Boolarra History Walk
There are a number of signs with historical information spread around the town.
Boolarra Railway Station
The Boolarra Township grew when the railway line from Morwell to Boolarra was built around 1885. Until then the heavily timbered land had been difficult to access.
The town population grew quickly. Due to the difficult terrain, the line continued only as far as Mirboo North and not to Mirboo as originally planned. The train carried timber and palings along with butter and livestock to Dandenong market.
It also provided a regular mail service. The railway gates were the scene of a tragedy when V. C. Buckley was killed on attempting to jump the gates on his horse after a dare.
Today's rail trail walk follows the path of the railway line. The last train left the station in 1974.
The Club Hotel
This original weatherboard hotel was built in the 1880s for Mr Clarke and was then bought by Thomas Scanlon in 1895. Mr Scanlon added a hall to the original hotel which was used for dances, wedding receptions, and Sunday Mass until the Catholic Church was built in 1907. Later publicans of the hotel were Aubrey Ashley from 1930 to the early 1940s, Bill Shaw, Ted Light, Joe Bolding, Jim Pilbeam, Peg Fletcher, Barry Hayes, Peter and Brenda Hoinville and Bob Kelly. A new hotel called 'The Club' was built by Bob Kelly along the road to Morwell. This original hotel building then became known as the 'Old Boolarra Pub'.
The Boolarra Post Office
This is the site of the first post office in Boolarra. Until 1907 the post office was located in the railway station. At the request of the Boolarra Progress Association the Post Master General's Department decided to establish a contract office in the town.
Thomas Scanlon was the first postmaster. In 1909 this post office ways destroyed by fire and another was erected. Miss Violet Ketels succeeded Mr Scanlon until the early 1920s when Mr and Mrs Dick Jones took over the service until 1953.
The postal service was relocated to its present location in Tarwir Street and later this building was moved to Austin Street, where it stands today.
The Selectors Arms
The Selectors Arms was Boolarra's first hotel and was built by William H. Penaluna in 1884. Mr Penaluna was Boolarra's first settler, buying 312 acres of land at a cost of 12 pounds an acre. Mr Peraluna applied for a liquor license in July 1883.
Three main rooms were used for business: a dining room, main bar, and ladies parlour. The hotel kitchen was built separate to the main building to stop possible cooking fires spreading to other rooms in the hotel.
Penaluna Street, named after the family, runs behind the property. Horse races, which were affiliated with the Victorian Racing Club, were conducted twice a year on part of Penaluna's farm.
Location
Duke Street, Boolarra 3870 View Map
