Early+Days+in+our+Area


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The first European settlers in our area (Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren, Doveton, Berwick and Pakenham) were farmers called __Pastoralists__. They set up huge sheep and cattle farms called __pastoral runs__. (This is because sheep and cows eat grass which is called pasture.)

Where did these pastoralists come from?
They came down from Sydney in 1836 by horse and wagon, or riding on horseback. They set up the first cattle runs near Dandenong where there was good pasture. They chose the best land - which was also the best for kangaroos and other animals that the Aborigines hunted. This made it hard for the Aborigines to find food.

__Captain Doveton__ was a famous pastoralist. He lived near Doveton Avenue and flew a huge flag on a pole that was more than 70 feet high. (That's more than 20 metres!) His property was called Grassmere, and he built a house there in 1893-4. In the beginning it was not a very big house. It only had four rooms, but gradually they made it bigger. Soon Captain had the land next door as well but he never actually owned it, he just leased it. (This is like renting). Captain Doveton's house was burnt down in a fire, and now the land is called Gumbaya Close. (see the red flag on the map)

Sources: Google Maps //Doverton, a Brief History//, by Maria Harding, Friends of Doveton Library, 1993