Peter F B Alsop

September 17, 2014 7 Comments

The Old Iron Bridge at ShelfordI can’t think of any image more appropriate than the Old Iron Bridge at Shelford to bring back memories of Peter Alsop.  Ss Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church at Ashby [Mercer Street, Geelong] would be up there and there were so many other buildings and structures with which Peter was involved but as an engineer bridge’s were hard to beat.

I say “bring back memories” because sadly Peter died 6 September 2014.  He was buried with his parents at a private funeral last week.  Our thoughts are with Peter’s close friends and respect his wish for privacy.

It is important however that all those researchers over the years who admired and benefitted from Peter’s knowledge are aware of this sad loss to our Geelong community.

Peter treasured his privacy even more after the death of his close friend, Ian Wynd, in 2003.  We have been so fortunate over the years with some major contributors to our history – Ian, Peter, Bill Morrow, Philip Brown, Ruth Hill, and Bill Smith – we’ve been spoilt and we miss them all.

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Farmland, Forest & Surf: Environmental History

March 20, 2011 Leave a comment

New book index added to Geelong & District Database.

Farmland, Forest & Surf: Environmental History, prepared by Dr Carlotta Kellaway (1998), revised & updated by Dr David Rowe (2009) as part of the Surf Coast Shire Heritage Study Stage 2B (2009).  This publication of the Environmental History from the Heritage Study was produced by the Surf Coast Shire (2010).

Introduction: The Surf Coast Shire’s special landscape features and natural beauties have been identified over many decades as factors that have contributed to its popularity both as a holiday and resort place, and a desirable place to live and work.  Although close to Melbourne and to Geelong, Victoria’s second largest town, the Shire (an amalgam of parts of the former Shires of Barrabool, South Barwon and Winchelsea) is notable for its attractive natural features and relatively undeveloped condition.  It includes coastal holiday places along the Great Ocean Road, large areas of national park and forest reserves, and extensive pastoral landscapes.

This publication includes the following chapters: The Natural Environment; Arrival and Settlement; Economic Development in the Shire; Transport and Communications; Towns; Governing the Shire; Holidaying at Surf Coast; Community Life; Housing; and an extensive bibliography.

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Year of Hope: 1857 in the Colac district

March 14, 2011 Leave a comment

New book index added to Geelong & District Database.

Year of Hope: 1857 in the Colac district written by Dawn Peel.  The index added to the database includes 1300 Colac residents of 1857 from the appendices in this book.

From the back cover: The Colony of Victoria. January 1857 …

It’s just two years since the Eureka Rebellion. Former miners and ex-convicts are joining with new immigrants to challenge the 20-year domination by squatters in the developing Western District of Victoria. Traditional Aboriginal life has been irreversibly changed.

These are the forces at play in the young township of Colac at the start of 1857. Professional historian Dawn Peel takes us through the following twelve months with a factual and fascinating account of power, religion, class and race in both this local area and the fledgling Victorian colony during its first full year of responsible government.

Key personalities and the social life of a colonial township are also illustrated as Year of Hope creates a detailed vignette of this pivotal year.

Dr Peel has uncovered a wealth of primary sources and other data during her extensive research for this academic and readable study of a key settlement at a vital moment in history.

The book is available from the author – email to check price and availability.

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Winchelsea cemetery: burials

January 23, 2011 1 Comment

New list of burials has been added to the Geelong & District Database.

There are more than 1800 burials in this list for the Winchelsea cemetery.

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The History of Colac and District

January 23, 2011 Leave a comment

New book index added to Geelong & District Database.

The History of Colac and District was compiled by Isaac Hebb in 1970.  This was a limited edition publication which has been out-of-print for some years.  This history was originally printed in 1888 as a series of articles in the local press.  There are more than 400 pages in this wonderful book.

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Peterborough, Port Campbell, Princetown: tourist, historical and fishing guide

January 23, 2011 Leave a comment

New book index added to Geelong & District Database.

Peterborough, Port Campbell, Princetown: tourist, historical and fishing guide written by Jack Loney and published in 1977

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Lorne: a Living History

January 23, 2011 Leave a comment

New book index added to Geelong & District Database

Lorne: a Living History was written by Doug Stirling and published in 2004.

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Colac: Court of Requests Day Book 1850-1857 [VPRS 16626]

January 23, 2011 Leave a comment

Added index to the Geelong & District database and full transcription to the PROV Wiki.

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