The area to the east of the Avoca River known as Rathscar West was surveyed in 1899.

[2] The Melbourne newspaper The Argus reported in 1903 that a new gold-bearing reef had been discovered in Rathscar.

[3] The "largest landholder and possibly the wealthiest" in the area was Charles Wilson from Sunny Park[4] ( Coordinates 36°58′53″S 143°36′28″E / 36.9813035°S 143.607879°E / -36.9813035; 143.607879 ).

[5] Rathscar West had a Methodist church, initially constructed in timber and built around 1870.

[11][12] The Pyrenees Shire Council has documented a number of buildings in Rathscar including the Methodist Church, the Avonlea Farm House and the Elliot farm complex, in the Avoca Heritage Study: 1864 - 1994 - Volume 3.