Brief History of Myrrhee

MYRRHEE HISTORY

The area's non-aboriginal history began in November 1824 when Hume and Hovell passed through on their way to Port Phillip Bay. Hovell stated "At a distance of four-and-a-half miles beyond the [King] river we crossed a range which afforded a fine view of open, level country to the North, from that distance to seven-and-a-half miles we crossed the ends of a stoney range which leads off from the mountains to the East of us; when we arrived at a creek of running water which appears to fall into the last river [Boggy Creek at Redcamp]. Here we rested until 4:00 pm. Two-and-a-half miles further on we came to the top of Mt. Bellevue [...]. To the North is a fine plain, [….]. All to the North-East, as far as the eye can see is fine, level country; from North-East to South-East is complete rugged and mountainous country, worse than any I have seen since we began our journey.[….]. Halfway up this mountain the stone is of the worst quality, but on the top the stone has a portion of lime in it. The soil is of excellent quality and the grass and herbage is equal to any in the Murrumbidgee. The timber is large, whereas halfway down it is stunted. We descended from the mountain to a creek below [Fifteen Mile creek at Manarhee Bridge] where we stopped for the night." [Myrrhee School Centenary and Pioneers Family Reunion, 1985]

In 1836 Major MITCHELL's expedition passed through the north-west of the Myrrhee area (Shire of Benalla 1969). By 1837, "Overlanders" were driving sheep and cattle along the routes of these explorers, and the earliest settlers were beginning to filter in [Jones, 1995]. According to Dunlop (1993), George FAITHFULL took up the Oxley Plains run in March 1838. Around the same time, Dr. George MACKAY took up a selection of 96 000 acres which he named "Myrhee" (Ellis 1972). "The large Myrhee run extended from Laceby in the North, with the King River and Fifteen Mile Creek forming the approximated East and West boundaries, and included the Moyhu, King Valley and Whitfield areas." (Myrrhee School Centenary and Pioneer Families Reunion 1985). Fear of aborigines soon drove FAITHFULL to temporarily abandon his run, and when MACKAY's servants decided to leave also, he accompanied them. When he returned in September 1838, John William CHISHOLM had taken over the Myrhee run. In 1845, William CLARKE took over the Whitefield Estate on the southern part of the Myrhee run, consisting of 59250 acres. David, John and Evan EVANS took over the Whitefield Run in the early 1850's. Robert MASON took up the Fifteen mile Creek Run in 1857. James FORGE took up the Table Top Run (south of the Fifteen mile Creek run) in 1860 and built a hotel in Greta in 1864. James QUINN bought the Glenmore Run in 1864.

In February 1870, a new Land Amendment Act came into force, which opened up the area to a large number of settlers. In 1870, some of the people who had their applications for allotments of land in the Parish of Myrrhee recommended by the Local Land Board were: John George RATH, Richard SHANLEY, Henry Leslie PRENTICE, Robert MASON, Reuben TYRRELL, Thomas J PALMER, Mary Ann CORKER, James CORKER, Penrose NEVINS, William SMITH, Andrew COWAN, Robert WALLACE, Charles William CRYER, David FLEMING, Patrick SHANLEY, Lawrence DOYLE; James FORGE, Benjamin MASON, James GILLOGLY, John DWYER, Patrick DWYER and Patrick LAMBERT; in December 1873; William DINNING, David FLEMING, William CRYER, Henry DINNING, Henry WETMORE, John TYRRELL, Henry TYRRELL and Reuben TYRRELL; and in June 1874; James BEVIN, Michael DOYLE and Patrick SHANLEY.

An unknown correspondent in the Wangaratta Chronicle, in early December 1889, described the Fifteen Mile Creek area of Myrrhee, in the Shire of Oxley. He wrote "On the rise of the hill we arrive at the boundary of the Benalla Shire, 16 miles from the town. From here we see the valley of the 15-Mile Creek, heading towards the Greta plains. About two miles from this point, I reach the Creek, the country opening out into a fine grassy valley, whilst to the right stands the conical rocky hill, the Big Sugar Loaf [.…]. The last few miles over the most inferior part of the country shows one very plainly that it is all selected, owing to the many new post and wire fences running beside the road. I pass through the farms of TANNER, SANDERS, FRANKLIN, MASON and HUGHES. Not wishing to proceed any farther up the Creek, I return to Mr R J MASON's Fairfield Park, which is picturesquely situated in a broad basin, with the Sugar Loaf for a background. We are here 20 miles from Benalla, and 25 miles from Wangaratta, whilst 2 miles away the 15 Mile enters the plains. The trees here are very large, many of them being white, yellow box, peppermint, and stringybark on the hills rising from the valley. The soil is of excellent quality, but varies according to the situation, from a black alluvial loam on the flats to a reddish free clay or a brown sandy, loose loam on the slopes. The sub-soil is good, and varies in colour from an orange brown to a bluish white. There are farms along the creek for 7 miles higher up, and since the passing of the Land Act of 1881, nearly every block of land on its course is taken up, and the old 15-Mile Creek Run recently held by J BELL, is all selected, with the exception of a timber reserve of 6 000 acres. The valley narrows higher up the stream, and the hills approach close to each other, at intervals only leaving a rocky channel for the water, but again receding and opening out into grassy flats covered with wattle scrub. So far as the growing of cereals has been by the old settled farms, the yields have been very satisfactory, but dairying and the rearing of cattle forms the staple business. Cross-bred and merino sheep are also kept. Roots crops are also grown, potatoes turning out well, 5 and 6 tons to the acre being looked upon as a fair average. [….] In regard to grazing and butter making here are many good herds up and down the creek. Mr MASON alone keeping a dairy of 60 head. At a rough estimate within a radius of 4 miles from his place, I should say there are 400 milk cows, FRANKLIN, BEATTIE, SAUNDERS, KING, REES, PETTY, TANNER, CORKER, HUGHES and JEFFREY all butter makers, and owning good herds. The Hanson South butter factory in course of construction is about 6 miles from MASON's. The class of cattle these farmers keep is rather mixed, but principally Shorthorns. Mr Rowland HUGHES who has lately rented the 15 Mile Creek farm, has formed the basis of a dairy with a fine, well bred lot of Herefords. [….]. In looking at this quiet, well sheltered valley, with its fine climate, good average rainfall, and quality of soil one cannot help arriving at the conclusion, that like many another good valley in this portion of Victoria there is a good future before it. [.…] At Mr Robert JEFFREY's at Banksdale, belonging to Mr J EVANS, Red Camp, and Mr Sylvester MURPHY's, overlooking the valley, and a wide prospect over the country with the Greta plain at their feet, and the clear cut outline of the distant Buffaloes right before them, may be seen chocolate soil twenty feet deep, with springs of water issuing from beneath it. Since the passing of the last Land Act, a change is coming over the scene, for the selector is overrunning the country even to the highest hill top; the runholder finds his occupation gone, and the sheep seek fresh fields and pasture new, greatly to the mortification of the dingoes, whose long howls on the lone hill side betoken the want of their woolly victims. Wire fences are running up, and the ringer's axe is travelling round a many a monarch of the forest, when he will throw his green mantle to the winds for ever.[….]. It is an interesting day's ride to descend one of the leading ranges which runs into the back country from the head of the Kilfeera swamp or the upper 15-Mile, travelling along its summit for some miles, and then mount one of the highest hills to obtain a good view of the surrounding country. Far as the eye can reach you see nothing but an undulating sea of forest, of a sombre colour, almost depressing in its pall like hue. Prominent peaks away among the Strathbogie ranges, to the south west, and to the eastward in the Mansfield country, whilst to the north-east you see the valley of the King River, and away beyond the bold, conspicuous framework of the picturesque Buffaloes and Bogong mountains. To the north lie the Oxley, Moyhu, and Greta plains, peaceful but almost diminutive as a clearing in the distance. The eye reaches for the locale of the rising towns of Wangaratta and Benalla, the nurselings of the plains, but all that indicates their existence, is a speck of white like a pocket handkerchief - here and there, and spots of white vapour curling upwards to the clouds. We are probably no more than thirty miles distance, at a good elevation, and yet they are almost blotted out…"

The first school in the Myrrhee district, the Boggy Creek School, opened in 1874. It operated every 3rd week, as the teacher, James KELLY, taught at Edi and Whitfield the other two weeks. The three schools shared the number 1422. The Boggy Creek School was closed in 1881 due to low attendance. In 1885, upper Boggy Creek State School No 2677 was opened as a part time school with Boggy Creek No 2676. The Upper Boggy Creek School was located next to David FLEMING's property. In 1893, the name Upper Boggy Creek State School was changed to Myrrhee State School. [Myrrhee School Centenary and Pioneers Family Reunion, 1985]

Disaster struck the residents of Myrrhee in early February 1901, when bushfires swept through the Fifteen Mile creek and Boggy Creek valleys. Of the 14 homes on the Boggy Creek, only three remained standing after the fire passed. D FLEMING, T JARROTT, A FORGE, R MORGAN, T HART, J STEPHENSON, J WHEELER, J GLUGLEY, W SOUTHEY and BOWEN lost their homesteads, and the Myrrhee State School and Creamery were destroyed. Most of the other settlers lost stock, fences, crops and outbuildings.  With the help of family and neighbours, the settlers slowly rebuilt their farms. The State School was conducted in W TYRRELL's hop drying room for a number of years until a new school was built and opened in September 1904.

Church of England, Myrrhee: "In 1889, Services in the District were conducted in two churches at Moyhu and Whitfield and four school buildings (including state) and one public building in the places of Degarmo, Boggy Creek, Glenrowan, Greta and Hedi.  In 1893-1896 the readers were H E MALLET and J A PECK and L G VANCE.  There are no more records of services then until the baptism of nine children on December 10, 1902, by the Reverend George LAMBLE. Eighty-nine baptisms being recorded up until 1981.  On June 24, 1904, the title of the land was transferred from the Lands department to the C of E and 'on the 16th day of september, 1904, the Bishop opened St Matthew's as a place of Public Worship having been petitioned thereto by the Rev G E LAMBLE and other'. (Registrer Entry, Diocese of Wangaratta, signed G W E LAMBLE, Registrar).  The Bishop of Wangaratta in 1904 was the Right Reverend Thomas Henry ARMSTRONG and for the Church of St Matthew's, Myrrhee, the Honorary Secretary was Mr T JARROTT, the Honorary Treasurer, Mr D FLEMING and the Sunday School Superintendents, Mr F P EDWARDS and Miss STREET.  Services from that time were held every two weeks,.....  A number of weddings have been celebrated here over the years. The first on January 10, 1905, when Catherine FLEMING married Eli BROADBENT. Others being Mr and Mrs H HANDCOCK, Mr and Mrs N OVERSON, Mr and Mrs Dave LINDSAY, Mr and Mrs V HANDCOCK."  [Myrrhee School Centenary and Pioneers Family Reunion, 1985]

The Sands and McDougall Country Commercial Directory of 1910 listed the following as farmers of Myrrhee - Charles W CRYER, John J CRYER, Robert I CURRY, Evan EVANS jun., Evan EVANS sen,. David FLEMING, George G FLEMING, William FLEMING, Robert J FORGE, Walter A FORGE, William T FORGE, James GILOOGHLEY, Charles HANDCOCK, Arnold HELMS, Thomas JARROTT, David A LINDSAY, John NOLAN, Albert PATTERSON, George PATTERSON, Henry N PATTERSON, John PATTERSON jun., William E PATTERSON, Patrick L QUINN, Edmond RICHARDS, William SHUTTLEWOOD, William SOUTHEY, Joseph STEVENSON, Henry WHITE; and F C FLEMING (postmaster).

By 1916-17, Ernest L CLEMENTS, John CROASDALE, Mrs Mary A CRYER, John FLANAGAN, Frederick A HANDCOCK, John HAWORTH, Charles R HELMS, John KENNEDY, Percy J KIDGELL, Mrs Phoebe PATTERSON, Henry SMITH and Edward STICKELS were also listed as Myrrhee farmers. Charles W CRYER, Evan EVANS sen., George G and William FLEMING, James GILOOGHLEY, Arnold HELMS, George PATTERSON, Patrick L QUINN, William SHUTTLEWOOD, William SOUTHEY and Henry WHITE were no longer listed. F C FLEMING was still the postmaster.

The Myrrhee School Centenary and Pioneer Families Reunion booklet, compiled by Marion FLANIGAN, provides details of pioneer families. They are CRYER, CURRIE, EVANS, FORGE, FLANIGAN, JARROTT, HANDCOCK, LINDSAY, MORGAN, NOLAN, PATTERSON, SHANLEY, SMITH and WALLACE.

Return to Kaye's home page.

Return to the AVNE home page.

Last updated on 01 September 2021