Melbourne based local historian Ken James has been quietly working away behind the scenes on another local history offering this time on Ravenswood South.
Ken’s latest book is set to be launched at the Harcourt Valley Heritage and Tourist Centre at the ANA Hall in Harcourt this Sunday February 19.
The prolific author has penned numerous books on the history of townships across the Mount Alexander Shire and beyond.
Ken has a connection to the local area and fascination with its history with his great great grandparents, William and Elizabeth James, having lived at Golden Point, Chewton between 1857 and 1875.
Ken said with his latest book on Ravenswood South he was very fortunate to have access to a small booklet put together by the local Ravenswood South School committee in 1975 to celebrate the school centenary as a starting reference.
“The information it provided about the school and school families and also aspects of the district history was invaluable,” Ken said.
Ken was also very appreciative of the assistance he received from George Milford of the Harcourt Valley Heritage and Tourist Centre.
Ken said Ravenswood South School No. 1546 was unique as it was the only school in Victoria to have its own apple orchard located within the school grounds.
“Initially 20 trees were planted early in the 1930s in association with the Young Farmers branch at the school.
“The Ravenswood South students were very successful at school apple packing competitions held in conjunction with the Royal Melbourne Show, winning many trophies and a shield,” Ken said.
In 1943, a new orchard was laid out as most of the original trees had been ruined by rabbits and hares. The new orchard was situated in front of the school, the trees planted being donated by H Keck and Sons nurserymen of Bendigo.
The school eventually closed in 1982.
Ken says the history of the notorious Porcupine Inn located at the head of Bullock Creek on the road to Bendigo also makes for an interesting aspect to this latest book.
“It opened in 1846 in a wattle and daub shack that was destroyed by fire, being replaced by stone and brick premises in 1852. It served as a changeover post for Cobb and Co coaches. There were seven publicans between 1846 and 1864,” Ken said.
“The first was Samuel Hawkings otherwise know as Samuel Hawkins. He was from Cornwall and may have named the Inn after the Porcupine Inn of his birthplace, which was a prominent landmark on the Tywardreath Highway near St Austell, Cornwall.
“This Cornish Inn was named after one of the local magistrates, called Rundle, who was nicknamed “Old Pricklyback”. Nothing remains of the local Inn as it was demolished in 1971 by the Country Roads Board to make way for the Porcupine Overpass,” Ken said.
The historian said another interesting discovery was that between the years 1851 and 1855, in an attempt to keep order on the Forest Creek diggings, no liquor licences were issued. This resulted in Saw Pit Gully (Elphinstone) and the Porcupine Inn being the closest liquor supply to the goldfields and from where much sly grog was sought.
“The premises soon became quite infamous as “the harbour of vilest characters” and horrifying stories were told of diggers who entered its doors only to disappear along with their gold,” Ken said.
In late 1853 or in early 1854, the Porcupine police station also opened, situated 13 miles from Castlemaine and 12 miles from Sandhurst, and a short time later 154 acres was set aside to rest horses for the two police districts.
The district was initially referred to as Porcupine after the Inn, and when the school opened in 1865, Ken doesn’t know why it as called South Ravenswood rather than Porcupine.
“It is possibly because the name was already part of two other schools – Porcupine Flat near Maldon and Porcupine Ridge near Daylesford,” he said.
In more recent times it was determined the name of a region should be placed first with its location second – Ravenswood South – to streamline postal services and avoid confusion.
To get your hands on Ken’s latest book get along to the Harcourt launch at 2pm this Sunday, February 19 or pick up a copy at the Castlemaine Visitor Centre at the Historic Market Building after that date.
