Who lived in Koo Wee Rup in 1903?

In another post, we looked how lived in Garfield in 1903 (see here)  now we'll look at who lived in Koo Wee Rup, in 1903.  Once again this information is taken from the Commonwealth Electoral Rolls, which in 1903 are listed by Polling Place and the Koo Wee Rup Roll covers Koo Wee Rup and Yallock, the settlement which was based around Finck Road, School Road, Hall Road etc in what is now called Bayles. The rolls tell you the name of the person enrolled; they had to be 21 to enroll, and their occupation. From the roll we can tell who lived in Koo Wee Rup and Yallock in 1903.

In 1903 there were 284 people listed on the Roll – 212 from Koo Wee Rup and 72 from Yallock, there were 138 women and 146 men.  As you would expect the major occupation was farming – there were 109 farmers, including three women, Elizabeth Fraser of Koo Wee Rup and Annie Yeaman and Helen Reitchel both of Yallock. According to the Cranbourne Shire Rate books many of the farms were only 20 acres, with over half being 40 acres or under. There were also five graziers listed - Charles and William Moody of Koo Wee Rup, Henry and John Lyall of Yallock and Henry Beattie also of Yallock. I don’t know what qualified a person to call themselves a grazier – if it was based on acres, then the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books list Beattie with 1,193 acres and Charles Moody with 647 acres, however Charles’ brother Christopher had over 1,800 acres and he called himself a farmer, so maybe one branch of the family thought they were more gentrified than the other.

Rossiter Road from what is now Alexandra Avenue, Koo Wee Rup, 1903.

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society photo

The other occupations give us some insight into the commercial activities in the town at the time – Koo Wee Rup had Robert Laidlaw the blacksmith; Patrick Bergin the boot maker; Henry Woodman, the butcher; Michael O’Shea, a carrier; Abraham Choury, the draper; William Kilgour, a gardener; Alfred Wilkson, a saddler; George Dempster, the Station Master and Charles Barbour, a railway employee. There were 20 men who had Labourer listed as an occupation. We also had two teachers - Grace McKenzie and John Minahan. Mrs McKenzie started at the Koo Wee Rup State School No. 2629 (then called the Yallock school, out on Bethune’s Road) in 1888 and was there until 1911. Her husband George is listed on the roll as an Engineer. Koo Wee Rup had three grocers – Elizabeth O’Riordan, James Rundle and John Sykes.

Of the 138 women listed, 132 had their occupation listed as the all purpose “Home Duties” – including both Helen and Florence Lyall, the daughters of William and Annabella Lyall of Harewood, this is in spite of the fact that they both held land in their own names, Helen had at least 250 acres. The Cranbourne Rate Books has “Lady” as their occupation – which I presume means that they were of independent means and didn’t need to work. The other six women were the three farmers, the grocer Elizabeth O’Riordan, Mrs McKenzie and finally Clara May Allardyce, of Yallock, who was listed as a Governess.

The Electoral Rolls give us an interesting insight into our region and many of the names from 1903 are still remembered in the area by road names or some of their descendants are still around - Bethune, Burhop, Gilchrist, Johnston, Lineham, Lyall, Mickle, Moody, Rossiter, Ware, Woodman etc.

The first Federal election in Australia took place in March 1901, and was conducted according to the voting legislation in each State. This Parliament enacted the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902, which gave the vote to most adults - both males and females - who were British subjects over the age of 21. The first election under this Act took place on Wednesday, December 16, 1903.  We should appreciate the fact that women, including the 138 Koo Wee Rup and Yallock women listed on the 1903 roll, were eligible to enrol to vote and stand as candidates. This didn't happen in England until 1918, when women over 30 got the right to vote (women over 21 got the right to vote in 1929). In the United States women couldn't vote until 1920 and there are still countries in the world where women cannot vote. As a matter of interest, women in Victoria could not vote in a State election until 1908, and Victoria was the last State to give them this right – South Australia was 1894, Western Australia 1899, New South Wales 1902, Tasmania 1903 and Queensland 1905.*  

This is the list of the 184 people on the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup and Yallock in 1903.

Alexander,  James Yallock Labourer

Allardyce,  Clara May Yallock Governess

Anderson,  Mary Ellen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Barbour,  Charles William Koo-Wee-Rup  Railway employee

Beattie,  Henry Yallock Grazier

Beattie,  Alice Yallock Home Duties

Bergin,  Patrick Alexander Koo-Wee-Rup   Boot maker

Bethune,  John Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Bethune,  Norman McLeod Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Bethune,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Bethune,  Janet Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Binge,  James   Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Binge,  Harriet Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Brains,  Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Brown,  Margaret Yallock Home Duties

Brown.  William Yallock Invalid

Burhop,  Frrderick William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Burhop,  Henry Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Burns,  Francis Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Burns,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Burns,  Joseph  Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Burns,  Patrick Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Callanan, John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Callanan,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Chamberlain,  William Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Chamberlain,  Jane  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Charman,  Charles Herbert Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Charman,  Stephen  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Charman,  Stephen Herbert Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Charman,  Eveline May  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Charman,  Mary Frances Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Choury,  Abraham  Koo-Wee-Rup  Draper

Choury,  Thekla Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Conlan,  Alfred Yallock Labourer

Connor,  Barclay George Koo-Wee-Rup   Overseer

Conway,  Sarah Frances  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Conway,  Matthew  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Cooper,  George  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Cooper,  Elizabeth  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Courtney,  Rosetta  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Courtney,  Robert  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Cox,  Arthur James  Yallock Farmer

Cox,  Burton James Yallock Farmer

Cox,  William  Yallock Farmer

Cox,  Daisy  Yallock Home Duties

Cox,  Mary Jane Yallock Home Duties

Craig,  David Sherwood Farmer

Craig,  Agnes Sherwood Home Duties

Curry,  Dennis Joseph Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Curry,   Sarah  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Davey,  John  Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Davey,  Sarah Elizabeth  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Davis,  Charles James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Davis,  Francis Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Davis,  John Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Davis,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup    Home Duties

Davis,  Mary Hannah Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

De Vries,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

De Vries,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dempster,  Alice Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dempster,  George   Koo-Wee-Rup  Station Master

Donaldson,  John Walter  Yallock Farmer

Donaldson,  Mary Jane  Yallock Home Duties

Douglas,  Louis Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Dunlop,  Alexander  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Dunlop,  John  Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Dunlop,  Matthew Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Dunlop,  Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Annabella  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Dunlop,  Florerence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Martha Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Mary Jane Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Egan,  Denis Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Egan,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Ellis,  Henry Ernest Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Ellis,  Jemina Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Emmott,  Joseph Samuel Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Emmott,  Alphina Theodora Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Ferguson,  Edward Reginald Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Finch,  Louis Wilhelm Yallock Farmer

Finch,  Elizabeth Mary Yallock Home Duties

Fraser,  Elizabeth    Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Gale,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Galtier,  Louisa Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Garnham,  John Yallock Farmer

Garnham,  Jessie Yallock Home Duties

George,  Stephen Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

George,  Eliza   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

George,  Miriam Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gilchrist,  Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  Margaret  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  Margaret  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  William  Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Glen,  Robert  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Glen,  Elizabeth   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gorman,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Graham,  Ann Yallock Home Duties

Gray,  David Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  John Kersey Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  Richard Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gray,  Margaret Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gray,  Sticia Maud Yallock Home Duties

Griffiths,  Cornelius Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Griffiths,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gruber,  Sarah Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gudgin,  William Yallock Farmer

Gudgin,  William Yallock Farmer

Gudgin,  Elizabeth Yallock Home Duties

Haar,  Ernest Yallock Farmer

Haar,  Caroline Yallock Home Duties

Hackett,  Marion Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hackett,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Hahesy,  Richard Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Hahesy,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hamilton,  Henry Campbell Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Hamilton,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hargraves,  Albert  Koo-Wee-Rup Labourer

Harrold,  Elizabeth  Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Hatty,  James Craig Yallock Farmer

Hatty,  William John Yallock Farmer

Hatty,  William John Yallock Farmer

Hatty,  Augusta Yallock Home Duties

Himbeck, Edward Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Himbeck, Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hudson, James Johnston Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Hudson, Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Huges, Thomas John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Huges, Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Izzard, Charles Yallock Farmer

Jenkins, Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Jenkins, Annabella   Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Johnston, Joseph Spencer Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Johnston, William  Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Johnston, William Frank Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Johnston, Barbara Hay Taylor Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Johnston,  Isabella Donald Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Johnston,  Jessie Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Johnston,  Isaac Henry Koo-Wee-Rup  Labourer

Johnston,  Louis Mitchell Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Jones,  John William Yallock Farmer

Jones,  Isabella Yallock Home Duties

Jones,  Mary Ann Yallock Home Duties

Kane,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Kane,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Kerr,  Clara May Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Kilgour,  William   Koo-Wee-Rup Gardener

Kilgour,  Margaret   Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Killeen,  Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Killeen,  Maria Theresa   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Kirwin,  Thomas Yallock Farmer

Kirwin,  Elizabeth Yallock Home Duties

Laidlaw,  Robert Koo-Wee-Rup   Blacksmith

Laidlaw,  Margaret   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lineham,  William   Yallock   Farmer

Lineham,  Annie   Yallock   Home Duties

Longmore,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Longmore,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Longmore,   John Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Lyall,  John Mickle Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Lyall,  Edwin Yallock Grazier

Lyall,  John A.A. Yallock Grazier

Lyall,  Annabella Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Cecile Garnet Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Florence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Eugenia Christina Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Helen Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Julia Anderson Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Margaret Helen Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Victoria Lavinia Yallock Home Duties

Mahon,  Darius Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Mahon,  Bridget Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mahon,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mallcott,  William James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Mallcott,  Mary Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Marshall,  Samuel Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Marshall,  Mary Jane Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Matthews,  Frank Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Matthews,  Sarah Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McCarthy,  Daniel Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McCarthy,  Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McDonald,  Cyril Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McDonald,  Hugh Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McDonald,  Jane Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McGregor,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McGregor,  Josephine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McKenzie,  George Secundus Koo-Wee-Rup   Engineer

McKenzie,  Grace Scott Koo-Wee-Rup   Teacher

McLean,  Christina Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McLennan,  Annie Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McLeod ,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McLeod,  William John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McLeod,  Mary Isabella Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McLeod,  Hugh Johnston Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

McNamara,  James   Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

McNamara,  Annie   Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Mickle,  David Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Mickle,   John Alexander Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Mickle,  Alice Martha Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mickle,  Laura Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Milroy,  James Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Minahan,  Kate Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Minahan,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Teacher

Moody,  Christopher Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Moody,  Christopher John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Moody,  Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Grazier

Moody,  William Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Grazier

Moody,  Cecelia Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Moody,  Edith Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Moody,  Elizabeth Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mortenson,  Florence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Nichols,  William James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Nichols,  William James Yallock Farmer

Nichols,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Nichols,  Susan Yallock Home Duties

O'Brien,  John  Thomas Yallock Farmer

O'Donnell,  Michael Yallock Farmer

O'Donnell,  Margaret Yallock Home Duties

O'Neil,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

O'Neil,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

O'Riordan,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Grocer

O'Shea,  Michael John Koo-Wee-Rup   Carrier

O'Shea,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

O'Toole,  Patrick Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

O'Tool,   Mary Tracy Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Parker,  George Yallock Labourer

Patrick,  David Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Patrick,  James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Patrick,  Martha Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Patrick,  Mary   Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Patrick,  Rosetta Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Powis,  Edward Yallock Farmer

Pretty,  Thomas Scott Yallock Farmer

Pretty,  Emma Yallock Home Duties

Reid,  Henry Charles Yallock Farmer

Reid,  Matilda Yallock Home Duties

Reitchel,  Helen Yallock Farmer

Reynolds,  Bernard William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Reynolds,  Annie Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Rossiter,  Edward August Yallock Farmer

Rossiter,  Helen Louisa Yallock Home Duties

Rundle,  James Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Grocer

Rundle,  Jessie Koo-Wee-Rup Home   Duties

Saunders,  William Henry Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Saunders,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Scanlan,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Scanlan,  Ellen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Scharf,  Henry Yallock Farmer

Sharman,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Simmill,  Charles Yallock Farmer

Simmill,  Federick Herbert Yallock Farmer

Simmill,  Samuel Yallock Farmer

Simmill,  Alice Clare Yallock Home Duties

Simmill,  Florence Yallock Home Duties

Smith,  George Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Smith,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Speers,  Thomas Isaac Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Stevens,  James Yallock Farmer

Stevens,  Maria Yallock Home Duties

Stokes,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Stokes,  Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Sykes,  John Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Grocer

Sykes,  Mary Annie Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Talman,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Tierney,  Patrick Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Tierney,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Ware,  Charles Joseph Yallock Farmer

Ware,  Brewis Yallock Farmer

Ware,  Christina Yallock Home Duties

Ware,  Georgina Yallock Home Duties

Wilkinson,  Mary Yallock Home Duties

Wilkson,  Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Wilkson,  Alfred W Koo-Wee-Rup   Saddler

Woodman,  Henry Koo-Wee-Rup   Butcher

Woodman,  Albert Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Woodman,  Charles Edward Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Woodman,  Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Woodman,  Emily Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Woodman,  Florence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Yeaman,  Annie Yallock Farmer

To see who lived in Garfield in 1903, click here.

* https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2022/June/Womens_suffrage

Who lived in Garfield in 1903?

The 1903 Commonwealth Electoral Rolls are listed by Polling Place and the Bunyip Polling Place covers Garfield, Bunyip and Tynong. What the list tells you is the name of the person enrolled and their occupation. I have extracted the Garfield information from this roll (which is available on Ancestry database) and there were 174 people enrolled with Garfield as their address of which 76 are women and 98 are men. You had to be 21 to enrol at that time. So, who did live in Garfield in 1903?

As you would expect, most of the men were engaged in farming activities - there were 48 farmers. Some of these farming families are now remembered in the names of local roads such as Brownbill, Campbell, Archer and Brew. According to the Shire of Berwick Rate Books the farms ranged in size from 15 acres to over 400 acres with John Lamble having 454 acres and William Shreeve 434 acres. Other occupations listed included two farm hands, four orchardists - William Ellis, John James, Robert Weir Smith (Junior) and William Weir Smith. Albert and George Marshall are listed as being a Station Manager and a Grazier. The Shire of Berwick Rate Books show the Marshalls owned 318 acres which doesn’t seem large enough to qualify as a Station.

The female pupils at Garfield State School, c. 1900-1910.

State Library of Victoria Image H2008.13/15

The occupations also give us some idea of the commercial structure of Garfield in 1903. There were three bakers - George Bird, Thomas Farrington and Charles Magnus; two blacksmiths - George Park and William Ritchie; two butchers - Charles Routley and William Walker. Charles Lobb is listed as a draper, George Archer, Russell Perl and Alfred Wild are storekeepers and William Campbell is listed as a grocers assistant. George and Thomas Ellis were produce merchants, Charles Regester was a driver; Joseph Rutledge was a saddler, Phillip Knight was an agent and James Towt was a contractor.

Advertisement for George and Thomas Ellis, Produce Merchants

South Bourke & Mornington Journal August 12, 1903 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66140604

Reflecting the growth in the area at the time there was one builder, Robert Weir Smith (Senior) and three carpenters – Ingebert Gunnulson, Samuel Harvey and Phillip Leeson. Joseph Jefferson is listed as a brick maker and John Jefferson as a wood merchant. To satisfy the grooming needs of Garfield, Percy Malcolm was the hairdresser and John Daly, the school teacher, took care of educational needs.

School teacher, John Daly, was also the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Garfield. 

He was appointed September 1899.

Victoria Government Gazette, September 15, 1899. p. 3537.

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1899/V/general/75.pdf

There were several unusual occupations – Thomas Chippindall is listed as Crown Lands Bailiff; he was employed by the Department of Lands and Survey. Joseph Walker is described as being of Independent means, William Hewitt was an old age pensioner and David Brunt is described as a maltster, which is a beer maker. There were two railway employees - Robert Brewer and Charles Mason.

Appointment of Thomas Chippindall, and others,  as Crown Lands Bailiff

Victoria Government Gazette, August 30 1902, p 3486. 

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1902/V/general/98.pdf 

What about the women? Of the 76 women all had home duties listed as their occupation, except for Florence Mason, the wife of Charles, who is listed as the Post Mistress. This all purpose description of "Home Duties" would not reflect the real role women played in helping to run the family farm or business. Elizabeth Williamson, listed on the Roll, owned 299 acres so was a major landowner in the area, but her occupation was still listed as "home duties". 

The first Federal election in Australia took place in March 1901, and was conducted according to the voting legislation in each State. This Parliament enacted the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902, which gave the vote to most adults - both males and females - who were British subjects over the age of 21. The first election under this Act took place on Wednesday, December 16, 1903.  We should appreciate the fact that women, including the 76 Garfield women listed on the 1903 roll, were eligible to enrol to vote and stand as candidates. This didn't happen in England until 1918, when women over 30 got the right to vote (women over 21 got the right to vote in 1929). In the United States women couldn't vote until 1920 and there are still countries in the world where women cannot vote. As a matter of interest, women in Victoria could not vote in a State election until 1908, and Victoria was the last State to give them this right – South Australia was 1894, Western Australia 1899, New South Wales 1902, Tasmania 1903 and Queensland 1905.*  

Here is the list of of the 174 people with a Garfield address in the 1903 Electoral Roll

Adamson,  Jessie Home Duties

Ahearn,  Patrick Farmer

Ahearn,  Bridget Home Duties

Alyward,  Margaret Home Duties

Archer,  Joseph Farmer

Archer,  Susan Home Duties

Archer,  George Storekeeper

Aspinall,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Barber,  Joseph Farmer

Barber,  Catherine Home Duties

Bird,  George Baker

Bird,   Grace Home Duties

Body,  John Farmer

Body,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Brew,  Robert Farmer

Brew,  William Arthur Farmer

Brew,  Margaret Home Duties

Brewer,  Janet Allen Home Duties

Brewer,  Margaret Ann Home Duties

Brewer,  Robert Railway employee

Brownbill,  George William Farmer

Brownbill,  Mary Home Duties

Brunt,  Alice Home Duties

Brunt,  David Maltster

Burrows,  James Farmer

Burrows,  Mary Home Duties

Campbell,  William Mortimer Grocers Assistant

Campbell,  Henrietta Home Duties

Campbell,  John Labourer

Cantieni,   Alice Allen Home Duties

Chippindall,  Thomas Edward Crown Lands Bailiff

Daly,  John Joseph School Teacher

Edis,  Frederick Herbert Farmer

Edis,  Annie Home Duties

Edis,  Charles De Linea Farmer

Edmiston,  Annie Home Duties

Ellis,  Helen   Home Duties

Ellis,  Helen Jane Home Duties

Ellis ,  Theresa Ann Home Duties

Ellis,  William Orchardist

Ellis,  George William Produce Merchant

Ellis,  Thomas John Produce Merchant

Farrell,  Patrick Farmer

Farrell,  Julia Home Duties

Farrington,  Thomas Baker

Fentrill,  Samuel Thomas Labourer

Fox,  John Farmer

Fox,  Ellen Home Duties

Gaghin,  Michael Farmer

Gaghin,  Annie Home Duties

Gullick,  John Farmer

Gullick,  Lilian Home Duties

Gunnulson,  Ingebert Carpenter

Gunnulson,  Mary Home Duties

Hardwick,  David Farmer

Hardwick,  Janet Allen Home Duties

Hardwick,  David Oudgtrig Labourer

Hardwick,  John William Labourer

Hardwick,  Robert Watson Labourer

Harvey,  Samuel Francis Carpenter

Harvey,  Laura Home Duties

Heagney,  Thomas Farmer

Heagney,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Hewitt,  Martha Jane Home Duties

Hewitt,  William Old-age Pensioner

Hogan,  John Joseph Farmer

Hourigan,  Henry Arthur Farmer

Hourigan,  Valentine John Farmer

Hourigan,  Catherine Home Duties

Hourigan,  Mary Home Duties

James,  John Orchardist

Jefferson,  Joseph Brick maker

Jefferson,  Marion Ethel Home Duties

Jefferson,  John Henry Wood Merchant

Johnson,  Thomas William Farmer

Johnson,  Matilda Home Duties

Jolley,  Joshua Farmer

Jolley,  Harriet Home Duties

Keppel,  Jeremiah Farmer

Keppel,  Mary Home Duties

Knight,  Philip Sidney Agent

Lamble,  John Farmer

Lamble,   Amelia Jane Home Duties

Leeson,  Phillip Carpenter

Leeson,  Amelia Home Duties

Leeson,  Catherine Home Duties

Lewitzka,  Mary Home Duties

Lobb,  Charles Guerney Draper

Magnus,  Charles Edward Baker

Malcolm,  Percy Hairdresser

Marshall,  George Grazier

Marshall,  Albert Edgar James Station Manager

Mason,  Florence Clara Post Mistress

Mason,  Charles Dexter Railway employee

Mathews,  James Farmer

Mathews,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Maybury,  William Martin Farmer

Maybury,  Louise Olive Home Duties

McLean,  Julia Home Duties

Middenway,  Stephen Cox Farmer

Middenway,  Emma Home Duties

Middenway,  Gerritt Henderick Labourer

Miller,  Luke Farmer

Miller,  Fannie Home Duties

Murphy,  John Farmer

Murphy,  Eleanor Home Duties

Olsson,  John Emil Farmer

Park,  George Blacksmith

Park,  Annie Home Duties

Perl,  Florence Home Duties

Perl,  Russell Alfred Storekeeper

Pettman,  Ellen Home Duties

Pettman,  Frederick Labourer

Pettman,  Isaac William Labourer

Petty ,  William Michael Farmer

Pfau,  Jane Home Duties

Pitt,  Charles Farmer

Pitt,  Lily Home Duties

Quin,  Martin Farmer

Quin,  Ellen Home Duties

Quin,  Julia Home Duties

Regerster,  Charles Lee Driver

Ritchie,  William Blacksmith

Ritchie,  Mary Ann Home Duties

Routley,  Charles Thomas Butcher

Rutledge,  Margaret Home Duties

Rutledge,  Joseph James Saddler

Shipton,  Emma Sophia Home Duties

Shipton,  Jane Home Duties

Shipton,  Thomas Henry Labourer

Shreeve,  James Farmer

Shreeve,  William Farmer

Shreeve,  Alice Sarah Home Duties

Shreeve,  Emma Home Duties

Smith,  Robert Weir Senior Builder

Smith,  Jessie Home Duties

Smith,  Margaret Home Duties

Smith,  Sarah Jane Home Duties

Smith,  Robert Weir Junior Orchardist

Smith,  William Weir Orchardist

Snider,  Henry Carl Farmer

Stevens,  William Farm hand

Storen,  John Farmer

Sullivan, Patrick Labourer

Thompson,  Henry Farmer

Thompson,  Ellen Home Duties

Towt,  James Allett Contractor

Towt,  Edward Arthur Farmer

Towt,  James Farmer

Towt,  Sarah Jane Home Duties

Tully,  Lawrence Farmer

Tully,  Margaret Home Duties

Turner,  Henry Edwin Farmer

Vaughan,  Thomas Farmer

Vaughan,  Caroline Home Duties

Walker,  William Stanley Butcher

Walker,  Charlotte Home Duties

Walker,  Florence Home Duties

Walker,  Joseph Henry Independent means

Watson,  Joseph Farmer

Watson,  Sarah Jane Home Duties

Watts,  Ernest John Farmer

Watts,  Emmie Elizabeth Home Duties

Watts,  Rose Matilda Home Duties

White,  Mary Home Duties

Wild,  Alfred Storekeeper

Williams,  John M. Farm hand

Williams,  Edward Farmer

Williams,  Mary Jane Home Duties

Williamson,  Thomas George Farmer

Williamson,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Willing,  Adolph Christoph Farmer

Wilson,  Edwin Farmer

Wilson,  Sarah Home Duties

To see who lived in Koo Wee Rup in 1903, click here.

*  https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2022/June/Womens_suffrage