The name Dja Dja Wurrung appears to combine the word for 'yes' (djadja) with 'mouth' (wurrung). Dja Dja Wurrung belongs to the Western branch of the Kulin languages. Many other language groups in the area use their word for 'no' in their name.
Historian Ian D. Clark confirmed that a two class matrilineal system was recorded and maintained, with descent based on the wirran (yellow-tailed black cockatoo) and grugidj (sulphur-crested cockatoo or Long-billed corella white cockatoo) moieties. Grugidj sub-totems included pelican, parrot, mopoke and large kangaroo. Gamadj sub-totems included emu, whip snake, possum, koala, and sparrowhawk. Clans intermarried with the Dja Dja Wurrung, Jardwadjali, Dhauwurd wurrung and Wada wurrung peoples.
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| Aboriginal Cooee call when returning to camp, Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne, Vic. : 1867 - 1875), Saturday 12 September 1868 (The first recorded reference to the Aboriginal 'coo-ee' call is in the papers of Daniel Southwell, an officer of the Royal Navy and member of the crew of HMS Sirius that sailed with the First Fleet to Australia.) |
1830sExplorer Thomas Mitchell passed through the central Victorian
region during his 1836 'Australia Felix' expedition,
1840s
Dunolly was established as a European pastoral run in 1845 by squatter Archibald McDougall, who named the station after Dunolly Castle in Scotland. He brought sheep to the region and
built a homestead near Burnt Creek.
1850sGold was first found nearby at Moliagul in 1852 and along Burnt Creek on the Dunolly run in 1853. This gold rush transformed the sheep station into a tent city and permanent township by 1856.
McDougall sold the pastoral run to Simson in 1854.
In 1853 two men obtained no less than 86lb. weight of the precious metal as the result of a fortnight's work at Dunolly.
In the early days, Dunolly formed one of the liveliest places in the colony, with 15,000 diggers and residents.
(2.)
DUNOLLY.
Though the township which now bears this name is of recent origin, the Dunolly diggings were known at a very early period of the annals of the gold-fields. Several attempts were made to form a permanent township, and always by some mischance or other they failed. The varied fortunes of Dunolly are illustrative of the peculiar features that aid or retard the development of a gold-field. It always seemed on the point of becoming a flourishing township, and as often the probability died away. It was as if the genus of gold-mining that discovered not only the rich gold-field, but the important position so tantral to other fields, was continually struggling with an adverse fate, and as often as it endeavoured to assert its prerogative, so often was it baffled. Yet with each effort it gathered strength, till at last it gained an undisputed ascendancy. In this way tbe present township of Goldborough was originally christened Dunolly. A rush occurred about a mile nearer to what is known as tlie Hard llill, and Dunolly migrated to the new field of promise. This spot died away, and at a subsequent period the Hard Hill caused rather a large rush—one, too, that proved most prosperous to those engaged in it. Again the place became thinned by large rushes to other diggings. The few inhabitants left, however, fought on bravely, and in a short time a large rush occurred about a mile nearer to the present town. The wet lead at Avoca, which had attracted a huge population, at this time wore a very gloomy appearance, and the people left the " sweet little vale" by hundreds for Dunolly. A long straggling street was formed, but there was very little gold obtained; in fact, this was the poorest rush that ever occurred at Dunolly, and the attractions of other fields, not to mention an immense exodus to the Sydney mines, carried away by far the larger portion of the miners. Things wore the most discouraging appearance it is possible to conceive, when a prospecting hide struck gold on a flat leading towards Jones Creek, not far from a wayside coffee-house, now the Old House at Home Hotel, which then stood by itself a long distance from any other habitation. About a mile higher upon the same flat, digging had been going on tor a considerable time, and an irregular run of gold was traced down to within half-a-mile of the prospecting hole. Curious to relate, at the very same time that gold was struck in the latter, it was discovered that the poor lead of gold, laboriously traced higher up the fiat, had run into some magnificently rich ground, that literally abounded in nuggets. Tlie result is easily guessed —the news got abroad, the whole of the fiat intervening between the two points we have mentioned was at once taken up, and proved immensely rich. Meanwhile hundreds and thousands af diggers poured in, and the lead of gold was still further traced. The next few weeks formed a glorious epoch in the history of Dunolly. A shallow lead, running parallel with the deep lead, was struck, and party after party continued to sink golden claims. With unparalleled rapidity tbe gold was traced across what is now the main street, into wet and deep ground. The claims on the edge of the street produced many thousand pounds worth of gold, and these, as well as several higher up tbe lead, are amongst the richest of which tbe colony can boast. Whilst the diggers were reaping this glorious harvest, men of business were not idle: a street upwards of a mile long was formed, and covered on each side closely with places of business. This is the present township. At the time we speak of it bad the appearance of a large fair—canvass, canvass, canvass, nothing but canvass.
Two solicitors, Messrs. Prendergast and Phelps; and a host of others engaged in businesses of haberdashers. clothiers, watchmakers, chemists, stationers, tobacconists, timber -merchants, ironmongers, upholsterers, confectioners, wheelwrights, &c., &c. In short, Dunolly has within itself all the elements of a town. There is a daily mail between it and Melbourne, as well as with most other parts of tbe colony. The line of telegraph is being extended to it from Castlemaine, and it is hoped will shortly be completed. We must not forget to mention a daily line of coaches owned by Mr. Lyle, which connects the town with Maryborough on the one side, and on tbe other, with all the surrounding diggings, from Sandy Creek to Korong. A considerable sum is already collected towards the erection of an hospital, and probably In another month or two, we may have to record the opening of so excellent an institution. There are three places of worship. A mechanics' institute has lately been opened; it has commenced modestly with a convenient reading room, stored with periodicals, magazines, and a few books. From the interest which is taken in it we may fairly assume that it will rapidly progress. As regards public buildings, we are sorry we cannot give so good an account as we could wish.
Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser (Vic. : 1857 - 1867 ; 1914 - 1918), Tuesday 10 August 1858
Anglican school hall built 1857. Bendigo Hotel and Cobb and Co. Offices established in 1857.
Railway Hotel built under another name in 1858.
By 1858, many people had
left the town.
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| Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 31 October 1859 |
1860s
The former courthouse was built in 1861.
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| Cobb and Co. in Dunolly Victoria, 1861, SLVIC |
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| It could hardly have been possible for us to have had a quieter Christmas here than the one just passed. I think I may safely say that Dunolly has not looked so miserably dull for the last two years as it does at the present time. No sports having been got up at any of the hotels in the town, all those who take part in such matters or care about saving them went off en masse to Burnt Creek, where amusements of every description have been going on Mining matters are almost at a standstill, and all the workings adjacent to the town are quite deserted, all the miners employed on them, with the exception of the Chinese, being holiday-making. Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser (Vic. : 1857 - 1867 ; 1914 - 1918), Monday 30 December 1861 |
The Town Hall built 1862.
Wigham’s Junction Hotel was built in 1862 to serve the Gooseberry Hill gold-rush. (William Wigham was one of 238 convicts transported to Australia on the Lord Petre, 3 July 1843)
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| Wigham’s Junction Hotel was built in 1862, Dunolly, VIC |
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| Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser (Vic. : 1857 - 1867 ; 1914 - 1918), Monday 17 March 1862 |
Metho
dist Church built 1863.
The Presbyterian Church
built 1864.
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| Frayne'a Theatre," Dunolly. Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser (Vic. : 1857 - 1867 ; 1914 - 1918), Wednesday 15 February 1865 |
The 'Welcome Stranger' nugget was unearthed on February, 2, 1 869, by John Deason and Richard Oates in nearby Moliagul township.
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| “Welcome Stranger" nugget which is reputed to be the largest single lump of gold found in the world. This magnificent stroke of luck occurred at Moliagul, eight miles north of the famous goldfields of Dunollv, in central Victoria, on February 5, 1869. Walkabout |
The two storey mansion called 'Bellevue' was built in 1869 for James Bell (1836-1908).
1870s Post Office and clocktower erected in 1891.
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| Government perfume farm, Dunolly, VIC, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 28 April 1894 |
'Within ten miles of Dunolly there are orchards and vineyards fifty acres in extent, and all round about the township, even in the abandoned alluvial workings, the vine and the fig are much in evidence.'Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 16 March 1895
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| Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 13 June 1896 |
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| Old squatters hut, Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 13 June 1896 |
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| Miner's hut, Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 13 June 1896 |
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| Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 13 June 1896 |
1900s
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| Jubilee of Dunolly, VIC, school children in the recreation reserve, Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935), Saturday 30 May 1908 |
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| Jubilee of Dunolly, VIC, Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918, 1935), Saturday 30 May 1908 |
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| FIRE BRIGADE STATION, DUNOLLY, VICTORIA - very early 1900s, Kaye |
WWI |
| Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser (Vic. : 1915 - 1918), Tuesday 29 May 1917 |
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| AUSTRALASIAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT AT GALLIPOLI. PRIVATE ;T. A. BEAUDOIN, 30 (died of wounds) was a native of Dunolly, and was well kiiown In ' the Bendlgo district. where ho had several relatives. He was unmarried. In Dunolly he was a prominent footballer, and won several gold medals. , At- the time of volunteering ho was farming . In the Malice, and before departing ho dis posed of his, Interests, PHerald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Tuesday 22 June 1915 |
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| Private W. S. Bell, A.W.U. member, of Dunolly, Vic. Killed in action. Australian Worker (Sydney, NSW : 1913 - 1950), Thursday 25 January 1917 |
1920s
The first plane landing in Dunolly, in July 1920.
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| Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 25 March 1922 |
BIG FIRE AT DUNOLLY Flour-mill end valuable Stocks Destroyed. Sunraysia Daily (Mildura, Vic. : 1920 - 1942)Friday 6 April 1923
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| Top State School and Scholars.2. Broadway looking North. Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 22 September 1923 |
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| MAURICE BEASY, Carlton's magnificent footballer, who is undoubtedly one of Australia's champions. Beasy lives at Dunolly and travels 124 miles by train every Friday to take his place with the team on Saturday. Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954), Saturday 23 May 1925 |
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| Shire Offices. Broadway. VIC. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 3 July 1926 |
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| Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 3 July 1926 |
GOLD RUSH AT DUNOLLY WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE OF THE SPOT WHERE THE WELCOME STRANGER NUGGET WAS FOUND IN 1869, another rich gold reef has been STRUCKSunraysia Daily (Mildura, Vic. : 1920 - 1970), Friday 19 October 1928
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| Dunolly — Centre of a Very Fine Agricultural District. 1. Post office with war memorial in front. 2. Some of the leading citizens. Girls at the State School. 4. Public Hospital. 5. The Main Street. 6. Some of the lady members of the golf club. 7. Eucalyptus oil distilling plant. 8. Town Hall and Council Chambers. 9. Boys at the State School. 10. A wood-cutting plant. 11. Members of golf club house. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 1 December 1928 |
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| Town Hall and Council Chambers, Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 1 December 1928 |
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| This somewhat tomb-like structure marks the spot where the world's biggest nugget was found. The locality is a few miles from Dunolly, State forests surround it for miles. Thii monument, ami hundreds of caved- in shafts, are (he only evidences left of the huge army of gold-seekers of "the Sixties." The inscription on the granite is as follows: — "Welcome Stranger Nugget. On this spot the largest nugget of gold found in the world was discovered on 5th February, 1 S it 9 , by John Deason and Richard Oata. Weight 231 dors — value £9553. K reeled by Mines Department, 1897 Henry Foster, Minister for Mines. D. J. Duggan, M.I. A.. Member for Dunolly."Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 8 September 1928 |
1930s
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| Back to Dunolly—Large numbers of Visitors- took part in Happy Reunions -Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 16 April 1932 |
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| Back to Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 16 April 1932 |
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| Dunolly Football Team (Maryborough League). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 19 November 1932 |
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| Matron Bryant and Day Staff at the hospital, Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 19 August 1933 |
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| M Taylor and party paddocking for alluvial gold at Burn Creek, Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 19 August 1933 |
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| Dunolly, VIC, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 19 August 1933, |
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| DU NOLLY DIGGERS’ GUARD OF HONOR FOR DUKE. Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956), Friday 2 November 1934 |
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The Dunolly Nugget. The 83oz. gold nugget, the largest found in the Dunolly district for some years, which was. unearthed by Mr W. Baker and his partner, Mr Matthews, at Barnes Flat, photographed at the Royal Mint today. .Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Tuesday 17 April 1934 |
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| Double Murder At Dunolly, The 90-year-old delicenscd hotel in the main street, where the bodies were discovered.Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 8 October 1938 |
1940s and WWII
Construction of Bulk Wheat Storage at Dunolly, 1941/42. during WW2 for the emergency storage of wheat. (called stick shed because of the timber supports.
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| Construction of Bulk Wheat Storage, Dunolly, VIC, 1941/42. Constructed during WW2 for the emergency storage of wheat (520 metres long, 74 metres wide) |
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SERVICE CASUALTIES. Mr and Mrs Charles Raven, of Dunolly, have been officially advised that their youngest son, Sgt-Plt Charles M. Raven, was killed in an aircraft accident at Khartoum on June 16. Sgt-Plt Raven, who was 25, was educated at Dunolly SS and Maryborough TS, and when he enlisted in RAAF was employed as an engineering draughtsman in M Sgt-Plt C. M.Raven and M BW. After training in Australia he left for abroad in November, 1941, and later transferred from England to Middle East for further training. He was a keen cricketer, footballer, and golfer.Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 13 July 1943, |
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Flt-Sgt Austin James Collins, who was killed in an aircraft accident in New Guinea on June 1, was born at Dunolly. On completing his education at Xavier College, he entered the Crown Law Department, and was relieving clerk of courts in many parts of Victoria. He joined the Air Force in 1940, and after 6 months service with the RAF at Singapore, returned to Australia from India after the fall of Malaya. Since January last he had been attached to a bomber squadron. His widow and infant son are residing with his mother, Mrs. M. Collins, Bayview crescent, Black Rock.Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 27 July 1943 |
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| PATRIOTIC CITIZENS OF DUNOLLY, Employes of Dunoily branch of Maryborough Knitting Mills, Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 22 March 1944 |
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| C. Llewellyn, O.C. (right, and local member of the Volunteer Defence Corps. (Dunolly, VIC) Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 22 March 1944 |
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| Employes at Dunolly annexe of Maryborough Knitting Mills. Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 1 October 1947 |
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Top. Infant Welfare Committee, including Mesdames Shiell (pres.), Raselli (sec.), and Harrop (treas.). Bottom. Hospital staff. In front Dr. P. Jenkins, MatronP. P. O'Hair, Mr K. W. Butler (sec.)
Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 1 October 1947 |
1950s
MALLEE WHEAT is pouring into the 10,000,000-bushel Dunolly wheat store, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Wednesday 4 January 1950
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| Young and old from round Dunolly, VIC. The school Mothers' Club with Mesdamet H. Thomas ( v.-pres.), A. Cole ( treat.), \ H. Watt (pres.) and A. E. Raven (see.) The First Dunolly scouts and cubs with Messrs. . A. Milne, scout master (left), and J. Cole, troop leader (right).Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 1 August 1951 |
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| The Infant Welfare Centre Committee — Mesdames A. Duff, R. Mort-lock ( Sister L. Boles, Mesdames A. Milne ( pres.), C. Davenport, A. Darby ( v.-pres.) and R. Deledio.Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 1 August 1951 |
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| The District Hospital nursing staff with Matron O. Cook and Mr. K. W. Butler (Dunolly, VIC). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 1 August 1951 |
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| Members of the locat Urban Fire Brigade with Messrs G. S. Williams (capt.) A. Downs (It.) and J. K. Richards (Dunolly, VIC). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Wednesday 1 August 1951 |
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| Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 14 April 1956 |
1980s
Train services to Dunolly
ceased in 1980.
Dunolly Stick Shed was demolished in 1987.
2020s
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| Bendigo Hotel and Billiard Room, Dunolly, VIC, in 2025. The hotel was built in 1857 |
Around Dunolly
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| Dunolly’s Historic Court House, VIC |
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| The Dunolly Town Hall, VIC, was originally built as a courthouse by the Public Works Department in 1884. The first town hall was built in 1862-63 |
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| Dunolly’s Historic Court House, on the corner of Market and Bull Street, Dunolly, VIC |
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| Dunolly, VIC, lock up built 1863 |
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| Dunolly Uniting Church, 94 Barkly Street, VIC, (Former Wesleyan Church (1863) and Jubilee Sabbath School (1887). Now Uniting |
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| Dunolly Cemetery, VIC, established 1856 |
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| Dunolly Cemetery, VIC, established 1856 |
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| The first Anglican Church, Dunolly, VIC, was opened in 1858. The current Church is a freestone church designed by architects Vahland and Getzschmann and built between 1866-69 |
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| Old red brick stables behind the former Cobb and Co coaching station, Dunolly, VIC (Cobb and Co was most active in the 1860s) |
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| Dunolly Horse Activity Club is situated at Racecourse Rd Dunolly, VIC. The club began in 1984 |
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| Dunolly Museum, VIC |
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| Ying's Terminus Hotel Dunolly, VIC. Wong Ying, a Chinese youth from Canton came to Dunolly to work for his uncle in a grocery shop. He later bought the Terminus Hotel in Dunolly, owing it until 1956 |
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| Original Court House Dunolly, VIC, was built by James Nichols in 1858 |
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| St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1 Hardy Street, Dunolly, VIC (was built between 1868-71 and opened on 17/9/1871) |
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| In April 1865 the Dunolly and Bet Bet Shire Express reported that William Footer was building himself a "great house" which became the Footers Mansion, on Broadway, on the main street of Dunolly, VIC |
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| Abandoned buildings, Dunolly, VIC |
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The Post Office, Dunolly, VIC, was erected in 1891
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Things To Do and Places To Go
Dunolly Museum
The Dunolly Historic Precinct and Walk
