Wonnangatta Homestead Site - VIC

Wonnangatta Valley – site of Victora’s most remote high country cattle station from the middle 1800’s until late last century. Wonnangatta Homestead site and Cemetery provide some stirring memories of life in the 1800’s and some interesting mystery in the Wonnangatta murders from the turn of the century which were never solved. A great spot to camp down by the Wonnangatta River with composting toilets the only facilities.

Hemmed by mountains and heavily forested slopes, this naturally occurring pastureland has a long history of grazing, tragedy and gruesome mystery with two unsolved murders occurring at the turn of the 19th Century. The valley was first settled in the 1860’s by Oliver Smith, an American who discovered the valley while prospecting for gold. His wife Ellen died here in 1873 here giving birth to twin girls who soon followed her to the grave. He later sold his interest to the Bryce Family who had arrived in the valley in 1872. Williams and Nancy Bryce remained at Wonnangatta for 40 years raising their family and farming until 1914 when Mrs. Bryce passed away at the age of 78. She is buried at the cemetery at Wonnangatta along with two of her children. The original homestead fell into disrepair and was eventually destroyed by fire in 1957 with only the foundations and hearths of the building remaining. It’s easily located by the windrow of huge pine trees planted to protect the house. Shaded by another huge pine is the nearby cemetery, the graves being well maintained by the National Parks and the Friends of Wonnangatta Group.