Charlton is located in the heart of a traditional grain growing region situated in the valley of the Avoca River, in the last of the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. Like other communities, Charlton has its own story to tell and although not a dramatic one, it is a tale of steady persistence. In 1863, John Flug established an inn on the eastern bank of the Avoca River, laying the foundation of the town. One hundred and fifty years later, in 2013, Charlton is a modern agricultural community with a diverse and vibrant population. This book details the history of the development of Charlton and the surrounding district, from the era of the pastoralists in the 1840s to the modern community of today. It acknowledges the struggles, achievements, events and the people that have shaped the town and includes many personal stories and over 500 photographs.

CONTENTS
The early years p7. Dja Dja Wurrung [aborigines] p7. The squatters p8. William Bateman p9. A town is born p11. Cobham Hall p12. The East Charlton Homestead p13. The story of John Flug p15. James Paterson, builder and farmer p16. Early pioneers living on the reserve: George Flatman, Robert Arundell, Samuel and Jane Mays p16. The selectors p17. Peverill family of Mount Jeffcott p22. Water rates and roads [local government] p23. The battle for water p23. The struggle for severance p24. A new shire is formed p26. Early progress 1896-1910 p27. The continuing water problem p28. New shire offices p29. Post war progress p30. The Charlton Bridge p31. The Depression years p32. A central riding is formed p34. The question of sewerage p35. Charlton’s municipal buildings p36. Additional services for Charlton p37. A new weir p38. The issue of restructuring p41. The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline p42. Charlton Shire and Buloke Shire councillors p43. Street names of Charlton p50. Agriculture p55. Early days p55. The drought of 1902 p56. Frank Cossar ‘the year 1902 as a record’ p57. World War One p57. The Depression p58. Bill McGurk: droving sheep in the 1929 drought p58. World War Two p59. The 1960s p60. The 1982 drought p61. Mixed years p61. Droving December 1982 – April 1983: Des, Fran and Jake Lanyon p62. The floods p63. Bill Clifford: man of the soil p63. Clinton Olive 2002 summary p63. Jack Mitchell p68. Business and industry p71. 1874-1879 p71. [Indian] Hawkers p77. Country hotels: the Canadian Hotel; West Charlton Hotel p78. 1880-1911 p79. Charlton Foundry p88. 1912-1969 p89. Noske Flour Mill p98. 1970-1988 p100. Luth’s Emporium 1875-1971 p104. 1989-2013 p106. Industries: Charlton Feedlot; Inghams Enterprises; Boral Quarry p112-3. Education p119. Early days of education p119. The Education Act 1872 p120. Charlton State School no. 1480 p121. Private schools p125. Charlton Higher Elementary School (HES) p126. Frank Tate p127. Professor G.S. Browne p127. Professor William Andrew ‘Bill’ Merrylees 1900-1969 p129. HES school song p131. Reminiscences: Graham Curnow; Grace Cadzow: Charlton State School and HES p133. Charlton High School p134. School song p135. St Joseph’s School and College [Roman Catholic] p140. Sir John Vincent Dillon p143. Charlton Preschool p143. North Central Cluster Centre (NCCC) p144. Pre-driver education p145. Charlton P-12 College p146. Charlton Stadium p147. Country schools p148. Reminscence: Beth Curnow: Teddywaddy West State School 2865 p148. Snippets from the East Charlton Tribune p149. Samuel ‘Sam’ Thompson p150. Public services p151. Postal services p151. Clem Carlson: Postmaster retires after 49 years service p154. Light and electricity p155. Mr A.C. (Arthur Colombo) Bertoli AMIE p156. Telephone p157. Mechanics’ Institute p158. Charlton police p159. Charlton Court House p162. Cemeteries p164. Fire Brigade p166. Charlton fires p169. The plight of Mrs Knapp 1892 p170. Russell Wright: 1909 fire p170. Charlton’s medical history p172. Charlton’s doctors p173. Dr Beckett – Charlton doctor and x-ray pioneer p174. Dr Walklate p175. Chemists p176. Dentists p178. Hospitals p178. Marj Bartlett p184. Ambulance p185. Meals on Wheels p185. Child and Maternal Health Centre p186. Epidemics p187. Transport p188. Cobb and Co. p188. Railway p189. Buses: Bus services p193. Memories of Russell Wright p195. Military history p196. The Victorian Rangers p196. The Boer War p197. World War One p199. Harold Peverill p204. The Ross family p205. World War Two p206. The Carlson family p210. Vic Arundell p211. Isabel and Watson Paterson p212. Vietnam War p212. William Crossley p213. Recent conflicts p214. Stephen Cadzow p214. In peace and war: a career in the Navy: Commander Paul Scott p215. Australian Air Force: Garry McKee p216. Halls, parks and reserves p217. Gordon Park p217. Swimming Pool p218. Elliott Gardens p219. General Harold ‘Pompey’ Elliott: the fighting General p220. Rotary Park p221. Charlton Park p221. Other parks in Charlton p223. Wooroonook Lakes p223. Travellers Rest p225. Railway Dam Wildlife Reserve p227. John Joseph Curtin p228. Wardell’s Hall p229. Victoria Hall p229. A new Shire Hall p231. The Rex Theatre p232. District halls p235. Clubs and organisations p236. Friendly societies and lodges p236. The Charlton Club p237. Young Farmers and Senior Young Farmers Club p237. CWA p238. Red Cross p239. Charlton Old People’s Welfare Committee and the Senior Citizen’s Club p239. RSL p240. Rotary Club p240. Apex Club and OASIS p241. Lions Club p242. Guides and brownies p242. Scouts and cubs p243. Tourism, progress and commerce associations p244. Charlton A&P Society p245. The Band p248. Charlton Music Club p249. Golden Grains Museum p250. Charlton Arts p251. Sketa Grimshaw Tourers Motorcycle Club p251. The CIRCLE (Charlton Information Resource Centre and Learning Environment Inc.) p252. Community Garden p252. Men’s Shed p253. Probus p253. Sport p254. Angling Club, Athletics p254. Badminton p255. Basketball, Boomerang throwing, Bowls p257. Coursing, Cricket p259. Croquet p260. Cycling p262. Football p264. Arthur Hando p266. 1968-69 Mini League Football p267. Golf p269. Harness racing p270. Hockey p273. Indoor bowls, motor sports p274. Netball p275. Pony Club p277. Rifle shooting, swimming p278. Table tennis, tennis p280. Tug of war, Turf Club p282. Pastoral care [religion] p283. Presbyterian Church p283. Methodist Church p285. St Martin’s Anglican Church p287. Rev. John Fowler p288. St Joseph’s Catholic Church p289. Salvation Army p290. Father Goidanich p291. Charlton Christian Church, Pastor Rohan Needs, Country churches p292. Coonooer Bridge p294. Floods and storms p295. Floods p295. Marj Bartlett p308. Storms p309. Sharing the news p311. Charlton’s newspapers p311. Community newsletters p316. 3CV radio station p316. Odds and ends p317. Marriage: John Bennett and Susannah Price p317. Margaret McGurk and Geoff Hindson, Danny Wright and Kelly Hobbs, Charlton debutantes 1974 p318. Charlton’s ‘back-to’ celebrations: 1926, 1938, 1951, 1964, 1980, 1988, 1995 p319-322. Ben Green p320. Events: Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Jaara baby, 2000 Olympic torch relay, 2006 Commonwealth Games baton relay, Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy visit 2011 p323-4. When Charlton was a child (poem by Tom Murphy) p325. Mount Buckrabanyule and the myth of ‘Mindye’ p326. Australia Day celebrations: citizens of the year 1982-2012 p330. Endnotes p334. Bibliography p339. Index p340.