The Argus of June 12, 1863 published this interesting letter written by George McDonald, Assistant Surveyor, about the Koo Wee Rup and Moe Swamps, which at that time were thought to be connected and not separate Swamps. After surveying the area, George McDonald could confirm that the swamps were not connected, but separated by land which was dry and hilly, the hills rising gently and forming a succession of wide valleys.
George McDonald was the man who surveyed McDonalds's Track which went from what is now called Lang Lang to Morwell, via Mount Worth. I gave written about George and his track, here. Work to reclaim the Moe Swamp, which was essentially north of the railway line between Darnum and Moe, commenced in 1887. Carlo Catani, Public Works Department Engineer, worked on the Moe Swamp and I have written about it here. The Koo Wee Rup Swamp drainage scheme commenced in 1889, and from 1893 Carlo Catani was also involved in project. I have written about this here.
We will start with two maps, one from 1851 and the other from 1859 which show the Koo Wee Rup and Moe Swamps as one.
This is the letter published in The Argus of June 12, 1863 (see here) from George McDonald on his Discovery of good soil where a large Swamp was supposed to exist
Survey Camp, Yallock, May 15.
Sir, - have the honour to inform you that, in compliance with your instructions, I have surveyed a number of lines between the upper road to Gipps Land and the proposed new road to the same district, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the country between those roads.
Hitherto it has generally been considered that the country between was occupied by either the Koo-Wee-Rup or the Moe Swamp, the general opinion being that those swamps were connected-one flowing eastward, the other to the west. I have found, however, that such is not the case, but that the country, instead of being a wet and impenetrable swamp, is dry and hilly, the hills rising gently and forming a succession of wide valleys. By the lines which I have surveyed the dimensions of the Great Swamp are considerably reduced and I am inclined to think that by further examination its extent, as shown on the old maps, would be still further contracted; in fact, I believe that the only foundation for the previous opinions as to the existence of the so-called ' Great Swamp ' is a narrow chain of swamps on the west and north-west of its supposed position, formed by the overflow of the Tarwin and Buneep rivers.
The soil of the largest portion of the country over which I passed is of a very rich description, being formed principally of rich decomposed volcanic rock: the remaining part is inferior, being a clay loam formed by the disintegration of a sedimentary rock. The change is instantly perceptible, being marked by a corresponding change in the vegetation, which, from being straight and dense, becomes open and stunted on the poorer soil.
The scrub is not so dense as on the top of the Dividing Range, and is sufficiently open to permit the passage of wild cattle, a few of which I saw, and numerous traces of others, occasionally in places which I would imagine were impenetrable to animals so large.
A plan of my survey, with description of the soil, timber, &c., I have drawn upon the map of the proposed road to Gipps Land.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Assistant-Surveyor.
C. W. Ligar, Esq., surveyor general.
