Koo Wee Rup Swamp History: Bill Parish's History of Garfield 1911

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Bill Parish's History of Garfield 1911 - 1920

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 1911 - 1920.

I have added the footnotes. Heather Arnold

Garfield 1911-1920 by Bill Parish

As this period included the First World War, progress slowed between 1914 and 1919, but despite this, businesses were improved and many local facilities enlarged or altered, including the recreation reserve and the new school. The old school building was moved to Garfield North (1).

With the advent of War many local young men enlisted, many never to return, including W. Leeson, A. Gunnelson, E. Beswick, E. Bullock, G. Gunnelson, A. McDonald, C. Mynard, L. Plant, T. Tower, A. Watson, F. Whiston, T. Whiston and R. Evans (2).

Towards the end of the War, a Welcome Home Committee was formed with Mr. A. Parish as the secretary and Messrs Waugh, Hunt and Drier as committeemen. Each returned man received a medal of appreciation and welcome. These functions added greatly to the social life of the community, including many concerts and dances.

Towards the end of this decade, primary production began to boom, prices received being far ahead of any previous. Many new businesses came into being, including Barker Reidy Co., which became the present Barker, Green and Parke Pty Ltd. The Garfield Weighbridge Co. was formed with J.W. Barker, G.U. Green, E. Druir, S. Scanlon, and D. Kavanagh as shareholders. (3)

Town businessmen included H. Hourigan and G. Parke (blacksmiths); Clarke, Aspinall and Gardener (bank managers); Daly, Loutit and Waugh (school teachers); Dess, Hunt, Smith, A.V Tonkin, Harcourt (grocers and storekeepers); Stacy and Walsh (butchers); G. Scotland and R. Jack (bakers); J. Beswick and J. Betts (saddlers); Beswick, Lugton (cafes); F. Tripp (dairy); C. Louch (newsagent, on present site)

Several fires occurred in the business area (Archer’s and Dess’s). During this period, the first motor cars appeared in the town. Those of T. Barker (T Model Ford) and H. Hourigan (Renault). This called for better road formation, including the Garfield road from the creek to the school. This work was done by H. Gee and P. Faukner (snr).

Footnotes

(1) Cannibal Creek State School, No. 2724, opened 1886 and was located on the Princes Highway, west of North Garfield Road. It was re-named Garfield in 1887. In 1899 the School building was re-located to Garfield Road at the top of the hill, half-way between the Princes Highway and the Railway Station. In 1910 the Garfield School moved to a new building on its present site near the Railway Station. The old building was removed in 1914 to North Garfield where it became State School No.3489. North Garfield School closed in 1973.

(2) More details on the soldiers who never returned - These men were W. Leeson, A. Gunnelson, E. Beswick, E. Bullock, G. Gunnelson, A. McDonald, C. Mynard, L. Plant, T. Tower, A. Watson, F. Whiston, T. Whiston and R. Evans

Leeson, William Herbert Charles (Service Number 1178) William, enlisted on September 26, 1914, aged 24. His next of kin was his father, Phillip. William was Killed in Action on May 2, 1915 at Gallipoli. His grandmother, Kathleen Leeson, was the licensee of the Pig & Whistle Hotel on Cannibal Creek.

Gunnelson, Inglebert Thomas (SN 3160)

Gunnelson, Percy Oscar (SN 893) Inglebert enlisted on September 2, 1916, aged 23 and Percy enlisted August 24, 1914 aged 20. Inglebert and Percy were the sons of James and Mary (nee Duff) Gunnelson of Garfield. James (sometimes called Inglebert) was born in Norway and was a builder. Sadly, they were both Killed in Action, Percy on May 8, 1915 at Gallipoli and Inglebert on October 4, 1917 in France.

Thomas Gunnelson (SN3160)

Image: Australian War Memorial.

Beswick, Edwin Ezard (SN 6725) Edwin enlisted on September 16, 1916. He was 18 years old, was born in England and his next of kin was his father, John, of Garfield. He made a will on July 26, 1917 and left everything to his mother, Mary Elizabeth Beswick. Edwin died in France of wounds and gas poisoning on October 9, 1917.

Bullock, Ernest (SN 6291) Ernest was nearly 21 and a farmer when he enlisted on July 7, 1916. He was born in Murrumbeena and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs Mary Bullock, of Oakleigh. I assume that Ernest was living with his brother Thomas, who did live at Garfield, when he enlisted. Ernest was Killed in Action in France on October 4, 1918.

McDonald, Allan Walter (SN 2474) Allan enlisted on March 3, 1916 and his next of kin was his wife, Jessie, of Garfield. He was 40 years old and a farmer. Allan Died of Wounds received whist fighting in France, on March 28, 1917

Mynard, Charles (SN 459) Twenty one year old Charles enlisted on August 17, 1914 and his next of kin was his father, Thomas Mynard of Garfield. Charles was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

Plant, Lawrence (SN 1804) Lawrence was born in Garfield and enlisted at Tynong on December 30, 1914 at the age of 19. His next of kin was his father, John. Lawrence was Killed in Action in France on May 12, 1917.

Toner, Francis John (SN 5092) Mr Parish has this soldier’s surname as Tower, but I believe it is Toner. Francis enlisted at Bunyip on March 3, 1916 at the age of 33. His next of kin was his mother, Catherine Toner of Garfield. Francis was Killed in Action in France on March 20, 1917.

Watson, Albert (SN 3664) Albert was 22 when he enlisted on August 25, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Jessie Adamson of Garfield. Albert Died of Wounds, received on active service in Belgium, on March 9, 1918.

Frederick Whiston (SN 3524)

Image: Australian War Memorial

Julian Whiston (SN 3526)

Image: Australian War Memorial

Whiston, Frederick (SN 3524) Fred enlisted on August 2, 1915 aged 23. Fred Died of Wounds received in action in France July 21, 1916.

Whiston, Julian Thomas (SN 3526) Julian enlisted on August 7, 1915 aged 18. He Died of Wounds received in action in France on March 21, 1918.

They were the sons of Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Oxenham) whose address was listed as both Garfield and Cora Lynn. Fred was born in Garfield and Julian was listed as being born at ‘Bunyip Swamp’ on his enlistment paper, but he was actually born at Bunyip South or Iona.

Mr Parish also lists an R. Evans, I haven’t worked out who that is. I have written about all the World War One soldiers with a connection to Garfield here

http://caseycardinia1914-1918.blogspot.com/2015/05/world-war-one-soldiers-with-connection.html

(3) Garfield Weighbridge was established in 1916