CONTENTS
An overview p1. Discovery, exploration and early settlement p4. Naming of the Werribee River and other features p9. Fate of aborigines p10. Life in the district in the 1830s and 1840s p14. Travelling through the Werribee area p16. Planning for urban settlements p19. The pastoral era 1850-1890 p23. Chirnside family p24. Other pastoralists p31. The farmers p33. Social functions p35. Conflict between pastoralist and farmer p36. The origins of local government p40. Wyndham Road District p41. Werribee Shire p41. Roads p44. Ridings p45. Council offices p45. Historic corporate seal p47. The township of Wyndham 1850 to 1890 p48. The establishment of closer settlement 1890s-1912 p57. Tenant farmers on Werribee Park Estate p58. The Board of Works and the Metropolitan Farm p62. Chaffey brothers and irrigation farming at Werribee p70. Life in the Shire 1890s-1912 p71. Electricity supply p71. Fire brigade p73. Post office p73. Telephone service p74. Creation of the Central Riding p74. Reticulated water supply p75. Railway service p76. Immediate interests of local people 1900-1912 p77. Change in the name from Wyndham to Werribee Shire p77. Chirnside Park p78. Motor cars p79. Early closing p80. Sporting life p80. Swimming p81. Social life p83. Consolidation of the character of the Shire 1912-1939 p85. Transformation of Werribee South p85. Orchards p87. Poultry farming p87. Market gardening and the European contribution p89. Werribee South in the 1920s and 1930s p90. The State Research Farm [Animal Research Institute] p91. Home of the Royal Australian Airforce [RAAF] p94. Life in Werribee 1912-1939 p104. World War One and the RSL p104. Exit the Chirnside family p106. The town p107. Sports p107. Transport, cinemas, Werribee people p108. Events of Altona p109. 1930s Depression p112. Sport and social activities 1930s p114. New community amenities p115. Impending war p117. School [education] and church [religion] p118. Schooling p118. Little River p118. Truganina p119. Wyndham – Werribee p121. Churches p125. Church of England [Anglican] p126. Presbyterian p127. Roman Catholic p128. Methodist p132. Baptist p133. A tradition of horse racing p134. Chirnside family p134. Racing at Werribee p135. Little River p140. Index of names of prominent residents who have contributed to the development of the Shire of Werribee [with page numbers] p141.

ILLUSTRATIONS
Map 1845 of early crossing over the Werribee River p8. Elliott Armstrong p9. Mud brick home of William Ison 1858, Bulban Road (preserved) p24. First home of Thomas Chirnside, Werribee Park (preserved) p24. Sports picnic at Werribee Park 1882 [drawing] p25. William Leake’s Dairy 1877, now in ruins p40. First Shire Office 1867-8, now Masonic Centre p40. Mechanics’ institute 1883, (preserved), situated behind Centenary Hall p41. Home of Francis Beamish 1884 (preserved), Synnot Street p41. Wool carting, ‘Mouyong’, Little River 1909 p56. Hay carting p56. Old traction engines with farm equipment p57. Lord Hopetoun turning first sod, Metropolitan Farm 1892 p57. Second Shire Office 1893 (preserved), Watton Street p72. Werribee Post Office, Watton Street, present office on same site p72. ‘Banner’ Office, when situated west side of Station Street p73. Comben’s Store when situated east side of Station Street p73. Ashby’s [Ashby and Sons, saddle and harness makers], east side of Station Street p88. Tyzack’s Store, later Deneys, north-east corner of Watton and Station streets p88. Agricultural show 1920 p89. Croquet area, now Werribee Bowling Club p104. Truganina Baptist Church, built 1862, recently dismantled p105. Truganina Primary School no. 192, built 1869 p105. Ellen Armstrong p120. Wyndham Common School no. 649, built 1868, pictured 1900 p121.