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The Digby Historic Walk at
the 2006 ExhibitionThe Digby Historic Walk was a fascinating addition to the weekend of the 2006 Vern McCallum Collection Exhibition. Three times a day, a local identity lead the Historical Walk on a tour of the buildings and sights of the town. Many of today's buildings have changed significantly over the years, and some of the earlier buildings have disappeared. Photos from the Collection, displayed at each stopping point, combined with the well-researched commentary to give an illuminating view of the depth of history and the many human stories that hide behind Digby's present placid presence.
Some of the places on the Historic Walk are shown below. Please note that we have not covered all the places featured on the Walk, nor have we tried to cover all of the detailed commentary. For the complete experience, make sure you go on the 2007 Historic Walk!
The first group sets out on the hour and a half walk. Included are locals, ex locals and nearby history buffs. As you can imagine, it was a very interactive group! Everyone returned somewhat the wiser about the history of Digby.
Rev. Cusack Russell laid the foundation stone for the St John's Anglican Chuch in April 1861, and the church was consecrated in December that year. Rev. Russell was much loved, and is commerated by an inscription on the baptismal font (see later, in the memorial tablets section).
The three major stained glass windows are particularly fine, possibly of national significance. They were designed and made in Melbourne by Ferguson and Urie in 1864. The huge inscribed panels flanking these windows are also rare.
Regular services ceased in late 2002, though St John's is still used when required.
For more about the Digby Anglican Church, click here.
St John's Vicarage was built as a two-room house on The Elms in about 1878. In 1880 it was moved into Digby where it served as the residence for Rev. Moody. When he left it was rented out, until bought by a local family. The house has been extended beyond its two original rooms.
Although known to one and all as "the spring", this area was called "The Digby Public Garden and Water Supply" when it came under a Committee of Management in 1888. Townsfolk carted water from a public well in the west corner, one of several wells in the reserve. The cement troughs seen here were originally three hollowed-out logs.
At one time it was an end-of-year sport to drive horse-drawn traps or carts into the dam in the reserve. The Vern McCallum Collection has a photo of the less-enjoyable task of retrieving the vehicles on New Year's Day!
The reserve is now being restored, as can be seen in this photo.
"There is nothing so certain as change" seems to describe this building's history. It started as JB Mabbitt's butcher's shop, and later he started a grocery in the same building. His brother Fred Mabbitt moved the butcher's business to the Hamilton-Portland roads intersection in 1914. Subsequently the Gutheridge family ran it as a General Store until it closed in the early 1960s.
Digby has had several schools. There was a Digby South school, and two Common Schools, and two State Schools (on the same site), and at least one Sunday School. All are now gone.
However, the residence of the State School teacher is still in place. Hopefully its recent purchase will lead to renovation.
Mr William McKay laid the foundation stone (visible at the bottom right) of the Presbyterian Church on 11th March 1908. Chas Kohn built the Church for 431 pounds using timer from the Burgess brothers. On 17th September 1958 the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations started their union and it became the Uniting Church.
This Church abounds with memorials to local history, including Memorial Gates, a war memorial board, and plaques (see later in the memorials section).
The Digby Butcher's Shop was built by Fred Mabbitt in 1914 on the Hamilton-Portland roads. It passed to Fred Burgess, AE (Bert) McClintock, Carl Harbel and Jack Lackman.
The shop closed about 1976. The original weatherboard home at the rear was destroyed by fire (despite being adjacent to the CFA building!).
It is now one of several Digby buildings that have new owners, and have been renovated.
Some Memorials seen on the Historic Walk
One surprise of the Historic Walk was the number of memorials and plaques in the town. These are mostly small and often inside buildings, and remain unseen by the motorised tourist. Indeed, many of them were a surprise to locals who took the Walk!
Here are some of them.
Important !!
Don't let your photographic memories slip away. Add names, place and date NOW !!
