The history of Moira Shire and the town of Cobram is rich and full of life, with fascinating links to bushrangers and explorers.

A number of streets around Cobram are named after explorers, including Sturt St, Hume St, Hovell Ct, Wills St and Burke Ct.

Former Cobram local Peter Sutton has been researching the stories of these explorers, discovering the interesting lives they lived.

Mr Sutton said the explorer Hamilton Hume was known for his expeditions with fellow explorers Charles Sturt and later William Hovell.

“Hovell had originally named the Murray River after Hume, who was Australian born, Sturt later named it after Sir George Murray,” he said.

An interesting story in the Moira Shire’s heritage is that of the Byramine homestead and explorer Hamilton Hume.

The Byramine homestead is located about 14km west of Yarrawonga and 20km east of Cobram.

“This homestead is interesting for a number of reasons,” Mr Sutton said.

“These include its interesting defensive design, its age as the oldest homestead in country Victoria and its links to the explorer Hamilton Hume.

“Hamilton Hume, acting on behalf of his widowed sister in law, Elizabeth, acquired 85,000 acres of land, which was known as the Yarrawonga and Yarroweyah run.

“Elizabeth’s husband, John Kennedy Hume, had been shot and killed by a bushranger, named Whitton.

“Hume pursued his brother’s killer with another Hume brother and several of their friends, Whitton was caught and hanged at Goulburn Jail.”

Mr Sutton said the homestead’s plan was unusual, with the original design by an English architect for use in India.

“The house epitomises a vernacular design totally sympathetic to Australian climatic conditions, and is picturesquely situated on low sand hills overlooking the river flats.”

The Byramine homestead is now privately owned and is part of a much larger enterprise with a brewery there now.

Mr Sutton said Moira Shire had connections to other bushrangers too including ‘Mad Dog Morgan’.

Mr Sutton said Morgan arrived at Peechelba Station on April 8, 1865 where he bailed up Mr Ewan MacPherson, the co-owner of Peechelba Station, along with his family, household staff and three other men, including Robert Telford.

“One of the household staff managed to get word out to one of the station hands that ‘there was a stranger’ in the house,” he said.

“Peechelba was co-owned by George Rutherford, who lived in another house on the property.

“Under the story that there was a sick child in the MacPherson house, nurse Alice Keenan was able to leave the parlour, to care for the child.

“She ran over to Rutherford’s house and informed those present that Daniel Morgan was there.”

Mr Sutton said that Rutherford then sent a message to the police at Wangaratta and gathered his station hands, providing them with arms.

“In the morning of April 9, after eating breakfast, Morgan marched the men outside to the stockyard, as he wanted a horse.

“One of the stockmen, seeing the opportunity, shot Morgan, ending the career of ‘Mad Dog Morgan’ at Peechelba, between Yarrawonga and Wangaratta.”

Mr Sutton encourages people to explore their local historical society.

“The history of the Moira Shire is interesting, with links to explorers, bushrangers and war heroes,” he said.

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Sunday, 26th July 2026

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