FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOL
WESTERN HIGHWAY DOBIE, ARARAT RURAL CITY
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Statement of Significance
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FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOL - History
The township of Dobie is located at the Great Western Highway's crossing of the Hopkins River, some eight kilometres south east of Ararat. The township is occasionally referred to as Dobies Bridge, and this Bridge over the Hopkins River would have formed an early focus for settlement in the town. It appears the bridge and town were named after J. S. (Jack) Dobie who was the manager of the Langi Ghiran station in the area around 1857' and who is mentioned active in the areas agriculture in 1858 (Argus 20 December 1858). Telegraph services from Melbourne reached Jack Dobie's station by August 1858, and were anticipated to reach Ararat by December the same year (Argus 12 August 1858). From early settlement of the area, the Bridge functioned as a tollgate on the Ararat - Ballarat road (Argus 6 December 1860). A contract for the construction of the tollhouse was awarded in 1860 (Argus 19 July 1860), and it was leased to private operators on annual or biannual terms, in 1862 for 4 Guineas, 8 shi llings (Argus 29 March 1862). Given its position on the Ararat - Ballarat postal route, Dobies Bridge had postal service 6 times weekly from as early as 1860 (Argus 22 March 1861), and had a dedicated railway station from 1885-1890 on ' It is likely that the predominant livelihoods in Dobie were similar to those of the immediate surrounds - primarily grazing of sheep and cattle.
The school at Dobie's Bridge was first located in a building belonging to William Maloney in 1874. It moved into a large bark hut owned by James Richardson, of the Gorrinn Estate, in 1876 and moved again soon after into a portable building erected on a 5-acre allotment on the water reserve north of the railway line on the right bank of the Hopkins River. After this building fell into disrepair in the1890s, the school was housed in the Dobie Hall,' This stood on the south of the Highway, next to the Hopkins River (Edward Dunn, Pers Comm 2012). In typical country fashion this was a mUlti-purpose hall: In 1916 it was the venue for voting on the issue of whether Australian conscripted soldiers could be ordered into action outside of the Commonwealth (The Ararat Advertiser 14 October 1916). In 1918 it was reported as the location for stock auctions, and the Country Party's local campaign meet (The Ararat Advertiser 21, 23 November 1918). Dobie is also known for a high-profile crime that occurred there. Charles Henry Deutschmann was executed at Ballarat Gaol in June 1908 forthe murder of his wife, Isabella, and shooting of his fatherin-law, John Collie, in Dobie
FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOL - Interpretation of Site
Dobie Townhall site is representative of the communal combination of civic and educational functions into a single structure within a small rural community. The site has the potential to provide a tangible link to an important site in Dobie's civic past. The hall/school is one of three archaeological sites in the township of Dobie (including Dobie House Ruins and Dobie Railway Station) which together constitute a physical, representative sample of past public, educational, private and economic life in Dobie.
FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOL - Archaeological Significance
Only one small area of visible archaeological material was identified, resulting in the assessment of low archaeological significance however there is low-moderate archaeological potential for further remains to be present.
FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOL - Historical Significance
Dobie Hall/School is of historical significance as part of the dormer township of Dobie. The Hall was a well documented historical place whose location, function and features are still recalled by a local resident (E Dunn pers comm 13/02/2012) who attended the school there after the closure of Middle Creek School.
Heritage Inventory Description
FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOL - Heritage Inventory Description
Site comprises a diffuse scatter of red brick, surrounded by exotic vegetation including pines and oaks and in situ fenceposts on an elevated area of land on the western bank of the Hopkins river in Dobie.
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FORMER DOBIE HALL/SCHOOLVictorian Heritage Inventory
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DOBIE HOUSE RUINSVictorian Heritage Inventory
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FORMER DOBIE RAILWAY STATIONVictorian Heritage Inventory
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