Seymour (including Mangalore)
Attractive rural centre on the Goulburn River.
Seymour is a substantial small town of some 6900 people which is situated by the Goulburn River at an elevation of 141 metres. It is located on the Goulburn Valley Highway, 97 km north of Melbourne via the Hume Freeway. The town functions principally as a service centre to the army base at Puckapunyal and to the agricultural hinterland.

Prior to European settlement the area was occupied by the Natrakboolok people who continued to camp and hold corroborees on the townsite into the 1860s.

The first white men in the area were explorers Hume and Hovell in 1824. More critically, Thomas Mitchell's party passed by to the north of the townsite in 1836. Overlanders followed in his wake, arriving in 1837 with their cattle. By 1839 much of the land in what would become Seymour shire was taken up.

The overland mail route from Melbourne to Sydney was established in 1838. It followed Mitchell's route and so crossed the river at a point to the north (see entry on Nagambie). However, in 1839 it was found that 16 km could be saved by fording the river at a site to the south which became known as the 'New Crossing Place' (the future townsite of Seymour). Thus hotelier John Clark moved his business from the 'Old Crossing Place' at Mitchellstown and set up a punt service and a crude inn at the new ford. A blacksmith set up shop later that same year.

The government regarded the new location as a more promising townsite than Mitchellstown and so carried out a survey in 1841. A police paddock was established that year and in 1843 Thomas Mitchell named the hamlet after British parliamentarian Lord Seymour, of the house of Somerset which spawned Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII. Town allotments went on sale in 1844.

As traffic on the Sydney Road increased a second hotel emerged. It was located on the western bank of the river but this side of the village never really developed. It initially housed the first post office and was besieged by bushrangers in the late 1840s (they again harried the town in the 1860s). Faced with competition, John Clarke built a two-storey stone hotel in 1848, known as the Royal and it now forms the rear (and larger) portion of today's Royal Hotel.

Seymour's first schoolhouse was built in 1846. By the following year there was a flour mill, along with stores and tradesmen's shops. When the goldrush era began in 1851 traffic on the Sydney Road greatly increased to the town's benefit and the population began to increase. Small farms emerged around the settlement, adding to the prosperity of Seymour which had a population of 138 in 1854.

A national school and the first church (Methodist) were built in 1860. In 1863 Seymour was declared a town. That year witnessed the construction of an Anglican church, the first bank and the first bridge over the Goulburn. By 1865 the population had increased to 450 and Seymour continued to grow in the era of free selection which began in the 1860s.

The arrival of the railway in 1872 had a profound impact on the town. It made Seymour the goods receival centre for the district and, being at an important rail junction, it became a railway town with workshops and an administration centre providing employment and economic activity. Consequently the town started to expand demographically, commercially and geographically with the 'new town' developing around Station St.

The association of the area with army training camps really began in 1904 with the establishment of a troop of Light Horse at Seymour. The rail connection, local terrain, good water supply and agreeable property owners made the area a convenient assembly point for military trainees who met annually for field exercises and official inspection. Thus when Lord Kitchener came to Australia in 1910 to advise the government on military matters he inspected a major encampment at the racecourse and recommended it as a permanent military training area. When World War I arrived a few years later that permanent camp was set up and, in 1920, Seymour shire became the chief military area in the state. This ultimately led to the establishment of the Puckapunyal camp in World War II.

The Seymour Alternative Farming Expo is held in February at the Kings Park Showgrounds, the Rafting Festival in March and the Seymour Show in October.

Things to see: Tourist Information
The town's information centre is located in the old courthouse which was built in 1864. It is located in the historical precinct at the corner of High and Emily Sts and can furnish a walking guide of the historic precinct. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5799 0233. Within the building is an art gallery , tel: (03) 5792 3285.

Historic Walk
Adjacent the courthouse is a log lock-up (1853), originally built beside the river. A typical gaol of its period, it is made of rough-hewn logs stacked 14 high and crossed at the corners with a heavy door and lock. It was used as a temporary holding pen for those awaiting trial and was relocated to this site in 1994.

Over the road  is the old post office which was built in 1872-73. It now contains an art gallery and licensed restaurant. Adjacent, at the Emily and Robert St corner, is the Prince of Wales Hotel (1863).

Turn left into Tallarook St. To the left are the police offices, built as a residence for the chief superintendent of police in 1880. Slightly further along, on the same side of the road, is the old primary school (1860). Almost opposite, at Tallarook and Edward, is the old free library (1875). It is now home to the local historical society.

Return to Emily St and turn left. To the left is the old Methodist parsonage (1860s). Adjacent is a BP service station. To its rear is the old Anglican rectory (c.1863), now privately owned.

Royal Hotel/Moody's
Walk along to the north-eastern corner of Emily and Manners St where you will find The Royal Hotel which dates from 1848. The middle section of the hotel was built in 1852 and the front in the 1890s. The upstairs ballroom was once a centre of community activity.

The original hotel is now only a part of the larger Royal Hotel. It was here in 1941 that the artist Russell Drysdale set his famous painting The Cricketers. If you look at the painting you can see the similarity but then you will notice that Drysdale's pub was named Moody's Hotel. In fact this was the name of the hotel at the time when Drysdale was painting his famous work.

Walk Concluded
Next to the Royal Hotel is the first shire hall (1872), currently derelict. Beside that is an automobile wreckers which was built in 1872 as the Bank of Victoria. A few doors along is the Town and Country Hotel which was erected in 1865 as the Canadian Hotel. The original verandah was removed and replaced in 1939.

Terminus Hotel
The Terminus Hotel at 28 Station St is a two-storey red brick building erected in 1897 to replace the original hotel which was erected in 1873 to capitalise on the arrival of the railway in 1872.

Railway Station
The old railway station (1872) is located in Station St and has recently been subject to major restoration work.

Railway Heritage Centre
The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre is located off Victoria St. It is primarily a restoration workshop and hence has limited visitor facilities, but those interested in seeing restored steam and diesel locomotives are welcome. The centre is attended on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends. The steam trains only run on a very occasional basis but they are available for charter, tel: (03) 5799 0515.

Goulburn Park
Picnicking and swimming can be enjoyed at Goulburn Park, which is located on the riverbank off Progress St.

Wineries
Somerset Crossing, established in 1969, is a family winery which produces shiraz, cabernet/merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling and ports. It is situated at the western edge of town at the corner of Emily St and the Old Hume Highway, by the Goulburn River. The cellar is open Friday to Sunday and public holidays from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5792 2445.

Birdsville Track   Australia The Birdsville Track is one of the oldest, most famous, of the desert tracks that start in the northeast end of South Australia.

It runs from Marree at the top western end of the Flinders ranges in South Australia, same as the Oodnadatta Track, leading to Birdsville in Queensland. It is an over 500 km long sandy stretch and without fuel for over 300 kilometres. The track is usually open in the winter months, though it is important to check with the local police and let people know you are making the journey, before you do this trip. The best time to travel (as with all Australian, Desert Trips), is from April to October.

The Birdsville Track is not a very hard trip as desert tracks go; it has become very popular amongst 4wdrivers.  It is  an absolute requirement that  your vehicle be in tip top condition and that you make ample provision of fuel, water and supplies and be in good health yourself before making such a trip.  This is not only for your protection, but also out of respect for others. Tourists entering these areas unprepared place an unnecessary burden on the locals and the Royal Flying Doctor service. 

If you do chose to travel in the outback, please dig deep into your pocket every time you are asked to take a donation to the  RFDS and $10. Is not an unreasonable amount to hand over to locals before you head off on a stretch of desert track that they help maintain or provide an emergency rescue service on.  
The desert can be a very in-hospitable place when you are in trouble.

Edward Eyre, explored this area in 1840 reaching Lake Eyre.  Burke and Wills, died at  Cooper Creek, in the early 1860's. Around 1880’s  cattlemen followed the route, to move stock from Queensland to Adelaide for sale.

 Afghan Traders used the route as travelling sales people, sericing remote settlements in the area and the first vehicles travelled the Birdsville track in 1930's.  Tom Kruse a mail carrier, became a legend getting mail in and out of these remote regions.  Kruse used corrugated iron sheets to help him get his truck through the very soft sand dunes. At times, it took a day or more to travel just 10 to 15 kilometres. 

In 1950, my mum took me to see a series of three short Australian films. One in black and white, at the time, made an enormous impact on me. It was the story of three girls on a remote outback property, whose mother had collapsed and they had set out on foot, down the track, to find their father. They became lost while walking along what they thought was the Birdsville track.  They realized they were lost, when they came upon their own footprints and knew they had walked around in a circle. The story was to show the danger of the inland and how quickly you could die  if lost in this, the most arid region in the world.
The impact that film had on me was dramatic. I never forgot it.

Back in the 50’s and 60’s these tragic loss of life from becoming ‘lost in the bush’ or on a desert track, was far more common than it is today.  Many lost their lives along the Birdsville track and in the surrounding region, before modern technology improved communications and vehicles.

Reg and I arrived at Coopers Creek with a busload of outback tourists and made our camp. After a shared group meal, in the late afternoon everyone  except for Reg and I,  headed to the Birdsville Pub for a drink and Reg and I went down to the water’s edge and enjoyed the birdlife and a quiet chat away from the crowds.  We then went for a short walk up the hill to look at the pub, decided we did not want to be part of the boozing, smoky, atmosphere there and we turned to walk back to our camp near the river.  It got dark suddenly, there was no moon and while we did take a torch with us, it was not a lot of help and it was hard to tell the track from the open space around it in parts. 

We did not panic, but the truth was, we did not have a clue if we were on the track or not and we knew we must not walk far.  If we did not find a familiar landmark soon we would have to stay right there on the spot until we were found. We were not in any danger at that stage, it would be mild conditions overnight. If indeed we were lost, we had to find our way quickly or be sensible, stop wandering and wait and be found, in the morning. We were feeling more than just a little foolish at that thought.

Just as we were starting to feel we had done the craziest thing you could do in Australia, to become ‘lost on the Birdsville track’, Reg saw a signpost ahead, pointing to Birdsville.  We followed the sign, made it back to the Birdsville pub, then walked again in the dark, towards where we thought the river would be, detected the faint glow of a campfire, followed that and made it back to camp.  VERY GRATEFUL that no one would know (lol, J, until I started blogging ) our foolish secret. .

Reg and I wake up, around 2am to the sound of drunken revellers staggering home in total darkness, no campfire to guide them in now. To this day, it amuses me that Reg and I, with a torch and 'cold sober, got lost on the Birdsville track with only a few hundred meters to walk, yet thirty blind drunks could make the same trip without a single torch between them, with total accuracy.

This true story is Copyright to Kathy Shell.
Kathy and Reg Shell, travelled to Birdsville in 1985.

Additional travel stories:-
A Desert Pee
Signs of life in the Dead Centre.
The great unknown.
Outback in the family sedan

Useful Contact Information
Automobile Associations  RAA Copley (08) 8675 2618 RACQ Birdsville  (07) 4656 3226

National Parks Far North Region (08) 8648 4244

Police  Birdsville  (07) 4656 3220 Marree  (08) 8675 8346
Road Conditions  SA   1300 361 033 QLD 1300 130 595  

Birdsville Hotel  (07) 4656 3244
Mungerannie Hotel  (08) 8675 8317

Birdsville Caravan Park  Phone (07) 4656 3214 
Fax (07) 4656 3205 birdsvillecvanpk@growzone.com.au

Wirrarri Information Centre  Phone (07) 4656 3300
Fax (07) 4656 3302
wirrarri@hotmail.com