Welcome

to the township of

MacGuires Punt!

Patrick McGuire was an Irishman who
is believed to be the first settler in
what is now known as Shepparton.
Shepparton adopted the name
MacGuires Punt after Paddy MacGuire
around 1852. It was not long after this
that the town gradually assumed the
name Sheppard Town after a
Tallygaroopna
squatter,
named
Sherburne Sheppard. Paddy MacGuire
is known for his contribution to
Shepparton by being one of the first
primary white settlers in the town and
for operating the punt crossing that
allowed people to cross the Goulburn
Image 1
Goulburn Punt Shepparton Eugene von Guerard.
River from the Ballarat and Bendigo


goldfields.
It is difficult to trace the location of Patrick MacGuire due to the different variations of his last name.
There are around six known variations, although the more commonly documented ones are MacGuire and
McGuire.1 The first building that we have knowledge of is the punt house owned and operated by Patrick
MacGuire in 1853, this building could have been seen approximately on the corner of High and Welsford
street today, quite close to where the Shepparton Heritage Museum is located.2 Shepparton as a small
developing town continued to grow and expand around MacGuires river crossing. Image 1 is a
representation of the Goulburn River painted by Eugene von Guerard in approximately 1866, titled
Goulbourn Punt Shepparton.3 The painting illustrates the operation of the punt and quite clearly
indicates the cable used to cross the river.4 At the front of the image you can see a small boat, this was
known as MacGuires Punt.

MacGuires
Punt

There were only three buildings in the early days of MacGuires Punt, these were the punt hut erected by
Paddy MacGuire, an inn built by Johnson Parsons in 1853, this inn was knows as The Prince of Wales Inn,
and a Police Station built in 1854. The police station building in 1854 was exactly where the Shepparton
Police Station stands to this date. C. W. S James writes in his book History of Shepparton that The Police
in this part of the colony were busy with prisoners, considering Shepparton had a population of
considerably less that 50 persons.5 It is said that the police station was erected in close proximity to
MacGuires Inn and crossing place on the river so as to keep a close eye on certain behaviors. The two inns
located in MacGuires Punt were reasonably busy due being extremely close to the only crossing place on
the Goulburn River. The population of MacGuires Punt in 1864 was only 30 people and this slowly
increased over time, although between the years of 1851 and 1861 the population of Victoria grew six
fold.6 MacGuire operated the Inn for only a short amount of time, and then sold the business to a Mr. John
K Hill. The Emu Bush Inn served an extremely useful purpose for travellers by providing them with food
and accommodation.7 An add in the Melbourne morning Herald on the 12th of August 1853 states that Mr.
Hill wants to inform the public that he has purchased the Inn from MacGuire and he will improve the
accommodation for his customers.8 The town of MacGuires punt was known for its horse stealers, and a
place where lambing down in notorious grog shanties was considered a great skill.9

HIS3MHI Meagan Stradling
Page 1


The Goulburn River was redirected in 1969 to
allow additional bridges along the causeway,
which evidently moved the river from the center
of town.10 During the time of MacGuires Punt, the
river crossing was considered the center of town
and then the settlement gradually developed
around this crossing. William M Howitt was an
author and traveller, his book published in 1855
Land, Labor and Gold; or Two Years in Victoria
is a collection of letters published into a book
about his time travelling through Victoria, Sydney
and Van Diemens Land. His book contains what
is thought to be one of the earliest recollections of
MacGuires Punt. 11 Howitt wrote of his experience
crossing the river on MacGuires Punt. He writes
Over this stream we had to take our cart on a
punt of a most rickety smallness. It was so small
and rickety, that it could not take a loaded cart
over. We had, therefore, to unload our things, and
have them conveyed over at several times. Our
horses had to be swam over, or they would have
stove in the rickety punt bottom.12 Howitt
discusses in his letters that at MacGuires Punt,
the men in this small town had only the most
finished education that England can furnish, and
while hurrying across the river you must be
careful to keep an eye on all of your belongings,
with some of your luggage lying on one bank of
the river, and some on another, it requires a
sharp lookout to prevent disappearance of
sundries.13
MacGuires Punt was officially recognized in the
Government Gazette on October 12th 1853, and
the last official use of the name MacGuires Punt
was in the Government Gazette on October 2nd
1855.14

Image 3

Image 4

What 100

and used strips

building
together.

line

HIS3MHI Meagan Stradling

was

it

The

Seymour
of

coming

centre-the

capital-Sheppar
important
the

lore

the town

Until
ruled

Shepparton's

clock

Post-office

and

Shepparton's

marks

the

inferior

F
.

WHEN

out
that at
pointed
a
of
total absence
stock.
nondescript
Every

or

is

animal

of

is

high

This

pretty

in

standing

must

tough

own

its

judging

make

job for the

judges.

And

of judges, they breed

them
true
talking
to type
them
here and train
young.
The award
in the competition
for junior
was

by Ian

entry

will

You

Mcintosh,

And

expert

inherited.

one

of

aged

9J years.
of

The

page.

this

genius

father
is
his
breeders of the

as

the

large

photograph

this

on

is

against

won

well-known

king.
That
is Mr.
A. W. Fairley.
It is a
parton
distinction
that is granted
without hesi
tation
or
argument.
Mr. Fairley
is
the incarnation
of the progress
at the

X BOM what I can gather, the shire

of independence
regarded the declaration
akin to treason
and re
as something

the Duke of Wel

was
alive
he
lington
was
always referred
to as "The Duke."
Lesser
men
with ducal titles needed
their territorial
names
to
them.
distinguish
So it is
with valleys
to-day in Aus
tralia.
There are the Mur
ray Valley, the Yarra Valley,
and scores
of other inferior
vales.
"The
and
valleys
the
is
Goulburn
Valley"
Valley.

there

obtain

of

passing

growth.

stables,

a veteran

From
heard the
version
of struggle
and ulti
from
However,
the for
mate victory.
mation
of the borough,
Shepparton,
governed by men of civic spirit strongly
bellion.

borough's

has gone

developed,

Now

strides.

work

hand

with

forward
and

the shire
in hand, and

the

giant
borough

forgotten.
in
They did not have much revenue
the beginning,
but the borough council

he

began

account.

on

breeding
Mcintosh,
snr.,
Mr, T. H. Payne,

Mr.
for

the manager

was

in

district

Preserving

known

as

S.P.C.

has

Company-hereinafter

the

S.P.C.
Since then the
become the greatest
fruit
in the Southern
preserving
organisation
Hemisphere-some
say in the Empire.

who

fruitgrow

trict

eminence

get the
in his eye.

in

lie

his

S.P.C.
astronomical

teeth

and

be dis
From

only

can

the

has

the

of
no

com

throne.
of

only part

im
it-an
The tomato

Two of the large dis

establishments

financed

are

from

Sydney.
Mr. J. McDonald,
with
whom
I
talked Shepparton on trie showground,
besides

giving enlightenment
on
told me of the crops from
under peas and beans that
Also he
way to Melbourne.

toes,
acres

their

tioned casually
112,000 bushels
which
the finest

that
of

The Valley

toma

1,200
found
men

exports

fresh
pears to Eng
admit
the Americans

even

in the

quality

world.

you know why the vast crowds

at the show were such a well-dressed,
contented
throng;
why Shepparton's
streets
of

solidly
the town
tration.

impress the visitor

with a sense
founded prosperity;
and why
of civic
is a model
adminis
Its Industries
are
also wa

to the reason
why building
is
on at high pressure
and the town
200 dwelling-houses
short of require
ments; and why the town maintains
two
large picture theatres.
At present the
first
section of a modern sewerage
sys
answer

carried
is

being completed,
and in a year
the entire town will be sewered
afford the necessity.

is
two

-and

temerity and im
to question
the paramount
pre
of S.P.C.
to a Shepparton
man

pudence

fist

other

any
the

has

is

S.P.C.

bourne factories.

or

from

man

12 per cent,
kept in

is one

portant
part, it is true.
flourishes
in The Valley, and 7,000 tons
will be processed
this year.
They make
most
of the
crop into sauce or soup on
The balance goes to Mel
the spot.

tem

JL
XNY
ing centre

will

But

Image
6
j^low

of the Valley.
In
to
addition
his other large business interests it was
he who. in its hour of need, took over
the troubled
affairs
of the
Shepparton

is

is all

Image 5

are

Australia
of Shep

capital

Fruit

range from
15 per cent., and that
The Valley, too.
S.P.C.
reasons
why Mr. Fairley
petitors for his unofficial
to

land,

Woodburn.
Probably
every
has its uncrowned
on

revolution

is

Before

told
It

S.P.C. dividends

after the Royal

One. wise in the
took
the
me round

who

and

most

State

Show.

show

the

the

Valley.
his own

was

what they regarded

as justice,
to obtain
the rights of
they determined
a borough
for the town.

time

the

makes

a con

usual thing for the Shepparton branch

the State Savings Bank to take In
1,000 over the counter on pay nights.

a
of

by a shire coun
cil.
Now this shire council
put the
needs of the shire first and those of the
the
town came a bad second.
Naturally,
to
and
failing
were
annoyed,
burghers
ago

in

stock,

class.

centre

few years

of

pens

engaged, and the system ensures

1 was
tinuity
of skilled
labour.
that
season
during the processing

the

reason

have provided
the material
founding
of all the important

Important
Agricultural

COX

Valley

this

For

studs

the

judges of stock

The
progress it is to-day.
story is one not exactly of civil war; it
of
ructions
was,
however,
one
civic

ERIE

for its consti

remarkable
size.

studs in other States.

This superiority
of stock
Show
Shepparton
probably

of modern

warmly conducted.

and

Valley

the

ton.

There has been another

factor in making Shepparton

tution

this

Violet Town. Benalla,

centres within an
and other important
hour or two's run.
From then on the
to its
ousiness of the Valley gravitated
natural

It is

indeed.

By

Irrigation

Goulburn

for

the

keep

to

to go

necessary

and back again.

motor-car
brought

can

the town's recent

acquisitions
is a powerful
station,
broadcasting
3SR.
is part of "The Argus" chain, anfr
the most popular country station in Vic
Among

which
toria.

The Shepparton Advertiser reports on Friday 25th of

May 1951 Relic Of The Days Of The Punt, in this
article it is discussed that, An old sunken approach
to the now long extinct punt is being preserved as a
historical landmark for Shepparton.15 The punt was
in use from 1852 until 1878 when the Fryers street
bridge was introduced as an alternative crossing.16
But
This bridge was not the first alternative crossing
to
MacGuires Punt, there was also a bridge near
Fitzjohns.17 The Argus Newspaper reported on
Tuesday 18th of August 1953 that Patrick MacGuire
was a Monopolist a Rascal who began a city.18 He
was referred to as downright disputable, he was
known
for charging high amounts to cross the river
OPPOSITE
in his punt and travellers were then also fleeced to
stay overnight in his sinn.19 The Argus Newspaper
reported on Saturday 22nd of October 1938 that
Shepparton was celebrating its centenary of a proud
and prosperous valley. This article talks about
MacGuire who conducted a punt across the
Goulburn and Sherbourne Sheppard an Irishman
who was evidently behind the influence of the towns
current name.20 The Shepparton Advertiser reports
Friday June 5th 1953 about the Emu inn at
on

MacGuires
Punt, it is referred to as being quite
National Library of Australia
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1250647
famous in its day, where People journeyed to this
spot and they were welcomed with shelter, food
and comfort to the tired travellers and their
horses.21 The Melbourne Morning Herald reports
about the Emu inn at MacGuires Punt in 1853. It
refers to the change in ownership of the Emu inn and
the improvements upon the premises, for the better
accommodation of travellers.22
Page 2

Its

to

right

mit

and

the

valley

where

there

to do

at

youth

of 75

foot

to

55.

in

its

capital.

Entering
by road from

reality.

One

through

the

next

modern

I?"

the

visitor

landscape

heart

with

of

activity

opulence.
that

The

Valley

wide

and

wide

is

as

streets

in

conciete

windows,

and

vision.

Bourke

and

were

happily

be

out

dragged

of

tram

of

of the

This

that

for

of

garden.

entire

its

Along

length

trellis

glowing

masses

of Black

before

it

was

Shepparton

was

with

of

of

Boy roses.
The carpet
polychromatic
blaze
As I stood
taking
in its
that

proof
recognise

the

that

men

business

and

are
aesthetics
not incompatible.
better day to visit the capital of The
could not have been chosen. The
was perfect.
Recent
heavy rains
had gladdened
the heart of the man
on

Valley

weather

the

land.

heard

At

first

of my advent,
Venetian

gay

bunting.
parton
jubilee
in

was

mood

masts

they

streets

had

were

and

lavish

learned, however, that Shep

celebrating
the
diamond
agricultural
show, and was

for

During

I found

the

several

There

to

take

day

of

had

the

was

any

civic

the

crossing

roads

lively
show

rccords

of

the

local

settlers.

ened

to

remained

owned

converged
plans

the

on

Shep
Punt.
must

it

spot in those

days be
the inhabitants

that

outnumbered

These,

land

the

sales

Melbourne.

In

he could

bought

main

street

all

travellers

The

local

1856,

not
a

of

thoBe

man

so

sign his

name

block

of

4.

This

of

illiterate

who

at

in

block

the

the

had

for

buy )Rnd in the principal

a foot
is getting
a bar
people do not pay that price

business

the

pride, and with

a general
disincli
personal
credit
for

them,

each

man

to his

however,

fellow

ob

there

.sites

in

lins

the

old

days

now

are

the

for

selection

Rochester

first

knew
such

home,

Whole

families

are

but

district

Mr.

as

was

James

He

told

first

me

thrown

he

humped

his

to take

up his

320

he and his

and

job for all,

in

for that.

tanks

staff

the

town

has been
the beautification

with

into

that

reference

recently

than

those

completed

Newmarket
boast

seeing

do

as

its

who

all

will

what

daily

traffic

stock. After being

road or rail, or,

boast

its

Kale

come

be worth

civic

the

for

the

the

it

sold,

the

sheep

for

ride"

course,
of the

or

they

cattle,

the

even

to date,
that when it really sets out to
the old town red it will be a bril
red, indeed.
When January
13,
1038, dawns
It will
be but simple truth
if you sing "There
in
will be a hot time
the old town to-night."
Why not go
up

in

the

business

But

is

post-office

town,

brisk,

scene

postal

as

shows.

this

there

and see

it.

It will

be worth

hang-over.

only for
has exits

are

"taken

all

borough
could not

most

loyal resi
readily admit,

will

have

pre-eminence

attained

were

it

to

not

for

brother

swag

acres.

built

ton

is

country

Round

system.
perhaps

the

about

finest

in Australia.

it

is

irri

Sheppar

stockbreeding

It appears

that

in

addition

to its pastoral
the
qualities
has, I think, lime (forgive me if I
mistaken in the mineral),
which pro
vides
bone in stock, which
makes the
land

am

locally

grown

beast

very

superior

benst

join

lieve

eventually.
as

to

joining.

Shepparton

if it has bad luck,

that
municipal
abattoirs
adjoin
Not that it matters
much
to
yards.

for

some

job in keeping their

I am prepared
to be

are

can

of

does

is a one-way

its

is concentrating
believe me, they are

paint
liant

ling
greens,
and croquet
greens, and
boat
A palatial
grassed tennis-courts.
shed has grown
and
up beside the lake,
near by is a splendid
swimming-pool.

Newmarket

to the

body

civic

After

can

town

swamp
Close by an unsightly
a
has been converted
large area
Lake Victoria,
which is surrounded
been
con
Victoria
Park.
Here
have
by
centrated all the town's means of relaxa
tion
and
amusement.
There are bow

yards. There

in

celebrations,
13 next
on January
pageant, on which the

in the town for

the revels, which

fall

into

-if

made

word

significant

centenary

begin

brilliant

energies-and

with

better

the

came

language.

dare not omit

will

whole

surround

its

as

The
include

energies.
There will be lavishly
de
corated floats
with tableaux
represent
of The
and industries
ing the history
Valley, and there will be high wassail

growth of prosperity,
out
able to launch
of

such

whence

and

also

are

citizens,

and others.
industries

the A.I.F.

for

a new

which

who stood

shamed

There

famous

Long

Shepparton

front of
costly

was

only

finally

at

should begin this story of

but It is more difficult
to
to stop.
I find now that
I have
the butter
forgotten
factory
and the bacon factory,
and
I will
get

of

of

in

headquarters

however, were
ing into line.
Lately, with

the

how

Furphy

institutions
financial
Melbourne.
These,

certain

were

with

was

Valley,

Shepparton,
know where

water

Col
asked the business

ones

The

they

those

It

the

in

hospital
It

in

town's
secondary
the Furphy foundry,

As
roadways.
pave the foot
as

dignity.

Shepparton.
opened cost 37,000, and is fitted
with
every
modern adjunct
of a first-class'
institution
for the healing of the sick.
I found
some
as
to where
difficulty

Shepparton's
Sir John

the making

to

wide

as

premises.

Shepparton
its present

in

Shepparton

aged 84 years.

when

open
from
His

for

town

enough

are

own

Kation

who

that

are

its

about
three
miles from
The new building recently

citizens.

its

money

the council
to concrete
the paths

their
out

of

magnificent
country with which
and the coming of the
surrounded,

Thorn,

season

the

men

as

employment
the family.

the sun
collection

The

street,

people

dent

horse

one

any

Here,

loyalty

example:
needed

not

was

Of

town.

of
privilege
citizens.

So far

in

fruit

down

easily

the

on

an

is

borrowed was
the magnificent

can

200

and

gain,

Here

the

to

land

frontage of 132ft. by a depth of 165ft.

2G.000.
To-day the block is worth
Now,
street

the

to

with

the Australian

Ik^ALEYARDS

have

a man

folk.

local

kept

are

in

its

or

has

community

established

Mooroopna,

who

settlers

Shepparton

romance

for

revenues

for

domestic

Such

keeping

first

he hast

however,

in

of the

deeds,

million

peculiarly

ings.

means
For

outside.

Early
something
that

punt
only

River.

McGuire*s
researches

explain, were
unwisely.

celebrated

could rely

the

appar

as

often

lockup

first

Cowper,

Scot

ancient

James's

Mr.

of pets.

into

the

Goulburn

all

reason

Prom

The

James

(a

was

the

of this

by Hawdon

Sydney.

Colp,

McGuire

one

leading

achievements,
to push the laurels
From

honour

rejoicing.

them full of civic

justice.
their

the

of its

meeting

nation

thought

for

with

in

McGregor

it

high

red

made

in 1841.
ently) came
the gold days
During

cause

10ft.

the

Proof

bank.

charts

Edward

Gregor

have been

narrow

rich

the

in

back

river

punt, and on all

parton is marked

car

pansies.
beauty it seemed

o'

the

the

preserved

are

and

by

it.

Hume

to reach

men

passes

the river.
dweller
enjoys
shine
with his

paths, which

that

Joseph

to

in the

squatters,

of

was

fell

on

found

that

activity,

It appears
missed

Hovell
narrowly
being the first white

site.

is

rails

spot where our

flanked
by buildings

and
stopped,
the heart of the

town.

camped

what

unlike

the

if

of

The

hereafter.

solid

footpaths

not

was

might

event-but

memorable

lined

the

100ft.

Time

on

Shepparton
be
of "The
Valley."

Hawdon and
Charles Bonny,
who
in 1838,
droving
cattle
with
nine
ticket-of-leave
men,

with
the
buildings
shop fronts
and display
the throngs
of people are

It

street

it

more

its

mainly

of how

event, how
enabled
me
to meet
ever,
Mr. W. James,
a
who, as official
historian,
has written
comprehensive
story of the origin and

and

with

humming

make

that,

The

one
looks
happened?

The

of

to

rise

by modern

thing

latest

no

it

feeling.

city

the

flanked

the

"What's

motor-cars

traffic,

rural

tins.

quarter

is

its

handling
It has

black marks

the metropolis
begin with they are celebrating
the
of
in January
Shepparton
and they are feverishly
preparing

To

next,

as

south,

the

in

swilt

so

dazed

prosperity.

its

are

idea

now

grown

and

The employees

some

came

and

the

of solid

is

But

is

buzzing

city

transition

round with
Where am

with

excus

Valley

Shepparton
it
suddenly

moment

he

evidence

every

as

of

speeding

and

is

The

tainea

year

twelve

and

tion.

down

are

competi

sheep-judging

his

tons

for Shepparton.
ganisation
to do so its
it is possible

his

Red

At nine and a
of age Ian did
years
to win the under-20

centenary

does

is

slowing

knowing

impressions

confusing.
lacks

well

and

champion

cow.

the rate

however,

haste,

anyone

First

one

at

Mcintosh

half

story,

and

I reached

gas,

occasionally

Such

able

the

Melbourne

Ian

father's
Poll

to tell.

helm

the

of

is

diffi

figures.

350

10,000 tons of fruit

annually.
paid
the
Valley
1,126,000
fruit,
and its output
has
S.P.C.

though

with

the

on

from

m.p.h.,

it

main

much

is so

with

light-hearted
Shepparton

and

my

has nothing

this

Shepparton,

I write,

is

begin

as

It

but,

com

of

of

works

processing

"Goulburn

Punt,

that

to

culty,

of

in

beginning

pedants,

capital

is

McGuire's

Shepparton

cussed

is

newspapers

solecism

delectable
nee

distinction

Now, the

Valley."

the

Oniy

indisputable.
foreigners,

citizens.

heifer,

The more recent history of Sheppar

from
various sources.
ton I gathered
the
Until the coming of the motor-car
To
town-was
rather in a backwater.
do business along the North-Eastern

tended

Image 2-
Up rode Jem the Sexton, a down-looking fellow
with an ill-kept beard and rusty black clothes.

They killed
to
of rawhide

construction.

and

the

Walls, roof,
of bark they cut from trees.
tables,
and beds were all built
chimney,
There was not a nail used in
of bark.
its

SHEPPARTON

Years

Done for

of

PUNT

McGUIRE'S
TO

FROM

From the Water

.head Shepparton

Trust tower, the wide

show up to advantage.

streets

of

the

Drowning
As we turn our attention back to William Howitt as he crosses the Goulburn River on January 22nd
1853. He writes in his book that On a tree at the crossing of the Goulburn was nailed a little tin plate,
with this inscription: -To the memory of John Stone, of Plymouth, Devonshire, who accidently
perished in crossing the Goulburn, January 22nd, 1853. It can be seen that this young man attempted
to cross the river on his horse during a flood when the river was running furiously.23

Sherbourne Sheppard
Sheppard immigrated to Australia in 1841 and
arrived at the Goulburn Valley around 1843. He is
referred to or remembered for his name being in
association with the town of Shepparton. Shepparton
was named after Sherbourne Sheppard around 1853,
when the town was first called Sheppardtown on
MacGuires Punt, but was then shortened to
Shepparton.24 Sheppard took over the extensive
Tallygaroopna sheep run of 160,000 acres during
1843 until 1852. The name Shepparton was used
from around 1853 to distinguish between
settlements from MacGuires Punt crossing.25


Image 7

HIS3MHI Meagan Stradling

Image 8

J G W Wilmot
John George Winchester Wilmot was the man
responsible for the first survey of the township of
MacGuires Punt. The plan was made on July 13th
1855 and consisted of two streets, these were
Wyndham and Welsford Street.26 Image 8 is a
representation on the original survey taken by
Wilmot. Wilmots plan was entitled Allotments at
Shepparton Macguires Punt and was comprised of
20 acres all together.27 There are two particular
buildings on this map that stand out, these are the
Punt hut and Inn.

Land Acts
1833 saw the Acts of the Legislative Council place
squatters under control of Crown Lands.28 Further
Acts increased the conditions that were required
when controlling this land. There was an annual fee
of 10, although the size of Land was not specified.29

September 24th 1860 the governor and executive
council of Melbourne reserved the land situated near
the river as a site for the township of Shepparton.
This was the first land Act of the 1860s, known as
the Nicholson Land Act, it saw 3 million acres of land
divided into allotments and only certain land was
available to famers and squatters.30

Page 3

Heritage
MacGuires Punt river crossing is of historical
significance. Established in the early 1850s Patrick
MacGuire and his punt mark the beginning of
Shepparton as a developing town.31 MacGuire, his
punt and the inn were originally the center of town.
Today in roughly the same location there is a statue
erected by the Shepparton Council that
acknowledges the first white settlement of
MacGuires Punt. It reads, This is the historic sight of
the first settlement at Shepparton, about 1850
known as MacGuires Punt. A punt was established on
the river near this spot, providing a crossing place for
overlanders, squatters and miners. Buildings
comprised a bush inn, a punt house, and one or two
huts. Here also the pioneers crossed the Goulburn to
select farm lands in the district and establish trade in
the village.



Shepparton is said to have been declared a

township once the name MacGuires Punt
Image 9- State Governor marking the birthplace of

Shepparton, February 2, 1950.
was dropped.32 It is represented in the
Government Gazette September 28th 1860,
that Shepparton was now a proclaimed
town, although this occurred after more
than 10 years of white settlement.33 Not long
after MacGuire sells his inn to Mr. Hill he
disappears and its extremely difficult to
trace his location. It is difficult, yet probably
impossible to trace the location and death of
Patrick MacGuire. This is due to the different
variations of his last name and not having
any knowledge of his past. From the
information we were able to gather it is
reasonable for us to assume that Patrick
MacGuire was a bit of a troublemaker, a
rascal who played a huge role in the
beginning of Shepparton. With this lack of
information it is difficult to be entirely
certain of anything else. We know that
MacGuire disappears into thin air after the
selling of his inn and this is the last we hear
of Sheppartons first pioneer.

Patrick MacGuire is recognized for his
contribution to Shepparton. He was one of
Sheppartons primary settlers and has
played a significant role in the development
and beginning of the town.
Image 10- Advert for the Emu Inn at McGuire's Punt,


HIS3MHI Meagan Stradling

Melbourne Morning Herald 1853.

Page 4

References-

16 Relic Of The Days Of The Punt, Shepparton Advertiser, 25 May.

1 Michael, Ron, On McGuires Punt: A profile of Shepparton from

1951, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

Squatting to Solar City. 1838-1988, Waterwheel Press Shepparton,

1988, 6-7.

1951, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

2 Deborah Tout-Smith, Municipality of Shepparton, Victoria,

Museum Victoria,
<http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/2317>,
accessed 2 Aug. 2015.

3 Michael, Ron, On McGuires Punt: A profile of Shepparton from

Squatting to Solar City. 1838-1988, Waterwheel Press Shepparton,

1988, 23.

4

17 Relic Of The Days Of The Punt, Shepparton Advertiser, 25 May.

Summons, Martin, Water: the vital element, 150 Years of

Sheppartons Growth, Shepparton Heritage Centre, 2010, 12-16.

5 C.

W. S James, History Of Shepparton, 1838-1938, Goulburn Valley

Newspaper Shepparton, Vic, 15-23.

6 Vibert, V. E, Shepparton: Past and Present (Shepparton and
Goulburn Valley Historical Society, 1975), 8-12.

7 West, Raymond, Those were the Days, (Shepparton, Vic:

Waterwheel Press, 1962), 22-45.

8 West, Raymond, Those were the Days, (Shepparton, Vic:

Waterwheel Press, 1962), 22-45.

9 West, Raymond, Those were the Days, (Shepparton, Vic:

Waterwheel Press, 1962), 22-45.

18 Paddy McGuire, Monopolist, The Argus, Melbourne, 18 August.

1953, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

19 Paddy McGuire, Monopolist, The Argus, Melbourne, 18 August.

1953, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

20 From McGuires Punt to Shepparton, The Argus, Melbourne, 22

October. 1938, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

21 Sheppartons Early Days, Shepparton Advertiser, 5 June. 1953,

Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

22 The Ovens Diggings, Melbourne Morning Herald, 1853, Trove

[online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

23 Howitt, William, Land, Labour, And Gold; or Two Years In Victoria:

With visits to Sydney and Van Diemans Land (London, Longman,

Brown, Green and Longmans, 1855) 96-99.

24 Allemand, Geoff, and Marlow, Margaret, My Shepparton: A
Pictorial History, 1860-2000 (Shepparton, Vic: Willprint, 2014) 1-2.

25

Summons, Martin, Water: the vital element, 150 Years of

Sheppartons Growth, Shepparton Heritage Centre, 2010, 12-16.

26 C.

10 Shepparton walks, Shepparton Goulburn River Walk [website],

W. S James, History Of Shepparton, 1838-1938, Goulburn Valley

Newspaper Shepparton, Vic, 15-23.

27 Vibert, V. E, Shepparton: Past and Present (Shepparton and

2015, <http://walkingmaps.com.au/walk/567>, accessed 10 Sep

Goulburn Valley Historical Society, 1975), 8-12.

2015.

11 West, Raymond, Those were the Days, (Shepparton, Vic:

Waterwheel Press, 1962), 22-45.

12 Howitt, William, Land, Labour, And Gold; or Two Years In

Victoria: With visits to Sydney and Van Diemans Land (London,

Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1855) 96-99.

28 City of Greater Shepparton Heritage (2004)

<http://greatershepparton.com.au/assets/files/documents/plannin
g/heritage/heritage-study-ii/Volume_2_History.pdf>, accessed 4 Sep
2015.

29 City of Greater Shepparton Heritage (2004)

<http://greatershepparton.com.au/assets/files/documents/plannin
g/heritage/heritage-study-ii/Volume_2_History.pdf>, accessed 4 Sep

2015.

13 Howitt, William, Land, Labour, And Gold; or Two Years In

Victoria: With visits to Sydney and Van Diemans Land (London,

Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1855) 96-99.

14 West, Raymond, The Streets of Shepparton with reference map

30 State Government Victoria, The Squattocracy, (2015),

(Shepparton, Vic: Shepparton City Council, 1953) 1-10.

31 Heritage Citation Report, Shepparton, Greater Shepparton City

15 Relic Of The Days Of The Punt, Shepparton Advertiser, 25 May.

1951, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

HIS3MHI Meagan Stradling

<http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/land-
exploration/pastoral-practices/squattocracy>, accessed 6 Oct 2015.

Council, McGuires Punt crossing, Goulburn River Shepparton, p.327-

330,
<http://greatershepparton.com.au/assets/files/documents/plannin
g/heritage/heritage-study-
iib/Volume_Three_Datasheets_Shepparton.pdf>.

Page 5

32 C.

W. S James, History Of Shepparton, 1838-1938, Goulburn

Valley Newspaper Shepparton, Vic, 15-23.

33 Shepparton Celebrates 150 Years of Settlement, Shepparton,
Vic, The Adviser, 2010.

Images-

Image 1-
Michael, Ron, On McGuires Punt: A profile of Shepparton from
Squatting to Solar City. 1838-1988, Waterwheel Press Shepparton,
Goulburn Punt Shepparton Painted by Eugene von Guerard,
1988, 22.

Image 2
West, Raymond, Those were the Days, (Shepparton, Vic:
Waterwheel Press, 1962), 30. Up rode Jem the Sexton, a down-
looking fellow with an ill-kept beard and rusty black clothes.
(Photo from VICTORIA IN 1880. By courtesy Robertson & Mullins
Pty. Ltd)


Image 3
From McGuires Punt to Shepparton, The Argus, Melbourne, 22
October. 1938, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.


Image 4
Paddy McGuire, Monopolist, The Argus, Melbourne, 18 August.
1953, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.
Image 5 Sheppartons early days

Image 6
Relic Of The Days Of The Punt, Shepparton Advertiser, 25 May.
1951, Trove [online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.


Image 7
Summons, Martin, Water: the vital element, 150 Years of
Sheppartons Growth, Shepparton Heritage Centre, Shepparton
Art Gallery Collection, Sherbourne Sheppard 2010, 16.

Image 8
Shepparton Celebrates 150 Years of Settlement, Allotments at
Shepparton McGuires Punt, Shepparton, Vic, The Adviser, 2010, 5.

Image 9
Vibert, V. E, Shepparton: Past and Present,State Governor marking
the birthplace of Shepparton, February 2, 1950. (Shepparton and
Goulburn Valley Historical Society, 1975) 17.

Image 10-
The Ovens Diggings, Melbourne Morning Herald, 1853, Trove
[online database], accessed 20 Aug 2015.

HIS3MHI Meagan Stradling

Page 6