About Us
The township of Crowlands was surveyed in 1849 and officially named by Governor La Trobe in 1850. The first allotments were also sold in 1850 and Daniel Noonan was one of the buyers. He build the Travellers Rest Hotel, which still stands today (Now a Bed & Breakfast).
A strong police depot was established in 1854. On several occasions local police were sent to quell disturbances on the Ararat Diggings.
By 1886, the gold supply was diminishing and Crowlands comprised about 20 dwellings. Cobb and Co plied regularly with mails, goods and passengers.
The need for a local school was soon realized and in 1863 Mr Butler became the first teacher. He was also the Clerk of Courts, Registrar of Births and Deaths and Postmaster with an annual salary of 150 pounds.
Mrs Butler taught the girls sewing and night school was also conducted by Mr Butler. Six children attended from families of Noonan, O’Halloran, Boatman and Stevens.
The District received an uplift by the construction of the Ararat to Maryborough railway line which opened in 1890. The Navarre railway line passed through Crowlands in 1914.
The Crowlands community managed to build a Roman Catholic and a Methodist Church (still used), in 1934 and 1936 respectively.
Crowlands played its part in four wars. The Boer War had a volunteer from the district in Trouper Jack Noonan of the Australian Light Horse, Grandson of Daniel Noonan, deemed by many to be the first permanent resident of Crowlands.
A LIST OF CROWLANDS EARLIEST SETTLERS
MATTHEW HARLAND
DANIEL NOONAN
JAMES COLGATE
MICHAEL O’HALLORAN
CHARLES BOATMAN
GEORGE STEVENS
WILLIAM HOWLETT
EDWARD START
RICHARD JAMES
JOHN WILLIAMS
WILLIAM KAYE
JOHN SHIELDS
MICHAEL GRIFFIN
EARNEST MATTHEWS
WILLIAM NONMUS
MR ROBINSON
MR O’BRIEN
MR CRAIG
MR MacKAY