location
Woolshed Valley
North of Beechworth
Beginnings
Sebastopol was one of the settlements in the Woolshed valley that grew up after the discovery of gold in about 1853. Sebastopol was named after the site of the battle in the Crimean War that was fought between the British and the Russians. The Napoleon was an other community in the area and Eldorado was a bit further down Reedy Creek.
Evans Gap
Importance of Sebastopol
Photograph
Map The Byrne family and Aaron Sherritt lived at Sebastopol. It was on the right bank down stream from the Devil's Elbow. The settlement, on the bank of Reedy Creek, was the site of gold mining area. (Argus15/8/64)
In the 1870s it was being worked over again by Chinese miners.
What was Sebastopol like in the late 1870s
See below the list of businesses at Sebastopol Flat in 1857. Many of them had left the area by the 1870s and Sebastopol Flat and The Napoleon were considered as being a part of the Woolshed
Facilities in Sebastopol in the late 1870s
Population Hotels Mrs Batchelors hotel (OMA29/7/79) Schools Donoghue Other things of interest
Links to the KellyGang
In January 1877 Joe Byrne got 6 months for assaulting a Chinaman who tried to stop him swimming in the Woolshed dam.On 6/11/1878 Sup Sadleir got news that the KellyGang had been at Sheep Station Creek near Sebastopol and that they were still there. This led to the famed Sebastopol cavalcade when a large number of mounted police turned up for a special KellyGang hunt. (RC11) (JJK)
On 13/11/1879 there was a plan for Jack Sherritt meet the KellyGang at Evans Gap and to go off and rob the bank at Yackandanda. (RC15284)
Aaron Sherritt lived at Sebastopol at the time of his death (Argus8/7/80)
The KellyGang were supplied with provisions by the Chinese storekeeper at Sebastopol. (RC5489) E Fang was the storekeeper (RC14973)(RC15298)
The Royal Commission found that in the autumn of 1880 the KellyGang were usually in the vicinity of the Greta Swamp, from which they would move back to the ranges, get across the Ovens River towards Sebastopol, and from thence to the Pilot Range, near Wodonga. (RC2nd reportXII )
Members of the Sebastopol community
families who lived in the area
Batchelor | Chappell | (Duggan)
E Fang |
Weekes |
Mrs Byrne | Donoghue
Duckett Tom |
Jones
Aaron Sherritt |
Weiner |
Businesses at Sebastopol Flat in 1857 included:
Barber, Noael Lenies | Hotel ? Joseph Gallon | Restaurant, Wm Palmer |
Baker, John Auld | Hotel ? John Heillbronn | Restaurant, Wm Poppelwell |
Baker, Alex Cousen | Hotel ? Henry Johnson | Restaurant, Edmund Porter |
Baker, Brown & McDonald | Hotel ? George Jolley | Restaurant, Sarah Shaw |
Baker, Matthew Reardon | Hotel ? Thomas Mooney | Restaurant, Wm Styles |
Baker, Scott & Morris | Jeweller, Charles Giles | Restaurant, Josephus Johannis de la Suie |
Baker, James Wheeler | Police SConst David Hanahan | Restaurant, ? Thomson |
Blacksmith, Wm Davidson | Const E Shoebridge | Restaurant, Patrick Tohey |
Blacksmith, Thomas Evans | Const John Murphy | School C of E, Thomas M Barry |
Blacksmith, Giles Thrower | Stationer, Blacklock Bros | |
Brewer, Charles Morrison | Refreshments, James Bullerd | Storekeeper, Israel Abraham |
Brewer, Stephen Vince | Refreshments, Wm Carney | Storekeeper, M Amschel & Co |
Butcher, Charles Cozens | Refreshments, Charles Daniels | Storekeeper, Bulfin & Jackson |
Butcher, Joseph E Dixon | Refreshments, Catherine Douglas | Storekeeper, Bussel & Bligh |
Butcher, George Hince | Refreshments, Ann Edwards | Storekeeper, Cole Bros |
Butcher, Anthony McDermott | Refreshments, George Friend | Storekeeper, Crowther & Co |
Butcher, Edward Mills | Refreshments, John Melrose | Storekeeper, John Duncan |
Butcher, John Mooney | Refreshments, George Morris | Storekeeper, Henry Fitzmaurice |
Butcher, Charles Potter | Refreshments, Wm Morrison | Storekeeper, Frank & Co |
Carpenter, Job Howe | Refreshments, Morey Tucker | Storekeeper, Nicholas Ivers |
Carpenter, Robt Davidson & Co | Restaurant, James Buttery | Storekeeper, Levy & Sander |
Dairyman, Wm David | Restaurant, Wm Cameron | Storekeeper, John McConchie & Co |
Dairyman, Thomas Roseborough | Restaurant, Wm Carney | Storekeeper, Thomas Miller |
Dispensary, Arthur Smith | Restaurant, James Ferguson | Storekeeper, H & W Moffatt |
Dressmaker, Isabella Blight | Restaurant, Chas Fieldhouse | Storekeeper, Henry Pemberton |
Ginger Beer Factory, ? Earl | Restaurant, Michael Fontaineau | Storekeeper, George Robertson |
Greengrocer, John De Graves | Restaurant, James Handforth | Storekeeper, Robert Steihl & Co |
Greengrocer, John Haig | Restaurant, Wm Humley | Storekeeper, James Wheeler |
Greengrocer, Chas Smith Wilmot | Restaurant, Samuel Lane | Storekeeper, Stephen Wise |
Hotel ? Ward Brown | Restaurant, Wm Lane | Tobacconist, John Audley |
Hotel ? Alex Brownlie | Restaurant, Alex McDonald | Watchmaker, Wm Turner |
Hotel ? Joseph Couper | Restaurant, John McKercher |
i
What happened at Sebastopol after the time of the KellyGang
Royal CommissionThe Royal Commission into the KellyGang outbreak conducted hearings in Sebastopol in 1881.
What is happening at Sebastopol today
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