HOLBROOK Holbrook is the last town to visit when traveling south on the Hume Highway/Freeway. Along with Tarcutta Holbrook is still not by-passed but that date is fast coming. Holbrook is a rural inland town that has become the ‘Submarine Town’ of Australia. The explorers Hume and Hovell were the first known Europeans in the area. They travelled through in 1824 when looking for new grazing country in the south of the colony of New South Wales. The town was originally called Ten Mile Creek and the first buildings erected in 1836. A German immigrant, John Christopher Pabst, became the publican of the Woolpack Hotel on 29 July 1840 and the area became known as "the Germans". By 1858 the name had evolved in to the official name of Germanton, though the postal area retained the name Ten Mile Creek. In 1876 the name Germanton was gazetted and the old name Ten Mile Creek consigned to history. During World War I, the town name was deemed unpatriotic. On 24 August 1915 the town was renamed Holbrook in honour of Lt. Norman Douglas Holbrook, a decorated wartime submarine captain and winner of the Victoria Cross. Lt. Holbrook commanded the submarine HMS B11. The Submarines and Museum are located at the northern end of the town. All church denominations are represented in Holbrook, with the United being the most impressive. The hotel buildings have undergone change of use, but two old pubs still to this day look after their patrons. The Holbrook War Memorial is located near the river. Holbrook has two museums. Both being converted hotels. Holbrook is a nice town and a few hours or a stopover are required to get the best out of this historic town.