COWWARR HISTORY    (1) (Mary Hague)

It is the glorious views of the distant mountains that make Cowwarr an attractive place. When Ned Stringer and other prospectors discovered gold in the mountain country, Cowwarr was just a wilderness, the river flats covered with dense growths of dogwood and scrub. While the pioneers were struggling to get a track through to the goldfields, the first settlers began clearing small areas of the fertile soil to grow food crops for the gold-seekers. Mrs. Mary Anne Iseppi (nee Smith), when aged 80, gave these historical notes. Her family moved to Cowwarr in1867 when she was 10 years of age. The first building in Cowwarr was a bark shanty where Mr. and Mrs. C. Johnson conducted their business. The first hotel was built by Theodore Gebhardt, and this was where dances were held in a room built at the back for that purpose. William Fogarty built the first store and started business with a pair of horses and a covered cart for delivering goods around Denison and district. Along with the store, he owned a team of packhorses and packed provisions in to the goldfields via Bald Hills and McEvoys Track. He later bought land and this property, "Shannon Lodge" is now farmed by a descendant, William Fogarty.

There have been 4 hotels in Cowwarr, only one of which now remains, The Cricket Club. The old coaching hotel, The Prince of Wales, was built of bricks made on the property. Unfortunately, it was demolished a few years ago. It was a fine example of an early coaching inn. The Cowwarr Hotel was destroyed by fire several years ago at a time when it was not licensed. Nothing remains of the fourth hotel which stood at the Toongabbie - Walhalla crossroads but a few stunted fruit trees mark the site. It was named"The Retreat" and was the last hotel on the coach road to Walhalla via Bruntons Bridge. The Brunton Bridge Hotel was conducted by the Kilmartin family and all that remains of the building today are the chimney stones.

The first Cowwarr bakery was run by Mrs. 0ates.

Many men who succeeded on the goldfields bought land on the fertile flats where some of their descendants still reside. Cowwarr township was established when gold-seekers came prospecting. Names of early occupants carrying on business in 1878 include:

•       John Riley, shoemaker;
•       Theodore Gebhart, postmaster;
•       James  Attwood, carrier;
•       J.Derham, farmer;
•       Richard Andrews, butcher;
•       George Clarke, publican;
•       Charles Stone, packer;
•       Harlow Wickes, miner;
•       John Roden, coach proprietor;
•       George Wood, storekeeper;
•       B. Mulcohy, cattle drover;

'Theodore Carl Gebhart opened the Cowwarr Post office on lst February, 1869, running the post office as a side-line to his hotel and farm produce business.  In the 1860s it was a servicing centre for the teamsters who plied between Port Albert and Walhalla goldfields on the route via Bald Hills (Seaton).   This was the way into Aberfeldy, Walhalla, and The Jordan, a rugged packhorse track at first.

The trail was blazed by Tom McEvoy and "Portugee Joe" as a result of a £50 reward being offered at a Sale meeting to the finders of the best track.  These two found the best route between the Thomson River and Glenmaggie Creek.  The story goes that they didn't receive the reward.

One useful stopping place along this track was "The Springs",  (under Mt. Useful).  Richard Mackay, in his book, "History of Gippsland's Early Gold Fields", describes this place:

"The Springs" was owned and run by Mr. Morgan Davies.  It was a long low building of round logs and slabs placed horizontally, roofed with stringy bark, and lighted from openings cut in the wall...  It was about 60 ft. long and about 20 ft. wide and divided into compartments the largest of which served as a living room and kitchen across which extended an enormous chimney angle, wide enough to burn huge logs more like tree trunks. Under an immense crane numerous pots, kettles and other utensils seemed to be everlastingly on the boil or roasting and baking food. Meals served were large and substantial   Morgan was an American.

At Christmas all kinds of races and games were held - running, wrestling, stone putting, caber tossing and jumping. Many people had come to see the bull fight which was an attraction. Horse races were held annually at Cowwarr.