Warragul & District Historical Society

23/05/2026

The Society's May General Meeting

W&DHS member, artist, art gallery proprietor, and enthusiastic researcher of all matters ‘Arts’ in Warragul and the district, Laurie Collins, will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Society, at 7.30 pm on Monday 25th May 2026, upstairs in the Old Shire Hall..

Laurie will preview Chapter One of his yet to be completed book on the ‘arts’ in the Warragul and Drouin districts. This chapter covers the very early days of settlement in the area, and demonstrates how ‘art’ was prominent from the very beginning. He will, among others, discuss Charles Henry Round and Neville Henry Cayley, and provide a valuable insight into their artistic contribution to a better understanding of the district’s historical origins.

He will make reference to the Society’s treasured Round sketches and Cayley paintings (two of which are shown hanging on the wall in the Society's rooms at the Old Shire Hall) in the attached photo.

He will also mention in passing a lesser known, but equally valuable, artist, Charles Edward Bruges (Charlie) Hammond, who was in the area somewhat (comparitavely speaking) later. Many local history societies make claim to Charlie’s contribution to the artistic understanding of their local history – and we can now begin to do so as well. Hammond's painting of Brandy Creek c1900 is also attached to this post.

Another not to be missed presentation.

29/04/2026

Do not miss out!!!

Last opportunity tomorrow, Thursday 30 April 2026

Opens at 10.00 am Closes at 3.00 pm

The Warragul and District Historical Society’s

ANZAC Day Exhibition ‘Les Barr’s War’

Old Shire Hall, 72 Queen St Warragul

26/03/2026

The Warragul and District Historical Society will be holding its March General Meeting this coming Monday evening, 30 March 2026 at 7.30 pm, upstairs in the Old Shire Hall, 72 Queen St Warragul.

Society President Wayne Hardie will be giving a talk on how Warragul came to be established in the late 1870s. He will discuss its origins within the context of the exploration and white settlement of Gippsland over the previous forty years.

This year is the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of James Biram opening his store in what came to be known as Warragul. That significant occasion is being celebrated this coming Sunday. This talk is a further event in the Society’s program of recognizing Warragul’s sesquicentenary.

Warragul is arguably the last significant regional town to be established in Victoria. Why was that so? And how did the town come to be?

Wayne will address these questions, and seek to provide the answers by suggesting there were a number of factors, and their serendipitous convergence, that led to the establishment of the town.

His talk will be extensively illustrated with supporting material in a PowerPoint presentation.

Visitors, and those interested in joining the Society, are always welcome to attend the Society’s General Meetings. And supper will be served.

25/03/2026

Late March 2026 is the sesquicentenary of the opening of the first store in Warragul, and the Warragul and District Historical Society, together with members of the Biram family, will be celebrating the occasion with the ‘re-unveiling’ of a plaque on Sunday 30 March.

James Biram’s store was the first building to be erected in the densely forested unnamed “township reserve, Drouin East, adjoining the railway, on the new road from Brandy Creek;” the settlement that grew up around Biram’s store soon came to be known as Warragul.

The building was located in the middle of Queen Street, about opposite what was the Railway Hotel. After the town was surveyed in 1877, Biram was obliged to relocate, and built a more substantial building on the site of the D McNeil & Co Central Emporium building at 75 Queen St Warragul.

In 1975, the Warragul and District Historical Society sought to mark the centenary of the occasion be erecting a plaque on the side of the McNeil building. Unfortunately, they were a year too early.

It was a mistake easily made. In 1875, James Biram selected land to the south-east of the present town – the land immediately to the east of the Logan Park sporting facility. The railway reserve abutted the northern boundary of his selection.

It would seem Biram saw an opportunity to service the workers constructing the railway line, and in March 1876 opened his “Druggist’s Shop and General Store.” In advertising the opening of the store, Biram offered “Prescriptions dispensed, genuine drugs and patent medicines, grass and other seeds, and an assortment of general goods.”

James Biram made a significant contribution to the early development of Warragul, all well recorded in the recently released ‘The Life and Time of James Biram 1846-1905 – A Warragul Pioneer’ by local historian and writer Vaughan Fox.

The Biram family, together with the Warragul and District Historical Society are seeking to correct the record.

An unveiling ceremony for the new plaque will take place on Sunday 29 March 2026 at 2:00 pm on the footpath outside 75 Queen St, directly opposite the Old Shire Hall. Present and past members of the Society, the Biram family, and the general public are warmly invited to attend to celebrate the occasion.

The Society will be providing afternoon tea in the Old Shire Hall following the unveiling ceremony.

14/01/2026

20/11/2025

Warragul and District Historical Society

The next, and final, meeting for the year of the Warragul and District Historical Society will be held in the Old Shire Hall, 72 Queen St, Warragul on Monday 24 November 2025, commencing at 7:30 pm.

The program for the evening will feature the launch of Vaughan Fox’s new biography of James Biram: The Life and Times of James Biram (1846-1905) – A Warragul Pioneer.

After selecting land immediately to the south-east of the town, James Biram constructed the first building and opened the first store in Warragul in 1876, and in the following years became a very influential person in the town’s development, both as a businessman and in establishing community organisations.

The book will be launched by Kerry Biram, a great, great, grand-niece of James Biram, who, himself, did not have any direct descendants.

Following the launch, Vaughan will have a lengthy sit-down chat with Society member and Bulletin editor Pip O'Connor. Vaughan will explain how he came to be interested in Biram, the extent of the research he undertook, what he discovered along the way, and his pleasure at being able to bring to life such an important early pioneer of Warragul.

The book will be available for purchase on the evening at a cost of $60.00. Vaughan will be happy to sign and inscribe copies.

Any visitors and potential members most welcome to attend the meeting. And supper will be served.

29/10/2025