The history of Yellingbo

The Parslows first came to Yellingbo when Elizabeth Parslow married James Claxton, a selector whose title to the land on the outskirts of the future town of Yellingbo became permanent in 1883.

Claxton was the first recorded mail contractor in the area.  He also built the wine hall that became the local supply depot, post office and overnight stop, as well as the centre of the locals’ sporting and recreation activities.  Made of pit sawn timber it stood overlooking Woori Yallock Creek, clearly visible to travelers approaching either from Gembrook or Woori Yallock.

Miners came to have their gold weighed, and to enjoy a home cooked meal and some conversation.  Claxton decided to go to Melbourne to live and by 1888 all his interests had passed to Elizabeth’s brother Henry Parslow.

The area soon became known as Parslow’s, just as Launching Place was known as Ewart’s.  Parslow added a store to his wine hall, improving the service available to the locals who had come to rely on a weekly drop of their goods from the Hand Brothers store at Seville.  Next came a butcher’s shop with slaughtering yards not far away.

The Post Office known as Parslow’s was operated for many years by members of the Parslow family.  For some time the wine hall was also the Post Office, but by 1918 it had been moved to Mrs. Ellen Parslow’s property.  A telegraph and telephone office was opened there on 3 February 1921.  Christopher John Parslow took over on 14 November 1925 and continued until March 1952, when Christopher Ian Parslow replaced him.  The name was changed to Yellingbo on 12 August 1946.

Yellingbo people negotiated with the Education Department for 35 years before their efforts led to the opening of a local school on 23 January 1954.