Elizabeth, If you do some searches you will find info on farming history, this is one site with links to specific areas. www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/farms My husbands families as with many others were early farmers, in bellarine area and later around gippsland. Into the early 1900's they did pioneer early crops such as asparagus and i know that bellarine became a good market garden farming area. I have some info on that from one of the local newspapers, you can do some searching online at newspapers.nla.gov.au And if you try your library you may find history books which outline much of the early settlement. You have to remember that mid to late 1800's transport was by horse and dray and refrigeration not available so farming was done in smaller ways with fresh crops and produce such as milk was transported in most cases small distances. The government sponsored many newcomers with clearing leases where they undertook to clear trees & native growth and establish farms. Unfortunately many areas were not always very suitable for farming and some failed being on a small scale but many grew enough for themselves and a bit to sell or worked on other farms to supplement income. Certainly the land around Geelong and Gippsland ( trafalgar) are still dairying areas and with other crop farming as well. Wangaratta is a drier area but still has dairy farms but also beef and sheep, and is a major regional city . I suggest you try their historical society www.wanghistsoc.org.au Hope it helps, Linda

Thanks Linda Some helpful ideas for research Ellizabeth Stan & Linda Edwards wrote: > Elizabeth, > > If you do some searches you will find info on farming history, this is one > site with links to specific areas. > www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/farms > M