1836, August - Major Thomas MITCHELL and his survey party travelled down the Glenelg River just to the west of the present settlement of Sandford. He referred to this area as "Australia Felix".

1837 - The first settlers in the area were the squatters and the first Pastoral Runs around Sandford and their occupiers were...

• "Connell's Run" - HENTY Bros. (1837), James CONNELL (1841), Edward HENTY (1844)
• "Merino Downs" - HENTY Bros., 1837
• "Muntham" - HENTY Bros., 1837
• "Sandford" - HENTY Bros., 1837 (became known as "Sandford House" and taken over by John HENTY in 1842 until 1847)
• "Runnymede" - J G & D HUTCHESON, 1846
• "Spring Bank" - John McPHERSON, 1841

1841 - Edmund MORTON of "Morton's Run" and his servant William LAWRENCE were killed by aborigines reported to have occured in the bush near the junction of the Glenelg and Wannon Rivers.

1841, Dec - 1852, Jan - John McPHERSON occupied "Springbank" Pastoral Run until Jan 1852, after the lapse of "Morton's Run" with the death of Edmund MORTON in 1841. William McEACHERN appointed as manager.

1842 - John HENTY took over "Sandford House" Pastoral Run after the HENTY Bros. partnership was dissolved.

1846-1866 - HUTCHESON Bros. occupied "Runnymede" Pastoral Run.

1847 - John HENTY sold "Sandford House" to Samuel & William JACKSON of Melbourne. Their nephew John Henry JACKSON came to Sandford to manage "Sandford House" for his uncles and remained until his death in February, 1915.

1852-1854 - Samuel Proudfoot HAWKINS took over "Spring Bank" Pastoral Run until Jan 1852.

1854-1862 - Edmund KIRBY took over "Spring Bank" Pastoral Run until 1862.

1856 - Sandford was surveyed and the first land sales conducted.

1856 - Store opened by Charles GRINHAM.

1856 - "Sandford Hotel" built by Joseph HAGGESTTON & Thomas WALKER, licensed in March, 1857.

1856-1857 - "Caledonian Union Hotel" built by John Scott GRANT, licensed in December, 1856.

1857 - James Bonwick on his horseback ride travelled north through Sandford and recorded...

Sandford, on the Wannon, eighteen miles north of Digby, promises to be a flourishing place, though its first sale took place but a year ago. It is situated at the end of one of the richest flats of the rich Wannon country. I was delighted enough to drop off the gravel plateau into the sweet vales of this lovely ditrict. Much of this being cut up for sale, and the proximity to Ararat will give an excellent market to the farmers. The drawback of the place is the brackish character of the water of the Wannon in summer. Wells, however, can be sunk on the plain. I noticed one of nineteen feet in depth, passing through four feet of good black soil, and the rest of yellow clay on to gravel. Two handsome hotels are already up in prospect of a population; one of these, Grants' "Caledonian Union" cost £5000 in erection. Both landlords subscribed liberally to put up a school.

1858 - John NICHOLLS purchased land fronting the Casterton to Portland Road and built a new stone store by 1859.

1858, March - Sandford & Merino land titles listed in the Victorian Government Gazette. Sandford names were - Jackson, J. H.; Nicholls, J. T.; Mappison, Henry; Grinham, Charles; Grinham, Isreal; Cox, John; Shaw, Thomas; Cox, Charles; Crouch, James; Radford, Caleb; Leonard, William; Haggestton, Joseph; Cue, George; Jackson, J. H.; Walker, Thomas; Bennett, Henry; Emmerson , Robert; Jackson, James; Davidson, Alexr.

1859 - Inquest into the death of Charles GREENHAM, 67y, at Sandford. Coroner - Caleb RADFORD; Surgeon - Thomas WYLY; Jurors - James ASHLEY, Robert JOHNSON, Paul WILSON, John STEWART, George LAWLER, Israel GRINHAM, John GRANT, Thomas NUGENT, Joseph PERRY, Henry ROBERTSON, John Thomas NICHOLLS; Witnesses - James ASHLEY, Susan ASHLEY, Charles GRINHAM, Thomas WYLY.

1861, January 25th - The Church of England opened the first school at Sandford, the teacher was Mr HOLT. It became Common School No. 576, Sandford with teacher Caleb RADFORD, son of Dr. Caleb RADFORD from 1862-1867. In January 1868, Thomas Owen EVANS was Head Teacher.

1862-1869 - W H TUCKETT took over "Spring Bank" Pastoral Run until 1869.

1863, January 21st - a branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters (AOF) was started at Sandford and had 80 members by July of that year.

1863, July 26th - Henry BEST drowned while attempting to cross a creek just north of Sandford. Inquest held at Sandford. Jurors - James ANDERSON, John GRIFFIN, Charles GRINHAM, John KERR, Walter SMELLIN, David LEE, Donald ROSS, Patrick WILLIAM, Simon ANDERSON, Thomas SHAW, William STORIE, William SQUIRES.

1864, July 14th - the first meeting of the Council of the Shire of Glenelg was held at Sandford and it continued to meet there until January 11th, 1866 after which it met at Casterton. The meetings were in a cottage owned by Charles GINHAM.

1866 - Catholic Church opened in Sandford.

1867 - General Store opened by William LAYLEY a shoemaker from Berkshire who had arrived at Sandford in 1866.

1869 - "Sandford Hotel" burnt, licensee was George SOUTHERN.

1871 - a steam driven flour mill was constructed at Sandford by the MILLER Bros. from Coleraine. The mill was purchased in 1872 by Peter LEARMONTH of Hamilton. The mill lease was taken over by John HOLMES in 1874 and in 1888 the HOLMES Brothers (John, George & William) purchased the mill.

1872, February 19th - a branch of the Independent Order of Rechabites was formed at Sandford.

1873 - a new school was recommended for Sandford and the new brick Sandford School, SS 1654 opened on a different site in the heart of the township replacing Common School 576 and in 1875 had 56 pupils enrolled.

1874, February 26th - a brick hall for the Independent Order of Rechabites was opened at Sandford after construction by the Merino building form of Heinrich KOHN & Malcolm CAMPBELL. It was later purchased by the AOF which had formed in 1863 and became known as Foresters' Hall.

c1881 - the Sandford Brass Band was formed due to the musical stimulus brought to the district by the talented HOLMES brothers who were operating the local Flour Mill. In 1888 the band combined with the Casterton Brass band and changed its name to the Glenelg Brass Band, with John HOLMES as Bandmaster.

1883 - Presbyterian Church opened in Sandford.

1884, September 1st - last section of the rail line from Henty through Sandford to Casterton was opened and operated until its closure on 1977.

1887, June 21st - John Stewart ANDERSON planted the "Jubilee Oak Tree" in front of the Sandford Forester's Hall to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria.

1888, January - Church of England opened in Sandford.

1891 - Women's Suffrage Petition of 1891. Link to database of women from Sandford who signed the 1891 Women's Suffrage petition (enter Sandford, or any other location name in the address box of the master website).

c.1900 - "QUINTON's Rabbit Factory" operated in the old Sandford Flour Mill.

1923 - "Sandford House" purchased by James SOMERVILLE.

1923 - "Back-to-Sandford" celebrations, special badge the size of a 10c coin was struck with the wording "Back to Sandford. No Place like Home. 1923". Badge image thanks to David McCalman who found it at the Sandford Foootball Ground ca 1980. He is very interested to find out any information about this badge. Contact - Researcher(Daryl), Researcher(David).

1929 - "Sandford House" purchased by Alexander MATHESON.

1946, March - "The Great Flood" in the valley of the Wannon & Glenelg rivers.

1947 - "Sandford House" purchased by the Soldier Settlement Commission and divided into six farms.

1957, November 15th - "Back-to-Sandford Centenary" celebrations.

1963 - The main building of the Sandford School was destroyed by fire.

1967, Feb 10th - SEC (state-wide electrical grid) switched on at Sandford. The Sandford "Switch on Ball" was on the 10th February 1967. Admission was gents $1, ladies, 75c and children, 20c. Mrs Rose DOYLE (the oldest living Sandford resident at the time at 87) cut the ribbon at the ceremony. "The official guests, including Mr T CURTIN and his wife, Mr and Mrs A EHMS and Council representative Cr H SILVESTER and his wife, were introduced by president of the Sandford Progress Association Mr A McKINNON. The Belle of the Ball, chosen by Mrs CURTIN was Miss Jean SOMERVILLE, of Sandford." Source "The Casterton News" Jan 31st 1967.

2006 - Sandford Church of England building was sold.