Mill Valley Ranch
Encyclopedia
Mill Valley Ranch is a Christian Youth Camp in Tynong North, 70 km South East of Melbourne
, Victoria, Australia
.
The idea of an inter-denominational Christian
camp for young people, designed as a western village, the campsite began small.
Along with Arthur and Bonnie, a builder and a cook joined the team to develop the campsite.
The name "Mill Valley Ranch" was chosen to reflect the main business of the area, which was sawmilling, the campsite's location, the valley, and the nature of the campsite, being a horse riding ranch.
On 10 June 1967, Arthur and Bonnie with their 3 young children Donald, Debbie & Deanna came to live in the valley. Eric Watts the Cook & Warren the builder and Joy Carroll with Robert (2) and newly born Peter also came to make the team that started Mill Valley Ranch.
Wagon wheels and chassis were donated from all over Gippsland
. Four Sleeping Wagons and a Dining Wagon which sat 40 were built; a Chuck Wagon of the First World War
was restored as a Kitchen.
On 6 January 1969 the first camp was held with 28 Campers and 10 Staff. The cost was just $24.
Mill Valley Ranch is unique, in that it was established from the very beginning, not by any specific denomination, but specifically as an inter-denominational camp.
Activities at Mill Valley Ranch focus on developing the individual, while being fun for the children. Some of these activities include horse riding, archery
, team games, initiative courses and the ropes courses, as well as others, which each present challenging situations for the children to learn from. In this way, the children are encouraged to develop skills in leadership
, initiative
, teamwork
and self esteem.
of great significance. Established in 1967, it is one of the area's oldest developments still in operation today.
Many buildings on the property have been relocated from other areas, such as:
There are also other historic items, such as:
There is another original Australian Sugar Cane Locomotive on the neighbouring property—a 1906 0-4-2T Decauville
Locomotive. It is in the possession of Bruce Weatherhead, the son of Roy Weatherhead who was the eldest of the Weatherhead Bros. who were the original contributors to the development of Mill Valley Ranch.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
Established by Arthur and Bonnie Bartlett in 1967, upon the invitation of the Weatherheads, a sawmilling family who pioneered the area.The idea of an inter-denominational Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
camp for young people, designed as a western village, the campsite began small.
Along with Arthur and Bonnie, a builder and a cook joined the team to develop the campsite.
The name "Mill Valley Ranch" was chosen to reflect the main business of the area, which was sawmilling, the campsite's location, the valley, and the nature of the campsite, being a horse riding ranch.
On 10 June 1967, Arthur and Bonnie with their 3 young children Donald, Debbie & Deanna came to live in the valley. Eric Watts the Cook & Warren the builder and Joy Carroll with Robert (2) and newly born Peter also came to make the team that started Mill Valley Ranch.
Wagon wheels and chassis were donated from all over Gippsland
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
. Four Sleeping Wagons and a Dining Wagon which sat 40 were built; a Chuck Wagon of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was restored as a Kitchen.
On 6 January 1969 the first camp was held with 28 Campers and 10 Staff. The cost was just $24.
Christian Youth Camps
Christian Youth Camps, most initially established by churches or groups of churches, offer programs for young people during school holidays. Programs revolve around activities, usually in the outdoors, as well as spiritual input and development.Mill Valley Ranch is unique, in that it was established from the very beginning, not by any specific denomination, but specifically as an inter-denominational camp.
Activities at Mill Valley Ranch focus on developing the individual, while being fun for the children. Some of these activities include horse riding, archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, team games, initiative courses and the ropes courses, as well as others, which each present challenging situations for the children to learn from. In this way, the children are encouraged to develop skills in leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, initiative
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
, teamwork
Teamwork
Teamwork is action performed by a team towards a common goal. A team consists of more than one person, each of whom typically has different responsibilities....
and self esteem.
Cultural Significance
Mill Valley Ranch is a local landmarkLandmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
of great significance. Established in 1967, it is one of the area's oldest developments still in operation today.
Many buildings on the property have been relocated from other areas, such as:
- The Chapel—formerly MontroseMontrose, VictoriaMontrose is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 33 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges. At the 2006 Census, Montrose had a population of 6464....
Methodist Church
- The Station—formerly Tynong railway station
- The Schoolhouse—formerly DrouinDrouin, VictoriaDrouin is a major service town, located in West Gippsland, east of Melbourne. Its local government area is the Shire of Baw Baw. The town is supposedly named after a Frenchman who invented a chlorination process for the extraction of ore or an Aboriginal word meaning "north wind". New estate...
East Primary School
- The Jailhouse—formerly Lang LangLang Lang, VictoriaLang Lang is a town in Victoria, Australia, 73 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Cardinia...
Police station's jail cell
- The Blacksmith's Shop—relocated from HealesvilleHealesville, VictoriaHealesville is a town in Victoria, Australia, 52 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Yarra Ranges...
(origin needs verification)
There are also other historic items, such as:
- The train—located outside the restored Tynong Station. The locomotive is an original 1944 4wDM Ruston & Hornsby LocomotiveLocomotiveA locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
, which had been used on the Moreton Sugar Mill in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.
- The Lanz Bulldog Tractor—Relocated from QuambatookQuambatook, VictoriaQuambatook is a town in northern Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Avoca River in the Shire of Gannawarra Local Government Area, from the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Quambatook had a population of 253....
There is another original Australian Sugar Cane Locomotive on the neighbouring property—a 1906 0-4-2T Decauville
Decauville
The Decauville manufacturing company was founded by Paul Decauville , a French pioneer in industrial railways. Decauville's major innovation was the use of ready-made sections of light, narrow gauge track fastened to steel sleepers; this track was portable and could be disassembled and transported...
Locomotive. It is in the possession of Bruce Weatherhead, the son of Roy Weatherhead who was the eldest of the Weatherhead Bros. who were the original contributors to the development of Mill Valley Ranch.