Fyansford
The Wannon
No I’m not referring to the motor vehicles with the blue badges that used to be made here. I’m referring to Fords, the places in which people used to have to cross rivers before they built bridges.
I’ve been travelling around the district a bit lately to see a number of things. Some of the places I’ve been I’ve shared with the readers of this blog. One thing I’ve noticed is how many fords there are out there. As I said in the introduction a ford was a place where a river could be crossed. Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it, except that it wasn’t quite that easy. As river levels rose and water moved quickly these places were extremely dangerous. The newspapers of the 1840’s and 50’s are filled with reports of drownings, usually “melancholy events” by the way.
So here’s some of the Fords I’ve seen lately, in no real order:
Fyansford
Just west of Geelong and at the crossing of the Moorabool River, not far from the Barwon either. Named after Captain Foster Fyans, the first Police Magistrate in Geelong, later Commissioner of Lands, and something of a local identity. This ford was used by the early settlers to get to the Western districts.
Batesford
This one is just northwest of Geelong and crosses the Moorabool River as well. It was originally named Manifold’s Ford (after the Manifold brothers) but later changed to Batesford after Alfred and John Bates. This ford was the crossing from Geelong to Ballarat and the gold fields.
Pollocksford
While not a town per se, it is a location where the Barwon River was forded. It lies about 19 km west of Geelong.
Daylesford
A spa town 115 km northwest of Melbourne. (Absolutely worth a visit – especially the Lake House for a meal. Try it for a luxury lunch but make sure you book ahead!)
Guildford
A small town on the Loddon River about 130 km northwest of Melbourne. Near Castlemaine and Daylesford.
And a number of others including – Cobbledicks Ford (yes really, Werribee River at Tarneit); Letts Ford (now Ellerslie, Hopkins River near Mortlake); Allansford (Hopkins River near Warrnambool) and Solomon’s Ford (Maribrynong River, Avondale Heights, Melbourne.)
If you know of more please let me know.
Until next time, have fun out there!
CG