Hotspur developed as a small settlement on the banks of the Smokey or Crawford River in south western Victoria in the 1840s. As with many of these early townships it developed near a creek or river crossing which provided a major obstacle for early travellers with their heavy bullock drawn drays and wagons and consequently they camped on the banks and soon one or more inns were constructed to cater for the constant stream of early travellers.

Hotspur, like Digby was on one of the main north - south wagon routes linking Portland Bay to the early pastoral runs of the interior and a settlement was established close to this difficult river crossing point.

This small collection of events is an attempt to list some of the early happenings in the Hotspur district in the 1800s. Looking for additional material, stories, images of early Hotspur and its surrounds.

Daryl Povey

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1836 - Crawford River: "Rises North of Branxholme and flows south-west by Hotspur, Co. of Normanby; named in 1836 by Major Mitchell after a military colleague, Major_General Sir Alexander C. Craufurd of Newark Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland." Source: "Place Names in Victoria" - Les Blake.

1837 - The HENTY brothers sent the first flock of sheep north from Portland Bay to Muntham Pastoral Run. This was the beginning of the settlement of inland south western Victoria. They would probably have crossed the Crawford River, perhaps where the settlement of Hotspur was established over the next few years at this significant crossing point on a low, boggy river flat.

1842 - The first building in the township of Hotspur was the Crawford Inn which was opened by Daniel O'NEILL in about 1841. Proir to coming to Hotspur he was storekeeper in Melbourne. On April 18th, 1843 the police bench at the Grange granted him a certificate for the renewal of his licence.

1842, Mar 15 - Donald McKENZIE and his hut keeper Frederick EDINGE were killed by aborigines not far from Hotspur.

1843 - The first public sale of livestock in the Portland district was held at the Crawford Inn on June 8th, 1843. Henry HAYDEN a Portland Auctioneer conducted the sale in which cows realised an average of 7 pounds 17/6 a head, and bullocks sold at 17 pounds 10 shillings a pair.

1843, Aug 31 - Christopher BASSETT, squatter of Bassetts or Crawford Station at the head of the Crawford River was killed by aborigines.

1843 - Henry MONRO, son of Professor Alexander MONRO of Edinburgh University took over "Bassetts" or "Crawford" Station on the Crawford River at Hotspur. Henry MONRO held "Bassets" from 1843-1849 and "Crawford" Station from 1858-1862. He is believed to have died in Spain in the 1860s.

1845 - Hector McDONALD and Kenneth McKENZIE had occupied "Snizort" Pastoral Run.

1846 - Ann O'NEILL wife of Daniel O'NEILL of 'The Crawford Inn' at Hotspur died on 23 Jun 1846, aged 42 at 'The Crawford Inn' and was buried at Hotspur 3 days later.

1847 - Hector McDONALD from "Snizort" Pastoral Run took over the licence for the Crawford Inn.

1848 - James HAMILTON recalled as a ten year old from Ozenkadnook Station north of Casterton taking a dray load of wool through Digby and Hotspur to Portland.



..... From Digby we made the Smoky River next day. This was our worst crossing - the black mud and slush running along way out at each side of the channel. On getting through, we camped at the township, now called Hotspur. It was much in appearance like the other townships I have described. The public house was kept by Hector McDONALD, who afterwards shifted to Portland, and built the place well-known as Mac's Hotel. Our next stage brought us to Heywood.....

1849, Nov. - Daniel KELLY married Mary BASTABLE of the "Crawford Inn" at the residence of Hector McDONALD, Hotspur, Victoria. Hector McDONALD owned the "Crawford Inn" at this time so that may be the location of the wedding.

1852 - Thomas BRINDLEY and family from Derbyshire arrived at Portland on the "Emma Eugenia" and settled at Hotspur near the Crawford River.

1852/3 - William KEY, blacksmith, and family from Tetney in Lincolnshire arrived at Portland on the "Anne Milne" and settled at Hotspur.

1854 - John McCONACHY took over the licence for the Crawford Inn.

1855, Jan - James HISCOCK and his wife Jane COBB from Somerset arrived on the "Shand" at Portland and settled near Hotspur.

1855, Jan - John SYPOTT from Cheshire, England and Mary O'LEARY from Cork, Ireland married at Digby and settled at Hotspur.

1856 - The Roads Board accepted a tender from Bailey & Cook for the construction of a bridge at Hotspur over the Crawford River.



1856 - Edwin HISCOCK and his wife Elizabeth TERRY from Somerset arrived at Portland on the "Arabian" and settled at Hotspur.

1857 - A visit to Hotspur by James BONWICK on his horseback ride through western Victoria.

HOTSPUR upon the Crawford, or Smoky River, eighteen miles from Heywood, and thirty-eight from Portland, is another of the four years old towns. A rude bridge and an hotel had existed from very primitive times. A new bridge is now being constructed, in the place of the other washed down by the flood. A large flat stretches for some distance on both sides of the river, and is a perfect gluepot to pass in winter; my horse trembled in his passage through, and the rider confesses to some nervousness, as he had just been regaled with divers stories of mud smotherings and river drownings. The present bridge is to prevent further accidents, and is made three hundred and fifty yards long by five yards wide. A party of sober and intelligent Canadians had the contract, and were to receive £7 a yard for the work.


Here again I met with the sad story of no Sunday Service since the very formation of the settlement. When journeying through the place, and observing no school, I promised to return in a few days with a clergyman to establish one. Having to organise the school by myself, through inability to procure the aid of the minister, I noticed the distress of one man at our little meeting. Inquiring into the cause, I received this explanation, delivered with much feeling. 'Why, do you see Sir,' said he, 'my wife and I wanted our children christened. For five years and more we have been hoping to get a parson to drop in here to give us a sermon. Now when I tell my wife you have not got the gentleman you promised to bring, she'll break her heart about it.'


Two things are painfully apparent to the thoughtful traveller in the Bush, the want of the appliances of religion, as well as the almost utter indifference of the people to its claims, where means are at hand. As men are the creatures of habit, there will be sad consequences following the neglect of the habit of attending places of worship. One man acknowledged to me that for twelve years he had never been situated within many miles of any opportunity of joining in Public Worship. Township after township in the interior have I passed through, where, in answer to my usual enquiry about such matters, it was said,-'Oh no, we never had any preaching here.' Children of advanced age are as ignorant of the first principles of religion as savages, or as even many of their own parents.


Hotspur is chiefly peopled by carriers. Distance from medical assistance reduces ladies to the necessity of aiding each other. I was informed that hardly any of the grown population could read. Twelve houses form the township. The half acre allotments were bought by speculators in Portland at from £20 to £50 each. A bit of decent land extends for a mile, when the desolate forest and gravel come again. The limestone breaks out near the river, about two miles down. A yellow variety has some rich looking crystals, and many fossils. The valley of the Smoky river exhibits denudations on a large scale. Large masses of the ironstone conglomerate, or solidified gravel, are found on the surface of the plateau land. Quartz was reported to me to be on the Major's Track, about ten miles to the south-east.

NOTE:- Hotspur, on the Crawford River, is the centre of an agricultural pastoral and timber getting district. Smoky Creek was the original name of the Crawford River. The first building in the township of Hotspur was the Crawford Inn which was opened by David O'NEILL in about 1842. The first public sale of livestock in the Portland district was held at this inn in June 1843.



1858 - A publican's licence was issued to John McCONACHY for the new Rising Sun Hotel.

1858 - Angus McEACHERN was the Inn Keeper at the "Crawford Inn", Hotsur from 1858-1861.

1860 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 25 Apr 1860, John McCONACHY of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Hotspur. Surities were - Duncan McCALLUM of Ardgarton, Digby and John STOCK of Hotspur.

1860 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 25 Apr 1860, Angus McEACHERN of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur. Surities were - Duncan McCALLUM of Ardgarton, Digby and Alfred Von BODEN of Dartmoor.

1861 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 23 Apr 1861, John McCONACHY of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Hotspur. Surities were - Thomas Henry CLARKE of Merino and John STOCK of Hotspur.

1861 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 23 Apr 1861, Angus McEACHERN of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur. Surities were - Thomas Henry CLARKE of Merino and John STOCK of Hotspur. On the 11 Sep 1861 the Licence was transferred to David Blair STONE with the surities being Alfred T FARLEY, Digby and Thomas INVERARITY, Digby.

1862 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 30 Apr 1862, David Blair STONE of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur. Surities were - Donald McCALLUM of Digby and Alfred T FARLEY of Digby.

1862 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 30 Apr 1862, Jane McCONACHY of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Hotspur after the death of her husband John. Surities were - Thomas Henry CLARKE of Merino and John STOCK of Hotspur.

1862 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 10 Sep 1862, David Blair STONE of Hotspur transferred His Publican's General Licence for the Crawford Inn to Charles WHYTE. Surities were - John HICKS of Merino and James BOXER of Merino.

1862, Aug, 25 - Inquest held at Hotspur into the death of Andrew BOURKE who died while talking to David McCONACHY at the "Rising Sun Hotel" on 13 Aug 1862. Inquest conducted by Caleb RADFORD, Coroner. Jurors, listed as men of Hotspur were: John WILLIAMS, George HUNT, Donald NICHOLSON, John SYPOTT, William KAY, Frederick WALKER, Angus McInnes, John KARNES, John STOCK, Charles WHITE, John JEFFRIES, David McCONACHY. Evidence was given by John BOURKE, groom, of Hotspur, son of the deceased Andrew BOURKE, Senior Constable McEVOY of Digby and Henry INVERARITY, Doctor of Digby.

1863 - Hotspur Common School was operating with the teacher being Mr. Thomas PRIOR and at least 70 pupils attending.

1863 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 20 Apr 1863, Jane McCONACHY of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Hotspur. Surities were - Duncan McEACHERN of Kangaroo Station and John STOCK of Hotspur.

1863 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 20 Apr 1863, Charles WHYTE of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur. Surities were - Duncan McEACHERN of Kangaroo Station and John SMITH of Hotspur.

1863 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 9 Sep 1863, Jane McCONACHY of Hotspur transferred her her General Publican's Licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Hotspur to William CHARTER. Surities were - Hugh LEWIS of Digby and Alfred T FARLEY of Digby.

1864 - Memories of a kangaroo hunt on Kangaroo Station near Hotspur in 1864.


I well remember the kangaroo hunt on the Kangaroo Station, some time in 1864, if I remember right. There were about 3000 yarded by horsemen with stockwhips, and when yarded all who could use a stick went into the yard and killed them. An old man called Kangaroo Jack was to have the skins if he wished. I am certain he did not skin them all. The Kangaroo Station at that time was owned by the late Duncan and the late Angus McEachern.

1864 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 27 Apr 1864, Charles WHYTE of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur and the licence was again extended on 29 Jun 1864. Surities were - John HICKS of Merino and Alfred T FARLEY of Digby.

1864 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 27 Apr 1864, William CHARTER of Hotspur applied for and was granted a General Publican's Licence for the Rising Sun Hotel at Hotspur and was again extended on 29 Jun 1864. Surities were - Thomas Henry CLARKE of Digby and Alexander CAMERON of Lower Crawford.

1864, Mar. 28 - William MARSH, sawyer married Catherine FENWICK at the residence of C. WHYTE, Hotspur, Victoria. Charles McBeath WHYTE owned the "Crawford Inn" at Hotspur at this time so that was probably the location of the wedding.

1865 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 31 May 1865, Charles WHYTE of Hotspur applied for and was granted a transfer of his General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur to Loughlan McLEAN.

1867 - In the Digby Court of Petty Sessions, 26 Jun 1867, Lachlan McCLEAN of Hotspur applied for and was granted a transfer of his General Publican's Licence for the Crawford Inn at Hotspur to John McEACHERN.

1869 - Thomas Smith SAVIGE took up the position of School Teacher at Hotspur Common School No 310. His brother John SAVIGE had a store in Branxholme.



1870 - Bailliere's Victorian Gazeteer and Road Guide described Hotspur Parish in 1870 as a "parish and township situated on the Smoky or Upper Crawford River ... There are two hotels ... The population numbers abot 200 persons ..."



1870's - Opening of the "new" iron bridge at Hotspur. This photograph appears to have been taken just prior to its opening in 1870 from the northern side of the bridge and clearly shows the two story "Rising Sun" Hotel in the background.

1871 - Hotspur Common to be controlled by John MUNRO, John McDONALD, Charles FOSTER & George GRANT as managers.

1872 - The Hotspur Common School No. 310 closed after Thomas Smith SAVIGE resigned from his position as Head Teacher and moved to his land selection closer to Condah.



1875, Nov 8 - Angus McEACHERN 1816-1875, son of Hugh McEACHERN and Mary STEWART died at "Kangaroo" Station. His widow, Ann McDONALD and family emigrated to New Zealand after the death of Angus.

1892 - Hotspur Mechanics Institute was planned in 1892 with the initial committee being - H. HISCOCK, J. MUNRO, C. SYPOTT, Mr SEDGWICK, R, MEADE, A. KING, J. SMITH, T. J. GLEESON (sec).



1893 - W. KING appointed Librarian and Caretaker of the Hotspur Mechanics Institute. Subscriptions were Gentlemen 2/- per quater, ladies 1/-, Children 6d, librarian's salary was 1 pound per quarter.



1902 - Hotspur Mechanics Institute committee - W. MUNRO, J. GLEESON, J. McDONALD, H. SMITH, A. KING, F. FIDLER, J. KING, A. McDONALD, L. MUNRO, G. BRINDLEY, A. J. DUNKIN.

1913, Nov 26 - Duncan McEACHERN (known as "Little Duncan") died at Hotspur and was buried in the Hotspur Cemetery. Duncan was a veteran of both the Crimean War and the American Civil War.

1915, Apr 14 - Clarence Vale WELLNER, 22nd Battalion AIF, born 1894 Hotspur, son of Mary Margaret WELLNER, died from measles at Broadmeadows, Vic. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1916, Nov 26 - William OUTTRAM, 58th Battalion AIF, son of John OUTTRAM and Jessie McPHEE, born 1883, Digby, died of wounds, WW1, France. William was the husband of Ada Florence Susan SIMKIN of Digby. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1916, Dec 21 - Hector McDONALD, 59th Battalion AIF, born 1890 Hotspur, son of Angus McDONALD and Margaret McGUINESS, killed in action, WW1, France. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Feb 8 - James McPherson SMITH, 6th Battalion AIF, born Hotspur 1893, son of John SMITH and Catherine McINNES, died of wounds, WW1, France. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, May 9 - Christopher Wilson CARTER, 6th Battalion AIF, born 1887 Tahara, Vic, son of Christopher Wilson CARTER and Marjory AITCHESON was killed in action, WW1, France. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Jul 17 - Henry George SYPOTT, 38th Battalion AIF, born 1896 Gymbowen, Vic., son of John Bernard SYPOTT from Hotspur, and Sarah Jane REDFORD, died of wounds, WW1, Belgium. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Oct 4 - William Thomas BLACKWOOD, 6th Battalion AIF, born 1893 Hotspur, son of Robert BLACKWOOD and Agnes WILSON, killed in action, WW1, Belgium. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Oct 4 - Albert Henry KING, 5th Battalion AIF, born 1895 Hotspur, son of William Henry KING and Mary Ann McLEAN, died of wounds, WW1, Belgium. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Oct 12 - Hugh McDermott "Mac" BRINDLEY, 37th Battalion AIF, born 1891 Hotspur, son of John Herbert BRINDLEY and Sarah Catherine McDERMOTT, killed in action, WW1, Belgium. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Oct 13 - Hector McDONALD, 38th Battalion AIF, born 1891 Hotspur, son of John McDONALD and Isabella McGUINESS, killed in action, WW1, Belgium. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1917, Oct 26 - Leslie TRELOAR, 8th Battalion AIF, born 1889 Hotspur, son of Walter Thomas TRELOAR and Emily KING, killed in action, WW1, Belgium. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1918, May 6 - Charles Hotspur MUNRO, 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment NZEF, born 1874 Hotspur, son of John MUNRO and Bridget LEONARD, died, WW1, Calais, France. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1918, June, 2nd - World War 1 Avenue of Honour commemoration. A ceremony commemorating the planting of the 40 Kurrajong trees honouring the 40 soldiers from district who enlisted in World War 1, many of whom did not return.

1918, Jul 7 - John Frederick OUTTRAM, 58th Battalion AIF, born 1896 Hotspur, son of Jeremiah OUTTRAM and Emily Louisa ULLITHORN, died WW1, France. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1918, Sep 24 - John Herbert "Jack" BRINDLEY, 4th Division Ammunition Column AIF, born 1889 Hotspur, son of John Herbert BRINDLEY and Sarah Catherine McDERMOTT, killed in action, WW1, France. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

1918, Oct 18 - Duncan SMITH, 4th Light Horse Regiment AIF, born 1878 Hotspur, son of John SMITH and Catherine McINNES. Duncan was a member of the famous Light Horse Charge at Beersheba, Palestine in 1917 but died from pneumonia in Damascus, Syria. Tree in Hotspur Avenue of Honour.

2001, June - World War 1 Avenue of Honour restoration. A ceremony commemorating the restoration of the 40 Kurrajong trees honouring the 40 soldiers from district who enlisted in World War 1. A new brass plaque with the names of these local soldiers was mounted on a large rock and unveiled by Elsie BROWN (nee HISCOCK) as part of this ceremony.