Dancing! Dancing! Dancing! April 1855

Camp Buildings Beechworth, A J Stopp, c 1870?  State Library of Victoria Collection http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/68990

ASSEMBLY ROOMS

Dancing ! Dancing! Dancing!

M LANGFORD, proprietor of the Beechworth Hotel, begs to inform the inhabitants of Beechworth and its vicinity, that he has rented the above rooms, with an intention of making it into a  

Dancing and Musical Saloon,

which will be opened on

MONDAY, 9TH APRIL, 1855.

It is being fitted up in the best possible style, Messrs. Griffiths and Co. (Harp and Violin players) are engaged as musicians, and the lovers of really good music singing, and dancing, will have an opportunity afforded them unequalled in the district.

Doors open every evening, from half

past 6 to 12 p.m.

N.B.-There will be an entrance from the Assembly Rooms to the Billiard Room, which will enable persons who are fond of this game likewise to amuse themselves.

Beechworth, March 30, 1855.

Advertising. (1855, April 14). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 -1918), p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113013315

The Harp player was most likely George Zeplin, who often accompanied George Griffith. 

Reprise at the Salle de Valentino

SALLE DE VALENTINO

Immense Attraction.  

Beechworth Hotel.

MESSRS. LANGFORD & ATKINSON 

beg to acquaint the Public of Beechworth and the vicinity that a

FREE AND EASY

will be held in the above place of amusement

This Evening, and continued every

Saturday Evening.

The Talented Instrumentalists, Messrs. Griffith and Zeplin, will perform 

on the Violin and Harp.

The Chair to be taken at eight, by Mr. Small.

ADMISSION FREE.

Advertising. (1855, April 28). Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 -1918), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113013359

 How did I miss this performance?  Thanks to Jenny Coates for drawing it to my attention.

Woolshed Valley, the Benalla letters, and the Kelly Gang

Dry Diggings, Woolshed Creek, 1857, engraved by Frederick Grosse.  Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria.

I have known for some time that the Woolshed Valley had been a haunt of the Kelly Gang in the 1870s.  The Griffiths had departed for Melbourne by then, but I like to think they may have rubbed shoulders there with some of the characters who had a role to play in the great saga of the Kelly 'outbreak.'  Constable Fitzpatrick, for instance, may have been the man who ran foul of Kelly in later years.

As time goes on, more flourishes are added to the Kelly story. A few years ago a "fossicker" found another set of Kelly armour in an old abandoned forge in the Woolshed Valley.  Recently my friend Jenny Coates verified a couple of letters written by a Benalla bank teller, one of which refers to Ned Kelly's horse being seen at the local races.    Jenny's Blog Conversations with Grandma explains her part in the story, and she links to a more detailed news story based on her research, where the reference to the Woolshed Valley forge will also be found.  [This article was withdrawn due to nonsensical harrassment by individuals who considered themselves more expert, and more entitled to the letters than Jenny, so we have them to thank for her research no longer being available.]