Feel the ancient earth beneath your feet. This is Mount Cottrell. A place steeped in history both brutal and beautiful.
Before you stands a volcanic cone. It’s the largest of the Werribee Plains volcanoes. Its massive size is most impressive when viewed from afar not up close. Imagine the molten rock flowing outwards creating this landscape. This mighty mountain was formed by numerous lava tongues radiating outwards. The resulting lava shield is extensive.
Mount Cottrell wasn’t always a quiet rural area. It’s named after Anthony Cottrell. He was a member of the Port Phillip Association. He received this land around 1835-36. A tragic event stained this land. The Mount Cottrell massacre occurred here in 1836. Around ten Wathaurong people were killed. Settlers retaliated for the killing of Charles Franks and his convict shepherd.
Life here wasn’t always violent. A post office opened in 1866. It closed in 1895 only to reopen in 1902. It finally closed for good in 1958. A small state school also operated from 1921 to 1949. Imagine the children learning here amidst the shadows of the mountain’s past.
The area is now zoned for urban growth. Residential development began in the early 2020s. The first area developed was between Leakes Road and the Regional Rail Link. The land was once used for grazing. The remains of a sheep wash and other stone farm structures still exist near Mount Cottrell Road. These are remnants from the 1850s.
A unique chapter is written in the area’s history. The Chartwell Estate was established in 1957. It was named after Winston Churchill’s country house. Blocks were sold sight unseen to English migrants. English names were given to the streets. It’s a fascinating mix of English heritage in this Australian landscape.
Mount Cottrell is more than just a name. It’s a testament to the powerful forces of nature. It is a place of both sorrow and progress. This landscape silently witnesses a story of settlement violence and growth. Let its quiet majesty speak volumes of its rich and complex past.