Bill Parish’s History of Garfield 1901-1910

The Souvenir booklet for the Back to Garfield celebrations held in June 1962 included a history of Garfield for each decade, written by Bill Parish (1915-1994). This is the chapter from 1901-1910.
I have added the footnotes. Heather Arnold

Garfield 1901-1910 by Bill Parish

Most of the initial work on the Swamp had been completed by this time, and, at the close of the decade, most of the properties had been selected.
The townships continued to grow, with more and more businesses being established. The London Bank was built on the north east corner of Railway Avenue and the Garfield Road (1) and early managers were Messrs Adeney, Hattersley and Clarke.
The Iona Hotel was built (and rebuilt) with W. Ellis and later T. O'Donohue as owners and M. Reidy as manager (2).

Iona Hotel, Main Street, Garfield.

The Hotel opened April 1904, burnt down April 1914, 

and this building, which is the current building, opened 1915.

Image: Berwick Pakenham Historical Society 

The bakery was built on the present theatre site by R. Pearl and rebuilt on its present site by G. Bird, with J. Russell following. The blacksmiths, in order, were: J. McGowan and G. Parke.
The butchers were S. Walker (east of the 14-mile road and where the first local sports meeting was held) and J. Stacy (Garfield Hill).
Storekeepers included Messrs Leithhead in Main Street; G. Archer (Garfield Hill) and Sadderwasser (Railway Avenue).
A newsagency was operated by C. Louch (3) at the Garfield Road and Railway Avenue corner. 
Railway employees at this stage included C. Mason, J. Thompson, E. Goulding and R. McLean (station master) School teachers were Mr Daly and Mrs Thomson.
Selections were still being made in the district by the forebears of the following well- known names: Towt, Brew, Keppel, Gillespie, Jeurs, Negus, Beuhne, Gaghin and Pitt.
Several Boer War veterans took up properties including Mr A. Towt of Garfield North.
Up until this time all means of conveyance was by horse or bullock and wagons and wagonettes were a common sight: buggies, jinkers, bullock teams and horsemen frequented the streets. As traffic increased the roads became worse and in many places corduroys and granite blocks were used to make them passable.
Farming became firmly established and many orchards were planted in the Garfield North area. Many of those no longer exist.
The Garfield Public Hall (4) was built at this time by a number of guarantors and the recreation reserve was instituted.

The original Garfield Hall, opposite the Railway Station.

The Hall opened November 1904, burnt down April 1937, rebuilt, burnt down again February 1984.

Image: Berwick Pakenham Historical Society.

Footnotes
(1) London Bank opened in July 1908. I have written about the Garfield Bank here

https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-es-anz-bank-at-garfield.html
(2) Iona Hotel, Garfield, opened April 1904, burnt down April 1914, current building opened 1915. I have written about the Iona Hotel here 

https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/iona-hotel-at-garfield.html
(3) Catherine Louch, wife of Albert
(4) Hall opened November 1904, burnt down April 1937, rebuilt, burnt down again February 1984. I have written about the Garfield Hall here  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/06/garfield-public-hall.html

Other posts of Bill Parish's History of Garfield - 

1911-1920 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1911.html
1921-1930 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1921.html
1931-1940 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1931.html
1941-1950 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1941.html
1951-1960 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1951.html