The small hills

NARRE WARREN is named after the Aboriginal name for the district, Narre Nareen, meaning small hills. It was later known as ‘Narree Worran,’ before changing to the present spelling.
One of the first official mentions of the area was in 1840, describing the lawlessness of both the local Aboriginals and the European settlers.
In 1841, the legislature of New South Wales designated 1000 pounds to establish a native police force in the area.
Legislature of New South Wales voted 1000 pounds for the establishment of a native police force in the area. Governer Latrobe commissioned Captain Henry Pultney Dana and his brother, William Thomas Dana, to organise the force.
An Aboriginal chief, Billibellary, selected 12 tribesmen to join the new group.
The present-day Narre Warren probably began with J. Gardiner’s “Mornington Hotel” which was already established when Sidney John Webb arrived in 1880 and took an active part in developing the settlement.
On retirement he purchased the “Holly Green” property from Thomas Walton, which is now the site of the council offices and Fountain Gate shopping centre.
S. J. Webb was responsible for planting an avenue of oak trees on both sides of Gippsland Road in 1890; those on the south side were lost when the highway was duplicated in the 1970s, but others survive.