Neil Nicholson is the fourth child of Angus and Eva May (nee McMillan) Nicholson. He was born on April 4, 1934. Here are some of his reflections on growing up in Mulwala.
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The Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House Oral History Group invites you to take a step back in time as they reach into their files each month to present a story from days gone by. This month’s article: An interview with long time local resident Neil Nicholson who shares his reflections on growing up in Mulwala.
“Mulwala, of the 1930s, was a village of about five hundred people. It was a place that had made little progress in the previous decades and its people had suffered from the Great Depression.
“It had two pubs, a butcher, baker, blacksmith, barber shop and a billiard salon and three stores selling groceries and horse feed.
“Mulwala in that time had almost nothing in the way of basic amenities. There being no electricity, street lighting, sewage, water supply or drainage system, except for a narrow strip of bitumen up the main street, the roads and the foot paths were unmade and were rough and dusty in summer and muddy in winter.
“Our house was situated in Melbourne Street, opposite the school. It was on a quarter acre block and we owned the vacant block next door.
“The two blocks ran back to the lagoon, and later after the flooding of the forests, the lake became part of our property.
“Almost all of Mulwala’s houses were built of local timber for economy, availability of materials and resistance to termites. A lot of the houses are built of river red gum. The roof was of corrugated iron though in early days some had shingle roofs.
“The houses were built on quarter acre blocks. Apart from odd house the only brick buildings were the office of police, post office, court house, hotels and schools. These were built from local bricks burnt by the Bassett family, Jack and his father.
“I have few memories of the pre lake period but they are rather vague. I recall being in the forest with my mother as she searched for her cows.
“I remember the sleeper cutters working to cut as much of the forest before it flooded. Dad used to cart the sleepers to Corowa for the New South Railways.
“I also recall the volunteers clearing the forest behind Mulwala prior to it going under water. Groups set about felling the thousands of trees - they were cut down and left where they fell.
“Mum had a favourite tree that was opposite our place on the other side of the lagoon. I remember she was saddened when it was cut down. After the forest was flooded it took some time for the trees to die. I clearly recall seeing all the trees with dead leaves on them.
“After the lake filled thousands of dry logs floated round. They came ashore all along the shore line of the lake and clogged up the weir and canal gates. George King, the owner of the Mulwala Saw Mill, owned the paddle steamer Australien and used it for hauling them to his saw mill. The logs were heaped up and burnt.
“I consider I had a wonderful childhood, although we were not in any way affluent, I don’t feel that I was any way deprived.”
The Yarrawonga Neighbourhood House Oral History stories can be found at the State Library Victoria, local libraries, www.ynh.org.au and YouTube. You can also find the group on Facebook by searching for YNH Oral History.
Have you got a story to share? The group would love to hear from you so that they can record it for future generations to enjoy and learn from.
New members are welcomed. Contact the Community Programs Coordinator, Debbie Cooper on 03 5744 3911 or community@ynh.org.au.