Silverwells

In early March during a wind and rain storm that came uncommonly from the east, a massive old pine tree fell and almost obliterated the old butchershop at 'Silverwells'. The old shop and pine tree were about the same age dating pre 1900, when 'Silverwells' served as the commercial precinct of the area. It contained the Gembrook Nth Post Office and it was from where pack horses left regularly to supply miners scattered about in the bush to the east and north east.

With the coming of the narrow gauge railway to the present site of Gembrook in 1901, as 'Silverwells wasn't considered a suitable site for a railway station, the focus shifted and 'Silverwells' slowly faded into history. The top picture shows the butt of the tree, the trunk not visible from this angle. The second picture shows a corner section of the wall. The photos don't really convey the magnitude of the destruction, the tree being to big for this amateur to do justice.

I was asked to attend as there was a beehive in the old house visible in the top photo (red roof and chimney) which was not part of the original 'Silverwells', but was also damaged by the tree. The bees had to be destroyed to allow work to happen. 'Siverwells' is on private land and the owners have contacted the National Trust and the state government and local council, so far no one is offering assistance to remove the tree and see what can be preserved from the wreckage of this wonderful piece of history. The building contains many items of great interest including account books, crockery, hand tools etc.