Hard Jacka - The Story of a Gallipoli Legend Scotland

Wedderburn

The first settler in the Wedderburn region was John Catto, who took up 64,000 acres as a squatter in 1840. Gold was discovered in 1852 and by December that year there were 6,000 people at Wedderburn panning and digging for gold. However, the population dropped off sharply after 1853 due to a lack of water for washing the dirt, and due to discoveries of gold elsewhere. Gold is still found in Wedderburn today and many hundreds of prospectors visit the area each year.

Albert Jacka’s parents, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Jacka were prominent citizens of Wedderburn, with his father working as a farmer, road contractor and carter.

Jacka Park in the centre of Wedderburn was named after Albert Jacka, although it is also referred to as ‘Soldiers Memorial Park’. A number of streets in Melbourne are also named after Albert Jacka, the most famous being Jacka Boulevard on the foreshore at St Kilda, which goes past the lawn on which the Colours of the 14th Battalion were consecrated by the Reverend Andrew Gillison on 13th December, 1914 (see Hard Jacka – The Book – Andrew Gillison).

Mr Campbell Holmes, Secretary of the Korong Historical Society in Wedderburn.

Jacka Park stands in the main street of Wedderburn stands on the site of the old Korong Flour Mill, which had been destroyed by fire in February, 1919. The monument at right was unveiled in August 1921 in memory of town and district soldiers who served during the Great War. At the corner stand the Ornamental Gates, dedicated to the memory of Albert Jacka VC MC and Bar, which were opened on April 6th, 1958.

The Presbyterian church attended by the Jacka family

The Wedderburn Primary School, where Albert Jacka obtained his initial education.

Two houses in Wedderburn that were occupied at various times by the Jacka family.

Old Institute Hall in Wedderburn, where public meetings were held to commemorate Albert Jacka’s VC.