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25 June 1887 — The passing of Thomas Chirnside.
Mistakenly believing that he has lost everything and is bankrupt, Thomas Chirnside dies by his own hand. He is found on the floor of the laundry at Werribee Park, a discharged shotgun by his side.Tags has:placeholder -
1877 - Werribee Park Mansion is built
Andrew and Thomas Chirnside build their magnificent sixty-roomed Werribee Park Mansion built on a sweeping bend of the Werribee River.
The estate also included a working farm but in architectural terms this classic-style Italianate dwelling with its porticoed wings and soaring tower, dominated all other buildings in the Shire.Tags has:placeholder -
1859 - The first church is built
Once again Thomas Chirnside led the donations, this time for the construction of the first church in Werribee, St Thomas’ Anglican Church. He started by donating an acre of land on the corner of Greaves and Synnot Streets, then added £100. The first church, a simple gabled weatherboard building with a small porch entry used as the church hall today, still stands behind the more expansive brick building constructed in 1900. A Mr Rodda conducted the first service in June of that year. The church was also used by several other denominations until their own could be built.
The Greaves and Synnot Street site has a long history in the provision of religious services in Werribee. In 1851 Mr Fitzgibbons built the first house in Werribee there, and the first church service in the village was conducted from a cart-shed at the back of this house. -
21 May 1852 — The flooding of Werribee
After several days of heavy, consistent rain the Werribee River rages through the town. The Wedge family homestead is destroyed and Edward Wedge, his wife and daughter swept into the waters and drowned. The first bridge is destroyed.
Thomas Chirnside purchases the Wedge holdings from the family members who survived the ordeal.Tags has:placeholder -
1851 — Thomas Chirnside builds Point Cook Homestead.
Thomas Chirnside builds Point Cook Homestead.Tags has:placeholder -
Werribee Park, Princes Highway, Werribee
A large pastoral holding once owned by the Chirnside family well known for the 1876 Italianate Renaissance mansion. -
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Werribee Racecourse,
Bulban Road (corner Ballan and Racecourse Roads),
WerribeeA racecourse located on this site since 1861 with large grandstand and other buildings possibly dating from 1950s onwards. -
