Who lived in Koo Wee Rup in 1903?

In another post, we looked how lived in Garfield in 1903 (see here)  now we'll look at who lived in Koo Wee Rup, in 1903.  Once again this information is taken from the Commonwealth Electoral Rolls, which in 1903 are listed by Polling Place and the Koo Wee Rup Roll covers Koo Wee Rup and Yallock, the settlement which was based around Finck Road, School Road, Hall Road etc in what is now called Bayles. The rolls tell you the name of the person enrolled; they had to be 21 to enroll, and their occupation. From the roll we can tell who lived in Koo Wee Rup and Yallock in 1903.

In 1903 there were 284 people listed on the Roll – 212 from Koo Wee Rup and 72 from Yallock, there were 138 women and 146 men.  As you would expect the major occupation was farming – there were 109 farmers, including three women, Elizabeth Fraser of Koo Wee Rup and Annie Yeaman and Helen Reitchel both of Yallock. According to the Cranbourne Shire Rate books many of the farms were only 20 acres, with over half being 40 acres or under. There were also five graziers listed - Charles and William Moody of Koo Wee Rup, Henry and John Lyall of Yallock and Henry Beattie also of Yallock. I don’t know what qualified a person to call themselves a grazier – if it was based on acres, then the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books list Beattie with 1,193 acres and Charles Moody with 647 acres, however Charles’ brother Christopher had over 1,800 acres and he called himself a farmer, so maybe one branch of the family thought they were more gentrified than the other.

Rossiter Road from what is now Alexandra Avenue, Koo Wee Rup, 1903.

Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society photo

The other occupations give us some insight into the commercial activities in the town at the time – Koo Wee Rup had Robert Laidlaw the blacksmith; Patrick Bergin the boot maker; Henry Woodman, the butcher; Michael O’Shea, a carrier; Abraham Choury, the draper; William Kilgour, a gardener; Alfred Wilkson, a saddler; George Dempster, the Station Master and Charles Barbour, a railway employee. There were 20 men who had Labourer listed as an occupation. We also had two teachers - Grace McKenzie and John Minahan. Mrs McKenzie started at the Koo Wee Rup State School No. 2629 (then called the Yallock school, out on Bethune’s Road) in 1888 and was there until 1911. Her husband George is listed on the roll as an Engineer. Koo Wee Rup had three grocers – Elizabeth O’Riordan, James Rundle and John Sykes.

Of the 138 women listed, 132 had their occupation listed as the all purpose “Home Duties” – including both Helen and Florence Lyall, the daughters of William and Annabella Lyall of Harewood, this is in spite of the fact that they both held land in their own names, Helen had at least 250 acres. The Cranbourne Rate Books has “Lady” as their occupation – which I presume means that they were of independent means and didn’t need to work. The other six women were the three farmers, the grocer Elizabeth O’Riordan, Mrs McKenzie and finally Clara May Allardyce, of Yallock, who was listed as a Governess.

The Electoral Rolls give us an interesting insight into our region and many of the names from 1903 are still remembered in the area by road names or some of their descendants are still around - Bethune, Burhop, Gilchrist, Johnston, Lineham, Lyall, Mickle, Moody, Rossiter, Ware, Woodman etc.

The first Federal election in Australia took place in March 1901, and was conducted according to the voting legislation in each State. This Parliament enacted the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902, which gave the vote to most adults - both males and females - who were British subjects over the age of 21. The first election under this Act took place on Wednesday, December 16, 1903.  We should appreciate the fact that women, including the 138 Koo Wee Rup and Yallock women listed on the 1903 roll, were eligible to enrol to vote and stand as candidates. This didn't happen in England until 1918, when women over 30 got the right to vote (women over 21 got the right to vote in 1929). In the United States women couldn't vote until 1920 and there are still countries in the world where women cannot vote. As a matter of interest, women in Victoria could not vote in a State election until 1908, and Victoria was the last State to give them this right – South Australia was 1894, Western Australia 1899, New South Wales 1902, Tasmania 1903 and Queensland 1905.*  

This is the list of the 184 people on the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup and Yallock in 1903.

Alexander,  James Yallock Labourer

Allardyce,  Clara May Yallock Governess

Anderson,  Mary Ellen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Barbour,  Charles William Koo-Wee-Rup  Railway employee

Beattie,  Henry Yallock Grazier

Beattie,  Alice Yallock Home Duties

Bergin,  Patrick Alexander Koo-Wee-Rup   Boot maker

Bethune,  John Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Bethune,  Norman McLeod Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Bethune,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Bethune,  Janet Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Binge,  James   Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Binge,  Harriet Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Brains,  Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Brown,  Margaret Yallock Home Duties

Brown.  William Yallock Invalid

Burhop,  Frrderick William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Burhop,  Henry Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Burns,  Francis Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Burns,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Burns,  Joseph  Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Burns,  Patrick Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Callanan, John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Callanan,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Chamberlain,  William Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Chamberlain,  Jane  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Charman,  Charles Herbert Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Charman,  Stephen  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Charman,  Stephen Herbert Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Charman,  Eveline May  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Charman,  Mary Frances Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Choury,  Abraham  Koo-Wee-Rup  Draper

Choury,  Thekla Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Conlan,  Alfred Yallock Labourer

Connor,  Barclay George Koo-Wee-Rup   Overseer

Conway,  Sarah Frances  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Conway,  Matthew  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Cooper,  George  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Cooper,  Elizabeth  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Courtney,  Rosetta  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Courtney,  Robert  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Cox,  Arthur James  Yallock Farmer

Cox,  Burton James Yallock Farmer

Cox,  William  Yallock Farmer

Cox,  Daisy  Yallock Home Duties

Cox,  Mary Jane Yallock Home Duties

Craig,  David Sherwood Farmer

Craig,  Agnes Sherwood Home Duties

Curry,  Dennis Joseph Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Curry,   Sarah  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Davey,  John  Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Davey,  Sarah Elizabeth  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Davis,  Charles James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Davis,  Francis Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Davis,  John Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Davis,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup    Home Duties

Davis,  Mary Hannah Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

De Vries,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

De Vries,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dempster,  Alice Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dempster,  George   Koo-Wee-Rup  Station Master

Donaldson,  John Walter  Yallock Farmer

Donaldson,  Mary Jane  Yallock Home Duties

Douglas,  Louis Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Dunlop,  Alexander  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Dunlop,  John  Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Dunlop,  Matthew Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Dunlop,  Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Annabella  Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Dunlop,  Florerence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Martha Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Dunlop,  Mary Jane Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Egan,  Denis Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Egan,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Ellis,  Henry Ernest Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Ellis,  Jemina Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Emmott,  Joseph Samuel Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Emmott,  Alphina Theodora Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Ferguson,  Edward Reginald Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Finch,  Louis Wilhelm Yallock Farmer

Finch,  Elizabeth Mary Yallock Home Duties

Fraser,  Elizabeth    Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Gale,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Galtier,  Louisa Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Garnham,  John Yallock Farmer

Garnham,  Jessie Yallock Home Duties

George,  Stephen Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

George,  Eliza   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

George,  Miriam Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gilchrist,  Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  Margaret  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  Margaret  Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gilchrist,  William  Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Glen,  Robert  Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Glen,  Elizabeth   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gorman,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Graham,  Ann Yallock Home Duties

Gray,  David Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  John Kersey Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  Richard Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Gray,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gray,  Margaret Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gray,  Sticia Maud Yallock Home Duties

Griffiths,  Cornelius Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Griffiths,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gruber,  Sarah Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Gudgin,  William Yallock Farmer

Gudgin,  William Yallock Farmer

Gudgin,  Elizabeth Yallock Home Duties

Haar,  Ernest Yallock Farmer

Haar,  Caroline Yallock Home Duties

Hackett,  Marion Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hackett,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Hahesy,  Richard Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Hahesy,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hamilton,  Henry Campbell Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Hamilton,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hargraves,  Albert  Koo-Wee-Rup Labourer

Harrold,  Elizabeth  Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Hatty,  James Craig Yallock Farmer

Hatty,  William John Yallock Farmer

Hatty,  William John Yallock Farmer

Hatty,  Augusta Yallock Home Duties

Himbeck, Edward Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Himbeck, Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Hudson, James Johnston Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Hudson, Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Huges, Thomas John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Huges, Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Izzard, Charles Yallock Farmer

Jenkins, Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Jenkins, Annabella   Koo-Wee-Rup  Home Duties

Johnston, Joseph Spencer Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Johnston, William  Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Johnston, William Frank Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Johnston, Barbara Hay Taylor Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Johnston,  Isabella Donald Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Johnston,  Jessie Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Johnston,  Isaac Henry Koo-Wee-Rup  Labourer

Johnston,  Louis Mitchell Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Jones,  John William Yallock Farmer

Jones,  Isabella Yallock Home Duties

Jones,  Mary Ann Yallock Home Duties

Kane,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Kane,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Kerr,  Clara May Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Kilgour,  William   Koo-Wee-Rup Gardener

Kilgour,  Margaret   Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Killeen,  Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Killeen,  Maria Theresa   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Kirwin,  Thomas Yallock Farmer

Kirwin,  Elizabeth Yallock Home Duties

Laidlaw,  Robert Koo-Wee-Rup   Blacksmith

Laidlaw,  Margaret   Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lineham,  William   Yallock   Farmer

Lineham,  Annie   Yallock   Home Duties

Longmore,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Longmore,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Longmore,   John Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Lyall,  John Mickle Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Lyall,  Edwin Yallock Grazier

Lyall,  John A.A. Yallock Grazier

Lyall,  Annabella Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Cecile Garnet Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Florence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Lyall,  Eugenia Christina Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Helen Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Julia Anderson Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Margaret Helen Yallock Home Duties

Lyall,  Victoria Lavinia Yallock Home Duties

Mahon,  Darius Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Mahon,  Bridget Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mahon,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mallcott,  William James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Mallcott,  Mary Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Marshall,  Samuel Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Marshall,  Mary Jane Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Matthews,  Frank Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Matthews,  Sarah Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McCarthy,  Daniel Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McCarthy,  Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McDonald,  Cyril Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McDonald,  Hugh Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McDonald,  Jane Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McGregor,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McGregor,  Josephine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McKenzie,  George Secundus Koo-Wee-Rup   Engineer

McKenzie,  Grace Scott Koo-Wee-Rup   Teacher

McLean,  Christina Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McLennan,  Annie Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McLeod ,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McLeod,  William John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

McLeod,  Mary Isabella Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

McLeod,  Hugh Johnston Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

McNamara,  James   Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

McNamara,  Annie   Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Mickle,  David Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Mickle,   John Alexander Koo-Wee-Rup  Farmer

Mickle,  Alice Martha Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mickle,  Laura Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Milroy,  James Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Minahan,  Kate Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Minahan,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Teacher

Moody,  Christopher Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Moody,  Christopher John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Moody,  Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Grazier

Moody,  William Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Grazier

Moody,  Cecelia Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Moody,  Edith Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Moody,  Elizabeth Mary Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Mortenson,  Florence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Nichols,  William James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Nichols,  William James Yallock Farmer

Nichols,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Nichols,  Susan Yallock Home Duties

O'Brien,  John  Thomas Yallock Farmer

O'Donnell,  Michael Yallock Farmer

O'Donnell,  Margaret Yallock Home Duties

O'Neil,  John Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

O'Neil,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

O'Riordan,  Elizabeth Koo-Wee-Rup   Grocer

O'Shea,  Michael John Koo-Wee-Rup   Carrier

O'Shea,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

O'Toole,  Patrick Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

O'Tool,   Mary Tracy Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Parker,  George Yallock Labourer

Patrick,  David Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Patrick,  James Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Patrick,  Martha Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Patrick,  Mary   Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Patrick,  Rosetta Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Powis,  Edward Yallock Farmer

Pretty,  Thomas Scott Yallock Farmer

Pretty,  Emma Yallock Home Duties

Reid,  Henry Charles Yallock Farmer

Reid,  Matilda Yallock Home Duties

Reitchel,  Helen Yallock Farmer

Reynolds,  Bernard William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Reynolds,  Annie Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Rossiter,  Edward August Yallock Farmer

Rossiter,  Helen Louisa Yallock Home Duties

Rundle,  James Charles Koo-Wee-Rup   Grocer

Rundle,  Jessie Koo-Wee-Rup Home   Duties

Saunders,  William Henry Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Saunders,  Margaret Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Scanlan,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Scanlan,  Ellen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Scharf,  Henry Yallock Farmer

Sharman,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Simmill,  Charles Yallock Farmer

Simmill,  Federick Herbert Yallock Farmer

Simmill,  Samuel Yallock Farmer

Simmill,  Alice Clare Yallock Home Duties

Simmill,  Florence Yallock Home Duties

Smith,  George Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Smith,  Mary Koo-Wee-Rup Home Duties

Speers,  Thomas Isaac Koo-Wee-Rup Farmer

Stevens,  James Yallock Farmer

Stevens,  Maria Yallock Home Duties

Stokes,  Helen Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Stokes,  Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Sykes,  John Thomas Koo-Wee-Rup   Grocer

Sykes,  Mary Annie Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Talman,  William Koo-Wee-Rup   Labourer

Tierney,  Patrick Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Tierney,  Catherine Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Ware,  Charles Joseph Yallock Farmer

Ware,  Brewis Yallock Farmer

Ware,  Christina Yallock Home Duties

Ware,  Georgina Yallock Home Duties

Wilkinson,  Mary Yallock Home Duties

Wilkson,  Agnes Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Wilkson,  Alfred W Koo-Wee-Rup   Saddler

Woodman,  Henry Koo-Wee-Rup   Butcher

Woodman,  Albert Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Woodman,  Charles Edward Koo-Wee-Rup   Farmer

Woodman,  Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Woodman,  Emily Ann Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Woodman,  Florence Koo-Wee-Rup   Home Duties

Yeaman,  Annie Yallock Farmer

To see who lived in Garfield in 1903, click here.

* https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2022/June/Womens_suffrage

Who lived in Garfield in 1903?

The 1903 Commonwealth Electoral Rolls are listed by Polling Place and the Bunyip Polling Place covers Garfield, Bunyip and Tynong. What the list tells you is the name of the person enrolled and their occupation. I have extracted the Garfield information from this roll (which is available on Ancestry database) and there were 174 people enrolled with Garfield as their address of which 76 are women and 98 are men. You had to be 21 to enrol at that time. So, who did live in Garfield in 1903?

As you would expect, most of the men were engaged in farming activities - there were 48 farmers. Some of these farming families are now remembered in the names of local roads such as Brownbill, Campbell, Archer and Brew. According to the Shire of Berwick Rate Books the farms ranged in size from 15 acres to over 400 acres with John Lamble having 454 acres and William Shreeve 434 acres. Other occupations listed included two farm hands, four orchardists - William Ellis, John James, Robert Weir Smith (Junior) and William Weir Smith. Albert and George Marshall are listed as being a Station Manager and a Grazier. The Shire of Berwick Rate Books show the Marshalls owned 318 acres which doesn’t seem large enough to qualify as a Station.

The female pupils at Garfield State School, c. 1900-1910.

State Library of Victoria Image H2008.13/15

The occupations also give us some idea of the commercial structure of Garfield in 1903. There were three bakers - George Bird, Thomas Farrington and Charles Magnus; two blacksmiths - George Park and William Ritchie; two butchers - Charles Routley and William Walker. Charles Lobb is listed as a draper, George Archer, Russell Perl and Alfred Wild are storekeepers and William Campbell is listed as a grocers assistant. George and Thomas Ellis were produce merchants, Charles Regester was a driver; Joseph Rutledge was a saddler, Phillip Knight was an agent and James Towt was a contractor.

Advertisement for George and Thomas Ellis, Produce Merchants

South Bourke & Mornington Journal August 12, 1903 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66140604

Reflecting the growth in the area at the time there was one builder, Robert Weir Smith (Senior) and three carpenters – Ingebert Gunnulson, Samuel Harvey and Phillip Leeson. Joseph Jefferson is listed as a brick maker and John Jefferson as a wood merchant. To satisfy the grooming needs of Garfield, Percy Malcolm was the hairdresser and John Daly, the school teacher, took care of educational needs.

School teacher, John Daly, was also the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Garfield. 

He was appointed September 1899.

Victoria Government Gazette, September 15, 1899. p. 3537.

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1899/V/general/75.pdf

There were several unusual occupations – Thomas Chippindall is listed as Crown Lands Bailiff; he was employed by the Department of Lands and Survey. Joseph Walker is described as being of Independent means, William Hewitt was an old age pensioner and David Brunt is described as a maltster, which is a beer maker. There were two railway employees - Robert Brewer and Charles Mason.

Appointment of Thomas Chippindall, and others,  as Crown Lands Bailiff

Victoria Government Gazette, August 30 1902, p 3486. 

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1902/V/general/98.pdf 

What about the women? Of the 76 women all had home duties listed as their occupation, except for Florence Mason, the wife of Charles, who is listed as the Post Mistress. This all purpose description of "Home Duties" would not reflect the real role women played in helping to run the family farm or business. Elizabeth Williamson, listed on the Roll, owned 299 acres so was a major landowner in the area, but her occupation was still listed as "home duties". 

The first Federal election in Australia took place in March 1901, and was conducted according to the voting legislation in each State. This Parliament enacted the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902, which gave the vote to most adults - both males and females - who were British subjects over the age of 21. The first election under this Act took place on Wednesday, December 16, 1903.  We should appreciate the fact that women, including the 76 Garfield women listed on the 1903 roll, were eligible to enrol to vote and stand as candidates. This didn't happen in England until 1918, when women over 30 got the right to vote (women over 21 got the right to vote in 1929). In the United States women couldn't vote until 1920 and there are still countries in the world where women cannot vote. As a matter of interest, women in Victoria could not vote in a State election until 1908, and Victoria was the last State to give them this right – South Australia was 1894, Western Australia 1899, New South Wales 1902, Tasmania 1903 and Queensland 1905.*  

Here is the list of of the 174 people with a Garfield address in the 1903 Electoral Roll

Adamson,  Jessie Home Duties

Ahearn,  Patrick Farmer

Ahearn,  Bridget Home Duties

Alyward,  Margaret Home Duties

Archer,  Joseph Farmer

Archer,  Susan Home Duties

Archer,  George Storekeeper

Aspinall,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Barber,  Joseph Farmer

Barber,  Catherine Home Duties

Bird,  George Baker

Bird,   Grace Home Duties

Body,  John Farmer

Body,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Brew,  Robert Farmer

Brew,  William Arthur Farmer

Brew,  Margaret Home Duties

Brewer,  Janet Allen Home Duties

Brewer,  Margaret Ann Home Duties

Brewer,  Robert Railway employee

Brownbill,  George William Farmer

Brownbill,  Mary Home Duties

Brunt,  Alice Home Duties

Brunt,  David Maltster

Burrows,  James Farmer

Burrows,  Mary Home Duties

Campbell,  William Mortimer Grocers Assistant

Campbell,  Henrietta Home Duties

Campbell,  John Labourer

Cantieni,   Alice Allen Home Duties

Chippindall,  Thomas Edward Crown Lands Bailiff

Daly,  John Joseph School Teacher

Edis,  Frederick Herbert Farmer

Edis,  Annie Home Duties

Edis,  Charles De Linea Farmer

Edmiston,  Annie Home Duties

Ellis,  Helen   Home Duties

Ellis,  Helen Jane Home Duties

Ellis ,  Theresa Ann Home Duties

Ellis,  William Orchardist

Ellis,  George William Produce Merchant

Ellis,  Thomas John Produce Merchant

Farrell,  Patrick Farmer

Farrell,  Julia Home Duties

Farrington,  Thomas Baker

Fentrill,  Samuel Thomas Labourer

Fox,  John Farmer

Fox,  Ellen Home Duties

Gaghin,  Michael Farmer

Gaghin,  Annie Home Duties

Gullick,  John Farmer

Gullick,  Lilian Home Duties

Gunnulson,  Ingebert Carpenter

Gunnulson,  Mary Home Duties

Hardwick,  David Farmer

Hardwick,  Janet Allen Home Duties

Hardwick,  David Oudgtrig Labourer

Hardwick,  John William Labourer

Hardwick,  Robert Watson Labourer

Harvey,  Samuel Francis Carpenter

Harvey,  Laura Home Duties

Heagney,  Thomas Farmer

Heagney,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Hewitt,  Martha Jane Home Duties

Hewitt,  William Old-age Pensioner

Hogan,  John Joseph Farmer

Hourigan,  Henry Arthur Farmer

Hourigan,  Valentine John Farmer

Hourigan,  Catherine Home Duties

Hourigan,  Mary Home Duties

James,  John Orchardist

Jefferson,  Joseph Brick maker

Jefferson,  Marion Ethel Home Duties

Jefferson,  John Henry Wood Merchant

Johnson,  Thomas William Farmer

Johnson,  Matilda Home Duties

Jolley,  Joshua Farmer

Jolley,  Harriet Home Duties

Keppel,  Jeremiah Farmer

Keppel,  Mary Home Duties

Knight,  Philip Sidney Agent

Lamble,  John Farmer

Lamble,   Amelia Jane Home Duties

Leeson,  Phillip Carpenter

Leeson,  Amelia Home Duties

Leeson,  Catherine Home Duties

Lewitzka,  Mary Home Duties

Lobb,  Charles Guerney Draper

Magnus,  Charles Edward Baker

Malcolm,  Percy Hairdresser

Marshall,  George Grazier

Marshall,  Albert Edgar James Station Manager

Mason,  Florence Clara Post Mistress

Mason,  Charles Dexter Railway employee

Mathews,  James Farmer

Mathews,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Maybury,  William Martin Farmer

Maybury,  Louise Olive Home Duties

McLean,  Julia Home Duties

Middenway,  Stephen Cox Farmer

Middenway,  Emma Home Duties

Middenway,  Gerritt Henderick Labourer

Miller,  Luke Farmer

Miller,  Fannie Home Duties

Murphy,  John Farmer

Murphy,  Eleanor Home Duties

Olsson,  John Emil Farmer

Park,  George Blacksmith

Park,  Annie Home Duties

Perl,  Florence Home Duties

Perl,  Russell Alfred Storekeeper

Pettman,  Ellen Home Duties

Pettman,  Frederick Labourer

Pettman,  Isaac William Labourer

Petty ,  William Michael Farmer

Pfau,  Jane Home Duties

Pitt,  Charles Farmer

Pitt,  Lily Home Duties

Quin,  Martin Farmer

Quin,  Ellen Home Duties

Quin,  Julia Home Duties

Regerster,  Charles Lee Driver

Ritchie,  William Blacksmith

Ritchie,  Mary Ann Home Duties

Routley,  Charles Thomas Butcher

Rutledge,  Margaret Home Duties

Rutledge,  Joseph James Saddler

Shipton,  Emma Sophia Home Duties

Shipton,  Jane Home Duties

Shipton,  Thomas Henry Labourer

Shreeve,  James Farmer

Shreeve,  William Farmer

Shreeve,  Alice Sarah Home Duties

Shreeve,  Emma Home Duties

Smith,  Robert Weir Senior Builder

Smith,  Jessie Home Duties

Smith,  Margaret Home Duties

Smith,  Sarah Jane Home Duties

Smith,  Robert Weir Junior Orchardist

Smith,  William Weir Orchardist

Snider,  Henry Carl Farmer

Stevens,  William Farm hand

Storen,  John Farmer

Sullivan, Patrick Labourer

Thompson,  Henry Farmer

Thompson,  Ellen Home Duties

Towt,  James Allett Contractor

Towt,  Edward Arthur Farmer

Towt,  James Farmer

Towt,  Sarah Jane Home Duties

Tully,  Lawrence Farmer

Tully,  Margaret Home Duties

Turner,  Henry Edwin Farmer

Vaughan,  Thomas Farmer

Vaughan,  Caroline Home Duties

Walker,  William Stanley Butcher

Walker,  Charlotte Home Duties

Walker,  Florence Home Duties

Walker,  Joseph Henry Independent means

Watson,  Joseph Farmer

Watson,  Sarah Jane Home Duties

Watts,  Ernest John Farmer

Watts,  Emmie Elizabeth Home Duties

Watts,  Rose Matilda Home Duties

White,  Mary Home Duties

Wild,  Alfred Storekeeper

Williams,  John M. Farm hand

Williams,  Edward Farmer

Williams,  Mary Jane Home Duties

Williamson,  Thomas George Farmer

Williamson,  Elizabeth Home Duties

Willing,  Adolph Christoph Farmer

Wilson,  Edwin Farmer

Wilson,  Sarah Home Duties

To see who lived in Koo Wee Rup in 1903, click here.

*  https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2022/June/Womens_suffrage

The Western Port Road

The Western Port Road started at Dandenong and traversed the old Shire of Cranbourne from Cranbourne to Tooradin to Tobin Yallock (the original Lang Lang township). This section is now known as the South Gippsland Highway. The road later continued onto Corinella and Bass and this section eventually became known as the Bass Highway. The section of road from Dandenong to Tooradin had obviously been passable to some extent as early as 1839 because we know that Samuel Rawson and Robert Jamieson overlanded their cattle to Tooradin in the December of that year and then continued on by boat to their Yallock Station on the Yallock Creek.

 
Niel Gunson in his book The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire* says it was fairly clearly defined by the 1850s, however it wasn’t until 1859 that a permanent roadway was surveyed which allowed access by wheeled traffic and livestock. In spite of this, Gunson writes that transporting stock from the Yallock Creek Station to Melbourne still took four days in the 1850s and 1860s. Even though the road was formed it wasn’t until 1868 that the section from Dandenong to Cranbourne was metalled.

The main problems with the road was the need to cross the inlets (such as Lyall’s and Moody’s Inlets) before bridges were constructed. In 1845, Edward Cockayne was given the right to operate a ferry service but he was a bit eccentric and unreliable and sometimes ignored the signals of the travellers (such as a lit fire or the firing of a pistol) so they were forced to spend a night marooned on the side of the inlet. His licence was finally cancelled in 1853. Cockayne occupied a hut where Harewood is now located and it is believed that the stables on the property date back to the time of Cockayne’s occupancy. Cockayne Inlet in Western Port Bay is named after Edward.

In 1864, a John Carson offered to conduct a ferry service, but this was declined by the Cranbourne Road Board. In 1865 James Smethurst erected two bridges over the Inlets, according to Gunson, I am not sure which Inlets he is referring to but the same year the mail contractor, John Murphy, complained about the state of the Yallock and Tobin Yallock bridges. The bridge at Tooradin was built in 1873.

However, people were resourceful in those days and traversing creeks and inlets didn’t stop commerce and the trappings of civilisation as on November 13, 1860 a weekly mail service was introduced to Corinella via Yallock and by 1865 there was a two day a week coach service from Cranbourne to the Bass River also via Corinella.

The southern end of the Western Port Road was constructed in the 1860s. Joseph White, author of the book One hundred years of history: Shire of Phillip Island and Woolamai 1875-1928, Shire of Bass 1928-1975** said the road was originally surveyed in 1862 and the first route from the settled areas near Tobin Yallock in the Shire of Cranbourne was by a cattle track that kept to the tops of the range as the coastal route was swampy and needed many creek crossings. The opening of the road led to settlement being opened up and as we said before the establishment of a Cobb & Co. coach service. Very little work was done on this section of the road until the Shire was formed in 1875 and it received another boost in 1913 when the Country Roads Board was established and took over responsibility for the road.

There was a report on the state of the Western Port Road in the Leader newspaper of September 19, 1874. The newspaper correspondent was talking about the development of the Grantville area and had this to say about the journey to the settlement.

A coach (Cobb's) leaves the Star Hotel from Dandenong every morning in week days. There is a very good metalled road from thence to the flourishing post town of Cranbourne - 9 miles - but the remainder of the road from the latter place here is simply execrable. Some portions of it are even worse than execrable, for they are, in this season of the year, and the three months just passed, absolutely dangerous, and do anything but credit to the road surveyor's department. After leaving Cranbourne, there is a couple or three miles of fairly metalled road, but after that (and this passage I pen for the especial benefit of the above department) come the counterparts of the Great Dismal Swamp, and the Valley of the Shadow of Death. One spot in particular, called Frenchman's Hole, or Flat-bottomed Creek, is highly dangerous to a stranger. The mails are carried over this beautiful spot twice a week, on horseback, and no doubt the man who carries them could give a much more graphic account of this picturesque route than myself. Be that as it may, the traffic on it is much on the increase, and I consider it shameful neglect on the part of the post-office authorities not to organise a better system of mail delivery for this district; and the sooner they let us have three deliveries a week instead of two the better for our convenience and their reputation. [You can read the full article here.]

Frenchman’s Hole was near Lang Lang and according to Niel Gunson, a Frenchman had tried to cross the two miles of the flat land but he disappeared down a hole, covered with water and only his hat was ever discovered or so the legend goes.

*The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson, published by the Shire of Cranbourne in 1968

**One hundred years of history: Shire of Phillip Island and Woolamai 1875-1928, Shire of Bass 1928-1975 by Joseph White, published by the Shire of Bass in 1974.

Local Cemeteries

The Koo Wee Rup Swamp doesn’t have a cemetery, I presume because it was too wet and swampy, so residents of the Swamp would be buried at Cranbourne, Pakenham, Bunyip or Lang Lang depending on which area of the Swamp they lived. Of course, for those that didn't wish to be buried from April 1905 they could be cremated at The Necropolis at Springvale. As a matter of interest, the first person to be cremated at Springvale was an Edward Davies who had specifically requested this in his will and also that his ashes be scattered to the four winds of heaven (1).  This post presents a short history of the four Cemeteries. 

Cranbourne Cemetery
The earliest cemetery was the Cranbourne Cemetery. The site for the Cemetery was reserved on December 11, 1857 and the following Trustees were appointed at the same time - Alexander Cameron, Patrick Thomson, James Smith Adams, William Sykes and Edward Malloy (2).  

Trustees for the Cranbourne Cemetery

Victoria Government Gazette December 15, 1857, p. 2422   

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1857/V/general/146.pdf

William and Annabella Lyall are both buried at Cranbourne, they were the owners of Harewood house on the South Gippsland Highway which they built from 1857.  William was a Shire of Cranbourne Councillor, first President of the Mornington Pastoral and Agricultural Society, a founder of the Victorian Agricultural Society, the Zoological Society, the Acclimatisation Society and the Victorian Racing Club.  A report of the content of his Will (it was once quite common for newspapers to report this type of information) says that William Lyall directs that his body be buried in the allotment set apart on his property as a private burying ground and that as little expense as possible be gone to in connection with his funeral (3).  It doesn’t appear that his wishes were adhered to in the matter of the burial as he has a substantial grave at Cranbourne. William died on January 20, 1888 and Annabella on November 15,  1916.  I have written about William Lyall and his business partners, John Bakewell and John Mickle, here. 

Also buried at Cranbourne Cemetery are Charles and Ellen (nee O'Shea)  Rossiter, the source of the name Rossiter Road.  They lived at Hawksdale at Koo Wee Rup from 1873.  Charles was an original Committee member of the Mornington Farmers Society from 1856, a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1869 to 1884 and Shire President on four occasions.  Charles and his brother, Thomas, bred horses, amongst their other agricultural pursuits. As he had many children, Charles was interested in having a school established in the area and was one of the local land owners to sign a petition for its establishment. Subsequently, Yallock State School No. 2629 (later called Koo Wee Rup State School) was opened on November 1, 1884 at Bethune's Road. Charles died on February 6, 1895 aged 74 and Ellen died June 3, 1909 aged 73.  I have written about the  Rossiter family and the Hawksdale property, here.

Pakenham Cemetery

The site for the Pakenham Cemetery was reserved on February 13, 1865 (4) and the first trustees were appointed on May 8, 1865 and they were John Startup, Richard Fortune, Michael Bourke, Thomas Mulcahy and George Ritchie  (5).  It is believed that the first burials actually took place in the 1850s, before the official gazetting.

Trustees appointed for the Pakenham Cemetery.

Victoria Government Gazette, May 23, 1865, p. 1158 . https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1865/V/general/55.pdf

The owner of the Royal Hotel at Koo Wee Rup, Denis McNamara, was buried at Pakenham after his death on July 27, 1925. Mr McNamara had started a business in Koo Wee Rup in 1891, then left the area and returned in 1904 when he purchased O’Riordan's store and in 1915 he built the Royal Hotel. His funeral was described as one of the largest in the district, representative of every class and creed (6).  

Charles Wadsley who died on September 12, 1944 at his home Strathallan in Koo Wee Rup is also buried at Pakenham. His obituary notes that Mr Wadsley was a Past Master of the Koo Wee Rup Masonic Lodge, a Shire of Berwick Councillor for eleven years, as well as Shire President and an expert on asparagus growing (7). 

Pakenham Cemetery Trustee, George Ritchies' grave at Pakenham. 

Bunyip Cemetery
The Bunyip Cemetery site was officially reserved on November 22, 1886 (8) and on December 6, 1886 the first Trustees were appointed - William Harry Webb, Lawrence Finch, James Mortimer, Christian Hansen, Peter Gillespie and John Reynolds (9). This cemetery was used by people living on the eastern end of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp such as Cora Lynn and Iona. 

The first official burials did not take place until eight years after the Cemetery was officially gazetted with the first one in March 1894. Of the first 20 burials in the register, 19 were children. This was a result of the high infant mortality rate at the time before vaccinations and antibiotics came into widespread use. Here is a sample of this depressing and sad list: William Barnes aged 6 - cause of death Diphtheria; Ethel Wayneith, 9 months - Marasmus (severe undernourishment); John Peart, 2 months - Marasmus; David Fallon 9 weeks - Maramus; Ann Benham 10 months -Pneumonia; Lily Norton 10 weeks - Whooping cough; William Heuson 4 months - Whooping cough; Denis McIvor 20 days - Meningitis; Mary Anne Mulligan 3 years - Diphtheria.

Trustees appointed for the Bunyip Cemetery

Victoria Government Gazette, December 10, 1886, p. 3604.  

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1886/V/general/132.pdf

I have written more about the Bunyip Cemetery, here. 

Lang Lang Cemetery

Lang Lang Cemetery site was reserved on December 5, 1887 (10) and the first Trustees appointed December 10, 1889 were Thomas Poole, William Jones, Prosper Henry Victor Le Roux, Joseph Foster, William Norquay, Patrick McGrath, Edmund McGrath and Alexander McMillan (11). 

Christopher Moody, who died November 17, 1920, is buried at Lang Lang. He is the source of the name Moody Street in Koo Wee Rup and Moody's Inlet on Western Port Bay.  In 1890, Mr Moody who owned what was to become the site of the Koo Wee Rup township sub-divided the land between Rossiter Road and the Main Drain and Denham’s Road and the Highway. Very little of the land was sold due to the 1890s depression. The sub-division set out Moody, Gardner (called Koo Wee Rup Street by Moody), Henry (called Christopher Street by Moody) and Salmon Streets.  Christopher Moody was also a Shire of Cranbourne Councillor and donated the land for the Presbyterian Church and the Public Hall in Rossiter Road in Koo Wee Rup. I have written about Christopher Moody, here. 

Trustees appointed for the Lang Lang Cemetery

Victoria Government Gazette, December 13, 1889, p. 4367.  

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1889/V/general/134.pdf

Lang Lang Cemetery Trustee George Poole's grave at Lang Lang

Footnotes

(1) https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2022/02/fawkner-cemetery-postcards.html

(2) Victoria Government Gazette, December 15, 1857, p. 2422    https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1857/V/general/146.pdf

(3) Table Talk, March 23, 1888, see here.

(4) Victoria Government Gazette, February 21, 1865, p. 459.   http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1865/V/general/21.pdf

(5) Victoria Government Gazette, May 23, 1865, p. 1158.

 https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1865/V/general/55.pdf 

(6) The Advocate, August 20, 1925, see here. 

(7) The Argus, September 14, 1944, see here. 

(8) Victoria Government Gazette, November 26, 1886, p. 3283  http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1886/V/general/126.pdf

(9) Victoria Government Gazette, December 10, 1886. p. 3604   https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1886/V/general/132.pdf

(10) Victoria Government Gazette, December 9, 1887, p. 3519. 

http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1887/V/general/118.pdf

(11) Victoria Government Gazette, December 13, 1889, p. 4367.

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1889/V/general/134.pdf

Garfield 1971

I came across some old Bunyip & Garfield Express newspapers from the early 1970s and so thought we could take a look at what was happening in the area in 1971 - 45 years ago.

The Longwarry Dance which was held every Saturday was a huge social event. In July, Gaynor Gibson, won the ‘Girl of the night’ in front of 810 people. Gaynor was an 18 year old typist and the daughter of Hilton and Greta Gibson of Vervale. Admission to the dance was 60 cents and there was a bus from Pakenham, with a pick-up at Nar Nar Goon, Tynong, Garfield and Bunyip as well as buses from Warragul, Drouin and Thorpdale which picked up from Trafalgar and Yarragon.  In the November, Doug Parkinson performed at the dance to over 1,000 people.  The bands playing on the night that Gaynor won her title were ‘popular local bands’ Solid State, Purple Haze and Noggins and Batts. It appears that each ‘Girl of the night’ then had to face the judges again in the quarter finals and ultimately the ‘Girl of the Year’ was awarded in December, in 1971 to Marilyn Cross, a 19 year old clerk from Catani.  Marilyn won $50.00 in cash as well as a coloured photograph from Holley Studios in Warragul and ‘a garment’ from Lazanne Fashions also in Warragul.

There were weekly advertisements from Tuttons’ Self Service store at Garfield (Phone Garfield 72) and back then you could buy a large tin of Milo for 48 cents and a large tin of peaches for 32 cents. Each week there was also a big advertisement from Robinson’s SSW Foodmarket, Main Street Pakenham (Phone  Pakenham 5) as well as Permewans at Bunyip (they had two phones - Bunyip 2 or 8)

In July, the Garfield Newsagency was sold by Mr & Mrs McArthur to E.H & P.C  Vardon.  The Newsagency sold Education supplies, books and magazines, cigarettes and tobacco, toys, travel goods, sporting goods, electrical appliances, cycles and accessories.  Also advertising was Gilmore’s Garfield Sport and Cycle Store which sold a huge range of sporting goods and gifts as well as being a Tobacconist and a Hairdresser.

Gilmore's store advertisement

Bunyip and Garfield Express December 9, 1971

In July, the Garfield Progress Association advocated for a Technical School to be built in the town as they said that everyday 100 students catch the train to either Drouin or Warragul to further their education and there were 700 children travelling to secondary schools at this end of the Shire.   A Technical school was never established in Garfield but there was a report in February 1972 about Warragul Technical School going co-ed – there were 610 boys and 10 girls (all the girls specialised in art) The paper reported that the girls had settled into the school ‘in true women’s liberation fashion’ and ‘the order of the day is smart uniforms which contrasts pleasantly to the boys dress’

In November, Dorothy Anne Fashions  ‘presented a showing of colourful gay summer fashions including hot pants, swim wear, slack suits, frocks and nightwear’  The parade was opened by Colin Teese who introduced Mrs Simcocks  ‘who very capably compered the evening’  The models were Leeane Fawkner, Mollie Giblin, Mary O’Hehir, Gaynor Gibson, Debbie Matthews, Joy Tait, Margaret Jacques, June Matthews, Maarke van Donk, Lynne Lewis, Coleen Potter, June Simcocks, Carol Lupton, Penny Cox, Lesley Moyle, Jenny Lee and Denise Payne. Rhonda Cox and Helen Weatherhead ‘styled four models hair in different short and long styles’ while the fashions were being shown. The models for the hair were Corrie Naus, Edna Cox, Denise Payne and Jill Brenchley. The Parade raised $160.00 for the Swimming Pool.

The same issue as the Fashion Parade report had the headline ‘Dedication lacking says Garfield Official.’ Mr Laurie Marsh, Vice President of the West Gippsland Football League said ‘that there was something lacking in the footballer and officials of today.... The task of administration was becoming harder because it was difficult to get the dedication which marked the old players.  It was difficult to get this in these days of fast cars when so many young fellows had so much money in their pockets. It was different from the old days when players were prepared to change in an old fashioned furniture van or the scrub.’ Mr Marsh also said that this lack of dedication was not confined to the players; some umpires were ‘not very fit and not very talented’

Work commenced on the new Garfield Telephone Exchange in November. This was an automatic exchange which would allow subscribers in Garfield, Iona and Tynong to dial direct to Melbourne without going through the Exchange.

The Garfield C.W.A Annual General Meeting was held in November and Mrs H. Marson was elected President; Mrs E. Kavanagh was Secretary; Mrs L. Kellaway was Treasurer and the Vice Presidents were Mrs A. Dick, Mrs L. Kierce and Mrs V. Marsh.

Finally, the Shire of Berwick granted permission to the Garfield Christmas Eve Carnival Committee to block off Main Street, from 8.00pm to 11.00pm, between the Thirteen Mile and the bakery for the Carnival to be held on December 24. There would be the ‘usual attractions’ including hay rides, jinker rides and the arrival of Father Christmas, who would distribute free ice creams and chips.  

Koo Wee Rup ANZ / E.S. & A Bank

Banking in Koo Wee Rup started in 1905 when an agency of the London Bank at Garfield was established in the town.  In 1920, the London Bank amalgamated with the English, Scottish & Australian Bank (E.S. & A Bank) who in turn amalgamated with the ANZ in 1970.

The London Bank establishes an agency in Koo Wee Rup.

South Bourke & Mornington Journal, August 16, 1905 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66143624

The Garfield agency of the London Bank was established in July 1904 and it was converted to a full Branch a year later, with the first manager being Clarence Adeney. So successful was the Garfield Branch that the Koo Wee Rup agency was established in August 1905 and the next year agencies at  Yannathan, Iona and Tynong.  By September 1906, the Koo Wee Rup agency was also successful enough to be converted into a full Branch, and the Garfield manager, Clarence Adeney, was placed in charge where he remained until 1920. (1)  A Branch, as opposed to an Agency, had full-time operating hours and its own manager. 

Also in 1906, Banking Chambers were constructed,  as the Lang Lang Guardian reported in September - 

Mr A. Woodman had accepted a contract from the London Bank of Australia Ltd to erect a Bank chambers and Dwelling at an estimated cost of £600. The construction is to be of oregon and plaster and it is also proposed to use tiles for the roof. (2)

Another report of the new building was in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal -

The authorities of the London Bank Australia have decided to erect a bank here, and to that end plans and specifications have been prepared by a Melbourne firm of architects. It is estimated that the structure will cost between £600 and £700, and will be an undoubted acquisition to the district. (3)

In October 1912, the London Bank purchased the site of their building for a satisfactory price as noted by the  South Bourke & Mornington Journal. (4)

On October 22, 1917, around 10.00 am there was a tragic accident at the branch when 25 year-old William Lees McClure, the Bank clerk at  Koo Wee Rup was shot. The Bank's loaded revolver had been on the counter, William removed it from the counter and placed it on a stool and when opening the cash drawer had accidently knocked the gun off the stool, it hit the ground and exploded, and a bullet entered his groin. He was taken to Nurse Campbell's Private Hospital in Dandenong, operated on, however the wound became septic and he died  on November 6. Evidence was given at the Inquest by Mr Adeney, who said it was usual for me to place the automatic  pistol on the counter, there was also another revolver for the use of the bank officials. 

William, was the son of William Lees McClure and his wife Catherine (nee Hallinan) of  Clericote, Tootal Road, Springvale, he had a sister Florrie and a brother Tom.  William was buried at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. The Inquest determined the incident was an accident. It was a senseless death and as William's father noted in his evidence - My son left my home at Springvale at 6.45 am in good health and spirits, and he had no financial or other troubles.(5)

In 1919, the original building was expanded, by building out to the footpath and adding a second storey and in October 1919 the Koo Wee Rup Sun reported that -
The contractor for the alterations to the London Bank at Koo-Wee-Rup has the work well in hand and will complete it in a few weeks. It speaks well for Koo-Wee-Rup when the local bank has to enlarge its premises. The extra room will be needed in anticipation for the next record season. (6)

E.S. & A. Bank in  Station Street, Koo Wee Rup c. 1920s

In December, the Koo Wee Rup Sun could report on the finished building -

Bank Improvements
Another exemplification as to the soundness of this district has been shown by the London Bank of Australia, for this financial Institution has had big alterations carried out in their Kooweerup premises, and tenders were recently called for the erection of another building at Dalmore. For some time past the officials have been hampered in their work by the want of more room, and this, coupled with the fact that no banking company indulges in any expenditure unless fully assured that the possibilities ahead are of the best, it is a good guarantee as to the potentialities of the swamp area.

The alterations carried out consist of more room being made for the conduct of general business, a manager's office, and rooms upstairs to be used as residential quarters. The work has taken longer to carry out, than anticipated, owing to labour troubles, strikes and railway delay, but despite all these inconveniences the contractor has performed his task in a quick and thorough manner, and has earned the appreciation of the authorities in Melbourne.

The ceilings are made of picton fibre panels and moulded, and the plastering of the walls have been neatly done. New office fittings have been provided, the timber used being Queensland maple, nicely finished with french polish. A new strong room has also been erected and the building renovated throughout. (7)

The architects for the renovations were Oakden, Ballantyne and Hare. 

Oakden, Ballantyne and Hare, call for tenders for the alterations to the Koo Wee Rup Bank.

The Argus, July 8, 1919 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4718752

E.S. & A. Bank in Station Street, Koo Wee Rup c. 1940s

During all this time Clarence Adeney was the manager. Described in one report as the genial Mr Adeney and described by David Mickle as a kind and gentle man, he left the managers position at Koo Wee Rup in early 1920 and was replaced by William Kerr Paterson, whose wife Margaret was to become the inaugural President of the Koo Wee Rup CWA when it was established in 1929. (8). Clarence then took up the part-time position operating the Yannathan bank. 

In January 1923 The Argus reported that - 

Mr. C. Adeney, J.P., of Yannathan, has been granted extended, leave of absence from the E. S. and A. Bank on account of ill health. During the last 22 years Mr. Adeney managed a number of branches of the London Bank (now the English, Scottish, and Australian Bank). He has been intimately associated with the development of the closer settlement areas, more particularly the Koo-wee-rup swamp. (8)

Clarence Adeney was born in 1869 to Henry William Howells Adeney and his wife Sarah (nee Pitman). His father was an Anglican Minister and his mother, as a matter of interest, was the niece of Sir Isaac Pitman, who invented Pitman shorthand system. Clarence married Angelina Treweek in 1895 and they had four children - Arnold (1901 in Maryborough), Henry Allen (1903 Warragul ), Dorothy (1905 Warragul), Marjorie (1906 Garfield). Clarence died aged 79 on July 10, 1948; a year after Angelina who died July 24, 1947 (9)

The Lang Lang E.S. & A Bank

The Cardinia Shire Heritage Study (10) describes the Koo Wee Rup Bank as an early example of the architectural style known as towards modernism and it is one of three former E.S. & A Banks in the Heritage Study. The other ones are the Garfield Bank, which was built in 1931 (11) and the Lang Lang Bank, which was built in 1929.  The Garfield Bank is thought to have been designed by Twentyman & Askew, the same Architects as the Lang Lang bank. (12)

The ANZ closed the Koo Wee Rup Bank on May 11, 2016, and the building is currently occupied by a Pharmacy. (13)

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the Koo Wee Rup Bank of London / E.S. & A/ANZ Bank (and the Garfield Banks of the same names), access it here.

Footnotes

(1) History of the Garfield Bank - https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-es-anz-bank-at-garfield.html

(2) Lang Lang Guardian, September 5, 1906, p. 2.

(3) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, September 12, 1906, see here.

(4) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 10, 1912, see here.

(5) Inquest Deposition File, Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/92888D50-F1C3-11E9-AE98-6D8B14280B73 I have written about William Lees McClure, the son of William and Catherine (nee Hallinan) McClure and his extended family, here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2024/06/william-lees-mcclure-and-his-tragic.html

(6) Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 1, 1919, p. 5; South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 16, 1919, see here. 

(7)  Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 24, 1919, p. 6

(8) Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 15, 1919, p.1; Mickle, David Mickle Memories of Koo-wee-rup for young and old (The Author, 1983). pp 73 and 87. William Kerr Paterson - https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-establishment-of-koo-wee-rup.html

(9) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; family notices in my Trove list; article on the Reverend Adeney, The Herald, June 30, 1928, see here

(10) Cardinia Local Heritage Study Review 2008 - Volume 5: Stage B Individual places, Draft June 2008, Context P/L., p. 173-177 of 304.

(11) https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-es-anz-bank-at-garfield.html

(12) Cardinia Shire Heritage Study; a Heritage Study of parts of the Shire previously in the Cranbourne and Sherbrooke Shires - Volume 2: Heritage Places - by Graeme Butler & Associates (Cardinia Shire, 1999), pp. 159-160.

(13) I originally wrote this in April 2016 and started it with - The ANZ Bank in Rossiter Road is closing down in the next few weeks (May 2016) so this is a look at the early history of the bank in Koo Wee Rup. It was revised in June 2024.

Report from the Pakenham Gazette of 21/3/2016 by Russell Bennett 

https://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/gazette/2016-03-21/bank-pulls-out-of-kooweerup/

Bank pulls out of Kooweerup.

THE ANZ Bank will withdraw from the Kooweerup community in May, with the local branch closing its doors.

In a statement issued to the Gazette, an ANZ spokesman said the decision to close was a difficult one and came about after a detailed review. The Kooweerup branch will be closed from 11 May.
“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this closure may cause,” the statement said.
“Our review showed customers in the area are using the Kooweerup branch less and less for their banking needs, while many customers are increasingly using alternatives such as our mobile phone banking app, ‘goMoney’, internet banking or ATMs.
“We have written to our customers to let them know about this closure and to let them know where and how they can continue to do their banking. They can visit us at our Pakenham branch, which is less than 16 kilometres away, and we are exploring whether we can keep an ANZ ATM in Kooweerup, either at the current location or elsewhere.
“Customers can also use the Bank@Post facilities located at 48 Station Street in Kooweerup – 110 metres away from the branch site – which will offer deposits, withdrawals and payments for customers using ANZ debit or credit cards. We also have phone and online banking services available to customers 24/7 which can be accessed by calling 13 13 14 or by visiting anz.com.”
Kooweerup Township Committee president Ray Brown said the bank had made a commercial decision.
“It’s certainly disappointing for the town but with the latest banking technology out there, it was probably inevitable,” he said.
“The town once had the State Savings Bank (now the Commonwealth), the National Bank and the ANZ but banking has been depleted over the years.”
Mr Brown said the lack of parking outside the town’s iconic ANZ branch building had become an issue over the years.
“The building is probably past its use-by date,” he said.
Mr Brown said he thought the ANZ branch’s closure was “inevitable”, but added: “It’s still taken a lot of people by surprise”.
He said the bank was entrenched in the town when he arrived in 1970 and was “part of the fabric of the community”.
“People who rely on the bank will certainly miss out,” he said.
“They’ll look elsewhere now.
“As a committee we’re going to write to the ANZ and express our concern over it (the move).”
But Mr Brown said he couldn’t argue with the economic reasoning behind the branch’s closure.
“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” he said.
“The ANZ bank has always provided great service from great people and it’ll be missed.”
The ANZ, through its statement, said it was consulting with the branch’s staff members and is “fully supporting them through this transition period and making every effort to find redeployment opportunities for them”.