old kilmore gaol

---

 Kilmore was discovered on about 21 March 1837 by the famous Overlander explorer Charles Bonney, and at this time he also blazed the track known as Sydney Road which formed the main highway between Sydney and Melbourne for 139 years. Kilmore settled a few months later on about 17 June 1837 as a sheep station with the outstation on the townsite itself. It was very unique as Kilmore was permanently watered by three spring-fed creeks and the ground was highly fertile so therefore a good farming area which attracted a lot of Irish farmers to the area. William Routledge was one of those farmers who purchased a lot of land which included Charles Bonney’s outstation, and it was he who named Kilmore after his birthplace in Ireland which means “great churches" With the discovery of gold, Kilmore became a resting point for travellers. Gold was first discovered in Kilmore in October 1851, just outside of Kilmore in Willowmavin, to this Day there is an old mine shaft on private property, and this was known as ”BourkesReef”. Gold was also discovered here in 1855,1860 and in 1864. Because of the vast number of people travelling to the gold fields throughout the 1850s a most successful stagecoach service was operated at Kilmore by Clapp and Co. From Kilmore, prospectors could travel onto the diggings further up the highway. One of the main problems with Gold became the lack of workers, men just up and left their jobs on farms or public work to seek this precious commodity. With Many Public Works in Kilmore in the early 1850’s such as the hospital, Courthouse. A rule was put in place that men were paid well and if they left their jobs to seek gold they would not be re-employed. Twenty years after settlement, in 1857, this walled prison which was constructed of basalt. It is of state significance as it is one of a small group of early Victorian prisons to be built outside of Melbourne. The others being Geelong (1853), Ballarat (1856) and Castlemaine in (1857). The Kilmore Gaol is of cultural and historical significance because in almost every way it is completely different, and therefore unique, from other contemporary gaols. It appears that the Kilmore Gaol was designed as a temporary holding prison before prisoners were moved on to permanent facilities in Melbourne.
It was built under the supervision of Major-General Charles Pasley who was also responsible for the construction of Parliament House, Victoria barracks, Pentridge Prison, Kew Asylum. Customs House and the Treasury.
The Gaol took a year and 9 months to build, and it served as a Gaol from 1859 to when it was decommissioned in 1883. The Goal lay vacant for 8 years before the butter factory officially purchased the complex. Given the small size, why was a gaol was required in Kilmore? Arguably, this has much to do with the location of Kilmore itself. Lying north of Melbourne on the old Sydney Road, as we said Kilmore was a stopping Centre for travelers to and from Sydney as well as for travelers to the northern goldfields. As Kilmore was a centralized point for travelers and bureaucracy, the Kilmore Gaol became a point of arrival and departure in the administration of justice with the local Police Station and court House in the area and this is reflected in the gaols location and design. The record keeping of this Gaol were not great with sometimes names indecipherable or crimes listed quite dubious. We do know in 1866 Ned’s Father John ‘Red’ Kelly was an inmate for approximately 4 months. He was living in Beveridge at the time and was charged for stealing. Apparently, a calf hide was found at the home, so he was charged with possession of an unlicensed hide. The calf he stole was to feed his family and they couldn’t afford to pay the £24fine. It was long after this he returned home and died where a young Ned Kelly was only 12 and had to inform the authorities of his father’s death and sign the death certificate. This is believed that it was the first of Neds

Rebellion against the poor treatment of his family with the Law. Given the year and Gaols poor record keeping could Ned have been held here in one of these cells before going to the city Gaols? Jimmy Quinn Neds Uncle is also believed to have spent time here as well.

St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Kilmore, Victoria. Built in 1864 by James Proudfoot

Snr to the designs of architect James Fleury Foundation stone laid by Rev D.

McDonald in October 1864. Church opened in 1865.Liturgical west end decorative

gothic windows and plain bordered windows are by the Ferguson & Urie stained glass

company of Curzon Street North Melbourne c.1864. The Figurative windows date from

early1900's and are by the Brooks, Robinson &amp, Co-stained-glass company, Melbourne.

In 1843 Mr. Gunn, who had been sent by the Presbytery of Melbourne on a missionary

visit to the interior, called in to Kilmore Area. Arrangements were immediately made to

hold a service in the woolshed, and Presbyterians from many miles around joined

together in worship. This was the first recorded Presbyterian service held in the

district. For some years Mr. Gunn continued to make annual visits to Kilmore and other

districts inland. In 1850 a move began toward securing a minister for Kilmore and the

Free Church Synod was approached regarding the possibility of a minister from

Scotland. This was successful and the Rev. John Hume arrived in early October 1851.

He was inducted into the charge of the Kilmore congregation in the Free Presbyterian

Church of Victoria on 8th October. Two important events occurred in 1851: Victoria

became a district colony separate from New South Wales; and the discovery of rich

gold fields in Victoria had far- reaching effects. In keeping with a trend across Victoria,

a number of families in the Kilmore church went off to the gold diggings. Nevertheless

the young church began to flourish. A school associated with the church had been

established in 1852, but around this time a problem with the teacher resulted in

dissention in the congregation regarding the management of the issue. After a period

of vacancy the Rev. Andrew Maxwell was inducted into the charge. However the

dissent in the congregation had not been resolved, resulting in a division with some

leaving the church and forming another group. Mr. Maxwell of the Free Church

ministered to the remaining congregation, now known as St. Georges. Those who had

withdrawn from the church wrote to the Presbytery of Melbourne, stating their reasons

for leaving and asking to be recognised as a separate congregation, St. Andrew’s.

However, the situation was not resolved immediately, and services were held

intermittently in the old Mechanics’ Hall. Finally, the Rev. Donald Macrae was inducted

in late 1863 and it was during his ministry that the fine bluestone church was built to

house the St. Andrew’s congregation. He was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Hunter in

1866. During his ministry the bitter feelings between the two congregations gradually

disappeared, and overtures by the St. George’s congregation to St. Andrew’s began in

1878. After much patient work by representatives of both groups' agreement was

reached.

The united congregation was known as The Presbyterian Church of Kilmore, with the

first worship service being conducted in August 1878 in the St. Andrew’s Church

building. The Rev. D.S. Maxwell was inducted into the charge and a short but excellent

ministry followed. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Steel, who came to Kilmore

from the Rokewood church, remaining there for 24 years. He had marked success in

welding the two congregations into one cohesive church. The Kilmore church

continued to thrive and flourish through the early years of the 20th century, with a

succession of ministers highly regarded by their congregation.

The Kilmore Presbyterian Church voted to remain continuing at the time of church

union in 1977. However, it did not continue to flourish, and the building was finally

sold to private owners in 2014.