Lara Swimming Club ~ established in 1963

SEASON 2009/10

HISTORY
Club History
Club Photographs
Club Champions
Lara Township
Life Members

Some items on the website may be viewed only by members.

Last updated:
01/07/2009

Contact Secretary:
Kevin O'Neil

HISTORY ~ LARA TOWNSHIP

A History of Lara ~ from Duck Ponds to Lara

The following chronology of Lara and the surrounding area has been taken from a publication called “From Duck Ponds to Lara”, published in Lara in 2004.  It was produced by the Lara Heritage Festival Inc. and contained a “ … collection of memories” obtained from local residents.  It is available for purchase from the Lara Community Centre.  Page references follow each piece of information presented below.

“Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Wathaurung people occupied the area from Werribee to the Bellarine Peninsula and across to Ballarat.  The Wathaurung people were one of four tribes that formed the Kulin confederacy.” P14  For more information regarding the Wathaurung people, click HERE.

1802 ~ Matthew Flinders climbed the You Yangs in order to better view the area. P.17

1824 Hume and Hovell walked from Sydney to explore this region and camped on the banks of Hovell’s Creek, near where the memorial now stands.  The memorial was erected in 1924. P18.

1835 ~ John Batman (founder of Melbourne) visited Corio Bay and after exploring parts of the Bellarine Peninsula, sailed across Corio Bay and landed at the mouth of Hovell’s Creek. P19.

1853 ~ Melbourne – Geelong rail line commenced.  P58

1855 ~ Duck Ponds School (Common School No. 188) opens.  P122.

1856 (October) ~ 16km section of track from Geelong to Duck Ponds completed.  P58

1860 ~ Spalding family open the first shop in Lara (at the Sixways).  P143

1864 ~ Lara Lake School built.  P123

1864 ~ Corio Roads Board Headquarters (the RSL Hall since 1952) built in 1864.  It was used as municipal offices before relocation to Osborne House in 1937. P19

1875 ~ Lara Cricket Club mentioned in The Geelong Advertiser.  P180

1887 ~ bore water supplies water to Lara, because Hovell’s Creek has a low flow rate and its flow is seasonable and unreliable.  P57.

1907 ~ first Lara Police Station opened.  P156

1910 ~ first telephone facilities in Lara.  This was a manual exchange until 1965.  P56.

1911 ~ Lara District population recorded at 893.  P 133

1912 ~ Duck Ponds School closed.  Flinders Peak School opened, and closed in 1944.  P81&P122

1919 ~ Lara’s first tennis courts built near the recreation reserve.  P185

1926 ~ electricity comes to Lara, but not to all residents.  P57.

1938 ~ the Cairn at ‘Six Ways’ was built to honour pioneers of the Lara District.  The cairn housed the original Lara fire bell, which was rung to alert residents of the approaching fires of 1969. P21.

1939 ~ Lara Volunteer Fire Brigade formed.  P171

1947 ~ “town water” was supplied to Lara, to only 108 homes, and then to only the front of each property due to a shortage of pipes.  P57.

1957 ~ Lara Scouts established.  P178

1961 ~ Lara Guides established.  P177

1962 ~ Lara Red Cross begins its work.  P170

1963 ~ Lara Lodge consecrated.  P175

1963 ~ Lara Swimming Club was established (known originally as the “Lara Amateur Swimming and Lifesaving Club”).  P184

1964 ~ Lara Primary School opens.  P126

1964 ~ Elcho Park Golf Club formed.  P182

1965 ~ Lara Bowling Club formed.  P190

1969 ~ bushfires kill 18 people in Lara and leave many others homeless.  The fire destroyed 43 homes, the Chaff Mill, highway petrol station, the Lara Lake Primary School and the Holy Trinity Anglican Church.  P94

1970 ~ new Lara Lake Primary School opened.  P125

1970 ~ Lara Lions Club receives its charter.  P173

1973 ~ serious floods in Lara flowed into 15 homes.  Other major floods occurred in 1983, 1988, 2001 and 2005.  P109-112

1975 ~ Lara Sporting Club established.  P179

1976 ~ Avalon Raceway opens.  P79

1981 ~ duplication of the Geelong – Melbourne rail line completed.  P60

1982 ~ first Lara Heritage Festival.  P75

1982 ~ Lara Community Centre established.  P55

1983 ~ St. Anthony’s Primary School commences.  P129

1883 ~ Lara Chamber of Commerce established.  P169

1984 ~ connection to Barwon Water Sewerage System.  P58

1984 ~ German Shepherd Dog Club (Geelong Branch) was formed.  P187

1992 ~ first Avalon Airshow.  P78

1996 ~ Lara Harriers (Athletics Club) formed.  P183

1999 ~ Toy Library opens.  P174

2003 ~ Lara Secondary College opens with enrolments at Year 7.

Kevin O'Neil
Permission to publish this material was obtained from Herb Picker,
Lara Heritage Festival

TIMELINE
Club History:

2005 ~ Website Launch
1995 ~ Pool Reverts to 6 Lanes
1994 ~ Lara Swimming Club Inc.
1988 ~ Silver Anniversary
1985 ~ Heritage Festival Time Capsule
1982 ~ Inaugural 24 Hour Swim
1976 ~ Clubrooms Open
1975 ~ Pool Heated
1969 ~ Lara Bushfires
1967 ~ First Inter-District
1964 ~ First Carnival
1963 ~ Lara Amateur Swimming Club formed
1963 ~ Lara Pool Opens (12 February)