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
May 2026 - Bertrue Family
Only two books have been written about Morwell’s town history. These do not mention Peter Bertrue nor his wife, Isabella Bertrue. Visit page ...
April 2026 - The McLeans
This month’s local history column talks about Doctor John Samuel McLean, a registered medical practitioner with his formal qualifications conferred on March 3, 1905. Visit page ...
March 2026 - History nurtures memories
Historical memories can be cathartic. History need not be dismal. Let us take a look with reminders of Morwell’s history. How are your memories? Columbines, those cute, tasty small cubes of caramel Visit page ...
February 2026 - History needs to be as accurate as practicable
Accurate portrayals do not just please discriminating enthusiasts of local history — they honour the lives and struggles of real people. Whenever one watches an historical film or reads an historical novel, imagine if it were your life, your family, your community being depicted Visit page ...
December 2025 - Christmas in Morwell
As Christmas is here again, and its significance tends to be pushed aside, it is now an opportunity to look back. In editorial of Friday December 22, 1899, the Morwell Advertiser reminded its readers Visit page ...
November 2025 - Local history with beards attached
In 19th century Australia, railway leagues were formed to lobby governments for construction of railways focussed on carrying produce to cities and ports. Pressure to have an extension to Balook never produced any positive results. But what apparently appealed to the Morwell Advertiser journalist at the time, was the “score of bearded farmers and settlers” who attended that meeting. Visit page ...
October 2025 - White City and Nissen Huts
In a recent reference to the White City, the humble Nissen hut seems to have attracted attention. No doubt we have seen these buildings - some decaying, others being used, an oddity to a younger generation Visit page ...
September 2025 - 1969
Do you remember 1969 ? Let us take a quick look at what 1969 was telling us Visit page ...
August 2025 - Hazelwood Halls
In March and August 1890, Morwell’s business centre, largely hugging Commercial Road, was almost totally destroyed by fire. Weatherboard shops and offices were destroyed. There was general agreement that bricks would be a better option in rebuilding what was razed to the ground. Visit page ...
July 2025 - Down memory lane
History can be unearthed in the most innocuous of places, just when you least expect it. Take a press release from the Morwell Advertiser, Thursday January 23, 1958 Visit page ...
June 2025 - Down memory lane
Previous local history articles in this column have focussed on “the what could have been” rather than what eventuated. This month’s history takes a different direction to pull our minds back to a few memories of the Post Second World War period. Visit page ...
May 2025 - Tinsmiths
An urgent phone call to a local plumber was an instant reminder of just how invaluable this trade is to our modern lifestyles. However, one wondered what was it like years ago in an era when tinsmiths plied their trade, alongside being plumbers and/or iron workers. Visit page ...
April 2025 - Mowell
in editorial (Morwell Advertiser, Thursday July 16, 1953), it was written the then Morwell Shire Engineer, John Connan, announced Maryvale Motors would donate trees to be planted along the north side of Commercial Road. Visit page ...
March 2025 - Morwell Railway Yards
As a reminder, last month’s (CDN February 2025) Morwell history page carried two opinions about Morwell. Opinions, yes, but nonetheless raising topical issues still haunting us today. In the Morwell Advertiser, Thursday June 28, 1945, a correspondent asked, “Is Morwell the Cinderella town of the main Gippsland line?” Visit page ...
February 2025 - Morwell Railway Station
History does not need to be sombre. There are some light moments, such as a “cow story” published in the Morwell Advertiser, on Thursday September 21, 1933. Visit page ...
December 2024 - Morwell History
Years ago, the Morwell Advertiser, October 27, 1905, carried the following news: The roads leading to Budgeree, Gunyah, and other centres are still in a deplorable condition, and the unfortunate settlers, who are obliged to travel them will be thankful when summer comes Visit page ...
November 2024 - Parts of Morwell’s history
this month, rather than write a single story drawing on our local history, a collection of historical snapshots is provided. Each one portrays parts of Morwell’s history Visit page ...
September 2024 - Parts of Morwell’s history worth recalling
In the August edition, our menswear story finished at about 1925. What followed was a pivotal time in Morwell’s emerging, diversified retail sector when, in around 1925, Norman Sharpe’s Price Cutters business was established. Visit page ...
August 2024 - Morwell Menswear Retailers
We continue this month giving early Morwell menswear retailers their moment of historical fame Visit page ...
June 2024 - Morwell’s chemists
in 1879, Mr John Barnes advertised his extensive range of Morwell and Traralgon properties for sale in August 1891. In Tarwin Street, Lot 9 was for sale - a chemist’s shop occupied by Mr William Sharp at £40 per year. Visit page ...
May 2024 - Roger O’Flaherty
While our forefathers did not bother to acknowledge Roger O’Flaherty by way of a street, footy oval, local hall or whatever, it is important to raise his profile. Visit page ...
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 ...
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 ...