SOLOMONS FORD

CANNING STREET AVONDALE HEIGHTS AND DUKE STREET SUNSHINE NORTH AND BRAYBROOK, MOONEE VALLEY CITY, BRIMBANK CITY, MARIBYRNONG CITY

All information on this page is maintained by Heritage Victoria. Click below for their website and contact details.

Victorian Heritage Inventory

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    SOLOMONS FORD - History

    Solomon's Ford, a natural basalt stone ford crossing of the Maribyrnong River (formerly Saltwater River), was first charted by Charles Grimes, surveyor General to the Colony of New South Wales in 1803 during exploration of Port Phillip Bay.

    Amongst the pastoral settlers who quickly followed the first exploration of the plains, the Solomons possessed one of the largest flocks in 1835, numbering around 2,700 sheep. Joseph Solomon's station was initially in Kealba- North Sunshine near the natural crossing which became known as Solomon's Ford, although this name has also been used for another ford upstream (Vines 2000). This was the lowest foot or vehicle crossing of the Maribyrnong River for people travelling to Geelong or westward. Michael Clancy occupied land in the township of Braybrook on the north side of the river in the 1870s. He testified to a Royal Commission in 1879 that he had lived near the ford for 23 years, gaining something of a living from the river by loading stones from the river for ballasting boats at Footscray.

    Interpretation of Site

    SOLOMONS FORD - Interpretation of Site

    A stone reef outcrops in the bed of the Maribyrnong River banking up the waters in a wide bend and providing a shallow crossing of the river. Gravels, sand and flood deposits of silt have accumulated here, and this has been augmented by the MMBW who reconstructed the river banks and added stepping stones formed from large weathered basalt boulders.

    On the western side of the ford are a number of features which point to activity and perhaps occupation on the west bank of the river.

    Two overgrown depressions, approximately 30m to the north of the ford running roughly parallel to the river on its west side, may relate to extractive industry. Further to the west is aterrace cut into the slope on which was observed a surface scatter of 19th century artefacts, and this could relate to a rest camp or perhaps to more permanent settlement. A small possible wall feature was also observed immediately to the west of the ford.

    Archaeological Significance

    SOLOMONS FORD - Archaeological Significance

    Although the ford itself has been greatly modified, its immediate environs have remained undeveloped and reflect the character of the area during the pioneering phase (Vines 2000). The presence of surface artefacts demonstrates the potential for archaeological deposits and perhaps features on the western side of the river.

    ."Solomon's Ford is one of the most important historical sites associated firstly with the settlement at Port Phillip and later with the era of pastoral expansion to the unsettled districts. Solomon's Ford was the first safe crossing place of the Saltwater River from Melbourne to Geelong and further west in 1840's, and following the discovery of gold at Ballarat and Bendigo, as a link to these goldfields. The association with Charles Grimes, the forgotten early Victorian explorer is also of importance." (Old, now disused, Statement of Significance from RNE)

    Historical Significance

    SOLOMONS FORD - Historical Significance

    Solomon's Ford is of local historical significance as one of the first crossing places of the Maribyrnong River for European settlers from 1835. It is recorded in the first accounts of exploration (Grimes' 1803 journey) and in subsequent accounts of the difficulties of traversing the western plains.

    The ford was later named Solomon's Ford after Michael Solomon, early Keilor district squatter and grazier who came to the area in 1835.

    Heritage Inventory Description

    SOLOMONS FORD - Heritage Inventory Description

    Solomon's Ford is a natural basalt rock formation across the bed of the Maribyrnong River. It is accompanied by a number of features on its west side including two depressions, a possible wall and a terrace. Artefacts were observed on the latter.

• Location map
• Explore related places
  • Show:
    -- select -- Nearby Places

  • SOLOMONS FORD

    

    Victorian Heritage Inventory
  • 
    Solomon's Ford

    

    National Trust
  • Maribyrnong River

    

    National Trust
• Public contributions