1844

Hazelwood Station Settled

1845

Maryvale Station Settled

1846

Merton Rush Station Settled

1847

Tyres surveyed Melbourne – Sale route and built bridge over Morwell River – later called Morwell Bridge

1848

Scrubby Forest Station settled

1848

First church service of any denomination (Anglican) held at Hazelwood Station by Rev. Francis Hales, on a 3 month touring mission throughout Gippsland

1858

Peter jeremiah Smith built hotel at Morwell Bridge

1876

Hazelwood Ridge Primary School opened – first government school in the area

1879

First public sale of allotments in Morwell township – January 14^th

1879

First train Princes Bridge sale – April 2^nd

1879

First government school opened in Morwell township in a disused butcher shop in Tarwin Street – April 3^rd (Later) became Commercial primary school

1884

Sacred Heart Catholic School opened in the church in George Street

1884

12 Mile Peg (Boolarra) established. First survey of township

1885

Morwell – Mirboo branch rail line completed

1885

Morwell – Mirboo “Gazette” established – October

1886

Morwell “Advertiser” established – October

1887

Morwell Brass Band established

1888

Great Morwell Coal Mining Company established

1890

March and August – fires destroyed ten shops in Commercial Road Morwell

1890

Morwell Butter Factory opened

1892

Morwell Shire established – May 22^nd

1896

Second Briquette factory built at Great Morwell Coal Mine replacing first one destroyed by fire

1897

First recorded sighting of a rabbit in the district

1897

First picture show (still) in Mechanics Institute – on tour from Melbourne

1898

Bad bush fires state-wide – much damage in Morwell Shire

1899

Boer War – a number of local men enlisted – at least four died

1900

First movie picture show in Morwell (Lux Travelling Cinema)

1902

Morwell Orchestra Founded

1908

Morwell Golf Club formed – played in Kline’s paddock

1910

Petrol lamps established in eastern end of Commercial Road – previously lit by kerosene lamps

1912

Fire destroyed four shops in Commercial Road – July 31^st

1912

Fire destroyed five shops in Commercial Road December 31^st – these had replaced shops destroyed in 1890 fires

1912

First Telephone exchange in Morwell – six subscribers

1912

Morwell Waterworks Trust established – September

1913

Morwell Bowling Club formed

1913

Reticulated water supply to Morwell from Billy’s Creek

1914

World War 1 broke out – many local men enlisted

1914

Volunteer Fire Brigade formed – November

1915

Acetylene street lamps in parts of Morwell

1916

Diphtheria epidemic

1919

Spanish flu epidemic – Commercial Road school became a temporary hospital

1920

Excavation of Yallourn open cut commenced

1923

Electric power from Yallourn to parts of Gippsland

1923

Electric street lights in Morwell

1924

Commercial power from Yallourn to Melbourne

1925

Swimming pool built in Alexandra Park, Morwell

1929

Back-to-Morwell to celebrate Morwell’s 50^th year

1929

Four shops burnt in Commercial Road – November

1929

Morwell Butter Factory burnt – April

1929

Early settlers at Hermes Oak (Haunted Hills)

1930

Work ceased at Great Morwell Coal mine – it was later re-opened for a short time when Yallourn open cut was flooded

1932

Kingsford Smith came to Morwell barnstorming with the Southern Cross

1934

Bad floods in November – Morwell Isolated – Yallourn open cut flooded

1935

Morwell Mechanics Institute destroyed by fire

1936

Morwell Town Hall and Shire Offices – foundation stone laid

1937

Australian Paper Manufacturers pilot mill at Maryvale established

1939

Widespread disastrous fires – many areas in shire devastated

1939

World War 2 broke out – many locals enlisted

1944

More disastrous fires – Morwell Flax Mill destroyed – thirteen people in shire burned to death – over 100 homes destroyed

1945

La Mode Industries new factory in Morwell commenced work

1946

Morwell Chamber of Commerce and Morwell Rotary formed

1948

Morwell reservoir constructed

1948

Housing Commission purchased 300 acres for housing in Morwell