The mystifying double murders at wonnangatta station. In wally mortimers book the history of the wonnangatta station on page 98 he states the search party were at howitt hut. What is interesting is that oliver smith had been occupying and living in the wonnangtta valley from circa 1866, he was already there in june,1867 when his son thomas was born as he recorded his address on the birth certificate as wonnangatta river. If you have any images that could be included here it would be much appreciated.
Journey with postcards from the bush to some of australias iconic destinations and the people we meet along the way. According to writer harry stephenson the station, while it operated, was the most isolated homestead in victoria. Apr 02, 2018 wonnangatta station murder mystery 2018 anniversary. Dec 12, 2011 the photograph below is not the one in the article but it gives an idea of the remoteness of wonnangatta and the splendour of the landscape. In wally mortimers book the history of the wonnangatta station on page 98 he. Harrys hut the wonnangatta valley station and harry. Nov 04, 2000 the book this book looks at all the evidence including police and forensic as well as many mountain rumours and myths surrounding the case. I found the book a good piece of work and a great credit to wally mortimers many years of enquiry.
The top end of the king billy track meets the high country pastures of the howitt plains, and its only a few kilometres along the allweather surface of the howitt road to reach the intersection of the notorious zeka spur track, the narrow winding track that descends into secluded wonnangatta valley. The chronological unfolding of the wonnangatta murder mystery. Free delivery and returns on ebay plus items for plus members. Barclay was a wellrespected and much liked bushman, while bamford was regarded with suspicion, and was known to be easily roused into violent tempers. Here you will discover photographs, videos, documents, publications and objects which reflect the history of the high country. The locality is in the alpine shire local government area, 349 kilometres 217 mi north east of the state capital, melbourne. Mar 16, 2014 dargo hotelwonnangatta station loop via billy goats. Get ready to journey deep into the isolated valley one of the best kept secrets. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale this article has not yet received a rating on the projects importance scale. On this trip, we camped at wonnangatta station which is located in the victorian high country. The nearest population centres were the goldfields towns of talbotville, about 20 miles. He built a log cabin in the early 1860s on the conglomerate creek about 800m from where it flows into the wonnangatta river.
The wonnangatta station was a cattle station located in a remote valley of the victorian alps, australia. According to writer harry stephenson, while it operated, the station was the most isolated homestead in victoria. History the station had been established in the 1860s by oliver smith, a north american who came across the valley while prospecting for gold. If you would like to participate, visit the project page. The wonnangatta murders occurred in late 1917 and in 1918, in the remote wonnangatta valley in east gippsland, victoria, australia. References harrys hut the wonnangatta valley station.
Wonnangatta station was the site of the wonnangatta murders in 1917. Australian history the resident judge of port phillip. While it was still in operation, the wonnangatta station, located in a secluded valley in the. Now to some history about the station and the famous murders. Nov 29, 2016 bamford started working at wonnangatta station on december 14th, 1917. Wonnangatta station, wonnangatta, alpine shire, victoria. A small collection of images showing harrys hut being restored and the completed hut. The article, written by one of the walkers is written in the rather flippant, whatanadventure.
A similar claim to accuracy is found in the aforementioned mortimer book history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimer, published in 1980. The victims were jim barclay, the manager of wonnangatta station, and john bamford, a cook and general hand. T his is the title of one of a number of books written about the unsolved murders which occurred at wonnangatta station in victorias high country in january, 1918. History of ownership of wonnangatta station and its purchase by the. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery ep02 pt. A history of the wonnangatta station in eastern victoria, from settlement in the 1860s, into the 20th century. Wonnangatta station murder mystery 2018 anniversary. The high country history hub hchh is a digital library of the victorian high country history from 1834 to now. Australian history nonfiction books for sale shop with. Hello again, well i was wanting to put up a bit of a story about the wonongatta station and the fact that it wasis a premier victorian high country 4wd mekka. A 4x4 adventure wonnangatta valley kaydo fishing world.
In a lush valley filled with wildlife, wonnangatta station offers beauty and history alike. Australian local history from diversity books browse recent. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery pt1. The history of wonnangatta station, wallace malcolm mortimer. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. What particularly struck me was that there are no roads at all.
After two years solid work, cataloguing 6312 documents and 5449 photos, we are very proud of our achievement to date and committed to growing our digital library for all to enjoy. Check out the wirefenced cemetery or the ruined cattlemens hut. The wonnangatta mystery by keith leydon and micheal ray. It did confirm what most of the locals about the upper ovens valley had thought and told me all my life. The wonnangatta valley is situated 200km north east of melbourne in the high countrys. The history of wonnangatta station wallace malcolm mortimer. The wonnangatta river rises below mount despair, part of the great dividing range, east of mansfield in a remote state forestry protected area, called the wonnangatta river reference area. A ride containing a lot of magic and touch of mystery, the ride begins at howqua gap to the bluff, king billy. For corrections and to add details of further or new books, please email linda at. Photo via abc gippsland east gippsland historical society.
Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. Inspired by the pioneers of bushwalking exhibition, i turned to an article in the most recent victorian historical journal about the melbourne walking clubs trek to wonnangatta in easter 1936. The last time both barclay and bamford were seen alive was when they left talbotville on december 21, 1917, after voting in a public referendum. Wonnangatta station high country victoria hema maps. When wonnangatta station manager james barclay and his cook and handyman jack bamford rode into nearby talbotville in december of 1917. Two men arrive at a dark and empty farmhouse looking for the manager, their friend jim barclay. This work is a sequel which provides further historical information and considers developments at wonnangatta from 1972 to the 1990s. He is the author of the history of wonnangatta station, a widelyacclaimed account of the bryce family and their pioneer settlement in the remote and beautiful wonnangatta valley of victoria.
To this day the mystery has captured the imagination of many and has become folklore. Aug 25, 2017 on this trip, we camped at wonnangatta station which is located in the victorian high country. Wonnangatta is a locality in north east victoria, australia. Fishpond australia, the history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimerbuy. Get the best deals on australian history nonfiction books. Jun 04, 2010 when wonnangatta station manager james barclay and his cook and handyman jack bamford rode into nearby talbotville in december of 1917 to vote in the referendum on conscription, it was to be the. This book wally writes is a sequel to his book the history of the wonnangatta station, and is still available for purchase. I found the book a good piece of work and a great credit to wally. Compiled edition with toc wellington cultural history bibliography. The history of wonnangatta station, wallace malcolm. Get the billiongraves app now and help collect images for this cemetery. Wonnangatta drive victorias iconic 4wd adventures dry conditions very difficult 4wd dramatic clifftop lookouts offer panoramic views over the alps, and history comes alive at the many historic sites from the ruins of old gold mining towns and the cattlemans huts on the high plains to the wonnangatta station. Ricketts melbourne wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required. Fresh twist in mysterious disappearance of pair as mobile.
Campers carol clay and russell hill presumed dead, but all. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. I would recommend this to anybody interested in rural history and the solving of mysteries. The mystifying double murders at wonnangatta station the lineup. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Dec 12, 2011 a similar claim to accuracy is found in the aforementioned mortimer book history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimer, published in 1980. Within a year, both barclay and bamford would be murdered, and their deaths would go unsolved. Some stockyards and the old cemetery, which has been restored to something resembling its original form, survive. Dargo hotelwonnangatta station loop via billy goats mj. At wonnangatta station, a place still alive in the psyche of the mountain cattlemen, the manager had been murdered. Arthur phillips left with jim barclay on the howitt high plains. This book is about the murders of jim barclay and john bamford in late 1917 at wonnangatta station. There is also a short history of the station and valley in which the wonnangatta homestead and station are situated. Although these days were into a bit of history, we were way too excited to get to the next stop, so we. The murder of james barclay, the manager at the wonnangatta station, in victorias high country, occurred on or around december 22 1917. Wonnangatta was, until late in the 20th century, victorias most remote high country cattle station. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery ep03 pt2 info on the episode the wonnangatta murders occurred in late 1917 and 1918 in the remote wonnangatta valley in east gippsland, victoria.
There is a lot of history in this area and i urge you to do a little research into the wonnangatta. Apr, 2020 the bushland where an elderly man and his female companion are missing has a dark history of murder and vanished hikers. The police manhunt, despite many theories, singled out a suspect but nine months later that man was found dead on mt howitt. Smiths common law wife ellen or nancy 3 and her son harry joined him and a homestead was built near the junction of the wonnangatta river and conglomerate creek. The river flows generally south by east, in a highly meandering course, joined by eleven tributaries including the dry, humffray, moroka, wongungarra and dargo rivers, before reaching. The mystery has close links to the mornington peninsula, and hastings in particular.
The history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm. This was the first anniversary in wonnangatta station of the two unsolved murders of station manager jim barclay and station. Two seniors who went camping in victorias wonnangatta valley almost a month ago are now presumed dead, but police are investigating a. Discover book depositorys huge selection of wallace mortimer books online. Australian local history from diversity books browse. This was the first anniversary in wonnangatta station of the two unsolved murders of station manager jim barclay and station hand john bamford. Cross rivers, experience steep climbs, discover a lush valley filled with wildlife as well as the beauty and history of wonnangatta station. The history of wonnangatta station by wallace malcolm mortimer. Graphic books, armidale, victoria, australia isbn 0949847003. Wonnangatta station murder mystery 2018 anniversary youtube. This book provides the reader with the overall history of the early days of the wonnangatta station through to the unsolved murders. The two day trips to talbortville for sunday church and supplies, the hardships of medical issues, and. Bamford started working at wonnangatta station on december 14th, 1917.
Black snake creek, horseyard flat, howitt hut camping area, kingswell bridge bush camping area, dungeys hut, wonnangatta caravan park ph 03 5140 1265, wonnangatta station hut camping area. Prereading history books, brings this secluded valley alive. The wonnangatta murders a mystery in the victorian high country. It is nearly 100 years since james barclay was gunned down at wonnangatta station and his murderer or murderers are long since dead, but who were they. The station and surrounding area are the site of the stillunsolved wonnangatta murders which occurred in late 1917 and 1918. The wonnangatta murders a mystery in the victorian high. Copies can be obtained from wally at the following contact details. Records images cemetery page showing maps, records, and images of headstones in the wonnangatta station, wonnangatta, alpine shire, victoria, australia billiongraves cemetery and images.
Sometime in the late 1970s mortimer interviewed jim barclay junior for his history of wonnangatta station. Wonnangatta by angus cerini directed by jessica arthur. At the 2016 census, the residential population of wonnangatta was recorded as zero. The reason this mystery has captured the imagination of so many is simple, the case was never solved. Victorian high country wonnangatta station youtube. The wonnangatta station was a cattle station located in a remote valley of the wonnangatta river. These fires have knocked the wind out of my sails a bit and i only hope that relief comes quick to those who need it. Wonnangatta station is within the scope of wikiproject australia, which aims to improve wikipedia s coverage of australia and australiarelated topics. The history of wonnangatta station book victoria australia. Postcards from the bush the wonnangatta mystery ep03 pt.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Wonnangatta camping wonnangatta guide trayon campers. This book provides the reader with the overall history of the early days of. The history of wonnangatta station wallace malcolm. One of the more intriguing stories of the high country from the early 1900s is that of the wonnangatta murders. The book this book looks at all the evidence including police and forensic as well as many mountain rumours and myths surrounding the case.
Wonnangatta station, wonnangatta, alpine shire, victoria, australia. Prahran mechanics institute victorian history library. On page 77 ian states howitt hut was the one near where bamfords body was found. Get the best deal for australian history books australia from the largest online selection at. The autopsy occurred at the mansfield hospital, discovering the shotgun blast through his shoulder blades claimed his life. Posts about australian history written by residentjudge. Youll also find the site of a blacksmiths shop and the burnt ruins of the main homestead with its stone chimney. The wonnangatta station homestead was accidentally burnt down by bushwalkers in 1957.
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