Island Identities
There are many people who have contributed to our Island. The importance of their contribution is always a matter of opinion. Many names that should be here are not.
Enjoy the stories about the Islanders which are here.
This section is an ongoing activity and more Islanders will be noted here
There are many people who have contributed to our Island. The importance of their contribution is always a matter of opinion. Many names that should be here are not.
Enjoy the stories about the Islanders which are here.
This section is an ongoing activity and more Islanders will be noted here
Margarite Wyeth
Jim & Margarite Wyeth lived on our Island for many years. Jim passed away some time ago, but Margarite still enjoys life at the old age facility in Paynesville. Andrew & Irene Bould on one of their frequent visits to her where offered all of Margarite’s press clippings for Andrew to use them as he saw fit.
The scanned copies are now on our Website. It is with pleasure that we chronicle their lives. Jim was very involved in local affairs….but we will let her press clippings and photos tell their story. It covers almost all that happened from 1978 to 1999.
Click Here
April 2010
Jim & Margarite Wyeth lived on our Island for many years. Jim passed away some time ago, but Margarite still enjoys life at the old age facility in Paynesville. Andrew & Irene Bould on one of their frequent visits to her where offered all of Margarite’s press clippings for Andrew to use them as he saw fit.
The scanned copies are now on our Website. It is with pleasure that we chronicle their lives. Jim was very involved in local affairs….but we will let her press clippings and photos tell their story. It covers almost all that happened from 1978 to 1999.
Click Here
April 2010
A trip down memory lane
Over the years many people have contributed to this page .It covers such memories as the RAAF crash boat, a letter about KOALA BEARS, cattle eating the neighbours vegies, a treasurer’s report from RIAL 1952 and that’s just the start.
This page continues to grow and of all the website work I do, updating this gives me the most pleasure.
May our Island stories keep coming. pj
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About our Island
For the tens of thousands of years before colonial occupation the Tantungolong clan of the Gunai/Kurnai tribe counted the island Gragin as part of their home territory. A significant part of its richness was that it afforded a place to hunt and to harvest swan eggs. Since the time of indigenous displacement the island (named after William Odell Raymond, a magistrate from NSW who became
For the tens of thousands of years before colonial occupation the Tantungolong clan of the Gunai/Kurnai tribe counted the island Gragin as part of their home territory. A significant part of its richness was that it afforded a place to hunt and to harvest swan eggs. Since the time of indigenous displacement the island (named after William Odell Raymond, a magistrate from NSW who became
Gippsland squatter) has been host to cattle leases, small holdings , fishing and fishsmoking.
The produce from these enterprises was picked up by one of the steamers travelling back and forth daily betweenSale and Lakes Entrance. However theagricultural production was reduced by the early 1930s
The produce from these enterprises was picked up by one of the steamers travelling back and forth daily betweenSale and Lakes Entrance. However theagricultural production was reduced by the early 1930s
resulting in the closing of the school in1934.
The island was re-discovered after WW II as a place for week-end shacks and holiday retreats; for many a relief from the intensifying industry of “the valley”. Its convenient isolation and wide range of flora and fauna remain attractive features worthy of protection.
The koalas (from Phillip Island) were introduced in 1953 for safe-keeping here.
The first leases were drawn up in 1856 a prelude to defining village and rural settlement, the edges of each having been consolidated when the first land titles for the Township were drawn up in 1884 and for the Rural area in 1892.
The island's identity is of course highlighted by the ferry. It has grown from a row-boat provided by the Shire in 1888,
The island was re-discovered after WW II as a place for week-end shacks and holiday retreats; for many a relief from the intensifying industry of “the valley”. Its convenient isolation and wide range of flora and fauna remain attractive features worthy of protection.
The koalas (from Phillip Island) were introduced in 1953 for safe-keeping here.
The first leases were drawn up in 1856 a prelude to defining village and rural settlement, the edges of each having been consolidated when the first land titles for the Township were drawn up in 1884 and for the Rural area in 1892.
The island's identity is of course highlighted by the ferry. It has grown from a row-boat provided by the Shire in 1888,
to a hand-winched chain-driven punts for horse-and-cart and later years 3 cars, rising to the diesel 6 (extended to 10) then 21 car iron monsters. The latest was commissioned in 1997. Horses and cattle used to swim the straits.
The ferry makes getting to the island, as well as doing the shopping, a conscious act; always a journey however small. A part of that consciousness can be drawing the past into the present whilst waiting then travelling between shores.
The ferry makes getting to the island, as well as doing the shopping, a conscious act; always a journey however small. A part of that consciousness can be drawing the past into the present whilst waiting then travelling between shores.
View our Press Clippings:
a collection of memories, opinions, occasions going back over many years. They are not chronicled by time or events. They are an informative reflections of our history.
Click here
a collection of memories, opinions, occasions going back over many years. They are not chronicled by time or events. They are an informative reflections of our history.
Click here
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