Bowenvale / Timor

Overview

Bowenvale/Timor is a small hamlet that forms part of the goldfields region. Located approximately 11 kilometres from the regional city of Maryborough, Bowenvale/Timor is a rural area comprising mostly of farming land.

History

Gold was the catalyst for the development of Timor. By November 1856, the area know as Chinaman’s Flat (between Maryborough and Timor) had 4000 diggers working there. Mr Cox, a butcher, set up a bridge across the Bet Bet Creek and built a five bedroom Bridge Inn. The township on both sides of the creek was know as Cox Town.

By March 1857 there were briefly approximately 30,000 at Chinaman’s Flat. The main street was about a mile long. Houses, hotels and stores were set up. Cox Town was surveyed as Timor in 1856, but the butcher’s name was favoured for many years.

The town prospered until mining crumbled at the end of World War 1. State School 1207 opened in 1873 and six years later its students numbered 473. As gold petered out, numbers dwindled, but the school still operates today. The last hotel closed in Timor in 1963 and the historic Timor Store closed in 1997 after 145 years of operation.

Accommodation

Bowenvale offers no local lodgings, however a great range of accommodation can be sought at Maryborough, just 12 minutes drive.

Further information can be found on the Visit Maryborough website http://www.visitmaryborough.com.au

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