Woady Yaloak Historical Society Inc. in Smythesdale, Victoria, Australia | Community museum

Woady Yaloak Historical Society Inc.

Locality: Smythesdale, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 5342 8754

Address: 19 Heales Street 3351 Smythesdale, VIC, Australia

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• Non-profit organisation
• Arts and entertainment
• History Museum
• Museum
• Community museum
• Civilisation museum

25.01.2022 Huge book sale Saturday morning 10 am to 12 pm All books at bargain-basement prices Small books $1 Large boos - $2... Small bag full of books $5 Large bag overflowing with books $10 Stables Historic Precinct, Smythesdale See more

25.01.2022 Photos shared by Leah Dunstan 1. Smythesdale Milk Bar circa 1974 when Leah's family ran the milk bar. Her father is the man standing on the road. 2. Smythesdale Kindergarten circa 1973 operating out of the back room of shop. 3. Inaugral Smythesdale kindergarten circa 1974 4. Smythesdale mums circa 1974. Occassion unknown.... Many thanks to Leah for sharing these great images

24.01.2022 First image: Dot and Charles Forde picking strawberries at Crosthwaite's farm at Italian Gully in 1937. Identity of the other man unknown. Second Image: Ruby, Cres, unknown, Lila Crosthwaite and Howard Crosthwaite,

24.01.2022 BOOK SALE - this coming Saturday 14th November Books at giveaway prices. Bring along your supermarket bag and fill it for $10.00 OPEN: 9 am to Noon... Historic Precinct, Smythesdale

23.01.2022 BOOK SALE Saturday 3 October Stables at the Historic Precinct Thousands of books to choose from and ALL at bargain-basement prices... All money goes to the Woady Yaloak Historical Society

21.01.2022 Smythesdale Cylcle Club dance. Date unknown. Has anyone got this photograph in their collection and can help with names, date etc

21.01.2022 Vietnam Memorial in Garden Street, Smythesdale

20.01.2022 The Jubilee Mine area at Italian Gully contains old gold mining remnants (old cyanide vats, mullock heaps, brick walls, water races and machinery foundations). Between 1887 and 1913, the mine employed around 300 men and produced some $80 million worth of gold. Now is a great time to visit with the wildflowers coming in to bloom and the grass not too long

20.01.2022 A whim is a device similar to a windlass which is used in mining for hauling materials to the surface. It comprises a capstan or a wide drum with a vertical axle. A rope is wound around the drum, with both ends traversing several pulleys and hanging down the mine shaft. As the drum is turned around, one end of the rope is lowered, carrying an empty bucket, while the other one is raised, carrying a full load The major benefit of a whim is that its operation can be performed at a distance from the shaft, thus resolving some of the congestion. Early whims were horse-powered, but later they were powered by waterwheels or steam engines. Whim's dotted the landscape around the goldfields this one is circa 1860 at the Baron Clyde Co. site near Smythesdale. Photograph courtesy of State Libary Victoria

20.01.2022 Undated photograph of Pop Terry handing Dick Perry a speck of gold he has just recovered. Photo was taken a Moonlight

18.01.2022 The circus came to Smythesdale in the 1930s, In the background, the former Union Bank, then a private residence, the Smythesdale Hall, which had begun its life as the Mechanic's Institute with the library to the far left. Left to Right: Max "Gus" Willis, Betty Willis, Don Ross, Bob Willis and Sam Davis jnr. The circus set up on the site next door to the right now the super market and carpark area.... Did the circus visit any other towns in the district? or did everybody who was able to have to travel to Smythesdale?

18.01.2022 Smythesdale War memorial in Garden Street, Smythesdale Honoring those who enlisted in WW1 and WW2

18.01.2022 It is Separation Day today. One hundred and sixty-nine years ago Victoria became separate from New South Wales. A great day in Australian history

17.01.2022 at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month We will remember them

15.01.2022 Smythesdale Honors all who fought in all Wars

14.01.2022 How many Aussies can this WW2 Slouch Hat reach by Anzac Day, April 25th? Let's find out! Please leave your postcode in the comment section below and then share The Slouch Hat on your wall to encourage your mates to take part too! LEST WE FORGET..

14.01.2022 Aerial view of the centre of the shopping precinct in Smythesdale in 1989. Many changes over the years

13.01.2022 Charcoal Burners at Grassy Gully -Update to an earlier post. Run by Mr Chinery, his sons, Mr James and Mr Seresceni. The timber was wheeled to their kiln by wheelbarrow. The kiln was made of a very large well which was then well-stacked with wood then smothered with a thick layer of dirt. The wood was then set on fire through a pipe that was inserted through the top right down to the bottom of the stack. When set alight the men took it in turns to sit on watch in case the fire broke through. When all the timber was burnt the dirt was removed and only the charcoal remained. Each kiln would supply approximately 300 bars of black coal.

12.01.2022 Veals Coach Factory in Smythesdale. The business built coaches, carts, buggies, etc, and as this image shows Hearses, as well as conducting repairs On the right of the photo is the Veal family home. To the immediate left is a saddlery business next to the Commercial Hotel.

11.01.2022 Scarsdale School's Memorial Gates opened 13 October 1922

08.01.2022 In 1930 John Garibaldi Roberts wrote a series of articles for the Ballarat Courier, on history of the rich goldfields around Smythesdale south west of Ballarat.... In 2003 the Woady Yaloak Historical Society published these articles as a series of beautifully produced booklets, adding photos and other material. As the articles are not referenced beyond the year, and not digitalised by the Australian National Library, we trust the following is the original text which would be out of copyright. We have edited the text for readability, and added additional material. Roberts opens his article about Cape Clear township with a discussion of the early squatting runs. He then leads into the Land Titles which are for the Parish of Mindai. Mindai, also spelt Mindi, or Mindye, means "great snake". In fact it is a deeply mythological being. No explanation is given on why Mindai was used in Land plans, nearby Pitfield is one of many sites associated with the Mindye. Roberts references the Latrobe Letters and an 1853 mention of the "Wardy Yalloak" tribe as being one of four making "constant war" on the Colac Aborigines who were few in number because of it. The squatter Hugh Murray, found the Aborigines from Colac "treacherous and dishonest", but after two years relations became "more friendly, and they began to be employed on our stations." Possibly a squatter having friendly relations with Aborigines in his area suggested the name. William Thomas, "Protector of Aborigines" quotes an opinion from a person expressed in the Geelong Advertiser in 1844 that "It is doubtful whether there exists among them any notion of the existence of a Supreme Being.." Thomas writes: "what outward indications would he have witnessed among the white people?" [of such belief]. Then follows up with lengthy details of Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and customs. "Assistant Protector Parker, of the Loddon, has supposedly discovered in their ceremonies and superstitions the obscure and nearly obliterated relics of the ophiolatry (serpent worship), and from this Mindye. "The Mindye is certainly considered by them as a visible and invisible being. According to their account he is seen and not seen at one and the same time. "The Mindye has its residence, and some old prejudices exist among the aged that a certain family has the power of enchanting or incanting this being. The being called the Mindye has no independent power; he is under the control of the Creator of all things, and as they superstitiously believe, the family aforementioned." The Creator of all things in South East Australia is Bunjil, sometimes represented as an Eagle. Victorian Goldfields history and environment, covered Bunjil's Lookout at Maude, on October 20 2017. We concluded that the beliefs in Bunjil as an all seeing creator God who looked over his people, were essentially the same as in the Old Testament. (This is on pages 22 and 23 of the book "The Spirit of the Goldfields" by David R. Griffiths. In the Kindle version it can be found at the end of Chapter 1 "A few places".) The Mindye is further evidence of Aboriginal beliefs having strong similarities to our heritage. The Mindye acts an an agent of the Creator God Bunjil when he sends destruction. This is similar to the Bible: "And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem." 1 Chronicles 21:15. (Also Samuel 24:15-25 and 2 Kings 19:35) The form of the agent of destruction is a little different but the underlying concept is the same. In other places in the Bible God destroys directly. Continuing on with Roberts' article: "Of all the beings dreaded by the Blacks, the principal is the Mindye... it is sent to destroy or afflict any people for bad deeds... "Its form is that of a snake, but of great size, although it can contract itself into a small compass.. The Blacks give awful accounts of this being; it can make itself extend miles in length. "They say there are little Mindye; that Mindye inhabits a country called Lillgoner, to the north west in this district; and resides on a mountain named Bunker Bun-nel.." [Bukkerbunyel approx 14 miles north west of Wedderburn - this is a sacred site of the Dja Dja Wurrung tribe. See "Kooyoora" by Fred Halls Walk Magazine https://mbw.org.au/down/walk_magazine/walk-issue22-1971.pdf 10 km from Wedderburn there is a township Buckrabanyule, which would seem to be another spelling for the same thing.] "It differs from a snake by having a large head and two ears; it has three fangs coming from its tongue, and when it hisses out its fury the earth around is covered with white particles like snow. It often ascends the highest tree in a forest, .. and stretches itself over a vast extent of 20 and 30 miles. "When Mindye is in a district the Blacks run for their lives, setting the bush on fire as they proceed, and not stopping to bury their dead or attend to any seized. ... Any plague is supposed to be brought on by the Mindye.." Roberts then gives a discussion of megafauna. These over large animals more or less became extinct at the end of the last ice age, although it varied over quite a large period of time. If Aborigines have been in Australia at least 60,000 years, then they co-existed with megafauna for some time. Around 58 million years ago a giant snake 14 metres long lived in South America, twice as big as the biggest snake today. However, while the form of the Mindye is as a snake, that is likely in part metaphor, just as Bunjil is represented as an Eagle because he is all seeing. It is important to remember the dual nature as a seen and unseen being, or supernatural principle. An agent of the imponderable Creator. Fred Hall does not reference his article in Walk Magazine, it is apparently based on the same sources. Hall mentions "to see the Mindi was to die". As defined by Merriam-Webster, Basilisk: "a legendary reptile with fatal breath and glance ... In Hellenic and Roman legend, a basilisk .. was a serpent-like creature capable of destroying other creatures by way of its deadly stare." So we seem to have interesting cultural parallels between Aboriginal culture and the Bible, and also Classical mythology. The records of the early settlers contain valuable information on Aboriginal culture, but may also have been a little coloured by their own attitudes. We checked with a local Aboriginal man, and he thought it likely people would have run from the Mindye. He confirmed that there was a family who had the power to summon the Mindye. And he also found it interesting to speculate if some cultural coincidences were in fact relics of the first Human people, our own common ancestors from Africa, before the time Aboriginal people arrived in this country. References: Woady Yaloak Historical Society books can be purchased at the Scarsdale Post Office and General Store. Letters from Victorian Pioneers to Governor Latrobe can be downloaded here. https://ia902704.us.archive.org//lettersfromvicto00publial Wardy Yalloak Tribe (as spelt) page 4 Aboriginal beliefs questioned page 84 Mindye page 85, pages 89-90 An Aboriginal account of the Mindye https://www.artshouse.com.au/the-breath-of-the-mindye/ Giant snake in South America https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17544885 Mindai Geological Plan, undated, free. http://earthresources.efirst.com.au/product.asp

07.01.2022 BOOK SALE The Woady Yaloak Historical Society is pleased to announce the opening of the Historic Stables in Smythesdale on Saturday morning for sale of second hand books. Thousands of books going at bargain basement prices... 10 am - 12pm Social distancing rules will apply

07.01.2022 This lovely streetscape of Smythesdale dates to 1866 just after the new two-story Post Office was opened. All the buildings in the Photograph are government buildings; the beautiful blue stone Treasury building is next to the Post office, followed by the old Lockup, then the stables which are still on site today, the Police Station and Residence, with the last building being mostly hidden is the Courthouse. There is another partially hidden building which I cannot identify at this period of time

04.01.2022 This ANZAC Day we are remembering all who fought in all wars in a very different way, there will be no coming together, no street marches, no haunting bugler echoing at the Dawn Service, But we will Remember them The photograph is of the son of William Boyd finding his father's photograph on the Staffordshire Reef Honor Board.

04.01.2022 The Woady Yaloak Historical Society has re-opened. Due to restrictions, we are open to visitors by appointment ONLY on Wednesdays We would appreciate it if you could phone us on 03 5342 8754 to make an appointment.... If no one is in attendance could you please leave a message and we will return your call. .

02.01.2022 Miners and the Mindye - Gold miners see a 50 foot long snake 20 inches thick. John Garibaldi Roberts in his 1930 Ballarat Courier article, quotes men who encoun...tered the fearsome Mindye which was sent by Bunjil, the Aboriginal Creator God, to kill evil doers. Roberts received a letter from a friend, Mr. P McGrath of Newtown, Scarsdale, "I personally have come in contact with four White men who told me they had seen the creature. "One was Mr. G. E. Roberts, a farmer, near Minyip, in 1879 or 1880, a most truthful man, incapable of prevaication, and I was intimately acquainted with him for over eight years: "I went into the Pyrenees Range prospecting. My mate and I were camped on a gentle rise with heavy timber all round us, and miles away from anyone, when one day my mate said, 'Look, Roberts; so help me God! I haven't touched a drop of liquor since we came in here three months ago, and you don't touch liquor at all.' I looked to where he had pointed, about 30 yards away and there was the most monstrous snake I ever saw. "It was over 50 feet long, of a changing colour, due to glints of sunshine falling on it. Its body was much thicker than a man's, apparently about 20 inches through, and all the way down its back was a mane seemingly about a foot or eighteen inches long, like the mane of a horse. "I had seen pythons and monstrous snakes in London, but they seemed piccaninnies compared to this one. 'That must be a Mindai Jack', I said. 'for God's sake, keep quiet; we can't fight him?' "My mate was a runaway sailor, and after the reptile had passed he said, 'Roberts, you don't believe in the tales of the sea serpent, but look here, I believe them and that's one; he has come on shore for a look round, and is making back to the sea." "The second person was an old bushman named Edward Stanford, who said he and his mate were splitting posts and rails for John Bull station, in the Bolemgrem Ranges. One day his mate happened to look round and yelled, 'Oh, my God!', and jumping over the log they were sawing started to get behind a tree near by. "'What the devil's the matter with you?', I said, 'Has a snake bit you?' "'Look over there', he said, pointing to a clearance a short distance away. I looked and there was a snake which seemed to be near a hundred feet long, moving slowly down. It was thicker than my body and had a mane all down its back for all the world like the mane of a horse, but much longer. I dropped down behind the log and I don't want to be any closer to the Mindi than I then was." "The third person who told me he had seen it was a storekeeper at Donald named Waddell. His yarn was 'I was riding near Donald on the west side of the township on a nice summer's evening when my horse shied, wheeled round and nearly threw me off. After a short distance I pulled him up and turned back to see what he had shied at, and there across the road was an awful big snake. Its head was against the fence on the river side of the lane (a one chain one), and its tail was not [yet] over the other fence [ie longer than 20 metres], and all along its back was hair like a horse's mane and about 18 inches long. I wheeled my horse round and went home by another lane.'" "The fourth person was my cousin, John McGrath, then about 17, in 1881, whose father had a farm near Cope Cope, about 4 miles from Donald. He was a cool intelligent lad and truthful. His tale was almost identical with Waddell's, save that the snake was going west instead of east, and that he saw only about half of it as the tail part was over the fence on the west side of the township, ... I have never hear of any Southerner speak of the Mindai, and 'tis only the pioneers of the north who had mixed much with the Blacks that ever I heard speak of it." J.G. Roberts averred: "Mr. P. McGrath's own truthfulness and sobriety are beyond question." From "Cape Clear" by J.G. Roberts republished by The Woady Yaloak Historical Society, (with minor edits in good faith that the booklet is a reproduction of the original out of copyright article). As seen above, a sailor prospecting thought the Mindye was a Sea Serpent come ashore. This link to Sea Serpent Mythology shows a similar creature to the Mindye in Viking mythology: "On bright summer nights this serpent leaves the caves to eat calves, lambs and pigs, or it fares out to the sea and feeds on sea nettles, crabs and similar marine animals. It has ell-long hair hanging from its neck, sharp black scales and flaming red eyes" https://mythology.wikia.org/wiki/Sea_serpent Image, Library of Congress "The great sea-serpent, found in Hungary Bay, Bermuda, on January 22, 1860" Wood engraving, from a sketch by W.D. Munro. A Bunyip is another mythical creature according to Aborigines, which quite a few White men have attested to seeing. Has anyone seen the Mindye?

01.01.2022 Unfortunately due to Covid we are closed again. At the moment we are on level 3 restrictions. If you have any queries we will endeavour to answer them to the best of our abilities. Stay safe everybody.