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The look at the changing face of the towns and cities around
our region - This week we take a look at Kepler St in Warrnambool
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Kepler St By the 1870's ( about 20 years
after settlement) Kepler St had becoming the address for many
of Warrnambool white collar professions including barrister,
solicitors and accountants ( and from the photo we can safely
say, at least one dentist ). This photo taken in about 1890
shows a bullock team outside one of Warrnambool's first tenanted
offices ( or chambers as they were better known) The significance
of this photo or the owner of bullock team is unknown
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| Today Kepler St still is home to the majority
of the cities legal profession as well as accountants, and still
one dentist although not in these office's The building has
remained almost untouched apart from the lack of chimneys (
signifying the change in heating methods over the century).
The building is currently occupied by two accounting firms,
plus the electoral office for local minister The Rt. Hon David
Hawker - speaker of the house of representatives. |
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The first Freemasons lodge meeting was held
1860 and within a few years the order had grown sufficiently
to plan the building of a suitable hall The first stone was
laid on the Kepler St site in early 1870 and the building
was opened in August of that year by Provincial Grand Master,
Captain Standish . The local paper ("The Examiner")
reported that the opening was attended by a large and representative
assembly and that a banquet was held in the Oddfellows hall
following the opening to celebrate the event. This picture
was taken in 1905
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The Examiner also reported that the "building
was worthy of the traditions of the order and its striking architecture
and classic front being conspicuous even among the many handsome
buildings for which the town was noteworthy "
Today the Masonic hall remains virtually unchanged apart from
a few coats of paint and a wrought iron fence which has only
been installed in the last 12 months |
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| The Western Hotel - Built
in 1876 on the corner of Kepler St and Timor St, the Western
Hotel was the epitome of modern luxury accommodation in Warrnambool
and would have been the "local pub" for many of the
white collar workers in the street, and judging by the number
of gentlemen in suits, most of Kepler streets businessmen were
present for this photo. This picture was taken sometime in 1890
and shows the Cobb and Co coach service about to depart from
outside Western Hotel. The large number of people outside the
hotel and also piled on top of the stage coach suggests that
it may have been a special occasion that prompted the photo.
It is possibe that this photo may have been taken on record
the last Cobb and Co service to leave Warrnambool. |
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The Cobb and Co service was discontinued
in 1890 with the arrival of the rail service to the town and
Warrnambool's first telephone exchange opened on the 1st of
February 1890 ( note the telegraph pole on the right of the
picture above) so the first half of 1890 would be a safe guess
for a date for this photo.
Today the Western is looking a little the worse for wear but
is still a fully licensed hotel and also still providing accommodation.
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| Timor St in 1902 - This
east-west section between Kepler St and Liebig St was one of
the cities busiest thoroughfares during the late 1800's with
at least three banks, two hotels, post office, police station
town hall and the law courts all located in this block.( the
last four being out of picture to the right) |
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| Today many of the original buildings
remain intact and this section of Timor St is still a busy part
of the city. The Post Office, Town Hall( which is now the Performing
Arts Centre) are still in the same location with the Police
station and Law courts now relocated to Koroit St. |
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| Robe
- a picturesque , historic fishing village
with great beaches in the middle of Australia's premier wine
growing region. It is a little bit off the beaten track which
means that you don't have fight your way through crowds of tourists. |
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| Robe also has great seafood
restaurants, lots of local wineries and loads of history - so
if you are planning a relaxing spring holiday then visit our
Robe Accommodation page |
Fletcher
Jones Story
David
Fletcher Jones left school before his 13th birthday and worked
in a small market garden before enlisting in the army and serving
in France during WW1. A shell burst just metres away, left him
severely |
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and he was told by army doctors that he would never work
again. In spite of his injuries, a scant education and a profound
stammer, went on to become the worlds largest clothing manufacturer.
Now some 40 years after his passing, the Warrnambool manufacturing
facility has gone and factory he built has been sold to a developer
- To find out more about this inspirational man then click the
photo or the link above |
Port
Campbell one travel writer described
Port Campbell as a windswept village with one pub and a few
take away food places that catered to passing tourists!!
Was he having a bad day or did someone in the town offend him??
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| To find
out more about this historic little coastal township you need
to read our Port Campbell / Peterborough accommodation page
to find out when and where to stay |
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Lake
Pertobe
Mini Golf
open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 4 PM
close to the beach on Pertobe Road Warrnambool
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| Port
Fairy a small historic fishing village
and one of Victoria's earliest settlements. The town has over
50 historically listed buildings and a lot of the town remains
substantially unchanged over the last century |
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| In recent times a lot
of "top end of town" investment money has poured in
the township creating some up market accommodation that has
added to the towns existing motels, B&B's and caravan parks.
So to find out where to stay and how much you will pay then
you should look at out Port Fairy Accommodation
page |
| Apollo
Bay Apollo Bay seems
to have become the new "in" place to visit, as seaside
towns close to Melbourne become increasingly crowded and very
expensive over the summer months. |
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| More people
are now looking for a quiet holiday beside the sea and Apollo
bay is becoming the destination of choice for International
and domestic traveler's alike. If you are looking for accommodation
in Apollo Bay then read our Apollo Bay
Accommodation Guide |
Grampians
in Bloom
If you are planning a weekend escape then a short spring break
in the Grampians might be the answer - Sunny spring days (
ideal for bushwalking ) and cool nights - curled up in front
of an open fire.
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If that sounds like the sort of spring holiday you would like,
then follow the links to the Grampians
Accommodation Page |
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