Bunyip Hotels - a short history

In 1847 a  road was surveyed from Dandenong to Gippsland  along the edge of the ranges (1). When this proved to be impassable in places, a new road, which became the coach route, was surveyed between 1857 and  1859 by A. S. Campbell, even though planning had commenced in 1855 (2).  This road went through Cannibal Creek (around where Bassed road is in North Garfield) and through the old township of Buneep and onto Crossover (3). Jabez Janes operated a 'beer house' from 1866 at Cannibal Creek, you can read about him here. The Melbourne to Sale telegraph line followed this new road in 1865 (4). This later gave the road the name of Old Telegraph Road  and where it crossed the Bunyip River was where the aforementioned town of Buneep was established (where modern day Ellis Road would cross the Bunyip River). This town was surveyed in the 1850s - it had a High Street and a Barkly Street (you can see the Survey Plan, below)

This is the township of Buneep, surveyed in the 1850s. Click on image to enlarge.

This is from a Bunyip Parish Plan, which was on-line at either the State Library of Victoria or the Public Records Office of Victoria in 2015, but I can't find seem to access it now.

This is a map I drew years ago, which shows the old Coach Road /Old Telegraph Road 

and Old Sale road.

The book, In the Wake of the Pack Tracks says that  in 1857 David Connor (1821-1887) selected  a site for an Inn at the Bunyeep township and it was built in the early 1860s, and this was called the Buneep Inn (later the Old Bunyeep Inn).  In 1869, John Rhoden became the proprietor,  he was a son-in-law of  David Connor (5)  It was actually built much earlier than this, he was granted a licence in September 1854, see notice from The Argus, below.

Licence granted to David Connor

The Argus September 7, 1854 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4797367

This earlier date for the establishment of  David Connor's Inn is also confirmed from a 1855 report of the road that A.N. Campbell was planning to survey. The Argus reported in the November that the contemplated road adopts the present Gipps Land Road, via Dandenong, as far as Mount Ararat, thence it would bear E.N.E., along undulating ridges, avoiding most of the swampy land towards the Bunyip River, and leaving Cannibal Hill on the south. Crossing the Bunyip River at Connor's Inn....(6) 

I do not know when the Bunyeep Inn was closed, I believe around the mid 1880s (7) and the  history is obscured by the fact that the New Bunyip Inn (see below) was later also called the Old Bunyip Inn. 

This advertisement from The Argus, October 1865 advises that you could catch a mail coach at 5.00pm Monday to Saturday and have a 36 hour trip all the way to Sale, stopping at Bunyip (the old township of Bunyeep). That would have been a fairly rugged 36 hours!

The Argus October 20, 1865 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5773079

Bunnyip Hotel, North Gippsland, c. 1880-1885 [David Connor's New Bunyip Inn]

Photographer: Fred Kruger. State Library of Victoria Image H41138/11

Around 1867,  David Connor’s New Bunyip Inn, was established. It is pictured above. This was built on the Bunyip River on the Gippsland Road, as the Princes Highway was then called. It was on the south side of the Highway,  just east of A'Beckett Road and the west side of the Bunyip River. (8) At this time, the coach route, instead of crossing the Cannibal Creek in a north-easterly direction, followed the south bank in an easterly direction to reach this new hotel (9). This road eventually became known as the Old Sale Road.  

The red circle, shows the location of the New Bunyip Inn, on the Gippsland Road, 

and the small settlement that surrounded it. Click on image to enlarge.

This is from a Bunyip Parish Plan, which was on-line at either the State Library of Victoria or the Public Records Office of Victoria in 2015, but I can't find seem to access it now.

A small settlement developed around the Inn, including the establishment of a bakery by William Snell in 1878 and a dance hall erected by Mr Hyne, opposite the Inn. (10)  Around 1885 (11)  David Devenay took over this Hotel. His surname is also spelt in various sources as Devanny, Deveney  or Deveny and some sources also say that he is the son-in-law of David Connor, but that is incorrect (12). There was a double tragedy at the New Bunyip Hotel in 1909 when David and his wife, Eleanor (also known as Ellen) died. Eleanor, aged 59, was tragically burnt to death when her dress caught fire and she passed away two days later on November 22. David, her invalid husband, aged 80, died of shock as  a result on November 24 (13). 

In 1911,the property was sold to Fred William Cock of Broadmeadows (14). The Hotel  was the subject of a hearing by the Licensing Reduction Board in 1917.  The Hearing of the  Board which took place in May 1917, and was reported on in the Dandenong Advertiser,  gives us some idea of the building and clientele of the Hotel. It was  single story weatherboard 17 rooms, 8 bed rooms for public in fair repair, well conducted...was on the Gippsland road, which was a three chain road and was used for travelling stock; it was a house of resort for sportsmen, the Bunyip and Tarrago rivers were close to the hotel; Ararat creek was the next nearest water on the east, and 5 miles on the west; there were 30 acres of land attached; at week ends there were up to 14 people staying at the hotel, and more during the holidays. Evidence from drover Robert O'Doherty of  Flemington, said he  stopped at the Gippsland now for 20 years; the Gippsland Hotel was one of the best places for stopping; he had had 3,000 sheep there (15) Sadly for the New Bunyip Hotel, it was closed by the Licensing Court and the then owner, Mrs Rebecca Wilson, was awarded £375 in compensation (16).

The closure of the New Bunyip Hotel was announced in June 1917.

Dandenong Advertiser, June 14 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88660050

As well as being involved in the Old and New Bunyip Hotels, David Connor also built in 1863 the Halfway House Hotel. It was on the Gippsland Road, west of  Abrehart Road. It was de-licensed in 1899 (17). The building was much later moved to the Gippsland Folk Museum. 

Labelled as Bunyip Hotel, Bunyip c. 1890 - but is this actually in Bunyip?

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/768080

This photograph is the Bunyip Hotel, George Stevens, Licensed Victualler. It's location is labelled on the Museums Victoria website as Bunyip, but this is incorrect. It's obviously not the New Bunyip Inn, as the building in the top photo has a sign which says, New Bunyip Hotel, and this is clearly a different building. It is not a forerunner of the Railway Hotel and Gippsland Hotel in the township of Bunyip, as the landscape is wrong and I feel it is unlikely to be the original Bunyip Inn as, I can't see that there would have been enough traffic to sustain such a large building. I am suggesting that it could be the Bunyip Hotel in Cavendish - it's been around since at least the 1860s and modern day photos, show that the 1930s existing building is on a corner like this on  flat ground. 

Overview of the Bunyip townships, they moved south each time. 

Click on image to enlarge.

This is from a Bunyip Parish Plan, which was on-line at either the State Library of Victoria or the Public Records Office of Victoria in 2015, but I can't find seem to access it now.

The township of Bunyip moved again after the establishment of the Gippsland Railway Line. The line was completed from Oakleigh to Bunyip in October 1877. This saw the establishment of two other Bunyip Hotels in 1876 as firstly the line from Morwell to Bunyip wasn't completed until March 1878, so travellers had to stop over at Bunyip and continue by coach, secondly the hotels serviced the locals and the workers on the railway line. The book Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk says that the Hotels were the Butcher's Arms and the Bunyip Hotel and that John O'Brien had the licence for the Bunyip Hotel and in January 1877 he took up the licence for the Railway Family Hotel (18). 

I found the following references on Trove, from the 1870s, to the Hotels in the new town of Bunyip, based around the railway line -  In October 1877 at the Shire of Berwick Council meeting - the application for transfer of publican's license was read from John O'Brien for a house at Bunyip (19). I do not know where it was either transferred from or to. In January 1878 the Bewick Licensing Court renewed licences for Maurice Connor, new Bunyip Hotel, David Connor jun., Bunyip and William Goldie, Bunyip (20). Maurice and David were the sons of David Connor. We know where the New Bunyip Hotel is I don't know anything about the other two Hotels, but I presume David Connor jun. had the Old Bunyip Hotel. It's possible that William Goldie should actually be William Hobson of the Railway Hotel, more of whom later. In July 1878, there was a well reported meeting at O'Brien's Family Hotel in Bunyip (21).

Licences renewed for local Hotels 

South Bourke & Mornington Journal January 7, 1878 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70010579

In March 1879, three Melbourne newspapers carried the marriage notice of William Hobson of the Bunyip Railway Hotel  to Sarah McKernan. The marriage certificate lists his age at 47 and her age at 29. He was a widower, born in Manchester in England, with no children and his address was Bunyip. She was a Spinster, born in Newton Stewart, County Tyrone Ireland and living at 26 Moray Place, Emerald Hill (South Melbourne).  What was recorded in the marriage certificate wasn't actually all totally true as I believe Sarah was actually 39 and had been in a previous relationship with a William Dethmore of Yandoit and had given birth to four children, three sons and a daughter, however that is a story for another day (22).

Marriage notice of William Hobson and Sarah McKernon

The Leader March 29, 1879 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/21358589

William and Sarah Hansen operated the Railway Hotel, until William's death on September 30, 1883 at the age of 56.  When he died his Will described the Hotel as a weatherboard building with Iron roof and containing 5 rooms erected on Crown Lands at Bunyip, occupied under a business lease, erected four years ago and used as a public house with the remains of an older building in the rear. It was valued at £60 (23).

Part of William Hobson's Will

Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 28/P0002, 26/949

 In 1885, Sarah married Christian Hansen and they had a son Frederick Christian, the same year (24). Sarah continued to operate the Hotel. Sadly September 6, 1889 the Hotel burnt down and it was reported in the Warragul Guardian -  A fire which resulted in the total destruction of Mrs. Hansen's hotel, Bunyip, occurred about three o'clock on Friday morning. The flames had obtained such a hold before the alarm was given that very little was saved, both water and assistance being limited. The damage is covered by a policy in the Colonial Fire Insurance Company for £1,200 (25).

The Railway Hotel at Bunyip, c. 1915

Museums Victoria  https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/795792

On December 6, 1889 Thomas Stacey took over the Railway Hotel from Mrs Hansen, even though she still owned the property, and it appeared to be his responsibility to rebuild the Hotel (26). This proved to be an unhappy relationship. Mr Stacey took Mrs Hansen to Court in August 1892 as he claimed she liabelled him; Mrs Hansen took Mr Stacy to Court in November 1892 to recover money from him, she claimed she was owed; in May 1893 they were back in Court again when she accused him of perjury; and in December 1894 they were in the Supreme Court where a decision had to be made  on an action brought by Thomas Stacey against Sarah Hansen, to restrain the defendant from exercising the power of sale contained in a mortgage deed. (27).  I have transcribed some of these legal cases, here. There was another case involving the families in November 1892 when Mrs Hansen's daughter, Christina Dethmore, sued Thomas Stacey's wife, Ann for slander. Mrs Stacey had implied that 20 year old Christina, a woman of ladylike apparence, had had children out of wedlock, which of course was considered to be quite scandalous at the time. Christina won her case and was awarded £60 in damages (28). Christina married her finance, William Shiell in December 1892,  had two little girls Gladys and Ruby, and then tragically died at only 25 years of age in November 1897 after an operation at the Alfred Hospital (29).

The Railway Hotel, c. 1925

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/795149

Thomas Stacey operated the Railway Hotel until his death on January 26, 1928. The book Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk says the Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1924 (30) but an article in The Argus (see below) says that it was demolished in late 1923 - so not sure which is correct. the new building was officially opened on October 9 1924. 

Railway Hotel is being pulled down

The Argus October 8 1923  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2000557

The opening of the new Railway Hotel

The Age October 10, 1924  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155536763

The other Hotel in Main Street, Bunyip was John O'Brien's Family Hotel. As we saw before, the earliest reference I can find to him in Bunyip was October 1877. O'Brien's tenure at the Family Hotel didn't last very long as it was sold up by the Sherriff''s Office in May 1881, as the advertisement in The Argus, below, attests.

Sale of O'Brien's Family Hotel in Bunyip

The Argus May 17 1881 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5986026

John O'Brien was listed as a Publican in the 1881/1882 Shire of Berwick Rate Books; in 1882/1883 Lawrence Finch was listed as a Publican, on property owned by James Egan; and in 1883/1884 Lawrence Finch was listed as a Publican and the property owner. Lawrence Finch had the Gippsland Hotel, so I believe this was the renamed Family Hotel.  Lawrence was granted a licence at the Licensing meeting held at Drouin in December 1881. His daughter, Sarah Alice Finch, was then granted the licence of the Gippsland Hotel at a hearing in December 1897 (31).  Lawrence died on January  8, 1898, aged 68. That same year Sarah Finch married  William George Kraft and the Hotel soon became known a Kraft's Gippsland Hotel (32).

Gippsland Hotel and Main Street, Bunyip, 1908

Image: Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk by Denise Nest (Bunyip History Committee, 1990)

It was Sarah who held the licence all the way through until November 1911 when the Hotel was sold to Stephen Ryan of Modella for  £3750 and the license was transferred to Elizabeth Mary Ryan (33).

Transfer of licence of the Gippsland Hotel from Sarah Kraft to Elizabeth Ryan

The Age, November 20 1911 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/18566560

On Wednesday, March 9 1927. the Gippsland Hotel was destroyed by fire. The owner at the time was Sydney Wentworth Smith of Noojee and the manager as Mr E. Tulloch (34). In April 1927 the Licensing Court approved plans for the new Hotel. The Architect was Mr. R.H. McIntyre, who said that the new building would cost between £5,000 and £6,000. It would be constructed of brick externally, and of cement sheeting internally. A septic tank would be provided (35). I don't have the opening date of the new Gippsland Hotel but I presume it was late 1927 or early 1928.

Gippsland Hotel destroyed by fire

The Herald March 9 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/26440118

We will finish this short history of Bunyip Hotels by going back to the Butchers Arms Hotel, said to be one of the two Hotels in the township of Bunyip, based around the railway line. Was this the original name for the Family Hotel, which became the Gippsland Hotel or was it the original name for the Railway Hotel? I cannot tell you and I cannot find any information about it al all.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles connected to the early history of the Hotels in Bunyip, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen:  a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of Berwick, 1962) p. 18. Daley, Charles The Story of Gippsland (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1960), p. 74.

(2) Daley, Charles The Story of Gippsland (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1960), p. 79, and The Argus, November 14, 1855, see here.  

(3) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 19

(4) Ibid

(5) In the Wake of the Pack Tracks:  a history of the Shire of Berwick (Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, 1982), p. 39. David Conner's family is listed in Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia  District (Narre Warren & District Family History Group, 2010) - David Connor (1821-1887) m Honora Connor (1810-1899) in 1841 in Melbourne and they had the following children - John (1842), David (1843), William (1845), Ellen (1846), Maurice (1849), Catherine (1851), James (1859) and Francis (1864). It was Catherine who was married to John Rhoden.

(6) The Argus, November 14, 1855, see here.

(7) I am basing this date on the fact that in the 1884/1885 Shire of Berwick rate Books, David Connor, junior, was no longer listed as a Publican.

(8) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 54

(9) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 19

(10) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen, op. cit., p. 54

(11) David Devenay is first listed as a Publican in the Shire of Berwick Reate Books in 1885.

(12) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen on page 54, says he is a son-in-law. However, David Devenay (1829-1909)  was married to Eleanor (also known as Ellen) Fitzpatrick.

(13) The Age, November 23, 1909, see here and The Age, November 26, 1909, see here.

(14) The Argus, April 29, 1911, see here.

(15) Dandenong Advertiser, May 10 1917, see here.

(16) The Argus, November 10, 1917, see here.

(17) In the Wake of the Pack Tracks, op. cit.,p. 39.

(18) The Call of the Bunyip: history of Bunyip, Iona & Tonimbuk, 1847-1990 by Denise Nest (Bunyip History Committee, 1990), p. 4.

(19) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 24, 1877, see here.

(20) South Bourke & Mornington Journal January 2, 1878, see here.

(21) The Age, July 10, 1878, see here.

(22) I bought the marriage certificate. It clearly says she was 29, thus born 1850, however the Call of the Bunyip book says she was born in 1840, which meant she was 39 when she was married. Her obituary in the Bunyip & Garfield Express of October 14, 1913 says she was 73, thus born 1840.  I can't find her death  listed on the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.  Family trees on Ancestry list Sarah McKernon having four children to William Dethmore - William James (1866-1867 at Yandoit); William James (1868-1937); Christina Annie (1872-1897); Alfred James (1874-1933). I can't find any record of  a marriage being registered, so I suspect no marriage ever took place. The first William had his birth and death registered - his surname being recorded as Dettmer (Reg. no 24985 / 1866); then Dethmer (Reg. no 11053 / 1867). The second William is registered, under Dethmore (Reg. no 24830 / 1868) I can't find the other two births registered under any surname variation.

(23) His will is on-line at the Public Records Office of Victoria, www.prov.vic.gov.au 

(24) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(25) Warragul Guardian September 10, 1889, see here.

(26) Narracan Shire Advocate, May 6, 1893, see here. The Argus, December 11 1894, see here.

(27) Reports are listed in my Trove list, see here.

(28) Narracan Shire Advocate, November 26, 1892, see here. 

(29) Various family notices in the newspapers, see my Trove List and Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages

(30) The Call of the Bunyip, op. cit, p. 198.

(31) Warragul Guardian December 22, 1881, see here and South Bourke & Mornington Journal December 15, 1897, see here.

(32) Death notice of Lawrence Finch, Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. First mention I could find of Kraft's Gippsland Hotel was in The Age February 17, 1900, see here.

(33) The Age November 15, 1911, see here. The Age, November 20 1911, see here. 

(34) The Herald March 9 1927, see here. 

(35) The Argus, April 12, 1927, see here.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work bog, Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past. This is  a revised and expanded version.

Bills' Troughs in the local area

We have a Bills' Trough at the Historical Society Museum, here at Koo Wee Rup, and you will probably have seen others on your travels throughout Australia. They were funded from a bequest from the will of George Bills, who died on December 14, 1927. His will left various bequests to friends and employees but the bulk of his Estate was to be made available by his Executors to Societies for the protection of animals, such as the Victorian Society for the Protection of Animals (as the RSPCA was then called) and the Purple Cross Society; and for the construction of horse troughs for the relief of horses or other ‘dumb animals’. These troughs were to be inscribed with the names of George and his wife Annis. 

The Purple Cross Society had been established in England in 1914 to mitigate the sufferings of horses in war (1). A branch was established in Victoria in 1915 (2) and after the War finished it was decided that the principal aims of the Purple Cross Society should be the establishment of a rest home for horses, and the erection of drinking troughs (3). By November 1926 they had erected 33 troughs throughout  Victoria (4), such as the one shown below.

A trough erected by the Purple Cross Services of Victoria, in St Kilda Road, near Domain Road. It was unveiled in 1926 by Sir John Monash (5).  The small plaque reads 

He gains no crosses as a soldier may, 

No medals for the many risks he runs;

He only, in his patient, puzzled way

Sticks to his guns! 

Photographer: John T. Collins, taken September 29, 1974. 

State Library of Victoria Image H98.251/939

Who were George and Annis Bills? An article by Tim Gibson, Donated by Annis and George Bills - Australia: their concrete horse trough legacy published in the Gippsland Heritage Journal (see full citation at the bottom of this post) tells us that George was one of fourteen children and was born in Brighton in England on March 11, 1859. The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1869 and moved to Victoria in 1873. In 1880 George, and his brother Henry, commenced a wire working business in Sydney. Other brothers, Richard and Walter, later joined the business. Walter had invented a wire coiler and this led the Company into the manufacture of wire mattresses. The business became known as Bills Brothers. Various of the brothers operated factories in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane at one time. George married Annis Elizabeth Swann (b.1860) on May 18, 1885 at the Brisbane Registry Office. In 1910 the couple went on a trip to England where Annis died. They had no children.

George and his brother Henry had been supporters of the Victorian Society for the Protection of Animals and this devotion to the cause of animal welfare was continued, as we know, after George’s death through his will. His Estate was administered by his sister, Daisy and her husband, William Crook. In those days the contents of Wills were reported in the newspapers and Mr Bills' will was clearly unusual as The Age reported on his will under the headline - A Freakish Will; whereas as The Argus started their report with Some unusual provisions are contained in the Will (6).  

Tim Gibson, in his article cited above, says that the first troughs were individually designed and constructed. The two earliest newspaper mentions of troughs connected to Mr Bills I could find concerned troughs in Williamstown and in Hawthorn.  The Williamstown Chronicle reported on a Williamstown Council meeting in December 1928 - At the meeting of the council, a letter was received from the Purple Cross Society of Victoria, stating that the society had agreed to supply a water trough for erection on the Strand, near the ferry. The trough would be in concrete, with a large basin for horses, a special drinking basin for dogs, and a bubbly fountain for drivers.....It was requested that when the trough was built that the words, "Annise [sic] and Geo. Bills, Australia," be placed on the structure. (7).  

A month later, The Herald reported in January 1929 that - A handsome granite trough with a dog dish and drinking fountain will be erected in Barton street, Hawthorn, as a tribute to the memory of Mr Bills (8).

A trough to honour Mr Bills.

The Herald, January 19, 1929  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244010029

In the early 1930s Jack Phillips became the contractor and had a standard design of pre-cast concrete, which were manufactured in Auburn Road in Hawthorn. Rocla then took over the manufacture of the troughs around 1937. Also in 1937 the last trough was supplied to a Victorian location and erected in Buckley Street in Essendon. After that, the distribution of the troughs moved to New South Wales and finished at the end of the Second World War. All up, around 700 troughs were donated to towns in Australia, around 400 of those in Victoria and fifty overseas.

Report in The Argus on the last Bills trough erected in Victoria

The Argus November 27, 1937  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11127791

Where can you find the Bills' troughs? In this area, the only ones I know of are at Koo Wee Rup, Tooradin, Pakenham and Bunyip. The one at Koo Wee Rup is at the Historical Society in Rossiter road. This one was originally installed outside the Royal Hotel in January 1933. The Koo Wee Rup Sun of February 2, 1933 reported -
The new water trough opposite the Royal Hotel, is an elaborate as well as a much-needed acquisition. Artistically moulded in concrete, of large dimensions, and mounted on a concrete base put down by the council, it has attached to it, hygienic drinking facilities for mankind, whilst at one end of the base there is a small catchment trough for the use of thirsty dogs. The trough bears the inscription:-“Donated by Annis and George Bills, Australia.” Similar troughs have been erected in Pakenham, Narre Warren, Garfield and Bunyip, besides of course, many other places throughout the State. 

This article  from the  Koo Wee Rup Sun of February 2, 1933, tells us that the Koo Wee Rup trough was originally erected near the Royal Hotel in Station Street. 

Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 2, 1933  Image: Heather Arnold

You can see both the horse trough and the dog trough at Tooradin, outside the Fisherman’s Cottage Museum on the Foreshore. The two troughs can also be seen in Bunyip in High Street. The Berwick-Pakenham Historical Society has a trough on display at their Museum in Pakenham. The Bunyip and Pakenham troughs were originally installed around late 1932, early 1933.

The Koo Wee Rup Bills' trough, originally installed in January 1933 outside the Royal Hotel. It is now at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society. In the background is the Lock-up built in the 1920s, which was originally located at the Police Station in Sybella Avenue and moved to the Historical Society in 1993.

Image: Heather Arnold, taken in 2010.

The trough at the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society Museum in Pakenham.

Image: Heather Arnold, taken in 2020.

A close-up of the inscription on the trough at the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society

Image: Heather Arnold, taken in 2020.

The trough that was erected in Bunyip is still in Bunyip, and the little dog trough also remains. I do  not know where it was originally located, but I would presume in Main Street, where the two Hotels are.

The trough in Bunyip, in High Street. 

The terracotta roof in the background belongs to the Post Office, which was opened on December 8, 1925.

Image: Heather Arnold, taken in 2010.

Where has the Garfield trough gone? I believe the Garfield one was outside the Iona Hotel in Main Street, but I have no information about its fate.  There is also a trough on display at the Fishermans Cottage Museum, on the foreshore at Tooradin. The Museum is operated by the Cranbourne Shire Historical Society. The Tooradin trough was apparently outside the Store and Post Office along the South Gippsland highway.

The trough at the Fishermans Cottage Museum, Tooradin.

Image: Heather Arnold, taken in 2010.

The Bills' troughs are a lovely reminder of a by-gone day, when horses ruled the road and also a practical memorial to George & Annis Bills' community spirit and love of animals.

Acknowledgment
The article I referred to, and based much of this post on, is Donated by Annis & George Bills - Australia: their concrete horse trough legacy by Tim Gibson. Published in Gippsland Heritage Journal No.20, September 1996.

Trove list
I have created a short list of articles, on Trove, connected to Bills' Troughs in the old Shire of Berwick and Shire of Cranbourne region, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) The Herald, February 9, 1915, see here.

(2) Ibid.

(3) The Argus, November 12, 1926, see here.

(4) Ibid.

(5) The report of the unveiling of this trough by Sir John Monash, is in The Age, May 11 1926, see here; there is another reference to it in The Herald, May 6, 1931, here.

(6) The Age report of March 15, 1928, can be read here; The Argus report of the same date, here.

(7) Williamstown Chronicle, December 8 1928, see here.

(8) The Herald, January 19, 1929, see here.  

A version of this blog post, which I wrote and researched, also appears on my work blog - Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past and had appeared first in the Koo Wee Rup Township newsletter, The Blackfish. It has also appeared in the Garfield Spectator.

Royal Commission into Overseas Settlers from Britain (Migrant Land Settlement) 1931 and the Owen family

The Age newspaper, of January 24, 1931 reported on the Royal Commission on Migrant Land Settlement [read the full article here] -
The Royal Commission appointed some time, ago by the Federal and State Governments to inquire into certain allegations affecting the settlement on the land in Victoria of migrants from Great Britain will open the inquiry at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday 4th February, at the Arbitration Court, Melbourne. The members of the commission are Chief Judge Dethridge, of the Arbitration Court (chairman), Mr. C. McPherson, and Mr. W. E. B. Macleod. The secretary of the commission is Mr. C. Nance, an officer of the Prime Minister's department.The State Government will be represented by Mr. C. F. Knight, assistant Crown Solicitor for Victoria, and a large percentage of the settlers will be represented by Mr. G.U. Nathan, of John W. McComas and Co.
The terms of reference to the commission briefly are as follow:—
1. Whether the complaints, or any of them, are justified, having regard to the facts of each particular case and to the provisions of certain agreements between the Commonwealth, Victorian and British Governments.
2. Whether the Victorian Government has failed to fulfil any, and if, so what, obligations arising out of or under the agreements, and by it agreed to be performed.
3. In what respects, if at all, has the Victorian Government failed to fulfil the said obligations.
4. Are there any, and if so what, circumstances directly or indirectly contributing to the subject matter of the complaints, or any of them, over which the Victorian Government has no control.

As a matter of interest and quite unrelated to this story, apart from a rural connection, Chief Judge George James Dethridge was the younger brother of  John Stewart Dethridge who worked for the Public Works Department and later the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and was the inventor of the Dethridge Water-meter, used in flood irrigation (1).

This Royal Commission took evidence from some local farmers at Caldermeade and Yannathan as well as Narre Warren North and the Hallam Valley settlement at Narre Warren (the old Cheese Factory in Homestead Road in Berwick is in part of this same estate) and all throughout Victoria and some of this was reported in the papers. The settlers' evidence is typical of all the evidence presented - the land was too dear, unsuitable for the purpose, there was inadequate training and supervision etc. Some reports mention Elcho, which was the Government training farm for migrants near Geelong. 

Evidence from George Owen, Yannathan.
Before coming to Australia, I was a saddler and leather worker, earning £5/10/ a week. Early in 1925 I saw an advertisement of the Victorian Government offering land for farming. This attracted my attention I thought that it would be a good thing to come out to Australia on the terms shown for the sake of my children. At Australia House I was told that I could get a good mixed dairy farm at £10 an acre of a capital value of £1,500. Before I came to Australia I could plough and milk. I went to Elcho for a few weeks and then took up the block, at Yannathan. The area of the block was 66 acres and the price was £33 an acre, without improvements. I was told that I could make a living on the block. The land is unsuitable for cultivation because of the drainage. The debt should be wiped off and the valuation reduced. That is the only solution. I have, since going on to the block received an increased acreage of 27 acres at £27/10/an acre. That shows that the board has admitted that the land should be revalued. (The Argus, May 8, 1931, see here)

Evidence from Charles James Dixon, Caldermeade.
Before coming to Australia, I was employed in a steelworks, receiving £3/ 10/ a week. I saw various posters and advertisements, advertising Australia and I went to Australia House. I had a pension as an Imperial Soldier. At Wembley I heard a lecturer dealing with land settlement in Victoria. He touched on the patriotic side. He said - We helped you during the war. "Now you come and fill our empty spaces" (laughter) The second picture that was shown was of the glorious Sydney Harbour (laughter) I learned to milk at Elcho. My block has an area of 68 acres and the price was £42 an acre. I took possession on December 9, 1925. I had never touched a plough before I went on to the block. I have lost crops through bad drainage. My arrears to the board are about £2,000. I suggest that I should have more land and more stock and that the price of the land should be reduced. My father visited me in 1928. He intended going into partnership with me but when he saw the land he booked his passage back to England. (The Argus, May 8, 1931, see here)

Evidence from George Arthur Green, Caldermeade.
Before I came to Australia I was engaged in farming operations. I was earning £ 2/10/ a week had house rent free and commission on buying and selling cattle I questioned Mr Wyatt, who was migration officer at Australia House, and decided to come to Australia. My block is 40 acres in area and the price was £50 an acre. After I got on to the block I discovered that it had been abandoned by the previous occupier. I could see that the land had been ploughed and then left. My block has not been revalued. (The Argus, May 8, 1931, see here)

Evidence from Henry James F. Jones, Koo Wee Rup (later at Fish Creek)
Henry James F. Jones, farmer, of Fish Creek, stated in 1913 he left England, where he was earning £5 12/6 as a painter. Mr Wyatt told him land suitable for dairying could be obtained at from £5 to £10 an acre. He and his wife had £850 between them upon landing in Australia. After being at Elcho farm he was shown land at Kooweerup valued at £1966, portion of which was swamp abandoned by a former settler. The board's solicitor stated the board admitted the land was unsuitable for settlement, and the whole question was a matter of compensation. Witness, continuing, said the block was completely saturated with water at one time. Officials of the board said improvements were futile on such land. Draining cost him £90. In 1927 his receipts from potatoes and dairying were £566. In 1928 and 1929 he received £929, and his expenses were £692. Owing to flooding of the land he gave up and went to Fish Creek. On 100 acres at £23 an acre he had 12 cows, from which he received £120 for the year. He grew potatoes and the highest price he received was £3 a ton. He had only £50, four cows, three horses and farm implements when he left Kooweerup. His interest and principal to the board was accumulating, as the area was not large enough to make a living. (The Age, May 20, 1931, see here)

Evidence from George Lewis Williams, district officer for the Water Commission of the Mornington Peninsula area.
As might be expected some of the officials who gave evidence had a different viewpoint. Mr Williams was quite blunt in his evidence."From time to time", continued Williams, "I engaged gardening experts to supervise and instruct the settlers, but these men gave up in disgust because they could not get the men on the blocks to take their advice. Many of them tried to cultivate an area that was too large. They were advised to concentrate on small areas, but would not follow that advice. They held Bolshevik meetings to ventilate their grievances. The Water Commission has supplied a motor-truck and employs two men to transport vegetables. The settlers even refused to cart the produce from their blocks to the packing shed for sale. There are too many misfits among the overseas settlers. They have been offered the use of scoops and other implements to do work on their blocks, but would not take advantage of the offer. They were too lazy. They also would not take advice on methods of cultivation and growing vegetables. They are the most contrary men I have ever met"  (The Argus, May 14, 1931, see here)

Findings of the Royal Commission
The findings of the Royal Commission can be accessed on the Victorian Parliament website, at https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1933No3.pdf   However, the Weekly Times had a comprehensive report of the findings of the Royal Commission on April 8, 1933
The Royal Commission in Migrant Land Settlement has found in its report to the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir William Irvine) that the settlers were justified in their complaints of misrepresentation by Commonwealth and State representatives in London........The Commission examined 504 witnesses at 146 public sittings. The inspection of holdings and the examination of witnesses in country centres necessitated the travelling of 10,000 miles.......In a summary of the conditions of 318 individual settlers, the commission finds that in practically every instance conditions were not such as to provide "a living and all commitments" and that in such cases the opportunity given to the settler of earning a living and ultimately acquiring his farm more or less fall short of the State's obligations to him. The Commissioners, however contended that they had no right to make any recommendation concerning the remedy or redress of any of the complaints (2).

The findings of the Royal Commission also have a summary of the evidence of 318 individuals - which gives a good indication of the areas covered by the Commission which include The Mallee, Murrabit, Maffra, Katandra, Stanhope, Alberton West, Shepparton, Leongatha, Tongala, Coleraine, Red Cliffs and this region. It is no wonder they travelled over 10,000 miles to inspect the properties. The evidence summary includes notes on training, block condition and whether it could provide the farmer with a living and the ability to fulfil commitments.

The farms were clearly thought to be small family farms, which rely on the labour of all family members. John Roy, farm supervisor, Water Commission, gave this evidence - Dairying was not necessary if a man was making a success of market gardening, but if a man had a growing family it was a good thing to have cows, pigs and poultry, and keep family occupied on the farm (3).

If a farmer did not have a wife, he was advised to get one - Charles Rowatt McTaggett, dairy farmer, Alberton West. He came to Victoria with £300 capital but was given no training. His present block which he took over from the board was of 48 acres and cost £2,253 with £600 for improvements, making the price £61 an acre. It would carry only 18 cows and was far too small to return a living. When he complained, Mr. Weir, who was in charge of the Closer Settlement scheme, advised him to get married, because he would then be able to milk 12 more cows. He did not follow that advice (4). 

The Owen family of 'Ivanhoe', Yannathan
One of the men who gave evidence to the Royal Commission was George Owen.  There are some photos on the Museums Victoria website of the Owen family of Ivanhoe, Yannathan, taken in  1925 and 1926.  These photos provide us with a lovely snapshot of the life of the family on their farm - from ploughing the paddocks, digging potatoes to the children at play and the family at their Sunday devotions. We are lucky to have access to these photos and they were contributed to the Museum's  Biggest Family Album project by Mrs Wynne Jennings (nee Owen). I have done some research to find out a bit more about the Owen family.

The Owen family home at Yannathan

Image: Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770082

George and Emma (nee Matthews) Owen moved to Yannathan in 1925.  George and Emma and their four children had migrated from England and, as we know, were induced to come to Australia under the Migrant  Land Settlement Scheme.  The children, who all feature in the photos, were William Henry (born 1914), Eileen Mary (born 1915), Winifred Emma (known as Wynne, born 1920) and Catherine Marjorie (known as Marjorie or Marj, born 1922). They moved to 454 Sydney Road, Brunswick around 1934/1935 (according to the Cranbourne Shire Rate books) and in the 1935 Electoral Roll George was listed as being employed as a 'Dairy Produce merchant'.   They later moved to 9 Pickford Street in Armadale (5). 

The Owen farm was located on Games Road. It was part of the Waori Park Closer Settlement Board subdivision. Waori Park and was established in 1919 and had been owned by Percy Charles 'Paddy' Einsiedel - there were two sections - Section A adjoined the Monomeith railway Station and section B, where the Owen family were, adjoined Yallock. The Owen property was Allotment 9 according to the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books and Allotment 8 according to the Yallock Parish Plan (see image immediately below) The original allocation was 66 acres and the family later on (1932/1933 according to the Rate books) took on another 27 acres (6).

From the Yallock Parish Plan - the Owen property went from Games Road to Forrest Road at Yannathan.

The Owen's had a dairy farm - we know this from a letter young William wrote to the Weekly Times of June 23, 1928. In the letter he says they cows, pigs and poultry and he has a dog, a  cat and a bantam rooster as pets.

William Owen's letter to the Weekly Times

Weekly Times June 23, 1928    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224958241?

George and young Bill chopping wood

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770087

What happened to the family after they left Yannathan? The four children all enlisted in the Australian Army in World War Two. The newspapers reported on Marjorie's wedding to William Edmund Hume-Spry in April 1950, where Wynne was bridesmaid,  and Wynne's marriage to John William Jennings in November 1950 - both girls were married at the  St Kilda  Methodist Church. Wynne carried a sprig of heather on her wedding day, which her sister Eileen had sent from Scotland. Wynne and John were married by his father, the Reverend W.E. Jennings. George Owen died on July 23, 1954 at the age of 68 and Emma died July 18, 1966 aged 80. When George died his address in the death notice was 87 Cranbourne Road, Frankston, however his funeral was held at the Methodist Church in St Kilda. When Emma died she was living at Inala Village, in Blackburn and her funeral was at the Mt Pleasant Methodist Church in Forest Hill (7).

Catherine Owen's wedding

The Argus, April 25, 1950 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22824620

These are more photos of the Owen family from Museums Victoria.

Mrs Emma Owen and the children at Yannathan, feeding chickens.

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770076

Mr George Owen and the children and the dog at Yannathan, building a trough.

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770088

The Owen children collecting firewood

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770099

Wynne and Marjorie at the clothes line.

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770083

Eileen Owen

 https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770084

Sunday devotions on the farm at Yannathan. This is  a beautiful photo. the caption on the Museums Victoria site says that Sunday school classes which were held every Sunday under a large gum tree.

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/773305

Trove Lists

I have created  a list of newspapers articles on Trove relating to the Royal Commission, you can access the list here. I have also created a list of newspaper articles about the Owen family on Trove, click here to access the list. 

Footnotes
(1) John Stewart Dethridge (1865-1926) - read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
(2) Weekly Times, April 8 1933, see here.
(3) The Age, May 15, 1931, see here.
(4) The Argus, June 3, 1931, see here.
(5) Information from the Cranbourne Shire Rate Book and the Electoral Rolls. The dates of birth of the children come from World War Two Nominal Rolls, as they all served in the Army in the War.

(6) Information in this paragraph - Niel Gunson The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Cheshire 1968), p. 132; Yallock Parish Plan, 1931; Cranbourne Shire Rate Books.

(7) Information in this paragraph - World War Two Nominal Rolls,  newspaper articles, see my Trove list here The death and funeral notice for Mrs Owen was in The Age July 19, 1966 on newspapers.com

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

Better Farming Train

The Better Farming Train was established in 1924 by the Victorian Railways and the Department of Agriculture. The train travelled around Victoria, stopping for a day or so at various country railway stations, and provided lectures and demonstrations to farmers to improve farming techniques and therefore raise agricultural production. If agricultural production was raised then the Railways would also benefit as nearly all produce was moved by rail. The train made 39 tours of country Victoria between 1924 and 1935 and stopped at over 390 towns. Over 250,000 people attended these lectures. Most of the trips were made before 1930, and due to the Depression, only one trip per annum was made after that. During World War Two the carriages were converted to recruiting trains.  (1).

Better Farming Train poster from the Victorian Railways

State Library of Victoria Image H28737/1

The train initially consisted of fifteen carriages and three extra carriages were later added; it was very distinctive as it was painted a bright orange-yellow colour (2). Once the train arrived at the Station the various displays were set up. Each carriage contained information and exhibits about different areas of agriculture such as potatoes, dairy, bee keeping, poultry. The train actually carried livestock, cattle and pigs, enabling a hands-on approach to the subject. There was also a pasture carriage, which had various plant varieties growing. The train had expert lecturers from the Department of Agriculture and the Education Department  to provide information on various topics and demonstrate new techniques (3).

Carriages were also provided for lectures and demonstration to women on cookery, needlework, child welfare and home nursing (4). Between April 1925 and November 1929 the women's section of the Better Farming Train operated separately. To maximise the audience these carriages were attached to regular trains, either passenger or goods, and taken to  a town where they might stay for a day or two and then be moved on by another train to the next location.  An additional carriage, the Public Health Car, was later added and this was staffed by members of the Public Health Department. The Mothercraft and Child Welfare carriage could seat 80 people and the 'Domestic economy' car, could accommodate 60 people. (5).

The Better Farming Train at Bunyip

Dr. A. E. V. Richardson, Sup't. of Agriculture (Delivering Inaugural Address on 

"Better Farming" Train at Bunyip). Victorian Railways photographer.

State Library of Victoria Image H31183/4

The inaugural stop was at Bunyip, where the train arrived at 9.20am on Monday, October 13, 1924. It was met by the Berwick Shire President, Cr J. Dore and other members of the Council. Also present was the Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Melbourne Bruce, and the Railways Commissioner, Mr Harold Clapp. The Prime Minister said I have taken the opportunity of inspecting the train at its first stopping place. I cannot speak too highly of the manner in which the train has been made up nor of the immense value of the work it will do (6).

Over 800  people inspected the train  and listened to various lectures including  - Horse Breeding Act, Examination of stallions; Jersey and Red poll cattle; Friesian and Ayrshire cattle; Grading cows; Pigs; Herd testing; Milk grading; Grasses and top dressing; Feeding cattle; Bees and honey; Feeding pigs and Potatoes. For the women, there were demonstrations in needlework and lectures on mothercraft and child welfare. In the evening, Amalgamated Wireless Limited had a set attached to the train and district residents had the opportunity of hearing Dame Nellie Melba in Grand Opera (7).

This is an interesting account from The Argus of November 21, 1924 (8) of the first stop at Bunyip and the value of the Better Farming Train to the women who attended -

The "Better Farming Train" - What it Means to Women.
If there be any one with doubts as to the necessity for or the success of the "better farming" train which recently returned from its second tour into the fastnesses of Gippsland, let him talk with Sister Peck (9),  superintendent of the training school of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association (10), who, with Miss Pell and Mrs Storer, of the Education department, conducted the women's section on the train. "It was most thrilling the whole way through," she said on her return this week. "Every department in the train was a great success and none more so than ours."

"It is amusing now to remember," Sister Peck continued, "our feelings when we started off on the first tour. We were all very excited and at the same time wondering how things would go. As the train pulled in to Bunyip, our first port of call, there was not a soul in sight. Then I saw an old shandrydan (11) carrying a father, mother and baby. Three people anyway, someone said. Then she saw two women standing near a goods shed. That was five between the whole train. Then she came round the edge of some big sheds, and saw a great crowd waiting on the station to receive us. We were greeted with cheers, and simply overwhelmed by the warmth of our reception. And that sort of thing went on all the time, particularly at the small centres, where often the people had travelled 30 and 40 miles over shocking roads, having had first perhaps to rise at dawn to get necessary work finished before leaving home."

"Of course, you know that ours is the most completely equipped train of its kind in the world. The average attendance was 800, while in the women's section alone we reached 200 on the last tour, the first one having averaged about 150. On the first trip we shared the one carriage for cookery, serving and infant welfare, but the crowds were so great that on the second time I was given the use of the agricultural department's electric car during the daytime which has seating accommodation for 80 and standing room for 120. As all the women wanted to attend the welfare lectures and demonstrations as well as the sewing and cookery, classes, we altered the arrangement on the second train to sewing and baby welfare in the morning, and cooking and baby welfare in the afternoon. I stayed in the carriage all day, just taking a hurried lunch, because the women were so keen to take the utmost advantage of the wonderful opportunity the Railway Commissioners and the Department of Agriculture had given them. They were there when the train arrived, and did not leave until they must."

In her audience were young mothers and old mothers, mothers with large families and mothers with their first babies, and perhaps most appreciative of all of the opportunity for obtaining sympathetic advice were the young expectant mothers. A great many of the women were the English wives of soldiers, who were worried by climatic conditions with which they did not know how to cope. And what Sister Peck could tell them of the care of milk, of the many uses of the kerosene tin, including the admirable little cooler, of how to prevent and how to treat summer diarrhoea, and what to do to combat the deadly fly, interested them intensely. She carried practically all the equipment of a baby health centre, and the Railways department had had printed for her posters carrying the slogans of the association. These were set up around the lecture hall and it gave Sister Peck such pleasure to know that while the men sat at their lectures at night these slogans were all the time before them. (12)

Beautiful Gippsland Babies.
Sister Peck speaks most enthusiastically of the splendidly healthy babies that were brought to her from all parts of Gippsland. It was easy to see the result of fresh air and sunshine and good food. As a matter of fact in nearly every case where the baby, was a little out of sorts it was due to over feeding to too rich milk, from which both bottles and breast fed babies suffered. And the mothers easily learnt how to remedy this trouble. It was interesting to find that everywhere we went there were mothers who had written to me, perhaps years before for advice about their babies. One woman had driven 30 miles to show me her three-year-old baby, about whom she had first written to me when he was three months. Many of the bush nurses also visited the train, and from that they and other people told me there seems no question as to the value of the infant welfare training for the bush nurse.

While Sister Peck had most to say, naturally, about the work of her department she emphasised the fact that the domestic economy centre was equally successful and appreciated. Both she and her colleagues realised what the coming of this train meant to the women, in the isolated places. Although frequently they experienced very bad weather, as, for instance, at Mirboo North, it did not keep people away. The train was always crowded. As it came in to some of the wayside stations the scene resembled, Sister Peck says, a great picnic or country fair in each place there was a local committee to make arrangements, and there were always large boilers to supply hot water. The people came in all manner of vehicles, motor-cars, milk waggons, drays, and buggies. It was not uncommon to see a milk waggon fitted up with kerosene boxes and carrying mother, father, and five or six children.

One morning, while Sister Peck was preparing for her lectures, 10 little boys came into the carriage exploring. They were particularly interested in the milk cooler, and she had to explain how it was made while they all determined to "make one for mother." The little felt slipper made from an old hat also interested them, and they asked for patterns, which they carefully hid away. Since her return this week Sister Peck his had several letters from women who visited the train expressing their gratitude for the help they had received and asking for patterns of the little garments which she had recommended. Altogether the experience has left her and her colleagues in the train with very happy memories. "Although at the end of each day we were nearly always too tired to accept the hospitality that was offered us everywhere, it was a most satisfactory tiredness." (13)

Here are a few other local accounts - 

The train was at Pakenham on Friday, October 21 1927. The Pakenham Gazette of October 28 reported on the visit -

'Time well spent' was the opinion of district residents in regard to their inspection of the Better Farming Train at Pakenham railway station last Friday. Practically every town within a radius of a dozen miles was well represented in the crowd.....There was on board something of special interest to every section of the farming community....The dairyman and grazier found much to interest them in the prize sheep and cattle, the fodder, samples of wool, models of helpful devices, specimens of disease affected organs and tissues and suggested remedies, and the stock demonstrations. There were also lectures on calf rearing, pig breeding, potato culture, and for the orchardists a lecture on fruit culture. Once again the women were entertained by cookery demonstrations, needlework, home nursing lectures amongst other activities. The Gazette ended the report by saying the visit of the train was decidedly a success and much benefit should be derived from it (14).

The Potato Section of the Better Farming Train

Victorian Railways Photographer. State Library of Victoria Image H28737/5

The Better Farming Train was at Koo Wee Rup on November 14, 1927. This was reported in The Argus newspaper. The main topics of agriculture discussed were potato growing and dairying. As the article pointed out, the Koo Wee Rup region produced one fifth of Victoria’s total potato production with Carmen being the principal variety grown with yields of five tons to the acre (15).  The potato lectures covered seed selection, storage, cultivation, manure application and disease control. The other focus of the visit was dairying and The Argus reported that 600 cans of milk were sent daily from Koo Wee Rup (16).

At Koo Wee Rup, over 100 women attended the Better Farming Train demonstration on cookery and needlework, clothing design and an infant welfare nurse was also available to examine babies (17). The Women's Section of the train had also visited Koo Wee Rup on February 8, 1926 (18).

The Better Farming Train coming to Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 10, 1927, p. 1

The Weekly Times had a full page of photographs of the visit of the Better Farming Train to Koo Wee Rup in November 1927. Three are shown below, see them all here.

General View in Station yard, Koo Wee Rup.

Weekly Times, November 19, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224378200

Women residents of Koo Wee Rup outside Cookery and Needlework cars waiting for lectures to begin.

Weekly Times, November 19, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224378200

The Koo Wee Rup Sun also reported on the visit of the Better Farming Train -

Better Farming Train Visits Kooweerup

Thousands of farmers have not had the privilege of attending agricultural colleges or experimental farms, with the object of securing the latest scientific results of research work, therefore, the ideals of the Agricultural department in collaboration with the Railways department in sending expert lecturers and demonstrators to the country is a highly commended action. This is performed per medium as what is known as the Better Farming Train. Every centre visited by this train attracts large attendances, which amply demonstrates that the rural population appreciates the short course of training.

On Monday the train, composed of 17 cars and trucks, equipped with wonderful exhibits and accompanied by trained demonstrators, visited Kooweerup, and a large number of farmers and their families displayed keen interest and delight in the lectures and exhibits. The lectures were delivered in a tent pitched on the reserve. The first lecture was delivered on “Stock Feeding” by Mr J.M. Kerr, senior dairy supervisor. He pointed out the merits of the composition of various produce and their action in production of flesh and milk. Mr W.J. Yuill, senior dairy supervisor, next dealt with “Herd Improvement,” and emphasized the value of breeding from the purest stock, also the benefits derived by having herd testing associations in dairying districts. 

At 1.30p.m., a stock demonstration was held, and the splendid animals exhibited were greatly admired. Mr  J.T. Ramsay, potato expert, gave an address on “Potato Culture,” and showed the wonderful improvements effected by following up-to-date scientific methods. He stressed the value of proper seed selection, correct storage, treatment for the prevention of disease, grading for market, etc. The value of top dressing was next demonstrated by Mr Ryan, followed by an edifying lecture in “Pig Breeding” by Mr R.T. Archer, senior dairy supervisor. 

For the womenfolk very educational addresses were delivered as follows – Sister Peck, “Mothercraft” and “Home Nursing,” Miss N. Cader, “Cooking.”

In the evening Mr Pederick had a large audience for a discourse on “Poultry,” and he showed many defects which are committed by poultry keepers. He also by means of lantern slides copiously illustrated his points and strongly urged careful selection and packing in sending birds to the market. Afterward the exhibits in the cars were examined and admired by many persons who were unable to attend during the day. (19)

 A group of residents at the train at Koo Wee Rup

Weekly Times, November 19, 1927 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224378200

Other visits to the Koo Wee Rup Swamp area - Lang Lang on November 10 1924 on way to South Gippsland and Cranbourne on Saturday November 15, 1924 on the return journey (20). 

Better farming Train visit to South Gippsland

The Age November 10, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155530518

It went to Berwick on Friday July 3 1930, where 1,000 people inspected the train including students from the local State Schools and Dandenong High School (21). The train stopped at Clyde on Tuesday July 21, 1930 and the next day at Yannathan and then continued on to South Gippsland (22). The Argus reported that over 700 people attended the visit of the Better Farming Train at Clyde. They came from Cardinia, Dalmore, Tooradin, Devon Meadows, Lyndhurst and Cranbourne (23).

The Better Farming Train at Clyde

The Argus, July 22 1930 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4101028

The Koo Wee Rup Sun had a short report on the Yannathan visit -
The Better Farming Train was on view at Yannathan on Tuesday, the 22nd inst., and attracted a very large crowd. The officials on the train were welcomed by Mr Thwaites, owing to the unavoidable absence of Mr Bennett, M.L.A. Later in the day Mr Bennett arrived and apologized for not being able to attend earlier, but thanked Mr Thwaites for acting in his stead. He congratulated the Yannathan people in being fortunate enough to have a visit of the train. With the able lecturers and interesting addresses he felt sure that the visit would prove of great value. Mr J. de C. Talbot responded on behalf of the staff, and Mr Mullany on behalf of the railways.

Lectures and demonstrations on top-dressing and dairying were largely attended. Mr Yuille emphasized the need of herd testing. Valuable information on pig breeding was given by an expert, who urged farmers to keep pigs as a profitable investment. The women’s lectures on dressmaking and needlework by Miss McAlister were interesting and of valuable assistance. A cookery lecture by Miss Killeen was also good and intently listened to. Sister Peck gave lectures on home-nursing and mothercraft. The school children were keenly interested in the exhibits and demonstrations. Visitors were present from all the surrounding districts. (24)

There may well have been other visits to the region, I was going through reports on the train in The Argus trying to pick up any mentions of the tours, and that reminded me just how extensive the Rail network was in the 1920s and 1930s and thus how many small towns could have been visited by the train. There is a great website with maps that show the rise and fall of the Victorian Railways http://www.vrhistory.com/VRMaps/

This is an interesting aspect of our history and reflects the importance of the railway in people’s life at a time when most people didn’t have a car and, until the 1960s, nearly all the farming produce (milk, potatoes other vegetables, cattle) from the area was dispatched by train to market.

Better Farming Train, a lecture on Child Welfare. 

Victorian Railways Photographer. State Library of Victoria Image H28737/18

Footnotes
(1) Harrigan, Leo J Victorian Railways to '62 (Victorian Railways, 1962), pp. 265-268.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Ibid.
(5) Ibid.

(6) The Herald, October 14, 1924, see here.

(7) Reports of the inaugural trip of the Better Farming Train are in The Herald, October 14, 1924, see here; The Argus, October 14, 1924, see here and The Age, October 14, 1924, see here.

(8) The Argus, November 21, 1924, see here.

(9) Sister Peck - Muriel Anna Peck (1882-1947) Read her obituary in The Herald, May 21, 1947, here;  Gippsland Times of June 5, 1947, here. Sister Peck was also  instrumental in the establishment of Baby Health Centres, I have written about this here. I have also written about her in connection to the Lady Talbot Milk Institute, here.

(10) Victorian Baby Health Centres Association was established May 31, 1918 and their aim was to safeguard the health of mothers and babies. The first baby health centre had actually opened in June 1917 in North Richmond, operated by Sister Peck (see previous footnote). Read about the history of the movement in All the Children: the story of Victoria's Baby Health Centres 1917-2017 by Heather Sheard (MCHN Inc 2017)

(11) A shandrydan - an old fashioned chaise or light, open carriage; a rickety vehicle

(12) The Argus, November 21, 1924, see here.

(13) The Argus, November 21 1924, see here.

(14) Pakenham Gazette, October 28, 1927, p. 3

(15) The Argus, November 15, 1927, see here.

(16) Ibid.

(17) Ibid

(18) The Argus, February 9, 1926, see here.

(19) Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 17, 1927, p. 1

(20) The Age, November 10, 1924, see here   

(21) The Argus, July 4, 1930, see here.

(22) The Age, July 5 1930, see here.

(23) The Argus, July 22 1930, see here. 

(24) Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 31, 1930, p. 1

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past, and the Koo Wee Rup Blackfish and the Garfield Spectator.