Sign 1: Bon Crescent

Throughout the township of Bonnie Doon, there are a total of 12 sightseeing locations with signboards. Each signboard will tell you some of the history of Bonnie Doon, and also have a QR code to direct you to these pages on our website. These codes when scanned with a smart phone or tablet provide additional informative text/images that create an interactive walk throughout the history of the Doon. You can follow along the history here on our website or better yet, get out on the trail and take a wander through Bonnie Doon – follow the signs that go along with along with these pages. We hope you enjoy your walk back in time.

The first sign starts on Bon Crescent

In the very earliest days last century, it all started with a huge tract of land (around what is now Bonnie Doon) being taken up as a government leasehold by a company called Watson & Hunter.

Around mid century more settlers began moving in and the land was sub-divided into quite sizeable properties creating properties or stations such as Wappan (John Bon), Maintangoon (Forsyth Bros.), Borodomanin (Col. Kelso), and Woodfield, which was taken up at a later date by M. Motherwell.

“Doon” itself was a centre for the surrounding farmers, as the land was sub-divided further under the Closer Settlement Act.

Selection of the properties took place around 1880, the majority size being an area of 320 acres.

This walk crosses the traditional lands of the Taungurung people and the Bonnie Doon Community acknowledges them as the traditional owners of the land. We also pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.