Application for a Hotel in Bayles

The Age of December 12, 1930 published the following advertisement of a notice of application for a victualler's licence at Bayles, from Edward Parnell Buckley -

Application for a victualler's licence at Bayles 

The Age, December 12, 1930  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203271532

The licensing Court hearing of the application was held on February 10, 1931 and The Argus reported on this hearing - 

Liquour Licence for Bayles. Application Withdrawn.

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.

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.

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, February 11, 1931, see here) 

So that was the end of a Hotel for Bayles.

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 The Advocate notes some interesting facts about his life -

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 largely attended, the cortege being a mile long. A widow, six sons, and five daughters are left to mourn their loss. (The Advocate, January 31, 1920,  read the full obituary here)

Informative death notice of John Buckley. Interesting for those times that all the 

eleven children survived until adulthood.

The Herald, January 14, 1920 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242160095

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. 

Edward Buckley's death notice

The Age October 22, 1932 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205487531

Catherine Buckley  died in 1937 - this is her obituary -

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. (Frankston and Somerville Standard, October 22, 1937, read the full obituary, here)

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 - From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick  published by the Historical Society of the Berwick Shire, 1962)

Pub crawl in 1918 leads to licensing prosecutions at the Bunyip Police Court

The Bunyip and Garfield Express 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. 

Bunyip Police Court. Wednesday, Oct 2, 1918.

Before Messrs Tanner, P.M., and a’Beckett and Barker, J.’sP.

Licensing Prosecutions

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.
Mr Davine, for Mr Dunn who was ill and unable to be present, appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
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.
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.
In reply to Mr Davine witness said he told defendant prior to that date he was over 18.
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.
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.
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.
The Bench said the information would be dismissed, as defendant had evidently put his foot down on this matter by taking every precaution.

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.
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.
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.
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.
Without calling any evidence for the defense, the case was dismissed.

Inspector M’Loughlin v Thos. Stacey a similar charge to the previous one.
Mr Backhouse for the defendant.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Bench said they were satisfied that the youth had not been served, and dismissed the information.

In a Koo Wee Rup Sun article of this case it concluded with a pun. They reported that as Frederick Sippo was involved in all cases he was the youth who should not be allowed to sip drinks in a hotel (1).

I have written about the Iona Hotel at Garfield here and the Gippsland and Railway Hotels at Bunyip, here. 

.................................................................................

Who were these boys?

Frederick Sippo. 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. 

Simon Sippo bridge building in a flood

The Age June 21, 1911, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196202311

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. (2).

Death notice of Frederick Sippo

The Age September 4, 1934 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205889071

Hugh Murdoch. Hugh James Murdoch was 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, here and the Bayles store, here.  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. (3)

The death notice of Hugh's wife, Elizabeth.

The Age June 19, 1985, p. 31 newspapers.com

Stephen McMillan. 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.

On June 4, 1941 Stephen enlisted in the Australian Army (SN 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. Stephen died in Frankston in 1960, aged 60 and he is buried at Frankston Cemetery. Sophia died in 1987 in Mount Martha aged 87. (4)

Death notice of Stephen McMillan

The Age, July 26, 1960, p 16. newspapers.com

George Schmutter. 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 Sydney Morning Herald 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, Find a Grave 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. (5).

Death notice of Ella Schmutter

Sydney Morning Herald, September 30, 1977 p.19. newspapers.com

George and Ella Schmutter's memorials at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189592770/ella-may-schmutter

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  here.

William Schmutter's death notice 

The Age, March 24, 1932, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205096553

Footnotes

(1) The Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 9, 1918, see here.

(2) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Olive Sippo's death notice The Age, April 13, 1929, see here;

Footscray Cemetery records   https://www.gmct.com.au/our-locations/footscray-cemetery

(3) Indexes to the Victorian and the New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; 

Bunyip Cemetery records   http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm

(4)  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; 

Bunyip Cemetery records   http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm; 

National Archives of Australia Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 - read Stephen's file here   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6123791; funeral notice The Age, July 26, 1960, p 16. newspapers.com

(5) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Mary Schmutter's death notice The Age March 15, 1919, see here;  William Schmutter's death notice The Age, March 24, 1932, see here; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

"Corpse" that came to life

This report appeared in the Sydney Truth newspaper of March 10, 1925. Not sure if it is true or not, but it’s a great story.

What does it feel like to be dead? “Scotty” McDonald, of Koo-wee-rup (Victoria), says it is quite a pleasant experience. "Scotty" ought to know, because he has been officially dead and buried, but confounded his mourners by walking in on them and ordering a pot of foaming beer.

"Scotty" is short and stocky, and somewhere over the 60-year mark in age. A grizzly moustache and stubbly beard mark his weather-beaten features. In a humble hut near Dalmore, five or six miles from

Koo-wee-rup, he lives while the potato-digging is on. Before his miraculous death, burial, and resurrection Scotty's headquarters were the Royal Hotel, Koo-wee-rup. There was he to be found in the intervals between his luring of the elusive spud from the soil.

Not Wilfully Dead.
Man is not master of his own destiny, and Scotty was not to be allowed to have control of his own death. The matter was taken out of his hands without his consent. A body was found in a paddock some miles from Koo-wee-rup, and was brought into the township by a passing carter. There is no such thing as a mortuary in the township, and as is customary in such places bodies are taken to the local hotel, where post-mortems and inquests are held. There the body was taken to the scene of Scotty's best triumphs on the imitation bagpipes, and an awed bar paused awhile over its pots of beer to talk of poor old Scotty's sudden end.

One "Butcher'" (christened Mick), who had quaffed the flowing bowl full many a time and oft with
Scotty, could not contain his tears. So while the habitues of the Royal hostelry held an informal wake for Scotty, the doctors made a post-mortem examination, which showed that death was due to certain persistent poisoning of the heart and other organs. "That's Scotty," said everyone who knew the "deceased.”

Mr Cole, J.P., of Lang Lang, came to Koo-wee-rup and held a formal inquest on the body of John McDonald, deceased. There was no question of foul play, and the medical evidence was accepted as sufficient for the granting of an order of burial. So Scotty was buried. A motor lorry belonging to Gilchrist and Co. was requisitioned, and the coffin was taken to the Lang Lang Cemetery on the Wednesday afternoon, and interred several feet below in the embracing Mother Earth.

Now, whose body was it, since it was not Scotty's? Undoubtedly a body was buried, but whose?

 
Was it a Joke?
Constable Whiteside, of Koo-wee-rup says it was the body of another McDonald altogether, and that someone must have been trying to play a joke on Scotty. But the explanation advanced by those who knew both Scotty and the other McDonald is probably nearer the mark. The other man, though taller, was very like Scotty in facial appearance; "like twins," one man described them. When the body was brought in everyone assumed that it was Scotty, and it was Scotty who was buried.

Came a public holiday, and all Scotty's cronies were gathered in the bar of the hotel. They missed the clank of his unconventional beer billy made from a 2lb jam tin. The beer splashed merrily on thirsty throats, and the till clanged cheerily. Prominent in the gathering was Mick, still willing to join in toasts to the memory of departed Scotty.

The swing doors opened from the street. Casually the company turned to see who was coming in. Then the silence of the tomb fell upon the crowd. With beer mugs poised in mid-air they stood as inert as the stuffed fox in the corner: An apparition from Eternity was framed in the doorway! The wraith of Scotty had come to haunt his former resting-place. "It's Scotty's ghost!" shrieked Mick. “It's a banshee, O-ooh !" He would not look, for had not his own scarf-pin been used to pin the blanket around Scotty's lifeless form? The ghost announced himself in full blooded human language to the gaping bar. "What the hell are you staring at?" he demanded. "What's the joke?"

Movement returned to the awed company. It might be Scotty's ghost that stood in the doorway, but at least it was a ghost that put on no superior ethereal airs. If Scotty had some back to haunt the bar he was going to do it properly, for as wondering eyes were dragged from the spellbound contemplation of the familiar face it was seen that the ghost carried Scotty's beer-billy. It seemed to have come prepared to haunt the place in a respectable manner, with the rattle of glasses rather than chains.

Cautiously the more daring spirits investigated, and were met with pointed instructions to go to the place that it might have been reasonably expected Scotty had come from, judging by his adjectives. A babel of explanations smashed the silence, and everyone tried to tell Scotty that he was dead.

He Ought to Know.
He refused to believe it, and told them so, asserting that he was the person who should know. Panting dispensers of news gasped word of Scotty's return to the people who did not happen to be in the pub at the time, and he became the show sight for the day - the man who had returned from the grave. Mick was the last to be convinced, and then, like the doubting disciple Thomas, he would only be convinced of the resurrection by physical contact. To him it seemed that Scotty's ghost had come before him as a warning, and it was some time before he would approach. Then, much to Scotty's indignation, Mick convinced himself by vigorously pinching the man who should have been dead.

The earnest explanations of the erstwhile mourners mollified the anger of Scotty, over what he thought was a rotten joke, and over a few "welcome back to earth" pots, he forgave them all and realised what had happened. While he was being "buried" he had been out some miles and he had not been able to assure them that the reports of his death, like those of Mark Twain's, "had been grossly exaggerated."

When a man is so unceremoniously shuffled off this mortal coil, without having a say in the matter, it is up to him to prove conclusively that he is very much alive. Was it not Constable Whiteside who had had some part in this dastardly attempt to take a man's life away from him? To be sure, and the honor of the McDonalds demanded a bout with the doughty limb of the law. Scotty decided that the honor of the McDonalds would be compensated by a wrestle for drinks, and therefore he challenged the constable to a fall - the loser to shout for the company. But the policeman declined to satisfy any ghost, and informed Scotty that a night in the lockup was all the satisfaction the pride of the McDonalds would get.

Koo-wee-rup had thought that it had seen Scotty make his last motor ride when the motor lorry bore away the rough coffin, but a few days later it witnessed a very hilarious ghost leave by motor for Lang Lang with the constable. On the Saturday morning he was fined 6s for being drunk. The fine was inflicted by Mr. Cole, J.P., who had three days before signed the order for Scotty's burial!

Source: Sydney Truth newspaper of March 10, 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168706639

The Body was conveyed to.......

One of the unusual uses for Hotels in the past was their use as a temporary morgue and a place to carry out autopsies and Inquests. There are accounts after account of this in newspapers and often the newspaper uses the term 'and the body was conveyed to [name of Hotel]' so I thought we would have a look at some of these reports.

It seems surprising that Hotels would be used for this purpose, but I assume it was because they had space, access to water and perhaps a solid table for holding the autopsy. It was, however, a practice that was frowned upon by the authorities. As early as 1867, the Legislative Assembly in Victoria had the issue brought to their attention by Mr Cook, M.L.A. - To call the attention of the Chief Secretary to the practice of the police of conveying dead bodies to hotels for the purpose of holding coroners' inquests; and to ask if he will give instructions that in future such bodies may be conveyed to the nearest public morgue as may be available. (The Argus December 13, 1867) The Chief Secretary may have given instructions to the police, and it may have altered the practice in the City, but it was a less practical idea in rural areas, due to logistical issues and the lack of morgues. There are accounts of Hotels being used as temporary morgues and places of Inquests up to the 1920s.

Here are just a few examples from the Koo Wee Rup Swamp and neighbouring areas of this happening. I have added a link to the Inquest record at the Public Records Office of Victoria (PROV), if available. Sometimes the names in the newspaper reports were incorrectly spelt - the  name in the heading is the correct spelling.

WARNING - newspapers were much more graphic in their reporting than they are today, so these excerpts may contain information that is upsetting.

Joseph Edward Watts
Dr. Candler held an inquest at the Gippsland Hotel [Beaconsfield] on Tuesday week on the body of a boy named Watts, who was drowned in Cardinia Creek on the previous Sunday. It seems that deceased, aged about six years, with other lads of the same age, was fishing in the creek, when he over-reached himself and fell in. By the time information was given of the occurrence, and the body recovered, it was lifeless. 

(South Bourke & Mornington Journal, December 12, 1877, see here) Inquest at PROV, here.

George Ritchie
A fatal accident occurred near the Eumemmerring Creek bridge on Thursday morning last, between the hours of twelve and one a.m., by which a farmer named George Ritchie, residing at Lyndhurst, lost his life. It appears that he had been at Hennessy's races [at Eumemmerring] and had imbibed, rather freely during the day. On the way home George challenged his companion to a race (they were both riding horses); his horse fell and George hit his head and he sadly died. The body was taken to Taylor's Half Way House Hotel in Lyndhurst, where an enquiry was held the same day and the verdict given to the effect that the deceased had met with his death on the morning of the 27th December by accidentally falling from his horse whilst in a state of intoxication.

(South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 2, 1884, see here)  Inquest at PROV, here. George was 32 years old. 

Julius Fisher Masterton McMillan
Yesterday afternoon, at Cranbourne, Mr. J. F. M. M'Millan, of Ballarto, dropped dead while marking at the rifle club ranges. It was at first believed that Mr. M'Millan had been shot, but this was found to be incorrect. He had been shooting at 600 yards, and had made 21. He became somewhat excited, as this was his highest score at this range, and he suddenly dropped down. The services of Dr. Park were requisitioned, and on his arrival he pronounced life extinct. The body was then conveyed to Nurse's Hotel, [Mornington Hotel] Cranbourne, where the doctor made a careful examination of the body to see if there were any bullet marks. He could find none however, and he came to the conclusion that death was due to heart disease. A post-mortem examination will be held. Mr. M'Millan was the second son of the late Mr. Alexander M'Millan, of Caldermeade Estate, of which he was part owner with his brothers at the time of his death. He had a few months ago purchased the Ballarto property from Mr. James Gibb, of Berwick, and had had extensive improvements carried out to the buildings. Since his arrival in the Cranbourne district some two years ago he had entered heartily into all public movements, and he was very highly esteemed. He leaves a widow and one child. 

(The Argus, July 20 1900, see here). Julius was 32 years old. Ballarto was the name of the property at Cranbourne. Julius' wife, Mable (nee Crozier), gave birth to a little boy, named Julius Douglas, on November 8, four months after his death.  

Birth notice of Julius McMillan's son.

The Australasian November 24, 1900 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/139167108

Edward John Milne

No doubt we have had more than our share of excitement during the past few days. Two days after the robbery at Mr. Hudson's store, news was brought to Constable Dwyer of a man named Edward John Milne, who had previously been engaged in farming at Lake Bogan, near Swan Hill, having shot  himself whilst in close proximity to the Police Station. Deceased was on a visit to Mr. G. C. Egerton, of Tooradin, in August last, and having disappeared rather suddenly, the fact was communicated to the police, but without result. On Wednesday morning, 12th inst., Mr. F. Bethune, who was driving from Tooradin, observed a man standing near the Police Station, and was horrified at seeing him place a revolver to his head and fire. Constable Dwyer had the body conveyed to Nurse's Hotel [Mornington Hotel, Cranbourne] and Dr. Parks was called in, but the unfortunate man died soon afterwards A magisterial inquiry was conducted by Mr. J. W. M'Lennan, J.P.. on Thursday, when a verdict of suicide was returned.

(South Bourke & Mornington Journal, September 19, 1900, see here) Inquest at PROV, here. Edward was 35 years old.

Benjamin Muffett
On Saturday night a sad fatality occurred here, when a line repairer named Benjamin Muffit was killed on the railway line. The body of deceased was discovered by a Mr. Asling at midday on Sunday, lying on the side of the line, the head being split open right across the forehead, and there being a deep gash behind the ear. There were no marks of any kind on the body, and death must have been instantaneous. Deceased evidently had been hit by the axle box of the engine, as the face was covered with grease therefrom. Muffit had been to Dandenong on business on Saturday evening, and returned to Narre Warren by the 7.40 p.m. train from there. He left Narre Warren prior to the arrival of the 9.2 p.m. passenger train from Gippsland, and it was presumably this train that caused his death. From the position of the body when found, it would appear as though deceased had been on his knees, and had probably fallen at the crossing in the darkness, and was climbing up the embankment when the train approached. Deceased re-sided in a gate house on Lalor's-road, about a quarter of a mile from the station, between Narre Warren and Berwick, and the spot where the accident occurred is only a short distance from the house. Muffit, who was about 42 years of age, leaves a wife, and four children unprovided for. The body was removed to Bain's Hotel, Berwick, by Constable Steele, where the magisterial inquiry was held. Deceased was a general favorite with those whom he came in contact with. The funeral took place on Tuesday, and was well attended. 

(South Bourke & Mornington Journal, April 8 1903, see here)  Inquest at PROV, here. Benjamin was 42 years old. 

Death notice of Benjamin Muffett, husband of Mary and father of John, Lizzie, Phillipa and Annie.

The Age, April 11 1903  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197902478

Martin Tobin
Late on Tuesday night a man named Martin Tobin, an old identity of this place, was run over in the station yard [at Garfield] by the 10.30 up goods train from Warragul, and was literally cut to pieces. It is surmised that the unfortunate man attempted to cross the line as the train was running through at a high speed. At one point a boot was picked up with the foot in it severed at the ankle, and further on a hand and a portion of the forearm, and other portions of the body were picked up. Mr Thomson, a line repairer, discovered the unfortunate man at about 6 a.m. on Wednesday, and immediately telephoned to Constable Ryan, at Bunyip, who arrived an hour later and took charge of the remains. An inquest was held at the Iona Hotel, and deceased was interred in the Bunyip cemetery. 

(South Bourke & Mornington Journal, November 8, 1905, see here) Inquest at PROV, here. Martin was 60 years old. 

George Gilchrist 
Whilst riding from Kooweerup to the Iona St. Patrick's Day sports this afternoon a young cyclist named Gilchrist was killed. From the particulars to hand it appears his bicycle encountered a rut on the road near the Iona Roman Catholic Church and Gilchrist was thrown forward on to his head, his neck being broken. The body was conveyed to the Railway Hotel, Bunyip, and the parents of deceased came over from Kooweerup this evening. 

(The Age,  March 18, 1910, see here) Inquest at PROV, here. Martin was 21 years old. 

Death notice of George Gilchrist, son of William and Margaret.

The Age March 19, 1910 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196077302#

Thomas Buchanan
Thomas Buchanan, who was in receipt of a remittance from relatives in Canada, hanged himself at Labertouche this morning. Buchanan was well known throughout the district as "Sailor Tom." He received a draft for £61 15/ from Canada about three weeks ago, but when found he had no money. Constable Anstee, of Bunyip, removed the body to the Longwarry Hotel. An inquiry will be held at Bunyip. 

(The Argus,  January 12, 1912, see here)  Inquest at PROV, here. Thomas was 49 years old and the Inquest recorded a verdict of suicide.

John Thomas Duncan also known as James Little
On the 22nd inst. it was reported to the local police that a man named James Little, a laborer, had shot himself at Kooweerup. Constable Cole proceeded to the place and had the body removed to the Palace Hotel [Lang Lang], where an inquest was held before Mr Cohen, P.M., Coroner. After hearing the evidence, which was to the effect that the deceased took the loan of a gun of 410 calibre from a farmer named Johnston, with the intention of shooting rabbits, but instead of doing so he fastened a strap round the trigger, and then round his foot, using his foot as a lever to discharge the gun, the charge from which entered his forehead, killing him instantly. The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased  died from gun shot wounds self inflicted. 

(South Bourke & Mornington Journal, April 2, 1914, see here)  Inquest at PROV, here.

George Cooper
On Thursday morning last word reached Constable Anstee, of Bunyip, that a man was lying dead on the road near Kirwan's Post Office, on the south side of the Main Drain. Constable Anstee secured the services of Dr. Withington, who drove to the spot indicated, whilst Mr. A. H. a'Beckett drove Constable Anstee down in his motor car. When the party arrived at a point about 1 mile past Kirwan's they found the body of George Cooper, an elderly farmer and a well known resident of the district. The body was removed to the Gippsland Hotel, at Bunyip, and Constable Anstee wired to the relatives of deceased in Melbourne. There were marks and bruises about the head and face which gave the impression that deceased had been injured in some way before death took place. Constable Anstee at once set to work and made inquires to ascertain how deceased came by his death. He learned that Cooper and a man named Henderson went to Drouin a couple of days previous to transact some business. They returned to Bunyip on Wednesday night by the train which arrives at 8.20 o'clock, and both had a drink at the two hotels. Later on they were joined by three young men who are residents of Iona and they all had drinks. The party of five then left to drive home in a vehicle. They reached Iona at about midnight and some of the party had flasks of whisky. They halted near Baillie's forge where most of the whisky was drunk. The party then separated and Henderson and Cooper, who left a horse and jinker at Iona till they returned, then got into the trap and started for home. Henderson, in an interview with Constable Anstee, stated that Cooper fell from the vehicle. He also stated that Cooper fell against the barb wire fence and injured his head and face. On Friday afternoon Dr. Withington made an examination of the body and gave a certificate for burial purposes. An inquest into the cause of death was opened by Mr. A. H. a'Beckett, J.P., but was adjourned for a week in order to allow Constable Anstee to make further Inquiries. Relatives of deceased visited Bunyip and made arrangements for the remains to be conveyed to Melbourne for burial and they left by the 11.20 train on Saturday.

(Bunyip Free Press, May 14, 1914, see here). Inquest at PROV, here.  Kirwan’s Post Office was at Vervale, corner of Main Drain Road and Thirteen Mile Road. George was 55 years old. The Inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.

Death notice of George Cooper from his sisters and brother.

The Argus May 14, 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7227800

Jimmy
At about 8 o'clock last night an old, disused shop [at Garfield] was totally destroyed by fire, and an elderly man, known as "Jimmy," was burnt to death. Deceased had been drinking heavily and was taken by two companions to the building and put inside. About an hour afterwards it was noticed that the place was on fire. When the alarm was given, a Mr. Scanlon endeavoured to effect a rescue, but the fire had by this time got a complete hold of the building. Mr Scanlon made his way out through the, smoke, thinking "Jimmy" was following, but deceased was either overcome and fell or turned back for some of his belongings and was cut off by the fire. Constable Anstee, of Bunyip, was sent for, and removed the body to the Iona Hotel, where it lies awaiting identification. The coroner has been notified. 

(The Argus, March 22, 1916, see here)  Inquest at PROV, here. We still don't know his real name; the Inquest is in the name of Jim.

Peter Lynch
A resident of Garfield named Hull was walking along a lonely track on Thursday when he came across the dead body of a man. Word was sent to Constable Anstee, at Bunyip, and the remains were conveyed to the Iona Hotel at Garfield. The body was decomposed, and Dr Cowan, who conducted the inquiry, was of opinion that death took place fully a month ago. From letters found upon the body it is thought the man's name is Peter Lynch, from Cork, Ireland. The remains were buried in the Bunyip Cemetery on Friday. 

(The Age, July 1, 1916, see here)  I wonder if Peter's relatives back home in Ireland ever heard of his death or if his disappearance always remained a mystery to them.

Augustus Erskine McMillan
A post-mortem examination was held at the Pine Grove Hotel [Beaconsfield Upper] on Wednesday by Dr Griffith, of Berwick, on the body of A. McMillan, who was found dead on the main Gembrook road near Beaconsfield Upper, on Tuesday midday by school children. Dr. Griffith found that death was caused by the effects of drink and exposure. There was no injury likely to have caused death. The body was that of a healthy man, aged about 50. Evidently the body had lain where it was found for about a fortnight. 

(The Argus September 7, 1917, see here)  Inquest at PROV, here. Augustus was 56 years old. 

John "Scotty" McDonald

There is an interesting account of an inquest held at the Royal Hotel, Koo Wee Rup, in the Sydney Truth newspaper of March 10, 1925. Great story, read it here.

Trove list

I have created a list on Trove, of articles that report on Post Mortems and Inquests being held in local hotels, you can access it here.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. 

Bunyip Hotels - a short history

In 1847 a  road was surveyed from Dandenong to Gippsland  along the edge of the ranges (1). When this proved to be impassable in places, a new road, which became the coach route, was surveyed between 1857 and  1859 by A. S. Campbell, even though planning had commenced in 1855 (2).  This road went through Cannibal Creek (around where Bassed road is in North Garfield) and through the old township of Buneep and onto Crossover (3). Jabez Janes operated a 'beer house' from 1866 at Cannibal Creek, you can read about him here. The Melbourne to Sale telegraph line followed this new road in 1865 (4). This later gave the road the name of Old Telegraph Road  and where it crossed the Bunyip River was where the aforementioned town of Buneep was established (where modern day Ellis Road would cross the Bunyip River). This town was surveyed in the 1850s - it had a High Street and a Barkly Street (you can see the Survey Plan, below)

This is the township of Buneep, surveyed in the 1850s. Click on image to enlarge.

This is from a Bunyip Parish Plan, which was on-line at either the State Library of Victoria or the Public Records Office of Victoria in 2015, but I can't find seem to access it now.

This is a map I drew years ago, which shows the old Coach Road /Old Telegraph Road 

and Old Sale road.

The book, In the Wake of the Pack Tracks says that  in 1857 David Connor (1821-1887) selected  a site for an Inn at the Bunyeep township and it was built in the early 1860s, and this was called the Buneep Inn (later the Old Bunyeep Inn).  In 1869, John Rhoden became the proprietor,  he was a son-in-law of  David Connor (5)  It was actually built much earlier than this, he was granted a licence in September 1854, see notice from The Argus, below.

Licence granted to David Connor

The Argus September 7, 1854 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4797367

This earlier date for the establishment of  David Connor's Inn is also confirmed from a 1855 report of the road that A.N. Campbell was planning to survey. The Argus reported in the November that the contemplated road adopts the present Gipps Land Road, via Dandenong, as far as Mount Ararat, thence it would bear E.N.E., along undulating ridges, avoiding most of the swampy land towards the Bunyip River, and leaving Cannibal Hill on the south. Crossing the Bunyip River at Connor's Inn....(6) 

I do not know when the Bunyeep Inn was closed, I believe around the mid 1880s (7) and the  history is obscured by the fact that the New Bunyip Inn (see below) was later also called the Old Bunyip Inn. 

This advertisement from The Argus, October 1865 advises that you could catch a mail coach at 5.00pm Monday to Saturday and have a 36 hour trip all the way to Sale, stopping at Bunyip (the old township of Bunyeep). That would have been a fairly rugged 36 hours!

The Argus October 20, 1865 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5773079

Bunnyip Hotel, North Gippsland, c. 1880-1885 [David Connor's New Bunyip Inn]

Photographer: Fred Kruger. State Library of Victoria Image H41138/11

Around 1867,  David Connor’s New Bunyip Inn, was established. It is pictured above. 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. (8) At this time, the coach route, instead of crossing the Cannibal Creek in a north-easterly direction, followed the south bank in an easterly direction to reach this new hotel (9). This road eventually became known as the Old Sale Road.  

The red circle, shows the location of the New Bunyip Inn, on the Gippsland Road, 

and the small settlement that surrounded it. Click on image to enlarge.

This is from a Bunyip Parish Plan, which was on-line at either the State Library of Victoria or the Public Records Office of Victoria in 2015, but I can't find seem to access it now.

A small settlement developed around the Inn, including the establishment of a bakery by William Snell in 1878 and a dance hall erected by Mr Hyne, opposite the Inn. (10)  Around 1885 (11)  David Devenay took over this Hotel. His surname is also spelt in various sources as Devanny, Deveney  or Deveny and some sources also say that he is the son-in-law of David Connor, but that is incorrect (12). There was a double tragedy at the New Bunyip Hotel in 1909 when David and his wife, Eleanor (also known as Ellen) died. Eleanor, aged 59, was tragically burnt to death when her dress caught fire and she passed away two days later on November 22. David, her invalid husband, aged 80, died of shock as  a result on November 24 (13). 

In 1911,the property was sold to Fred William Cock of Broadmeadows (14). The Hotel  was the subject of a hearing by the Licensing Reduction Board in 1917.  The Hearing of the  Board which took place in May 1917, and was reported on in the Dandenong Advertiser,  gives us some idea of the building and clientele of the Hotel. It was  single story weatherboard 17 rooms, 8 bed rooms for public in fair repair, well conducted...was on the Gippsland road, which was a three chain road and was used for travelling stock; it was a house of resort for sportsmen, the Bunyip and Tarrago rivers were close to the hotel; Ararat creek was the next nearest water on the east, and 5 miles on the west; there were 30 acres of land attached; at week ends there were up to 14 people staying at the hotel, and more during the holidays. Evidence from drover Robert O'Doherty of  Flemington, said he  stopped at the Gippsland now for 20 years; the Gippsland Hotel was one of the best places for stopping; he had had 3,000 sheep there (15) Sadly for the New Bunyip Hotel, it was closed by the Licensing Court and the then owner, Mrs Rebecca Wilson, was awarded £375 in compensation (16).

The closure of the New Bunyip Hotel was announced in June 1917.

Dandenong Advertiser, June 14 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88660050

As well as being involved in the Old and New Bunyip Hotels, David Connor also built in 1863 the Halfway House Hotel. It was on the Gippsland Road, west of  Abrehart Road. It was de-licensed in 1899 (17). The building was much later moved to the Gippsland Folk Museum. 

Labelled as Bunyip Hotel, Bunyip c. 1890 - but is this actually in Bunyip?

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/768080

This photograph is the Bunyip Hotel, George Stevens, Licensed Victualler. It's location is labelled on the Museums Victoria website as Bunyip, but this is incorrect. It's obviously not the New Bunyip Inn, as the building in the top photo has a sign which says, New Bunyip Hotel, and this is clearly a different building. It is not a forerunner of the Railway Hotel and Gippsland Hotel in the township of Bunyip, as the landscape is wrong and I feel it is unlikely to be the original Bunyip Inn as, I can't see that there would have been enough traffic to sustain such a large building. I am suggesting that it could be the Bunyip Hotel in Cavendish - it's been around since at least the 1860s and modern day photos, show that the 1930s existing building is on a corner like this on  flat ground. 

Overview of the Bunyip townships, they moved south each time. 

Click on image to enlarge.

This is from a Bunyip Parish Plan, which was on-line at either the State Library of Victoria or the Public Records Office of Victoria in 2015, but I can't find seem to access it now.

The township of Bunyip moved again after the establishment of the Gippsland Railway Line. The line was completed from Oakleigh to Bunyip in October 1877. This saw the establishment of two other Bunyip Hotels in 1876 as firstly the line from Morwell to Bunyip wasn't completed until March 1878, so travellers had to stop over at Bunyip and continue by coach, secondly the hotels serviced the locals and the workers on the railway line. The book Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk says that the Hotels were the Butcher's Arms and the Bunyip Hotel and that John O'Brien had the licence for the Bunyip Hotel and in January 1877 he took up the licence for the Railway Family Hotel (18). 

I found the following references on Trove, from the 1870s, to the Hotels in the new town of Bunyip, based around the railway line -  In October 1877 at the Shire of Berwick Council meeting - the application for transfer of publican's license was read from John O'Brien for a house at Bunyip (19). I do not know where it was either transferred from or to. In January 1878 the Bewick Licensing Court renewed licences for Maurice Connor, new Bunyip Hotel, David Connor jun., Bunyip and William Goldie, Bunyip (20). Maurice and David were the sons of David Connor. We know where the New Bunyip Hotel is I don't know anything about the other two Hotels, but I presume David Connor jun. had the Old Bunyip Hotel. It's possible that William Goldie should actually be William Hobson of the Railway Hotel, more of whom later. In July 1878, there was a well reported meeting at O'Brien's Family Hotel in Bunyip (21).

Licences renewed for local Hotels 

South Bourke & Mornington Journal January 7, 1878 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70010579

In March 1879, three Melbourne newspapers carried the marriage notice of William Hobson of the Bunyip Railway Hotel  to Sarah McKernan. The marriage certificate lists his age at 47 and her age at 29. He was a widower, born in Manchester in England, with no children and his address was Bunyip. She was a Spinster, born in Newton Stewart, County Tyrone Ireland and living at 26 Moray Place, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne).  What was recorded in the marriage certificate wasn't actually all totally true as I believe Sarah was actually 39 and had been in a previous relationship with a William Dethmore of Yandoit and had given birth to four children, three sons and a daughter, however that is a story for another day (22).

Marriage notice of William Hobson and Sarah McKernon

The Leader March 29, 1879 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/21358589

William and Sarah Hansen operated the Railway Hotel, until William's death on September 30, 1883 at the age of 56.  When he died his Will described the Hotel as a weatherboard building with Iron roof and containing 5 rooms erected on Crown Lands at Bunyip, occupied under a business lease, erected four years ago and used as a public house with the remains of an older building in the rear. It was valued at £60 (23).

Part of William Hobson's Will

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 28/P0002, 26/949

 In 1885, Sarah married Christian Hansen and they had a son Frederick Christian, the same year (24). Sarah continued to operate the Hotel. Sadly September 6, 1889 the Hotel burnt down and it was reported in the Warragul Guardian -  A fire which resulted in the total destruction of Mrs. Hansen's hotel, Bunyip, occurred about three o'clock on Friday morning. The flames had obtained such a hold before the alarm was given that very little was saved, both water and assistance being limited. The damage is covered by a policy in the Colonial Fire Insurance Company for £1,200 (25).

The Railway Hotel at Bunyip, c. 1915

Museums Victoria  https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/795792

On December 6, 1889 Thomas Stacey took over the Railway Hotel from Mrs Hansen, even though she still owned the property, and it appeared to be his responsibility to rebuild the Hotel (26). This proved to be an unhappy relationship. Mr Stacey took Mrs Hansen to Court in August 1892 as he claimed she liabelled him; Mrs Hansen took Mr Stacy to Court in November 1892 to recover money from him, she claimed she was owed; in May 1893 they were back in Court again when she accused him of perjury; and in December 1894 they were in the Supreme Court where a decision had to be made  on an action brought by Thomas Stacey against Sarah Hansen, to restrain the defendant from exercising the power of sale contained in a mortgage deed. (27).  I have transcribed some of these legal cases, here. There was another case involving the families in November 1892 when Mrs Hansen's daughter, Christina Dethmore, sued Thomas Stacey's wife, Ann for slander. Mrs Stacey had implied that 20 year old Christina, a woman of ladylike apparence, had had children out of wedlock, which of course was considered to be quite scandalous at the time. Christina won her case and was awarded £60 in damages (28). Christina married her finance, William Shiell in December 1892,  had two little girls Gladys and Ruby, and then tragically died at only 25 years of age in November 1897 after an operation at the Alfred Hospital (29).

The Railway Hotel, c. 1925

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/795149

Thomas Stacey operated the Railway Hotel until his death on January 26, 1928. The book Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk says the Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1924 (30) but an article in The Argus (see below) says that it was demolished in late 1923 - so not sure which is correct. the new building was officially opened on October 9 1924. 

Railway Hotel is being pulled down

The Argus October 8 1923  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2000557

The opening of the new Railway Hotel

The Age October 10, 1924  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155536763

The other Hotel in Main Street, Bunyip was John O'Brien's Family Hotel. As we saw before, the earliest reference I can find to him in Bunyip was October 1877. O'Brien's tenure at the Family Hotel didn't last very long as it was sold up by the Sherriff''s Office in May 1881, as the advertisement in The Argus, below, attests.

Sale of O'Brien's Family Hotel in Bunyip

The Argus May 17 1881 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5986026

John O'Brien was listed as a Publican in the 1881/1882 Shire of Berwick Rate Books; in 1882/1883 Lawrence Finch was listed as a Publican, on property owned by James Egan; and in 1883/1884 Lawrence Finch was listed as a Publican and the property owner. Lawrence Finch had the Gippsland Hotel, so I believe this was the renamed Family Hotel.  Lawrence was granted a licence at the Licensing meeting held at Drouin in December 1881. His daughter, Sarah Alice Finch, was then granted the licence of the Gippsland Hotel at a hearing in December 1897 (31).  Lawrence died on January  8, 1898, aged 68. That same year Sarah Finch married  William George Kraft and the Hotel soon became known a Kraft's Gippsland Hotel (32).

Gippsland Hotel and Main Street, Bunyip, 1908

Image: Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk by Denise Nest (Bunyip History Committee, 1990)

It was Sarah who held the licence all the way through until November 1911 when the Hotel was sold to Stephen Ryan of Modella for  £3750 and the license was transferred to Elizabeth Mary Ryan (33).

Transfer of licence of the Gippsland Hotel from Sarah Kraft to Elizabeth Ryan

The Age, November 20 1911 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/18566560

On Wednesday, March 9 1927. the Gippsland Hotel was destroyed by fire. The owner at the time was Sydney Wentworth Smith of Noojee and the manager as Mr E. Tulloch (34). In April 1927 the Licensing Court approved plans for the new Hotel. The Architect was Mr. R.H. McIntyre, who said that the new building would cost between £5,000 and £6,000. It would be constructed of brick externally, and of cement sheeting internally. A septic tank would be provided (35). I don't have the opening date of the new Gippsland Hotel but I presume it was late 1927 or early 1928.

Gippsland Hotel destroyed by fire

The Herald March 9 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/26440118

We will finish this short history of Bunyip Hotels by going back to the Butchers Arms Hotel, said to be one of the two Hotels in the township of Bunyip, based around the railway line. Was this the original name for the Family Hotel, which became the Gippsland Hotel or was it the original name for the Railway Hotel? I cannot tell you and I cannot find any information about it al all.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles connected to the early history of the Hotels in Bunyip, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen:  a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of Berwick, 1962) p. 18. Daley, Charles The Story of Gippsland (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1960), p. 74.

(2) Daley, Charles The Story of Gippsland (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1960), p. 79, and The Argus, November 14, 1855, see here.  

(3) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 19

(4) Ibid

(5) In the Wake of the Pack Tracks:  a history of the Shire of Berwick (Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 1982), p. 39. David Conner's family is listed in Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia  District (Narre Warren & District Family History Group, 2010) - David Connor (1821-1887) m Honora Connor (1810-1899) in 1841 in Melbourne and they had the following children - John (1842), David (1843), William (1845), Ellen (1846), Maurice (1849), Catherine (1851), James (1859) and Francis (1864). It was Catherine who was married to John Rhoden.

(6) The Argus, November 14, 1855, see here.

(7) I am basing this date on the fact that in the 1884/1885 Shire of Berwick rate Books, David Connor, junior, was no longer listed as a Publican.

(8) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 54

(9) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 19

(10) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 54

(11) David Devenay is first listed as a Publican in the Shire of Berwick Reate Books in 1885.

(12) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen on page 54, says he is a son-in-law. However, David Devenay (1829-1909)  was married to Eleanor (also known as Ellen) Fitzpatrick.

(13) The Age, November 23, 1909, see here and The Age, November 26, 1909, see here.

(14) The Argus, April 29, 1911, see here.

(15) Dandenong Advertiser, May 10 1917, see here.

(16) The Argus, November 10, 1917, see here.

(17) In the Wake of the Pack Tracks, op. cit.,p. 39.

(18) The Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona & Tonimbuk, 1847-1990 by Denise Nest (Bunyip History Committee, 1990), p. 4.

(19) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 24, 1877, see here.

(20) South Bourke & Mornington Journal January 2, 1878, see here.

(21) The Age, July 10, 1878, see here.

(22) I bought the marriage certificate. It clearly says she was 29, thus born 1850, however the Call of the Bunyip book says she was born in 1840, which meant she was 39 when she was married. Her obituary in the Bunyip & Garfield Express of October 14, 1913 says she was 73, thus born 1840.  I can't find her death  listed on the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.  Family trees on Ancestry list Sarah McKernon having four children to William Dethmore - William James (1866-1867 at Yandoit); William James (1868-1937); Christina Annie (1872-1897); Alfred James (1874-1933). I can't find any record of  a marriage being registered, so I suspect no marriage ever took place. The first William had his birth and death registered - his surname being recorded as Dettmer (Reg. no 24985 / 1866); then Dethmer (Reg. no 11053 / 1867). The second William is registered, under Dethmore (Reg. no 24830 / 1868) I can't find the other two births registered under any surname variation.

(23) His will is on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria, www.prov.vic.gov.au 

(24) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(25) Warragul Guardian September 10, 1889, see here.

(26) Narracan Shire Advocate, May 6, 1893, see here. The Argus, December 11 1894, see here.

(27) Reports are listed in my Trove list, see here.

(28) Narracan Shire Advocate, November 26, 1892, see here. 

(29) Various family notices in the newspapers, see my Trove List and Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages

(30) The Call of the Bunyip, op. cit, p. 198.

(31) Warragul Guardian December 22, 1881, see here and South Bourke & Mornington Journal December 15, 1897, see here.

(32) Death notice of Lawrence Finch, Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. First mention I could find of Kraft's Gippsland Hotel was in The Age February 17, 1900, see here.

(33) The Age November 15, 1911, see here. The Age, November 20 1911, see here. 

(34) The Herald March 9 1927, see here. 

(35) The Argus, April 12, 1927, see here.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work bog, Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past. This is  a revised and expanded version.