itellya on Family Tree Circles
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MOSER/ROGERS/MUNDAY MEMORIES OF ROSEBUD, VIC., AUST.
This journal results from a private message conversation between myself and Shah, who has consented to her information being published.
COMMENT UNDER MY JOURNAL ABOUT THE DROMANA MUSEUM.
Very interested in all you have written about the Mornington Peninsula.
In regard to the Thistles in Boneo Road. My grandparents ran this as a guest house around the 1930s. I understand it was then a double storey house.
Would this be correct and is there anything else you could tell me about it?
Researching Moser, Rogers, Munday, Bennett, Dixon, Pilbeam, Belsar, Parkinson, Fitzgibbon, amongst others.
Thank you
ITELLYA.
Hi Shah. You referred to "The Thistle" by which I presume you mean "The Thicket". This was bounded by First Avenue, Eastbourne Rd and Boneo Rd and contained the curving streets such as Warranilla Ave. It adjoined the Hope St houses which were part of "Hindhope", a farm which occupied the northern half of crown allotment 14 Wannaeue.
Unfortunately I know very little about The Thicket. The late Ray Cairns told me that the homestead was near the site of the church that stands at the corner of Boneo Rd and The Drive. I need to know the name of your grandfather who ran the guest house in what must have been an extension of the homestead described below. The only mentions of The Thicket seem to be the following sale notice and a fire and a brief advertisement re holiday accommodation in shallays (chalets) in the 1940's. With a bit more information, I might be able to find other articles or advertisements about the property on trove.
CLEARING SALE At "THE THICKET," BONEO ROAD, ROSEBUD, THURSDAY. JUNE 22.
At One O'Clock. On the Premises.
McInnes, Whinfield, and Co. (late J.K. Jennings and McInnes) have received Instructions to SELL , on the above date A farm property, consisting of 56 ac. 2 rd. 22 perches, situated close to Rosebud township, and only a stone-throw from the water frontage,
A good house, consisting of 5 rooms and conveniences, is erected on the property, including a garage, extra good well equipped bails and sheds, machinery shed, pig run and sty, buggy shed, chaffhouse, &c, &c.
The properly is subdivided into 7 paddocks. This includes three very good orchards, peaches, apple, pears, and other fruit in full bearing, and is watered by windmill, pipes laid, and an abundant supply.
CATTLE. 14 dairy cows, 3 heifers, 3 bullocks, 1 bull, 4 calves.
HORSES. 1 draught gelding 5 years old; 1 medium draught mare, 7 years old, extra good.
PIGS.-2 sows with broods, 1 boar.
IMPLEMENTS.-Seed drill, disc plough, 2 single furrow ploughs, cultivator, mower, 1 set harrows, 1 grindstone, 1 spray pump, 1 portable engine (Richardson), 1 shellcrusher, I chaffcutter, complete with belt; shovel, forks, garden utensils,
&c, 2 incubators, 3 brooders, pair of scales.
HARNESS. 2 sets of buggy harness, 1 set of dray harness, collars, and hames.
DAIRY.-Separator (Globe No. 1), 2 milk churns, 2 butter churns.
FURNITURE. 4 bedsteads and mattresses, chest of drawers, small tables, washstand &c.
VEHICLES.-1 dray, 1 springcart, 1 buggy, 1 phaeton.
Terms on Land Purchase 1230 may remain on mortgage for 3 years, bearing 5 per cent. interest,balance cash.
The auctioneers have inspected this property, and have to report that it is a snug, comfortable home, well equipped, and a very fine front garden. The land is good black sandy loam, and well suited for growing maize, lucerne, onions, and the like, and, being within a stone-throw of the bay frontage, must eventually command a big price for building blocks. We strongly recommend it as a comfortable home and a good Investment.
Further particulars from McInnes, Whinfield, and Co., 411 Bourke street, Melbourne.
Local representative, Mr. Jennings, land and estate agent, Rosebud.
(P.3,The Argus,27-5-1922.)
SHAH.
Hello,
Yes, I did mean the Thicket! My great grandparents names were Sydney and Mary (May) Moser. My grandmother Mona Moser was married there. She married Bartholomew Rogers who had bakeries in Rosebud and then managed the pine plantation*. (*See "Bogies and Birdies" the history of the Rosebud Country Club-itellya.)
Are you interested in my grandparents businesses and where they lived etc?
Bartholomew (Barty) Rogers was on many committees such as the building of the local high school and memorial hall. He has a road named after him in Cape Schanck where he owned a lot of land at one stage.
Thank you for your reply.
ITELLYA.
I'd love any information concerning your ancestors in relation to Rosebud and the Mornington Peninsula. I think I remember Peter Wilson mentioning Bart Rogers in relation to the memorial hall.
Did your great grandparents own just the homestead block of The Thicket or the whole (almost) 57 acres? Did they know Keith McGregor who had probably leased the homestead block from Alf Rawlings while he ran the transport business and owned Hindhope Villa (50 First Avenue) after his return from the Western District?
Who were their friends in the area? Was Cr.Forrest Edmund (Joe) Wood one of them? If you have any anecdotes in the family folklore about funny incidents, accidents, events etc., I'd love to hear about them.
When did the Mosers arrive in the area from Swan Hill and what was M.A.Moser doing at Dromana in 1948? I presume this was Murray who escaped serious injury in 1938 while presumably living at Rosebud. Did Murray run a garage in Rosebud West?
MOTOR Mechanic A grade or equivalent experience Furnished house
available right man reasonable rent Apply giving complete details of qualifications and experience M Moser Chatfeld ave Rosebud West
(The Argus, Saturday 17 July 1948, p 18 Advertising.)
Just in case you haven't used TROVE, I'll include the articles referred to above.
CAR SNAPS POST
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 24 October 1938 p 3 Article
... CAR SNAPS POST ROSEBUD, Sunday.-Struck - Struck by a motor-car when it swerved after a collision lision with another car this afternoon, an electric light pole on the Sorrento road was snapped off at the base. The driver of the car, Mr. Murray Moser, escaped with a cut nose and a passenger ... 80 words
SWAN HILL MIGRANTS MANY SETTLED ON PENINSULA
Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1939 - 1949) Thursday 18 March 1948 p 11 Article
... T. Atherton (Rosebud), H. Atherton (Main Ridge), R. Donaldson (B3alnarr ing), J. Fanning, L. ... W. G. Cochrane (Merricks), W. Pedley, W. Brace (Red Hill South), G. Brasser, MA. Moser (Dromana), ... 292 words
I also tried Rogers, Rosebud and found this one.
P G Rogers of Rosebud applied to the board for permission to carry with one commercial vehicle goods within a radius of 20 miles of Rosebud. He applied also for permission to carry goods to and from Flinders and Portsea to places within a radius of five miles of the G P O Melbourne. Tho application was opposed by the railways E G
White. W A Peterson and B A Cairns The board reserved its decision.
(The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thursday 1 September 1938 p 12 Article)
SHAH.
Hello again,
I will have to get back to you re some of the questions. Yes, Murray Moser ran a garage in West Rosebud that has in the past few years been knocked down and there are units and a caf? there. Dad has just told me they bought a house that was at the back of where the garage was they lived in. I am regularly on Trove.
I have found my grandfather Barty better by searching for BP Rogers. He owned Bakeries in Kilmore and I've found recently Hurstbridge, but not at the same time.
I think the Moser's arrived in Rosebud quite possibly in 1938. I have a photo of my grandmother Mona standing in a garden, that mum thinks was the Thicket. Only shows a palm tree in the background. My grandmother's father Sydney Moser worked on the Rosebud Hotel, bricklaying (I think). They would not have owned the Thicket but probably rented it. They weren't well off due to my great grandfather's roaming.
They lived quite a number of places in Victoria before settling in Rosebud.
His father Herman Frederick Moser was a quite well known photographer and was involved in getting the bridge over the Murray in Swan Hill. He was the first person to take bullocks and dray across it; though I don't think he was supposed to!
The Mosers were distantly related to cricketer (Pontrose?) who owned a holiday home in Rosebud on the corner of Point Nepean Road and Rose Road. Sydney Murray Moser was born in Deniliquin in 1888 and married Mary Ann (May) Bennett in Deniliquin in 1910. May Bennett was a granddaughter of two convicts Elizabeth Taylor and Samuel Benjamin Bellamy Bennett. Her maternal great grandfather has an island named after him near Swan Hill called Belsar's Island. Barty Rogers had two bakeries at different times in Rosebud, one where the now ANZ bank was and the other where the men's wear shop is now next to Peebles. This shop was more of a milk bar/mixed business which granddad owned with May Moser. I rang Dad, Charlie Munday,to ask where grandad's 2nd shop was and he said he thought the information you have about Bill Chatfield may not be correct as he doesn't remember him fishing. He had a truck and did cartage work and put in Electric power poles etc. Murray Moser bought the garage from him and when they extended the garage, this is where the house was moved back. It is no longer there. Chatfield also built a shop next to the garage where a Tattoo place is now. Dad also said there was a man called Chadwick and another man called Lynch who ran the store. Lynch went on holiday to Queensland and drowned. The PG Rogers you found about permission for cartage may well have been my grandfather except they have the initials wrong. He did carry bricks etc. He used to buy concrete bricks my other grandfather Charles Munday made.
Charles Munday (my dad has the same name) used to sell the bricks to Barty and Barty would often return to buy more as he had lost some of his load on the journey.
Dad's side Charles William Munday and Amy Evelyn Munday(nee Parkinson) came to Rosebud on the 12th March 1946 and lived in a shed just behind where McDonalds is now. Grandad then built a house and built units in Fourth Avenue that still stand though are totally changed now. He also built the house opposite which is now behind the Tyre place. My grandparents ran a boat hire place where the Scout hall now stands. They then built a house in Murray Anderson Road and lived there until my grandfather's death in 1976. Barty and Mona Rogers and their children lived in the old pine house that used to stand beside the drive to the Rosebud Football Ground. They then built a brick home opposite the site of the present high school but this was demolished by the power company who used the land. They built another home two doors down that still stands in Boneo Road.
I will speak to my Uncle (mum's brother) as he may remember more.
Thanks for taking the time to record all this; it is fascinating!
ITELLYA.
This is fantastic because I rely on rates (available only until 1919) and old residents for most of my information, many of the latter having now died. With so many changes (e.g. McDonald's, the transmission station on the Boneo/Eastbourne corner that you mention, K.F.C.-formerly a caravan park mentioned in one of my journals etc),only people that have "been there; done that" can fill the gaps.
In regard to William Chatfield, he had been a fisherman before becoming a shopkeeper,living in a hut on the foreshore which was probably taken over by a (Swede)who is mentioned by Vin Burnham in his memories of Rosebud in the early days. Vin (Owen) had forgotten his surname but I've got it somewhere.(Axel Vincent!)
See "Life in Rosebud in the early years: by Vin Burnham | steveburnham.net
steveburnham.net/life-in-rosebud-in-the-early-years/
By Owen Vincent (Vin) Burnham. Unknown-3 When I was quite young (about seven, early 1920s) the Nepean Highway was a gravel and dirt road right up to ..."
In seeking information about William Chatfield, I made the fascinating discovery that residents of Rosebud West and Tootgarook had decided to call the area "Eastbourne".
EASTBOURNE
At a public meeting held at Eastbourne a committee of management, consisting of Messrs D.Cairns, W.Chatfield, F.Luscombe, and W.Truman, was formed to take over control of portion of the foreshore between Rye and Rosebud. It was decided to name the locality Eastbourne.
(P.15, Argus,23-6-1926.)
Eastbourne is the name given to his West Rosebud grant by Sidney Smith Crispo and used by Edward Williams, his great friend when he took over the property before Crispo's death in 1899. Williams had a new limestone homestead built at 17 William Crescent, and the name now applies to the primary school and Eastbourne Rd as well as the historic house.
Eleanora Davey Cairns lived at Eleanora, which was also built in the early 1900's and having been donated to the Alfred Hospital as a nurses' refuge,is now part of the Rosebud Hospital. Luscombe might have been a poultry farmer at Rosebud West,perhaps on "Woyna" east of the Truemans Rd corner. William Trueman had the eastern half of the land granted to his father,James. This land was later occupied by poultry farmer, Alf Doig, who was responsible for the area west of Truemans Rd being officially named Tootgarook. It is possible that the shire had denied a request for Eastbourne as an official name because of possible confusion with another place in Victoria of that name. (The Pascoe Vale Girls' School, established in a prominent house named Mt. Sabine could not be given that name because of such a situation.)
In the Sands and McDougall directory of 1950,Bartholomew P. Rogers is listed as a Rosebud resident and M.Moser, motor garage,was one of 24 Rosebud West residents. Also listed under Rosebud were Charles W. and Ernest H.Munday.
One thing I need to establish is the location of the Narooma Guest House. Jim Dryden said it was between First Avenue and Boneo Rd but his brother, Bill, claims it was on the site of McDonalds.
What I would like to do is write a journal about Rosebud, featuring your families, in the form of a conversation. In other words,to copy and paste our conversation, deleting any info of a private nature or that you don't want published. Something like MOSER, ROGERS AND MUNDAY MEMORIES OF ROSEBUD,VIC., AUST. How does that appeal to you?
Eastbourne Rd was a government road shown in the survey of the parish of Wannaeue. In about 1900,It was known as Ford's Lane because of Cr William Ford who had earlier owned the Wannaeue Estate bounded by Jetty Rd, Hiscock Rd (which continued eastward to the Old Cape Schanck/Jetty Rd corner), Boneo Rd and Eastbourne Rd. Later it was owned by Jack Raper (apparently pronounced Roper for obvious reasons)and the lane was known to locals as Roper's Lane by such as Ray Cairns and Bill Dryden.Jack built the house on the east side of the Olympic Park driveway in which Bart Rogers lived. Its demolition illustrates how little effort the shire has made to document Rosebud's heritage; thank goodness my curiosity has saved the Boyd Cottage in Rosebud Pde!
SHAH.
Hello again,
My father has given me some names and places you may be interested in.
I also know other old locals if you would like their input as well.
Narooma Guest house was on the corner of 4th Avenue where the current Safeway Petrol Station is. Dad also mentioned an old lady that used to live in quite a substantial house on the foreshore where the current Village Green is. He doesn't remember her name but she used to cut men's hair during WW2. She boarded a man by the name of Bucher who drowned when he fell in a drain. (As the village Green was the footy ground, the house probably adjoined the eastern end of it-itellya.)
(TROVE. ROSEBUD. MAN'S BODY IN CANAL
The body of Lewis Thomas Bucher, 71, of Rosebud was found in a drainage canal near his home yesterday. He had
been missing from his home since Monday. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
(P.6, Argus, 23-6-1948.) N.B. The drain was probably Chinaman's Creek. itellya.)
On the current site of Woolworths next to Rosebud Primary School there was the Presbyterian Church and a menswear that used to be owned by the Weatherheads. This was moved to its current site. Patterson's garage also used to reside there (woollies site).
Where there is a doctors surgery near the site of the old Rosebud tennis courts, this used to be the Methodist Church.
Dad mentioned Bill Paige. Frank Whittaker owned a furniture shop amongst other things. Bobby Weatherhead, Ernie Jensen, Bruce Jensen who was a Panel Beater and Micky Dark. I haven't been able to establish if my great grandparents knew the people who you asked about but dad played cricket or baseball (forgotten) with the army person you mentioned. Happy to have the information I provided in the journal.
MOUNT FRASER AT BEVERIDGE, VIC., AUST., WAS NAMED AFTER THE PIONEERING FRASER FAMILY.
This journal was prompted by my post on the CRAIGIEBURN HISTORICAL INTEREST GROUP'S Facebook page. Mount Fraser is indeed a spectacular monument to the Fraser family.
MOUNT FRASER, BEVERIDGE. Mount Fraser near Beveridge is heritage-listed, probably because Hume and Hovell are claimed to have first seen Port Phillip Bay in 1824. Many sources state that Mount Fraser was originally known as Big Hill and there are countless websites that describe its volcanic origin and it being the source of most of the scouria supplied to Melbourne. Was Mount Fraser named after a pioneer or just some big-wig? No website has stated why and when Big Hill was renamed.
THE Friends of the late JOHN FRASER, Esq , are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of Interment, Campbellfield* Cemetery. The funeral to leave his late residence, Mount Fraser, Beveridge, THIS DAY, Saturday, at 11 o'clock a m, arriving at Campbellfield, about 2 o'clock p.m. JOHN DALLY, undertaker, Latrobe and Spring streets, Melbourne. (P.8, Argus, 23-2-1867.)
(* Two cemeteries were referred to as the Campbellfield cemetery, the Will Will Rook Cemetery at Melway 7 B9 and the one at the historic Scots Church at 7 F6. John Fraser and several family members were buried at the latter. The following website shows not only the gravestone but also a map showing its location.
Scots Church Burial Ground Campbellfield - Australian Cemeteries
www.australiancemeteries.com/vic/hume/Scots%20Church%20Campbellfield.pdf)
A trove search indicates that Mount Fraser was first mentioned in early March 1853 when two of Alexander Fraser's horses were reported as having been stolen and the first mention of John Fraser in connection with the property was in October, 1854. John Fraser seems to have been on "Mount Fraser" by 1946 when his son Lachlan died (according to the gravestone.) The burial ground at Scots Church was established in 1844 so it is entirely possible that Lachlan was buried there in 1846. Alexander Fraser (on Mount Fraser in 1853) might have been near the Darebin Creek at that time. (Fraser Alexander: farmer·: Gallic Hill: Darabin Creek: source: 1847E - RootsWeb - Ancestry.com
freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dotwells/1847E.htm)
" Scots Church Campbellfield is found on the eastern side of the Hume Highway on the northern outskirts of Melbourne at 1702 Sydney Road, Campbellfield, Victoria. The church opened in 1842, was on 5 acres, and was a gift from Mr Neil Campbell of the Campbellfield Estate and formally from the Isle of Mull. The burial ground in the churchyard was established in 1844 during the time of the first Presbyterian minister, the Rev Thomas Mowbray." (http://www.australiancemeteries.com.au/vic/hume/scots.htm)
The trove search revealed that Mount Fraser presented a challenge to those daring young men in their flying horseless carriages in the 1920's. Also, an Australian gliding record was set there in 1942. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50154117?searchTerm=%22mount%20fraser%22&searchLimits=
Isn't it nice that one of Beveridge's main landmarks is named after a pioneering family's farm.
SNIPPETS.
Alexander Fraser, whose horses disappeared from "Mount Fraser" in 1853 was John Fraser's eldest son.
FRASER.—On the 1st inst., Alexander, eldest son of the late John Fraser, of Mount Fraser, Beveridge.
THE Friends of the late Mr ALEXANDER FRASER, of Mount Fraser, Beveridge, are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment in the Campbellfield Cemetery.
The funeral will leave from No. 83 Collins-street east, Melbourne, THIS DAY (Thursday, the 3rd inst.), at 12 noon, arriving at Campbellfield at 2 o'clock. (Both P.1, Argus, 3-8-1882.)
Does the following provide a clue to the maiden name of John Fraser's wife?
On the 14th inst., Mr. Alexander Fletcher, eldest son of the late Angus Fletcher, Esq., Aros, Island of
Mull, Scotland, and nephew to John Fraser, Esq., of Mount Fraser, Victoria.(P.4, Argus, 19-1-1858.)
FRASER.—On the 10th inst., at her residence, Gnarwarre, Park-street east, Moonee Ponds, Annie, the beloved youngest daughter of the late John Fraser, of Mount Fraser, Beveridge.
FRASER,--The Funeral of the late Miss ANNIE FRASER, youngest daughter of the late John Fraser (of Mount Fraser, Beveridge), will leave her late residence, Gnarwarre, Park-Street east, Moonee Ponds, for the Campbellfield Cemetery, THIS DAY, Friday,11th inst. at 11 o'clock.(Both P.1, Argus, 11-10-1895.)
FRASER.—On the 20th ult., at his residence, Mount Fraser, Mr. John Fraser, late of Argyleshire,Scotland, aged 77 years.
FRASER.—On the 20th ult., at his residence, Mount Fraser, Mr. John Fraser, late of Argyleshire, Scotland, aged seventy-seven, years. Much and deeply regretted by a numerous circle of friends, being one of the oldest and most respected colonists.(P.27, The Australasian, 2-3-1867.)
FRASER.—On the 27th inst., at her residence, Mount Fraser, Beveridge, Catherine Fraser, relict of the late John Fraser, aged 74 years.(P.1, Argus, 29-12-1877.)
THE Friends of the late Mr. HECTOR FRASER, youngest son of the late John Fraser, of Mount Fraser, are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, in the Cambellfield Churchyard.
The funeral will leave his late residence, Willow-cottage, Moonee-street, Ascotvale, THIS DAY (Monday, 8th inst.) P.1, Argus, 8-12-1890.
"MOUNT FRASER".
It would appear that the family's farming came to a halt not long after Alexander's death, a clearing sale being advertised in 1882. (Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918) Saturday 19 August 1882 p 15 Advertising)
The farm seems to have originally comprised 359 acres.
SPLENDID GRAZING PROPERTY To LET at BEVERIDGE 359 ACRES FIRST-CLASS LAND.
TENDERS will be received by the undermentioned, up to 25th April. 1889, for LEASE for five years of 359 Acres of splendid LAND, at Beveridge adjoining the railway station, known as the Red Barn and Mount Fraser, all securely fenced, and well watered by never-failing springs and dam. (P.6, The Australasian, 13-4-1889.)
SATURDAY,. 30th NOVEMBER.
About Half-past 4 o'Clock (after arrival of 2.40 p.m. train from Melbourne).
"Mount Fraser," Beveridge and Growing Crop.
GEORGE HOWAT has received instructions from Mr. Stanly Lyon to sell. by auction, (through his auctioneer) on the property,Saturday, 30th November; about 4.30 p.m., after arrival of 2.40 p.m. train from. Melbourne, that excellent farm known as MOUNT FRASER, Almost adjoining the Beveridge railway,station, and .within 26 miles of Melbourne, comprising 203 acres 1 rood 27 perches of rich volcanic Chocolate soil; with splendid
growing crop of 125 acres oats and 25 acres barley. Comfortable bluestone dwellings, substantial outbuildings and fencing, part newly erected, subdivided, - permanently watered.(etc.) P.2, Leader, 23-11-1912.)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17th, 1950 At 3.30 p.m. SCOTT'S HOTEL, MELBOURNE On Account - Charles . Smith, Esq. Public Auction , Well-Known Freehold
MOUNT FRASER ESTATE
204 Acres, Beveridge
Highly Improved Farm. Situated on the Southern Slope of Mt. Fraser, 24 Miles from Melbourne, half Mile Beveridge R.S., P.O.. School and Shopping Centre, on the Hume Highway, and Part in Town Boundary. 204 Acres — Rich Volcanic Soil (No Waste Land). Subdivided Into Several Conveniently Sized Paddocks.40 Acres In Town Boundary Have Been Surveyed Into half acre Blocks. At Present This Paddock is Under Barley. In Addition There are About 70 Acres Oats. Watered by Bore and Windmill, with Troughing Attachments Providing Abundant Supply Suitable for Plant Life. The Property Would Make- An Excellent Stud Farm.
Dwelling of Bluestone with Timber Annexe, 7 Rooms In Excellent Order, and Good Outbuildings. Nice Garden and Orchard, with an Attractive Drive of Red Gum Trees from the Gate. Possession March 1. 1950 (After Harvest).
(P.8, Weekly Times, 11-1-1950.)
MR MANN WROTE A HISTORY OF MT. ELIZA (VIC., AUST.) IN 1926.
You'd reckon that the name of the author of the history would have been given as John G.Mann! He lived in Harbury, Mt Eliza. John was one of the very active members of the the Mt Eliza Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade. He was a member of the Field Naturalists Group as was Mr S.Mann. When St James the Less Church was damaged by an earthquake in 1932,it was reported:"Mr. J. G. Mann who has an intimate knowledge of the history of the
church, has circulated an appeal for funds to repair the building. A ready response to the appeal is expected."
(THE EARTHQUAKE RESIDENTS ALARMED. LITTLE DAMAGE DONE
Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Saturday 10 September 1932 p 1 Article)
After Frankston High came second in a Wildflower competition run by 3AR and 3LO at the Melbourne Town Hall in 1930,it was reported:"The students have decided to have an exhibition of wild flowers at the school on Monday next, to see how many varieties they can obtain. Mr.Bincham, the local florist, in Young street, who very kindly staged the exhibit at the Town Hall, has agreed to stage the exhibits on Monday. Mr.J. Mann, of Mt. Eliza, who is an expert in wildflowers has consented to attend and name the flowers brought in.
(FRANKSTON HIGH SCHOOL WELFARE LEAGUE.
Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Saturday 25 October 1930 p 4 Article)
It is fitting that Mann Rd (Melway 101 J 9) leads to a reserve. I hope that the wildflowers that Mr Mann so loved grace the reserve!
Plenty of sources state that Canadian Bay was named after three Canadians who loaded firewood there but it was only the previously mysterious Mr Mann who named names!
Without amateur historians such as L.Wilding of Flinders,Isabel Moresby (ROSEBUD: FLOWER OF THE PENINSULA) and John G.Mann, much of the Mornington Peninsula's historical information would have been lost. How John would have loved to talk to Isabel about the flora and fauna of Rosebud and New Guinea!
I always felt a little silly quoting MR MANN as the source when discussing Alfred Jones of the "Almond Bush Stud" at Somerville and the Liverpool anchoring well offshore in Canadian Bay. At least we know now that the author was not the aborigine referred to as Mr Mann in Marie Fels' "I Succeeded Once."
I will be requesting the Mornington Peninsula Shire to ask the City of Frankston to name the anonymous reserve at the end of Mann Rd in Melway 101 H10, the John G.Mann Nature Reserve.
John Mann even listed the wildflowers which could be planted in such a reserve.
Floral Reserve Proposals
Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Friday 1 April 1938 p 1 Article.
MOUNT ELIZA
The monthly meeting of the Mt.Eliza Progress Association was held at the Mt. Eliza Hall on Wednesday evening last, when a good attendance of members was recorded. The president, Mr. Tyler, presided. The usual business was dealt with.
History of Mt. Eliza.
At a previous committee meeting, Mr. J. Mann presented a manuscript which for the last few months he has
been compiling, and has now completed. It was read and received with great enthusiasm. Mr. Mann has given in his work a very thorough outline of the locality since it first came into being over 60 years ago.It is very interesting reading now, and will prove more and more so as years go on.
Residents of the Mount are very grateful to Mr. Mann for the time and trouble which he devoted to the work. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Mann. The cost of publishing of the book,which is to be printed and published by "The Standard" will be under 30 pounds. This is very satisfactory.
(Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Friday 20 August 1926 p 7 Article.)
John Mann's "Harbury" was assumed to be near Mann Rd, but the following account indicates that it was near Old Mornington Rd and about 300 metres from Marathon (12 Marathon Drive) which was built on the site of James Davey's "Marysville" (built in 1851.) James Davey later built another house overlooking the bay which was replaced by Sargood's "Denistoun." Why did James Davey call his pre-emptive right the Marysville Estate?
FRANKSTON, FRIDAY.
An old resident and colonist named Mary Davey, relict of James Davey, expired this afternoon at the residence of her son, after a short illness. The deceased was 86 years of age, and came to the district early in the
forties, her husband and she being amongst the first white people to take up their abode in these parts. Mr Davey at one time owned a sheep and cattle station between here and Mornington*, and what was afterwards known
as the Marysville Estate was his original pre-emptive right.
(The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 9 September 1893 p 10 Article.)
*There is no evidence that the Kannanuke Run (from the creek to Mt Eliza) adjoined the Ballanrong Run whose pre-emptive right includes the Mornington Racecourse.)
federation-house - Melbourne's Federation Heritage
federation-house.wikispaces.com/Melbourne's+Federation+Heritage
Marathon is a large residence and garden established in 1914-24 in the Federation Arts and Crafts style. The house features a conspicuous gabled roof, a tall broad stuccoed chimney and contrasting textures of building fabric, typical of the Arts and Crafts style. The style is also demonstrated in the garden design by the geometric compartmentalised areas, many with central axes, terracing and use of stone for steps and retaining walls.
The garden style also integrates an uncommon Italian design influence by the use of cypresses, clipped hedges, fountains and statuary . The place is of exceptional interest being one of a few notable homes designed for the Grimwade family and it is one of a small group of large summer residences with extensive grounds erected in the first decade of the twentieth century. [15]
Marathon, constructed in 1914, is significant because of the relationship between house and garden. Designed by the architectural partnership Butler and Bradshaw, with substantial extensions designed by Walter and Richard butler in 1924, it is an interesting example of a large beachside residence designed in the Arts and Crafts manner. The garden, also designed by Walter Butler, with its formal terraces, axial layout, structures, stairs, walls, paths, pergolas and ornaments reflects the Arts and Crafts philosophy of garden design, and of creating outdoor "rooms". It is a fine example of Butler's garden design, having the grandest plan and being the largest and most intact surviving work.[16]
WILLIAM ALP'S house (now 4 Cassiobury Avenue)was on seven allotments.(City of Frankston Heritage Study 1991.)The study assumes that it was the house on Grimwade's almond orchard. It would seem logical that the orchard was on or near Orchard Lane on the south side of Daveys Bay Rd but the study,in discussing "Marathon", states that the Orchard Estate encompassed Harleston Rd.
The present Health Retreat on the south corner of Daveys Bay Rd may have been the Childrens' Hospital orthopaedic section mentioned in the same paragraph as Toorak College.
FIRE THREATENS HOMES
Big Blaze at Mt. Eliza
Stern Fight to Save Property
The most serious outbreak of fire in many years occurred on Monday afternoon when some of the finest homes in the Mt. Eliza district were threatened by a fire which broke out in the dense scrub between Harbury,Mr. John Mann's residence, and the new Pt Nepean road; fanned by a moderate breeze the flames were carried toward the old Mornington road.
Firemen and volunteers waged a stern war with the fire to prevent it reaching Mr. Mann's house. Those who
could bear the terrific heat did what they could to check the advance of the fire while others worked hard
with, axes to. cut away the tall tea tree which grew~ within a few feet of the rear of the house.When it seemed certain that nothing could save the property a slight change in the wind caused the flames to subside a little and the face of the fire nearest to Mr. Mann's was beaten out.
While the fire was at its height in this section, burning leaves or bark were carried by the wind to Marathon,
the beautiful home of Major General, H. W., Griinwade, which stands about one and a half furlongs from Harbury, and ignited the dry grass at the rear of the property. Fortunately the outbreak was seen before it had gained a firm hold and was beaten out. While one party was striving to save Mr. Mann's property another was having an equally stern struggle on General Grimwade's property adjoining Harbury, an almond orchard containing about 500 trees was slightly damaged, but the clearing enabled the fighters to prevent the fire reaching one of houses on the estate occupied by Mr. William Alp.
The fire engine, which could not be used earlier because no water was available, was then taken to a point near Davey's road where a fire plug was found. The value of the new engine was soon demonstrated. Pumping from a main in which the pressure was low an excellent flow of water was delivered from the hose at high pressure and the fire was soon under control at that point.
In the meantime the fire had spread along the bed of Kackeraboite creek and the brigade was recalled to Harbury which was again in the path of the flames. The engine was attached to a private hydrant near General Grimwade's home and water was forced through 600 feet of hose to Mr. Mann's. The pressure was so poor, that the hose itself could not be used, but men ran from the end of the hose to the fire with buckets and succeeded in saving a small cottage and preventing the further advance of the fire in that direction.
The dense scrub in this area was the sanctuary of hundreds of birds that had been encouraged by Mr.Mann to visit his home and to come to him when he whistled. For years he has spent part of his leisure in training the birds to overcome their fear of human beings. Much of the scrub near the house is unharmed, and it is to be hoped that the birds have not perished.
While one face of the fire was being brought under control the other had spread toward the home of Mr.I.Walters and adjoining residences. The fire engine had just been brought to this point when another alarm was given from Miss Violet Teague's property where burning leaves had ignited the scrub about a quarter of a mile from the main fire. This outbreak was beaten out. Had it gained a firm hold several fine homes, the Toorak college and the orthopaedic section of the Children's Hospital would have been endangered. Residents became so alarmed that
the Mornington brigade was summoned but the outbreak was under control when it arrived.
When the wind died down at night the fighters were transferred to the new Pt. Nepean road where the fire was burning fiercely. Working along the face of the fire men and boys beat out the flames and shortly after midnight ,the last of the men were withdrawn. On Tuesday morning many trees and logs were still burning. Some firemen returned to the scene of the fire and extinguished burning trees that were near enough to the edge of the burnt area to cause a fresh outbreak.
(Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Saturday 11 February 1933 p 1 Article.)
Shortly after "Mr Mann's" history was published, the progress association was discussing sales and associated matters.
Cr. Montague suggested that Mr.McIlroy be asked to take the books in hand also. From what he could gather the booklet was being well received. He had heard several remarks that were complimentary both to the author, Mr. Mann, and Standard Newspapers, the publishers of the work. Many members of other associations had told him that they should be very proud of the booklet.
(Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Friday 17 December 1926 p 7 Article.)
As well as his community service at Mt Eliza, John Mann was also much involved in Frankston itself. The Frankston Progress Association was keen to assist his efforts.
FLOWER SHOW
The Secretary urged members to assist in every way possible for the Annual Flower Show to be held in the Mechanics' Hall next month, and suggested that they get in touch with Mr J. G. Mann and other members
of the committee.
(Frankston Progress Association
Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Friday 22 August 1924 p 2 Article.)
Wild Flower and Daffodil Show
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13.
"In the
MECHANICS' HALL, FRANKSTON
MECHANICS' HAIL', FRANKSTON
From 2.30 p.m.
In the Evening:
COMPETITIONS FOR SINGING AND RECITATION.
Microscopic Slides will be shown by Mr. Jas. Lambie.
All information from-Messrs. P.W. Bartlett, J. Haggart, J. G. Mann,A. Montague, Committee of Management.
(Frankston and Somerville Standard (Vic. : 1921 - 1939) Friday 12 September 1924 p 2 Advertising.)
MR. ROGERS, HEADTEACHER AT DROMANA STATE SCHOOL, HIS WIFE MINNIE AND THEIR SON HUNTER, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.
Sometimes I spend hours, even days, compiling information about pioneers but unless it has been published as, rather than in, a F.T.C. JOURNAL, the information can be difficult to relocate. The son's history of the Mornington Peninsula is as rare as hen's teeth and is NOT FOR LOAN from the Mornington Peninsula Library, being sensibly archived. Yesterday, I spent hours in the Local History Room (which to me is like a jail)when I should have been at the beach, researching rate records in relation to James Cosmo Newbery and Dr. Charles Weld.When I finished,and switched off the microfiche machine, I could hardly walk.
I am often asked to recommend books with information about a particular Mornington Peninsula pioneer such as Blooming Bob White. Usually there aren't any, the only way to access the information being to type the pioneer's name and itellya in the search bar. Then that person, such as toolaroo, in this case, can communicate with me via FTC private messages, later email, being provided with rates information and so on,FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME until a family history can be written, in this case, Stephen Lynch's PIONEERS OF THE PENINSULA.
As toolaroo lives in New South Wales, it would be a bit much to have to travel to the local history room at Rosebud to read Hunter's history and probably just as expensive to buy a rare copy of the book. Therefore, I wrote an email to the M.P.S. LIBRARY requesting a special loan of the book so I could write a review (as I had for Susan Peatey's rare book) detailing information about pioneers that was not available from countless other sources.
I supplied information about the Rogers family which I will copy below. The reply was an invitation to spend up to the required two weeks in what is to me, a jail.
G.HUNTER ROGERS' "THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA". (Permanent Post.)
Lynne Luscombe. The illustrator of the sketches you posted was the son of the Dromana State School headteacher mentioned by Margaret Storey. His parents were married during his father's tenure at the school and the newlyweds' arrival at Dromana provoked a chuckle or two.
ROGERS-STIRLING.-A pretty house wedding was
solemnised at Winchelsea on Easter Monday, when
Miss Minnie Stirling, eldest daughter of the late
Mr. W. Stirling, was united to Mr. George Hunter
Rogers, son of Mr. James Rogers, of Bendigo, and
schoolmaster at Dromana. The wedding, which was
celebrated by the Rev. Colin Robertson took place
at the residence of the bride's mother, Winchelsea*.
It was very quiet, only relatives and most intimate
friends being present. The bride was married in
her travelling dress of brown cloth, which was
trimmed with velvet. She wore the orthodox tulle
veil and coronet of orange blossom, and carried a
lovely shower bouquet. There were four brides
maids in attendance, the Misses D. and F. Stirling,
who were gowned in blue cloth with relief of white
cloth and gold braid, and the Misses Daisy Stirling
and Elva Rogers, whose blue serge costumes were
trimmed with blue velvet. They all cariied shower
posies with ribbon streamers. The two elder
bridesmaids wore gold amethyst bangles, souvenirs
from the bridegroom, the younger bridesmaids' gifts
taking the form of crescent brooches set with
amethysts. At the conclusion of the ceremony a
light dejeuner was served. Later in the afternoon
the bride and bridegroom departed for Melbourne,
where a short honeymoon was spent at the Grand
Hotel. The travelling costume was completed by a
smart little toque of brown velvet with a touch of
pink.
They arrived at Dromana on one of the roughest
days of the season, so that passengers had
some difficulty in landing from the steamer, but as
soon as the large number of people who had
gathered on the pier to witness their arrival caught
sight of Mr. Rogers, he was literally showered with
rice. Nature, not to be out-done, added her quota
to the proceedings, and he was immediately drenched
by an extra big wave. The rice adhered to the wet
hat and garments, and caused much amusement.
The bride escaped most of this reception, as she, of
course, was not at once identified. The passengers
on board, as well as the folk on the pier, thoroughly
enjoyed the incident. (P.12, Table Talk, 3-5-1895.)
*The birth of a son (possibly the illustrator/ historian) at a hospital in Geelong, indicates that Minnie spent her confinement at her parents' residence.
Minnie's husband was involved in the leadership of many community organisations* as well as making the school's garden one of the best in the state. Minnie was a keen writer.**
* DROMANA.
At a meeting of residents held in
the Dromana Hall on Monday night it
was unanimously agreed to tender Mr.
G. H. Rogers a farewell social on
Wednesday night, the 16th. inst, prior
to his departure for McArthur, and to
make both Mr. and Mrs. Rogers the
recipients of some souvenier as a mark
of esteem. During the twelve years
Mr. Rogers has had charge of the local
State school, he has identified
himself with many progressive move-
ments for the advancement of Dromana
and district, and has filled both
creditably and satisfactorily the
positions of secretary of the Kanger-
ong Agricultural and Horticultural
Society and of the Dromana
Mfechanics' Institute and Free Library.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have always
cheerfully and willingly assisted at
numerous entertainments in aid of
various charitable movements through-
out the Peninsula. A strong com-
mittee has been formed to carry out
all necessary arrangements, and lists
are to be circulated in the district for
the convenience of all who are disposed
to contribute
.(P.2, Mornington Standard, 12-1-1907.)
** Minnie's THE JUMBOREE TALES, published in Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney) in the early 1900's, are like the children's tales written by Mrs Evelyn Gough (nee Rigg) of Rosebud, in that they are based on family members and their peninsula localities. Minnie's story about the golfers mentions one golfer still dressing as a footballer, a reference to her husband, and might have been inspired by a game on Dromana's original golf course (shown on Melbourne Brindle's map.) It would not surprise me if both Evelyn and Minnie's stories, like many of Roald Dahl's, originated as bedtime stories for their own offspring.
This sample involves the former ti tree swamp below the present Dromana Bowls Club. Ned Williams was said to have cut a road around Anthonys Nose (the rocks) in the mid 1880's and the spring's output now fed into a horse trough. No doubt it overflowed at times, causing a pool by the road.
"Beside the road leading to the Rocks is a long,
shallow pool, prettily fringed with soft green
grass, where llve hundreds and hundreds of
frogs.
They are very clever fellows, and sing part
songs and choruses all night long.
Coming home one night along tho road, Hun-
ter's father aud mother stopped to listen, and
enjoyed the music very much. Next morning
they told Hunter and his brother Stirling all
about it, and the little boys were delighted when
an invitation came for them "and their friends"
to be present that night at an entertainment
given by tho Frogs.
(Princess Spinaway's Department. The Jumboree Tales. III.—THE FROG'S FROLIC.
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907) Wednesday 23 September 1903 p 38 Article)
G.HUNTER ROGER'S HISTORY.
This was written by Minnie's son Hunter, (who, with his brother Stirling, was a character in many of Minnie's stories.)
At the time he wrote this history, there was no internet and research would have involved perusing old copies of the Peninsula Post and interviewing descendant of pioneers. Another source may have been the multitude of articles published in 1934 to provoke interest in the centenary of Victoria's permanent settlement.
His illustrated map of the Mornington Peninsula shows the extent of his research such as in the detail of the King run in the parish of Tyabb but also misunderstanding of oral history, such as Polly Wells (Mrs David Kelly) being born in 1803; she was actually born on the site of the present Koonya Hotel at Sorrento in 1841* when Henry Cadby Wells and Robert Rowley were burning lime together, Polly having travelled from Melbourne in her mother's womb. The map also implies that Henry Tuck took up the Mantons Creek Run in 1843, at which time he was building the Arthurs Seat Homestead, his son, Henry Jnr. (the poet) being born there.
*Golden Wedding. FRANKSTON RESIDENTS.
Mornington Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1911 - 1920) Saturday 8 February 1919 p 1 Article
POLLY'S ACTUAL NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH from THE WELLS STORY.
It is believed that after a short stay in Frankston, Henry and Hannah made their way down to Sorrento, they known as Point Nepean. They were blessed with another daughter, Mary Louise Wells, also nick-named 'Polly', born 7-6-1841 at Sorrento and Baptised in the Church of England, Parish of St. James on the 10-10-1841. Polly was the eldest of 13 children, having 12 brothers ! ! Polly is believed to have been the first white baby born to permanent settlers of the Mornington Peninsula.
Unfortunately, these misunderstandings and other errors are likely to become accepted history, having been quoted in later histories.Two others that spring to mind from the map are the steel lighthouse at McCrae dating from 1874 (the year it was fabricated) and the wooden lighthouse it replaced being itself replaced as the Arthurs Seat Lookout in 1920 (actually 1934.)
I feel a duty to examine the map and book to point out any further errors but the CHRONOLOGY OF BURIALS AT DROMANA must remain my chief priority. If I do find time, this will be done on the PIONEERS OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA page.
Hunter Rogers - AustLit
www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A48305
Hunter Rogers i(3 works by) (a.k.a. George Hunter Rogers; H. Rogers; see more)
Also writes as: Bunty
Born: 16 Jan 1896 Dromana, Victoria ; Died: 1985 Mornington, Victoria
Gender: Male
AUTHOR
Works By (3)
Works About Author (1)
This Author in Trove
Biography
George Hunter Rogers enlisted in 1915 and was a Private in the 6th Field Ambulance where he served as a stretcher bearer at Gallipoli. He also became a draughtsman to the Chief Engineer, 2nd Anzac Corps. He was repatriated to Australia on 1 April 1919. In civilian life Rogers worked as an engineer with the Public Works Department, Victoria. Rogers also wrote The Early History of the Mornington Peninsula (1960) and a History of the 'Woodlands' Golf Club [1984?]
THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA HISTORY MAP.
Illustrated map of Mornington Peninsula with historical an… | Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/39368267@N02/8742906186
VICTORIAN BDM was offline for scheduled maintenance when the above was written.
EventMarriage Event registration number2892 Registration year1895
Personal information
Family nameROGERS Given namesGeo Hunter SexMale Spouse's family nameSTIRLING Spouse's given namesIsabella Wina
ROGERS—STIRLING.—On the 15th inst., at Winchelsea,
by the Rev. C. Robertson, George Hunter, second
son of Jas. Rogers, Bendigo, to Minnie, eldest
daughter of the late Wm. Stirling, Winchelsea.
(P.1, Argus, 27-4-1895.)
MR. WILDING AND MR MANN, TWO EARLY MORNINGTON PENINSULA HISTORIANS. (VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.)
MR. WILDING AND MR MANN, TWO EARLY MORNINGTON PENINSULA HISTORIANS.
Mr Wilding (who wrote the history of the Mornington Peninsula, published in the Mornington Standard in 1905) and Mr Mann (who wrote the Early History of Mount Eliza, published by the progress association, printed by the Standard, in 1926) were certainly worthy of praise but how could I quote their fabulous contributions (without raising chuckles and skepticism) if I could not identify which of the numerous Messrs. Wilding or Mann I was quoting. Journals have been written about each but here are their identities.
Leonard WILDING
Regimental number1318
Place of birthBolton England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLand agent
AddressCoope Street, Cheltenham
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation37
Next of kinMother sic, Wife, Mrs C E* Wilding, Coope Street, Cheltenham
Enlistment date29 June 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name29th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/46/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November 1915 Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll29th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 26 October 1916
Place of burialCaterpillar Valley Cemetery (Plot II, Row B, Grave 7), Longueval, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,Australian War Memorial 116
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records
Parents: Joseph and Anne WILDING.
FLINDERS CEM.
Anne Wilding (1839-26/7/1914, spouse Joseph)and Robert Wilding (1865-2/12/1923, par Joseph & Anne) are buried in the Flinders cemetery. I have been unable to find Anne's maiden name. There are no details about Robert Wilding's parents in his death record but there are in the cemetery record.
WILDING.—On the 2nd December, 1923, at private hospital, Robert Wilding, of Flinders and Melbourne, aged 58 years.(p.1, Argus, 3-12-1923.)
WILDING—BEESTON.—On the 5th of April, at Christ Church, South Yarra, by the Rev. Canon Tucker,Leonard, youngest son of the late Joseph Wilding of Flinders, Victoria, to Constance Eva* , youngest daughter of Robert Beeston, of Hawthorn-road, Caulfield.
(P.1, Argus, 15-4-1907.)
MANN. — On November 27. In hospital, John Gilbert Mann, of Harbury. Frankston, beloved brother of Frederick Wollaston Mann, of Melbourne, and Charles Russell Mann, of West Australia - Privately cremated.
(P.17, The Age, 29-11-1952.)
MANN John Gilbert event: Death
mother:, Sophia Charlotte WALLASTON
father: MANN Gilbert Cheke
place of birth: ADELAIDE SOUTH AUSTRALIA
place of death:FRANKSTON
age:86 year:1952 register number:23159/1952
MR.Leonard WILDING OF FLINDERS, VIC., AUST., EARLY MORNINGTON PENINSULA HISTORIAN and hero.
I don't often write journals about a particular person but there was something special about Mr Wilding, which will become evident when the full title of this journal is given.
FLINDERS.
After the termination of the Flinders Race Meeting on Friday, 3rd inst., some gentlemen assembled in the State School building, and a presentation of a purse of sovereigns was made to Mr L. Wilding, who left the district for Castlemaine on Monday last, after fifteen years' residence in Flinders. On behalf of the subscribers,
Mr Cooke wished Mr Wilding every success in his new vocation, and expressed regret at his departure from Flinders.
During the time he (Mr Cooke) had been in the district, Mr Wilding had always been very willing to do a large amount of work for the good of the place which many people were inclined to shirk, and he would certainly be very much missed. In replying, Mr Wilding heartily thanked the people of the district for this token of their
goodwill. There were very many things which he could not do, and there was certainly no necessity to explain that to make a speech was one of these things. A certain gentleman in the room would be quite equal to such an occasion, and be able to give voice to proper sentiments for any space of time from a few minutes to a few hours, but he was sorry to say he was not built on the same lines.
He had always been glad to think that he belonged to the place, and to have a hand in anything that was going on. It had been a pleasure to himself to be able to do any work for Flinders. He hoped to visit the district a good many times in the future. (P.5, Mornington Standard, 11-3-1905.)
Flinders ratepayers in the centre riding of the Flinders and Kangerong Shire in 1899 included:
Mrs Ann Wilding 3 acres and buildings, and Robert Wilding 16 acres.
EXTRACT FROM MY JOURNAL "THE SHIRE OF FLINDERS".
WILDING Joseph 1892-3*
Flinders and Kangerong Shire- In this shire there is a contest in one riding only, viz., the Central ; Mr Tas. Wilding nominating in opposition to the retiring member Cr Brown.(P.2, Mornington Standard, 25-8-1892.)
SHIRE OF FLINDERS AND KANGERONG. The only contest was in the Centre Riding, where Joseph Wilding defeated the retiring Cr W. Brown by 21 votes. This result was almost anticipated, as a good many ratepayers desired a change. In the East Riding as usual, that popular representative Robert Stanley had a walk over, and the same be said of Cr John Cain who was again re turned unopposed, a well-deserved recognition of an able councillor. this occasion George McLear has been re-elected auditor without opposition. A good man in the right place.
((P.2, Mornington Standard, 1-9-1892.)
*POSTSCRIPT.
For the vacancy in the Centre Riding representation in the Shire of Flinders and Kangerong, caused by the resignation of Cr. Wilding through severe illness, two candidates have been nominated Messrs.T.Darley and
J.Pullin, both residents of our town. (P.2,Mornington Standard,26-10-1893.)
No L.Wilding yet,you say!
FLINDERS.
After the termination of the Reform League meeting in the Mechanics' Hall on the 4th inst., a suggestion, which
had previously been privately discussed,was made, that a fund be organised for the benefit of the widow and young family of the late Frank Culliver who recently lost his life through a lamentable accident. As the sadness of the occurrence has elicited general sympathy and the bereaved family are now left without means of support, the project at once found favour. Mr L.Wilding undertook the duties of honorary secretary and treasurer of the movement, and the following gentlemen, living in different parts of the district, to whom subscription lists have been issued were enrolled as a committee :-Messrs C. T. Cooke, T.Darley, L. Nowlan. F. T. Prebble,J. Simmonds (SYMONDS), J. Guest, H. James(Flinders), R. G. Edwards, L. Murphy(Dromana), J. Crichton (Boneo), and A. Sutherland (Shoreham). (P.6, Mornington Standard,19-12-1903.)
This is not part of one of L.Wilding's articles but he has already solved one mystery for me. Forest Lodge was a well known property at Melway 161 F-H 11 but Bill Huntley told me that it fronted the north side of McIlroys Rd. Crown allotments 23A and 23B Kangerong between J.Davey's grants and that road were granted to William McIlroy. Davey must have bought or leased McIlroy's grants.
TENDERS will be received by the undersigned up to 6 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, the 7th SEPTEMBER, for the LEASE for a period of 12 months of Crown Allotments 23a and b, parish of Kangerong, containing about 156 acres,and known as "Davey's Paddock." L. WILDING, Agent, Flinders.(P.2,Mornington Standard, 27-8-1904.)
HISTORIAN?
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA HISTORY.
- After the New Year, we shall print a series of articles dealing with this subject which Mr L. Wilding, of
Flinders, has undertaken to prepare. The narration of the adventures on the shores of the Peninsula, and in the adjoining portions of Port Phillip and Western Port Bays, of several of the very early explorers of Victoria, and also their impressions of this part of the country, will be dealt with, the occasion of the first attempt at settlement in Victoria, when Collins landed near the present township of Sorrento in 1803, and other memorable historical events also necessarily receiving attention. As it is desired to recount as many interesting incidents regarding the pioneering and settlement of the Peninsula as practicable, for the benefit of our readers, we shall be very glad if old residents and others will extend us their cooperation, and kindly forward any particulars of which they are in possession, and deem, worthy of inclusion, either to Mr.Wilding or to this office as early as possible. (P.2, Mornington Standard,10-12-1904.)
HISTORY OF THE Mornington Peninsula. (Copyright.) INTRODUCTORY.
Mornington Standard (Vic. : 1889 - 1908) Saturday 24 June 1905 p 5 Article.
Grant's discovery of the bay, Murray's naming of Arthurs Seat,Flinder's ascent of Arthurs Seat* and so on can be found in many histories (particularly in 1934) and even on the Matthew Flinders memorial near the Old Shire Hall at Dromana. A trove search for L.WILDING, HISTORY,MORNINGTON PENINSULA, will produce all of his articles, but here I will focus on articles containing information that is available nowhere else.
(*Wilding mentioned Flinder's 16 year old nephew, midshipman John Franklin, who repeated the ascent after his term as Governor of the Apple Isle.)
Charles Graves was obviously one of Mr Wilding's informants but did not mention his stint as a hawker, in partnership with Mary McLear,servicing the whole peninsula, before establishing a store at Shoreham and buying "Woodlands" in the parish of Flinders. Colin McLear did,in his A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.
HISTORY OF THE Mornington Peninsula. EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Mornington Standard (Vic. : 1889 - 1908) Saturday 2 September 1905 p 6 Article
HISTORY OF THE Mornington Peninisula.
[By L. WILDING.](Copyright.)
EARLY SETTLEMENT : Mr Andrew Buchanan, the well-known Ayreshire cattle breeder, is also a holder of what was once - before the time of the Government land sales -a part of this very early established run. Captain Reid, late of the 45th Regiment, who held what was known as the Mount Martha (* sic) run, had also a considerable slice of the Peninsula in the very early days. The property was afterwards sold to Mr Balcombe, who took no small part in the early history of the Peninsula, and was for some years member of Parliament for the very large electorate in which the subject of these articles are included.
(*The Mount Martha Run, last held by James Hearn, was south of Whites Lane (Range Rd) to Ellerina (Bruce) Rd. Reids run which included the future Mornington Town and township was north of Range Rd. I cannot access the internet at the moment to check the correct aboriginal name* for the run, the pre-emptive right of which was named The Briars by Balcombe after his ancestral property where the imprisoned Napolean Bonaparte was befriended.)
*I succeeded once - Page 19 - Google Books Result
books.google.com.au/books?isbn=1921862130
Marie Hansen Fels - 2011 - History
squatters. on. the. Mornington. Peninsula. It was a fact that the Aborigines of the Port ... with Robert Jamieson), Captain Reid (Tichingurook), Captain Baxter (Carup ... The Western Port squatters impressed Richard Howitt on a walk to Western ..
The lime burners seem to have been among the very oldest settlers. In 1840 there were a good many engaged at this occupation at the site of Collins' old settlement, including Mr Henry C. Wells**, who is still living, and resides at Frankston. Mr William (* **sic) Cain, father of Cr John Cain, J.P., of Portsea, was also one of the very earliest settlers engaged in this industry.
(**Henry Cadby Wells walked to the FUTURE Sorrento in about 1841 with his pregnant wife to burn lime with Robert Rowley, returned to Richmond after the 1843 depression reduced the demand for lime to pursue his trade as a bootmaker and returned with a boat in 1849 to crayfish with Robert Rowley and (as confirmed by Christine Nixon, Sorrento historian) built the first limestone house in Sorrento, which became Lugger Jack Clarks CLARKS COTTAGE, demolished when Clarks Mornington Hotel became the Koonya. Henrys daughter was the first white child born in the future Sorrento in early 1842.
***Owen Cain, who soon after arrival, was searching frantically for his 4 year old daughter, Sarah Ann.)
When the lime burners first fixed their????? nearly all the old buildings built by Collins' men were standing, though they were all demolished before very many years. By 1845 there were 17 kilns in full work. Each kiln would employ from 10 to 20 hands getting stone, wood, and doing furnace work. In the early days of Sorrento the place was beautifully grown with sheoak and other trees. The lime burners, however, soon made use of these, and then came the present strong growth of ti-tree, which now covers so many miles of this part of the country.
Evidently the first purchase of land on the Peninsula was in 1841. The special survey system, previously confined to South Australia, was then resorted to in Port Phillip. A person paying 5120 into the Treasury had the right of directing the authorities to make him a survey of eight square miles of unreserved territory, subject to certain provisions relating to water frontages and other matters. Between March 17 and May 1 in that year eight special surveys had been applied for in Port Phillip. One of the applicants was Mr. H. Jamieson, who chose his 5120 acres between Mount Martha and Arthur's Seat*. His area included Hobson's Flats, and was bounded on the west by Port Phillip Bay. A very well-finished house, costing 500, which was put up on this survey, was at that time considered a very fine structure, and was probably as good a dwelling as any in the colony. The survey was occupied for some time by Jamieson Bros, and later on passed into the hands of the Bank of Australasia. In the middle of January, 1851*, Mr Graves, now of Woodlands, Flinders, entered into a tenancy of 4120 acres of the area. The other portion, including the house, was rented by Connell Bros. When Mr Graves and his partner, Mr Brown Lee (who at the start, went in extensively for wheat growing), had occupied the place for about five years, it was purchased by Mr Clark**, the grandfather of Sir Rupert Clark*, the present owner. Five years after the sale Mr Clark (sic x2), Mr Griffiths, and Mr Gibson, whose families are still in possession, became the tenants of the property. The rental paid by Messrs Graves and Brown Lee in the early days was 10s per acre.
*The southern boundary was the present east-west section of the Nepean Highway, otherwise called Bittern-Dromana Rd, with the eastern boundary being Bulldog Creek Rd. Henry Dunn, after whom Dunns Rd in Mornington is named, leased the survey 1846-1851. The homestead might have been (Kangeerong?) homestead built on Edmond Hobsons run in the late 1830s before he moved to Tootgarook. (See "I Succeeded Once" by Marie Fels about Assistant Protector William Thomas.)
**William John Turner Clarke, known as Big Clarke who died at James Hearns residence near Salmon Avenue, Essendon. Hearn was related to Big Clarke, probably through Clarkes brother.
By 1864, Edwin Louis Tassell was leasing the northern 1000 acres from Big Clarke but the ownership of that portion later passed to John Vans Agnew Bruce. Walter Gibson had washed his sheep in the southernmost creek of Safety Beach. Thus the origins of the names of Bruce Rd (the sea lane or Ellerina Rd and boundary between the parishes of Moorooduc and Kangerong) and the three creeks are explained. The subdivisional sale of the Clarke Estate took place in 1907 and the Bruce Estate slightly earlier.
(sic x2)
An owner cant be a tenant on his own property. Clarke was assessed on portions of the estate not being occupied in any given year. By 1851, Mary McLear was leasing The Willow on the north bank of Dunns Creek just east of the freeway and William Marshall, her former groom (who witnessed her husbands murder at the Plough Hotel on the Plenty River on Boxing Day 1849) was leasing land between Pickings Lane and the beach so either of these could have been named as a tenant in 1856 and the Brown Lee and Connell leases were not occupying all of the survey south of Tassells Creek.
One of the founders of the Peninsula was certainly Captain Baxter, whose sheep, which had come overland from Sydney, were pastured at Carrup Carrup (now for many years past known as Baxter's Flat) in 1840.Mr Sage (who is still hearty, in spite of 70 years in Australia, since he landed in Sydney as a young fellow in 1835) made the overland trip with the drover of the Captain's sheep, and was then left in charge of the property, which he managed for 10 years. He afterwards became the Captain's son-in-law, and bought his present land near Somerville, building his slab house from timber cut from the bush in the vicinity. This is a very quaint old place - typical of the early Australian settler's residence.
To return to Captain Baxter's. So many incidents of his life are of especial interest by reason of their connection with the early days of the colony, that the temptation to go beyond the Mornington Peninsula, before the writer passes on to some of the other pioneers, cannot be resisted. Benjamin Baxter was born in Ireland, and joined the 50th West Kent Regiment during the reign of George IV. He saw service in Jamaica and India, and afterwards arrived in Sydney in charge of a company of his regiment on board the Royal George, a transport ship laden with convicts. Mrs Baxter, who followed her husband in the ship Hope, arrived about the same time. On his regiment afterwards being ordered to India, the Captain sold out, and was appointed by Governor Bourke to the combined offices of clerk of petty sessions and first salaried postmaster at Melbourne in the year 1837; at a salary of 200per annum. Mr E. J. Foster and Mr Eyre, a storekeeper, had both previously acted as postmaster in an honorary capacity.
Mrs Baxter (who was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, 1813) did all the work of sorting and delivering letters, and managed the establishment. The "establishment" was a small wooden shanty of two small rooms, with a loft above and skillion at the back, and situated where the Royal Highlander Hotel, in Flinders street, now stands. A part of the living room, partitioned off with sheets and furnished with a small table, constituted the office. The letter delivery was made through a window, a section of which was on hinges and opened as required.
When the mails, which arrived by trading vessel or overland from Sydney by rider, were being delivered there was always great excitement. The whole township would attend outside the primitive building. It was the rule for a large cavalcade to go out and meet Johnny Bourke (no connection of the illustrious Governor of the period, it will be surmised) when it was known that he was approaching with the overland mail, and escort him to the post office.
The first mail which went direct from the young settlement to England was despatched by Mrs Baxter, in total disregard of official red tape, and without consulting her husband. A wool ship was leaving Melbourne for London in 1839, and Mrs Baxter took the opportunity of saving a great amount of time, and conveniencing the people of Melbourne, by making up the mailbags and sending them on board this craft, instead of forwarding them via the head office at Sydney, in the recognised way. The authorities evidently did not regard this breach of discipline very seriously, and Mrs Baxter continued to be the guiding spirit of Melbourne's postal arrange-ments until her husband retired from his billet in 1839.
The family lived for a year or two in the house built by Batman, the pioneer of Victoria, whose property the Captain had purchased. Another interesting fact relating to the early colonial life of the Captain was that he held for a time a cattle run stretching from the site of Princes Bridge to near Brighton, his stock-yards being situated on the site of the now fashionable suburb of St Kilda.
The family settled at Baxter's Flat in 1842. The old homestead which still stands near the Mornington Junction railway station - is on the same plan as when erected from shingles and slabs cut from the surrounding bush in those early days. There are certainly very few buildings of this age to be found in the state ; though, however, the original slab walls are covered with weatherboards on the outside and the inside is papered. It was for a long time the only house in the district, and before the advent of made roads, was a hard day's journey from Melbourne. For several years assigned servants did most of the farm work, and blacks hovered about the place.
Mrs Baxter is still alive, and resides in the old homestead. This lady and her eldest daughter (Mrs Sage), who was a very young child when they came out to Australia, are very probably the only survivors of the white people in the Port Phillip district previous to 1838. The only son, Mr Benjamin Baxter, now resides at Frankston, and several daughters (one of whom married Mr Robert Hoddle, the first Surveyor-General of Victoria) are living in different parts of the state.
To be Continued.
As well as presenting work by early amateur historians such as Mr Wilding, and Isaac Batey re the Sunbury area,I feel an an obligation to correct any errors and to confirm claims that are made. I have decided to do this before the next article rather than interrupt the narrative. The Keilor Plains entry re Pain has been included because the Westernport District was very misleading, including squatters such as Dryden at Hanging Rock and the Westernport Barkers' brother near Castlemaine. "Payne",the correct spelling in the article was on Coolart.
LIST OF SQUATTERS SORTED ALPHABETICALLY
collections.historyvictoria.com.au/rhsvdatabases/squatters.pdf
551 Babinton & Carpenter, 'Glenlyon' run, squatters in Westernport District ...... 551Manton, Charles, 'Big Plains, (Tooradin)' run, squatter in Westernport District.
Eastern Portion of Australia, East 1849/1 (1848/2)
www.asmp.esrc.unimelb.edu.au/biogs/E000108b.htm
In Westernport, French Island is named, and nearby Jameson and Berry, Dodd and McCrae appear on the Mornington Peninsula. (Jameson on on the Cape Schanck run and McCrae on the Arthurs Seat run. Berry?)
Pastoral Properties: Grazing on the Keilor Melton Plains ...
www.academia.edu/.../Pastoral_Properties_Grazing_on_the_Keilor_Melt...
Jan 1, 1993 - A few monuments to the wealthy squatters survive along with more ... so expeditions to the Port Phillip district which demonstrated vast areas of open ... The earliest areas to be settled in the Port Phillip area were in the open basalt ...... believed to have been Pain's original homestead are located at Grid Ref.
1849 Squatter's Directory - Port Phillip District
www.portphillipdistrict.info/1849_Directory.htm
1849 SQUATTERS' DIRECTORY OF THE PORT PHILLIP DISTRICT ...... District (image) PAYNE, William - "Coolort" - Western Port District (image)
I succeeded once - Page 140 - Google Books Result
books.google.com.au/books?isbn=1921862130
Marie Hansen Fels - 2011 - History
Yal Yal, heir to Bobbinnary, clan head (Barwick 1984: 117); no date Henry ... 10 Dec 1840 Yal Yal was among a party of Western Port Aborigines who came .
P.6, MORNINGTON STANDARD,9-9-1905.
HISTORY OF THE Mornington Peninsula. [BY L. WILDING.](Copyright.)
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
A man named Manton (after whom the present Manton's Creek was named) spent a short time in the Flinders district in the early days, but, apparently, only pastured his cattle in the locality for a time and
then left the district (FOR TOOROODIN!). Another person named Dodd, who hailed from the Isle of Man, occupied
a small run including the site of the present township of Flinders, and built a hut near West Head, some
times called Dodd's Point. Though Mr Dodd was certainly a pioneer, being the first white occupier of a part of
the Peninsula, he moved away too soon to take a large part in its development.
In 1846 the Manton's Creek run was taken up by Mr Henry Tuck, a native of the Isle of Skye, who had landed in Melbourne in 1838 from Tasmania, to which colony he had emigrated in 1830, when a youngfellow of 20. Before taking up the run Mr Tuck had spent several years on the Peninsula in the employment of Captain Reid and Messrs Barker and McRae. In connection with this run there is an interesting document in the possession of Mr Samuel Tuck, a son of the original owner. This is a license given under the hand of Charles FitzRoy, "His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales and dependencies," on the 9th day of December, 1846, permitting the holder to occupy "certain waste lands of the Crown situated in the district of Western Port, in the colony of New South
Wales," upon payment of the sum of 10, which amount had to be deposited each year.
The "certain waste lands of the Crown" comprised an area of 10 square miles, a good part of which was really splendid land. When the run was cut up and sold, Mr Tuck retained a portion of this, upon which his sons now reside with their families. The whole of the run was thickly timbered, and the first house was by the mouth of Manton's Creek.
At this time Mr Payne had a run stretching from Tuck's boundary to Warrandyke,(MUST BE AN EARLY NAME FOR COOLART WHICH RELATIVES OF MAURICE MEYRICK OF THE BONIYONG RUN ARE KNOWN TO HAVE OCCUPIED) which had previously
been occupied by a person of the name of Merrick (sic). A strip of land along what is now known as the Main Ridge, which lay between McRae's and Tuck's runs, was never taken up as a run.
In about 1850, besides the settlement of lime-burners and some small clusters of habitations, the Peninsula
was principally tenanted by persons on the runs of Captains Baxter and Reid, and Messrs Barker,McRae, Pain (sic), Hobson, and Tuck. (Hobson had been managing his brother's run near THE RIVER OF LITTLE FISH, "TRARALGON" and in 1850 transferred the Tootgarook run to James AND PETER Purves. The Barkers had the Cape Schanck and Boniyong (Boneo) runs.)
THE SETTLERS AND THE ABORIGINALS.
Some pioneers who had seen trouble with the ancient lords of the soil in other British possessions experienced
a very pleasant surprise when they came to deal with the blacks in most parts of the Port Phillip district. This was especially so within the bounds of the Peninsula, where the blacks were never a menace after the
time of Collins' attempted colonisation. The Mornington settlers never dreamt of harm from the apparently harmless beings whom they saw going about wrapped first in 'possum skins, and later on, when they began to barter with the whites, often in dirty blankets reaching nearly to their knees. When they learnt a little
English the blacks would go meekly up to the houses and plead - "Will gibbit flour, will gibbit sugar ?" in a
very plaintive way. They also soon began to cultivate a taste for " baccy," and other tokens of civilisation.
Vide The Mornington Standard of September 6, 1902, Mr Wells (who has been previously mentioned as one of the early Point Nepean lime-burners) recollects a corroboree taking place at the foot of Arthur's Seat,soon after he came to that part in 1840, at which fully 400 blacks took part. One very old resident averes that the largest number of blacks he ever saw together was on an occasion when he counted 36, including lubras and picanninnies, coming over Baxter's Flat. Another old identity says that after the Peninsula settlement began
the blacks were rarely seen together in numbers of more than 10 or 12, including lubras, and that they had
altogether disappeared by 1856.
No doubt Mr Sage (whom they called Mr Tooce) has come into contact with the aboriginals as much as any man now living in the Mornington Peninsula. He made friends with several of them, especially Yal Yal, a very great man in the tribe, and learnt a good bit about their language. The Peninsula tribe were, as was commonly the case, almost strangers to the members of the neighboring tribe. They were, for instance, quite foreigners to the members of the tribe inhabiting the districts round about Cranbourne, and had several different words in their language. In the early part of Mr Sage's residence in the Peninsula there was great warfare between the tribes, and the kidney fat of a dead opponent was in great requisition, and was supposed to confer a good many benefits on the proud captor.
A primitive postal system was in use with the tribe when Mr Sage first made their acquaintance. Two young men were employed as postmen to go about from camp to canp, circulating news and delivering messages. Bobanardinwas the medicine man. Mr Sage's friend, Yal Yal, very earnestly impressed upon him the
desirability of never walking in front of a blackfellow until he had become very well acquainted with him. One
day he illustrated the probable result of such an indiscretion in a rather startling manner. Mr Sage was sitting writing in his house, with his back to the door, when a voice close to his ear remarked - "Could kill him, Mr Tooce, that time." Looking round, Mr Sage saw Yal Yal standing over him, playfully poising a waddy close to his head. However, the broad grin spreading over the features of his aboriginal friend soon dispelled any alarm which Mr Sage felt.
An old resident, when going over Baxter's Flat on one occasion, was rather perturbed at a lot of blacks crowding around him and making energetic supplication for "white money." He made a bolt through the dusky circle surrounding him, and fully expected to feel some spears in the small of his back as he rode away. However, the blacks evidently had no such intention. After they began to pick up English words the blacks gave themselves such names as Toby, Ben Benzie,Mr Mann, &c.
As an evidence of the quickness of their movements when hunting for food of any kind, though they were sluggish enough at most times, they were often seen wading along the beach, and then, stopping still for
some time in one place, suddenly plucking a spear from between their toes where they had been dragging it along. A further investigation as to the sudden flight of the spear into the water would discover the fact that they had secured another fish for the next meal.
ROUGHNESS OF THE PENINSULA.
For a good many years the Peninsula was very roughly timbered, and by no means easy of access. There were for a long time only cattle tracks, and the journey to Melbourne was of considerable difficulty - bullock wagons were the only carriages. When a small steam mill was established at Brighton many residents who had previously ground their own flour made a great saving of labor by taking their wheat to that place.
Over a large portion of the land it was impossible to go about much without a good axe*. A disaster, not without its amusing side, happened to three men who essayed to go for a shooting expedition with a spring cart. Though this attempt was not made in the very early days, the roughness of the country materially detracted from the usefulness of this vehicle, and, to add to their inconvenience, the party soon got bushed. Leaving the cart
and harness they took the horse, and eventually extricated themselves and found their way back on to a more
beaten track ; but they could not afterwards locate the abandoned cart, and its whereabouts were not discovered for some 10 years or so, when it was found to have been left near where Mr George Wilson* built his house later on at Shoreham.
To be continued.
*Pt Leo Rd was called the Blaze Track.
**If I remember correctly the spring cart discovery and location is mentioned in Petronella Wilson's GIVING DESTINY A HAND, a history of Sarah Wilson's descendants (Connell,Young,Johnson>Johnstone.) Christie Johnstone married a Tuck girl and is the subject of my journal HOW SARAH WILSON LED ME TO HENRY TUCK.
PAGE 6, MORNINGTON STANDARD,23-9-1905.
HISTORY OF THE Mornington Peninsula. [BY L. WILDING.](Copyright.)
DIFFERENCE CAUSED BY THE GOLD DISCOVERY.
TheSchnapper Point (actually Tubbarubba) murder. The Mr Threader mentioned who was said to have quit as rate collector may have been John Threader who was the retiring auditor in 1892 but re-standing,
(The old ex-officer, Mr. Threader, who for the past two years has filled the position of local auditor, was again elected to the position without opposition. MORNINGTON.
South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic. : 1872 - 1920) Wednesday 5 August 1885 p 3 Article)
and the same J.Threader who provided mile posts two decades earlier. The route would have been along Old Mornington road,Mt Eliza Way, Wooralla Drive and the Three Chain Road (Moorooduc Rd.)
(DISTRICT ROAD BOARD.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 11 November 1870 p 3 Article
... DISTRICT ROAD BOARD. MOUNT ELIZA,-An ordinary meeting was hold at the board room, Mornington,
mile posts between Frankston and Schnapper Point, 21s. per post, J.Threader ; )
A BUSHRANGING EPISODE.
This story is told in LIME LAND LEISURE. The two escapees landed at Bushrangers Bay and climbed the cliffs to
the homestead of Robert Anderson's Barragunda which occupied much of Jamieson's old Cape Schank run in the parish of Fingal. Sam Sherlock, the subject of one of my early journals, later had the Rye to Cheltenham horse-back mail run, at that time probably living near the start of Melbourne Rd in Rye with his elder sister who had married Ben Stenniken.
EXTRACTS.
" Mr Anderson and Mr Sam Sherlock (who was then a young fellow of 18), father of Mr S. Sherlock, J.P., of Frankston, were the only persons on the premises at the time,and went out to interview their uninvited visitors, who said they had been thrown on the coast."
"Their next stop was at the Boneo Station, then kept as a dairy by a Mr Mitchell, and also part of Mr Barker's
property. Mrs Tuck was looking after the house at the time. Bradley walked in and asked for a loaf of bread, which was given to him. When, in accordance with the traditional country hospitality, this was refused, Bradley
remarked - "I can't help you if you won't," and then trudged off with his mate.
They made off to Balcombes. In this instance the sailors who rowed them ashore had got ahead and warned Mr Balcombe, who armed some of his men to be in readiness. However, the bushrangers got away without there being any adventure."
" The whaleboat which brought the worthies ashore had two planks stove in, and, in order that she might be
used for fishing excursions at Flinders, Mr Tuck* was commissioned to take her to his home and repair her. She was dragged up the cliff with block and tackle, and put in a bullock dray. Whatever use was made of her in the
meantime, she was eventually turned upside down and made of practical use as a roof for a pigsty."
(*Henry Tuck was a carpenter who with the little assistance that a lawyer could provide, built the McCrae Homestead on the Arthurs Seat run, during which time his son Henry, was born there.)
PRINCIPAL PENINSULA TOWNSHIPS &c.(Extracts.)
Mr Wilding wrote about the various land acts which had made it easier for the battlers to settle on the land but without the assistance of the internet and trove could not have been expected to know why Sorrento did not celebrate its 150th in 2011,along with several other peninsula townships.Charles Gavan Duffy, an Irish land rights hero bought much land in the area now occupied by the Sorrento district and William Allison Blair,a lime merchant, bought much land between Elizabeth Drive, Rosebud West and Tyrone with the aim of creating a lime burning monopoly. When Blair's eyes roamed farther west such as near Swan's, each accused the other of employing dummies and a huge court case ensued. Duffy and Blair were in dispute about who had first applied for a particular parcel of land and there was no evidence to support either case. Sidney Smith Crispo of the Victorian Coastal Survey suggested that the disputed land be declared the village of Sorrento and it was,in about 1869-and it sold like hot cakes.
Of the several seaside resorts in the Peninsula which are the scene of inundations by holiday makers in the season, Frankston is a very extensive place, owing a considerable number of private villas tenanted in the summer time by the families of many of Melbourne's most prominent citizens, and also some first-class hotels and boarding houses. One of the oldest buildings, if not the oldest building, is the Bay View Hotel, erected over 52 years ago. The first proprietors of this house may, therefore, be considered the pioneers of Frankston, both as a seaside resort and as a township.
The importance of fishing to early Frankston residents needs to be emphasised. Olivers Hill was originally known as Old Man Davey's Hill but was renamed because a member of the Oliver family used the hill for fish spotting. Extract from young Don.Charlwood's history of Frankston written in 1929.
THE FIRST McCOMB.
It was no uncommon feat in these days for fishermen to sail from Frankston up the Yarra to Melbourne, returning with supplies. These excursions stopped when Thomas and James Wren commenced running a cart to Melbourne with fish. They sold out to the Frankston Fish Co. in 1867. This company consisted of: Henry Prosser (who arrived in Victoria in 1844), James James Croskell (arrived in 1859), John Dixon Box (who later purchased Frankston's first bakery from Ritchie and Croskell), Phillip Renouf, Thomas Ritchie (arrived in 1852, and owned Frankston's first bakery, which was under Frankston House). Mr.Ritchie built Frankston and Osborne Houses.
In 1835 Mr. Tom McComb arrived in Victoria from Tasmania, and some years later moved to Frankston, where his wife, Mrs.Mary McComb, was a charitable and efficient nurse.
Mr. Henry Cadby Wells arrived in the early days(his history is referred to in another special article.-Ed.)
(P.13, Frankston Standard, 5-10-1949.)
Very early in the history of Melbourne* several gentlemen of that place built houses at what is now Sorrento. The Sorrento Hotel - the forerunner of the numerous houses of accommodation which are standing in the locality and adjacent seaside township of Portsea - was erected soon after.
1869 was 34 years after the establishment of Melbourne and a year or two after S.S.Crispo declared his private village of Manners Sutton,(renamed Canterbury as soon as the Governor became Viscount Canterbury) and built the original jetty that gave Canterbury Jetty Rd its name. It was Coppin's vision of the possibility of the narrow strip of land, and the amphitheatre, to attract day trippers and willingness to take Crispo's advice to run his own steamer offering cheaper fares,that made Sorrento a famed watering place. Sorrento was named by Duffy who was impressed by the place of that name in Italy on his way out. Portsea was named by James Ford, a convicted machine breaker. Members of the Watson family were early and longtime fishermen in both places.
Mornington, another pretty and much frequented locality, was for a good number of years practically the only township in the Peninsula, and, under the name of "Schnapper Point"(usually contracted to "The Point,") was the centre of what was then a very meagerly populated area. Probably the first church in the Peninsula- the whole of the funds for which were raised by private subscription -was erected about the year 1859. The clergyman was a Mr Robertson. With the exception of the frequently-changed men at the Quarantine Station - which has since the very early days been used as the temporary home of luckless emigrants who had the misfortune to be passengers by a ship on board which there was a case (or supposed case) of contagions disease- Mornington claims to have possessed the first qualified physician on the Peninsula in the person of Dr Rodd, who
came about 1856. The first building of consideration at "the Point" is said to have been the Tanti Hotel.
In the late 1850's when Mornington got its pier,Dromana residents,being more populous because of tenants on the Survey and timber getting on Arthurs Seat, were most upset they'd been overlooked. The Town of Mornington which extended (when surveyed later) only to about Empire St was surrounded by large rural landowners but their advantage was due to the existence of the Mt Eliza Road Board and their rates could be loaded to help pay for a pier; Dromana did eventually get its sorely needed pier,because much of the timber, firewood and wattle bark so necessary for the development of railways,piers for other coastal places,and Melbourne industries such as bakeries,tanneries etc,came from Arthurs Seat.
Another seaside township - Dromana- is claimed to be the locality of the first hotel on the Peninsula which was
known as Skirfield's hotel, and was erected in 1856 or 1857. After this a settlement of fishermen was established. The next building of consequence was the State school. A school had been kept up for a long time by a Mr Pyke, who was a pedagogue of a type not to be met with in the present day.
Many children of Survey residents went to a school near Wallaces Rd (Melway 160 K3)and Mr Pyke may have been the master whose wife was buried on the site according to Colin McLear.
William Dixon Scurfield did indeed have the first hotel, between Permien and Foote St, at the time specified and one of the first licencees was Watkins who established the Dromana Hotel in 1862. A Catholic priest disgraced himself at Scurfield's hotel. The hotel was renamed the Arthurs Seat Hotel but burnt down during the 1897-8 summer. (No fire swept down the slope as claimed by Spencer Jackson in his BEAUTIFUL DROMANA OF 1927.) There were fishermen at Dromana but as stated above most constant employment of labourers was provided in timber-getting. The first store at Dromana was probably the one run for so long by Mrs Holden near the Carrigg St corner.
A few miles out of Flinders - which is certainly not the least picturesque of the Peninsula watering places - Mr Graves, who has been previously mentioned as one of the early tenants of Jamieson's Special Survey, erected the first store south of Schnapper Point. This business is still conducted by him.
At Shoreham.
The first private school - and also the first school of any kind - at Flinders was held in a wattle and daub hut close to what is now the Cemetery Reserve, and the first store-keeping business in the bounds of the
present township was conducted in a hut put up by Mr.William Moat. The stock of this establishment was not
very extensive, and consisted, probably, of two or three bags of flour, a few bags of sugar, and small supplies of other very necessary articles. The Flinders residents of that time did not indulge in luxuries. The next general store was Brent's - which business under a different proprietary is still in existence. Over 30 years ago a station of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company was established at Flinders, and has ever since been the telegraphic connecting link between Tasmania and the mainland. Mr W.Segrave, the present superintendent,
who was installed at the inauguration of the station as the operator, has ever since been in charge of the establishment, which has now grown into a very large concern. About the first person to embark on a regular boarding house keeping business was Cr L.Nowlan, the proprietor of The Bungalow.
The Moats are remembered by Moats Corner at Melway 160 H5. William Moat's sons were at the Tubbarubba diggings during the 1890's depression,probably working for Bernard Eaton, when they found a clue (Moriarty's watch if I remember correctly)that had not been found before the trial ,held at Schnapper Point decades before, and confusingly called the Schnapper Point Murder for this reason. Planck is a name also connected with the telegraph station.
The first settlers in the vicinity of the present township of Hastings were two brothers named Wren, one of
whom caught fish and the other drove them to Melbourne. The first hotel was established by a person named
Rogers.
The hotel keeper may have been J.Rodgers who was granted 296 acres in the parish of Balnarring (Melway 162 J-G12 and extending 1060 metres south from the PRESENT road. See Frankston re the Wren brothers.
It may be noted that the earliest orchards of any size in the Somerville district - which is at present one of the leading fruit - growing places in the state, but has, from all appearances, a coming rival in the district of Red Hill- were planted about 1868. The honor of being the pioneer orchardists and nurserymen of this locality seems to be divided between Messrs Shepherd, Thornell, and Clark, whose families are still carrying on the businesses.
Somerville's advantage was having a railway thirty years before Red Hill. Somerville could probably thank Henry Gomm for that; he was a boyhood friend of Tommy Bent. What a pity for Red Hill that the Hurleys of Hillside Orchard didn't use their relationship to Tommy to provide similar leverage.Bill Huntley of Safety Beach has an oil portrait of Tommy in full regalia in his lounge room!
The writer can now only regret that he was not enabled to collect a more adequate stock of information regarding the latter history of the Peninsula, and finishes his task in the hope that some latter and fuller account of its settlement and development will be forthcoming from some other source.
(Concluded.)
COOKE, WILDING, WELLS,ROWLEY BUCHANAN, TUCK, GRAVES, BROWNLEE,BAXTER, SAGE, CLARKE,
MRS. AMELIA CHADWICK (nee Rogers) WHO DIED IN BENALLA, VIC., AUST., IN 1908.
OBITUARY.
MRS. WILLIAM CHADWICK
The death took place on Friday evening
last of Mrs. Amelia Chadwick, relict of
the late Mr. Wm. Chadwick, for many
years the owner and licensee of the Far-
mers' Arms Hotel. The sad news occa-
sioned very deep regret, an the late Mrs
Chadwick was one of the most respected
and beloved residents of this town. During
the past six months she had been
suffering from paralysis, and owing to her
advanced age, 76 years, her recovery was
not expected, and, as stated, the sad
event occurred on Friday night at the
residence of her niece, Mrs Murray, in
Benalla-street. Mrs. Chadwick was a
native of Suffolkshire, England, and she
came out to this colony in 1852, and pro-
ceeded to the Broadmeadows district and
the following year she was married to Mr.
Wm. Chadwick, who predeceased her in
November 1902. For some time they carried
on a butchering business at Broad
meadows, but this they subsequently dis-
posed of, and took the Royal Mail(sic) hotel.
at the same place, afterward removing to
an hotel of same name at Essendon. Here
they continued for some years, and in 1877
they purchased the Farmers' Arms Hotel,
at Benalla, which, in those days was doing
a thriving business. Mr. Chadwick sold out
out of this hotel in August, 1901, to Mr
Pearcey. Mrs. Chadwick leaves two sons
Messrs, Martin and William Chadwick
for whom much sympathy has been ex-
pressed in their bereavement. The re-
mains were interred in the Benalla Ceme-
tery on Sunday last, and were followed to
their last resting place by upwards of 30
buggies.(P.2, Benalla Standard, 4-8-1908.)
Mrs Amelia, relict of the late William Chad-
wick, who for many years owned and con-
ducted the Farmers' Arms Hotel, has just
made her exit from the stage of life, her
death taking place on Friday evening last.
The cause of death was paralysis, from which
the deceased, who resided with her niece
(Mrs Murray), had suffered for some time
past. The late Mrs Chadwick, who had at-
tained the age of 76 years, was a native of
Suffolkshire, England. She arrived in Vic-
toria in 1852 and in the following year be-
came the wife of her late husband, who died
about 6 years ago, at Broadmeadows (sic*). After
a short career in the butchering business,
the newly married couple went into hotel
keeping in the same locality and then re-
moved to Essendon, where they conducted
the Royal Mail Hotel till 1877. In that
year they bought the Farmers' Arms Hotel,
Benalla, which they ran during the greater
part of their life afterwards, winning the
goodwill and esteem of all who had occasion
to have business, or social intercourse with
them. Six years ago they retired from busi-
ness altogether. The late Mrs Chadwick
was the mother of a family of three, two of
whom survive her - viz., Messrs Martin
Chadwick, one of the most prosperous and
largest hearted landholders of Lake Rowan,
and W. Chadwick, another esteemed and
well-to-do man, who resides at St. James.
The deceased lady herself was one of the
most generous and popular women who ever
resided in our midst - a most magnificent
type of that open - hearted Englishwoman
we used to meet in the days of boyhood
- one of those woman, indeed, whose hu-
manity and humility shone lustrously
throughout her life, who knew no such
thing as sect or creed where the cause of
Charity was concerned, and whose prac-
tical sympathy was the admiration of all
who were acquainted with it. Without
exaggeration it might he said that a more
estimable or a more esteemed, woman has
never, perhaps, resided in our midst, a fact
which was simply borne out by the large
number of people, old inhabitants, in par-
ticular, who followed her remains to the
grave. The obsequies at the interment
were presided over by the Rev. A. C.
M'Connan, of the Presbyterian Church, Mr
T. Hanlon carrying out the funeral arrange-
ments. (P.3, the North Eastern Ensign, 7-8-1908.)
*WILLIAM CHADWICK'S OBITUARY. YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ IN THE PAPERS! AT LEAST THE PLACE OF DEATH WAS RIGHT, UNLIKE AMELIA'S SECOND OBITUARY. His brother was Thomas Chadwick who ran the Broady for a while and later the Laurel Hotel at Ascot Vale. If I remember correctly, he was buried at Bulla Cemetery.
Death of Mr. Wm. Chadwick.
Another old identity has passed away.
We refer to the death of Mr. Wm. Chad
wick, which occurred on Sunday night
last at the residence of his niece, Mrs. R.
Murray, Benalla-street. Although he has
been ailing off and on for upwards of two
years, death came rather unexpectedly at
the last. About two years ago Mr. Chad
wick began to suffer with liver complaint,
and the whole of last summer he spent
away from this district, returning to Be
nalla a little over two months ago, His
death removes one of the oldest colonists,
and the news as it spread on Sunday
night occasioned very deep regret, for as
a townsman and a business man the late
Mr. Chadwick was always held in the
highest esteem, his word being his bond,
while there were many others who had
occasion to look back on many kindly and
friendly actions. He was a native of
Leeds, Yorkshire, where he was born in
1824, and.when 26 years of age he de
cided to emigrate to Victoria, landing in
Melbourne in 1851 with his brother and
several of his schoolmates. The first
work that he and his brother did was har
vesting for the late John Fawkner at
Ascot Vale (Pascoe Vale), and after that they started as
butchers at Ascot Vale (Pascoe Vale), on the Deep
Creek road. In 1853 (1854) Mr. Chadwick was
married to Miss Amelia Rogers, who had
come out from Suffolkshire the year be
fore (in 1852), and the butchering business was
then entered into at Broadmeadows. After
a short time the brothers started in a
hotel business there, where they worked
together for a little time and then sepa
rated. Mr. Chadwick afterwards took
the Farmers' Arms hotel, Essendon, and
he remained in business there for a great
number of years. In 1877 Mr.Chadwick
purchased the Farmers' Arms hotel at
Benalla, and he carried on business there
until about 18 months ago, when he sold
out to Mr. Pearcey, For Mrs. Chadwick
great sympathy is felt in her bereave
ment. There were eight children of the
marriage — six boys and two girls— but
only Messrs. Wm. and Martin Chadwick
are now alive. The eldest girl was
drowned in a creek at Lake Rowan when
13 years of age. The remains will be in
terred in the Benalla Cemetery to-day,
the cortege moving from Mr. Murray's
residence at 2. 30.(P.2, Benalla Standard, 18-11-1902.
EventDeath Event registration number12553 Registration year1902
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesWm Goldsbrough SexUnknown Father's nameChadwick Wm Mother's nameCath (Unknown) Place of birth Place of death Benalla Age79
Amelia was possibly the daughter of George Rogers,who was, by 1857, one of the town's four or five butchers (P.1, BROADMEADOWS A FORGOTTEN HISTORY). However her death record does not name her parents, including the mother's maiden name. George was probably related to coach proprietor, Charles Rogers of Broadmeadows who was in financial difficulty by 1863.
Broadmeadows Township was that part of today's Westmeadows bounded by Foreman St, Hackett St (now part of Mickleham Rd), Kenny St and Lyons St (Melway 5 K6-7 to 6 D7.) It was a very busy town on one of the main routes to Sydney and the McIvor diggings near Heathcote. Pascoe Vale Rd was originally called the Sydney road with the Young Queen Inn just north of the Pascoeville bridge being a prominent landmark and until this road was extended to link with the new Sydney road via Clifford Rd, travellers would descend through the township and climb Ardlie St to Mickleham Rd (whose continuation to Wallan is still called Old Sydney Rd.) Those heading north through Tullamarine had to ford the Moonee Moonee Chain of Ponds until in 1854 a wooden bridge was built linking the two sections of Ardlie St. (It was not on the same site as the historic 1869 bluestone bridge as claimed on a metal plaque attached to it. An early Township of Broadmeadows map shows its location.)
All the public buildings were thus built on Ardlie St north, used by both lots of travellers. The Broadmeadows Hotel (Tavern), usually called Chadwick's Hotel in notices or reports of early meetings)is still on its original site but the first two buildings were destroyed by fire*. Uphill from this was a tiny store and then Jane Bryan's Victoria Hotel, with the police station across the road, and later the historic shire hall too. The history plaque on the Broadmeadows Tavern mentions that its (upper) car park was the site of the Victoria Hotel.
(*"By the bridge is the Westmeadows Tavern, the latest occupant of the site of the first Broadmeadows Hotel, where 125 years ago(in 1857)on Boxing Night,Mrs William Chadwick danced a polka with Constable King. The Tavern was created in 1982 by recreating the 1927 Broadmeadows Hotel, which in turn had replaced the original structure that had burned to the ground two years before." A reference to the story on pages 1-9. P.226 B.A.F.H.)
Noah Rogers, son of a Broadmeadows coach proprietor*, died at the age of 14 in 1863 and would not seem to be Amelia's brother. Elizabeth, probably George's wife, died in 1880 at the age of 67 and was recorded as a hotel keeper at Campbellfield.(The story and Burial Listing of The Will Will Rook Pioneer Cemetery, by Bezza and other friends of the cemetery.)
THE 1888 BIOGRAPHY OF AMELIA'S HUSBAND, WILLIAM GOLDSBOROUGH CHADWICK, CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE ___ OF ALEXANDER SUTHERLAND'S "VICTORIA AND ITS METROPOLIS: PAST AND PRESENT." (I'll write a summary later from my D.H.O.T.A.M.A.)
AMELIA'S MARRIAGE AND DEATH RECORDS.
EventMarriage Event registration number3651 Registration year1854
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesWilliam Gouldsbr SexMale Spouse's family nameROGERS Spouse's given namesAmelia
Unfortunately the names of Amelia's parents are not recorded as George and Elizabeth and since she was not born in Victoria there will be no birth record on https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm/indexsearch.doj
EventDeath Event registration number8548 Registration year1908
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesAmelia SexUnknown Father's nameUnknown Mother's nameUnknown (Unknown) Place of birth Place of deathBenalla Age76
AMELIA'S DEATH NOTICE.
CHADWICK.—On the 31st July, at her niece's residence, Benalla-street, Benalla, Amelia, widow of the late William Chadwick, and beloved mother of William and Martin Chadwick, of Lake Rowan,aged 76.
(P. 39, Leader, 8-8-1908.)
However this death record, despite no detail re the place of death could be that of Amelia's mother.
EventDeath Event registration number4239 Registration year1880
Personal information
Family nameROGERS Given namesElizabeth SexUnknown Father's nameSavage John Mother's nameElizabeth (Stirling) Place of birthU Place of death Age67 Spouse's family nameROGERS Spouse's given namesGeorge
(Another Elizabeth Rogers died in 1880 aged 67 too.)
If Noah was Amelia's brother, her parents may have been Charles Rogers and Jane. Perhaps there were two or three Rogers brothers at Broadmeadows.
EventDeath Event registration number5964 Registration year1863
Personal information
Family nameROGERS Given namesNoah SexUnknown Father's nameCharles Mother's nameJane (Unknown) Place of birthBROA Place of death Age6
MORE TO COME. (W.G. CHADWICK'S BIOG. AND BOOKS ABOUT THE CHADWICKS IN BENALLA FROM D.H.O.T.A.M.A., THE FARMERS ARMS AT ESSENDON.) Find George Rogers' death notice or Elizabeth's in 1880 re children?
From page 60+ of the C volume of DICTIONARY HISTORY OF TULLAMARINE AND MILES AROUND (1989+ and footnotes 2016.)
CHADWICK.
An early pioneer of Pascoeville,Broadmeadows and Essendon, William Chadwick ... took the name of his Essendon hotel to Benalla.We shall first examine his biography written in 1888.
CHADWICK, William, Benalla, is a native of Yorkshire, England, who arrived in this colony in 1852 and commenced work with Mr. J.P.Fawkner on the Pascoe Vale Estate on which he remained for six months after it came into the possession of Mr. James.(1) He then started a butcher's business on the estate# and after being there two years removed a mile away towards Deep Creek.(2)Thence he went to Broadmeadows and with the same business connected a hotel, remaining there for six years. He next proceeded to Essendon* where he carried on the same line of business (3) in conjunction with cattle dealing and after twelve years removed to Benalla where he still carries on hotel keeping being proprietor and licensee of the Farmers Arms. He has also 640 acres of land and carries on farming having 100 acres under wheat, oats and barley. He is married and has a family of four sons. (P.326, VICTORIA AND ITS METROPOLIS: PAST AND PRESENT, Alexander Sutherland.)
#Victoria and Its Metropolis biographies rarely mentioned siblings and partnerships but William's 1902 obituary does. The slaughtering licence at Pascoe Vale was obviously applied for by Thomas Chadwick.
SLAUGHTERING LICENSES.—Yesterday the following persons made application to the District Bench for slaughtering licenses. Matthew Price, Esq.,P.M., and William Thomas, Esq., J.P., were the sitting magistrates. The applications were all granted, viz., Mr. Henry Cousins, Brunswick ;Emanuel Grummett, Plenty-road ; John Hill, Sydney-road ; Alfred Norman Harris, Simpson's-road ; John Hawkins, Prahran ; John Kyte, Brunswick ; John Lock, Oakleigh ; John Perry, Gardiner's Creek ; George Petty, Flemington ; Thomas West, Brighton ; John Wilson, Flemington ; Arthur Harman, Bulla Bulla ; Thomas Chadwick,Pascoevale ; William Cain, Broadmeadows.
(P.5, Argus, 4-1-1855.)
*No daughters are mentioned. Full details of William and Amelia's children from two books about the Benalla area will be revealed later. This had been transcribed last night but I lost the edit page and countless hours of work. William moved to Essendon in 1864 and took over John Pitches' Farmers' Hotel and it was there that Amelia, who drowned at Lake Rowan 10 years before William's 1888 biography was written, was born.I recall an earlier daughter as well.
EventBirth Event registration number22034 Registration year1865
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesAmelia SexUnknown Father's nameWilliam Mother's nameAmelia (Rogers) Place of birthESSE
By 1878, William and Amelia seem to have forgotten whether Amelia had been born before or after the move to Essendon. Perhaps that was why William's timeline in his 1888 biography was so vague or perhaps they were too distressed to think straight and nominate Lake Rowan as the place of death. There was a report of her drowning and that of a 45 year old man included in one of the Benalla area books that Mrs Ivison let me borrow.
EventDeath Event registration number8969 Registration year1878
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesAmelia SexUnknown Father's nameWilliam Mother's nameAmelia (Rogers) Place of birthBROA Place of death Age13
(1)J.P.Fawkner was forced to sell off large parts of his estate circa 1843 when his run near Mt Macedon (whose name has been corrupted to Monageeta) was lost and his sheep became worthless due to the depression. He had shrewdly transferred the title of the land north of the village blocks (including the Young Queen site) to Victoria St to his wife Eliza, nee Cobb, but the land on the east side of Pascoe Vale Rd to Northumberland Rd was sold as small farms such as H.G.Ashurst's "Merai Farm", the biggest of them, later owned for many decades by John Kernan. Mr James must have bought one of the smaller ones, not the whole estate as implied.
(2)Eyre Evans Kenny's "Camp Hill", c/a's 3 and 4, section 4, Tullamarine, stretched from Broadmeadows Rd to the Monee Ponds Creek. In 1847, Macedon road (today's Melrose Drive) was surveyed through the property and within a hsandful of years became the great road to the diggings (via Bulla and Sunbury) until Samuel Brees' elevated timber bridge at Keilor was built in 1854. Kenny tried to establish the village of Gretna Green on what became Manfield's triangle between Broadmeadows Rd and Melrose Drive. It fizzled and the triangle became three portions of 26 acres (roughly between Sharps Rd and Carol Grove) a middle section of 52 acres north to about Sycamore Ave and a northern portion containing the shops, of 11 acres.
On 20-2-1865 Frances Ann Kenny sold the southern 26 acres to Thomas Washbourn and William Goldsborough Chadwick. This was probably the property "a mile away towards Deep Creek" to which William had moved and probably leased for some years before buying it. He would now be much closer to the township and the land was close enough to Essendon to be useful when he moved to Essendon but David Mansfield owned it by 1868. In 1858, being a Wesleyan,William was appointed to the Board of Broadmeadows National School 27 to lessen the predominance of Presbyterians on that body.He and Amelia, whom he married in 1854, probably had a 3 year old by this stage.It is possible that Amelia's father and William became acquainted when the latter started butchering.(P.40, B.A.F.H.)
(3) Same line of business meant hotel keeping etc. and as trove demonstrates, most of the years at Essendon were spent at hotels called the Farmers Arms, the 1874 version built by William still standing on the south west corner of Buckley St (Braybrook Rd because it led to Solomons ford since 1835) and Mt. Alexander Rds. The one whose licence was transferred from John Pitches to William Chadwick in 1864 was probably a stone's throw south of the corner near Pitches St.
NOTICE.-Transfer of Publican's Licence.-I,JOHN PITCHES, the holder of a publican's licence for the house and premises known as the Farmers' Hotel, Essendon, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to APPLY to the Court of Petty Sessions holden at Flemington on the 24th October, 1864. to TRANSFER the said LICENCE to William
Chadwick.
Given under my hand this 6th October, 1864, at Essendon. JOHN PITCHES.(P.3, Argus, 20-10-1864.)
...;permission was granted to Wm. Chadwick to remove his present licence from the Farmers' Arms Hotel, Essendon,
to a new house at the corner of the Braybrook and Mount Alexander-road, Essendon, to be known as the Farmers' Arms Hotel.(P.3, The Age, 24-6-1874.)
During the afternoon several showers fell, which materially interfered with the condition of the running ground, as well as the comfort of the spectators, who however, found partial shelter in a large refreshment tent erected by Mr W.Chadwick, of the Farmers' Arms, Essendon. (Athletic Sports on "Windy Hill", P.6, Argus, 5-10-1874.)
HOTEL.-Farmer' s Hotel, Essendon -This well known house is to LET. For particulars apply on premises, to William Chadwick, or R M'Cracken and Co , brewers.(P.8, Argus, 5-10-1876.)
William was certainly on the ball about the twelve years spent at Essendon, 12 years and 4 months.
FROM PAGE 60+ OF VOLUME C OF MY DICTIONARY HISTORY OF TULLAMARINE AND MILES AROUND, CIRCA 1989.
Take 2 of my transcription will be much reduced from my first (lost) effort and deal mainly with William and Amelia's children. If Benalla residents can't borrow the two books, send me your email address in a Family Tree Circles private message and I'll attach the C file in an email reply.
THE BOOKS.
Mrs Ivison, widow of Rex, who built the Ardmillan Reception Centre in Ardmillan Rd, Moonee Ponds (where my wife worked),grew up in Benalla and recalled Chadwick's paddock. She generously let me borrow her two books:
BENALLA SKETCHED, by Judy Bassett and A JOURNEY THROUGH THE THE PARISH OF KARRABUMET,by Joyce Charnstrom and Jacye Syme.
William and Amelia's children (eight in number as stated in William's 1902 obituary with BDM details in bold type) were:
JOHN EDWARD, b.1855. Died single at Benalla in 1888. Selected 36A (Karrabumet?) in 1877.
ELIZABETH, b.1857.EventDeath Event registration number446 Registration year1858
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesElizabeth SexUnknown Father's nameWilliam Mother's nameAmelia (Unknown) Place of birthVICT Place of death Age1
CHARLES WILLIAM, b.1859. EventDeath Event registration number5153 Registration year1860
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesCharles William SexUnknown Father's nameWilliam Mother's nameElizabeth Place of birthBRO Place of death Age2. I presume his grandmother's name was accidentally taken to be his mother's name BY THE REGISTRAR.Bezza &Co.'s Will Will Rook list give the age as one year two months.He is described as a butcher's child, so he was obviously William and Amelia's boy.
WILLIAM, b.1861
MARTIN GOLDSBOROUGH, b.1863. Married Susan Riley in 1885.Commenced farming 36 ABD etc. Retired to Melbourne 1923.
AMELIA, b.1865. Drowned at Lake Rowan 18-8-1878.
THOMAS, b.1869. EventDeath Event registration number3833 Registration year1871
Personal information
Family nameCHADWICK Given namesThomas SexUnknown Father's nameThomas Mother's nameAmelia (Rogers) Place of birthESSE Place of death Age2. The Will Will Rook book gives the date of death as 14-5-1871 and the age as 2 years 5 months.
JOHN, b.1872. Died 1898 at Benalla.
MT YUROKE DID NOT BECOME AITKEN'S HILL NEAR CRAIGIEBURN, VIC., AUST.; IT BECAME CROW'S (SIC) HILL, NAMED IN HONOUR OF JOHN CROWE.
THE MOUNTS NORTH OF BROADMEADOWS TOWNSHIP THAT BECAME HILLS.
Locations of Broadmeadows Township, and the three MOUNTS (with suggestions about how their names came about.)
BROADMEADOWS TOWNSHIP.
Proclaimed a township in 1850, this was the administrative centre of the Broadmeadows Road Board/ Shire for about 70 years before a new town hall was built near the Broadmeadows station, (the new centre of population due to subdivisions in the Strathmore/Glenroy area), in 1928.
Surrounded by Hackett St (never made, and renamed Mickleham Rd when the bridge over Moonee Ponds Creek was built c 1982); Kenny St; Lyons St; and to the south, the creek and Forman St, it is roUghly indicated by Melway 5 K 6,7 to 6 D7.
The railway station's location was first called Broadmeadows East to prevent confusion but later the old township was called West Broadmeadows and then Westmeadows and it is now part of the suburb of Attwood.
MOUNT GELLIBRAND.
Located at Melway H 12, its summit is 202 metres above sea level, and it was not the only Mount Gellibrand in Victoria in the early days of settlement. Both were named after the same person, Joseph Tice Gellibrand* who perished near Colac where the other one is located. (* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Gellibrand )
EXTRACT.
Port Phillip Association[edit source]
As early as January 1827, Gellibrand in partnership with John Batman applied for a grant of land in the as yet un-colonised region at Port Phillip. They stated that they were prepared to bring with them sheep and cattle to the value of £4000 to £5000. This application was refused, but the two colonists maintained their interest in the pursuit of obtaining land at Port Phillip.[4]
In 1835 Gellibrand became one of the leading members of the Port Phillip Association, a company of 17 colonists who devised a plan to obtain and divide amongst themselves thousands of acres of land on the northern shore of Port Phillip through a treaty with the local Wurundjeri people. Gellibrand, having a strong foundation in law, drew up this Batman Treaty which stipulated that the Aboriginal people would hand over all of the land within 10 miles of the northern shore in exchange for a yearly hand-out of basic provisions. Gellibrand was assigned a block of land that is now the region that extends from Laverton to Spotswood.[5]
Given their long association, It is possible that Batman had noticed Mount Gellibrand, as he travelled east to the site of the treaty, and named it in honour of his old friend. The one near Colac was so-named by 1843. It was possibly named by one of those searching for Joseph Tice Gelliband and Hesse when they disappeared, such as Frederick Armytage and Thomas Roadknight.
Even though the Mount in Mickleham Rd. was reduced in status to a hill, at least it retained the surname of a very early and brave pioneer.
MOUNT YUROKE.
This would seem to be located on crown allotment C of section 20, parish of Yuroke. It is almost certain that John Crowe first used the name - for his farm.
In the 1940's John had been leasing crown land in the parish of Kelbundoora and was described as living on the Merri and Darebin Creek in Electoral rolls. He often served on juries and in 1848 was elected as a committee member of the Port Phillip Farmers' Society.
Committee of Management for 1849 (which may have turned his focus to the west.) Note the known residence of some of his colleagues which I have supplied in brackets.
William Thomson (co-grantee of section 14, Tullamarine)
Coiler Robertson (of La Rose, heitage-listed as Wentworth House, Le Cateau St, Pascoe Vale House)
Archibald McDougall (Perhaps this should be Robert McDougall of "Cona", Glenroy.)
M. McNamara (possibly of the parish of Doutta Galla)
Joseph King
M. Loeman (Managing or leasing the Moreland Estate; bridge in Moreland Rd named after him; established Glenloeman on Tullamarine Island in 1854.)
John Crowe
David Duncan, Treasurer. (Co-grantee of section 14 Tullamarine.)
(P.3, Argus, 10-10-1848.)
On pages 227-8 of BROADMEADOWS: A FORGOTTEN HISTORY, Andrew Lemon has listed original purchasers of crown land in the various parishes in the Broadmeadows District. No year of purchase is given for John Crowe's purchases in section 20 Yuroke is given.
They were bought on 8-5-1851.
175. Bourke, 191a 0r 38p, parish of Yuroke, allotment C, part of section 20. A M'Lachlan, 22 3s.
176. Bourke, 160a, parish of Yuroke, allotment D, part of section 20. John Crowe 52 2s.
(P.4, Argus, 9-5-1851.)
It is strange that A. McLachlan was recorded as the purchaser of 20C and M.Ainslie was not mentioned a a co-purchaser of 20 D.
Perhaps the reporter's notes were wrong or he'd made a blue in transcribing them. Or 20c was purchased by McLachlan on John's behalf.
MT AITKEN.
This was first used in 1847 to roughly indicate the location of the mysterious Mount Jophet (to which no other reference was found in Trove or Google searches) where the Mercer's Vale Hunt was to meet.
Mercer's Vale was the original name for Beveridge where Ned Kelly grew up. It was on the direct route to Sydney.
Unfortunately two hour's work trying to ascertain whether this Mt Aitken was the one between the Dunhelen homestead and Craigieburn at Melway 386 C11 or the one west of Sunbury (see Melway key map 8 E3) has been lost due to a poor internet signal.
Many of the meets were places on the direct route to Sydney which became the Hume Highway, so it is likely that the Mt Aitken mentioned was at Melway 386 C11 between the Dunhelen homestead and Craigieburn.
It is my belief that only once did they met anywhere near Mt Aitken west of Sunbury.
THE Mercers Vale Hounds will meet at Mr. Beattie's Station, Salt Water River , on Wednesday the 4th; on Monday the 9th at Mount Jophet, near Mount Aitken ; and on Saturday the 14th at Kinlochewe, each day at eight o'clock.
(P.2, Port Phillip Patriot and Morning Advertiser, 4-7-1847.)
Research into the marriages of two Collyer brothers to John Batman's daughters led me west to the Toolern Vale area and I found many Beatie grants were next to those of John Aitken west of what became the Calder Highway. This is the reason that I believe that the said station was near the other Mt Aitken. Henry Beattie managed and then bought John Aitken's Mt Aitken estate.
https://www.melton.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/services/building-planning-amp-transport/strategic-planning/studies-strategies-guidelines/heritage-study/volume-4-ho/051-068-heritage-overlays/ho_60_mt_aitken.pdf
The above states that John Aitken was admired and liked by his fellow squatters so it is possible that the Brodies or some other squatter near Craigieburn had named the hill on the Dunhelen Estate after him but he had certainly never lived in that area as stated in the otherwise excellent Mt Aitken College's history.
Mt Yuroke did not become Aitken's Hill as claimed in websites about volcanoes.
http://www.victorianvolcanoes.com/.../aitken-hill-mt-yuroke
A post in Fading Victoria* draws the same wrong conclusion and presumed that a word had been accidentally left out but Yuroke was a reference to Mt Yuroke being in the parish of Yuroke**- in its north western corner.
* [Craigieburn / Mickleham / Greenvale] Aitken Hill
24 JULY 2007, 9:55AM
A bit of trivia today, according to the Registrar of Geographic
Names, the recognised names for Aitken Hill are:
Aitken Hill (official)
Aitkens Hill (historical)
Mount Aitken (historical)
Yuroke (historical)
I've also seen it referred to as Mount Yuroke (perhaps they missed a word)
** YUROKE PARISH MAP. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-232497405
Mount Yuroke/Crow's Hill is probably in crown allotment C of section 20, parish of Yuroke but it can be seen why the farm was sometimes described as being at Mickleham (as it adjoined that parish) and Craigieburn (as it was near Craigieburn Rd.)
Mt Yuroke became Crow's Hill, presumably to honour John Crowe.
CROWE.
John Crowe died fairly early in the district's history and although Mt Yuroke (like Mt Gellibrand) was downgraded from a mountain to a mere hill, the locals probably honoured his memory by calling it Crowe's Hill and this became the name of a farm on the hill with the e at the end of Crowe missing.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 19 January 1857 p 8 Family Notices
... Funeral Notices. THE Friends of the late JOHN CROWE, Esq., are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, this day, Monday, the 19th instant. The Funeral procession to move from his late residence, Mount Yuroke, at ten, passing Broadmeadows etc.
M M'CAW & ANOTHER have received instructions from Messrs Glover & Edwards, of Mount Euroke (Crow's Hill), to sell by auction, at above farm, on Wednesday, 1st March, at eleven o'clock sharp, etc. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155025447
(P.2, The Age, 27-2-1865, item 3 in column 3 of scan.)
MURRAY GOMM, LOCAL FOOTY HERO, SOMERVILLE FOOTBALL CLUB, VIC., AUST. (AND THE WEST AUSSIE GOMMS.)
I asked a question about Sarah Wilson when I was writing the PIONEER PATHWAY journal some time back. I now know all the answers thanks to Petonella Wilson's GIVING DESTINY A HAND and the Rosebud Library manager's consideration. In 2010,I had a problem after reading Leila Shaw's THE WAY WE WERE. Henry Gomm was the harbour master at Rosebud and was also at Somerville. Was it the same man? Leila could not help me much so I rang a young lady at Pearcedale who happened to have that surname. She said that her uncle Murray might be able to help.Thus Murray became the first descendant of pioneering Peninsula families with whom I came into contact.
Today, Somerville played the mighty Buds and I told Murray about the Gomm bit in GIVING DESTINY A HAND. I told him I'd photocopy and post it to him. Later, I thought I'd trace his mother's ancestors (from the book) back to those who arrived in the country. Having done that, I decided to make it a journal.I will do the same for his father, George's, side of the family later on. Last year Somerville had a shocking run with injuries but that hasn't deterred Murray and he was hard at work in the coach's box today. What else would we expect from someone with the bloodlines of so many Peninsula pioneers to whom overcoming adversity was a simple fact of life.
Petronella's book said that Murray's brother, Raymond George, could turn his hand to anything and that Murray William was great with horses. It gave great detail of George's dairy and the pub but it was probably written before George and his brother, Billy, were elevated to the status of Legends of the Somerville Football Club.
The LOCAL FOOTY SHOW is on digital 44 for 30 minutes on Fridays from 7 pm, and 9 to 10:30 am on Saturdays.
Apr 15, 2010 - 18 posts - 5 authors
LOCAL FOOTY SHOW shown at 7.00pm on C31 FRIDAY EVENING
LOCAL FOOTY HERO Murray Gomm (Somerville FC)
Murray Gomm has been a player, official and all-round tireless worker for the Somerville Football Club since 1967. But Murray is merely following a family tradition. The Gomm family has had a constant presence at the Somerville Football Club since the club was born in the 1890's, with Murray's father, grandfather and countless other family members heavily influential in the club's development. Congratulations Murray on being named as this weeks Bendigo Bank Local Footy Hero.
MorninGton PeninSula nePean Fl
mp3.news.com.au/hwt/cfpdf/.../sorrento%20somerville.pdf
Club legends. Somerville FC is a family club through and through, evidenced by many of its club legends. Both the Gomm (George and Bill) and the Armstrong ...
LILA WILSON MARRIED GEORGE GOMM IN 1947.
LILA'S PARENTS.
Lila was born in 1920,the third child of James Wilson(1884-1954) and Barbara Scott, nee Purves (1878-1934.) The 1919 assessment records that James was farming 163 acres (part 23B and 23B2, section B, Wannaeue) which probably means that his "50 acre property, "Fernlea" on which James and Barbara lived out their lives" was part of 23, on the south side of Whites Rd and west side of Main Creek Rd or 23A of 59 acres 3 roods and 34 perches (roughly Melway 171 H6) whose south west corner is the end of Wilson Rd. (There is no 23B2!)
LILA'S GRANDPARENTS.
James Wilson was the 8th of nine children born to George Wilson (1833-1905) and Mary Jane,nee Connell(1844-94.)
Barbara was the 7th of 10 children born to James Purves (29/9/1835 to 6/11/1913) and Emily Caroline,nee Quinan
(16/3/1844 to 4/8/1910.)
LILA'S GREAT GRAND PARENTS.
George Wilson was the first child of Oliver Wilson and Sarah,nee Spence who arrived landed at William's Town on 12-4-1841 having falsified their ages to qualify for a bounty,Sarah's up and Oliver's well down.They rented a house in Flinders Lane and Oliver continued his trade of shoemaking until his death in 1851. Soon after they leased a small farm on Jamieson's Special Survey (Safety Beach and east to Bulldog Creek Rd.)George selected land in the parish of Balnarring in the early 1860's and Sarah and George's siblings moved there with him.He married Mary Jane Connell in 1866.
Mary Jane Connell was a daughter of Anthony Connell, another early Survey tenant who bought much land between Old Moorooduc and Balnarring Rds in the parish of Moorooduc and called it Nag(g)s Hill. Some of his family later moved to Mornington and Red Hill. His son Lou (and Phillip Jackson) had a fox shooting contest that led to the creation of Foxey's Hangout.
See comment 1 for the parents of Barbara's parents.
THE GOMM GENEALOGY.
Henry Gomm's biography, as at 1888 can be found in VICTORIA AND ITS METROPOLIS:PAST AND PRESENT but his surname has been given as GOMIN. It states that he was born in 1839 (correct) and that he came to the colony in the same year (wrong.) It gives extremely little detail. As I wanted to find out how he was connected to Henry Gomm of Rosebud, I consulted GOMM genealogy and discovered Convict Henry Gomm. Thinking that Somerville Henry's incorrect and far-too-brief 1888 biography might have been a cover-up attempt,it took me six months to write my diary of discovery, THE MYSTERIOUS HENRY GOMM.
If Henry's biography had been like his obituary (below), I probably would never have discovered that William Gomm of Rosebud and Hastings, Henry Gomm of Rosebud and Thomas Gomm of Dromana were all sons of Convict Henry and totally unrelated to Somerville Henry.Nor would the City of Kingston's historian, Graham Whitehead, have written about the two unrelated families whose members were neighbours for about 60 years until their deaths.
(People: Two Gomm Families - City of Kingston Historical Website).
The Late Mr Henry Gomm. By the death of Mr Henry Gomm,Somerville has lost one of its oldest identities and one of its oldest benefactors. As the late gentleman was a colonist of 74 years, the story of his life is very interesting, especially to residents of this district. Leaving England with his parents in the ship "'Wallace" he arrived in Victoria in November 1843, being then five years of age. His parents settled in Melbourne and the boy received his early education at St James' School, West Melbourne. When he was 11 years old, his parents removed to Cope Cope where his father was employed as a bunder on Sutherland's sheep station. Gold having been discovered at Bendigo the family resolved to try their fortunes on the goldfields. They remained there about one year and then proceeded to Collingwood where Mr Gomm Senr. bought land and erected houses. Some time later the family shifted to Cheltenham and Mr Gomm who was then 15 years of age, became engaged in fishing pursuits at what was then called Schnapper Point. Subsequently he and his father in conjunction purchased a craft and visited Mud Island in search of guana. After several successful trips the vessel was wrecked at Davey's Bay, near Frankston and all the belongings of the crew were lost, as was also the craft. After the loss of the boat he entered into market gardening but on the outbreak of the Port Curtis diggings in Queensland, he journeyed there to try his luck. The venture proved a disastrous failure and Mr Gomm returned to Cheltenham. The following year, 1859, he married Margaret Monk and settled down. Mr Gomm afterwards built a home in this district and 51 years ago last November he brought his wife and family to live at what is now Somerville where all but two of the family were born. The late gentleman was very enthusiastic in all matters relating to the welfare of the district, his time, money and assistance being always proffered with the greatest willingness and alacrity. His liberality is too well known to require much comment as he donated the ground where stand both the local Mechanics' Institute and the Church of England. He leaves a widow, four sons and five daughters also 27 surviving grand children and two great-grandchildren. Mr Gomm was an only son, he and his three sisters being the total family of his parents. He was of a very bright and cheerful disposition and was keenly appreciative of a good joke. In boyhood he spent much time amongst the blacks and could speak the language of the aborigines; also he could throw the boomerang and other native weapons. Of his sons one is now fighting France, whilst a grandson took part in 'the landing" and fought for 6 months in Gallipoli and is still on active service. A second grandson only 18 years of age, is now in camp preparing to do his bit for the Empire. So far as Somerville is concerned,it may be truly said that the late Mr Gomm has left his "footprints on the sands of time."
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 28-4-1917.)
Extract from THE MYSTERIOUS HENRY GOMM.
Within hours of reading my email, Neil (Mansfield) responded- with the names of Henry,s parents. They were George Gomm and Ann Teagle, who married at Hedington, Oxfordshire in March, 1839. Ann had been born on 22-10-1815 in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. Henry was actually born in 1840, but the place of Birth was Oxford as stated by Henry. George, who died in Fitzroy on 5-10-1898, became a widower when Ann died at Collingwood in 1887. He was not alone for long, marrying Mary Catherine Hoffman (born 1826 Stepney, London) in the same year.
George Gomm (1814), his father (Thomas, 5-7-1785), and his grand father (William, 5-4-1747) were all born in Wheatley, Oxfordshire. Margarets father, James Monk, was born at Brierton, Bucks in 1811 and married Eliza Clanfield at Tring Hertfordshire on 13-10-1831. Elizabeth was born on 7-5-1809 in Fyfield Parish, Berkshire.
Margaret Monk was born in 1838 in Brierton, Buckinghamshire.
This must sound like a lot of county hopping in days when some people spent their whole lives without travelling more than ten miles from home. However Oxfordshire shares boundaries with Wiltshire (sw), Berkshire (s), and Buckinghamshire (e) with Hertfordshire being on the other side of Bucks.
The above, obtained from rootsweb, proves conclusively that Somerville Henry was not Convict Henry's son. Apart from Somerville Henry's mothers place of birth, there seems to be no link with Wiltshire.
Henry's father and mother brought young Henry out on the Wallace, arriving at Port Phillip Bay on 16-4-1844. George's occupation was listed as Stonemason. This seems to be the information that Aussie1947 gave but certain details are different.
Rootsweb states that Henry and Margaret married on 17-10-1869 at St Peters Melbourne. The year should be 1859. Witnesses were Alfred Monk and Fanny Gomm. They were possibly siblings of the bride and groom. Their children are listed and further details provided.
1. George b. 1860 Moorabbin. Married Amelia Andrews.
2. Un-named b. 1862 Moorabbin.
3. Frances Elizabeth b. 1864 Moorabbin. Married George Vincent Coate at Ballarat in 1891.
4. Minnie Ann b. 12-8-1866 Frankston. Spouse George Edward Shepherd. Death/ burial 30-8-1955 at St Kilda.
5. Henry Ernest b.1869 Collingwood. Died 1869 Collingwood.
6. Angelina May b.1870 Cheltenham. Died 1952, Victoria. See death notice.
7. Harry Falby b. 24-2-1873 Frankston. Married Catherine Rogers at Albany W.A. in 1900.
8. Charles Edward b.1875 Somerville. Died Chelsea 1960, Married Annie Julia Henderson 1899, Langwarrin. (Probably Pearcedale.)
9. Isabella Jessie b.1878 Frankston. Married Oliver Percival Devlin in 1901 at Sth Fitzroy.
10. William Herbert b.1880 Frankston. Married Jean Firth 1915 Vic.
11. Beatrice Ethel b.1882 Frankston. Married David George Graf (born 1872 Shepherds Flat, Vic. ) in 1909 Vic.
The children of the above are listed following the father's surname and the mother's maiden name.
CHILDREN OF THE ABOVE. Same number as for the parents.
1. GOMM (Andrews). Henry George, born and died 1889, Schnapper Point.
Amelia, born 1891 and died 1892, both at Tyabb (parish!)
Francis Elizabeth, born 1892, Tyabb.
Marguerite, born 1897, Tyabb.
3. COATE (Gomm). Louisa May, born 1894, Warrnambool.
Frances Evelyn, born 1896, Kensington Hill, Vic.
George Henry, born 1898, Kensington Hill.
8. GOMM (Henderson). Elsie May, born 1899, Frankston.
William Henry, born and died 1901, Frankston.
Henry Ernest, born 1904, Frankston, died 1908, Kew.
George Roy, born 1907, Frankston Died 1981, Mt Martha. Married Theresa Frances Marshall 1931, Vic.
9. DEVLIN (Gomm). Marion Isabel, born 1901, Sth Fitzroy.
10. GOMM (Firth). William Henry, born 1917, Hastings.
George Edward Clarence, born 1918, Frankston.
11. GRAF (Gomm). Henry David, born 1910, Hotham West.
Raymond George, born 1913, Flemington.
ABOUT THE IN-LAWS.
The Gomms were related by marriage to many other pioneering families in the district. Paddy's wife was the daughter of William Firth from the Orkney Isles who had married Ann Scott, the first white girl born in the Somerville area, and had established Orkney Farm at the west corner of Eramosa and Coolart Rds. The Shepherds had established their Perfection Nursery in early days and it was continued in recent times by David Shepherd and his brother on "Penbank" at Moorooduc. It took a few generations for the descendants of Henry Gomm and Sarah Wilson to hook up but they were hardly neighbours. It was probably because of the famous Somerville Fruitgrowers' Shows and later the Red Hill Show that the two families became acquainted, the Gomms being involved almost as much as orchardists as with milk production and horses.
One in-law that wasn't a local was young Graf but that was because Henry Gomm thought the young station master at Somerville was not a suitable beau for his daughter. During his teens at Cheltenham Henry Gomm had become a mate of young Tommy Bent who later became the subject of a book called BENT BY NAME AND BENT BY NATURE. That's right, Sir Thomas Bent,minister for Railways and later Premier. Henry had only to ask and his wish would be granted.His first wish was that the Somerville station would be a stone's throw from "Glenhoya" (west corner of Eramosa and Jones Rds) rather than near Lower Somerville Rd, which was the centre of population according to Leila Shaw in THE WAY WE WERE.
Wedding. GRAF-GOMM. A wedding of local importance was celebrated quietly at St. Mary's Star of the Sea, West Melbourne, on Wednesday last, the contracting parties being Mr David J. Graf, of Ascot Vale and Miss Beatrice Ethel Gomm, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Gomm, "Glenhoya" Somerville. The bride, who wore a handsome dress of cream crepe de cheyne, over glace silk, was given away by her brother, Mr C. E.Gomm, Mr W. H. Gomm acting as groomsman. The bridegroom's gifts to the bride were a handsome pearl pendant and beautifully bound prayer book. The happy couple left by the Sydney express for the Blue Mountains where they will spend their honeymoon. The bride's travelling dress was a tailor made costume of Navy blue with wedgewood blue hat. The presents were numerous, many being received from the Victorian railway staff.(P.2, Mornington and Dromana Standard, 14-8-1909.)
No Henry! I bet Margaret wasn't too happy missing the wedding! Charles Edward was commonly known as Edward. Edward St,between the hotel and Fruitgrowers' Reserve is named after him. The groomsman was Murray's grandfather, Paddy.
The second wish was to get rid of young Graf and he was posted to Ascot Vale station.It didn't do much good because Beatrice fled to the big smoke to join him despite being warned that she would no longer be part of the family. Unknown to Henry, Paddy and her other brothers used to give her food and other goodies every time they went to Melbourne. (See verse1 below.) It was not until after Henry's death that the Grafs were welcomed back into the fold, a member of the family being in Somerville's cricket premiership team in the first year. Graf Rd is named after Shaun Graf, a descendant of Beatrice, at the suggestion of a Somerville Cricket Club official (not a Gomm.)
The third wish was probably that the Somerville Fruitgrowers' Show would be opened by the Premier of Victoria.
(See verse 4.)
Murray's grandfather was generally known as Paddy but also sometimes as Herb.
The wedding of Mr Wm Herbert (Paddy) Gomm, 'Glenhoya,' Somerville, to Jean, eldest daughter of the late Wm Firth and Mrs Firth. 'Orkney Farm.' Somerville, was quiety celebrated at St Anslem's Church of England, Middle Park, on November 20, the Rev A P McFarlane being the officiating clergyman.
(P.2, Dandenong Advertiser and Cranbourne Berwick and Oakleigh Advocate Advertiser, 9-12-1915.)
Charles Edward Gomm was known as Edward or Ted. His "Pine Side" was across Eramosa Rd from Glenhoya, being on Crown allotment 22, parish of Frankston, granted to Henry Gomm on 22-9-1874. The triangular block is labelled Township of Somerville and may have been resumed by the Crown in 1891 and the township gazetted in 1901. Obviously,despite the nearby railway station, the township did not take off and closer settlement blocks were consolidated in Gomm ownership. Ted, along with Alf Jones and later J.E.Sage of Almond Bush Stud, spend quite a bit on advertising pedigree stallions, so an extra plug among items of news was common. Ted also ran cross-bred sheep on Pine Side.
Mr C. E. Gomm. of " Pine Side." Somerville, is to be complimented on having introduced in the district a fine Clydesdale strain in the three-year-old stallion, "The Black Prince". This superb colt has youth, beauty and symmetry of action and appearance on his side, and as this is supplemented by a high-class pedigree, the colt can be confidently recommended to breeders.(P.2,Mornington Standard, 30-8-1900.)
IMPORTANT TO STOCK OWNERS. Attention is directed to the extended advertisement appearing in our advertising columns advising that Mr C. E. Gomm's stallion, "Favourite Lad," will-stand this season at "Pineside," Somerville, and, if required, travel the district. "Favourite Lad", foaled in 1922, was imported from New Zen land, having been bred by Mr. R. Paton, of Papakaio. His sire was "Knockinlaw Favourite," and his dam, "Abbotsford Flora," by "Black Knight." "Favourite Lad" holds the Government certificate,-and full particulars may be obtained from the proprietor, Mr. C. E. Gomm, "Pine side," Somerville. "
(P.2, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 1-10-1925.)
Ted also dealt with straying cattle as a ranger appointed by the shire of Frankston and Hastings.
IMPOUNDED at Somerville-1 black heifer, earmarked ; 1 black and white yearling steer and 1 yellow heifer, no visible brands on either.-C. E. Gomm, ranger, Somerville. (P.2, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 16-9-1921.)
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PADDY GOMM Argus issue in footnotes.
1.When little sis Beatrice went to Graf at Ascot Vale
Paddy gave help so their marriage wouldnt fail;
Her rejection by Henry was a sorry tale
So hed take her food when he went to a Newmarket sale.
2.Big sis Minnie Ann witnessed three deaths by suicide:
Stan Clarke and Janet Ross when their love expired,(1)
And hubby, George Shepherd, when his pain grew too great,
Made use of a shotgun to seal his fate. (2)
4. Tommy Bent, Paddy's dad's old mate
By 1906, was Premier of the State
And opening the Annual Fruitgrowers Show
Told why his Brighton cabbages did abundantly grow.(3)
(1)5-11-1921. (2) 28-6-1932. (3) P.4,15-3-1906.
See Comments for MURRAY GOMM'S TEA CHESTS.
See Comments re the year of Henry's arrival in Somerville.
See Comments for Murray's lineage.
Plans for the Smoke night for Henry Gomm reveal the kangaroo hunts as part of three-day entertainments provided by Henry.
SOMERVILLE.
Mornington Standard (Vic. : 1889 - 1908) Friday 25 December 1903 p 5 Article
... unanimously. agreed to tender Mr H. Gomm, sear., -a smoke nirght suliper'on Saturday. 2nd January, in the new hotel :'- Mr- Gomm has al l ways been first and foremost as a will ing helper where his ... old faces who used to patronise the good old three days' entertainmert provided by Mr Gomm twenty ... 370 words
The following webpage has excellent photos of Henry Gomm and the Glenhoya homestead.
Henry Gomm - Pioneer Graves in the Mornington Cemetery
www.morningtoncemetery.com/.../Church.../Gomm/Gomm-Henry.shtml
Five-year-old Henry Gomm arrived with his parents aboard the ship Wallace, in 1843. ... Photo courtesy of Somerville & Tyabb District Heritage Society ...
MY FAVOURITE TEACHERS, (ASCOT VALE,KENSINGTON, UNI HIGH (VIC., AUST.)
ALEC. RASMUSSEN,TULLAMARINE, 1909- CIRCA 1929.
Alec Rasmussen transferred from Couangault, south of Gisborne,to Tullamarine S.S.2613 in 1909 and taught there for nearly twenty years. His picnics at Alexander McCracken's Cumberland(probably for his pupils but involving the whole community)were just a small part of his service to Tullamarine. Alec was spoken of in such glowing terms, at the 1989 and 1998 Tullamarine reunions, by every one of his former pupils, that I became infected. My attempts to have the Tullamarine Reserve in Melrose Drive, which the community gained because of Alec, has failed but I hope to have a playground on that reserve or nearby named after him.
MR. HARDIMAN,GRADE 4, ASCOT VALE STATE SCHOOL, CIRCA 1951.
The old Social Studies course started with the family with horizons expanding every year,Grade 5 studying Australia. The Grade 4 focus was on the local community. Kidding Mr Hardiman didn't get me fired up with his stories about the past. If he hadn't, I wouldn't be writing my journals. I thought of him and decided to write this journal a few nights ago. Mr Hardiman explained that Bank St,in which the school is still situated,got its name from the bank on the Mount* Rd corner which was built during the gold rush. I vaguely remember seeing 1869 on the bank and naturally concluded that it was not the original bank building. What I found the other night was an article about the E.S.&A. bank being built on the site of a hay and corn store in (1869?) I've spent an hour trying to find it again,to no avail.
Without the resources available today, Mr Hardiman's mistake can be understood, and his slight debit on this account is completely outweighed by the love of history that he engendered in me.
MR (KEVIN?) GOOD, ASCOT VALE STATE SCHOOL,CIRCA 1952 and 1961.
Phrases, clauses, similes,etc. seemed strange stuff when Mr Good introduced them but I picked them up.He must have done a good job because, blow me down, he was the English lecturer at Melbourne Teachers' College when I arrived. And the first thing he did was to administer a Grammar test.Guess who blitzed the field.
MR WILLIAMS, KENSINGTON STATE SCHOOL, CIRCA 1952. Bagpipes.
After Dad died we moved to Kensington and attended school there from the start of third term (early September.)
If the class worked hard and behaved well,Mr Williams would perform his party trick,playing the bagpipes on his violin. I don't remember much else,but we were extremely industrious angels!
GEORGE MURRAY,UNI HIGH,1950'S. Umpiring,dedication.
Caught, sir
By RON CARTER
Daryl Foster had the laugh on his University High
School teacher George Murray yesterday.
During school hours George is chief, but on the
cricket field it's everyone for himself.
Daryl plays district cricket with Essendon, and
Murray is Footscray pennant team's captain-coach.
For more than a season Daryl, a medium-pace
bowler, has been trying to get George's wicket in a
pennant match.
They met again yesterday in a U.H.S. firsts versus
the seconds and teachers, and Daryl got his wish . . .
he had'George caught at point.
Although it wasn't a pennant match it was still
a terrific "kick" for young Daryl.
, [In the picture above Daryl Foster (centre) smiles
as his teacher, George Murray (left walks back to the
pavilion after falling victim to his 16-year-old pupil.
George Karanichols (right), another University High
student, who is in St. Kilda's pennant team, also
thought it was a "great joke."] (P.18, Argus,3-11-1955.)
George K.(see below*) was just one of the Uni. High lads who benefited from George Murray's refinement of their natural talent. Tony Leigh,whom I brilliantly leg glanced for 4 in a house match (snicked with my eyes closed in absolute fear), played under George Murray at Footscray. Arthur K. also made the grade in cricket a few years later and I think he also played footy for North Melbourne.
*The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 16 February 1955 Section: SPORTING SECTION p 2 Article about George K. making the St Kilda 1sts aged 15 and some of the other Uni High teenagers also playing at the top level. Daryl Foster was later the W.A. state coach for many years.
MURRAY INWOOD (MELBOURNE TEACHERS' COLLEGE.)
The Commanding Officer-Faraday St. Donkey Serenade.
Murray didn't teach me, being a fellow student at teachers' college, but I would have loved to be in his class; it would have been fun! I knew him well, being in the same group and sitting next to him in the tenor section of the choir. A Korean War vet., Murray was well established (at Maribyrnong I think) and threw parties for the members of our group. At every one, Murray would be badgered until he sang The Donkey Serenade,which was just made for his superb voice.
At the start of our second year, the whisper went around to stay on the second floor and keep a lookout. The bell rang and the new students gathered in the assembly area outside. Suddenly a commanding voice started barking orders to straighten lines,improve posture and so on. Stifled sniggers from upstairs seemed about to give the game away but when the column was marched, to Murray's "left, right" across Swanston St to the old Faraday State School, we laughed our heads off.
PETER DUNLEAVEY, KENSINGTON STATE SCHOOL, CIRCA 1968. Aug. 22.
During the 1960's, Kensington changed considerably. The flats overlooking the South Ken. flat, now Holland Park, had brought more disadvantaged families into the area, many struggling to learn a new language. When Bryan Quirk of Carlton Football Club had his jaw broken in a game, I took over the coaching of the cricket team. The boys loved our after school practice sessions, the same later with footy, and it was then that I discovered how many of the children were latch-key children; they arrived home to an empty house because both parents were working.One of the boys, Kevin,was so disturbed that he took to one of his parents with an axe and he was just one of many troubled children. It was depressing so a bit of levity would not go astray.
We locked the deputy principal and the infant mistress in the tiny strongroom in the first production of the big brother house. But the funniest thing ever was Peter Dunleavey's classic impromptu one -liner.
The staff kitchen was separate from the staff room and if you had forgotten cutlery,you had to go back to get it. I think the sick bay was between the two rooms. One day I'd heated my lunch but had forgotten the cutlery. When I returned,my lunch was missing. My colleagues kindly showed me where it was,in my locked classroom! You guessed it,my key had also disappeared from the staff room table.
On the Friday before my wedding, I was looking after two grades (of 36 or more),Maureen Ginifer being away and relieving teachers unheard of, when Peter came down and said that Quirky needed to see me. He wasn't in his room (his grade being probably at Art and Craft)so Peter said that he was probably in the staff room. As we walked past the sick bay two figures emerged like lightning to assist Peter in his dastardly purpose. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found they were only going to tie me up; far better than the usual buck's night prank.
I'd almost untied myself when a check by my assailants found the bonds needed attention. That had just been done when a girl from Maureen's class asked Peter if I was in the sick bay. "Yes,but he's tied up at the moment!" Ya gotta laugh!