More than 60 former residents of Elgin Vale gathered on Saturday to swap memories of the former township which has all but disappeared from the landscape.
Elgin Vale is a genuine “timber town” whose existence hinged on the surrounding forestry and associated sawmills.
All that is left now at the site is the historic steam-driven sawmill – which closed in 1987 – and the fully restored “new” school building which has been converted into a QCWA hall.
(The “new” school opened in 1948; it replaced the “old” school which operated from 1927-1947.)
Glancing around the surrounding paddocks, it’s hard to imagine the rest of the once-thriving township which included streets of houses on both sides of the Moonda Waamba Creek plus a corner shop.
Representatives from many of the old Elgin Vale and Manumbar families were at the reunion, including Franzs, Duncans, Freebairns, Ryans and Hockeys.
They enjoyed a barbecue lunch prepared by members of the Elgin Vale QCWA.