Moyston is the self-proclaimed "Birthplace of Australian Football", based on its connection to the sport's founder, Tom Wills, who grew up in the area in the 1840s, and, according to some, played Marn Grook with the Indigenous people of the area.[2]
Historyedit
The first European to see the Moyston area was the explorer Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836.[3]Squatters and their flocks of sheep followed soon after, among them Horatio Wills. His son, Tom Wills, was Australia's first great cricketer and a pioneer of Australian rules football. It has been claimed that, while living in the Moyston area, Wills witnessed or played Marn Grook, an Aboriginal football game that inspired his laws for Australian football.[4] The discovery of gold in 1857 started a small gold rush and the establishment of a township. The Post Office opened on 19 March 1860 as Campbell's Reef and was renamed Moyston in 1866.[5] In 1861, a formal survey of the township was made and blocks offered for sale. By then, the town included two churches, three hotels and a police station.[4]
By 1880, mining in the area had declined and vineyards and orchards were established along with dairying and grazing on newly developed selections. The last mine in the area, the "Golden Gate", ceased operation by around 1910.[4]
The Town todayedit
Today, Moyston is an historic town surrounded by farming properties and where workers employed in the nearby towns of Great Western, Ararat, Stawell, and Halls Gap, reside. Several public businesses operate in and near the town which included the post office, the general store and Clayfield Winery.[6] The town shares an Australian rules football team with nearby Willaura, the Moyston-Willaura Pumas, competing in the Mininera & District Football League.[7]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moyston, Victoria.
^ abAustralian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Moyston (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
^Harris, Amelia (22 March 2008). "Moyston where footy dreams lie", The Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
^"Moyston-Willaura Football & Netball Club". Retrieved 28 August 2007.
April 11, 2024
moyston, victoria, moyston, town, western, district, region, victoria, australia, near, grampians, mountain, range, town, located, rural, city, ararat, local, government, area, kilometres, north, west, state, capital, melbourne, 2021, census, moyston, surround. Moyston is a town in the Western District region of Victoria Australia near the Grampians mountain range The town is located in the Rural City of Ararat local government area 224 kilometres 139 mi north west of the state capital Melbourne At the 2021 census Moyston and the surrounding area had a population of 403 1 Moyston VictoriaApproaching MoystonMoystonCoordinates37 18 0 S 142 46 0 E 37 30000 S 142 76667 E 37 30000 142 76667Population403 2021 census 1 Established1857Postcode s 3377Location224 km 139 mi NW of Melbourne110 km 68 mi W of Ballarat17 km 11 mi W of AraratLGA s Rural City of AraratState electorate s LowanFederal division s WannonMonument and pavilion to Tom Wills inventor of Australian FootballMoyston is the self proclaimed Birthplace of Australian Football based on its connection to the sport s founder Tom Wills who grew up in the area in the 1840s and according to some played Marn Grook with the Indigenous people of the area 2 History editThe first European to see the Moyston area was the explorer Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836 3 Squatters and their flocks of sheep followed soon after among them Horatio Wills His son Tom Wills was Australia s first great cricketer and a pioneer of Australian rules football It has been claimed that while living in the Moyston area Wills witnessed or played Marn Grook an Aboriginal football game that inspired his laws for Australian football 4 The discovery of gold in 1857 started a small gold rush and the establishment of a township The Post Office opened on 19 March 1860 as Campbell s Reef and was renamed Moyston in 1866 5 In 1861 a formal survey of the township was made and blocks offered for sale By then the town included two churches three hotels and a police station 4 By 1880 mining in the area had declined and vineyards and orchards were established along with dairying and grazing on newly developed selections The last mine in the area the Golden Gate ceased operation by around 1910 4 The Town today editToday Moyston is an historic town surrounded by farming properties and where workers employed in the nearby towns of Great Western Ararat Stawell and Halls Gap reside Several public businesses operate in and near the town which included the post office the general store and Clayfield Winery 6 The town shares an Australian rules football team with nearby Willaura the Moyston Willaura Pumas competing in the Mininera amp District Football League 7 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moyston Victoria a b Australian Bureau of Statistics 28 June 2022 Moyston Suburbs and Localities 2021 Census QuickStats Retrieved 16 November 2022 nbsp Harris Amelia 22 March 2008 Moyston where footy dreams lie The Herald Sun Retrieved 4 January 2015 Moyston Travel Sydney Morning Herald 8 February 2004 Retrieved 28 August 2007 a b c Moyston Community Action Plan PDF Rural City of Ararat Retrieved 28 August 2007 Phoenix Auctions History Post Office List Retrieved 13 March 2021 Moyston Rural City of Ararat Retrieved 28 August 2007 Moyston Willaura Football amp Netball Club Retrieved 28 August 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Moyston Victoria amp oldid 1212828187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
