History of the Park

Lethbridge is one of Victorias oldest Agriculture and Viticulture Regions 

The area was one of the most popular routes from Melbourne to the Goldfields in Ballarat during the Goldrush. The current route to and from Melbourne to Ballarat (the Western Highway) was not the preferred route (due to steep inclines and mud etc), so travellers used to catch a paddle streamer from Melbourne to Geelong and ride via Cobb & Co and Horseback to the Goldfields. 

The following surround the history of Lethbridge:
- Lethbridge is Rich in Cobb & Co History
- Peter Lalor, the leader of the Eureka Stockade rebellion, hid overnight in Lethbridge while fleeing from Ballarat to Geelong in November 1854
- Captain Melville (the second most infamous Bushranger behind Ned Kelly, he actually was a mentor to Ned Kelly) committed his final robberies in the area prior to arrest in Geelong in 1952.

Lethbridge is well know for its Bluestone Quarry, which most notably supplied the bluestone for the front steps in Victoria's Parliament House.

 

Follow the links below to piece togther a very vivid history of Lethbridge Township:

Please click this link to read more about Lethbridge's general history and stories

Please click this link to read further on to Bannockburn's general history and stories

To read about the Moranghurk Pastoral Run

 

The following books will also site much information and detail:

Eric A. McGillivray's "The heritage of Lethbridge"