Showing posts with label Monomeith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monomeith. Show all posts

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Yallock Estate and Henry Beattie

Henry Beattie's Yallock Estate at Koo Wee Rup was sub-divided and placed up for sale in August 1915. It was an exceptional opportunity, according to the advertisements, only 41 miles from Melbourne and  close to the Monomeith Railway Station, thus farmers could send their milk to Melbourne. It was also rich flats - suited to onions, potatoes and maize and had no rabbits.


The sale was extensively advertised - see the the full advertisements here and here.

Henry Beattie was born in St Kilda in 1868 to Henry and Margaret (nee Stiven) Beattie (1). After his arrival from Scotland in 1854, Henry Snr, worked with John Aitken at his Mt Aitken Station, in the Sunbury area. Beattie later purchased Mount Aitken, operating a Hereford cattle stud (2).  Henry also purchased the Yallock Station, previously part of Mickle, Bakewell and Lyall's Western Port holdings,  in May 1875 for £13, 600 (3). At the time it was 2,719 acres but by 1913, the Shire of Cranbourne Rate books list the Beattie property as 1,243 acres (4) made up of the 640 acre Yallock Pre-Emptive Right; 553 acres of Section 2 Parish of Yallock and another 50 acres.  Henry Jnr  lived on the Yallock property from at least 1885 as he was elected to the Council representing the Yallock Riding that year (5).  He married Sarah Jane Allardyce in August 1895 and they had two children - Constance Margaret born in 1896 and Henry Gordon in 1901 (6).  Sarah died July 26, 1937 aged 59 and Henry died February 23,  1940 aged 72 (7).  They are buried at the Burwood Cemetery.


Parish of Yallock plan - showing the Yallock PR - Pre-Emptive Right - and Section 2 - all up 1,193 acres, the bulk of Beattie's Yallock Estate, which he sold in 1915. These two blocks were south of the South Gippsland Highway, the Monomeith Station was located in Monomeith Road. The meandering creek is the Yallock Creek. 
State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/296564


The sale of the Yallock Estate was the subject of an article in The Leader of August 14, 1915 (read it here) It is transcribed below and is illustrated with the four photographs from the article.
THE YALLOCK DISTRICT.
While the greater part of Victoria was stricken by drought during the last 12 months, there was one part of the State where the climatic conditions were more than favorable. In this locality all the crops were prolific, and whether it was for his hay, his potatoes, his grain, his onions or his dairy produce, the farmer of the Yallock and Kooweerup and Monomeith districts received returns much more handsome than usual, as the result of his year's work.

This record is in keeping with previous experience. Since it was first occupied half a century. ago, the lands of the Yallock and adjoining districts have never known a drought. There has always been a fruitful response to cultivation. The tiller of the soil has obtained his richest rewards in years when other parts of the State were suffering severe losses because of drought conditions.


For Years Devoted to Sheep

So far the richest lands in the Yallock district have been mainly devoted to pastoral pursuits. The rich stands of rye grass and clover which prevail, enable three sheep to the acre to be kept all the year through. Encouraged by the remunerative nature of the grazing industry large holders of some of the richest areas were loth to dispose of them. Practical farmers, keen on getting a plough to work in these virgin soils with their exceptional fertility, could only admire them from the outside of the fence. To-day, a different state of affairs prevails.

One of the largest properties, "Yallock Estate," has now been made available for subdivision, and can be secured in holdings to suit the requirements of buyers. This is the first time the property has been on the market. It is confidently expected that practical onion and potato growers will take full advantage of the unique opportunity.


The Land on Being Ploughed

As our illustrations indicate, the rich black soil at Yallock is peculiarly suited for potato culture.  There is over a foot of a free black loam resting upon a rich dark clay, having unusual capacity for the retention of moisture. This feature will at once appeal to the practical man familiar with the possibilities of intertillage in the presence of a well soaked subsoil. Onion growers also find much that is attractive in the Yallock soils. Specialists in this industry, with experience of other onion districts are already at work on the property, and state that the Yallock soil compares favorably with other onion soils of the State. Onion growers from the Western districts are now in possession of Yallock land, and express themselves as pleased at the manner in which the young onion plants are growing.


Will Produce Rich Crops of Potatoes Like This

The South Gippsland railway runs conveniently to the Yallock Estate, the Kooweerup and Monomeith stations being within a mile or two of it. Lest the mention of Kooweerup should suggest reclaimed land, with heavy rates due for drainage and with the possibility of occasional inundation, it may be pointed out that Yallock is high and dry land, well above flood levels. While especially suited for the cultivation of potatoes and onions, it also yields heavy crops of Algerian oats. Laid down in grass, the soil produces heavy growths of rye grass and clover, which, as is well known, constitute a pasture unexcelled for milk production. The fertile character of the land, its generous and dependable rainfall, and the fact that it is situate, within 41 miles of Melbourne are features that make the Yallock Estate of unique interest to practical men desirous of making a home on the land. The terms of sale are exceedingly favorable. These, with all other details about the property, may be obtained from Smith, Nicholson Pty, Ltd., land salesmen, next Metropole Hotel, Bourke-street, Melbourne.


And Prolific Yields of Onions


Trove List  I have created a list on Trove of newspaper articles connected to the Beattie family and the sale of Yallock Estate in 1915, access it here.

Notes
(1) Henry Beattie arrived in Victoria from Scotland in 1854.  He married Margaret Stiven in 1860. Her surname is listed in the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages as Simpson, Stephens, Stivens, Stiven and Stivin but I believe Stiven is correct. They had five children that I can trace, possibly more - Walter (1861-1937), Annie (1864-?), Henry (1868-1940), John (1871-1937), Jennet Violet (1873-1901). Henry Beattie (son of Walter and Jennet Beattie) died 1906 at the age of  75. Margaret (daughter of James Stiven and Ann Cairncross) died 1890, aged 56.
(2) This information is from Henry Beattie's obituary in The Australasian August 18, 1906, see here.
(3) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968) p.128.
(4) The original size of the Yallock Estate comes from Gunson, op. cit p. 128.
(5) Gunson, op. cit p. 261. Beattie resigned from the Council in January 1887.
(6) Henry and Sarah's marriage notice was in The Argus August 24, 1895, see here. Constance Margaret was born July 24, 1896, see her birth notice in The Argus, of August 22, 1896  here. Henry Gordon was born October 29, 1901, see his birth notice in The Argus November 5, 1901, here.  Henry and Sarah's children are the executor's of Henry's will and are listed in  Henry's Probate application notice in The Argus, February 27, 1940, see here.  Constance was a Spinster and Henry was a Solicitor. They were still living at the family home in Lumeah Road, Caulfield.
(7) Sarah's death notice was in The Argus July 27, 1937, see here and Henry's in The Argus February 24, 1940, see here.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Record consignment of cattle brought to Monomeith, April 1967

These great photos (the colour ones), courtesy of Neville Clark, are of Hugh Bourke, off-loading cattle at Monomeith Railway Station. They had been sent from Casino in New South Wales. There was an article in the Koo Wee Rup Sun of April 26, 1967, about the shipment.  Neville thought it was 760 head of cattle, the paper quoted 731, which ever is correct, that is a lot of cattle.  I have transcribed the Koo Wee Rup Sun story.


Koo Wee Rup Sun April 26, 1967, page 1

From page 1 - Record consignment of cattle brought to Monomeith
Cattle made the news this week when a record shipment of731 head arrived at Monomeith in a  53 car special train. The cattle had been bought in Queensland by Mr Hugh Bourke and their arrival created somewhat of a flutter in the local community.  See story inside.

Koo Wee Rup Sun April 26, 1967, page 3

From page 3 - Off-loading 731 cattle at Monomeith Station
A record consignment of 731 head of cattle, transported on a special train of 53 stock cars arrived at Monomeith on Monday afternoon. The cattle had been purchased two weeks ago by local graziers, Mr Hugh Bourke and his son, Mr David Bourke at sales in southern Queensland.  The cattle travelled over 1000 miles by the time they had arrived at Monomeith.
It was by far the biggest consignment of cattle to come to this area and was also the biggest one train load.
The cattle were loaded at Casino. They had to travel upwards of 20 miles on foot before undertaking the long rail trip to Monomeith.
It was certainly a memorable sight to see the big diesel pull into the Monomeith station hauling 53 trucks. A large number of people were on the station to see the operation completed.
An inspection of the cattle, mainly Herefords, revealed that they were in remarkedly good condition. 
The cattle were unloaded in three lots, the same as they had been purchased. Each lot was driven up to the Bourke property to begin the term of fattening for the Melbourne market.
Mr Hugh Bourke says the operation of buying cattle in 1967 was quite a business and involved quite a deal of air travel. On this buying trip he had been accompanied by his son David and Mr Stan Teague from Younghusband & Co. Mr Teague inspected all the cattle prior to the sale.
Mr Bourke said that he purchased the first lot of over 300 cattle and left to attend another sale by air. The remaining four hundred odd head were purchased by David.
On the trip the cattle were accompanied by big Bill McCormick and his nephew Mr Peter McCormick from McCormick and Co. Livestock agents from Casino.
Mr Bill McCormick had the touch of the big outback about him, but he was the essence of efficiency and had complete control of the operation.
The Bourke family at Monomeith have landed two prior shipments of cattle from the north at their property. The first was of over 300 head and second one was over 500 head.


The cattle at Monomeith Railway Station April 1967.
Photo courtesy of Neville Clark


The 'big diesel' Monomeith Railway Station April 1967.
Photo courtesy of Neville Clark


The 53 stock cars - Monomeith Railway Station April 1967.
Photo courtesy of Neville Clark


Monomeith Station, April 1967.
Photo courtesy of Neville Clark

Monday, November 26, 2012

100 years ago this week - Railways and Monomeith Railway Station

This appeared in The Argus, on November 26, 1912, 100 years ago this week. It has both a Railway connection (one of my historical interests) and a Swamp connection as Dalmore and  Koo-Wee-Rup were Swamp Stations and Tooradin, Monomeith and Caldermeade were on the edge of the Swamp.
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The Argus,  November 26, 1912 page 10 from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

This line is part of the Great Southern line - the line to Dandenong  (part of the Oakleigh to Bunyip section) opened October 8, 1877. Dandenong to Tooradin, with stations at Lyndhurst, Cranbourne, Clyde and  Tooradin opened October 1, 1888. Dalmore (originally called Peer’s Lane, then Koo-Wee-Rup West) and Koo-Wee-Rup (originally called Yallock) opened August 19, 1889. Monomeith (originally called Glassock’s), Caldermeade, and Lang Lang (originally called Carrington) opened in February 1890. The line went all the way to Port Albert by 1892.

Patsy Adam-Smith wrote about the Monomeith Railway Station in her book Hear the train blow. Her mother was station mistress and post mistress and her father was a fettler. She wrote that Monomeith had no pub, no shop nothing but us. The Railway Station was also the Post Office. The family lived on a house on the platform and Patsy went to Monomeith School until it closed in 1933 and she then travelled by train to Caldermeade School. The family were at Monomeith during the 1934 flood. This is (partly) what  Patsy wrote about the flood - At home we were perfectly safe because of the house being off the ground up on the platform. On the second day Mum heard on the radio that homeless people were being brought into the Railway station at Koo-Wee-Rup. She walked in to help. Where she walked on the five-foot the swirling waters lapped over her shoes, the ballast had been swept away and the sleepers were held up only because they were fastened to the rails. The whole line in parts was swinging…..Dad and other fettlers brought in scores of people who had been cut off on high ground or in the ceilings of their homes. The water had run over the land so suddenly that most people were taken unawares. The Bush Nursing Hospital was caught this way. The fettlers cut through the roof of that building to take out the patients…… Mum, helping patients out of the boat when it reached Koo-Wee-Rup station found Dad’s coat around an old lady who had only a thin nightdress beneath it.

Sadly, none of the Monomeith railway buildings remain. According to a report in a  Korumburra & District Historical Society newsletter, that we received a few months ago at the Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp Historical Society,  passenger services beyond Dandenong  ceased in June 1981 but goods services continued to operate. In 1992, the goods trains ceased and this is when the line beyond Leongatha was taken up. The passenger service to Leongatha was reinstated on December 9 1984 and continued to run until July 23 1993. The trains now stop at Cranbourne.