‘Getting around’ is all important. The faithful horse, accompanied by the variety of carts and coaches they pulled, transported humans for centuries. The farmer particularly relied upon his horses to till the land and transport his goods. With the arrival of the petrol driven engine, a revolution took place, with eventually almost everyone owning their own car (2018). From 1886 and the birth of Inverloch, transport was all important. People wanted to go to Melbourne, they wanted goods delivered from Melbourne, and they wanted ease of transport locally, be it to Wonthaggi or to the Latrobe Valley.
The farmer wanted improved transport to transport his farm products, not just within Victoria, but possibly international, bringing potential wealth to the district. Because of the difficulties of making a road because of the great Koo-We-Rup Swamp, as well as the Strzelecki Ranges with their dense forests, the only reliable transport was by sea, and so boats such as the “Ripple” became the lifeline for everybody in Inverloch.
This classic photo of 1909, shows a heavily loaded cart arriving from Wonthaggi, ready to load its coal into the ship waiting at the pier. With the arrival of the railway to Wonthaggi in 1910, the coal movement to Inverloch ceased. Note that bullocks have pulled the heavy load.
This wonderful photo taken in Wonthaggi, shows that moving house at the start of the 20th. Century, could, at times, literally mean that. As the mines closed in Jumbunna and Outtrim, many houses in the towns were transferred to Wonthaggi, Korumburra and Inverloch. Again bullock teams are used to transport such a heavy and unusual load.
This is the 1930’s, with lots of visitors (holidaymakers), visiting Inverloch. By contrast, a local has brought his horse and trap, showing a delightful comparison between the old and the new.
A family proudly display their new form of transport. The Chevrolet Tourer motor car would have represented a major purchase. Location is High St, Inverloch.
The Inverloch to Wonthaggi bus sits in Williams St opposite A’Beckett Street in front of Mills Store..
A Victorian Railways D Class is pictured crossing the Bourne Creek Trestle Bridge at Kilcunda in the early days of line operations (Photo is on display at the Kilcunda Ocean View Hotel).
Sailing at Anderson Inlet on a fine sunny day. The Inlet offers fine boating for the smaller boats a reasonably safe place. Crossing the Bar into Bass Strait involves greater risks, requiring careful seamanship by those who try it.
Bill and Robert’s “Ripple 2” boat sits on the beach ready for launching. Built in 1959, its weight and size caused great difficulties in moving it ready to launch, especially when getting along Surf Parade.
