SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
Rex Thorburn – Shire President 1994-1995.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Rex was born in South Gippsland. He joined the Victorian Police Force and married in 1965. Rex and his wife moved to Bacchus Marsh where they raised their family.
He joined the Council in 1990 representing the Parwan Riding and was elected Shire President in 1994. Local Government amalgamations in 1995 marked the end of the Bacchus Marsh Shire when it merged with a number of other shires to form the new Moorabool Shire. His Shire Presidency didn’t quite last a year and he was the last elected representative to hold the position. Now retired, Rex can still be spotted about town these days.
Do you have some stories and photo of Rex to share? If so we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
Delwyn Leggatt – Shire President 1989-1990 & 1990 -1991. Courtesy of the Moorabool News.
Born in Glen Waverley in 1934, she married Francis Leggatt and moved to Bacchus Marsh in 1959. Elected to the Bacchus Marsh Shire Council in 1985, she became Shire President in 1989 and again in 1990.
First mayor for the moorabool Shire
Notification of the formation of the Moorabool Shire in 1994.
Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria, Victoria Government Gazettes online.
Prior to a new Council being elected, Commissioners and CEOs were appointed by the State Government to manage the newly formed Councils.
Notification of the appointment of Mr Stuart Bond and Mr Frank Frawley as the Commissioners of the Moorabool Shire Council and Mr Jim Elvey as the Chief Executive Officer.
Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria, Victoria Government Gazettes online.
Del was appointed the first Mayor of the newly established Moorabool Shire Council in 1996.
Her contribution to the local community was publicly acknowledged when she received the Order of Australia Medal in the 2004 Queen’s Birthday Honours (Australia).
Delwyn Bernice Leggatt – For service to local government and to the community of Bacchus Marsh through health care and sporting organisations.
In 2018 , she was also named Moorabool’s citizen of the year.
Del passed away in May 2020.
Do you have some stories and any photographs of Del to share? We would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
John Tyson – Shire President 1879-1880. Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
John was born in Cumberland, England and came to Myrniong in 1861. In becoming a successful businessman, he purchased significant amounts of land in Myrniong. One property included the Plough Inn, which he reportedly obtained at a bargain price.
Notice of John Tyson’s purchase of the Plough Inn from the late Mr Thomas Ryan – Bacchus Marsh Express – Saturday 20 December 1879 – page 3.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Plough Inn today at night, Myrniong. Courtesy of the Plough Inn website.
The current Moorabool Shire recognises the historical significance of Myrniong’s historical Plough inn and has placed it on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Plough Inn – Statement of Significance – Moorabool Shire
A hotel first licensed in 1861, but rebuilt in 1901 in ashlar bluestone.
It is locally historically significant for its association with social and hospitality developments and hospitality in the life of the township and as a hotel continuously licensed for 135 years. It is also historically significant as a representative embodiment of a way of life and its social values in a small rural settlement. It is architecturally significant as a relatively intact surviving hotel building.
When John first came to the district his initial trade was that of a farrier and blacksmith. In later years he also demonstrated his clerical skills in carrying out the duties of the Deputy Registrar for Births, Deaths and Marriages for the town. On the Bacchus Marsh Shire Council he represented the Pentland Hills Riding and for one year held office of Shire President.
He died on the 22 August 1887 at his Myrniong Hotel, leaving a wife and several children and is buried in the Maddingley Cemetery.
John Tyson’s Death Notice – Bacchus Marsh Express – Saturday 27 August 1887 – page 2.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Do you have any stories or photographs of John to share we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
Kenneth McDonald – Shire President 1985-1986. Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Ken was born in Yarraville, after school he took up part time accountancy. He married Sue in 1967, they moved to Long Forrest Road in 1972.
Ken took up farming around Shire on leased land. In 1980 he successfully became a Shire Councillor and was elected Shire President in 1985. Ken remains active in the local community.
The Coimadai Avenue of Honour – Remembering 129 WW1 enlistees
Photograph of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour taken on 12 April 2019.
Courtesy of Monument Australia website.
He is currently the President of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour Restoration Association Inc. The not-for-profit association manages the maintenance and upkeep of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour . The Coimadai Avenue of Honour, originally planted on the 26 June 1918, predated the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour by almost two months.
Honour Roll and Memorial pavilion at Coimadai Avenue of Honour.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Unfortunately many of the trees did not survive in the rural settlement. The remaining trees were submerged underwater with the construction of Lake Merrimu. The avenue was re-located and re-planted in 2015 along part of the Diggers Rest – Coimadai Road.
If you are related to Ken and have some family stories or photos to share we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
George Grant – Shire President 1871-1872 & 1882-1883. George wears the uniform of the Bacchus Marsh Troop of the Prince of Wales Light Horse. Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Commissions have been received during the past week by Captain George Grant, and Lieutenants Cornelius Mahoney and William Henry McFarlane, of the Bacchus Marsh Troop of Cavalry. The seniority of Lieutenant Mahoney dates from 28th January, 1873. Ten Martini-Henry rifles have been received for distribution among the troop.
Bacchus Marsh Express – Saturday 22 April 1876 page 2
George Grant was born in Caithness Scotland in 1833, he emigrated to Geelong in 1852 with his 12 brothers and sisters. His father settled at Broadlands Estate, Bacchus Marsh and later at Parwan. George married Christina Grant and they lived at ‘Ballochoyle Springs’, Pentland Hills.
George was involved in many community groups and was noted for improving the local roads in the area.
The Rifle Club’s – Mr. George Grant’s Prize
Results of the Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club competition for the Mr. George Grant’s Prize. Bacchus Marsh Express – Saturday 14 July 1883 – page 2.
Copies of the story of the Rifle Club ‘Club Number 4: A Short History of the Bacchus Marsh RifleClub‘, can be purchased from the Society’s online Shop.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
He died suddenly on the 31 December 1914 at his home ‘Glen Park’ in Eltham and was buried at the Eltham Cemetery early in 1915.
Do you have some stories or photographs of George to share? If so we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
SHIRE OF BACCHUS MARSH PROCLAIMED ON 23 JANUARY 1871
To celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society remembers some of our past Shire Presidents.
Alf James Wignell MBE – Shire President 1965-1966. Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Alf was born in Euroa in 1912 to Alf Wignell Snr. and Rachel Wignell (nee Finklestein). From an early age Alf became skilled at communicating with people with hearing loss. His family learnt to communicate with their hands because of his father’s acute deafness.
A career in serving others
Alf’s early career began at the age of 18 where he went to work at the Victorian School for the deaf. He then moved to the Melbourne Orphanage, followed by the Burwood Boys Home. In 1950, Alf became the Principal of the Lady Northcote School in Rowsley where he remained for the next 26 years.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Alf was awarded an MBE for his work in 1970 and he retired from Lady Northcote School in 1976. He belonged to a number of community groups around Bacchus Marsh when he was living in the area.
The 1970 Queen’s Birthday Honours were appointments to orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms to reward and highlight citizens’ good works, on the occasion of the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. They were announced in supplements to the London Gazette of 5 June 1970.
At this time honours for Australians were awarded both in the United Kingdom honours on the advice of the premiers of Australian states, and also in a separate Australia honours list.
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) – State of Victoria – Councillor Alfred James Wignell, JP, of Bacchus Marsh. For services to education and local government.
He married Gertrude Eileen Schwab from Brunswick in 1931. After Gertrude died in Bacchus Marsh in 1978, he remarried and moved to Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Alf passed away on the 11 June 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States at 97 years of age.
If you are related to Alf 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.
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 – Shire President 1973-1974 & 1979-1980. Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
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.
On the 23 January 1871 Bacchus Marsh is proclaimed a Shire and to celebrate the 150 anniversary, the Society is remembering some of our past Shire Presidents.
George Dickie – Shire President 1878-1879, 1887-1888 & 1896-1897. Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
George Dickie was born in Stamford Hill, London in 1831. This is where the western hill of Main Street, Bacchus Marsh derives its name.
Stamford Hill, Hackney/Haringey
Located north of Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill is one of London’s most distinctive quarters, with its highly independent community of perhaps 20,000 Hasidic (Haredi) (used to be referred to as ‘ultra-Orthodox’) Jews.
In the 13th century this was Sandford Hill, where a sandy ford crossed a tributary of the river Lea. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries its elevated situation attracted wealthy merchants, notably Moses Vita Montefiore, an Italian Jew who died here in 1789.
Stamford Hill also has residents of black African, black Caribbean, Turkish and Kurdish heritage.
He arrived in Melbourne in 1853 and went into business as a baker in North Melbourne.
Seeking help for Davey and Dickie’s Bakery in North Melbourne. Courtesy of NLA, TROVE Website – Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), Thursday 24 April 1856, page 1.
Building a Family and business in Bacchus Marsh
He moved to Bacchus Marsh in 1857 and worked for Thomas Pearce and on the 19 February 1863, George married Ellen Ross Anderson in the Presbyterian Church.
Notice of the marriage of George Dickie and Ellen Ross Anderson.
Courtesy of NLA, TROVE website. Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 – 1918, 1935), Saturday 28 February 1863, page 10
They had 2 sons and 5 daughters, all but one survived to adulthood. In 1867 George ran the Border Bakery in Bacchus Marsh, a business he purchased from William Watson. In later years he expanded his business and operated a General Store.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Maddingley Park was another of George’s special interests while living in Bacchus Marsh.
George died on the 19 September 1904 and is buried in the Maddingley Cemetery.
If you are related to George and have some family stories and photos to share we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
23 January 1871 Bacchus Marsh is proclaimed a Shire and to celebrate the 150 anniversary the Society is remembering some of our past Shire Presidents.
Margaret Love the first female Bacchus Marsh Councillor and Shire President.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Margaret Love was born in Ballarat and she attended Ballarat Teacher’s College. Several teaching posts later she found employment at Bacchus Marsh Primary School.
Whilst married with two small children she was Bacchus Marsh’s first female councillor and went on to become our first female Shire President. A true trailblazer!
On council Margaret campaigned on greater representation for youth and young parents.
If you have some stories or photos of Margaret when she was on council we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help us celebrate our past community leaders.
The Bacchus Marsh Shire was constituted a shire on 23 January 1871.
It was previously proclaimed The Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley Road District, which was divided into electoral sub-divisions by an Order on 20 May 1867.
This council was abolished in 1994 as part of a statewide program of local government reform enacted between 1993 and 1995. The reform process reduced the number of councils from 210 to 78. The Shire of Moorabool was appointed as a successor in law in 1994. Any rights, assets and liabilities of the abolished council has been assumed by the Shire of Moorabool as its successor in law.
Public Records Office of Victoria
As we celebrate the 150th Anniversary on the formation of the Bacchus Marsh Shire we will remember some of our past Shire Presidents over the next few months.
The first Bacchus Marsh Shire President – Mr George Gibson Paterson 1871.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
George Gibson Paterson was the first Shire President who served from the 23 January 1871 through to the 15 November 1871.
George was born in 1825 in Scotland, married Marion Brown in 1849 and emigrated to Australia in the 1850’s. Five of their children were born in Bacchus Marsh.
Early service to the District
Prior to George becoming a Shire President he had been a Chairman of the Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley District Road Board 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1870. He was noted as getting a road put through to the Pentland Hills and upgrading Main Street.
He was a Merchant Tailor and conducted his business from his shop in Main Street, Bacchus Marsh. His shop was located where the Far West Pizza shop is today.
George died on the 17 November 1907 and is buried in the Maddingley Cemetery, Bacchus Marsh.
The Death Notice for George Gibson Paterson – Bacchus Marsh Express – Saturday 23 November 1907 on page 2.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
George remembered
Supporting his death notice Bacchus Marsh Express reported:
‘The late Mr. George Gibson Paterson was a man of superior ability and qualifications in every way. He came to Bacchus Marsh in the later 50’s, and lived into the fourth generation, which knew little of him – a fate which befalls all who get past say 55, and Mr. Paterson was in his 83rd year. He was diligent in business almost up to the last, when illness of a paralytic character set in. In Road Board and Shire Council days of what may be called the. formative period he was broad-minded and influential. He rightly pushed on the formation of the main road through the Pentland Hills while main road subsidy lasted. His colleagues of those days – ex-Crs. George Grant and Michael O’Connell – still survive, and helped in that work, for which the present generation has to thank them. Mr. Paterson was President once or twice, and left the Council to go to Melbourne. Before he left he got the present main street graded to its present levels; the late Cr. Dickie got the asphalt footpaths, and his son, the present Cr. Dickie, should get both re-constructed, say in 1911, on Flinders street principles, but with tarred metal instead of wooden blocks. Work towards that by cobbling repairs, to reduce superfluous material now on the street. And so one generation handeth on to another the ever recurring burden of large public works upon small resources. The late Mr. Paterson was appointed a J.P.; but he declined to accept, as he saw no public need for it, and he had no personal ambition. He was a native of Ayr. His widow survives him, also three sons and three daughters, the wife of Mr. W. T. Lewis, of the Education Department being one of them. The funeral on Monday afternoon was private, after the manner now frequently adopted. The Rev. G. P. Rees officiated at the grave in Maddingley cemetery, and Mr. Wynne was the undertaker.’
Bacchus Marsh Express, Saturday 23 November 1907, page 2
If you are related to George and have some family stories or photos to share we would like to hear from you on our Facebook page. Help has bring these past community leaders to life.
