About

About the Archive

Up the Creek Victoria is a digital historical archive of articles about the pioneers, people and local history of the Arthurs Creek district and surrounding areas in Victoria, Australia. It expands on the published work of historian Bruce G. Draper and pulls together for the first time his 25 years of research with the addition of a vast array of photographs.

Input from local community members and historians in assisting with photographs and research is gratefully acknowledged. Relevant articles by other authors are added over time.

About the Author

Local Historian Published Author Researcher Navy Veteran

The name Draper has been synonymous with the Arthurs Creek district since Bruce's great grandparents, Charles and Catherine, settled in the district in the 1860s.

Brought up on stories of these early pioneering days, Bruce's father Chester aroused his son's interest in the local history of the district and families of the original settlers.

After service in the Australian Navy, Bruce returned to his roots and resumed his passion for history. He was invited to join the Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute as their local historian.

For many years Bruce has provided well-researched articles on local history, giving a fascinating insight into the community's early days.

Bruce G. Draper, historian and author — Bruce G. Draper photographed by Wade Ashley at Dygiphy in 2012.
© Wade Ashley, 2012

Acknowledgements

This archive would not be possible without the contributions of community members, historians and researchers who have shared their photographs, memories and knowledge of the Arthurs Creek district.

Website design and development by Dygiphy.

Photographic digitisation and restoration by Wade Ashley from Dygiphy.

About the Curator and Editor

This website was established by Catherine Ashley to digitise and expand upon the historical archives compiled by Bruce Draper, alongside the personal accounts of J.C. Draper. While their original research and writing provided the initial inspiration and foundation for the project, the site has evolved significantly since its creation. As the site’s founder and principal editor, Catherine has spent the years since expanding the scope of the archive, introducing new historical sections, publishing new articles, and curating a wider collection of images and artefacts to bring the history of these districts to an even more expansive audience across the globe.