My Family Tee

Information of its history, pioneering families and fabulously rich gold mining past will be found here.  The efforts of the “Families and Friends of Waanyarra” and other interested people to keep the history of the area alive—bring the descendants of the pioneering families together—and restore and maintain the historic Waanyarra cemetery will also be given some coverage.
Genealogists seeking information on people in the area in bygone days may find some vital clues in the cemetery records which have been reconstructed over the past ten years

THE FOUNDING OF WAANYARRA

Surveyor Phillip Chauncy surveyed the district between Tarnagulla and Dunolly in 1861 and officially named it Waanyarra.  Prior to survey, Beverly had been chosen by Lieutenant Governor of Victoria LaTrobe, as the name for the future township. This title was only used by the first discoverers of gold in the area.  Charles Jones was prospecting on a creek in the locality at a very early date, and this area in which he camped became known as Jones' Creek. Even after the official name was adopted, many people referred to the"top end of the creek" as Jones' Creek and the east end as Waanyarra.  Waanyarra is an Aboriginal name which has more than one interpretation, 'Little Water','Running Water'and Les Blake's book 'Place Names of Victoria' gives the meaning of Waanyarra as 'Whan-crow, Yarra-moving, i.e. crow flying'.
During his time in the district, Phillip Chauncy had constant contact with the Aborigines. He was very familiar with their customs and language.
Text from “The Footsteps Echo” by Lynne Douthat