A Brief History of the Region

This region of Victoria was settled in 1838 by the "Over Straiters", settlers who came across Bass Strait fron Van Diemens Land after the original settlement at Port Philip Bay by John Batman and John Fawkner in 1835.

Landing at Geelong with their flocks they soon had to move further afield and came to this area up the Moorabool River. Names such as Von Stieglitz, Covvie, Stead, Wallace and Egerton are synonymous with this area.

As the population increased Ballan grew as a service town. Initially there was the "Werribee Hunt", a changing post for Cobb & Co, the Little Blue Store postal facilities and St Johns Anglican Parish to attend to the spiritual needs of the settlers.

Discovery of gold in the Ballarat district saw the influx of travelers passing through to seek their fortune. Gradually more business enterprises were established in Ballan to fulfill the needs of the passing parade and so the township grew. As more closer settlements were established Ballan became a service town for the farming community and remains so to this day.

Mt Egerton developed from the discovery of gold in "All Nations Gully" in 1853 and the subsequent realisation of the richness of the quartz reef that passed through the area. This led to the establishment of deep mining and large mining companies dominating the area. The development of the township waxed and waned with the success and failure of these enterprises. Today the township remains a quiet breakwater in a farming and mining community.

Similarly gold was discovered in the Gordon area in 1858. By 1885 Gordon had developed as the centre of a mining and agricultural district. Although mining is no longer active in the area the township still retains a post office, police station, store, hotel and is now a peaceful cul-de-sac in a district renown for it's heritage, natural beauty and fly-fishing.