The picturesque town of Bright, with its rich and diverse hiostory dating from
the gold-rush era of the 180s, 350 km NE of Melbourne, has always fascinated me.
My first visit to Bright was in January 1961, as a stopover with my younger brother and a family friend,
on our way to the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electricity Scheme. We also visited the Falls Creek Alpine village, at that time
in its infancy.
My brother and I returned to Bright in January 1963, on our way to further destinations in the
the M\t Buffalo region.
It was not until December 1974 thaty I returned to Bright with a mate, stopping over a a couple of
nights, then we travelled across the Alps.
We did a further trip to Bright in March 1975, again a traverse of the High Plains.
Some 20 years after that, in 2005, I passed through Bright on the way to the Mt Hotham area, with a good
friend, who, like me, was also interested in bushwalking..
In the following years, up to 2011, I have been back to Bright many times with my friend, who built a weekend
retreat there in 2009.
So I thought it would be a good idea to create a website project, tracing the origins and development of
Bright, along with the old nearby goldmining localities of Porepunkah, Wandiligong, Germantown and Freeburgh.
You are now seeing the results of my efforts and research, which include many
contemporary photos taken by me, and a comprehensive assemblage of heritage images from the public domain.
I do not wish this project to be another "Visit Bright Travelogue" - there are many such sites on
the internet, most of them commercial!
If you have never been to Bright, then perhaps this website will kindle your enthusiasm for visiting its
historical and scenic attractions - allow a few days to explore the heritage precincts.
Good luck!
Bob Padula, OAM
Mont Albbrt, Melbourne, Victoria
