Snippets of early island history

Did you know?

That 20,000 years ago, Phillip Island was not one island but three.

The area adjacent to the penguin parade and the area near Forrest Caves became sand bars which qrew into permanent tie-bars, and the three islands became one island.

Did you know?

That the first post office at Ventnor was built on Mr Tom Jones' farm and was declared the smallest registered post office in the whole of Australia. In 1922, the mail bag was carried on horseback between Cowes and Ventnor, by Mr Harry Justice.

Then in 1923, the Ventnor State School became the post office, with Head Teacher Miss Dorothy Cook acting as Postmistress.

Did you know?

That an island Rocket and Line rescue team was formed following the wreck of the sailing ship Speke in 1906, when a number of Island residents identified a need for a means of rescue in case of further wrecks.

Several men formed a rescue crew and learned how to launch a rocket carrying a line up to 200 yards to assist with rescue operations. Arnold Brown acted as chief rocket "layer" (aimer), and he showed a high degree of accuracv.

Did you know?

That in 1870, an area of land on the island was reserved for a burial ground. It was several years before it was surveyed into grave lots.

However, a number of burials had already taken place and the marking pegs, some of cast iron or wood, were stolen or burned, which meant there are a number of unmarked resting places in this area.

Did you know?

That in about 1923 Richard Grayden built a tea room at Shelly Beach, and four years later, he built the much loved old kiosk and tea room at the Nobbies.

He had no training in carpentry, yet also built a 35-foot boat, a house, two tea houses, and a body and cab on a one tonne Ford motor chassis. And that it was largely his dream and advocacy which saw the first bridge built between the Island and San Remo in the 1940s.