Gringegalgona
Victoria
Gringegalgona Hall and Fire Shed, 2023
View from Gringegalgona towards Mount Dundas
Gringegalgona is located in Shire of Southern Grampians
Gringegalgona
Gringegalgona
Coordinates37°25′S 141°47′E / 37.417°S 141.783°E / -37.417; 141.783
Population44 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)3315, 3407
Location
LGA(s)Shire of Southern Grampians
State electorate(s)Lowan
Federal division(s)Wannon
Localities around Gringegalgona:
Coojar Englefield Vasey
Brit Brit Gringegalgona Vasey
Wootong Vale Melville Forest Gatum

Gringegalgona, also known as Gringe, is a locality in Western Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census Gringegalgona had a population of 44.[1]

Etymology

The area is named for the homestead and station, squatted by Simon Cadden in 1843. The name is believed to be indigenous in origin, with locals believing it means "water like urine" or to "micturate on a tussock".[2]

History

The original size of Gringegalgona station was approximately 58,880 acres and could run approximately 16,000 sheep.[3] Simon Cadden was killed by local indigenous people in and was buried in a lone grave on the station. The grave still exists nearby the ruins of Cadden's original homestead.[4] The station was passed on to William Lewis in 1854. In 1860 the station was subdivided and was co-owned by William Lewis and John Lewis until 1861 when Duncan Robertson purchased Gringegalgona. [5]Robertson was from Scotland and spoke Scottish Gaelic as a first language. Robertson built the present homestead in 1873, utilising sandstone from nearby Mt Melville in the Dundas Ranges. [4]

It was common for kangaroo drives to take place on Gringegalgona. Kangaroos were rounded up into yards and beaten to death.[2]

Sheep on the station were washed in a large dam, known as a sheepwash, prior to shearing. A sawmill was nearby to the sheepwash.

In 1920 Gringegalgona was subdivided as part of the Soldier Settlement scheme for soldiers returning from the First World War. Blocks were subdivided into approximately 900 acre sections, and leased to soldiers on the proviso that they were improved, fenced and cleared appropriately.[6] A monument to the original soldier settlers is on a plaque in Gringegalgona.[7]

Gringegalgona Settlers Memorial Plaque

In 1925 a soldiers' memorial hall was built in Gringegalgona to honour the fallen in World War One. Built on land donated by soldier settler William Toleman, it was designed by fellow soldier settler Vine Yuill and cost £490 to build. [8] The hall was proposed to be rebuilt in the late 2000s, however some public outcry meant that this did not occur. The hall was re-roofed however the interior was not renovated and the hall is no longer in use.

Gringegalgona Settlers Memorial Reserve

Gringegalgona State School (no. 4349) was opened near the hall in 1927. It was run part time with Brit Brit State School until 1928, after which it became a full time school. In 1948 the school closed and was moved to Balmoral to become one of the classrooms of Balmoral Consolidated School.[9] Bil-Bil-Wyt SS no. 1936 and Gringe North no. 4234 State Schools were also located in Gringegalgona.[10] Bil-Bil-Wyt closed in 1903 when the five families with the surname Brown who used the school all moved to Coleraine.[11] Gringe North was closed in 1945 and the building was moved approximately five kilometres from its original location.

Gringegalgona once had a tennis club, football club and cricket club,[12] however these have all folded.

Gringe Fire Brigade has been based at Gringegalgona since moving from Brit Brit in 1995.

References

  1. ↑ "2021 Gringegalgona, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  2. 1 2 Victorian historical magazine 1927  Volume: 11 Issue: 44. (1927). Melbourne: Historical Society of Victoria.
  3. ↑ "Claims to Leases of Crown Lands" (PDF). Port Phillip Government Gazette. 21 February 1849.
  4. 1 2 "Gringegalgona". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  5. ↑ "Heritage Place - Gringegalgona" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Public Record Office Victoria Collection | PROV". prov.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  7. ↑ "Gringegalgona Soldier Settlement | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  8. ↑ "Gringegalgona Soldiers Memorial Hall | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  9. ↑ "Gringegalgona SS 4349, Coleraine, Victoria, Australia". www.swvic.org. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  10. ↑ Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of state education in Victoria, Vols. 2 & 3, Education Department of Victoria, Melbourne, 1973
  11. ↑ "Bil-bil-wyt SS 1936, Coleraine, Victoria, Australia". www.swvic.org. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  12. ↑ Coleraine District Cricket Association Premiers 1952.
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