Yinnar is a rural Australian township located in the Latrobe Valley in central Gippsland, Victoria. At the 2016 census, Yinnar had a population of 907. The origin of the name "Yinnar" is believed to have been derived from the local Aboriginal term yinnar, meaning "woman".
History
Yinnar began as a part of the Scrubby Forest Station at Middle Creek, which as its name implies, was heavily wooded. Its southern section was mountainous, so its area of practical use was estimated as ten square miles. The first holders were Nicol Brown and Billy Hillier. Eventually they divided the station into two with Middle Creek being the line of division, Brown taking the western half and Hillier the eastern half. Billy's Creek was named after Billy Hillier. They held their leases from 1848 to 1868.
George Firmin arrived at Middle Creek in 1874 and took over Scrubby Forest West, which he divided into what was known as the Scrubby Forest Run. Due to this the Firmin family are said to be the first settlers of Yinnar. Other early selectors on Scrubby Forest Run were Henry Wicks and John Quigley. In 1885 George Firmin handed the license back to the Government so the farming areas were made available to selectors. The town was surveyed in May 1885 and two months later one hundred allotments were auctioned to selectors at the offices of Mr Wicks' agents.
The area called Middle Creek and Scrubby Forest became known as Yinnar in 1879. George Firmin's wife Maria and their eleven children came to live with him in the bark hut at the Scrubby Forest Run in 1898. They were the first family to live in Yinnar.
Many of the first buildings in Yinnar were established in the 1880s by Mr. John Quigley and Mr. Henry Wicks, two of the early settlers in Yinnar. The buildings by Mr Quigley included Quigley's house, a store, a butcher's shop, a boarding house and a wine saloon. Mr Wicks was the builder of the first hotel.
Despite many fires over the years some of the earlier buildings of Yinnar are still around today.
On 2 December 1927 the State Electricity Commission of Victoria announced that a supply of electricity had been made available to the town of Yinnar.
Traditional ownership
The formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Yinnar sits are the Gunaikurnai people. The Gunaikurnai people are represented by the Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation.
Arts
Yinnar's arts community includes two art galleries in its main street.
Arc Yinnar
Arc Yinnar is an art resource collective which includes a gallery featuring local and national artists. It also includes studio spaces for use by local artists. It also has an art and craft gift shop featuring the work of Gippsland artists.
Matchbox Gallery
In a restored building over 100 years old is the Matchbox Gallery. The gallery features local artists and has been converted to include bed and breakfast accommodation.
Scenery
Centenary Gardens
The Centenary Gardens located in Main Street were officially opened by William C. Welsh on 10 March 1974 to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of the first settlers in the Yinnar district. The gardens include the railway goods shed, play equipment, picnic tables, barbecue area, tourist information and public toilets.
CWA Park
The CWA Park located in Main Street was named to commemorate the Country Women's Association golden jubilee.
Charles Bond Park
Charles Bond Park is located in Wicks Street and contains a grassed area and children's playground equipment.
Morwell National Park
Located about 15 minutes from the centre of the town is the Morwell National Park in Yinnar South. The walking tracks in the National Park have been improved by local volunteers and the Latrobe City Council.
Hazelwood Pondage
Located about five minutes from the centre of town is Hazelwood Pondage. An artificial lake with water the pondage is no longer heated since the power station closing down. The lake allows public access for sailing, boating and other recreational water sports. The lake also has a caravan park on its shores which is a popular holiday spot during the warmer months.
Strzelecki Trail
Yinnar is a popular tourist stop on the Strzelecki Trail also known as tourism 'Route 94'. 'Route 94' marks the scenic drive through central Gippsland from the Latrobe Valley into the Strzelecki Ranges through villages such as Yinnar, Boolarra and Mirboo North, farmland, lakes, forests and national parks such as Tarra Bulga National Park and Morwell National Park.