Seaspray soil is rich in history; originally home to the Gurnai Kurnai people, the small coastal town situated on the sandy shores of 90 Mile Beach was known as the Prospect until 1916 when it acquired the name Seaspray.
From 1886 when the first holiday home was built by J.W. McLachlan, through to 2016, when the town celebrated its centenary, a colourful history has shaped the Wellington Shire town, which was recognised on Saturday with the unveiling of Seaspray’s historical signboard-walk.
The Seaspray and surrounding community flocked in droves, congregating on the emerald-green grass lining the edge of Foreshore Rd, to join local historian and author Susan Kennedy and Seaspray Ratepayers Association president Kaylene Wheeler for the opening.
Ten historical signboards have been erected along the foreshore walkway, stretching from Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club to the caravan park, providing insight into the coastal town’s kaleidoscopic history. The two-year project was co-organised by Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Wheeler and sponsored by Esso.
Children from Seaspray stood patiently still, mostly, as Mrs Wheeler addressed the crowd of more than 60 people, many accompanied by their canine companions, under the clouded sky in the morning hours.
Among those in attendance were Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, Wellington Shire councillor Marcus McKenzie, Seaspray Primary School principal Karen Smyth, Esso representative James Buckingham, and local historian Peter Synan, who spoke briefly on the history of Seaspray.
Mrs Wheeler shared a heartfelt thanks to Mrs Kennedy, author of ‘On the Prospect: A Comprehensive Historical Timeline of the District Known As Seaspray’, for sharing her expertise in local history and work in designing the signboards, now home to the Seaspray foreshore walkway.
“This was an extraordinary effort on her behalf,” Mrs Wheeler said.
Mrs Kennedy was next to take the stand, sharing a snippet of Seaspray’s town, farms, beach, infrastructure and services’ extensive and fascinating history.
“It is important that those stories of the past are documented and shared before they are lost,” Mrs Kennedy said.
“In 2016, the town celebrated its centenary, 100 years since the area of where the town is, known originally as Prospect Reserve, was cut up into housing blocks, streets and parks and installation of the town’s new name from Prospect to Seaspray.
“The town’s history didn’t start here however; it started when fishermen and kangaroo hunters would bring their families down to the beach, enduring the rigours of the almost impassable sandy track from Sale back around the 1850s and 1860s.”
Mrs Kennedy emphasised that the 10 signboards do not encompass the entirety of Seaspray’s extensive history, but rather are a modicum of the sleepy coastal town’s past, enlightening readers to fundamental parts of the region’s making.
“The topics on the signboards are just a smattering; please don’t expect it to tell the whole history of Seaspray; we couldn’t possibly do that on 10 signboards,” she said.
“They mainly concentrate on stories and information about a handful of topics of early and even more recent life in the town that affected residents and holiday makers.”
The signboards share the history of Seaspray’s early playground, the beginnings of the general store, early streetscapes, the history of Seaspray foreshore, and the beginning of the tennis club and beachwear fashions in the 1920s.
Mrs Kennedy also shared a heartfelt thanks to Mrs Wheeler, claiming Mrs Wheeler could be appropriately labelled “Seaspray’s unofficial Mayor”.
“She is so fully occupied, both mentally and physically, with bettering this town through her roles as presidents of Seaspray Ratepayers Association and also as a member of Seaspray Foreshore Reserve committee of management,” Mrs Kennedy said.
“She speaks up for Seaspray often through correspondence by attending Wellington Shire Council meetings, always on the phone to council members and local MPs pushing for all the causes she wants to see happen in Seaspray.”
At the beginning of the Seaspray historical signboard walk sits a rock, installed with a plaque thanking all contributors to the project.
Esso representative James Buckingham lifted the blanket covering the plaque, the penultimate step to the historical signboard walk’s official opening.
The children of Seaspray found their designated sign to uncover upon the given signal.
Seven-year-old Ettie and her little brother Ted Curtis, five, ran to their appointed sign, titled Beachwear in the Early Days. Ettie and Ted were allocated this particular sign as their grandmother Ettie Andrew, nay Hickmer, is featured in the far left photo on the signboard, wearing a hat.
Mr O’Brien made the trip to Seaspray on Saturday morning with his wife Vicki, and two children, to show support for the Seaspray community and its achievements.
The O’Briens are heavily involved in the Seaspray Surf Live Saving Club.
“It’s an important part of local history, and the Seaspray community always does a great job in beautifying the area and supporting things like the surf club, the store, the tennis club and the like,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Seaspray has a fascinating history, it holds a special place in many Gippslanders hearts as a summer destination, it is great to have these permanent displays to highlight some of that history.”
