Toolangi and Castella Timeline
Pre-1800
From time immemorial Taungurung and Wurundjeri prople have lived, hunted, practiced ceremony, raised families and cared for Country on lands now known as Toolangi and Castella.
1851
Gold mining commences in Victoria, including around Toolangi and Castella.
1860s
Paling splitters move into the area.
1862
Paul de Castella of Yering Station (1850) purchases land in Castella for holiday home.
1863
Taungurung and Wurundjeri survivors move onto Coranderrk Aboriginal Reservation.
1876
C.J. Dennis born in Auburn, South Australia.
1880s First land selections taken up.
1888
Railway to Yarra Glen completed.
1889
First formal use of the name Toolangi, adapted from the Taungurung “Dhulangi” meaning ‘Stringybark Tree’.
1890
Tarrawarra North 1890 Map shows land in Toolangi owned by H. Arthur, A.J. Currie, W. Currie, M. Currie, F.S. Clow, W. Gaunson, H. Jordon, C. McIntosh, H. Parfitt, Roberts, A. Rose, H. Rose and H. Ross .
1891
Toolangi House Hotel opens. Early names included Ye Olde Queens Heade Ynne, Queens Head / Hotel.
1893
Families petition Education Department for a school – Biggs, Lawrence, Smedley, Smith, Walkeden, Wilson.
1894
Bassett family move to Toolangi. Open ‘Glenora’ guesthouse. Sophia Bassett becomes unofficial Postmistress.
1895
Toolangi State School no. 3237 opens on July 16, with teacher Ellen (Nellie) Walsh.
1897
First report of annual ball of the Toolangi Cricket Club, held at the schoolhouse/hall.
1899
First timber mills established in Toolangi and Castella by Kerr & Friar, A. Mattei and Scherber Bros.
Member of Demby family listed in ‘Paling Splitters’ Cricket team.
1900
Toolangi Post Office opens opposite Toolangi State School. Sophia Bassett as Official Postmistress until 1924.
1901
First recorded meeting of Toolangi Tennis Club when Secretary & Treasurer were re-elected.
1902
Toolangi Church building completed.
1904
Proclamation of “Township at Toolangi” in Government Gazette (March 30).
1906
Woodbourne Map shows A. Christopherson owning block 73A.
1907
Residents build second, bigger Toolangi State School in different position, but on same site.
1908
C.J. Dennis visits Toolangi on a camping trip. Stays on Scherbers old mill site.
Priestley family purchase land in Toolangi.
1910/11
Toolangi Cricket Club wins the Cameron Cup.
1912
Significant bushfires.
1915
Parents of Alec Sewell (aged 6) purchase 2 blocks of land for holiday home. Known as ‘Teamsters Hill.
C.J. Dennis publishes ‘A Sentimental Bloke’. Purchases Scherbers Mill site & later builds ‘Arden’.
Condren family move to Toolangi.
1916
Alex and Edith Blackmore arrive in Toolangi.
1917
Castella State School no. 3954 opens July 7.
Castella unofficial postmaster Abraham Christopherson, operates from Castella School.
1918
Christopherson becomes official Postmaster until 1935.
1919
Magnetic Observatory moves from Melbourne Botanical Gardens to Toolangi.
Lindley Wood purchases ‘Wirilda’, to become site of renowned rhododendron garden.
1920
Toolangi State School closes, with remaining 5 students to attend Castella State School.
1921
First Forest Officer – Charles Demby appointed overseer for the Forests Commission.
Granton State School no. 4044 opens.
Toolangi State School re-opens with teacher shared with Granton mill school.
1924
Chum Creek Road extension to Toolangi begins.
1925
Toolangi and Castella annexed to Healesville Shire. Previously, parts in both Yea & Eltham Shires.
1926
Severe bushfires, documented by C.J. Dennis in The Herald newspaper.
1927
Granton State School closes June 17, with only 2 pupils.
Walter Cherry purchases Beach’s timber mill and moves to Toolangi.
1928
Castella State School closes August 1, with only 7 pupils.
1933/34
Toolangi Cricket Club wins Premiership in the R.J. Lithgow Association.
1934
McNulty family move to Toolangi. Syd McNulty mail contractor until 1934.
Myers Creek Road extended from Mt St Leonard to Toolangi.
1935
Rimington family open their Toolangi Nursery.
Mrs F. Brenda appointed Castella Postmistress and daughter, Louisa Brenda as assistant.
1936
Closure of Granton Mill.
1937
Rimington’s Nursery fields a cricket team in the Yarra Valley Cricket Association.
1938
Death of C.J. Dennis.
1939
Black Friday catastrophic bushfires. Charles Demby & James Darling perish in the fires at Toolangi. Biggs’s home burnt, losing everything except the 1911 Toolangi Cricket Premiership Cup.
1940
Toolangi’s first local branch of Australian Labour Party formed.
Red Cross Branch established.
War Savings Group established at Toolangi State School with 22 members.
1941
Mrs Violet Shipp appointed Toolangi Postmistress and opens a small store.
1943
New Toolangi State School building erected. 1907 building moved to Hall reserve site as public hall.
1945
Potato Research Station site works begin.
Toolangi Infant Welfare Service begins.
1946
Mr Gustave Motel (Motal) appointed Castella Postmaster.
1947
Mr Geo(rge) Clifton Boswell appointed Castella Postmaster until 1965.
1948
Alex Demby buys first mill.
Kelly family purchase Toolangi Post Office & store. Mr Anthony Kelly appointed Toolangi Postmaster.
1949
New fire tower built on Mt St Leonard to replace cabin perched on top of tree trunk built in 1930s.
1950
Infant Welfare Centre building completed and begins operating in 1951.
Bob Pockett & Jean (nee Blackmore) move to Toolangi.
Toolangi Tennis Club formed.
1952
Toolangi football team established. Plays for one season.
Work begins building new hall beside old school building. New hall named ‘C.J. Dennis Memorial Hall’.
1953
Toolangi Rural Fire Brigade established.
CJ Dennis Memorial Hall opened with first large function, a ‘Coronation’ Ball.
1954/55
Toolangi Cricket Club wins Premiership in Healesville-Yarra Glen District Association.
1955
Toilet building constructed behind C.J. Dennis Memorial Hall.
Kelly family construct new Post Office and Store facing Main Road.
1956/57
Toolangi Cricket Club wins Premiership in Healesville-Yarra Glen District Association.
1958
Chambers family move to Toolangi.
1960
‘Approved Strawberry Runner Growers’ Association’ formed in Toolangi.
Opening of Melba Highway, although not named as such until 1983.
Toolangi Tennis Club joins the Lilydale & Wandin District Association.
1962
Seismic Observatory moved to the Potato Research Station.
1963
Mains power arrives in Toolangi. Celebrated with a ‘Switch-On Ball’ at C.J. Dennis Hall.
‘Strawberry Runner Isolation Area’ proclaimed under the Vegetation & Vine Diseases Act 1958.
1964
Second classroom added to Toolangi State School.
1965
‘Arden’, home of C.J. Dennis, destroyed by a house fire. Williams family purchase site in 1969.
Castella Post Office closes.
1971
Toolangi automatic telephone exchange established.
1974
Kelly’s Post Office and store closes.
1975
Rimington’s Nursery Toolangi site closes.
Toolangi House Hotel burns down.
1979
Magnetic Resonance Station moved to Canberra.
‘Toolangi Certified Strawberry Runner Growers’ Cooperative Ltd’ replaces ‘Runner Growers’ Association’.
‘Chumlangi Cooperative’ formed and purchase Rimington’s Nursery property.
1982
New Forest Commission Office constructed.
1988
Telstra replaces fire tower on Mt St Leonard to include telecommunications.
1988/89
Toolangi ‘E’ Grade cricket team wins Premiership. ‘C’ Grade team Runners-up.
1990
Fire Refuge building constructed at Toolangi Primary School.
1991
Fire Brigade receives its first ‘new’ truck (a Hino 4×4).
Original Toolangi Primary School building from 1895 demolished.
1993
Toolangi Cricket Club disbands.
1994
Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre opens.
Local government amalgamation – Toolangi and Castella become part of Murrindindi Shire.
1995
Toolangi Primary School celebrates its 100th birthday over 3 days of events.
1996
International Sculpture event at Forest Discovery Centre – sculpture trail established.
1998
‘Strawberry Runner Isolation Area’ extended and proclaimed as a ‘Plant Protection District’.
Toolangi Community House ‘Outreach’ programs begin under auspice of Kinglake Neighbourhood House.
1999
Chumlangi Cooperative dissolved. Rimington’s nursery divided into three separately titled lots.
2000
Last service at Toolangi Church.
Opening of new Fire Station building.
2003
Toolangi Fire Brigade celebrates 50 years.
Toolangi Tennis Club closes.
2005
Toolangi & Castella District Community House becomes an Incorporated Association.
2008
Potato Research Station mostly disbanded.
2009
February 7, Black Saturday Bushfires.
Playground at C.J. Dennis Hall constructed using donations to bushfire recovery.
2010
Commercial kitchen at C.J. Dennis Hall completed.
2012
Community House extension completed.
Tall Trees Trail opens.
Internal toilets built, Generator and air conditioning installed at C.J. Dennis Hall.
Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre closes.
Community Garden opens.
Castella Central Park is completed.
2013
New Fire Station opens on current site. Old station from 2000 becomes ‘Toolangi Men’s Shed’.
‘Knitting Nannas of Toolangi’ (KNOT) receive Environment Victoria Award.
2019
Black Saturday bushfire 10th anniversary community commemorative event.
2020
Toolangi Primary School’s 125th birthday, celebrated in 2021 due to Covid restrictions.
Death of local historian, Bob Pockett.
High Court injunction stops logging in 66 coupes in and around Toolangi.
2022
Toolangi and Castella History website launched – articles, photos and interviews available online.
Toolangi & Castella History event over 2 days, including opening of newly refurbished tennis courts.
2023
Death of local historian, Bernadette Miller.
2024
Logging ceases in Victorian public native forests, including Toolangi.
