Blackwood

History

In 1848 in a list of Crown Lands “beyond the settled districts” at Port Phillip (Western Port District) there were three pastoral runs in the vicinity of Mount Blackwood: 'Cupumnimnip, Mount Blackwood', 15,000 acres, leased by Sir John Lewes (per James Simpson); 'Pentland Hills', 14,000 acres leased by Charles McLachlan; 'Upper Weirriby' (or 'Grey’s old run'), 6,500 acres, leased by Henry Thomas. Gold was first discovered in what would become Blackwood in November 1854 by two teamsters, Harry Athorn and Harry Hider, who were searching for bullocks that had strayed into the bush. While eating their lunch beside Jackson's Creek "they saw water-worn gold at the bottom of the stream" (at a spot now known as Golden Point). In March 1855 reports began to appear in the colonial press of a "new gold-field at Mount Blackwood", considered to be an "ample field for profitable employment". By the following July it was reported that the Mount Blackwood diggings were "in a most flourishing state". There were two public houses ("I believe, well conducted") and a theatre in the course of construction, as well as a "horse bazaar by Mr. Waller" ("who seems an enterprising man"). The Government "are building a log prison for the unruly". A Post Office opened at Mount Blackwood in September 1855 (in a building known today as 'Blackwood House') The prospectors at the new goldfield initially searched for alluvial gold, panning the creeks and sluicing the stream-banks and hillsides. Towards the end of 1855 the Mount Blackwood goldfield had an estimated population of 13,000 inhabitants. When the alluvial gold became harder to find, many of the prospectors turned their attention to digging holes and excavating shafts to search for gold in quartz-reefs. In 1857 John Dickson established…

Most-observed species

• wombat bush-pea

  Pultenaea reflexifolia (J.H.Willis) de Kok · Magnoliopsida
  14,735
• common bird-orchid

  Chiloglottis valida D.L.Jones · Liliopsida
  2,530
• Brooker's Gum

  Eucalyptus brookeriana A.M.Gray · Magnoliopsida
  2,261
• red fox

  Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Mammalia
  2,188
• Bossiaea hendersonii Bosse

  Bossiaea hendersonii Bosse · Magnoliopsida
  1,744
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,610
• Crimson Rosella

  Platycercus elegans (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  1,459
• Superb Fairywren

  Malurus cyaneus (Ellis, 1782) · Aves
  1,362

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2023-05-28
  5 km W of Mickleham, Australia
• M 2.8 — 2014-01-13
  1 km SSE of Lilydale, Australia
• M 3.1 — 2013-05-01
  7 km NW of Clifton Springs, Australia
• M 3 — 2010-03-30
  4 km NNE of Portarlington, Australia
• M 2.8 — 2003-02-02
  9 km N of Trentham, Australia
• M 2.7 — 2001-12-31
  10 km SW of Kilmore, Australia