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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

George Glover - the father of Annie Rouse

This is an obituary of George Glover, my great, great grandfather who died January 8, 1887. His daughter Annie (born July 24 1865)  married James Joseph Rouse (born June 26 1862)  on February 2, 1892. They had five children Joseph Albert (my grandfather November 9 1892 - September 3, 1954); Emily (December 20, 1893, found drowned in the Yarra River at Hawthorn on August 24, 1919 aged 25);  Lucy (September 2 , 1895 - October 27, 1981); Ruth (died aged 6 months on February 22, 1898); and Annie (born and died December, 1898). Annie had previously had another child, a daughter called Lily, who was born in September 14, 1885. Annie died February 7, 1899 at the age of 33, having never recovered after she was thrown from a buggy when a horse bolted in early December 1898. She was pregnant with little Annie at the time of her accident and gave birth prematurely.  Her mother and George's wife, was Ellen Dugan.  George and Ellen had come from Lisburn, near Belfast, County Antrim, Belfast. The obituary of George Glover  is from the Bairnsdale Advertiser of January 13, 1887.

George Glover obituary

Bairnsdale Advertiser of January 13, 1887. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84684706

We extract the following from Monday's Times:-An old and respected resident of Clydebank, Mr. George Glover, died somewhat suddenly on Saturday evening at his residence. The deceased, so we are informed, was very ill after retiring to bed, and Dr. Reid was sent for from Sale immediately, but on his arrival he found Mr  Glover dead. The matter was reported to Mr. John Little, J.P., of Sale, who yesterday instructed Dr Macdonald to make a post mortem examination of the body, which was accordingly done, with the result that the cause of death was discovered to be enlargement of the heart. Mr. Glover, who was about 58 years of age, leaves a widow and grown up family, for whom much sympathy is felt in their bereavement.

This is George and Ellen (nee Dugan) Glovers grave in the Sale Cemetery. Also buried in the grave are their grand daughters Ruth, who is listed on the stone and Annie, who is not listed.

George and Ellen's grave

Annie and James Rouse, with their first baby, Joe born November 9 1892

Annie Rouse's accident was reported in the Maffra Spectator December 9, 1898 (see here)

The " Mercury" says:-" On Saturday Mrs Rouse, a resident of Clydebank was driving a cart containing a load of wood was found lying insensible near broken vehicle. She was brought to Sale Hospital, where Dr. Hagenauer, attended to her injuries, found that had sustained a severe compound of the leg into the knee joint, and also very much bruised on other of the body. The unfortunate woman who was near her accouchement, was delivered of a child on Sunday morning and we learned on enquiry on Monday that she was in a very serious condition though it is hoped that she may recover.

This is Annie Rouse's grave, she had no head stone for decades until her grand children erected one about 20 years ago.

Annie's grave at the front, at the Sale Cemetery

Ellen Agnes Weatherhead obituary

This is an obituary of  Ellen Agnes Weatherhead, daughter of Ellen (nee Ramsdale) and Henry Fortescue Weatherhead, thus my great, great Aunt. Henry is incorrectly called Horatio in this article. Ellen died July 28 1941 aged 77. You can read the full obituary here http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214604529

Dandenong Journal August 6 1941

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214604529

Obituary

Miss E.A Weatherhead

The death occurred at the residence of her old friend, Miss Lewis, of 37 Carlisle Crescent, Oakleigh, on Tuesday, 29th July, after a short illness, of Miss Ellen Agnes Weatherhead, in her 78th year. Deceased, who was well-known and highly respected by all who knew her, was a native of the Western District, her birthplace being near Gavoc. She was predeceased by her mother, Mrs Ellen Weatherhead (nee Ramsdale), and father, Horatio F. Weatherhead, of Yorkshire, England, whose name, Horatio, was a link with the Horatio of Trafalgar fame, her uncle being an Admiral of the Fleet of the “wooden walls” period

The late Miss Weatherhead was  the last surviving member of a grand old English family, her brother John having by great foresight, established a butter and cheese industry. Other relatives included her brother, Mr Horatio William Weatherhead, late of Tynong, an engineer and saw-miller, Mr Harry Weatherhead, of Western Australia, and her sister Mary, late of Naringal, with whom deceased at one time carried on a fertile farm near Warrnambool. Their painstaking and advanced methods achieved for them a reputation for excellence of produce and prize-stock that was the envy of many masculine district farmers. In addition, like many of her period, the late Miss Weatherhead was an accomplished needlewoman and equestriene. Her nephew, Mr Arthur Weatherhead, of Tynong, who is well-known in the Dandenong district, arranged the funeral, which took place at the Spring Vale Cemetery. Deepest sympathy is extended to her sorrowing relatives in the loss they have sustained. The remains were privately interred in the Presbyterian section, the Rev. T. C. L. Goble conducting the service at the graveside.

Ellen Weatherhead (nee Ramsdale) 1822 - 1903

This is an announcement of the death of my great great grandmother, Ellen Weathernead (nee Ramsdale) who died October 23, 1903. Her husband was Henry Fortescue Weatherhead, who died December 5, 1866

The Argus October 28, 1903 p. 8

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10579272

The death of a very old colonist is reported this morning in the person of Mrs H. Fortescue Weatherhead of the Warrnambool district. This lady first arrived in Melbourne in 1839 landing at Liardet's Beach and crossing the Yarra at the ford of stepping stones near the Queen's bridge of the present day. She returned to Tasmania about 1844 and, having married Mr Weatherhead, again came to Victoria, settling in Portland with her husband and removing about 1859 to Warrnambool. Mrs Weatherhead during all her long stay in Victoria took great interest in dairying pursuits and claimed to have made the first cheese in the state. Amongst her surviving children are Mr John Weatherhead, manager of the Camperdown Butter Factory and Mr. H. W. Weatherhead, who is sawmilling at Lyonville.

Ellen was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (nee Walding) Ramsdale.  On Janury 19, 1828 the family arrived at Circular Head, Tasmania. The shipping record said they shipped out of the Port of Hull on the 'Caroline' by the Van Diemen's Land Company of London. The family consisted of  Margaret (aged 15), Mary Ann (13), Elizabeth (11), Jane (9), Ellen (5) and John (2). Margaret married James Powlett on July 26, 1831. Mary Ann married William Wilton on July 19, 1832. Elizabeth married William Claverly Walker on September 18, 1845. Jane married Horatio Cooper on September 18, 1836, Ellen married Henry Fortescue Weatherhead on October 19, 1847 and John married Marion Boyd the same day. John Ramsdale died in Melbourne in 1839. Elizabeth Ramsdale died January 1855, aged 71.

According Ellen's  Death Certificate, her occupation was Dairywoman, she was born in Yorkshire.  She spent  5 years in England, 11 in Tasmania and 64 in Victoria. She was married at the age of 24 in Launceston to Henry, she was buried at the Warrnambool Cemetery and her children on the death certificate are listed as - Elizabeth Sarah (deceased), John Stroyan 53 years old, Thomas deceased, Horatio William 50 years old, Henry Graham 48 years old, Alice Jane deceased, Mary Emma 44 years old, Eliza Esdaile deceased, Ellen Agnes 40 years old and Albert Esdaile deceased.

Ellen left George Town on October 20, 1839 on the Henry according to the Tasmanian Archives site (see it here) and it is reported in Cornwall Chronicle of October 19, 1839 (a Launceston paper). She was only 17 years old.

Cornwall Chronicle October 19, 1839

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65952898

Lyonville by Eva Weatherhead

This letter was written by my Grandma, Eva, to Aunt Connie, the editor of the 'Young Folks' page in the Weekly Times.  Eva, the daughter of Horatio and Eleanor (nee Hunt) Weatherhead, lived at Lyonville, before most of the family moved  to North Tynong in 1909. Eleanor and Eva, the youngest child, stayed at Lyonville until Eva finished school around 1914. Eva married Joe Rouse in 1922 and they farmed at Cora Lynn. This letter was published December 7, 1912.

Eva Weatherhead's letter

Weekly Times December 7 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224035245

Lyonville

Eva Weatherhead, living at Lyonville writes:

Dear Aunt Connie,  I will take for my subject Lyonville. Lyonville is situated on the side of the Dividing Range. The Loddon and Coliban Rivers flow past Lyonville. Not far away there are several mineral springs and the Bullarto reservoir. It supplies Daylesford with water. The reservoir is a nice picnic resort. In Lyonville there are two hotels, two shops, the English and Roman Catholic churches, a hall, two boarding-houses and a school. A great many visitors come here every year to enjoy the mineral water. One of the mineral springs is situated at the bottom of Babington's Hill. It is nice to walk up to the top of the hill. I go to school, and am in the sixth grade. Please may I write again? Age, 11 years. 

(Yes, Eva; write again next month. -  Aunt Connie)

Two Soldier Brothers by Eva Weatherhead

This letter to Aunt Connie, the editor of the 'Young Folks' page of the Weekly Times was written by my Grandma, Eva Rouse (nee Weatherhead) It was published in the Weekly Times on November 6, 1915.  It has an interesting description of the town of Tynong.

Eva's letter about Tynong and her brothers.

Weekly Times November 6, 1915  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132708870

Two Soldier Brothers

Eva Weatherhead, who lives at Tynong, writes:
Dear Aunt Connie, It is a very long time since I wrote to you. Since then we have shifted from Lyonville, where we formerly lived. Tynong is a small country township situated on the main Gippsland line. In it are two stores, a boarding-house, post office, station, school and some very nice private residences. We live over five miles from Tynong. There are some pretty fern gullies. They are made beautiful by different sorts of ferns and shrubs, with creepers climbing everywhere. Some of the ferns grow to a great height - 30 feet and 35 feet. A very good view can be obtained from the mountains, and on clear days one can easily see the sea. Tynong is on the edge of Kooweerup Swamp. The people around here make a living by farming, dairying, and fruit growing principally. There are many wild flowers out now. Some are very pretty. Kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, and wombats frequent the bush. We have a pony which I ride and drive. I have two soldier brothers. One is at Seymour and the other at the front. I have three cousins at the front. One was killed, and another wounded. My age is 14 years and 1 month. Please may I write again?
[Yes, Eva. I hope your brothers will come safely home to you all. Aunt Connie.]

The two brothers Eva writes about are Frank and Alf - you can read about them here.

The use of a Sawmill by Eva Weatherhead

This was published in the Weekly Times on January 1, 1916, in the 'Young Folks' page, edited by Aunt Connie.  It was written by my grandma, Eva Rouse (nee Weatherhead) She was the youngest child of Horatio and Eleanor (nee Hunt) Weatherhead (read about them here)

Eva's letter about Sawmills

Weekly Times  January 1, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121101109

The use of a  sawmill

Eva E. Weatherhead who lives in Tynong writes:
Dear Aunt Connie - I will take for my subject ' the use of a sawmill'  A sawmill is used for converting logs into  into timber, to be used for building purposes. The trees are cut down in the bush by men, who saw them into the various required lengths. The logs are hauled, by means of a jinker and team of bullocks or horses, or sometimes a traction
engine, to the mill, where they are barked, and made ready to put the saws through. The first saw used is the 'breaking down' saw, which splits the logs into pieces that can be conveniently handled by the sawyer. These pieces are put on to the skids and turned over to the 'running out' saw. This saw, which is usually smaller than the 'breaking down' saw, cuts the pieces into boards, or the timber required. The boards with defective ends have the defects cut off by the docking saw. The timber is then put on a truck, wheeled out, and loaded on to a waggon, or another truck, and taken to its destination by bullocks or horses. The machinery in a sawmill is driven by a steam engine, which burns up all the waste timber. The sawdust is all wheeled away and put in a heap, while the bark off the logs is burnt. My brother, who was in the Seymour camp, was shifted into the 4th F.A. He sailed on November 18. We had a letter from my brother who is at the front. He had narrow escape. A shell landed about nine feet from him, and alongside his mate. The mate was killed, and my brother knocked down and dazed, but not hurt. Thank you, Aunt Connie, for your kind wishes regarding my brothers. T wish 'The Weekly Times" every success. Please may I write again?
[Thank you, dear, for your good wishes. Yes, write again. Aunt Connie.]

This is Eva, aged 14 - taken 1915. 

She was born on August 30, 1901 and she died on February 8, 1982.

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 1928). 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