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From: "Walter Savige" <>
Subject: [AUS-VIC-GIPPSLAND-L] Gippsland Reading
Date: Sun, 30 May 1999 15:58:31 +1000


Barry,

Re the two books to which you refer -
(1) "The Story of Gippsland" by Charles Daley (Melbourne, 1960) is out of
print,
although many libraries should hold copies for reference.
(2) Copies of "The Settling of Gippsland" by Patrick Morgan (Gippsland
Municipalities Association, Traralgon, 1997) should still be available for
purchase.

However, I should point out any book purporting to cover the history of such
a large region as Gippsland could contain inaccuracies. It would be
difficult for a single author to have a good knowledge of the history of
every district.

Sue Hodges reviewed Morgan's book in "Gippsland Heritage Journal", No. 23
(1999), page 56, and referred to a number of short-comings -
"Morgan draws largely from a small selection of published sources ... "
"A greater attention to primary sources and historical context would have
made Morgan's claims more convincing..."
"'The settling of Gippsland'" is written well, and at times brilliantly, but
it is generally unsatisfactory as an account of Gippsland's post-contact
history . . . more thorough and detailed work on this topic remains to be
done."

I can comment about Morgan's book only where he refers to early
settlement in the hill country south of the Latrobe Valley. In Chapter 11
"Selector Struggles", pp 107-115, Morgan (astonishingly) made no
reference to the excellent work by John Adams, F.R.H.S.V.:"So Tall the
Trees" (Trafalgar, 1975). On page 110, Morgan states that selection in the
hills south of the Latrobe Valley began in "1875 and after" adding: "This
land, being on the northern
slopes, was not as difficult to clear as that in South Gippsland, and the
pioneers did not subsequently erect any heroic myths about clearing it ..."
("South Gippsland" is generally taken to refer to the area south of the
ridge
along which McDonald's Track runs.)

In fact, much of the land north of McDonald's Track was just as difficult to
clear as that south of the track. The "blackbutts" (Eucalytus Regnans or
Mountain Ash) at Narracan West (Thorpdale South) were even taller and of
greater girth than the giant blue-gums (Eucalyptus globulus) of the Tarwin
valley. In fact, one E.R. beside McDonald's Track is acknowledged as having
been the tallest tree that ever grew on this planet.

Adams carried out meticulous research and interviewed sons and daughters of
the pioneers. His evidence showed that settlement in the hill country
began in 1873 near the site of "Old" Narracan township (later renamed
Narracan East), and he listed many references to "heroic myths" of the
pioneers, which are in separate publications - unlike the stories of the
South Gippsland pioneers which are mainly to be found in a single book "The
Land of the Lyre Bird" (Korumburra, 1920). I have also carried out some
research on early selections at Narracan (serialised in "Coach News").

There are many inaccurate accounts relating to land selection in the hill
country.

The true facts appear to be as follows-

1873 - A group of five farmers from the Maffra district travelled to the
Narracan district and each of them selected an allotment of land beside or
in the
vicinity of McDonald's Track (The locations of these selections are shown in
a little-known Lands Department map:"Selections at and near Brandy Creek",
first edition, 1875.)

1874-78 - Many potential selectors arrived in the Narracan - Moe South
district, travelling along the Old Sale Road from the direction of
Melbourne, turning up McDonald's Track at the intersection in the Haunted
Hills. (The Gippsland Railway Line was then still being surveyed.). Much
land in the district was selected. The first township - "Old" Narracan - was
founded in 1877.

In August 1874, selection began near Poowong at the western end of
McDonald's Track.

By about 1878, most of the hill country between McDonald's track and the
Latrobe Valley had been selected and selectors began to move over the range
into the South Gippsland districts of Mirboo, Leongatha and Korumburra.

My advice would be for you to visit a library and look at the books
available before purchasing one. A book written about a smaller district
would probably give a truer picture than one trying to cover the whole
region.

Walter Savige

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