Frank Stone and the Name of Frankston Victoria Australia
The Wells family is thought of in association with Frankston but many people would be unaware that Henry Cadby Wells was a much earlier pioneer near the Heads. All the details are on the web in THE WELLS STORY. His daughter, later Mrs Kelly, probably pipped the Skelton child for the honour of being the first white child born near the Heads.
I had seen references to Frank Stone before I came across this website in which Frank Stone's hotel is mentioned. The Frankston wikipedia states that Frank Stone may not have even existed. Perhaps the first fishermen to make their base at the south end of Long Island did not exist either because their names also did not appear in documents or newspapers!
Wells and his young, pregnant wife walked all the way from Melbourne to join Robert Rowley in a limeburning venture near the Heads two or three years before Dennis and Honora Sullivan arrived in 1843. Robert Rowley married Christina Edwards in 1859 but there was no mention of this in Victoria; she was from Longford in Tasmania! The lime burning did not last long because the depression, reaching crisis point in 1843, reduced demand for mortar in Melbourne. However, Henry teamed up with Robert again in 1849 to crayfish in Westernport and built Clark's Cottage two decades before Sorrento Village was declared at the suggestion of Sidney Smith Crispo of the Coastal Survey.
Frank Stone was obviously part of the Wells family legend. With such a proud pioneering history, why would the family feel the need to invent a pioneer: Frank Stone? Family legends do contain errors, such as the belief that Captain Henry Everest Adams of Rosebud was the legitimate son of Lord Vivian.However there would be no reason to invent Frank Stone.
Frank Liardet, Charles Franks,( murdered in 1836, not 1856 as in one website), and General Franks have been advanced as possible origins of Frankston's name. And I believe that one of these three was honoured in the official naming of the settlement circa 1853! Why am I discussing Frank Stone then?
Bendigo was officially named Sandhurst but the diggers insisted on the name that they used, and Bendigo it became. Frankston means Franks' Town and with a slight change to the pronunciation at the end could be said as Frankstone. Perhaps the pioneers such as the McCombs, who may not have known Stone, but would have been given the goss. about the area's pioneer from the Wells family, decided that it wasn't worth kicking up a fuss because they could just pronounce it their way.
While researching "The Mysterious Henry Gomm", I found a notice that a Henry Gomm had placed about finding a boat that had been washed ashore at Red Bluff (Argus 29-9-1864 page 1 column 5.) I thought this was Convict Henry or his son but I now suspect that it was Somerville Henry. In the same column was a notice about a purse that had been lost between Brighton and Tyabb, and I believe that it was also placed by Henry Gomm, who first lived (temporarily) near Somerville in 1861 and moved Margaret and family there in 1867. The un-named owner of the purse said that a reward could be claimed at Frankstone Hotel. Passing through, he must have heard stories about the early publican or heard the pronunciation of the hotel's name.
Why was it that so many editors or typesetters used Frankstone instead of Frankston for the village and parish, even in announcements of Crown land sales? One would have thought they would have been working from written information provided by Government departments and surely the clerk who prepared such would have had the official spelling of names to refer to. The newspapers are littered with references to Frankstone during its first "official" decade, in the report of the Moorabbin market gardeners' picnic in 1882 (perhaps Somerville Henry taught them the historic pronunciation), and even as late as the 1930's.In the case of Queensland papers, the spelling could have been caused by confusion with their own Frankstone, but why would the name be written so often with an e by Victorian newspapers?
Why is there so little mention of Frank Stone? There is a possibility that Thomas Stone and his brother (Frank?) went to the diggings (before 1853)and that descendants finished up as pioneers of the mountainous area near Sylvan.
Strangely, there was a FRANKSTON HOTEL at Snapper (sic) Point in 1856. Samuel Packham was granted a licence for the Frankston hotel at Frankston and Thomas P.Stone for the Bush Inn at Prahran.(Argus 16-4-1856, page 6.) Stone was the chap, at the diggings with his brother, who wrote from Geelong complaining about the gold escort. There are two possible reasons for William Edwards' hotel at Mornington being called the Frankston. Firstly, Frank Stone might have opened the hotel that probably later became the Schnapper Point and the Royal (Rennison, William Edwards, Lawrence Murphy etc). Did Frank Stone start this hotel after a successful stint at the diggings and then take on the Bush Inn with Thomas Stone? The second possibility is that another licence had been transported to a new location.
It is unlikely that this was the case with John Boswell Clark's Mornington Hotel at Sorrento; "Lugger" Clark had skippered limecraft and probably just liked the name.If I remember correctly, there had been a Mornington Hotel near Wolfdene but it became a private school. It is certain in the case of Collier and John Campbell's Rye Hotel at Tootgarook/White Cliff; this had been opened in Dromana in 1859 and the licence was continued in the latter area, thus giving it the present name. William Edward's biography in Victoria and Its Metropolis is as baffling as that of Somerville's Henry Gomm. It stated that he was, in 1888, running the Schnapper Point Hotel in Dromana. This shows that he had probably transported a licence from Mornington. (The hotel was probably on the FJ's site at the corner of Jetty Rd, Rosebud; that being the only reason that a 2 acre block, lot 86 of crown allotment 18,Wannaeue, would be regarded as sufficient security for a loan from Captain Adams of about 200 pounds. It was definitely not in Dromana, where the Dromana and Arthurs Seat were the only hotels.)William Edwards had run other Hotels before 1888 and he-or more likely his father- may have had the Frankston and transported the licence. But if this was the case, how come the Frankston Hotel was still operating under that name in Frankston?
I present a new theory, that the suburb's name is a merger of the original Frank Stone and the official Frankston. It would be really ironic if the government had decided to name the town Frankstone and a clerk had thought the e was a mistake and dropped it. To restore historic integrity, if that actually happened, the e could be taken from McCombe St in Rosebud and placed on the end of Frankston, thus honouring John McComb of Seaford, who bought "Hindhope" from the Riggs,and Frank Stone, the pioneer of Frankston!
POSTSCRIPT. steve74, a descendant of Henry Cadby Wells has sent me some great material about the naming of Frankston and the Wells family. As I do not write history if it already exists (and is accessible), I will not repeat all of Steve's information; I await a journal from Steve about the extended Wells family.
C.Evelyn Liardet wrote a letter to the editor of The Argus refuting a claim in the Victorian Historical Magazine (March 1916, vol.5, No.1) by A.W.Greig that Frankston was named after Frank Liardet, and stating that his grandfather and uncle had told him that the town was named after Charles Franks. He enclosed a reply from the Lands and Survey Department regarding Frankston's name. Frankston was so-named almost a year before a Liardet application for land was made on 20-1-1855.Charles Wedge had a run adjoining Franks' near "Mt Cotteril"
but later had a run which included the site of Frankston and may have suggested that the village be named after his unfortunate neighbour of circa 1836.
A source I discovered while searching for other information stated that Frank Stone was the young son of the early publican so the aforementioned Thomas Stone (publican at Prahran in 1856) may have been the publican at Frankston and father of young Frank. Frank Liardet squatted near Frankston in 1843 without a licence and publican Stone may have also been operating without a licence, which would explain the lack of records. Knowing Steve 74's determination, I am hoping that he will soon come across documentary proof of Stone in Frankston.
The attached image, supplied by Steven Johnson, is of a Frankston football team, probably taken before W.W.2. Was this the original uniform of the Frankston club? It is not in colour but could explain the name of the Frankston Bombers F.C. I could not introduce a footy photo into this Frankston journal without trying to trace the origin of organised footy in Frankston.
The Frankston juveniles (State School?) had issued a challenge to the juveniles at the Point (Mornington) in 1880 but no reply had been received. (South Bourke and Mornington Journal 1-9-1880, page 2.)
The earliest report of organised matches found so far was in 1887. Frankston beat Mornington 4 goals to nil. Frankston's best players were Sadler, Kelso , O'Grady, Bentick, Westaway and Clark. (SB&MS, 22-6-1887, P.2.)
As mentioned in the FOOTY ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA journal, complaints about opponents importing players were frequent. Frankston F.C. secretary, J.C.Sadleir accused Mornington of having no less than seven Melburnians in his letter which appeared on page 3 of the Mornington Standard of 5-10-1889. This date had obviously been some time after the game had been played. A team representing the Essendon District was named to play Frankston at Frankston. It is of interest that a member of the Essendon team was names Saddlier and was probably related to the Frankston secretary.(North Melbourne Advertiser, 2-6-1888 page 3.) In view of Janilye's comment of 13-3-2012, this surname appears to have been Sadlier.
As I scanned "Football, Frankston" on trove decade by decade, I couldn't help gawking at Frankston items unconnected to footy.
JOHN CARR, FRANKSTON PIONEER.
John Carr had a problem that I have rarely seen mentioned on trove but was part of the reason that Hugh Glass of Flemington (and a grantee at Rosebud) ended his life with an overdose. The problem was scab in sheep. On page 7 of the Argus of 15-9-1866, John Carr gave notice that his run, being a part of Mt Eliza, situate at Frankston, was affected by scab. This land was most likely in the parish of Frankston, that is north of Eramosa-Canadian Bay Rds. No doubt this run occupied most of the 3000 acres later proposed as the site for a new Melbourne cemetery.
Almost four years later, John Carr, was on another run, this time in the parish of Lang Warren and his sheep had again been affected by scab. (Argus, 17-8-1870, page 3.) On page 8 of the Argus on 12-4-1878, Carr's farm of 320 acres near the township at Frankston was offered for sale at 3 pounds per acre. Oh well, I thought, early squatter buys pre-emptive right and then leaves! Not finding much more on trove, I tried a straight google search. The Potts Family website soon convinced me that the Carr family was significant in Frankston's history.
This family was very religious and musical. It was also related to the Allchin family of Mornington. If I remember correctly, the Allchins lived at one of Mornington's historic houses, Sutton Grange, and were involved in the Mornington Football Club drowning tragedy. John Carr senior preached in Frankston as early as 1855 and was personally responsible for the building of the first Wesleyan Church in 1860.He used to travel on horseback to take services at Mentone, Cheltenham and Brighton. (It is likely that on many occasions he continued on to Melbourne to preach or lecture at the Temperance Hall or Gospel Hall- see the Argus 8-11-1873, page 1; 31-10-1874 page 1; 11-5-1875 page 8. The Chairman for John's lecture in 1873, entitled "Advance Victoria", was John Nimmo, who was prominent in politics and the temperance movement (Australian Dictionary of Biography.)
John Carr's great great grand daughter, Deborah Mary Collins was baptised in the Frankston Methodist Church in 1959. The Potts family history pages have much more information such as John's early land purchase, the musical expertise, and his daughter's near-death in a dam. It is claimed that Kars St was named after John Carr and was mis-spelt. No pioneer or prominent figure seems to have been named Kars, and it is possible that there is a link with the city and province of Kars in Turkey, besieged by the Russians in the Crimean War. Kars St was originally called Young St and the name was changed by the council without any consultation, according to an old Frankston resident in "Fishing, Sand and Village Days", a pre-1950 oral history.
Carr children were among the first pupils at the school started in 1855. John first lived on the foreshore near the hotel sites and then on Skye road in a house built of brown stone and bricks. John Carr used to produce lime from shells that he gathered at the foot of Oliver's Hill.(Frankston and Somerville Standard 22-2-1930, p.6, History of Frankston.)
YOCKINS.
(Argus, 25-3-1865 page 8.) FRANKSTON. A house and garden, fine situation, close to the jetty, Bay Frontage; also 9 acres of land near the above. Apply to Mr Yockins, Frankston.
The first three stores in Frankston were those of Mr Staples, Mrs Yockins and Mrs Spriggs. (Last source in Carr, 1930.)
Sarah, wife of Thomas C.J.Yockins and mother of Thomas C.Yockins of Yambuck, died on 20-1-1880 at Frankston, aged 66. (Illustrated Australian News, 16-2-1880, page 30.)
Mr H.C.Tocknell had been appointed registrar of births and deaths during the absence on leave of Mr.T.C.J.Yockins (South Bourke and Mornington Journal 28-7-1880 page 2.)
A writer wondered who would serve on the bench at the newly established Court of Petty Sessions in Frankston, pointing out that the nearest J.P., Captain Baxter, lived five miles away. Apparently there was a requisition, bearing a huge number of signatures, requesting the appointment of Messrs Cattanach and Yockins as local justices.Both men were highly respected in the town. (South Bourke and Mornington Standard 3-5-1882, page 3.)
My daughter taught school there for several years and the locals call it 'Franga'
Interesting theory you have there itellya and it sounds plausible to me.
Don't forget parts of the film On The Beach starring Ave Gardner, Gregory Peck and Fred Astaire were filmed at Frankston Railway Station. The author of On The Beach lived there Nevil Shute lived in the Frankston area..
FRANK STONE - âFRANKSTONâ
Now we come to the man who is credited with having Frankston named after him. He was Frank Stone. In the year somewhere about 1855 Mr. Stone built a way side inn between the Grand Hotel and Mechanics Institute about where the telephone exchange now is. It was used as a half-way house for people travelling from Melbourne and Sorrento. My Grandfather H. C. Wells was one of those travellers. He had an interest in lime kilns down the Peninsula in 1858. On occasions he used to bring along my father who was a boy about 12 years old at the time, which would be 92 years ago. About this time the locality was known as âFrankstoneâ and suggests that this brought about the idea of the name Frankston. (memoirs Robert Cadby Wells)
The earliest reference I can find is this land sale at Frankston 19 May 1854
9th September 1921, Frankston & Somerville Standard
An Old Colonist's Letter
"A Colonist Since 1837," who resides at Baxter, writes : "In the last edition of "The Standard" I noticed a dip into the history of the early days by your Langwarrin correspondent.Fix this text Nearly everything he wrote is wrong. The name "Frankston" has nothing to do with the Liar- det family; it was named years before. I, as a resident since 1843, know when Liardet's came to Frankston. It was Fred, not Frank, who came in 1855 to look for land. My father took him to "Ballam;" which was part of our run at the time. "Ballam" is the dative name-Fred Liardet put the "Park" to it. And about the
first bricks. What nonsense he writes. I could tell him where the first bricks used for buildings in Melbourne were made. Why, they were. made long before the Liardets came to the colony ! And the paragraph about the girl getting lost is equally mislead- ing. The child that was lost was a daughter of Mr Willoby, who owned a cattle run seven miles from Baxter. He was a solicitor by profession. "But, he had left the district long before Larnach bought the land. ' "Langwarrin" was the native name of Willoby's place. It will thus be seen that your Langwarrin correspondent has got his history mixed.
19th August 1921,Frankston & Somerville Standard
Our First Tragedy . -`The Midnight Sun". explains how Frankston got its name; Frankston perpetuates the memory of one, Charles Franks, who, in 1836; was murdered by blacks while serving out food to them. He was 'buried in the Flagstaff Gardens
The Frankston Standard of 5-10-1949 was a 60th anniversary special consisting of the paper consisting of 56 pages. On pages 13 and 16 was a summary of a history of Frankston written in 1929 by Donald Charlesworth of Frankston High School. Donald supported the theory of the town being named after Frank Stone.
As the history is so fascinating, I have changed the title of the journal to include EARLY HISTORY and you might like to detail other articles you find.Donald's history came from old people who had been part of Frankston's early days and has solved two mysteries for me.
1. How did current local cricket star, Henry Dolphin, get his exotic surname?
2. How did Henry Prosser's daughter (Isaac Sawyer's widow) come to marry Amise Renouf?
My apologies re the first sentence. The first "consisting" should not be there.
I just discovered some private messages that steve74 had sent me and somehow had finished up in spam. They detail three articles about Frankston's name and early history. All come from the Frankston and Somerville Standard.
26-11-1926.Janet Keen was aware that Mr Wells was the author of the "fix this text" letter. She stated that when she was at school a member of the Board of Advice* had stated that the town was named after lawyer Frank Stephens (whose claim was dismissed by Wells)but she believed that Charles Franks was the source of the name.
* A Board of Advice was like a school committee but had responsibility for a whole district rather than just one school. The failure to realise that distinction has led one local historian to refer to John Cain ( later of Rye requesting improvements at the Dromana school; Cain was of course at "Tyrone", Rye, but a member of the Board of Advice for the whole district!
29-10-1926. A family gathering had been held to celebrate the diamond wedding of Mr Fix this text and Mrs Charles Wells. (Obviously Janet was not the only one aware of the author's identity.) Much detail of the Wells family and Frankston's history is given in the article. The journalist summarised what had been said, and as anybody who has been interviewed would know, journalists often mix their facts, resulting in mistakes. Canvas Town was at Emerald Hill (South Melbourne), not Sandridge (Port Melbourne.)SEE SULLIVAN'S EARLY MELBOURNE. Petrie's Paddock is mentioned; Donald Charlesworth stated that Petrie had built the first Bay View hotel, operated it and then sold to Dolphin. This article mentioned Charles Wells' time at Dromana carting timber from Arthur's Seat.
5-11-1926. "Ancient History" states that he had his old school atlas and it showed the town with the spelling given as Frankstone, which tended to confirm Mr Wells' belief.
These are extracts from emails from Glenda Viner of the Frankston Historical Society in December 2011.
I'm glad you found some history on Mark Young...yes he did reside in the Carrum Swamp until his wife became ill and he was a Councillor in Dandenong.plus lots more!
I hope that sometime in the future that someone will find some interesting document about the naming of Frankston, and we can all shy in relief.
The Wedge Brothers were granted a pre-emptive right in Frankston on Pub corner. There was a dispute between them and James Davey who built a wattle and daub hut on what was said to have been Wedge land. They also had land at Seaford and Carrum Downs/Carrum.
Wedge Street named after the brothers ran from the round-a-bout in Playne Street up to what is now Council Buildings. Council changed the name to Young Street without any consultation.with locals.
No the Liardets did not have any pre-emptive right on Homestead ground, Frank just squatted and tried to grow wheat in 1843.that is stated on the maps in the Public Records.
THE HISTORY OF FRANKSTON
By Robert Cadby Wells
INTRODUCTION
Being the oldest surviving male member of the Wells family, I have been asked on several occasions to write the history of Frankston, but as there are older residents here, I have been shy of complying. However, I now intend to do my best to meet their wishes. What I write will be my own reminiscences, which extend back seventy years, together with information supplied by my parents and grandparents who came to Frankston in 1858 and 1863, respectively what I write should be as nearly authentic as possible.
R. C. WELLS
62 Davey Street Frankston
FIRST SETTLER ON THE PENINSULA
The first settler on the Mornington Peninsula, Captain Benjamin Baxter, late of H.M. Army, was born in Cork, Ireland in 1805 and arrived in Sydney, NSW in 1838 and coming to Victoria he settled on a ârunâ on the spot where Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) now stands.
In 1838, Governor Bourke appointed Captain Baxter, Clerk of Petty Sessions at Port Phillip, and he became Melbourneâs first Postmaster. His wife, Mrs M. Baxter, despatched the first Home Mail direct from Hobsonâs Bay.
In 1840 the Captain resigned the above mentioned position and came to Frankston where he obtained pre-emptive right of Crown Land and established a cattle-run on a site known for many years as Baxterâs Flat and later changed to Mornington Junction and finally to Baxter.
Captain Baxter was well known in sporting circles. While holding the position of Postmaster at Melbourne he was on the lookout for some good grazing land and one afternoon he saw a mob of cattle passing over the Yarra River. They were in such good condition that it caused the Captain to make enquiries as to where they came from, and when he was told that they had come from the Western Port Bay side of the Peninsula, he decided to come down here.
John Edward Sage was born in Devonshire on the 25th of December 1821. He arrived in Sydney, NSW in 1835, was in a merchantâs office there until 1840 when he came overland to Victoria with Cattle. He spent twelve months on the Bendigo gold diggings and then came to Frankston and bought 400 acres of land adjoining his father-in-lawâs property (Captain Baxter).
The late Mr. Sageâs two daughters and one son still retain and live on the property.
The eldest surviving son, James R. Sage, lives in retirement at William Street, Frankston. In his young days he was a well known sportsman and in 1895 was licensee of The Prince of Wales Hotel (where the Frankston Hotel now stands).
James Davey arrived in South Australia on the ship âArgyleâ from Cornwall, England, in 1838.
It seems that he had lived at Gardenerâs Creek, Victoria before coming to Frankston, as his eldest son William was born at that place. This son in his mature years owned and conducted the Bayview Hotel- now âThe Grandâ- which he purchased from his father in 1874.
Davey came around 1850 and built his first house on the Mornington Road where old âMarathonâ stands. Here he reside while building a larger house overlooking the Bay that bears his name and he called it âMarysvilleâ after his wife.
In 1851, he obtained pre-emptive right of land at Mt Eliza, with Sweetwater Creek as his north eastern boundary and extending towards Mornington and Moorooduc. On this run he built his third house, situated on the flat country at the extreme end of the Mount, not far from where Mornington Railway line now runs. This house was on his farm land which he called âBell Ring Farmâ.
In a nearby creek he made a dam and this locality eventually became known as the âOld Damâ or âThe Old Poundâ there being a pound built on a reserve close by. This yard of detention was erected during the old âRoadâs Boardâ regime. It was mostly horses that were impounded, as there many roaming the country in those days.
I have proof that this Pound was in use seventy eight years ago. How long before that date I do not know.
JOHN WEDGE
In the year 1850, John Wedge of Werribee came across to this side of the Bay and established a sheep station, his western boundary being Sweetwater Creek extending out beyond Carrum Downs. He built a sheep wash in the Kananook Creek, where he dipped sheep for tick and other vermin.
This dip was about five chains above Fiocchi Avenue which was known in the old days as the âSheep Wash.â
COMING OF MCCOMBS
Mr Thomas McComb and his Wife, Grace of Tasmania came to Victoria and after living in various places, came to Frankston in the year 1852. They took up residence in tents on the beach where the Fernery now stands. Mr McComb along with other men took up the ancient profession of fishing.
The fish in those days were carted to Melbourne Markets by Messrs. Tom and Jack Wren who later sold out to Croskell Ritchie & Company, when that Company of Fish-salesman was formed in the year 1867 Mr McComb purchased land in William Street and built a house. His large family, most of them settled in Frankston, became highly respected citizens.
FRANK HOBSON
Frank Hobson was a very early settler and lived at the foot of Mount Eliza near the Municipal quarry. The bridge over the creek close by was known as Hobsonâs Bridge for many years. Some people thought Frankston derived its name from this man.
JOHN WEDGE
In the year 1850, John Wedge of Werribee came across to this side of the Bay and established a sheep station, his western boundary being Sweetwater Creek extending out beyond Carrum Downs. He built a sheep wash in the Kananook Creek, where he dipped sheep for tick and other vermin.
This dip was about five chains above Fiocchi Avenue which was known in the old days as the âSheep Wash.â
COMING OF MCCOMBS
Mr Thomas McComb and his Wife, Grace of Tasmania came to Victoria and after living in various places, came to Frankston in the year 1852. They took up residence in tents on the beach where the Fernery now stands. Mr McComb along with other men took up the ancient profession of fishing.
The fish in those days were carted to Melbourne Markets by Messrs. Tom and Jack Wren who later sold out to Croskell Ritchie & Company, when that Company of Fish-salesman was formed in the year 1867 Mr McComb purchased land in William Street and built a house. His large family, most of them settled in Frankston, became highly respected citizens.
FRANK HOBSON
Frank Hobson was a very early settler and lived at the foot of Mount Eliza near the Municipal quarry. The bridge over the creek close by was known as Hobsonâs Bridge for many years. Some people thought Frankston derived its name from this man.
FRANK HOBSON
Frank Hobson was a very early settler and lived at the foot of Mount Eliza near the Municipal quarry. The bridge over the creek close by was known as Hobsonâs Bridge for many years. Some people thought Frankston derived its name from this man.
THE LIARDETâS
The Liardet family came to Port Phillip in December 1839 and son Frank took up a run on the Campaspe river and brought a flock of sheep from Illawarra NSW. After being there for three (part of the family was living in a tent at South Melbourne) he went to Sandridge where he built the Pier Hotel ( the first in the place) and his father was the first Licensee. The Liardets gave to Sandridge its first well known name of âLiardetâs Beachâ. In the early days they put up the first pier, cleared the road (first) there to Princeâs Bridge at their own expense. They had the first mail contract which they kept for seventeen years. They ran the first Steamer, the âAngenoraâ from Sandridge to Williamstown. They kept the Claredon Hotel at Williamstown for three years and then returned to Sandridge and built the hotel there known asâChusanâ.
In 1854, Frank and his brother came to Frankston. The latter, Frederick purchased 300 acres of land on Cranbourne Road about two and a half miles out of Frankston. He built a two storey brick house- the bricks being made on the property. He named the place âBallam Parkâ. He bought with him a negro servant by the name of âAdam Orangeâ. This negro had been a slave in the USA and was smuggled out of the Country on board a British Ship. To show his gratitude, he became a loyal British subject and on the Queens Birthday he would don his regimentals and celebrate the occasion by singing songs to the boys. The nature of his songs were about his prowess in catching wild animals and killing them. (I remember Adam)
In the same year 1854, Frank built a wooden house on the bay side of Ballam Park, on a small area of land he had purchased. The house was burnt down about eight or nine years ago.
HOWARD AT THE âBAYVIEWâ
Another man of interest was Mr Howard, Licensee of a small hotel in Main Street Mornington known as âPopes Hotelâ (now the Grand). About the year 1862 he sold out and became the licensee of the Bayview Hotel at Frankston (now the Grand Hotel). Cobb & Company used to stable their horses in the Bayview stables and a Mr Shannon looked after them. About seven or eight years later when he had to vacate the Bayview, Howard built a wooden hotel on the opposite side of the road (it wasnât a street then) and set up in business there- including the accommodation of Cobb & Co âs horses. The old stables are still in use, but as an auction market now.
FITZPATRICK OF KELLYâS FAME
William Davey succeeded Howard as Licensee of the Bayview Hotel, and during his term, a young man named Alec Fitzpatrick was employed there as a groom. This young fellowâs great ambition was to be a policeman and it so happened that a Police Magistrate used to stay at the Hotel overnight when on his way to Mornington to preside there. This Magistrate used his influence to good effect with the result that Fitzpatrick became a policeman and later a mounted constable and a highlight in connection with the chase after the Kelly gang. Fitzpatrick was sent out to Stringy Bark Creek armed with a warrant to arrest Dan Kelly on a charge of horse stealing. In the execution of his duty Fitzpatrick was shot in the wrist by Ned Kelly. It appears that this fracas caused the Kelly to take to the bush. So it would appear that the origin of the Kelly gang commenced in the old Bayview Hotel at Frankston. This hotel is now known as the Grand.
THOMAS RITCHIE
Thomas Ritchie arrived in Australia on the ship âIsabelle Watsonâ in 1852. He spent two years at the diggings prospecting for gold and then came to Frankston and settled on âOld Man Daveyâs Hillâ. One morning in 1863 he left early for the place where he was employed, and his wife also left the house to attend a cow with a young calf. During their absence the house was destroyed by fire. Mr Ritchieâs five children were alone in the house at the time and four of them were burned to death; the youngest, a girl baby a few months old was found lying in a bush near the ruins where she evidently had been carried by her little brother before he himself succumbed. Although badly burnt on the head and neck, this child recovered, grew up in Frankston and married a Mr Connal- after his death married a Mr Dean and for many years carried on a grocery business where the corner tea shop is. Her grandson, Bob Connal, occupies part of the premises today where he conducts one of the leading motor services and petrol stations.
Some few years after this Mr. Ritchie purchased land on the corner of Bay Street and Playne Street, where Frankston House is now. He built a shop and started as a general store-keeper- including a bakery business this being Frankstonâs first bakery.
Some years later he added a wine and spirits department to the business. These Ritchieâs Stores were the origin of our present Ritchieâs Stores. Somewhere in the late eighties, Mr Ritchie had the present building erected on this site which was called the âFrankston Coffee Palaceâ for some years. While this this building was in course of erection, one of Mr Ritchiesâs little grand-daughters (Violet Connal) was killed by a falling brick. Curiously enough, this little grand-daughter was the daughter of of the little girl that escaped death in the disastrous fire that I have above mentioned. Mr Ritchie owned the land on the opposite corner to his store and in 1890 built âOsborne Houseâ which was called âBallacrayneâ during Mr. Ritchieâs ownership.
Mr. Ritchieâs was involved in the Jolimont Railway accident in 1881, four passengers being killed and some injured. Mr Ritchie escaped injury. When the accident was duly reported in the morning papers, mention was made of a big man who knocked a rail out of a fence and did sterling work by using it for a lever to extract some of the passengers who were under the wreckage. This big man described was Mr Ritchie.
JOHN CAMERON- FIRST CARRIER
John Cameron came to Frankston in 1872 built his house next to the Pier Hotel and went into business as Frankstonâs first carrier and coach builder.
Then came Mr. Carr in the early sixties and camped on the Kananook Creek between Wells Street and Playne Streets. He made a living netting eels and sending them to the Melbourne Market. Later he selected 360 acres of land on the corner of Sky and Boundary Roads.
Another early identity was Mr Potts, who selected land adjoining the property owned by John, the son of the above mentioned Mr Carr. This Mr Potts was the father of Oliver Potts who conducted the timber yard in Playne Street.
MCMAHON FAMILY
The McMahon family came to Frankston in the very early days. James and Robert did not stay long, but where long enough to have McMahons Road named after them. James took up 360 acres of land on Sky Road and latter built the first Carrum Hotel which was known as the Long Beach Hotel for many years, but was changed to âHalf Way Houseâ and is now known as the âCarrum Hotelâ. It will be seen that all those early arrivals mentioned have done something to put Frankston on the map.
Thanks Steve. What a well-written history! I reckon Henry's story should be a journal, rather than just a comment, because the surname list will then direct descendants of the families mentioned to the facinating information about their pioneering ancestors. I hope there's a lot more to come.
Just one point. It seemed as if Pope's and the Bayview were two different hotels but both were said to have become The Grand. Perhaps the name of the hotel (on the licence) was changed from Pope's to The Bayview. Liardet's hotel at Sandridge was called the Pier Hotel. Does Henry mention the Frankston Murder?
I want to query a name you have there itellya. Samuel Packman? I have him in licenses as PACKHAM
You're right of course. I rechecked the article (which was on page 6)and have amended the journal and surname list. Thanks. In defence of my boo boo, I can only plead a combination of illegible notes and refusal to follow Neil Mansfield's advice of last night at 10:46 p.m.- You amaze me - go to bed!
Robert Cadby Wells does mention the Frankstom murders. I have a lot of information on Snapper Point Murder, where William Hastings was found guilty and executed
I've seen the Hastings case on trove; a good read. It's a pity they gave the Shannon-Moriarty case the same name; Tubbarubba would have been more appropriate.
A DOUBLE MURDER
A double murder was committed in Frankston in 1875- in the old wooden portion of the Pier Hotel. A man named Howard murdered a woman named Wright, and a man named Armour. He killed them with a carving knife, and made a good job as they died immediately. The terrible deed accomplished he made no effort to escape, but sat in the room where the bodies were and waited for the police to come and collect him. In due course, he was brought before the Criminal Court to face trial. He admitted his guilt was found guilty and was sentenced to death. At the conclusion of the trial he thanked the judge for the fair trial given him. My grandfather H.C Wells was one of the jurymen at the trial. Of course I donât remember Howard, but a good many years later I saw his effigy in the old wax works that used to be in Bourke Street, Melbourne.
A DOUBLE MURDER
A double murder was committed in Frankston in 1875- in the old wooden portion of the Pier Hotel. A man named Howard murdered a woman named Wright, and a man named Armour. He killed them with a carving knife, and made a good job as they died immediately. The terrible deed accomplished he made no effort to escape, but sat in the room where the bodies were and waited for the police to come and collect him. In due course, he was brought before the Criminal Court to face trial. He admitted his guilt was found guilty and was sentenced to death. At the conclusion of the trial he thanked the judge for the fair trial given him. My grandfather H.C Wells was one of the jurymen at the trial. Of course I donât remember Howard, but a good many years later I saw his effigy in the old wax works that used to be in Bourke Street, Melbourne.
THE CANANUKE INN
Has anyone came across any reference to the Cananuke Inn? Frankstons first building. It is listed in the Victorian Heritage inventory (1R Plowman Place). This is on of the locations believed to be the spot were Frank Stones Hotel was said to stand
Frankston Standard 10th January 1941
Frankston's Centenary - oOo Have We Missed It? It was a nasty moment when someone suggested this week that Frankston had entered its one hundred and first year. We had a feeling that Father Time had played a dirty trick on us in allowing one hundred years of local history, to pass without some sign, without giv- ing someone a chance to ring a bell, make a speech, or even to write an. "I Remember" article in the local press.
We, had wanted to congratulate Frankston, give, it a-pat on ,the back for cominig through the years in such splendid fashion. We had wanted to make complimentary reference to ,the stalwart pioneers whose grandsons and granddaughters and their sons and daughters still have their homes in the district. And we were looking forward with keen anticipation to hearing public speakers vie with one another in pro- phecies of Frankstons future great- ness, and to solemnly raise our hats as the Town Hall, Civic Centre, Art Gallery, Court House and a host of other long-since-buried topics were disinterred in the prophecying pro- cess. But all these good intentions seemed futile when we were told that Frank- ston's first settler had arrived in 1840, decided that the place had posibil- ties, and decided to stay. There was no escaping the fact that 1940 had passed a few short days ago, and that this was ,the year 1941. We were in a mood of black frustra- tion at the thought. It was as thougn we were stranded on a strange is- land and had reached the shore just in time to see the smoke of an out- ward bound liner vanishing over the horizon. Then, by happy chance, we met probably the one person who has the early history of Frankston at his fin- ger-tips. It was Mr. Donald Charl wood, who for many years has col- lected and tabulated the events of Frankston's early history. (His his- tory of Frankston, written while a student at the District High School, was published in serial form in the "Standard" 10 years ago, and he is still engaged in collecting facts relat ing to the times when the town was still in its swaddling clothes.) These are a few of the things he told us, and we leave readers to judge if Frankston has yet reached its cen- tury (Mr. Charlwood's informant is
Mr. A. S. Kenyon, the State's fore- most authority on early Victorian history). 1839,- Captain Baxter settles at Car- rup Carrup (Baxter's Flat area). This. is -very near home, but we will dis- regard it because no loyal resident would suggest for a moment that Bax- ter's Flat is synonymous with the "Gateway of the Peninsula." Now comes James Davey, born in Cornwall in 1811, arrived in Australia 1838 and who (accord- to Mr. Kenyon) was estab- lished at Frankston on the Can -nanuke Inn and run, in 1840. In the native vernacular of the time "Cannanuke" meant "shaking creek," and it' is but a short step to the present Kananook Creek. James Davey, who apparently was responsible for our fit of despond- ency referred to earlier, erected. a residence in 1851 at the present site of "Marathon," Oliver's Hill, and still later a home he called "Marys- ville," overlooking Davey's Bay. 1843.-Frank Liardet settled on a run at Ballam Park ("Balla" meaning camping place). This run was later abandoned. So far it appears that James Davey and the Cannanuke Inn have settled our Centenary. Celebrations, and it t looks as though we shall have to wait for our Centenary-and-a-Half. However, there is still a brght spot on the horizon, for, early in 1854, `the records show that a township on the mouth of the Cannanuke Creek was officially surveyed and no building was marked on It! There has been the suggestion that the proprietor, of the Inn erected in 1840, may have refused to extend hospitality to the sur- veying party and they (the sur veyors) accordingly wiped the Inn off the map. This point, however, may be dismissed as frivolous.. This is a brief outline of Frank- ston's early history. We look forward to readers' opinions as to whether Father Time has stolen a march on us, causing us to miss. our centenary celebrations, or whether Frankston has not yet attained that honor.
There are some good photos of early frankston on http://www.flickr.com/groups/picturefrankston/pool/page10/
FOOTY PHOTO AND INFORMATION ADDED.
One of your Frankston SADLIERs could be John Cyril Crofton SADLIER born in East Melboutne in 1865 married Mary Elizabeth Renouf at Frankston in 1899 I believe he managed the Colonial Bank in Frankston.
The Frankston Team was Red and Black. Third from the right is Alf Perry. He is also the umpire for Police Boys football club
This is part of Donald Charlwood's HISTORY OF FRANKSTON copied from comment 5 under my journal EARLY LANDOWNERS IN THE PARISHES OF MOOROODUC AND FRANKSTON. Donald favoured the FRANK STONE theory re Frankston's name and supplied convincing evidence.
EARLY PIONEERS. At about this time Mr. John Helder Wedge came from Mt. Cotteril, near Werribee, and settled in Frankston, where he kept sheep. Mr James Davey's first cottage, previously mentioned, he sold to Mr Frank Stevens, a well-known Melbourne solicitor, who came to Frankston in the 'fifties. It is the belief of some that Frankston was named after him, but it probably was named before his time. Mr. Stephens built "Jamalo," which he sold to his son-in-law, Dr. (afterwards Sir) John Madden. Others believe it to be named after Mr. Frank Liardet, but his descendants say it was named after Mr. Charles Franks, who kept an adjacent run to Mr. John Wedge at Mt. Cotteril and was killed by the blacks and buried in the old cemetery, where the Flagstaff gardens now stand. The name may have been suggested by John Wedge in memory of him. But what seems the right theory to the naming of Frankston is that it was named after Frank Stone. One of the very earliest buildings in Frankston was a small public house-some say it was owned by a man named Ewart who sold it to another man named Standring and that he sold it to a Mr. Stone. At this hotel Mr Stone's son was born and named Frank. The hotel then went by the name of Kananook, now changed its name to "Frank Stone's" after Stone's son and gradually the township grew up around it and took the name it now holds from the hotel in about 1851. Later the hotel was enlarged with two rooms from a Jersey Island guest house, which was brought out in two shipments in about 1862. Mr Amis Renouf, Mr. Frederick Renouf's father, travelled to Australia from Jersey Island on the boat which carried the second shipment of the old "Bay View." and he was greatly astonished on coming to Frankston to see the old Jersey Island guest house standing in the main street.
[/b]An extensive history of the McComb family has today (27-10-2014) been posted in my new journal: McCOMBE ST, ROSEBUD DISRESPECTS PIONEERS OF FRANKSTON, VIC., AUST.