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Stories from Stawell, Stawell (2024)

01/04/2024

Check out the state of the Stawell Gift track! 🌊

22/03/2024

Hundreds of metres of beautiful Silver Princess trees in Stawell!

📷: Steve Earl

03/03/2024

A warm welcome to these fabulous Fijian fellas, who have just arrived in Stawell to begin work at the local slaughterhouse! 🐑 🍖

03/03/2024

The fascinating history of the Stawell goldfields! ✨🍳

Did you know that the Stawell goldfield was discovered using a frying pan? Ex convict, William McLachlan used his cooking dish to pan for gold in Pleasant Creek back in 1853, a discovery which ultimately led to the opening up of one of Victoria’s most prominent quartz mining fields. I’ve been busy working on a detailed video about the Stawell goldfield, which will be hitting YouTube in the next few weeks 🙂⚒ So stay tuned!

https://youtube.com/

28/02/2024

Very sad to see this rubbish dumped in Stawell :'(

📷: John Coward

25/02/2024

Some incredible photos taken by the Stawell Fire Brigade, whose members have been deployed over the last few days to fight fires in Pomonal, Raglan and Elmhurst fires! 👨🏻‍🚒

11/01/2024

Spotted in Stawell! 😮 🐍

Someone in Stawell had an unwanted door knocker today, he was politely declined entry and safely relocated elsewhere.

12/12/2023

The Stawell skyline resembled corrugated iron on Sunday morning! ☁️ 🤔

09/12/2023

Check out these photos from the Gallery Café in Stawell! Originally an Irish pub built by Miss Annie Nihill in 1875, and now a café with art, antiques and collectables! 🍺 🖼️

17/11/2023

Such an interesting story about the animated gold miners operating a gold washing cradle on the front of the Stawell Town Hall clock! 🕐

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒

Have you ever wondered how long the animated gold miners operating a gold washing cradle have been on the front of the Stawell Town Hall clock?

Well it happened just over 54 years ago on Monday October 6th 1969.

The song, chimes and the animated figures were officially opened by the Premier of Victoria, Sir Henry Bolte, after a Cabinet meeting had been held in the new Council Chambers in the Town Hall. Sir Henry told the large gathering of Stawell and District residents that, He had opened hundreds of different things, but he was darned if he had ever opened an animated clock’.
The movement of the miners is timed to occur at the same time the chimes ring out across the Main Street with the tune, ‘With a swag upon my shoulder’.

People began arriving around 11.00am in readiness for the opening at midday. Sir Henry told the large gathering of school children that he had often had to ‘bat out time when playing cricket and he would need to keep his eye on his watch, to not talk for too long and to be finished in time for the animated clock to start for the first time just before midday.

The Mayor of the day, Councillor Graeme Bennett, explained that the animation of the clock was made possible because of a gift to the Town by Mrs Emma Kelly, daughter of the late George Barnes J.P. who was a Borough Councillor over a period of 47 years and was Mayor of the Borough 1910-1911.

The clock tower and clock were also donated to the Borough of Stawell by the family of the late George Barnes and was erected and officially opened on May 10th 1939.
Councillor Bennett said he felt that the animated clock was not only a means of telling the time and commemorating the past, but it would also become a tourist attraction.

04/11/2023

In some horrific news, a car struck and killed a spectator watching a burnout competition at a speedway in Stawell this afternoon.

Thoughts are with the family and friends of the spectator, who is yet to be identified, during this time. 💐

08/04/2023

Stawell is looking rather lovely these Easter holidays! 📷

04/04/2023

What type of clouds are these? Photo taken in Stawell.

📷: Lorraine Sennett

31/03/2023

Stella has been immortalised in bronze! 🗽 👩🏻‍🦼

Late journalist, comedian and disability rights advocate Stella Young has been immortalised in a bronze statue at Cato Park in Stawell as part of the Victorian Labor Government’s Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

The Minister for Women, Natalie Hutchins, joined Stella’s family, artists and the community in an official ceremony in Cato Park yesterday, which included the performance of a song by Stella’s father, Greg Young.

"Stella was a force to be reckoned with," reported Natalie. "Through words and wit, through intelligence and humour, she called on society to raise its expectations about what people with disability are capable of."

"I can’t think of a more fitting Victorian woman to honour than Stella Young," added the Member for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora.

"The project has, for us, highlighted how much work needs to be done to ensure true accessibility," added Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Kevin Erwin.

30/03/2023

The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie will launch the national Regionalisation Roadshow in Stawell this week – helping local leaders of Northern Grampians tackle the issues holding their country towns back.

As a member of the RAI, the Northern Grampians offered to host and be the first location in regional Australia to ignite a place-based lens on the framework – focussing on areas including job vacancies, education, and housing.

“Regionalisation is often mis-understood, it’s not only encouraging movement to the regions, it’s about so much more than that. It’s the process of reaching our potential, of strengthening regional Australia to ensure its firing on all cylinders,” Liz Ritchie said.

“It’s about making sure regional towns have the infrastructure, services, investment and population needed to thrive and grow – ensuring every Australian, no matter their location, has the opportunity to help drive national prosperity.”

20/03/2023

Stella Young will receive a statue in her hometown of Stawell to celebrate, commemorate and remember her! 🗿

The Remembering Stella Young project will deliver a statue of Stella Young in her hometown of Stawell to celebrate, commemorate and remember her. Details of the unveiling below 👇🏼

29/01/2023

A second woman has lost her life on Victorian roads following a crash in Halls Gap this afternoon.

It’s understood a woman was driving south along Mount Zero Road when her vehicle struck a tree just before 4.30pm.

The woman, who is yet to be identified, sadly died at the scene.

A boy, who was also travelling in the car, sustained non life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

28/01/2023

Check out this display of cars, trucks, tractors, utes and motorbikes at 'Show n' Shine' in Main Street, Stawell! 🚗

15/01/2023

Meeting Kate, one of the Stawell Historical Society's many wonderful volunteers! 🔑

“The happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” - H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Each fortnight we will share an insight into some of our wonderful volunteers at the Stawell Historical Society and what they love about volunteering and how they got involved. Our volunteers work tirelessly to preserve the history of our region.

Kate

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲?
I joined the SHS in early 2015, so almost 8 years.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲/𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
I am responsible for the Museum and Exhibits. I also assist with research.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲?
I have always had an interest in history and family research so when my Partner and I moved here it was an easy decision.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲?
The opportunity to share the history and stories with Visitors and being able to assist people in finding their family stories. Importantly, also, social networking and involvement with such a dedicated group of Volunteers

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?
Without a doubt, the Gold mining history and discovering the number of influential Australians who were born here and in the area.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲?
There are so many experiences, predominantly helping people discover stories of their Ancestors. A major standout though has to be the filming of part of an episode of Who do you think you are " with Jeff Fatt the Purple Wiggle ".

20/12/2022

Vandalised in Stawell, resulting in stock not having readily available water, and a dam, used by the Grange Golf Club and firefighters, unable to be filled. 😞

26/11/2022

A warm welcome to Asip & Yeta, the new owners of the Halls Gap Hotel! 🍺

31/10/2022

Ararat Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man after a man and a teenager were seriously assaulted in Stawell over the weekend.

The 35-year-old South Australian man has been charged with three counts of recklessly cause injury, assault by kicking, assault police, resist arrest, affray, refuse to state name and address and possess cannabis.

The charges follow an incident on Saturday 29 October when a V/Line bus stopped at Stawell Railway Station just after 3.30pm.

It is alleged a passenger from the bus became violent and seriously assaulted the bus driver and a teenage passenger before he fled the scene.

The man was arrested by police following a foot chase along the railway line. During the arrest a male police officer was also injured and suffered bruising and chipped teeth.

A 63-year-old Horsham man and a 15-year-old Horsham boy were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The man has been remanded to appear before Horsham Magistrates’ Court today.

31/10/2022

Stawell police were too clever for a pair of alleged burglars who tried their best to trick officers with licence plates made of paper and an even flimsier escape plan.

Officers intercepted a Toyota Camry sedan bearing false number plates travelling on Ararat Road just after 3am.

Police were quick to realise the registration plates were made of paper and while they were speaking with the driver the other occupant allegedly called triple-zero.

They reported a false “assault” nearby hoping the officers would be redirected but the incident was assigned to another unit.

The jig was up when those police returned the person’s call and realised what had occurred.

Police searched the vehicle and located a quantity of cash along with other stolen items.

They also located medication belonging to a person residing in Robson Road.

Police attended the Robson Road address and confirmed an alleged aggravated burglary had taken place.

The victim of the burglary was not injured during the incident.

A 33-year-old Ararat woman and a 34-year-old Golden Point man have been arrested and are assisting police with their enquiries.

18/10/2022

Watch out for the potholes in the Northern Grampians! 🕳️

⛔ROAD NETWORK INFORMATION⛔

Roads throughout Northern Grampians Shire have been severely impacted by floodwater.

Our road network has not yet been thoroughly inspected. We recommend that you stay up-to-date with all Northern Grampians Shire Council road closures, heed temporary road signs, and drive with caution. Road closure updates can be found through VicTraffic at https://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/

Council will be working over the coming weeks to inspect roads and road infrastructure across the shire and will, of course, undertake any necessary emergency works.

Flood-damaged road infrastructure can be reported through Snap Send Solve or by calling council directly on 5358 8700.

15/10/2022

Check out this aerial footage and photos Glenorchy, just north west of Stawell, which has unfortunately been seriously impacted by flooding from the Wimmera River overnight 🌊