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Major Thomas Mitchell was the first known European to travel through the district<\/p>\n
in 1836, and the wheel tracks left by the bullock drays on his expedition marked what\u2019s now known as the Major\u2019s Line.<\/p>\n
It ran from Portland to Albury and was followed by several pastoralists seeking new land in subsequent years.<\/p>\n
Some settled in what was then known as the McIvor district, but the discovery of gold in late 1852 led to a population explosion and rapid change.<\/p>\n
A camp city sprang up almost overnight and the township became known as Heathcote.<\/p>\n
Within short period there was a police court and a post office, and the town was surveyed and subdivided.<\/p>\n
By its 10th year Heathcote had gained both a hospital and a large shire hall.<\/p>\n
As the gold rush slowed, farming become the mainstay of the district with wool production at the forefront.<\/p>\n
The construction of Lake Eppalock in the mid-20th century gave the town a new boost with an increase in tourism.<\/p>\n
While winemaking has become one of the district\u2019s leading industries in recent decades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HEATHCOTE turns one-hundred and seventy this year and the community is being invited to share stories about how their family came to the district. Elizabeth Murfitt, McIvor Historical Society research officer and museum curator, said she wanted to collect family histories from as many people as possible. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how long you\u2019ve been here,\u201d […]<\/p>\n