General News
25 October, 2026
Local history shared in Laen
Pioneering families of the parish of Laen were the focus of the Minyip & District Historical Society’s annual cemetery walk, researched and presented by chairperson Wayne Jackson.
Pioneering families of the parish of Laen were the focus of the Minyip & District Historical Society’s annual cemetery walk, researched and presented by chairperson Wayne Jackson.
On Tuesday, October 20, a small crowd gathered at Laen North Cemetery, halfway between Minyip and Donald, for an informative evening of local history.
Farm selections began in the Laen district around 1870, and within a few years, more than half were occupied.
Laen had several schools: Laen Primary School No. 1799 (1875-1986), Laen North State School No. 2100 (1876-1920), and Laen East State School No. 2497 (1883-1948).
A mechanics institute and recreation reserve were established; however, as in surrounding areas, despite tireless advocacy, the lack of a railway through the parish meant the settlement did not flourish.
Today, Laen is a profitable farming area, with most pioneering families identified during the cemetery walk still living in the district.
Minyip & District Historical Society chairperson Wayne Jackson said he spent the last month researching the cemetery to prepare to lead the evening's walk.
“The Minyip Historical Society has some good information on Laen, and I read through some good articles that were written by local people about their community, and I think they’re written back in the 1950s, and we’ve got those copies,” Mr Jackson said, elaborating on the research process.
“Between those, the internet, Find A Grave, and using Births, Deaths, and Marriages Victoria for finding death certificates, we’re able to tie them all together.”
The historical society was unable to locate the government gazette to determine the year the Laen North Cemetery was opened, and the death certificate belonging to the earliest burial to give indication of the date is illegible; however, it is estimated that the cemetery opened c.1873, a date consistent with settlement of the area.
The cemetery walk focused on the Westerland, Coats, Barber, Adams, Flett, and Griffiths families.
“It's fascinating the links between the families that were all in the Western District, and all came here,” Mr Jackson said.
“You’ve got about five families that were all in the Western District, and, in fact, three of those were in Ireland, then to the Western District, then to here.”
The crowd was able to share personal stories and additional details regarding the pioneering families, with many descendants attending the evening.
“I’m impressed with the number of Donald people that came out,” he said.
“Because Laen is in the middle of the two places, and some of them that live here relate to Minyip, some relate to Donald, some relate to both, and to have so many of that group turn up is just fantastic.”