What happened in Koo Wee Rup in 1913

This is a look at what happened in Koo Wee Rup in 1913. In retrospect, 1913 was the last normal year for many years for Australians as 1914 was the start of the Great War. After that, for the next four years, communities like Koo Wee Rup devoted most of their time and energy to fundraising and activities to support the war effort. The community also had to deal with their young men going away to fight and then the sadness when they were killed or injured. So here’s a look at 1913 - a year of optimism and community spirit.

In March, the Presbyterian Church was lined with Wunderlich metal plates, a very modern choice of building material. St Georges Anglican Church held their first ‘Fruit and Flower’ Show on April 28 at the Hall. The event was enthusiastically supported by the public and the range of exhibits was of good quality. The exhibits encompassed 271 categories of fruit and vegetables. The evening finished with a concert and over £20 was raised for the Church funds. (Lang Guardian March 12 1913 and April 30 1913)

Lang Lang Guardian March 12, 1913

On May 3, the local football started with five teams - Koo Wee Rup, Yannathan, Lang Lang, Yallock and Tooradin. (Lang Lang Guardian May 7, 1913)

Also in May, a skeleton was found in a gravel pit just outside the town. It was believed to be that of an Aboriginal. The police were called and the skeleton was sent to the Coroner’s Office. There was no report to what happened to the skeleton after that. (Lang Lang Guardian May 21, 1913)

The Argus of June 16 reports that the long promised dredge has arrived at the Lang Lang River. This was the Lubecker Steam bucket Dredge, imported by Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, from Germany at the total cost of £4,716. After it worked on the Lang Lang River it was moved to the Swamp and worked on the Main Drain, Cardinia Creek and the Yallock outfall drain. All that remains of this grand machine is a set of wheels on display at the Swamp lookout tower, on the South Gippsland Highway.  It was fortunate that the dredge arrived when it did, because once war was declared in August 1914, it would have been impossible to import German machinery.

Also in June, skating was held at the Hall to raise money to line the walls and to install an ‘up to date’ acetylene light plant. The report is below.

Lang Lang Guardian June 25 1913

In September, £900 worth of improvements was carried out at the Koo Wee Rup Railway station including improving the level crossing and the railway yards. (Lang Lang Guardian September 17, 1913)

In October, Archbishop Mannix carried out confirmations at the Catholic Churches at Koo Wee Rup and Lang Lang. (The Advocate, November 1 1913) The same month, a local Cricket Association was formed which consisted of teams from Koo Wee Rup, Modella, Lang Lang, Tooradin, Yallock and Yannathan. The first match was played November 1, 1913.  (Lang Lang Guardian  October 29, 1913)

There were reports in various papers of floods in November -  the Main Drain overflowed at the bridges, 2,000 aces of potatoes were inundated and  the school ground at Five Mile School was under water amongst other damage. Carlo Catani visited the area and was reported as saying that the reports of damage had been greatly exaggerated. (Read more about this, here) So as we have seen over recent years there was a gap between the reality of the floods and the rhetoric of the government (or Melbourne Water) – so no change there.

On December 10, Swamp pioneer, Agnes Hudson passed away, aged 86. Agnes was born in Scotland and came to Victoria with her first husband, Alexander Mickle. They settled at the Yallock Station. In 1861, Alexander died and she was left a widow with two young children and was eight months pregnant with their third child.  She later married Andrew Hudson and had two more children. After Andrew died in 1888 she moved into The Grange, in Koo Wee Rup. This house, off Sybella Avenue, still remains. (Mrs Hudson's obituary is in the Lang Lang Guardian December 17, 1913)

Finally, my favourite report for 1913 is this one - a cheese maker from Koo Wee Rup wrote to the Commonwealth Offices in London seeking their help to find a wife. His ‘golden girl’ had to be a ‘tall, fair lump of a Protestant’. A not very romantic description and sadly, I don’t know whether he turned out to be lucky in love.  It was in the Adelaide Mail, from October 18 1913

Adelaide Mail October 18, 1913

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59639808

What happened in Garfield in 1913

This is a look at what happened in Garfield in 1913, 100 years ago. These references are from various newspapers available on Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper.

On January 16 1913, the South Bourke and Mornington Journal (SBMJ) carried a report of a recent Shire of Berwick Council meeting where applications were presented from a Mrs C. Louch of Garfield and a Miss M. Bell of Bunyip to manufacture ice cream. In the 1914 Electoral Roll, Catherine Louch was listed as the Newsagent at Garfield. Margaret Bell of Bunyip is listed as a 'Confectioner'.  Commercial production of ice cream was relatively new in Australia and ice cream had only just become popular.  Apparently, originally custard was used in the ice cream but this was revolutionised by Fred Peters, an American, who had arrived in Sydney in 1908 with his mother's ice cream recipe which used only pure dairy products. It took Peters four year to accumulate enough money to go into the ice cream business and when he did in 1912 the demand for his 'American' style ice cream was amazing. Peters Ice Cream is now part of Nestles.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal  January 16, 1913

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66182332

I don't know how successful the new ice cream making ventures of Catherine and Margaret were, however in the 1919 Electoral roll Catherine is still listed as the Newsagent, but in the 1924 Electoral roll there is a Catherine Louch listed in the St Kilda area and her occupation is listed a 'Confectioner', so it seems likely that her career started in Garfield. I don't have any more information about Margaret.

Also in the SBMJ of February 20, Thomas O’Donohue complained to the Council about the smoke nuisance, which had been going on for two years, from Henry Hourigan’s shoeing forge which adjoined his properties. Mr Hourigan was told that he must erect a chimney otherwise proceedings would be taken against him.

On May 22, the SBMJ reported on another Berwick Shire Council meeting where the Clerk of Works recounted that a traction engine had destroyed the road from Hill’s to the Garfield Road bridge and a considerable quantity of maintenance sand will have to be put on, otherwise the road will be impassable before the end of winter. One hundred years later people are still concerned about the state of roads, so no change there.

In the Sunday Times, a Perth newspaper, on July 6 under the headline A Mother’s Appeal there was an enquiry from Garfield for a young man named Fitzgerald who is supposed to have landed in W.A early in April and gone to the country sleeper cutting. His mother was dangerously ill and anxious to hear from him. He was described as ‘5ft 11in high, dark complexion, not very stout’. 

Sunday Times (Perth) July 6, 1913

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57749085

In another Berwick Shire Council report from the SBMJ of July 24, a letter had arrived from William Campbell, the grocer, enclosing a petition asking that a polling booth be established at Garfield. The Council’s rather unhelpful response was that this was not thought to be desirable but that Pakenham South is more suitable.

In the SBMJ of December 17, it was reported that a money order office has been established in connection with the Post Office at Garfield.  Finally on December 27, Thomas O’Donohue was back in the news again as The Argus reported on December 27 that two brick shops owned by him were destroyed by fire. The shops were occupied by a Mr Deas who was a draper.  They were totally destroyed; however the stock was insured for £400 and the buildings for £500.

100 years ago this week - St Thomas' Horticultural Show

A three day horticultural show was held at St Thomas' Church of England in Bunyip, 100 years ago this week in December 1913. It raised fifty five pounds which went  towards building the Parsonage. The church was opened on December 28, 1902 and the Parsonage opened in June 1915.

Bunyip Horticultural Show

The Argus December 22 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7260099

HORTICULTURAL SHOWS - BUNYIP

The three-days' show in the Bunyip Hall, held last week in aid of St. Thomas's Church of England, was such a pronounced success that the promoters intend to make it an annual fixture. The exhibition of  flowers, fruit, vegetables, &c was excellent. Mr. W.S. Keast, M. L. A., opened the show. In cut flowers, Mrs B.L. A'Beckett was the chief prize-winner, taking eight firsts, including that for champion carnation, and also for collection of flowers. H.C. Nelson took six firsts, and other prize winners were the Rev. A.L. Kent, Mr W. G. Kraft and Masters A. Burns and Cecil Corrigan. Mrs A'Beckett was also chief prizetaker for roses, but J.A. Holgate carried off the award for champion bloom. H.C. Nelson also won a number of prizes. Miss Allen won for best arranged basket of flowers, three ladies' sprays and three gent's buttonholes; whilst Miss P. Holland was first for collection of wild flowers. In the cookery section, a prize given for best plain cake made by a married man was won by Mr. W. Walker. Captain A'Beckett being second. Mr A. Boyle won the prize for bachelor's cake, the Rev. A. Banks being second. The show resulted in a clear profit of about £55 towards the new parsonage.

Amongst the prize winners was Horace Nelson, listed in the Electoral Roll as a farmer from Bunyip; William Kraft, who with his wife Sarah, ran the Gippsland Hotel in Bunyip. Their son, William, later became the manager of the Drouin butter factory.  Miss Allen who won a number of prizes doesn't have a first name or initial listed, so I don't know who she was; Miss P. Holland won the prize for wild flowers, but she wasn't in the Electoral Roll in 1914. In the cookery section, Mr William Walker won the best plain cake made by a married man. He is listed in the Electoral Roll as a hairdresser of Bunyip. Captain Arthur A'Beckett, came second in this category - he was the husband of the prize winning Beatrice. Mr A. Boyle won the prize for the batchelor's cake. There is a Frederick and Elizabeth Boyle listed in the Electoral Rolls (Frederick is listed as carpenter) so perhaps they are the parents of Mr A. Boyle and the lad, Master A. Boyle who won prizes. 

100 years ago this week - Iona State School, No. 3201.

This comes from The Argus of October 22,1913, 100 years ago this week.

The Argus, October 22, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7228988

The Iona State School was located on the corner of Thirteen Mile Road and Bunyip River Road at Vervale. It commenced in 1894 and was originally known as Koo-Wee-Rup North; in 1899 it changed its name to Bunyip South and then in 1905 to Iona. When the school opened on July 9, 1894 it had 83 pupils and the Head Teacher was Arthur Jamieson. By 1895, it had grown to 120 pupils and the new Head Teacher Joseph Lyons arrived in the April of that year. He had three assistants – Mr Colquhoun, Miss Alston and Mrs Lyons. Joseph Lyons remained at the school until 1903. The Teachers Residence was built in 1908; previous to this the Head Teacher had to live in Garfield.  The original building burnt down on July 6, 1913.  The new building opened on April 28, 1914 with 164 pupils. In 1942, electricity was supplied to the school and the telephone was connected in 1964.

Celebrations took place in 1964 to mark the 50th anniversary of the new building with between 500 and 600 people attending. Another celebration took place in 1989 to mark the 75th anniversary the 1914 building. Sadly, the school community could not celebrate one hundred years of education as the school was closed on December 17, 1993, seven months short of its centenary. The building is now at Nar Nar Goon and used as a Scout Hall.

Sources: On the edge of the swamp: a history of the Iona Primary School No. 3201 1894-1994 by Denise M. Nest ( Iona Primary School Back-To-Committee, 1994)
Vision and Realisation : a centenary history of State Education in Victoria edited by L.J. Blake (Education Department of Victoria, 1973)

100 years ago this week - Wife wanted

This was in a couple of newspapers, 100 years ago this week in October 1913.

I am not sure if the story is true, or if the lovelorn cheesemaker found himself a tall, fair lump of  a Protestant for a wife,  but either way, it's a great story!

The Adelaide Mail October 18, 1913 page 5.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59639808

100 years ago this week - Bunyip Court case

The following appeared in The Argus of September 16, 1913 (see here)  - 100 years ago.
Two farmers of Iona, named Victor Little and Thomas McGuire, were charged at the Bunyip Court on Wednesday, at the instance of Constable Wagner, with slaughtering vealers without licenses. The evidence showed that both defendants had slaughtered poddies and vealers on their farms, and Mr B. J. Dann, who appeared for both defendants, admitted the offences, which he contended had been done
in ignorance of the law. Little was fined 1/ per head for 21 head, and McGuire 1/ for nine head, with 11/10 costs each. Sergeant Bowden, who conducted the prosecution, explained that the proceedings were lodged to he a warning to those who were illegally trafficking in cattle, although no thing of that nature could be proved against defendants.

Case against Victor Little and Thomas McGuire

The Argus, September 16, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7232973

Victor Little (1892-1939) was the fourth of five children of James Little and Hannah Hughes. James had land at Iona and Little Road was named after the family. Victor and his wife Mareia lived at Iona and his occupation on the Electoral Roll is listed as a Dealer. They are both buried at the Bunyip Cemetery.

There is a Thomas McGuire listed in the Electoral rolls of 1909 at Bunyip South, occupation is farmer. Margaret McGuire is listed at same address. I presume that they are the same couple buried at the Bunyip Cemetery - Thomas, died 1933, aged 82 and Margaret (nee Fitzsimmons) died 1921, aged 67. They have three sons buried at Bunyip as well, Thomas John, died 1922 aged 33; William Patrick, died 1928, aged 38 and Peter James died 1952, aged 58. 

A report from April 1915 of a judgement in a similar case referenced this Little/McGuire case, read about it here. 

100 years ago this week - an account of two acccidents near Pakenham

An account of two dray accidents appeared in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal, 100 years ago this week, in May 1913.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal May 8, 1913. Page 5.

100 years ago this week - Food production

One hundred years ago, this week in March 1913, this appeared in the West Gippsland Gazette, and is a reminder of what a rich area this once was for food production.

West Gippsland Gazette   Tuesday 4 March 1913, page 7

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

At Iona, a Creamery run by the Fresh Food and Frozen Storage Company, was opened in 1897 and by 1900 it had 50 suppliers. The Creamery operated until around 1907. In 1906 Drouin Co-Operative Butter Factory established a factory in Iona on the corner of Little Road and the Main Drain. It closed in October 1928 and was demolished in 1930. Another butter factory, operated by Holdenson and Neilson, operated in Iona from 1912 and was taken over by the Drouin Co-Operative Butter Factory in April 1921. If you have been to Iona recently, it is hard to believe that it ever sustained two butter factories.  Cora Lynn also had a cheese factory, click here to find out more about it.

This is a photo of my grandparents (Joe and Eva Rouse) farm at Cora Lynn, taken in 1928. It was typical of the many small farms on the Swamp.

100 years ago this week - the Bunyip

This interesting account of  a Bunyip appeared in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal, 100 years ago, in February 1913.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal Thursday 20 February 1913, page 2.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

100 years ago this week - the state of the drains

This was in the The Argus, 100 years ago this week, in February 1913. 100 years on, local residents are still concerned about the state of the drains, so no change there.  It's a bit hard to read, so I have copied the text, below.

The Argus February 5,  1913 page 11

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

Sir, It is about two years since the big flood on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp and the Government promised to clear out the main canal and remove the sand and silt which had accumulated in it and so prevent it from overflowing again. But nothing has been done and if heavy rains fall there will be a recurrence of the flood and much valuable produce will be destroyed. It is scandalous that the Government, after spending so money in reclaiming this rich country, should allow the canal to silt up, where for a small outlay, it could be kept clear. The cost of this should be borne by the settlers at so much per acre. They would gladly pay to make themselves safe from floods. I hope that Mr Watt will keep his promise over this matter and instruct the Public Woks Department to proceed with the work before the coming winter. 

Yours etc    K.W.R  Feb 4

Mr Watt was William Alexander Watt, Premier of Victoria from May 18 1912 to December 9 1913 and December 22 1913 to June 18, 1914.

100 years ago this week - Ice Cream manufacturers

This is from a report, in the South Bourke and |Mornington Journal, 100 years ago this week,  of  the Berwick Shire Council Meeting held on Saturday, January 11 1913 and refers to applications to make Ice Cream at Garfield and Bunyip.

South Bourke and Mornington Journal January 16, 1913 page 5.

From Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

In the 1914  Electoral Roll, Catherine Louch was listed as the Newsagent at Garfield. Margaret Bell of Bunyip is listed as a 'Confectioner'.  Commercial production of ice cream was relatively new in Australia. According to the book Cream of the Country: a history of Victorian dairying by Norman Godbold (Dairy Industry Association of Australia, 1989) ice cream became popular around 1910 and there were many manufacturers. They originally used custard in the ice cream but this was revoluntionised by Fred Peters, an American, who had arrived in Sydney in 1908 with his mother's ice cream recipe which used only pure dairy products. It took Peters four year to accumulate enough money to go into the ice cream business  and when he did in 1912 the demand for his 'American' style ice cream was amazing. Peters Ice Cream is now part of Nestles.

I don't know how successful the new ice cream making ventures of Catherine and Margaret were, however in the 1919 Electoral roll Catherine is still listed as the Newsagent, but in the 1924 Electoral roll there is a Catherine Louch listed in the St Kilda area and her occupation is listed a 'Confectioner', so it seems likely that her career started in Garfield. You can read more about Margaret here.