Tommy Gibson was a paling splinter, cutting palings and shingles for sale at the Melbourne markets. He lived at “Tommy’s Hut” around 1862. His house was used as a sly grog shop and meeting place.
Every few days, when he had enough palings to sell, he would load up his trusty wheelbarrow and wheel his product from his home to Whittlesea which was approximately 16 kms downhill.
Tommy’s Hut was situated at Kinglake West. Current location approximately Cnr of Whittlesea – Kinglake Road and Whittlesea – Yea Road, Kinglake West.
Source: The Plenty: a centenary history of the Whittlesea Shire by J. W. Payne, , 1975
Image: Tommy’s Hut, 1925 Preserving the Past collection, Yarra Plenty Regional Library LHC19. Two timber houses surrounded by picket fence. In foreground is a wooden tramway used for taking timber to Whittlesea railway station.
