Bunyip War Memorial

The War Memorial at Bunyip was unveiled on Wednesday, February 9 1921 by Frank Groves, M.L.A. There  are 36 names from the Great War on the Memorial. The memorial was designed and erected by A. & G. Henderson  of Lygon Street, North Carlton. It would be interesting to know how the names were selected as the AIF Project website lists 69 people with a  Bunyip address who enlisted and  a further 16 with an Iona address, so there was no shortage of potential candidates who could have been honoured. However, all the men, except one, Joseph Fallon did not survive the War, which makes me wonder if I found the correct J. Fallon, see more below.

Unveiling of the Bunyip War Memorial

The Argus, February 12 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1736345

Here is a list of the 36 soldiers and their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives of Australia website www.naa.gov.au   You can also read about other men from Bunyip who are listed on the Bunyip Methodist Church Honour Roll 

Beswick, Edwin Ezard  (SN 6725) Edwin enlisted on September 16, 1916. He was 18 years old, was born in England and his next of kin was his father, John, of Garfield.  He made a will on July 26, 1917 and left everything to his mother, Mary Elizabeth Beswick. Edwin died in France of wounds and gas poisoning on October 9, 1917.

Bradshaw, Stanley Guelph  (SN 2280) Stanley was born in Launceston and was 31 when he enlisted on August 21, 1916. He was a farmer and his next of kin was his father, Joseph Bradshaw of Bunyip,  Stanley was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 4, 1916.

In Memoriam notice for Stanley Bradshaw

The Argus November 17, 1917  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1663890

Carter,  William  (SN 2266) William was born in Kent, England. He enlisted on July 17, 1915 at the age of 28 and his next of kin was his father William Carter of Bunyip. William Died of Wounds, received whilst fighting in France, on August 6, 1916. 

Clarkin, William (SN 1522). William was the fifth child of John and Elizabeth (nee Moore) Clarkin. They had eight children - John (1886), Mary (1887-1888), James (1889), Catherine (1891), William (1894), Margaret (1896), Mary (1899) and Ada (1902). John died in 1902, aged 55, leaving Mrs Clarkin with a young family to look after. William enlisted at Tynong on December 7, 1914 at the age of 21; his next of kin was his eldest brother, John Clarkin of Garfield. William fought at Gallipoli where he was shot in the chest and bayonetted in the leg. He recovered and was serving in France when he was officially  reported as missing in August 1916 but had actually died of wounds as a Prisoner of War at Caudrey in Germany on August 26, 1916.  William is also listed on the Iona Honour Board and on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, and I have more details about the family there. 

Dawes, Gladstone (SN 4178) Gladstone enlisted on July 20 1915 aged 18. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs A. Dawes of Iona, and his father was listed as Alfred Dawes, Senior. Gladstone was Killed in Action in France on June 17, 1918. Gladstone had four brothers who also enlisted, and they are all listed on the Iona Honor Board, and I have more details about the family there. 

Bunyip War Memorial, c. 1921

Museums Victoria  https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1933450

Devine, Henry Clarence. (SN 7230) Henry was a 23 year old labourer when he enlisted on November 30, 1916. He was born in Numurkah, the son of John and Sarah Devine, who lived in Numurkah. Henry was reported as Missing in Action in Belgium in October 1917 and an Enquiry held in February 1918 determined that he was Killed in Action on October 4, 1917 at Passchendale. What was his connection to Bunyip? I presume he must have lived and worked in Bunyip at some time. As we can see from his death notice, below, his sister, Mrs V. Chapman, lived in Bunyip, so he may have lived with her for a while. His sister was Edith Mary Devine and she had married Victor Chapman in 1908. If the man on the Bunyip Memorial is not Henry, then I don't know who it is.

Death notice of Henry Devine

The Australasian March 9, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140202611

Doherty,  Edward Francis (Frank)  (SN 1218) Frank enlisted on March 9, 1915 at the age of 26. He was a farmer. Frank was Killed in Action on August 4, 1916.  He was the son  of John and Bridget (nee Smith). John Doherty was a Veterinary Surgeon and they lived on Nine Mile Road, Tynong. Frank and his brother Louis are both listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, and I have more details about the family there. 

Report of the deaths of Frank Doherty and Jack Fitzgerald.

Dandenong Advertiser, September 14, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88664360

Donald, Henry Gordon (SN 6001a) Henry was a 21 year old farmer, born in Iona,  when he enlisted on March 30, 1916. Henry was Killed in Action in Belgium, exact date unknown, but from June 7 to June 9, 1917. Henry's brother, Arnold (SN 6000a) enlisted the same day, at the age of 27. He was wounded in France and Returned to Australia on April 5, 1918. Arnold and Henry were the sons of Charles and Elizabeth (nee Nairn) Donald of Garfield. Henry and Arnold are both listed on the Iona Honor Board. 

Fallon, Joseph (SN 3521)  Joseph was  born in Bunyip and enlisted on April 17, 1917. He was 21 years old and a butcher. His next of kin was his father, J. Fallon, of 585 King Street, West Melbourne, which was also Joseph's address. He Returned to Australia July 8, 1919. As I said at the start of this post, Joseph Fallon is the only man on this Memorial who survived, but of all the Fallons who sadly did not survive the War, I can't find any with an obvious Bunyip connection.

Fitton, James Herbert (SN 3979)  James was born in England and was the brother of Wilfred Fitton, who is listed as living at Bunyip in the 1914 Electoral Rolls. James enlisted on July 28, 1915, he was 24 years old and a farm labourer. James was Killed in Action in Belgium on September 30, 1917. James' Roll of Honour Circular was completed by his brother, Robert, who wrote that James had seven more bothers who served in the Great War - six with the British Forces and another with the A.I.F. This was Wilfred (SN 3978) who was 23 when he enlisted on the same day as James. Wilfred Returned to Australia January 5, 1920.

Fitzgerald, D This could be Daniel Fitzgerald (SN 3312) from Iona, who enlisted on October 5, 1914. He Died of Wounds on October 6, 1917.
Fitzgerald, David William (SN 37563) is the other possibility,  also of Iona. David enlisted on February 27, 1917, he spent some time in a military hospital after the war and Returned to Australia on April 10, 1919.
Fitzgerald, John Lawrence (SN 2474) John, from Iona, enlisted on July 15, 1915. He was Killed in Action in France on July 19, 1916. These boys are the sons of David and Margaret Fitzgerald of Iona.  They and their brother, Maurice, are listed on the Iona Honor Board and I have more detail about the family there.

John Lawrence Fitzgerald

Australian War Memorial  Photograph DASEY1178

Gaghin, John (SN 2528) - John was a 24 year old farmer when he enlisted  on June 16, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Michael Gaghin of Garfield.  John was Killed in Action in France on April 11, 1917.

Death notice for John Gaghin

The Argus May 11, 1917  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1616933

Green, Francis Regis (SN 6013) Francis enlisted on April 17, 1916 at the age of 20, his occupation was a farmer. Francis was Killed in Action in France on May 12, 1917. Francis' brother Thomas also enlisted. Thomas (SN 2421) was a 28 year old Commission Agent who enlisted on April 11, 1916. Thomas Returned to Australia May 6, 1919. Francis and Thomas listed their next of kin as their mother, Catherine Green, of Iona. Her address was later changed to Kirwan's Post Office, Garfield, this was later changed to Vervale (same place, different name). The boys are also listed on the Iona Honor Board.

Gunnelson, Percy Oskar (SN 893)
Gunnelson, Ingebert Thomas (SN 3160) 

Ingebert and Percy were the sons of James and Mary (nee Duff) Gunnelson of Garfield. James (sometimes called Ingebert) was born in Norway and was a builder. 

Percy enlisted at the age of 20 on August 24, 1914. He was a labourer.  Percy was Killed in Action on May 8, 1915.

Ingebert was a 23 year old labourer when he enlisted on September 2, 1916. He was Killed in Action on October 4, 1917. 

Ingebert Thomas Gunnelson

Australian War Memorial  Photograph DA16517

Holland, William George Sydney (SN 850) William was born in Bunyip and enlisted on June 3, 1915. He was a 29 year old farm labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs J. Holland, of Bunyip and later 91 Cowper Street, Footscray. William died on November 1, 1918 after being gassed.

Leeson, William Herbert Charles (SN 1178) William enlisted on September 26, 1914, aged 24. He was a Labourer. William was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on May 2, 1915. William's brother Robert Victor  (SN 2589) also served. He enlisted on June 30, 1916 at the age of 20. Robert Returned to Australia on December 18, 1918. The boys were the sons of Phillip Leeson on Garfield. Robert and William’s grandmother, Kathleen Leeson, was the licensee of the Pig & Whistle Hotel on Cannibal Creek. 

Bunyip War Memorial

Photograph courtesy of the Casey Cardinia Remembers website

www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au

McDonald, Allan Walter   (SN 2474) Allan and his wife Jessie (nee Farr) lived at Garfield when he enlisted on March 3, 1916. He was 40 years old and  a farmer. Allan Died of Wounds received in France on April 17, 1917. Allan was born in and grew up at Greta. The Wangaratta Chronicle published this lovely obituary of Allan on May 16, 1917. As you can see they had two children - Morrison (Thomas Morrison, born 1903) and Keith (Francis Keith, born 1906). 

Obituary of Allan McDonald

Wangaratta Chronicle May 16, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92126841

McIvor, John Edward (SN 26655)  John enlisted on January 11, 1916. He was 23 years old and a labourer. His next of kin was his wife, Edith, of Amess Street, North Carlton. Edith moved to a number of addresses after John enlisted and one of her addresses was c/o Mrs Scealy of Bunyip; this was Margaret Ellen Scealy, Edith's sister. There may have been another Bunyip connection, but I haven't established it yet, as John was born in  Footscray and enlisted from North Carlton. John was Killed in Action on July 25, 1918.

Milligan, Joseph Lewellen (SN 5376) Joseph was born in 1897 in Bunyip South (now called Iona) to James and Catherine (nee Hopkins) Milligan. He was the last of their ten children and the only one born locally - the others were - James (1875), Charles (1877), William (1880), Francis (1881), John (1883), Frederick (1885), Susan (1887), Catherine (1888), Thomas (1891) and then Joseph.  He enlisted at the age of 21 on March 8, 1916, his occupation was a farm hand, and his address was Cora Lynn. Joseph was Killed in Action on February 23, 1917. Joseph is also on the Iona Honour Board and the  Cora Lynn War Memorial and I have more details about the family there. 

Moore, Henry Edwin  Walter (SN 3428)   Henry enlisted at the age of 24 on July 12, 1915 and his occupation was a 'general and shoeing Blacksmith.' His next of kin was his mother, Mrs E. Moore of Chatsworth Road, East Prahran. This was later changed to his wife, Alice Moore of Kia Ora, Bunyip. They married on September 27, 1915 just before he embarked.  Walter died of disease on February 6, 1919 and is buried in England. 

Henry Moore

Australian War Memorial Photograph H01608

Mynard Charles  (SN 459) Charles enlisted on August 17, 1914 at the age of 21. He was a porter.  Charles was born in England, the son of Thomas Christopher and Elizabeth Ann Mynard. The family lived at Garfield. Charles was reported missing and at an Enquiry held in April 1916 it was determined that he had been  Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.  As you can see from the death notice below, Charles' father Thomas also served. Thomas (SN 17653) enlisted on July 7, 1915 at the age of 42, and he Returned to Australia March 14, 1919.

Death notice of Charles Mynard

The Age June 8, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155084389

Pearson, Frederick Francis (SN 869)  Frederick enlisted on September 4, 1914 at the age of 25. He was a Clerk. His next of kin was his father, Charles Pearson of Bunyip.  Like Charles Mynard, above, Frederick was also reported missing and it was at an Enquiry held in June 1916 that it was determined that he also had been Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. Frederick is also listed on the Tonimbuk Honor Board.

Fred Pearson

Bunyip & Garfield Express, July 6 1915

Plant, Lawrence (SN 1804) John was a 19 year old labourer when he enlisted on December 30, 1914. He had been born in Garfield and enlisted at Tynong. He was the son of John and Mary Plant of Garfield. Lawrence was Killed in Action in France on May 12, 1917.

Death notice for Lawrence Plant from his sincere friend, Irene. I wonder who she was?

The Age June 4, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154978010

Reardon, Eric Charles (SN 2524). Eric enlisted on June 3, 1915 at the age of 18. He was a farmer, the son of James Edwin and Selina Emily Reardon of Bunyip. Eric Died of Wounds on September, 6 1918.  Eric and his brother, William, are both listed on the Tonimbuk Honor Board.

Eric Reardon

Australian War Memorial Photograph P12700

Slattery, Gerald Malyon   (SN 272) Gerald was born in Castlemaine and was 26 years old when he enlisted on March 15, 1915. His occupation on his enlistment papers was butter maker and the 1914 Electoral Rolls show he was living at Iona and his occupation was Creamery Manager. Gerald was Killed in Action in France on July 19, 1916. Gerald's name also appears on the Iona Honor Board.

The Bunyip War Memorial

The Weekly Times, May 15, 1926 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223317603

Sleigh, Stephen   (SN 3244) Stephen enlisted at the age of 28 on July 16, 1915. He was a Shunter. He was the son of  Charles and Mary Jane Sleigh of Bunyip North. Stephen was  Killed in Action in France, on July 19, 1916. Stephen and his brother, John, are both listed on the Tonimbuk Honor Board.

Spence, Malcolm (SN 4614) When Malcolm enlisted on August 31, 1915 his next of kin was listed as his sister, Harriet Walker of Bunyip. He was 22 years old and a Postal Employee. Malcolm was Killed in Action in France on July 20, 1916. Malcolm, and his two brothers, James and Russell, are also listed on the Bunyip Methodist Church Honour Roll, where there is more information about the family.

Stacey, Ernest William  (SN 4298)  Ernest enlisted on July 7, 1915. He was 27 years old and a butcher. He was the son of Thomas Stacey who owned the Railway Hotel in Bunyip. Ernest was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 5, 1917.

Ernest Stacey

Australian War Memorial  Photograph DA12988

Streeter, Henry (SN 2402) Henry was from Bunyip and enlisted on October 17, 1916 in the Australian Flying Corps.  He was a Lieutenant and was Killed in Action in France on February 17, 1918. For some reason his file at the National Archives is not digitised, so I don't have much information about him but he was listed in the 1919 Electoral Rolls as being a farmer of Bunyip. 

Death notice for Henry Streeter 

The Argus May 11, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1658720

Toner, Francis John  (SN 5092)  Francis enlisted on March 3, 1916. He was 33 years old and a farmer and his next of kin was his widowed mother, Catherine Toner of Garfield. Francis was Killed in Action in France, March 20, 1917.

Williams, Percy Francis (SN 7099) Percy enlisted on April 28, 1916. He was a 32 year old photographer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann Williams of Main Street, Bunyip. Percy died of pneumonia in a Military Hospital in England on March 14, 1917.

Watson, Albert (SN 3664) Albert was a 'Manager, General Store' when he enlisted at the age of 22 on August 25, 1915. He Died of Wounds March 9, 1918. Albert was the son of Jessie Adamson of Garfield. His Will stated that he would leave his estate to his mother or is she predeceased him, his sister Mrs F. Gross of Garfield. He also left 50 pounds to his niece, Agnes Ritchie. Mrs F. Gross was Elsie May Watson who married Gottfried Gross in 1905. Albert's mother Jessie was born Jessie Ritchie. Albert is also listed on the Iona Honor Board.

Julian Whiston

Australian War Memorial Photograph P04700.015

Whiston, Julian Thomas (SN 3526) Julian was 18 when he enlisted on August 7, 1915. He Died of Wounds on March 21, 1918.
Whiston, Frederick (SN 3524) Fred enlisted on August 2, 1915 aged 23. Fred Died of Wounds on July 21, 1916.
They also had another brother who enlisted, John Ernest (SN 3252), who enlisted the same day as Julian when he was 26. John Returned to Australia on May 21, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds in the August suffering from 'Otitis Media mild' or deafness.
John, Fred and Julian are the sons of Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Oxenham) whose address was listed as both Garfield and Cora Lynn. John was born in Port Adelaide, Fred in Garfield and Julian was listed as being born at ‘Bunyip Swamp’ on his enlistment paper but he was actually born at Bunyip South or Iona.
There is a J. Whiston listed on the Iona Honor Board, this is either Julian or John. There is also a T. Whiston listed in a newspaper article about a Memorial Grove being planted at Tynong, see here. I can only assume that Julian may have been know by his middle name, Thomas, and the entry refers to him.

Fred Whiston 

Australian War Memorial  Photograph DA10933

Another version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years and other places.

A short history of Bunyip

I wrote this for the 35th birthday of the Bunyip & District Community News, and it was published in the October 2017 edition.

The first European settlers in the Bunyip region were squatters who leased the two Connabul Creek runs, which were located between the Ararat Creek and the Bunyip River. In 1845, Connabul Creek 1 run of 8,960 acres was leased by Michael Ready (or Reedy) and James Hook and Connabul Creek 2 run was leased by Terence O’Connor and a Mr Hayes. The other squatting run in the area was the 30,000 acre Bunyeep Bunyeep Run, which was located between the Bunyip River and the Tarago River and taken up in 1849 by Henry Jennings. Around the same time as these squatting runs were taken up (1847) a road was surveyed from Dandenong to the Bunyip River (in the vicinity of were Ellis Road meets the river) and the township of Bunyeep developed there.

This town was surveyed in the 1850s - it had a High Street and a Barkly Street and eleven blocks - two owned by A. McKinnon, two by W.M.K Vale and the rest by David Connor, who built the Bunyeep Inn around 1854. In 1867, Connor built a new hotel called the New Bunyip Inn.  This was built on the Bunyip River on the Gippsland Road, as the Princes Highway was then called. It was on the south side of the Highway, just east of A'Beckett Road and the west side of the Bunyip River.  A small settlement developed around the Inn, William Snell built a bakery in 1878 and a dance hall was erected by Mr Hyne, opposite the Inn. The New Bunyip Inn was closed by the Licensing Reduction Board in 1917.  It is possible that this small township on the Bunyip River would have developed into a sizable town however the arrival of the railways in 1877 moved the settlement further south and the modern town of Bunyip developed around the railway station.

Bunnyip Hotel, North Gippsland.  [David Connor's New Bunyip Inn] Photographer: Fred Kruger

 State Library of Victoria Image H41138/11

The railway line from Oakleigh to Bunyip opened on (depending on what source you use) October 4 or October 8, 1877.  There is a description of Bunyip in The Argus of October 4 from a journalist who took a trip down the railway line before the official opening - There are no visible settlements at the Bunyip at present, save such as have been temporarily called into existence by the railway works, but the hills on the north are stated to have been all selected. Two red-wood cottages have been built at the back of the station, apparently for the purposes of trade. On the whole, the scene is very desolate, and the traveller tempted by railway time-tables to ran down into Gipps Land, will be strongly persuaded when he steps from the train into the open space which has been hewn out of the Bunyip forest to postpone his visit, and hasten back to Melbourne, unless he is of dauntless mind, and hardened to toilsome bush roads.

Another report that contains a description of Bunyip was in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal on August 3, 1887 -  it has two hotels, well conducted by Messrs. Hanson and Finch. These two hostelries, with Mr. Barrow's general store, amicably uniting themselves pretty well form the township. There are also one or two unpretentious dwelling houses about, and a State School.

As is usual in many country towns some of the first establishments were hotels and, according to Denise Nest’s book The Call of the Bunyip, two Hotels opened in 1876 - the Butcher's Arms and the Bunyip Hotel. John O'Brien had the licence for the Bunyip Hotel and in January 1877 he took up the licence for the Railway Family Hotel.  I don’t know if these hotels were the ‘red wood cottages set up for the purpose of trade’ as described by the journalist above.

John O'Brien's tenure at the Family Hotel didn't last very long as it was sold up by the Sherrifs Office in May 1881, according to an advertisement in The Argus. I am a bit hazy on the early details of these hotels - by 1884 there are various advertisements for Lawrence Finch's Gippsland Hotel at Bunyip - this Hotel is still in existence (it's known as the Top Pub); in 1897 Sarah Alice Finch was listed as the licensee and William Kraft took over, sometime between October 1898 and September 1899, according to the Shire of Berwick Rate Books.   I don't know when the original building was replaced by the existing two storey brick building. The other hotel in Bunyip today is the Railway Hotel - Thomas Stacey is listed as a publican in the Shire of Berwick Rate books in 1890 and he had it for many years, but I am unsure of the connection, if any, between the Railway Hotel and early hotels - was John O'Brien's Railway Family Hotel the same hotel as the Railway Hotel or was it the Butcher's Arms? The Railway Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1924 and the new building, which is the existing building, opened in October of the same year.

The settlement on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp from around 1893 helped the development of Bunyip and Garfield as they were service centres for the surrounding farm lands. The 1903 Electoral Roll shows that Bunyip had 355 adults enrolled of which just under half were female. The occupations listed in the Roll give us idea of the sort of services were available in the town. As you might expect, most of the men were farmers or labourers but there were also railway employees, a carpenter, draper, coach builder, store keepers, baker, gardener, butcher, Hotel keeper and even one sailor. The women overwhelmingly had their occupation listed as ‘home duties’ but there was a dressmaker, a music teacher, a teacher and a saleswoman.

The population of Bunyip increased at a steady rate - in 1921 it was 694; 1933 - 744 and 1961 - 959. It then remained almost static for 25 years as in 1986 it was still only 986. The largest increase has come in the last 20 years when from 1996 to the 2016 Census the population doubled from 1,011 to 2,468.

As the population grew all the necessary trappings of a 'civilised' life developed - the State School opened at the start of 1880; the hotel keeper William Kraft built a hall, which was replaced by the original Mechanics' Institute Hall in 1906 (this hall burnt down in 1940 and the existing hall was opened in1942). Church services had taken place in the hall and private homes until the Methodist Church was opened in 1899 and the Anglican Church in 1902. The Presbyterian Church (now Uniting) was not opened until 1954.

Community groups such as the Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Society was established in 1899; a football club and a cricket club sometime in the 1890s and Bunyip even had ‘young ladies’ cricket team which started in 1909.  The ‘ladies basketball’ club (netball) began in the 1930s. The Fire Brigade started in October 1942. The First Bunyip Scout Troop commenced in 1910 and the Girl Guides in 1959. On the welfare front - the Country Women’s Association started in 1936 and the Baby Health Centre the same decade.  A private Hospital was built in 1912 and another in the 1930s. The Shelley Memorial Hospital at Bunyip was officially opened on March 19, 1966 and closed on May 1, 1991. The building is now part of Hillview Hostel.

There are, of course, many other Community groups or institutions which have played a role in the life of Bunyip residents but we don’t have the space to go into it here. The Call of the Bunyip by Denise Nest, which I mentioned before, has information on some of these groups. You can buy this book from the Bunyip Historical Society. However, we can’t finish this short history of Bunyip without mentioning this publication, the volunteer run Bunyip & District Community News, which has been recording the activities of the area for 35 years.  Congratulations to the News team and we look forward to the next 35 years!

Letters to Aunt Connie of the Weekly Times: Cora Lynn, Garfield, Tynong and Bunyip

The Weekly Times used to have a ‘Young Folks’ page, edited by ‘Aunt Connie’ and 'Uncle Ben' and children would write letters to them and have them published in the paper. In  this post we will find out how they described Garfield, Bunyip, Tynong and Cora Lynn. In another post we looked at what the children wrote about Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang and Five Mile. I have researched some biographical information about the writers. 

Twelve year old Alice Greenham from Bunyip, wrote in October 1900  - 

I have a little duck of my own. I saved it from dying the other day. Mother is in town at present, with one of my sisters. I am 12 years old, and in the sixth standard. I received my certificate two years ago. My brother Bertie is a terrible boy for reading. Whenever he has a chance he gets a book and reads it through. It is a very bad winter this year, too wet. Bunyip is rather a small township. There are two hotels, one grocer, one baker, one butcher, one blacksmith, and a few other houses. Most of the people live at the Koo-wee-rup Swamp. We have to walk about four miles to school, but the creeks are up now, and we cannot cross. I have two sisters and one brother. My sister in town has two little girls,  May and Elsie. [Weekly Times, October 20, 1900, see here]

Alice was born in 1888 to Edward Langdon and Annie Maria (nee Baum) Greenham. They are listed in the Shire of Berwick Rate books for the year 1900/1901, rated for 458 acres and by 1903 they are in East Malvern. Alice married Otto Pump in 1909 and she died in 1961.

Ten year old Eva Siedeberg wrote to Aunt Connie in September 1903 -

My sister, and I both go to school at Garfield. Our head teacher is Mr Daly, and Miss Skinner is our sewing mistress. They are both very nice. I am in the fourth class, and Madoline, my sister, is in the fifth. Nearly all of the children have a garden each, and the big boys have a garden between them; they grow vegetables. We have a garden in the shape of Australia, and for the towns are cactus, and for the ranges are violets; the edge of it is made of bark. Mr Daly and the boys have planted a lot of pines and blue-gums, and other sorts of trees. We also have a library in our school, and there are many nice books in it. We live about three miles from Garfield, and about four from Bunyip. I have a nice little kitten, and it jumps if you put your hand out. My brothers have two dogs; they often go out hunting with them. The bigger dog's name is Captain, and Baden is the smaller. .. We had an arbor day at our school not long ago, and each child planted a pine. [Weekly Times, September 26, 1903, see here]

I don’t know much about Eva, apart from the fact that she was the daughter of Hugo and Mary Ann (nee Edge) Siedeberg and by 1909 they are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Prahran, so weren’t in Garfield that long. The only other thing I know was that, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, she applied for a divorce from her husband, Austin Corcoran, on the grounds of desertion in October 1927. They had been married at Winton in Queensland in 1916.

In 1906, 14-year-old Inez Coombs wrote from Tynong - 

Christmas Day was hot, so stayed at home. On Boxing Day we went to the Nar-Nar-Goon sports, where I enjoyed myself. I went in a race but did not win. All the rest of the week I did not go anywhere very particular. On New Year's Day we had our school picnic. It was a lovely day. We got there early and had a few games; then we had dinner. After the races were run, I won two races and came second in two. After tea we had our photos taken. Then we went home and milked the cows and separated the milk. When we were done we got ready and went back to the hall, where we had a dance. We all enjoyed ourselves very much. There were crowds at the picnic, and nearly all stayed for the dance. Tynong is getting quite a nice little township. There is a store, school, and a good many houses. Most of the people have orchards and some have farms. We have a farm and an orchard, too. My father is making our farm very nice. He has a lot of stumps grubbed out and he has a lot of ground ploughed. We have a lot of potatoes, peas, pumpkins, melons, sunflowers, carrots and turnips in this year. [Weekly Times, February 3,  1906, see here]

Inez born January 1892 in Queensland, was the daughter of  Harry and Inez (nee Frost) Coombs. She married Arthur Weatherhead in 1915 and the couple lived in North Tynong. Inez died in 1952, predeceased by her husband Arthur, who died in 1945. 

Ethel Brent, 13 years 10 months wrote in October 1907 -

I live in Tynong which is situated 43 miles from Melbourne, on the main Gippsland line. I am going to tell you a little about this district, and also an account of a ramble in the bush. Tynong is a small township, consisting of two stores, a railway station, post office, hall, and a bank. The school is held at present in the hall, but a new school, which is being moved from Cardinia Creek, will be ready for occupation at the end of October. The town itself is on a flat, but hills rise towards the north. A vast swamp occupies the southern portion. To the east of Tynong is Garfield, and to the west Nar-Nar-Goon. The chief occupation of the residents is farming and dairying. The cream is sent to Melbourne to the butter factories to be made into butter. By the station is a sawmill, to which wood is sent to be cut into blocks. On 13th September our teacher took us for a ramble in the bush. We went up the Quarry Hill, which lies north of the school. The children collected nature study specimens and brought them to the teacher, who had a box to put them in. Several kinds of mosses were gathered, also a variety of orchids. We then journeyed on till we came to some large rocks, which are on the northern slope of the hill. The teacher sat on one large rock, and the children gathered around her to hear some of the letters of the Young Folks' Page read. We then visited an old quarry, which had been made some years ago. From here we saw Western Port in the distance. We then travelled on making observations as we went, till we reached the school, from which the children dispersed to their various homes. I am 13 years of age, and am in the upper sixth class at school. The school was opened two years ago last May. There are 32 children's names on the roll, and the average for last week was 27. We are going to have a concert to celebrate the opening of the new school.   [Weekly Times, October 26, 1907, see here]

Ethel was the daughter of Felix and Emma (nee Larcombe) Brent - Felix was a farmer.  Ethel married Geoff Bryant in 1921 and she died at the age of 44 in February 1938.

In November 1907,  Arthur Murdoch, aged 10 years 3 months, wrote from Cora Lynn - 

I go to school every day, and I am in the second class. I have two miles to walk to school. We have a football at school, and we have great fun with it. My father is getting a new store built in Cora Lynn. It will only be about two chains from the school. We are having lovely weather here now. The grass is looking beautiful in the paddocks. My sister has a little pet lamb. There are a good many hares about here. My father shot one yesterday. There are a great many snakes here this season. I killed a small one last week.   [Weekly Times, November 16, 1907, see here]

Arthur was the son of George and Emma Rose (nee Parker) Murdoch who owned the Cora Lynn store from 1907 to 1922. Arthur (Service Number 2636) served in the First World War; he enlisted at the age of 19 in October 1917. His name is on the Cora Lynn War Memorial and he died in 1984.

In June 1911, Selyna Ida Juers, aged 10 years, 11 months wrote - 

Garfield is a small town. It consists of three stores, one hotel, two blacksmith's shops, one post-office, one butcher's shop, a hall, a State school, a bank, and a lot of private houses. The farmers around here are growing potatoes, onions, and fruit. We are having very wet weather this year. I go to school. I am in the second class at school. I have one sister and two brothers. My sister and one brother go to school. [Weekly Times, June 3, 1911, see here]

Selyna was the daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (nee Starrick) Juers of Garfield. She married Alfred Bull in 1920 and died in 1990 aged 89. 

Dorothe Nelson, 14 years old, from Bunyip, wrote in October 1915 - 

Bunyip is a very small but picturesque township. It is situated on a hill overlooking an extensive and promising plain. Bunyip has a background of a small forest of eucalyptus (generally called gum-trees), which extends back about 20 miles. The population of Bunyip is nearly 500. It is increasing every month, as many people are buying and settling on the swamp, because the land is very fertile owing to a river, known as the Bunyip River, flowing through it down to Westernport. Potato crops are just showing above the earth now, and the orchards are a mass of pink and white blossom. Of course, crops and orchards are not grown and kept in the township, but on the plain which Bunyip overlooks. [Weekly Times, October 30, 1915, see here]

Dorothe (sometimes listed as Dorothy) was the daughter of Albert Horatio and Ada (nee Pendleton) Nelson. Albert was a farmer, and by 1916, according to the Electoral Roll they had moved to Croydon. Dorothy married Charles Hancy in 1925 and she died in 1984.

In November 1915, 14 year old Eva Weatherhead, of Tynong, wrote to Aunt Connie -   

Tynong is a small country township situated on the main Gippsland line. In it are two stores, a boarding-house, post office, station, school and some very nice private residences. We live over five miles from Tynong. There are some pretty fern gullies. They are made beautiful by different sorts of ferns and shrubs, with creepers climbing everywhere. Some of the ferns grow to a great height—30 feet and 35 feet. A very good view can be obtained from the mountains, and on clear days one can easily see the sea. Tynong is on the edge of Kooweerup Swamp. The people around here make a living by farming, dairying, and fruit growing principally. There are many wild flowers out now. Some are very pretty. Kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, and wombats frequent the bush. We have a pony which I ride and drive. I have two soldier brothers. One is at Seymour and the other at the front. I have three cousins at the front. One was killed, and another wounded. [Weekly Times, November 6, 1915, see here]

Eva was the daughter of Horatio and Eleanor (nee Hunt) Weatherhead and married Joe Rouse in 1922 and they lived at Cora Lynn. She’s my grandma and died in 1982.

Marion McDonald, 11 years 11 months, wrote to Aunt Connie in April 1924 about Cora Lynn -

I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters, one sister is staying in Queensland with my auntie and uncle, so she is a long way away, isn't she? We live on a farm of 80 acres three miles from the township of Cora Lynn. There is a State school, 2 shops, a bank, a hall and a cheese factory in the township of Cora Lynn. We go to church in the hall, and we also go to the Cora Lynn school. [Weekly Times, April 12, 1924, see here]

Marion was the daughter of John James and Marion Leslie (nee Wilson) McDonald. He was a carpenter and coincidently built my grandparents house - Joe and Eva Rouse, see above - when they married in 1922. Marion married William Rodber in 1935 and she died in Queensland in 2009.

In January 1925, 12 year old Jean Chilcott wrote to Aunt Connie with this description of Tynong - 

Tynong is 42 miles from Melbourne. Tynong is a very small township. There are two grocers, two butchers, two fruit shops, two blacksmiths, one draper, and one dressmaker's shop, and also one post-office. The school is about a quarter of a mile from the township. Our teacher is Mr Giles. There are about 50 children going to Tvnong school. Our school is called the State School. The number is 2854. We are about three-quarters of a mile from the station.  [Weekly Times, January 31, 1925, see here]

Jean was the daughter of William Henry and Gertrude (nee Cubit) Chillcott.  William was a farmer. By 1928 William and Gertrude are in Tasmania, according to the Electoral Rolls. Jean married Reg Diprose of Yolla, in Tasmania, in 1939 and she died in 1954, aged 42.

In  this post looks at how children described Garfield, Bunyip, Tynong and Cora Lynn in their letters to Aunt Connie. In another post we looked at what the children wrote about Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang and Five Mile.

Bunyip and the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp 1887

This account of the township of Bunyip and the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp comes from the South Bourke and Mornington Journal of August 3, 1887.  Click here to access this article on Trove

From an occasional Correspondent.

"Vare iz de downsheep" The interrogator was a foreigner, and the person questioned was, Mr. Barrow, the local storekeeper of the "rising" township of  Bunyip. For Bunyip, by the way, is at present only a small hamlet; in fact it is able to do very little more than 'claim to have, a ''local habitation" as well as a name. Nevertheless it has two hotels, well conducted by Messrs. Hanson and Finch. These two hostelries, with Mr. Barrow's general store, amicably uniting themselves pretty well form the township. There are also one or two unpretentious dwelling houses about, and a State School, of which Mrs. Skinner is the tutelary genius, lies back a little out of sight. 

But still Bunyip may be designated as a rising township, for it stands prominently upon a steep "rise" overlooking the great Koo-wee-rup Swamp. To the foreigner's enquiry, "vare iz do downsheep," the interrogated resident replied with a majestic and comprehensive sweep of the hand, which took in the whole of the vast municipal settlement, "it is here." The foreigner looked puzzled and gazed earnestly round the whole sweep of the horizon, and then a bright idea penetrated his befogged intellect. "Oh! over de hill" he said, and was about to rush on thitherward to seek the goal of which he was in quest; but he was intercepted in his intention by the resident, who rejoined-"No; here. This is the township. Circumspice!"  It was calculated to wound the civic patriotism to have thus with minute emphasis pointed out the locality in which one lives, but there is nothing for it but to remit it to the category of "another injustice to poor old Ireland," and Bunyip must bear its trials with what heroic fortitude it can. 

I don't have any photos of Bunyip from 1887, but this is the Gippsland Hotel (Top Pub) and Main Street in 1908.

Photograph from The Call of the Bunyip by Denise Nest. 

It was only the other day that a young lady in a passing train, looking out over the dreary stretch of Koo-wee-rup Swamp with its forest of dead timber, expressed somewhat emphatically, if not euphoniously, the opinion that this was the last place the Creator made, and was left unfinished by Him. But then the day was a gloomy one, and the prospect from the train was not enlivening. Had the critic been able instead to have stood on the summit of the hill on which the township stands, on a bright day and have seen the magnificent view of the Cannibal ranges, and a sweep of mountain scenery right away to the snow-covered Baw Baw; and again, out over the Koo-wee-rup Swamp, the hills and the sea (ships being sometimes even discernable to the naked eye) had this opportunity been afforded to the fair critic, she would doubtless have been less severe in her comments. More than this, had she been gifted with prophetic, not to say poetic, vision she would have had presented to her mind's eye a still more attractive picture, when the now dismal-looking Koo-wee-rup Swamp shall be moved by the industry of the husbandman, and picturesque homestead with beautifully verdant fields shall gladden the eye and heighten the beauty of the even now splendid panorama. 

And this enhancement of the beauties of the locality should not be hidden in the very far distant future, and that some are far-seeing enough to perceive that this is evident from the fact that at a recent sale of Bunyip land lots at the outside boundary of the suburban area realised as much as £6 per acre. During his election tour Dr. L. L. Smith pledged himself to get the reclamation of the Koo-wee-rup Swamp entered upon as one of his first Parliamentary works, but the hon. gentleman substituted a trip to England, and since his return has forgotten to redeem his promise. But the work is one which must inevitably be undertaken before very long, for such a splendid tract of richly fertile country cannot long be allowed to lie waste within so short a distance of the metropolis. Here is a direction, Mr.Editor, in which your pen, so long wielded in advocacy of the interests of this district, might usefully be exercised. Meanwhile Bunyip is dependent for its existence upon the firewood trade. In a small place like this little can be expected in the way of social news. The arrival and departure of mails and trains constitute the excitements of the place.

Mr Rodger the baker at Bunyip - 100 years ago this week

Hers is  a great advertisement from Mr Rodger the baker and general storekeeper at Bunyip in the Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915. In keeping with the nationalistic and imperialistic times, Mr Rodger advertises No fancy Foreign cakes kept on my counter

Henry Rodger is listed in the Electoral Rolls as a baker in Bunyip from 1903 until 1924. In 1928 he is listed as a retired baker. He was married to Hannah and she died August 10, 1926 and is buried at Bunyip Cemetery. Henry died December 17 1937 and he may well be buried with his wife but he is not on the gravestone. They  had three children Aldred (died 1969, aged 72, buried at Bunyip), Ada and Jessie.

Drainage of Bunyip - 100 years ago this week

Here's an interesting article about drainage (or lack of it ) in Bunyip. The drain went from the Hall, along Main Street to the Railway Hotel and the Hotel's urinals emptied into it and the householders also emptied all their 'bedroom and other slops' into it. Ah, the good old days - very smelly!

Bunyip Free Press    November 19, 1914

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129629868

100 years ago this week - Miss Bell, confectioner, fruiterer and caterer.

Feeling peckish? Then call in at Miss Bell's shop in Main Street in Bunyip and you can purchase "hot pies, tea, coffee and cocoa at all hours". You could have done this 100 years ago, as well as buying confectionery, postage stamps and many brands of cigarettes and tobacco. Miss Bell would also hire out crockery, glassware, cutlery and  a marquee for your party.

Bunyip Free Press November 5, 1914

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page14855597

We have met Miss Bell before, In January 1913, she applied to the Shire of Berwick for a permission to manufacture ice cream on her premises. We know from the Electoral Roll on Ancestry database that her name was Margaret. There is a report  of her wedding in the Bunyip Free Press of July 30, 1914 when she married Charles Marsden of Bunyip. Her father is listed as Hugh Bell, a farmer of Bunyip. The wedding took place on July 22 at St Thomas' Church of England in Bunyip and the reception was at the Cafe Cecil 'of which the happy couple are the proprietors' according to the article. I don't know if this was a different premises from her own business, because she was still paying for advertisements in the paper months after she was married, or the same business.

Bunyip Free Press July 30, 1914

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129629304

What else do we know about Margaret Bell, confectioner? Cafe Cecil was still going in December 1915 as it was supplying the catering for Sports Day. 

Bunyip Free Press December 9, 1915

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129631092

In the same paper there was also an account of another wedding, that of Arthur Weatherhead to Inez Coombs and they had their wedding reception or 'sumptious wedding tea' at Cafe Cecil after their wedding on November 11, 1915. This was of interest to me as Arthur, the fourth child of Horatio and Eleanor Weatherhead, was my grandmas's brother.  Grandma is Eva Rouse (nee Weatherhead) 

Bunyip Free Press December 9, 1915

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129631095

Margaret is listed in the 1919 Electoral Roll as Margaret Marsden, Confectioner of Bunyip. Charles is listed as a carpenter. In  the 1924 and 1936 Electorial Rolls  Charles is listed as a farmer and Margaret as Home Duties, living at Tynong, so it seems that by then her confectionery days were behind her.

100 years ago this week - Roller Skating

Roller Skating was a popular winter past-time 100 years ago - these advertisements for skating at the Bunyip Mechanics' Institute and the Nar Nar Goon Public Hall appeared in the Bunyip Free Press of July 2, 1914.

Skating at Bunyip and Nar Nar Goon

Bunyip Free Press July 2, 1914  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129629166

A Skating Carnival was held at Keast Hall (the public hall) on July 17, 1914. The Bunyip Free Press reported that In spite of the unpromising night and the state of the canal, which was running a banker, the local people turned out well and a vey enjoyable evening was spent. 

Report of Skating Carnival at Cora Lynn.

Bunyip Free Press July 23, 1914  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129629268