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 originally extracted from "Steps in Time: A Gippsland Chronology to 1899". Additions by Dr Walter Savige are also acknowledged. 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 - ------------------------------------------ 1884 Jan 6: Christina McMillan dies Jan - The township of Waterloo is renamed Yarragon [because there was another town named Waterloo in western Victoria]. Jul: Three Irishmen begin cutting a track from Brodribb to Genoa. Sep: Post office and clock tower completed at Sale. unk: Punt across the Snowy at Orbost begins operation. unk: Commencement of track being cut from Orbost to Bendoc. unk: New land act extends selection into the hills, and designates land as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th class. unk - A tree (Eucalyptus regnans, or Mountain Ash) growing beside McDonald's Track east of Narracan West (Thorpdale South) was felled. Its measured height was 375 feet (114.4 metres). It is acknowledged to have been the world's tallest tree. unk - The name of the village of Narracan West is changed to Thorpdale. unk - New Land Act (Tucker's) is proclaimed, setting aside timber reserves. unk - Townships of Boolarra and Mirboo North are surveyed. unk - First selections in the area near the Latrobe River between Moe and Morwell Bridge, including the site of Yallourn. (This land had been part of Merton Rush Run.) 1885 unk: The Toombon school No. 2654 opened in January 1885, Head teacher was William Volger Mar: The Ethel Jackson arrives in Sale as the first of the Murray River steamers attempting to break into the Lakes trade. Apr 10 - The railway from Morwell to Mirboo North, which is being constructed reaches Boolarra. Apr 14: Township of Orbost proclaimed. Apr 10: Railway from Boolarra to Morwell opened. Jun 16: Regulations establishing Mounted Rifles gazetted. July - The first survey of township lots at Yinnar is made. July - The Sale School of Mines, Art and Technology is opened. Nov 24 - Morwell, Narracan and Mirboo Pastoral and Agricultural Society is formed (President George Glen Auchterlonie of Narracan). A showground near Morwell is acquired where annual Shows are held. unk: School of Arts opened at Sale. unk: Reef gold discovered at Cassilis. unk: A new gaol is built at Sale, but is not occupied until 1887. 1886 Jan: Construction of Sale Canal commenced. Jan 7 - Railway from Morwell to Mirboo North is opened, with stations at Yinnar, Boolarra and Darlimurla. Jan 7: Railway from Morwell to Mirboo North opened. Mar - Walhalla Shire is proclaimed. May 31: W.A. Brodribb dies. unk: 'Half Caste' Act passed. unk: Construction of St Mary's Cathedral Sale commenced. 1887 Mar 18: Railway from Heyfield to Maffra opened. Apr 26: Catholic diocese of Sale created. Jun 28 - A truckload of black coal from Coalville is sent to Melbourne. Aug 25: Rev. Dr James Corbett consecrated first Catholic Bishop of Sale. Nov 8: Railway opened Stratford to Sale. unk: Public Works Department initiates draining of the Moe swamp. unk: Howitt visits Tarli Karng. unk: First selections at Cabbage Tree. 1888 Mar 21: First agricultural show at Maffra May 8: Railway from Sale to Bairnsdale opened. May 8: Railway to Warrington (Thorpedale) opened. (May 8 - Railway from Moe to Warrington (Thorpdale) is opened, with stations at Coalville and Narracan. New townships are being surveyed near the stations, together with connecting roads to McDonald's Track.) May 25 - Woorayl Shire is created by severance of the southern part of Narracan Shire. Jul - The name of Warrington township is changed to Thorpdale, while the name of (Old) Thorpdale (formerly Narracan West), beside McDonalds Track is changed to Thorpdale South. The new township of Narracan is first called "Narracan Railway Station Township" for several years in order to distinguish it from original Narracan township two miles distant beside McDonalds Track. However, a few years later the railway township is renamed Narracan, while the original Narracan township is renamed Narracan East. Sale of housing blocks at Thorpdale townships begins. The large "Narracan district" becomes known as the Thorpdale district. Oct 1: Railway from Dandenong to Tooradin opened, along with seven others on the same date. Oct: Great Morwell Coal Mining Company registered. Nov 26: First co-operative dairy company at Woodleigh in South Gippsland. unk: Large fire at Walhalla, resulting in loss of 30 banks, shops and hotels etc, but no loss of life. unk: Telegraph established at Orbost. unk: Reef gold discovered at Yahoo Creek. unk: The Government appoints a dairy expert to improve the industry. unk: Tourism begins to be directed via Victorian Railways. 1889 Jan: The travelling dairy visits Buln Buln, Hazlewood and Briagolong. Feb: Marlo being surveyed by Bruce. Feb: Lease of mine area formally transferred to the Great Morwell Coal Mining Co. Apr: Tabbara being surveyed by Bruce. unk: The almost completed entrance to the lakes opened by storm. unk: Gold discovered at Orbost and Clarkeville. unk: Cassilis gazetted a town. unk - Electoral redistribution - Gippsland has five Assembly electorates - Gippsland Central, Gippsland East, Gippsland South, Gippsland West and North Gippsland. unk - Work in draining the Kooweerup Swamp is resumed, while drainage of Moe Swamp begins. unk - Fresh Food & Frozen Storage Company is formed, with a creamery at Narracan East, the first in Gippsland.