The History Behind Numurkah's Street Names: this booklet (funded by a Bendigo Bank Community Grant) outlines the historical backgrounds of the naming of streets in Numurkah. The Society has made every attempt to provide accurate information about the naming of the streets, but in many cases, we have not been able to confirm the precise origins of the street's name in which case we have provided the most likely basis for its name. 

Below is a sample of the booklet's information:

Melville St (the main street of the town): In 1875, John Melville (1827-1902) selected 320 acres in the Parish of Drumanure, approximately three miles east of Numurkah. By mid-1876, however, Melville was in arrears in his rent payments and was thought to have abandoned his selection. He had returned to Melbourne and failed to attend a hearing in November 1876 to give reasons against the forfeiture of his licence. His licence was revoked and the forfeited land was then re-opened for selection in December 1876 but not before his name was given to the town’s main street. According to George McLellan, a member of the team that originally surveyed the Numurkah township, Melville abandoned his selection due to it being flood-prone.