A RECENTLY uncovered poem about a tough and beautiful Yackandandah barmaid may have pin-pointed the origin of the town's name, but also raised new questions.
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The Lass of Yackandandah, left, by an unknown author, was published in The Melbourne Punch in June, 1857.
Historians say the poem, which was researched at the Yackandandah Museum last week, could be the first instance of the modern spelling being used in the media.
"There was previously many variations of the name," researcher Robyn Burns-Taylor said.
The more popular versions included Yackandandy, Yackandandee, Yackandanda and Yak.
But the poem also threw historians a curve-ball by saying the Lass of Yackandandah worked at the 'Harrow', a previously unheard-of hotel.
"We have a long list of pub names for the Yackandandah district, but the Harrow isn't there," Ms Burns-Taylor said.
It is now believed the Harrow was a pseudonym for another pub, most likely the Waterloo.
