Shire of Bacchus Marsh proclaimed on 23 January 1871
The Age reports on Monday 30 January 1871 on page 3 official notifications from the latest Victorian Government Gazette.
It includes the Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley Road District to be made into the Shire of Bacchus Marsh – along with Shires of Braybrook, Broadmeadows, Bungaree, Mount Franklin, Heidelberg, Moorabbin and Springfield.
Courtesy of the NLA, TROVE Website.
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
William (Bill) Shea
William (Bill) Shea was born in Bacchus Marsh and educated at St. Bernard’s Catholic School. He married Lynette Love and they have 4 children.
The Village Shopping Centre is Born
Bill was in local government for 17 years. As Chairman of the Directors of the Marsh Dairymen’s Co-operative, he led the negotiations for the sale of its land for the construction of the Village Shopping Centre in Bacchus Marsh.
Whilst Shire President he officially opened the Senior Citizens centre and the new bridge spanning the Werribee River on Fisken Street.
Bill is still a member of our community and lives on his farm on Werribee Vale Road.
If you are related to Bill and have some family stories and photo to share we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.