Location
Located on Ovens River. Take the road from Wangaratta that goes up the Ovens Valley in the direction of Mt Bufflalo
Beginings
Part of the Ovens Gold Field.(Argus22/1/76) (Argus22/1/76)
The town was surveyed in 1859. In the begining the town was known as Morse's Creek.
It was changed to honour John Bright, a British liberal politician and advocate of free trade
Gold mining above Bright (Argus30/10/65)
Other towns in the area include Wandiligong.
Importance of Bright
Photograph
Map The gold had all but run out by the late 1870s.
Bright was in the back country were shadowy people like the KellyGang moved horses and cattle away from the public gaze.
What was Bright like in the late 1870s
This was a long time before people went sking for fun or toured the area on their holidays
Representatives from Bright attended a major meeting to plan for the coming of the railways (Argus15/7/67)
Facilities in Bright in the late 1870s
Population Hotels Cathcart's Alpine Hotel Churches Anglican Church, (1870)
Methodist, (1884)
Presbyterian Church, (1880) Schools Bank yes Main Streets Shire of Bright Local Government Police Station? Telegraph Office
There was a postal route from Everton to Wandiligong via Bowman's Forest, Taylor's Gap, Myrtleford, Eurobin, Porepunka, Bright
and between Bright , Freeburgh and Harrietville Other things of interest Cathcart's Alpine (OMA18/1/79)
J. H. Gray and Co (OMA18/1/79)
Hazelton - store keeper (Argus2/9/69)
Licensing Magistrate Thomas E Lumley
Doctors Benjamin Warren, James A Hayden
Funerals
Anna Steinwart
Mining Company
Cornish United Quartz Mining Company No Liabilty (Gazette No8 1976)
Associated Claims Company Limited wound up in 1876
Red Jacket Quartz Mining Company 1876
Links to the KellyGang
The KellyGang got supplies from people in the Bright area
Police sent search parties to the Bright area
Ass Com Nicolson stationed Const Shoebridge at Bright in July 1879 (RC713)
Land sales in Bright (OMA18/1/79)
Members of the Bright community
Councillors Wm M'Lean and Wm Hooper (Argus15/7/67)
What happened at Bright after the time of the KellyGang
The railway line from Wangarratta to Bright was built. It no longer operates
What is happening at Bright today