KYNETON. The former Bank of NSW built in 1856. It is now the town museum.
Kyneton.
The Carlsruhe sheep run taken up in 1838 by Ebden covered a huge area from modern Woodend to Kyneton. In 1839 it was split into two pastoral runs and the run near Kyneton was taken over my Charles Wedge and then shortly after by Henry Jeffreys who built his slab homestead on the current town site astride the Campaspe River. In 1848 Henry Jeffreys went into partnership with Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe as this was still part of NSW then (the Governor was based in Sydney but the Lieutenant Governor was based on Port Phillip Bay.) Perhaps not coincidentally a small courthouse was established in 1848 on the Campaspe River at this spot after La Trobe had visited his and his partner’s property. La Trobe decided to make the courthouse site a town site which he called Kyneton after the birthplace of Henry Jeffreys’ wife who was born in Kineton Warwickshire. The town was gazetted as Kyneton in 1850 just before the first gold was found at Bendigo and around Mt Alexander in late 1851. Kyneton grew quickly as it was a resting place on the journey from Melbourne to Bendigo and impressive basaltic bluestone buildings were erected as there was a plentiful supply of good bluestone between Kyneton and Taradale. By the late 1850s there was an impressive array of bluestone public buildings in Kyneton including: the Kyneton Courthouse erected in 1856; the Anglian church (built 1852 and rebuilt 1856 with the west tower added 1928); the Congregational Church (built 1853 and rebuilt 1860 but now a theatre); the Mechanics Institute built 1854 (and rebuilt 1897); the Catholic Church built in 1857, the Presbyterian Church also built in 1857 and numerous banks, shops, the school (built in 1855, extended 1861 and in 1906 and still in use as the state school) and the hospital. Also built in the 1850s in bluestone was the De Graves three storey flourmill (1857) a few kilometres out of the town and another steam flourmill for Willis Brothers was built partially in bluestone in Piper Street in 1862. Some notable houses and residences were also built in the 1850s including the Attic House in 1858, the rear part of Carn Brae built in 1854 and Inverugie opposite the old town school which was built in 1858. The two storey grand Kyneton Hospital built between 1854 and 1856 with an amazing little morgue behind it of the same vintage as it was built in 1859 when the east wing was added to the hospital. The west wing was added in 1874. The hospital’s lacework wrought iron veranda was added in 1910 thus destroying the Georgian appearance of the hospital. General use of the hospital ceased in 1942. Alas it is now vacant and vandalised but there are plans to restore it and convert it into apartments. The oldest house in Kyneton is believed to be the Anglican rectory built in 1853. One of the many fine two storey banks - the former Bank of NSW built in 1856 is now the town museum which has the homestead of Theaden station (1840) relocated in its grounds.
Keyneton also has a fine Botanic Garden along the edge of the Campaspe River. It was established in the 1880s although the site was reserved for this purpose back in 1867. Across the river from the Botanic Gardens is the bluestone railway station and goods shed which were built in 1862. Some of the later buildings of Kyneton, not in bluestone, are also of great interest. They include the rebuilt Royal George Hotel which was built in its current style in 1915 to replace an earlier structure from 1860 which was called the Diggers Arms Hotel; the wonderful Art Nouveau style Bank of New South Wales built in 1904 in Mollison Street; the impressive Post Office and tower built in 1871; the Congregational Sunday School built in Arts and Crafts style in 1898; the former Kyneton Market on the corner of Piper and Ebden Streets built in 1878 which is again being sued for that purpose; and the slightly bizarre Ellim Eek house with tower and griffins along the roof which was built in 1890 and remodelled in 1906 with the griffins etc. It is now used as solicitor’s offices. Many of the shops of Kyneton date from the 1850s but one in classical style is worth special mention as it was constructed in 1852 exemplifying the optimism and confidence of the early settlers of Kyneton because of the nearby goldfields. This fine classical store is at 68 Piper Street almost opposite the town museum.
KYNETON. The former Bank of NSW built in 1856. It is now the town museum.
Kyneton.
The Carlsruhe sheep run taken up in 1838 by Ebden covered a huge area from modern Woodend to Kyneton. In 1839 it was split into two pastoral runs and the run near Kyneton was taken over my Charles Wedge and then shortly after by Henry Jeffreys who built his slab homestead on the current town site astride the Campaspe River. In 1848 Henry Jeffreys went into partnership with Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe as this was still part of NSW then (the Governor was based in Sydney but the Lieutenant Governor was based on Port Phillip Bay.) Perhaps not coincidentally a small courthouse was established in 1848 on the Campaspe River at this spot after La Trobe had visited his and his partner’s property. La Trobe decided to make the courthouse site a town site which he called Kyneton after the birthplace of Henry Jeffreys’ wife who was born in Kineton Warwickshire. The town was gazetted as Kyneton in 1850 just before the first gold was found at Bendigo and around Mt Alexander in late 1851. Kyneton grew quickly as it was a resting place on the journey from Melbourne to Bendigo and impressive basaltic bluestone buildings were erected as there was a plentiful supply of good bluestone between Kyneton and Taradale. By the late 1850s there was an impressive array of bluestone public buildings in Kyneton including: the Kyneton Courthouse erected in 1856; the Anglian church (built 1852 and rebuilt 1856 with the west tower added 1928); the Congregational Church (built 1853 and rebuilt 1860 but now a theatre); the Mechanics Institute built 1854 (and rebuilt 1897); the Catholic Church built in 1857, the Presbyterian Church also built in 1857 and numerous banks, shops, the school (built in 1855, extended 1861 and in 1906 and still in use as the state school) and the hospital. Also built in the 1850s in bluestone was the De Graves three storey flourmill (1857) a few kilometres out of the town and another steam flourmill for Willis Brothers was built partially in bluestone in Piper Street in 1862. Some notable houses and residences were also built in the 1850s including the Attic House in 1858, the rear part of Carn Brae built in 1854 and Inverugie opposite the old town school which was built in 1858. The two storey grand Kyneton Hospital built between 1854 and 1856 with an amazing little morgue behind it of the same vintage as it was built in 1859 when the east wing was added to the hospital. The west wing was added in 1874. The hospital’s lacework wrought iron veranda was added in 1910 thus destroying the Georgian appearance of the hospital. General use of the hospital ceased in 1942. Alas it is now vacant and vandalised but there are plans to restore it and convert it into apartments. The oldest house in Kyneton is believed to be the Anglican rectory built in 1853. One of the many fine two storey banks - the former Bank of NSW built in 1856 is now the town museum which has the homestead of Theaden station (1840) relocated in its grounds.
Keyneton also has a fine Botanic Garden along the edge of the Campaspe River. It was established in the 1880s although the site was reserved for this purpose back in 1867. Across the river from the Botanic Gardens is the bluestone railway station and goods shed which were built in 1862. Some of the later buildings of Kyneton, not in bluestone, are also of great interest. They include the rebuilt Royal George Hotel which was built in its current style in 1915 to replace an earlier structure from 1860 which was called the Diggers Arms Hotel; the wonderful Art Nouveau style Bank of New South Wales built in 1904 in Mollison Street; the impressive Post Office and tower built in 1871; the Congregational Sunday School built in Arts and Crafts style in 1898; the former Kyneton Market on the corner of Piper and Ebden Streets built in 1878 which is again being sued for that purpose; and the slightly bizarre Ellim Eek house with tower and griffins along the roof which was built in 1890 and remodelled in 1906 with the griffins etc. It is now used as solicitor’s offices. Many of the shops of Kyneton date from the 1850s but one in classical style is worth special mention as it was constructed in 1852 exemplifying the optimism and confidence of the early settlers of Kyneton because of the nearby goldfields. This fine classical store is at 68 Piper Street almost opposite the town museum.