Bayles honours Roland Boxshall and Donald McDonald

In September 1943 two men from the local area who joined the services were honored by Bayles residents at the monthly euchre and dance conducted by the Red Cross. The two men were Don McDonald who joined the  Air Force and Rowley Boxshall, who joined the Navy (1).

Presentation to Don and Rowley

Dandenong Journal, September 23, 1942 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215710514

The Dandenong Journal reported on the event - Cr. L.J. Cochrane (2) on behalf  of residents, presented them with shaving outfits and Shire certificates (3). On behalf of Cora Lynn residents, Cr. D. Kinsella also presented Don McDonald with a fountain pen. Both lads responded and were given an ovation. Clark's Harmony orchestra supplied the dance music and the Bayles Red Cross ladies served a bountiful supper (4).

Establishment of the Bayles Red Cross

Koo Wee Rup Sun, June 27, 1940, p.4.

Before we look at the war service of the two men, we will have a look at the Bayles Red Cross group. The group was established on June 24,  1940 and the inaugural office bearers were President Mrs N. Maughan; vice presidents Mesdames E. Kane and L. Egan; secretary Mrs W. G. Taylor; treasurer Mrs K. Cole (5). These women are listed, as was usual in those day, under their husband's names but this is who they are (6) -

Mrs N. Maughan - Eleanor Eileen (nee Hogg) the wife of Norman Flett Maughan, listed in the 1942 Electoral Roll as a farmer from Bayles.

Mrs E. Kane - Holly (nee Harker), the wife of Edward Kane, labourer of Bayles.

Mrs L. Egan - Mary Adele (nee Maria Adela Du Frocq), the wife of Charlie Leslie Egan, labourer of Bayles.

Mrs W. G. Taylor - Eva Anne (nee Johnson), wife of William George Taylor, a baker, of Bayles.

Mrs K. Cole - Joyce Claudine (nee Hoath), wife of Keith Cole, a clerk, of Bayles.

It was a strong branch and in 1945 they had ninety members (7) which is amazing for a small town, I will write a history of the branch in the future.

Roland Arthur Boxshall (1920-1980)
Rowley Boxshall or Roland Arthur Boxshall to give him his full name was born on July 26, 1920, the son of Henry John and Violet (nee Izzard) Boxshall of Yallock. Henry was a local historian, you can read about him here.

Roland enlisted on June 3, 1941 in the Army (SN V190688);  his occupation was listed as a Casein maker, no doubt employed at the Bayles Milk factory. He was discharged from Army and joined the Navy as a stoker on September 7, 1942. (SN W2525). He was demobilised on March 28, 1946.  Roland married Pamela June Chapman in 1957, and they lived on Finck Road, in  Bayles (8). 

Roland becomes engaged to Pamela

Koo Wee Rup Sun, April 20, 1955, p. 4.

They were keen members of the Warragul & District Kennel & Obedience Club and as noted in their newsletter, their Roly Boxshall Memorial Owner Bred & Handled Sweepstakes is held in memory of Roly, who was our Club’s President from 1971 until his passing in 1980. Roly and his wife Pam were conformation judges, wonderful people, and always willing to help the Club. (9)

Roland died in Koo Wee Rup on August 9, 1980, at the age of 60.  His ashes are interred at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.(10) 

Donald Alexander McDonald (1920

Donald McDonald

National Archives of Australia RAAF Officers Personnel files, 1921-1948

Donald Alexander McDonald (Service Number 410364) was born on October 7, 1920. Don, who was a telephonist with the P.M.G., enlisted in the Air Force on December 6, 1941. (11)  He was the the son of John James and Mabel (nee Wilkinson) McDonald of Scanlons Drain Road in Cora Lynn (right next door to Bayles). (12)

Don was a pilot and his service file tells us about his flight experience. Don had 415 hours of training in various aircraft in both Australia and overseas including an Oxford, Whitley V, and Halifax II and V. After his training he did 27 hours of 'Non-operational flying i.e Instructional.' (13)

Now we come to his Operational Flying details - his first tour commenced January 28, 1944 and ended August 30, 1944. He was located at the RAF base at Burn, in Yorkshire and undertook 40 sorties and 180 hours of flying, nearly all as 1st pilot. His second tour, in April/May 1945 based at the RAF base at Driffield in Yorkshire, involved one sortie and four hours of flying. All the Operational flying was in Halifax Bombers. (14) 

Don was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on November 17, 1944 - his citation read - Pilot Officer McDonald has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty. (15)

The article about Don McDonald being awarded the D.F.C. Alister Nicholson, whom Don caught up with in London was serving with the Canadian Air Force (16).

Dandenong Journal, November 29, 1944 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/214168113

Don was discharged from the Air Force on December 6, 1945. He married Flora May Barr, of Bayles on October 26, 1946. As noted in the Electoral rolls, Donald continued for a time in his career with the P. M.G., as in 1949 he was the Postmaster at Fawkner; but by 1954 Don was a grocer at Hampton and in 1968 a greengrocer in the  Moorabbin area. (17)

Donald marries Flora Barr

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 20, 1946, p. 1

In 2015, Don along with four other Australians was awarded the Legion of Honour. This following account is from the (now defunct) website Bleu, Blanc, Rouge - 
Wednesday, the 25th of February, four Australians veterans of the Second World War became Knight of the Legion of Honor, at the French Honorary Consulate of Melbourne. His Excellency Mr. Christophe Lecourtier, Ambassador of France, thanked the courage and the sense of sacrifice of Ronald Cleaver, James Coulter, Dennis Kelly, Donald McDonald, with a special thought for Keith Stevens who unfortunately couldn’t be there due to illness, in a heart-felt and moving speech, expressing the gratitude of the French Republic for these war times heroes. Then, the ambassador and French Air Chief Marshal Denis Mercier, bestowed the Legion of Honor medal upon the lapels of the Veterans, in presence of their family and friends. The media was also present in force, showing the importance that the Australian community attaches to their history. (18)

Donald died on October 17, 2021 at the age of 101 years. (19)

Footnotes:
(1) Dandenong Journal, September 23, 1942, see here
(2) Cr Les Cochrane, M.L.A., read about him here.
(3) Shire Certificates, read about them here.
(4) Dandenong Journal, September 23, 1942, see here.
(5) Koo Wee Rup Sun, June 27, 1940, p.4; and another report here - The Argus, June 26, 1940, see here.
(6) Family information about the Red Cross women comes from the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(7) Dandenong Journal, July 18, 1945, see here.
(8) Rowley's Citizen Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 (Army file) at the National Archives of Australia, see here; Service Cards for Petty Officers and Men, 1911-1970 (Navy file) at the National Archives of Australia, see here; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(9) Warragul & District Kennel & Obedience Club, March 2026 newsletter, see here.

(10) Death Certificate; Springvale Cemetery records, see here;

(11) National Archives of Australia RAAF Officers Personnel files, 1921-1948, see here.

(12) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(13) National Archives of Australia RAAF Officers Personnel files, 1921-1948, see here.

(14) National Archives of Australia RAAF Officers Personnel files, 1921-1948, see here.

(15) National Archives of Australia RAAF Officers Personnel files, 1921-1948, see here.

(16) Dandenong Journal, April 21, 1943, see here. 

(17) Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 20, 1946, p. 1; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(18) The website Bleu, Blanc, Rouge was operative in 2021 when I accessed this information. This was the URL  https://www.bbrvic.com/en/diplomatic-news/a-moving-ceremony-of-the-award-of-the-legion-of-honour/

(19) https://www.mytributes.com.au/notice/death-notices/mcdonald-donald-alexander/5800697/

This is an updated version of a posy which I originally wrote for my work blog - Casey Cardinia Remembers: Our War Years.

David and Sarah Ann Cole of Bayles

The Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society receives queries on a regular basis and a recent one was from a chap from Adelaide, who visited our Museum, wanting information about his great-grandparents, Robert and Sarah Cole, and in my research I came across a connection to the Swamp with a Footscray identity, Frank Shillabeer - builder, Councillor and race horse owner.

We will start with David and Sarah Cole -   
David Cole married Sarah Ann Shorthouse in February 1877 in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire. They were both 27 years of age and his occupation was a Nurseryman. They arrived in Melbourne on the Garonne in September 1883 with their four daughters - Bertha Kathleen aged 5; Edith Cameron, aged 3; Margaret Shorthouse, aged 2 and baby Catherine. After their arrival they had another daughter, Victoria Elizabeth, who was born in Brighton and died at the age of 3 months and a son David Cameron Cole in 1890, also born in Brighton. (1) At some time they moved to Adelaide and their children got married - Edith had married William Drury in 1906 in Melbourne and lived in Footscray; Margaret married Professor Arthur Davis of Mackenzie College, Sao Paulo, Brazil in Sao Paulo in 1909. Margaret was a Missionary in Brazil and the couple later lived in the state of New York. It would be interesting to know how they met. Margaret's marriage announcement in the Adelaide Evening Journal noted she was the daughter of David Cole of North Adelaide. Catherine married John Schiller in Adelaide in 1907 and David, the only son married Myrtle Jackson in Adelaide in 1913. (2)  David and Myrtle were the grandparents of our Museum visitor from Adelaide. 

From 1910,  David and Sarah lived on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, on land owned by Frank Shillabeer, more of whom later.  The Cranbourne Shire Rate books of 1904/1905 show that Frank purchased 110 acres, Allotment 14, Section T, Parish of Koo Wee Rup and the next year, the adjoining Allotment 13, of 81 acres. I don't believe Frank ever lived on the property which was on the road between Cora Lynn and Bayles (apparently this road is called the Tynong-Bayles Road) and the property adjoins Ropers Lane on the Bayles side. 

The location of the Shillabeer property, marked with red stars.

Koo-Wee-Rup, County of Mornington drawn and reproduced at the Dept. of Lands and Survey, Melbourne, 1939. 

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104366

The Rate books list Walter Fisher as the tenant from 1906, until 1910/1911 when David Cole took over. I don't know what type of farming David undertook on the property it may have been grazing or possibly market gardening. In 1920 he wrote a letter to the Weekly Times which outlined his  horticultural experience -

David Cole (Cora Lynn) writes:- The experiments mentioned in the issue of June are interesting, and will help people to better understand plant life. In my 50 years' experience of horticulture and agriculture, I have been surprised how few understand plant life and how to work the different types of soil to get the best results, with healthy crops. 

Electrification of seeds to sprout three days earlier is of no value. You can get the same results if you soak seeds in manure water made from fresh stable droppings. Nature's way of electrifying soils to provide plant food is simply good tillage. We know the benefit of simple fallow; but how much more can we do by ploughing that fallow three or four times in the season. The soil picks up nitrogen, which, sweetened by sun and atmosphere, is electrified. Farmers usually plough only a few inches deep. If you tell them to plough deep, they refuse, saying "If I turn up all that sour subsoil it will grow nothing." 

That is true if they sow on the sour soil, but the object is to make the sour subsoil as good as the surface soil. The next deep ploughing brings the old soil to the surface again. Such a system will double the crop. 

It is a true saying that one extra ploughing is as good as a big dressing of manure; but if farmers would put a foundation into a portion of their land every year by ploughing it about four times in a season, well working with harrows, and ploughing deeper each time (to one foot) there will be a permanent improvement, and after that time land will need only ordinary ploughing for some years. Soil treated in this way will increase the yield from 10 bushels to 40 bushels an acre. A deep sweet soil, with more plant food, will stand drought, as well as an extra wet season, because there is better drainage for water to get away. The tender rootlets will not rot, and there will be no rust. My opinion is that such diseases occur because the tender rootlets rot and check circulation. The rust develops in this unconverted sap. How did the old time English farmers average from 40 to 70 bushels of wheat an acre on land no better than ours? Simply by good cultivation. Their compost or manure heaps (hundreds of loads) were turned over in winter three or four times, so doubling its value. Plant food when so sweetened is electrified by the atmosphere. In 1868 I saw crops of 70 bushels an acre in Essex, and a few years after the same land was unlettable at 7/ an acre and unsalable at £7 an acre. There was a different class of farmer.  (3)  

Not only was David Cole an experienced farmer but he was a regular race goer and in 1919 the Koo Wee Rup Sun could report that he had attended 36 Melbourne Cup meetings

Mr Cole and the Melbourne Cup.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 19, 1919, p. 1

It was while he was at Cora Lynn that his wife Sarah died on February 9, 1919. (4)  She is buried at the Bunyip Cemetery. 

Sarah Cole's obituary

Bunyip and Garfield Express, February 14, 1919, p.2. 

Ropers Lane, which adjoined the farm, was the boundary of the Shire of Cranbourne and the Shire of Berwick, and this seemed to cause some confusion with the address. The property address was initially  Koo Wee Rup and then Cora Lynn. In the 1921/1922 Rate books David Cole's  address changed from Cora Lynn to became Bayles. Bayles was a station on the Strzelecki Railway line, the first stop out of Koo Wee Rup, and the line officially opened in June 1922. Bayles did not exist before the railway line the area had previously been known as Yallock; however it soon became known as Bayles, due to the name of the station. (5)

David Cole died July 17, 1934 (6) and the Koo Wee Rup Sun had the following short reference to his death. He is buried with Sarah at the Bunyip Cemetery.

David Cole's death

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 26, 1934 p. 1

David's death ended the Cole family connection to the land on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, however Frank Shillabeer still owned the land and John Fechner, leased the land for several years. Frank sold the land in September 1949 to Richard Pirrie, of 136 Exhibition Street, Melbourne for £6,500. (7)

We will now look at Frank Shillabeer, Frank was born in Totnes in Devonshire, and was baptised on February 24, 1867. He was the eleventh and last child of Samuel and Eliza (nee Drew) Shillabeer who had married in 1843. He was apprenticed to a carpenter from the age of 13 and emigrated to Melbourne in 1886, arriving on the Orizaba on November 1, 1886. (8)  His brother Frederick (1862-1927) also migrated to Australia and lived in Footscray. 

In 1888 he married Jane Winifred Ford. The couple lived in Footscray and their first child Frederick Ernest arrived in 1889 and their second son, Roy Francis, in 1895. On August 2, 1898 Jane gave birth to a still-born daughter. (9) Sadly, this led to her death two months later on October 1. The Footscray Independent had the following obituary - 

The flying of the flag half-mast at the Town Hall on Saturday morning, indicated the demise of one of our citizens, and it was soon learned that Mrs Shillabeer, wife of Cr F.E. Shillabeer, of Buckley street, had passed to that "bourn from whence no traveller returns." The deceased lady, who was only 31 years of age at the time of her decease, died in Dr. Sullivan's private hospital, Melbourne, shortly before 10 o'clock in the morning, never having recovered the consequences of her confinement in the beginning of August. The funeral took place on Monday, and in addition to many of our citizens, most of the Footscray councillors and officials joined the cortege, which wended its way to the Melbourne Cemetery. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. Toomath, C.E. The Footscray City Council on Wednesday directed that a letter of condolence be sent to Cr Shillabeer, who is very generally sympathised with in his sad and serious loss. The funeral obsequies were conducted by Messrs E. R. Warne and Son. (10)

Frank Shillabeer

The Herald, January 28, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242279202

Frank Shillabeer was ambitious and his contracting firm, which he started in 1890,  built many of Melbourne's buildings including Williamstown Beach, Balaclava and Canterbury Railway Stations, Police Barracks in St Kilda Road;  the Commercial Travellers Association building in Flinders Street, Melbourne Town Hall alterations;  Williamstown North State School, Gardenvale Infants School and Geelong Grammar Junior School (11)  

He was elected to the Footscray Council in 1898 and defeated in 1919, having been the Mayor on three occasions - 1902, 1916 and 1917. (12)  He was President of the Master Builders' and Contractors' Association, President of the Footscray Football Club in 1912, a Commissioner of the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works for sixteen years and a Melbourne City Councillor from 1915 until 1922. (13). It seems unusual to serve as a Councillor at two municipalities at once, and in fact so unusual, that in 1918 The Herald had a short report on the issue. 

Representing two Councils

The Herald, August 23, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242738233

The reason, of course, that Frank Shillabeer could devote himself to his business and public life was that he had a wife to look after his children and domestic life. After the sad death of his first wife, on October 29, 1900 33 year-old Frank married 22 year-old Bertha Kathleen Cole, the eldest daughter of David and Sarah Cole,  at Holy Trinity Church, Oakleigh. His address was Footscray and her occupation was 'home with parents' and her address was Murrumbeena. (14)

Frank and Bertha Shillabeer, the Mayor and Mayoress of Footscray.

Footscray Independent, September 6, 1902 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/73264530

The couple, who had no children together, lived in Footscray, initially at 74 Buckley Street and around 1915 moved  to Amaryllis, 46 Geelong Road. This mansion had been built for John Currie Johnson in the 1880s. Johnson was an Engineer and owned the Tyne Foundary in South Melbourne. (15)  Amaryllis still stands, the verandahs have been removed and it is now the home of the Footscray RSL; it had been purchased in 1921 for use as a Memorial Hall, as the Footscray Independent reported - 

Mr F. E. Shillabeer's residence, in Geelong-road has been, purchased by the Memorial Hall trustees, and will be converted into a memorial hall as soon as circumstances allow. The price paid was £3900, and the vendor has agreed, to take half this amount as a deposit, and allow twelve months for the balance to be paid. No interest will be charged, and Mr. Shillabeer has promised, to give £50 per annum for five years towards the maintenance cost.  (16)

Amaryllis, 46 Geelong Road, the home of Frank and Bertha Shillabeer, c. 1913.

Image: Footscray: a pictorial record of the Municipality from 1859 to 1988 (City of Footscray, 1989), p. 27

After leaving Footscray, Frank and Bertha lived at 458 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, which is where they were when Frank died on November 23, 1949. (17)

The Age of November 24, 1949 had the following obituary of Frank, which also outlines his connection to horse racing -
Mr. Frank E. Shillabeer, for many years a member of the City Council, Footscray council and Metropolitan Board, and a leading builder, who was associated with the construction of many of Melbourne's prominent buildings, died yesterday. He was 82. Mr. Shillabeer, who was born  in Devonshire, England, was active in municipal life. He was mayor of Footscray three times. He had been prominent in the racing sphere since he first became an owner more than 30 years ago. His most famous horse was Shadow King, who was placed in four Melbourne Cups, and was well-known as a police trooper's mount. Under the name of "Monckton Franklin," Mr. Shillabeer won the Grand National Hurdle with Sandule in 1920. He joined the Williamstown Racing Club in 1917 and was elected a committee member in December, 1931. When the merger with the V.T. and R.A. as the Melbourne Racing Club was effected he became a member of the committee of the new club, a position he held until the time of his death. He leaves a wife and two sons. (18)

Death notice for Bertha Shillabeer 

The Age, March 6, 1971, p.23. from newspapers.com

Bertha died February 28, 1971, aged 92,  and was buried with Frank at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery. (19). As well as the death notice from her family, there was one from the After Care Hospital, Committee of Management. The After-Care Home (later Hospital) opened at 45 Victoria Parade Collingwood in February 1926 and was established by the Melbourne District Nursing Society (which later became the  Royal District Nursing Service. The Sun News-Pictorial reported on the project -  

It will have between 60 and 70 beds for sick people, who are not suitable for public hospitals, who cannot afford private nursing, and who are not able to get sufficient attention, nourishment and quiet in their own homes. It will be a unique experiment in the charitable history of Victoria - an intermediary between home and hospital. Patients will be admitted after leaving hospital, or before entering hospital, when needing nursing and rest. The district nurse comes across many such persons in her daily round. Doctors in the poorer suburbs, and doctors in the public hospitals, have long felt the need of such an institution. (20)

We can assume that Bertha and  Frank visited her parents at Bayles; Frank may even have kept some horses on the property. Is this why Frank purchased the land in the first place, did he eventually hope to retire there or was it just a speculative venture? I cannot tell you.

Acknowledgement - Thank you to Bob Cole, our Museum visitor from Adelaide, who told me that Frank Shillabeer was David Cole's son-in-law, and added some personal information. In a later follow- up email Bob wrote - In the Swamp History you noted David Cole's daughter Margaret married in Brazil, & you wondered why she was there. My grandfather, also David Cameron Cole said Margaret was a missionary in Brazil. He also told us that Bertha did charity work for Chinese in Melbourne. David Cole's father was Job Cole also a nurseryman who built Crystal Palace in Sutton Coldfield. His mother was Frances Cameron the daughter of David Cameron, the first curator of Edgbaston Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. 

I also obtained information about Frank Shillabeer from A history of Footscray by John Lack  (Hargreen Publishing, 1991)

Footnotes

(1) Warwickshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1910, on Ancestry; Shipping records at the Public Records Office of Victoria; Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(2) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Adelaide Evening Journal September 10, 1909, see here; Also see Acknowledgement.

Genealogy South Australia https://www.genealogysa.org.au/

(3) Weekly Times, June 26, 1920, see here.

(4) The Argus, February 12, 1919, see here.

(5) https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/koo-wee-rup-to-strzelecki-railway-line.html

(6) The Age, July 19, 1934, see here.

(7) Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books

(8) Devon, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920 on Ancestry.com; Family tree created on Ancestry using the English census records; Footscray Independent, September 6, 1902, see here; Shipping records at the Public Records Office of Victoria.

(9) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Footscray Independent, August 6, 1898, see here.

(10) Footscray Independent, October 8, 1898, see here;

(11) I have created a list of his building projects from articles on Trove; access the list here.

(12) Footscray Independent, August 20, 1898, see here; Footscray Independent, August 30, 1919, see here. 

(13) Lack, John A history of Footscray (Hargreen Publishing, 1991); The Argus, January 15, 1920,  see here; Yarraville Weekly News, January 30, 1915, see here; The Argus, September 6, 1922, see here.

(14) Marriage certificate

(15)Electoral Rolls; Lack, John A history of Footscray (Hargreen Publishing, 1991); Footscray: a pictorial record of the Municipality from 1859 to 1988 (City of Footscray, 1989); Footscray & Yarraville:  a pictorial record (Footscray Historical Society, 2005); John Currie Johnson and Tyne Foundary https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-lady-loch-yarra-river-steam-ferry.html

(16) Footscray & Yarraville:  a pictorial record (Footscray Historical Society, 2005). p. 162; Footscray Independent, May 28, 1921, see here.

(17) Electoral Rolls; Death notice The Argus, November 25, 1949, see here.

(18) The Age, November 24, 1949, see here.

(19) Death notice The Age, March 10, 1971, p.28. on newspapers.com

(20)  The Sun News-Pictorial, November 21, 1925, see here;  More information - The Argus, February 3, 1926, see here; Also EMelbourne https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM01273b.htm 

Application for a Hotel in Bayles

The Age of December 12, 1930 published the following advertisement of a notice of application for a victualler's licence at Bayles, from Edward Parnell Buckley -

Application for a victualler's licence at Bayles 

The Age, December 12, 1930  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203271532

The licensing Court hearing of the application was held on February 10, 1931 and The Argus reported on this hearing - 

Liquour Licence for Bayles. Application Withdrawn.

Application was made to the Licensing Court yesterday by Mr Luke Murphy on behalf of Edward Parnell Buckley for the issue of a victualler's licence at Bayles, a township in the Koo-Wee-Rup district. The Court consisted of Messrs R. Barr (chairman), J. Lock and V. Tanner. Mr Gamble (instructed by Messrs W.B. and O. McCutcheon) opposed the application on behalf of certain residents and ratepayers of the neighbourhood, and Mr. L.J. Murphy opposed on behalf of other residents of the district. Mr. Gamble said that he had a petition opposing the issue, signed by a majority of the ratepayers within a radius of three miles.

Superintendent Ashton submitted a report, in which he said that he did not approve of the issue of the licence. The site was away from the main road, and there were other hotels four miles and a half distant. There were fewer than 100 residents of the township of Bayles. Evidence on behalf of those opposing the application was that there were only 271 adult residents in the area served by the proposed hotel, and that there were only three mixed trains a week to the Bayles railway station.

Mr Luke Murphy and that it was proposed to erect an hotel costing £3,500. There were 3,000 to 4,000 acres under potatoes in the area, and many sportsmen visited the district in the quail season. The chairman said that the amount of trade at the proposed hotel would apparently be microscopical. There had never been a time at which the Court had to be more careful not to encourage purely speculative ventures. Mr Tanner said that no evidence had been submitted to show that a hotel was required. Mr. Luke Murphy withdrew the application. (The Argus, February 11, 1931, see here) 

So that was the end of a Hotel for Bayles.

Edward Parnell Buckley was born in 1889 in Balnarring to John and Catherine (nee Dore) Buckley. He was the second youngest of their eleven children -  his siblings were David, Elizabeth, Nellie, Mary, Michael, Patrick, John, Thomas, Catherine and Annie, who were born between 1867 to 1892. His father John, died on January 14,  1920 and his obituary in The Advocate notes some interesting facts about his life -

Mr. John Buckley - One of the oldest pioneers of the Mornington Peninsula passed away on Wednesday week in the person of Mr John Buckley, of "Erinslea," Balnarring. The deceased was born in Tipperary, Ireland, 82 years ago, and came to Victoria in the year 1856, settling in Balnarring. A few years after he married a daughter of the late John Dore, "Mt. Ararat,'' Pakenham. Deceased took an active part in all matters relating to the Church. Mass used to be celebrated for a number of years in the deceased's house till St. John's Church was erected.....Deceased took an active part in all public matters. He was a member of the first Roads Board and, of the shire council. The funeral, which took place on Thursday week, was largely attended, the cortege being a mile long. A widow, six sons, and five daughters are left to mourn their loss. (The Advocate, January 31, 1920,  read the full obituary here)

Informative death notice of John Buckley. Interesting for those times that all the 

eleven children survived until adulthood.

The Herald, January 14, 1920 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242160095

Edward was listed in the 1914 to 1931 Electoral Rolls as a farmer at Balnarring. He died on October 20, 1932, aged only 42 and is buried at the Crib Point Cemetery. It would be interesting to know why he applied  for a victualler's licence at Bayles in 1930, after many years of farming at Balnarring. 

Edward Buckley's death notice

The Age October 22, 1932 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205487531

Catherine Buckley  died in 1937 - this is her obituary -

Nonegenarian Passes - Mrs. Catherine Agnes Buckley died at her residence at Balnarring on October 11, aged 92 years. She was an Australian native, having been born at Pakenham. She was one of the pioneers of the Balnarring district, where she settled with her husband, the late Mr. John Buckley, 70 years ago. In spite of her great age, Mrs. Buckley's memory was remarkably retentive and she could relate happenings of many years ago quite clearly. She had a family of 11 children-six sons and five daughters. One son and one daughter predeceased her. One of her sons is Cr. David Buckley, a member of the Flinders Shire Council. Another son, Mr Thomas Buckley, is a stationmaster and is now stationed at Camperdown. The funeral took place in the Crib Point Cemetery on October 13. There was a large gathering of mourners at the grave, many old friends travelling long distances to be present. Many beautiful wreaths were placed on the coffin. Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Balnarring R.C. Church by the Rev. Fr. Fitzpatrick, who also read the burial service. (Frankston and Somerville Standard, October 22, 1937, read the full obituary, here)

The Dore family - John (c.1808 - 1895) his wife Betty (nee Elizabeth O'Connor, c. 1808 - 1876) and their children Edward, Thomas, Patrick and Ellen had arrived in Melbourne in September 1841; six more children were born after their arrival.  In 1844, John Dore and Michael Hennessey took up the Mount Ararat Run at Nar Nar Goon of 1,900 acres. The partnership existed until 1855. Hennessey then moved to Dandenong and built the Bridge Hotel and later took over the Eumemmerring Hotel. In the 1860s, Dore purchased the 640 acre Mt Ararat pre-emptive right. He later purchased another 387 acres and his son Thomas 300 acres so they held a total of 1,300 acres. The property was later bisected by the railway line when it was built in 1877. ( Source - From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick  published by the Historical Society of the Berwick Shire, 1962)

Bayles Football Club - a poem

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of May 14, 1925 published this poem by Master A. Murdoch about the players of the Bayles Football Club. I am guessing that the poet was Archibald William Murdoch, the son of George Petrie Murdoch, who had the store at Bayles.  Archie was born 1909, and so would have been about 16 at the time - young enough to be called 'Master' and old enough to write the poem. George Murdoch also had the store at Cora Lynn from 1907 until 1922, read about this here. The poem is transcribed below.

Bayles Football Club poem 

Koo Wee Rup Sun May 14, 1925 p.3

Bayles Football Club by Master A. Murdoch

They are Black and White Magpies,

The king of all birds;

Some come from the factory-

They live on the curds.

There's Jeffers and Stewart and Murdoch and Kane; 

They never are beaten; they all come again.

And there's Tommy O'Brien and Bromeo Fred,

And Taylor, the butcher, to carve up the dead;

Harker, the captain, an old hand at the game,

Who never gets beaten or never goes lame.

There's butchers and bakers and shopkeepers, too

They're footballers all and they know what to do.

But what about Smithy and Dan Cunningham?

They're as good as the day they came out of the pram.

There's great big Bert Griffo, who works on a farm;

He's that big and hefty, he'll come to no harm.

There's poor old Bill Wise, the man with the watch;

They say he's too fat, but that is all bosh.

But what about O'Brien and Sage?

If Bayles get beaten they'll get in a rage, 

And if anyone tries to sneak into the plot,

Les Egan, on Charger, will run down the lot.

Look out! Here comes Egan with one of his rushes;

The men are all gasping, the ladies all blushes.

And there's Egans and Linehams, who plow in the furrow,

And by all that is holy we'll down Korumburra.

Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki Railway line

The railway line which used to run from Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki opened officially on June 29, 1922. At the time it was known as the Koo Wee Rup to McDonald’s Track Railway. McDonald’s Track had been surveyed between 1860 and 1862 by George McDonald. It ran between what is now called Lang Lang to Poowong, over Mt Worth to Morwell, with the aim of providing a stock route through to Sale. The Gippsland Railway line through to Sale was completed in 1879 and early McDonald’s Track settlers, especially those around Poowong, soon began to agitate for a railway line to help ease their transport problems through the densely forested, damp hills as the 32 kilometres (20 miles) of track between Poowong and Drouin took over a days travel and all goods and produce were carted on pack horses or drays (1).

Various routes for a railway line were suggested including one from Drouin to Welshpool via McDonalds Track (2) or Drouin to Poowong (3) or Monomeith to Warragul (4). The Great Southern Railway line to Port Albert via Koo Wee Rup, Leongatha and Foster was opened in 1892, by-passing Poowong. The opening of this line coupled with the draining of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp saw fresh demands from the McDonald Track settlers and the Swamp settlers for a new line. The Swamp was a large producer of dairy products and vegetables and there was also a growing sand mining industry. In 1912 a new Railway line was proposed from Koo Wee Rup to McDonalds Track via areas of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp.

Much of the following information comes from Steam to Strzelecki : the Koo-Wee-Rup to McDonald’s Track Railway by Merilyn Ramsay. Published by the Australian Railway Historical Society in 1991. It is out of print, but well worth tracking down if you are interested in Railway history or Gippsland history.

The Koo Wee Rup to McDonald's Track Railway Construction Bill 

receives assent from the Governor.

The Herald October 12, 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242295595

The Koo Wee Rup to McDonalds Track Railway Construction Act was proclaimed on October 12, 1914 (5)  and construction began on August 4, 1915 (6).

A description of the route of the railway line

Weekly Times, October 17 1914 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121115533

Construction of the line was slowed by the re-allocation of resources during the First World War and didn’t resume with any pace until 1919. Construction was carried out in three stages. The Swamp area from Koo Wee Rup to Heath Hill, the foothills area of Heath Hill to Triholm and the mountain area from Triholm to Strzelecki. The finished line was 30¾ miles in length, as the article above, tells us.  Unfortunately for the people of Poowong they were bypassed once again.

Timetable July 1922

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 20, 1922.

The first timetable had three trains per week carrying both passengers and goods, Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, see timetable, above.  The official opening of the line was as we said June 29, 1922 but the line was in use earlier. The Bayles Station commenced limited operation over a year earlier on February 10, 1921 and Catani had opened for limited operations from May 1921 (7).  The opening of the Bayles Railway Station was the catalyst for the opening of a General Store in the town, which was opened by George Murdoch in January 1921. George also owned the Cora Lynn Store and he initially employed Thomas Keys as his manager at Bayles (8). The Argus of March 9, 1922 also reported that the construction of the Koo-wee-rup to McDonald Track line is sufficiently advanced to enable the railway construction branch to haul goods in truckloads (minimum weight three tons) to or from the following stations:  Bayles, Catani, Yannathan, Heath Hill, Athlone, Warneet, and Topiram. Goods will be earned at owner's risk, and as construction work permits (9).  Merilyn Ramsay writes that Topiram was known as Warneet during construction, but named Topiram when opened for traffic.  Triholm was known as Topiram during construction, but changed to Triholm when the line opened for traffic (10).

Limited operations commenced on the line before the official opening.

The Argus, March 9, 1922 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4689414

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of April 20, 1922 reported on the revenue already gathered from the soon to be officially opened railway line - Interesting figures. The revenue derived from the M'Donald Track to Kooweerup railway line, which is not yet completed, amounted to £844 last month. The inward and outward tonnage reached 1615 tons. At the Kooweerup station the revenue for the month of March last year totalled £1261, but for the corresponding month this year it almost doubled the figures, being £2400. Goods amounted to £954, passengers £277, parcels £125 and live stock £44. Although the department reaps such a revenue, the present station is totally unsuitable for the conducting of business and an eyesore to the township, and it is about time the commissioners gave practical consideration to the erecting of a new building.

Revenue from the railway line, before it was officially opened.

Koo Wee Rup Sun April 20, 1922 p.4

This brings us to the names selected for the Stations. The Age reported on the origins of the names. Bayles was names after Frederick Bayles, I have written about him here; Catani was named for Carlo Catani, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department.  I have an entire blog devoted to Carlo, here. 

The origin of the names of the Stations

The Age June 30, 1922 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205046493

The use of the name Catani, was suggested by the Koo Wee Rup Pioneers' Association and George Clowser, of the Public Works Department, as the article below, attests. I have written about George Clowser, here.

 The suggestion that a railway station be named after Carlo Catani.

Weekly Times, March 6, 1920 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222562046

The opening ceremony took place  on June 29, 1922, at Strzelecki. The official opening was performed by the Minister for Railways, Samuel Barnes. Lady Mackey, the wife of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Sir John Mackey, cut the ribbon. The first train to leave Koo Wee Rup for the ceremony carried over 300 passengers from stations along the line (11).

Some of the crowd at the opening ceremony.

Weekly Times July 8, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222803430 

Lady Mackey cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

Weekly Times July 8, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222803430 

Samuel Barnes, Minister for Railways at the opening ceremony.

Weekly Times July 8, 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222803430 

The steam engine on the turntable at Strzelecki on opening day, June 29, 1922.

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society courtesy Mary Holmes.

These are the stations and sidings on the line, starting from Koo Wee Rup, with the dates of official operation from Steam to Strzelecki (12) -
Plowrights Siding - June 1, 1926 to May 12, 1931 (I have written about and have photographs of the Plowright Brother's sand mine operation, here)
Water Washed Sand Siding - March 9, 1926 to May 5,1931
Bayles Station - June 29, 1922 to February 4, 1959
Catani Station - June 29, 1922 to April 25, 1950
Yannathan Station - June 29, 1922 to April 25, 1950
Heath Hill Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Athlone Quarry Siding - October 1922 to 1925
Athlone Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Topiram Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Triholm Station - June 29, 1922 to August 7, 1941.
Strzelecki Station - June 29, 1922 to November 24, 1930.

A short report of Plowright Brothers' sand washing operation, which was serviced 

by a  siding which opened June 1, 1926. Mr Clapp referred to in the report was Harold Clapp (1875-1952) Chairman of the Victorian Railways.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, April 12 1926

The train at Bayles.

Image: Bayles Fauna Park Collection.

Almost as soon as the line opened there were complaints about the lack of services on the line. In August 1923 it was reported that at the meeting of Yannathan branch V.F.U., -

a report was received from Mr. Barnes, Minister for Railways, re deputation's request for a daily service to be run from Strezlecki to Koo-wee-rup. — Request refused on advice of Railways Commissioners. This report led to a long discussion regarding the unsatisfactory way the present service met the requirements of the district. Mr. Warren considered the present service did not suit more than 10 per cent, of the population along the line. To help dairymen to get their milk to town it was absolutely useless. Mr. Wildes considered that the requirements of the district would be met if a daily motor rail service was run from Koo-wee-rup as far as Yannathan.

Mr. Bennett said he thought they should go further than just taking steps to get their milk daily to town. Statistics had been gathered quite recently showing there were about 2000 dairy cows between Bayles station and Yannathan station, which proved conclusively that this small area was a compact block lending itself admirably to the dairying industry (13).

In December 1925, the Koo Wee Sun could report on the traffic from the Bayles Station -

Bayles is the main station on the Strzelecki line; over 1500 tons of manure used locally paid freight this season. In the off season, all available trucks are loaded by sand carters. This item alone is estimated at 50 trucks per week, which will be considerably augmented in the near future. (14)

As you can see from the dates of operation, above, the service to Strzelecki lasted less than 8 years; and to Athlone, Topiram, Triholm and Heath Hill less than 20 years. The line between Triholm and Yannathan was dismantled in 1942 (15)

Dismantling of part of the  railway line

Koo Wee Rup Sun September 3, 1942

The passenger service closed in August 1941 (16), but the line continued to carry goods such as livestock and milk, until it was closed completely in 1959. It was a short-lived railway line.  You can still see some remnants of the line. Steam to Strzelecki describes what was still visible in 1991 when the book was published. The Bayles Fauna Reserve  has a small Museum with some photos of the line, including the one above and the first two, below.

Bayles Railway Station, taken 6/10/1956 on an  

81 RM (280 HP rail motor) on Australian Railway Historical Society tour

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society, courtesy of A.R.H.S Archives. 

Catani Railway Station, 1920s

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

The train leaving Yannathan Station, Easter 1940, on the way to Bayles.

Image: Bayles Fauna Park Collection.

Topiram Platform viewed from North Side. Photographer: Weston Langford

Image 114891 taken January 17, 1984  https://www.westonlangford.com/

Triholm Looking towards Koo Wee Rup. Photographer: Weston Langford

Image 114890 taken January 17, 1984  https://www.westonlangford.com/

A view of station ground at Strzelecki, 1920s. Photographer: Ted Staff.

Annotations on verso identifying sites: No. 1 Station Yard -- 2. Office -- 3. Daws (?) Portable -- 4. Scales Portable - 5. You can just see a little of my camp -- 6. Macf's Place near Store. Dotted line is the railway line.

State Library of Victoria Image  H2017.79/141 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4157908

Footnotes
(1) Hartnell, Ross Pack Tracks to Pastures: a history of Poowong District (Poowong Centenary Committee, 1974
(2) Drouin to Welshpool - The Age, April 15, 1880, see here.
(3) Drouin to Poowong - The Age, August 23, 1890, see here.
(4) Monomeith to Warragul - the Leader, August 30, 1890, see here. Article also has a general discussion of Gippsland railways and a map of potential lines.
(5) Ramsay, Merilyn Steam to Strzelecki : the Koo-Wee-Rup to McDonald’s Track Railway (Australian Railway Historical Society, 1991) p. 22
(6) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 29.
(7) Date of Bayles Station comes from Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup: for young and old, v.1 by Dave Mickle (The Author, 1983) p. 75. He quotes the Koo Wee Rup Sun, but I have checked the originals from February 1921 and can't find a reference. Marilyn Ramsay quotes the same date and her source is the Koo Wee Rup Sun. Marilyn Ramsay also writes (p. 47) that Railways Weekly Notices refer to Bayles and Catani being open during construction on 21 May 1921, and Heath Hill and Topriam on 7 March 1922. The Argus of June 23, 1921 reported the fact that Bayles and Catani were open for limited use - see below.

Notification that Bayles and Catani Stations were partially open for business

The Argus June 23, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1768863

(8) The Bayles store opened in January 1921. - I have written more about it here,  but this is the short version - I checked back through the Koo Wee Rup Suns and the earliest ad I found for the "Yallock General Store" owned by George Murdoch, was January 1921. George Murdoch also had the Cora Lynn Store, which he opened in 1907. Bayles was managed initially by Thomas Keys. In January 1922 it was advertised as the Bayles General Store and Thomas was no longer the manager, but George Murdoch himself, had taken over. I was confused initially because I didn't know whether the Yallock Store was actually in the old town of Yallock or the 'new' Yallock, centred around the Bayles Railway Station. I did however, check the Shire of Cranbourne Rate books and they confirm that Murdoch's store was actually in Bayles not Yallock. He is first mentioned as owning the land in the 1920/21 Rate books.

First advertisement for the Yallock General Store from the 

Koo Wee Rup Sun of January 20, 1921. The store was later renamed the Bayles General Store.

Yallock Store is now called the Bayles Store.

Koo Wee Rup Sun January 26, 1922

(9) The Argus, March 9, 1922, see here.

(10) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 133.

(11) Reports of the opening - Weekly Times July 8, 1922, see here;  The Age, June 30, 1922, see here.

(12) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 133.

(13) Farmers' Advocate, August 3 1923, see here.

(14) Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 10, 1925, p.1.

(15) Koo Wee Rup Sun September 3, 1942

(16) Ramsay, op. cit., p. 106

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared in the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society newsletter, The Koo Wee Rup Blackfish newsletter and on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our past.