THE rich history of Wonthaggi has been thoroughly researched by local author Sebastian J. ‘Sam’ Gatto and on Saturday, February 10, Sam officially launched Aspects of Wonthaggi’s History through Street and Place Names at the Baptist Church.
The event was opened with Josh Hooke performing a classical piano recital before the secretary of the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society, Irene Williams addressed those in attendance with the idea as to why the book evolved.
Sam declared his sincere thanks to his wife for sharing their inside story, Simon Longstaff for his research and Irene and Fay of the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society for their support, before the book was officially launched by one of Wonthaggi’s longest-term residents and a friend to Sam Gatto, Danny Carr.
Sam shared that there is so much he could write about, and addressed the fact that even in his sixth book that took him four years, he is only scratching the surface in Wonthaggi’s history.
“I’ve been researching the history of Wonthaggi for the past 20 years,
publishing my first book in 2010 on the Wonthaggi Hospital, and with this now sixth book there were so many stories to tell – which was somewhat difficult because sometimes getting that information was not straightforward,” he said.
“Simon assisted me in researching – finding information in the public records office. He is an experienced researcher and there we were able to find documents to come to certain conclusions about who the streets were named after.”
When Sam tells a story he is most interested in human factors – the people behind the streets and the project, and how they’ve been involved in the development of Wonthaggi.
In the book Aspects of Wonthaggi’s History through Street and Place Names, Sam’s aim was to contextualise the stories of the streets in Wonthaggi. He grew up in the small town and returned in the 70’s after studying and soon realised that he knew almost nothing about the place he called home.
“I now know a little, but there is so much more to know - about how pioneers who believed in solidarity and cooperation were prepared to fight for adjusting fairer society.
“And there’s so much to know about the men and women who fought on daily survival and the rebirth from the mining town into the prospering commercial, government and service centre it has become today.”
Over 100 people from the local community gathered at the Baptist Church in support of Sam’s sixth book, enjoying light refreshments and a personal book signing. Aspects of Wonthaggi’s History through Street and Place Names is available to order at the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society at 40 White Road, Wonthaggi, open Tuesday, and Thursday 10am until 3pm and Saturday 10am until 2pm.
Sam’ Gatto’s work on this story is pro bono and all profits from Aspects of Wonthaggi’s History through Street and Place Names will go directly to the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society.