The Bonnie Doon History and the preservation of our heritages, our shared historic sites, and local folklore is very important to our community.
Bonnie Doon Primary School: 1923, 1944 & 1959“Our history tells the story of our past,
in our present,
to preserve our future”
Historic Timeline
1824
Explorers Hume and Hovell travel through the area while searching for a new grazing land south of the colony (Sydney)
1839
Scottish pastoral company ‘Watson & Hunter’ takes up large areas of grazing land with the head station being ‘Wappan Run’ near the Devil’s River (Late Delatite), named after the Aboriginal word for the river (Wappang)
1848
Governor grants leases on Crown land to Jon Bon (Wappan Run – 30,000 acres), Roger Kelsall and George Thomas (Borodomanan Run – 80,000 acres)
1851
Gold is discovered in Hell’s Hole (Tallangallook) and Glen creeks
1868
Thomas Nixon names the village, consisting of one public house, one blacksmith’s shop and a few huts, ‘ Doon’
1871
Doon Post Office opens. Population: 26
1878
Erection of State school and quarters
1885 -1899
Village continues to grow – churches and public buildings appear and sporting clubs are formed
The town name changes from ‘Doon’ to Bonnie Doon
1901
Population: 133
1915
Goulburn and Delatite rivers are dammed to construct Sugarloaf Reservoir, the forerunner of Lake Eildon
1923
Disastrous bushfire sweeps the area
1941
Work begins on expansion of Sugarloaf Reservoir to present day capacity
1953
Discussion for increasing capacity for farming irrigation – read ‘Raising the of the Weir’
New railway line and bridges are under construction, Township relocation to higher ground begins
1954
Population: 354
1955
Sugarloaf Reservoir is renamed ‘Eildon Weir’
Bonnie Doon town removal to current location concludes.
First train crosses the bridge.
1960s
New opportunities arise for the new town and its new lake – Lake Eildon.
1966
Population: 102
1979
Last train at Bonnie Doon
1982
Drought uncovers old township
1997
Cult movie “The Castle” is made
1998
Drought conditions are beginning to dry up Lake Eildon
1999
The Bonnie Doon Primary School Closes
2001
Population: 115
2004
The old primary school is opened as The Bonnie Doon Community Centre.
2006
Population: 755
2008
Football ground at recreation reserve is realigned and enlarged
2011
Drought breaks and weir fills almost to capacity within six months
The Bonnie Doon Historic Town Walk
The Bonnie Doon Historic Walk is an initiative of the BDCG Inc to share some of the amazing history of through an interactive walk from the current to the original townships of Bonnie Doon.
The walk starts on Bon Cr and follows around 12 different signs noting the history along the route. Try it today – click here to read online
Bonnie Doon Community Group 