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The Bellarine Historical Society Inc. on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria, Australia ABN : 32 278 055 160 |
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The History of Curlewis Today, Curlewis is probably best known for its Golf Course, however there was a little more to the settlement in the 19th century. In 1850, when the Catholics established a school there, the area was known as Point Henry, however it was renamed Curlewis after a local pioneer family (George Campbell Curlewis was a squatter and purchased land here in 1845). The Catholic School closed at the end of 1873 after refusing to lease the school to the new Education Department. A new school, Curlewis State School No. 1559 was built on the corner of Bawtree Road and opened in 1875, however low attendances forced its closure in 1880. In the meantime the Catholic School re-opened with much larger attendances - an indication of the size of the Catholic community in the area. One of the parishioners was Anthony Devine - the children held picnics on his property Derry Hall.
Initially, a timber church stood next to the school on the Portarlington Road, however it was replaced by a Gothic style bluestone and brick structure - St. Francix Xavier Church is a noticeable landmark today in a seemingly low populated area. Another Curlewis landmark which has long since disappeared was Christies Union Hotel which was located on the north side of the Portarlington Road between Christies and Bawtree Roads.
Septimus Lord Curlewis, stepbrother and trustee for the late George Campbell Curlewis, built Hermsley.1 Septimus looked after the family and property until George's sons were old enough to take over in 1866. By the 1880s the Curlewises seemed to have run into financial difficulties as the property was offered in mortgagees sales.1 References :
Members of the Bellarine Historical Society and residents of the towns of the Bellarine Peninsula have commenced a major project to document the history of their local areas on the Internet. These histories will includes towns, buildings, families, schools, environment - in fact any subject which adds to the history of the Bellarine Peninsula. These are not all encompassing histories and certainly will not replace the need for researchers to visit or contact the Bellarine Historical Society and other local repositories for more detailed information. The purpose of these histories is to increase the awareness of the depth of history on the Peninsula and to encourage further research into local archives.
Across Australia and around the world : other sites with similar associations or interests have contacted us or linked to our site.
We'd love your input to the history of Curlewis. This is how you can help :
Please don't be bashful - your contribution can be anonymous or we'll happily put your name to it. If you don't have email access, please mail information or questions to :
Record Sources for Curlewis
Brownhill, Geo. H. Illustrated Guide to Geelong And District, Facsimile edn., Deakin University Press, Geelong, 1990. Campbell, A. J. Tourist Guide to Geelong and Southern Watering Places, Henry Thacker, Geelong, 1893. Richardson, John. The Lady Squatters : Miss Anne Drysdale and Miss Caroline Elizabeth Newcomb : 'Boronggoop' and 'Coriyule', Bellarine Rural City Council, Drysdale, 1986. Wynd, Ian. Balla-wein : A history of the Shire of Bellarine, Shire of Bellarine, Drysdale, 1988. Wynd, Ian. Geelong The Pivot : A Short History of Geelong and District, Cypress Books, Mont Albert North, 1971.
Created by : Susie Zada |
