What happened in Koo Wee Rup in 1923

This is a look at what happened in Koo Wee Rup and surrounds, 100 years ago, in 1923, as reported in the newspapers, mainly the Koo Wee Rup Sun.  One of the  main events in the town was the opening of the Soldiers Memorial Hospital on May 23, 1923, but I will look at that in more detail in another post. The new towns of Bayles and Catani had been established the year before with the opening of the Strzelecki Railway (also called McDonald's Track railway) line in June 1922 (see here)  and there are some reports about their development. 

In February there was a report on prizes given for elocution at Sunday School  – Recently the Kooweerup Methodist missionary (Mr J.G. Carmichael) donated prizes for the best rendition of the Ten Commandments, and the prizes have been awarded to the following Sunday school scholars: - Master Garnet and Maggie Gilchrist, Five Mile; Master Marshall and Elise Armstrong, Yannathan; Master Ian and Jean McDonald, Cora Lynn. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 1, 1923 p. 4)

Kooweerup State School report from February - The attendance at the school now numbers 103. At the December examinations Kathleen Hyland (12 years and two months), Alma Follett, Mattie Preston, John McNamara (12 years and four months), Robert Preston (12 years), and Robert Mills were awarded merit certificates, Shelia Johnston was successful in winning a Government  scholarship, entitling her to four years’ instruction  at a registered secondary school. This pupil is the third member of the family who has been successful at the scholarship examinations held during the past three years. This record speaks highly of the ability of the local teaching staff. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 8, 1923 p. 4)

The Masonic Temple at Koo Wee Rup, as it was originally built in 1923

Image courtesy of Graeme Elso

The Koo Wee Rup Masonic Temple was built in 1923. In March it was reported that - The Contractor for the Kooweerup Masonic Temple, Mr Sly, is now putting on the final touches and expects to complete his task in about a week. The temple will be a very convenient and comfortable edifice for members of the craft to hold meetings in. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 1, 1923 p. 4)

In May there was this report of the dedication of the Temple and the establishment of the Koo Wee Rup Lodge - The Kooweerup Masonic Hall was dedicated by the Most Wor. Bro.  F.T. Hickford, assisted by Bro. W.P.Bice, D.G.M., and other Grand Lodge officers on Monday afternoon. After the dedication a Lodge, No. 323, to be known as the Kooweerup lodge was consecrated by the G.L. officers. The officers of the new lodge are – W.M. Wor. Bro W.Eason; S.W., Bro. W.E. Mills; J.D., Bro. J.D. Preston; Chaplain, Bro. C. Wadsley; treasurer, Bro. W. Jeffery; secretary,  Bro. F.C. Ellis; D.C.W., Bro W.K. Paterson; S.D., Bro. E. Bowden; J.D., Bro. A.P. Coburn; organist, Bro. T. Wood; S.G., Bro A.C. Colvin; stewards, Bros W.S. Smith, H.D. Mills, S.H. Mills, G.Wain; Tyler, Bro. W.J. Mallcott. Fifteen brethren constituted the foundation members and the lodge opened with 32 members. The hall cost £1500. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 3, 1923, p. 1)

Fishing news in March - A party of anglers from Yallock on Wednesday, February 28^th, visited Tooradin, and skippered by Mr. T. Kernot in his comfortable and fast 40ft motor boat, caught 532 fish. This is considered to be a record for this part of the bay for line fishing. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 8, 1923, p. 4)

Also in March, the council upset at carcasses being thrown in the Bay - At the Cranbourne Shire Council meeting  on Saturday a letter was read from Dr. Appleford, drawing attention to the fact that skinned carcasses were being thrown into the Bay. Cr Wildes referred to this as a “filthy practice,” and persons caught doing it should be severely dealt with. He had heard of carcasses going as far as Hastings. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 8 1923, p. 4)

A report on the impact of the Strzelecki Railway line on railway towns such as Garfield,  as  local farmers could now take their produce to Bayles, Catani and Yannathan - Garfield: The Kooweerup-McDonald's track railway is making its presence felt in many towns along the main Gippsland line. Traffic and business which for years past has gone to these towns is now diverted to the new outlet, and townships with good business openings are springing up along the new railway. Land values have advanced considerably, and range from £40 to £50 per acre. (The Age, March 10, 1923, see here)

March saw a new street lamp in the town, near the Catholic Church - New Street Lamp – The Cranbourne Shire Council on Wednesday erected a new street lamp at the corner of Station street – opposite the R.C. Church, Kooweerup. This will be found to be very convenient to vehicular traffic. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 22, 1923 p. 4)

Complaint about the Railway Station in May- From the standpoint of health, the railway station at Kooweerup should be condemned. While totally unsuitable and inadequate to give the facilities required, it is costing the department a good sum of money owing to the members of the staff being compelled to relinquish duty through ill-health. At the present time the stationmaster (Mr Smith) and a porter are absent through illness. And just before Mr Argall, late stationmaster, was transferred to the relieving staff he had to knock off through indisposition. Evidence of this character is sufficient to demonstrate the unhygienic character of the building and should stir the authorities to make a move to have an up to date station erected. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 3, 1923 p.  4)

May also saw this amusing story about the local police stuck in the mud in Western Port Bay -
Sandbank that wasn’t - It seemed a perfectly firm, white sandbank, gleaming attractively in the sunlight. Really, it was only a sandy film covering a quagmire lying in wait for unwary feet. Detective McGuffie and Constable Orgill, on their way from Lang Lang to the McLeod Penal Settlement on French Island recently were villainously misled.

When at low tide, their boat grounded a quarter of a mile from the island jetty, they decided to walk along the innocent looking sandbank to the shore. Bare-legged, they started from the stranded dinghy. Their feet were at once sucked in by the treacherous black mud. Step by step they floundered on, every pace leaving them deeper in the smelly mire. Whilst deep in the mud, McGuffie struggled along on his hands and knees, wearing his boots on his hands. Constable Orgill was doing even more primitive, eel-like contortions with his body. He seemed to be trying to swim.

Then the island convicts, who had been enjoying the fun from the jetty, brought ropes and planks to their aid. One of McGuffie’s most assiduous helpers proved to be a man who had McGuffie to thank for his long term of imprisonment. Both enjoyed the joke. Both must have a fine sense of humour. McGuffie was going to the island to investigate a suspicious fire outbreak among the penal settlement buildings. From his interrogation of three men further developments are expected. 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 10, 1923 p. 3)

Catani Railway Station

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society image

A report of the growth of the new town of Catani, which developed around the new railway station -
Catani – The nucleus of a rising township is being laid at Catani. The district is being fastly developed by an industrial class of men and women, who are out to build homes for themselves and children, and the prospects of the near future will portray a hive of prosperous and happy people. Mr Bush, of Caldermeade, has opened a fine grocer’s shop, well stocked with the necessary requirements of the district, and Mr Currie, of Yannathan, has control of the post office and newsagency. The local station promises to become the most important on the Strezlecki line. Miss Silverthorn has charge of the State school, and is doing splendid work among the children. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 31, 1923, p. 1)

Bad roads - Bayles – Farmers here are keenly feeling the effects of the bad roads. Many of the thoroughfares are in such a shocking state that it is impossible to cart produce to the station. The road in front of the station has been in a deplorable condition of late, and on Friday last residents, tired of waiting for the authorities to help them, formed themselves into a working bee, and despite unfavorable weather conditions did good work in effecting improvement to the road. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 26, 1923, p. 4)

Bad footpaths  - The footpath in front of the Kooweerup Hospital is in a deplorable condition and something should be done to put it in  a trafficable state, at once. It is nothing but a quagmire, and pedestrians are put to a great amount of inconvenience in endeavoring to reach the hospital. Now that the hospital is open, and with the Catholic Church adjoining, the path is largely used. To attempt to reach this hospital at night is a wretched experience, as one has to wade in mud and water up to the ankles. We hope such a condition of affairs will be speedily remedied. ( Koo Wee Rup Sun, August 2, 1923, p. 4)

Flooding occured in October - here are reports from The Argus and the Koo Wee Rup Sun -
A seven inch rainfall during the past five days has caused one of the most disastrous floods in the history of the Kooweerup settlement. Scores of setters have been compelled to leave their homes, and thousands of pounds'worth of damage has been done to growing crops. After continual rains on Thursday and Friday, the main canal into which the waters of the Bunyip and Tarago rivers flow commenced to rise rapidly until an early hour on Saturday morning, when the 20 ft. summer level gauge on the Junction-bridge disappeared beneath the yellow flood. The water continued to rise to the decking of the bridge, five feet above the gauge, carrying away the bank on the north side, leaving the bridge suspended across the stream in a dangerous condition. The sheet piling around the edge of the 15-mile-bridge was carried away, and the structure is likely to collapse. All other bridges were submerged, and until the water recedes the damage cannot be estimated. The flood poured over the high levee banks on either side below the Iona State school, and spread over miles of cultivated farms, and residents had to abandon their homes, leaving stock, poultry and pigs to fend for themselves. Cattle could be seen standing with their heads thrust above the water on Cora Lynn farms; many of the smaller animals were drowned. The flood rose to the height of six feet in the Cora Lynn cheese factory, and the mechanics' hall. State school and convent are isolated in an inland sea. Water flowed over the levee banks to a depth of four feet for a distance of four miles, and there is a grave danger of these giving way and causing further disaster.

Throughout Iona many thousands of acres of potatoes, oats and other crops have disappeared under water, and will be utterly ruined. The main roads along either side of the canal have been damaged beyond repair, and bridges over subsidiary drains are in a state of collapse. (The Argus, October 15, 1923, see here)

On Sunday there was great commotion in the township of Kooweerup, when it was learnt that the banks of the main canal and Boundary drain had overflowed, and several families in the township were placed in an awkward predicament. The whole of the northern part of the township was under water, owing to the Boundary drain breaking in several places. Messrs J. and O. Colvin and D. McCracken’s residences were surrounded by flood waters three feet deep, the former two families being removed by the aid of a rowing boat. Families in other houses, although isolated, remained in their homes and anxiously kept vigil, and were naturally quite relieved when the water began to subside on Sunday night. 

On Sunday motor cars were kept busy plying people to the various points of vantage, but they could not get far. Proceeding along Rossiter’s road to the South Coast road, cars had to go through a quarter-mile of water 18 inches deep near Mr J. Byron’s property. Mr W. Johnson’s farm, on the opposite side of the road, was completely inundated, the water on the South Coast road reaching the top rail of the fence. On the south side of Coast road the land was covered with water for miles. Mr W. De Vries’ slaughter yards, in this vicinity, was inundated, and the owner had a trying time in rescuing employees, the water being up to his waist. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 18, 1923, p. 1)

Mr O'Riordan buys a truck - O’Riordan’s  general store, Kooweerup, is keeping abreast with the times and has purchased a motor truck for the conveyance of goods to clients. The truck is of a very neat design, and is capable of carrying a large load. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 15, 1923, p. 6)

Bayles Butter Factory, c. 1923

Image courtesy of Bayles Fauna Reserve.

In December there was a report on the new town of Bayles -

Bayles – the newly formed tennis club is putting plenty of ginger into its endeavors, and already a new court is rapidly approaching completion. The new bicycle track on the Recreation Reserve is expected to be finished by the end of the week, the Cranbourne Council’s grader having been secured to put the finishing touches on. The track is 20ft wide, and when completed will be second to none for many miles around.

Mr G. Einsedel, of Melbourne, is at present loading up to 20 trucks of sand per week, and hopes to be shortly railing away 100 tons per day. Our newly formed township is growing daily, and is going to be “some” place before many more moons. Another drapery establishment will be open for business within a short time, and all the business people speak well of their present turnover and have great hope for the future of Bayles.

One of the most notable features of trade at present is the great amount of business being transacted at Messrs Sage and Co.’s [butter] factory. The firm has two motor lorries continually bringing in cream and milk, besides a very great number of clients who bring in their own produce. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 6, 1923, p. 6)

News from Koo Wee Rup and Bayles in December -
Koo Wee Rup - Mr. W. Cole, who recently retired from the police force was entertained at a social and presented with a wallet of notes. Mrs. Cole was presented with a case of cutlery. Mr. Cole was appointed to the charge of the Tooradin police district 33 years ago, and during that time has seen what in those days was a tea-tree swamp change into one of the most prosperous farming districts in the State. Several new buildings are in course of erection, including a fine brick edifice for the Bank of Victoria. The Koo-wee-rup Choral Society has given several successful entertainments in various parts of the district. The Memorial Hospital has been taxed to its utmost capacity during the last few weeks, and an extra nurse has been engaged. The Bayles Cycle Club's road races were won by Messrs. G. Harker and P. Osborn. A new track has been formed on the recreation reserve. (The Argus,  December 13, 1923, see here)