It is not often that an historical walk around a district, commemorates the work of a much loved and highly respected local historian, but such is the case in Porepunkah at the foot of the Victorian snowfields. The Telford historic walk can be taken with guide Lindsay Clapperton who is a retired headmaster of the school, or you can use the map provided and make your own way around the rural settlement, at your own pace. Either way there is plenty to see. And plenty to learn! Locals are of the opinion that the unique name, Porepunkah is of Indian origin coming from ‘pore’ meaning plenty and ‘punkah’ having a connection with the swaying canvas breeze-maker that was used in Anglo India to combat the heat.

To get to the goldfields of Buckland the miners would have used the ‘Ovens Crossing’ below the present day ‘Hoopers Bridge’. This easy crossing point marked the site of what is now known as Porepunkah. William Hooper was a man who had a considerable impact on the development of Porepunkah. Hooper was born in England and educated in America. He worked on the California Goldfields from 1849 and left for Australia in 1852. By 1854 he had become settled at the Ovens crossing establishing the Hooper’s Crossing Inn. By 1858 Hooper’s business dealings had expanded to such an extent that Hooper went into partnership with Bartlet Samuel Nye running the hotel, a coach service, mail contract, Post Office and store. Hooper became very influential in local affairs and did a great deal to promote the area.

Hooper moved to Bright in 1872 and opened the Bright Brewery. He continued his extensive interests in Porepunkah including a 600 acre property with grazing orchard and hop garden. He eventually sold what was by then the Ovens Hotel to John Chandler in 1899. Hooper died in 1903 and is buried in the Bright Cemetery.

The site of Olney’s Bakery is included on the Telford Walk. The bakery was a small building located hard against the hill opposite the bridge. The entire Olney family comprising five boys and 2 girls lived in the Bakery. When the business was at its peak, they were running two delivery carts, and dispatching bread throughout the district.
State School No. 1144 dates back to the 17th January 1870 when the first application for a school was made by a committee consisting of: Jo Dumphy William Hooper David Stewart James Duncan Alex Wilson Jas Mansfield Daniel O’Leahan Creed. The present school site was finally Gazetted on 13th June 1873 even though the Board of Education had issued an order on the 8th February 1872 that aid to establish a Common School be granted from the 1st of March. John Kinsmore of Bright built the first school for 125 pounds and it was finished by December 1872 in time for the new school year. Primary School No. 1144 was officially opened on the 23rd January 1873 with Mr. Henry Jeffreys as the headmaster and an enrolment of 43 children. In 1874 a four-roomed residence was built.

A new wooden school was built by Mr. L. Winter and opened by the Minister of Education A.A. Bilson and the Director of Education Frank Tate in 1912. By August 1913 Mr. Winter had also completed a new five-roomed residence at a cost of 493 pounds. Both these building are still standing today. Class of 1903 Porepunkah School No. 1144 The AIGS library now has in its collection a CD which holds in excess of 700 historic photos of Porepunkah and its surrounds. Amongst its collection of well produced photographs are school photos from: 1903, 1920, 1924: Grade 5/6 1974: Infants 1972:  Grade 3/4 1972: Preps 1/2 1974. Perhaps you might recognize an ancestor or family member and could provide the details to the Porpunkah School.

As was usual for most country towns, sport played a big part in the life of Porepunkah and amongst the historic collection of photographs are images of: · 1909 F C · 1914 Football Premiers · Commencement of a Bicycle Race , possibly the Red Bird Road Race 1912 as featured on a local poster. · Cricket Premiers 1930/31 · Cricket Premiership Ball 1934 · 3 football teams undated This is just a small sample of the history of Porepunkah on CD. If your genealogical roots are in the Bright, Wandiligong and Buckland Valley you may find images from the past to flesh out your family skeleton. If you wish to purchase your own copy of the CD it can be purchased from the Porepunkah Primary School for $5.00 plus postage.