tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29644346672316319772024-03-27T16:54:58.995-07:00Koo Wee Rup Swamp HistoryThis blog is about the history of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp and surrounding areas, including Garfield, and Western Port as well as some of my family history. It's my own original research and writing and if you live in the area you may have read some of the stories before in the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society newsletter or the Koo Wee Rup township newsletter, The Blackfish, or the Garfield township newsletter, The Spectator.
Heather Arnold.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.comBlogger337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-17358328129308447622024-03-14T21:17:00.000-07:002024-03-14T21:25:54.484-07:00Unveiling of the Cora Lynn State School Honor Roll<div>On July 12, 1918 the <i>Pakenham Gazette</i> published the following report on the unveiling of an Honor Roll at the Cora Lynn State School. The article includes a great list of local children who participated in the sports programme. The big question remains - where is this Honor Board now? I had never heard of it before I found this article.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are six names listed in this article as being on the Honor Board - Emmite (actually Emmott), Jeffers, Johnson, Murdock (actually Murdoch), Scanlon and Smith. I have written about these men in my article about the War Memorial at Cora Lynn which was unveiled in February 1922; you can read it <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/cora-lynn-war-memorial.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI1IVXvKQBYx7hJxy_-82-aPhMMEEpcToDYOOpFtkfrBB2qlBIJac67ikFV0AEimvTEgcCdoIIXYY209eH-VmJ_EJ9r05VFm3sWrzbEZd4dkGI2ztcFfqffbQOGF6HYRz-Z-zmlh9IGKGIjs-8Jfi60n6I2tdCDCNVoaMc5Gt3JUs34ikB84xkOU5mSo/s1732/arbour-day-cora-lynn-198561-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1732" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI1IVXvKQBYx7hJxy_-82-aPhMMEEpcToDYOOpFtkfrBB2qlBIJac67ikFV0AEimvTEgcCdoIIXYY209eH-VmJ_EJ9r05VFm3sWrzbEZd4dkGI2ztcFfqffbQOGF6HYRz-Z-zmlh9IGKGIjs-8Jfi60n6I2tdCDCNVoaMc5Gt3JUs34ikB84xkOU5mSo/w640-h410/arbour-day-cora-lynn-198561-large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Arbour Day, Cora Lynn, c. 1910</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Museums Victoria <a href="https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/767736">https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/767736</a></span></div><div><br /></div>C<i>ORA LYNN. UNVEILING AN HONOR ROLL.<br />On Friday last Arbor Day was celebrated at the local school. There was a large attendance of parents and friends, who joined heartily in the picnic, races and games. </i><div><i><br />The successful competitors in the races were: - Boys over 13: Roy Wilkinson 1, F. Cozens 2; girls over 13: L. Murdock 1, D. Gardner 2; boys between 11 and 13: S. Murdock 1, J. Quigley 2; girls between 11 and 13: W. Tierney 1, Z. Roberts 2; boys between 9 and 11: T. McGrath 1, J. Leslie 2; girls between 9 and 11: Doris Gardiner 1, B. Johnson 2; boys between 7 and 9: H. Leslie 1, John Quigley 2; girls between 7 and 9: M. Roberts 1, R. Rice 2; boys between 5 and 7: W. Adcock 1, W. Sommers 2; girl; between 5 and 7: Nellie Jeffers 1, M. Quigley and R. Scott 2; young men: D. Wakenshaw 1, H. Murdock 2, -. Lovell 3; young ladies: Miss E. Gardner 1, Miss M. Gardner 2, Miss M. Higgins 3; high jump (boys): A. Murdock 1, F. Cozens 2; high jump (young men) : D. Wakenshaw 1, H. Murdock 2.</i></div><div><i><br />During the afternoon the unveiling of the Roll of Honor took place. The head teacher (Mr G. B. Osborne) spoke of the pride we Australians have in the voluntary system under which these men enlisted to do their duty. Every school, he said, was proud, and justly so, of its old boys who had gone to fight for it. Two deeds on the battle field were then related, viz., "How an Australian sergeant captured twenty Germans by means of bluff and a bottle of iodine," and "How an Australian had carried despatches through a German barrage fire seven times. On the seventh trip, in spite of a severe wound, he carried the message to the Colonel, and dropped dead immediately the message was delivered." "Dozens of such deeds are heard of," said Mr Osborne, "but there are hundreds that never get beyond the persons concerned. Such deeds the men whose names are on the Roll of Honor have performed, and, with the exception of two who have paid the supreme sacrifice, are still performing."</i></div><div><i><br />Cr P. Walsh then performed the unveiling ceremony, and spoke feelingly of how these men used to be with us on previous Arbor Days, and how they nobly responded to the call for men. After the unveiling ceremony, every one joined whole-heartedly in singing "God bless our splendid men."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The following names appear on the Honor Roll:<br />R. Emmite (killed)<br />R. A. Jeffers<br />C. T. Johnson<br />A. C. Murdock<br />J. Scanlon<br />B. Smith (killed)</i></div><div><i><br />In the evening a dance, interspersed with a few items by the school children, was held in aid of the Patriotic Fund, for which £4 was raised. A waltzing competition was also held, the successful competitors being Mr P. Fitzgerald and Miss Guiney. Altogether both Arbor Day and Night were highly successful</i>. (<i>Pakenham Gazette</i> Friday July 12, 1918, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92153484">here</a>)</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-25255234719973933722024-02-19T16:16:00.000-08:002024-03-04T17:05:38.567-08:00Some random population figures of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp for people and livestock<p>Here are some population figures for Koo Wee Rup and the Swamp. We will start with cattle and other livestock. <br /><br />In November 1840, Samuel Rawson compiled an inventory of the stock on the Yallock Cattle run, which he had operated with Robert Jamieson since the previous year. The property was on the Yallock Creek, and was the first European settlement on the southern edge of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. The inventory showed that the property had 291 breeding cows, 80 heifers, 199 female calves, 86 fat bullocks, 222 steers, 112 male calves, 6 bulls, 12 working bullocks and 6 horses – 937 animals in total, valued at £7808. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1) </span><br /><br />In 1858, when the Yallock Station was owned by William Lyall, the 3000 acres stocked 1200 cattle, 180 horses and 500 sheep.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (2)</span> In December 1862, Lyall had 990 ewes, 254 'Homebred' sheep, 148 horses and nine pigs.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (3)</span> <br /><br />The Koo Wee Rup Swamp main drainage works commenced in 1889 and the area was considered ready for settlement in 1893, thus we begin to get some population figures for people. The <i>Ballarat Star</i> reported that in August 1894 there were 295 families on the Swamp, with a population of 1250. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span> However, the <i>Cranbourne & County Herald</i> reported in September 1894 that there were 230 families and a population of 1280. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(5) </span> Another set of figures has the 1895 population as 546 settlers of which 348 were children. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(6) </span><br /><br />In 1896 there were 1887 settlers of which 1171 were children. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(7)</span> With that many children two new schools were built – one at Koo Wee Rup North (Five Mile) and the other at Iona, which both opened in July 1894. The Koo Wee Rup North School was 40 ft x 18 ft (13 x 6 metres) and in the 1890s had 106 pupils, which seems like a lot of children for the size of the building. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(8) </span><br /><br />Moving on to 1898, there were 1669 settlers on the Swamp of which 1068 were children. In 1901: 2192 settlers of which1360 were children; 1904: 2024 settlers with 1424 children.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (9) </span><br /><br />The earliest population figure for the town of Koo Wee Rup that I can find is from 1920 when there were 500 people; Cranbourne at the same time had a population of 250.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (10)</span> Because Koo Wee Rup was the largest town in the Shire of Cranbourne, in 1923 there were discussions about moving the headquarters from Cranbourne to Koo Wee Rup. In support of this move Cr Edward Hill, quoted population figures from the Municipal Directory- <br />[in 1908]<i> I find under the head of Cranbourne that its population was 200. Koo-wee-rup is mentioned merely - was so small that there is no population given. The 1923 edition, 15 years later, says Cranbourne population is 250, so they have increased 50 in 10 years. Koo-wee-rup's population is 500, and this is the place that they have the effrontery to tell you to your face is a decadent town, and that Cranbourne is going ahead by leaps and bounds. Remember these figures are none of mine; they are taken from the census returns, which cannot lie, or else those that made them are liars</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(11)</span></p><p>Cr Hill continued - <i>Now, what other advantage has Koo-wee-rup? First, it is almost the centre of the Shire. Next, the station is in the town. Not a mile away like Cranbourne. Next it is the junction of the McDonald's track and Strezlecki line. Next there are banks built there, not yet to be built, but actually built, and further in the not distant future it will be a port to supply the mammoth steamers that will as assuredly come to Westernport, as night follows day. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(12)</span></p><p>The Shire of Cranbourne headquarters never did move to Koo Wee Rup, and nor did it ever become a port. Did Cr Hill think that the steamers would have come up the Main Drain? It seems a bit fanciful.</p><p>Around 150 Returned Soldiers were provided with farm blocks under the Soldier Settlement scheme on the Swamp after World War One. Many of these servicemen were placed on the large estates purchased and sub-divided by the Government such as Haglethorns at Rythdale, the Caldermeade Estate and Waori Park at Monomeith. The three parishes of Koo Wee Rup, Koo Wee Rup East and Yallock (essentially the area of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp) had 3,385 acres made available to soldiers; the average allotment size was 54 acres. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(13) </span>One of the consequences of this closer settlement was the increase in the number of dairy cattle in the area. It was estimated that the parishes of Koo Wee Rup, Koo Wee Rup East and Yallock had 12,000 dairy cattle in early 1920s. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyIb4-v6M6f3uQvmMth0z1nOr8kIDP_InO83Wl_EFaPDf9cp563G60_H6pLVCeTsokFg6GJ1ANxE0w6JGdpTkUQJYoXsgFECuR53MeyEau-AC9tdH2zO1TtKTUFYDnYgUuPxWPt_yUdecdJxjeOiiOePVCUzVcGah__BVVzwuYLEvUx-i7rJkZwjeVCk/s1036/Rouse%20farm%20%20in%201928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1036" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyIb4-v6M6f3uQvmMth0z1nOr8kIDP_InO83Wl_EFaPDf9cp563G60_H6pLVCeTsokFg6GJ1ANxE0w6JGdpTkUQJYoXsgFECuR53MeyEau-AC9tdH2zO1TtKTUFYDnYgUuPxWPt_yUdecdJxjeOiiOePVCUzVcGah__BVVzwuYLEvUx-i7rJkZwjeVCk/w640-h448/Rouse%20farm%20%20in%201928.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rouse family farm at Cora Lynn in 1928. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We had some of the 12,000 dairy cows in the parishes of Koo Wee Rup, Koo Wee Rup East and Yallock. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p></p><p>In 1927 there were three to four hundred Italian potato diggers on the Swamp.. In the same year Italian interests owned over 5500 acres on the Swamp. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
1930 population figures for Koo Wee Rup and Cranbourne were 500 and 300;
1940 - 650 for Koo Wee Rup and 500 for Cranbourne. It wasn’t until 1960 that the
population of the two towns equalised at 800 each. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(16)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In
November 1884 when the Koo Wee Rup Primary School opened it had 22 students; in
1904 there were 48 pupils; 1926 - 132 students; 1929 - there were 172 students enrolled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It currently has
an enrolment of around 350.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (17) </span> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
The other primary school in Koo Wee Rup, St John the Baptist, opened in August 1936 with 67 pupils on the school register. Their two teachers were Sister Mildred and Sister Padua who travelled by car from the Iona Convent. They currently have just over 200 pupils.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (18)</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" lang="EN-AU">When Koo Wee Rup High School opened in 1957 there were 164 students enrolled, with 15 teachers and 3 support staff. </span> In 1967, the school enrolment was 507 and
in 1977 it was 618. It now has 1100 students. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(19)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
population of Koo Wee Rup today is around 4200 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(20)</span>, but just image what it might
have been if Cr Hill's vision of Koo Wee Rup as a port had ever come to fruition!</p><b>
Footnotes</b><br />(1) Gunson, Niel <i>The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire</i> (F.W. Cheshire, 1968) p. 27<br />(2) Gunson, op. cit. p. 76<div>(3) Gunson, op. cit., p. 78<br />(4) <i>Ballarat Star</i>, August 7, 1894, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209217060">here</a>.<br />(5) Roberts, David From <i>Swampland to Farmland: a history of the Koo Wee Rup Flood Protection District </i>(Rural Water Commission, 1985), p. 18<div>(6) Roberts, op. cit, p. 22</div><div>(7) Ibid</div><div>(8) <i>Vision and Realisation : a centenary history of State Education in Victoria</i>, edited by L.J. Blake. (Education Department of Victoria, 1973) v. 3.; Roberts, op. cit., p. 19.</div><div>(9) Roberts, op. cit, p. 22</div><div>(10) Gunson, op. cit., p. 272</div><div>(11) <i>Frankston & Somerville Standard</i>, June 27, 1923, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75954544">here</a>.</div><div>(12) Ibid</div><div>(13) Gunson, op. cit., p. 273</div><div>(14) Gunson, op. cit., p. 195</div><div>(15) Gunson, op. cit., p. 202</div><div>(16) Gunson, op. cit., p. 272</div><div>(17) Jewell, Don <i>Schooling on the Swamp: the Centenary History of Primary School No., 2629, Koo Wee Rup 1884-1984 </i>( The School, 1984, revised 2009), passim. Current enrolment from school website <a href="https://kooweerupps.vic.edu.au/">https://kooweerupps.vic.edu.au/</a></div><div>(18) <i>Parish of St John the Baptist Catholic Church: 40 years anniversary as a Parish 1946-1986</i> (St John’s Catholic Church, 1986), passim. Current enrolment from school website <a href="https://www.stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au/">https://www.stjohnskwr.catholic.edu.au/</a></div><div>(19) Hooper, Fred <i>The tale of the Blackfish: a history of the Koo Wee Rup High School 1957-1977 </i> (Koo Wee Rup High School, 1977), p. 122. Current enrolment from school website <a href="https://www.kwrsc.vic.edu.au/">https://www.kwrsc.vic.edu.au/</a></div></div><div>(20) <a href="https://profile.id.com.au/cardinia/about?WebID=180">https://profile.id.com.au/cardinia/about?WebID=180</a> </div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-20599141424836634242024-02-07T04:35:00.000-08:002024-02-07T04:36:57.751-08:00Mount Cannibal - the origin of the name<p>The <i>Pakenham Gazette </i>of June 1, 1962 had the following article </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtCC8l_S3ipcxG__IRnfDrgKdASD1u4CEc1FqhmLuglM1L1Rubyzc8UxHti1-GCijGModiSl7ZMfoQh_xRDyjbfmTjTQNc9ehDwkapde3yU3nTHnUC5Pquw0ftQc_YTl9jX9mlMbpY-JPVbI3iZAqyzRJ7g_ZvLSYv0h_DuiJ1ggXDX4zlEB7eI63fKk/s297/Cannibal%20Jun%2011962%20page%209.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtCC8l_S3ipcxG__IRnfDrgKdASD1u4CEc1FqhmLuglM1L1Rubyzc8UxHti1-GCijGModiSl7ZMfoQh_xRDyjbfmTjTQNc9ehDwkapde3yU3nTHnUC5Pquw0ftQc_YTl9jX9mlMbpY-JPVbI3iZAqyzRJ7g_ZvLSYv0h_DuiJ1ggXDX4zlEB7eI63fKk/w372-h400/Cannibal%20Jun%2011962%20page%209.JPG" width="372" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">"Cannibal" or "Connibul" Creek</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Pakenham Gazette</i>, June 1 1962, p. 9</span></span></div><br /><i>"Cannibal" or "Connibul" Creek<br />The Historical Society has been endeavouring to ascertain whence the name "Cannibal Creek" was derived. Incidentally that was the name of Garfield until about 75 years ago.</i><div><i>Mrs P.B. Ronald has found in "Pioneer Families of Port Phillip" by Billis and Kenyon, a possible clue.</i></div><div><i>Amongst pastoral runs in existence about 1845 were "Connibul Creek" (leased by Michael Ready and James Hook), north of Kooweerup; and "Connibul Creek No. 2 (leased by O'Connor and Hayes), north of Bunyip River.</i></div><div><i>Could "Cannibal Creek"' be a corruption of the original "Connibul Creek."</i></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2TvwGxbtIr5Ml9J8V10d7TaQcON2GI0Cqt0aiLpv6A2fpFl4u7bYC146oSqs1z2xLd79tmKpjo7c11m0EP_Y-mw0d1FCi80uXDftu8Q8A6yHchtwtd1K7u9PEr2uel0yODSUi697_YwFt8I_juqVCzqVoHalNS-1hKMr6Pzs6rgNPYSRIuMxKwV74Do/s834/Pak%20Gaz%20Jun8%201962.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="211" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2TvwGxbtIr5Ml9J8V10d7TaQcON2GI0Cqt0aiLpv6A2fpFl4u7bYC146oSqs1z2xLd79tmKpjo7c11m0EP_Y-mw0d1FCi80uXDftu8Q8A6yHchtwtd1K7u9PEr2uel0yODSUi697_YwFt8I_juqVCzqVoHalNS-1hKMr6Pzs6rgNPYSRIuMxKwV74Do/w162-h640/Pak%20Gaz%20Jun8%201962.PNG" width="162" /></a></div><i> </i>In response to this, a letter from E.C. Henry appeared in the next issue of the <i>Pakenham Gazette</i>, June 8, 1962</div><div><br /><i>Origin of name "Cannibal"<br />To the Editor<br />Sir, - The square-topped mountain north of Prince's Highway and due north of Garfield, from which the creek and surrounding ranges get their names is known far and wide as Mount Cannibal.<br />One of the many droving trips between Warragul and Pakenham with my brother, Alan, in the early part of the century, I asked how the name Cannibal originated, thinking it referred to Cannibalism amongst the black tribes which were about Gippsland in the early settlement days.<br />The old generations who kept the hotels where we stopped at various stages, were always willing to impart what they knew of early-day history, and I regret that I did not record some of the things we were told as they would make interesting reading to-day.<br />Mount Cannibal got its name from the following incident, which is said to have happened: <br />A timber cutter camped near Mt. Cannibal left his dog tied near his camp, with water and food (probably a carcass of a kangaroo) for a couple of days, while away getting supplies. On his return to camp he was horrified to find only the dog's head. The dog had been eaten by dingos, which were known to be in the adjoining ranges.<br />Dog ate dog, hence the name Cannibal. <br />This may be the answer to the query.<br /><br />Yours, etc.<br />E.C. HENRY "Glen Falloch," Berwick.</i><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Pakenham Gazette</i>, June 8, 1962, p. 9</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p>Note 1: <u>Mrs P.B. Ronald</u> - Heather Barry Ronald (nee Lambert, 1928-2007), of <i>Koo-man-goo-nong</i>, Pakenham. Wife of Peter Ronald. Mrs Ronald was the author of various books including <i>Wool before the wind: a history of the Ronald family and the Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Company</i>; <i>Hounds are running; a history of the Melbourne Hunt</i>; <i>Wool past the winning post: a history of the Chirnside family</i> and <i>Farewell my heart : the life of Violet Barry Lambert O.B.E., J.P</i>.</p><p>Note 2: <u>E.C. Henry</u> - Evan Clarence Henry (1887-1980). From his obituary - <i>Mr Evan Clarence Henry, who died in the Berwick Bush Nursing Hospital last Tuesday, aged 93 years, was indeed, a part of the history of the town. He played an important role in establishing the character of the township and during his lifetime influenced the direction taken by many of the organisations around the Berwick district.</i></p><p><i>A living memorial to Mr Henry are many of the beautiful trees lining the streets of Berwick. He, together with Dr. Percy Langmore, worked at establishing the trees over a period of fifty years.</i></p><p><i>He was a life member of the Berwick Agricultural Society, of which he was President on several occasions, a member of the Board of Management of St. Andrew's Church for over 40 years. Chairman of the Berwick Cemetery Trust for 22 years, a foundation member of the Berwick Historical Society, author of histories of the pioneers of the Pakenham and Berwick district, a Justice of the Peace since 1946 and served on the Bench for 14 years. Chairman of the Berwick branch of the Liberal Party for a number of years. President of the Men's Auxiliary of the Berwick Hospital for three years, and a foundation member of the Berwick Masonic Lodge formed in 1924</i>. (<i>Pakenham Gazette</i>, January 23, 1980, republished here <a href="https://upperbeaconsfieldhistory.au/g0/p413.htm#i12383"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://upperbeaconsfieldhistory.au/g0/p413.htm#i12383</span></a>)</p></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-14458087287441665462024-01-25T16:24:00.000-08:002024-01-28T20:49:34.153-08:00Naturalization Ceremony at Koo Wee Rup December 1960<p>The <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> of Wednesday, December 14, 1960 reported on a Shire of Cranbourne Naturalization Ceremony held on December 8 at the Memorial Hall in Koo Wee Rup. </p><p>It is of interest for a number of reasons - firstly it lists the full name and address of each person - obviously no privacy concerns in 1960; secondly it gives us an idea of the main nationalities of the local migrants - Dutch and Italian - and lastly I love the bit about Mrs Glasscock inviting the ladies to join their local Country Women's Association branch. I am sure they would have been made welcome, but I wonder how many took up the offer. The article is transcribed, below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXcNkSAQsX6I9J5cBS-jO17hGlsWpyiV6X1WlieUw00QIO7Uauwd-CIF0xPBlUuiFs8dbkNXVBecPxSf3ICAH0NhVNexgRnAiL-i-AG7Xc4pSMBIQSpyc2tjaJF_LSg71MZ6s6yXpmBPf51iVaaY5ebSpAr8-lNdspS6fEHniuinnNyGR-0-kzVcutks/s1548/KWR%20Naturisation%20KWR%20Sun%201960%20Dec%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1538" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXcNkSAQsX6I9J5cBS-jO17hGlsWpyiV6X1WlieUw00QIO7Uauwd-CIF0xPBlUuiFs8dbkNXVBecPxSf3ICAH0NhVNexgRnAiL-i-AG7Xc4pSMBIQSpyc2tjaJF_LSg71MZ6s6yXpmBPf51iVaaY5ebSpAr8-lNdspS6fEHniuinnNyGR-0-kzVcutks/w636-h640/KWR%20Naturisation%20KWR%20Sun%201960%20Dec%2014.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Report of the Ceremony</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> December 14, 1960, page 2</span></div><br /><br /><u>37 naturalized at Kooweerup ceremony last Thursday</u><br />Australia's march to nationhood was speeded on its way on Thursday evening when 37 people accepted full Australian citizenship at a Naturalization ceremony at the Kooweerup Memorial Hall. Shire President, Mr Russell Smith, administered the oath before a large crowd. Present also were Shire Councillors L.J Cochrane, M.L.A; P.B Fechner; McL Greaves and H. Evans; Shire Secretary Mr Tom Grant and the Rev Father J. Opie.<br /><br />Cr Smith congratulated the candidates on the wonderful steps they had taken in becoming Australian citizens and wished them every success in the land of their choice.<br /><br />Mrs M. Glasscock on behalf of the Kooweerup C.W.A., presented each lady candidate with a spray of flowers and invited then to join their respective C.W.A branches.<br /><br />Rev Father Opie warmly welcomed the candidates into full Australian citizenship. He said that the parents had made great sacrifices for their young families who were already full Australians in every sense of the word.<br /><br />After the ceremony the people present enjoyed a supper provided by the Pre-School Association.<br /><br />Those naturalized were: Mrs Elizabeth Catharina Boekel, Boundary Road, Kooweerup; Petrus Boekel, Boundary Road, Kooweerup; Vito Castello, Salmon Street, Kooweerup; Antonio de Pasquale, Station Street, Kooweerup; Alfridus Johanus Hoogenboom, Olive Road, Devon Meadows; Eugen Kohler, 79 William Street, Cranbourne; Mrs Hedwig Katharina Kohler, 79 William Street, Cranbourne; Mrs Ursula M. Meiberg, 84 Walter Street, Cranbourne; Gaetano Pepe, Station Street, Kooweerup; Mrs Marianna Pepe, Station Street, Kooweerup; Luigi Raffa, 28 Gardiner Street, Kooweerup; Adrianus van den Bogaart, McDonald Drain Road, Kooweerup; Mrs Petronella Gerarda van den Broek, 'Spring Meadows', Clyde North; Mrs Johanna van der Valk, South Gippsland Highway, Tooradin; Johannes van der Valk, South Gippsland Highway, Tooardin; Loduvicus van der Valk, South Gippsland Highway Tooardin; Catharine van der Valk, South Gippsland Highway, Tooradin, Mrs Catharina Susanna van Os, Victoria Road, Pearcdeale; Wilhelm van Os, Victoria Road, Pearcedale; Douwe Winsemius, Pakenham Road, Kooweerup; Miss Janke Winsemius, Pakenham Road, Kooweerup; Mrs Trijntje Winsemius, Pakenham Road, Kooweerup; Mrs Francisca van den Bogaart, Kooweerup.<br /><br /><br />This post, which I created, first appeared on my work blog, <a href="https://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com/">Casey Cardinia Links to our Past</a> Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-2272814663422399892024-01-22T02:42:00.000-08:002024-01-22T02:42:44.664-08:00Sand Train Derailment at Koo Wee Rup, August 1979<p>On Tuesday, August 28, 1979 a sand train was derailed at Koo Wee Rup - this is the report from the <i>Cranbourne Sun</i>, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6</p><u><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Train Derailed at Koo-Wee-Rup</u></div></u>The reason why five railway bogie wagons loaded with sand came off their tracks when being diverted from the railways main line outside the Koo-wee-rup Station last Tuesday evening is not yet known.<br /><br />The derailment, which occurred at 5.45.pm on Tuesday evening, has caused considerable damage to the railways permanent way and Station Master, Mr Ray Brown, feels it will be about a week until everything is ship-shape again.<br /><br />Commuters using the Yarram line were quickly transported wither by bus or taxi. Taxis were more practicable for transporting the passengers whose destination was Dandenong, as only a handful of people were involved and the Yarram line was completely operational again within one and a half hours.<br /><br />The Koo-wee-rup Police assisted railways employees in diverting traffic across a temporary cross over at the east end of the railway platform, until the road was cleared. “Each bogie wagon, with its load weighed 75 tons, so the task of getting them back on the tracks was not an easy one,” said Station Master Brown. <div><br /></div><div> An emergency derailment crew from Melbourne, assisted by two mobile cranes, finally were successful in re-positioning the wagons. An exact estimate of the damage is not yet available, but it was extensive. Members of the Railways Traffic and Ways and Works Branches are still trying to determine the cause of the derailment.</div><div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF250RW-UBsC-VMo-Mrn5E9LLwp1OZqLtLAtvSCtnx9lXKSCQkVvKWmGxPjt-PWSw5-oXrPY_MogADbVoSvgMdq6wE7R-Zo8wkj1mrb6z34FYqNPINBxEavT-Bo2cntKGy-ZV8DsuGI5E9rX_8f2183fdYWclSC3ouDkmQmKZwQGwsgY1zz1L9JxrXuk/s922/Cranbourne%20Sun%20Sep%204%201979%20p%206.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="922" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnF250RW-UBsC-VMo-Mrn5E9LLwp1OZqLtLAtvSCtnx9lXKSCQkVvKWmGxPjt-PWSw5-oXrPY_MogADbVoSvgMdq6wE7R-Zo8wkj1mrb6z34FYqNPINBxEavT-Bo2cntKGy-ZV8DsuGI5E9rX_8f2183fdYWclSC3ouDkmQmKZwQGwsgY1zz1L9JxrXuk/w640-h492/Cranbourne%20Sun%20Sep%204%201979%20p%206.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Train derailed at Koo Wee Rup</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Cranbourne Sun</i>, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0naZNLD-g-dq5Z7IWSrE5sysHzMdrl677vFCxpKvQd4bgzh7z_5tzic_9CdbTQbGuGaWqb2kVoctCEr3z2TCQj8HIczPvfAF3q7TxJ7zrpYZGO-pxbhwObYYuxV2Ep8ML7kQ4qNFRhm1uRJdtZG_JzntNhr_4CcXnHCXmb3yCj22n7IqkrSWsxXOb38/s550/Cranbourne%20Sun%20Sep%204%201979%20p%206%20detail%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="550" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0naZNLD-g-dq5Z7IWSrE5sysHzMdrl677vFCxpKvQd4bgzh7z_5tzic_9CdbTQbGuGaWqb2kVoctCEr3z2TCQj8HIczPvfAF3q7TxJ7zrpYZGO-pxbhwObYYuxV2Ep8ML7kQ4qNFRhm1uRJdtZG_JzntNhr_4CcXnHCXmb3yCj22n7IqkrSWsxXOb38/w640-h522/Cranbourne%20Sun%20Sep%204%201979%20p%206%20detail%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Train derailed at Koo Wee Rup - Because of the bogie wagons weight, they sank quickly into the ground when derailed and workmen had a tough job getting them back on the tracks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Cranbourne Sun</i>, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5v6aTt1VWj82zBNx5n-cIbRa0s4v-cDpAfoDmcAh2Nn6tXxQbF_kd4AtJB_sduUA8gZEI7BdxYQ2DTVmpdFQvxfq2FrZ9wcgh2sLJN80rTVLCFXGrQB-98fK-P9kN1D-grYdYf50ulAO1eKPzNOPk49jQWVtNywM1bMHWxqErsA8yScnBIL7zPWQT4xE/s758/Cranbourne%20Sun%20Sep%204%201979%20p%206%20detail%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="758" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5v6aTt1VWj82zBNx5n-cIbRa0s4v-cDpAfoDmcAh2Nn6tXxQbF_kd4AtJB_sduUA8gZEI7BdxYQ2DTVmpdFQvxfq2FrZ9wcgh2sLJN80rTVLCFXGrQB-98fK-P9kN1D-grYdYf50ulAO1eKPzNOPk49jQWVtNywM1bMHWxqErsA8yScnBIL7zPWQT4xE/w640-h440/Cranbourne%20Sun%20Sep%204%201979%20p%206%20detail%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Train derailed at Koo Wee Rup - Two mobile cranes assisted the emergency crew in re-positioning the bogie wagons.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Cranbourne Sun</i>, Tuesday September 4, 1979, p. 6</span></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-10101103984860446712024-01-01T20:03:00.000-08:002024-01-19T01:49:11.178-08:00What happened in Garfield in 1924This is a look at what happened in Garfield and surrounds, 100 years ago, in 1924, as reported in the newspapers. <br /><br />The first issue of <i>The Age</i> for the year reported on this snake bite incident - <br /><i>A Dangerous Plaything. Child bitten by Snake - Edith Jackson, aged 6 years, was bitten by a snake on the calf of the leg whilst playing with other children on a farm at Iona, on Saturday. It appears that the children were amusing themselves with the reptile, when it attacked the little girls and struck her on the leg. Several young men who were playing cricket nearby applied first-aid measures, and motored the child to Bunyip for medical treatment. She is now out of danger. </i>(<i>The Age</i>, January 1, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204081922">here</a>) <br /><br />In February the Garfield Railway Station burnt down - <br /><i>The Garfield railway station, on the main Gippsland line was totally destroyed by a fire which broke out about two o'clock this morning. The station master, Mr Bartlett, locked up at 10.30 last night, when everything appeared to be safe, and the origin of the outbreak is a mystery. The crew of a goods train gave the alarm, but the fire had gained such a hold that nothing could be saved</i>. (<i>The Herald</i>, February 21, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243753785 ">here</a>) <br />Another report in<i> The Argu</i>s gave us more information about the fire - <br /><i>The Garfield railway station was completely destroyed by a fire which occurred about 2 o'clock on Thursday morning. The fire was first noticed by the crew of a goods train who awakened the station master. Owing to no water supply being available, the onlookers were unable to prevent the flames from spreading. A few milk cans were rescued from the goods shed. A number of parcels, including two bicycles and a perambulator, and a quantity of passengers' luggage, were destroyed, in addition to departmental records. The origin of the fire is unknown</i>. (<i>The Argus</i>, February 25, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1935045 ">here</a>)<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCKnLjyspjZznd_Uj5SuOmrLWDL9QKUbcSJrY4sz8t_ofWnwSHN595_W59_HnfnZkZHE2A9yhwEh8mXThKLhRXd_KeI9R-4lqUwjZyUfAO_CSxuRl4SsNBKGQiigZ8YO_Nv4DObJYRdpX31EbzmROk4N2MMLsn2hdf9Ti7vnFUHgICsGuKz-Y232tmIY/s2820/HA%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="2820" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCKnLjyspjZznd_Uj5SuOmrLWDL9QKUbcSJrY4sz8t_ofWnwSHN595_W59_HnfnZkZHE2A9yhwEh8mXThKLhRXd_KeI9R-4lqUwjZyUfAO_CSxuRl4SsNBKGQiigZ8YO_Nv4DObJYRdpX31EbzmROk4N2MMLsn2hdf9Ti7vnFUHgICsGuKz-Y232tmIY/w640-h378/HA%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Garfield Railway Station. I am not sure if this is the original station or the replacement.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Berwick Pakenham Historical Society photograph.</span></div> <br />In March a robbery occurred at the Bunyip races – the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> reported – <br /><i>Race meeting sensation. Man covered with revolver - A sensation was caused at the Bunyip races on Monday, when it became known that the ticket office had been robbed, and that one of the suspected thieves had been captured at the point of the revolver. While one race was being run, the clerk in charge of the ticket office, which is near the entrance gates, had his attention diverted by several strangers, who engaged him in conversation. A moment later he discovered that his cash, believed to amount to £116, was missing. <br /><br />A young man was moving away from the office, and the clerk, producing a revolver, ordered him to halt. Immediate investigations were began by the police, and later arrests were made. Those arrested were William Barnett, 22 years; Maurice Brennan, 22 years; and Arthur Cohen, 24 years. They were charged with having stolen from the ticket office a sum supposed to total £116. An unsuccessful attempt was made to obtain bondsmen for the accused, who were locked up. The arrests were made by Plains-clothes Constable Lanigan, Constable Robinson (Bunyip), and Constable Barrett (Warragul)</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, March 13, 1924, page 5).<div>The men faced trial at the end of April in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court. Maurice Brennan was found not-guilty; and Arthur Cohen and William Barnett were convicted and, as they had prior convictions, they were both sentenced to 18 months in gaol. <br /><br />March was a rainy month - <br /><i>Bunyip - Since the rain commenced on Wednesday evening, 533 points have been registered. The water in the main drain, the outlet for the Bunyip River, through the swamp country, has risen 11 feet since Thursday night. Grave fears are entertained that the country around Cora Lynn will again be flooded</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, March 29, 1924, see <a href=" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204082270">here</a>) There are 100 points of rain in an inch and an inch of rain is 25mm. <br /><br />In April there was a report of the goods traffic at the Garfield Railway Station - <br /><i>During the last season 9000 tons of potatoes and 2000 tons of general merchandise and produce were consigned for the local station</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, April 8, 1924, see <a href=" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203662593">here</a>) <br /><br />Also in April there was a serious fire at Iona - <br /><i>A serious fire occurred at Iona on Monday morning, when the general store and drapery business of Messrs. Burton and Yates, together with the Iona bakery and the local branch of the E. S. and A. Bank, were destroyed. The total damage amounts to close on £2000, and is only partly covered by insurance. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is surmised that it started in the bakery, where the bread for Monday morning's rounds had been baked</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, April 9, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203645002">here</a>) <br /><br />What could have been a very serious accident occurred in May - <br /><i>Whilst driving along Vervale-road, Mr. W. Simpson, a local farmer, was thrown from his jinker. The horse bolted, but the driver retained the rein, and was dragged a considerable distance. He finally brought the animal to a standstill, but the horse backed, and the jinker wheel passed over the man's neck. Fortunately he escaped with a few abrasions and bruises</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, May 2, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203648045">here</a>) <br /><br />In June, a tin mining venture was refused -<br /><i>Opposition to Tin leases - Garfield - Some time ago a syndicate was formed to work tin bearing country in the ranges to the north, but on application to the Government it met with unexpected opposition from the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. This body opposed the granting of any tin-mining leases on the ground that the syndicate's operations would probably be carried on within the watersheds of the Bunyip and Tarago rivers, and cause a pollution of the waters destined to supply the Westernport naval base scheme. The applicants declare that such would not be the case, and consider that if a well capitalised company were allowed to go into the industry something might be done towards opening up a tract of country which at present is a "no man's land."</i> (<i>The Age</i>, June 6, 1924. see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203645768">here</a>) <br /><br />Local roads have always been an issue –<br /><i> The Country Roads Board has refused to consider a proposal that it should take over the 13-Mile as a developmental road to link up the main Gippsland railway, at Garfield, with the Great Southern line, at Lang Lang, through the centre of the Kooweerup Swamp. The shire council has let a section of this road for metalling between Garfield and Iona</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, July 12, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203680343">here</a>) <br /><br />A fatal accident occurred in July - </div><div><i>Garfield - On Wednesday Mr. W. Bellman met with a serious accident whilst ploughing with a two-horse team on his farm, on the Modella-road. While turning one of the horses slipped and fell into a table drain, and in his efforts to extricate the animal Mr. Bellman was knocked on the forehead. He was taken to a private hospital at Bunyip, and immediately operated on. Little hope of his recovery is entertained</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, July 18, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203681951">here</a>) A later report said that Mr. William Bellman did sadly pass away a few days later. He was 64 years of age. <br /><br />Garfield Weighbridge Directors – the weighbridge was erected in 1916. <br /><i>Garfield Weighbridge Co. Ltd. Registered office, Garfield. Capital, £250 in £1 shares. Directors: John Wylie Wright Barker, Albert Stirling Barker, John Dowd, William Frederick Schmutter, Thomas Cole Green, John James O'Leary, and Charles Nicholas Barnes</i>. (<i>The Herald</i>, August 4, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243884271">here</a>). I presume that the two men named Barker and Thomas Green were connected to Barker, Green and Parke P/L - produce merchants. <br /><br />Also in August was this report of a criminal case with a Garfield connection - <br /><i>Country Visitor's Pistol. An expensive mistake - Harry Close, 23 years, laborer, who came to Melbourne last week from Garfield, Gippsland, was charged at the City Court yesterday with being in possession of an unregistered pistol, and also with carrying it without a permit. Plain-clothes Constable O'Connell gave evidence that in investigating a case of supposed larceny at Garfield, he arrested Close at 11 p.m. on Saturday on the arrival of the Gippsland train. Nothing was found to connect accused with the larceny, and he was allowed to go, and his swag was detained at Russell-street. When the latter was searched an old pattern revolver was found, which was loaded in one barrel and capped. When Close came to the police station next morning he said the pistol had been given him by a man named Miller at Garfield. He had tried to get it registered, but there were no police at Garfield. Close told the bench that the pistol was practically useless. When it was fired the barrel fell off. He regarded it as a keepsake. On the charge of having an unregistered pistol Close was fined £2</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, August 5, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203685960">here</a>)</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRA8tlzeGhTNuvsHrWGm3IY3lrXmdZjEnuvp-jWLdt9ceSQOEQXBuGu-cyrSMfLluD-vFI6XsYBlUHZJcD4Ona5wr8SADn3eeschptjLU5Sg0fAfZ6Eqrp9eClzWikQmmn1fQ6lzGHtB0E0nO8cG8bsqXKyamKJNSKHa-9oimshIjxGhW4Ot63FOxa4cw/s1600/FL16053195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRA8tlzeGhTNuvsHrWGm3IY3lrXmdZjEnuvp-jWLdt9ceSQOEQXBuGu-cyrSMfLluD-vFI6XsYBlUHZJcD4Ona5wr8SADn3eeschptjLU5Sg0fAfZ6Eqrp9eClzWikQmmn1fQ6lzGHtB0E0nO8cG8bsqXKyamKJNSKHa-9oimshIjxGhW4Ot63FOxa4cw/w326-h400/FL16053195.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Daniel Laurence McNamara (1876-1947)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria Image H93.359/44</span></div><div><br />In August local man, Daniel Laurence McNamara (1876-1947), joined the Ministry in the Victorian Labour Government ; he was a Berwick Shire councillor 1901-1910, and in the Victorian Parliament from 1916 until 1947 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source: <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/daniel-mcnamara/">https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/daniel-mcnamara/</a>)</span><br /><i>General satisfaction is expressed at the inclusion of Mr. D. L. McNamara in the Labour Ministry. Mr. McNamara is practically a native of Iona, where his people still reside. He was one of the original pioneers, and when almost a boy was elected to the Berwick Shire Council, where he displayed sound progressive and democratic views. He was also Shire President.</i> (<i>The Advocate</i>, August 7, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171401848 ">here</a>) <br /><br />The excellent state of the Garfield Recreation Reserve was reported on in August - <br /><i>Some three years ago the Garfield Reserve and Racecourse was an eyesore to the district, but active trustees were elected and nearly £800 raised and spent on improvements, and today the football ground and racecourse is equal to anything in Gippsland. Seven trustees elected again during the week are Messrs. Parker, Crouch, Dowd, Gardner, Olson, Reidy and Waugh</i>. (<i>The Advocate</i>, August 7, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171401848 ">here</a>) <br /><br />A shooting incident at Tynong in August - <br /><i>Man shot instead of Bullock. George Cousins was accidentally shot in the thigh at Tynong (Gippsland) this morning. A relative of Cousins fired at a bullock, and Cousins, unaware of the preparations for killing the animal, walked in front of the rifle, as it was discharged. The injured man was taken to the Bunyip Hospital and, after having received treatment, returned to his home at Tynong.</i> (<i>The Herald</i>, August 7, 1924, see <a href=" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243876365">here</a>) <br /><br />August was also a month of heavy rain and wide-spread flooding on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp - <br /><i>Garfield - Further heavy rains have caused a flood on the swamp, in the vicinity of the main drain. On the 14 mile road, the paddocks of Messrs Filer, Golding, and Voll are under water. The water is a foot deep in Mrs. McLean's house, and Mr. J. Kavanagh's home is surrounded by water. In spite of the efforts of workers the waters crossed the road and the paddocks of Messrs. O'Leary, Leask, and B. Kavanagh are covered. Mr. O'Leary had 10 acres just planted with potatoes. At Vervale, the water rose over the banks of the main drain, and the properties of Messrs. Henwood, McGrath, and Baker are inundated. The Iona school-ground is under water. The flood swept across the farms of Messrs Lennox, Tyrell, and McManis. On the 13-mile road, the pipes were washed away from a new culvert, and the banks of the new subsidiary drain etc were carried away. In the township the shops of Messrs Khan, Hourigan, and Isherwood were flooded. The footpaths had to be cut in several places to turn the water from the road to the township flats. The drain through Mr. Jones's farm could not carry the flood, and portion of Garfield Reserve is submerged. Three inches of rain fell in 24 hours</i>. (<i>The Argus</i>, August 28, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4155665 ">here</a>) <br /><br />Dingoes in the hills - <br /><i>Garfield - Dingoes are more numerous in the hills to the north than they have been for years. Deer have multiplied in these timbered districts, which probably accounts for the presence of the dogs</i>. (The Age, September 4, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203671303">here</a>) <br /><br />Women form an Association - <br /><i>A Women's Progress Association has been formed at Garfield to assist in matters of benefit to the district. Mrs Limmer has been elected president, Mrs Martin secretary, and Mrs. Gardner treasurer.</i> (<i>The Argus</i>, September 15, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2032909">here</a>) <br /><br />The on-going issue of the price paid to primary producers versus the retail price - <br /><i>Dairymen in the Garfield district complain of the disparity between the price paid to them by wholesale metropolitan dairymen and the price charged the consumer. They state that while they are paid only 7½d. a gallon, the householder is charged 7d. a quart. The establishment of milk-cooling factories throughout dairying areas should revolutionise the milk supply. Longwarry Co-operative Factory proposes to pay suppliers 9d. a gallon, and, after treatment, to pass the milk on to the consumer at 1/3 a gallon</i>. (<i>Weekly Times</i>, October 4, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223557614">here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMpN63Z_D4U35-WD0p7ldcS_kcLoZ08knDShMdjtwa-zZRv7-6vMaaThAD24cLl5nwm32SdYalHFuQN-WZryspXVTCmG_P3BFoh9q0VgB-iW4D5rzjvOufjLi3EvmEZl52XPkI9SiDhHr6d546j6mSsyO7ewiOod5I0qKkvdf8pHj_ZxUwiwBa5LSoh0/s1573/negative-copy-157813-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1573" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMpN63Z_D4U35-WD0p7ldcS_kcLoZ08knDShMdjtwa-zZRv7-6vMaaThAD24cLl5nwm32SdYalHFuQN-WZryspXVTCmG_P3BFoh9q0VgB-iW4D5rzjvOufjLi3EvmEZl52XPkI9SiDhHr6d546j6mSsyO7ewiOod5I0qKkvdf8pHj_ZxUwiwBa5LSoh0/w640-h364/negative-copy-157813-large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Garfield Picture Theatre, 1932</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Museums Victoria Collections <a href="https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770388">https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770388</a></span></div><div><br /></div>On December 22, 1924 the Garfield Picture Theatre opened. It is still going strong and I wonder what gala centenary celebrations are planned for 2024. <br /><i>The Garfield Picture Theatre was opened on Monday night. lt is one of the finest theatres outside the suburban area, and cost Mr. M. O'Donohue more than £5,000 to erect. In addition an electric-lighting plant, costing £1,000, has been installed. Mr. Meagher, of Collins street, was the architect, and the builders were Messrs. Rose and Wales, of Melbourne. The opening ceremony was performed by Councillor Dowd, and short addresses were delivered by Messrs. H. Coombs, H. Gardner, R. James, and H. Hourigan. Councillor P. Walsh occupied the chair. Mr. O'Donohue afterwards entertained about 700 guests, who enjoyed dancing and supper. The theatre will seat about 800 people</i>. (<i>The Argus</i>, December 30, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2091468">here</a>) I have written about the Garfield Picture Theatre, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/03/garfield-picture-theatre.html">here</a>.</div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-15626462508017366372024-01-01T19:59:00.000-08:002024-01-19T19:50:40.305-08:00What happened in Koo Wee Rup in 1924This is a look at what happened in Koo Wee Rup and surrounds, 100 years ago, in 1924, as reported in the newspapers. <br /><br />Excitement at the Koo Wee Rup Railway Station! <br /><i>An uncommon sight – Excitement was caused at the Kooweerup railway station on Tuesday evening on the arrival of the 6.20 Melbourne train, when a woman was found lying face downward on the floor of a second-class carriage. The attention of the stationmaster was drawn to the matter, and on inquiries being made it was found that her destination was Kooweerup. Evidently, she had been imbibing too freely, as the remains of a bottle of wine was found on the seat. Considerable difficulty was experienced in having her removed to the ladies waiting room, and later she was taken away in a motor car</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, February 28, 1924, page 3) <br /><br />Mr Johnson meets with an accident - <br /><i>On Tuesday, February 12th, Mr. H.G. Johnson, of Cora Lynn, met with a painful accident. He was engaged feeding a bull, and on putting his arm through a fence to attend to the feed box the animal dashed at him and made a nasty wound in his left arm, and also considerably bruised his shoulder. Mrs. Johnson rendered first aid, after which the sufferer was brought into the Kooweerup Hospital, where an operation was performed by Dr Andrews. The patient is making a good recovery and hopes to leave the institution on Saturday next. Mr. Johnson speaks eulogistically of the medical and nursing treatment received, and says people do not fully realize what an asset the institution is to the district. It is, he says, one that should have the support of every resident</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, February 28, 1924, page 4) <br /><br />The deplorable state of Manks Road <br /><i>Mank's Road (?) – Whoever is responsible for the care and upkeep of Mank’s road have nothing to exult over. It is in a wretched and deplorable condition, and the authorities are deserving of the most severest censure for allowing it to drift into such a state. It is impassable, and farmers are anxious as to how they will manage during the winter months. It is heart breaking for the producer, after undergoing great expense in purchasing land, paying exorbitant rates, and putting in arduous labor, to find himself in the “slough of despond” through being unable to get his products to market. Its present condition is a disgrace, but language will be inadequate to express its position when winter comes unless something is done at once. We trust that the Tooradin representatives of the Cranbourne Shire Council will be seized with the urgency of having this road attended to at once</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, April 10, 1924, page 4)<div><br /></div>In April there was a report of a case of bigamy, with a local connection -<br /><i>Mrs. S. McKay of Kooweerup was charged before Mr. W. Cole, J.P., at the Lang Lang Court on Monday with alleged bigamy. She was remanded to appear at the City Court on Tuesday next. Bail was granted to the amount of £100 - self £50 and another surety of £50</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, April 24, 1924, page 4)<div><i>The Argus</i> reported on the next hearing held on May 23 –<br /><i>Married Four Times - Bigamy Charge Withdrawn - Elizabeth Ellen Butler, alias Forbes, alias O'Brien, was charged before the City Court yesterday with having on November 25, 1918, being married to Henry Butler, gone through the form of marriage with Edward William O'Brien, her former husband, Henry Butler, being then alive. The Bench comprised Mr. R. Knight, P.M., and Messrs T. O'Callaghan, C. R. Smithwick, and W. H. Curtis, J.P. 's. Sergeant Stephens said that at the time the accused married Butler, in August, 1908, she was a widow. The prosecution had been unable to find any person who had seen Butler since his separation from the accused, and consequently he asked that the charge be withdrawn. The police could not say whether Butler was dead or alive. The accused believed that Butler was dead when she married a man named O'Brien. When she found that Butler was not dead she left O'Brien and married again. She was now Mrs. McKay. The charge was withdrawn</i>. (<i>The Argus</i>, May 21, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4353514">here</a>)</div><div><br />In July, the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> published a follow-up report, which gave Mrs McKay's point of view –<br /><i>Ambiguous – Mrs. S. McKay, of Five Mile, who was only recently acquitted on a charge of bigamy at the Melbourne court, desires to state that the report which appeared in the press was ambiguous and left an impression detrimental to herself. She states she was a widow when she married Butler, and alleges that owing to rough treatment received she had to turn him out of the home, which belonged to her. She afterward heard that Butler died in a New South Wales sanitorium</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun,</i> July 17, 1924, page 5)<br /><div> <br />In May, local baby Eileen May Moylan, of Bayles was selected as one of the 18 Victorian babies in the Empire Baby Quest. <i>The Herald</i> explained – <br /><i>The first stage of the Empire Baby Quest, which "The Herald" is conducting on behalf of the British Empire Exhibition authorities, has been completed by the selection of 18 competitors from each State. The names of the Victorian 18 selected from 1372 entrants, are given below. These will be among the 108, from all over Australia, to go before the Federal judging committee, which will select 18 to represent Australia against the rest of the Empire</i>…. [The article lists the names of the 18 children]….<i>Professor H. J. A. Berry of Melbourne University, was chairman of the judging committee, and was assisted in the medical work of judging by three specialists. All the doctors remarked on the high physical standard of the competitors. The 20 or so in each class , who reached the final judging were classed as 100 per cent fit, and the Victorian 18 are all practically perfect and far above British or American standards. The artists on the judging committee were Mr. James MacDonald, portraitist, and Miss M. Butler George, sculptress. The woman's point of view in judging baby perfection was expressed by Sister Peck, matron in charge of the Baby Health Training centre, and Mrs. Whyte.</i> (<i>The Herald</i>, May 10, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222809883">here</a>) <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVcJ24uvqb4vxJe7O0s0GQJhyp-3Q9k5JuYHA5hqvLTMF-MArHVDsy78KtDfmfMHBFQYHQSiUkxI55-SsrPkKNDJUKrmmKaRbW3wSMnsjP4nbyAja-Em6jS6Bz-_Vg4lk5seVBINVBjGN_GTs-_u5rUJ9e3BPPllfwmZ26puYvdDgVwdmzHEuCxlZC90/s654/Baby.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVcJ24uvqb4vxJe7O0s0GQJhyp-3Q9k5JuYHA5hqvLTMF-MArHVDsy78KtDfmfMHBFQYHQSiUkxI55-SsrPkKNDJUKrmmKaRbW3wSMnsjP4nbyAja-Em6jS6Bz-_Vg4lk5seVBINVBjGN_GTs-_u5rUJ9e3BPPllfwmZ26puYvdDgVwdmzHEuCxlZC90/w221-h400/Baby.JPG" width="221" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baby Eileen Moylan, of Bayles, an entrant in the Empire Baby Quest</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Herald</i>, April 11, 1924 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244225204" style="text-align: left;">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244225204</a></span></div><br /></div><br />In June, the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> reported on the dangers of darning - <br /><i>On Thursday morning last Mrs. J. Macain, of Kooweerup, while attending to domestic duties, had the misfortune to run a darning needle into her right hand. She was conveyed to Dandenong, where under X-rays, the needle was discovered deeply imbedded in the flesh. She had to undergo an operation to have it extracted, and it is pleasing to record she is making satisfactory progress. Only the previous week Mrs. G. Follett, of Kooweerup, met with a similar accident, and had to go to Dandenong. She is also making rapid recovery</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, June 5, 1924, page 4) <br /><br />The on-going saga of the Koo Wee Rup-Pakenham Road <br /><i>Koo Wee Rup–Pakenham Road – A correspondent in Saturday’s “Age” directs attention to the incompleted portion of the above road. It is only a small strip of road, a few chains long, but it is almost impassable, and would only cost about £700 to finish. The action of the board in leaving the road in such a state is inconceivable, especially after spending thousands of pounds in making the thoroughfare up to this point. It is tantamount to making a strong chain with one weak link in the centre – the whole thing being thereby made useless</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, August 21, 1924, page 4)</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0kXvfSNwF1oo6Lcwsa9impWqpwrY6FYG0d-HTfsqnsZ0WTfIWnyA5JeUiKhZmm0G_ZUqP6YR7XLhkl80xKMdWNtjLFrVC4r62VvzKXPmfGRhC6bZYHXZWgidNZQpn6xCbjBw6eKo_Hfh6YIO8pzjWJn9tF32BwbR8mKHxXEEKXvsYql3tCJVh6bJhwY/s1111/Hospital%201924%20flood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1111" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0kXvfSNwF1oo6Lcwsa9impWqpwrY6FYG0d-HTfsqnsZ0WTfIWnyA5JeUiKhZmm0G_ZUqP6YR7XLhkl80xKMdWNtjLFrVC4r62VvzKXPmfGRhC6bZYHXZWgidNZQpn6xCbjBw6eKo_Hfh6YIO8pzjWJn9tF32BwbR8mKHxXEEKXvsYql3tCJVh6bJhwY/w640-h288/Hospital%201924%20flood.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Station Street, 1924 flood.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society image</span></div> </div><div>In August there was widespread flooding in the State and Koo Wee Rup was hard hit – this is the report from the <i>Sun News Pictorial.</i> <br /><i>Swamped! Koo-wee-rup – Thousands Lost - Township Isolated. - Flood waters inundated Koo-wee-rup to-day, and made an unromantic Venice of the place, with rowing boats in the main street. Shops and private houses are under water, and the main street has become a swirling stream four feet deep in parts. The whole town is practically cut off from outside communication by seas of water on all sides. <br /><br />Patients at the local hospital bush nursing centre were hurriedly removed when the water began to rush on the township from the upper reaches of the swamp. Settlers from outlying parts flocked into Koo-wee-rup to-day in drays containing whole families. They got cramped accommodation in the township. In many cases they were forced to leave even this refuge as the water crept ominously up over the doorways. Some of the houses were two feet under. Many of the bolder spirits made a last stand in the Royal Hotel, a two-storey brick structure, facing the railway station. But they had to beat a retreat from this fortification when the water swamped in and invaded the whole premises. All the guests spent a damp night in the upstairs rooms. <br /><br />These floods have given Koo-wee-rup residents a rude shock. With the thousands of pounds spent on drainage schemes they imagined they would be better protected from the flood menace which has been looked upon as a necessary evil, ever since the first settler selected here. The present downpour showed up grievous flaws in the drainage scheme, and settlers flooded out and temporarily homeless, bitterly complain to-night that the State River and Water Supply has let them down badly. <br /><br />Already settlers throughout the 80,000 acres of ordinary fertile Koo-wee-rup swamp land have lost thousands of pounds since Sunday. Many were about to plant potato crops, but will be unable to do so for weeks, and the seed will be ruined. Live stock is also in danger. <br /><br />Mr. Joseph Lee, of Koo-woo-rup, whose home is on the outskirts of the township between two over-flooded drains, had to scramble on to his roof this afternoon and signal for help to rescue his stock. Willing helpers hastened out to his assistance, and tried to persuade him to leave his home. Like other settlers in a similar plight, he refused, saying he himself was in no danger, and had better stay and look after the place. Protecting banks higher up the main drain have been badly weakened by the rush of water, which in some places has completely overflowed them. Once over the embankment the water is free to overrun the low parts of the country for miles. <br /><br />Midnight is expected to bring the critical hour. Then residents who have experienced past floods anticipated the water will reach its highest level. Mr. Pomp Colvin, a local resident, who in the fishing season runs yachts to Tooradin, enterprisingly brought a dinghy this afternoon into the town, and rescued many marooned families. Later in the day he was called upon to rescue his own family, as the flood water crept unswervingly on. At Dalmore the full significance of the watery waste is realised. Here miles upon miles of country are under water, and settlers’ homes rise up desolately out of the yellow sea. Water began to trickle through the back door of the Post-office to-night, and the postmistress, who had had a very busy day, was afraid that she might have to leave during night</i>. (<i>The Sun News Pictorial,</i> August 28, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274386992">here</a>). There are more accounts of this flood, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-1924-flood.html">here</a>.<br /><br />An unusual arrest took place in the town in November - <br /><i>Alleged Bogus Clergyman. Arrested at Koo-Wee-Rup. A man who, it is alleged, had made arrangements to preach at the Methodist Church at Kooweerup yesterday, was arrested on Friday night by Senior Detective R. P. Brennan on a charge of larceny. The man, who gave his name as James Haslam, 28 years, clerk, was remanded at Lang Lang court on Saturday on a charge of having stolen a suit of clothes, valued at £11 11/, from Frank Stuart. He will appear at the City Court on Tuesday when a further remand to St. Kilda will be asked for. In his possession the police found a suit of clothes, a wristlet watch, a safety razor and complete outfit of clerical clothes, including bishop's gaiters. It is alleged by the police that the man is identical with a Rev. Donald Harvey, who boarded during last October at St. Kilda. It is also alleged that he arranged to preach at the Kooweerup Methodist Church yesterday. Six weeks ago it is stated that he preached a sermon at the Baptist Church Hawthorn. Haslam was arrested at a farm house at Catani, eight miles from Kooweerup, where he had been working.</i> (<i>The Age</i>, November 24, 1924, see<a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155545316"> here</a>) Haslam, who had a previous conviction for larceny and false pretences was sentenced to nine months in gaol.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3XKRbd2QCsUsBh4e3Yn4WcPziFVLn4sACtbT5vkbl1ctgRE7HtLlEPtBiggMoEH5TjknG8QkOxbr7gzMYJtB0v8foQmeSsy1zI80u0HadUubtOsHin7__gaRNp86mAmWKvwdXlOjKSloIJqdscnuI_CPhVc-xR8gK534rJw4-UHszYkhat7X3krQNfI/s818/default%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="818" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3XKRbd2QCsUsBh4e3Yn4WcPziFVLn4sACtbT5vkbl1ctgRE7HtLlEPtBiggMoEH5TjknG8QkOxbr7gzMYJtB0v8foQmeSsy1zI80u0HadUubtOsHin7__gaRNp86mAmWKvwdXlOjKSloIJqdscnuI_CPhVc-xR8gK534rJw4-UHszYkhat7X3krQNfI/w400-h284/default%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">James Haslam, arrested at Koo Wee Rup</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Public Records Office of Victoria - (VPRS515) - VPRS 515/P0000, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Central Register for Male Prisoners 37230 - 37713 (1924-1925)</span></div><div><br />In December the Cardinia Hall was opened – this is an abridged version of the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> report <br />C<i>ardinia. Opening of Public Hall - On Wednesday evening, the 17th inst. , an event of more than passing importance took place in Cardinia. It was the official opening of the new Public Hall, which occupies a nice dry position next to the State School. The hall is a spacious building, with a side platform and ladies and gents’ dressing rooms. It was tastefully decorated, for which the ladies deserve great credit. The hall was to have been opened by the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. Downward) and the Government Whip (Mr. Groves), but owing to the political situation they were unable to be present. .. The President of the Cranbourne Shire (Cr. Croskell), who had previously been asked to take the chair for the occasion, had been further asked if he would officially open their Public Hall, and he kindly consented to do so. <br /><br />Cr. Croskell stated that he was very pleased to be there that night, which was an auspicious occasion for the district. It must be very gratifying to the committee to have such a fine gathering present, and he hoped on every future occasion the gatherings would be as large.... He would like to congratulate the people of Cardinia upon the success which had attended their efforts to obtain a Public Hall for Cardinia. He also congratulated them on their foresight in having their public buildings so close together, as in many townships one public building is placed on one corner and another about a mile away. With the public buildings close together it was much easier to get facilities, such as footpaths and drainage. He also congratulated the various committee and especially the chairman (Mr. M. Conroy) and the secretary (Mr. George Beazley), upon the success which had attended their efforts. The hall is a long felt necessity, and the residents must be gratified upon the consummation of their hopes, and he hoped they would all be long spared to enjoy the social intercourse which would be possible through having such a fine building in which to meet, and it gave him much pleasure in declaring the hall open. <br /><br />Mr. Conroy, in moving a vote of thanks to Cr. Croskell, stated that the hall had cost over £600 and over half had been already met. A first-class programme was given by Dandenong, Melbourne and local district artists… After the conclusion of the concert the hall was cleared and a large programme of dances was gone through. The dancing was in charge of Mr. T. Richards, who rendered his well-known efficient service as M.C</i>. (<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, December 24, 1924 page 4) You can read the full report, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-opening-of-cardinia-public-hall.html">here</a>.</div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-36208895974819818832023-12-22T18:10:00.000-08:002023-12-22T18:14:05.933-08:00Western Port - a short history of early European activityThis is a short account of the early European activity in Western Port.<br /><br />Western Port Bay was 'discovered' by George Bass <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span> on January 5, 1798. Bass had left Sydney (Port Jackson) on December 3, 1897 with the purpose of discovering whether a strait existed between Tasmania (Van Diemen's land) and the mainland. As we know the Strait did exist and it was named after him. Bass named Western Port thusly as it was the most westerly port that was known at the time - as he wrote in his journal - <br /><i>I have named the place, from its relative situation to every other known harbour on the coast, Western Port. It is a large sheet of water branching our into two arms which end in wide flats of several miles in extent, and it was not until we had been here some days that we found it to be formed by an island and to have two outlets to the sea - an eastern and western passage. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2) </span>The Island he mentioned was Phillip Island, named for Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor, who had arrived with the First Fleet in January 1788. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span><div><br /></div><div>Bass navigated around what was to be called Phillip Island, but did not realise that the land mass that became known as French Island <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span>, was indeed, also an island. They were also unaware of Port Phillip Bay - I wonder what Western Port would have been called if they were. The journey was a remarkable feat of navigation and enterprise, the party was away for eleven weeks, had eked out the original six weeks of supplies they took with them, they sailed 600 miles of uncharted coast line all in an open boat that was only 28 feet, 7 inches (8.7 metres) long.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (5)</span> </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD8-hez9aALqaGK8mAhkygiG17N-3kyZ53R63yn1eNWrod_UrTEBgduw_wBb9nNtm3TJlc6d_mY2n5lp6R4IcwerX9qN79O6CR0WLc9X3Dpqkd2rVcsOFJgi6YFjcWcFzNu_bQQ1i5QBE-NZLs8Qv01eJ-u0j1XzYxGACmh3DjdtPoTegn4hjxf8mDag/s5335/nla.obj-2619130509.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4819" data-original-width="5335" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD8-hez9aALqaGK8mAhkygiG17N-3kyZ53R63yn1eNWrod_UrTEBgduw_wBb9nNtm3TJlc6d_mY2n5lp6R4IcwerX9qN79O6CR0WLc9X3Dpqkd2rVcsOFJgi6YFjcWcFzNu_bQQ1i5QBE-NZLs8Qv01eJ-u0j1XzYxGACmh3DjdtPoTegn4hjxf8mDag/w640-h578/nla.obj-2619130509.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Western Port on the south coast of New South Wales from Mr. Bass' eye sketch, 1798.</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">National Library of Australia MAP G8991.S12 1798 </span><a href="https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2619130509/view">https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2619130509/view</a> </div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After Bass, the next official European activity was carried out in the <i>Lady Nelson</i>, under Lieutenant James Grant <span style="font-size: x-small;">(6)</span> - they arrived at Western Port on March 21, 1801. The crew charted the Bay and planted a garden on Churchill Island, the first garden planted in what was to become the state of Victoria. Grant notes in his journal - <br /><i>I sowed in it wheat, seeds of different sorts, planted onions and potatoes, with cucumber, pumpkin, and mellon seeds; also threw in several sorts of apple seeds, and some stones of plumbs and peaches, together with a few grains of rice and coffee</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(7)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpIjkXxASEVySv_5c3d7O-0Lz7zBNB4UUKRBCUyXgRumy2gsq2eEHD2lheo0QPaflqTaDHKg1a-A6c2zdtgvSxvVBZnEb8RZcVuqMtz-rndQyqeJNNw-g8u7FoRKyvEKQ_ZYmQSA4xmaQsi4C6CjQb_1AnZ8ETee0rTlTBeDlgg4OdEVvp8CYkYTBOB0/s5421/Cairn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5421" data-original-width="3727" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpIjkXxASEVySv_5c3d7O-0Lz7zBNB4UUKRBCUyXgRumy2gsq2eEHD2lheo0QPaflqTaDHKg1a-A6c2zdtgvSxvVBZnEb8RZcVuqMtz-rndQyqeJNNw-g8u7FoRKyvEKQ_ZYmQSA4xmaQsi4C6CjQb_1AnZ8ETee0rTlTBeDlgg4OdEVvp8CYkYTBOB0/w440-h640/Cairn.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cairn on Churchill Island commemorating Grant's planting of wheat in 1801, erected by the Victorian Farmer's Union in 1968.<span style="font-size: x-small;">(8)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: John T. Collins, taken November 11, 1984. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria image H98.250/1690</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <i>Lady Nelson</i> returned in December 1801 under First Lieutenant John Murray <span style="font-size: x-small;">(9)</span> and harvested the wheat crop planted by Grant the year before, and on January 5, 1802 they 'discovered' Port Phillip Bay, however did not enter the Bay, instead sailing to King Island. They returned to Western Port a few weeks later and on February 14, became the first European crewed ship to enter Port Philip Bay.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (10)</span> </div><p>In April 1802, the French Captain Hamelin in the<i> Naturaliste</i> reached Western Port and circumnavigated and mapped French Island. Hamelin was part of a French expedition, under the command of Nicolas Thomas Baudin <span style="font-size: x-small;">(11)</span>, of the <i>Geographe</i>, whose mission was to map the Australian coast and undertake scientific studies.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (12)</span></p><p>The French interest in this region prompted the British Government to establish, in 1803, a settlement in Port Phillip Bay, at what is now Sorrento, under Lieutenant Governor David Collins <span style="font-size: x-small;">(13)</span>. In Western Port, enterprising sealers had moved in - seals were hunted for their skins and their oil. Sealers also abducted Aboriginal women, to act a sex slaves and to exploit their hunting knowledge. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span>. </p><p>In 1826, the British sent the <i>Dragon</i>, under the command of Captain Samuel Wright; and the <i>Fly</i>, under the command of Captain F. Wetherall to Western Port, they landed at what is now Rhyll and claimed formal possession on December 3, 1826 and on December 12 they claimed formal possession of a site near Corinella.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (15)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA75xMFe0J-e8nWFPQqWF6XsmXFzp-82w1-7SvRFRueTBX2Oo8oSoMfTdWz5hhN3MOYi2BuBpzMK7Q0Qn1DRJfBfe5mrA76LSRVSuJXInktAxIH_mPE5zb2AL4VYJ5DUwQl3us57y_xJJEOQfeOtU0phsy3G3AmBXcoF59WL5wrBxq3PQn2hCvA67xkBs/s1600/WPB%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1600" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA75xMFe0J-e8nWFPQqWF6XsmXFzp-82w1-7SvRFRueTBX2Oo8oSoMfTdWz5hhN3MOYi2BuBpzMK7Q0Qn1DRJfBfe5mrA76LSRVSuJXInktAxIH_mPE5zb2AL4VYJ5DUwQl3us57y_xJJEOQfeOtU0phsy3G3AmBXcoF59WL5wrBxq3PQn2hCvA67xkBs/w640-h592/WPB%20map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Captain Wetherall's 1826 map of Western Port</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: <i>Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: Exploration to Settlement</i> by Valda Cole </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">At Corinella, a settlement was soon established - gardens, roads, wells, buildings including Government House, military barracks, storehouse, hospital, blacksmiths, stables etc - most of the labour was supplied by the 21 convicts. This was a short lived settlement and was abandoned in January 1828. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(16)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlob7yVQjmxCUX1eM5tMy8ivCkCzvul3kki6qHSRUZXNVmmV8nSMk7vk_4vtk05EBOZ7z0SdQCh7fLA8xq0e4zl5UYd0yaZVGVmL0brmWoahtZer1SQrTLNOzEFhGwj25YAkLr2d61nyu4YuFYp7_Ct3W-Ts4Qb-mmo54oEyYvAxh7dBCQF8CrPj1_KA/s1928/Carin%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1928" data-original-width="1354" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlob7yVQjmxCUX1eM5tMy8ivCkCzvul3kki6qHSRUZXNVmmV8nSMk7vk_4vtk05EBOZ7z0SdQCh7fLA8xq0e4zl5UYd0yaZVGVmL0brmWoahtZer1SQrTLNOzEFhGwj25YAkLr2d61nyu4YuFYp7_Ct3W-Ts4Qb-mmo54oEyYvAxh7dBCQF8CrPj1_KA/w450-h640/Carin%202.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Monument to the early settlement at Corinella <span style="font-size: x-small;">(17)</span> It was unveiled in 1972 on behalf of the South Eastern Historical Association and incorporates some of the original convict bricks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: John T. Collins, taken February 19, 1985 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria image H94.200/1183</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div><p>Later on pastoral settlements took place - in 1835 Samuel Anderson and Robert Massie <span style="font-size: x-small;">(18)</span> settled on the Bass River. Moving around to the Bay, in 1839 Robert Jamieson and Samuel Rawson settled at the Yallock Station, on the Yallock Creek. Frederick and Charles Manton took up Manton's Old Station in 1840; the Balla Balla run was taken up by Robert Innes Allen in 1839; Thomas Rutherford took up the station (Bourbinandera) based around what was to be known as Rutherford Inlet in 1842; the Lang Waring run was taken up in 1843 by William Willoby.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (19)</span> Later on, from around the 1850s, all these large runs were broken up and sold and other European settlers arrived, but that's another story.</p><p>French Island an Quail Island are other islands in Western Port and I have written about French Island <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2020/01/french-island-short-history.html">here</a> and Quail island <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/quail-island-history-and-its-koalas.html">here</a>.</p><br /><b>Acknowledgement</b>: This post is based on the research of Valda Cole and Keith Bowden, the authors of the following two books -<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: exploration to settlement</i> by Valda Cole (Shire of Hastings Historical Society, 1984). The book looks at the European activity at Western Port prior to the establishment of Melbourne. Mrs Cole, O.A.M., is also the author of <i>Western Port: Pioneers and Preachers</i> (Hawthorn Press, 1975), the story of the Anglican Church at Western Port.</li><li><i>The Western Port Settlement and it leading personalities</i> by Keith Bowden (South Eastern Historical Association, 1970). The book looks at the Western Port settlement at Corinella in 1826. It includes a full list of the 21 prisoners with personal details and has information about many of the military personnel.</li></ul><br /><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) George Bass (1771-1803), <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bass-george-1748">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bass-george-1748</a></div><div>(2) Cole, Valda <i>Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: Exploration to Settlement</i> (Shire of Hastings Historical Society, 1984), p. 3.</div><div>(3) Arthur Phillip (1738 - 1814), <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/phillip-arthur-2549">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/phillip-arthur-2549</a></div><div>(4) I have written about the European history of French Island here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2020/01/french-island-short-history.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2020/01/french-island-short-history.html</a> </div><div>(5) Cole, op. cit., chapter 1.</div><div>(6) James Grant (1772-1833), <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/grant-james-2117">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/grant-james-2117</a></div><div>(7) Cole, op. cit., p. 11.</div><div>(8) Inscription - <i>This cairn was erected by the Victorian Farmer`s Union to commemorate the first cultivation of wheat in Victoria by Mr. James Grant in 1801 on this land known as Churchill Island.</i></div><div><i>The Minister of Agriculture the Hon. G. L. Chandler C.M.G., M.L.C. unveiled this cairn on the 4th day of Nov. 1968</i></div><div>(9) John Murray (1775-1807), <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-john-2496">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-john-2496</a></div><div>(10) Cole, op. cit., chapter 4.</div><div>(11) Nicolas Thomas Baudin (1754-1803), <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry </div><div> <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/baudin-nicolas-thomas-1753">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/baudin-nicolas-thomas-1753</a></div><div>(12) Cole, op. cit., chapter 5.</div><div>(13) David Collins (1756-1810), <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/collins-david-1912">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/collins-david-1912</a></div><div>(14) Bowden, Keith <i>The Western Port Settlement and it leading personalitie</i>s (South Eastern Historical Association, 1970), p. 3.</div><div>(15) Bowden, op. cit., chapter 1.</div><div>(16) Bowden, op. cit., passim.</div><div>(17) The plaque on the cairn. Inscription - <i>This cairn which incorporates original convict made bricks, commemorates the settlement established near here from December 12th 1826 to February 19th 1828 by a party of soldiers and convicts commanded by Captain Samuel Wright. Unveiled on December 10th 1972 by Dr. K. Bowden on behalf of the South Eastern Historical Association and the Shire of Bass.</i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXIKW4Kb5oDZeHN8LEeMKRRz7a5d9GKrWOzd1iYu7Fx7Vl3_V3OXIcw5BTHS0JxmCVJKR9vYMnZn1h2vGM6FYEPIdz9484CG7ZaOEZx-OYEwBHIMqqltJFr4-WQTb_5zHpLeVD4L_ymYBDY59cPgXm6ZnNhr1zlY1Mr9Vyb1bFttIzrZtuFm7AOFwCfM/s1600/FL18353720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1600" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXIKW4Kb5oDZeHN8LEeMKRRz7a5d9GKrWOzd1iYu7Fx7Vl3_V3OXIcw5BTHS0JxmCVJKR9vYMnZn1h2vGM6FYEPIdz9484CG7ZaOEZx-OYEwBHIMqqltJFr4-WQTb_5zHpLeVD4L_ymYBDY59cPgXm6ZnNhr1zlY1Mr9Vyb1bFttIzrZtuFm7AOFwCfM/w400-h281/FL18353720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: John T. Collins, taken February 19, 1985 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria image H94.200/1184</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>(18) Samuel Anderson (1803-1863) and Robert Massie (1809-1890). Read Anderson's obituary in <i>The Argus</i> of August 10, 1863, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6488073">here</a>. Read Massie's obituary in the <i>Riverine Grazier</i> of September 30, 1890, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140475279">here</a>. <i>The Andersons of Western Port</i> by Thomas Horton and Kenneth Morris (Bass Valley Historical Society, 1983) looks at the life of Samuel Anderson and his brothers Hugh and Thomas.</div><div>(19) Settlement dates are from <i>Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip </i>by R.V. Billis and A.S. Kenyon (Stockland Press, 1974). Also <i>The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire</i> by Niel Gunson (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968) has information on these early settlers.</div><div><br /><p>This is a version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, <a href="https://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com/">Casey Cardinia Links to our Past</a>.</p></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-38418724841276947032023-12-20T18:25:00.000-08:002023-12-20T18:28:07.750-08:00Italian Prisoners from the Koo Wee Rup Prisoner of War Camp<p>There was an Italian Prisoner of War Camp at Koo Wee Rup which operated from August 1944 until February 1946. I have written about it <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/02/italian-prisoner-of-war-camp-at-koo-wee.html">here</a>. I came across some records of some of the men who were interned at Koo Wee Rup at the <a href="http://www.naa.gov.au">National Archives of Australia</a> (NAA). The records are part of Series A7919 - Prisoners of War files, 1939-1945. There must have been other men, but these are all I can find at the moment. </p><p>The NAA also has two digitsed files connected to these Italian Prisoners - 'Service and Casualty Form' (Series MP1103/1), which is generally one page, but may run to two pages. The other file is the 'Report on POW' (Series MP1103/2), which is generally two pages. Examples of both are shown below. I have included the links to these records for each man.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xhK2cwVbLsDi_uxYTRUBP017FsOiJ8L67aBzPGmQp5xKFOEM7AO-sMRG_IKV7ndPq3ixG3SitR4Ybw5KDGEHfE2iW-Ies3n0c-Y9IDVg9v9rrmN5D3LkGs4MDB98gwtLwKE89P2ckJmtLzeNlOU-Nsz3i8SVtrmimDp5hF22-3Dgwes2WuxYrso6Kbw/s1600/ShowImage%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xhK2cwVbLsDi_uxYTRUBP017FsOiJ8L67aBzPGmQp5xKFOEM7AO-sMRG_IKV7ndPq3ixG3SitR4Ybw5KDGEHfE2iW-Ies3n0c-Y9IDVg9v9rrmN5D3LkGs4MDB98gwtLwKE89P2ckJmtLzeNlOU-Nsz3i8SVtrmimDp5hF22-3Dgwes2WuxYrso6Kbw/w640-h408/ShowImage%20(3).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Salvatore Allevato's Service and Casualty Form (Series MP1103/1) from the National Archives and it shows where they were captured, date of birth, occupation, next of kin and the locations of their internment in Australia.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBud8gtrG5vtDpkCDdKrTE1lSPS-b8wFD6E7dL3J-T5_z6cgyGLUB9gOjktDKVfhajdafYbGN2YtX6aqZ9xRY0rX5VNLC7dKKvMy5XfGIfF-YANG5XGiaUczM37vWUIgDBYp44IPrGyipnW17DmpzVyH_Rd1QAribmUnJ78ZNLaP6vpGxaHWgw0t-ZOI0/s1600/ShowImage%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1017" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBud8gtrG5vtDpkCDdKrTE1lSPS-b8wFD6E7dL3J-T5_z6cgyGLUB9gOjktDKVfhajdafYbGN2YtX6aqZ9xRY0rX5VNLC7dKKvMy5XfGIfF-YANG5XGiaUczM37vWUIgDBYp44IPrGyipnW17DmpzVyH_Rd1QAribmUnJ78ZNLaP6vpGxaHWgw0t-ZOI0/w406-h640/ShowImage%20(4).jpg" width="406" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Above and below are the Report on POW' (Series MP1103/2) for Salvatore Allevato. The form lists date of birth, occupation, next of kin, height, weight and complexion, place of capture and entry to Australia.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsk2YpFYwY_aOuQe1DdgMAv6Y1mRx5x8ti1DYxHQv4U-e5j_eB3ZEGnnjARGU2z6FwQRrv0grS20pSFJVSUJ_lN9XJbeQvY_SBACeXJYCpwj494WS3bDVa266oY4wA4uEEDjvLKSsm_2jMabZp6E2EG2ea0MlsppN1ajo0lHsNaYd8lJQwwzYl5X85iM/s1600/ShowImage%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1279" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsk2YpFYwY_aOuQe1DdgMAv6Y1mRx5x8ti1DYxHQv4U-e5j_eB3ZEGnnjARGU2z6FwQRrv0grS20pSFJVSUJ_lN9XJbeQvY_SBACeXJYCpwj494WS3bDVa266oY4wA4uEEDjvLKSsm_2jMabZp6E2EG2ea0MlsppN1ajo0lHsNaYd8lJQwwzYl5X85iM/w512-h640/ShowImage%20(5).jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">What follows is a copy and paste from the NAA search results and is a list of Italian prisoners who spent time at Koo Wee Rup.</p><b>Allevato</b>, Salvatore (Army) PWI 57552 - Born: 18 October 1916, Caccuri Catanzaro Italy - Captured: 22 November 1941, Sollum Libya - Previously interned: 16 December 1941, India - Arrived Australia: HARDY, 16 JANUARY 1944, Melbourne Victoria - Interned: Vakool Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. <span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 15.3333px;">This prisoner of War was transferred to Koo-Wee-<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Rup</span>, 23 January 1945. Digitsed record Series </span>MP1103/1<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8632755">here</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><span>MP1103/2<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9921698">here</a><span>.</span></span><p class="MsoNormal"></p><b>Bandini</b>, Gino (Army) PWI 56541 - Born: 23 April 1910, Terranova (Arezzo) - Captured: 27 March 1941, Keren, Eritrea - Previously interned: 4 June 1942, Camp No 14 Pow Camp - Arrived Australia: LURLINE, 16 November 1943, Melbourne - Interned: PWCC V19 Koo Wee Rup - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8631767">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9920688">here</a>.<div><br /><b>Colliva</b>, Ivan (Army) PW 61224 - Born: 1 September 1920, Modena Italy - Captured: 10 December 1940, Sidi Barrani Libya - Previously interned: 20 January 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 26 April 1944, Melbourne - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8636303">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8636303">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>De Angelis</b>, Angelo. PWI 58349 - Born: 25 July 1901, Aquila Italy - Captured: Not known - Previously interned: 22 January 1941, India - Arrived Australia: Not known - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8633552">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9922495">here</a>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">De Filippo</b>, also as Defilippo, Mario (Army) PWI 47457 - Born: 14 February 1913, Lucera (Foggia) - Captured: 11 December 1940, Sidi Barrani Egypt - Previously interned: Middle East - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 16 August 1941, Sydney - Interned: PWCC V19 Koo Wee Rup - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8627743">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9916647">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><b>Delfino</b>, Giacomo PWI 58370 (Army) - Born: 7 August 1918, Minervino Bari, Italy - Captured: 9 December 1949, Alam el Nibewa - Previously interned: 4 January 1941, India - Arrived Australia: Not known - Interned: Koo-wee-rup, Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947 for Naples, Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8633573">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9922516">here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">De Libero</b>, also as Delibero, Giacomo PWI 48044 (Army) - Born: 3 May 1911, Cerreto, Benevento, Italy - Captured: 21 January 1941, Libya - Previously interned: Not known - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 27 May 1941, Sydney, New South Wales - Interned: Koo-wee-rup, Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947 for Naples, Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8628330">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9917234">here</a>.</div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dormizzi</b>, Ugo PW 61301 - (Army) - Born: 18 January 1910, Esperia, Frosinoone, Italy - Captured: 11 December 1940, Buq Buq, Egypt - Previously interned: 5 March 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 26 January 1944, Melbourne, Victoria - Interned: PWCC V19 KOO WEE RUP- Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947 for Naples, Italy.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8636400">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9925447">here</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Duranti</b>, Argentino (Army) PWI 59051 - Born: 9 August 1912, Candia (Ancona) Italy - Captured: 11 July 1941, Neggio - Previously interned: 4 December 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 11 July 1941, Melbourne - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: ORONTES, 21 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8634232">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9923197">here</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ferrante</b>, Ludovico (Army) PWI 48505 - Born: 1 January 1915, Casoria Napoli - Captured: 22 January 1941, Tobruk Libya - Previously interned: Not known - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 13 October 1941, Sydney - Interned: Koo Wee Rup 'D' PWCC V19 Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8628790">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9917695">here</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Franco</b>, Giuseppe (Army) PWI 58453 - Born: 8 April 1914, Roseto Capo Spulico Cosenza Italy - Captured: 8 April 1941, Massaua [Mitsiwa] Eritrea - Previously interned: 17 October 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 5 February 1944, Melbourne - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8633655">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9922599">here</a>.<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Franco</b>, Michele (Army) PWI 47466 - Born: 18 February 1920, Carbonara (Bari) Italy - Captured: 10 December 1940, Sidi El Barrani Egypt - Previously interned: Middle East - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 16 August 1941, Sydney New South Wales - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8627752">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9916656">here</a>. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 15.3333px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Iannitto</b>, Luigi, Saverio (Army) PWI 45897 - Born: 2 August 1912, Lentini Italy - Captured: 11 December 1940, Libya - Previously interned: 4 March 1941, Geneifa Egypt - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 27 May 1941, Sydney - Interned: Koo Wee Rup - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8626213">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9915087">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maffei</b>, Adolfo (Army) PWI 46246 - Born: 25 April 192-, Comano Apuana Italy - Captured: 9 December 1940, Libya - Previously interned: Not known - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 27 May 1941, Sydney New South Wales - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8626561">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9915437">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mancini</b>, Giuseppe (Army) PWI 62277 - Born: 19 March 1912, Sant'Agata Dei Goti - Captured: 6 February 1941, Agedabia Libya - Previously interned: 22 January 1942, India - Arrived Australia: MT VERNON, 27 April 1944, Melbourne Victoria - Interned: Koo Wee Rup, Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8637317">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9926422">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Michetti</b>, Gabriele (Army) PWI 61507 - Born: 25 April 1920, Bucchianico Italy - Captured: 3 January 1941, Bardia Libya - Previously interned: 18 Febuary 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 26 April 1944, Melbourne Victoria - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8636605">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9925652">here</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pagnanelli</b>, Giuseppe (Army) PWI 61551 - Born: 12 May 1916, Tolle Chieti Italy - Captured: 3 January 1941, Bardia Libya - Previously interned: 22 February 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 26 April 1944, Melbourne Victoria - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8636648">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9925696">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pasquero</b>, Dario (Army) PWI 59054 - Born: 1 October 1912, Cavallermaggiore (Cuneo) Italy - Captured: 27 May 1941, east Africa - Previously interned: 1 November 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 5 November 1944, Melbourne - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: ORONTES, 21 January 1947, for Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8634235">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9923200">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perrone</b>, Angelo (Army) PWI 62451 - Born: 15 April 1916, Messina Italy - Captured: 6 January 1941, Bardia Libya - Previously interned: 19 Febuary 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MT VERNON, 26 April 1944, Melbourne - Interned: Koo Wee Rup - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8637482">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9926596">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raggazzini </b>also as Ragazzini, Antonio (Army) PWI 46569 - Born: 2 December 1916, Casola Val Senior - Captured: 5 February 1941, Libya - Previously interned: Not known - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 27 May 1941, Sydney - Interned: PWCC V19 Koo Wee Rup - Departed: ORONTES, 21 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1<a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8626872"> here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9915759">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sciammarelia</b> also as Sciammarella, Mario (Army) PWI 48323 - Born: 8 December 1916, Paola Cosenza Italy - Captured: 11 December 1940, Libya - Previously interned: Not known - Arrived Australia: QUEEN MARY, 13 October 1941, Sydney New South Wales - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8628608">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9917513">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spurio</b>, Umberto (Army) PWI 63503 - Born: 28 January 1911, Treia Macerata Italy - Captured: 8 May 1941, Passo Falaga Abyssinia - Previously interned: 9 September 1941, India - Arrived Australia: MARIPOSA, 27 April 1944, Melbourne - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: ORONTES, 21 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8638539">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9927648">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Valerio</b>,
Carmine (Army) PWI 61769 - Born: 18 January 1911 - Captured: 4 January 1941,
Bardia, Libya - Previously interned: 20 February 1941, India - Arrived
Australia: Not known - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: 21 January
1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8636898">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9925941">here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Venturato</b>,
Albino (Army) PWI 62662 - Born: 20 January 1920, Montebelluna Italy - Captured:
9 December 1940, Sidi El Barrani Libya - Previously interned: 20 January 1941,
India - Arrived Australia: MT VERNON, 26 April 1944, Melbourne Victoria -
Interned: Koo Wee Rup, Victoria - Departed: OTRANTO, 10 January 1947, for
Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8637692">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9926807">here</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zerbini</b>,
Nello (Army) PWI 61843 - Born: 14 June 1919, Bolona Italy - Captured: Alam el
Niberra Middle East - Previously interned: 4 January 1941, India - Arrived
Australia: Not known - Interned: Koo Wee Rup Victoria - Departed: ORONTES, 21
January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8643241">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9925988">here</a>.<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zuzzaro</b>, Romeo (Army) PWI 63626 - Born: 13 February 1913, Forria, Italy - Captured: 5 January 1941, Bardia, Libya - Previously interned: Not known - Arrived Australia: VERNON CASTLE, 27 April 1944, Melbourne, Victoria - Interned: Koo - Wee- Rup, Victoria - Departed: T S OERANTO, 10 January 1947, for Naples Italy. Digitsed record Series MP1103/1 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8643639 ">here</a> and MP1103/2 <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9927772">here</a>.<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"></span></p></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-60837073172787006862023-12-18T00:46:00.000-08:002024-01-19T18:11:48.971-08:00The 1924 Flood <p>Here are some reports from the newspapers of the August 1924 flood. We will start with the report from the local paper, the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>.</p><b>From the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, Thursday September 4, 1924 p.2</b><div> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Unprecedented Floods. Kooweerup Swamp area inundated. Farmers suffer heavy loss</u>.</div>The torrential rain which fell on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday had the effect of flooding the whole of the Kooweerup Swamp area, and inflicted considerable damage and inconvenience to residents. Old pioneers were unanimous that the present inundation is the worse the district has ever experienced. With the heavy and continuous rains of Monday it was anticipated that the district would have a bad time, as large volumes of water were coming the various drains, and even then many of the low-lying places were flooded. On Tuesday there was no abatement in the rainfall; in fact, it became heavier, and many folk the prepared for the worse and made arrangements to remove belongings out of flood reach. At night Five Mile, Cora Lynn, Cardinia, Dalmore and other localities were practically under water, and the occupants on numerous houses had to wend their way to higher ground or the Kooweerup township. <br /><br />By Wednesday morning the signs became more ominous, as a number of drains were overflowing. At Kooweerup M’Donalds Drain broke and McGregor’s drain rapidly filled and overflowed, the water rushing with great pace to the township. People living near the drains had to abandon their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. The seriousness of the situation was quickly realized, when large numbers from outlying places came into Kooweerup seeking refuge. Many womenfolk and children caught the train and journeyed to the city, while the men remained to give assistance whenever needed. <br /><br />The water kept steadily advancing, and early in the morning surrounded the Memorial Hospital. Offers of assistance were quickly made, but the doctor and staff did not accept such until later in the day. Fortunately, there were only several minor cases, and they and the staff were removed to the E.S. and A. Bank, a two-storey building. On Wednesday afternoon several feet of water was in the hospital. <br /><br />Excitement prevailed in Kooweerup when it was announced that a couple in a house, surrounded by five feet of water, near the Boundary drain refused to leave. The seriousness of the position was pointed out to them, but they remained adamant. It was decided to ask the police to urge them to leave, but they were still obdurate. <br /><br />Later in the afternoon water was invading most of the business places and many residences and occupiers were kept busy in packing their belongings in a more secure position. A feature of the situation was the splendid spirit of co-operation and help given by the more fortunate residents. They waded in water almost up to their waist, getting women and children to their homes, where all sorts of makeshifts were adopted for the purpose of giving them comfort and lodgings. <br /><br />Hundreds must have spent a sleepless night, as the water kept rising. As individuals came into the township on horseback, reports of serious losses of crops, cattle, etc., were made, while the damage to the roads and drains will be considerable. <br /><br />The railway staff exercised caution in regard to the running of trains, employes being kept on the watch, to see that the bridges and lines were kept intact. Consequently trains could not be kept to schedule time. The bridges over various drains were also kept under surveillance by residents. <br /><br />The mailman to Five Mile reached his destination by vehicle yesterday morning, but had to return on horseback. The mail contractor for the Heath Hill route was unable to reach his destination.At Kooweerup Royal Hotel, Mrs McNamara, wife of the licensee, yesterday morning decided to only take women and children and refused many travelers and men-folk accommodation. Later in the evening the whole of the township was flooded. <br /><br />A novel feature of the flood was that Mr “Pomp” Colvin rowed a boat right up Station street and as far as Gray’s shop in Rossiter street. The flood reached its zenith about 11p.m., last night, and since that hour the water has been gradually receding. This morning the water is still in a number of shops and houses, and many people are getting about minus boots and socks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PmGNF2perGRT7SN9bLUEhHtY6I8aTYd5RUWzzpxb1YFhvjFLRpSylxUp-FsMf6_XEjPQshlt_QD3IctO705QWRtzZPfBWp1BW440EyMlx5N58wrHQg4h7JPvq1tZ8f9gyFKHiDiQPUI_jobuYA8xK05-qaKm5ibYewEfP6KGsHH4G8U7C1plw006Jh0/s3349/nla.news-page31190222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3349" data-original-width="2311" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PmGNF2perGRT7SN9bLUEhHtY6I8aTYd5RUWzzpxb1YFhvjFLRpSylxUp-FsMf6_XEjPQshlt_QD3IctO705QWRtzZPfBWp1BW440EyMlx5N58wrHQg4h7JPvq1tZ8f9gyFKHiDiQPUI_jobuYA8xK05-qaKm5ibYewEfP6KGsHH4G8U7C1plw006Jh0/w442-h640/nla.news-page31190222.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup is front page of <i>The</i> <i>Sun News Pictorial. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Caption:<i> The worst flood in the history of Koo-Wee-Rup has overwhelmed 250 square miles of the surrounding district. Nearly 1000 settlers have been effected, and many families, forced to leave their homes by the rising water, are in a pathetic plight. (1) Taken from the train, this picture shows the flooded area between Dalmore and Koo-Wee-rup. (2) A motor-car on the main road between the two townships. (3) Gray's-store at Dalmore. (4) One of the many homes that have been rendered uninhabitable. (5) The Water Commission’s headquarters at Koo-Wee-rup, surrounded by more water than its officials know what to do with. (6) Deserted and desolate in a mud-colored sea</i></span>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Sun News Pictorial</i>, August 28, 1924. <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page31190222" style="text-align: left;">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page31190222</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>The following are reports from <i>The Argus</i> and <i>The Sun News Pictorial</i></b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Township Inundated. 100 People Homeless.</u></div><div><div>Nearly 100 people were driven out of their homes at Koo wee rup as a result of the floods. No accidents were reported, but much damage has been done to property. From the main street, which was reported yesterday afternoon to be covered with water to a depth of several feet, the scene was one of desolation, rows of houses being completely surrounded by water. Here and there fences and trees showed above the water. From information available yesterday, it appears that the township did not suffer so much as the settlers in the surrounding district, where the water rose very quickly early yesterday morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>Owing to the water entering the Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, the two patients were removed to the English, Scottish, and Australian Bank, and were made comfortable on the top floor. By midday, buildings in the main street were flooded on the ground floors, and business had to be suspended. The occupants were forced to go upstairs, most of the furniture being also removed. A boat was used in the main street to get the people out of their homes. Water was in some of the settler's houses on Tuesday night in the morning it increased alarmingly, and compelled people to find places of safety. Neighbours who had not been affected the floods took in many of the unfortunate settlers and their families and others decided to go to adjacent towns until the waters subsided.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although definite information is not yet available it is reported that a large amount of stock has been lost in the floods. (<i>The Argus</i>, Thursday, August 28, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4155685">here</a>) </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Water Still Rising</u></div>Koo-wee-rup, Wednesday. - For the first time since the cutting of the boundary drain, 20 years ago, the township of Koo-wee-rup has been flooded. The overflowing of the main drain at Cora Lynn has caused all of the country on the east side to be inundated. Several residents in the low-lying parts have left their homes. Station street and Rossiter's street are one foot deep in flood waters, and the Royal Hotel has been flooded. The Monomeith and Caldermeade plains are covered with the overflow from the Lang Lang River. As the waters are rapidly rising, residents expect that many homes will be vacated this evening. (<i>The Argus</i>, Thursday, August 28, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4155685">here</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpUdsZdoLkfPA_RXB4TKEHT94VQal19cXawad73yKTNWiESVsofbjOTHwjR8o4GrXMJusFkLL1oNOCTgzUP2GPW5IQqwO1Xoih_Mj9CXXLEA8tIRqqUohsjqOiMzmdnVbDvIcC9MMp-AkjGELJ9-XSyAtFlykDk5CO6ifd6gYR0lOCAr52k3-6hSFdAk/s911/CL.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="911" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpUdsZdoLkfPA_RXB4TKEHT94VQal19cXawad73yKTNWiESVsofbjOTHwjR8o4GrXMJusFkLL1oNOCTgzUP2GPW5IQqwO1Xoih_Mj9CXXLEA8tIRqqUohsjqOiMzmdnVbDvIcC9MMp-AkjGELJ9-XSyAtFlykDk5CO6ifd6gYR0lOCAr52k3-6hSFdAk/w640-h430/CL.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cora Lynn in flood; the War Memorial is in the centre and the Hall is on the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Caption: <i>Settlers in the Koo-wee-rup irrigation area pay 2/ an acre to the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission for flood protection. A photograph is reproduced showing the flood water rushing through the bank.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Argus</i>, April 5 1924 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1895861">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1895861</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Properties Submerged</u></div>Garfield, Tuesday. - Further heavy rains have caused a flood on the swamp, in the vicinity of the main drain. On the 14 mile road, the paddocks of Messrs Filer, Golding, and Voll are under water. The water is a foot deep in Mrs McLean's house, and Mr. J. Kavanagh's home is surrounded by water. In spite of the efforts of workers the waters crossed the road and the paddocks of Messrs. O'Leary, Leask, and B. Kavanagh are covered. Mr. O'Leary had 10 acres just planted with potatoes. At Vervale, the water rose over the banks of the main drain, and the properties of Messrs. Henwood, McGrath, and Baker are inundated. The Iona school-ground is under water. The flood swept across the farms of Messrs Lennox, Tyrell, and McManis. On the 13-mile road, the pipes were washed away from a new culvert, and the banks of the new subsidiary drain etc were carried away. In the township the shops of Messrs Khan, <br />Hourigan, and Isherwood were flooded. The footpaths had to be cut in several places to turn the water from the road to the township flats. The drain through Mr. Jones's farm could not carry the flood, and portion of Garfield Reserve is submerged. Three inches of rain fell in 24 hours. (<i>The Argus</i>, Thursday, August 28, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4155665">here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nHEng_5DGt3zQx1SvG9NXMmUNXAEFnkySf2-LtSoPB6bm1EWpXZRbe3RDu6K54NWS9HMVfBKWyqB9Fgxg6vnzQxtWh5kG_E_mApSAFduCQkzPf_UXacYOxacS0qGCPuamoGadjMmZ8dAIYTYJKPtK0aqfyk5ueCd4aCosOo2AtbFSlmKjMrD-x6lNCI/s2241/nla.news-page31190268.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2241" data-original-width="1563" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nHEng_5DGt3zQx1SvG9NXMmUNXAEFnkySf2-LtSoPB6bm1EWpXZRbe3RDu6K54NWS9HMVfBKWyqB9Fgxg6vnzQxtWh5kG_E_mApSAFduCQkzPf_UXacYOxacS0qGCPuamoGadjMmZ8dAIYTYJKPtK0aqfyk5ueCd4aCosOo2AtbFSlmKjMrD-x6lNCI/w446-h640/nla.news-page31190268.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The Sun News Pictorial </i>photo feature of the floods.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Caption: "The Gentle rain from Heaven” that Shakespeare wrote about has been referred to in anything but pious and poetic terms by the unfortunate settlers of Koo-wee-rup, who have been flooded out of house and home. The water showed signs of going down yesterday, and a more optimistic spirit predominated in the little township. 1. Mr. A. C. Colvin, an old-time cyclist, helping a damsel in distress. 2. In difficulties. A family leaning their well-nigh submerged home. 3. The kiddies quite enjoyed their trying experiences. 4. These little girls sailed their rakish craft down the main street. 5. Thirsty souls waiting outside the Royal Hotel for something better than water. 6. Willing hands to the rescue.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Sun News Pictorial</i>, August 29, 1924 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page31190268">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page31190268</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Swamped! Koo-wee-rup. Thousands Lost. Township Isolated.</u></div>(Our Special Reporter) Koo-wee-rup, Wednesday,- Flood waters inundated Koo-wee-rup to-day, and made an unromantic Venice of the place, with rowing boats in the main street. Shops and private houses are under water, and the main street has become a swirling stream four feet deep in parts. The whole town is practically cut off from outside communication by seas of water on all sides. <br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Patients at the local hospital bush nursing centre were hurriedly removed when the water began to rush on the township from the upper reaches of the swamp. Settlers from outlying parts flocked into Koo-wee-rup to-day in drays containing whole families. They got cramped accommodation in the township. In many cases they were forced to leave even this refuge as the water crept ominously up over the doorways. Some of the houses were two feet under.<br /><br />Had Water in it - Many of the bolder spirits made a last stand in the Royal Hotel, a two-storey brick structure, facing the railway station. But they had to beat a retreat from this fortification when the water swamped in and invaded the whole premises. All the guests spent a damp night in the upstairs rooms. <br /><br />These floods have given Koo-wee-rup residents a rude shock. With the thousands of pounds spent on drainage schemes they imagined they would be better protected from the flood menace which has been looked upon as a necessary evil, ever since the first settler selected here. The present downpour showed up grievous flaws in the drainage scheme, and settlers flooded out and temporarily homeless, bitterly complain to-night that the State River and Water Supply has let them down badly. <br /><br />Thousands Lost - Already settlers throughout the 80,000 acres of ordinary fertile Koo-wee-rup swamp land have lost thousands of pounds since Sunday. Many were about to plant potato crops, but will be unable to do so for weeks, and the seed will be ruined. Live stock is also in danger. <br /><br />Mr. Joseph Lee, of Koo-wee-rup, whose home is on the outskirts of the township between two over-flooded drains had to scramble on to his roof this afternoon and signal for help to rescue his stock. Willing helpers hastened out to his assistance, and tried to persuade him to leave his home. Like other settlers in a similar plight, he refused, saying he himself was in no danger, and had better stay and look after the place. Protecting banks higher up the main drain have been badly weakened by the rush of water, which in some places has completely overflowed them. Once over the embankment the water is free to overrun the low parts of the country for miles. <br /><br />Crisis at Midnight - Midnight is expected to bring the critical hour. Then residents who have experienced past floods anticipated the water will reach its highest level. Mr Pomp Colvin, a local resident, who in the fishing season runs yachts to Tooradin, enterprisingly brought a dinghy this afternoon into the town, and rescued many marooned families. Later in the day he was called upon to rescue his own family, as the flood water crept unswervingly on.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">At Dalmore the full significance of the watery waste is realised. Here miles upon miles of country are under water, and settlers’ homes rise up desolately out of the yellow sea. Water began to trickle through the back door of the Post-office to-night, and the postmistress, who had had a very busy day, was afraid that she might have to leave during night. (<i>The Sun News Pictorial</i>, Thursday, August 28, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274386992">here</a>) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeycE0lKKyIcddSYEbofWZ-tne2U2tUtOfqtOE6UP7LSzf8yNbbe70BHBKu4Cmt1TNETepkHzDvyDaIsBUOiCTiS-i_ONjcX8CtpH5uxhsC4I9wIFYymBKo9LLHqOLm2zIOQ2QKbtcZRsjtW0w3GCUGWaftb1S9acc25w7LYkr-_RTFzKJ85CD2-vSqKY/s4861/nla.news-page23788738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4861" data-original-width="3196" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeycE0lKKyIcddSYEbofWZ-tne2U2tUtOfqtOE6UP7LSzf8yNbbe70BHBKu4Cmt1TNETepkHzDvyDaIsBUOiCTiS-i_ONjcX8CtpH5uxhsC4I9wIFYymBKo9LLHqOLm2zIOQ2QKbtcZRsjtW0w3GCUGWaftb1S9acc25w7LYkr-_RTFzKJ85CD2-vSqKY/w420-h640/nla.news-page23788738.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Floods in Koo Wee Rup District - <i>The</i> <i>Weekly Times</i> photo feature.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Caption: 1. Riding in for the Mail. 2. Flooded-out families of Messrs. Nestor and Leydens. 3. Cattle Fording Creek at Yallock. 4. Station Street, Koo-wee-rup. 5. Sole Occupants of Koo-wee-rup Hospital. 6. Rescuing Girls from Top of Cowshed. 7. Motor Being Towed out on Main Road, Damore. 8. At Mr E. Johnson's, Koo-wee-rup. 9. Coming in for Stores. 10. Pellissier Bros, Leaving for the Station with Milk.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Weekly Times</i>, September 6, 1924 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page23788738">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page23788738</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br />Settlers return to Homes. Position Easier at Koo-Wee-Rup.</u></div>Koo-Wee-Rup, Thursday. - Though the Kooweerup township has been submerged in some places to a depth of 3ft., Mr. A. J. Lupson, engineer of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, considers that had the bank of the main drain burst at Cora Lynn, as has occurred on previous occasions, the situation would have been much more serious. The damage done is slight compared with previous floods, as only a small acreage is, at this time of the year, under cultivation. Business people suffered slight losses, as timely warning of the approaching danger had been given by the continuous rains of Monday and Tuesday. At 11 o'clock on Wednesday night the flood waters which had inundated the township ceased rising. At that hour all the business places were several inches deep in water. By 7 o'clock this morning the water had fallen 8in., and, as the day advanced, a further drop took place. There is, however, a foot of water in the vicinity of Station and Rossiter's street. <br /><br />The Dalmore district is still inundated, as there is a large volume of water coming down Kardinia Creek. Many farmers will be losers, as several of them had gone in for early plantings. Much damage has been done to roads in the flooded districts but culverts and bridges have stood the strain well. The soldier settlers in the Monomeith and Caldermeade districts continue to have more than a their shire of misfortune. Most of these men are dairy farmers, and the milk supply has appreciably diminished.<br /><br /> Though it was reported at first that a huge amount of stock had been lost, such has not proved to be the case. A gang of men is busily employed effecting repairs where the landslide and wash-away occurred at Yannathan, on the Strezlecki line. (<i>The Argus</i>, Friday, August 29, 1924, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4153991">here</a>)</div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-75129829242626477512023-12-17T22:03:00.000-08:002024-01-23T22:02:37.843-08:00The opening of the Cardinia Public Hall in 1924<p>The Cardinia Public Hall was officially opened on Wednesday, December 17, 1924. This is the report from the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, Wednesday December 24, 1924 page 4.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMH1AGnoHZBhilEvqkOr2GCWUFne_pFDt-pEW5YELhHferWh9W2G74iQCXWMNc22Ow5RmqwoOp58kcnABRmyWILpKy-uCW3D3ewyGCtimg9gpqQyy4rbB2HgrqRUpdnHbpIRPooLaDhMoxl7ZnFCoWkxN2yVIEuPtKc5OrfIKRLItOerfDYHtmSOR03Q/s1940/Cardinia%20Public%20Hall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1940" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMH1AGnoHZBhilEvqkOr2GCWUFne_pFDt-pEW5YELhHferWh9W2G74iQCXWMNc22Ow5RmqwoOp58kcnABRmyWILpKy-uCW3D3ewyGCtimg9gpqQyy4rbB2HgrqRUpdnHbpIRPooLaDhMoxl7ZnFCoWkxN2yVIEuPtKc5OrfIKRLItOerfDYHtmSOR03Q/w640-h464/Cardinia%20Public%20Hall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Cardinia Public Hall in 2005.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers, <a href="https://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/">https://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/</a>, a project of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the Narre Warren and District Family History Group, <a href="http://nwfhg.org.au">nwfhg.org.au</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<u>Cardinia. Opening of Public Hall. </u><br />On Wednesday evening, the 17th inst., an event of more than passing importance took place in Cardinia. It was the official opening of the new Public Hall, which occupies a nice dry position next to the State School. The hall is a spacious building, with a side platform and ladies and gents’ dressing rooms. It was tastefully decorated, for which the ladies deserve great credit. The hall was to have been opened by the Minister of Lands (Hon. A. Downward) and the Government Whip (Mr Groves), but owing to the political situation they were unable to be present. Mr Conroy, chairman of the committee, stated that their members of the State House were unable to be present, but the worthy President of the Cranbourne Shire (Cr Croskell), who had previously been asked to take the chair for the occasion, had been further asked if he would officially open their Public Hall, and he kindly consented to do so. He had much pleasure in introducing to them the President of the Shire (Cr. Croskell) <br /><br />Cr Croskell stated that he was very pleased to be there that night, which was an auspicious occasion for the district. It must be very gratifying to the committee to have such a fine gathering present, and he hoped on every future occasion the gatherings would be as large. He stated that he had been asked to read apologies from the Prime Minister (Mr Bruce) and Messrs Downward and Groves, who were unable to be present through pressure of further business. He would like to congratulate the people of Cardinia upon the success which had attended their efforts to obtain a Public Hall for Cardinia. He also congratulated them on their foresight in having their public buildings so close together, as in many townships one public building is placed on one corner and another about a mile away. With the public buildings close together it was much easier to get facilities, such as footpaths and drainage. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTyoc4A3un-ttjwzk6qTMSEoe94KiWvw1omZMut7X2Jo8SBbyr7nRW-uAtBNIMhwNVDwKcyHZ7gyHUYqqEM-48iIiIp5dbiDpqCvwO90RmTmGTni1h1rq6jG0UOi_Rqt3Nx6PtjZceQ43GLWO1CYfvFh_8xgN1d2x2kWiwSt3PJ5FuHdHlDPTDCBhLGc/s548/Cardinia%20Hall%20p4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="548" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTyoc4A3un-ttjwzk6qTMSEoe94KiWvw1omZMut7X2Jo8SBbyr7nRW-uAtBNIMhwNVDwKcyHZ7gyHUYqqEM-48iIiIp5dbiDpqCvwO90RmTmGTni1h1rq6jG0UOi_Rqt3Nx6PtjZceQ43GLWO1CYfvFh_8xgN1d2x2kWiwSt3PJ5FuHdHlDPTDCBhLGc/w640-h248/Cardinia%20Hall%20p4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Cardinia Public Hall and the Dandenong Valley Regional Libraries mobile library bus in 1978. </div><div style="text-align: center;">At the time the bus stopped at Cardinia every second Thursday 10.15am. to 11.00am.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, May 17, 1978 page 4</span></div><div><br /></div><div>He also congratulated the various committee and especially the chairman (Mr M. Conroy) and the secretary (Mr George Beazley), upon the success which had attended their efforts. The hall is a long felt necessity, and the residents must be gratified upon the consummation of their hopes, and he hoped they would all be long spared to enjoy the social intercourse which would be possible through having such a fine building in which to meet, and it gave him much pleasure in declaring the hall open. <br /><br />Mr Conroy, in moving a vote of thanks to Cr Croskell, stated that the hall had cost over £600 and over half had been already met. He was sure that both Mr George Beazley and himself did not expect any special credit for anything they had done, as everybody on the committee had worked like Trojans and worked harmoniously to make the building of the hall a success. He asked them all to carry their thanks by acclamation. <br /><br />A first-class programme was given by Dandenong, Melbourne and local district artists, namely Mesdames Monahan and Debout, Miss Stafford and Messrs Niel McInness, O’Neill, Verey and Hames. At the conclusion of the concert Cr Croskell moved a vote of thanks to the performers for the first-class entertainment they had given that night. He had been asked to specially thank the friends who had come all the way from Dandenong and Devon Meadows at their own expense. He would also like a special vote of thanks to Mrs Monahan, who so capably and efficiently played all the accomplishments for the evening. He asked them to carry the vote of thanks by acclamation. <br /><br />After the conclusion of the concert the hall was cleared and a large programme of dances was gone through. The dancing was in charge of Mr T. Richards, who rendered his well-known efficient service as M.C.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlYS5FizytX1HttAjj8Zl7vxcbNEOUB23qH3oovrPPfyrO5NLkHc-X_u6xvNhClGYEAtihx7MEXBKW4kcpyhsa4X4HmGzMVxmzP3haZL5aiUIKarx1wge3ZDFiQ2o918gi2pUXHGO8gYpwxlQC7PuePK1-Uwbetl9QbSQYrHkEFNEdrwxseyVcSjc-Yc/s2032/Cardinia%20Hall%20Plaque%20donated%20by%20Ian%20Ridgway%201.12.1984%20Life%20m%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="2032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlYS5FizytX1HttAjj8Zl7vxcbNEOUB23qH3oovrPPfyrO5NLkHc-X_u6xvNhClGYEAtihx7MEXBKW4kcpyhsa4X4HmGzMVxmzP3haZL5aiUIKarx1wge3ZDFiQ2o918gi2pUXHGO8gYpwxlQC7PuePK1-Uwbetl9QbSQYrHkEFNEdrwxseyVcSjc-Yc/w640-h480/Cardinia%20Hall%20Plaque%20donated%20by%20Ian%20Ridgway%201.12.1984%20Life%20m%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Cardinia Public Hall Honour Board in 2005. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The board was donated by Life Member, Ian Ridgway, December 1, 1984.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Casey Cardinia Remembers, <a href="https://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/">https://www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au/</a>, a project of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the Narre Warren and District Family History Group, <a href="http://nwfhg.org.au">nwfhg.org.au</a></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-61091013081406301672023-11-30T01:41:00.000-08:002023-11-30T15:07:07.229-08:00The Great Yannathan Fires of 1898I came across this obituary of Robert Gardiner, of Yannathan, who died on January 11, 1939 at the age of 83. It's an interesting obituary and I was taken by this comment - <i>In the great Yannathan fires of 1897, which raged for months, he at first thought he was ruined, but wonderful grass grew in the denuded country that he was able to farm successfully. </i>The report notes the fire were in 1897, but all the reports I could find were from February 1898. Below are some reports of 1898 bushfires at Yannathan and from the broader Shire of Cranbourne. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROySLKoKXfeFQvTA5rPVo3kTNKr8lk2TBYgI7m09l83_sSeFLQUHS5DGmJA_4dmaWa5IYC38_NrnDQ9Nk3dbMSVNK2OFzahy-GnrAyzqmnlZYQo-MYSwCEa1jfcJvrELPp68j8gJvbV8a_4mbycazWwSe5Vu4rcQdW0vxGdEn4brLShXYjjvJtqqTH_g/s1023/The_Age_1939_01_14_Page_27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="516" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROySLKoKXfeFQvTA5rPVo3kTNKr8lk2TBYgI7m09l83_sSeFLQUHS5DGmJA_4dmaWa5IYC38_NrnDQ9Nk3dbMSVNK2OFzahy-GnrAyzqmnlZYQo-MYSwCEa1jfcJvrELPp68j8gJvbV8a_4mbycazWwSe5Vu4rcQdW0vxGdEn4brLShXYjjvJtqqTH_g/w322-h640/The_Age_1939_01_14_Page_27.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Obituary of Robert Gardiner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i>, January 14, 1939 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205965071">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205965071</a></span></div><br /><div>There were also bad fires in other parts of Victoria during this time, caused by days of hot weather and a dry January. The Government Astronomer, Pietro Baracchi (1851-1926) was interviewed by <i>The Argus </i>on February 1, 1898 (see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191478578">here</a>) and he has this to say about the weather situation -<i> "Hot and smoky weather is not unusual in February. An unbroken succession of so many hot days is unusual. Coming after </i><i>such a fearfully hot and excessively dry January, it makes the conditions very much worse than they usually are. As showing what an exceptional month this January has been, it may be mentioned that only 30 points of rain fell in Melbourne, against an average of about 1½in. for all past years." </i>An inch of rain is 100 points, thus the average rain for January is 150 points, and only 30 points had fallen.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOh6DXQLQ5A5sOX8vEtQSTKVVR7pbASvjjOYN0m4bIu9dVKC3Df7FV_d73QK2dCdEb57ps6YZbmmwV056gcK72ERKX8h87vU-aVj-DmIGe4a2hKN2R2BQyejkvMarJZnOrnw9Sa_TlJrn4IXsQHPdsH6cnpL7T15x0wUlqY2XOtT5z062mwTtC3VEPP0/s623/Fire%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="623" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOh6DXQLQ5A5sOX8vEtQSTKVVR7pbASvjjOYN0m4bIu9dVKC3Df7FV_d73QK2dCdEb57ps6YZbmmwV056gcK72ERKX8h87vU-aVj-DmIGe4a2hKN2R2BQyejkvMarJZnOrnw9Sa_TlJrn4IXsQHPdsH6cnpL7T15x0wUlqY2XOtT5z062mwTtC3VEPP0/w400-h176/Fire%202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><u><b>The Gippsland Fires. Great damage around Cranbourne. A fire 20 miles long by 20 miles broad</b>.</u></div><div><div>Cranbourne, Monday -<i> On Friday, Saturday and Sunday a dreadful bush fire raged in this district, and did considerable damage to stock, grass, fencing, orchards and crops. The fire started this side of Somerville township, and, with a strong southerly wind, travelled into Cranbourne a distance of about 20 miles. The blaze was also 12 miles in width. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The following is a list, of the heaviest sufferers by this fire, which is the largest that has ever been heard of or seen here since Black Thursday:- Mr. Taylor, Sherwood Park - Loss: 15 miles of fencing, 2000 acres of grass and a large number of sheep.- Mr. Sam Staughton, M.L.A., Coolebah - Loss: - About </i><i>1400 acres of grass and a lot of fencing. Mr. J. Staughton - Loss: 1000 acres of grass, fencing and a large number of sheep. Mr. R. Ker - Loss: Grass, fencing and lot of 2 feet firewood. Several smaller farmers were also large losers in having all their fencing and grass totally burnt out, including Mr. David Craig, Mr. T. Meade, Mr. Waller, Mr. Barton, Mr. D. Robinson, Mr. Ted. Gray, Mr. Abrahams, Mr. J. G. Hudson, storekeeper, Cranbourne; Mr. P. Peterson, Mr. Thos. Peterson, Mrs. Poole, Mr. </i><i>Perridge, Mr. Moscript, Mr. Ridley, manager of the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, North Melbourne; Mr. F. Hardy and others too numerous to mention.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The fire, after passing through the racecourse reserve, swept with lightning-like rapidity towards the township, crossing the Frankston-road, 2 chains wide, in a leap, and but for the timely assistance of Messrs. Duff, Downs, M'Leod, Meade, Rev. Colin Robertson, Constable Dwyer and a lot of other willing helpers, the residences of Messrs. Reid and Wilson would have been destroyed. The fire got into short grass here, and after about four hours' hard fighting was got under. The only sufferers in the township were:- Messrs. Thos. Downs - Loss: 2-roomed house full of hay. Mr. P. Peterson - Loss: A</i></div><div><i>slaughterhouse and fencing. Messrs. J. Taylor and Reid and Mrs. Tucker: Grass and fencing.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>A watch was kept over the township all Saturday night, but nothing further happened. A lot of the farmers, thoroughly overcome by smoke und heat and over exertion, have had to take to their beds. Large fires are still burning round the township, and the damage done totals some thousands of pounds, </i><i>Mr. Taylor, of Sherwood Park, being the largest sufferer. </i>(<i>The Age</i>, Tuesday, February 1, 1898, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191478578">here</a>)</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nD19hZizzNvroWsr60thsMuj9sIAlVaoRAnEH2ZH2vKlnBJHBOXgIj5IRm_KC0SfK68BKYrVm17SUUv-7GWxvHopCWZzZz_JGXeDHtbolU2Re2H-elDkav0FB5buIgszXcKJJbDD2YR5CAzH1WVQ86A8VUb5-vIxKJJXmRajF0cZXffcYtBDWuCaYic/s575/fire%200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="575" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nD19hZizzNvroWsr60thsMuj9sIAlVaoRAnEH2ZH2vKlnBJHBOXgIj5IRm_KC0SfK68BKYrVm17SUUv-7GWxvHopCWZzZz_JGXeDHtbolU2Re2H-elDkav0FB5buIgszXcKJJbDD2YR5CAzH1WVQ86A8VUb5-vIxKJJXmRajF0cZXffcYtBDWuCaYic/w400-h45/fire%200.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><u><b>Fires near Cranbourne</b>.</u></div><div>Cranbourne, Tuesday - <i>A large bush fire broke out on Saturday at Lang Lang East and did considerable damage, travelling for about 5 miles to Yannathan. Mr. Bell, of Lang Lang East, lost a lot of fencing and a large area of grass, so did Mr. John and Mr. James Smethurst, of Yannathan. After several hours fighting the fire was got under. On Sunday, at St. Germains Station, near Cranbourne, a large quantity of fencing and about 300 acres of grass were burnt. Mr. William Griffiths, manager for Mr. S. Staughton, M.L.A., of Coolbah Estate, has been a heavy loser by the fire here, having lost a flock of turkeys valued at £20. The birds were all roasted. Mr. Griffiths also had a very narrow escape of his life, being caught in the flames on horseback whilst trying to rescue some sheep, which he successfully accomplished. His horse was singed of all its hair and badly burnt. There is a water famine in Cranbourne. Nearly all the tanks are dry, and the residents are only depending on a few wells, the water of which is brackish. </i>(<i>The Age</i>, Wednesday, February 2, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191491153">here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVkSsTar9JXYFx6Cwkb6WyOP2GeU5mVB5NXB3Wa75Xa6fY2fq-ljAlZzEDnAwMJZuc1IBu3jb2oJ91QkCb3Svcdu2yVrGScKF-PtJkuwxg_oLDzCMVRlaJJ7ZvNXmkGnTRqUdk4NBWp6AiCDH6nxbgbk-fDbN5z8PwuoHeR3Ia6rLPtBnY2FhII_kMe0/s607/fire%208.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="607" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVkSsTar9JXYFx6Cwkb6WyOP2GeU5mVB5NXB3Wa75Xa6fY2fq-ljAlZzEDnAwMJZuc1IBu3jb2oJ91QkCb3Svcdu2yVrGScKF-PtJkuwxg_oLDzCMVRlaJJ7ZvNXmkGnTRqUdk4NBWp6AiCDH6nxbgbk-fDbN5z8PwuoHeR3Ia6rLPtBnY2FhII_kMe0/w400-h96/fire%208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><div><div> </div><u><b> Church burnt at Heifer Creek. Damage at Lang Lang and Yannathan</b></u><br />Cranbourne, Wednesday - <i>Amongst other parts of the district the township of Lang Lang was the scene of a conflagration which nearly destroyed the butter factory and stores there. The fire broke out in a heavy belt of timber and scrub just west of the factory, and the flames rose to a dreadful height, coming within a few feet of the building, which was only saved by the united efforts of the employes and townsfolk. Had the factory gone the entire township must have been consumed. The station master's residence narrowly escaped destruction, the fire running right up to it.</i></div><div><i><br />At Heath Hill on Tuesday night the farm of Mr. Patrick M'Grath was the scene of a dreadful fire, which destroyed his stack sheds, large quantities of grass and fencing. Flames are still to be seen in that direction. At Red Bluff, near Lang Lang, Mr. Le Rostu's </i>[Le Roux] <i>farm was attacked, and some grass and fencing were destroyed. Last night Mr. J. S. Stewart, of Woodleigh, lost everything. Mr. R. Scott, of Rockwah, saved his homestead, but lost its surroundings. Fires are still burning around Yannathan. The destruction there covers thousands of acres of grass and miles of fencing. It is<br />stated that all the country between Yannathan and Longwarry is ablaze. The church at Heifer Creek was destroyed by the fires. </i>(<i>The Age</i>, Thursday, February 3, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191482366">here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0voYUPdEe3kwQ1ODfKTy6tgSY_J9OkBMGRf3zf19HC9LBhLO7YnaSASDuzSvNmjcS_MeQijqp3lUgx5ngWRLj_hXLpo614xVN_1x40UyUvRCko6bB97ZLbQmS4TGFSwiMde6NhL06uiC-jagw03nF8NH_UT_wgUrChCpBfeMmRqDFT_yrzqzJq2e7HE/s555/fire%207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="555" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0voYUPdEe3kwQ1ODfKTy6tgSY_J9OkBMGRf3zf19HC9LBhLO7YnaSASDuzSvNmjcS_MeQijqp3lUgx5ngWRLj_hXLpo614xVN_1x40UyUvRCko6bB97ZLbQmS4TGFSwiMde6NhL06uiC-jagw03nF8NH_UT_wgUrChCpBfeMmRqDFT_yrzqzJq2e7HE/w400-h103/fire%207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div><b><u>In the Cranbourne District. General Destruction.</u> </b></div><div>Cranbourne, Wednesday - <i>Some large strips of country have been burnt out on the Yallambie Estate, north of the Great Southern line, and Mr W. T. Duff has sustained a big loss in having fencing and grass destroyed. All that portion between the Gippsland and Great Southern lines, known as South Pakenham and Cardinia, which is on the western fringe of the Koo-wee-rup Swamp, has been in imminent danger from the fires burning in the swamp, and the closely settled dairying district of Clyde, between the swamp and Cranbourne, would be swept right out, should the wind bring the fires on from the swamp, and already there have been a number of out-breaks, which fortunately have been promptly checked. The swamp scrub consists mostly of ti tree but beneath this is a layer of peat varying from 18in. to several feet deep, and once ignited it burns for weeks. From a burning mass of this terrible stifling smoke is now being emitted. The village settlers are having a most trying time. Both from the direction of Narre Warren and Berwick, Cranbourne is threatened with fires, and Mr Beaver Hall, of Glady's-park, has already lost a valuable extent of glass and fencing. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The fires from Koo-wee-rup Drouin, and Longwarry have extended right on to the closely settled dairy farms of Yannathan and on Saturday and Sunday they raged furiously, destroying pastures and fencing on farm after farm. Mr Ritchie lost everything, except his home, and some valuable horses were most terribly burned, and had to be destroyed. At Mr. William Bell's, a magnificent farm of 640 acres has been completely burnt out, and every stick of fencing is gone. Councillor John Smethurst, president of the Cranbourne Shire, lost 400 acres of grass, and fencing. Mr. James Smethurst, his brother, likewise lost 400 acres, and fencing at Blackwood At his home there was the greatest possible difficulty in fighting off the fire, the pine trees and picket fence around the garden being consumed, and the house was only just saved. Mr Samuel Smethurst likewise had to fight to save his homestead, the fire burning right up to the doors. Messrs Joseph and William Burnside had 640 acres of grass and fencing burned, the last-named farmer being reduced to a very critical state from the exhaustion of two days' battling with the flames. A huge portion of Mr. James Greaves's farm was similarly burnt, also fencing. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Mr. A. Woodman, whose property is situated on the Yallock Creek, between Koo-wee-rup and Yannathan, is also a heavy loser by the fire, and Mr. Carson, of Yannathan also experienced a big loss. At Heath Hill last night, a furious outbreak occurred, jeopardising the whole of the farms in that portion of the district. Prompt assistance alone saved the places, but Mr. P.W. McGrath lost his haystacks, outhouses, grass fencing, and stock-yards. Mr George Gray, in the same locality, suffered heavily, and Mr. A. E. Glover's house had to be watched all night to save it from the burning trees, which were falling in every direction, Protector's Plains were one big blaze, and the fires are still burning with fierceness in this locality. The loss all through Yannathan and Heath Hill must be very large. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>A terrible fire broke out in the ti tree and scrub adjacent to Lang Lang township, and for a few hours the inhabitants experienced a sultry and most uncomfortable time of it. Between Lang Lang, and all the way to Grantville, the country has been burnt for miles and miles. Councillor Le Roux, of the Cranbourne shire, lost a very large quantity of grass, and some miles of fencing. Mr R.C. Scott, of Woodleigh, a well-known grazier, is another of the burnt-out victims. </i>(<i>The Argus</i>, Friday, February 4, 1898, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9789608">here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1c2mIHFS79-BTO-SGcGg7Vb9gqIzGVMWrqZicmniyGEj0jm776k9V7eT22LbAbcFjWpBdum6Bvrvzmm911WaW4gk0sDqIOfkaaTW1QOyqbBea3WIBmcVoKkLZCFTW2Aa-HKOl6cRhtqr_5upBqnL155nc0-ETO0q6wPttNNTp1XKUycPnOZPdR_Fforg/s588/fire%205.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="588" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1c2mIHFS79-BTO-SGcGg7Vb9gqIzGVMWrqZicmniyGEj0jm776k9V7eT22LbAbcFjWpBdum6Bvrvzmm911WaW4gk0sDqIOfkaaTW1QOyqbBea3WIBmcVoKkLZCFTW2Aa-HKOl6cRhtqr_5upBqnL155nc0-ETO0q6wPttNNTp1XKUycPnOZPdR_Fforg/w400-h71/fire%205.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><u><b>Damage at Lang Lang and Yannathan.</b></u></div><div><div><i>Cranbourne, Wednesday - Amongst other parts of the district the township of Lang Lang was the scene of a conflagration which nearly destroyed the butter factory and stores there. The fire broke out in a heavy belt of timber and scrub just west of the factory, and the flames rose to a dreadful height, coming </i><i>within a few feet of the building, which was only saved by the united efforts of the employes and townsfolk. Had the factory gone the entire township must have been consumed. The station master's residence narrowly escaped destruction, the fire running right up to it. </i>(<i>The Leader</i>, Saturday, February 5, 1898, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page21475472">here</a>)</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02XnSXgAckPS0dGy33n0TGE07tuLMgnksg4lPrvmZCZiYTTt_3I5ZkT8yomIRpv0XA1G_RG5PmQXEoZBPhgtJDl7pf5g1Ktu8_PUF4LYnqqhHt1QUj88DOtuWncbwFg_E_ucOH3zNrnL2_Xzme1XlaV2avMgStIATvpKpR_lSxb3QD5BR4cStY325w6Y/s558/fire%204.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="558" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02XnSXgAckPS0dGy33n0TGE07tuLMgnksg4lPrvmZCZiYTTt_3I5ZkT8yomIRpv0XA1G_RG5PmQXEoZBPhgtJDl7pf5g1Ktu8_PUF4LYnqqhHt1QUj88DOtuWncbwFg_E_ucOH3zNrnL2_Xzme1XlaV2avMgStIATvpKpR_lSxb3QD5BR4cStY325w6Y/w400-h73/fire%204.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><u><b>Yallock Village Settlement Burnt.</b></u></div>Cranbourne, Saturday - <i>Further extensive damages from the fires have occurred at Lang Lang Messrs Addison, Foster, Ridgway, and many of the selectors in that locality have lost everything, saving their homes with the greatest difficult. Another fire broke out near the Lang Lang township, and the Church of England, Mechanics' Institute, market buildings &c., were all in danger of complete destruction. The townsfolk had a terrible fight for their property. Last night an outbreak occurred at the Yallock Village Settlement, and before any resistance could be offered the residences of Messrs Orford, Izard, Titherly, T. Pretty, and several others were completely destroyed, and the whole settlement swept clean of grass, fencing and gardens. The fire spread on to on Messrs. Glasscock Bros. Forest paddock, near Yannathan, and here the whole of the South Yannathan country was seriously menaced, and but for the united exertions of a large body of the local farmers, who turned out with water tanks and combated the flames, the homesteads of Messrs. Rinding, Cousen and Ridgway would have been swept clear. Mr John Smethurst, of Yannathan, who goes in extensively for bee farming lost a colony of bees and hives, valued at over £100, during the fires. At the Cranbourne Council to day, the engineer reported that a large number of culverts and bridges had been destroyed in the shire by the fires. It will entail a very large outlay to replace them</i>. (<i>The Argus</i>, Monday February 7, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9789996">here</a>)</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZKk5OywKnZ1dHR-6Y7DzaumIOA9JX8mj9Ub1Dn_XTNeyjJFoMqt7GTLVGDr81OyPpk1HFHDwK4JUpjXmjllJxfvBauFKKs98Fi7awoA9CojW6fFDhUOdOnBEV3eLq0u7wEAbpJQ_Xx68dQ_DxK7cQWx3_EvoVmuST98v8ehitMt52vVSSBj4O-MDAKw/s633/Fire%203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="633" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZKk5OywKnZ1dHR-6Y7DzaumIOA9JX8mj9Ub1Dn_XTNeyjJFoMqt7GTLVGDr81OyPpk1HFHDwK4JUpjXmjllJxfvBauFKKs98Fi7awoA9CojW6fFDhUOdOnBEV3eLq0u7wEAbpJQ_Xx68dQ_DxK7cQWx3_EvoVmuST98v8ehitMt52vVSSBj4O-MDAKw/w400-h61/Fire%203.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><u>Yallock Village Settlement Destroyed</u>.</b><br />Cranbourne, Saturday -<i> On Friday night another big fire was discovered raging at the Yallock village settlement, on the cast side of the Yallock Creek, near Monomeith. In an incredibly short space of time the whole place was one great blaze, and four houses and their contents were completely demolished, whilst the settlement was burnt out in the most disastrous manner. Fully 20 families have lost their fencing and improvements and their gardens. Extending from thence the fires crossed on to Mr. Glasscock's property, at Monomeith, where a very large acreage was destroyed before the fire was got under control. Had it not been for assistance from Yannathan this fire would have proved one of the most severe in the district, but the farmers now being better organised were able to offer a more capable resistance, and their united efforts undoubtedly saved many more Yannathan farms from being ravaged by the flumes. Fires still continue to do great damage around Lang Lang. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>At Cranbourne shire council meeting it was stated to-day that a large number of culverts and bridges were destroyed by fires at Langwarrin, Sherwood and various other portions of the Yallock riding, and these will entail considerable expense to repair</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, Monday, February 7, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191483488">here</a>)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBNEajG_fQ3CWwlNlkZmyiuiBj4Dnp0rWlJVtmABpW8FfPeMyAlyeBdJFYwxCxDxXtjrIFP7zY2bEFlxvMcM4GGii5P3kEoV7jBy3hyphenhyphengtRgK88vhEZW1XrYtl1cAXUcPODK2E76gLQRCMdlB_Sjerl7MHzt0cVg9NNS3qH3LzM1dWxAhcbEmIVfxSFRA/s479/fire%206.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="58" data-original-width="479" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBNEajG_fQ3CWwlNlkZmyiuiBj4Dnp0rWlJVtmABpW8FfPeMyAlyeBdJFYwxCxDxXtjrIFP7zY2bEFlxvMcM4GGii5P3kEoV7jBy3hyphenhyphengtRgK88vhEZW1XrYtl1cAXUcPODK2E76gLQRCMdlB_Sjerl7MHzt0cVg9NNS3qH3LzM1dWxAhcbEmIVfxSFRA/w400-h49/fire%206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><u><b>How fires originate</b>.</u></div>Cranbourne. Monday - <i>At Cranbourne court to-day, John and Alexander Ritchie, two young farmers, of Yannathan, were charged with lighting fires which endangered adjoining property on the 15th January. Both pleaded guilty to having committal a technical offence, and explained in defence that they lighted the fires to protect their own property from a fire which was burning close at hand in the Kooweerup Swamp. They were each fined £3, with 15s. costs. George Ritchie their father, was then charged with igniting a fire on the. 29th ult. The evidence proved that Ritchie was seen lighting the scrub at the back of his house, and that this fire spread, burning out among others Messrs. Bell, John H. Smethurst and James Smethurst, and inflicting very considerable damage in the neighborhood. The defendant pleaded not guilty, but was fined £3, and 12s. costs</i>. (<i>The Age</i>, Tuesday, February 22, 1898, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191483232">here</a>)</div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-82813461655353799132023-11-20T02:53:00.000-08:002023-12-20T18:53:42.870-08:00Koo Wee Rup North State School flooded<p>The Koo Wee Rup North State School, No. 3198, opened on July 7, 1894. It was located on the corner of Five Mile Road and Main Drain Road. This School was originally called Koo Wee Rup South and changed its name to Koo Wee Rup North and unofficially called Five Mile School. The school parents voted for the school to close in November 1959 and the children were sent to Pakenham Consolidated School. Five Mile was the last school to join or ‘consolidate’ with the Consolidated School which had officially opened in May 1951. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1y21Bdic0pIu-9Atm9wfoVQ3p3lP9Al2pgVcyddEgwr4UrIZ9div3YpxV2A7pqDBcfXuAGDkc904F83u8LpuEoXKiE_dQOxYAeXWqvZVsUtgk4ZwAtzaa4YEdSs0fsB2v3MkkL665NsBtt27ZyZ895IR2R73S8eHKhGdy39Bs6DHNVH8SeVKK49-erg/s1105/dq004387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="803" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1y21Bdic0pIu-9Atm9wfoVQ3p3lP9Al2pgVcyddEgwr4UrIZ9div3YpxV2A7pqDBcfXuAGDkc904F83u8LpuEoXKiE_dQOxYAeXWqvZVsUtgk4ZwAtzaa4YEdSs0fsB2v3MkkL665NsBtt27ZyZ895IR2R73S8eHKhGdy39Bs6DHNVH8SeVKK49-erg/w291-h400/dq004387.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup North, showing school, Mechanics' Institute (Hall) and </div><div style="text-align: center;">recreation reserve location. This section of Main Drain Road is now called Fechner Road.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Detail from Koo-Wee-Rup, County of Mornington Department of Crown Lands and Survey, 1939.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria <a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104366">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104366</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Here are some accounts of the school being flooded and the ineffectual action of the Education Department to solve this problem.</p>June 1911 - <i>The water is running through the windows of the Koo-Wee-Rup North State school</i>. The same article also notes - <i>The Keast-hall, a new building at Cora Lynn, which was to have been officially opened last night, has about 3ft. of water in it</i>. (<i>The Argus</i>, June 14, 1911, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10909711">here</a>) <p></p><div>June 1911 - <i>The settlers at Kooweerup have ample cause for righteous indignation at the incapacity which the Public Works department has shown in dealing with the drainage of the swamp. Although large sums of money have been spent in making a clear run to the sea for the Bunyip River and Tarago Creek, which cause the periodic floods to which the flats are subject, the outlet provided yet falls far short of requirements. The consequence is severe financial loss, if not ruin, to a deserving body of small holders, many of whom were induced to buy Kooweerup land on the understanding that it was reclaimed</i>. (<i>The Leader</i>, June 24, 1911, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198161960">here</a>) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyIPTejyeptanGQLYEdytM-XnqgFwe1dWrZIUd-UYs3MtlJoTLBCSP_ZVgahS1TVJn9guzJNV-xOx7FtmXCcPkN61rKwsjYIrCIZycaqqQ9z7go94HKpqg2hn34i4reShVsMO6XFay7-cPje8X9_gwvvhcJVoTpubMEgOoOqrlaid90lw3Sdh1cVV_nw/s1101/kwr%20n.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1101" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyIPTejyeptanGQLYEdytM-XnqgFwe1dWrZIUd-UYs3MtlJoTLBCSP_ZVgahS1TVJn9guzJNV-xOx7FtmXCcPkN61rKwsjYIrCIZycaqqQ9z7go94HKpqg2hn34i4reShVsMO6XFay7-cPje8X9_gwvvhcJVoTpubMEgOoOqrlaid90lw3Sdh1cVV_nw/w640-h418/kwr%20n.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup North in flood in 1911 - the school in the centre and the Methodist Church, erected 1909 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(2)</span>, is on the right.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Leader</i>, June 24, 1911 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198161960">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198161960</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br />November 1913 - <i>The 5 Mile school and teacher's residence was flooded on the 14th inst. Although the Government promised a couple of years ago to take steps to prevent a flood, nothing has been done except to take levels and to import a sand-dredge, which I understand is hopelessly bogged in the mud of the Lang Lang river</i>. (<i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, November 20, 1913, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66184346">here</a>) </div><div><br />June 1914 <i>- Good progress is being made with the renovating and remodelling of the State School by the contractors, Messrs Parsons and Weller, whose contract price is £530. The school, which is being temporarily conducted in the hall, has an average attendance of 50 scholars, the teacher, Mr Wilson, having two assistants. The school has been removed about three chains from its old site, with the ostensible purpose of raising the elevation on account of floods, but the floor is not an inch above the level of the old school. Mr Keast, M.L.A., referred to this matter when at Five Mile on Friday, and said that if representations were made to to him it was not too late to alter the location of the building. The proposed school will have ample accommodation, which is in painful contrast to the Kooweerup school, where 73 children are housed in a building 34ft x 23ft, with less air space than the regulations of the department provide for. </i> (<i>Lang Lang Guardian</i>, June 24, 1914, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119510883">here</a>) </div><div><br /></div><div>June 1914 - <i>A School below flood level - Good progress is being made with the erection of a new school at Five Mile, the contract price being £530. During the flood in 1911, caused by the overflow of the Kooweerup Canal, there was two feet of water in the school, and a request was made that the floor should be raised above flood level. The new school, however, is being erected on the same site, and the floor elevation is the same as that of the old school. Mr. Keast, M.L.A., is inquiring into the matter.</i></div><div>(<i>The Age</i>, June 27, 1914, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189417967 ">here</a>) <br /><div><br /></div><div>July 1914 - <i>The five-mile school and teacher's residence, which was recently removed by the Education department about a couple of chains, has, as was generally expected been flooded by the recent rains and unless the school is raised to the level of the road it will always be liable to be flooded after heavy rain. There are large quantities of sand, brought down by the flood about 3 years ago, lying on both banks of the canal, partly covered with grass and ti-tree, which might be used for filling up the site.</i> (<i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, July 23, 1914, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66185759">here</a>) </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVp01LjDdhhRkoaA86ei2AyTwpJqslBA67rUS2C0okLUt4cPxevY7SVWyq3mGo-gS47PtLWyADrK8bHGT487NqsmkastOksknBiJdB5yMBKmWtdl9UTGqKfXWYSIq5wxgtZXFPSGp1dB08ZOM_9gKWECZ93EaqSQxMlbKynMfD7BgzkBj3dTbv2jvhlc/s1716/KWRN%20School%202%201927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1716" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVp01LjDdhhRkoaA86ei2AyTwpJqslBA67rUS2C0okLUt4cPxevY7SVWyq3mGo-gS47PtLWyADrK8bHGT487NqsmkastOksknBiJdB5yMBKmWtdl9UTGqKfXWYSIq5wxgtZXFPSGp1dB08ZOM_9gKWECZ93EaqSQxMlbKynMfD7BgzkBj3dTbv2jvhlc/w640-h436/KWRN%20School%202%201927.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup North School, 1927</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society</span></div><div><br /></div><div>September 1918 - <i>The head teacher of the Five Mile School, Mr Donald, had to get out on Wednesday and wade waist deep, carrying his family to safety. All their furniture, etc., had to be hung up out of the flood fiend's grip. The water was a foot deep in the school, which was closed for the remainder of the week. This building is situated in a position particularly liable to flood, for every freshet in the Five Mile drain causes inconvenience. During the two years of the present teacher's regime he has suffered no less than 23 floodings, a record that must surely reach the limit of exasperation. The structure was removed about 100 yards some time ago, to evade or try to minimise the risk, but without any relief. The Five Mile Hall also suffered a visitation, as usual. A ball was to have been held on Wednesday night, but by that time there was a foot of water inside, and the waters danced the "flood glide" at their own pleasure. The ball was postponed to Tuesday of this week. </i>(<i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, September 11, 1918, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127198285">here</a>)</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCxPTYLjvQ8C-bd_o1Il-vVfA3OgRM-6ziofML6ymxLqtN2-0PPkIR1I7G5tRKByPYtq5PHk_ihAD5QxMGugH_U6jswgEFqhYE4L_UiIobEO0AsZhi9DWTtN-15oX2pN35L7mTAYZrlO8eGYk8UUQpP2Lu_efEjONmZ6SusuNhaOfqEpbQ_nMC2vilag/w640-h416/kWRN%20School%20Residence%201927.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div>Koo Wee Rup North School Residence, 1927</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society</span></div></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div>The teacher, Mr Donald who suffered the 23 floods, was John Robert Donald, who was born in August 1874 and began his teaching career with the Education Department in 1892. He was appointed to Koo Wee Rup North on January 1, 1916, having previously been at Brookside, near Bright. He was transferred from Koo Wee Rup North in April 1919 and in the 1921 Electoral Roll was living at 146 Gatehouse Street, Parkville. John had married Clara Cecilia Powell in 1903, they had three children Robert Stewart (born 1905-1992), Nancy Mavis (1908-1992 Mrs Raymond Kitson) and Charles Douglas (1910-1979). Robert and Charles both served in the Army in World War Two. Clara has a short term of employment at the Education Department as the sewing mistress at Brookside and Koo Wee Rup North, and her appointment ended when John left the Koo Wee Rup North School. John died in 1962, aged 87 and Clara in 1949, aged 67. They were both cremated at Springvale Botanical Cemetery. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3).</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk6LyAoAHmKrrV4ac9QEAuUlq8QtY7LmT1W55w9bflq1Vzx1xnRoyrdfLT4u6lnl9g3G6UrwvRdiJCoshmGADbFMfLV8pf1kxRl6RylrTsxcNR-sCcotohUJFo5jLPJ1_qlr1T8yzwoc82MTD5uWrjyKSHZP0pMHmbdcSJzVIxbrcn-yi2hPLxk2XAok/s1758/KWR%20North%20Hall%201927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1758" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk6LyAoAHmKrrV4ac9QEAuUlq8QtY7LmT1W55w9bflq1Vzx1xnRoyrdfLT4u6lnl9g3G6UrwvRdiJCoshmGADbFMfLV8pf1kxRl6RylrTsxcNR-sCcotohUJFo5jLPJ1_qlr1T8yzwoc82MTD5uWrjyKSHZP0pMHmbdcSJzVIxbrcn-yi2hPLxk2XAok/w640-h420/KWR%20North%20Hall%201927.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup North Hall, 1927</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Koo Wee Rup North Hall was built in 1910 or 1911. In November 1910 the Shire of Cranbourne received correspondence <i>from Public Health department, submitting plans and specifications regarding proposed public hall at the Five-mile, Kooweerup. </i>The first mention I could find of the use of the hall was in June 1911, but it was most likely opened earlier than that. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4) </span>It has been demolished, maybe in the 1980s. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) More information here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2018/06/early-swamp-schools.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2018/06/early-swamp-schools.html</a> and <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/10/state-primary-schools-called-koo-wee-rup.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/10/state-primary-schools-called-koo-wee-rup.html</a></div><div>(2) <i>The Age</i> May 10, 1909, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196116480">here</a>, notes <i>A new Methodist Church is to be erected at Five Mile.</i></div><div>(3) John Robert Donald - Public Records Office of Victoria Teacher records (1863-1959) Series 13579; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; Springvale Botanical Cemetery <a href="https://smct.org.au/our-locations/about-springvale-botanical-cemetery">https://smct.org.au/our-locations/about-springvale-botanical-cemetery</a> ; WW2 Nominal Rolls <a href="https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2">https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2</a></div><div>(4) <i>The Argus</i>, June 15, 1910, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10864344">here</a> - <i>A new public hall is to be erected at Five mile. </i></div><div><i>South Bourke & Mornington Journal</i>, November 10, 1910, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66202655">here</a> - Shire of Cranbourne received correspondence <i>from Public Health department, submitting plans and specifications regarding </i><i>proposed public hall at the Five-mile, Kooweerup. </i></div><div><i>The Argus,</i> June 29, 1911, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10913613">here</a>,<i> - A public meeting will be held at the Five-mile Hall to consider the best means of preventing a recurrence of the recent floods on the swamp. Messrs W.S. Keast and A. Downward, M.L.A.'s, will address the gathering. </i></div><div>A report of the meeting can be read in <i>The Age</i>, June 30, 1911, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196191175">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-25848952566611481282023-10-10T23:08:00.015-07:002023-10-19T21:26:04.742-07:00Batty's Island and Thomas Batty (c. 1802 -1885)<p>Batty's Island is an area of land on the northern edge of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, south-east of Tynong and south-west of Garfield. It was actually an island surrounded by water before the Koo Wee Rup Swamp was drained, the main work of which took place between 1889 and 1893 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1).</span> It is named after Thomas Batty, the original selector. Thomas was born Yorkshire in c.1802, married Nancy Buchanan in 1837; they had one daughter, Julia, who married Horace Nelson in 1869. I have more details about the life of Thomas and his family towards the end of this post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCSMt2q0pIcWbnOcNNcCXHHdycerP605uyBAEONtIIinHLjyd1BvleILd7YqwZ_toKn-GuaC11Z3iy1Ua_AIOm7cqDy53zcaSABXMYh5mXie7VMZioWuFZcKwA8l1XCbo57wmrwlWhpHiwXEUirz5yH9iUNppfIFi4NEqX30PZMs-0Xna4jRH4pCoj3I/s2896/ha000975%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="2896" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCSMt2q0pIcWbnOcNNcCXHHdycerP605uyBAEONtIIinHLjyd1BvleILd7YqwZ_toKn-GuaC11Z3iy1Ua_AIOm7cqDy53zcaSABXMYh5mXie7VMZioWuFZcKwA8l1XCbo57wmrwlWhpHiwXEUirz5yH9iUNppfIFi4NEqX30PZMs-0Xna4jRH4pCoj3I/w640-h492/ha000975%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*click on image to enlarge*</span> Batty Island, Lot 18, clearly shown on this 1887 Parish of Bunyip map. Both Tynong Railway Station and Garfield Railway Station (then called Hope Town) are marked on the map. The land to the right of Batty Island was that belonging to Cyrus Mason, whom I have written about <a href="https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/12/cyrus-mason-buonarotti-club-and.html">here</a>. It was previously owned by William McKeone, whom I have written about <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/02/tynong-short-history.html">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Detail of Bunyip, County of Mornington, photo-lithographed at the Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Melbourne, by J. Noone 10. 5. 87. [1887] State Library of Victoria Image <a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/204488">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/204488</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The first we find of Thomas Batty in the newspapers was in <i>The Age</i>, December 20, 1872 when the following notice appeared - <i>Land Act 1869 - Schedule of Applications to be considered by the Local Land Board, at Cranbourne, on Monday, 23rd December, 1872, at ten a.m. </i>and amongst the 22 applications was this one - <i>Thomas Batty, parish of Nar Nar Goon, area 300a. Description: South of M'Keon's, the island. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (2).</span><i> </i>Despite the discrepancy in the size of the land, it was only 173 acres, the fact that it was described as 'the island' confirms which land it was. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLlWZwBkPQSWTlhVaj1eRJiYD0vhYgBmgsgYoY4CWbMlDRlUjQuCG5TM-6QNr8_Bwk4_qmHaMyv7noKJFspdfLjwkisoAP2eu1eervBdlu1spHAQHQQgwV3-Mno6ggOdOULVUns1w-hDdxi7WIF2bWm3HzPRAL94icdS8B1pS37W2eQV3nrHCOC8ZiGQ/s679/Batty%201872.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="679" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLlWZwBkPQSWTlhVaj1eRJiYD0vhYgBmgsgYoY4CWbMlDRlUjQuCG5TM-6QNr8_Bwk4_qmHaMyv7noKJFspdfLjwkisoAP2eu1eervBdlu1spHAQHQQgwV3-Mno6ggOdOULVUns1w-hDdxi7WIF2bWm3HzPRAL94icdS8B1pS37W2eQV3nrHCOC8ZiGQ/w640-h84/Batty%201872.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thomas Batty's land application for 'the island'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="text-align: left;">The Age</i><span style="text-align: left;">, December 20 1872, </span><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199378245">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199378245</a></span></span></div><br /><p>I presume that Thomas was successful in 1872, however there was another report in February 1877 <i>for applications under the Land Act </i>- and under <i>Applications for leases under Section 20 </i><i>approved </i>was this<i> Thomas </i><span style="font-style: italic;">Batty, Nar-nar-Goon, 173a 3r 4p. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(3) </span>Whether Thomas was successful in 1872 or 1877, I cannot confirm, but he certainly occupied the land and had purchased it by October 1883 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi0XZMlnbv4gVlQ7C3rOzPA-AuyBzS-PQjNuFkt5P3Nc09ZHWqrrVe9nhyphenhyphenHH9a6y1zJJpYYWW7kIlwEdOXUD6m718SFlHrYB3qITogDb-v8mH656kqsgk4WC-Gzmpm0mpydMjO6yQivyKH3SUCaPDwaz5z0-n7R6KhcYYfrnXMUdrkSEdFa3_3kt_bYA/s5539/KWR%20PP%20annotated%20%20Batty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4844" data-original-width="5539" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOi0XZMlnbv4gVlQ7C3rOzPA-AuyBzS-PQjNuFkt5P3Nc09ZHWqrrVe9nhyphenhyphenHH9a6y1zJJpYYWW7kIlwEdOXUD6m718SFlHrYB3qITogDb-v8mH656kqsgk4WC-Gzmpm0mpydMjO6yQivyKH3SUCaPDwaz5z0-n7R6KhcYYfrnXMUdrkSEdFa3_3kt_bYA/w640-h560/KWR%20PP%20annotated%20%20Batty.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*click on image to enlarge* </span>After the Parish of Koo Wee Rup East was established, Batty Island became lot 40a of this new parish. <span style="text-align: left;"> I have annotated this 1907 map</span><span style="text-align: left;"> and Batty Island is</span> marked with an asterisk, located north of Lone Pine Road and east of Eleven Mile Road and<span style="text-align: left;"> surrounded by the Koo Wee Rup Swamp sub-divisions.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Detail of Koo-Wee-Rup, County of Mornington, photo-lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, by T. F. McGauran, 1907. State Library of Victoria <a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104853">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104853</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thomas died suddenly on the property on July 28, 1885 at the age of 83. An inquest was held the next day, conducted by John Startup, J.P. Evidence was given by his wife, called in the document Nancy Batty; Charlotte William, who may have been a house-keeper or carer and William Joseph Thompson, the police constable who examined the body. The inquest determined that Thomas had died of natural causes.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (5)</span> He was buried at Boroondara Cemetery, in the same grave as three of his grandchildren, who died as infants (more of whom later). He left an estate of £911. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(6)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>There is an amusing anecdote about Thomas and Nancy Batty. His neighbour from late 1876 was Cyrus Mason, an artist and the founder of the Buonarotti Club in 1883, a professional artists' organisation. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(7)</span> Mason hosted many artists and musicians on his property, <i>Woodyats</i>, and one of them Louis Lavater, shared his memories of one visit - </div><div><i> I remember that there was a dear old couple who lived on an island in the swamp, who received a letter from a Melbourne solicitor stating that they had been left a small sum of money. The old woman, who was aged 84 years - four years older than her husband - was keenly conscious of her husband's youthfulness, and it was with the greatest reluctance that she allowed him to go to Melbourne to arrange a settlement with the solicitor. She used to tell us that every time she thought of her husband among 'those Melbourne hussies' she had a 'paroxum.' Her stern disapproval of our bathing in the swamp apparently caused her a few more 'paroxums,' for she used to come down and seize our clothes and stalk away with them in righteous indignation. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(8)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>After the death of Thomas Batty the property was sold, however the name Batty Island stuck and we can find references to it up the 1940s. Here are three examples - </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T8ejW7bCK-lTL3db9glvIfq3feUVRawIdY3o8HO2FxkY60pIRQn6otRc9MzUqUnF5RSVEheRBFKKwozNf-HEmx-Ydm29tg2w-IW3gqoQJdqniS2wjA5h3PlVue5b_tQxYk5Gv2yUau-r1oyrwoW5Eg2814tT1P9p1CDZA1FHzhXUJB4AIJPMV2mp8Ys/s611/Batty%201.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="611" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T8ejW7bCK-lTL3db9glvIfq3feUVRawIdY3o8HO2FxkY60pIRQn6otRc9MzUqUnF5RSVEheRBFKKwozNf-HEmx-Ydm29tg2w-IW3gqoQJdqniS2wjA5h3PlVue5b_tQxYk5Gv2yUau-r1oyrwoW5Eg2814tT1P9p1CDZA1FHzhXUJB4AIJPMV2mp8Ys/w400-h141/Batty%201.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shire of Berwick Council meeting report</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>South Bourke & Mornington </i>Journal, October 23, 1901 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70047876">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70047876</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFO8Fx5C-Cd5JFxfJXfa-ndO1QF5l9x7nTnbwjmemQQn4osPe0e0sZRh5dYXKrh3HUofGUiEvdne3SpgdngA1UNkK-tEZsFVDowdmt5hDukqv-kF1U2bXbJ6YsKCmTQcNjsWYfIOzF1CLW-KrSNTdQFJ_YDr-0_QbS8s99_6o3a8y9YirHa1oa1oPx5EI/s605/Batty%202.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="605" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFO8Fx5C-Cd5JFxfJXfa-ndO1QF5l9x7nTnbwjmemQQn4osPe0e0sZRh5dYXKrh3HUofGUiEvdne3SpgdngA1UNkK-tEZsFVDowdmt5hDukqv-kF1U2bXbJ6YsKCmTQcNjsWYfIOzF1CLW-KrSNTdQFJ_YDr-0_QbS8s99_6o3a8y9YirHa1oa1oPx5EI/w400-h89/Batty%202.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shire of Berwick Council meeting report</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>South Bourke & Mornington Journal</i>, June 11 1914 </span><a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66185466"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66185466</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz69fpRNCVwghbo5xl6BCKTBFnY5TVp4HgT0MY7nwXWEz8k-Y0EeNypKOjnKInSYzsgBO_xCA7UTScK2MJuf_9m15bE0RzppQQhZZ1LQIZBqhcDkDmUGi3BPhelS8n8PhYCKt7ENrLDLil9g1Xs03iNqZofe_n8tZWwdOIIKKlgjAtSwT1HhKHgI86Gs4/s674/Batty%203.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="674" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz69fpRNCVwghbo5xl6BCKTBFnY5TVp4HgT0MY7nwXWEz8k-Y0EeNypKOjnKInSYzsgBO_xCA7UTScK2MJuf_9m15bE0RzppQQhZZ1LQIZBqhcDkDmUGi3BPhelS8n8PhYCKt7ENrLDLil9g1Xs03iNqZofe_n8tZWwdOIIKKlgjAtSwT1HhKHgI86Gs4/w400-h231/Batty%203.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Account of a journey to Gippsland by the Rev. G. Cox. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span><i>Bairnsdale Advertiser</i>, January 7 1941 </span><span><a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269452166">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269452166</a></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We will now look at the subsequent owners of Batty Island. The information is from the Shire of Berwick rate books which lists the names of the owners and their occupations; the years are the first appearance in the Rate Books, but the sale transaction may have taken place some months previously. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>1886/1887 - Henry Nelson</u>, Publican. I can't find a connection to Horace Nelson, Thomas' son-in-law, but I feel there must be one. Interestingly, the next owner, John Geraghty also a Publican, paid the rates of the property for the last two years of Nelson's ownership, so there must also be some connection between the two, but I have no information about that and no other information about Henry Nelson.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKg8KsboM2TJ6nhToHCScPZ9DQIXPwUR5vGgDdx7gj7BmLpJ1vOdFkjzvXqnRTJXDiAD3rJHPUZyml6CZ8qNbmGs0jDiiSuWhV8aEXpQUmyCM6v3ZOV7GbLBJydbBrOKFCQoir3rbeX3v1Ot-Tm4pKsDr5uEKt_NAGn5a9Hvhx24c8BN4UqN40Cemy8Y/s726/Rates.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="726" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKg8KsboM2TJ6nhToHCScPZ9DQIXPwUR5vGgDdx7gj7BmLpJ1vOdFkjzvXqnRTJXDiAD3rJHPUZyml6CZ8qNbmGs0jDiiSuWhV8aEXpQUmyCM6v3ZOV7GbLBJydbBrOKFCQoir3rbeX3v1Ot-Tm4pKsDr5uEKt_NAGn5a9Hvhx24c8BN4UqN40Cemy8Y/w400-h54/Rates.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The description of Henry Nelson's entry in the 1886/1887 Shire of Berwick rate books - 173 acres, Battys Island, Tynong.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>1890/1891 - John Geraghty</u>, publican. At one time he held the licence of the Inkerman Hotel, East St Kilda, then the Malvern Vale Hotel in Malvern, then the Commercial Hotel, Prahran and finally the Sir Robert Peel Hotel in Peel Street, Windsor. That was where he died in September 1897, aged 50 years of age. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(9)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>1896/1897 - Mary Bennett</u>, Hotel keeper. Yet another publican, but I have no other details about her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>1898/1899 - Hugh Bullen</u>, Gentleman. Hugh died in August 1905 at his home in Mary Street, Hawthorn, at the age of 68. He was a bachelor and left his estate to his seven siblings. Hugh had previously lived at <i>Wooleen</i>, in Northcote, off High Street, between Harold and Hutton Streets, where he operated a stone quarry.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (10)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>1902/1903 - William Pitt</u>, Architect. When William Pitt (1855-1918) purchased this land he also acquired other parcels of land and was listed as owning 634 acres in total. Pitt was responsible for a number of high profile Melbourne buildings - the Princess Theatre, Federal Hotel (now known as the Windsor Hotel), the Rialto and the Olderfleet buildings and the St Kilda Town Hall. He was also a member of the Victorian Parliament from 1891 to 1910. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(11)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>1920/1921- Peter Gleeson</u>, a land owner from Tynong. He purchased the entire 634 acres from William Pitt's estate in March 1921. By June 1922 the Gleeson family land holdings in the Iona Riding were itemised as - Mary, Peter and Joseph owning 190 acres; John, James and Florence the 634 acres including Batty Island and Thomas, Francis and Anne owning 160 acres. The Gleesons had land in the area from 1899/1900 with Thomas and Mrs W. Gleeson being the first ones listed in the rate books. Early on, their address was listed as Melbourne - the 1903 Electoral Roll has Thomas at Ingles Street, Port Melbourne and his occupation as a contractor. Not sure of the Gleeson family tree, but Thomas, who died in 1937, was the husband of Anne.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (12)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is an interesting account which connects the Gleeson to the Pitts. Mr C.P. Pitt mention in the article is Charles Pavey Pitt, William's brother, who possibly managed the farm for him - this was in the <i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i> in July 1902 -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The saying there is nothing new under the sun has been daily exemplified during the past century. The </i><i>wildest imaginations of Jules Verne have become accomplished facts. Hitherto the difficulties confronting the would-be selector of swamp lands, in the way of clearing and subsidence, has to a great extent prevented a wish for these fertile spots. During the first days of settlement at Kooweerup </i><i>the possibility of rolling down the "impenetrable" titree was advocated as feasable by the " Age " special reporter. The honor of practical demonstration belongs to Mr. T. Gleeson, and his invention is now working at Batty's Island under the direction of Mr. C.P. Pitt. The machine consists of an old </i><i>donkey engine boiler provided with a centre axle, which supports a frame work and top roller, the latter fitted with broad flanges forming a steering apparatus or guide for the wire rope by which it is hauled to and fro. The total weight of the roller is three tons. The motive power being provided by an 8-horse power engine. In 7 weeks Mr. Pitt has rolled 130 acres. The machine does excellent work, lowering the soft peaty land some 18 inches by the first operation, and a large portion of the land has been rolled a second time and further consolidated to the extent of 6 inches. The land as rolled is being sown down down in grass, and will form an ideal dairy farm, splendid shelter being available on both sides of </i><i>the flat. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(13)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Who was Thomas Batty? His death certificate says he was born in Yorkshire and lists his occupation as a miner. This is confirmed by the 1851 Census, which gives his town of birth as Holmfirth, Yorkshire. He married on December 10, 1837 at Oldham in Manchester; he was listed as a widower. On the wedding certificate his wife was named as Nancy Buchanan. In 1843, their daughter Julia Ann was born in Stalybridge, Lancashire. This is the town the family were living in on Census night in 1851 - Thomas, 45 years old; Nancy 47 years old and Julia 8 years old. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In the 1861 Census, Thomas was not listed, he had already migrated to Australia, I believe around 1852, most likely to join the thousands of other hopefuls on the gold fields. However eighteen year Julia, was listed in Stalybridge with her 57 year old mother - whose name was listed as Agnes. I believe they arrived in Melbourne in July 1864. On September 25, 1869, Julia married Horace Nelson, with the service conducted by a Congregational Minister at Neptune Street, St Kilda. Horace was 34 years old, born in London to Robert and Mary (nee Crighton) Nelson, he was a 'Reader for the press' which I believe is a proof reader. On the marriage certificate, Julia was listed as 26 and her father Thomas as a gold miner. Her mother was listed as Agnes Buchanan. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Julia and Horace had seven children - </div><div>Florence Eleanor Lawton Nelson (born 1871, and died aged 10 months the same year)</div><div>Aubrey Joscelin Nelson (b. 1872, married Isabel Baudinet in 1900 and died in 1953)</div><div>Robert Nelson (a twin, b. 1874, and died at 2 days old)</div><div>James Nelson (a twin, b. 1874, and died at 2 days old)</div><div>Horace Julian Nelson (b. 1875, married Rose Whittey in 1916, and died in 1958)</div><div>Constance Gertude Nelson (b. 1877 and died in 1966, did not marry)</div><div>Beatrice Arabella Juliet Crighton Nelson (b.1880, married Spicer Carlton in 1909 and died in 1937) <span style="font-size: x-small;">(16)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Nancy/Agnes died on August 20, 1890. Her death certificate lists her name as Agnes, her place of death at 317 Punt Road, Richmond, which was the address of her daughter and son-in-law and she was buried in the family grave at Boroondara Cemetery with Thomas and their little grandchildren - Florence, Robert and James. Horace died July 26, 1893, aged 60 years of age and he is also buried in the family grave with his children and in-laws. Julia died April 2, 1929 at her daughter Beatrice's house in Renown Street, Coburg and she is buried at Fawkner Cemetery. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(17)</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Trove list</b> - I have created a list of articles connected to Batty Island, Thomas Batty and family and the other owners, access it <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174373">here</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) <a href="http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/10/koo-wee-rup-swamp.html">http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/10/koo-wee-rup-swamp.html</a> </div><div>(2) <i>The Age</i>, December 20 1872, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199378245">here</a>.</div><div>(3) <i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, February 28, 1877, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70009605">here</a>.</div><div>(4) On the diagram below, which is the Batty property - it tells you that it is Lot 40a; 173 acres, 2 roods and 29 perches and the numbers 4.10.83 show the date that the land became freehold i.e Batty was no longer leasing the property from the Crown, he had paid for it - October 4, 1883</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSW_K9rMDss6baTTdlgfqfxoJwID2Wua2ZlFmFsKsU-Eam-ZKTSCJRRbNujikCx0jEa-DTjpafg9IoJMQnGsLE63wVka_oSDvl98SyhIJZ3D97p372ibljMTB888Mt443MMomQLxkUcGlceHRccrSCb78PkZB4ccj1LurdN4fHdQXRSBHO9Hzoubrrq0/s1118/KWR%20PP%20crop%20of%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1118" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSW_K9rMDss6baTTdlgfqfxoJwID2Wua2ZlFmFsKsU-Eam-ZKTSCJRRbNujikCx0jEa-DTjpafg9IoJMQnGsLE63wVka_oSDvl98SyhIJZ3D97p372ibljMTB888Mt443MMomQLxkUcGlceHRccrSCb78PkZB4ccj1LurdN4fHdQXRSBHO9Hzoubrrq0/s320/KWR%20PP%20crop%20of%20crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Detail of Koo-Wee-Rup, County of Mornington, photo-lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, by T. F. McGauran, 1907. State Library of Victoria </span><a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104853">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104853</a><span> </span></span></div><br /><div>(5) Inquest at the Public Records Office of Victoria, access it here <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/4E16068F-F1BD-11E9-AE98-BBBD3FA716B0?image=1">https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/4E16068F-F1BD-11E9-AE98-BBBD3FA716B0?image=1</a></span></div><div>(6) <i>The Herald</i>, October 29, 1885, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241211156">here</a>.</div><div>(7) <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/10/cyrus-mason-buonarotti-club-and.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/10/cyrus-mason-buonarotti-club-and.html</a></div><div>(8) <i>The Argus</i>, August 10, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4028563">here</a>.</div><div>(9) See my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174373">here</a>, for the hotel ownership and his death notice</div><div>(10) See my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174373">here</a>, for his death notice and other articles. The location of the property is from <i>Sands & McDougall's Melbourne and suburban directory.</i></div><div>(11) William Pitt, entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography written by Dian Langmore - <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pitt-william-8058">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pitt-william-8058</a></div><div>(12) See my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174373">here</a>.</div><div>(13) <i>The Argus</i>, August 10, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4028563">here</a>.</div><div>(14) Victorian Death certificate; the marriage certificate is on Ancestry.com - Manchester, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930; the Census records from England list birthplace, age are are available on Ancestry.com</div><div>(15) Thomas' arrival in Victoria - his 1885 death certificate notes he had been in Australia 33 years, which makes it 1852. Arrival of Agnes and Julia in Victoria - Agnes 1890 death certificate notes she had been in Victoria for 26 years which makes it 1864. This is (almost) confirmed by an entry in a shipping record available on Ancestry.com - Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923 - the Southern Empire arrived in July 1864 and amongst the passengers were 22 year old Julia Batty and a Nancy Batty, listed as a 33 year old widow. Despite this age and marital status discrepancy, I am sure this is our Julia and Nancy.</div><div>(16) Julia's children - Indexes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages and personal notices in the newspapers.</div><div>(17) Victorian death certificate of Agnes; Boroondara Cemetery website <a href="https://boroondaracemetery.com.au/">https://boroondaracemetery.com.au/</a> ; personal notices in the newspapers.</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-71148292489425895102023-10-07T01:24:00.013-07:002023-10-10T23:30:27.412-07:00 Cyrus Mason - the Buonarotti Club and 'Woodyats', Tynong<p> I was going through Trove combining various words with Koo Wee Rup as a search term to see what I could discover and came up with an article in <i>The Argus</i> of August 10, 1929 on the Buonarotti Club - it was titled <i>Buonarotti Club: Bohemians of the 'Eighties - Memories of noted artists</i> by L.T. Luxton <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span></p><p>Stephen F. Mead, wrote a history of the club, <i>The Search for Artistic Professionalism in Melbourne: the activities of the Buonarotti Club, 1883 -1887</i> which was published in the State Library of Victoria's La Trobe Journal in December 2011, read it <a href="http://latrobejournal.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-88/t1-g-t16.html">here</a>. I have extracted a few paragraphs from his article.</p><p>Stephen Mead writes - <i>The Buonarotti Club was instigated by the engraver, draughtsman and artist, Cyrus Mason in May 1883 at the Prince's Bridge Hotel (Young and Jackson's), on the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, in Melbourne. It flourished for the next four years, eventually concluding its activities during September 1887. Mason was well acquainted with colonial literary, artistic and bohemian circles long before forming the Buonarotti Club, especially through his membership of Melbourne's Yorick Club. In the 1860s, he was one of the first illustrators of the Colonial Monthly edited by his friend Marcus Clarke, then the source of early Melbourne's Bohemian attitudes.</i></p><p>The Club was <i>a professional artists' organisation that utilised literature and music to build the group into a more comprehensive artistic institution, distinct from other art and cultural societies of the period. Although it was divided into three 'sections' – 'Artistic', 'Literary' and 'Musical'- its membership consisted mainly of men and women who aspired to be professional painters. These included Frederick McCubbin, Louis Abrahams, Tom Roberts and Jane Sutherland. Admittedly literary clubs and societies were very popular in Melbourne during the 1880s, as demonstrated by the existence of the Shakespeare Society, the Shelley Society, the Burns Society and the Lamb Society. It must be stressed, however, that these groups were purely and proudly made up of amateurs, not professional writers. The Buonarotti Club differed from them in that it was artist-dominated, with members who possessed professional goals. These included painters who desired instruction, a cross fertilization of ideas and the opportunity to exhibit and receive critique from their peers to assist them in their participation in the commercial Melbourne art world.</i></p><p>The name of the Club<i> 'Buonarotti' had been proposed by the founder, Cyrus Mason, to honour Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), the great Italian sculptor, painter, draughtsman and architect.</i></p><p>Stephen Mead concludes his article with <i>Despite its early demise, it must be recognised that significant achievements were made of the Buonarotti Club in building up a strong code of artistic professionalism to meet the needs and challenges faced by artists of the period in Melbourne, even fostering a strong sense of artistic bohemianism in the city, and played a pivotal role with that group of artists who formed the now-designated Heidelberg School of painters. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2)</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVvyHCwh-NbAS9GTkCAbtO0oQauCyhhVoEhZaX5esNeFQc-GSSCOndnUJY8xSgvFY-LNng5Bf5XO5VtjzUyywarkmXHBGMwLJ0kC6oKB1a4PoYUqXBlmaC-sm_AV6n-2KWFb1KfxP0n0-/s1600/FL15521453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVvyHCwh-NbAS9GTkCAbtO0oQauCyhhVoEhZaX5esNeFQc-GSSCOndnUJY8xSgvFY-LNng5Bf5XO5VtjzUyywarkmXHBGMwLJ0kC6oKB1a4PoYUqXBlmaC-sm_AV6n-2KWFb1KfxP0n0-/w640-h384/FL15521453.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Richmond Road in 1883 by Cyrus Mason</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria Image H2012.271</span></div><p>Cyrus Mason, the founder of the Club, had a property at Tynong where he hosted artists who had painting expeditions to the shores of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. The Koo Wee Rup Swamp, of 40,000 hectares, was drained between 1889 and 1893, you can read about it <a href="http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/10/koo-wee-rup-swamp.html">here</a>. This means that when the members of the Buonarotti Club saw the swamp it was in its natural state and undrained. How wonderful it would be to see paintings and drawings of that.</p><p>The 1929 article in <i>The Argus</i> that I referred to at the start of this post had an interview with a Club member, Louis Lavater, a musician. Louis shared his memories <i>which were of the out-of-doors excursions rather than the social activities of the Buonarotti; of finding a tiger snake as a bed companion on an excursion to Eaglemont and of killing it with a walking stick and nonchalantly turning over and going to sleep again; of happy-go-lucky painting camps on the shores of the Koo-wee-rup Swamp.</i></p><p><i>"Often we used to set out from Mr. Cyrus Mason's estate at Tynong for the old Koo-wee-rup swamp, with a loaf of bread, a bag of tomatoes, a bag of oysters, bottles of beer and plenty of cigarettes," said Mr. Lavater. "Painting was the first object of the expeditions, but the rough life had a zest all its own which appealed strongly to all of us and the humour! I wonder whether humour is gone from the bush roads when I think of the incidents of those excursions. I remember that there was a dear old couple who lived on an island in the swamp, who received a letter from a Melbourne solicitor stating that they had been left a small sum of money. The old woman, who was aged 84 years - four years older than her husband-was keenly conscious of her husband's youthfulness, and it was with the greatest reluctance that she allowed him to go to Melbourne to arrange a settlement with the solicitor. She used to tell us that every time she thought of her husband among 'those Melbourne hussies' she had a 'paroxum.' Her stern disapproval of our bathing in the swamp apparently caused her a few more 'paroxums,' for she used to come down and seize our clothes and stalk away with them in righteous indignation." </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpiS5Xy4vRx1fHpavvg4nOYUvCxpVf22ykcfMq21J28FIDD6a0GacOIkkNAE5hIQO73v-P3VbavQvov9EPV6xbfiZPY4iIhQkuOiR4keWVsWJQC6OzzTgxo3dPVxcCayL-kDd2PYFq3iW/s1600/FL15937274.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpiS5Xy4vRx1fHpavvg4nOYUvCxpVf22ykcfMq21J28FIDD6a0GacOIkkNAE5hIQO73v-P3VbavQvov9EPV6xbfiZPY4iIhQkuOiR4keWVsWJQC6OzzTgxo3dPVxcCayL-kDd2PYFq3iW/w506-h640/FL15937274.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><p style="text-align: right;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">Map of the Colony of Victoria designed, lithographed and printed by Cyrus Mason, 1854.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria click here to see a high resolution version <a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/119498">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/119498</a></span></div><p>Cyrus Mason was born in London in 1829. He undertook an apprenticeship as a lithographer and in the May of 1853 arrived in Melbourne. In September 1856 he joined the Victorian Railways as a lithographic draughtsman and set up its lithographic printing branch. He left the Railways in 1864 had various jobs, was a member of different Artist's Societies, undertook freelance work, lectured and as we saw established the Buonarotti Club in 1883. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span> You can read a more extensive account of Cyrus Mason's life in an article by Thomas Darragh in <i>Design and Art Australia Online</i> <a href="https://www.daao.org.au/bio/cyrus-mason/biography/">here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rKgbMi9w3X7Xv1zpKZzUTpwsaZP0P0yYATsxvptutBCemwgU9xvz2vrhbi7IPjb_r3qdjhdJ4xThbSy0BKzWmDlZ9jIq7HudOWYZ2iUmclgf0s_qQ7NdtIvvMT6fYHOANwNJs-oJofTN/s1591/FL16160377.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1591" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rKgbMi9w3X7Xv1zpKZzUTpwsaZP0P0yYATsxvptutBCemwgU9xvz2vrhbi7IPjb_r3qdjhdJ4xThbSy0BKzWmDlZ9jIq7HudOWYZ2iUmclgf0s_qQ7NdtIvvMT6fYHOANwNJs-oJofTN/w640-h470/FL16160377.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Camping on the road. Artist W.H.O., lithographed and published by Cyrus Mason, 1855</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria Image H83.236/2</span></div><p>Cyrus Mason purchased 282 acres of land around December 1876 from William McKeone <span style="font-size: x-small;">(5)</span> and he called the property <i>Woodyats</i>. He was listed in the Shire of Berwick Rate books up until the 1898/1899 book; during this time his occupation was initially listed as a Draughtsman, but later changed to Grazier and towards the end it changed to the more refined Gentleman. Thomas Darragh says he returned to Melbourne about 1900, so this tallies with the entries in the Rate books. At Tynong, Cyrus bred Romney Marsh sheep and was a breeder of some note and participated in Stud Sheep sales, as we see from the advertisement, below.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IeXBDyEXNAjzBrqrgf-Mgnsdw2XpV3ikvgoyIe2VBekazv3Xx0W8tVraXvXvW7AzBtv6QMTr8SPVg-OD6pvlnfjEjxjt8SlyiHtsdwfhpFRl-rAbYzDFgzk8axVhW_Cxd5l2OcqErovp/s671/sheep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="518" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IeXBDyEXNAjzBrqrgf-Mgnsdw2XpV3ikvgoyIe2VBekazv3Xx0W8tVraXvXvW7AzBtv6QMTr8SPVg-OD6pvlnfjEjxjt8SlyiHtsdwfhpFRl-rAbYzDFgzk8axVhW_Cxd5l2OcqErovp/w309-h400/sheep.JPG" width="309" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Annual stud sales including Cyrus Mason's <i>Woodyats</i> stud at Tynong</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sydney Mail</i> August 13, 1887 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165222851?">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165222851?</a></span></div><p>I wanted to find the exact location of <i>Woodyats </i>and the Rate books list the property as Lots 16 & 17, Parish of Bunyip, and it is shown on the 1887 map immediately below. A later map from 1907, created after the Parish of Koo Wee Rup East was established, shows the allotments renumbered as 55C and 55B and part of the new Parish. The property is south-west of Garfield, facing onto what would now be Mont Albert Road. The property was on high ground on the edge of the Swamp or the <i>on the shores of the Koo-wee-rup Swamp</i> as Louis Lavatar noted <span style="font-size: x-small;">(6)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UL7A7WVUfJ9qmotKCbTLP-WZH1LU1rinGiThEO7XNr2E2UnTWBGjdnQAVLMkHUqN8eN99TDqtHU3lCLsv04fOE0OMfaHkmzr1QFFNaKbNgV1xfDzs3e2IJFmP7JzbbY44NvSVAMYnmweiGgSvqMKMsDhZwiUAL8tigdfJgQKtZ8UZ3lCXl2cL8BBK0X9/s2896/ha000975%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="2896" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UL7A7WVUfJ9qmotKCbTLP-WZH1LU1rinGiThEO7XNr2E2UnTWBGjdnQAVLMkHUqN8eN99TDqtHU3lCLsv04fOE0OMfaHkmzr1QFFNaKbNgV1xfDzs3e2IJFmP7JzbbY44NvSVAMYnmweiGgSvqMKMsDhZwiUAL8tigdfJgQKtZ8UZ3lCXl2cL8BBK0X9/w400-h308/ha000975%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*click on image to enlarge*</span> An 1887 map showing Cyrus Mason's property, next to what was called Batty Island, the property owned by Thomas Batty. This was before the Koo Wee Rup Swamp was drained, so it would have been surrounded by water. See the 1907 map below, which shows the property in relation to later roads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Bunyip, County of Mornington, photo-lithographed at the Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Melbourne,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span> by J. Noone 10. 5. 87. [1887] </span><span>State Library of Victoria Image </span><a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/204488">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/204488</a></span></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cEany4GAmi4o8aUSfYrwAfHh-qbtoZtLBghqMW6F5RGhNAm80HQSdTN0igJb2yNaWw8yFd_O1LaKBE80jd0Hcp7qqwh-Rpgh1eTTHBIWO2ZdniSNay_ER7nv4KNjEWQRABTwdWjZsdEHNeFWoAmEvhR7ch_yjj7IlwDAvDwlB9a5DUNrTezhd5g1Teuj/s5539/KWR%20PP%20annotated%20-%20Mason.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4844" data-original-width="5539" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5cEany4GAmi4o8aUSfYrwAfHh-qbtoZtLBghqMW6F5RGhNAm80HQSdTN0igJb2yNaWw8yFd_O1LaKBE80jd0Hcp7qqwh-Rpgh1eTTHBIWO2ZdniSNay_ER7nv4KNjEWQRABTwdWjZsdEHNeFWoAmEvhR7ch_yjj7IlwDAvDwlB9a5DUNrTezhd5g1Teuj/w400-h350/KWR%20PP%20annotated%20-%20Mason.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*click on image to enlarge*</span> Cyrus Mason's property, south-west of Garfield, marked with blue stars. I have annotated the map and you can see it is surrounded by the Koo Wee Rup Swamp sub-divisions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Koo-Wee-Rup, County of Mornington, photo-lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, by T. F. McGauran, 1907. </span><span>State Library of Victoria </span><a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104853">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104853</a><span> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />In June 1893, Mason wrote a letter to the editor of the <i>Leader</i> newspaper about the Public Works Department, their Swamp drainage works, the hardship the new settlers faced and at the same time displaying a practical knowledge of the area -<br /><i>Two years back this May The Age published a letter</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (7)</span><i> of mine giving the history of the Kooweerup country from 1847, including the various attempts at drainage, and stating that the volume of water always flowing past my property did not reach Western Port Bay. The Public Works department now admits that my statement made then is correct and explains the disappearance of the water by the process of evaporation. As most of the land included in the evaporating area for the calculation made in my presence by a public works engineer is on the south side of the main drain, and has as much to do with the water on the north side as the Fitzroy Gardens, the evaporation theory is valueless. For many years I have endeavored to deter the Public Works officers from blundering into the Kooweerup country without providing a way out. The winter's rains, unhappily, will compel many of the 20 acre section occupiers to find a way out, as they will be surrounded by water— a result not conducive to settling the unemployed upon the land. Last January I wrote to Mr. Webb, hoping through him to save the reputation of the Public Works department by allowing its officers the credit of the discovery I am now compelled to make known, for the Minister of Public Works in four months has not even favored me with an acknowledgment of my letter. Unfortunately it may take another two years and the useless expenditure of many thousands of pounds to force the truth into the official mind, so the sooner stated the better. </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I have discovered a river in Victoria, hitherto not shown on any map, and quite ignored by the Public Works engineers in their drainage scheme. Altogether apart from the Bunyip River, there is another and far larger body of water, which enters below Garfield the Kooweerup country, spreads out in width for half a mile, having four deep channels flowing westward rapidly, gathers into a volume of faster running water 9 feet deep at the south west, corner of my property, and in a mile disappears in an immense reed bed about a mile and a half south of the 42 mile post on the Gippsland railway. This fast running river forms a chord to the curve of what is termed the main drain, out at the east end through high ground, growing timber which required dynamite for its removal. Not 1 gallon of the Kooweerup River water flows into the Government cut except after excessive rains, but passes underground on its way to Port Phillip Bay, as stated in my letter of May, 1891.</i><div><i><br />It would be laughable, if not too painful and expensive in results, to see the unemployed trying to make what is called a "subsidiary drain " across this large river! A remarkable work to give the unemployed for the privilege of settling on 20 acres when drained, and affords to us an official illustration of Mrs. Partington with her mop operating against the Atlantic. My statement that the Kooweerup River exists is definite, and can be easily tested— (1) By walking from the Bunyip railway station south one mile to the public works main drain, by the track crossing the whole of the Bunyip River water, women and children have used it for months without wetting the soles of their boots by walking over the river on laid saplings. (2) A 9 foot pole will prove the depth of running water forming my south boundary. (3) It is within the knowledge of everyone who has seen the main drain below Nar Nar Goon during April that only a mere dribble of water from the Ararat Creek flowed in it towards Western Port. Had the Public Works officers examined these three points— included in about eight miles— they must have discovered the existence of the Kooweerup River, and refrained from starting the unscientific theory of evaporation. The Kooweerup River will have to be dealt with apart from the present made drain, which is not made large enough to carry the water could it be taken from low to higher ground. As all my efforts with Ministers and officers at the Public Works department have failed in obtaining any recognition of what might be made an additional and valuable river to Victoria, I bring its existence publicly under notice, and conclude my letter with the invitation I gave Mr. Webb last January, feeling sure of courtesy at your hands. I beg most respectfully to invite your attention to what must be considered the key to successfully open the Kooweerup country, and herewith enclose a tracing showing what I actually know as facts, with that hope that you will order an investigation of the correctness of my tracing before commencing subsidiary channels. I shall be happy to lend my boat, or render assistance to yourself or any officer sent to investigate, and if advised, will meet train at Tynong station with my buggy,— Yours, &c, CYRUS MASON. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(8)</span><br /><br />Cyrus Mason also created a water lifting scheme - a method to transfer water from a creek into a tank and thus to be used for irrigation and stock water, so he was not only a talented artist but inventive as well. <i>The Australasian</i> newspaper, of December 24, 1892 published an article on this invention -<br /><i>a simple and economical mode of lifting water, the system brought into use by Mr. Cyrus Mason, J.P., on his property, Woodyats, Tynong, is well worth the attention of anyone having the command of a running stream, and desirous of using it for irrigating green crops, small fruits, vegetables, or for watering stock. As Mr. Mason, when building his wheel, was only desirous of proving its capabilities for irrigating an orchard and perfume garden, also obtaining a head of water to work a hydraulic ram, he authorises us to say that he will have pleasure in communicating information to anyone desirous of constructing a similar wheel. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(9)</span><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="518" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVZUs1AOaf1U0QY-W_w01iEl5ErbOtwgs_bRm7RW1au7XBY1BOLBQvYBDprNbIUHL2iQevImyGWZUsg8FOevIMWR0Q6fbb3cuQ4cOk05d7PdwxGZmKn7pzZvSr_LLN3hWbgStvz8tqjSp/w400-h394/lifter.JPG" width="400" /></p><div style="text-align: center;">Cyrus Mason's simple and economical mode of lifting water</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Australasian</i> December 24, 1892. <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138104822">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138104822</a></span></div><p>There were two aspects of Cyrus Mason's life - the engraver and artist who sought the company of like minded people in the Buonarotti Club and the farmer of <i>Woodyats</i> at Tynong. It was his interest in his farm that was, in the end, one of the reasons for the demise of the Buonarotti Club.</p><p>L.T Luxton, the writer of the newspaper article I have referred to at the top of this post, quotes an un-named female member of the club and she attributes the decline of the Club to -<br /><i>Cyrus Mason's move to Tynong. He was elected president. From that point to the time when Cyrus Mason retired to live in the country and the club 'petered out,' three years elapsed-one year as a men's club and two years as a mixed club. A short life if you like, but a very merry one</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span><br /><br />Louis Lavater, in the same article, also attributes the demise of the club to the resignation of key members -<br /><i>"The end of all clubs," replied Mr Lavater, extending his hands, "Chance carried away a few of the dominant personalities, such as Longstaff, Julian Gibb and Cyrus Mason, and soon there were not enough strong personalities left to carry the dead weight of that section which has to be carried in every club. A slow 'petering-out,' and in a year, or two years - gone!" </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(11)</span></p><b>Family information</b></div><div>Cyrus married Jessy Montagu (nee Campbell) in 1853. They had, I believe, 10 children - I have listed them here with any details I can confirm <span style="font-size: x-small;">(12)</span> - <br />Cyrus - born 1854, married Louise Scroggie in 1882 and died in 1931 in New South Wales.<br />Jessy Harriet - born 1855 and died January 27, 1857.<br />Arthur John - born 1857, married Hattie Adelaide Devol in Kansas City, Missouri. <br />Walter and Willie - born and died in April 1859 - Walter on April 15 at 4 days old and Willie on April 22 at 11 days old.<br />Laura - born in 1860, married Richard MacDonnell in 1883 and died in 1935.<br />Herbert Reuben - born in 1861, died in 1885 in Queensland.<br />Valentine Frank - born 1864, died in 1944.<br />Constance - born 1866, married Frederick Kneebone in 1890 and died in 1952.<br />Theodore - born in 1867, died in 1947 in New South Wales.</div><div><br /></div><div>After Cyrus and Jessy left Tynong they moved to Florence Street, Mentone; then to Gordon Street in Sandringham, and from there to Fitzroy and East Melbourne.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (13)</span><br /><p>Cyrus Mason died August 8, 1915 at the age of 86 and his wife Jessy died November 21, 1909 aged 84. They are buried at St Kilda Cemetery with little Jessy and the babies, Walter and Willie. Also on the headstone, which is shown below, is their grandson, Arthur Robert Mason, Killed in Action in France on August 28, 1918. There is also the quite unusual smaller headstone on the same grave for Jessy's daughters from her first marriage to George Conway Montagu - Edith who died at the age of 63 in May 1911 and Jane who died in August 1938, aged 93. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqqZmZgUH0jK-SA8hxwhMWKAhDX9V0MTxI8O6zE2n-x6B2euIoDjOMUFHZpFAV2z3p4SH75NHWNUs2rPG1l71QyFJHtyT3MSuALusrHgPxRi17Nh_jVUKZ5baoIrRXnRMwvc4IqsYGq_o/s1600/CYRUS+MASON+2+-+Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1306" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqqZmZgUH0jK-SA8hxwhMWKAhDX9V0MTxI8O6zE2n-x6B2euIoDjOMUFHZpFAV2z3p4SH75NHWNUs2rPG1l71QyFJHtyT3MSuALusrHgPxRi17Nh_jVUKZ5baoIrRXnRMwvc4IqsYGq_o/w522-h640/CYRUS+MASON+2+-+Copy.JPG" width="522" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">The Mason family grave at the St Kilda Cemetery, with the rather unusual second headstone for the Montagu sisters, the step-daughters of Cyrus Mason.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Isaac Hermann.</span></div><p>We will finish off this post with this beautiful poem, <i>Noon at Woodyats, Tynong</i>, by Grace Elizabeth Jennings Carmichael (1867-1904) , a member of the Buonarotti Club, published in <i>The Australasian</i> on January 21, 1888, under the name of Jennings Carmichael <span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span>. Grace died in London just before her 37th birthday. You can read more about her short life in her <i>Australian Dictionary of Biography</i> entry, written by Lyndsay Gardiner, <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/carmichael-grace-elizabeth-jennings-5507">here</a>.</p><b>Noon at Woodyats, Tynong</b><br />It is a day to dream one dream,<br />And then in full content to die,<br />Bearing away in memory<br />The colours of that cloudless sky;<br />The odour of the fragrant green<br />As 'mid its seeded spears we lie,<br />The motion of those throbbing wings<br />That up the bluey distance fly.<br /><br />It is a day to dream one dream<br />Of earthly peace, forgetting all<br />The bygone gleam of darker days -<br />The keen cold blast and sullen fall<br />Of slant grey rain, the leafless range<br />Of solemn poplars straight and tall.<br />The burial thoughts mid-year June,<br />That wrap the earth with sable pall.<br /><br />A day to dream one dream of trust,<br />Untortured by foreboding fears,<br />To drink in joy the breezy gust<br />That round this spreading lightwood cheers.<br />To clasp dear Hope with eager arms.<br />And look with eyes undimmed by tears,<br />While memory blots away for once<br />The sorrow of the yesteryears.<br /><br />In the broad march the colours glow,<br />Nut browns and blues and shading gold,<br />Deep purples fill the dimpling clefts<br />Between the wooded mountain folds.<br />On yonder gradual slope the clear<br />Transparent summer-sunlight holds<br />No wraith of shadow standing bright<br />Against the circle of the wolds.<br /><br />A day to dream one dream of rest -<br />Oh friends, your happy voices ring<br />So freshly from the glowing lawn<br />That glistens through the sombre wing<br />Of yon old fir; sweet is the sound<br />The echoes to my senses bring.<br />Fainting soft pictures of content<br />That ever to the brain will cling.<br /><br />I ween 'twere happy so to die.<br />To see this perfect world alight,<br />Just as the shadow of th' eclipse<br />Falls in irrevocable might;<br />To close loth eyes, their vision rich<br />With earth sweet largesse, full and bright;<br />Then in that view to sink away<br />Into the silence of the night.<br /><br /><b>Sources</b>:<br />Darragh, Thomas <i>Cyrus Mason</i> in <i>Design and Art Australia Online</i>, see <a href="https://www.daao.org.au/bio/cyrus-mason/biography/">here</a>.<div><br />Mead, Stephen <i>The Search for Artistic Professionalism in Melbourne: the activities of the Buonarotti Club, 1883 -1887</i> in the State Library of Victoria La Trobe Journal No. 88 December 2011, see <a href="http://latrobejournal.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-88/t1-g-t16.html">here</a>.<p><b>Trove list:</b> I have created a list of newspaper articles referenced in this post, access it <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/141445">here</a>.</p><b>Footnotes</b><br />(1) <i>The Argus</i>, August 10, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4028563">here</a>.<br />(2) Mead, Stephen <i>The Search for Artistic Professionalism in Melbourne: the activities of the Buonarotti Club, 1883 -1887</i> in the State Library of Victoria La Trobe Journal No. 88 December 2011, see <a href="http://latrobejournal.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-88/t1-g-t16.html">here</a>.<br />(3) <i>The Argus</i>, August 10, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4028563">here</a>. The 'dear old couple who lived on an island in the swamp' were Thomas and Agnes Batty, I have written about them here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/10/battys-island-and-thomas-batty-c-1802.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/10/battys-island-and-thomas-batty-c-1802.html </a><br />(4) Darragh, Thomas <i>Cyrus Mason</i> in <i>Design and Art Australia Online</i>, see <a href="https://www.daao.org.au/bio/cyrus-mason/biography/">here</a>.</div><div>(5) William McKeone also spelt as M'Keone advertised his property for sale in December 1876 - it was described as <i>adjoining the Koo Wee Rup Swamp</i> and as<i> one of the nicest little farms within many miles around. </i>I have written about William McKeone in my history of Tynong, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/02/tynong-short-history.html">here</a>.<br />(6) <i>The Argus</i>, August 10, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4028563">here</a>.<br />(7) <i>The Age</i>, May 23, 1891, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/190624916">here</a>.<br />(8) <i>The Leader</i>, June 10, 1893, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198030238">here</a>.<br />(9) <i>The Australasian</i>, December 24 1892, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138104822">here</a>.<br />(10) <i>The Argus</i>, August 10, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4028563">here</a>.<br />(11) Ibid</div><div>(12) Indexes to the Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland Births, Death and Marriages; Personal notices in the newspapers.<br />(13) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com<br />(14) St Kilda Cemetery headstone transcriptions on Ancestry.com<br />(15) <i>The Australasian</i>, January 21, 1888, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143305903">here</a>.</div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-1293599206204530052023-09-25T03:45:00.045-07:002023-10-12T02:08:47.233-07:00The establishment of the Koo Wee Rup Country Women's Association in 1929The Country Women’s Association (CWA) of Victoria was formed on March 12, 1928. The aims of the organisation were <div><i>to speak and act for the country women and children.....the organisation will set itself the task of improving the conditions under which women and their families live in the country, promoting social contact, encouraging the study of affairs of local government which touch intimately the home life of the people, maintaining and improving educational facilities, and securing for the country districts adequate medical and hospital faciliti</i>es. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Mrs Kerr-Paterson of Koo Wee Rup was one of the inaugural members of the CWA executive committee and the inaugural President of the Koo Wee Rup branch. This post looks at the life of Margaret Kerr-Paterson (also known as Margaret Paterson) and the Koo Wee Rup Branch of the CWA. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjA9QgzmQcDNf6M_t2u6JaZAbtpwG34yaLBC_58-d6upGIVhaCLBXQT5WAlSQXykYtEXlwjoXhuYqYvP57M2BJTDYuWwtyEW3-N6KfymP1oF_CZQNcTVoBUZFabLDh0pGNpnLxOQjs4cWqi_mWc2utEi0y-yE3fRUU8RQTGoV62EbDC5YtAu9_-zSnKg/s703/image.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjA9QgzmQcDNf6M_t2u6JaZAbtpwG34yaLBC_58-d6upGIVhaCLBXQT5WAlSQXykYtEXlwjoXhuYqYvP57M2BJTDYuWwtyEW3-N6KfymP1oF_CZQNcTVoBUZFabLDh0pGNpnLxOQjs4cWqi_mWc2utEi0y-yE3fRUU8RQTGoV62EbDC5YtAu9_-zSnKg/w488-h640/image.PNG" width="488" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CWA Inaugural Conference, Margaret Kerr-Paterson on left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some of the women who attended the conference which resulted in the formation of the Victorian Country Women's Association. Left to right: Mrs Patterson [sic] (Koo-wee-rup), Lady Masson, Lady Mitchell, and Mrs. O. Hicken</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Shepparton). Inset: Miss Fitzpatrick, organising secretary of the Country </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Women's Association of New South Wales.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Argus</i>, March 14, 1928 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3917825">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3917825</a></span></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Margaret was the eldest child of Samuel Pope Davis and his wife Margaret Calder Thompson; they had married in 1869. Samuel was a publican, but had previously been a jockey and won the 1864 Melbourne Cup on Lantern, owned by Hurtle Fisher. The Melbourne Cup started in 1861 and the first two races were won by Archer, ridden both times by Johnny Cutts; the 1863 race was won by Banker, ridden by Harry Chifney, whose real name was Henry Dawes, which makes Samuel only the third jockey to win the Cup.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (2). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj--q3NAIYCzaJ0wflwM6JYYKcTR1HY9BRn4dHoAA5YM9aggSa5rqvmjh0PU0IT6WaXSh6xvIiNgVbCrOYuU7beMg3OI7ZiEwTYXRZ4TXr54HLjcjdLMjyZaY_AqI4SKWHkMsj4eTb3rfSQeKxAVqn_ytDoazbI4_vYY0tIvVMTFOsrmh6JYWCQZ-7nns/s1600/FL15608163.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1600" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj--q3NAIYCzaJ0wflwM6JYYKcTR1HY9BRn4dHoAA5YM9aggSa5rqvmjh0PU0IT6WaXSh6xvIiNgVbCrOYuU7beMg3OI7ZiEwTYXRZ4TXr54HLjcjdLMjyZaY_AqI4SKWHkMsj4eTb3rfSQeKxAVqn_ytDoazbI4_vYY0tIvVMTFOsrmh6JYWCQZ-7nns/w640-h470/FL15608163.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lantern, the winner of the 1864 Melbourne Cup, ridden by Margaret's father. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Engraver: Robertson. Image first appeared in <i>The Australian News for Home Reader</i> on </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">November 25, 1864. State Library of Victoria Image IAN25/11/64/8</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>In December 1879 at a licensing hearing, Samuel applied<i> a certificate authorising the issue of a Publican's Licence for a house at Rankin's-road, to be known as Station Hotel, containing eight rooms, exclusive of those required for the use of the family. </i>He was was unsuccessful <i>as the building was a wooden affair, which was by no means suitable to the place, or the wants of intending customer</i>s. He was eventually successful as his Palace Hotel was erected, on the corner of Rankins and Racecourse Road, by 1882. In 1892, Samuel was elected as a Councillor to the Borough of Kensington and Flemington. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3).</span> He and Matilda had nine children - Margaret McAlpin (1871), Grace Matilda (1874), Beatrice Sherman (1875), Samuel Ernest (1878-1878), Samuel Albert (1880), Victor Newton (1882), Unnamed boy (died at one day old in 1883), George William (1885) and Oscar Calder (1887). <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div>Their marriage was not all smooth sailing as in July 1893 Matilda charged Samuel with assault and asked for maintenance. <i>The Age</i> reported on the hearing held at the Flemington Magistrate's Court -</div><div><i>Matilda Davis stated that on Wednesday last her husband asked her to go to a ball with him, but </i><i>the notice was too short, and she declined. This greatly annoyed him and he went by himself. On Thursday morning, after some words, the defendant rushed at her and caught her by the throat, threatening to choke her. The barman interfered and enabled her to get away. The defendant had often previously ill treated her, and she now desired separate maintenance, as she was afraid any longer to live with him. In answer to defendant, she denied being an habitual drunkard, and said that she never </i><i>drank at all until driven to it by his ill treatment and neglect. She had not thrown things at him or tried to stab him. She informed the bench that her husband had an income of £1000 a year, and she asked for £2 weekly for maintenance. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(5)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The barman, Alfred Hambridge, supported Matilda's evidence and the result of the hearing was <i>the bench, after consideration, fined Davis £5, with £3 3s. costs, for the assault, and made an order against him for £2 weekly maintenance. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(6)</span><i> </i>Matilda died suddenly that same year, at the age of 43, on December 29, 1893 at the Palace Hotel, where<i> she was sitting in the dining room, talking to her daughter Grace, when she suddenly fell back in her chair and expired before medical assistance could be procured</i>. Her obituary said <i>she was very much liked by those who knew her good qualities.</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(7)</span>. Samuel died May 13, 1897 at the age of 50. His estate was left to his children and the Executors advertised the Hotel for lease for a five year term in February 1898, with the income being held in Trust, as he still had young children. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(8)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDgyjq6V2zr2G1DBAwIRTyyXrWLPn7M6MwE3VcmZc444FJN4iEcKr20tQ0A8z2CcQmlBbRw8nQ3zOFMpgUj6cZgjsGlwuPbCu4DhHIq26iPG6lNoHGLOk2MF56yYHzs9hZ6tuPVEPfpAjfmPIpuBrTvbu2ZSETbkP3wCV-EuULWIXfEPcYI3OSkqYzG4/s1058/Hotel.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1058" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDgyjq6V2zr2G1DBAwIRTyyXrWLPn7M6MwE3VcmZc444FJN4iEcKr20tQ0A8z2CcQmlBbRw8nQ3zOFMpgUj6cZgjsGlwuPbCu4DhHIq26iPG6lNoHGLOk2MF56yYHzs9hZ6tuPVEPfpAjfmPIpuBrTvbu2ZSETbkP3wCV-EuULWIXfEPcYI3OSkqYzG4/w640-h426/Hotel.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Hotel Victoria, Albert Park, in 1906, Margaret's home after her</div><div style="text-align: center;"> marriage to John Smerdon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Australasian</i>, September 8, 1906 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139175344">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139175344</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the time of the death of her father, Margaret was 26; her sister Grace was already married, so I presume that she and her 22 year old sister, Beatrice, looked after the younger children. On September 25, 1901 Margaret married John Smerdon, in Sydney. John Smerdon was also a publican and the time of their marriage he had the licence of the Hotel Victoria in Albert Park, which he held until September 1905; he then moved to the Greensborough Hotel, then the Duke of Wellington Hotel in Flinders Street and in April 1912 took the licence of the Cricket Club Hotel on the corner of Fitzroy and Princes Street in St Kilda. They were living there when he died November 12, 1914. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(9)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit05ygOf2_oFWoy-dmdzss6yYzRTnQUrmDj_vBh4ruCy01PbfzO18vYvRJLDZ6ttd2KV-T8u5Nt7S4v2mtF1bdkV2SrtKJa8SjDrCG5PGvAm2_Ciz155CX1-8w3Jvfdv7PvCyr95QpUP3TvaHODqJ6vFqSu2CWNu8yIHw8DFaAyyDMI7P11fwSOcJtCdE/s1600/FL15628483.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit05ygOf2_oFWoy-dmdzss6yYzRTnQUrmDj_vBh4ruCy01PbfzO18vYvRJLDZ6ttd2KV-T8u5Nt7S4v2mtF1bdkV2SrtKJa8SjDrCG5PGvAm2_Ciz155CX1-8w3Jvfdv7PvCyr95QpUP3TvaHODqJ6vFqSu2CWNu8yIHw8DFaAyyDMI7P11fwSOcJtCdE/w640-h480/FL15628483.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Cricket Club Hotel, St Kilda, c. 1870, as it would have looked when John and Margaret Smerdon lived there. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It was built in the 1850s and replaced in the 1920s with a three storey building. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Smerdons Hotel Fitzroy Street St. Kilda.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>Harold Paynting Collection, State Library of Victoria. </span><span>Image H91.40/382</span></span></div></span><br /><br /></div><div>The next year in 1915, Margaret married William Kerr Paterson. His address at the time was 48 Dalgety Street in St Kilda, barely a five minute stroll from the Cricket Club Hotel. William was born in Ballarat in 1876 and it appears that the couple adopted the surname of Kerr-Paterson, from his middle name and surname, and that is how Margaret was frequently referred to in the newspapers. By 1917, they had moved to Talbot, where he was the manager of the London Bank (later called the E.S & A. Bank) and in January 1920 he was transferred to the Koo Wee Rup branch.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (11)</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>In March 1928, as we know Margaret was elected to the CWA Victoria Executive and in March 1929 the Koo Wee Rup Branch was formed and she was elected President. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(12)</span>. There are very few reports of the activities of the branch in the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun. </i>The paper frequently announced that it welcomed reports of activities of various groups, so it appears that the CWA may not have supplied reports. As a matter of interest, in May 1931, Koo Wee Rup was reported to have 32 different organisations, which as the<i> Sun </i>reported, seems<i> incredulous,</i> given the size of the population. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(13).</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The very first newspaper report I can find of the branch was in the <i>Weekly Times</i> of May 11, 1929 -</div><div><div>[CWA]<i> Centres had been formed at Beaufort, Upper Beaconsfield, Bendigo, Broadford, Cranbourne, </i><i>Crib Point, Corowa, Euroa, Flinders, Kallista, Koo-wee-rup, Macedon, Monbulk, Mortlake, Myrtleford, Rushworth, Sale, Terang, and Yarra. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>On August 23, 1929, Mrs Kerr-Paterson convened a meeting at Tooradin to establish a branch there. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span>. The next month the <i>Weekly Times</i> could report on a meeting of the Koo Wee Rup CWA - </div><div><i>At the monthly meeting, on August 28, a discussion took place regarding the rest room. Mrs Patterson </i>[sic] <i>and Mrs Hewitt waited on the hall committee and obtained the use of the hall kitchen on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 2 till 5 o'clock. Members will take charge in turn. A stove, towels and other conveniences will be in the room for the use of visitors. The 500 tournament being very successful, it was decided to hold two more during September. A fancy dress ball is to be held on October 8 to raise funds. Members will do the catering in order to save expense. Mrs Benston is secretary and Mrs Hewitt assistant secretary. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(16).</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>One of the major projects of the CWA was establishing rest rooms for women, when they visited town. Women came in off the farms, perhaps on a market day or their shopping day and they had no toilet facilities and nowhere to feed their babies, so these rest rooms were a necessity. Of the women mentioned in the report, above, Mrs Hewitt was Vera Hewitt, the wife of Koo Wee Rup Doctor, Alan Hewitt and the mother of Dr Ian Hewitt, who between then served Koo Wee Rup from 1925 until 1995. Mrs Benston is Elizabeth Gray Benston, the wife of Peter, a farmer of Koo Wee Rup.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (17)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>In September some members of the Koo Wee Rup branch participated in the CWA Handicrafts Exhibition at the Melbourne Town Hall and in November 1929 the<i> Weekly Times</i> reported again on the branch - </div><div><i>the CWA ball which was organised by members of the branch was a great success, and the proceeds will add considerably to the funds. On October 30 there were 22 members present at the meeting and all greatly appreciated the demonstrations on rug making and soft toys given by Mrs Colles and Miss McLean, of Upper Beaconsfield. Several new members were enrolled and more are expected shortly. The annual meeting was arranged for Thursday, November 14. Mrs C. Benston is the secretary.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (18)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The first report of the CWA in the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> which I could find was in February 1930 when they noted that the branch had donated <i>a sack of potatoes and a case of groceries to the associations' holiday home at Black Rock. </i>The next month, Mrs Kerr-Paterson chaired the meeting to establish a new branch at Clyde and in July, the CWA decided give prizes for the best garden and look at securing land for a 9-hole golf course and croquet lawn. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(19)</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRd2A7LGnPC3Pzhl34ChD-ln2VvhmuFZ3CUAt6eaigjDgcuke_HNI1mpYibuIxm9vb9xsZb0_9tun4UkE1dwAQGnFquNulHnN6kJbTOhykymScdQd8lkm1D7_l5Uj-FYZw7UNax1rDLVbcd3mNihdw9-cZbpnz6_CxDHu-fZ9Wte26iLrzG3LcQoV9pc/s254/Jul%2010%201930%20CWA.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="254" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRd2A7LGnPC3Pzhl34ChD-ln2VvhmuFZ3CUAt6eaigjDgcuke_HNI1mpYibuIxm9vb9xsZb0_9tun4UkE1dwAQGnFquNulHnN6kJbTOhykymScdQd8lkm1D7_l5Uj-FYZw7UNax1rDLVbcd3mNihdw9-cZbpnz6_CxDHu-fZ9Wte26iLrzG3LcQoV9pc/s1600/Jul%2010%201930%20CWA.PNG" width="254" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup CWA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, July 10, 1930. p. 4</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most informative report of the activities of the CWA was in the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> in August 1930 -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>There was a large attendance of the Kooweerup branch of the Country Women's Association on Wednesday afternoon, the 30th ult.,held in the local Memorial Hall. Many members of other branches were present. Mrs W.K. Paterson presided. The hall was beautifully decorated with gum tips, heath and blue irises. Various games and competitions were held and created great merriment. Community singing was also indulged in, Mrs F. Potts rendering invaluable service by presiding at the piano. Miss Isobel Mills excellently gave two pianoforte solos.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Mrs Murray Waller, organising secretary, delivered a very educational lecture on the aims and objects of the association. She emphasised that the organisation was non-political and 'non-sectarian'; that the chief purpose in view was to teach various handicraft which would be of service in their daily life. From the teaching imparted, many members have been able to take up various occupations, and she quoted many instances where success had been achieved. The association had done a lot of good samaritan work, but they must not look upon the organisation as a benevolent society.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Mrs Hardy of "Glen Leith," Dalmore, presented Mrs Waller with a magnificent bunch of violets. A dainty afternoon tea was provided by members.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Mrs Paterson in moving a vote of thanks to Mrs Waller, referred to the happiness which suffused members at seeing so many present from other branches. The principal idea of the association was to learn something with the view of imparting it to others. Mrs G. Stevens, in seconding the motion, referred to the pleasure she felt at hearing Mrs Waller. She had on other occasions heard her lecture, and had derived much help and profit from same. Mrs J. Mickle, a former resident of Kooweerup, congratulated the local branch on the good work which it was carrying out.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Mrs Paterson responded, and alluded to the pleasure at seeing Mrs Mickle and others from distant parts present. The success of the gathering, she said, was due to the secretary and all members, who worked unitedly together. </i><i>This afternoon (Thursday) an address on horticulture will be delivered at the meeting of the branch in the Memorial Hall, and a welcome is extended to everybody to attend. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(20)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Other Koo Wee Rup CWA activities in 1930 and early 1931 included an upholstery demonstration and a raffia work demonstration; they also held a stall to assist the Deaf and Dumb Institution and there was this well-attended meeting in August 1930 when -<div> <i>A very enjoyable social afternoon was held by the Kooweerup branch of the Country Women's Association last Wednesday, in the Memorial Hall, Kooweerup. The hall was decorated in charming fashion with wattle, gum, violets and iris. The president, Mrs K. Paterson, and members of the committee welcomed 150 guests, including visitors from other country branches. The afternoon opened with community singing, and later the secretary of the C.W.A., Mrs. M. Waller, gave an address on the work of the association in all parts of the world. A delightful programme of games and competitions had been arranged. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(21).</span><i> </i></div><div><br /></div><div>On February 14, 1931, the ever busy, Mrs Kerr-Paterson attended the inaugural meeting of the Garfield Branch of the CWA. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(22)</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU-oFegZNGKdPQUNKAnBDk5RVC8umGfvPe5cxzEy0huugAyS56194LN1DO6L5m1PRc97ZIEuwR5MBRgvaL6WScmLcHIkEZ_F5OcrBSmiDs9dYy04TJiGwJ8VvDkO43WBSheDugtf2zQ-0yeZnz-488bdDltPMvT1kBdHsCE8DAU_yiCecTbC5ZnL_shc/s883/ladies%202.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="883" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU-oFegZNGKdPQUNKAnBDk5RVC8umGfvPe5cxzEy0huugAyS56194LN1DO6L5m1PRc97ZIEuwR5MBRgvaL6WScmLcHIkEZ_F5OcrBSmiDs9dYy04TJiGwJ8VvDkO43WBSheDugtf2zQ-0yeZnz-488bdDltPMvT1kBdHsCE8DAU_yiCecTbC5ZnL_shc/w640-h528/ladies%202.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Prominent CWA members, Margaret Kerr-Paterson is standing second from left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Prominent members of the Country Women's Association of Victoria, who attended</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the exhibition and annual meeting recently. (Back row left to right)— Mesdames Black (Tarwin), Kerr-Paterson (Koo-wee-rup), Murray Black ( Tarwin), R. Balmer (Bendigo), K. Amos (Manangatang), and Webb (Wangaratta)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Front row)— Mrs O Hicken (Shepparton). and Mrs R. G. Beggs (Beaufort)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Weekly Times</i>, May 2, 1931 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223333619">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223333619</a></span></div></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div>Then in the September 1931, the Kerr-Patersons left Koo Wee Rup for Dandenong, where William became an Estate Agent. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(23). </span><span>There were three farewell presentations. The first one, on September 9, was hosted by the Ladies Guild at the Anglican Church. The Vicar, Reverend Dodd, <i>referred in excellent terms of the work Mrs Paterson had performed for the church</i>. Mrs Dodd then presented Margaret with a <i>suede motor car cushion, with initials worked thereon</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(24).</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>On September 28, there was a community function at the Memorial Hall where the Kerr-Patersons were the special guests. The first presentation was from Mr A. Eason, who on behalf of the Bank employees presented William with an attache case and Margaret with <i>a set of useful ornaments. </i>Then<i> Dr A. Hewitt, on behalf of the townspeople, euologised the guests for the manner in which they had interested themselves in practically every public movement. Cr G. Bowden, on behalf of the district farmers, paid a tribute to the sympathy and help which they had always received from the guests....Mr. M. Bennett, M.L.A., said they were extremely sorry to lose such public-spirited citizens....they had been to the fore in all public functions and had endeavoured to advance the interests of the town and district. </i>Mr Bennett presented William with <i>a handsome writing desk, also a wallet of notes</i> and Margaret was given a<i> beautiful wristlet watch. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(25)</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A month later, on October 28, another function was held, this time by the Koo Wee Rup CWA. The new President, Mrs D. McCulloch, <i>in eulogistical terms referred to the work performed by Mrs Paterson, </i>and on behalf of the members presented her with an electric kettle. The Cardinia CWA branch gave her an oak butter dish.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (26)</span><i>. </i>Mrs McCulloch, was Marion Minnie McCulloch, wife of David of <i>Harewood Mains</i>, Dalmore. <b> </b></div><div><br /></div><div>The only reference in the newspapers to the Koo Wee Rup CWA after the reports of the departure of Margaret Kerr-Paterson was from September 1932, when members attended the third birthday party of the Tooradin CWA <span style="font-size: x-small;">(27) </span>The branch may have continued, but I suspect that Margaret was the driving force the branch and it closed down not long after she left. As we know, there were 32 organisations in Koo Wee Rup at the time, so the women had many other options for serving the community. However, on November 9, 1944, the Koo Wee Rup CWA was reformed and I have written about the first meeting of this newly established group, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/05/inaugural-meeting-of-koo-wee-rup-branch.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Margaret Kerr-Paterson continued her community service in Dandenong - she was the inaugural President of the Dandenong CWA, which was formed in May 1933 and Convenor of the Women’s Voluntary National Register, who provided help for soldiers in camp or those enlisting at Dandenong,as well as aid to refugees in Europe <span style="font-size: x-small;">(28).</span> She was also involved with the Dandenong Red Cross Auxiliary, the Dandenong Hospital Appeal committee and was the Inaugural President of the Dandenong Public Hospital Auxiliary. The Dandenong Hospital opened in April 1942.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (29) </span> </div><div><br /></div><div>In recognition of the long connection with the Country Women's Association, Margaret was awarded Life membership in 1946. This is part of the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> report of the occasion- </div><div><div><i>On Tuesday afternoon, December 10th, a very enjoyable time was spent in the Assembly Room when </i><i>Mrs. Kerr-Paterson was the guest of members of different branches of the Country Women’s Association. Mrs. W Rogers, Group president of West Gippsland, received Mrs. Paterson, and as </i><i>she entered the room members sang "For She’s A Jolly Good Fellow.” In welcoming the guest of honor </i><i>Mrs. Rogers made her a presentation of a very lovely basket of pink roses, carnations and blue delphinium, and in a most sincere speech, spoke of the high esteem in which she is held, and the great love all have for her. She then presented Mrs. Paterson with a life membership badge of the Association and in pinning it to her coat expressed the hope that she would wear it for many years to come. With it went the love and good wishes of members.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>On recovering from her surprise, Mrs. Paterson thanked those members who had made the presentation possible and said that it was one of the proudest and happiest moments of her life. Continuing in reminiscent vein she referred to the beginning of the C.W.A. in Victoria, when she became the first </i><i>Group president in Gippsland and travelled as far afield as Sale. She spoke of the high ideals of the C.W.A. and urged members to continue to work for the advancement of those ideals which aim to help and better the conditions of the country women. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(30)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Margaret died on August 26, 1954, aged 83 and William died on April 7, 1961, aged 85. Margaret's obituary described her as a <i>woman of fine character</i> and a<i> sterling citizen </i>and we can truly say that her efforts with the Country Women's Association made a positive and practical effect on the lives of many rural women. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(31)</span> [I need to add that even though this post was really about Margaret and the CWA, I was just amazed and excited to find that her father had won the Melbourne Cup; it was such a surprise discovery]</div><div><br /><br /><b>Trove list</b> - I have created a list of articles connected to the Koo Wee Rup CWA and the life of Margaret Kerr-Paterson (nee Davis), access it <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174017">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) Report of formation - <i>The Argus</i>, March 14, 1928, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3917825">here</a> and <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3917807">here</a>; <i>The Age</i>, March 15, 1928, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202313719">here</a>.<br />(2) <a href="https://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1861-to-1870-melbourne-cup/">https://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1861-to-1870-melbourne-cup/</a> ; <i>The Herald</i>, September 9, 1909, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241951245">here</a>.</div><div>(3) Application for Hotel licence - <i>The Age</i>, November 17, 1879, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199364387">here</a>; Application refused - <i>The Herald</i>, December 15, 1879, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244748221">here</a>; First mention of Palace Hotel I can find - <i>Essendon and Flemington Chronicle</i>, September 22, 1882, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269132470">here</a>; Election to Council - <i>Essendon Gazette</i>, September 1, 1892, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269390330">here</a>.</div><div>(4) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and marriages.</div><div>(5) <i>The Age</i>, July 26, 1893, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/193425061">here</a>.</div><div>(6) Ibid</div><div>(7) Obituary - <i>Essendon and Flemington Chronicle</i>, January 5, 1894, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269879080">here</a>;</div><div>(8) Short obituary - <i>The Argus</i>, May 15, 1897, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9184837">here</a>. Will and Probate papers at Public Records Office of Victoria; Hotel advertised for lease - <i>The Argus</i>, February 12, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9790651">here</a>.</div><div>(9) Marriage notice - <i>The Leader</i>, October 5, 1901, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196597528">here</a>; Hotel licences - see various newspaper notices in my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174017">here</a> ; Death notice - <i>The Argus</i>, November 14, 1914, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10817393">here</a>.</div><div>(10) A history of the Hotel can be found here <a href="https://skhs.org.au/SKHShotels/Elephant.htm">https://skhs.org.au/SKHShotels/Elephant.htm</a></div><div>(11) William's parents were John Paterson and Jane McConnochie. Addresses in St Kilda and Talbot - Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; <i>The Argus</i>, January 27, 1920 see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1674874">here</a>.</div><div>(12) Date of the establishment of the Koo Wee Rup branch - <i>Twenty-one years : a brief history of the Association since it was formed in 1928</i>, published by the Country Women's Association of Victoria in 1949. Available on-line at the State Library of Victoria <a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/131587">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/131587</a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">(13) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, <span>May 7 1931 p. 4</span></span></div><div><div>(14) <i>Weekly Times, </i>May 11, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223183214">here</a>.</div><div>(15) <i>Weekly Times</i>, August 31, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224407171">here</a>.</div><div>(16)<i> Weekly Times</i>, September 14, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224402948">here</a>.</div><div>(17) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; The Hewitts <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html</a></div><div>(18) <i>The Argus</i>, September 21, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4038567">here</a>; <i>Weekly Times</i>, November 23, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223880278">here</a>.</div><div><div>(19) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, February 13, 1930 p. 4; <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, July 10, 1930. p. 4</div><div>(20) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, August 7, 1930 p. 2</div></div><div>(21) See my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/174017">here</a>, for activities. Report of meeting is from <i>The Age</i> August 1, 1930, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202470931">here</a>.</div><div>(22) I have written about the establishment of the Garfield CWA here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/garfield-country-womens-association.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/garfield-country-womens-association.html</a></div><div>(23) Occupation from Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.</div><div><div>(24) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, September 17, 1931 p. 1.</div><div>(25) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, October 1, 1931 p. 1.</div><div>(26) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, November 5, 1931 p. 1.</div></div><div>(27) <i>Weekly Times</i>, September 3, 1932, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223817894">here</a>. There is nothing on Trove and I checked the <i>Koo Wee Rup Suns </i>(which are not on Trove) from 1931, 1932,1933 and 1934 and could not find anything.</div><div>(28) <i>The Age</i>, May 26, 1933, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203809483">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, June 5, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216061510">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, June 26, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216061848">here</a>.</div><div>(29)<i> Dandenong Journal</i>, September 20, 1939, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201307682">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, November 30, 1938, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201305100">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, July 10 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216062056">here</a></div><div>(30) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, December 18, 1946, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214796942">here</a>.</div><div>(30) Obituary - <i>Dandenong Journal,</i> September 1, 1954, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218512164">here</a>; Margaret and William were both cremated at Springvale Crematorium.</div></div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-59288792420178582602023-09-18T04:24:00.026-07:002023-09-22T05:55:19.035-07:00Garfield Country Women's Association: a short history<p>This is a short, and by no means complete, history of the Garfield Country Women's Association (CWA), as gleaned through newspaper reports from Trove.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">In February 1931, Mrs Waller, the Secretary of the Country Women’s Association toured Gippsland where she attended the inaugural meetings of six new groups - Korumburra, Leongatha, Tarwin, Foster, Yarram and on Saturday, February 14, Garfield.<i> The Age</i> reported that at Garfield - <i>Mrs. Howell was appointed president, Mesdames McCleod </i>[sic]<i>, Robertson, Waugh and Daniel vice-presidents, and Mrs. Leask as secretary</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span> Mrs Kerr-Paterson, the President of the Koo Wee Rup branch, also attended this meeting at Garfield. Mrs Kerr-Paterson was one of the inaugural members of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria when it was formed on March 12, 1928. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(2)</span><br /><br />The CWA was established <i>to speak and act for the country women and children.....the organisation will set itself the task of improving the conditions under which women and their families live in the country, promoting social contact, encouraging the study of affairs of local government which touch intimately the home life of the people, maintaining and improving educational facilities, and securing for the country districts adequate medical and hospital facilities. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span><br /><br />At the next meeting of the Garfield CWA, held on March 5 1931, Mrs Fraser, the State President, attended and spoke on <i>what the other country women of the world are doing</i>. At this meeting <i>the tea hostesses were Mesdames McLeod, Howell, Parrish and Leask</i>.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (4)</span>. A later report in July 1931 listed Mrs Jennings as secretary. By March 1932, the group had 24 members. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(5)</span></p>The <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> of February 18, 1932 reported on the first anniversary of the Garfield branch -<br /><i>C.W.A. Anniversary - On Thursday evening, the 11th instant, the local branch of the Country Women's Association held an evening to celebrate its first anniversary. It took the form of crazy whist, and modern and old-time dancing for those who did not play cards. A guessing competition was won by Mr Will Crouch. Miss Shaw won the ladies' prize and Mr Wade the gents at whist. During the evening Mrs Limmer sang, and Miss Elsie Shreeves recited, and Mrs Brennan supplied the music for the dancing. There was also a stall of articles which had been made for the local hospital effort, when good business was done and will result in helping along with the hospital funds. A dainty supper was provided by the C.W.A. members, which closed a very enjoyable evening. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(6)</span><div><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In 1933, the office bearers were Mrs W. Mortimer, president; Mrs. Nutting, secretary; Mrs. Nilsson, treasurer and Mesdames Tutton, Burleigh, Martin and Robertson vice-presidents.<span style="font-size: x-small;">(7) </span>In December 1936, Mrs Patterson was elected as the President, with Mrs Wilson as Secretary and treasurer and Miss Williams, assistant Secretary. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(8)</span></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Before we look at some of the activities of the group we will look at who these early office-bearers women were, as much as I could discover through the Electoral Rolls. <br />Margaret Howell - wife of Stanley, the E.S. & A. Bank Manager at Garfield. <br />Lesley Vera McLeod - wife of Garfield doctor, Kenneth McLeod. I have written about Dr McLeod, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-doctors-house-1-main-street-garfield.html">here</a>.<br />Mrs Robertson - possibly Florence Ada, wife of William, a farmer of Bunyip. <br />Clara Waugh - wife of William Waugh, school teacher. William Waugh left the Garfield school in 1933 after 15 years and <i>a case of cutlery was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Waugh as a token of esteem from the residents of Garfield, whilst Mrs. Waugh was the recipient of a crystal necklet from the members of the C.W.A.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(9).</span><br />Alice Minnie Daniel - wife of Frederick Daniel of <i>Mikado Park</i>, Garfield. <br />Jessie Leask - wife of George, a farmer of 14 Mile Road, Garfield. <br />Eva Parish - wife of Alfred, orchardist of Garfield and mother of local historian, Bill Parish. <br />Ruby Jennings - wife of Garfield baker, Alexander. <br />Mrs W. Mortimer - possibly Jane Elizabeth Mortimer, wife of William, of <i>Oaklands</i>, Bald Hill Road, Nar Nar Goon. <br />Eunice Nutting - wife of Arthur, store-keeper. I have written about the Nutting family and their time at Catani, Garfield and Black Rock, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/10/mr-nutting-invents-new-type-of-ute.html">here</a>.<br />Eleanor Nilsson - wife of Percival, a farmer of Tynong. In 1940, she was Secretary of the CWA West Gippsland Group <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span><br />Agnes Tutton - wife of Leonard, a farmer of 13 Mile Road.<br />Isabella Stella Burleigh - wife of Andrew, farmer of Main Drain Road, Iona.<br />Mrs Martin - possibly Mabel Florence Martin of Garfield.<br />Enid Patterson - wife of Garfield Doctor, James Patterson, who had taken over Dr McLeod's practice in 1933. In 1940 she was elected president of the CWA West Gippsland Group <span style="font-size: x-small;">(11)</span>. I have written about Dr Patterson, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-doctors-house-1-main-street-garfield.html">here</a>.<br />Mrs Wilson and Miss Williams - not sure who they are.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">There is a plaque near the War Memorial in Main Street, Garfield, honouring the foundation members of the CWA – one is the aforementioned Agnes Tutton and the other two are Kate Hourigan, whose husband Henry was a coach builder and Agnes Towt, wife of Ernest, a saw-miller.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPHvo2HKNEm4YV9aYZ81cgQXsSLN9x0mjMEt4l9ALDvEiVZw9eVZNN1YUvfeDS878KwnYk16Z93szHRds6jTbtt3Cq0ngDh5I0inhPzgsy5f5NL2D6pfrwh8ND3-_D7OXZ8q93NqxjOL7Jo5N7y9pywbl8s3diGV_50pgQ9HnbCRlxZG_4Z57Um_BQ9Q/s800/Aug%201945.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPHvo2HKNEm4YV9aYZ81cgQXsSLN9x0mjMEt4l9ALDvEiVZw9eVZNN1YUvfeDS878KwnYk16Z93szHRds6jTbtt3Cq0ngDh5I0inhPzgsy5f5NL2D6pfrwh8ND3-_D7OXZ8q93NqxjOL7Jo5N7y9pywbl8s3diGV_50pgQ9HnbCRlxZG_4Z57Um_BQ9Q/w640-h360/Aug%201945.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Garfield C W A. members: Miss A. Dohertv, Mesdames L. Chappell, F. Rigg, L. Haigh,</div><div style="text-align: center;">N. Sturzaker (Treas.), C. Simcocks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Weekly Times</i> August 22, 1945 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226563046">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226563046</a></span></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing">It appears that even though the CWA had as its focus the task of improving the lives of women and children in the country, this was a very broad purview. In August 1933, Garfield members attended a conference of the West Gippsland branches at Clyde. There was a broad range of motions passed at this conference -<i> that the law regarding the wrapping of bread should be enforced; that obstructions at all dangerous crossings be removed, and that hedges be cut down 10 feet each way to safeguard the travelling public; that the Lands department be urged to use all possible vigilance in preventing the spoliation of fern-tree gullies in Gippsland. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(12).</span><br /><br />In February 1937, Garfield hosted the conference of the West Gippsland branches and over 200 women attended. There were two main issues discussed and I expected this one where - <i>Dr. Younger Ross </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(13)</span><i> gave a fine address on the work that is being done for the babies of Victoria, and stated that it was now possible to send a caravan fitted up for a nurse to travel to the outback parts of the State.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span><br /><br />I was, however, surprised by the following, about the destruction of forests - <i>It was felt that as a Coronation gesture, we should plant trees. Mrs. Russell Grimwade’s fine letter in the “Argus” of February 6 (week-end section) was discussed. It is entitled, “Nature Takes Revenge,” and deals with the terrible after-effects of the ruthless destruction of forests. All over the world it has gone on for centuries, and still man has not learned the lesson taught. Before man came trees. After may come deserts. And disasters such as floods, silting dust, storms and erosion are awaiting us, in the very near future, unless the preservation of timber and forests is put into the charge of the Forestry Department, with its men of expert knowledge, instead of under the control of the Lands Department, as at present. Members are asked to read this letter at their next branch meetings. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj638cFpeE2hnhsNmVWLxy3guHM-yBdn8AhA8kr6ENt84gr06WTIjDqufzHmAo3Us-hjRjq5HMDMB0GCiNeyYKB1bB4l9Et-e6hyb9Zu8QGKqffTfflABrBhgsrP3CBE0IxwB814j26tlAOEGKn-9wBR6rK9JATqk9iHVR0WHHZxf4GYv_0pyGGRXR1c-k/s709/Dalyston.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="709" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj638cFpeE2hnhsNmVWLxy3guHM-yBdn8AhA8kr6ENt84gr06WTIjDqufzHmAo3Us-hjRjq5HMDMB0GCiNeyYKB1bB4l9Et-e6hyb9Zu8QGKqffTfflABrBhgsrP3CBE0IxwB814j26tlAOEGKn-9wBR6rK9JATqk9iHVR0WHHZxf4GYv_0pyGGRXR1c-k/w640-h478/Dalyston.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Garfield delegates at the Dalyston CWA conference - Mesdames F. Burleigh (v-p), </div><div style="text-align: center;">F. Marsh (treas.), N. Bassed (pres.), W. Masters, S. Laity (sec.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Weekly Times</i>, March 5, 1952 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224017025">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224017025</a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">In February 1949, Garfield again hosted the West Gippsland CWA conference, attended by 150 delegates. The <i>Dandenong Journal </i>reported that the Branches present were - Tynong, Tooradin, Pakenham, Officer, Nar Nar Goon, Narre Warren, Lang Lang, Kooweerup, Harkaway, Garfield, Dalyston, Dandenong, Clyde North, Clyde, Cardinia, Cranbourne, Berwick, and Beaconsfield and Catani. The Catani branch was established the year before and already had a membership of 21. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(16)</span> As a matter of interest, Garfield's close neighbour, Bunyip also had a CWA branch, established around July 1936, however they were in the Central Gippsland group, which ran from Yallourn to Bunyip. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(17)</span></p>Two of the motions passed at the 1949 conference, both aimed at improving the amenity and convenience of country life were -<div><i>Tynong: “That the present railway time-table be amended to allow the 6 p.m. train from Melbourne to stop at smaller stations, instead of running “express” to Warragul. It was pointed out that residents of the smaller towns were penalised in being compelled to catch the afternoon train, as it must shortened the time available for business in the city.<br />Nar Nar Goon: “That the Electricity Commission be asked to facilitate the installation of light and power especially in dairying districts.” It was stated that Nar Nar Goon was promised a service two years but they were still waiting. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(18)</span></div><div><i><br /></i><div>Naturally, many of the activities of the CWA were domestic in nature – one of the first activities of the Garfield branch in 1931 was to "adopt" a Mallee family of seven children and supply them with clothing; in 1935 the ladies were given a demonstration of the many uses to which <i>sealing wax may be applied</i>, and demonstrations of poker work (the craft of decorating wood by burning a design with a hot metal point) and in 1937 members enjoyed a dressmaking demonstration given by Mrs Redpath. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(19)</span></div></div><span span="" style="font-size: x-small;"></span><div><br /></div><div>In December 1936, it was reported that<i> through the efforts of the Country Women's Association the Infant Welfare centres at Garfield and Bunyip have been granted a whole day a week by the Government. Sister Mitchell of Warragul visits these centres on the days allotted</i>. This was a major achievement for local mothers as they could obtain free and professional advice on caring for their babies. The CWA continued to support the Infant Welfare Centre over the years, by donating baby clothes and money. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(20)</span></div><div><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Amongst the other practical activities undertaken by the branch - in February 1939 they arranged a kitchen and pantry tea for three families who were burnt out in the Black Friday bushfires. The Garfield women would have had great sympathy for these bushfire victims as on April 15,1937 the branch lost all their possessions when the Garfield Hall was destroyed by fire. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(21)</span>. </p>At the 1946 Conference at Dandenong, the Garfield delegates put forward this practical motion -<br /><i>“That the C.W.A., as one of its post-war schemes, edit its own Housekeeping Book, to contain sections for cooking suitable for beginners starting life in the country, hints on first-aid, school lunches and keeping of food, with a chart showing cuts of meat.” This resolution was moved by Garfield branch, which stressed the value of such a book to the young housewife new to the country, or the ex-service girl starting domestic life afresh. Tooradin branch seconded the motion. An amendment to postpone this motion until September to enable particulars as to cost, etc., to be obtained, was moved by Mrs. K. Paterson, seconded Mrs. Rogers (Cranbourne) and carried</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(22)</span><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing">The branch also organised Debutante balls - I have found a report of one in November 1938, where the debs were listed as Misses O. Perkins, J. Galway. J. Hicks, J. Perkins, M. McClure, M. Preston, V. Barnes, M. Dawes, and N. Preston. The only other Debutante ball I know about was held in July 1957 as my aunt, Marion Rouse, was one of the debs; her partner was Frank Dineen.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (23)</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWltTLzJDUFq-fNr-zYXwTtCMFf18wTQ0-UVFWcR_S1iFVv0eZ7ciO1aB2DKSJpt_dFFEVbt5Dn5p34m3T51lVwr2Ylo0YpMZGIJc99IVjfWBbb4F-cpue_HUqCYNgrUxjX4AJRBZJ9or8IOpDXMbOmLHZ8zpTcbO3FkJl9l_wAjxgExDyFjzBk-Dwsyo/s1155/CWA%20ladies.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1155" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWltTLzJDUFq-fNr-zYXwTtCMFf18wTQ0-UVFWcR_S1iFVv0eZ7ciO1aB2DKSJpt_dFFEVbt5Dn5p34m3T51lVwr2Ylo0YpMZGIJc99IVjfWBbb4F-cpue_HUqCYNgrUxjX4AJRBZJ9or8IOpDXMbOmLHZ8zpTcbO3FkJl9l_wAjxgExDyFjzBk-Dwsyo/w640-h390/CWA%20ladies.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">Garfield C.W.A. members: Mesdames H. Gibson, C. F. Gates, E. Watts, V. Maud, </div><div style="text-align: center;">S. Laity (sec.), M. Marsh (treas., and sec. Infant Welfare Committee), C. Rowlerson, </div><div style="text-align: center;">A. Bassed, (pres.), E. Cox, D. James, J. Lindsay, E. Parr, E. Sturzaker.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Weekly Times</i>, June 18, 1952 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224019418">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224019418</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />The Garfield CWA was still going strong in the 1950s. Some of their members were among the 200 delegates at the September 1952 West Gippsland group conference at Dandenong. At this conference the following motion was passed, once again showing the broad range of interests and concerns the women had -</div><div><i>A resolution, moved by Tynong and seconded by Garfield was carried, relating to Cruelty of Dumb Animals, and requesting that Victorian laws relating to same be brought into line with those of the other States</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(24)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>When did the Garfield CWA cease? I know they were in existence in 1971, as I have a copy of a <i>Bunyip and Garfield Express</i> newspaper from November 1971 and at a report of the Annual General Meeting the following office bearers were elected - Mrs H. Marson, President; Mrs E. Kavanagh, Secretary; Mrs L. Kellaway, Treasurer and the Vice Presidents were Mrs A. Dick, Mrs L. Kierce and Mrs V. Marsh. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(25)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF62pvuMHHFJHDUIytkzmuAFp9r9234y9lGJnnY85OXR0srImQm2JqiAEY3yinKFCdCi1b-J6n6OgDqgJ39H2wO1AxDcO8xgmfoFs41T6OCOEUkVIz6stWVWt7nxd5izNZqAS4tkxG7ovx1WBduoQYQZF_OCZit-Um2ZPChYPPG24Wq-FqhV4iu1beUU/s2442/img228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2442" data-original-width="1454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF62pvuMHHFJHDUIytkzmuAFp9r9234y9lGJnnY85OXR0srImQm2JqiAEY3yinKFCdCi1b-J6n6OgDqgJ39H2wO1AxDcO8xgmfoFs41T6OCOEUkVIz6stWVWt7nxd5izNZqAS4tkxG7ovx1WBduoQYQZF_OCZit-Um2ZPChYPPG24Wq-FqhV4iu1beUU/w239-h400/img228.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Report of the 1971 Annual General Meeting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="text-align: start;">Bunyip and Garfield Express</i><span style="text-align: start;">, November 25, 1971, p. 1</span></span></div><br /><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><u><b>The CWA Railway Garden and playground</b></u><br />In July 1937, in a practical activity to directly aid local families, the Garfield CWA was <i>granted a block of land at Garfield for a children's playground and the planting of ornamental trees by the Railways Department</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(26)</span> The playground was opened in February 1938 by the CWA Group President, Mrs Gamble, who, <i>after congratulating the branch on its progressiveness, cut the green and yellow ribbon and declared the park open</i>. Mrs Gamble was presented <i>with a beautiful bouquet by Marjorie Lawson, one of the children who will be enjoying the benefits of the new playground. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(27)</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">In January 1940, the branch <i>planted shrubs and seedlings, the gift of the Railway department, in the new portion of the C.W.A. garden. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(28)</span> The local Council was both unhelpful and helpful – <i>in January 1940, the council was reluctantly compelled to refuse its request for a light in the Garfield Playground and Garden</i>; however in November 1943, <i>council agreed to clean up the garden and playground at Garfield</i>.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (29)</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sadly, the garden was associated with a tragic accident in October 1950. <i>The Argus</i> reported - <br /><i>Found near line - A five-year-old boy, Geoffrey Roberts, of Garfield, died after he was found lying in a deep gutter at the side of the railway line at Garfield on Saturday. Police believe that he was struck by the Warragul-Melbourne train after wandering from the near-by playground onto the line. The driver of the train did not know of the accident. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(30).</span></p>Perhaps in response to this accident, the Railways decided to enforce the original conditions of the use of the land and in March 1951, the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> reported - <br /><i>The Railway Department advised that it had been brought under notice that swings and a sandpit had been placed on land at Garfield leased by the Department to council for beautification purposes. This was contrary to the terms of the lease. In August, 1946, the Commissioners had refused to permit council to establish a children’s playground on the land in question. It was requested that the swings and sandpit be removed as early as practicable. Councillors agreed that the equipment would have to be shifted and the Garfield Progress Association is to be contacted about the matter. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(31) </span>The playground had been removed by October 1951 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(32)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><b>Trove list</b> - I have created a list of articles on Trove on the activities of the Garfield branch of the Country Women's Association, access it <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/173943">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>Footnotes</b><br />(1) <i>The Age</i>, February17, 1931, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203332790">here</a>.<br />(2) <i>The Argus</i>, March 14, 1928, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3917825">here</a> and <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3917807">here</a>; Mrs Kerr-Paterson, born Margaret McAlpin Davis, she married William Kerr-Paterson in 1915; her first husband John Smerdon had died in 1914. In the 1926 Electoral Roll he was the manager of the London Bank at Koo Wee Rup, in 1931 he was listed as an Estate Agent at Dandenong. Margaret died in Dandenong in 1954, aged 83. You can read her obituary in the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> of September 1, 1954, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218512164">here</a>.<br />(3) <i>The Age</i>, March 15, 1928, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202313719">here</a>.<br />(4) <i>Weekly Times</i>, March 14, 1931, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223188611">here</a>; <i>Weekly Times</i>, March 21, 1931, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223189369">here</a>;<div>(5) <i>The Argus</i>, July 11, 1931, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4386475">here</a>; <i>Weekly Times</i>, March 5, 1932, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223806289">here</a>.</div><div>(6) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, February 18, 1932, p. 4<br />(7) <i>The Age</i>, November 29, 1933, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203349143">here</a>.<br />(8) <i>The Age</i>, December 5, 1936, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205945281">here</a>.<br />(9) <i>Horsham Times</i>, January 20 1933, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/72656215">here</a>.</div><div>(10) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, November 27, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216064201">here</a>.<br />(11) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, February 14, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216059772">here</a>. <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, November 27, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216064201">here</a>.<br />(12) <i>The Age</i>, August 11, 1933, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204380150">here</a>.<div>(13) Dr Henrietta Younger Ross (1887-1956), read her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ross-isabella-henrietta-younger-isie-8272">https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ross-isabella-henrietta-younger-isie-8272</a><br />(14) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, February 25, 1937, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200679304">here</a>.<br />(15) Ibid<br />(16) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, February 23, 1949, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222209031">here</a>.<br />(17) <i>The Age</i>, July 7, 1936, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204904183">here</a>; <i>The Argus</i>, March 12, 1949, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22715851">here</a>.<br />(18) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, February 23, 1949, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222209031">here</a>.<br />(19) <i>The Age</i>, June 2, 1931, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205850612">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, March 21 1935, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/213964011">here</a>; <i>Weekly Times</i>, April 24, 1937, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223891941">here</a>.<br />(20) <i>The Argus</i>, December 18, 1936, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11949137">here</a>; <i>The Age</i>, December 28, 1937, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205553146">here</a>; <i>The Age</i>, December 21, 1938, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205211258">here</a>. <i>Weekly Times</i>, May 4, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225758239">here</a>. Local Infant Welfare Centres <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/10/baby-health-care-centres.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/10/baby-health-care-centres.html</a><br />(21) <i>The Age</i>, February 2, 1939, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205966291">here</a>; <i>Weekly Times,</i> April 24, 1937, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223891941">here</a>; I have written about the Garfield Hall, here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/06/garfield-public-hall.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/06/garfield-public-hall.html</a></div><div>(22) Dandenong Journal, March 6, 1946, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214792707">here</a>.<br />(23) <i>The Age</i>, November 4, 1938, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205206851">here</a>.</div><div>(24) The <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, September 10, 1952, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222361467">here</a>.<br />(25) <i>Bunyip and Garfield Express</i>, November 25, 1971, p. 1<br />(26) <i>The Argus</i>, July 22, 1937, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11104989">here</a>.<br />(27) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, February 23, 1938, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201303189">here</a>.<br />(28) <i>The Age</i>, January 10, 1940, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204001434">here</a>.<br />(29) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, January 24, 1940 see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/216059438">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, November 24, 1943, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214310526">here</a>.<br />(30) <i>The Argus</i>, October 9, 1950, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/23018556">here</a>.<br />(31) <i>Dandenong Journal,</i> March 28, 1951, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222351404">here</a>.<br />(32)<i> Dandenong Journal</i>, October 24, 1951, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222355402">here</a>.<br /><br /></div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-10672196563621954422023-09-13T04:45:00.036-07:002023-09-21T00:29:56.561-07:00Quail Island - a history and its KoalasQuail Island is situated at the northern end of Western Port Bay across Rutherford Inlet from Warneet. The Island was surveyed by Francis Barrallier, a member of the crew on the<i> Lady Nelson</i> under Lieutenant James Grant. The <i>Lady Nelson</i> entered Western Port Bay on March 21, 1801. Barrallier originally named Quail Island, Harris Island, after Surgeon John Harris who was a Magistrate and member of the New South Wales Corps. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span>. The following is a chronological history of settlement and events on Quail Island, based mainly on newspaper reports.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6VgLTMT6K-XJO5HMTcmIV3uMBqkfTyplhOXb9l_fcK5MGBS8kHGu1g4p4UniiW4_IHzb4s899tadIOg9ECqmRFYmPV_woiPFXGPQsVaBhdAfmZ6rQKVwxCQTjNXtnwklEFUJX33kM5D3/s1600/Warneet+Rutherford+Inlet+1986.jpg"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6VgLTMT6K-XJO5HMTcmIV3uMBqkfTyplhOXb9l_fcK5MGBS8kHGu1g4p4UniiW4_IHzb4s899tadIOg9ECqmRFYmPV_woiPFXGPQsVaBhdAfmZ6rQKVwxCQTjNXtnwklEFUJX33kM5D3/w640-h598/Warneet+Rutherford+Inlet+1986.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Quail Island on the left; Chinaman Island in the centre under the Warneet township. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Quail and Chinaman Islands are separated by Rutherford Inlet or Creek. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Cannons Creek is at the top of the photo. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aerial dated October 19, 1986. Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries</span></div><br />At some time, Harris Island was re-named to Quail Island, named due to the number of quail on the island. This story about the quail, was published in <i>The Australasian</i> in May 1870. The writer had taken a hunting trip to Western Port Bay, and when they arrived at Quail Island, he was told that <i>a certain employé of the lessees of the island, a shepherd or stock keeper probably, once took to rearing a vast number of quail there. They were his hobby, and at first he fed and petted them just like so many tame chickens, till their numbers grew beyond him. One fell day there landed couple of "sportsmen" upon this chosen </i><i>spot, and when they left it no fewer than 150 brace of the petted and doubtless well-conditioned quail left with them. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2)</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Peggy Banks in her book <i>Crouch's Beach, from camp to coastal village, Warneet </i>explains the origin of the name of Chinaman Island -</div><div><i>We were told that many years ago some Chinese fishermen lived and fished there, fishing for the type of fish eaten by the Chinese. They dried them and sent them to China. were said to live on this island and they fished for the type of fish eaten by the Chinese, dried them and sent them to China. Whether this is true, I cannot say but the naming of the island seems to confirm the story. My brother thinks that it was once called Snake Island but I have not yet found any evidence</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span>. <div><br /></div><div>Quail Island was originally used as a pastoral run - one of the earlier lease holders appears to be James Wheatley, and possibly Henry Greer, as the following legal notice appeared in <i>The Age</i> of May 25, 1864.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71vBo1O-21Q6i_6PAqNRhY3F9GoBRToy-EFuKeBSLsXRWdlBRZbS7wnRXUJ2K_5OqM-nfMlFHXEZByYUcghFyKq1j02g_hecOJwZJbSOUwfJXvnACrxXU0R3_BhIQjlnlNecTYF2hQWUA8a2WoYb0jLAvVkeM7InRORdVbs52jjBNK-7KMH1QW6Aqj1Y/s468/Capture.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="468" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71vBo1O-21Q6i_6PAqNRhY3F9GoBRToy-EFuKeBSLsXRWdlBRZbS7wnRXUJ2K_5OqM-nfMlFHXEZByYUcghFyKq1j02g_hecOJwZJbSOUwfJXvnACrxXU0R3_BhIQjlnlNecTYF2hQWUA8a2WoYb0jLAvVkeM7InRORdVbs52jjBNK-7KMH1QW6Aqj1Y/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Supreme Court case over Quail Island</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Age, May 25, 1864 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155012013">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155012013</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I presume that in the end James Wheatley retained the lease, as in August 1864 it was reported that at a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society - <i>a letter from Mr Wheatley was read, offering the use</i></div><div><i>of a portion of Quail Island, of which he is the lessee, but it was decided to take no steps with regard to this offer for the present.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (4)</span><i>. </i>The Acclimatisation Society was established in Victoria on February 25, 1861. The object of this Society was <i>the introduction, acclimatisation, and domestication of all innoxious animals, birds, fishes insects, and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental ; - the perfection, propagation and hybridisation of races newly introduced or already domesticated; - the spread of indigenous animals, &c. from parts of the colonies where they are already known, to other localities where they are not known. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(5)</span><i>. </i>Even though the Society did not accept James Wheatley's offer in 1864, they had already made inroads into Western Port as by August 1861 they had already introduced <i>at Philip Island, 5 pheasants, 6 skylarks, 4 thrushes, 4 blackbirds. At Sandstone and Churchill Islands, </i><i>4 pheasants, 4 skylarks, 4 thrushes. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(6).</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>In November 1865, <i>The Argus </i>published this story about Quail Island, which fortunately for Mrs Fordham the lady involved, had a happy ending. She may have been the housekeeper for James Wheatley - </div><div><div><i>Last Friday, about two o'clock in the afternoon, while Mr. M'Hugh was surveying the creeks in Western Port, at the back of Quail Island, he heard a faint noise, something like an effort at a "cooey!" Looking in the direction of the sound, he discovered a female form waving something as a signal of distress; he made directly for the spot, and sent a couple of men on shore to ascertain what was wrong, when a poor woman was discovered in a helpless state from hunger, exposure, and thirst, lying down in a swampy place, among the mangroves, cold and wet. After discovering the state she was in, and where she belonged to, Mr. M'Hugh had her brought on board at once and conveyed to Quail Island station, and handed over to the proprietors. She is housekeeper in the above establishment, and had occasion to go to Cranbourne on Monday last, when, on returning on Wednesday, after having reached the island, she lost the track, and, being short-sighted, could not find it again, so she wandered about as long as she was able, until she became exhausted, having neither food nor water. At last she laid herself down in the scrub, where she was discovered after being three nights in the open air. On hearing human voices and the splash of oars she made one desperate effort, and succeeded in making herself heard and seen, but from the exhausted state she was found in, she would probably not have survived another night, and she was saved by the will of Providence, for the place is quite unfrequented, being among lofty mangroves. The poor woman's name is Fordham; she is a widow, and is a very respectable and industrious person. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(7).</span></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><br /></div></div><div>The following notice appeared in the <i>Victoria Government Gazette</i> of April 24, 1866, that Quail Island was <i>temporarily reserved for Acclimatization purposes.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG9V2abBkYFaFwH7B820dog3VeScnOtNXmTTjcOzW31DtKMAN4YF52y8DEJcKYXmAuVnpD5dErWK1w_DyrY8QIAqHjFQFTLbJLeuNzWOZKj95KsMqYSHUMRyeO6s1A3tQZpyLdNGd22Vcz7pyANo9YgJ_bT-3mc5l0GelGttyRzpPZsXGy7RShBNG-ko/s740/Quail.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="740" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG9V2abBkYFaFwH7B820dog3VeScnOtNXmTTjcOzW31DtKMAN4YF52y8DEJcKYXmAuVnpD5dErWK1w_DyrY8QIAqHjFQFTLbJLeuNzWOZKj95KsMqYSHUMRyeO6s1A3tQZpyLdNGd22Vcz7pyANo9YgJ_bT-3mc5l0GelGttyRzpPZsXGy7RShBNG-ko/w400-h73/Quail.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reservation of Quail Island </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-style: italic;">Victoria Government Gazette,</i> April 24, 1866, p. 896. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1866/V/general/47.pdf "><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1866/V/general/47.pdf </span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Acclimatisation Society this time made use of the Island and at a meeting in August 1867, the Secretary could report that <i>nine black Indian partridges and seven Cape partridges had been sent down to Quail Island, for liberation. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(8)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>In September 1866, James Watson, who later became the President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, visited Quail Island to help with sheep dipping. Whilst he was there he released ten pairs of rabbits on the Island. The rabbits had been obtained from Thomas Austin, of <i>Barwon Park</i>, the man 'credited' with introducing the rabbit into Australia. This is Watson's description of Quail Island - </div><div><div><i>As the shores of the inlet at the crossing-place are low flats and treacherous to walk on, a thick track of tea-tree had been laid, so that the horses got safely to a sapling bridge that connected the island to the mainland. The total acreage was about 1,500 acres of flat open land on the south and timbered low hills on the north, with two good-sized water-holes or lagoons, which were the haunt of water-fowl and ducks. Mud flats lay all round the shore, covered with mangrove. On this most unsuitable place were about 800 or 900 ewes, with a fair percentage of lambs, and 300 wethers....that the island was a most unsuitable place; this was so, because the flat damp ground on the shores gave the sheep foot-rot, and great numbers of them had to be treated for that before being "dressed" and dipped. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(9) </span> You can read Watson's interesting account, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/dipping-sheep-on-quail-island-western.html">here</a>.</div></div><div><br />In July 1868, Quail Island was offered for sale. The size of the island was listed as 4,000 acres, more than double the size it was listed as in the 1864 legal notice, above. The Island is described as -</div><div><i>It comprises about 4000 acres of good, sound, open country, well watered by three permanent lagoons, </i><i>and is adapted for stock, sheep having thriven well there. The island is connected with the main land by a bridge, and is only 40 miles from town. There is a good three roomed house and sheep-yards. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyL8rgNZuFLS638j8OMpcNeNlxeUA7urjnKIMSnD7f-2hLHcH1Q7nL8M6UJMdEAteXjYthPWoetlD5WQ2ubhwlVaohhDRlzHDbnVx4Vt7xqjKyTXB1b80880QCjv1Fh2lBb69GKSz5sIs6dH4EEMsKjR-6IbtXJzzD7UcolJZa68lKdAVY2xEpMd338o/s734/sale.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="734" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyL8rgNZuFLS638j8OMpcNeNlxeUA7urjnKIMSnD7f-2hLHcH1Q7nL8M6UJMdEAteXjYthPWoetlD5WQ2ubhwlVaohhDRlzHDbnVx4Vt7xqjKyTXB1b80880QCjv1Fh2lBb69GKSz5sIs6dH4EEMsKjR-6IbtXJzzD7UcolJZa68lKdAVY2xEpMd338o/w400-h178/sale.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sale of Quail Island</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>The Argus</i> July 7, 1868 </span><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5820845" style="text-align: left;">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5820845</a></span></div><br />This advertisement (above) regarding the sale of Quail Island give us some idea of development on Quail Island - a three roomed house and connected to the main land by a bridge, as described by Watson, above. You can see one of the 'permanent lagoons' or dams in the aerial photo at the top of the post. In January 1898,there were bushfires all throughout Victoria <i>and the area between Tooradin, Frankston and Cranbourne was swept absolutely clean</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (11). </span>Thousands of pasture was destroyed and miles of fences and much livestock.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (12)</span> Quail Island was also burnt and whether the house on the Island survived this fire, I cannot say.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found another interesting article which mentioned Quail Island. In September 1890 a report into the drainage of Melbourne and disposal of sewerage was tabled in the Victorian Parliament. On the subject of sewerage disposal, the report looked at locations for an ocean outfall. I have reproduced the section in full, and we should all be grateful that Rutherford Creek (Inlet) proved to be unsuitable. </div><div><div><i>Western Port Outfall - This spot was the upper part of Western Port, near Quail Island. It is only half the distance between Cape Schanck and the city, and it was clearly a point of outfall which I was bound to consider carefully. I have worked out the fact that mean low water of the cycle of tides at the head of Rutherford's Creek, in Western Port, was 1.29 feet lower than the Melbourne datum, and that mean high water was 5.28 feet above that datum, showing a mean rise of 6.57 fact as against only about 2.5 feet in Port Phillip Bay. With such rises and falls the tidal currents must be more rapid than those in Port Phillip Bay, and in order to test them I had a series of float experiments made. From these observations it is manifest that if crude sewerage were discharged at the head of Rutherford's Creek at all states of the tide the great bulk of the suspended solids would never get out to sea at all, but would be washed </i><i>ashore and deposited on the mud flats north of French Island. Sewage put into the main channel a mile south of Quail Island, just after high water of a spring tide, would only travel less than 10 miles seawards before it would be met by the rising tide, and would then return on its tracks. It would seem as if the flood and ebb tide should practically balance each other, and, except as influenced by winds, that there should be but very slight seaward travel of floating matters. If the whole of the shores of Western Port and its islands were to be disappropriated, and for ever remain unsettled and unoccupied, there </i><i>might be some justification for selecting Rutherford's Creek as the point of outfall for the untreated crude sewage of Melbourne, but under no other conditions could it, in my opinion, be utilised for this purpose. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(13)</span></div></div><div><br />I have traced the leasehold holders of Quail Island, through the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books; it was part of the Parish of Sherwood. The first time I could see Quail island itemised separately in the Rate Books was in the 1874/75 year with Edward Blurton being the lease-holder; the next year John Halstead had taken over. I have no other information about Blurton or Halstead. After Halstead, in 1876/77 Alexander McLean Hunter was listed. Hunter also had the <i>Balla Balla</i> run, on Rutherford Inlet at the north end of Western Port from May 1872. Alexander Hunter had Quail Island until 1884/85. The rights to the Island were advertised for sale in September 1878 (see advertisement below), but I don't understand how that fits with the fact that Hunter seemingly already had the rights.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvFJZc4s7RMSveeAE6PmoT2ve5zc--iLkxIjuVEbWT4tqDMDYlsCWMpD8gwchNd70xuubg2iJvooBCAoWi9ELeQo1dXjEiQtUnE60b2h4wWkqKpsWXSm3GkQUPFn2BSlBdrA_YdxhlZN3qezc7XnRvMLWEulVGKMO-sqUHvbWjPEUk6Hv2h4CJwwqQ_Q/s681/Ryan.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="681" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvFJZc4s7RMSveeAE6PmoT2ve5zc--iLkxIjuVEbWT4tqDMDYlsCWMpD8gwchNd70xuubg2iJvooBCAoWi9ELeQo1dXjEiQtUnE60b2h4wWkqKpsWXSm3GkQUPFn2BSlBdrA_YdxhlZN3qezc7XnRvMLWEulVGKMO-sqUHvbWjPEUk6Hv2h4CJwwqQ_Q/w400-h80/Ryan.PNG" width="400" /></a>\</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sale of Quail island</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Argus</i>, September 19, 1878 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5949005">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5949005</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Alexander Hunter was also involved in other properties as his 1893 obituary notes - </div><div><i>The name will invoke in many old colonists still living recollections of stirring days in early Melbourne. In the early Forties the five Hunters were well known both in connection with pastoral pursuits and as daring and successful gentleman riders, for in steeplechasing they had no rivals in their day; and the remarkable spectacle has at times been afforded of all five riders in the same race over </i><i>the Flemington course, when the grand-stand was built close down by the river side. With the five brothers of whom Mr. Alexander Mclean Hunter was one, there came out also their two cousins, John and Campbell. The names of the five brothers were Aleck, James, John, Frank, and William, their father being a well-known writer to the Signet, in Edinburgh, and one of an old Scottish family with whom </i><i>sport was a tradition. They came to Victoria in connection with the firm of Watson and Hunter, </i><i>the latter being uncle of the five brothers and father of the other two already mentioned. Messrs. Watson and Hunter, came to Victoria as agents for a Scottish company, with which the Marquis of Ailsa and other noblemen were connected, to buy up squatting, agricultural, and city properties, and gradually acquired a wide extent of country in different parts of the city and country. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>After Alexander Hunter, the Rate books show that Donald Tolmie is listed as the leaseholder of Quail Island from 1885/86 until 1887/88. In May 1885, Tolmie purchased the 1876 acre <i>Balla Balla</i> property from Alexander Hunter. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuJTB9VhW28DEYiG0zsndYOqwiEAfrNgz72-sjEuOXA_dbJl-eOEd0a_-MQCFr8Im-xV_xqMmLc67P87gsxU8tZCJCuoVed48rJz8X0LQjeDE54MoLUM9KO0SSixY9AD73ZsH5PUJOfRMJXgah9PAf6mZ5N-Vy8P0z-57yLKv0qBYhYhkSXA3lI_4W8s/s663/balla.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="663" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuJTB9VhW28DEYiG0zsndYOqwiEAfrNgz72-sjEuOXA_dbJl-eOEd0a_-MQCFr8Im-xV_xqMmLc67P87gsxU8tZCJCuoVed48rJz8X0LQjeDE54MoLUM9KO0SSixY9AD73ZsH5PUJOfRMJXgah9PAf6mZ5N-Vy8P0z-57yLKv0qBYhYhkSXA3lI_4W8s/w400-h110/balla.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sale of <i>Balla Ball</i>a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Argus</i>, May 30 1885 <span style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6081053">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6081053</a></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>From 1888/89, Charles De Arth (also called De Ath) is in the Rate Books occupying Quail Island until 1899/1900, the next year his name is crossed out and in July 1901 this notice (see below) appeared in <i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, reporting on the proceeding of the Cranbourne Police Court. </div><div>De Arth was a retired sea captain. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(15).</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxjUtboatayBLegOhW6nqwXvbW5PSvfCYRZAG5_Hya0IO422suzQI-mCEGgE8R-EWECefrIs6yEGyOPCF1KxnK8fwLgMQZH9bd_sJqROlpGRrQqxxzeUUAbYk_Op78UxKKnWGfwpaTUfwTWDcbWRy5Xy-_plp5y3GM2J1DwbPupN9RlCRD2G6qnauRco/s618/sherwood.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="618" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxjUtboatayBLegOhW6nqwXvbW5PSvfCYRZAG5_Hya0IO422suzQI-mCEGgE8R-EWECefrIs6yEGyOPCF1KxnK8fwLgMQZH9bd_sJqROlpGRrQqxxzeUUAbYk_Op78UxKKnWGfwpaTUfwTWDcbWRy5Xy-_plp5y3GM2J1DwbPupN9RlCRD2G6qnauRco/w400-h125/sherwood.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Court case involving Charles DeArth</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><i style="text-align: left;">South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i><span style="text-align: left;">, </span><span style="text-align: left;">July 3, 1901 </span><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70047452" style="text-align: left;">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70047452</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>After De Arth, James Ridley had the Quail Island lease from 1901/02 until 1912/13; Ridley also had land at Pearcedale; he was the manager of the English, Scottish and Australian Bank at North Melbourne. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(16).</span> Then Francis Callanan took it over. By then it was listed as 2000 acres although it had been variously listed as being of 3,000 or 4,000 acres - perhaps by this time they could accurately measure the island. Callanan was at the island until 1915/16 when the Rate Books have the annotation 'Abandon' and 'Reverted to the Crown.' Frank Callanan was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1905 until 1918. His grandfather, James Smith Adams had the <i>Balla Balla</i> property from 1854 until Alexander Hunter purchased it. His mother, Margaret Adams, had married Michael Callanan, who was the Victorian Surveyor General; they also had the 1,200 acre <i>Coolebah</i> property at Pearcedale. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(17).</span><br /><br />In 1909, Quail Island was inspected by the Minister for Lands, Mr McKenzie.<i> The Argus</i> reported -</div><div><div><i>After visiting Quail Island, at Westernport Bay, this week, the Minister for Lands (Mr. M'Kenzie) is convinced that the place is suitable for the establishment of a labour colony, to replace the existing farm for unemployed which is conducted at Leongatha. The land occupied by the present farm at the latter place is considered to be too valuable for its present use, and Mr. M'Kenzie considers that the colony could be conducted satisfactorily upon the poorer land at Quail Island, leaving the Leongatha property available for more important purposes. There are 2,000 acres of land on Quail Island, and plenty of timber. The place can be reached along a narrow neck of land, which is partly submerged at high tide, and Mr. M'Kenzie says an embanked road could be constructed along this neck at a small cost. The climate is good, and there will be no difficulty in obtaining water. Quail Island is nine miles from Cranbourne railway station. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(18)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Labour Colony did not go ahead and after Francis Callanan abandoned the Quail Island lease I can find no other lease holders so I presume that it was unoccupied. In March 1928 it was proclaimed a 'Sanctuary for native game.' <span style="font-size: x-small;">(19)</span> </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhofTmCnB0Yl6lG5q-uzDJuLMno9DxMl8v2k7_dr9N8EgrpATj7GsUgZ9W9GOdrbokhQpC_l3CVMmv-hqEx0-eno8ejnuNkFA4sQ8wIUrcmIUTdzAw0v2u-SyzNhNIV3uz5DPNy_kU0_GUB_udSo7R4Kdj11JmS68vEjtQRVB12hXtzQNm0Z8ZcfM9IPk/s840/Gaze.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="659" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhofTmCnB0Yl6lG5q-uzDJuLMno9DxMl8v2k7_dr9N8EgrpATj7GsUgZ9W9GOdrbokhQpC_l3CVMmv-hqEx0-eno8ejnuNkFA4sQ8wIUrcmIUTdzAw0v2u-SyzNhNIV3uz5DPNy_kU0_GUB_udSo7R4Kdj11JmS68vEjtQRVB12hXtzQNm0Z8ZcfM9IPk/w314-h400/Gaze.PNG" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quail Island proclaimed a Sanctuary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Victoria Government Gazette,</i><span> March 21, 1928, p. 1041</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1928/V/general/45.pdf">https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1928/V/general/45.pdf</a> </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next time we hear of Quail Island is when koalas were transferred there from French Island. <i>The Argus </i>of January 15, 1930 reported that -</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><i>The transference of koalas, popularly known as "native bears," from French Island to the small Quail Island, in accordance with a promise made by the Fisheries and Game department to the residents of </i><i>French Island has begun. In the weekend many families of koalas were captured also transferred in boats over the five-mile strait between the two islands. On their new sites there are large thickets </i><i>of manna gums, which will provide them with their favourite food. The residents of French Island complained that the koalas were present in such numbers that they denuded every gum tree within their</i></div><div><i>reach, and they asked for permission to thin them out by shooting, or alternatively to have them removed from the island. As the koala is rigorously protected all the year round in Victoria, the second alternative was chosen, and on their new island where there is no settlement , they will remain unmolested. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(20)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div></div>Two years later, <i>The Herald</i> in May 1932 also spoke about the koalas being removed, thus the process of removal to Quail Island and neighbouring Chinaman Island was still taking place. This article talks about Mr R.H. Bennetts, from the Department of Fisheries and Game as <i>the welfare officer for the little migrants</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(21)</span> so this must be the same R. Bennetts who took the two photographs, below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqReRi_rvwvYsM3EdbUQ3QiKKj5PV52kPjlBxV6mnaiPS33uR6fPEX7445EF_8YTvYIfPzBaDXPUkNr41asdP66yKbpgdy1pB_-LhI20-ITTs8HMguMnJNaYb7pCTygOYexG4izR-BoufnNtQ4Y9smqgMTd0_Hql_9qFhQmXllcsf4B-M8HDkQ3CgtiZk/s1825/negative-copy-158879-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1825" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqReRi_rvwvYsM3EdbUQ3QiKKj5PV52kPjlBxV6mnaiPS33uR6fPEX7445EF_8YTvYIfPzBaDXPUkNr41asdP66yKbpgdy1pB_-LhI20-ITTs8HMguMnJNaYb7pCTygOYexG4izR-BoufnNtQ4Y9smqgMTd0_Hql_9qFhQmXllcsf4B-M8HDkQ3CgtiZk/w400-h221/negative-copy-158879-large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Koalas being placed in boxes to be transported from French Island to Quail Island, 1930.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: R. Bennetts</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Museums Victoria <a href="https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/765587">https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/765587</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Gm6SpayjshLtlZEPPlovA5QnZUyJ2fhLWPsCNHwSP0RudABBpOThA5N6LllNSyQavYBDKi3gaKlLAYDeVr03T_ZDdfqXy7e-PYQFF6ZS9EN8FZa-dcd8WLvG5YjLsCSyFuJowxZY5HxOton6T68ZB0ee_3DceceKhuvIf97XPTEKps-CIL8ZEFT4Wts/s1495/negative-copy-158874-medium.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1495" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Gm6SpayjshLtlZEPPlovA5QnZUyJ2fhLWPsCNHwSP0RudABBpOThA5N6LllNSyQavYBDKi3gaKlLAYDeVr03T_ZDdfqXy7e-PYQFF6ZS9EN8FZa-dcd8WLvG5YjLsCSyFuJowxZY5HxOton6T68ZB0ee_3DceceKhuvIf97XPTEKps-CIL8ZEFT4Wts/w400-h295/negative-copy-158874-medium.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Another photo taken at the same time by, Mr Bennetts, of the koalas and the boxes they were transported in from French to Quail Island.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Museums Victoria <a href="https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/771048">https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/771048</a></span></div><br />In April 1933, <i>The Age</i> reported that -</div><div><div><i>Recommendations have been made by the Fisheries and Game department that a further 150 to 200 koalas should be transferred from French Island to Quail Island, in addition to the 200 transferred </i><i>in the past two years. It was explained yesterday that the manna gums on the south and south-west portions of French Island were infested with blight, and insect pests, and the food supply for the </i><i>koalas was proving inadequate. Quail Island, with an area of 3000 acres, offered a satisfactory area and sanctuary the animals. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(22)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>In June 1933, Mr F. Lewis, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Game was confident that transferring the koalas to Quail Island <i>had been fully justified. He had never seen koalas anywhere looking </i><i>healthier than those on Quail Island. Mr Lewis added that the transfer had been made in pursuance of the department's policy of distributing the bears over the islands of Westernport Bay. He believed </i><i>that ultimately through bush fires, shooting and general interference the koalas on the mainland would disappear, but it was hoped to preserve them on the islands. It was estimated that there were only </i><i>1,000 bears in Victoria.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (23)</span></div><br />However, fast forward ten years to 1943 and there were various conflicting reports and letters in the papers about the health of the koalas on Quail Island - they were either starving due to lack of feed or else they were in a state of good health.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (24)</span> </div><div><br /></div><div>In March 1944, <i>The Age</i> reported <i>the Chief inspector of Fisheries and Game (Mr. Lewis) has recommended the transfer of a number of koalas from Phillip, Quail and Chinaman islands in the coming months. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(25). </span>The next month <i>The Herald </i>could announce that <i>the transfer of 700 koalas without any casualty from Phillip, Quail and Chinaman Islands to safer areas on the mainland was completed last week after a three weeks rush job by a big staff of employes of the Fisheries and Game Department, the Chief Inspector (Mr F. Lewis) said today.... The bears new homes were at Daylesford, Mount Alexander, Creswick, Strathbogie, Rufly, Trentham, Kyneton, Coranderrk and Buchan, the last four being new reserves for the animals. The Kyneton site was part of the Black Hill reserve and that at Trentham part of the Wombat Forest. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(26) </span></div><div><br />There is an interesting film on YouTube, <i>Koalas removed from Quail Island</i>, filmed around 1944, about the removal of the koalas to a site near Trentham. You can view it here <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IEhbC6M7EA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IEhbC6M7EA</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4o4djcgeOWmRBjSZFvltmozMFfjO8yMybGF_CNfvcdkCg7jhLqCJZO-IsmaoVBMhf3kwS9FR1RpH6Km2QbKifA0ZBsDu-SrkhTiNc2uKuoAKaCo_LkT7ifUlFZ9k9yaE71UTWo3lS76tCMaVPHchgsjvE4co2lW2pcb_GIAnzOiZXJlM6o66Gk3HJUE/s1600/FL15986419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1194" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4o4djcgeOWmRBjSZFvltmozMFfjO8yMybGF_CNfvcdkCg7jhLqCJZO-IsmaoVBMhf3kwS9FR1RpH6Km2QbKifA0ZBsDu-SrkhTiNc2uKuoAKaCo_LkT7ifUlFZ9k9yaE71UTWo3lS76tCMaVPHchgsjvE4co2lW2pcb_GIAnzOiZXJlM6o66Gk3HJUE/w299-h400/FL15986419.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Koala in crate which is being transferred from French Island to Quail Island</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Argus newspaper collection of photographs, State Library of Victoria Image H2004.100/1011</span></div><div><br /></div>It appears that there were still Koalas on Quail Island in the 1950s <span style="font-size: x-small;">(27)</span> and in August 1960 the<i> Regulations for the care, protection and management at the Chinaman Island and Quail Island Koala Reserves</i> was gazetted, so presumably there must have been some koalas to protect.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (28) </span>Are there still Koalas on the Island?</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNzHuQEEKoTwhw95O-tIE0jG6iztKbvQhomyBpK1ZrbwnXnAfmHkFJYWziKnrWncCfbS7hffQwWrHsRzYRY_VP8uPm9G0J9qzXMvAq_aLUGaZbnQdkviPpAEwb8-E63r2t9YHx2rJcf5wnr0qIgMcHtAmywv2jHAIt_QMzFg6TbtQxgLNceXOgbeQZnM/s851/Koal.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="851" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNzHuQEEKoTwhw95O-tIE0jG6iztKbvQhomyBpK1ZrbwnXnAfmHkFJYWziKnrWncCfbS7hffQwWrHsRzYRY_VP8uPm9G0J9qzXMvAq_aLUGaZbnQdkviPpAEwb8-E63r2t9YHx2rJcf5wnr0qIgMcHtAmywv2jHAIt_QMzFg6TbtQxgLNceXOgbeQZnM/s320/Koal.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Regulations for Quail and Chinaman Islands</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Victoria Government Gazette, August 24, 1960, p. 2890</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1960/V/general/82.pdf">https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1960/V/general/82.pdf</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>There was talk in the early 1960s of turning Quail Island into a jetport but, as we know, that never happened. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9x5PB_xPcV2q2wbyliFLaboEfRLaLEJrWYkiJ7EexIabMrCa_Ef2P_m3w1xDv4oSG0ov84Ue4vEsTVjELsFaR_nbtOYpAz22d_XOM_YzeACArCxdYcbOKENkVOkwPIeF4HJo0aq4bdYrMif7Shv1ZULGyBuCdRLXBopZW22F4wsI-2RAFze-u3pNCjE/s1207/The_Age_1962_07_06_Page_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1207" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9x5PB_xPcV2q2wbyliFLaboEfRLaLEJrWYkiJ7EexIabMrCa_Ef2P_m3w1xDv4oSG0ov84Ue4vEsTVjELsFaR_nbtOYpAz22d_XOM_YzeACArCxdYcbOKENkVOkwPIeF4HJo0aq4bdYrMif7Shv1ZULGyBuCdRLXBopZW22F4wsI-2RAFze-u3pNCjE/w400-h179/The_Age_1962_07_06_Page_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quail Island to be a jetport</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i>, July 6, 1962 p. 9 from Newspapers.som</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujKgaHLSEZ5oebxm4Hs0HqiZwDZOr3n0qOE_ZYenMR1ml6cdQqLHIWUZ0dXE6GpXvmSvFkQC_hG2oqMLt0CjFyZRZ39gVdmBlTRDOuuK-T35JukTqujE5NqiKIlmXbxIkfYyCO_53kBSKOfT3eQMmwC6cgd7OAU9YWoyU8svT5gx59QtwSZdM78gzMrY/s2168/vc001446-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1618" data-original-width="2168" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujKgaHLSEZ5oebxm4Hs0HqiZwDZOr3n0qOE_ZYenMR1ml6cdQqLHIWUZ0dXE6GpXvmSvFkQC_hG2oqMLt0CjFyZRZ39gVdmBlTRDOuuK-T35JukTqujE5NqiKIlmXbxIkfYyCO_53kBSKOfT3eQMmwC6cgd7OAU9YWoyU8svT5gx59QtwSZdM78gzMrY/w640-h478/vc001446-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><span>This map shows Quail Island; Watson Inlet to the east of the island and Rutherford Inlet to the west. The towns of Hastings, Tyabb, Somerville, Pearcedale and Tooradin are shown clock-wise from bottom left. South of Quail island is French Island and just north of French Island is Barrillier Island, named for the surveyor from the Lady Nelson.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Image cropped from - Australia 1:126,720. Sheet J55N, I & II. Victoria, Berwick prepared by Australian Section, Imperial General Staff; surveyed in 1920 by Survey Section, R.A.E.</div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">State Library of Victoria <a href="http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/115229">http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/115229</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div>Quail Island is now a Nature Conservation Reserve and some of the waters around it are part of the Yaringa Marine National Park. Quail Island and Watson Inlet are also of State Geomorphological Significance - you can read about this, <a href=" http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/portregn.nsf/pages/port_lf_sig_sites_watson">here</a> on the Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website. The VRO is is no longer being updated and is now archived. This is what it says -</div><div><i>Geology/Geomorphology: Watson inlet is funnel-shaped with a main central tidal drainage system and many small tributary tidal creeks. The entire inlet is mangrove fringed and landward of this is a wide salt marsh zone. There is a tidal watershed at the head of the tidal creeks linking Watson Inlet and Rutherford Inlet north of Quail Island. Quail Island preserves an undisturbed topography developed on Cranbourne Sands, with important examples of the associated inter-dune swamps and lakes. There are relict sandy spits and beaches behind a broad mangrove fringe. On the eastern shore of the island, opposite the Warneet jetty, erosion of the edge of the salt marsh exposes a former gravel beach resting on the eroded surface of the Warneet Beds.</i></div><div><i>Significance: State. This is the least disturbed mangrove and salt marsh area on the mainland shore of Westernport Bay. It is a major site in Victoria to study the nature of sedimentation in a mangrove environment and the role of the mangroves in prompting sediment accumulation. The area of Cranbourne Sands topography is one of the largest of these areas left undisturbed in the Westernport region. The relict sandy spits are of similar significance to that described at Bungower Point (Site 79)</i> [near Hastings] <span style="font-size: x-small;">(29)</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wonder how many Quail are still on the island and if they are the descendants <i>of the ones that a shepherd or stock keeper probably, once took to rearing </i>on the Island.<i> </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(30)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Trove List</b> - I have created a list of newspaper articles connected to Quail Island, on Trove, you can access the list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list?id=115618">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Footnotes</b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(1) Cole, Valda <i>Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: Exploration to Settlement</i> (Shire of Hastings Historical Society, 1984)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(2) <i>The Australasian</i>, May 14, 1870, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138064589">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(3) Banks, Peggy<i> Crouch's Beach , from camp to coastal village, Warneet </i>(The Author, 1995) p. 36.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(4) <i>The Age</i>, August 11, 1864, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155016679">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(5) <i>The Argus</i>, February 26, 1861, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5697957">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(6) <i>Victorian Farmers Journal</i>, August 10, 1861, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/189634957">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(7) <i>The Argus</i>, November 1, 1865, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5785509">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(8) <i>The Age</i>, August 14, 1867, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185506832">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(9) Watson, James <i>Personal Recollections of Melbourne in the 'Sixties</i>. This was a look at various events and activities of the 1860s including this story - <i>Dipping Sheep on Quail Island.</i> The story was published in the Victorian Historical Magazine, v. 12, June 1928 available on-line at the State Library of Victoria. See more <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/dipping-sheep-on-quail-island-western.html">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(10) <span><i>The Argus</i> July 7, 1868, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5820845">here</a>.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(11) Gunson, Niel <i>The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire</i> (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968), p.171</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(12) Reports of the fire - <i>The Age</i>, February 1, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191478578">here</a>; <i>The Argus</i>, February 2, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9789238">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(13) <i>The Age</i>, September 24, 1890, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196976113">here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(14) <i>The Argus</i>, January 6, 1893, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8499994">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(15) Gunson, op. cit., p. 121.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(16) <i>The Age</i>, February 1, 1898, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/191478578">here</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(17) Gunson, op. cit; Margaret Callanan's obituary - <i>Mornington Standard</i>, January 27, 1917, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70075111">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(18) <i>The Argus</i>, May 29, 1909, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10692131">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(19) <i style="text-align: center;">Victoria Government Gazette,</i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"> March 21, 1928, p. 1041, see<a href="https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1928/V/general/45.pdf"> here</a>.</span></div>(20) <i>The Argus</i>, January 15, 1930, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4062540">here</a>.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(21) <i>The Herald</i>, May 26, 1932, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242794364">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(22) <i>The Age</i>, April 26, 1933, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204885985">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(23) <i>The Argus</i>, June 10, 1933, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4741375">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(24) See articles in my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/115618">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(25) <i>The Age</i>, March 1, 1944, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206785210">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(26) <i>The Herald</i>, April 24, 1944, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245318214">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(27) <i>The Age</i>, May 10, 1952, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205404084">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(28) <span style="text-align: center;">Victoria Government Gazette, August 24, 1960, p. 2890, see <a href="https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1960/V/general/82.pdf">here</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">(29) Victorian Resources Online <a href="https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/portregn.nsf/pages/port_lf_sig_sites_watson">https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/portregn.nsf/pages/port_lf_sig_sites_watson</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(30) <i>The Australasian</i>, May 14, 1870, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138064589">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is an improved and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, <a href="https://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com/">Casey Cardinia Links to our Past</a>.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-19013951866597537112023-09-08T20:52:00.014-07:002023-09-13T05:23:26.408-07:00Koalas at Yannathan and on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp<div>This post looks at references to koalas at Yannathan and more broadly on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. </div><div><br /></div><div>In May 1891, Cyrus Mason wrote a letter to <i>The Age</i> newspaper, about a Surveying party who in the 1860s were forced to eat koalas to survive - </div><div><i>Surveyors are again at work where Mr. Surveyor W. S. Urquhart traversed 44 years since named the area south of his line "Koo-wee-rup " and wrote "deep water " upon his splendid plan (No. 2) of the traverse of the country between Melbourne and the Bunyip River. Some 30 years back Mr. (Sir Graham) Berry and others sent a surveyor and party to explore and report upon the Koo-wee-rup country with a view to their private use. They started from Lyall's, at Western Port, pushed their way on the south side, were reduced to starvation, only kept alive by eating native bears, until they reached the Bunyip River, when the strongest of the party managed to reach the hotel on the main road and obtained food, this investigation ending in some pencil markings upon the map in the Crown lands department.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span><i>.</i></div>You can read more about Cyrus Mason, of <i>Woodyats</i>, Tynong, <a href="https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/12/cyrus-mason-buonarotti-club-and.html">here</a>.<div><br /></div><div>The <i>South Bourke & Mornington Journal</i> of June 8, 1887 published an article of a trip from Berwick to Yannathan. The route taken was the Berwick-Clyde Road, the South Gippsland Highway, through Cranbourne, then through Monomeith and to Yannathan. In the article, the unnamed writer said that Yannathan was 'swarming' with koalas or bears as they were called -</div><i>At Yannathan my business was completed and left me a day to look about the locality. The place swarms with "bears.'' In nearly every other tree they are to be seen. The name "bear" quite intimidates the "new chum," but no need of fear, for they are truly harmless beasts living on the gum leaves, and I am told are rapidly killing the gum trees as effectually as if they had been "rung"</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(2).</span><div><br /></div><div>Six years later there was another account of koalas at Yannathan, this one painting a far bleaker picture of their numbers. This was a letter published in the <i>Weekly Times</i> on July 1, 1893, addressed to Uncle Ben the editor of the children's section.<br /><i>A Bear. — Yannathan.<br />Dear Uncle Ben,<br />This is my first letter to you. I am going to tell you a story about a bear. One morning early about three o'clock when my sisters were in bed they heard something scratching. They thought at first that it was the rats, but soon they knew that it was too loud for them. They looked down towards the window where the noise came from. Seeing a shadow like a man's hand, they got out of bed, went to the window and looked out. Then they saw a bear which had climbed up the wall and was trying to hold onto the window, but could not. Mother, who was in another room, heard them laughing. She asked what was the matter, and they told her, so she got up and went outside, and took the bear off the window and put him on the ground. In the morning when we got up it was in a pear tree in the garden. The bears that are about here are quite harmless. They are very scarce, but when we first came into Yannathan there was a great number.<br />I remain, your affectionate niece, Sarah Aitken, aged eleven years and eight months</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8MgN3tq-w4nmt0v4U4cChigqScNCJB20hztTFZqRaKyp9FYU5Rkh9TPlnskYeqPz4dOXY9HI7Tvh9R_6STQtQVM8k9w8Ey5FDPiloLwQwnz3hhwUz7fmAW7WIBeKS08fwAKVVUkI-mYF/s1600/FL15738889.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8MgN3tq-w4nmt0v4U4cChigqScNCJB20hztTFZqRaKyp9FYU5Rkh9TPlnskYeqPz4dOXY9HI7Tvh9R_6STQtQVM8k9w8Ey5FDPiloLwQwnz3hhwUz7fmAW7WIBeKS08fwAKVVUkI-mYF/w496-h640/FL15738889.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Koala or 'Australian Bear'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Australian Bear, c. 1880-1890. State Library of Victoria Image H29682/3</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The cause of the decline in koala numbers in Yannathan can be attributed, mainly, to habitat loss due to the clearing of land for farming. Dr Niel Gunson in his book <i>The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire</i> writes that <i>early settlement in the Yannathan district started on the western boundary in 1875 and by 1878 all the dense forest country had been selected</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4).</span> Clearing at Yannathan began as soon as the settlers could undertake the work, <i>it has been said of this thick bush country (paperbark, tea tree, blackwood, silver wattle, musk tree and clematis) that 'when cleared it proved to be the best land in Gippsland'</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(5)</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>This interesting article about fauna on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp in 1894/1895 comes from a column in <i>The Argus </i>of September 12, 1934 called Nature Notes and Queries by Alec H. Chisholm. Mr Chisholm also notes land clearing as the reason koalas and lyre birds disappeared from the Koo Wee Rup Swamp.</div><div><i>Koalas at Koo-wee-rup</i></div><div><i>Stating that he has been very interested in the discussion on koalas' food trees, E.A.B. (St. Kilda) recalls that in the years 1894-95 he was camped at the Koo-wee-rup swamp and saw many koalas in swamp gums there. The trees were on a narrow ridge parallel with and about 20 chains east of the main drain, and the ridge was entirely surrounded by real swamp and tea-tree. A young koala taken to camp would climb tea-trees and black-woods, but would not feed there, although he throve on leaves from the swamp gums. That young bear was kept for about three months, and was never seen to drink. The writer wonders, therefore, if the moisture in leaves is sufficient for them. </i><i>It is added that the swamp gum ridge was cleared for cultivation and the koalas disappeared. In the clearing of the eastern end of Koo-wee-rup many lyrebirds must have been destroyed. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(6).</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The koala was also killed for 'sport'. There was a report in March 1882 about a fishing and hunting trip to the Bass [River] district which mentioned <i>the amount of sport they were going to have! Ducks, swan, hare, native bears, 'possoms and fish were to be got without the least exertion</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(7)</span>. Given that the koala was also called the 'Australian sloth' it is no wonder that they could be got without the least exertion.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Koalas did however, sometimes fight back. This report is from May 1904 -</div><div><i>A boy, aged 10, named Stanley Anderson, living at Lang Lang, noticed a native bear in a tree, and climbing up to it attempted to catch it by the ears. The bear made an attack on young Anderson, </i><i>tearing his left arm very badly, and also making its teeth meet in his thumb. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(8) </span></div><div><br />The koala was also a component of the fur trade, not, however, the high-end garment segment of the market. This is part of a report from 1880 -<i> Another numerous marsupial is the native bear, or Australian sloth, possessing a short matted wool, and a thick pelt unamenable to softening influences. These inoffensive creatures are most tenacious of life, and when they are killed, sorely test the patience of the skinner. The best of the skins are made into carriage rugs, but the majority are only fit for mats</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(9). </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7TjiNjimaeNPYapRo3PalkymhzPpAgoCDOBLUiPp1WyfapMqymn24UKEIt3Timl0qHheXRV22FIQYyDGtxbuyKiEtcNgZo8etdxIfiS-Mw6shMKXSZ51fvW27Csqiaw_5BIrJHfnWKoa/s1600/FL20641861.jpg"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7TjiNjimaeNPYapRo3PalkymhzPpAgoCDOBLUiPp1WyfapMqymn24UKEIt3Timl0qHheXRV22FIQYyDGtxbuyKiEtcNgZo8etdxIfiS-Mw6shMKXSZ51fvW27Csqiaw_5BIrJHfnWKoa/w419-h640/FL20641861.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The 'Australian Native Bear' was considered cute enough to feature in this postcard from c. 1908, even if some people still thought they were only fit to become a mat.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Australian Native Bear. Study by Muir. State Library of Victoria Image H42748/12</span></div><br />In Victoria, koalas gained some protection in December 1898, when they were deemed to be native game and thus protected <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span>. This gave them year round protection, though this was objected to by the Fur Buyers' Association who thought koalas should only have protection for part of the year. As a matter of interest in 1899 the Fur Buyers' Association spokesman, <i>Mr Coles said that last year on the London market a total of 176,000 skins were offered. New South Wales sent 134,000 and Victoria and Queensland 51, 600. This showed that there was not such a slaughter going on here as there was in New South Wales</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (11).</span> The Government did not alter the year round protection for koalas and in 1938 strengthened their protection by including <i>injuring and molesting the animals as well as destroying them within the scope of the bill </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(12). </span><br /><br />Of course protection from slaughter did not protect the koala from habitat loss, and one solution for this was to re-locate koalas from one area to another such as in the 1930s from French Island to Quail Island. You can read about this <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/quail-island-history-and-its-koalas.html">here</a>. Quail Island is at the northern end of Western Port Bay. It also appears from the following two reports from the <i>Dandenong Journal </i>in the 1940s that some koalas were moved to Tooradin </div><div><i>Tooradin - The ever-popular teddy bears (koalas) are now on view about the foreshore and surrounding gums. Apparently they are enjoying a brief sojourn at “the Port” preliminary to their retirement for </i><i>the tourist season and from the small boy menace which by regrettable past experience they have learnt to avoid. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(13)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Native Bears in the Manna gums at Tooradin are a popular feature to tourist bus passengers making </i><i>a stop over for teas. When fires and disease affected the feeding trees at Chinamen </i>[sic] <i>Island in Westernport, the Fisheries and Game Dept, released a fair number of bears on this locality, hence their numbers.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (14)</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span>To finish off - it appears that boys were often blamed for the decline in koala numbers. In a 1931 report about transferring koalas from Phillip Island and French Island to Quail Island and Chinaman Island -</span></div><div><i>It was considered useless to attempt to form colonies on the mainland until boys with pea-rifles learned to leave the koalas alone and other persons learned not to take them as pets. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(15).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) <i>The Age</i>, May 23 1891, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/190624916">here</a>.<br />(2) <i>South Bourke & Mornington Journa</i>l, June 8, 1887, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70028618">here</a>.<br />(3) <i>Weekly Times</i> July 1, 1893, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221781320">here</a>.<br />(4) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Cheshire, 1968), p. 112.<br />(5) Gunson, op. cit., p. 114<br />(6) <i>South Bourke & Mornington Journal</i>, March 15 1882, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70051797">here</a>.</div><div>(7) <i>The Argus, </i>September 21, 1934, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10959793">here</a>.</div><div>(8) <i>Great Southern Advocate</i>, May 12 1904, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/210769370">here</a>. <br />(9) <i>The Argus</i>, December 9 1880, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5959588">here</a>.<br />(10) Victoria Government Gazette, December 9, 1898, p. 4238, <a href="http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1898/V/general/109.pdf">http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1898/V/general/109.pdf </a><br />(11) <i>The Herald</i>, July 11 1899, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241866439">here</a>. The Fur Buyers' Association was also referred to as the Furred Skin Buyers' Association (<i>The Herald</i>, July 3, 1899, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241861373">here</a>) I am not sure which is correct, and it doesn't really matter now, 120 years later, however I do like to be historically accurate.<br />(12) <i>The Argus</i>, December 14, 1938, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12075543">here</a>.</div><div>(13) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, November 10, 1943, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214310408">here</a>.</div><div>(14) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, November 24, 1948, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214584387">here</a>.</div><div>(15) <i>The Argus</i>, May 9, 1931, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4385151">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>A version of this post, which I wrote and researched first appeared on my work blog, <a href="https://caseycardinialinkstoourpast.blogspot.com/">Casey Cardinia Links to our Past</a>.</div><div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-35726125031407230192023-08-22T00:26:00.011-07:002023-08-22T20:55:37.737-07:00Application for a Hotel in Bayles<p><i>The Age</i> of December 12, 1930 published the following advertisement of a notice of application for a <i>v</i>ictualler's licence at Bayles, from Edward Parnell Buckley -</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9sLyL6f6gHaaN9B6bFcA2jejRrpYLOAOt3pvodTO8nAMQWYEZeZHCIxdiU9j73k91xF1Sgeroy6SQNiDZ22j593iQZShiP9g-2Mo-dZWw5IG6I-rlURNW-TADI0DYou2JfxGaVyqobfgJwk9FSY8BSn3eIae-eYAN581p1kfMmnJ1IDjuqNyrkPZWnA/s605/licence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="568" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9sLyL6f6gHaaN9B6bFcA2jejRrpYLOAOt3pvodTO8nAMQWYEZeZHCIxdiU9j73k91xF1Sgeroy6SQNiDZ22j593iQZShiP9g-2Mo-dZWw5IG6I-rlURNW-TADI0DYou2JfxGaVyqobfgJwk9FSY8BSn3eIae-eYAN581p1kfMmnJ1IDjuqNyrkPZWnA/w375-h400/licence.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Application for a </span><i style="text-align: left;">v</i><span style="text-align: left;">ictualler's licence at Bayles </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i>, December 12, 1930 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203271532">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203271532</a></span></div><br /><br />The licensing Court hearing of the application was held on February 10, 1931 and <i>The Argus </i>reported on this hearing - <div><i>Liquour Licence for Bayles. Application Withdrawn.</i><br /><div><i>Application was made to the Licensing Court yesterday by Mr Luke Murphy on behalf of Edward Parnell Buckley for the issue of a victualler's licence at Bayles, a township in the Koo-Wee-Rup district. The Court consisted of Messrs R. Barr (chairman), J. Lock and V. Tanner. Mr Gamble (instructed by Messrs W.B. and O. McCutcheon) opposed the application on behalf of certain residents and ratepayers of the neighbourhood, and Mr. L.J. Murphy opposed on behalf of other residents of the district. Mr. Gamble said that he had a petition opposing the issue, signed by a majority of the ratepayers within a radius of three miles.</i><div><br /><i>Superintendent Ashton submitted a report, in which he said that he did not approve of the issue of the licence. The site was away from the main road, and there were other hotels four miles and a half distant. There were fewer than 100 residents of the township of Bayles. Evidence on behalf of those opposing the application was that there were only 271 adult residents in the area served by the proposed hotel, and that there were only three mixed trains a week to the Bayles railway station. </i><br /><br /><i>Mr Luke Murphy and that it was proposed to erect an hotel costing £3,500. There were 3,000 to 4,000 acres under potatoes in the area, and many sportsmen visited the district in the quail season. The chairman said that the amount of trade at the proposed hotel would apparently be microscopical. There had never been a time at which the Court had to be more careful not to encourage purely speculative ventures. Mr Tanner said that no evidence had been submitted to show that a hotel was required. Mr. Luke Murphy withdrew the application. (The Argus, </i>February 11, 1931, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4258751">here</a>) <br /><br />So that was the end of a Hotel for Bayles.<div><br /></div><div>Edward Parnell Buckley was born in 1889 in Balnarring to John and Catherine (nee Dore) Buckley. He was the second youngest of their eleven children - his siblings were David, Elizabeth, Nellie, Mary, Michael, Patrick, John, Thomas, Catherine and Annie, who were born between 1867 to 1892. His father John, died on January 14, 1920 and his obituary in <i>The Advocate</i> notes some interesting facts about his life -</div><div><div><i>Mr. John Buckley - One of the oldest pioneers of the Mornington Peninsula passed away on Wednesday week in the person of Mr John Buckley, of "Erinslea," Balnarring. The deceased was born in Tipperary, Ireland, 82 years ago, and came to Victoria in the year 1856, settling in Balnarring. A few years after he married a daughter of the late John Dore, "Mt. Ararat,'' Pakenham. Deceased took an active part in all matters relating to the Church. Mass used to be celebrated for a number of years in the deceased's house till St. John's Church was erected.....Deceased took an active part in all public matters. He was a member of the first Roads Board and, of the shire council. The funeral, which took place on Thursday week, was </i><i>largely attended, the cortege being a mile long. A widow, six sons, and five daughters are left to mourn their loss</i>. (<i>The Advocate</i>, January 31, 1920, read the full obituary <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170610036">here</a>)</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DdW04CEaVGSF1C5nmuwTvmTB9MKYB2oHnhCxirGQu844pV5S3ywY0Wq9P6wP9ZQuH190EdKcxYWAnZMSAiAZK2wP2aJL3bSjYPLtmJ6xHfqUDZgkzJEFVP_k-ZH7nrVfUVXUSo7B6eZ-e8v-v0mb13CSi6W3_bldqj8-GeF1ERnsaqQqs4bXOXobjR0/s865/Buckley.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="865" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DdW04CEaVGSF1C5nmuwTvmTB9MKYB2oHnhCxirGQu844pV5S3ywY0Wq9P6wP9ZQuH190EdKcxYWAnZMSAiAZK2wP2aJL3bSjYPLtmJ6xHfqUDZgkzJEFVP_k-ZH7nrVfUVXUSo7B6eZ-e8v-v0mb13CSi6W3_bldqj8-GeF1ERnsaqQqs4bXOXobjR0/w400-h190/Buckley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Informative death notice of John Buckley. Interesting for those times that all the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eleven children survived until adulthood.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Herald</i>, January 14, 1920 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242160095">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242160095</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Edward was listed in the 1914 to 1931 Electoral Rolls as a farmer at Balnarring. He died on October 20, 1932, aged only 42 and is buried at the Crib Point Cemetery. It would be interesting to know why he applied for a victualler's licence at Bayles in 1930, after many years of farming at Balnarring. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ__05s2ca01pJ553m_7KRpVTd1jqg4L8JUMJDShcqw-T3i-XVhY_703GMwt2U_2ZuREgxQgvZLA5scHOm9-XHIOApazrpctfQm6j4gtH4uI4nR-Z1B1-YdzYLjH_niONtlD5AeSGUyFSS1MzhIv76Y7gZb5Chp5TwLnyfh0CwLo2s4M1PQWB27r9Ogq8/s711/death.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="711" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ__05s2ca01pJ553m_7KRpVTd1jqg4L8JUMJDShcqw-T3i-XVhY_703GMwt2U_2ZuREgxQgvZLA5scHOm9-XHIOApazrpctfQm6j4gtH4uI4nR-Z1B1-YdzYLjH_niONtlD5AeSGUyFSS1MzhIv76Y7gZb5Chp5TwLnyfh0CwLo2s4M1PQWB27r9Ogq8/w400-h158/death.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Edward Buckley's death notice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i> October 22, 1932 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205487531">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205487531</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Catherine Buckley died in 1937 - this is her obituary -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Nonegenarian Passes - Mrs. Catherine Agnes Buckley died at her residence at Balnarring on October 11, aged 92 years. She was an Australian native, having been born at Pakenham. She was one of the pioneers of the Balnarring district, where she settled with her husband, the late Mr. John Buckley, 70 years ago. In spite of her great age, Mrs. Buckley's memory was remarkably retentive and she could relate happenings of many years ago quite clearly. She had a family of 11 children-six sons and five daughters. One son and one daughter predeceased her. One of her sons is Cr. David Buckley, a member of the Flinders Shire Council. Another son, Mr Thomas Buckley, is a stationmaster and is now stationed at Camperdown. The funeral took place in the Crib Point Cemetery on October 13. There was a large gathering of mourners at the grave, many old friends travelling long distances to be present. Many beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffin. Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Balnarring R.C. Church by the Rev. Fr. Fitzpatrick, who also read the burial service</i>. (<i>Frankston and Somerville Standard</i>, October 22, 1937, read the full obituary, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75004614">here</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Dore family - John (c.1808 - 1895) his wife Betty (nee Elizabeth O'Connor, c. 1808 - 1876) and their children Edward, Thomas, Patrick and Ellen had arrived in Melbourne in September 1841; six more children were born after their arrival. In 1844, John Dore and Michael Hennessey took up the Mount Ararat Run at Nar Nar Goon of 1,900 acres. The partnership existed until 1855. Hennessey then moved to Dandenong and built the Bridge Hotel and later took over the Eumemmerring Hotel. In the 1860s, Dore purchased the 640 acre Mt Ararat pre-emptive right. He later purchased another 387 acres and his son Thomas 300 acres so they held a total of 1,300 acres. The property was later bisected by the railway line when it was built in 1877. ( Source - <i>From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick</i> published by the Historical Society of the Berwick Shire, 1962)</div><br /></div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-68497763927520902362023-08-13T19:28:00.025-07:002023-09-10T19:18:10.108-07:00Tooradin Mechanics' Institute and Free Library<p>The Tooradin Mechanics' Institute was opened on Boxing Day in 1882. Local Historian, David Mickle <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span>, recorded the establishment of the building - <br /><i>Tooradin had been in need of a meeting place for some time. It was on the 21st June, 1882 that a public meeting was held to form a committee and raise funds. Mr J.F. Rutter had offered a good site for the hall free of charge. Mr Jobson chaired the meeting and the following Trustees were appointed: J. F. Rutter, A. Dunlop, M. Evans, C. Moody, with J. Sill (Secretary) </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(2). </span><i> A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Rutter for his gift. The site is on part of William Lyall's Lot 9, Parish of Sherwood. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(3) </span><i>Mr Sill's request to the Council for a donation was refused, but undaunted, the committee had their Mechanics' Institute Hall and Free Library erected and ready for the Grand Opening on Boxing Day 1882. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span></p><p>John Francis Rutter (1842-1906) was a local land owner, he had married Elizabeth Hemphill in 1877 and they had three sons Joseph Edward, John Hemphill and Hubert. The donation of land for the Mechanics' Institute, was not the only gift the Rutter family gave to the Tooradin township, In 1928, it was reported that <i>Messrs. Rutter, of Tooradin, recently presented the Committee of the Tooradin Mechanics’ Institute with some blocks of land adjoining the hall. </i>Later, the estate of John Hemphill Rutter (who died 1944) donated land to the people of Tooradin for a park, known as the Rutter Memorial Park.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (5)</span></p><p>Tenders were invited for the construction of the building in August 1882. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqczqLVN1hmvQu-JQdpUuqH-lpP50TQzUVVKTLsC3helb7oIPzK1PqM_0qWB97LbhnmgDQuxbKNoQ5D9tmE74JWHxPQGp7aYCxFu4HHkpxGYgrjzd1ajm2Rx6XyuScFK96oc9f7CnPFLjtTa2fRUH8FftN5OtV3GCsZ8oWGZ1wHINKwA5OdhrOhOjFlU/s619/Tenders.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="619" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqczqLVN1hmvQu-JQdpUuqH-lpP50TQzUVVKTLsC3helb7oIPzK1PqM_0qWB97LbhnmgDQuxbKNoQ5D9tmE74JWHxPQGp7aYCxFu4HHkpxGYgrjzd1ajm2Rx6XyuScFK96oc9f7CnPFLjtTa2fRUH8FftN5OtV3GCsZ8oWGZ1wHINKwA5OdhrOhOjFlU/w400-h127/Tenders.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tender advertisement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i> August 30, 1882 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70053283">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70053283</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The<i> South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i> reported on the opening of the Institute -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Tooradin Mechanics' Institute and Free Library</i><br /><i>The opening of this new building took place on Boxing-day with a bazaar and concert. The attendance was far greater than the most sanguine anticipated, upwards of five hundred people being present. Mr Lyall had kindly consented to open the Hall, and much regret was expressed that owing to ill health he was unable to be present. A letter, however, expressing his interest in and good wishes for the success of the Institute was read and the Hall declared opened. Mr Gibb, M.L.A., was present, taking a lively interest in the proceedings. Too much praise cannot be given to the ladies for their exertions, both in sending fancy goods to and selling them at the bazaar the proceeds from which and from other sources amounted to nearly one hundred and twenty pounds.</i><br /><br /><i>A ball terminated the proceedings, and was so well attended that the building was quite crowded. The Hall was prettily decorated with evergreens and the stalls containing the fancy goods presented a most attractive appearance. The building, designed by Mr Crook, architect, of South Yarra, is an excellent and handsome wooden structure prettily situated in a slight rise by the side of the Inlet, overlooking the Bay and French Island. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(6)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAXWytm1Ar1ovn-fTe3MZCaTblLfgeP--zrCmMFeef8NO3m3lPmSh4uTdg41C7PhtjbLnCUkz9wpTnULGpKySmuc_EsZJnzyBlbt8-Poxea8riABfyp0rPDMNASdaAQlKn324jFCO8OKYpH0n1sJQgoqS5j5DKySLpz3jtWjjX1YPnBhLhNM2QvS2qbI/s616/opening%20ad.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="616" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAXWytm1Ar1ovn-fTe3MZCaTblLfgeP--zrCmMFeef8NO3m3lPmSh4uTdg41C7PhtjbLnCUkz9wpTnULGpKySmuc_EsZJnzyBlbt8-Poxea8riABfyp0rPDMNASdaAQlKn324jFCO8OKYpH0n1sJQgoqS5j5DKySLpz3jtWjjX1YPnBhLhNM2QvS2qbI/s320/opening%20ad.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Advertisement for the opening</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i> December 20, 1882 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70054012"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70054012</span></a></div><div><br /></div>We will turn again to David Mickle to tell us of the early days of the Mechanics' Institute -<br /><i>Mr Lyall was President and Mr Sill Secretary, there were Vice Presidents Messrs Moody and Timms, Mr Rutter, Treasurer and Messrs Dunlop, Evans and Lyne, Committee. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(7)</span><i> A small booklet printed by the Dandenong Advertiser outlined the 49 rules and regulations of the Institute and its objects which were for the moral and mental improvement and rational recreation of members. The means to be employed were: a Library of Reference and Circulation, the delivery of Lectures, Discussions, the formation of classes, but no political or religious controversy would be allowed. Membership was 2/6 per quarter. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(8).</span><i> </i> An old business partner of William Lyall, John Bakewell, then living in London, had donated 100 pounds to the building fund. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(9).</span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz_j9hf6p43oSo94RSe3pnbZ6dS79KU3PfH9GLjhZNQjAxoWh6uBy1cXTS38Jx1tWr95PtgXYCYzQ5MVz859bUPXjY96N6uibHduLYO5mJlqcjB9MpTw2NAjN5w0K3C4lVtW4lpJons_dVcAAre5CgeQBiP8IyuAhL43Xo1gYMXOWWELk-QMK0txr2rs/s1560/Tooradin%20mi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1560" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaz_j9hf6p43oSo94RSe3pnbZ6dS79KU3PfH9GLjhZNQjAxoWh6uBy1cXTS38Jx1tWr95PtgXYCYzQ5MVz859bUPXjY96N6uibHduLYO5mJlqcjB9MpTw2NAjN5w0K3C4lVtW4lpJons_dVcAAre5CgeQBiP8IyuAhL43Xo1gYMXOWWELk-QMK0txr2rs/w640-h380/Tooradin%20mi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>The original Tooradin Mechanics' Institute</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image - Mickle, David <i>Tooradin: a history of a Sportsman's Paradise, 1875-1975 </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Tooradin 'Back to' Committee, 1975),</span></div></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal">In the early days Mechanics' Institutes had to send in a return to the Government and these returns were published in the annual <i>Statistical Register for the Colony of Victoria compiled from official records in the office of the Government Statist. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span> Tooradin appears in the years 1884 until 1894, and here are some of the statistics - </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEPip0zccB3XXZRiFkQ020nnVr3gEPSLnF3ax2iBx7sJmwA3-7LxsXkVZt4qu8dbQmXAeDr_JtLLma5xaINJ7KLxGQSErANTqYdQ8bjzx10HXQGfi0aHiv8-HWh2M4bW9uUgi0L1jPU6O_gRT_J91cFV_9i4zqi1uefuBN1suukwSIuiE0FFACFB5Mfw/s828/Tooradin%20MI%20stats-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="828" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEPip0zccB3XXZRiFkQ020nnVr3gEPSLnF3ax2iBx7sJmwA3-7LxsXkVZt4qu8dbQmXAeDr_JtLLma5xaINJ7KLxGQSErANTqYdQ8bjzx10HXQGfi0aHiv8-HWh2M4bW9uUgi0L1jPU6O_gRT_J91cFV_9i4zqi1uefuBN1suukwSIuiE0FFACFB5Mfw/w400-h293/Tooradin%20MI%20stats-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Source: </span><i style="text-align: start;">Statistical Register for the Colony of Victoria compiled from official records in the office of the Government Statist</i></div><br />The Mechanics' Institute hosted the usual range of activities - meetings, dances, concerts as these few newspaper reports tell us -<br />From 1891 - <i>A plain and fancy dress ball was hold on Friday last, June 26, at Tooradin, when the residents and their friends met at the local Mechanics' Institute, at the invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Basan. The hall was most tastefully decorated, and the dancing, which commenced shortly after 9 o'clock and continued until an early hour in the morning, was very enjoyable. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(11) </span>The Basans owned the Tooradin Hotel.<p class="MsoNormal">From 1896 - <i>On Wednesday, 4th March, the pretty seaside township of Tooradin was all excitement over a wedding solemnised in the Mechanics' Institute, which does duty as a church. The hall was very prettily decorated by friends of the bride. Over the bridal party was suspended a floral bicycle, from which hung a white floral bell. The interested parties were Miss Elizabeth Lyne, eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas Lyne, Westbourne, Tooradin, and Mr. Cole, third son of the late Rev. T. C. Cole, of St. George's Church Malvern. The ceremony look place at eleven o'clock, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. Alfred Cole, Drouin, Gippsland, a cousin of the bridegroom. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(12)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">From 1916 - <i>A highly successful concert was given in the Mechanics' Institute on Friday, 14th July, by the Tooradin Minstrel Troupe, the proceeds of which want to aid the local Red Cross and Hall funds. Long before the performance was timed to commence, every available space was filled with patrons from the town and surrounding districts. The programme, which was a lengthy one, consisted of humorous songs, dialogues and step-dancing. All were rendered in a splendid manner by the company, and drew forth thunders of applause from the audience. The whole of the programme reflects great credit on the management and artists, which consisted entirely of local talent. The concert raised, after expenses, £9 17s 6d. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(13)</span></p>Then disaster struck on June 17, 1937 - the hall burnt to the ground. <i>The Age</i> reported - <br /><i>Fire at Tooradin. Mechanics' Hall Destroyed.</i><div><i>The mechanics' institute hall and library were completely destroyed by fire early this morning. Erected in 1882, they were in splendid condition. It is understood the Royal Insurance Co. have the building and library covered for approximately £1150. Approximately 1500 books were lost in the fire. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(14)</span><br /><br />The <i>Weekly Times</i> also reported on the disaster - <br /><i>Tooradin Library Destroyed.<br />Three thousand books, forming one of the most comprehensive country libraries in Victoria, were burnt in a fire which destroyed the 75-year-old Tooradin Mechanics' Institute building. Blazing fiercely when first discovered at 4.30 am., the fire quickly gutted the building, while townspeople looked on helplessly without any water supply, with which to combat it. Insured for £1000, the building contained the library, a hall and supper room. All the furniture, including a piano, was destroyed. At midnight, when members of the local table tennis club left the hall, everything appeared to be safe.<br /><br />Koo-Wee-Rup police are investigating the fire, the cause of which is unknown. As the institute was 50 yards from the nearest building, other premises were not endangered. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span><p class="MsoNormal">It is interesting that the two reports of the fire have such a large discrepancy in the number of books - three thousand in one, 1500 in the other and both figures still much larger than the number reported in 1894, which was 622.<br /><br />The locals acted quickly to have a new hall built and less than a year after it was destroyed the replacement building was opened on March 16, 1938.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xUWgAjGvYYg4e9wmwQd7BQK7O_VSVnKTTMMsNmhVYv9L2yLbURgI4cZDkXfk4XAt2Qb-0DdXhYugD_bODp55kwmp3AKVF8WlRnq3tGJnoGIDiMDwamVVPmNvk-LMoFtGSxRIHQMpcPuoX_VqtPOZMWgc9dHWc_mhF5IYryQ6v5Kyy-uNotz5xGyw6rU/s251/Hall%20ad.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="251" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xUWgAjGvYYg4e9wmwQd7BQK7O_VSVnKTTMMsNmhVYv9L2yLbURgI4cZDkXfk4XAt2Qb-0DdXhYugD_bODp55kwmp3AKVF8WlRnq3tGJnoGIDiMDwamVVPmNvk-LMoFtGSxRIHQMpcPuoX_VqtPOZMWgc9dHWc_mhF5IYryQ6v5Kyy-uNotz5xGyw6rU/w400-h312/Hall%20ad.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Advertisement for the opening of new hall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, March 3, 1938 p. 1</span></div><br />The <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> had a comprehensive report of the opening - <br /><i>New Tooradin Hall. Opened by Mr. A.J. Kirton, M.L.A. <br />Wednesday, 16th inst., proved to be quite a gala night at Tooradin, when the opening of a new public hall to replace the old edifice destroyed by fire in June last year was the principal attraction. Mr A.J. Kirton, M.L.A., for Mornington, had the honor of performing the opening ceremony, and with the interior brightly lit by powerful electric light globes and enhanced by varied colored and pretty dresses of the ladies the scene was one of beauty and one long to be remembered by justly proud residents, who are now the custodians of the largest public hall in the shire. Dance music was rendered by the Rhythm Swingers’ Orchestra of four players, and things were kept merrily going until close on milking or, should we say, fishing time. Close on 300 persons sat down to a much appreciated supper, catered for by Mr J.H. Scott of Kooweerup. <br /><br />The builder was Mr. L.C. Williams, of Balwyn, the outside walls being of wood and fibro plaster with iron roof, and the interior white plaster sheets with a six foot three-ply dado round walls. The dimensions of the various rooms are as follows: - Dance hall, 36 ft. x 56ft.; stage 20ft. x 9ft.; passage, 5ft. wide, 23 ft. long; entrance hall, 12 ft. x 12 ft.; gents room, 10 ft. x 8 ft.; ladies’ room, 14 ft. by 8ft.; library, 12 ft. by 8ft.; supper room, 22 ft. by 28 ft.; kitchen, 12 ft. x 8 ft. <br /><br />On behalf of the Trustees, committee and residents of Tooradin, Mr. D. Henderson, president of the committee, extended a hearty welcome to Mr A.J. Kirton, M.L.A., and thanked all those who had assisted in connection with the erection of the hall. <br /><br />Mr Kirton said he felt highly honored on being asked to perform the opening ceremony, and he heartily congratulated the committee and management on the success achieved, the building being a credit to Tooradin. Such works showed the progress of a district. The new hall had been erected on the old hall site, which had cherished memories dating back 56 years. This site had been presented to residents by the late Mr J.F. Rutter. The old hall had cost £280 to erect and when completed with a free library £540. In the June fire of last year many valuable books had been destroyed. The Royal Insurance Company had held the fire insurance policy for 55 years. Mr G. Egerton was the oldest trustee alive. The present building had cost a little over £1000, and he congratulated the committee and residents on their enterprise, adding that same was fitting to such an ideal holiday resort as Tooradin, and if developed further, would become a tourist resort. He was confident that Tooradin had a future, and he had pleasure in dedicating the hall to the public for future use. <br /><br />On the motion of President Henderson, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Kirton for his attendance was carried by acclamation. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(16).</span><br /><div><br /></div><div>The report tells us that the building had a room for a Library. It does not appear that a library was installed as in 1943 the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> reported -</div><div><div><i>Tooradin - Prior to the destruction by fire of the old Mechanics’ Hall, local folk enjoyed the benefit of a circulating library of 1300 books. Owing to the dearth of funds at the erection of present hall, no provision was made to recover some semblance of a nucleus of a library. Some action should be taken by the hall management committee to bridge this disability, by application to the Government and the Carnegie Institute. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(17) </span>Notice this article states that the amount of books held by the old Mechanics' Institute is now 1300.</div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div>Two years later in November 1945, the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> reported on an update on the Library issue<span style="font-size: x-small;"> - </span></div><div><div><i>£100 Grant For Tooradin Library - Mr. J. D. Singleton, J.P., </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(18)</span><i> has been advised by Mr. A. J. Kirton, M.L.A., that his application for a grant for the erection of a library at the Mechanics’ Hall, Tooradin, has been acceded to. A cheque for £l00 will be sent on in a few days, and handed to the Hall Committee. Good work! </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(19) </span>Was this mis-reporting that a new library would be built, or was the grant actually for book stock? </div><div><br /></div><div>It does appear that it was for both the collection and a building as the aforementioned Mr Singleton wrote the following letter to the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> in April 1946 -</div></div><div><div><i>Library Wanted at Tooradin - The Government is ready to assist Tooradin on a basis of £2 for £1 to re-establish the burnt out library lost some years ago with the destruction of the old hall. The present Hall Committee are anxious to facilitate the earliest completion of a Public Library and help with £50 donation. I suggest the public will generously respond if appealed to, when the proposed library is made one of a memorial character as a first objective (a very practical form to remember the great deeds of our gallant lads); and as a No. 2 objective, a Youth Movement, to provide physical and mental</i></div><div><i>uplift, occupation, and entertainment in pleasant surroundings, instead of allowing the drift of wasted leisure, so soul-destroying in most small country centres, now enforced on youth - a neglect, that has tragedy stamped in every link for some unfortunate lads in later life. A fresh committee will be elected by public meeting on May 6th. At that meeting the public could be invited to co-operate with the Hall Committee and endorse a Memorial Library and Youth Movement, and launch an organising committee and plan accordingly. J.D. Singleton, J.P. (Tooradin)</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (20)</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div>The Memorial Library was never established, however the Hall remains and is well-used by the community.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) David Mickle (1904-1997). The author of <i>Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup: for young and old - to 1927</i> (The Author, 1983) and <i>More Mickle memories of Koo Wee Rup: chronicles of a prosperous district once known as the Great Swamp, 1928-1940</i> (The Author, 1987), and <i>Tooradin: a history of a sportsman's paradise and the first 100 years of State School No. 1503</i> compiled by D.J. Mickle and the Tooradin "Back to" Committee (<span style="text-align: center;">Tooradin 'Back to' Committee, 1975</span>). His great-grandfather, Alexander Mickle had come to Australia to manage the <i>Yallock</i> and <i>Monomeith</i> properties for Alexander's brother, John Mickle. John Mickle had a partnership with William Lyall and John Bakewell - read more here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/mickle-bakewell-and-lyall.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/mickle-bakewell-and-lyall.html</a></div><div>(2)<span style="color: red;"> </span>Henry Jobson - The Reader at the Cranbourne Anglican Parish (The <i>Church of England Messenger</i>, May 2 1881, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197131147">here</a>)</div><div>John Francis Rutter (1842-1906) local land owner.</div><div> Alexander Dunlop - of <i>Harewood Mains,</i> Tooradin - dairy farmer and cheese maker; died 1902, aged 74.</div><div>Matthew Evans - more information here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/02/tooradin-short-history.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/02/tooradin-short-history.html</a> </div><div>Christopher Moody - more information here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/10/christopher-moody-1833-1920.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/10/christopher-moody-1833-1920.html</a> </div><div>John Sill - possibly the John Sill who died in Heidelberg in 1903, aged 49. See short obituary in <i>The Argus </i>of June 2, 1903, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9812576">here</a>; and father's death notice in <i>The Argus</i>, November 7, 1885, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6071945">here</a>, linking John to Koo Wee Rup.</div><div>(3) William Lyall, of <i>Harewood</i>, more information - <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/mickle-bakewell-and-lyall.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/mickle-bakewell-and-lyall.html</a> and here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2019/08/william-lyall-and-acclimatisation.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2019/08/william-lyall-and-acclimatisation.html</a></div><div>(4) <i>Tooradin: a history of a sportsman's paradise and the first 100 years of State School No. 1503</i> compiled by D.J. Mickle and the Tooradin "Back to" Committee (<span style="text-align: center;">Tooradin 'Back to' Committee, 1975</span>), pp 32-33. Meeting also reported in the <i>South Bourke & Mornington Journal</i> of June 21, 1882, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70052656">here</a>.</div><div>(5) <i>Tooradin: a history of a sportsman's paradise and the first 100 years of State School No. 1503, op. cit, </i>p. 50.; Donation of land - <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, August 2, 1928, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200677014 ">here</a>.</div><div>(6) <i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, January 3, 1883, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70054068">here</a>.</div><div>(7) William Lyall - see footnote 3;<i> </i>John Sill, Christopher Moody, Alexander Dunlop, Matthew Evans - see footnote 2; John Rutter - see above.</div><div>Robert Oliphant Timms - married William Lyall's daughter, Margaret on March 29, 1876, see report in <i>The Argus, </i>April 1, 1876 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7436009">here</a>; died in 1915, aged 68.</div><div>Thomas Charles Lyne - local landowner, source of the name Lynes Road in Tooradin. Died in 1908, aged 76, read a short obituary in <i>The Age</i>, January 8, 1908, see<i> </i><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196096501">here</a>. </div><div>(8) <i>Tooradin: a history of a sportsman's paradise and the first 100 years of State School No. 1503, op. cit, </i>pp. 32-33.</div><div>(9) Ibid; John Bakewell - more information here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/mickle-bakewell-and-lyall.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/mickle-bakewell-and-lyall.html</a></div><div>(10) Statistical Registers - available <a href="https://www.vgls.vic.gov.au/client/en_AU/vgls">here</a> on the Victorian Government Library Service website</div><div>(11) <i>Table Talk</i>, July 3, 1891, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147285180/17645075#">here</a>.</div><div>(12) Punch, March 19, 1896, see <a href=" https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174606715/20429998#">here</a>; Cole family - more information here - <a href="https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2023/05/william-bailey-orchardist-of-malvern.html">https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2023/05/william-bailey-orchardist-of-malvern.html</a></div><div>(13) <i>Dandenong Advertiser</i>, July 27, 1916, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88663794">here</a>.</div><div>(14) <i>The Age</i>, June 15, 1937, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203874554">here</a>. </div><div>(15) <i>Weekly Times</i>, June 19, 1937, see <a href=" http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225715799">here</a>.</div><div>(16) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, March 24, 1938 p. 1</div><div>(17) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, September 1, 1943, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214309556">here</a>.</div><div>(18) John Dudley Singleton, died in 1951, aged 68. Built the <i>Stella Maris</i> guesthouse in 1925, <i>The Advocate</i>, February 5, 1925, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171413444">here</a>; Obituary <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, September 19, 1951, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222354742">here</a>.</div><div>(19) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, April 7, 1945, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214333676">here</a>.</div><div>(20) <i>Dandenong Journal</i>, April 24, 1946, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214793392">here</a>.
</div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-22371939718933412112023-07-23T19:29:00.014-07:002024-02-12T17:13:11.521-08:00Royal Hotel Koo Wee Rup - the McNamara, the O'Brien and the Daniher familiesThe Royal Hotel in Koo Wee Rup was built by Denis McNamara, who had been issued a victualler’s licence at a hearing at the Wonthaggi Licensing Court held on December 18, 1914. This gave him the right to build a hotel in the town <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span>. Tenders were invited for the construction of the hotel in February, 1915 and Mr A. Oliver, of Oakleigh, won the tender for the contract price of £3,305. The Hotel was officially opened on Thursday, September 9, 1915. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(2)</span>. The <i>Lang Lang Guardian</i> reported on the hotel in glowing terms -<div><i>Mr D. McNamara's handsome ornate, and commodious new hotel on the main street, Kooweerup is now completed. It is a two storied brick building, and one of the finest edifices of the kind in Gippsland, being greatly admired by all visitors to the town. It is a monument to the enterprise of the proprietor.</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span> It also reported that the hotel <i>has been furnished throughout by Mr McKee, of Royal Arcade, Melbourne, the rooms are fitted up in the most up-to-date and luxurious manner. Visitors to the place state that they have seen no hotel outside Melbourne furnished and equipped in such a finished and elaborate style. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(4).</span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-KFkT3lhpfgA9Ky8lWj_qijdL3SUGoEqshE20fu4IUcWt-LKY0e7DLeEypCnlgBiSnxYGovPQ6GfA0fQ1-vGjm46PtTiNsJm5QW6MRXgWZ_CsAHQRE9UnpkNimTbQUUW0athvGYD8_RmPsixsu_ndVqTRwfZpHryGxdyVLBGq8KOZSQmJseyDhzzOrw/s400/Nov%2027%201918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="400" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-KFkT3lhpfgA9Ky8lWj_qijdL3SUGoEqshE20fu4IUcWt-LKY0e7DLeEypCnlgBiSnxYGovPQ6GfA0fQ1-vGjm46PtTiNsJm5QW6MRXgWZ_CsAHQRE9UnpkNimTbQUUW0athvGYD8_RmPsixsu_ndVqTRwfZpHryGxdyVLBGq8KOZSQmJseyDhzzOrw/w400-h203/Nov%2027%201918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Royal Hotel advertisement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, November 27, 1918</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In November 1918, Denis McNamara sold the Hotel for £7,000 to John O’Brien of Trafalgar.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (5)</span>. John O’Brien was an experienced hotel-keeper, but more importantly as the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> reported -<br /><i>Mrs O'Brien is a smart and keen business woman, and this combined with a personality that has already won golden opinions, is sure to make a success of the Royal</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(6).</span> The smart Mrs O’Brien was born Julia Teresa Moloney and she married John in 1892.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qxwkDD5g3XjWn9F-JdOoMCFwLXi5LHvRpikKnWh04lMleB9QYSAnApNsTNnJSTN4Q5ENo56_XJdfMX1II3jUvT3FHb20TkJzeRC7smXzGlGLwSHaP4oWMgjPRzQO4T8mS1UslZ2dvW-RhQ-u0NmbINq-CSiz_7g5tY8ICa6NZLzHC7Vth3v4xuFtL2w/s407/Dcc%204%201918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="407" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qxwkDD5g3XjWn9F-JdOoMCFwLXi5LHvRpikKnWh04lMleB9QYSAnApNsTNnJSTN4Q5ENo56_XJdfMX1II3jUvT3FHb20TkJzeRC7smXzGlGLwSHaP4oWMgjPRzQO4T8mS1UslZ2dvW-RhQ-u0NmbINq-CSiz_7g5tY8ICa6NZLzHC7Vth3v4xuFtL2w/w400-h206/Dcc%204%201918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Royal Hotel advertisement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, December 4, 1918</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div> After leaving Koo Wee Rup, Denis and his family moved to Hawksburn and he took up the license of the Bush Inn Hotel in Williams Road, Toorak.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (7).</span> John O’Brien operated the Royal Hotel until April 1921 when the licence was transferred back to Denis McNamara, although Mr O’Brien retained ownership of the building. (<span style="font-size: small;">8).</span></div><div><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Denis died July 27, 1925, aged 60 years old. <i>The Advocate</i> of August 20, 1925, published this obituary of Denis McNamara - <br /><i>Born in County Clare, Ireland in 1846, Mr. McNamara was a young man when he came to Victoria. He engaged in business in Melbourne before coming to Koo Wee Rup in 1891, where he opened a store. In 1901 he returned to Melbourne, and was in turn the licensee of the Carlton Club Hotel, the United States, the Albury hotels. In 1902 he married a Miss Mary Ann Manney, from his home country, and had as family May and Frank. He suffered an early bereavement in the loss of his young wife. Returning to Koo Wee Rup in 1904, he bought O'Riordan's store, which he successfully conducted. In 1908 he married Miss Alice Morris, his bereaved wife, and later took out the first licence in Koo Wee Rup, building the substantial Royal Hotel. He was esteemed by all who knew him. His kindly smile, his cheerful word, and his open-handed generosity were enjoyed by many. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(9).</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Denis’ first wife, Mary Ann, had died on October 15, 1905 aged 29. She left behind two little children - Mary Bridget, born 1902, also called May. Mary became a Nun, Sister Denise of Presentation College in Windsor and she died in 1989; Francis Michael, born 1904, also called Frank. Francis died in March 1983. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the death of Mr McNamara, the Hotel continued to be operated by the McNamara family until 1927, with Alice McNamara (Denis’ widow) as the licensee and Frank McNamara (Denis’ son) as the manager. For some time, around 1930 - 1932, after they left Koo Wee Rup, Alice was the licensee of the London Tavern, 58 Moray Street (corner Grant Street), South Melbourne. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(11).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC5Ja-wOZQX0BTcaRJi14pnoKiisb8THAGGSQwo5IOFgcEfwsYEJ9NHRuz1Wsz7zDEm0nSQiwAQoHh7jzx1eJpQYWbVeejYWr1808FyeuoqdXQpDTyXr8iff4vw5F9uddeoXUfwIOEFPBzEH5H8-hyhP_3zLuzH_9vZpONkmxeIvP00Rhhc9uConp7Gg/s396/Jan%206%201927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="396" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC5Ja-wOZQX0BTcaRJi14pnoKiisb8THAGGSQwo5IOFgcEfwsYEJ9NHRuz1Wsz7zDEm0nSQiwAQoHh7jzx1eJpQYWbVeejYWr1808FyeuoqdXQpDTyXr8iff4vw5F9uddeoXUfwIOEFPBzEH5H8-hyhP_3zLuzH_9vZpONkmxeIvP00Rhhc9uConp7Gg/w400-h220/Jan%206%201927.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Royal Hotel advertisement</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, January 6, 1927</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div style="text-align: left;">Alice McNamara died on June 28, 1937, and as her obituary in the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> relates, her sister died the same day -</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>It is with the deepest regret that we record the death of an old and highly respected resident of Kooweerup, in the person of Mrs Alice McNamara, wife of the late Mr Denis McNamara, at the age of 57 years. When word reached Kooweerup on Monday morning of her sudden death in the city quite a gloom was cast over the township, for through her ever-ready aid in the past in all cases of distress she was honored throughout the whole district, and owing to her unbounded hospitality when with her late husband they were in charge of the Royal Hotel, Kooweerup, her generosity will long live among many throughout the whole State. She was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. Morris, of Kilmore..... On Friday last the deceased received word of the illness of her sister and only relative, Mrs Jane Scott, wife of the late Mr G. Scott (late A.I.F.), of South Melbourne, and she hurried to the city to render what aid she could on her behalf. Leaving her son Frank's suburban residence for the railway station on Monday morning to visit the hospital where her sister was an inmate, the deceased suddenly collapsed in the railway yards and passed to the Great Beyond. Strange to relate, within three </i><i>hours her sister had joined her in the Great Adventure. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(12).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Alice had four children with Denis - Alice, born 1909, who married Daniel Parks in 1929 and died in August 1951; John Patrick, born 1910. He was ordained as a Priest in 1935, was an RAAF Chaplain during the Second World War, and died in 1986. His obituary noted that the year of his birth and the year of his death coincided with the appearance of Halley’s Comet; Margaret Frances, born 1914, nicknamed ‘Blue’. Married Cecil Ernest Murray, in 1941, and died October 2004; Colleen Josephine, born 1917, did not marry, and died February 2004. Denis and Alice are buried at the Pakenham Cemetery</span><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">(13)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuDTQYx3zb0UqiisHQcjErezYMUGTk89ixg5pAISNTDCP4wfwz5rokh16BhUSGNaDb8VNa7IAZY-gJ2J0VZ1DobEM2AsPr3xQ2RDWr755KOefK7xM7WMJDMS0ESt5qtF0AUMt8FHXhp5y-WUZgQL4v2pwHdEh3pp5Xwc4Db6-aQEoznhJeC8ZicnaEuo/s392/Sep%2081927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="392" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuDTQYx3zb0UqiisHQcjErezYMUGTk89ixg5pAISNTDCP4wfwz5rokh16BhUSGNaDb8VNa7IAZY-gJ2J0VZ1DobEM2AsPr3xQ2RDWr755KOefK7xM7WMJDMS0ESt5qtF0AUMt8FHXhp5y-WUZgQL4v2pwHdEh3pp5Xwc4Db6-aQEoznhJeC8ZicnaEuo/w400-h221/Sep%2081927.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Royal Hotel advertisement</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, September 8, 1927</span></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was in August 1927, that John Patrick Daniher took over the licence from Alice McNamara <span style="font-size: x-small;">(14).</span> He was the son-in-law of John O'Brien. However before we look at the Danihers, we will look further at the life and business interests of Mr O’Brien with this August 1925 article from the Korumburra newspaper the <i>Great Southern Advocate </i>–</div></div><i>Mr. J. O'Brien is now the proprietor of the Korumburra Hotel, which has been entirely renovated throughout. The much-needed painting of the outside has completely transformed the appearance of the hotel. Mr. O'Brien owns the freehold of the Royal Hotel at Kooweerup, where he spent many years. He was recognised as a good sport, and always worked hard to forward the interests of the district. He took a great interest in the Kooweerup football team, so much so that the members before his departure elected him a life member of their club. The team was premiers two years while Mr. O'Brien was there. He also gave valuable assistance in raising £1000 by a queen carnival and fete for the purpose of building a cottage hospital for the Bush Nursing Association, the Kooweerup branch of which he was vice-president. He was a good supporter of the band, race club or anything that tendered to advance the town and district. He is also the owner of the freehold of the Criterion Hotel, Trafalgar, of which his son-in-law (Mr. J. Daniher) is licensee. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(15)</span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvLUFVQV2jKDkIbr0UECdF5B7s8hy9vDAMzGdiVMfIFRYLv8rTfj1nxMapkh9_zMn2cGgjcsdl_CBN0NfHJ5gpVuiylL-xFEKHRhn1xKam9uFqElA9G0jllqyB6E9nkQph3bdrJ0Q6RE7ph4vBZHtogpkR4XeFjf8350sYaSGe6Z8-aSrPqDAMNTSv7c/s632/Wedding%20of%20Marie%20Daniher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="623" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvLUFVQV2jKDkIbr0UECdF5B7s8hy9vDAMzGdiVMfIFRYLv8rTfj1nxMapkh9_zMn2cGgjcsdl_CBN0NfHJ5gpVuiylL-xFEKHRhn1xKam9uFqElA9G0jllqyB6E9nkQph3bdrJ0Q6RE7ph4vBZHtogpkR4XeFjf8350sYaSGe6Z8-aSrPqDAMNTSv7c/w630-h640/Wedding%20of%20Marie%20Daniher.jpg" width="630" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wedding of Marie O'Brien to John Daniher. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The best man, J.J. Daniher; the bridesmaid , Veronica (Fairy) O'Brien; the groom John Daniher and the bride, Marie (Doll) O'Brien.</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Table Talk, </i>September 16, 1920 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146691528">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146691528</a></span></div><br /> John Patrick Daniher had married Marie O’Brien on August 25, 1920. Their wedding was written-up in <i>Table Talk</i>, a newspaper which covered many weddings, the Theatre, the races and other social activities – <br /><i>The marriage of Miss Marie (Doll) O'Brien, second (twin) daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. O'Brien, of the Royal Hotel, Koo-wee-rup, to Mr. John Patrick Daniher, younger son of late Mr. J. Daniher, of Euroa, and Mrs. Daniher, of Wyalong, N.S.W., was celebrated on Wednesday, August 25, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Keenan (Koo-wee-rup), assisted by Rev. Father Kett. In the unavoidable absence of the bride's father, she was given away by her brother, Mr. James O'Brien, and looked charming in her bridal gown of ivory charmeuse, with over-dress of georgette, trimmed with beads and filet lace; veil of Limerick lace, sumounted by a wreath of orange blossom</i>. <i>A gold wristlet watch was the gift of the bridegroom, while her gift to him was a pair of silver military hair brushes. She was attended by her twin sister, Miss Veronica (Fairy) O'Brien, whose dainty frock of white taffeta was made with a three-tiered skirt and trimmed with filet lace, while her hat of black tulle was adorned with a posy of pink flowers and streamers of black ribbon. The </i><i>bridegroom's gift to her was a pearl </i><i>brooch. Mr. J. J. Daniher supported his brother as best man.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (16).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7y2juuh0upr5jCjK8WdP4XA6sRLw06MNYDBoQnFN9tfWhO-4OHxilehmeTcnabKdVVm1ZEH96MmMoOVMXrp2aXBSvWNt9ItVf1NOXRwAk_wWwHNtCM_DzrQXujoZrDYP1VYmY97zzuL---YG32q1CrW4GgElXnOdMyH8P6nv2OYolrMk4YkcfZadAYo/s1745/Royal%20Hotel2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1745" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7y2juuh0upr5jCjK8WdP4XA6sRLw06MNYDBoQnFN9tfWhO-4OHxilehmeTcnabKdVVm1ZEH96MmMoOVMXrp2aXBSvWNt9ItVf1NOXRwAk_wWwHNtCM_DzrQXujoZrDYP1VYmY97zzuL---YG32q1CrW4GgElXnOdMyH8P6nv2OYolrMk4YkcfZadAYo/w640-h378/Royal%20Hotel2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Royal Hotel in the December 1934 flood</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society</span></div><div><i><br /></i>The Danihers had purchased the freehold of the Royal Hotel in 1927, as well as holding the license. In September 1934, the licence was transferred to Edith Leahy. This turned out to be a short-term arrangement as in January 1935, the licence was transferred to Marie Daniher. The Danihers operated the Hotel until June 1939, when they left Koo Wee Rup; the licensees in the next three years were H.T. Baker and M.J.Haig. In June 1942, the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> would announce that <i>the Danihers have returned after an absence of 3 years and have resumed control.</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(17).</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The Daniher family owned the Royal Hotel building until the 1960s, maybe longer. Marie Daniher died July 27, 1989, aged 89 and John had died June 15, 1972, aged 80. John’s death notice list their children as Julie, Margaret, Pat, John and Lorraine. Marie and John are buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park. Marie’s father, John O'Brien, died in 1946, aged 82 and her mother, Julia, died in 1959, aged 92. They are buried at Boroondara Cemetery. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(18).</span><br /><br /><b> Trove List</b> - I have created a list of articles relating to the McNamara, O'Brien and Daniher families at the Koo Wee Rup Hotel, access it <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/170457">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-beginnings-of-royal-hotel-koo-wee.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-beginnings-of-royal-hotel-koo-wee.html</a></div><div>(2) <i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, March 11, 1915, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66187231">here</a>.</div><div>(3) <i>Lang Lang Guardian</i>, September 8, 1915, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119512855">here</a>.</div><div>(4) <i>Lang Lang Guardian</i>, September 15, 1915, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119512879">here</a>.</div><div>(5) <i>South Bourke and Mornington Journal</i>, November 7, 1918, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66194963">here</a>.</div><div>(6)<i> Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, December 4, 1918, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127198632">here</a>.</div><div>(7) <i>The Argus</i>, April 5, 1921, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1744589">here</a>.</div><div>(8) Ibid</div><div>(9) <i>The Advocate</i>, August 20, 1925, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/171408243">here</a>.</div><div>(10) <i>The Argus</i>, October 17, 1905, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10035900">here</a>; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.</div><div>(11) <i>The Age</i>, November 4, 1930, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202238206">here</a>; <i>The Age</i>, January 21, 1932, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203181638">here</a>. the London Tavern was demolished in 1980 for the Westgate Freeway - <a href="http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHShotels/">http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHShotels/</a></div><div>(12) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, July 1, 1937.</div><div>(13) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; family notices from the newspapers; Father McNamara's obituary <i>The Advocate,</i> May 22, 1986 (copy at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society)</div><div>(14) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, August 11, 1927</div><div>(15) <i>Great Southern Advocate</i>, August 13, 1925, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/255900859">here</a>.</div><div>(16) <i>Table Talk</i>, September 16, 1920, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146691490">here</a>.</div><div>(17) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, August 11, 1927; various Licensing Court hearings in the newspapers, see my Trove list, <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/list/170457">here</a>; <i>Dandenong Journal, </i>June 10, 1942, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/215709229">here</a>.</div><div>(18) Various family notices in the newspapers.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj1qW6YRezHtuxTrukf2gx8KTfLCGyICCVuwwKS5TquOnSj3xeTSjVuG5LH4GxtwBHr6AG1DqY01GNLjfTwZJKfUIXppxFWM8VfQZxiKVvbAvvVtZQR83w93z1P2bDpzeHvthhd5Mo2IhJqPslrqO96iq2CNoDlecMLO2bFovSQKaeeTsbrcjwrStyZE/s467/The_Age_1972_06_17_page_104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="467" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsj1qW6YRezHtuxTrukf2gx8KTfLCGyICCVuwwKS5TquOnSj3xeTSjVuG5LH4GxtwBHr6AG1DqY01GNLjfTwZJKfUIXppxFWM8VfQZxiKVvbAvvVtZQR83w93z1P2bDpzeHvthhd5Mo2IhJqPslrqO96iq2CNoDlecMLO2bFovSQKaeeTsbrcjwrStyZE/s320/The_Age_1972_06_17_page_104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John Daniher's death notice </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i> June 17, 1972, p. 104 newspapers.com</span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-42062093976017507552023-07-11T02:25:00.015-07:002023-07-19T22:38:44.020-07:00Pub crawl in 1918 leads to licensing prosecutions at the Bunyip Police Court<p>The <i>Bunyip and Garfield Express</i> of October 4, 1918 had this following interesting account of a pub crawl by four lads - Frederick Sippo, Hugh Murdoch, Stephen McMillan (spelt as M'Millan in the article) and George Schmutter which saw the licensees of three hotels end up in the Bunyip Police Court on licensing charges. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bunyip Police Court. Wednesday, Oct 2, 1918.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Before Messrs Tanner, P.M., and a’Beckett and Barker, J.’sP.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Licensing Prosecutions</i></div><i><br />Inspector M’Loughlin proceeded against Edward Augustus Dreier, licensee of the Iona Hotel, Garfield, for serving 3 persons, apparently under the age of 18 years, with liquour, on 3rd August last. <br />Mr Davine, for Mr Dunn who was ill and unable to be present, appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.<br />Permission was given to the inspector to amend the summons, as it was since found that one of the persons supplied was over 18 years. <br />Frederick Sippo, said on the day in question he went to the hotel at Garfield, where he had a few shandies; the drinks were supplied by Mrs Dreier, who never asked anything about his age; he was born on 10th Nov, 1901, and knew the difference between a soft drink and beer, as he had drank beer before.<br />In reply to Mr Davine witness said he told defendant prior to that date he was over 18.<br />Hugh Murdoch, aged 16, said a lady whom he did not know served them, and he had never previously told Drier he was over 18.<br />Stephen M’Millan, aged 18, also gave evidence as to being served, and that Dreier made a practice of keeping boys out of his hotel.<br />The defendant, who was away in the city on this day, said he always made it a practice of inquiring about young fellows ages, and had asked them to leave the billiard room if not 18. Mrs Dreier was in charge while he was away but he could not say if he asked their ages in the presence of his wife, but the three youths had previously told him they were over 18. <br />The Bench said the information would be dismissed, as defendant had evidently put his foot down on this matter by taking every precaution. <br /><br />A similar charge was preferred against Henry Wilson, licensee of the Gippsland Hotel, Bunyip, for serving a person under 18 years of age on the same date. <br />The youth Sippo said he went into the hotel in company with G. Schmutter, who called for two drinks; he had a shandy, but had never had drink there before.<br />To Mr Davine (for Mr Dunn) – he was standing near the window in the bar parlor, so that the licensee did not have a full view of him; he knew now that Mr Wilson would not supply anyone under 18, and heard him refuse to serve Murdoch and M’Millan.<br />George Schmutter said he called for 2 drinks and Sippo had a shandy; Sippo would not be visible to the licensee when he served the drinks.<br />Without calling any evidence for the defense, the case was dismissed.<br /><br />Inspector M’Loughlin v Thos. Stacey a similar charge to the previous one.<br />Mr Backhouse for the defendant.<br />Sippo again said he went into the bar with Schmutter and had a shandy, but he wouldn’t contradict Tom Stacy if he swore he refused to serve them.<br />G. Schmutter said he did not suppose Tom knew who he was getting the drinks for as there were several about; he remembered going to the side window for a bottle of wine.<br />Mr Backhouse said the licensee, who had never had a charge brought against him for over 20 years, had no knowledge that the lad Sippo had been served with liquour.<br />Thos Stacey, jun. said he refused drinks to a crowd and never at any time did he serve Sippo with drink; he only supplied Schmutter with a bottle of wine.<br />The licensee and R. M’Namara gave evidence that they were playing cards in the room behind the bar, and heard the previous witness refuse to serve them.<br />The Bench said they were satisfied that the youth had not been served, and dismissed the information.</i><br /><div><br /></div><div>In a <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> article of this case it concluded with a pun. They reported that as Frederick Sippo was involved in all cases he was <i>the youth who should not be allowed to sip drinks in a hotel </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(1).</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I have written about the Iona Hotel at Garfield <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/iona-hotel-at-garfield.html">here</a> and the Gippsland and Railway Hotels at Bunyip, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/01/bunyip-hotels-short-history.html">here</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">.................................................................................</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Who were these boys?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Frederick Sippo. </b>Frederick, born November 10, 1901 at Bunyip South, as Iona was then called, and was the son of Simon and Olive (nee Warren) Sippo. Listed in the Electoral roll at Iona, Simon was a contractor and bridge builder. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIVfOWwUaAi0oUbmH2qZVCJ9om7fD0AcTCUYCjtEcLpRMCh40N8L_IQ8Loh5IWnJbyI2TfzAdkndUZ1WTnKmbtkiwsQDaa_bpg401ympAbwpDHX_DmaejQZHmbFHXdMFNOpc5DeIpy81Gq8N12RAWmtSfq7UuUpza77jElBXQig2vwX9uvfwKvovd_FU/s405/Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="351" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIVfOWwUaAi0oUbmH2qZVCJ9om7fD0AcTCUYCjtEcLpRMCh40N8L_IQ8Loh5IWnJbyI2TfzAdkndUZ1WTnKmbtkiwsQDaa_bpg401ympAbwpDHX_DmaejQZHmbFHXdMFNOpc5DeIpy81Gq8N12RAWmtSfq7UuUpza77jElBXQig2vwX9uvfwKvovd_FU/w346-h400/Bridge.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simon Sippo bridge building in a flood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i> June 21, 1911, <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196202311">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196202311</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Olive died April 11, 1929, at the age of 65, and her death notice lists their children as Winifred, John (Jack), Ollie, Annie, Leslie, Charlie, Joe, Fred, Alfred and Ernie. The family were then living in Seddon, and she is buried at the Footscray Cemetery along with Simon, who died a few weeks later at the age of 68. Also in the grave is Frederick, who died at the Melbourne Hospital at only 32 years of age on September 3, 1934.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (2).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMxbORSxnHQkRjxLrNm_8qr8nq1g5oBDACjsh3Y4sm4icSD4GJ3aTV8C3j0uDwTiexdxj8jFcRekgn_qNfafiVHP8vug_VX0SoUMTcCa1tDgmmYGAE9thUym8-axqeozlesmAA_zKaNHV0AfB25MubOixt-4WsSmfRqzm8JA2MrAlTM9EGxuJQXQVjsY/s517/Death.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="517" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMxbORSxnHQkRjxLrNm_8qr8nq1g5oBDACjsh3Y4sm4icSD4GJ3aTV8C3j0uDwTiexdxj8jFcRekgn_qNfafiVHP8vug_VX0SoUMTcCa1tDgmmYGAE9thUym8-axqeozlesmAA_zKaNHV0AfB25MubOixt-4WsSmfRqzm8JA2MrAlTM9EGxuJQXQVjsY/w400-h127/Death.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Death notice of Frederick Sippo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i> September 4, 1934 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205889071">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205889071</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hugh Murdoch. </b>Hugh James Murdoch was<b> </b>born in 1902 in Balranald, NSW to George Petrie Murdoch and Emma Rose Parker, who had married in Balranald in 1897. Hugh was the brother to Arthur, Mary, Allan, Lily, Stanley, Archibald and Alice. George opened the Cora Lynn General Store in 1907 and operated it until 1922, and had also opened the Bayles General Store in 1921. You can read about the Cora Lynn store, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2013/01/cora-lynn-store.html">here</a> and the Bayles store, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/12/bayles-general-store.html">here</a>. Hugh followed in the family trade as he is listed in the Electoral rolls as a shop assistant at Narre Warren, and later as a farmer, also at Narre Warren. Hugh married Elizabeth McMillan in 1924 and died August 16, 1994, aged 92. Elizabeth died in 1985 aged 82 and they are buried at the Bunyip Cemetery. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(3)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFsftDr05Yz2rK0Zw2hwvDdXaPJuLRl70SwqTOE8bIO8Vu_upDbvYJ61FSC1et_anzRC00MiyXdzMSbUUF3Uv_sYkUWjXyN8rNv2vFHexDQxewbvZVL4IsgLT-fa9ZoQ2GgGhlDle9AHIUMthtzFhyMf-PeT66ps_snhsfhyMYJtAmoooblybKnhSMkQ/s454/The_Age_1985_06_19_Page_31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="454" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFsftDr05Yz2rK0Zw2hwvDdXaPJuLRl70SwqTOE8bIO8Vu_upDbvYJ61FSC1et_anzRC00MiyXdzMSbUUF3Uv_sYkUWjXyN8rNv2vFHexDQxewbvZVL4IsgLT-fa9ZoQ2GgGhlDle9AHIUMthtzFhyMf-PeT66ps_snhsfhyMYJtAmoooblybKnhSMkQ/w400-h199/The_Age_1985_06_19_Page_31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The death notice of Hugh's wife, Elizabeth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i> June 19, 1985, p. 31 newspapers.com</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Stephen McMillan. </b>Stephen was the brother of Elizabeth, Hugh Murdoch's wife. They were the children of Robert James and Bridget (nee Guthrie) McMillan. The births of Stephen and Elizabeth were registered in Dean in 1900 and 1903 and the Electoral rolls list them at Bullarook, near Ballarat. They later moved to a farm at Garfield. Bridget died in 1935 aged 70 and Robert in 1932, aged 68 and they are buried at the Bunyip Cemetery. Stephen married Sophia Joyce Baxter in 1922 and are listed in the Electoral Roll on farms at Cora Lynn and then Koo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On June 4, 1941 Stephen enlisted in the Australian Army (SN <span style="white-space: normal;">VX57181). He said his birthday was December 26, 1902, so it seems he took three years off his age, and given that most men who lied about their age kept the actual day and month, he was most likely born December 26, 1899. He served in the Middle East, but was discharged January 4, 1943 on medical grounds. </span>Stephen died in Frankston in 1960, aged 60 and he is buried at Frankston Cemetery. Sophia died in 1987 in Mount Martha aged 87. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(4)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RWvaa9ZRyPltBL9F8P2vLkR5xwQ08khzg9qeEn250GHYA7f5F-lfpcBrMaTHgjqZPb4bSsDL60KfFQSLsoUgT7tixoi_pIEyVkCk3ytAXsDEafd_q0vKYu1Ogh2MAZauB3B0vU1RRJ6dvbDsWqcb3XXuP9OPElG5FYkaMax6LDQkZ5qLfZhfMsK2q_k/s414/The_Age_1960_07_26_Page_16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="108" data-original-width="414" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RWvaa9ZRyPltBL9F8P2vLkR5xwQ08khzg9qeEn250GHYA7f5F-lfpcBrMaTHgjqZPb4bSsDL60KfFQSLsoUgT7tixoi_pIEyVkCk3ytAXsDEafd_q0vKYu1Ogh2MAZauB3B0vU1RRJ6dvbDsWqcb3XXuP9OPElG5FYkaMax6LDQkZ5qLfZhfMsK2q_k/w400-h104/The_Age_1960_07_26_Page_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Death notice of Stephen McMillan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Age</i>, July 26, 1960, p 16. newspapers.com</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>George Schmutter</b>. George was born at Bunyip South (Iona) in 1895, the son of William and Mary Ann (nee Hannington) Schmutter. This makes him about 23 when the pub crawl took place. However, the 1919 death notice of Mary Ann and the 1932 death notice of William both list their children as Henry, William, Agnes, Florence and Jack, with no mention of a George. There is a George Schmutter listed in the Electoral Rolls from 1916, the year George would have turned 21, with the occupation of labourer and address Iona, so that is likely to be him. George Schmutter married Ella May Chadwick in 1925 and they are in the Electoral Roll at Iona or Vervale up to at least 1949 and from the 1954 Roll they are living in Parramatta in New South Wales, where his occupation is a gardener. George died in South Melbourne in 1963, aged 68, and Ella died in Parramatta in 1977. I was unsure whether this fitted together, then I found Ella's death notice in the <i>Sydney Morning Herald</i> and George is called Jack, so that pulls all the pieces together, and confirms that George is the Jack listed in his parent's death notices. Then as double confirmation, <i>Find a Grave</i> has a photo of their memorials at the Rookwood General Cemetery in Sydney, and they have his name listed as George John Schmutter, hence the diminutive, Jack. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(5).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3GgweQbvdsDrXPX5aFCPBvRy_kWHoZ-6yKk9U5tfFe93G_BHCdmCRLNR3bAMDv8Er8DkM__8fUj9KfVkRpjMz-f1dfzdVSIc7oEI4aiIKRD-cnAvccc_7TdTiAhGA9wpu1sYXP44UjB809V2Rc3rPYXSLAQT37TWTQz_veqWj0z8URxDeGqjo8BMcMI/s433/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald_1977_09_30_Page_19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="433" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3GgweQbvdsDrXPX5aFCPBvRy_kWHoZ-6yKk9U5tfFe93G_BHCdmCRLNR3bAMDv8Er8DkM__8fUj9KfVkRpjMz-f1dfzdVSIc7oEI4aiIKRD-cnAvccc_7TdTiAhGA9wpu1sYXP44UjB809V2Rc3rPYXSLAQT37TWTQz_veqWj0z8URxDeGqjo8BMcMI/s320/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald_1977_09_30_Page_19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Death notice of Ella Schmutter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sydney Morning Herald</i>, September 30, 1977 p.19. </span><span style="font-size: small;">newspapers.com</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXf5L9-X4vWrQDFFu4IfigWJvCrzQWK9hWZ3wQUvCEKNo6JIA7zZW5E8s4zBLhZJ3FJeGZO423YFnCYd519IhUsl15xDD1ZPFBfty_4Ge0ihpabQSn4Nv9_iLQ3AKN_qWbFGFzUvAuD7J9LPk-95oAKvNd2Dyt-qp1TqRgPP04HlcQYjf6c4iodaoQc/s2048/189592770_7ea031e3-dddb-439a-a228-02d9b3081c78.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuXf5L9-X4vWrQDFFu4IfigWJvCrzQWK9hWZ3wQUvCEKNo6JIA7zZW5E8s4zBLhZJ3FJeGZO423YFnCYd519IhUsl15xDD1ZPFBfty_4Ge0ihpabQSn4Nv9_iLQ3AKN_qWbFGFzUvAuD7J9LPk-95oAKvNd2Dyt-qp1TqRgPP04HlcQYjf6c4iodaoQc/s320/189592770_7ea031e3-dddb-439a-a228-02d9b3081c78.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">George and Ella Schmutter's memorials at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189592770/ella-may-schmutter"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189592770/ella-may-schmutter</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is one remaining mystery with George/Jack. As you can see from his father's death notice, below, it states that he (Jack) was late A.I.F - a returned soldier. However, I cannot find any reference to him enlisting. To add to this mystery, the Iona Honour Board, lists a W. Schmutter, who I can't firmly identify, but I have written about this <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/iona-honor-board.html">here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWkDiFr49vwFaAj3KiFOuBmiN4kvnM4cZ3rEHE6rVlXrTg10Ps1N-3B2gqqYTh7YNq5tFube_UWXplPPxHtiom7A5FFYKtzduzqm1co5mltZS6hWt1jh9Pp-UOvce6Px0dLT16rYJhJGHCoFI9FVun7lSv9uJu0vOpOH4Lhv5GfjQwwBsUHprFUmlDvQ/s486/Schmutter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="486" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWkDiFr49vwFaAj3KiFOuBmiN4kvnM4cZ3rEHE6rVlXrTg10Ps1N-3B2gqqYTh7YNq5tFube_UWXplPPxHtiom7A5FFYKtzduzqm1co5mltZS6hWt1jh9Pp-UOvce6Px0dLT16rYJhJGHCoFI9FVun7lSv9uJu0vOpOH4Lhv5GfjQwwBsUHprFUmlDvQ/w400-h85/Schmutter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">William Schmutter's death notice </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="text-align: left;">The Age</i><span style="text-align: left;">, March 24, 1932, </span><a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205096553">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205096553</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Footnotes</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">(1) <i>The Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, October 9, 1918, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127198403">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">(2) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Olive Sippo's death notice <i>The Age</i>, April 13, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204218765">here</a>;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Footscray Cemetery records <a href="https://www.gmct.com.au/our-locations/footscray-cemetery">https://www.gmct.com.au/our-locations/footscray-cemetery</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">(3) Indexes to the Victorian and the New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; </div><div style="text-align: left;">Bunyip Cemetery records <a href="http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm">http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">(4) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; </div><div style="text-align: left;">Bunyip Cemetery records <a href="http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm">http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm</a>; </div><div style="text-align: left;">National Archives of Australia Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 - read Stephen's file here <a href="https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6123791">https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6123791</a>; funeral notice <i style="text-align: center;">The Age</i><span style="text-align: center;">, July 26, 1960, p 16. </span><span style="text-align: center;">newspapers.com</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">(5) </span>Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Mary Schmutter's death notice <i>The Age</i> March 15, 1919, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155220052">here</a>; William Schmutter's death notice <i>The Age</i>, March 24, 1932, see <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205096553">here</a>; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-88124314685630072242023-06-07T22:00:00.014-07:002023-07-03T16:30:23.023-07:00Annie the Circus Elephant who died at Koo Wee Rup<p>Goldwyn Brothers' Circus came to Koo Wee Rup on Wednesday, October 27, 1948; they were scheduled to perform that night, but were prevented by heavy rains and the show took place the next night. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFNKxnr7XzSO-uH5k1nVKwDamLJnfwsJhfpYB-NeA6mTUBEEhJNlZGqVMbDAqds8a4jGMy3zrfYc0Po8868d5wYzpl6QYhiL1V1A9rQplaWEJJ1AZmAmszjt3j5a4zlecNX86H4ilTv1FP86Isn2eUWs6hTDPE8jY66nFbTbQ4rEz8kUy-n5JZnnw/s444/KWR%20Sun%20Oct%2020%201948%20p1.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="444" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFNKxnr7XzSO-uH5k1nVKwDamLJnfwsJhfpYB-NeA6mTUBEEhJNlZGqVMbDAqds8a4jGMy3zrfYc0Po8868d5wYzpl6QYhiL1V1A9rQplaWEJJ1AZmAmszjt3j5a4zlecNX86H4ilTv1FP86Isn2eUWs6hTDPE8jY66nFbTbQ4rEz8kUy-n5JZnnw/w400-h283/KWR%20Sun%20Oct%2020%201948%20p1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Advertisement for Goldwyn Brothers' Circus in Koo Wee Rup</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 20, 1948, p. 1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, one of their performing elephants died at Koo Wee Rup on Friday, October 29 and the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> reported on this sad event - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1y84XUE1M3FLJXnx-ZkMhif4Cz0UlGYQlpZr9BmMokRsb8AW8GcGbimcfoxRz7Gakl_UKlykui4SWZAtX5skwYQ2jIV69x5wNWgU3cDrT1kaMTXEbcYspEYFMxZNeKadYM_R6v074mVPodBs2QEFp0Xk0VZ6bPNcS7aqOM-7oXSuuC_-n7WLweke/s379/KWR%20Sun%20Nov%203%201948%20p%201.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1y84XUE1M3FLJXnx-ZkMhif4Cz0UlGYQlpZr9BmMokRsb8AW8GcGbimcfoxRz7Gakl_UKlykui4SWZAtX5skwYQ2jIV69x5wNWgU3cDrT1kaMTXEbcYspEYFMxZNeKadYM_R6v074mVPodBs2QEFp0Xk0VZ6bPNcS7aqOM-7oXSuuC_-n7WLweke/w228-h400/KWR%20Sun%20Nov%203%201948%20p%201.PNG" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Death of the elephant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> November 3, 1948, p. 1</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Valuable Elephant Alleged to be Killed by Noxious Weeds</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>While visiting Kooweerup last week Goldwyn Bros' circus had the misfortune to lose one of their two performing elephants, valued at £1000, alleged to be due to eating a noxious weed, viz., carrot fern, on a vacant allotment in the township fronting St John's Parish Hall. Billed to appear on Wednesday night, the show was postponed till the following evening owing to heavy rains. After helping to load equipment on Friday morning, the elephants were released and wandered on to the vacant allotment and were seen to be grazing most heartily on a prolific crop of the noxious weed. They, however, were soon stricken down and were in a serious condition. Drenches were immediately given, but in the afternoon one of the animals died and it was not until Saturday morning that the other elephant was able to regain its feet, when it quickly recovered. Although the circus had to forgo showing at Hastings on Friday night, the management was able to fulfil its engagement at Frankston on Monday.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div>What happened to the Elephant? I have been told by some locals that the elephant was buried at Koo Wee Rup, however the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> reported that - <br /><i>Problem of Disposal of Dead Elephant</i><br />[Cranbourne Shire Health] <i>Inspector J. Robertson reported that while at Kooweerup Goldwyn Bros. Circus had the misfortune to lose one of two elephants, both of which were affected by fodder poison</i><i>ing. Considerable delay was caused before the circus moved on, and arrangements had to be made to remove the carcase to a metropolitan boiling down works.</i><div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLqntrfv1NVyjrDfLkD3XhlkLHMgiCoR8pu7Wd8P4DXRbEYJiV1cYIHQ5_I1-SbutJovbSXFbmJIQ-mewY46g6Qs5aEphdSYAXrXvOA_kBK3epqGlvtcgIOpJrxQPjo2WeCtv_xM1lNyX-rZIAbknLB0zVQ8a49mFQP5IcyWDZ-bsAUMij2TDB65o/s812/Inspector.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="812" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLqntrfv1NVyjrDfLkD3XhlkLHMgiCoR8pu7Wd8P4DXRbEYJiV1cYIHQ5_I1-SbutJovbSXFbmJIQ-mewY46g6Qs5aEphdSYAXrXvOA_kBK3epqGlvtcgIOpJrxQPjo2WeCtv_xM1lNyX-rZIAbknLB0zVQ8a49mFQP5IcyWDZ-bsAUMij2TDB65o/s320/Inspector.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Disposal of the dead elephant</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Dandenong Journal</i> November 10 1948 <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214584143">http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214584143</a></span></div><p></p><p>I must admit that when I heard an elephant had died and was buried at Koo Wee Rup, I was very sceptical; so I was happy and surprised to read a reference to the elephant in Gavan Donoghue's book <i>The Stratford Elephant Mystery & more! </i>Gavan's book looks at the story of a circus elephant which was said to have been killed when it struck its head on the railway bridge on the Princes Highway at Stratford, in Gippsland. To track down which elephant this may have been, he made a list of all the circus elephants (and their fate) in Australia from post 1945. One of the elephants was Annie, who belonged to the Goldwyn Brothers' Circus. Gavan notes that Dick Bills, a former lion-tamer and Goldwyns' Circus owner, <i>suggests Annie died from eating poison weeds at Koo Wee Rup in the 1940s. </i></p><p>Armed with this information, I found the <i>Dandenong Journal</i> entry, which gave me a date, and then I could go to the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> and I found the advertisement and the short article about the elephant.</p><p>Gavan also supplied the following information about Annie - she was an Asian elephant and she was a war refugee. Annie was evacuated from England because zoos etc were being bombed and she travelled all the way to Australia. She initially belonged to Soles' Circus until she was sold to Goldwyn Brothers' Circus and then sadly met her death in Koo Wee Rup having eaten carrot fern, another name for hemlock. </p><p>Since I wrote this post, on June 14 2023 I received this message from Gavan -<i> I rang Dick Bills today. He was briefly the owner of Goldwyns and also a ‘Lion Tamer’.... He said he turns 101 this year. He is an amazing old guy. Still really sharp. I told him about the documentary find by you which confirms his recall. He said Annie was a lovely natured little elephant.</i></p><p><i>The Stratford Elephant Mystery & more! </i> by Gavan Donoghue (published by the author in 2019, and now in its 3rd edition) Follow Gavan on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stratfordelephantmystery">https://www.facebook.com/stratfordelephantmystery</a> </p></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2964434667231631977.post-43234126352469896322023-05-27T05:09:00.008-07:002023-06-08T22:10:23.440-07:00Short history of the Hospitals in Koo Wee RupThe Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Service celebrated it centenary on May 23, 2023 and even though we have looked at some aspects of the history of the Hospitals in Koo Wee Rup and the people involved in various other posts, this post includes other aspects of this history. It is not a comprehensive history. <br /><br />The Bush Nursing Centre opened in July 1918 and a nurses' cottage was built in 1921 <span style="font-size: x-small;">(1)</span> and it was on May 23,1923 that the Bush Nursing Hospital, named the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, officially opened in Station Street. You can read the <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> report of the opening, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/03/official-opening-of-fallen-soldiers.html">here</a>. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5YwzoWn5AI3SFSM2Mm5anMM_4q00zbDb7EAA4hrhxRgtfQqPWlnMjFkn6xriXo2_KG9xVPpo2FaanZk8veXYUZrHGNvV_qDoQib9IMafKBV_YFmQ9ZsrPnjmVTOwvbmpGmqmFqxTe26ut0RiONZlWDkfm1jafejRMsFg9m3mgPwIIHv_EieOBzvV/s551/ad.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="227" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5YwzoWn5AI3SFSM2Mm5anMM_4q00zbDb7EAA4hrhxRgtfQqPWlnMjFkn6xriXo2_KG9xVPpo2FaanZk8veXYUZrHGNvV_qDoQib9IMafKBV_YFmQ9ZsrPnjmVTOwvbmpGmqmFqxTe26ut0RiONZlWDkfm1jafejRMsFg9m3mgPwIIHv_EieOBzvV/w264-h640/ad.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div>The <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> report of the opening noted that much of the credit for the Hospital goes to the long serving Secretary, George Burhop, who joined the committee in 1918. As they reported - </div><div><i>Now that the hospital is an accomplished fact, we cannot conclude without saying that one outstanding personality in bringing the scheme to a successful consummation has been the untiring zeal and devotion of Mr G.R. Burhop. He has been absolutely absorbed in the work. The most difficult task did not daunt him, and he has given time, money and labor and he must feel highly elated that the object for which he has been striving is now a practical reality. He has worked in a splendid spirit and has been suffused with “the white heat of a passionate enthusiasm” for the centre.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (2)</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Advertisement for the opening of the Hospital </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> May 10, 1923, p.1 </span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div>George Randall Burhop was born in England in 1873 and died in Brisbane on May 30, 1949; he married Dorothea Pausacker in 1898 (she died 1962, aged 87) and they had four children - Dora, Amey, George and Thomas. George was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor 1921-1941 and Shire President 1927-1928.<span style="font-size: x-small;">(3). </span></div><div><br /></div><div>The<i> Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> of June 1, 1949 had the following obituary - </div><div><i>We regret to report the sudden death of Mr George Randall Burhop, J.P., of Lea road, Kooweerup, which occurred in Brisbane on Monday. Accompanied by his daughter, Amey, he left by 'plane for Brisbane last Saturday morning with the intention of spending the winter months in a warmer climate. Although not in the best of health, the news of his death came as a great shock to his family and many friends. We learn that on entering a cafe for refreshments on Monday afternoon he suddenly collapsed and immediately passed away. Following an inquiry into the cause of his death on Tuesday, Miss Burhop returned home by 'plane last night. We understand the body is to be cremated and the ashes sent to Kooweerup for private burial in an adjacent cemetery. The deceased was born in Bromley, Popular Middlesex, England on October 16, 1873, and he came to Australia with his parents, the late Mr Henry John and Mrs Amy Hannah Burhop, when 13 years of age. Living some years in Queensland and New South Wales, he came to Victoria, and in 1914 took over his father's farm on McDonald's Drain road and later purchased a much larger allotment on Lea road. He was mainly responsible for dividing the old Yallock Riding into the Lang Lang and Kooweerup Ridings, and for 17 years had most ably represented the latter riding of the Cranbourne Shire Council. He was the founder of the Kooweerup Memorial Hospital, and on December 19, 1947, was tendered a dinner and presentation by many Kooweerup and district residents in appreciation of his 28 years' services as honorary secretary of that institution. Mr McVilly, Chief Inspector of Charities, on that occasion had the honor of making the presentation of a valuable gold watch to the deceased in appreciation of his services at the hospital and 33 years' public service. Deceased was the husband of Mrs Dorothea Burhop, and father of two daughters (Dora and Amey) and two sons (George and Thomas), and to them we join with their many friends in extending our deepest sympathy in their sad bereavement</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital was opened by Cr E. Sinclair Hill, who also unveiled a tablet in memory of the local fallen soldiers - Jacob Bambury (listed as Banbury on the plaque), David Bethune, Sydney Blake, John Bryan, Thomas Bryan (both listed as Bryant on the plaque), Michael Callanan, Lawrence Coates, Percy Davis, John Davy, George Garbellini, Henry Hamilton, John Hannaker, Richard Martin, George Osborne, John O’Shea, James Randle, Bernard Slocombe, Arthur Williams and Charles Woods. I have written about these men, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/koo-wee-rup-memorial-hospital-plaque.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGa4yfXbkWCyGSykkBCMc8flEKr7IpIYmqRiBL6Ok7Y35RNGWIru62JeZEyP7lEdGwaem1sXUN9f27XfCVHF5OS7p3AFoBSmBj3ilGKaXwM4myzfxSsVKOIK7_4uUZBzqI4WrIZQ_Bxs6EXhuA35TEw-x4WdrvVPkveM9i6_cbrj6QbuoEllkS1fp/s484/Lyell%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="484" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGa4yfXbkWCyGSykkBCMc8flEKr7IpIYmqRiBL6Ok7Y35RNGWIru62JeZEyP7lEdGwaem1sXUN9f27XfCVHF5OS7p3AFoBSmBj3ilGKaXwM4myzfxSsVKOIK7_4uUZBzqI4WrIZQ_Bxs6EXhuA35TEw-x4WdrvVPkveM9i6_cbrj6QbuoEllkS1fp/w400-h165/Lyell%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dr Lyell Andrews commences practice at Koo Wee Rup</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Koo Wee Rup Sun</i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> May 10, 1923, p.1 </span></div><br /><div>One of the results of the Hospital opening was that in May 1923, the first Resident Doctor, Dr Lyell Andrews, arrived in the town. In February 1925, Dr Alan Hewitt and his wife, Vera, who was a trained nurse, took over Dr Andrew's practice. Dr Alan retired from practice in 1963; his son Dr John worked in Koo Wee Rup from 1951 until 1955 and another son, Dr Ian, commenced practice in the town in 1955 and retired in 1995, ending 70 years of service from the Hewitt family to the town.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (4)</span>. I wonder how many babies they delivered in that time? </div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Argus</i> reported that on October 26, 1929, the hospital accommodation was increased <i>by the addition of an enclosed verandah of the type common to the majority of bush nursing hospitals in Victoria</i>....<i>This verandah was opened on Saturday by Lady Barrett, in the presence of a large gathering of residents of Koo-wee-rup and surrounding districts. Of liberal dimensions the verandah has ample room for 10 bed, which means the accommodation of the hospital has been doubled. Lady Barrett was accompanied to Koo-wee-rup by the honorary secretary of the central council of the Bush Nursing Association (Sir James Barrett) and the assistant secretary (Dr Edith Barrett) The visitors were received by a guard of honour formed by Boy Scouts, and a welcome was signalled to them in semaphore. A bazaar was held to defray part of the cost of the verandah.</i></div><i><br />Dr Edith Barrett congratulated the committee on its enterprise in extending the hospital and paid tribute to the nursing staff, of which, she said, Koo-wee-rup had every reason to be proud. (Applause). To the zeal and resource of the bush nurses practically the whole of the success of the movement was due. Nowhere in the Commonwealth were nurses so well trained as those who entered the Bush Nursing Association. Sir James Barrett recalled the beginning of the Bush Nursing Association. To Koo-wee-rup he said, belonged the distinction of having the first hospital founded by the central council. Eight years ago the Koo-wee-rup hospital was the only institution of its kind in Victoria. To-day there were 17 bush nursing hospitals; three more were to be opened shortly, and four were in course of construction. <br /></i><br />The report continued<i> .....Lady Barrett then declared the verandah open, cutting a ribbon across the door. Councillor Burhop, in thanking Lady Barrett, said that he was supported by an able and energetic committee, and he felt that the management of the hospital was in very good hands. (Applause). Much of the success of the hospital was also due to the untiring work of the nursing staff, especially Sister Tuffin. The verandah had been constituted at a cost of £180. Of that amount £150 had been subscribed, and he hoped that the remainder of the debt would soon be liquidated (Applause).......Councillor Burhop announced that Sir James Barrett had informed him that the central council would meet one-third of the outstanding debt. The announcement was received with applause. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(5). </span><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>Drama struck the hospital in December 1934 when the patients had to be evacuated through the roof <i>as the Hospital was flooded to a depth of 7ft within a few minutes</i>. I have written about this drama, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/04/koo-wee-rup-fallen-soldiers-memorial.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPtxMDAt0xDSGN1PsyeKD8MG-CTJC0TBQ-QxSUxS9T2uHXXEAXodEK3zazbq0QajD7rk2ri65Ofc3RpkaHApeazmTxvC1QiZXEWb4rQkhJB3eF8FWp0EbQjSzXpL_LGPuVZ7VHhoLzq3hZAHGqVmHrjlvDyY5duUCTMcOJx3ttNBH1JAeGjj3OZqE/s214/ad%20w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="214" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPtxMDAt0xDSGN1PsyeKD8MG-CTJC0TBQ-QxSUxS9T2uHXXEAXodEK3zazbq0QajD7rk2ri65Ofc3RpkaHApeazmTxvC1QiZXEWb4rQkhJB3eF8FWp0EbQjSzXpL_LGPuVZ7VHhoLzq3hZAHGqVmHrjlvDyY5duUCTMcOJx3ttNBH1JAeGjj3OZqE/w400-h398/ad%20w.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Advertisement for the Hospital</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, September 2 1937, p.3</span></div><br /><div><div>In October 1935, a new operating theatre was opened. <i>The Age</i> reported - </div><div><i>Before a large crowd at the Koo-wee-rup Memorial Hospital yesterday, the president of the Victorian Bush Nursing Association (Lady Mitchell) officially opened the new operating theatre at the hospital. Lady Mitchell was accompanied by the honorary secretary of the central council of the Victorian Bush Nursing Association (Sir James Barrett) and Lady Barrett and the visitors were welcomed by the president of the hospital (Mr L. J. O'Riordan) </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(6). </span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>The Hospital relied on subscriptions and local donations but the Pakenham Racing Club was also a major donor and every year, in the 1930s to the 1950s, held a Hospital Race Meeting to raise funds for both the Koo Wee Rup and the Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospitals. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(7).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcVVseUYiZN-9cU16jiEdpAb1obvIvka9o1LQqsegLMNa0_M0FoPdPrkn12oDwjbfkdycbVzB7xBfKNEtmrHHt6tCenOuLFMW4MScjsAYqcnpeOtA8kUi3lk-VpqaPi790DdZi7FHRU2nVHslYrbfNkLJPaLpT5zjNaUuiaVnQZMazHZGZ4r16jU8/s533/meeting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="464" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcVVseUYiZN-9cU16jiEdpAb1obvIvka9o1LQqsegLMNa0_M0FoPdPrkn12oDwjbfkdycbVzB7xBfKNEtmrHHt6tCenOuLFMW4MScjsAYqcnpeOtA8kUi3lk-VpqaPi790DdZi7FHRU2nVHslYrbfNkLJPaLpT5zjNaUuiaVnQZMazHZGZ4r16jU8/s320/meeting.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Pakenham Racing Club's Hospital meeting</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The Argus</i>, April 29, 1946 <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22251935">https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22251935</a></span></div><br /></div><div><div>In January 1946 (or possibly late 1945), the Westernport Memorial Hospital Provisional Committee was formed for<i> the purpose of establishing a modern public hospital in the Koo Wee Rup locality and it appeals for the support and loyal co-operation of every person residing in the area. </i>The immediate objective was to raise £5000. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(8).</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhxl3KCFD40tKmiRe2MXDnusi0niU_cRLct7QL372fPq9_hL8KD7TOcniDe4kKTKxMXAIt35QBc-oYwhIfJmxwndOml1TYmZi8IzUCzBhtMMU8LBIZ4rozzP6ZxGSA-kTfHqCge5SrXePE0ZIhqJOSdQ9Yn9iJ8QY9Lx8m-lo4Co5Iooe42MyMPi3/s403/wester.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="403" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhxl3KCFD40tKmiRe2MXDnusi0niU_cRLct7QL372fPq9_hL8KD7TOcniDe4kKTKxMXAIt35QBc-oYwhIfJmxwndOml1TYmZi8IzUCzBhtMMU8LBIZ4rozzP6ZxGSA-kTfHqCge5SrXePE0ZIhqJOSdQ9Yn9iJ8QY9Lx8m-lo4Co5Iooe42MyMPi3/w400-h386/wester.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The formation of the Westernport Memorial Hospital Provisional Committee </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, January 30, 1946, p. 4.</span></div><br /><div>A major problem facing Hospitals after the War in the late 1940s and early 1950s was a shortage of nurses; in fact it was so dire that it was reported that some hospitals, including Koo Wee Rup, would have to close. One innovative solution to the nursing shortage was this, as <i>The Herald</i> reported -<i> Staff shortages in Victorian hospitals could be eased if male nurses were accepted generally, several trained male nurses had come from England recently and there had been several Australian ex-servicemen with provisional registrations, but, with the exception of one training school, metropolitan and country hospitals did not appear to be interested in employing them…..There were between 30 and 40 trained male nurses in England willing to migrate. Some were highly qualified. One had a special certificate as a male tutor, and would give the opportunity to establish male nurse training in Victoria. </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(9). </span></div><div><i><br /></i>The Westernport Memorial Hospital Committee continued their fundraising and in 1953 Bates, Smart and McCutcheon were appointed as architects and the Trusteel Corporation was the successful tenderer for the new hospital, in Rossiter Road. The local community had raised £20,000 towards the cost of the building the hospital and the nurses’ home, which cost £200,500 and was constructed in seven months <span style="font-size: x-small;">(10). </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx43Aro70WHicttzfrSDNw7tI-8mIB89xbpP0GFSiOcGN3iKGqGQs3NDRKsXAX8Pmojm8ZUIzUh8B3X0KPXNWji0oO-K-LawS_HcPDnJ9J46_eCYr4UvVwVSW48j0VGR7Lh6o3oScZncmtQ67ilowD6ZQ3RUZdV8VPDmMzDsDDetqhfBkFT9DTwTZ/s646/Hosp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="646" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx43Aro70WHicttzfrSDNw7tI-8mIB89xbpP0GFSiOcGN3iKGqGQs3NDRKsXAX8Pmojm8ZUIzUh8B3X0KPXNWji0oO-K-LawS_HcPDnJ9J46_eCYr4UvVwVSW48j0VGR7Lh6o3oScZncmtQ67ilowD6ZQ3RUZdV8VPDmMzDsDDetqhfBkFT9DTwTZ/w640-h532/Hosp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The new Hospital</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> July 27, 1955, p. 1</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PWYBB59YXYjxS2LEYRMFUwqlaVZ1eKTsXGsDNIb7tJr9OtzIPI4lPpjVc5TYc8GmxZt36_KeeD_fV6ULNENWTMbjpX7D9ZthFNXMXI40ExkaBUzI6A647NedOjZuGIulch7LNgZ6DR2orbb5NMpT8WQGZkkK93yotdeg0Fc5CAaYIZwygmtslCNE/s2076/1954%20Dec%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="2076" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PWYBB59YXYjxS2LEYRMFUwqlaVZ1eKTsXGsDNIb7tJr9OtzIPI4lPpjVc5TYc8GmxZt36_KeeD_fV6ULNENWTMbjpX7D9ZthFNXMXI40ExkaBUzI6A647NedOjZuGIulch7LNgZ6DR2orbb5NMpT8WQGZkkK93yotdeg0Fc5CAaYIZwygmtslCNE/w640-h430/1954%20Dec%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">December 4, 1954 - Hospital under construction.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: Margaret Robinson</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-SrVgycBHRrx956xxqfLVOefRnxPW3MIWPB9G9EF98l6EWvS2rDqrJiQDXF0YIZpMVK2Ct8MEx9k2LarYAAq7hpBfM09JwUv_601ymlecc2KjhLRo4QNjHmDcrUZtVzKIsVaD78lfmFFXc9MgjylWl53pdQs5L2ez_YAH7YdNJWQCaMT5sLVcOtr/s2040/1954%20Nov%2027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2040" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-SrVgycBHRrx956xxqfLVOefRnxPW3MIWPB9G9EF98l6EWvS2rDqrJiQDXF0YIZpMVK2Ct8MEx9k2LarYAAq7hpBfM09JwUv_601ymlecc2KjhLRo4QNjHmDcrUZtVzKIsVaD78lfmFFXc9MgjylWl53pdQs5L2ez_YAH7YdNJWQCaMT5sLVcOtr/w640-h448/1954%20Nov%2027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">November 27, 1954 - Construction of Hospital and two-storey Nurses' Home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: Margaret Robinson</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> reported on July 20, 1955 that Matron Laird had been appointed and that the Hospital would be ready for occupation the next month, and would be officially opened on August 22. A Meeting to form a Ladies Auxiliary was held on July 28. The visiting hours for the hospital were set at 10.30am - 11am, 2.30pm - 3.30pm and 7.15pm - 8.15pm and<i> no children under 14, except babes in arms, would be admitted as visitors</i>. August 22 came and went and there was no official opening, however on August 24, 1955 the hospital was opened for business with the patients in the old building transferred by ambulance to the new building. The Hospital Secretary, Mr Pollock, could advertise<i> that the hospital was open to receive patients for all kinds of nursing.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (11). </span></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6rOYGAh-vFEOkrUidgAfETHfueZd3wj0w1Ucu-T4AQmgZZar_ZM-TwzwVAFv3l4vNmr5CYn-RvP0GDo7Bwvqgz6ItiUawFywxxmv402h77eN4zXeTrwDFR695YOOIEfamrCONxG321F19Cvizz1Q01em3Bkr4i0EkAwf8ecz0b7KmRq1NCaveqgY/s224/corp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="224" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6rOYGAh-vFEOkrUidgAfETHfueZd3wj0w1Ucu-T4AQmgZZar_ZM-TwzwVAFv3l4vNmr5CYn-RvP0GDo7Bwvqgz6ItiUawFywxxmv402h77eN4zXeTrwDFR695YOOIEfamrCONxG321F19Cvizz1Q01em3Bkr4i0EkAwf8ecz0b7KmRq1NCaveqgY/w400-h371/corp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The new Hospital is open for business</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> August 24, 1955, p. 4</span></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>It wasn’t until December 4, 1955 that the official opening of the Hospital and Nurses’ Home took place. The <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i> would report <i>that despite inclement weather conditions there was a large attendance on Sunday afternoon to witness the official opening of the new 23-bed Westernport Memorial Hospital, costing £200,000, excluding furnishings. The ceremony was performed by Dr. H. J. Lindell, chairman of the Hospitals and Charities Commission.</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(12)</span>. You can read the full report of the opening of the Westernport Memorial Hospital, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/03/official-opening-of-westernport.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf2LMZvcTcX8rSC0DteV25LgFnkfTBn4R-JzCdsRB2M-9yPfetulZLvN7PfY_3si0WEpooTfYYHYgi7lvbQXJJq8sXRNRnwq__mmRHcG2mb_H-QmNk7lQjdjxeYq1O0x6qWC17VqaMGheSTcUAv3RHg0rA_LudO7MpbqIYF6UmBHMygyTdfJjVaie/s2028/1955%20Dec%204%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2028" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlf2LMZvcTcX8rSC0DteV25LgFnkfTBn4R-JzCdsRB2M-9yPfetulZLvN7PfY_3si0WEpooTfYYHYgi7lvbQXJJq8sXRNRnwq__mmRHcG2mb_H-QmNk7lQjdjxeYq1O0x6qWC17VqaMGheSTcUAv3RHg0rA_LudO7MpbqIYF6UmBHMygyTdfJjVaie/w400-h281/1955%20Dec%204%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">December 4, 1955 - Opening Ceremony Westernport Memorial Hospital</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: Margaret Robinson</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38TTs-nbdfTggoLophWe6iXBhfXG8R_eICoM7jUFQKc4cG82pLzs5rl8-j-RYfrW7pgLdWvIQQpUuD20hdfUKzK0HhffMzBQhcf8k_QpbAezT7K4pcxyuoxscb0H5Hfs9E7dJ-pwiu6td0jWUOAbivloIoGBZqKeAyquikkfI1p8HxGIvGey2NpcL/s2040/1955%20Dec%204%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2040" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38TTs-nbdfTggoLophWe6iXBhfXG8R_eICoM7jUFQKc4cG82pLzs5rl8-j-RYfrW7pgLdWvIQQpUuD20hdfUKzK0HhffMzBQhcf8k_QpbAezT7K4pcxyuoxscb0H5Hfs9E7dJ-pwiu6td0jWUOAbivloIoGBZqKeAyquikkfI1p8HxGIvGey2NpcL/w400-h283/1955%20Dec%204%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">December 4, 1955 - Opening Ceremony Westernport Memorial Hospital. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The Fallen Soldier's plaque was installed in this wall. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photographer: Margaret Robinson</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The focus of the Hospital changed from the 1990s - the Killara Hostel opened in 1997, the operating theatre closed in 2004. However what didn’t change was the need to raise funds and Hospital Balls were a regular feature and a major fundraiser was the Koo Wee Rup Potato Festival held from 1973 until 2000 (read about the Potato Festival, <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/07/koo-wee-rup-potato-festival.html">here</a>). However, the jewel of the Crown is the Ladies Auxiliary, formed in July 1955 and still going strong and still raising money for the Health Service. Coming up for their 70th anniversary, a Platinum Jubilee, in two years time it is an anniversary well worth celebrating for their consistent dedication to their cause and to the town of Koo Wee Rup and surrounds. The Ladies are truly worth their weight in platinum, gold and diamonds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGKMREzni6OqjfUUjlxB9lR_A57J9ceyu0-rxD19qI_jXHahZ2PKDAyzytBAeaXtRl91cLMrCa4j_z4KIx6uyh-m8u6cBW_G1g0ko5Vx5rrR4Vjnz6MxYTS3ZkH0A2VmyLGIUAhpN-RGT5xxfLhHogDZ35RfDeDp4I3LuFSMqcCQEbUvy8whaG7Ci/s250/Aux%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="250" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGKMREzni6OqjfUUjlxB9lR_A57J9ceyu0-rxD19qI_jXHahZ2PKDAyzytBAeaXtRl91cLMrCa4j_z4KIx6uyh-m8u6cBW_G1g0ko5Vx5rrR4Vjnz6MxYTS3ZkH0A2VmyLGIUAhpN-RGT5xxfLhHogDZ35RfDeDp4I3LuFSMqcCQEbUvy8whaG7Ci/w320-h293/Aux%2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The start of the Ladies' Auxiliary</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, August 3, 1955, p. 4</span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Footnotes</b></div><div>(1) Read about the Bush Nursing Centre and the Nurses' Cottage here <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html">https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html</a></div><div>(2) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun, </i>May 24, 1923, p 4. </div><div>(3) The details of his Council service is from <i>The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire</i> by Niel Gunson (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968)</div><div>(4) Mickle, David J. <i>Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup</i> (The Author, 1983) and <i>More Mickle</i> <i>Memories of Koo Wee Rup</i> (The Author, 1987); notes compiled by Jack Mills at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society</div><div>(5) <i>The Argus</i>, October 28, 1929, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4046190">here</a>. Dr Edith Barrett, was the sister of Sir James Barrett - read her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/barrett-edith-helen-5143">here</a> and Sir James' <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/barrett-sir-james-william-64">here</a>.</div><div>(6) <i>The Argus</i>, October 28, 1935, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11781297">here</a>. Lady Mitchell - read her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry <a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mitchell-lady-eliza-fraser-7798">here</a>. President of the Hospital was Mr L. J. O'Riordan - Les O'Riordan - read about him <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/05/les-oriordans-recollections-early.html">here</a> and <a href="https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/03/kitty-harris-townson-and-margaret.html">here</a> - Les is the sister of Margaret Hamilton.</div><div>(7) Various articles in the newspapers.</div><div>(8) <i style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup Sun</i><span style="text-align: center;">, January 30, 1946, p. 4.</span></div><div>(9) <i>The Herald</i>, January 15, 1948, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243839157">here</a>; <i>The Argus</i>, May 15, 1948, see <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22546916">here</a>; </div><div>(10) <i style="text-align: center;">Koo Wee Rup Sun</i><span style="text-align: center;"> July 27, 1955, p. 1</span></div><div>(11) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, July 20, 1955, p. 1; <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, August 24, 1955, p. 1</div><div>(12) <i>Koo Wee Rup Sun</i>, December 7, 1955, p. 1.</div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863604821802393463noreply@blogger.com0