Bringalbert South
History of Bringalbert South
Bringalbert South is fortunate to have had several publications regarding its history.
Emily J Kealy The History of Bringalbert South and the Recollections of an Old Pioneer
William Ruth Romance of a Selection, Victoria's Western Border Country 1850-1950
Judy Murdoch Bringalbert South A Community Continues
To witness Bringalbert South's history, a trip down the Bringalbert South Road illustrates the community's interesting past.
From Apsley, drive east 2km on the Wimmera Highway then turn left onto the Bringalbert South Road.
Foster & Simpson Road is an acknowledgement of two original settlers. In 1869 Bringalbert Station sold land to Newlands. In the process the Bringalbert Station and Ozenkadnook Station workers, mostly Irish Catholics, took up selections of 320 acres in 1873.
On the right, the post & rail fence was erected by P Kealy. The first settler to the area. He selected Yallamatta, including a ‘valuable swamp'. A monument has been erected to commemorate the significant influence this family has had on the area. The family had a reunion in 2007.
The white house on the left is also noteworthy. During the 1950's, Guthries purchased the property and renovated the home. They made extensions to the original slab hut and a room in the house today was part of the original hut built by the settler Kealy.
Cross over the intersection of Ruth's Rd and Thomas Nth-Sth Rd and again these are names of some of the original settlers.
On the left is the Sawpit where a timber pit mill once operated during 1950"s. It was next to here that Dog Trials were held between 1926 and 1930s. The site was chosen due to the arena lay of the land. James Smith selected these properties.
Many a picnic was had at the Stoney Waterhole.
Brolgas are a sight to be hold and they sometimes frequent the swamp on the right.
The monument on the right remembers the 2665 Bringalbert South School Site. The school opened in 1885 with 40 potential students and closed in 1957.
Opposite the school site is the remains of the Bringalbert South Tennis Club which was established in 1939-40. The picnic table was erected for the reunion held in 1995. The timber building was home to a widow. It was here that she lived and milked cows to support herself and daughter.
Mr Guthrie was not an original settler but was a successful grazier. Guthrie Road is also recognizing his efforts as is Les Munn Road.
Natural Springs are evident in the district. The property further on the left has the name THE SPRINGS. During the drought of the 1930's many of the local farmers carted water from this area.
At the T-junction turn Right onto Grub Lane. This road got its name as the bulokes were grubbed out early last century. Red Tail Black Cockatoos feed on the bulokes from summer through to the autumn. Approaching the Wimmera Highway curlews have been sited.
Turn right onto the Wimmera Highway. Take a note of the remnant vegetation on the right.
Continue past more roads noting past landholders, Moore Road and Closes Road. Reader's have acknowledged the historical significance of their property by creating a Bed & Breakfast Retreat.
The Bringalbert South Fire Station was erected after the community sought a truck in 1945. The Fire Brigade is still active. In 1939 the community had Red Cross Group which was active during the war.
Bringalbert South is surrounded by the larger stations of Bringalbert, Mundarra, Newlands, and Lake Wallace. There are no churches or cemeteries or large homesteads to recognise its past, nor was it settled by the "soldier settlers".
Bringalbert South is "what those hardy old battlers of long ago handed down to future generations" (E Kealy)