Local history signs

Past

18 Oct

In February 2022 SPCG was successful in applying for a grant to fund historical signs reflecting European settlement in Sandy Point. These signs can be found in the T. P. Taylor Reserve adjacent to the Community Centre. The signs are themed: The Playground of the South, People and Community, and Community Hall.

For 18 months local history enthusiasts, Nicky Walker and Di Cornwall, combed through reams of historical documents in an effort to outline the establishment of the Sandy Point Run in the 1860s and gather the stories that ensued as families began to move into the area.

For many of us, it is quite extraordinary to imagine that a golf course and hotel were in the original commercial precinct plans! In 1921 a school was built and in the late 1950’s, town blocks were sold under the banner of ‘The Playground of the South’ for £75. At the same time, the community rallied to raise funds to go toward the purchase of land and construct a community hall by recycling empty beer bottles. A fundraising method that continues today.

SPCG worked closely with a number of families that settled in the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These families very kindly allowed SPCG to use images to amplify the narratives on the historical signs. We are grateful to Melinda Fear, and the Pilkington, Henderson and Griffin families.

While the historical signs give you a glimpse of many local stories, the SPCG’s website provides a much more comprehensive collection of the history of the township and surrounds. As more information and images come to light, the website will be updated. If you have any historical documentation or images, please contact SPCG on info@sandypoint.vic.au.

This project was supported by …

SPCG acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and Public Records Office Victoria supported by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund for awarding the grant and enabling this project to be completed. The Local History Grants Program encourages and fosters community activities that preserve, record and share local, social and community history of Victoria and Victorians.