Designed by John Furphy who established his blacksmith shop in Shepparton in 1873, Furphy water carts were used by Australian troops in WWI at camps in Australia, Palestine and Egypt to cart away slops and other refuse from cook-houses and latrines.
Greater Shepparton
150 years in the making WELCOME to this special 92 page keepsake edition produced by The Adviser team which commemorates Shepparton's settlement as a village, town and subsequently a City. Considerable effort has been made to bring together many stories of historical significance from the earliest days of settlement, many stories that have appeared in The Adviser, historical records from a mix of publications, articles, numerous photos from the general public, Greater Shepparton City Council, and historical organisations such as Shepparton Heritage Centre and Shepparton Historical Society. The Adviser is most grateful to the many business people and the general public for their contribution in the way of providing historical anecdotes and treasured photos. There are news snippets, obituaries, some in a briefer format than originally published, sports snippets from prior Adviser editions, messages of congratulations from dignitaries including Victorian Premier Mr John Brumby and the Mayor, Cr Geoff Dobson. For many years The Adviser was fortunate to have the services of respected journalist and features writer Tom Carey, who died in May 2009. One of the many extraordinary stories Tom
wrote was following his family's own house fire, this story is well worth reading. The Adviser has covered a large number of topics and has endeavoured to provide something of interest for everyone. Although great care has been a priority in compiling this special publication, we can only rely on the information that has been provided to us, along with the many books and publications that we have drawn information from, therefore The Adviser takes no responsibility for any inaccuracy that may have occurred. This special publication could only have been produced with the suppor t of several organisations and a number of individuals. The Adviser takes this opportunity to thank Shepparton Heritage Centre, Shepparton Historical Society, Greater Shepparton City Council and the following individuals. They are listed here in alphabetical order: Anson Cameron The late Tom Carey Andrew Furphy Arnold Gough Simon Greig Frank Hamer Edwina McFarland
From the Premier
Dom Segafredo Geoff Strong - The Age Richard Trevaskis Bruce Wilson Lance Woodhouse Historical information and photographs have also been sourced from Greater Shepparton City Council archives and publications by the following authors: Andrew Furphy Bill Ayres Elsie Brady John Barnes Ron Michael Senior Constable Robin Sharp Shirley Randles Sue Wallace Raymond West V.E. Vibert This is also an opportunity to thank The Adviser Editorial/Pictorial and Production team for their huge effort and dedication to this special project. These individuals include Nadia McManus, Alicia Zeqir, Luke Simmons, Mathieu Ryan and Stephanie Smith. A big thank you also goes to the entire Adviser advertising and administration team. - Geoff Adams.
City Proclamation
It is a great pleasure to congratulate Shepparton on its 150th Anniversary. Over the past centu r y Premier John Brumby and a half, Shepparton has u ndergone a rema rk able transformation. Established in the year that Burke and Wills set out on their famous expedition, the city has grown from a small settlement on the banks of the Goulburn River to one of the largest and most diverse regional centres in Victoria. Shepparton now sits at the heart of a network of vibrant Victorian towns. I’ve visited Shepparton many times over the years and seen it flourish as a strong economic force. The region is famous for its fruit and dairy, with a global reputation as the Food Bowl of Australia. Your strong sense of leadership has also driven new developments in health, business, tourism and the arts. Most of all, Shepparton is a place where people enjoy living. In many ways, the story of Shepparton reflects the story of Victoria. In 1962, former Chief Librarian for Victoria Colin McCallum said our State had come a long way since the early pioneering days: from the discovery of gold, to the unlocking of land, to waves of immigration and the development of power resources, irrigation and manufacturing. And standing at the geographical centre of it all, McCallum said, was the Goulburn Valley and the City of Shepparton, “with almost unlimited prospects of expansion and growth”. Today, the modern city of Shepparton is still growing. After 150 years, the legacy of hard work and innovation that underpinned Shepparton’s progress is alive and well, and your greatest strength remains your enduring sense of community. Once again I congratulate Shepparton on this historic milestone: I have no doubt your future will be just as bright as your past. JOHN BRUMBY MP Premier of Victoria September 2010
25 year time capsule
AS part of the Shepparton celebrations of 150 years since proclamation, The Adviser thought the celebrations warranted the protection of recording the event and therefore suggested a time capsule be built. The Adviser is extremely grateful for the help of J.Furphy & Sons Pty Ltd and in particular Andrew Furphy, who is engineering the special time capsule. This special edition along with other historical and contemporary documents and items of interest will be placed in the time capsule and buried in October near the redesigned Lake Victoria. The Adviser is also especifically grateful to Greater Shepparton City Council for their support towards this special publication and the time capsule project. The time capsule, is 35 centimetres in diameter and 70 centimetres in length and has a volume capacity of 67 litres. Andrew Furphy told The Adviser “the dry argon being used displaces the oxygen or moisture in the container and can last up to 50 years. The cylinder being used is also painted in plasticised paint so it is corrosion proof”. The time capsule will be opened in 2035, providing a glimpse of Shepparton’s past to a new generation.
From the Mayor Sheppa r ton celebr ates 150 years as a township in September 2010 and I am proud to be Mayor of this great city at this historic time.
Lands and Survey Office Melbourne THE TOWN RESERVE OF SHEPPARTON HE Governor with the advice of the Executive Council, in exercise of the power in him vested in this behalf has, by an Order made on the 24th day of September, 1860, rese rved the land hereinafter described, situ ate on the Goulburn Riv er, as a site for the township of Shepparton . DESCRIPTION OF TH E LAND RESERVED —County unnamed, and county of Rod ney, situated on the Gou lburn River, northerly of the junction of the Broken River with the Goulburn River: Commencing at the south-west angle bearing about north, 20 degrees east fifty-one chains, more or less from the junction of the Broken and Goulbur n Rivers; bounded on the south by a line bearing east ninety-six cha ins, more or less crossing the Goulburn River; on the east by a line bearing north seventy-six chains eighty links; on the north by a line bearing west one hun dred and four chains fifty links to the east bank of the Goulbur n River; following that bank southerly to a point; thence south fort y-nine chains; more or less again cros sing the Goulburn River to the point of commencement. L & S 5173 A.F.A GREEVES
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Page 4 – The Adviser – Shepparton’s 150 years of progress – September 2010
Mayor Cr Geoff Dobson
Much has changed in Shepparton during the 150 years since European settlement and this special newspaper edition captures some of the news events and stories from our past. In our history we have experienced floods, drought and other significant weather events. We have seen changes to our homeland because of irrigation, migration, agriculture, new business, technology, industry and the advances in our built environment. You will notice many of these themes appear in this newspaper’s special edition and I hope you enjoy reliving or learning a little more about our history. The undisputed reason for Shepparton’s success water - has been the backbone of our growth. The importance of our rivers and later the creation of the world’s most intricate network of irrigation channels have seen Shepparton and therefore the region, State and nation prosper. Our region’s history is a story of water, beginning with the traditional owners living off the bounty of the Broken, Goulburn and Murray rivers. Shepparton has a rich Indigenous history and our understanding is continually increasing, often thanks to milestones like this that help us to embrace our heritage. Today Shepparton is a progressive, culturally diverse, modern city, full of opportunity and prosperity. There are many community events happening around the City to celebrate Shepparton’s birthday and I encourage everyone to get involved. We have much to celebrate about Shepparton, let’s do so with pride and enthusiasm.
Cr GEOFF DOBSON Greater Shepparton Mayor September 2010