EXCURSION TO FLYNN   -  (John Power)

Our first stop was at the site of the Upper Flynn School where the gathering was addressed by Barry Farmer.  Barry told us how, in the early 1940's, his late father, Mr. Eric Farmer, and Messrs. Clive Scales, Reuben Rathjen, and Eric Graham had purchased the Traralgon West school building and had it erected on the site.

Barry had attended this school as had Muriel Sawyer (nee Scales) who was also present.  The building was situated on a slight rise and so was well protected from dampness.  A number of large pine trees surrounded the building, providing good shelter.  The largest two of these were removed by the S.E.C. some years ago.  The original school building was erected on the same site in 1880; it closed in 1928.

Mrs. Marge Alexander (nee Crawford), present at the meeting, had attended this school and passed around a photo of 10 of the pupils who had attended in the 1920's.

Barry also mentioned the poplar trees on his property, situated at the foot of the road cutting.  These 2 trees mark the site of twins who died in the 1880's from illness.   Further around, near Maxfield's Road, was the site of the Flynns Creek Hall.  This building was used for many years for social functions; it was sold and removed in the late 1930's.

Our last stop in this area was at Bunstons corner.  This spot used to mark the junction of the roads to Gormandale, Traralgon, and Rosedale.   A little way across, to the east, the late Jimmy Bunston used to live.  Mrs. Kathleen Huffer recalled how Jimmy, in conjunction with Mr. Charles Wykes, had transported the water wheel from Port Albert to Walhalla.

Visible among the pines to the north-east was the A.P.M. Forests settlement.  This is situated at the site of the Gowrie homestead, the home of the Anderson family.  The homestead is still standing and is still used.  In the early days, Bill Anderson had a eucalyptus factory at the back of the property.   Before the A.P.M. bought the property in the 1950's, it was owned by the Bowman family.

Proceeding on to the site of the Flynns Creek township, we were told of the early residents of this part of the district.  Mrs. Margo Fulton, (nee Graham) a descendant of Robert and Ann Graham, who settled at Summerhill in 1873, told us that her family lived at a homestead known as Bonnie Doon which was situated just to the left of the road into Summerhill.  This road was actually one of the streets of the township.  No trace of the homestead remains today.

Across the road, the church was built on one of the township blocks.  School was conducted in this building for many years.  Gladys Furlong (nee Wright) was married in this church.  The original school opened in a bark building in 1870.  It was designated Rural School No 25, and was actually established before any school in Traralgon.  Later on, school was held in a room in the Graham's house at Summerhill, then in the church.  During this time, one of the teachers was Miss Lacey, a member of the well known Sale engineering family.  Eventually, another school building was brought to Flynns Creek and erected on a block close to Summerhill.   This school was eventually burnt down in a bushfire.

Just to the east of the township site is the entrance to Willowbrook, the property selected by Thomas Wright, son of James and Jane Wright, in 1868.

Our next stop was at Rice's Lane.  The Rice family had lived in the vicinity many years ago.  Close by is the head of Blind Joe's Creek, which drains a large area of land between Bunston's Hill and Rosedale.  Further along this lane, Barry Farmer owns a property known as "Magdala".  This land originally formed the pre-emptive right of the Sydney Cottage Run.

We then proceeded to Colliers Lane; at the junction with Pikes Lane we were able to view the wide sweep of country running down to Flynns Creek.   Much of the land in this vicinity has changed hands in recent years.

Early selectors in the area were: Margaret Stuckey, Johnny Pike (After whom the land was named). Thomas Wright, Reuben Pether.  It is believed that it was on Reuben Pether's land that Dockendorf had his mill.  It may have been here, also, that Thomas Wright built the first bark hotel.  Across the road, opposite Pikes Lane, Disher, a shopkeeper from Tarraville, selected land in the 1860's.

We then moved on to the other end of Colliers Lane, where the Old Melbourne Road crosses.  Travelling back along this road, we passed the site of Peterkin's Mill, down on the flat in Jack Gilmour's property.  It was from this mill that many of the blocks that were used to pave the streets of Melbourne, were cut.   Marge Alexander had one of these blocks with her to show us.

Arriving at the Hall, use of which had been kindly arranged for us by Bertie Gilmour, we all sat down to enjoy afternoon tea, while Don read to us the names of the past pupils of the Flynn, or Flinnstead School.  This building, which was erected in 1924, is one of the very few schools in the rural district constructed of brick.  It is still standing although it has not been used as a school for more than 40 years.  Prior to that, from about 1889, school was conducted in a rented building and for a time it was run on a part-time basis with Loy Yang school.

Among the names of the students read out by Don, were Roy Stuckey, and Gladys Furlong (nee Wright) both of whom were present with us.

President John Power thanked Don for the work and time he had put into organizing the excursion.  He also thanked all those who had assisted with information and comments.