Helene Sutherland has launched a new book titled Rockville Times and Tales, which is a history of Dookie West and Rockville districts and families.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Cosgrove, before it became Cosgrove, was once overrun by rabbits.
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It’s the reason the local gun club — which is the oldest Cosgrove sporting club still in existence — was established.
That is just one of many facts that have been collated by Kialla historian Helene Sutherland into her new book about the history of Dookie West and Rockville districts and families.
Before it was Cosgrove, the little district near Dookie was known as Rockville.
Mrs Sutherland’s interest in the subject goes beyond local history, and deep into her own family’s history.
It explores 145 years of Sutherland ownership of Rockville, or ‘The Hill’, west of Dookie on two acres of the land, which was renamed Cosgrove after the railway came through and the post office closed in 1907.
Mrs Sutherland’s book, Rockville Times and Tales, which was “a few months in the making”, takes readers from 1880 to the present day.
She rounded up families of the district and compiled any district news she could find about Rockville’s history and happenings.
“Lots of people gave me their time and information,” Mrs Sutherland said.
“Without them, there would be no book.”
John Sutherland's last remaining grandchildren, Douglas Sutherland, 93, and Neil Sutherland, 95, unveiled a plaque at the former Rockville site on November 23.
A plaque celebrating the former Sutherland ownership of the land was unveiled by John Sutherland’s last remaining grandchildren, Neil Sutherland, 95, and Douglas Sutherland, 93, at the site on November 23.
There were around 50 in attendance at the book launch and plaque unveiling.
After the roadside unveiling, the crowd of around 50 moved to the verandah of the old Sutherland house for refreshments while Rockville Times and Tales was launched.
Rockville blacksmith John Skinner's great-granddaughter Robyn Baker looks at Helene Sutherland's new book with Doug Sutherland.
With more books leaving the event than people in attendance, interest in the district’s history is evidently high.
“I didn’t do this as a commercial enterprise, I did it because it needed to be done,” Mrs Sutherland said.
“It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed putting it together.”
Rockville Times and Tales is available at Dookie Emporium, Shepparton Heritage Centre Museum and the Shepparton Visitor Information Centre.
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