Saksun, Faroe Islands
Saksun Private Residence
Small homes like this in Saksun on the Faroe Islands were built with turf roofs to provide protection from the rain and thermal insulation.
Now a quaint small town in the Alpine Valley of northeastern Victoria, Wandiligong was once a gold mining settlement teeming with prosperity. Founded in the mid-19th century, the settlement would quickly become a full-fledged town with a post office, bank, schools and churches. The town’s library, the Public Library of Wandiligong, was built in 1878.
Wandiligong is believed to have been named after an Aboriginal spirit – though its actual meaning has been lost. “Meeting of the water” or “spirit place” are some possible meanings, and fittingly so, as Wandiligong is nestled at the junction of Morses Creek and Growlers Creek. Yet, beautiful waters weren’t the only thing that brought people to the picturesque valley. In the 1850s, gold was the primary draw.
By 1856, gold had been discovered near the junction of the two creeks. The region proved profitable, and over the next 30 years, Wandiligong continued to thrive, even expanding into other industries. Reef and deep lead mining continued into the 20th century, and the surrounding valley became an agricultural hub.
Gold dredging was a profitable industry, but it significantly damaged the landscape. Anti-dredging leagues formed, but the practice continued into the 1930’s. When the dredging ended, the town’s population declined. By the 1960s, the burgeoning town was all but a memory, and what remained was a collection of decaying buildings. In 1972, the Wandiligong Preservation Society was formed to maintain the buildings.
Today, the entire town of Wandiligong is registered with the National Trust of Australia as a historic landscape. The Public Library is one of the town’s many preserved historic buildings, and also functions as an art gallery.
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Hi On Sunday I spoke to some people at Alpine park. I think the lady I spoke to was the president of the historical society, but I didn't get her name. I showed them some postcards of Wandiligong from 1909 and was enquiring about family connection. I have since found out that my Great Great grandparents, Thomas and Eliza Curtis farmed at Wandilgong ( at the end of the valley. My Great grandparents Fred and Eliza also lived there before moving to Byawatha/Eldorado. The people I met took photos of the post cards that I showed them. The post cards had been sent to my great aunts, Emma, Myrtle and Nell from Clarrie Gribble. I thought they would like know that Clarrie Gribble died in France 1914/18 - will research war records to finds out more. One of the postcards shows a group of people sitting on rocks at the Ladies Baths at Mt Buffalo. The man sitting at the front shooing a fly is Clarrie. I am not sure if the group I met took a photo of this card. If they would like a copy, could you please pass on a message to contact me. Jenny Hawke ph0419571975 or [email protected]