details

Statement of Significance

The River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), known as "Lawson's tree" is the site of William Lawson's home. William Lawson, was a blacksmith at Weatherboard Station, property of the Derwent Company which settled the area around the junction of the Barwon and Leigh Rivers between 1836 and 1838. He is credited with the beginning of the Inverleigh township which was formerly called Lawsons.<BR>Lawson set up home here under what is now known as "Lawson's Tree" near the ford on the road to Geelong. It is not known what sort of accommodation he made for himself, whether a canvas topped timber walled shack or something more or perhaps less elaborate. He possibly settled in this spot so that he could do some freelance work, shoeing horses of travellers from or to Geelong who would come this way to cross the ford.<BR>By 1842 he had opened the Horseshoe Inn, just across the track and opposite the site of the present hotel. The Horseshoe Inn was originally a slab hut, which he later rebuilt with local timber and bricks. He left the district in 1852.