Monday, January 23, 2023

Richard Beuhne's Bee Farm at Garfield

The Leader newspaper of September 3, 1893 had an article on bee keeping in Garfield which also gave some interesting insights into the development of the town, described as a little wayside hamlet which as yet gives no promise of future greatness.  It is reproduced below. The interview was with R. Beuhne, who was Frederick Richard Beuhne, known as Richard.

Richard Beuhne

Richard applied to be naturalised in August 1914 and his application papers tell us that he was born in Dresden, Saxony, in Germany on January 11, 1859 and arrived in Victoria on September 22, 1880, when he was 21 years old. His occupation was an Apiarist, and he had lived at Garfield for 15 years and then at Tooborac for 19 years. Richard married Annie Maxwell in 1883, and they had a son Claude Ralph born in 1887 and a daughter Hilda Bertha Rhoda, born 1891 (1). There is more information about the family in footnote 1.

The first mention of Richard that I can find in the Shire of Berwick Rate books was in 1884 where he is listed as owning 226 acres, Crown Allotment 71, Parish of Bunyip.  CA 71 fronted what is now called the Princes Highway and was on the west side of North Garfield Road. He sold the land in 1896 to Ernest Thompson and moved to Tooborac.  


Parish Plan of Bunyip - the township of Garfield on the railway line is bottom, centre. Crown Allotment 71, owned by Frederick Richard Beuhne, is north of the town on the Gippsland Road or Princes Highway.
Click on image to enlarge.
See the full Parish Plan at the State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/112025

Mr Beuhne died on June 24, 1933 and an obituary in The Argus tells us something more of his life including the fact that he worked at the Department of Agriculture as their apiculturist and was editor of the Australian Bee Journal -
Mr. F. R. Beuhne, secretary of the Victorian Apiarists' Association, which has just finished its annual conference in Melbourne, was found dead in his room at the Victoria Palace, Little Collins street, on Saturday morning. Apparently he had had a heart seizure. Mr. Beuhne, who was aged 70 years, was one of Australia's leading authorities on bees. He had been a member of the Victorian Apiarists' Association for 41 years. His term as secretary began about six years ago, on his retirement from the office of apiculturist to the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Beuhne's first association with the department was as consultant on apiculture. In that capacity he did most valuable work, and when the industry grew to one of importance he was appointed a full-time officer. His two text books on beekeeping and honey flora are much valued by apiarists in Australia and overseas. Mr. Beuhne had been editor of the "Australian Bee Journal'' since its inception. He was the Victorian Apiarists' Association delegate to the Chamber of Agriculture, and was the judge of honey at the Royal Show. He was also a member of the Field Naturalists' Club (2).

The State Library of Victoria has three books or booklets by Richard Beuhne - Bee-keeping foul brood in bees and transferring bees (8 pages, published 1913); Bee-keeping (12 pages, 1913)  and Honey flora of Victoria (148 pages, 1922). There is also another book by Richard,  Bee-keeping in Victoria, published 1916 of 128 pages.  There was an updated edition of this book in 1925 of which the chief feature of the new edition is the information contained in chapters which deal with the heating of honey, clarifying and refining, and pollen. The type of honey-heater advocated has been proved, after considerable experience, to be an ideal apparatus for clearing the honey of the minute, particles of wax and pollen grains which it is impossible to strain out in the clarifying of the honey for market by ordinary means. It possesses the merits of being both simple to operate and compact in design (3) It appears that Richard invented his own honey-heater, an example of which is shown below.


Beuhne honey-heater made by Pender Brothers Limited, 1931. 
Powerhouse Museum collection https://collection.maas.museum/object/228403


The Herald also had an obituary and this tells us other aspects of his life. It's a lovely tribute -
After having left a conference of members of the Victorian Apiarists Association last night, Mr F. R. Beuhne, one of the foremost of Australian bee experts, died suddenly last night. He was found dead, only this morning, in his room at the Victoria Palace, Little Collins Street, fully dressed, having apparently died from a heart attack. Mr Beuhne came to Australia as a young man, and was for 41 years a member of the Apiarists Association. He was appointed apiculturist of the Department of Agriculture. Some years ago, when he was due for retirement at the age of 65, he was asked to stay on for another year. After retiring, he was appointed secretary to the association. Mr Beuhne was editor of the Australian Bee Journal, and was a delegate from the Association to the Chamber of Agriculture. He was a member of the Forest League and a judge in honey contests at the Royal Show. Mr Beuhne has left a widow, a son and a married daughter. "His death is the greatest loss the Association could have," said the president (Mr M. Morgan) today, "Mr Beuhne brought it from financial difficulty to some degree of prosperity. He always did his best, sometimes to his own disadvantage, to assist the bee industry." (4). 

Richard Beuhne was a foundation member of Victorian Apiarists Association and at their June 1939 conference plans were revealed for a memorial to him - 
members were informed that all arrangements had been finalised for the proposed memorial to the late Mr. F. R. Beuhne. The memorial is to be in the form of a plantation of trees and by arrangement with the Country Roads Board, which has agreed to co-operate by doing the planting and caring for the trees, the site is to be on the Hume Highway between Kilmore and the turn-off to Heathcote. As the late Mr. Beuhne was a lover of trees the memorial seems to be a very fitting one. The planting is to take place in the near future (5). 

In August 1939, the Kilmore Free Press provided this report of the tree planting ceremony to honour Richard Beuhne, the first tree being planted by his son, Claude - 
On 11th August, a short ceremony took place at the planting of a number of trees, at which district apiarists and representatives of the Apiarists' Association, the Country Roads Board, the Forestry Department and the Department of Agriculture were present. Mr. Wills, President of the Victorian Apiarists' Association, welcomed all present and said the idea behind the plantation was the commemorating of the life of the late Mr. Beuhne. Later it was proposed to erect a cairn with a copperplate inscription indicating what he had done for the bee-keeping industry...The first tree was planted by Mr. Claude Beuhne (6). 

No doubt due to the War, it was actually a decade later on June 24, 1949 that the Memorial Cairn was unveiled by the  President of  the Victorian Apiarists' Association, Mr G. Loft, in the presence of 100 people, including Claude. (7). 


Plaque on Frederick Richard Beuhne's cairn, near Kilmore.
Photographer: Kent Watson. Source Monument Australia

Richard's brother Karl Richard Beuhne also migrated to Australia. Born in Brockwitz, Saxony, Germany on May 18,1855, he arrived in Australia on May 9, 1890, at the age of 35. Karl was naturalised in 1926, when he was 71. After his arrival he settled in North Garfield, where he was a market gardener. He married Maria Theresa Josefa Borrmann (also Saxony born) in 1896 (or that's the year the marriage was registered) and they had four children, all born in North Garfield - Alfa Toni (1892-1899), Friedrich Hans (1896), Otto Kurt (1898) and Rosie Dora (1905). He died on October 30, 1938 at the West Gippsland Hospital in Warragul (8). For some reason, even though Karl was at North Garfield from 1890, he doesn't appear in the Shire of Berwick Rate books until the 1929/1930 year, when he is listed as owning 4 acres, Cannibal Creek Frontage, Parish of Bunyip. 


Informative death notice of Karl Beuhne. His brother was Professor Beuhne of Dresden; 


Report of Karl Beuhne's death. 

This is the article on Mr Beuhne's Bee Farm from The Leader of September 2, 1893 (see here)

BEE FARMING AT GARFIELD
By our Agricultural Reporter

The little wayside hamlet of Garfield is one of those places which has sprung into existence since the main trunk railway line to Gippsland was built. It is distant 40 miles from Melbourne and overlooks the Kooweerup Swamp, that extensive tract of reed beds and morass which is now being reclaimed by the State. The township of Garfield is still in the embryo stage, and as yet gives no promise of future greatness. Most of the land hereabouts was selected 10 or 12 years ago, and a farming population settled on it, who proceeded to turn it to profitable account in the usual way by ringing, clearing, cultivating and stock keeping.

The advancement of the district has certainly not been assisted by the operations of the land syndicates, who during the "boom" purchased from the original selectors several thousand acres of land with a frontage to the railway line and in the vicinity of the railway station. This land is now lying idle and absolutely unproductive, while the owners are still holding on in the hope of settlement being attracted some day, thus giving them a chance to dispose of it at something approaching the prices paid for it to the original settlers. As the land was bought at prices varying from £18 to £25 per acres, this hope is not likely to be realised for some time to come. 

The soil for the most part cannot be called rich, except narrow strips in some of the with a growth of heath and coarse sedgy grasses. The timber is not of good character, and its principal use hitherto has been for firewood, of which large quantities used to be sent to Melbourne; but since the unemployed have been engaged at the work of wood cutting most of the residents of the district have found out that it does not pay to enter into competition with them, consequently sending firewood to Melbourne from Garfield has been practically abandoned.

  

Richard Beuhne's farm.
The Leader, December 9, 1893 - see Footnote 9

The main Gippsland road runs through the district and the principal stream is the Cannibal Creek, a tributary of the Bunyip River. Several of the farms some distance back from the station are fairly well improved, and in a couple of instances beekeeping engages a good deal of attention. Nowadays, when so many people are anxious to get on to the land and engage in some occupation that will prove profitable, beekeeping is an industry which should receive more attention than has hitherto been given it.

It must, however, be admitted that only comparatively few persons are fitted by nature for the occupation, but amongst those who have made it a success is Mr. R. Beuhne, whose farm is situated about 1½ mile from the Garfield station and on the Gippsland-road. Mr. Beuhne selected land here about 11 years ago, and is now the holder of 220 acres. About 30 acres have been thoroughly cleared, a comfortable house erected, an orchard established and other improvements, carried out, but attention is mainly devoted to beekeeping. This is generally considered one of the small things of a farm, but Mr. Beuhne has found it profitable enough to justify him in almost exclusively depending on it; indeed, he is of opinion that if carried on anything like an extensive scale it does not go well with any industry except poultry keeping, as during the busy season all other work must be neglected in order to attend to the bees.


Richard Beuhne offers lessons in bee keeping.

From a small beginning Mr. Beuhne gradually increased the number of his colonies until now he has 136 to control, and the many duties connected with them keeps him fully employed. Indeed, the work in connection with so many hives, when pursued scientifically, is almost endless, but at the same time it is light and highly interesting to any one who really cares for the occupation. If the beekeeper is not really interested in the pursuit and does not follow it for love of the work he will never make it a success, and it is better to direct his attention to some other business. If, on the other hand, attention to all the details of the industry is a pleasure, beekeeping becomes a profitable undertaking in any district that is adapted for the pursuit. 

Some localities are much better adapted for beekeeping than others on account of the climate, the greater profusion of honey producing trees, shrubs and flowers. The Garfield district is not specially suitable, the varieties of eucalypts with which it is timbered being principally those known as stringy bark and peppermint, whereas the box and white gum blossoms secrete most honey, while the flavor of the article is also superior. In the gullies and swampy places also a good deal of ti-tree grows, from the blossoms of which honey of a peculiar character is obtained. It possesses a distinct flavor of its own, and, strange to say, cannot be extracted from the comb by the centrifugal extractor. The closeness with which it adheres to the sides of the cells seems to indicate that it partakes somewhat of the character of gum, though persons who are in the habit of using it declare that they prefer it to any other kind of honey. The taste for it, however, requires to be educated, and its general popularity is never likely to rival that of honey obtained from box or white gum blossom. On account of its non-extracting peculiarity small section frames have to be used in the hives during the period, when the ti-tree is in bloom, while at other times, the ordinary large frames are placed in the boxes.


Richard Beuhne working with his bees.
The Leader, December 9, 1893 - see Footnote 9

Mr. Beuhne uses hives of the Langstroth principle, but the boxes are two inches shorter than the regulation size. He has made them all himself, being an amateur carpenter of no mean skill, and most of the appliances used in their manufacture have also been supplied by his ingenuity. A small circular saw, made out of a piece of a broken hand saw, has been set in a neat frame and worked by a treadle. With this the laths used in the frames of the hives are quickly sawn, and an appliance for boring holes, also worked by foot power, has been provided. Each hive is made exactly the same size so that the parts are interchangeable and he is thus able to work amongst the bees with that confidence which is absolutely necessary if success id to achieved in dealing with these remarkable insects.

In dealing with his bees, Mr. Beuhne in general follows out the practice adopted by the majority of skilled apiarians in attending to the thousand and one particulars involved in beekeeping, and which could not be fully described in anything short of the limits of a book; but he is also experimenting, and there is a possibility of his experiments proving successful, and having an important bearing upon the future of the industry. For instance, he thinks there is a possibility of breeding out the swarming impulse, which causes so much trouble during the season. He points out that it is just as natural for hens to sit as for bees to swarm, yet the desire to hatch has been almost entirely overcome, by breeders in connection with certain breeds of fowls. 

Of course bees are more difficult to control, but by selection and management much may be done. He would select queens, from stock that experience had shown displayed comparatively, little disposition to swarm, and by mating her very late in the season a beginning leading to the desired end would be made. In order to secure the fertilisation, advantage would be taken of a favorable day when the drone bees were likely to fly, and by giving them a little stimulating feed liberating the queen shortly afterwards the desired end would be accomplished.

A careful attention to the laws of selection having the definite object in view of producing non-swarming bees, and following out the lines indicated, would he thinks, eventually result in the apiarian being able to control the impulse as the progeny of queens fertilised late in the season evince less disposition to swarm than those mated early. Mr. Beuhne has at various times grown patches of buck wheat as pasture for the bees, but, as a rule, the insects have to depend for stores on what nature provides. Wattles and acacias, as well as different kinds of heaths, blossom well in the district, but, unfortunately, the flowering season is too early to be of much benefit to the bees, and the blossoms in most instances have disappeared by the time they are most wanted. Just at present the prickly mimosa and pink and white heaths are in full bloom, but the bees are not to be tempted out during the present unsettled weather, and consequently the stores of honey which the flowers contain cannot be utilised.

Mr. Beuhne is now engaged in the endeavor to solve the problem of how to prevent the crystallisation of honey during the winter months. It is well known that the best and purest honey crystallises in cold weather, and this has a prejudicial effect upon its sale, more particularly if it has been put up in glass jars. It frequently happens that the crystallisation is only partial, and while one portion of the contents of a jar assumes the consistency of lard, the remainder is liquid. This causes many persons to think that the honey has been adulterated, and accordingly they decline to buy. The honey does not deteriorate in quality by becoming crystallised; indeed, not a few who know the difference consider that it is improved thereby; but its sale to the general public is undoubtedly affected, hence the necessity for preventing crystallisation if possible. Mr. Beuhne, by a process which he has invented, but which is yet a secret, believes that he can not only prevent any honey from crystallising, but can also treat that which has already become crystallised in such a way that it will ever afterwards remain liquid. If the process, after being thoroughly tested, is the success which he claims, it will have the effect of increasing the local sales of honey, and will be of immense importance if an export trade is established on anything like an extensive scale, as no doubt it will be some day. A press which he has constructed for obtaining wax is very simple and useful, and with it he can obtain just as good wax from old black combs as from now unstained comb.


Richard Beuhne working with his bees.
The Leader, December 9, 1893 - see Footnote 9

 With regard to the profits to be derived from beekeeping, it must be remembered that this district is not a good one for bees, consequently results obtained here are likely to be greatly exceeded in other and more suitable localities. Last year, which was a bad one, Mr. Beuhne obtained only an average of 30 lb. of honey from each hive; the previous season he obtained over 50 lb., and his best record was 80 lb per hive. There is certainly nothing startling in these returns, but, taking one year with another, say 60 lb. of honey, worth at least 4½d. per lb., can be got from each hive, and this is certainly not an excessive estimate, then the gross return per hive amounts to £1.

Mr. Beuhne would advise all who think of going in for bee culture to begin on a small scale and gradually work up. Although much information may be gleaned from books, practical experience must be gained, and this will be less costly when pursued in connection with a few hives than when the care of a large number is attempted by one who has had no previous knowledge of the business. If possibly an opportunity should be sought of getting employment with a practical aparian for at least 12 months, and thus gain the benefit of his experience. Even after such an opportunity to gain knowledge it is necessary to make haste slowly, as there is always something to learn or some unexpected difficulty to overcome. Perseverance, however, will eventually be crowned with success, and the industry offers a means of making a fair livelihood to those who have a taste for beekeeping; and if this industry is combined with poultry farming, the owner of a small block of land ought to make not only a good living, but to ultimately realise a handsome competence.


Trove list: I have created a short list of newspaper articles connected to Frederick Richard Beuhne, his time at Garfield and his other activities. Access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Naturalisation papers at the National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au Family information from Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and family notices in the newspapers. Annie died January 13, 1941, aged 76. Their son, Claude married Irene Florence Bognuda in 1923. They were divorced in 1933 on the grounds of her desertion. They had one child, Elaine. He remarried in 1936 to Irene Richardson and he died in 1959.  Hilda (known as Flossie)  married William Murray Winzar in 1924. She died in 1943, aged only 52. They had three children - Dorothy, Gordon and Freada.


Annie Beuhne's death notice
The Argus, January 14, 1941 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8150821

Claude's divorce
The Argus November 20, 1933 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11712728

Death notice of Flossie Winzar

(2) The Argus, June 26 1933, see here.
(3) Australasian, November 28, 1925, see here
(4) The Herald, June 24, 1933, see here.
(5) Kilmore Free Press, June 22, 1939, see here
(6) Kilmore Free Press, August 24, 1939, see here.
(7) Read the full report of the unveiling in the Kilmore Free Press, June 30 1949, see here.
(8) Naturalisation papers at the National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au  and the  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(9) The illustrations are from The Leader December 9, 1893, see here. The newspaper incorrectly stated that these illustrations were of Mr M'Farlane's farm at Lyndhurst. There was a correction in The Leader of December 16, 1893, see here, In last week's Leader a full page illustration of "Bee Farming," the central picture in which is a representation of Mr. Beuhne's apiary, was inadvertently described as Mr. M'Farlane's. The mistake occurred through our reporter having visited both the apiaries named, and his description of Mr. M'Farlane'a place at Lyndhurst was attached in error to the drawings taken by our artist on the establishment of Mr. Beuhne, at Garfield, about 40 miles from Melbourne, on the Gippsland railway.


A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. This is an expanded and updated version of that post. 

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Koo Wee Rup Red Cross members 1943-1944

This is from the Treasurer's Book of the Koo Wee Red Cross unit. It lists the 261 men and women who were members in 1943-1944.  The population of the town was around 1,000 people, so a large proportion were members. The treasurer was Mrs Margaret Robertson and it is her lovely hand writing, you see here.   Membership was 2 shillings, so this totalled  £26/2/0. 

These images are courtesy of Don Jewell, a long serving member of the now defunct Koo Wee Rup unit. The names are transcribed below the four images. 

Don has also supplied the following information on the Koo Wee Rup Red Cross - It was formed on July 7, 2015. Koo-Wee-Rup Red Cross operated for the duration of the First World War, and then closed down  ‐ only to become active again during the Second World War. Once again it closed down, only to be revived in 1962 ‐ and we celebrated our Golden Jubilee (and "third incarnation!") in 2002 According to Red Cross records, the first Secretary (in 1914‐15) was a Mrs. C.M. Jack (although she is later listed as Miss C.M. Jack)   From 1916 to 1919, Mrs. J.A. Morrison was President, Miss C.M. Jack was  Secretary and Mrs. M. Hamilton, the Treasurer.  





List of members
1. Mrs Robertson
2. Mrs E. Taylor
3. Mrs Harder
4. Mrs Mackin
5. Mrs Ford
6. Mrs Brewer
7. Mrs Winters
8. Mrs Williams
9. Mrs Whiteside
10. Mrs Cochrane
11. Mrs Riggall
12. Mrs Grantley
13. Mrs Mortimer Snr
14. Mrs L. Mortimer
15. Mrs Righetti
16. Mrs J. H. Simpson
17. Miss Cougle
18. Miss McNamara
19. Mrs Reid
20. Mrs C. Eindisdel
21. Mrs Vick
22. Mr Vick
23. Mrs Clarke
24. Mrs Bourke
25. Mrs Lewis
26. Mrs Isbister
27. Mrs McLeod
28. Mrs Honeychurch
29. Mrs Dick Snr
30. Miss Blair
31. Mr. J. Robertson
32. Mr E. Taylor
33. Mrs T. Groves
34. Miss June Groves
35. Mrs Holley
36. Mrs E. Child
37. Miss Nellie Child
38. Mrs G. Dixon
39. Mr Livesley
40. Mr W. Freeman
41. Mrs Colvin
42. Mrs Bath Snr
43. Mrs Pollock
44. Miss A. Burhop
45. Mrs Burhop Snr
46. Mrs A. Ellert  [Ellett]
47. Miss Cahill
48. Miss M. Wadsley
49. Mr Mcleod
50. Mr W. O'Connor
51. Mrs J.N. Bethune
52. Mrs A. Brand
53. Miss J. Plowright
54. Mr M. Barravecchio
55. Miss L. Johnson
56. Mr J. Perry
57. Mrs Mortinson
58. Mrs C.A. Mills
59. Mr J. Bertonsallo  [Bertoncello]
60. Mr J. Knight
61. Mrs Murnane
62. Mrs J. Coutes
63. Mr J. O'Riordan
64. Mrs Plowright
65. Mr L. Plowright
66. Mrs Hubbard
67. Mrs Daniher
68. Mrs D. G. O'Hehir
69. Mr J. George
70. Mrs J. Hall
71. Miss D. Walsh
72. Miss McInnes
73. Mrs N. Bath
74. Mrs J. Clark
75. Mrs Broadbent
76. Mr. B. Darlington
77. Mr R. McGregor
78. Mr W. Henry
79. Mrs Don Crameri
80. Mr W. McDonald
81. Mrs E. Cochrane
82. Mr E. Wadsley
83. Mrs E. Wadsley
84. Mr Harder
85. Mrs W. Orgill
86. Mrs Groves Snr
87. Mrs A. Sheilds
88  Mr Myall
89. Miss Gilbert
90. Mrs Mickle
91. Mrs S. Stagg
92. Mr N. Beckham
93. Mr H. Snodwill [an unusual name - should it be Sandwell, Snowsill?]
94. Mr B. Bossetti  [Rossetti]
95. Mr F. W. Heffernan
96. Mrs W. Perkins
97. Mr G. Farraro [Ferrero]
98. Mr Keith Lineham
99. Mr M. Costa
100. Mrs P. W. Nestor
101. Mrs R. V. Kirwin
102. Mr C. Beasso  [maybe Biaso or Biasi]
103. Mrs H. Griffiths
104. Mrs Cuff
105. Mr Gaburri
106. Mrs J. Leontini
107. Mr V. Saluna
108. Mrs Milner
109. Mrs J. Colvin
110. Mr A.J. Harding
111. Mr E. Glasscock
112. Mrs E. Glasscock
113. Mr P. Amoir  [Amore or Amor]
114. Mr A. Agosta
115. Miss Joyce Duggan
116. Mr S. Coulthard
117. Mrs Heffernan
118. Mr Day
119. Mrs Preston
120. Mrs McMillan
121. Mrs A. Johnson
122. Mrs Caldwell
123. Mrs W. Johnson
124. Mrs M. Keighery 
125. Mrs C. Brown
126. Mrs A. Burton
127. Mr C. Mazetta
128. Mrs D. Nichols
129. Mrs D. Cochrane
130. Mr Anderson
131. Mr Mick Zullala
132. Mr P. Einsiedel  Snr
133. Mr Pepper
134. Mr Belfer
135. Mr G. Zuccala
136. Mrs W. Koochew
137. Mr Cramerai [Crameri]
138. Mrs Jennings
139. Miss D. Jennings
140. Mrs Hewitt
141. Mrs J. Mann
142. Mr Ray Groves
143. Mr L. Plowright
144. Mrs McKenzie
145. Mrs Lawrence
146. Mrs J. L. O'Riordan
147. Mrs Colvin  Snr
148. Mrs P. Walsh
149. Mr A. Wilson
150. Mr W. McGree
151. Mrs McDermott
152. Mrs Peterson
153. Mrs Brazil
154. Mrs R. Biggar
155. Mr W. Sweeney
156. Mrs Miles
157. Mrs E. Mallcoth  [Mallcott]
158. Mrs J. Hester
159. Mrs W. Mahoney
160. Mrs Sauer
161. Mr McKenzie
162. Mr Whiteman
163. Mr Dug Amis  [Doug Amis]
164. Mr R. Turtin  [Turton]
165. Mr Don Johnson
166. Mr K. Hobson
167. Mr A Geipels, Dalmore  [maybe Goepel or Giebels]
168. Mr E. Rossetti
169. Mr Trayford
170. Mrs R. Schmutter
171. Mr Terry O'Brien
172. Mrs J. Morden
173. Mrs E. Johnson
174. Mr Johnson
175. Mr A.L. Green
176. Mr Graham
177. Mrs Rodbur
178. Mrs Scott
179. Mrs Ray Mills
180. Mrs Nicholson
181. Mrs Brooke  Snr
182. Mrs F. Brooke
183. Miss A. Gibbons
184. Mrs A. Colvin
185. Mrs Barnes
186. Mr Vito Cassete  [Caserta]
187. Mr Crawford 
188. Mrs Ruston
189. Mrs Neale
190. Mr Watson
191. Mrs Hansen
192. Mr Dick Florance
193. Mr G. De Bama  [Giordano De Bona]
194. Mrs Henry
195. Mr Schmutter
196. Gregarie Agasta  [Gregorio Agosta]
197. Mr Doherty
198. Miss Huntingford
199. Miss M. McFarlane
200. Mrs Humphries
201. Mrs Levey
202. Mr McKenzie
203. Mrs Jack Bartlett
204. Dr. A.B. Hewitt
205. Mr Paul Craemeria [Crameri]
206. Miss C. Ferguson
207. Mrs English
208. Mrs Gray
209. Mrs L. Child
210. Mrs Maddern
211. Mrs M. C. Moore
212. Mrs C. Courtney
213. Mr Minoghue  [Minogue]
214. Miss N. Monk
215. Mr R. Livingston
216. Mr M. Aidone
217. Mr Hallett
218. Mrs W. Benston
219. Miss Arnold
220. Mr Taylor / Dentist
221. Mrs Pitten
222. Mr F. Hodgson
223. Mrs Nelson
224. Mr G. Milner
225. Mrs Shaw
226. Mrs Turton
227. Miss Sweeney
228. Mr Levey
229. Mrs S. Levey
230. Mr L. Cochrane
231. Miss Joan Wadsley
232. Mrs W. Marshall
233. Mr Scott
234. Mr A. Child
235. Mr Cahill
236. Mrs W. Taylor
237. Mrs Biglan
238. Mrs Bethune Snr
239. Mrs A. Bethune
240. Mrs J. Spencer
241. Mr Ford
242. Miss M. Barnes
243. Mrs Loveday Snr
244. Mrs R. Gray
245. Miss M. Hamilton
246. Mrs A. J. Gilchrist
247. Mr Cougle
248. Mrs C. Gleeson
249. Mr H. J. Kirwin
250. Mr E. Williams
251. Mrs W. Gilchrist
252. Miss A. Gilchrist
253. Mrs T. Burton
254. Mrs Gane
255. Michel Riggall
256. Mrs Len Wilson
257. Mrs Graydon
258. Mrs Fred Shaw
259. Miss Hallett
260. Miss J.G. Duff
261. Miss Darlington

261 members @ 2/- =  £26: 2: 0.

Friday, January 13, 2023

Motoring trip around the Koo Wee Rup Swamp in 1929

Take a motoring  trip around the Koo Wee Rup Swamp in 1929. From The Herald, July 18, 1929, see here

Herald Tourist Bureau
Circuit of Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp
Day Outing of many attractions
(By our Special Motor Writer)

Though most tourists to Lang Lang and San Remo now travel by way of Pakenham and Koo-wee-rup on splendidly surfaced roads, much more attractive country is seen when the route followed is the old though fairly rough road from Dandenong to Lang Lang by way of Cranbourne and Tooradin.

The two roads combined provide an excellent triangular route for a one-day outing, and, though two or three short stretches of road in the hills near Cranbourne will be greasy after rain, the full route is passable in all weathers, and will be improved each week by the reconstruction now in progress.

Dandenong, 19. 6 miles from Melbourne, by the Prince's Highway, is the starting point for the tour. Setting the speedometer at zero at the Shire Hall, the town baths are passed first on the left, then the road to Frankston on the right, and at 1.0 mile speedometer reading turn right from the Prince's Highway, where a finger post directs to Cranbourne. 

Watch the level crossing at 1.1. then follow the good asphalt road. Unfortunately it does not last for long. At 2.3 cross the Eumemmering Creek, where new irrigation works are being finalised; another creek bridge at 2.5, pass a road on the left at 3.1, and the main road becomes an earth formation at 3.2.

THROUGH BELTS OF BUSH
To here the country traversed is fairly flat and devoted mainly to grazing. Go left at the fork at 3.9, where a sign shows right to Lyndhurst and rolling country is entered crossed by belts of bush.Use care at 6.8. where the clay surface is tricky, if wet, and again on more clay at 7.3. Beyond the cross roads at 7.5 very fine pastoral country is entered, a feature being the splendid plantations of trees, which form windbreaks to the different holdings.

 The road is pot-holed for a fairly long distance from here, but the side tracks will be found good. Another cross road is passed at 8.7, then Cranbourne railway station on the right. Cross the rail at 8.8, then follow the very pot-holed road through Cranbourne (two hotels) to the junction with the Clyde-Frankston road at 9.7. Keep straight on at the junction, the road entering scrub and bracken-covered country, while the first view of the distant Strezlecki ranges is obtained directly ahead.

MOUNTAIN TEA-TREE
Some sand pits are passed on the left, then a narrow gauge rail crossed, at 10.7, in a belt of the mountain tea-tree. At 11.3 there is a road on the right to Hastings, followed by a short patch of slippery road, then some new road construction works, where the road is unfinished and slippery. This going ends at 12.9 and at 13.1 a metal road begins, though in places the side tracks will be found more comfortable.

Five-Ways Junction is reached at 13.7, and at 13.9 (the fifth road) go half left, a finger post directing ahead to Devon Meadows and Cannons Creek. The road continues from there in fairly good condition, through gums and ti-tree, to the creek at 15.9, then through bracken country to an irrigtion bridge at 16.8. Pass the former Sherwood Hotel at 17.0. and fairly open farming country will be entered.

VIEW OF THE RANGES
Watch the turn over the creek at 18.0, and at 18.4 a splendid view will be obtained on the left of the Gippsland Ranges, snow-capped at this season. At 18. 6 the first head-water of Western Port is skirted, Tooradin P.O. is passed at 18. 7, then Tooradin Hotel, where a road runs left to the station, while a long railed bridge leads ahead over a picturesque inlet. Generally this is filled with a fleet of fishing craft and private yachts, and, eliminating the mangroves, has somewhat the appearance of a Norfolk Broad estuary.

The road enters particularly dense scrub at 19.5 - mainly Captain Cook ti-tree, though there are frequent growths of native cherry and white-blossomed shrubs. At 21.0 keep on where a road runs left to Dalmore. and thereafter keep Western Port on the right, the road running across flats, grown with mangrove and pierced at intervals with by creeks and salt water Inlets. These bridges are at 21.6. 22.1 (watch). 22.2, 22.4. 23.3, 23.4. and the road between them is specially well surfaced. This section of very flat country makes the distant ranges very noticeable, and they form a blue horizon on three sides.

DONKEYS GRAZING
At 24.0 keep on at the junction (left to Koo-Wee-Rup), and pass through splendid grazing country, here an occasional donkey may be seen grazing contentedly in a herd of cattle, or with lamb-companioned sheep.

 At 25.6 a splendid road comes in on the left from Pakenham. This is the natural turning point for the route described, but for those who desire to see it there exists, three miles further on, and after passing a bridge under construction and crossing the Yalock Creek, probably the finest hawthorn hedge in the State. It is in splendid trim; now it is bearing a profuse growth of scarlet haws, and is three miles long. It ends in kangaroo wattle just before Lang Lang, where a cross road leads left to Drouin and right to Nyora by the South Gippsland Road, or to San Remo, Wonthaggi and Corinella.

Returning to 25.6 turn into the road to Pakenham. Right to the Prince's Highway this will be found to be excellently surfaced in all weathers. It leads first to a junction, at 26.8, where turn sharp right, then cross the rails at 26.9. turning sharp left, without entering Koo-Wee-Rup, where a finger post shows ahead to Bayles, Bunyip and Warragul and left to Pakenham.

MANY BRIDGES
There is a road on the right at 27.1, then a bridge at 27.5, followed immediately by a road on the right, a second bridge, then a cross road, and finally a big double bridge. Again, at 27.7 there is a road left, then another bridge, and a finger post to Pakenham, Pass the cross roads at 28.7 and another cross road at 30.8. To here the road skirts the Koo-Wee-Rup swamp, and is bordered by an earth works, with occasional private bridges as entrances to farms.

At 31.8 passed a road on the right, turn left over bridge, then turn right, leaving another road on the left. At 32.9 use caution in making the fairly sharp left turn, for a big unprotected ditch borders the road ahead. Pass a cross roads next and at the junction, at 33.9, turn left, pass Pakenham station, then cross the railway line and Pakenham East post office will be reached at 36.6.

Continuing on, Pakenham Junction will be reached at 37.2. where first keep on, then turn half left into the Prince's Highway. From there the road is splendid back to Dandenong (reached in 16.8 miles, or 54.0 miles total speedometer reading.

Progressive readings for this section are: — Officer (41.2), Beaconfield and Cardinia Creek (42), Berwick (45.5), Narre Warren (47.9) and Eumemmering Creek (52.3).