Kingston, Victoria: Difference between revisions
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== Economy == |
== Economy == |
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[[File:Wheat harvest in Kingston, Victoria.jpg|thumb|Morrish Bros in 1922 harvest wheat in Kingston]] |
[[File:Wheat harvest in Kingston, Victoria.jpg|thumb|Morrish Bros in 1922 harvest wheat in Kingston]] |
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The area's rich red [[volcanic soil]] and good rainfall support agricultural industries including [[potatoes]] (typically grown for food processor [[McCain Foods|McCains]]), [[sheep]] and [[wheat]]. An illustrated article in the ''Australiasian'' in 1904 noted that; <blockquote>The districts of Newlyn, Dean, Kingston, and Smeaton are among the most noted farming districts in Victoria. The soil is volcanic, and of great richness. The country is charmingly picturesque. Hay and potatoes are the chief crops cultivated, and the fattening of sheep and cattle is largely carried on. Red clover is a pasture crop widely grown, and it thrives wonderfully well throughout these districts. [Hay]stack building has been carried to great perfection. Haystacks meet the eye everywhere, and such stacks are worth travelling miles to see. They are trim, well built, and beautifully thatched. The Smeaton Agricultural Society recently offered a series of prizes for the best built stacks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1904-05-07 |title=Round Newlyn and Dean. |pages=27 |work=The Australasian |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138767745 |access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref> </blockquote>In 1921, after the district agricultural show was held at [[Allendale, Victoria|Allendale]], some members proposed relocating future shows to Kingston, and subsequently a plot of land was acquired near its railway station with Mr. W. H. Gore, the shire engineer, overseeing the layout.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1922-07-20 |title=Smeaton Show Grounds : Land Board Inquiry Question of Retention as Recreation Ground : Interesting Evidence. |pages=6 |work=Ballarat Star |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213037172 |access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref> In 1922, all the structures and equipment, including the grandstand, were relocated to this new location using a [[Handley Page|Handley-Page]] steam engine. Intense debate during the annual meeting in 1923 resolved to change the name to the 'Kingston, Smeaton, Newlyn, and Dean Agricultural Society.'<ref>{{Cite news |date=1923-12-15 |title=Kingston |pages=8 |work=Ballarat Star |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213859726 |access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref> |
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=== Decline === |
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Nevertheless, its location, being around 25 minutes from Daylesford, has made it attractive to retirees and city folk looking to buy weekenders or holiday houses (which while they may be transient residents, has provided some much needed new investment and stimulated the local economy). |
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Businesses, shops, and the primary school in 2004, closed after trade dwindled, initiating that vicious circle of decline faced by many country towns that is exacerbated by the consequent need to travel greater distances for basic services. |
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=== Revival === |
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Holiday and business accommodation in Kingston is increasingly provided by [[bed and breakfasts|bed and breakfast]] facilities as well as by the Commercial Hotel, reopened after a 12-year closure. The location of Kingston between Daylesford and Ballarat, and its undulating rural outlook, has made it attractive to retirees, and also for city folk looking to buy weekenders or holiday houses, bringing new investment and stimulating the local economy. |
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== Heritage == |
== Heritage == |
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== Education == |
== Education == |
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[[File:Kingston Primary School in 1909.jpg|thumb|Kingston Primary School in 1909]] |
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In 1865, in a brick school building and teacher's house finished in the previous year Kingston opened a 'common school' under its first head teacher Joshua Thomas. During the twentieth century enrolments fluctuated between 100 and 160 and in periods when the school became overcrowd classes were relocated to the Church of England. In 1970 its name was changed to Kingston Primary School, number 759. |
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In December 2004, Kingston Primary School, following years of lack of support by local parents, closed its doors due to declining enrolments after 142 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 2004 |title=School closes after 142 years |language=en |website=The Age |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/school-closes-after-142-years-20041215-gdz71m.html |access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref> Subsequently, with the 2013 closure of nearby Smeaton Primary School, children travel even greater distances to the larger schools in Creswick or Daylesford. |
In December 2004, Kingston Primary School, following years of lack of support by local parents, closed its doors due to declining enrolments after 142 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 2004 |title=School closes after 142 years |language=en |website=The Age |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/school-closes-after-142-years-20041215-gdz71m.html |access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref> Subsequently, with the 2013 closure of nearby Smeaton Primary School, children travel even greater distances to the larger schools in Creswick or Daylesford. |
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Revision as of 13:12, 22 July 2023
| Kingston Victoria | |
|---|---|
 The Restored Commercial Hotel at Kingston the last of the hotels still currently trading. | |
  Kingston | |
| Coordinates | 37°22′0″S 143°57′0″E / 37.36667°S 143.95000°E |
| Population | 177 (2016 census)[1] |
| Established | 3364 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Hepburn |
| State electorate(s) | Ripon |
| Federal division(s) | Ballarat |
Kingston is a small town in rural Shire of Hepburn in Victoria, Australia. Kingston is located just off the Midland Highway about 15 kilometres from Creswick, and is about 20 km from Daylesford. Kingston's post code is 3364.
At the 2016 census, Kingston had a population of 177.[2]
History
Kingston was once a thriving gold mining town during the Victorian Gold Rush. Kingston Post Office opened on 11 October 1858.[3] A polling place for the Creswick electoral district was first opened in the town in October 1860.[4] It became the administrative centre of the Creswick Shire until the merging of the Shire and Borough of Creswick on 29 May 1934.
Kingston once had a large coach and vehicle building manufacturer, Barker Brothers, up to 10 ten hotels, a flour mill and numerous chaff mills. After the miners left so did the industry and in 1976 the railway station and the Creswick–Daylesford train line closed.
Economy
The area's rich red volcanic soil and good rainfall support agricultural industries including potatoes (typically grown for food processor McCains), sheep and wheat. An illustrated article in the Australiasian in 1904 noted that;
The districts of Newlyn, Dean, Kingston, and Smeaton are among the most noted farming districts in Victoria. The soil is volcanic, and of great richness. The country is charmingly picturesque. Hay and potatoes are the chief crops cultivated, and the fattening of sheep and cattle is largely carried on. Red clover is a pasture crop widely grown, and it thrives wonderfully well throughout these districts. [Hay]stack building has been carried to great perfection. Haystacks meet the eye everywhere, and such stacks are worth travelling miles to see. They are trim, well built, and beautifully thatched. The Smeaton Agricultural Society recently offered a series of prizes for the best built stacks.[5]
In 1921, after the district agricultural show was held at Allendale, some members proposed relocating future shows to Kingston, and subsequently a plot of land was acquired near its railway station with Mr. W. H. Gore, the shire engineer, overseeing the layout.[6] In 1922, all the structures and equipment, including the grandstand, were relocated to this new location using a Handley-Page steam engine. Intense debate during the annual meeting in 1923 resolved to change the name to the 'Kingston, Smeaton, Newlyn, and Dean Agricultural Society.'[7]
Decline
Businesses, shops, and the primary school in 2004, closed after trade dwindled, initiating that vicious circle of decline faced by many country towns that is exacerbated by the consequent need to travel greater distances for basic services.
Revival
Holiday and business accommodation in Kingston is increasingly provided by bed and breakfast facilities as well as by the Commercial Hotel, reopened after a 12-year closure. The location of Kingston between Daylesford and Ballarat, and its undulating rural outlook, has made it attractive to retirees, and also for city folk looking to buy weekenders or holiday houses, bringing new investment and stimulating the local economy.
Heritage
Kingston still retains some of its old buildings including the restored Commercial Hotel (all the other old buildings are now all in private ownership) such as the old Shire Office building, the former Church of England and Uniting Church.
War memorials
An Avenue of Honour of 280 elm trees is dedicated to those who served in World War I, and roadside memorials commemorate service personnel of both Worlds Wars, and the Borneo, Korea, and Vietnam conflicts.
Education
In 1865, in a brick school building and teacher's house finished in the previous year Kingston opened a 'common school' under its first head teacher Joshua Thomas. During the twentieth century enrolments fluctuated between 100 and 160 and in periods when the school became overcrowd classes were relocated to the Church of England. In 1970 its name was changed to Kingston Primary School, number 759.
In December 2004, Kingston Primary School, following years of lack of support by local parents, closed its doors due to declining enrolments after 142 years.[8] Subsequently, with the 2013 closure of nearby Smeaton Primary School, children travel even greater distances to the larger schools in Creswick or Daylesford.
Notable residents
- Arthur Harold Brownbill (1898–1917) killed in action at Gallipoli in WWI[9]
- William Roy Hodgson (1892-1958), soldier and public servant, ambassador[10]
- Louis Edward Shapcott (1877–1950); public servant in West Australian Premiers' Department, serving seven Premiers 1914-41[11][12]
- Miles Staniforth Cater Smith (1869-1934), politician and administrator, municipal councillor in 1898, mayor of Kalgoorlie in 1900-01, senator in the first federal government after Federation[13]
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kingston (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Kingston (Vic.)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 4 April 2021
- ^ "The Nomination and Polling Places for Electoral Districts". The Argus. 10 October 1860. p. 5. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Round Newlyn and Dean". The Australasian. 7 May 1904. p. 27. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Smeaton Show Grounds : Land Board Inquiry Question of Retention as Recreation Ground : Interesting Evidence". Ballarat Star. 20 July 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Kingston". Ballarat Star. 15 December 1923. p. 8. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "School closes after 142 years". The Age. 15 December 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Arthur Harold BROWNBILL". vwma.org.au. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Watt, Alan, "Hodgson, William Roy (1892–1958)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 22 July 2023
- ^ Hughes, J., "Shapcott, Louis Edward (1877–1950)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 22 July 2023
- ^ "FB28: Louis Shapcott, - Honour Avenues". honouravenueskingspark.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Gibbney, H. J., "Smith, Miles Staniforth Cater (1869–1934)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 22 July 2023
External links
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