Mansfield. The historic Courthouse built in 1880.
Mansfield.
Land was taken up in the district in the 1840s and four large runs met at a corner on Fords Creek – Mt Battery, Maindample, Banamum and Loyola. Fords Creek is another tributary of the Goulburn River. William Highett held Maindample and his name became the town’s main street. A government town was surveyed here in 1851 and named Mount Battery after a peak just a few kms away but town blocks were not sold until 1854. The owners of Delatite station (established in 1836 with a different name) bought a town block and opened the Delatite Hotel, a basic iron shanty around that time. The first general store and post office opened in 1855 too. The town name was changed to Mansfield in 1856 after a Nottinghamshire town. A church school opened in 1858 indicating growth of the town. The Anglicans built their first church in 1865 and the Presbyterians built theirs in 1866. By 1866 the town had two hotels and the first police station opened in 1865. The second Police Station came later around 1880. The district around the town grew potatoes, oats, and wheat and was used for grazing cattle. With the arrival of the railway from Melbourne in 1893 dairying became very important. A butter factory opened in 1893. By 1900 the town had 650 inhabitants. Today it has around 3,500.
Along Highett Street you will find the Art Deco Masonic Centre and the adjacent former Fire Station and further along is the former Presbyterian now Uniting Church on the corner of Hunter St. Along Hunter Street is the striking red brick Catholic Church which opened in 1938 although an earlier church opened in the 19th century and is now St Mary’s Parish Hall. Opposite the Uniting Church in Highett St. is the square towered Anglican Church also in red brick. It was completed in 1940 when the 1865 church became obsolete. The unusual and impressive looking War Memorial Arch to the oval is also in Highett Street as is the old Courthouse which also faces the Main Street. The Mansfield Courthouse opened in 1880. It is simple red brick structure designed by a government architect in typical classical Victorian style. In the roundabout is the public subscription Memorial to the three policemen shot dead by the Kelly Gang at nearby Tolmie in 1878.The officers, Kennedy, Lonigan and Scanlon were looking for Ned Kelly and gang when attacked. Following this Ned Kelly and gang were declared outlaws who could be shot on sight. The three officers were buried in the Mansfield cemetery. The memorial was erected in 1880. Next to the Courthouse facing the Main Street is the current Post Office. It was built around 1910 with an Edwardian gable and veranda.
The rich well-watered country here is at the foot of the Great Dividing Range and provides access to Mt Buller ski fields. Although a Ski Club was formed in the 1920s the ski fields of Mt Buller only became well known and popular after World War Two. The town now has a statue of a skier and relies on the tourism generated by travellers to Mt Buller taking a break in their town.
Mansfield. The historic Courthouse built in 1880.
Mansfield.
Land was taken up in the district in the 1840s and four large runs met at a corner on Fords Creek – Mt Battery, Maindample, Banamum and Loyola. Fords Creek is another tributary of the Goulburn River. William Highett held Maindample and his name became the town’s main street. A government town was surveyed here in 1851 and named Mount Battery after a peak just a few kms away but town blocks were not sold until 1854. The owners of Delatite station (established in 1836 with a different name) bought a town block and opened the Delatite Hotel, a basic iron shanty around that time. The first general store and post office opened in 1855 too. The town name was changed to Mansfield in 1856 after a Nottinghamshire town. A church school opened in 1858 indicating growth of the town. The Anglicans built their first church in 1865 and the Presbyterians built theirs in 1866. By 1866 the town had two hotels and the first police station opened in 1865. The second Police Station came later around 1880. The district around the town grew potatoes, oats, and wheat and was used for grazing cattle. With the arrival of the railway from Melbourne in 1893 dairying became very important. A butter factory opened in 1893. By 1900 the town had 650 inhabitants. Today it has around 3,500.
Along Highett Street you will find the Art Deco Masonic Centre and the adjacent former Fire Station and further along is the former Presbyterian now Uniting Church on the corner of Hunter St. Along Hunter Street is the striking red brick Catholic Church which opened in 1938 although an earlier church opened in the 19th century and is now St Mary’s Parish Hall. Opposite the Uniting Church in Highett St. is the square towered Anglican Church also in red brick. It was completed in 1940 when the 1865 church became obsolete. The unusual and impressive looking War Memorial Arch to the oval is also in Highett Street as is the old Courthouse which also faces the Main Street. The Mansfield Courthouse opened in 1880. It is simple red brick structure designed by a government architect in typical classical Victorian style. In the roundabout is the public subscription Memorial to the three policemen shot dead by the Kelly Gang at nearby Tolmie in 1878.The officers, Kennedy, Lonigan and Scanlon were looking for Ned Kelly and gang when attacked. Following this Ned Kelly and gang were declared outlaws who could be shot on sight. The three officers were buried in the Mansfield cemetery. The memorial was erected in 1880. Next to the Courthouse facing the Main Street is the current Post Office. It was built around 1910 with an Edwardian gable and veranda.
The rich well-watered country here is at the foot of the Great Dividing Range and provides access to Mt Buller ski fields. Although a Ski Club was formed in the 1920s the ski fields of Mt Buller only became well known and popular after World War Two. The town now has a statue of a skier and relies on the tourism generated by travellers to Mt Buller taking a break in their town.