The Gippsland Time Line is posted to the list in irregular posts - if anyone has any additions, corrections or suggestions, please feel free to engage in historical discussion! :) Some of you may even come up with important dates we have missed. Some state, national and world events are included for comparison. - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This time-line is copyright, and was extracted from "Steps in Time: A Gippsland Chronology to 1899". It is posted for private study only. Earlier, consolidated posts can be found through the AVG Home Page at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~surreal/AVG/ Linda Barraclough Briagolong List Owner: AUS-VIC-GIPPSLAND email: kapana@netspace.net.au - ------------------------------------------ 1870 Feb 1: Grant Act takes effect. Apr: Goldrush to Stockyard Creek (Foster). Apr: Contractor C.F. Cox drives first piles in bridge across the Mitchell at Bairnsdale. He dies a short time later and Peter Platt takes over the contract. Walhalla Chronicle opens under editorship of James Ryan. Bairnsdale Shire offices completed. C.J. Tyers dies in Melbourne. Macleods leave Orbost. Extensive floods. Commencement of the Entrance at Lakes Entrance. Alluvial gold discovered at Lees Creek and a reef on Gladstone Creek. 1871 Whittakers leave Tubbut for Loy Yang. Singer Ada Crossley born at Tarraville 1872 The official crossing for stock entering Victoria from the Monaro is Tubbut. Howitt and police travel to Cann River to investigate a ten year old murder of Aborigines. The straight line of the Victorian/NSW border is laid out on the ground. Henry Luke takes over the Gippsland Mercury at Sale. Shire of Omeo formed. Arguments between the residents of Stratford and Maffra as to the location of the Shire Offices. Tin discovered at Mount Wills and mined until about 1890. Gold discovered at BA Creek and worked for about 4 years. Gold discovered at Combienbar. Gold discovered at, and rush to, Turton's Creek near Foster. The Education Act creates the Department of Public Instruction for free, secular and compulsory education. Department of Agriculture established. 1873 Feb 17: First meeting of the Shire of Omeo. May: Town of Buchan proclaimed, and surveyed the following year. Aug 11: First meeting of Avon Shire at Maffra. Nov 25: Parliament approves construction of railway from Oakleigh to Sale. Allan McLean, elected to Avon Shire Council. First claims taken out at Combienbar for gold. Selection begins at Narracan. 1874 Mar 29: The barque Eclyptic is wrecked near Port Albert with the loss of eight crew members. Nov 8: Avon Shire moves to Stratford. Wattlebark stripping starts on the Snowy River. Brown coal discovered on Latrobe River by Henry Goodridge. Selectors begin arriving on the Snowy flats. Dr Arbuckle dies. Willis and Deddick become the official crossing places for cattle entering Victoria from the Monaro, with customs houses. Charles Marshall dies at Ulladulla NSW. 1875 Oct 14: Shire of Maffra proclaimed. Oct: Bridge over the Mitchell at Bairnsdale finally completed, and fails to open. Selection in the Great Forest in South Gippsland. State aid to denominational schools abolished.