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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 Moolap In the 1900 Victorian Municipal Directory, Shire of Bellarine, Moolap is described as :-.
Over the years, Moolap has been described as having "elastic Boundaries". A 1865 description included a steam flour mill and a tannery in an agricultural district. It's hotels were the Plough, Moolap and White Horse and the scattered population at the time was about 800. This description seems to cover the area also referred to as East Geelong. The White Horse Inn was on the corner of White Horse Road and the Queenscliff Road; the Moolap Inn still stands on the corner of Moolap Station Road and the Bellarine Highway; and the Moolap Hotel was on the corner of Clifton Lanes and the Portarlington Road.
Moolap was situated between Point Henry and Kensington, and initially had no church or school - the children either didn't attend school or travelled a couple of miles to the Point Henry School. It was not until 1871 that Moolap obtained its own school (Moolap South No. 1143), using the Moolap Hotel building which was offered by it's recent owner, Thomas Sutterby. A new school was built in 1877 taking pupils from the Point Henry and Moolap South schools. The school's name was later changed to Point Henry.
In 1888, Richard Cheetham established his saltworks at Moolap - an industry which survived more than 100 years. The first subdivisions were in 1852-53. The Moolap Estate contained 194 half acre lots from the north-west corner of Coppards and Woods Roads. (2) A site of architectural significance has been identified at Moolap - "Crescent" in Earles Road. In the recent Bellarine Heritage Study it has been given an "A" classification. At one time it was thought to have been a nursing home. It was one of the few buildings recorded as part of the Study "as an Historical archaeological site on the Bellarine Peninsula, that appears to have been constructed of hand-made or wire-cut bricks." (3) References :
Moolap History LinksMembers 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.
Your ContributionWe'd love your input to the history of Moolap. 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 Moolap
BibliographyBrownhill, 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 |
