| About the Deans Marsh store |
John BELL was the owner of the store / hotel at the time of this Ledger Book.
From the Surf Coast Shire heritage places:
After the Melbourne-Geelong railway line was extended to Winchelsea in 1876, the Mountjoy brothers of Lorne opened a coaching service for passengers and mail between Lorne and Winchelsea. The coach journey from Winchelsea railway station to Lorne took about 6 hours, so a halfway stop was needed along the route where horses could be changed and travellers could enjoy refreshments (Cecil 1990: 77; Millard 1985: 20) The Deans Marsh Hotel became that place.
Earlier, in 1874, John Bell, a Deans Marsh farmer, built a grocery store and residence on the west side of the Winchelsea Road about 60 yards from the present store corner. This site, at the junction of the Winchelsea, Birregurra and Lorne Roads, became the centre of the little Deans Marsh township. (Millard 1985: 18) Four years later, in 1878, John Bell had a timber hotel built adjoining his store to take advantage of the coach travellers coming to the district after the opening of the Winchelsea railway station. The hotel and its stables were built by Thomas Hunt, a local carpenter. (Millard 1985: 19)
Bambra Riding rate records confirm that by 1879-80, John Bell, storekeeper, owned a dwelling and store, and a hotel and stables, valued at £40. (Shire of Winchelsea Rate Books 1879-80 Bambra Riding: No. 214)
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