Looking Back
The "Looking Back Archived Articles" is a series of articles on the history of the (now) Churchill district, published relatively recently in C&D News, and mostly written by Leo Billington
April 2024 - Morwell
Around 1877, Roger O’Flaherty arrived in what was then a small hamlet, to select land. He figured what was then named Morwell Bridge would not suit his entrepreneurial ambitions Visit page ...
March 2024 - Do you remember biscuits?
Biscuits have been central to our lifestyles for a long time. When next in a supermarket, check out what is available for customer selection. Stand still, study a plethora of brands, make a selection and head home to make a pot of tea Visit page ...
February 2024 - Yinnar remains a centre of attraction - Part 2
Yinnar could easily have been our main town instead of Morwell. In the second in the Yinnar series, we recall a series of Victorian government land acts. Visit page ...
Hazelwood North State School - December 2023 - History
As Hazelwood North State School welcomes its new building and renewed playground areas, an updated school history is being written. Visit page ...
December 2023 - Yinnar remains an attraction - Part 1
Yinnar Hardware has been established by the Benson family, making excellent use of a trademark Yinnar store. It is correct to suggest this building is a Yinnar stalwart. Its’ history is amazing Visit page ...
October 2023 - Local History - It’s marvellous what’s uncovered - Number 3
I recall, from many years ago, there was often a passing reference to “the college”. On Thursday, May 25, the Morwell Shire Council received a letter from the Department of Lands and Survey, in reply to Council’s enquiry about an Agricultural College. Visit page ...
September 2023 - Local History - It’s marvellous what’s uncovered - English Corner
In this second series of “It’s marvellous what is uncovered” in our local history, a focus is on the Grand Ridge Road and English’s Corner Visit page ...
August 2023 - Local history - it’s marvellous what it uncovers - Number 1
Years ago, a person, said to me, “Many people study history in high school and come away thinking it’s boring, irrelevant, or both.” However, as we get older, even just by a few years, we start to see the importance of understanding the past. Visit page ...
July 2023 - Tony Lawless
Story continued from last edition Visit page ...
June 2023 - Tony Lawless
Come on, you’ve been around here for a while, where’s Hazelwood?” Tony Lawless has welcomed me into his kitchen. Visit page ...
May 2023 - Walnuts and Rabbits (May 2023)
In about 1889, after their marriage Ellen Mary and her husband, Leon Wuttrich made their home at Walnut Park Hazelwood North, where they remained for about nine years. The 10 acres of walnut trees planted by Leon round that property remained for many years as a local memorial. Visit page ...
March 2023 - Local Names
During its time growing up as a community, there are various moments which bewildered us. One was the controversial naming of Churchill Visit page ...
February 2023 - Let’s think about our National Day
On Friday May 26, 1905, Empire Day was first celebrated in Morwell and Yinnar. Visit page ...
November 2022 - Early Residents
Searching through names of early Morwell residents produces an interesting array of names, some of which had their names on blocks of land. Visit page ...
October 2022 - Past history being made now
Before the death of King George VI, a proposed 1954 royal tour was a much-anticipated event. Due to the King’s ill health, in October 1951, it was decided the then Princess Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh would undertake the trip instead. Visit page ...
September 2022
Isn’t it marvellous where historical information comes from? It sometimes comes along when least expected. Visit page ...
August 2022 - Morwell and District’s own Splendour In The Grass
Lately we have been inundated with media coverage showing flooded campsites, extremely muddy conditions and drenched party goers at Splendour in the Grass 2022. In early December 1934, Morwell and its immediate surrounding district had experienced “unprecedented deluges with flood waters doing immense damage.” Visit page ...
July 2022 - Forgotten pioneers
For those scratching out a living in the Strzelecki hills, life was generally a bitter battle for place and livelihood. James Radburn was determined to make his place at Ryton a better place Visit page ...
May 2022
Two remarkable, often forgotten pioneers of Morwell Visit page ...
February 2022
DID YOU KNOW & In between the 1870’s and 1880’s, a land grab produced four pastoral selections – Hazelwood, Maryvale, Merton Rush and Scrubby Forest. Visit page ...
December 2021
1950’s/1960’s road transport services, McDonald Street, and “White City” Visit page ...
October 2021
Several years back, while researching the meaning and impact of nostalgia, Dr Erica Hepper, a psychology lecturer at the University of Surrey, said that nostalgia is a key component in our futures, often acting as a ‘psychological boost’ to make us more motivated. Visit page ...
September 2021 - Morwell Municipal Buildings
During the early hours of Thursday January 10, 1935, a massive fire totally consumed Morwell’s Mechanics Institute, a rather formidable, wooden building located at the corner of Tarwin and George Streets. Visit page ...
August 2021 - Swimming
Is our national identity caught up in swimming ? Visit page ...
July 2021 - A bit long in the tooth - Dentists
Having recently read an article about dental care, it is worth visiting stories from the past to show a visit these days to a dentist isn’t as traumatic as might be expected. Visit page ...
May 2021 - Home deliveries - why so revolutionary?
Earlier this year, business analysts and social commentators were touting home delivery as a major change Visit page ...
December 2020 - Hazelwood Milking Sheds
In May 1901, the Victorian government announced its intention to appoint two dairy inspectors to secure the requisite conditions in the dairy factories, milking sheds and yards. Contamination from bird feathers, bracken, lack of washing water, over-ripe milk, warm milk Visit page ...
November 2020 - Hazelwood / Hazelwood North - More snippets
Former Sexton’s hut at Hazelwood Cemetery, Tanners Lane, Old peppercorn tree at the former Northway homestead Visit page ...
October 2020 - Hazelwood North Snippets
Time to highlight parts of Hazelwood’s lesser known items of history Visit page ...
September 2020 - Hazelwood Morass
Hazelwood once had its own morass, sometimes known as Hazelwood Morass, or Hazelwood North Morass or simply, THE Morass Visit page ...