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On his return to Sydney, Mitchell's glowing report of the Western District (Australia Felix) resulted in squatters following his wheel tracks, travelling south west with their flocks of sheep. At the same time squatters from Van Diemen's Land, also in search of new pastures, were making the journey from the Port of Geelong, via Buninyong and Burnbank crossing over the Major's track at the Burnbank Creek and heading on into the Wimmera. The Crossroads at Burnbank soon became a teamsters' depot where weary travellers from Sydney and Van Diemen's Land rested for a few days, exchanged news from the two Colonies before continuing on with their journey. By 1838 squatters had settled in the area and by the winter of 1845 the township of Burnbank was established at the crossroads, with an Inn, Store, Blacksmith and Wheelwright's Shop. The official Post Office opened in 1848 and the town became the centre for Government Administration before the official gold discoveries. Gold-In 1851 James Esmond (credited with being one of the first official discoverers of gold in Victoria) overheard shepherds talking in the Burnbank Inn. The shepherds intimated that gold was being found on Mr Cameron's neighbouring sheep run 'Clunes'. Esmond immediately set out with 2 or 3 others from the Burnbank Inn, travelling part of the way along the Major's line until he found the area where the gold was supposed to be. On 7 July 1851 news of Esmond's discovery of gold on the Clunes run was published in the Geelong Advertiser. When news of the gold find was announced, Burnbank, the closest town became a scene of frenzied activity and excitement. Ballarat was not in existence, nor were any of the other gold towns. In 1855 the Presbyterian Church opened a school and in February 1860 the Lexton Road District was proclaimed. Lexton today: As alluvial gold declined many diggers took up small land holdings and became involved in agricultural production. In the Lexton district the successful production of fine wool still remains the predominant industry. Further
information on the Lexton area may be obtained from a detailed history, A Valley
of the Finest Description' which is available from the Pyrenees Shire Office or
the Lexton Post Office. Lexton - crossroads of early Victoria. Lexton (Burnbank) became a service centre for the surrounding sheep stations including Ercildoune, Mt Mitchell, Amphitheatre Station, Woodstock and Glenmona. David Anderson and William Millar, who had been in partnership hawking goods to homesteads throughout the Wimmera and the Western District since 1843, decided that Burnbank at the crossroads would be an ideal place to establish a permanent base for their growing business. So in 1845 they built the Burnbank Inn, a store, a blacksmith and wheelwright's shop. Other tradesmen soon followed and from being a carrier's depot a township soon developed. Town Map
Industry Production of fine
wool . Activities Sporting Facilities include the Golf Club, Lexton Football Club, Netball, Lexton Cricket Club. Cultural & Educational Lexton Community Centre, Lexton Country Women's Association, Lexton Primary School, Mobile Library.
Churches St Andrews
Presbyterian Lexton Community Club, Lexton Progress Association Inc., Lexton Neighbourhood Watch, Lexton Public Hall Ladies Committee, Victorian Farmers Federation, Management Committee for Community Centre, Lexton Landcare Group, Lexton Rural Fire Brigade, Lexton Cemetery Trust. Places of Interest Historic walking
tour of Lexton township - Brochures available from Hotel, Garage and Post
Office. Toll Bar Park - includes an electric BBQ, Rotunda, Major Mitchell Information Board with history of Mitchell's journey of exploration and a history of the township of Lexton. Children's play equipment, Public Toilet Block including disabled toilet, picnic table and bench sets. Historic Pyrenees Hotel 1859 - (built on site of original Burnbank Inn which was built in 1845). Today the Pyrenees Hotel provides accommodation, meals and take-away. Phone (03) 5466 7215. The Lexton Primary School and the Churches are all within walking distance of the Park. The Community Centre was formerly the headquarters of the Lexton Shire and in the early years was Lexton's second Court House built in 1874. Lexton Cemetery - The Cemetery is 3 kms east of the town, to the right off the Lexton to Talbot Road. One of the oldest headstones in the district is to be found in the Lexton Cemetery. It tells of the passing of Lexton's pioneer settler David Anderson, who built the Burnbank Inn and Store in 1845. Unfortunately he died a comparatively young man on the 12.9.1849. Lexton is a great place for pleasant walks along country lanes or mountain bike riding in the foothills of the Pyrenees |
