----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Matthews" <dryandra1@netspeed.com.au> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 11:13 PM Subject: Re: Mitiamo | My great grandmother was married in Mitiamo in 1888, and given that | other subscribers also had a connection, I thought I would have a quick | look at some 'rough' statistics. | | From 1875-1888: | Births 306 | Deaths 45 | | From 1889-1901 | Births 236 | Deaths 80 | | So obviously it was a booming place with that many kids born in a 26 | year period. Would have filled the local school! Wouldn't that suggest that land was being opened up for settlement at the time? Does anyone have any idea of when land was released for closer settlement in and around Mitiamo? Trevor

Hello Trevor, The East Loddon Historical Society have published three books on the history of the schools in the old East Loddon Shire area and Mitiamo State School No., 2657 (1884-1993) is included in the book that deals with Dingee, Tandarra Plains, Tang Tang, Mitiamo, Yallook, Prairie, Tandara and "Old Mitiamo" schools. "Old Mitiamo" SS No. 1521 officially opened on 10 April 1875 but was probably operating before that but not under the Vic government - 1875 was probably when the gov't took responsibility for it. It closed in 1884 when the township of Mitiamo was moved two miles to conform with the new railway line that came through in 1883 and Mitiamo State School 1521 then quite literally moved (building and all) to the new site and became Mitiamo Railway Station School No. 2657. The original site of Mitiamo was along the west side of what was officially Mount Hope Creek, known locally as Piccaninny Creek and now known (officially) as the Bendigo Creek. Marj Boyd, who put the books together, has also written a book that deals with the family history of the Chapple and Bogie families, both families being early settlers in the Calivil area and she states, "For some reason or other, a large piece of land sandwiched between the Serpentine and Terrick Stations had never been taken up and in 1875 was discovered and opened for selection and it is said that some forty families came north at that time to this new area. Among those who settled in this immediate area were; Bogie's, Mahoney's, Hussey's, Kerwin's, Campbell's and Palmer's, and of these, Bogie's, Mahoney's, Kerwin's and possibly Hussey's all came from Muckleford or nearby, so would have been friends before moving to Calivil. By selecting blocks side by side, they remained friends and neighbours in their new district. Mr. Kerwin was a surveyor, so his knowledge would have been a great benefit to the others and his skills were doubtless much sought after. It has always puzzled me how my great-grandparents were able to select the highest part of the farm on which to build the house in the days when the place was heavily timbered. Grandma, Margaret Chapple (nee Bogie) told us how it was impossible to ride a horse at a canter through the timber as it was so thick, but perhaps the answer was Mr. Kerwin." For those interested in this area, the other books on the history of the local schools (lots of photo's in each!) are Memories of School Days at Pompapiel, Calivil South, Prairie West and Hayanmi; Memories of School Days at Serpentine, Bears Lagoon, Jarklin and Hurstwood; Memories and School Days Dingee, Tandarra Plains, Tang Tang, Mitiamo, Yalook, Prairie, Tandara, "Old" Mitiamo. Memorial plaques were erected on the original sites of the old schools when each of the books were released. The history of Yarrawalla School was written as part of "From Parakeets to People, Past & Present - Celebrating 125 years of Yarrawalla & District as a community" published in 2000. I think the East Loddon Historical Society may have some of the "school" books still on hand. It would certainly be worth contacting them for information if you have family tree research in this area. Cheers, Jeannie. ----- Original Message ----- From: "trevor" <tjwilliams@iinet.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 9:10 AM Subject: Re: Mitiamo > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peter Matthews" <dryandra1@netspeed.com.au> > To: <AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 11:13 PM > Subject: Re: Mitiamo > > > | My great grandmother was married in Mitiamo in 1888, and given that > | other subscribers also had a connection, I thought I would have a quick > | look at some 'rough' statistics. > | > | From 1875-1888: > | Births 306 > | Deaths 45 > | > | From 1889-1901 > | Births 236 > | Deaths 80 > | > | So obviously it was a booming place with that many kids born in a 26 > | year period. Would have filled the local school! > > > Wouldn't that suggest that land was being opened up for settlement at the > time? > > Does anyone have any idea of when land was released for closer settlement in > and around Mitiamo? > > Trevor > > > ==== AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from this mailing list send the word 'unsubscribe' in > the body of a message to AUS-VIC-GOLDFIELDS-L-request@rootsweb.com > > >