Stawell Historical Society

Stawell Historical Society Wheelchair access and designated disabled parking bay

THE STAWELL GOOSE CLUB.In the early 1900’s there existed in Stawell an Organisation favourably known as the “Goose Club....
17/06/2026

THE STAWELL GOOSE CLUB.
In the early 1900’s there existed in Stawell an Organisation favourably known as the “Goose Club.” This organisation came into being by the frequent chance meeting of a number of respected citizens who were well known for their ability to consume large amounts of the sparkling amber beverage known as “beer”
After a period of time, a number of gents considered that a meeting should be convened with the thought in mind of forming a Social Club, whereby they could enjoy fellowship and at the same time partaking of their favourite beverage. In due course a meeting was held in the Tinsmith and Plumbing premises of Mr. Arthur Ladner in Scotland Place, Stawell.
The meeting resolved that a Club be formed with it’s aims and objectives being to raise funds for charitable organisations, Hospital etc. thus providing a golden egg for charity. The thought was conceived, that the goose lays the golden egg and the suggestion that the club be known as the “Goose Club” won immediate acclaim.
When a candidate was nominated for membership of the Goose Club, members would arrive strictly on time at the hotel selected for the ceremony to witness the induction. Without delay the ritual of induction would proceed. The candidate was placed in a conspicuous position on the bar room floor. To qualify, the candidate was required to stand on his right leg, close his left eye and consume 9 pints of beer. On completion of the task loud cheering welcomed the new member who was then made acquainted with all the orders and secrets of the Goose Club.
The new member was then awarded a Certificate of Merit to the most “High Order Of The Goose Club.”
An interesting insight into the early life of drinkers in the Stawell Community.

STAWELL’S HEALTH HISTORYHealth Care in Stawell has quite a history, with at least eight private hospitals recorded, as w...
03/06/2026

STAWELL’S HEALTH HISTORY

Health Care in Stawell has quite a history, with at least eight private hospitals recorded, as well as the three general hospitals in the history of the Pleasant Creek/Stawell District. The three general hospitals include the tent hospital on the Pleasant Creek Goldfields, the Pleasant Creek Hospital and the current Stawell Hospital.
The eight private hospitals that we have found reference to in the old Stawell Newspapers that we have dating back to 1868 are;

1] ‘St. Leonards’ Private Hospital, Scallan Street,
2] ‘Imbros’ Private Hospital, Scallan Street,
3] ‘St. Burford’ Private Hospital, Seaby Street,
4] ‘Taranaki’ Private Hospital, Seaby Street,
5] ‘Boonah’ Private Hospital, Allen Crescent,
6] ‘Euston’ Private Hospital, Allen Crescent,
7] ‘Unnamed’ Private Hospital, Skene Street.
8] ‘Broxmore’ Private Hospital, Scallan Street.

Perhaps the most well known of all the private hospitals was ‘Boonah’ in Allen Crescent. This hospital operated from 1923 to 1957 and was run by Sister Mabel Davies who was a registered midwife and was renowned for her brisk authoritarian manner. ‘Boonah’ was named after the troop ship of the same name which sailed off to the First World War in 1918 with Sister Davies brother, Albert Davies on board. It is believed that ‘Boonah’ was a private hospital for the workers whilst the adjacent ‘Euston’ private hospital was for those who were financially well off.
For some years after 1957 when ‘Boonah’ closed, Sister Davies took in elderly men who needed nursing home care.
The residence next door to the Lutheran Church in Scallan Street was the ‘St. Leonards’ Private Hospital and was for many years run by Nurse Margaret Booth. The hospital was sold to the Lutheran Church in 1957 for use as their Sunday School.

STAWELL AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL FROM DAYS GONE BY.In days gone by there have been many men’s football teams that existed i...
19/05/2026

STAWELL AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL FROM DAYS GONE BY.
In days gone by there have been many men’s football teams that existed in Stawell
and District. Football Clubs have been the lifeblood of the smaller communities,
Australia wide, for many years, and Victoria and Stawell and District are no
exception. They are a great outlet for making friendships and for socializing after the
game. Generally, all football clubs have various grades of netball associated with the
football club with both the football and netball players coming together after the
game.
It is known that the following clubs once existed in the District, but now, sadly, no
longer exist. These football clubs were; Pomonal, Armstrongs, Bangerang, Bellellen,
Callawadda, Concongella, Jalukar, Wal Wal, Wallaloo, Wallaloo East, Dadswells
Bridge, Doctors Creek, Fyans Creek, Greens Creek, Illawarra, Joel Joel,
Landsborough, Marnoo, Glenorchy and Halls Gap.
Photos in our collection indicate that Stawell also had the Oriental Football Club and
the Standards Football Club, possibly others.
There have been 19 Stawell Footballers that have played at an AFL/VFL level. The
four who played the most games are; Tim Notting [208 games] Ken Beck [143
games] Liam Pickering [124 games] and Roy West [108 games]
Among the many names of footballers who played for, or coached Stawell and
played Senior AFL/VFL football are; John Kennedy, Colin Eales, Barry Capuano,
Perc Bushby, Des Dickson and Dallas Patterson.
In past years, there have been, at various times a Women’s Football Competition.
We have very little knowledge of teams but we know that North Western Woollen
Mills had a team in 1953.

📸| North Western Woollen Mills Ladies football team – 1953
📸| Joel Joel Rovers Football Team – 1927
📸| Stawell Oriental Football Team – date unknown
📸| Stawell Standards Football Team - 1904

NAVARRE’S RUNAWAY TRAIN – AUGUST 17TH 1940.On August 17th 1940, an unmanned, runaway steam engine almost met with disast...
05/05/2026

NAVARRE’S RUNAWAY TRAIN – AUGUST 17TH 1940.

On August 17th 1940, an unmanned, runaway steam engine almost met with disaster when it bolted from the Navarre rail yards, heading back towards Landsborough West, after just being turned around on the turntable. The railway line terminated at Navarre.
Two men who were working at a saw mill in the station yards observed the whole incident. They were Mr. Harold Blake aged 16 and Mr. Charlie Clinnick aged 36. They were sitting down having a cup of billy tea after having boiled the billy over an open fire in the yards at the station. After the engine driver, Woofie Fitzgerald, had turned the train around on the turntable, he got down from the engine to come over and have a cup of tea with Blake and Clinnick. When he did this and before he could clamber back on board, the engine took off by itself, towards Landsborough West, with no one on board.
On seeing the engine take off and gather speed, Charlie Clinnick jumped in an old Indianna truck that was at the saw mill and began a chase after the driverless engine. He drove to a level crossing several miles down the track and pulled his truck up. When the engine got to the crossing he jumped from the truck onto the engine and brought it to a stop. He put it into reverse and drove it back to the Navarre Station.
Following a departmental enquiry a letter of commendation was sent by the Victorian Railways to Mr. Clinnick thanking him for his heroic efforts. A copy of this commendation is on display in the Historical Society museum.

📸 | Navarre Railway Station and steam engine. C1953

HIS BOOMERANG DOES COME BACKLittle did the students at the Stawell Tech. School in 1965 know that their newlyappointed s...
22/04/2026

HIS BOOMERANG DOES COME BACK

Little did the students at the Stawell Tech. School in 1965 know that their newly
appointed science teacher, Mr. Ralph Sinclair had a hidden secret. He was a former
Australian Boomerang Throwing Champion, having won the title in 1963.
Boomerang throwing is a highly developed art and the thrower scores points by
sending his boomerang outside a circle and returning it. A “bullseye” is achieved
when a thrower has a boomerang return to himself whilst still standing in the marked
circle.

In January 1966, Mr. Sinclair took a team of seven throwers to Rosebud for the
Australian Junior Boomerang Throwing Championships.
In a closely fought final, 17 year old, first year apprentice baker and pastry cook from
Stawell, Graham Carr, reached the pinnacle of this somewhat different hobby by
being crowned Australian Junior Champion. The art of boomerang throwing swept
through the Tech. School and the community like a disease with many students
becoming adept at the sport, throwing their boomerangs that they had made
themselves, under instruction from Mr. Sinclair, in all the open spaces and parks
around Stawell. Night flying was particularly spectacular with lighted flares being set
into the boomerangs.
As a coincidence, at the time of the championships, the then Prince Charles was
studying at Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop Campus. Graham was asked to make 3
boomerangs which were given to Prince Charles which he took home with him when
he returned to Buckingham Palace.

📸 | Science teacher Mr. Ralph Sinclair demonstrating the art of boomerang throwing to his students and teacher Miss Dot. McGonigal

STAWELL’S FIRST AMBULANCE.As reported in the Stawell Times and the Wimmera Advertiser on November 16th 1925.The ambulanc...
07/04/2026

STAWELL’S FIRST AMBULANCE.

As reported in the Stawell Times and the Wimmera Advertiser on November 16th 1925.

The ambulance was officially handed over in Stawell on Friday November 13th 1925. It was accepted by the Mayor of the day, Councillor James Larkan on behalf of the residents of Stawell and District.

The presentation of such an ambulance for country centres was rendered possible by the beneficence of the Edward Wilson [“Argus”] Bequest Executors, who had voted sums of money for such purposes.

It is anticipated that a total of 30 ambulances would soon be provided to country centres as part of the Victorian Civil Ambulance Service. [Country Division]

Mr. R. J. McClure housed the vehicle in his motor garage and supplied a driver free of charge.

Address

46 Longfield Street
Stawell, VIC
3380

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

03 5358 3789

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