DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP

DEPTFORD ROAD DEPTFORD, EAST GIPPSLAND SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Inventory

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    DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP - History

    Heritage Inventory History of Site: The township of Deptford, named in 1864, was built on the banks of the Nicholson River, almost opposite the Navigation Creek junction. Before that, Store Creek settlement had been the district's service centre since about 1857, and there was also a store at the junction of the Barmouth and Nicholson Rivers, early on. Deptford township consisted of a hotel, post office, store, blacksmith's shop, chemist, and baker's. There were only ever three timber houses—all other buildings, apart from the hotel and store, were simple bush structures of spars and bark. Fairweather observes that, bark huts not being suitable for removal, people leaving the area just walked out of their houses and left them. At most, the population numbered about 300, but during the prolonged slumps in mining, the township was reduced to a few families. In 1888, for example, the mining registrar noted that, despite a great depression in alluvial mining, 'some of the old residents still have faith in the district'. The Miner's Rest Hotel started business at Deptford in 1865 and was extended in 1894, after which it had a bar, service rooms, six guest rooms, and family quarters, as well as extensive stables and a chaff house at the rear. The hotel burned down in about 1905, after which premises were licensed at Store Creek. The flat on which the Miner's Rest Hotel stood has been partially washed away by flood waters.The Deptford School No. 3151 opened in January 1892—formerly, Deptford children had attended a farm school some three miles below the township. Deptford School closed in 1928, after which the bark, one-roomed building was used as a camp. Also during the 1890s, a church was established, as well as a cemetery—the original one, on Navigation Creek, having been eroded by flood waters. There being no hall, dances were regularly held in a large storeroom opposite the general store.The road to the township from Bairnsdale was always in a deplorable state and was the cause of much complaint to the Shire of Bairnsdale, which scarcely spent a penny on it, despite the business brought to that town by the mines of Deptford. In the early 1890s, the Shire of Omeo upgraded the track between Deptford and Stirling (on Haunted Stream) to coaching standard, but it was soon allowed to degenerate again.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP - Heritage Inventory Description

    Main features are numerous hut platforms (some with stone fireplaces) which are visible along the track on the southern bank of the Nicholson River. One substantial clearing now used as picnic area. 8422: 612.394 to 619.388

    Heritage Inventory Significance: National EstateSocial valueùpicnic spotArchaeological potentialùyesNetwork valuesùrange of features in Deptford site network

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    HOUGHTONS FLAT GOLD DIVERSION TUNNEL

    

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    DEPTFORD PROPRIETARY MINE

    

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    HOUGHTON'S/MCCOY'S FLAT DIVERSION TUNNEL

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
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