AFTER an amalgamation of Stawell, Stawell West and Quartz Reef, the Borough of Stawell was officially declared on November 10, 1869.
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Stawell Historical Society hosted an trip through history in celebration of 150 years on Tuesday.
A display of former Mayors and information lined the room with historical volunteers at the ready to answer any questions from the past.
The official date of the proclamation was questionable, with historic documents listing the date on November 10,11 and 12.
Society president Dorothy Brumby said the confusion around the dates was because of the date listed the proclamation was gazetted.
"Our member Jim Melbourne dug a little deeper and found the official date the Borough of Stawell was proclaimed was November 10," she said.
"It was published in the Victorian Government Gazette on November 12."
Mrs Brumby said the celebration was well attended from the public and a "great day" was had by all.
Wendy Kinsella, a great grand-daughter of the late Thomas Kinsella, attended the official celebrations to pay tribute to the former Mayor.
"He was Mayor in 1881 and was owner of Moonlight and Magdala mines," she said.
"One of the most amazing memories of stories told of Thomas Kinsella was about a game of tug of war.
"He was a really big man and they wanted him on their side because they knew they would win."
Ms Kinsella said Mr Kinsella took one of the first gold bars poured from the area to Rome.
"He gave it to the Pope at the time," she said.
"There's this amazing letter his mother wrote him saying how much she missed him.
"The letter is still within the family. Obviously he was very much loved by his mother who still lived in Ireland."
Ms Kinsella said through stories passed along in the family she thought he was a very good employer.
"They gave him the most amazing painting when he left," she said.
"I think there was about 100 staff working for him who signed it.
"It's great to know he was responsible and cared for the people who worked for him. It makes me think he was quite a good man."
Despite the date recorded, it is noted the district had been occupied previously as leases of land in the area, including well known properties of Ledcourt, Lexington, Allanvale, Concongella, Woodlands and Glynwylln, date back prior to 1853.
The first movement towards the actual permanent settlement of the district was in 1858. Sir Henry Barkly proclaimed the site of the Township of Stawell, an area of 640 acres.
In 1861 the area was declared a Roads District and on December 28, 1864 the district was proclaimed a shire.
Stawell's population was recorded of about 4,500 residents in 1869, including squatters, miners, business people, townsmen and farmers.
Business owners and residents pushed for the establishment of a Borough, to better represent the townspeople and miners and manage the booming township.
Petitions were penned but the decision was pushed through and the Borough of Stawell was proclaimed by the state government in November, 1869.
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