. A similar claim to accuracy is found in the aforementioned mortimer book history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimer, published in 1980. Wonnangatta drive victorias iconic 4wd adventures dry conditions very difficult 4wd dramatic clifftop lookouts offer panoramic views over the alps, and history comes alive at the many historic sites from the ruins of old gold mining towns and the cattlemans huts on the high plains to the wonnangatta station. Youll also find the site of a blacksmiths shop and the burnt ruins of the main homestead with its stone chimney.
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