Some time ago my father Rob, and I started working on documenting "101 things you didn't know about Geelong." Well, one thing led to another and before we knew it the project was stalled. In the meantime Dad decided that he'd pursue part of what we were exploring and take a closer look at the former lime kilns at Limeburners Point.
And he did. Except that what followed turned into his second book.
He took delivery of it this week and it's come up really well. It's been a pleasure to assist him with it and there's been some really interesting discoveries that he's made on the way.
As Dad says in the preface:
Following the completion of my earlier book "The Enigma of Snake Island" I continued with my urge to research areas of Geelong that had not received the attention that they deserved. I remembered back in my youth I sometimes rode the “switch-backs” on my pushbike at Limeburners Point, drinking at the mineral springs and the associated vague memories of tales of buried keys and quarries. This led to my research into, and the discovery of, the prior existence of mineral springs, the story of “La Trobe’s keys”, the lime and marble quarries, a powder magazine, an army battery to protect Geelong and the reason for the Point’s original name. So with that, Limeburners Point became the subject of this book.
At the commencement of this research I had no idea of the scope and complexity of the subject, the number of activities and participants involved, particularly with the lime operation and the amount of background, innuendo and hearsay published over the years. What started as a simple assignment turned out to be a fascinating chain of stories with the sorry situation that much of this rich heritage has been lost through neglect of artefact upkeep by our various local city, Government and Heritage Victoria/Australia organisations. To me it is important to document the number and names of people involved, the companies formed and the complexity of unravelling any “silent partners”. By 1873 in the lime industry there were nine partnerships and no less than 26 quarriers/kilners were counted as being directly involved, without the selling agents.
So, a little of what it's about.
Limeburners Point is a small projection into Corio Bay approximately 3.5 kilometres to the east of Geelong, with high lime cliffs making landings unlikely with the exception at the very extremity. As the Point has been extensively quarried over the years from the 1840’s the original shape and topography has altered tremendously and the comparison of older to current maps show this marked difference.
While most know it for Limeburning activity in the past, not many know of all of the other uses the area has had and what it's all meant for the City of Geelong.
Limeburners Point can be compartmentalised into the following areas:
1. Galena Point
2. Eastern Beach Mineral Springs
3. The Beach Battery
4. La Trobe's Keys
5. Kilns and Quarries
6. The Powder Magazine and Jetty
7. The Marble Quarry
8. The Geelong Gun Club
9. Geelong’s Nightsoil problem
10. The Rifle Range
The history of the area is laid out commencing with the naming of the Point followed by explorer Grimes’ party’s drinking from the springs. The battery follows, then the quarries and kilns, and quite naturally Latrobe’s Keys. This is followed by the Powder Magazine with the jetty and the Marble Quarry. Next, Geelong Gun Club’s tenure is followed by the varied histories of the handling of Geelong’s sewerage on a simple “3 acre allotment” and a “2 acre allotment” as well as the possibility of an orphanage transfer. The book concludes with East Geelong Golf Club’s extended tenure and the history of the former Rifle Range that was once there as well.
If you're interested in a copy you can get in touch with me through here or better still go to the author himself at rgganly@outlook.com.
Congratulations Dad - I know what sort of huge effort goes into these things and you've done a great job. That's both sides of Corio Bay now covered - where to next?
As always, have fun out there!
Cheers
Chris
P.S. the 101 ideas is still alive, it's just moved down the order of priorities for now.
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