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Warracknabeal on Yarriambiack Creek.
The district was settled by whites in 1845 when Warracknabeal West and East runs were established along the Yarriambiack Creek by two brothers Andrew and Robert Scott. The name of their runs is presumed to be an Aboriginal word meaning gum trees fringing a flooded hollow. This is what the banks of the Yarriambiack Creek looked like and still does thanks to a weir near the town. In 1867 some small farms were subdivided and the town was surveyed and lots sold in 1871 with the main street being named Scott Street. A wooden hotel began operating in 1867 followed by a general store opened in 1871 and the first school took in students in 1873. But the town progressed slowly as it had no railway. Despite this crops were grown and Thomas began a flour mill in 1884 although an earlier one began in 1880. This prospered once the railway from Murtoa and Minyip reached the town in 1886. Thomas’ mill operated until 1964 and the structures still remain near the railway station. By the railway station is the 1886 five storeys high red brick water tower. It was built and placed here to provide fresh water for the steam engines pulling the trains. An identical one was erected the same year in nearby Murtoa. The year before the railway arrived (1885) the first newspaper began publishing and the Agricultural and Pastoral Show society was formed. Like most Australian towns some of the early structures included the hotels. Among the early public buildings of the town was the district Courthouse which was designed by government architect Samuel Brindley who specialised in designing courthouses. The early 1867 bush hotel was replaced by the grand Warracknabeal Hotel in 1891 by publican John O’Dea whose family and descendants ran the hotel until 1978. It is known for is marvellous Art Nouveau leadlight windows in the entrance to the lounge. Other early hotels include the recently restored Palace Hotel built in 1895 which is known for its unusual and distinctive cement rendered decorative balcony. The Creekside Hotel on the banks of Yarriambiack Creek is known for its fine cast iron lacework balcony as is the late 19th century Commercial Hotel. It was built as a single storey hotel in 1870 and the upper floor and cast iron lacework was added in the late 19th century. The Royal Mail Hotel in the main street is rather plain but provably also had fine balconies at one stage. Other early public buildings before 1891 include Christ Church Anglican Church which was built in 1887.
In 1891 the town was made the centre of a shire council and it had a population of over 1,300 people. By 1903 the growing town had six hotels, eight churches, nine general stores, a brewery, two implement works, two carriage makers, two brick kilns, two doctors, a hospital, a Masonic Hall and a Mechanics Institute. The 1890s saw tremendous growth and development in Warracknabeal. Although a Post Office was built around 1890 the current Tudor style Post Officer was erected in 1907 to the architectural design of Samuel Brindley again. The gables, entrance arch and chimneys would suggest this is typical of that Tudor design. Outside the Post Office is the local War Memorial. The first red brick Catholic Church in Warracknabeal was erected in 1887 but it was destroyed by fire in 1898 and re built by 1899. The Presbytery with extremely unusual polychromatic brick work on the corners and a slate roof was built around 1891 when the first full time resident priest was stationed in Warracknabeal. The Catholic School opened across the road from the church in 1901 and the local convent was built in 1929. The school still operates. In 1967 the parish decided to demolish the 1899 church and built a new modern church which opened that year. The Salvation Army Citadel was built in 1893 with two foundation stones. In latter years it has become a Baptist Church. The Presbyterian Church built in 1908 was sold to the Baptist church after the formation of the Uniting Church in 1977 but it is now a private residence and the Baptists own the former Salvation Army Citadel. The several early Methodist Churches were built before 1903. The one in Jamouneau Street was built in 1908 but it burnt down in 1986 and was replaced by a modern new church in 1988. There were many German background farmers in the district and town and Lutheran services began in private homes in 1891 in Warracknabeal. But a Mt Gambier limestone church was not erected until 1923. This as demolished and replaced by a new church in 1972.
The main street has several old banks but the most striking ones are the classical style bank on the western side of the street with the triangular pediment over the front door. It was probably built in the 1900 (after the 1891 collapse of many Victorian banks) and the striking polychromatic brick bank opposite it which is now the local historical society offices. It was built in 1909 as the Savings Bank of Victoria. The upper floor and bank manager’s residence was added in 1921. Also in the main street near the classical style bank is the Dal Monte two storey picture theatre building. It was built around 1929/30 by Joseph Vasques. He owned it until he died in 1941. The ground floor is now used for shops. Perhaps the most amazing and exciting building in Warracknabeal is the 80 year old Town Hall which still looks very modern. Plans were started in 1936 and the foundation stone of a modernist building was laid in 1939. The Town Hall including a theatre opened in 1940 showing the town councillors had great faith in the future of their town. Although Warracknabeal once had over 3,000 people by 1960 it has around 2,500 today and is still a thriving town. But rural depopulation of the surrounding farm lands has meant that the shopping and business buildings of the town far outstrip need these days and many are in a rather dilapidated state.
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