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Marysville & District Historical Society Inc

Name: Marysville & District Historical Society Inc
Address: 39 Darwin Street, Marysville, VIC, 3779, AU
Telephone: +61417551091

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Marysville, VIC
Marysville & District Historical Society Inc

PO Box 22
Marysville VIC 3779 The Marysville and District Historical Society was founded in 1969 and was previously housed in the former RSL Building.

In 2009, the Black Saturday bush-fires destroyed this building and the Society's entire collection. The Society purchased its current premises in 2010 and since then has set about rebuilding its collection, much of which is displayed within its History Centre. The History Centre houses a comprehensive collection that tells the many stories of the district. The collection includes photographs, imag

es, objects, registers, documents, letters, textiles, digital forms, and research material. The History Centre also has a strong educative philosophy and aims to use the collection to educate the public and enable research. The Society is always interested in adding items to its collection and welcomes any donations. The Society does however have a strict Collection Policy and only collects items from the area that includes Fernshaw, Narbethong, Buxton, Taggerty, Granton, Marysville and the Cumberland. Much of the Society's collection has been catalogued on the Victorian Collections database and has either been digitally scanned or photographed, which is an ongoing work in progress and is accessible to the public. Group tours and special museum openings are available upon request.

11/04/2026

MARYSVILLE & DISTRICT TOURIST
& PROGRESS ASSOCIATION.

Following a meeting held at the Marysville Public Hall on the 23rd of November 1907 it was carried, “that a Tourist & Progress Association be formed at Marysville”, with the first elected committee consisting of Mr. McIntyre (President), Mr. Deeley (Secretary) and Mr. Barton (Treasurer), with the annual subscription for members being set at 2/6 per annum.

In the years that followed, the association did much to promote and develop the area's tourist attractions by creating the many walking tracks, lookouts, and signage, as well as a guidebook, maps, and postcards.

On the 5th of May 1917, the Association changed its name to the Marysville, Narbethong & Buxton Tourist Association to better represent the area. However, due to a lack of committee participation, it soon became unworkable. After a public meeting held on the 23rd of October 1917, it was unanimously accepted that the Association would revert to its original name.

In the early 1990s, the Association again changed its name to Mystic Mountains Tourism to better market the area. In 1996, it oversaw the construction of the town's first Visitor Information Centre (VIC), which provided advice on local attractions, accommodation, and road conditions.

The VIC operated successfully for many years until the building was destroyed in the 2009 bushfires.

In 2014, the Association changed its name to Marysville Triangle Business & Tourism (MTBT), this being the amalgamation of the Marysville & District Chamber of Commerce and Mystic Mountains Tourism, and was responsible for repurposing the former Rebuilding Advisory Centre into the new Marysville Visitor Information Centre.

In 2018, MTBT, in partnership with the Triangle Arts Group, then oversaw the redevelopment of the VIC into the new Marysville Information & Regional Artspace (MIRA), and MTBT was responsible for the centre's ongoing operation until 2023.

MTBT as an association was officially wound up in 2024.

20/02/2026

Alice grew up in Anderson Street, Narbethong and learnt to drive on the Black Spur.
She would chauffeur Kew residents to Narbethong.
To find out more about the statue and to donate click on the title.

11/02/2026

The Automobile Club of Victoria was officially formed in January 1904, with lobbying aims and social activities; it soon had over 100 members.
It had started with a group of enthusiastic car owners, whose first competitive event was held at Crooke's Aspendale Racecourse on Port Phillip Bay in late 1903.
The second rally, shown in the photograph at The Hermitage, Narbethong, was to Marysville in the Great Dividing Range, eighty kilometres north-east of Melbourne. The owner drivers are wearing the customary cap and dust coat, while the ladies wear their elegant Edwardian attire. Note the adventurous lady driver in the car third from left. Did she really drive the car, or was she cheekily sitting in the driver's seat for the photo?
The Automobile Club of Victoria organised a long-distance reliability car trial in Victoria during November 1906. This big event covering 1,000 miles solely on Victorian roads was promoted by the Dunlop Rubber Co. It was spread over six days, the last sections being Melbourne to Marysville and back, a distance of 127 miles.
In those days, there were comparatively few cars on the roads, and the event attracted considerable interest, with twenty-three cars competing. During the trial, three new, valuable cars developed fractured frames, demonstrating that in those days the motor car was not as dependable a machine as it is today.

12/01/2026

Discovery of a New Waterfall (Herald, 7 Oct 1864)

The following letter has been received by a gentleman in Melbourne, Steavenson River, 27th September
It gives me great pleasure to inform you of a magnificent waterfall which exists in this neighbourhood, and which I believe surpasses anything of the kind in Victoria. I believe I am the first or one of the first Europeans privileged to examine it closely, although it has been seen at a distance by one or two others; indeed, it is to one of these persons that I am indebted for the information which induced me to visit the place. The fall is on the Steavenson River, about two miles above the present crossing of the road from Melbourne to Wood's Point, the place at which I lately surveyed a township. The total height of the waterfall is at least one hundred and fifty feet, but it is divided into two parts, of which the upper portion is about sixty feet, and the lower ninety feet. The river at the fall is about fifteen or twenty feet wide. It has a considerable body of water which comes down in a mass of foam and spray over a granite precipice, having a vertical inclination of about eighty degrees. The variety of foliage produced by the sassafras, blackwood, acacia, musk, hazel, gum, tea-tree, fern-tree, and numerous other trees and shrubs in the vicinity adds greatly to the beauty of the scene, but renders it somewhat difficult to obtain a good general view of the falls. Some of the sassafras and tea-tree attain an immense size, both in height and girth. As it was rather late when I visited the falls last Sunday afternoon, I had no road engineer time to make even a rough sketch, and, indeed, the scene is so grand that I should at any time feel it to be little short of presumption on my part to make the attempt. However, when the summer has fairly commenced, I trust that some of our distinguished artists will consider the place worth visiting, and we may then hope for a picture worthy of the subject. I may mention that the Steavenson is about sixty miles from Melbourne, forty of which, namely, to New Chum, is at present travelled by coach. The remaining twenty miles only require money to be made available for the same kind of conveyances, sufficiently easy grades have been obtained by the road-engineer. "

The letter writer was George McDonald, surveyor of the Yarra Track and the new township of Marysville.
George was preparing survey maps of the area, and so he wrote McDonald Falls on his map, but when it was submitted to the Lands & Survey Department, they rejected the name because George was just a contractor and not a full-time employee of any status.

11/01/2026

⭐𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗 ⭐

Our hearts are with everyone affected by the current bushfire crisis across Victoria, in particular those within Murrindindi Shire.

In response, Foundation Murrindindi has launched the 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 to support affected communities within Murrindindi Shire. This fund will provide practical immediate assistance as well as supporting the medium to long-term recovery. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure support can reach those who need it most in our local community.

Foundation Murrindindi is experienced in bushfire recovery, with strong local knowledge and trusted relationships built over many years. We will ensure donations go where they are most needed and importantly stay local in our Shire.

If you’re looking for an effective way to help, please consider donating to our 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝. Every contribution makes a difference.

All of the funds donated will be used for disaster recovery purposes, Foundation Murrindindi will not be taking an administration fee on donations.

👉 Donate here: https://foundationmurrindindi.supporterhub.net.au/donations/murrindindi-disaster-fund

Together, we can support our community through this incredibly difficult time.

We also take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thanks to all the amazing emergency services, CFA volunteers and others on the ground who have worked tirelessly with courage and unwavering determination and commitment to protect our communities over the past few days. We thank you for everything you have done and continue to do in the coming days, weeks and months to protect our communities. Thank you ❤❤❤

20/10/2025

With the Australian Tarmac Rally in Marysville 24-26 October we have found a collection of photos from the 1959 Alpine Car Trial we uncovered a long history of Alpine Trials that often included Marysville in their route.
The Alpine Rally is Australia’s oldest rally with the first edition having been conducted in 1921. It was arguably the third oldest rally in the world that was still being conducted into the 2000s.
Initially the trials were run by the RACV, 1921-1924. Thirty-one competitors started in the first Alpine Trial in November 1921, setting off from the Haymarket, Melbourne with 29 vehicles crossing the finish line 7 days later. The route through North-Eastern Victoria was relatively unknown, and the trials generated nation-wide publicity for the area. They were not about outright speed, but rather tested the reliability and efficiency of cars under the challenging Australian motoring conditions.
The Victorian Light Car Club, which was established in 1924, took over the organisation of the Alpine Trial from 1926. The club was renamed the Light Car Club of Australia in 1931 and the LCCA organised all Alpine Trials and Rallies (except 1959, which was organised by the Victorian Sporting Car Club) through until the club ceased operations in 1992.
In the pre-WWII era the Alpine Trial was very much a long distance reliability trial with some timed sub-events. The event was resurrected in 1950 and became a timed trial but still with a strong emphasis on reliability and navigation. From the mid-1960s the Alpine was renamed a “Rally” and became a more driver oriented event. It was the final round of the first two Australian Rally Championships in 1968 and 69 and has been a heat of the ARC on 18 occasions. By the late 1970s the Alpine Rally had become a full special stage event with second timing.
The 1993 and 1994 Alpine Rallies were organised by the Albury Wodonga District Car Club and they also organised two navigationally oriented Alpine Trials in 1997 and 2000.
The 2021 trial was run by the RACV and the Vintage Drivers Club as a Centenary celebration.

Judith Vimpani, Research Archivist,
Marysville & District Historical Society

16/10/2025

A date for your diary
150th Anniversary at Buxton School

26/08/2025

Automobile Club of Victoria Visits Marysville
From the National Australian Library

The Automobile Club of Victoria officially formed in January 1904, with lobbying aims and social activities, and it soon had over 100 members. It had started with a group of enthusiastic car owners, whose first competitive event was held at Crooke's Aspendale Racecourse on Port Phillip Bay in late 1903. J.R. Crooke would develop his country home at Tarnpirr within the decade.
The second rally, shown in this photograph at The Hermitage, Narbethong, was to Marysville in the Great Dividing Range, eighty kilometres north-east of Melbourne. The owner drivers are wearing the customary cap and dust coat, while the ladies wear their elegant Edwardian attire. Note the adventurous lady driver in the car third from left. Did she really drive the car, or was she cheekily sitting in the driver's seat for the photo? The Automobile Club of Victoria organised a long-distance reliability car trial in Victoria during November 1906. This big event covering 1,000 miles solely over Victorian roads was promoted by the Dunlop Rubber Co. It was spread over six days, the last sections being Melbourne to Marysville and back, 127 miles. In those days, there were comparatively few cars on the roads, and the event attracted considerable interest en route. Twenty-three cars competed. During the trial, three new valuable cars developed fractured frames, demonstrating the fact that in those days the motor car was not the dependable machine that it is to-day.
The Club was recognised for its work during World War I with a 'Royal' warrant.
Judith Vimpani, recent research at the History Centre.

19/07/2025

Bridget Kirwan - a Marysville pioneer
Bridget would tell her impressionable granddaughters how she danced with Mr Wills at the 1861 celebrations given to the Burke and Wills exploration group the night before they set off from Melbourne on the ill-fated journey. Bridget was a 17 year old bride at this time.
Four years later she came with her husband William Henry and their first child to one of the first buildings in Marysville, built by Bridget's brother, Martin Cussens before the official land sales. This 7-roomed wooden house on the prime corner site where the Bakery is today was known as the Junction Hotel.
Nine more children were born, mostly sons and then in 1889 Henry had a nasty horse accident, suffering severe head injuries such that he was sent away to the Yarra Bend Asylum (long-term hospital in these times) and finally he died in the Ararat Asylum in 1899.
Bridget changed the hotel to the Temperance Guesthouse. She was known as a good hostess and took great interest in the new town's development. When a petition was circulated for the old school teacher Fred Sparke to be re-appointed she wrote a letter to the Education Department objecting on the grounds that his time as a teacher was past.
Her daughter, Maria Chester and grandchildren made frequent visits from their home at the Golden Secret mine on the Cumberland goldfields. Maria's children were all born at the Junction Hotel. Her sons dabbled in gold mining and spent much time in the bush as young men. Those that married did so later in life.
In 1914 she sold the guesthouse to James and Mary Ann Coney. The Coneys ran it as the Carlisle Guesthouse until 1949 and then father and son lived on in the house which had become a mausoleum until their deaths in 1957 and 1968. The building was replaced with a small bakery and in the 1980s the Bakery we know today was built.
Bridget went to live with her daughter, Belinda in Fairfield and died there in 1921, aged 77.

08/06/2025

Congratulations to the Gleeson family who got us up to 1,000 followers. Hope you find the Marysville history stories fascinating. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

24/05/2025

We have 988 followers. Can we get to 1,000? If you are reading this and are not a follower how about becoming a follower.
Share this post to family and friends from Marysville.

Address

39 Darwin Street
Marysville, VIC
3779

Opening Hours

Wednesday	12pm - 3pm
Saturday	12pm - 3pm
Sunday	12pm - 3pm

Telephone

+61417551091

Website

http://www.marysvillehistory.org.au/

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