Western Port - a short history of early European activity

This is a short account of the early European activity in Western Port.

Western Port Bay was 'discovered' by George Bass  (1) on January 5, 1798. Bass had left Sydney (Port Jackson) on December 3, 1897 with the purpose of discovering whether a strait existed between Tasmania (Van Diemen's land) and the mainland. As we know the Strait did exist and it was named after him. Bass named Western Port thusly as it was the most westerly port that was known at the time - as he wrote in his journal - 
I have named the place, from its relative situation to every other known harbour on the coast, Western Port. It is a large sheet of water branching our into two arms which end in wide flats of several miles in extent, and it was not until we had been here some days that we found it to be formed by an island and to have two outlets to the sea - an eastern and western passage. (2)  The Island he mentioned was Phillip Island, named for Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor, who had arrived with the First Fleet in January 1788. (3)

Bass navigated around what was to be called Phillip Island, but did not realise that the land mass that became known as French Island (4), was indeed, also an island. They were also unaware of Port Phillip Bay - I wonder what Western Port would have been called if they were. The journey was a remarkable feat of navigation and enterprise, the party was away for eleven weeks, had eked out the original six weeks of supplies they took with them, they sailed 600 miles of uncharted coast line all in an open boat that was only 28 feet, 7 inches (8.7 metres) long. (5) 

Western Port on the south coast of New South Wales from Mr. Bass' eye sketch, 1798.

National Library of Australia MAP G8991.S12 1798 https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2619130509/view 

After Bass, the next official European activity was carried out in the Lady Nelson, under Lieutenant James Grant (6)  - they arrived at Western Port on March 21, 1801. The crew charted the Bay and planted a garden on Churchill Island, the first garden planted in what was to become the state of Victoria. Grant notes in his journal - 
I sowed in it wheat, seeds of different sorts, planted onions and potatoes, with cucumber, pumpkin, and mellon seeds; also threw in several sorts of  apple seeds, and some stones of  plumbs and peaches, together with a few grains of rice and coffee. (7)

The cairn on Churchill Island commemorating Grant's planting of wheat in 1801, erected by the Victorian Farmer's Union in 1968.(8)

Photographer: John T. Collins, taken November 11, 1984. 

State Library of Victoria image H98.250/1690

The Lady Nelson returned in December 1801 under First Lieutenant John Murray (9) and harvested the wheat crop planted by Grant the year before, and on January 5,  1802 they 'discovered' Port Phillip Bay, however did not enter the Bay, instead sailing to King Island. They returned to Western Port a few weeks later and on February 14, became the first European crewed ship to enter Port Philip Bay. (10) 

In April 1802, the French Captain Hamelin in the Naturaliste reached Western Port and circumnavigated  and mapped French Island. Hamelin was part of a French expedition, under the command of Nicolas Thomas Baudin (11),  of the Geographe,  whose mission was to map the Australian coast and undertake scientific studies. (12)

The French interest in this region prompted the British Government to establish, in 1803, a settlement in Port Phillip Bay, at what is now Sorrento, under Lieutenant Governor David Collins (13). In Western Port, enterprising sealers had moved in - seals were hunted for their skins and their oil. Sealers also abducted Aboriginal women, to act a sex slaves and to exploit their hunting knowledge. (14).  

In 1826,  the British sent the Dragon, under the command of Captain Samuel Wright; and the Fly, under the command of Captain F. Wetherall to Western Port, they landed at what is now Rhyll and claimed formal possession on December 3, 1826 and on December 12 they claimed formal possession of a site near Corinella. (15)

Captain Wetherall's 1826 map of Western Port

Image: Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: Exploration to Settlement by Valda Cole 

At Corinella, a settlement was soon established - gardens, roads, wells, buildings including Government House, military barracks, storehouse, hospital, blacksmiths, stables etc - most of the labour was supplied by the 21 convicts. This was a short lived settlement and was abandoned in January 1828. (16)

Monument to the early settlement at Corinella (17) It was unveiled in 1972 on behalf of the South Eastern Historical Association and incorporates some of the original convict bricks. 

Photographer: John T. Collins, taken February 19, 1985 

State Library of Victoria image H94.200/1183

Later on pastoral settlements took place - in 1835 Samuel Anderson and Robert Massie (18) settled on the Bass River.  Moving  around to the Bay,  in 1839 Robert Jamieson and Samuel Rawson settled at the Yallock Station, on the Yallock Creek. Frederick and Charles Manton took up Manton's Old Station in 1840; the Balla Balla run was taken up by Robert Innes Allen in 1839; Thomas Rutherford took up the station (Bourbinandera) based around what was to be known as Rutherford Inlet in 1842; the Lang Waring run was taken up in 1843 by William Willoby. (19)  Later on, from around the 1850s,  all these  large runs were broken up and sold and other European settlers arrived, but that's another story.

French Island an Quail Island are other islands in Western Port and I have written about French Island here and Quail island  here.

Acknowledgement: This post is based on the research of Valda Cole and Keith Bowden, the authors of the following two books -

• Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: exploration to settlement by Valda Cole (Shire of Hastings Historical Society, 1984). The book looks at the European activity at Western Port prior to the establishment of Melbourne. Mrs Cole, O.A.M., is also the author of Western Port: Pioneers and Preachers (Hawthorn Press, 1975), the story of the Anglican Church at Western Port.
• The Western Port Settlement and it leading personalities by Keith Bowden (South Eastern Historical Association, 1970). The book looks at the Western Port settlement at Corinella in 1826. It includes a full list of the 21 prisoners with personal details and has information about many of the military personnel.

Footnotes

(1) George Bass (1771-1803), Australian Dictionary of Biography entry   https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bass-george-1748

(2) Cole, Valda Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: Exploration to Settlement (Shire of Hastings Historical Society, 1984), p. 3.

(3) Arthur Phillip (1738 - 1814),  Australian Dictionary of Biography entry    https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/phillip-arthur-2549

(4) I have written about the European history of French Island here   https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2020/01/french-island-short-history.html 

(5) Cole, op. cit., chapter 1.

(6) James Grant (1772-1833), Australian Dictionary of Biography entry  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/grant-james-2117

(7) Cole, op. cit., p. 11.

(8) Inscription - This cairn was erected by the Victorian Farmer`s Union to commemorate the first cultivation of wheat in Victoria by Mr. James Grant in 1801 on this land known as Churchill Island.

The Minister of Agriculture the Hon. G. L. Chandler C.M.G., M.L.C. unveiled this cairn on the 4th day of Nov. 1968

(9) John Murray (1775-1807), Australian Dictionary of Biography entry   https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-john-2496

(10) Cole, op. cit., chapter 4.

(11) Nicolas Thomas Baudin (1754-1803), Australian Dictionary of Biography entry 

 https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/baudin-nicolas-thomas-1753

(12) Cole, op. cit., chapter 5.

(13) David Collins (1756-1810), Australian Dictionary of Biography entry   https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/collins-david-1912

(14) Bowden, Keith The Western Port Settlement and it leading personalities (South Eastern Historical Association, 1970), p. 3.

(15) Bowden, op. cit., chapter 1.

(16) Bowden, op. cit., passim.

(17) The plaque on the cairn. Inscription - This cairn which incorporates original convict made bricks, commemorates the settlement established near here from December 12th 1826 to February 19th 1828 by a party of soldiers and convicts commanded by Captain Samuel Wright. Unveiled on December 10th 1972 by Dr. K. Bowden on behalf of the South Eastern Historical Association and the Shire of Bass.

Photographer: John T. Collins, taken February 19, 1985 

State Library of Victoria image H94.200/1184

(18) Samuel Anderson (1803-1863) and Robert Massie (1809-1890). Read Anderson's obituary in The Argus of August 10, 1863, here.  Read Massie's obituary in the Riverine Grazier of September 30, 1890, see here. The Andersons of Western Port by Thomas Horton and Kenneth Morris (Bass Valley Historical Society, 1983) looks at the life of Samuel Anderson and his brothers Hugh and Thomas.

(19) Settlement dates are from  Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip by R.V. Billis and A.S. Kenyon (Stockland Press, 1974). Also The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968) has information on these early settlers.

This is a version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past.

Quail Island - a history and its Koalas

Quail Island is situated at the northern end of Western Port Bay across Rutherford Inlet from Warneet. The Island was  surveyed by Francis Barrallier, a member of the crew on the Lady Nelson under Lieutenant James Grant. The Lady Nelson entered Western Port Bay on March 21, 1801. Barrallier originally named Quail Island,  Harris Island, after Surgeon John Harris who was a Magistrate and member of the New South Wales Corps. (1).  The following is a chronological history of settlement and events on Quail Island, based mainly on newspaper reports.

 Quail Island on the left;  Chinaman Island in the centre under the Warneet township. 

Quail and Chinaman Islands are separated by Rutherford Inlet or Creek.  

Cannons Creek is at the top of the photo. 

Aerial  dated October 19, 1986. Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries

At some time, Harris Island was re-named to Quail Island, named due to the number of quail on the island. This story about the quail, was published in The Australasian in May 1870. The writer had taken a hunting trip to Western Port Bay, and when they arrived at Quail Island, he was told that a certain employé of the lessees of the island, a shepherd or stock keeper probably, once took to rearing a vast number of quail there. They were his hobby, and at first he fed and petted them just like so many tame chickens, till their numbers grew beyond him. One fell day there landed couple of "sportsmen" upon this chosen spot, and when they left it no fewer than 150 brace of the petted and doubtless well-conditioned quail left with them. (2). 

Peggy Banks in her book Crouch's Beach, from camp to coastal village, Warneet explains the origin of the name of Chinaman Island -

We were told that many years ago some Chinese fishermen lived and fished there, fishing for the type of fish eaten by the Chinese. They dried them and sent them to China. were said to live on this island and they fished for the type of fish eaten by the Chinese, dried them and sent them to China. Whether this is true, I cannot say but the naming of the island seems to confirm the story. My brother thinks that it was once called Snake Island but I have not yet found any evidence (3). 

Quail Island was originally used as a pastoral run - one of the earlier lease holders appears to be James Wheatley, and possibly Henry Greer, as the following legal notice appeared in The Age of May 25, 1864.

Supreme Court case over Quail Island

The Age,  May 25, 1864 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155012013

I presume that in the end James Wheatley retained the lease, as in August 1864 it was reported that at a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society - a letter from Mr Wheatley was read, offering the use

of a portion of Quail Island, of which he is the lessee, but it was decided to take no steps with regard to this offer for the present. (4). The Acclimatisation  Society was established in Victoria on February 25, 1861. The object of this Society was the introduction, acclimatisation, and domestication of all innoxious animals, birds, fishes insects, and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental ; - the perfection, propagation and hybridisation of races newly introduced or already domesticated; - the spread of indigenous animals, &c. from parts of the colonies where they are already known, to other localities where they are not known. (5). Even though the Society did not accept James Wheatley's offer in 1864, they  had already made inroads into Western Port as by August 1861 they had already introduced at Philip Island, 5 pheasants, 6 skylarks, 4 thrushes, 4 blackbirds. At Sandstone and Churchill Islands, 4 pheasants, 4 skylarks, 4 thrushes. (6).

In November 1865, The Argus published this story about Quail Island, which fortunately for Mrs Fordham the lady involved, had a happy ending. She may have been the housekeeper for James Wheatley - 

Last Friday, about two o'clock in the afternoon, while Mr. M'Hugh was surveying the creeks in Western Port, at the back of Quail Island, he heard a faint noise, something like an effort at a "cooey!" Looking in the direction of the sound, he discovered a female form waving something as a signal of distress; he made directly for the spot, and sent a couple of men on shore to ascertain what was wrong, when a poor woman was discovered in a helpless state from hunger, exposure, and thirst, lying down in a swampy place, among the mangroves, cold and wet. After discovering the state she was in, and where she belonged to, Mr. M'Hugh had her brought on board at once and conveyed to Quail Island station, and handed over to the proprietors. She is housekeeper in the above establishment, and had occasion to go to Cranbourne on Monday last, when, on returning on Wednesday, after having reached the island, she lost the track, and, being short-sighted, could not find it again, so she wandered about as long as she was able, until she became exhausted, having neither food nor water. At last she laid herself down in the scrub, where she was discovered after being three nights in the open air. On hearing human voices and the splash of oars she made one desperate effort, and succeeded in making herself heard and seen, but from the exhausted state she was found in, she would probably not have survived another night, and she was saved by the will of Providence, for the place is quite unfrequented, being among lofty mangroves. The poor woman's name is Fordham; she is a widow, and is a very respectable and industrious person. (7).

The following notice appeared in the Victoria Government Gazette of April 24, 1866, that Quail Island was temporarily reserved for Acclimatization purposes.

Reservation of Quail Island 

Victoria Government Gazette, April 24, 1866, p. 896. 

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1866/V/general/47.pdf 

The Acclimatisation Society this time made use of the Island and at a meeting in August 1867, the Secretary could report that nine black Indian partridges and seven Cape partridges had been sent down to Quail Island, for liberation. (8)

In September 1866, James Watson, who later became the President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, visited Quail Island to help with sheep dipping. Whilst he was there he released ten pairs of rabbits on the Island. The rabbits had been obtained from Thomas Austin, of Barwon Park, the man 'credited' with introducing the rabbit into Australia.  This is Watson's description of Quail Island - 

As the shores of the inlet at the crossing-place are low flats and treacherous to walk on, a thick track of tea-tree had been laid, so that the horses got safely to a sapling bridge that connected the island to the mainland. The total acreage was about 1,500 acres of flat open land on the south and timbered low hills on the north, with two good-sized water-holes or lagoons, which were the haunt of water-fowl and ducks. Mud flats lay all round the shore, covered with mangrove. On this most unsuitable place were about 800 or 900 ewes, with a fair percentage of lambs, and 300 wethers....that the island was a most unsuitable place; this was so, because the flat damp ground on the shores gave the sheep foot-rot, and great numbers of them had to be treated for that before being "dressed" and dipped. (9)  You can read Watson's  interesting account, here.

In July 1868, Quail Island was offered for sale. The size of the island was listed as 4,000 acres, more than double the size it was listed as in the 1864 legal notice, above.  The Island is described as -

It comprises about 4000 acres of good, sound, open country, well watered by three permanent lagoons, and is adapted for stock, sheep having thriven well there. The island is connected with the main land by a bridge, and is only 40 miles from town. There is a good three roomed house and sheep-yards. (10)

Sale of Quail Island

The Argus July 7, 1868  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5820845

This advertisement (above) regarding the sale of Quail Island give us some idea of development on Quail Island - a three roomed house and connected to the main land by a bridge, as described by Watson, above.  You can see one of the 'permanent lagoons' or dams in the aerial photo at the top of the post. In January 1898,there were bushfires all throughout Victoria and the area between Tooradin, Frankston and Cranbourne was swept absolutely clean (11).  Thousands of pasture was destroyed and miles of fences and much livestock. (12) Quail Island was also burnt and whether the house on the Island survived this fire, I cannot say.

I found another interesting article which mentioned Quail Island. In September 1890 a report into the drainage of Melbourne and disposal of sewerage was tabled in the Victorian Parliament. On the subject of sewerage disposal, the report looked at locations for an ocean outfall. I have reproduced the section in full, and we should all be grateful that Rutherford Creek (Inlet) proved to be unsuitable. 

Western Port Outfall - This spot was the upper part of Western Port, near Quail Island. It is only half the distance between Cape Schanck and the city, and it was clearly a point of outfall which I was bound to consider carefully. I have worked out the fact that mean low water of the cycle of tides at the head of Rutherford's Creek, in Western Port, was 1.29 feet lower than the Melbourne datum, and that mean high water was 5.28 feet above that datum, showing a mean rise of 6.57 fact as against only about 2.5 feet in Port Phillip Bay. With such rises and falls the tidal currents must be more rapid than those in Port Phillip Bay, and in order to test them I had a series of float experiments made. From these observations it is manifest that if crude sewerage were discharged at the head of Rutherford's Creek at all states of the tide the great bulk of the suspended solids would never get out to sea at all, but would be washed ashore and deposited on the mud flats north of French Island. Sewage put into the main channel a mile south of Quail Island, just after high water of a spring tide, would only travel less than 10 miles seawards before it would be met by the rising tide, and would then return on its tracks. It would seem as if the flood and ebb tide should practically balance each other, and, except as influenced by winds, that there should be but very slight seaward travel of floating matters. If the whole of the shores of Western Port and its islands were to be disappropriated, and for ever remain unsettled and unoccupied, there might be some justification for selecting Rutherford's Creek as the point of outfall for the untreated crude sewage of Melbourne, but under no other conditions could it, in my opinion, be utilised for this purpose. (13)

I have traced the leasehold holders of Quail Island, through the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books; it was part of the Parish of Sherwood. The first time I could see Quail island itemised separately in the Rate Books was in the 1874/75 year with Edward Blurton being the lease-holder; the next year John Halstead had taken over. I have no other information about Blurton or Halstead. After Halstead, in 1876/77 Alexander McLean Hunter was listed. Hunter also had the Balla Balla run, on Rutherford Inlet at the north end of Western Port from May 1872.  Alexander Hunter had Quail Island until 1884/85. The rights to the Island were advertised for sale in September 1878 (see advertisement below), but I don't understand how that fits with the fact that Hunter seemingly already had the rights.

\

Sale of Quail island

The Argus, September 19, 1878 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5949005

Alexander Hunter was also involved in other properties as his 1893 obituary notes - 

The name will invoke in many old colonists still living recollections of stirring days in early Melbourne. In the early Forties the five Hunters were well known both in connection with pastoral pursuits and as daring and successful gentleman riders, for in steeplechasing they had no rivals in their day; and the remarkable spectacle has at times been afforded of all five riders in the same race over the Flemington course, when the grand-stand was built close down by the river side. With the five brothers of whom Mr. Alexander Mclean Hunter was one, there came out also their two cousins, John and Campbell. The names of the five brothers were Aleck, James, John, Frank, and William, their father being a well-known writer to the Signet, in Edinburgh, and one of an old Scottish family with whom sport was a tradition. They came to Victoria in connection with the firm of Watson and Hunter, the latter being uncle of the five brothers and father of the other two already mentioned. Messrs. Watson and Hunter, came to Victoria as agents for a Scottish company, with which the Marquis of Ailsa and other noblemen were connected, to buy up squatting, agricultural, and city properties, and gradually acquired a wide extent of country in different parts of the city and country. (14)

After Alexander Hunter, the Rate books show that Donald Tolmie is listed as the leaseholder of Quail Island from  1885/86 until 1887/88. In May 1885, Tolmie purchased the 1876 acre Balla Balla property from Alexander Hunter. 

Sale of Balla Balla

The Argus, May 30 1885 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6081053

From 1888/89, Charles De Arth (also called De Ath) is in the Rate Books occupying Quail Island until 1899/1900, the next year his name is crossed out and in July 1901 this notice (see below) appeared in South Bourke and Mornington Journal, reporting on the proceeding of the Cranbourne Police Court. 

De Arth was a retired sea captain. (15).

Court case involving Charles DeArth

 South Bourke and Mornington Journal, July 3, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70047452

After De Arth, James Ridley had the Quail Island lease from 1901/02 until 1912/13; Ridley also had land at Pearcedale; he was the manager of the English, Scottish and Australian Bank at North Melbourne. (16). Then Francis Callanan took it over. By then it was listed as 2000 acres although it had been variously listed as being of 3,000 or 4,000 acres - perhaps by this time they could accurately measure the island. Callanan was at the island until 1915/16 when the Rate Books have the annotation 'Abandon' and 'Reverted to the Crown.' Frank Callanan was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1905 until 1918. His grandfather, James Smith Adams had the Balla Balla property from 1854 until Alexander Hunter purchased it. His mother, Margaret Adams, had  married Michael Callanan, who was the Victorian Surveyor General; they also had the 1,200 acre Coolebah property at Pearcedale. (17).

In 1909, Quail Island was inspected by the Minister for Lands, Mr McKenzie. The Argus reported -

After visiting Quail Island, at Westernport Bay, this week, the Minister for Lands (Mr. M'Kenzie) is convinced that the place is suitable for the establishment of a labour colony, to replace the existing farm for unemployed which is conducted at Leongatha. The land occupied by the present farm at the latter place is considered to be too valuable for its present use, and Mr. M'Kenzie considers that the colony could be conducted satisfactorily upon the poorer land at Quail Island, leaving the Leongatha property available for more important purposes. There are 2,000 acres of land on Quail Island, and plenty of timber. The place can be reached along a narrow neck of land, which is partly submerged at high tide, and Mr. M'Kenzie says an embanked road could be constructed along this neck at a small cost. The climate is good, and there will be no difficulty in obtaining water. Quail Island is nine miles from Cranbourne railway station. (18)

The Labour Colony did not go ahead and after Francis Callanan abandoned the Quail Island lease I can find no other lease holders so I presume that it was unoccupied. In March 1928 it was proclaimed a 'Sanctuary for native game.' (19) 

Quail Island proclaimed a Sanctuary

Victoria Government Gazette, March 21, 1928, p. 1041

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1928/V/general/45.pdf 

The next time we hear of Quail Island is when koalas were transferred there from French Island. The Argus of January 15, 1930 reported that -

The transference of koalas, popularly known as "native bears," from French Island to the small Quail Island, in accordance with a promise made by the Fisheries and Game department to the residents of French Island has begun. In the weekend many families of koalas were captured also transferred in boats over the five-mile strait between the two islands. On their new sites there are large thickets of manna gums, which will provide them with their favourite food. The residents of French Island complained that the koalas were present in such numbers that they denuded every gum tree within their

reach, and they asked for permission to thin them out by shooting, or alternatively to have them removed from the island. As the koala is rigorously protected all the year round in Victoria, the second alternative was chosen, and on their new island where there is no settlement , they will remain unmolested. (20)

Two years later, The Herald in May 1932 also spoke about the koalas being removed, thus the process of removal to Quail Island and neighbouring Chinaman Island was still taking place. This article talks about Mr R.H. Bennetts, from the Department of Fisheries and Game as the welfare officer for the little migrants (21) so this must be the same R. Bennetts who took the two photographs, below.

Koalas being placed in boxes to be transported from French Island to Quail Island, 1930.

Photographer: R. Bennetts

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/765587

Another photo taken at the same time by, Mr Bennetts, of the koalas and the boxes they were transported in from French to Quail Island.

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/771048

In April 1933, The Age reported that -

Recommendations have been made by the Fisheries and Game department that a further 150 to 200 koalas should be transferred from French Island to Quail Island, in addition to the 200 transferred in the past two years. It was explained yesterday that the manna gums on the south and south-west portions of French Island were infested with blight, and insect pests, and the food supply for the koalas was proving inadequate. Quail Island, with an area of 3000 acres, offered a satisfactory area and sanctuary the animals. (22)

In June 1933,  Mr F. Lewis, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries and Game was confident that transferring the koalas to Quail Island had been fully justified. He had never seen koalas anywhere looking healthier than those on Quail Island. Mr Lewis added that the transfer had been made in pursuance of the department's policy of distributing the bears over the islands of Westernport Bay. He believed that ultimately through bush fires, shooting and general interference the koalas on the mainland would disappear, but it was hoped to preserve them on the islands. It was estimated that there were only 1,000 bears in Victoria. (23)

However, fast forward ten years to 1943 and there were various conflicting reports and letters in the papers about the health of the koalas on Quail Island - they were either starving due to lack of feed or else they were in a state of good health. (24)  

In March 1944, The Age reported the Chief inspector of Fisheries and Game (Mr. Lewis) has recommended the transfer of a number of koalas from Phillip, Quail and Chinaman islands in the coming months. (25).  The next month The Herald could announce that the transfer of 700 koalas without any casualty from Phillip, Quail and Chinaman Islands to safer areas on the mainland was completed last week after a three weeks rush job by a big staff of employes of the Fisheries and Game Department, the Chief Inspector (Mr F. Lewis) said today.... The bears new homes were at Daylesford, Mount Alexander, Creswick, Strathbogie, Rufly, Trentham, Kyneton, Coranderrk and Buchan, the last four being new reserves for the animals. The Kyneton site was part of the Black Hill reserve and that at Trentham part of the Wombat Forest. (26) 

There is an interesting film on YouTube, Koalas removed from Quail Island, filmed around 1944, about the removal of the koalas to a site near Trentham. You can view it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IEhbC6M7EA

Koala in crate which is being transferred from French Island to Quail Island

Argus newspaper collection of photographs, State Library of Victoria Image H2004.100/1011

It appears that there were still Koalas on Quail Island in the 1950s  (27) and in August 1960 the Regulations for the care, protection and management at the Chinaman Island and Quail Island Koala Reserves  was gazetted, so presumably there must have been some koalas to protect. (28)  Are there still Koalas on the Island?

Regulations for Quail and Chinaman Islands

Victoria Government Gazette, August 24, 1960, p. 2890

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1960/V/general/82.pdf

There was talk in the early 1960s of turning Quail Island into a jetport but, as we know, that never happened. 

Quail Island to be a  jetport

The Age,  July 6, 1962 p. 9 from Newspapers.som

This map shows Quail Island; Watson Inlet to the east of the island and Rutherford Inlet to the west. The towns of Hastings, Tyabb, Somerville, Pearcedale and Tooradin are shown clock-wise from bottom left. South of Quail island is French Island and just north of French Island is Barrillier Island, named for the surveyor from the Lady Nelson.

Image cropped from  - Australia 1:126,720. Sheet J55N, I & II. Victoria, Berwick prepared by Australian Section, Imperial General Staff; surveyed in 1920 by Survey Section, R.A.E.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/115229 

Quail Island is now a Nature Conservation Reserve and some of the waters around it are part of the Yaringa Marine National Park. Quail Island and Watson Inlet are also of State Geomorphological Significance - you can read about this, here on the Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website. The VRO is is no longer being updated and is now archived. This is what it says  -

Geology/Geomorphology: Watson inlet is funnel-shaped with a main central tidal drainage system and many small tributary tidal creeks. The entire inlet is mangrove fringed and landward of this is a wide salt marsh zone. There is a tidal watershed at the head of the tidal creeks linking Watson Inlet and Rutherford Inlet north of Quail Island. Quail Island preserves an undisturbed topography developed on Cranbourne Sands, with important examples of the associated inter-dune swamps and lakes. There are relict sandy spits and beaches behind a broad mangrove fringe. On the eastern shore of the island, opposite the Warneet jetty, erosion of the edge of the salt marsh exposes a former gravel beach resting on the eroded surface of the Warneet Beds.

Significance: State. This is the least disturbed mangrove and salt marsh area on the mainland shore of Westernport Bay. It is a major site in Victoria to study the nature of sedimentation in a mangrove environment and the role of the mangroves in prompting sediment accumulation. The area of Cranbourne Sands topography is one of the largest of these areas left undisturbed in the Westernport region. The relict sandy spits are of similar significance to that described at Bungower Point (Site 79) [near Hastings] (29)

I wonder how many Quail are still on the island and if they are the descendants of the ones that a shepherd or stock keeper probably, once took to rearing on the Island. (30)

Trove List - I have created a list of newspaper articles connected to Quail Island, on Trove, you can access the list, here.

Footnotes

(1) Cole, Valda Western Port Chronology 1798-1839: Exploration to Settlement (Shire of Hastings Historical Society, 1984)

(2) The Australasian, May 14, 1870, see here.

(3) Banks, Peggy Crouch's Beach , from camp to coastal village, Warneet (The Author, 1995) p. 36.

(4) The Age, August 11, 1864, see here.

(5) The Argus, February 26, 1861, see here.

(6) Victorian Farmers Journal, August 10, 1861, see here.

(7) The Argus, November 1, 1865, see here.

(8) The Age, August 14, 1867,  see here.

(9) Watson, James Personal Recollections of Melbourne in the 'Sixties. This was a look at various events and activities of the 1860s including this story - Dipping Sheep on Quail Island. The story was published in the Victorian Historical Magazine, v. 12, June 1928 available on-line at the State Library of Victoria. See more here.

(10) The Argus July 7, 1868, see here.  

(11) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968), p.171

(12) Reports of the fire - The Age, February 1, 1898, see here; The Argus, February 2, 1898,  see here.

(13) The Age, September 24, 1890, see here

(14) The Argus, January 6, 1893, see here.

(15) Gunson, op. cit., p. 121.

(16) The Age, February 1, 1898, see here

(17) Gunson, op. cit; Margaret Callanan's obituary - Mornington Standard, January 27, 1917, see here.

(18) The Argus, May 29, 1909,  see here.

(19) Victoria Government Gazette, March 21, 1928, p. 1041, see here.

(20) The Argus, January 15, 1930, see here.

(21) The Herald, May 26, 1932, see here.

(22) The Age, April 26, 1933,  see here.

(23) The Argus, June 10, 1933, see here.

(24) See articles in my Trove list, here.

(25) The Age, March 1, 1944, see here.

(26) The Herald, April 24, 1944,  see here.

(27) The Age, May 10, 1952, see here.

(28) Victoria Government Gazette, August 24, 1960, p. 2890, see here.

(29) Victorian Resources Online  https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/portregn.nsf/pages/port_lf_sig_sites_watson

(30) The Australasian, May 14, 1870, see here.

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

Dipping sheep on Quail Island, Western Port in 1866 by James H. Watson

On June 20, 1927, James H. Watson (1), the President of the Royal Australian Historical Society, Sydney presented a paper to the Historical Society of Victoria - Personal Recollections of Melbourne in the 'Sixties. It was a look at various events and activities of the 1860s including this story - Dipping Sheep on Quail Island. The story was published in the Victorian Historical Magazine, v. 12, June 1928 available on-line at the State Library of Victoria (2). It transcribed below.

The trip to Quail Island took place in 1866 (3). Of interest is a description of Cranbourne at that time and a confession that he was actually responsible for the first release of rabbits onto the Island. 

Dipping sheep on Quail Island by James H. Watson. 

The writer starts the story that he was offered a plantation on a small island in Fiji, but he turned the offer down due to his lack of experience. He then continues the story -
Another island, however, came into view a little later, and one that was nearer home. On it I put in some hard work for six months, and all I got out of it was experience. The fellow passenger that I came ashore with (who has been dead for fifty years and left neither kith nor kin) some little while after our arrival leased Quail Island in Western Port, and put some sheep on it. He had had no experience of stock, and on a visit to me, explained that, if he had a mate, he thought he could make a good thing of it for both of us, my stock-in-trade being youth, strength, and willingness. I agreed to go. I well remember the day, for it was the day the news of the loss of the London (4) reached Melbourne in March, 1866.

We took coach at an hotel in Queen-street, the route being along the St. Kilda-road, turning into the Dandenong-road, passing through Dandenong to the termination of the journey at Cranbourne. I do not know whether the township, as it was called, has grown since the railway went to it, but, when I last saw it, 60 years ago, it consisted of the hotel (a long low weatherboard house, the host being named Duff (5)), the central point of the district. The next was the store, where anything that was wanted could be purchased. Then there was the Presbyterian Church, the minister of which was a brother of the landlord of the hotel (6). Two or three small cottages, and the ruins of another with a big stone bush chimney still standing, completed the town of Cranbourne. The ruined cottage is mentioned because in it lived, or rather existed, the local doctor - a clever man, but one who had the habit that many an otherwise good man has fallen a victim to. The minister kept his books and instruments, and, for special cases, he was sobered up for a couple of days, the hotel being tabooed to him till he had completed the case in hand.

The Grantville coach at the Cranbourne Hotel established by Robert and Margaret Duff. This was the hotel which James Watson visited on his way to Quail Island in 1866.

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968)

Having arrived at the hotel, where horses to take us on had been left in the paddock, they were rounded up, and we set off to do the 11 miles which lay between the town and Quail Island, passing the fences of Mr Cameron's run (7), skirting the town, and following a track through the thick scrub over low hills down to the bight of Western Port. This island is directly behind, or north of, French Island, which stood up about 2 miles away. As the shores of the inlet at the crossing-place are low flats and treacherous to walk on, a thick track of tea-tree had been laid, so that the horses got safely to a sapling bridge that connected the island to the mainland. The total acreage was about 1,500 acres of flat open land on the south and timbered low hills on the north, with two good-sized water-holes or lagoons, which were the haunt of water-fowl and ducks. Mud flats lay all round the shore, covered with mangrove.

On this most unsuitable place were about 800 or 900 ewes, with a fair percentage of lambs, and 300 wethers. There were no fences, as there was no necessity for them. I soon learned that the wethers, which had been bought "stores," had brought the squatters' curse - scab - with them, and the whole flock was infected, and it was to help to eradicate this that my services were required. Preparations had been made by having a dip dug out, about 25 feet x 15 feet x 3 feet, on the margin of which several 400-gallon iron tanks were placed on stone foundations, and under which fires were made to boil the water. For several days water was carted in hogsheads on drays and sledges, till the dip was partly filled and the tanks were filled. This was very hard work, as the water had to be hand-loaded by bucket and the tanks filled from the drays in the same way. The dip was easily supplied direct from the hogsheads by pulling out the plug. The water was procured from the water-holes by backing the drays to a sapling jetty and filling the casks by a bucket and funnel. All this was most laborious work, and occupied half a dozen of us from morning till night, but the weather was fine and bright.

Before the dipping commenced, every sheep and lamb on the place had to be "dressed." We rounded them up from all parts of the island where they would be hidden away in the scrub. Our dogs had unfortunately been poisoned by the bait that had been set for eaglehawks which took the lambs, so we had to keep shouting to get them on the run and into a race at the stockyard, when, one by one, they were passed through our hands and dressed with spirits of tar.

The Swan, which transported the wool from Quail Island to Melbourne.

Image: Western Port Wrecks and Maritime Mishaps by Arthur E. Woodley (Lock Haven books, 1992)

I may here say, as I remarked previously, that the island was a most unsuitable place; this was so, because the flat damp ground on the shores gave the sheep foot-rot, and great numbers of them had to be treated for that before being "dressed" and dipped. I have overlooked the fact that all these had been shorn previous to the dip, the wool baled and sent by the regular Western Port trading cutter Swan, owned and sailed by a man named Lock (8), to Melbourne. The fires were made up and burning for the two days the dressing was being done. When that was over, the boiling water was run into the dip, with the result that there was a tepid bath, knee-deep, ready for the sheep, which were put through the race and seized by us who were standing in the water and thoroughly soused and rubbed and placed in a draining race at the opposite end to which they had entered. This took two days, the fires going to keep up the tepid heat. After this was completed and some weeks passed to allow the shear-marks to grow out of the wool and the colour of the dip to disappear (as the American Essence of Tobacco, which was the scab cure used in the dip, had discoloured it), a permit to travel was issued by the inspector (which was necessary before they could go on the roads), they were all sent to the Melbourne yards and sold. Then my days as an embryo squatter (as all kinds of graziers in those days were misnamed) came to an end, and I returned to town to take up again a business life.

I should have stated earlier that an incident occurred shortly after my arrival on the island which at the time was considered most laudable, but, if perpetrated now, would bring the strong arm of the law down on any who did it. It was the receipt of several cases of pairs of rabbits. They were purchased in Melbourne and came from Barwon Park, the station near Geelong of Mr. Thomas Austin (9), and were the offspring of some he had had sent to him in 1859 by the ship Lightning, his importation by that vessel consisting of 56 partridges, 4 hares, and 26 rabbits. As I knocked the lids off the cases, the rabbits scampered off into the scrub. I cannot remember how many there were, but I think about ten pairs. The result of the experiment I do not know.

I may add that Messrs. Herbert Power (10) and Reginald Bright (11) took up the island and had placed a big Highland Scot in charge before we left, as gamekeeper, the intention being to stock it with pheasants, partridges, &c. What success attended it I am unable to say.

Footnotes
(1) James Henry Watson (1841-1934). Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
(2) State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections
(3) Mr Watson wrote a letter to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald of February 20, 1926 on the subject of rabbits and said they released the rabbits on Quail Island in September 1866. Read letter here. See also Footnote 8.
(4) The London foundered in the Bay of Biscay with 220 drowned and 19 saved. Most of the passengers were Australians returning from England. Read accounts in The Argus of March 16, 1866, here and the Sydney Morning Herald of the same date, here.
(5) Robert Duff (1827 - 1861). Robert and his wife Margaret (c.1832 - 1902) established the Cranbourne Hotel, around 1860. It was in High Street, where Greg Clydesdale Square is now and was demolished around the 1970s. Read more, here (scroll to bottom of the post).
(6) Reverend Alexander Duff (1824-1890), read more here (scroll to bottom of the post).
(7) Alexander Cameron (1815 - 1881) took over the Mayune lease in 1851. At later land sales he purchased 592 acres, the Pre-emptive Right, on the corner of what is now Cameron Street and the South Gippsland Highway and renamed renamed the property Mayfield, read more in The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968)
(8) The cutter Swan and Captain Lock. The following information comes from Western Port Wrecks and Maritime Mishaps by Arthur E. Woodley (Lock Haven books, 1992) Captain John Lock was one of Phillip Island's pioneer settlers, who for a good many years contributed greatly to the early development of the Western Port area. In 1897 Captain Lock was presented with a bravery medal from the Royal Humane Society for rescuing the sole survivor of a boat upset, off Mornington. The Swan, built about 1815 as a French cutter, arrived in Tasmania about 1837 and traded between Tasmania and Victoria until Captain Lock purchased it in Hobart and converted it into a ketch. It was run down by the steamer Queenscliffe, off Cape Schanck in October 1906, fortunately with no loss of life. Interestingly, Arthur Woodley says that Captain John Lock did not commence trading to and from Western Port with the Swan until late 1868 or early 1869 which does not tally with Mr Watson's date of 1866. John Bamara Lock died August 8, 1908 aged 75 (death notice in The Leader August 15, 1908, see here).
(9) Thomas Austin (1815-1871), of Barwon Park, Winchelsea is 'credited' with introducing the rabbit into Australia. His wife Elizabeth (nee Harding, 1821-1910) was a philanthropist, who established the Austin Hospital in 1882. Read Thomas' Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here, and Elizabeth's here.
(10) Herbert Power - The son of Thomas Herbert Power (1801-1873) who took up the Eumemmerring Run in 1864 - the run went from around the Dandenong Creek all the way to Berwick. Power Road, Doveton is named after him. Herbert Power died in 1919, aged 83. You can read his obituary in the Australasian of June 7, 1919, here. You can read about the Eumemmerring run, here.
(11) Reginald Bright - a partner in the firm of Gibbs, Bright & Co. He arrived in Victoria in 1852 and died in London in 1920. There is a short obituary in the Darling Downs Gazette of September 17, 1920, see here.

A version of this post, which I transcribed and  researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. 

World War One Soldiers and a Nurse with connections to French Island

French Island is not part of any Local Government area, nor is it part of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, but you can see it from the Swamp, so that is reason enough to write about it. I have written a history of French Island, here. 

French Island Honour Board, in the War Memorial Hall

Image: Heather Arnold

This post looks at World War soldiers and a Nurse with connections to French Island. I have included  their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record at the National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

Most of these  people are listed on the French Island Honour Board, located at the French Island War Memorial Hall. There may be more who should be in this list, feel free to let me know. The main towns on French Island are Tankerton and Fairhaven.

This article from the Powlett Express said that there were 19 men 

who had enlisted by 1916

Powlett Express February 25 1916   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130662774

Bayford, Hugh Staynes (SN 1878) Hugh was 25 years old when he enlisted on February 7 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Sarah Bayford, who lived in Moreland. According to the Electoral Rolls Hugh had been  a farmer on French Island since 1909. Hugh was Wounded in Action on three occasions, including sustaining a gun shot wound to his right eye and Returned to Australia on November 8, 1918.

Bennetts, Albert Edward (SN 7029)  Albert enlisted on January 25, 1916 at the age of 34. He was a farmer from Fairhaven, had been born in Aldinga in South Australia and his next of kin was his brother, Ernest, who also lived at Fairhaven.  Albert Returned to Australia on June 2, 1919 and according to the Electoral Rolls returned to living on French Island.

Bond, Frederick William (SN 585)  Frederick was a 28 year old miner when he enlisted on September 5, 1914 at Rosebery Park in New South Wales. His next of kin was his father, James Bond, of French Island and after he passed way his mother Emma of North Fitzroy became the next of kin. Corporal Bond was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 27, 1915. His Roll of Honour Circular at the Australian War Memorial says that Frederick attended Perseverance School No. 3261 on French Island. His will left everything to his sister, Kathleen Sisson, of Tankerton. 

Report of the death of Corporal Bond

The Argus June 8, 1915   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1522685

Chapman, Albert Claude (SN 2790) A.C Chapman is listed on the Honour Board and there is an Albert Claude Chapman on the Electoral Roll at Fairhaven in 1918, occupation farmer so I presume they are the same people, however I cannot actually link Albert to French Island through any information in his service record. Albert enlisted on November 30, 1916 aged 32, his occupation was warehouseman, his address on enlistment was Hawthorn. Albert was born in England and his next of kin was his father who lived in London. Albert Returned to Australia January 25, 1919.

Chilcott, Frank William Leslie  (SN 5673) Frank enlisted on February 7, 1916 aged 24, he was a farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Margaret Chilcott, of French Island. Frank Returned to Australia on June 12, 1919.

Collinson, John Henry (SN Depot)   J. Henry Collinson is listed on the Honour Board and  the Electoral Roll lists a John Henry Collinson at Fairhaven from 1918 until 1927. I presume this is the same John Henry Collinson who enlisted on May 22 1915 at the age of 21. He was an electrician and his next of kin was his mother, Harriet, of  Hull in Yorkshire. John was discharged as unfit for military service on July 5, 1915 due to overlapping toes, the first toe on both feet overlap the big toe was the note on his record.

Collinson, Wilfred (SN 2210)  Wilfred was born in Hull, in Yorkshire in England, as was John, above, so I believe they were brothers. Wilfred enlisted at age of 19 on November 16, 1914. He was an Engineer and his father was his next of kin and he also lived in Hull. Wilfred Returned to Australia on April, 10 1919.There are two letters in Wilfred's file from Mrs Jean Harrop, Long View,  Tankerton  one dated May 26, 1919 and the other dated June 5 1919 (see below) asking for information about Wilfred. In one letter she writes I am intensely interested and would like correct information. The response was that they didn't have an official report on Collinson but if they did they would communicate with his next of kin, his father. I wonder who Mrs Harrop was? She was also connected to Alfred Pocock, below.

Letter from Mrs Jean Harrop enquiring about the well being of Wilfred Collinson.

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Cremin, J  The Honour Roll lists a J. Cremin and according to the National Archives there were only two Cremins who enlisted - John Francis Cremin (SN 593) and a Samuel Cremin (SN 369). There was however, a James Stuart Cremen (SN 838) who also enlisted. So if we eliminate Samuel then we are left with John and James. I think we can eliminate James Stuart Cremen as he was born, worked (as a crockery packer) and enlisted in Sydney, the surname spelling is irrelevant as I have seen lots of incorrect surnames on Honour Boards. That leaves us with John Francis Cremin (SN 593) John  was born in Scotland, his next of kin was his mother who lived in London. He enlisted on April 16, 1915 at Broadmeadows at the age of 21 and he was a Clerk. John married Ada May Lambourne in May 1917 when he was in England. John Returned to Australia on June 16, 1919 and the couple are listed in the Electoral Rolls in the 1920s as living in Prahran. Is John the J. Cremin listed on the Honour Roll? I can find nothing that connects him to French Island, but I feel that he's the most likely candidate,  but happy to be proven wrong.

Cuttriss, John  (SN 1135)  John was a 27 year old motor boatman of Fairhaven when he enlisted at the age of 27 on March 6, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Alfred, of Inverloch.  John Returned to Australia January 10, 1918 and was discharged on medical  grounds in August 1918, due to a gun shot wound to the right elbow. John was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to farm website, here.

Edhouse, Charles Edward (SN 333a)  Charles was a 21 year old farm hand when he enlisted on April 24, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, who lived in England.  His address on the Embarkation Roll was care of R. De La Haye, Fairhaven, French Island. Charles Returned to Australia July 9, 1919.

Gillings, Robert (SN 19847)  Robert was a 22 year old labourer, from French Island,  and he enlisted on November 23, 1915. Robert's next of kin was his father who lived in England. Robert married 19 year old Clare Maude Baxter in England on April 29, 1917. He Returned to Australia on February 19, 1919.

Griffiths, Ivor (SN 5377) Ivor was born in Wales and he enlisted on January 15, 1916 aged 24. He was a farmer from Tankerton and his next of kin was his sister, who lived in Cardiff. Ivor Returned to Australia December 12, 1918.

Haward, Martin Francis (SN 17859) Martin  enlisted on April 3, 1917, he was a 24 year old telephone mechanic. His next of kin was his father, Herbert Robertson Haward, of Tankerton. Martin Returned to Australia June 16, 1919. Martin had some connection to Footscray as he is listed in the Footscray Independent in the list of local recruits. Martin was born in Collingwood, his parents Herbert and Annie are in the Electoral Roll at French Island from 1909 and he gave his address as Tankerton on enlistment, but he did enlist in Footscray, so I presume he was working and living in the area, which would make sense as he was telephone mechanic and there was probably not much call for that on French Island. His next of kin later changed to his wife, Helena, and she lived in Paisley Street in Footscray. They married in 1917, obviously after his enlistment.

Martin listed as a local recruit in Footscray

Footscray Independent February 10, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/74256014

Hill, James (SN 2782) - see below under Charles Williams.

Iliff, George Robert (SN 1734) George enlisted on May 20, 1915, he was a 22 year old labourer. He served overseas but suffered a number of bouts of disease and Returned to Australia on October 17, 1916 and was medically discharged in April 1917.
Iliff, Joseph Ludwig (SN 6334) Joseph was a 29 year old farm labourer when he enlisted on October 25, 1916. He Returned to Australia August 8, 1919.
Iliff, William Charles (SN 1137) William enlisted at the age of 24 on July 28 1915. He Returned to Australia April 8, 1919. William was granted a Soldier Settlement farm after his return on Eight Mile Road at Nar Nar Goon - you can read about this on the Battle to Farm website here.
George, Joseph and William were brothers and their next of kin was their mother, Bertha, of Tankerton. Their father, Joseph, had died in 1905.

Leppke, William. William Leppke is listed on Discovering Anzacs website as having enlisted in 1915 when he was living on French Island. His official record has not been digitised and is part of the National Archives Series 'Applications to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force' which covers 'records for those individuals who applied to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, and were either rejected, discharged while still in training, or went on to serve within Australia only [usually as depot troops or camp guards]. The most common reason for rejection is on medical grounds'. So apart from the fact that he was 28 years old and born in East Prussia, that's all I know about him. 

Lovie, William Wallace (SN 14077) William enlisted on February 1, 1916 at the age of 21. He was from Fairhaven, a farmer,  and his next of kin was his father John Francis Taylor Lovie, also of Fairhaven. He Returned to Australia on June 2, 1919.

William returned to French Island after the War, he wrote this letter from his property Bonnie Doon, in 1923.

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Maddaford, Alfred (SN 2035) Alfred enlisted on July 28, 1915 at the age of 26, he was a farmer. He was discharged on medical grounds in June 1916 as he had 'chronic epilepsy'
Maddaford, Richard James (SN 2949) Richard enlisted at the age of 28 on February 18, 1916 and his occupation was farm labourer. He was Killed in Action in France on April 24 1918. There was an article about his death in the Powlett Express, see below.
Richard and Alfred both had their sister Lily (sometimes spelt Lillie) as their next of kin. When Alfred enlisted her address was Ballarat (where they were born) but when Richard enlisted her address was Tankerton. However according to the Electoral Roll, in 1909 Richard and Lily were both on French Island and in 1912 Richard and Alfred were both living on French Island and Lily had moved back to Ballarat, but was obviously back on the Island by 1916.

Report on the death of Private Richard Maddaford

Powlett Express June 7 1918    http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130665657

Meade, Frederick John (SN 4730) Frederick was born in Cranbourne and was a 36 year old labourer and a widower and he enlisted on February 23, 1916. His address on the Embarkation roll is French Island and his next of kin was a friend, Miss Maggie D'Arth of Stony Point.  He was discharged on medical grounds in May 1916 due to multiple fistulas which caused an abscess. Frederick married Maggie and they had three children, Charles, Frederick and Vera and are listed on the Electoral Rolls at French Island, until at least 1936.

Nicholls, Richard Wilfred (SN 4154) Richard was only 18 when he enlisted on October 26, 1915. He was a farm labourer and had been born in Swansea in England.  His next of kin was his father, who lived in England and his address was c/o his friend, Miss Nellie Bond, of  Sproxton, Tankerton. Nellie was the sister of Frederick Bond, listed above, who was killed at Gallipoli and the sister-in-law to Ernest Sisson (see below). Richard was awarded the Military Medal and Returned to Australia on January 18, 1919. Richard married Violet Laura Cooper on July 10, 1917 when he was in England. 

Pocock, Alfred James William (SN 6883)  Alfred  enlisted at the age of  18 on February 12, 1917. He was born in England, occupation was farming labourer and his next of kin was his father of The Grange in Dandenong (although his Embarkation record says his father lived in View Street, Mont Albert) Alfred went overseas and was wounded in action in May 1918 (gun shot wound arm and left thigh) and he Returned to Australia on January 22, 1920. We can connect Albert to French Island as his enlistment paper  has his address as c/o Mrs Harrop, Tankerton, French Island, the  same Mrs Harrop who wrote two letters enquiring after the well being of Wilfred Collinson (see above) - in fact it's the same writing so she must have filled out Alfred's application form.

From Alfred Pocock's enlistment papers

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au   

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Ratford, John (SN 2982) John enlisted on February 5, 1916. He was a 22 year old labourer. John Returned to Australia on March 5, 1919. John was granted as Soldier Settlement on French Island, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.
Ratford, William John (SN 1493) William enlisted on August 24, 1914 at the age of 23. He was a farmer. On August 2, 1915 William received a gun shot wound to his femur and he Returned to Australia on December 4, 1915 and was medically discharged on April 11, 1916. William was also granted a Soldier Settlement farm, read his file here.
John and William are the sons of John and Mary Eliza (nee Roberts) Ratford of Tankerton.

There is an interesting account of  a cricket match between French Island and Tooradin in the Mornington Standard of May 17, 1919, which mentions the return of John Ratford to the team after an absence of three years at a more strenuous game. You can read the full article here.

Report on John Ratford's return to the French Island Cricket team

Mornington Standard May 17, 1919    http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65852539

Ross, Clara Louisa.  Matron Ross was born on French Island and she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on November 4, 1914. She was 40 years old and had over 21 years of nursing experience. She had trained at the Melbourne Hospital and had also worked at the Women's and Infectious Diseases Hospitals, as well as being the Matron at the Ararat Hospital.  Matron Ross served in Egypt and France and was awarded the Order of the British Empire medal (O.B.E) on June 3, 1919 in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the War. Clara also received the Royal Red Cross Decoration, 1st Class 'in recognition of her valuable services in connection with the War' on June 21, 1918. Clara Returned to Australia on August 22, 1919. Clara was the daughter of Alexander and Margaret (nee Ashenden) Ross and she died in Melbourne in 1953, aged 78.

Report on Matron Ross' award

The Sydney Sun September 15, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221419852

Sisson, Ernest William  (SN 6641) Ernest enlisted on February 17, 1916 at the age of 31. He was a farmer and a widower. Ernest had married Kathleen Bond in 1914 and she passed away in  April 1915 at the age of 26. Kathleen was the daughter of James and Emma (nee Witts) Bond and the sister of Frederick Bond, listed above. Ernest remarried when he was in England to Evaline Gillins and he Returned to Australia on May 12, 1918. Ernest was Medically Discharged on August 14, 1918, suffering from 'Myelogenenus Leukaemia.'  Ernest and Evaline are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Tankerton until at least 1954.

Thompson, William (SN 61937) William was 23 when he enlisted on December 17, 1917. He was a 23 year old farmer and his next of kin was his father, Joseph, of Tankerton. He embarked from Melbourne on October 5, 1918, arrived at Cape Town in South Africa in early November, where he was in hospital with the measles and then Returned to Australia on December 4, 1918.

Toebelmann, Arnold (SN 613) Arnold was born on French Island and he enlisted on March 25, 1916 at the age of 19. He was a nursery hand. He was the son of  Johann and Amelia Toebelmann of Moorooduc. Because Arnold's father was born in Germany,  but was naturalised, it appears he had to get a reference from the local Council, to prove he was a fit and loyal subject. Arnold was Killed in Action in Belgium on October 4, 1917

Arnold's reference from the Shire of Frankston and Hastings.

National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Walden, Charles William (SN 20362) Charles was a 23 years farm labourer when he enlisted on September 1, 1915. Charles got married when he was overseas in April 1919 and Returned to Australia on July 23, 1919. His wife's name was listed as Minnie Maria Walden, so did he marry a cousin or was it just a coincidence that they had the same surname?
Walden, Henry (SN 6137) Henry enlisted on March 8, 1916 at the age of 21, he was also a farm labourer. He served overseas and sustained a gun shot wound to his right thigh on August 23, 1918 and Returned to Australia December 12, 1918.
Charles was born in Cheshire in England and Henry in Barry Island in Wales and they were the sons of Charles William and Caroline Florence Walden of Tankerton. 

Williams, Charles (SN 5782) Charles enlisted on February 17, 1916, he was a 24 year old farmhand from Tankerton. He was born in London and his next of kin was his mother, Mary, who lived in London. Charles was Wounded in Action (gun shot wound, right thigh) on December 22, 1916, which required his leg to amputated and he passed away on January 12, 1917. There is a Statuary Declaration in his military file signed on September 11, 1916, where Charles states that his real name is James Hill, not Charles Williams. His Roll of Honour Circular at the Australian War Memorial, completed by his mother,  is under his real name and it says he came to Australia when he was 21 years old and that he was 28 when he died, which doesn't tally with his age on enlistment. It would be interesting to know why he enlisted under  a false name.

Yeomans, J The French Island Honour Board lists a J. Yeomans, not sure who this is. Possibilities are - 

Joseph Yeomans (SN 332)

John William Yeomans (SN Depot)

Lieutenant Julian Clyde Yeoman

James Yeoman (SN Depot)

James Yeoman (SN 1696) 

Captain John Stanhope Yeoman. 

I cannot connect any of them to French Island.

This memorial is outside the War Memorial Hall at Tankerton. It lists the Great War Soldiers on the left and the World War Two soldiers and one Boer War soldier, J. Christopherson, on the right. 

Image: Heather Arnold

The Boer War soldier - J. Christopherson is John Arnold Christopherson ( 1835-1927). He was a French Island resident - from, I believe around 1893, and had previously been a school teacher in Collingwood and Richmond. John was an officer in the Victorian Volunteer Force and the Second Battalion of Militia Rifles and retired from his commission (he attained the rank of Major) in December 1888. He was also in the Victorian Rifle Association, involved with the School Cadet Force, but he never served in the Boer War in South Africa. He was always referred to as Major Christopherson, so perhaps that's why it was assumed he served there. I will write about him one day, in the meanwhile, I have created  a short list of articles on him on Trove, here. 

A version of this story, which I wrote and researched,  appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years