Framlingham, Victoria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids FramlinghamWarrnambool, Victoria |
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 Framlingham
Location in Shire of Moyne
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| Population | 158 (2016) |
| Postcode(s) | 3265 |
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Moyne |
| State electorate(s) | Polwarth |
| Federal Division(s) | Wannon |
Framlingham is a small country town in Victoria, Australia. It is located near the Hopkins River, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north-east of the city of Warrnambool. In 2016, 158 people lived in Framlingham.
This area is the traditional land of the Girai wurrung (Kirrae Wuurong) people. After Europeans started settling here in the 1840s, a store, post office, hotel, school, and church were built. Many farmers moved to the area. In 1861, the Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve was created for Aboriginal people. This reserve was near the Hopkins River and the land of the Gunditjmara people. Even though there were attempts to close it, the reserve operated until 1916. Many Aboriginal people still live in the area today. Part of the original reserve is now Framlingham Forest, which is a special Indigenous Protected Area.
Contents
History of Framlingham
Early European Settlement (1840s)
European settlers arrived in the Framlingham area around 1840. The town began to grow with the opening of the Brefnay Hotel in 1848. A store opened soon after, and a Presbyterian church was built in 1870. A lot of land was cleared to create farms, especially for dairy farming.
Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve (1861)
In 1861, the Church of England in Warrnambool asked for land to help Aboriginal people. The Victorian Board for the Protection of Aborigines then created the Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve. This reserve was meant to improve the lives of Aboriginal people.
Many surviving members of the Kirrae Wuurong clans moved to the reserve in 1865. Their traditional lands were between Mount Emu Creek and the Hopkins River. A Scottish settler named James Dawson recorded much of their language. People from other Aboriginal groups, like the Djargurd Wurrung and Gunditjmara, also moved to Framlingham. However, some Gunditjmara people from Portland refused to settle here. This led to the creation of the Lake Condah reserve in 1869.
In 1867, the government tried to close the reserve and move everyone to Lake Condah. But in 1868, the Kirrae Wuurong people successfully campaigned to reopen it. From 1877 to 1890, people in Warrnambool tried to close the reserve again. They wanted to turn it into a farm. In 1894, the reserve was made much smaller, and most of the land became Framlingham Forest.
The government tried to close the reserve again in 1889. But they finally agreed to keep about 500 acres for Aboriginal use. In 1916, the Victorian Government decided to move all Aboriginal Victorians to Lake Tyers Mission. The Framlingham reserve officially closed, but some residents were allowed to stay. In 1971, the community was given ownership of the land they held. In the 1930s, the government built more houses and a school on the reserve. They also provided food and supplies.
Land Rights and Ownership (1970-1987)
In 1957, the Board for the Protection of Aborigines was closed down. In 1970, a new law called the Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 was passed. This law gave ownership of Framlingham to a group called the Framlingham Aboriginal Trust on July 1, 1971. Framlingham was one of the last Aboriginal reserves to close in Victoria.
In 1976, the Framlingham community started a campaign to get back the Framlingham Forest. This forest had been taken from the original reserve in 1894. In April 1979, the community blocked the road to the forest picnic area. The Victorian Government suggested allowing Aboriginal people to manage the forest in 1980. However, they wanted it to remain government land. The community rejected this idea and continued their blockade.
In 1987, the Victorian Labor government tried to give some of the Framlingham State Forest to the trust. But the Liberal Party stopped this law. Then, the federal Labor government, led by Bob Hawke, stepped in. They passed the Aboriginal Land (Lake Condah and Framlingham Forest) Act 1987. This law gave about 1,130 acres of the Framlingham forest to the Framlingham trust. This land cannot be easily sold or transferred. However, the trust cannot stop mining on the land, unlike some other Indigenous land trusts. The Kirrae Whurrong Aboriginal Corporation was set up to hold this land for the Aboriginal community.
Ash Wednesday Bushfires (1983)
On February 16, 1983, one of the terrible Ash Wednesday fires started in Framlingham. This fire spread through the area, causing a lot of damage. Nine people died, and many homes, farm buildings, and animals were lost. It is believed that the fire started because of poorly maintained power lines.
Framlingham Forest Indigenous Protected Area (2009)
In 2009, a special area called the Framlingham Forest IPA was created. An Indigenous Protected Area is land managed by Indigenous people for conservation. This area covers about 1,130 hectares (2,800 acres) of native forests. It is the largest remaining area of native forest with stringybark and manna gum trees in the region. The Framlingham Aboriginal Trust manages this important land.
Traditional Ownership
The traditional owners of the land where Framlingham is located are the Eastern Maar peoples. They are officially recognized and represented by the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC).
Post Offices
A post office in Framlingham opened on March 1, 1859, and closed in 1975. There was also a Framlingham East post office, which was open from 1925 to 1945.
About the Town
In the 2016 census, Framlingham had a population of 158 people.
The town has a community hall and a public reserve. The reserve includes a tennis court and barbecue areas for everyone to enjoy. A new fire station was opened in 2015. The local school, which started in 1872, closed its doors in 1993.
Notable People from Framlingham
- Archie Roach: A famous singer, songwriter, and musician. He lived in Framlingham when he was young. He was later taken away from his family by government agencies, which he sang about in his song 'Took the Children Away'.
- Reg Saunders: A well-known Aboriginal soldier, born in Framlingham in 1920.
- Paul McGinness: One of the founders of Qantas, a major Australian airline. He was born in Framlingham in 1896.
- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan: An AFL football player for the Western Bulldogs. He was the number one draft pick in the 2020 AFL draft.
Images for kids
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Kaawirn Kuunawarn (Hissing Swan), also known as King David, Chief of the Kirrae Wuurong. He lived in Framlingham from 1865 until his death in 1889.
