LEW FERRIER AND PAT HUTCHINS, PISCATORIAL PIONEERS NEAR THE HEADS, VIC., AUST. :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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LEW FERRIER AND PAT HUTCHINS, PISCATORIAL PIONEERS NEAR THE HEADS, VIC., AUST.

Journal by itellya

This is a reminder to myself to get cracking. I wrote an email to the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum when I was writing the journal about William John Ferrier,Australia wide hero in 1905 and as a result,Lew has been trying to get a letter to me.Phillip Hutchins rang me today and gave me the phone numbers of Lew and of Pat Hutchins,both of whom will have a treasure trove of memories which must be recorded.

Well, I've made a start. Just rang Lew. He is nearly 90 and why do you think he got up at 3 a.m. this morning? No,not his bladder,he was off to fish outside the Heads,just as he has done every day for 70 years. He no longer lives at "Rosebud" in Beach St,Queenscliff as he did for 70 years but is just over the road and the nice lady, hailing from Portsea, who bought "Rosebud" often brings him some soup etc. and tells him,"Lew,don't forget,this is always your home."

William John Ferrier moved to Queenscliff in 1917,before Lew was born and Lew was never taken back to see the second house west of the Murray Anderson Rd car park near the beach. But he did tell me about travelling in the Weeroona to Dromana as a nine year old and his mother pointing to a big tree in the Dromana cemetery near which three Ferrier girls had been buried. Unfortunately the Dromana cemetery records were apparently destroyed in a fire and no death notices concerning these girls have been found on trove.

Just before William Ferrier moved from Rosebud to Queenscliff he helped to save another life,that of Ernie Rudduck of Dromana. Another involved in the rescue was Mitch Lacco who moved to Queenscliff at the same time as the Ferriers. Old Mrs Lacco used to babysit the Ferrier kids who called her Grandma Lacco although she was not related.

From my journal MELBOUNE BRINDLE (ETC)SAVE NELSON RUDDUCK'S LIFE.
Observing Mr Rudduck's plight from the pier, Ewart Brindle, a lad of about 12, rode to Rosebud on a bicycle to seek assistance. A few minute after his arrival William Ferrier and Mitchell Lacco, well-known fishermen, John McLear, grocer, and Brindle were facing the gale in a fishing boat, and being drenched to the skin as the waves dashed over the vessel.

When Lew told me the limited times during which I could ring him because of his very busy lifestyle,I said that he was a bit of a Percy Cerutty and ,of course Lew had seen Percy running footballers up the Portsea sand dunes.
I await the arrival of Lew's letter with great anticipation!

Where did the Hutchins family first settle in Victoria? Phil Hutchins mentioned members of the family being at Sorrento,Mornington and Williamstown. The link is seen in this obituary.

OBITUARY
Mr. R. S. Hutchins
The death took place suddenly on Tuesday morning of Mr. Richard Samuel Hutchins at his brother's residence, 40 North Road,Newport. Deceased was born at Mornington 59 years ago and leaves one daughter and two sons
to mourn their loss, his wife having predeceased him. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon, leaving his residence for interment in the Sorrento cemetery. (P.8, Williamstown Chronicle,16-5-1947.)

The Hutchins family was involved at Mornington by early 1860 when George Hutchins bought two town lots.
(P.5,Argus, 18-2-1860,CROWN LAND SALE.) George also bought his three blocks at Osborne in 1860.

IN the SUPREME COURT of the COLONY of VICTORIA: In Its Probate Jurisdiction.-In the Estate of GEORGE HUTCHINS, late of Osborne, in the County of Mornington, in the Colony of Victoria, Fisherman, Deceased, Intestate.-Notice is hereby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will be made to the Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria, in its Probate Jurisdiction, that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of the estate of the abovenamed George Hutchins, deceased, be granted to Harriett Hutchins,of Mornington, in the said colony, the widow of the said deceased.
Dated this 25th day of April, A.D. 1878. (P.3, Argus, 26-4-1878.)

NOTICE is hereby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will
be made to the Supreme Court of the State of Victoria, in its Probate jurisdiction, that PROBATE of the WILL
(dated the thirtieth dav of July, 1940) of ELIZABETH HUTCHINS, late of Empire street, Mornington, in the said
State, widow, deceased, may be granted to Howard Seymour Hutchins, of 26 Bundeera road. Caulfield, in the said
State, salesman, and Donald Richard Hutchins, of Mornington, in the said State, fisherman, sons of the said testatrix, the executors appointed by the said will. (P.9,Argus, 10-9-1948.)

NOTICE is hereby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will
be made to the Supreme Court of the State of Victoria, in its Probate Jurisdiction that LETTERS of ADMINIS-
TRATION of the estate of ROBERT HUTCHINS, late of Mornington, in the State of Victoria, retired fisherman,
deceased, intestate, left unadministered by Elizabeth Hutchins, of Empire street, Mornington, widow, deceased, the administrator of the said estate, may be granted to Howard Seymour Hutchins, of Bundeera road Caulfield, in the State of Victoria, salesman, the eldest son of the said deceased. (P.9,Argus,21-6-1948.)

Unfortunately the two blocks purchased by George Hutchins in the town of Mornington cannot be identified because no crown allotment and section numbers were given and no map is available online,but as Empire St was the inland boundary of the town,one of the blocks may have been on the seaward side of this street. (See my Vale, Mornington journal re the boundaries of the town.)However the land granted to George in the township of Osborne can be identified.

Lot 37. 4a. lr. 32p., ?9 15s. per acre, George Hutchins.
Lot 38. 4a. lr. 32p,, ?0 10s. per acre, George Hutchins.
Lot 39. 4a, lr, 32p., ?5 per acre, George Hutchins.

The map showing suburban lands at Osborne is :
Suburban lands at the Township of Osborne, in the Parish of ...
digital.slv.vic.gov.au/dtl_publish/simpleimages/22/1074265.html‎


It shows that George Hutchins was granted crown allotments 42 and 43, both of 4 acres 1 rood 32 perches,and crown allotment 38 of 5 acres 0 roods and 21 perches

The south west corner of crown allotment 42 was 19.9 chains (398 metres) from the foreshore and 10.8 chains (216 m) south of Balcombe Creek. I had manipulated the zoom on the Osborne map so that 1 centimetre represented 1 chain and the Melway scale is 1mm to 1 chain. The south west corner of c/a 42 is 60 metres east of the corner of Watson Rd and Wattle Avenue (halfway to Henley Avenue.) Crown allotment 42 and 43 to the east,each had southern boundaries of 6 chains and the south east corner of 43 is exactly the same as that of the John F,Ferrero Reserve. These two blocks had a depth of 742 links (about 148 metres) with a farther fairly clear 80 to 30 metres on the south bank of Balcombe Creek.

Crown allotment 38, whose area was not as stated in the sale report,probably because crown allotment 38 was confused with lot 38, was 15.2 chains (304 metres)east of Maude St and on the north side of Augusta St which met the creek about halfway across George's southern boundary. There seems to have been a ti tree swamp on the road reserve and the south west corner of c/a 38 but owners of allotments further east had about 20 metres between it and the creek to get past this obstacle. Crown allotment 38 is between the Matthew St houses and Citation Reserve as calculated from the distance from Maude St and a frontage of 5.5 chains (110 metres.)

These three blocks were ideal being right on the creek but with clear land where George could pull his boat out of the creek if necessary and spread his nets out to dry. In stormy weather a safe anchorage was provided in the creek,the same as at Mordialloc where many fishermen were noted by the Inspector of fisheries in the 1870's.
THE FISHERIES IN PORT PHILLIP BAY.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 19 February 1875 p 6 Article


This website gives details of George Hutchins, and by clicking on the link*, his parents and his siblings.
Living - Freepages - Ancestry.com
freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gordon/.../pafg1069.htm‎


George Hutchins [Parents*] was born about 1832 in Devon, UK. He died on 10 Apr 1878 in Victoria, Australia. He was buried in Mornington Cemetery, Victoria, Australia. He married Harriet Coxon.

George Smale Hutchins was born about 1800 in Hallurley, Devon. He died in Feb 1871 in Devon, England. He married Jane Sanders on 14 Dec 1830 in Devon, UK.

[Notes]
Jane Sanders [Parents] was born in 1806 in Shaldon, St Nicholas, Devon. She died on 26 Jul 1886 in Newton Abbot, Devon, UK. She married George Smale Hutchins on 14 Dec 1830 in Devon, UK.

[Notes]
They had the following children:

M i John Hutchins died on 19 Apr 1903 in Queensland, Australia.
M ii George Hutchins (details as above.)
M iii William Hutchins was born in 1833 in Teignmouth, Devon, UK. [Notes]
M iv Thomas Hutchins (married in Queensland in 1864.)
M v Samuel Hutchins was born in 1838 in Shropshire, UK. He died in 1917 in Queensland, Australia.
M vi Richard Hutchins was born in 1840 in Shropshire, UK.
F vii Jane Hutchins was born in 1843 in Shrewsbury, Shopshire, UK. [Notes]
F viii Charlotte Hutchins was born about 1847 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, UK.
F ix Mary Hutchins was born about 1848 in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, UK.
M x Howard Reynold Hutchins was born about 1850. He died on 26 Jul 1875 in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. [Notes]

Pioneer Graves in the Mornington Cemetery
www.morningtoncemetery.com/‎

Val Wilson has produced this excellent website. Once you have the home page, click on search and type Hutchins. The third result shows George's landholdings on a map (far more extensive than his grants detailed earlier), states that his first purchase at Osborne was made in 1856 and indicates that he combined market gardening with fishing.

I've found George Hutchins' grants in the township of Osborne because of the map on Val's cemetery website. They were crown allotments 1-4 and 8 of section 1 and crown allotment 12 of section 2.

To get the map online, google TOWNSHIP OF OSBORNE, MOOROODUC.

FROM PAT HUTCHINS.
Pat's eldest son Paul has done considerable work on the Hutchins story including a trip to the church in England where George's siblings, who didn't come to Australia, were buried. Pat knows the spot where George's homestead at Osborne was. Charles Hollinshed stated on P. 42 of LIME LAND LEISURE that the Hutchins family arrived at Sorrento in the 1880's and Pat thinks that is pretty accurate.

Pat's father was Robert William Hutchins,his grandfather was William Hutchins and his great grandfather was George Hutchins. George Hutchins, the early pioneer at Osborne and Mornington was his great great grandfather.
GGF George moved to Williamstown and fished from near its jetty. In Spring and Summer GGF George and his brother,Richard, transferred their fishing operation to the head of the Cameron Bight jetty where a 99 year lease was obtained. Eventually they settled there permanently.

LEW FERRIER'S LETTER.
The desire expressed in the email below was also the subject of a request in an email that I sent to the Warrnambool Historical Society. Janet McDonald kindly sent me a large envelope packed with information outlining the tribute paid to the hero of the La Bella tragedy in 1905. This I offer to the Nepean Historical Society,the Dromana Historical Society and the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum. (I'll try to remember to include some excerpts later in the journal such as Western Australia's Memorable Tribute to a Victorian Hero and THE HERO OF THE DINGY, A TALK WITH FERRIER, "NOTHING TO MAKE A FUSS ABOUT.") The latter article's inference that William Ferrier was a very modest man is confirmed in Lew's letter.

Email from me to Queenscliffe Maritime Museum 20-8-2011.
I am trying to have the heritage status of a house in the Rosebud Fishing Village upgraded because of William Ferrier's involvement in the maritime history of Warrnambool, Rosebud and Queenscliff. I would welcome any new information that shows his significance so the house can be elevated in status to "of Statewide significance". If "Rosebud" in Beach St,Queenscliff and the original Ferrier home in Warrnambool are still standing, my attachment might provide a similar service for you.

Undated sheet in the envelope.
Recently an email has come to light from you addressed to the maritime museum. This is now in the hands of Lewis Douglas Ferrier,the last remaining son of William John Ferrier (a historian in his own right.) My name is Ken McNeill and I am a long time friend of Lew. He has quite a lot of information that he could let you have if you will let me know your address. Lew does not have a computer so has asked me to contact you.

As I stated at the start of the journal, Phillip Hutchins contacted me to get the ball rolling and told me yesterday that he was posting the letter; it was in my letter box today.

THE LETTER.
Lewis Douglas Ferrier born 1-12-1924.
Mr. xxx xxxx.
Dear Friend,
Thank you so much for your correspondence re the home off Jetty rd Rosebud 1905-1916.. Very briefly I will write why I have taken so long to reply.
I am single and on 1st Dec.,I pray I will be 88.I am still fishing,76 years in Tas., Vic., N.S.W.and S.A. waters. I am well. I awoke July last year with great pain in my left eye. I went to hospital for removal of a tumour. Many trips were required and last Wed., I got a clearance.What a great relief to be so grateful to be alive and still be independent to look after myself. Summer months and autumn were quite rough and spring is not as yet very promising,but my 24 foot coutta boat and gear is all ready to go when finer weather will allow me to get up 3 a.m.fish outside the Rip 4 to 5 miles off and home by 11 a.m. safe and sound.I fish single handed. (itellya-That means on his own rather than with one arm as in the case of Thomas Hutchins!)

Now to details. Dad's home is in great condition in Stanley St,Warrnambool,not far from Ferrier St. My present home (at that time still living at "Rosebud")is excellent,built 1916,25 pounds for four unlined rooms. Twelve months later a builder from Geelong lined the four rooms with Baltic Pine from California, U.S. I am the last of Mum and Dad's family,ten sons and seven daughters. Three daughters were buried in Dromana Cemetery under abig pine tree. Mum took four sons and one daughter to see the spot when I was aged 8 in 1832. We went over on the Weeroona and bus from Sorrento to Rosebud. I thank God my memory is great. I do a lot of public speaking.

Dad died 1937. Little did he speak about the past. He was very modest. After a few years Mum used to speak to me. I was the last to leave home,not married. Mum died in my arms aged 76 in 1956. When we used to sit on the front verandah (itellya-at "Rosebud" not Rosebud) and look at the houses opposite, at the back of the back fences,the waves were only 20 odd feet away and mum would say that in some respects wherever she had lived the sea had always been so near.In fact I was born 20 paces from the sea on the front beach near the pier. (At Queenscliff.)

Mum so often spoke of number seven in the house where Dad and family lived. (Is this referring to a lucky number???????? RING LEW. ) He often brought home odd timber etc,large 10 ft long 2 inches of oregon which were used as hatch covers on the small craft or large sailing ships. Dad used to build ship shape rooms as family increased.

I have record of the Ferrier family from 1500 when the family (who are still to be found in east coast of Scotland,"Arbroath". Nephews and nieces have made trips and visited graves and saw"Ferriers ship chandlery shop" built of white sandstone (painted) on the corner of the harbour of Arbroath.

Dad painted *ships, fishing fleet,and Pt Lonsdale pier and lighthouse on the front bedroom wall,still there today,painted 1933 in our home,20 Beach St,Queenscliffe 3225.

(*That was not the only place that William John Ferrier's maritime paintings appeared.Google:
William Ferrier Ship Paintings - Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
www.maritimequeenscliffe.org.au/SouthChannelPileLight_Web_23-04-2...‎
Apr 23, 2010 - Two William Ferrier paintings from the walls of the South Channel Pile ... of the South Channel Pile Light by lighthouse keeper William Ferrier.)

In 1905,the Victorian government was almost broke as a result of the 1890's depression. Patricia Appleford's RYE PRIMARY SCHOOL 1667 gives one example of its cost-cutting measures. The teacher at the Rye school was asked to record how far each of its pupils would have to travel to attend the Rosebud school instead. The teacher at Rye was worried about losing his job so he didn't exactly lie but pretended that the Albress children would travel via Browns Rd and Jetty Rd so the distance would be almost doubled.

In such dire financial times, William's appointment to the lighthouse service can only be seen as a tribute to his heroism. Surely this is a case for the three Ferrier houses to receive the heritage classification "of State significance".

TRIBUTES TO THE HERO OF THE LA BELLA TRAGEDY.
Without being able to change font size and style,it is hard to show exactly what the memorial from Western Australia's parliament,prominent citizens etc.looks like. I could scan it but with only one image per journal,I'm toying with the idea of a photo montage of the three houses occupied by William John Ferrier and perhaps something from the Hutchins family. Here's the memorial as it was presented in a newspaper. The verse is in a box.

heroism
WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S MEMORABLE TRIBUTE
TO A VICTORIAN HERO.
Address-Letter presented for saving life,through His Excellency the Governor of Western Australia by the Life-Saving Society,to MR. WILLIAM JOHN FERRIER of Warrnambool,Victoria,through His Excellency the Governor of Victoria and the Mayor of Warrnambool.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
To MR.WILLIAM FERRIER
Of WARRNAMBOOL,VICTORIA.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
l "And how shall fare our Heroes rare?
l When Heaven's Recording Angel writes his shining, sacred scrolls,
l He gives their glorious guerdon due to Earth's heroic souls:
l And deathless deeds of those that yield their lives the doomed to save,
l Shall stand in song and story long,o'er land and world-wide wave!
l So each good deed shall have good meed"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

HEROIC COMPATRIOT,- Your brother and sister AUSTRALIANS resident in this Western part of our Commonwealth have learnt with feelings of the warmest admiration of the rare heroism, humanity,endurance and skill displayed by you on the memorable occasion of the wreck of the ill-fated "La Bella" at Warrnambool, on November 10,1905.

WITH every knowledge of the awful danger which you were incurring,and without any other promptings than those of your own noble nature, you repeatedly and voluntarily exposed yourself to what seemed almost certain death in order to save the lives of wrecked fellow creatures in their direst peril who were utter strangers to you.

UNAPPALLED by the fact that the terrible fury of the storm, and danger of the situation had prevented, and
was still preventing, even the specially-equipped and fully manned life-boat from rendering aid to the doomed few left on the wreck,you undauntedly went out several times alone, and with only one oar, to the rescue in your own small and comparatively frail dingey.

WONDERFUL to record, and to your eternal renown, you not only succeeded in thus saving several lives; but whilst engaged in steering your very small boat shorewards, by one oar in a fierce gale and mountainous sea, you displayed still further bravery and the tenderest humanity, by stripping clothing from your own body, and covering one of the rescued, who seemed dying from cold.

THE PRESS and the Public throughout Australasia have vied in their praise of your splendid acts.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA thus adds its heartfelt tribute.

YOU furnish another striking evidence that there are working among us, heroes- men,women , and children-who can win the truest glory by risking their own to save life at the Wreck, the Mine,the Explorer's Track,the Burning Building, aye,in Hospitals, and at our very Hearths and Homes.

IN many a castle and hall there hang swords and similar trophies presented in recognition of valorous acts performed amidst battle-smoke "for King and Country" and extolled in despatch and martial record.

YOUR intrepid rescue,accomplished in times of peace, and in order to save life, istypicalof our highest national characteristics,and by it you have not only restored to their friends those trembling on the verge of eternity,but you have done signal service to the honour of your country.

NOBLE deeds such as these of yours go to keep our Empire a beacon-star for the generous emulation of Mankind, and they make us proud of living in strengthful unity as brother and sister Britons and Federated Australians under its righteous flag.

WE have very great pleasure and pride in sending to you this Address-Letter as further testimony to the admiration felt for you by the PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA.

WHEN, in our own or distant lands, there may be dire danger by wreck or otherwise, may God again give the guidance of a FERRIER!


SIGNED BY THE LIFESAVING SOCIETY PRESIDENT (WEISS),THE PREMIER (RASON) ,THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (KINGSMILL) AND EMINENT MEN AND WOMEN.

THE HERO OF THE DINGY
A TALK WITH FERRIER
"NOTHING TO MAKE A FUSS ABOUT"

(Extract from THE LOSS OF THE LA BELLA IN THE WARRNAMBOOL HARBOUR, 10TH NOVEMBER 1905 compiled in 2005 by Marie Boyle a member of the Australian Institute of Genealogical Society, Warrnambool area, included in the material sent to me by Janet McDonald.)
The "young fisherman" as he is somewhat familiarly termed, William Ferrier,was yesterday induced to break through his modest reserve and engage in a conversation concerning the interesting details which eventually led up to the distinction he has won as the hero of the dingy. It was evidently not a very congenial task,for like most men conspicuous for their bravery in perilous conditions, he has an innate dislike of talking about himself. Besides this he is a man of tender feelings, and would, therefore,prefer not to dwell more than necessary on the terrible tragedy with which he was so closely associated. However,the interviewer's congratulations on the recognition of his heroism by the Governor-General and the State Governor, and the explanation that it was in no spirit of sensationalism, but a desire to stimulate in others the qualities of self-sacrifice and courage,that he was asked to give his version of what took place,finally overcoming his objections, and he replied to the questions addressed to him as follows:-

"I am a native of Warrnambool, and am 25 years of age. I have a wife and two young children. I have been connected with fishing for the last 14 years. About half past ten on Friday night, Constable Trainor called me up. I was in bed and asleep at the time, and,as luck would have it,I had my left hand tied up with a poultice on it.I think I must have poisoned it somehow. However I got up and went down to the breakwater with Trainor.

When I got there I found that the whale boat had left for the wreck. I therefore got my dingy and asked two of the hands standing by to come with me to the rescue.Their names are James Patten and John Mitchell. They at once agreed to come and off we went. When we got as far as the deep hole we could see the wreck, but could not see the whale boat. My companions suggested that the boat may have taken the crew off and gone back to the breakwater.However,we went on towards the ship and could hear the men cheering us. Then the lifeboat came into view. It had been substituted for the whale boat by this time, and the pilot told us to come aboard to take the place of his volunteer men, and we did so. They were volunteers,you understand, and we belonged to the regular crew. We pulled outside the reef and got as near to it as we possibly could.We then dropped anchor.

There was a terrible sea running, and there was no clear channel to the vessel,for any length of time,during the whole night. A few seas broke under the stern of the lifeboat, and we thought we were near enough to the reef. We were about 5 or 6 lengths off the ship then,as far as I can judge. At any rate we were near enough to speak to the men and get an answer notwithstanding the roaring of the breakers. We came in at 3 o'clock to take in two or three fresh men, and then went out again. We came in again at a quarter to five. You know the rest- how we tried the rocket apparatus without success,and how we decided to go off again.

When the rockets failed, I said to Trainor, "How would it do if I took the dingy and got a line attached to her from the lifeboat and let her drift to the wreck?" What I meant was that the men on the ship could get into the dingy one or two at a time and we would then pull them to the lifeboat with the line. Trainor replied, "Go to the pilot and ask him." So I went to the pilot and told him my proposal. He agreed. I jumped into the dingy and lashed a pair of oars in her. I had another pair free but as there was only one rowlock I had to scull her by the stern with a single oar. It was intended that the lifeboat would tow me out but whilst she was getting ready Trainor came up and told me things were desperate aboard the ship and that the men would be washed off before we got there if a minute was lost.

So I decided not to wait for the lifeboat and went off by myself. We didn't carry out the arrangement about letting the dingy drift to the wreck, because just at that time two of the crew were washed off the ship,and I thought the lot would go. I therefore thought it would be better for me to do what I could with the dingy in helping to save the men if they got washed off. I was able to get along faster than the lifeboat, and picked up the captain ahed of her. The lifeboat then took in the second man. I pushed up to the stern of the ship. I did this because I knew the lifeboat was more awkward to handle in a heavy sea than a dingy, and because I thought a dingy could do the work more quickly. I saw that the last man was just about done, and that he didn't seem able to help himself.

When I saw him in this terrible plight my first impulse was to dart up to him, jump aboard the ship and support him until the lifeboat could reach us. I meant to let the dingy go adrift,because I knew I wouldn't have time to fasten her to the wreck. As luck would have it,however,the gunwale of the dingy somehow got jammed under the stern timbers of the ship and was fixed there.

I saw that the man was tied around the waist with a stout rope with which he had been lashed on board, and that he was also getting tangled up in the line which the lifeboat had thrown to him. I don't know whether I put one foot on the stern of the ship or not. It was then close to water's edge,but I got hold of the man,cut his ropes adrift and then he fell into the boat. I then sculled out of the surf and gave the man to the lifeboat.That is all. There is not much to make a fuss about,is there? I am a bit surprised to find myself suddenly looked upon as a hero. I did nothing out of the way. Any other man in my position would have done the same.

Asked if he felt any sense of the risk he was running,Ferrier at once replied, "I didn't think about the risk. Isaw the man on the wreck,and I felt he had to be saved.I realise now there was a bit of a risk about it, because the ship was surrounded by a mass of floating timber and things,and if you pitched into the water and sank beneath that mass of woodwork you might have some trouble in getting to the surface again. Anyhow,that didn't happen so it's all right,and you needn't say much about what I did at all. Yes,I have received the telegrams sent to the Mayor by the Governor-General and the Governor of Victoria, and I need not tell you I am very proud to get them ,although,I think, they have placed far too high a value on my services,and I suppose they will become a sort of heirloom.

Ferrier was then asked what he thought of the work done by the lifeboat in view of the adverse criticism that has been passed by some of the public. "All I can say is that I think everything that could possibly be done was done. The pilot was very cool right through,and was always ready to listen to any suggestions that might be made. Then,how about John Fisher,the coxswain. He is as experienced as anyone here on the water,and knows the bay as well as anybody.He isn't the man to shirk a little risk,I can tell you. If he thinks a certain place can be reached,he is the man to get there in spite of everything. I don't think there is any justification for reflections passed on the conduct of the lifeboat. It only wanted one sea like those that were running to swamp her, and she certainly would have been swamped had she gone nearer than she did.

(The above is quoted verbatim from pages 18-20 of Marie Boyle's THE LOSS OF THE BELLA IN THE WARRNAMBOOL HARBOUR, 10TH NOVEMBER,1905, compiled in 2005, a century after the incident. I have taken the liberty of providing bite-sized paragraphs.)

In the above account,William Ferrier gave some idea of the conditions on that night. Those who have never been on a reef may not understand his use of "seas" and "water's edge". The La Bella apparently was stuck quite close to the offshore side of the reef where the energy harnessed within relatively harmless swells is transformed into explosive breakers or seas which would have enough force to smash a ship to bits (producing the mass of woodwork described above) and to sweep crewmen overboard. On a decked ship this water can run off through the scuppers but a boat like a dinghy or the lifeboat could sink quickly if enough water accumulated inside it. All of the rescuers would have been drenched and possibly been shivering with cold (as was the man to whom William Ferrier gave his coat,as mentioned in the Address-letter.)

Included in the material forwarded to me by Janet McDonald is the following description of the scenario.

TERRIFIC POWER OF THE WAVES-ANCHOR AND DONKEY ENGINE SENT SPINNING.
Some idea of the fearful force of the breakers as they dashed against the ill-fated ship may be formed from the fact that the anchor,weighing a ton and a half,was wrenched from its fastenings and shot clear over the side of the vessel,while a massive donkey boiler was unshipped amidships and sent spinning right up to the weather side of the house near the bows,whilst the ship was lying at a steep incline. It was,therefore, carried bodily uphill,as it were, by the resistless force of the breakers.

The men were frequently stretched out horizontally under water,being swept off their legsby the rush of their current, and were only saved from going overboard by their rope lashings and clinging tenaciously to the railing.The house on deck, around which the battered group took refuge, was built of iron and firmly rivetted to its foundations, and just as the men cleared from the wreck one of the sides buckled up into a shape of a letter V.

(It is unclear whether the above came from Marie Boyle,Philip J.Gray (THE BARQUENTINE "LA BELLA",1976) or another author.)

REMEMBER AND IMAGINE.
Remember that time you got a rose thorn in your thumb and you couldn't do the simplest thing that involved the use of this thumb for a week or more without a rush of pain shooting right up your arm. Imagine if your whole arm was infected or poisoned. You'd probably feel the same intensity of pain but constantly. The arm would be completely useless. To use it for any task would be agony. One account said that Ferrier had it lashed to his mast (so it could at least stop him being swept overboard,I suppose.)

Ever tried rowing a boat in breakers. Now imagine doing it with only one oar AND WITH ONE ARM! Do you remember rowing an inflatable boat near the shore and a wave suddenly flipping it over or filling it with water. Ferrier made much of the lifeboat being certainly swamped if it was taken too close to the wreck but surely a lesser sea could have swamped his own frail craft. Imagine the pain William John Ferrier was feeling when Constable Trainor summoned him from his bed. It would have caused him pain just to get a shirt on. How much pain did he suffer during the long hours of extreme exertion during the rescue?

In fact, I brand William John Ferrier a LIAR! He said, "I did nothing out of the way. Any other man in my position would have done the same." Damn certain I wouldn't have!

If William John Ferrier's modest heroism is not enough to win a heritage status of Statewide Significance
for his houses at Warrnambool, Rosebud and Queenscliff, I think the whole system stinks. I am proud to claim him as a Rosebud resident! I gave Simon Lloyd,the shire's heritage planning officer, information about William and his house, requesting that it be given statewide heritage status. He has resigned but I will contact his replacement,Mr Kelly,and the municipalities at Warrnambool and Queenscliff in the hope of having all three houses and the ship paintings in the Queencliffe Maritime Museum accorded a status of STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE because of their connection in the theme of VICTORIA'S MARITIME HISTORY.





FERRIER GENEALOGY COMPILED BY LAURENCE FERRIER OF WARRNAMBOOL.
Anyone requiring sources can private message me so we can arrange a chat.

P.1.Robert Ferrier was born 21-2-1798 in Farnell, Angus, Scotland, and died 13-7-1855 in St Vigeans,Angus. He was christened on 24-2-1798 in Farnell and buried in July 1855 at Marywell,St Vigneans,his occupation given as weaver. He married Ellen (Helen} Milne,daughter of James Milne and Jane Anderson, on 10-6-1820 in Arbroath,Angus,Scotland.

Ellen was born in 1799 in Scotland and died 29-3-1881 in Marywell,St Vigneans.

P.2. Their children were:
1. William Ferrier born about 1821,Angus,Scotland.
2. David Ferrier, b. 1822, Arbroath,Angus.
3. Robert Ferrier b. 1823 Arbroath,died 1824,Angus.
4. Alexander Ferrier b.1827 Arbroath, died 11-2-1901 Arbroath.
5. Not named Ferrier b.1829 and died 1829,both Angus.
6. George Ferrier, b.about 1830 Arbroath (Forfarshire), died 4-7-1856, Warnambool.
7. Elizabeth Ferrier b.about 1831 Arbroath.
8. John Ferrier b. 21-4-1832 Forfarshire/Arbroath, died 18-5-1900 Warrnambool.

George Ferrier, their sixth child (b.about 1830) married Julia Sweeney in 1853 in Warrnambool. Julia was born in Cork,Munster,Ireland in 1832 and died in September 1909 in Geelong.

Report from Warrnambool Examiner of 8-7-1856 re inquest into the death of George Ferrier,a small farmer at Wangoon, (which is described in comments but does not give his brother's name.)John Ferrier gave evidence that he was a boatman for HM Customs and that his brother,George, was intoxicated,and after having a cup of tea at John's house*, George asked if John would accompany him home. The accident happened very near to George's house when George said "Gee" and the horses got out of control and ran up against a stump. (*Henna St,Warrnambool in 1856-see below.)

P.3. George was 36 when he died and was buried in the Presbyterian section at Warrnambool on 6-7-1856.He was described as a labourer in 1854 but as a farmer in 1856. (If I remember the article in comments correctly,he'd made a successful trip to the diggings!)

Their first child, Ellen was born on 17-3-1853 and died in the same month. Her grave has not been found. A second child ,also named Ellen,was born in Warrnambool on 25-1-1854.After George's death,it is possible that Julia returned to Ireland and married James Carey,later settling near Geelong.

P. 3-4. John Ferrier (child 8 above,born 21-4-1832,died 18-5-1900 Warrnambool)married Catherine Mary Dowling 11-1-1855 in the Roman Catholic Church in Warrnambool. The daughter of Hugh Dowling and Ann Biggers, she was born 26-4-1833 in Clane,County Kildare, Ireland and died 22-10-1912 in Warrnambool. They were living in Henna St,Warrnambool in 1856.

John became a boatman with the Customs Department in June 1854 and became a highly regarded coxswain in the 1860's before losing his job in 1865 for being Len Dunk (Rosebud cockney rhyming slang!)The incident regarding the counterfeit sovereigns in 1855 has been previously mentioned in the journal or comments but it's nice to know that the charge was abandoned and John was discharged with no imputation on his character.

P.5. In 1863, John and others were praised in regard to the wreck of the Golden Spring (as I have mentioned previously),also the Peveril, and in 1864,he rescued the harbour Master from drowning at the wreck of the "Fair Tasmania". (William John Ferrier had no choice in 1905; the family tradition set by his grandfather demanded heroism!)

Is this just unbelievable coincidence? You will recall that John's sister-in -law,Julia (nee Sweeney) is believed to have married a James Carey. The crew of the rescue boat at the wreck of "Fair Tasmania" were coxswain,John Ferrier and John and Richard Carey !

In April of 1878 the first attempt to open up shipping business between Port Campbell and Warrnambool was tried. Messrs R.and C.Patterson chartered John Young's lighter,a small cargo boat,the "Asia". Carrying a cargo of general merchandise,she was manned by two efficient and popular lightermen,John Mitchell*(in charge) and John Ferrier Senior. The trip was a success. During October 1880,John captured a gigantic albatross on a reef near the island. In 1886, John,a laborer, and Catherine were living at 1 EDINA ST. John died at 69 as a Roman Catholic having been a labourer**,fisherman and farmer and was buried at Warrnambool on 20-5-1900.
(*The Mitchell and Ferrier names have been linked in at least two rescues. **At the time of a rescue about which I have written recently,John was described as a stevedore,so that might be what is meant by labourer.)


P.6.Catherine was 22 years old and working as a housekeeper when she married John. She may have been known as Mary as she was buried as Mary Catherine Downing, She seems to have come to Australia on the "John Bunyan" in November 1852 from Kilkenny. She was 20 years old,Roman Catholic,single and engaged to work for Mr Trainor at Kilmore. (How did John meet his future bride? I suspect that it has something to do with Constable Trainor being at Warrnambool in 1905. Was he a descendant of Billy Trainor who rode in the first Warrnambool Cup? See: THE EARLY DAYS OF WARRNAMBOOL. SOME INTERESTING REMINISCENCES.
Warrnambool Standard (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Saturday 13 July 1918 p 4 Article.)

Catherine died at the age of 89 and was buried at Warrnambool on 23-10-1912. She and John were married by Father Slattery. The children of John Ferrier and Catherine Mary Dowling were:
1. Ann Jane Ferrier b.12-7-1855, d. 15-2-1865 aged 10,buried 15-2-1865 at Warrnambool.
2.George Ferrier born and died 6-7-1856. May have been buried with his uncle George on 8-7-1856 or in the grave in which Ann (above)was buried in 1865.
3. George Ferrier b.5-7-1857, d.20-11-1934 Perth,W.A. [Obituary inserted on page 9.]
4. John Robert Ferrier b.4-8-1858, d.21-4-1950 at Warrnambool.
5.William Alexander Ferrier b.25-1-1860,d.15-7-1888,burial possibly recorded as Alfred.
PAGE 7.
6. David Patrick Ferrier b.21-4-1861, d.23-8-1928.
7. Mary Elizabeth Ferrier b.23-4-1863,d.1919 South Melbourne.
8. Alice Catherine Ferrier b.14-7-1864,d.1921 East Melbourne.
9. Annie May Ferrier b.12-4-1866, d.1949 Northcote,buried Melbourne.
10.Stephen Hugh Ferrier b.10-8-1867, d.1-10-1954.
11.Alfred Edward Ferrier b.21-4-1869, d. 1942 Fitzroy.
12. James Peter Ferrier b.18-6-1871,d.5-3-1936. Married Sophia Mitchell(b.1874,d.1912 Fitzroy)1895 Warrnambool.
13.Winifred Ellen Ferrier b.10-10-1872,d.11-11-1872.
(All events at Warrnambool unless otherwise stated.)

NEXT GENERATION.
John's brother George (b.Arbroath about 1830)had a daughter,Ellen (b.25-1-1854 Warrnambool) who married Daniel McCarthy 1871 in County Clare, Ireland.
PAGE 8.
(Her mother Julia,nee Sweeney is thought to have returned to Ireland and become Mrs Carey as in bold type on page 3.)Their son,George William McCarthy was born in 1873 in Sandhurst (Bendigo)in 1873 and died in 1950 at Wangaratta. Their daughter,Mary Ellen,was born and died in Melbourne in 1876, surviving only 10 months. Ellen was buried in the Eastern Cemetery,Geelong.

John and Catherine's third child and eldest son,George (b.5-7-1857)became a solid plasterer when he left school and some of his work survives today,mainly the ornamentation in the (Warrnambool?) Town Hall ,now called the Performing Arts Centre. (I presume that more work in this trade took him to Melbourne.) George married Elizabeth Wilson on 19-8-1879 at 4 Henry St., Fitzroy. Their first child,Alice Muriel Ferrier was born on 9-8-1881 at George St, Stephney, Adelaide, and it was at Norwood,Adelaide that John Wilson Ferrier (4-9-1883) and Florence Jane Cathcart Ferrier (4-6-1886) were born.

The fourth child,Gertrude May Ferrier was born at Henry St.,Fitzroy,most likely Elizabeth's mother's home,on 18-5-1887. By the time their fifth child, George Grey Dixon Ferrier, was born on 17-7-1889, George and Elizabeth's home was in Botanic Rd., Warrnambool.
PAGE 9.
George's sixth child was Hugh Alexander Ferrier, born on 13-7-1889 at Springs Gardens,perhaps the Botanical Rd. house. By the time their seventh and last* child, Wilfred Harry Ferrier was born on 9-1-1895, they had moved to Lake St,Perth. George died on 20-11-1934 and Elizabeth on 6-6-1945,both being buried in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. (*Two more children seem to have been found See next page.)

Their great grandson, Richard Ferrier and his wife,Julia,of 8 Glendale Avenue,Hamersley,W.A. supplied information about George working in South Africa for about five years from approximately 1900. Let's have a look at George's obituary.

The Late Mr. George Ferrier.
The funeral of the late Mr. George Ferrier, a highly esteemed resident of Cottesloe, took place in the Presbyterian portion of the Karrakatta cemetery on November 21. The late Mr. Ferrier was born in Warrnambool 78 years ago and came to this State in the nineties, and later went to South Africa, returning to Western Australia in 1908. He left a widow and a grown up family of four sons and three daughters. The cortege left his residence at 8 Griver-street, Cottesloe and his remains were laid to rest in the presence of a large gathering of friends.
(P.9,The West Australian,23-11-1934.)


George and Elizabeth's children; birth details are given above.
1. Alice Muriel did not marry and was cremated after her death in Perth on 1-1-1975,her ashes released to the wind.
2.John Wilson did not marry and died on 20-2-1967; his ashes are in the Rose Garden, Perth.
PAGE 10.
3. Florence Jane Cathcart died 18-8-1947 Perth and was cremated.
4. Gertrude May married William Peacock of Perth in 1926 but had no children. Died 28-10-1955 in Perth. Cremated and ashes in Rose Garden,Perth.
5. George Grey Dixon died 25-1-1960,Claremont,W.A.
6. Hugh Alexander (born 1889) died 6-8-1897 in Perth where he was buried.
7. Wilfred Harry died 10-11-1967 in Manning,W.A. and was cremated.
8.Robert Louis Ferrier b. 5-7-1897,Lake St., Perth , d.11-7-1992,Perth.
9.Dorothy Isabella Ferrier b.5-9-1899,Aberdeen St, Perth, d.8-1-1900 Perth and buried Perth.


JOHN ROBERT FERRIER was the fourth child and second son of John Ferrier and Catherine (nee Dowling.) He was the grandfather of Lewis Ferrier, Queenscliff's barefoot fisherman and Laurence Ferrier of Warrnambool who compiled this genealogy. J.R., born in 1858, married twice and died on 21-4-1950 in Warrnambool.

His first wife was Eleanor Conn (daughter of William Conn and Catherine, nee Morrissey) who was born on 23-5-1857 in Mt.Taurus*,Woodford,via Warrnambool. They married on 30-6-1880 in the Presbyterian Manse,Warrnambool.
(*Mt Taurus was accidentally written as Mt Taurut on an early map as explained in a comment under the journal.)

It was after Eleanor's death on 8-6-1920 at 5 Stephen St,South Warrnambool that J.R. married again in 1923, aged about 65. His second wife,Georgina Hurst nee Phin, was born about 1877 in Victoria and died in June 1963 in Warrnambool.

J.R. and Eleanor must have lived at 1 Edina St with J.R.'s father, John, because the 1884 voters' roll described both men as labourers of that address. (N.B.The notes for John Robert Ferrier referring to the voters' roll describe the younger labourer as John Robert Junior but J.R. did not have a son called John Robert (see pages 12-13) so the labourers were John (b.1832)still living at 1 Edina St in 1886 (see page 5), and his son,John Robert (b.1858.)

J.R.'s father, coxswain of the harbour master's boat, had rescued the captain's wife and four year old daughter at the wreck of the "Fair Tasmania"on 27-5-1864.
PAGE 11.
John (J.R.) had bought a grave before his death but there is no headstone because his estate had passed to the Hirst (Hurst on P.10)family which would not pay for one.

John Robert Ferrier,a Presbyterian, was aged 91 and his last occupation was given as farmer when he died (21-4-1950.)His military record shows that he had also been a fisherman and labourer. He was buried at Warrnambool.

The large Conn family lived at Dennington. Ellen's father was a blacksmith and two of her sisters became Mrs Hart and Mrs Goodreid. Ellen's middle name may have been Elizabeth. The corner of Conn's Lane and the Princes Highway west of Dennington was known as Conn's, and Blacksmith's, Corner.When Eleanor married,she had been living a servant at Winslow. (Mt Taurus,near which Eleanor was born, is near Winslow.)

Eleanor's birth place was recorded as Koroit (birth certificate 1857 15758). N.B. This differs from the birth place given on page 10 (reg. 12994). It is likely that she was born at Mt Taurus and the birth was registered at Koroit. Eleanor's parents seem to have been Church of England adherents.

J.R.'s second wife,Georgina Hurst nee Phin had six children by her previous marriage. Doreen said they called her Grandma and she was a lovely lady.Aged 86 when she died,she was buried,on 28-6-1963, in the Presbyterian section of the Warrnambool cemetery in grave 41 in row 34.

PAGE 12.
The children of John Robert Ferrier and Eleanor Conn,with events at Warrnambool unless otherwise stated, are:
1. William John Ferrier b.25-1-1881 d. 19-12-1937 Geelong Hospital
2. Ellen Catherine Ferrier b.7-11-1881 d.25-6-1912
3. Winifred Annie Ferrier b. 26-2-1883 d.8-11-1912
4. Albert Stanley Gordon Ferrier b.4-6-1885 d.2-2-1887
5.Alice Meta May Ferrier b.20-5-1887 d.1953 Parkville
6.Stephen Alfred Ferrier b.1-10-1891 d.1-7-1970
7.David Ferrier born and died 6-4-1892
8.Harold James Ferrier b.2-3-1893 d.Feb. 1957 Stawell
9.Madge Evelyn Ferrier b.1-10-1895 d.1-9-1967 Brunswick (married Syd Ellis who unloaded coal at the Warrnambool breakwater until it was no longer transported by ship and then moved to Melbourne to continue as a wharfie. Both buried at Warrnambool.)
10. Joseph Edward Ferrier b. 12-4-1897 d.1898 buried 11-2-1898


PAGE 13-14
John Robert Ferrier's brother, David Patrick Ferrier, a plasterer, (see top of p.7) married Sarah Rebecca Jewell and they had seven children all of whom died in Warrnambool except the fourth,Leo Patrick who died in Melbourne. Details available on request.
PAGE 14.
John Robert Ferrier's sister,Mary Elizabeth Ferrier married William Alexander Swanston at South Melbourne and had seven children born in that suburb,where Mary and William died in 1919 and 1894 respectively. Details available on request.

PAGE 15.
John Robert Ferrier's sister,Alice Catherine Ferrier married a local of about 28, Charles Bolden, in Warrnambool in 1890 and their four children were all born there in 1891-5. Charles must have sought employment in Western Australia during the depression and was buried at Fremantle on 6-1-1896. Alice died in East Melbourne in 1921 and only the third child,Joseph Charles Bolden, died in Warrnambool,aged about 83. The first two, Dorothea (Mrs McGrath) and Gladys died at Parkville and the fourth,Fred, died at St Kilda. Details available on request.
PAGE 15-16.
John Robert Ferrier's brother,Stephen Hugh Ferrier, married Alice Sarah Carter,a local girl,in Warrnambool in 1892.Alice's mother,Charlotte (nee Davies) may have been Welsh and influenced Stephen and Alice's Wesleyan leanings. The first three of their children were born 1893-1898 in Warrnambool but the fourth,Annie May,(b. 1900 Victoria) may have been born elsewhere,although the third,Charlotte, died in Warrnambool on 19-1-1900. It is known that Stephen was at Queenscliff by 1907 (his boat having escaped its moorings)and their first was buried there in 1909.All four of their offspring died of T.B., aged 16, 27,13 months and about 22. Stephen and Alice died in Warrnambool in 1954 and 1967 respectively. Details available on request.
PAGE 16-17.
John Robert Ferrier's brother,Alfred Edward Ferrier, married a local girl, Julia Frances Kennedy in 1896 in Warrnambool.Three and possibly all of their first four children were born in Warrnambool between 1896 and 1901 but the next three were born between 1904-9 in South Melbourne.

PAGE 20. WILLIAM JOHN FERRIER (see child 1 on page 12)married Frances Elizabeth Aikin 1902 in Victoria.
--------------------
Frances, daughter of Joseph Aikin and Emily (nee Pout) was born in about 1882 in Queenscliff and died in Queenscliff on 25-8-1959.

"After shifting to Queenscliff,Bill would return to Warrnambool every year for the May races. He would stay at his brother, Stephen's home. Of note wasthe fact that he wore a bowler hat. His son,Val, would do the lighthouse check around Queenscliff and was a bit of a character as his nephew, Jack Ferrier said.
(DETAILS OF THE LA BELLA RESCUE-available elsewhere.) This is the citation for the award,taken from the 1906 annual report of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia.

WILLIAM JOHN FERRIER, of South Warrnambool,fisherman, aged 25 years,who rescued GEORGE MYLUS and RICHARD PAYNE,Captain and Seaman of the barquentine "La Bella" from drowning,at Warrnambool,on November 10. FERRIER assisted, as a member of the lifeboat crew, all night,in attempts to rescue the sailors. Next morning, in his dingy,he sculled out,accompanied by the lifeboat. The ship was breaking up,and the lifeboat was impeded by the floating timbers, which had come out of the wreck. FERRIER sculled on ahead into the breakers, and single-handed, got the captain into his dingy,and rescued him; subsequently he rescued PAYNE as well.
AWARD GIVEN-----SILVER MEDAL.



Soon after the rescue, William moved from Warrnambool to live in.....
PAGE 21.
....Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula. The Ferriers at Queenscliff and Apollo Bay are his descendants. All his sons were involved in activities that had a nautical vocation. (DETAILS OF WILLIAM'S DEATH-already recorded.) In 1874,a three roomed octagonal pile light house was completed by Robert McColl of Little Bourke St. It was situated 4 kilometres off shore from Rosebud in the south channel. William and Frances lived there and operated the light house on a rotating 3 month roster system."(DETAILS OF SHIP PAINTINGS INSIDE THE PILE QUARTERS AND GENEALOGICAL DETAILS FOR WILLIAM AND FRANCES.)

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM FERRIER AND FRANCES AIKIN ARE:
1.George William Valentine Ferrier b. 1903 Queenscliff* d. 30-3-1989 Victoria.
2.Ellen Isobel Ferrier b.1906 Queenscliff d.15-7-1927 Queenscliff.
3.William John Ferrier b 3-3-1907 Rosebud d. 1-11-1979 Apollo Bay.
4. Alice Edna Ferrier b.10-12-1908, Mercer St, Queenscliff ----
5. Frank Bernard Ferrier b.21-2-1911 Rosebud d. 11-8-1996 Pt Lonsdale (hostel).
6.Stephen Alfred Ferrier b.24-6-1912 Rosebud d.16-11-1990 Victoria.
7. Colin Lester Ferrier b.1913 Dromana --------
PAGE 22.
8.Jack Ferrier b. 1916 Victoria d.1970 Ballarat.
9. Allan Nelson Ferrier b.11-2-11-2-1920 Queenscliff d. 31-10-2010 Ann Nichol House Portarlington.
10. Mansley Edwin Ferrier b.19-12-1922 Victoria d. 21-6-2002 Victoria.
11. Olive FrancesFerrier b. about 1923,place not known d. 1971 Norlane,Geelong.
12. Lewis Douglas Ferrier b. 1-12-1924 20 Beach St,Queenscliff and still fishing outside the Heads in his "Rosebud".
13.Geoffrey Bruce Ferrier b.about 1925 d. August 2006.No details available.

*The first birth indicate that William and Frances were living in Queenscliff before the 1905 rescue. The second may have occurred while William was serving at the Cape Schanck lighthouse and Frances probably spent the latter part of her confinement at her mother's house. I was under the impression that William had 17 children altogether and he stated after the rescue, "I am a native of Warrnambool, and am 25 years of age. I have a wife and two young children." This means that another child was born in 1904 or early 1905 and she must have been one of the three girls that Frances told Lewis was buried in the Dromana Cemetery. Two others were probably still born on the Pile light or at 858 Pt Nepean Rd (NUMBER SEVEN)Rosebud,perhaps in 1909,1914 or 1915.

CONTINUE WITH SELECTED INFORMATION E.G. LAURIE'S FAMILY.










BACK TO THE HUTCHINS FAMILY.
I've been bombarding Pat Hutchins' eldest son, Paul, with articles including an insolvency case in 1857 which may have involved (Osborne pioneer) George Hutchins and his brothers and their mother's possible move to Australia. Hence Paul's reference to a clue in this email which just arrived.

From our tree?

George Smale Hutchins?.

Born 1801 and Died 27 December 1870 (We saw it on his headstone at St Nicholas in Shaldon, Devon,England). He was an Excise Officer. He married Jane Sanders in 1830 and was Buried 31 December 1870.

George Smale and Jane had 10 children?.one was George.
George?s Hutchins B:1832 had a younger brother William John born 1834 Devon died 1862 in ?China?. (Another clue perhaps??) His other younger brothers, Thomas born 1836 in Devon died 1887 in Maryborough Queensland John born 1842 in Shrewsbury Shropshire England & died 1903 in Bundaberg Qld and Howard Reynolds born 1850 in Stourbridge England & died 1875 in Townsville Qld. Other siblings were Richard, Sam, Jane, Mary Selina, and Charlotte Eliza.



His son George Hutchins was

B: 24/10/1832 Teignmouth Devon

D: 8/4/1878 Brighton Victoria (See detail of inquest in Steve Johnson's contribution.)

Law Stationer

M: Harriet Cox 28/9/1855 in Sydney.

Their children were:

George B:1858 Williamstown M: Elizabeth Garlick 1880

Richard B: 1860 Osborne D: 1944 Mornington

William B: 1864 Osborne D: 1864 Osborne

Robert B: 1865 Mornington D: 1939 Mornington

Mary Jane: B: 1867 Mornington

Annie Louisa Cox B: 1869 Ballarat D: 1870 Ballarat

Ann Charlotte B: 1870 Osbourne D:?

Thomas(One Arm Tom) B: 1872 Mornington D:19/6/1953

Henry B: 1874 Mooroduc D:1874 Moooroduc

Catherine Charlotte B: 1877 Fitzroy

Jane B: 1856 Sydney D: 1862 Osborne

Sydney Howard B: 1875 D: 1937?1957? Dromana

John Coxon B: 1862 D: 1934



George (fisherman)B: 1858 Williamstown married Elizabeth Garlick 1880 and had 7 children

William George (Bill) Hutchins (fisherman) B:1884 Mornington D c 1943 (and 6 others.. I have their details if relevant)married Ellen Elizabeth Onge 1906 who lived at the house opposite Camerons Bight (Newberry Hill). They had Robert William(Mick) Hutchins (fisherman) (only child)B:1907 D:18/8/1971 who also lived at Newberry Hill and also had the house/fish shop at the head of the jetty on the beach at Camerons Bight.

He had 3 children Phillip Gray (Pat) Hutchins (fisherman) who lived at Willunga opposite Camerons Bight B: 1931, Phyllis B: 1934, and Kathleen B:1933 D:31/8/84.

Phillip Gray(Pat) has 3 boys, Paul William (me), Phillip Mark and Adrian Peter.

STEVE JOHNSON'S CONTRIBUTION.


HUTCHINS, KEVIN JAMES : Service Number - VX52137 : Date of birth - 03 Jan 1921 : Place of birth - MORNINGTON VIC : Place of enlistment - ROYAL PARK VIC : Next of Kin - HUTCHINS MARY

HUTCHINS, MAURICE JOHN : Service Number - VX4421 : Date of birth - 03 Aug 1917 : Place of birth - MORNINGTON VIC : Place of enlistment - BRIGHTON VIC : Next of Kin - HUTCHINS THOMAS

HUTCHINS, WILLIAM THOMAS : Service Number - VX4470 : Date of birth - 28 Apr 1919 : Place of birth - MORNINGTON VIC : Place of enlistment - BRIGHTON VIC : Next of Kin - HUTCHINS THOMAS

HUTCHINS, WILLIAM THOMAS : Service Number - V215777 : Date of birth - 28 Apr 1919 : Place of birth - MORNINGTON VIC : Place of enlistment - MORNINGTON VIC : Next of Kin - HUTCHINS ELLEN


Hi xxx,
I will have a look tomorrow if I have any information on the Hutchins. It appears Robert is the brother of Thomas (both fisherman of Mornington) There are two Thomas Hutchins who died in Mornington 1953 and 1948 (according to Wills & Probate). A lot of the Hutchins boys joined the Royal Australian Navy. I assume that the Hutchins from Sorrento and Mornington are related
I have been working on The Second World War enlistments on the Mornington Peninsula. Send me any details that you can.

ROBERT & ELIZABETH HUTCHINS
HUTCHINS.?On June 10, at her son's residence, Empire street, Mornington, Elizabeth, loved wife of the late Robert, and dearly beloved mother of Howard, Grace (Mrs. W. Humphries, Moonee Ponds), Maggie (Mrs. J. Coates, Traynor's Lagoon), Robert, Don, and Alex (deceased), aged 86 years. -In God's care.

Children:

HOWARD SEYMOUR HUTCHINS
26th June 1909, Mornington & Dromana Standard p.2
Mr Howard Hutchins, son of Mr R. Hutchins, of Mornington, has been successful in passing the examination for the Royal Australian Engineers, and left Mornington last Monday to take up his duties at Swan Island. Mr Hutchins was the champion quoit player of the Mornington ?(Lodge)? and also a coming footballer.

ROBERT SYDNEY HUTCHINS
Service Number: 3043 Royal Australian Navy
Born Mornington 20th September 1895
Next of Kin: Maisie

Death
The Argus 27th January 1950, p.11
HUTCHINS.-On January 26 (suddenly), at. Mornington, Robert Sydney, loved second eldest son of the late Robert and Elizabeth Hutchins, of Mornington, loving brother of Howard and Grace (Mrs.Humphries), Margaret (Mrs. Coates), Donald, and Alec, (deceased), late R.A.Navy, aged 54 years. Fondest memories.

GRACE HUTCHINS
27th June 1914, Mornington Standard, p.3
Wedding Bells.
HUMPHRIES-HUTCHINS. A very pretty wedding was celebrated on Wednesday afternoon, 17th inst., the contracting parties being Miss Grace Hutchins, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Robert Hutchins, of Waterloo Place, Mornington, and Mr William Humphries, third son of Mr and Mrs Humphries, of Riddell. The ceremony was performed by the Rev, G. Carson, and the church was crowded with friends and acquaintances of the bride. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in a gown of white silk with train, with the usual wreath and veil, and carried a shower bouquet of white chrysanthemums. The bridesmaids, Miss Maggie Hutchins (sister of the bride) and Miss M. Humphries (sister of the bridegroom),were both attired in white silk, with pale blue caps, and carried shower bouquets. After the ceremony break- fast was served at the residence of the bride's parents, and as the happy couple left by the afternoon train for the city the station was crowded with friends who showered confetti most liberally. The bride's a travelling dress was a navy blue costume with tango velvet hat.

RECEIVED FROM STEVE ON 21-5-2014.
GEORGE HUTCHINS-INQUEST.
12 April 1878, The Argus p.6
INQUEST.
An inquest was held on Wednesday by Mr. Candler, at the Plough and Harrow Hotel, South Brighton, on the body of a fisherman named George Huchins, 46 years of age, residing at Balcomb's Creek, Mornington. It appeared from the evidence that deceased was driving home quite sober, and when at South Brighton he pulled the near rein, causing the cart to go on to the footpath. The jerk threw him out on to his head, killing him instantaneously. Information was given to Constable Cowan, who obtained the attendance of Dr Goldstone. He at once pronounced the man dead. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.


SAVED BY THE HOLIDAY SEASON?
3rd January 1883, South Bourke & Mornington Journal
MORNINGTON POLICE COURT.
23rd December, 1882. Before Wm. Grover (Chairman) and S. Lancashire, J. P. Four young men, viz.. W. J. Stevens. D. Allison, Robert Hutchins, and John Hutchins, were charged on summons by Police-Constable Thompson with insulting behaviour in the Main street on Sunday evening, the 17th inst., and stated in his evidence that the defendants with a number of others were congregated near the Atheneum whilst Divine Service in that building was taking place and making use of disgusting and insulting language and annoying passers by. The defendants denied having used the language imputed to them, and the Bench in view of the Christmas holidays, took a lenient view of the charge and dismissed the accused with a caution.


***Obituary for W. T. Hutchins of Williams Road Mornington 2nd December 1948, Frankston Standard, aged 63 years. (Itellya- The obituary, in the last column on page 4 of the Standard,mentions that he lived in Williams Rd and was a long time member of the Mornington (Fire?) Brigade but does not mention service in World War 1. Unfortunately the names of some of his four sons and three daughters cannot be seen. If T.Hutchins on the Mornington Roll of Honour for W.W.1 was Thomas William Hutchins,he would more likely be the one who died in 1953.)

Surnames: AIKIN BRINDLE CERUTTY FERRIER HUTCHINS LACCO MCLEAR
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by itellya Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2014-04-29 02:14:03

Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.

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Comments

by itellya on 2014-05-02 00:17:14

Lou Ferrier's letter has arrived.

by itellya on 2014-05-05 05:59:24

Today I discovered a family tree circles post by provan when I did a FTC search for "rosebud, boneo".

William John Ferrier
Journal by provan Favorite
Hi my names is audrey and I am the great grand daughter of william john ferrier. I was wondering if the information about the goverment giving him the jobs of light house keeper of the south pile light house and the naming of the rosebud house can be verified as I have an aunty how is writting a book about the ferriers of warnambool ad she is having trouble verififing some of her information. I have not heared of the house on point nepean highway, do you have aphoto of this house I have lots of info and photos of him if you need any I also have acopy of the letter that he got from the WA goverment in regards to his medal that he got for his bravery.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Kind Regards

Audrey provan
Surnames: FERRIER

I have sent Audrey a private message in relation to her journal and given her my contact details as well as the phone number of Lew Ferrier who will without doubt be delighted to chat with her.

I did forget to mention that I had no proof that the hero of the La Bella tragedy was given a job in the lighthouse service as a reward for his heroism; I'd given evidence that the Government would have been more likely sacking present employees than taking on new ones in 1905 to support my belief that the job was a reward.

Hopefully, this will act as a warning that writers of journals do not receive notification from Scott if someone writes another journal on the same subject. If Audrey had written her information as a comment under my journal,she would have had a response within a day, rather than over 2 years (her journal having been posted on Feb 9, 2012.)

by itellya on 2014-05-05 10:54:22

Steve Johnson,a descendant of Frankston pioneer, Henry Cadby Wells, supplied me with some information about members of the Hutchins family who fought in W.W.2,which I will paste in the journal tomorrow. This got me thinking that the mysterious T.Hutchins might have been in the navy in W.W.1.

That's how I stumbled across this.

MY GUESTBOOK - John Winterbotham
www.australian-pow-ww2.com/my_guestbook_34.html‎
I hope John Winterbotham won't mind me copying Cheryl's post from his wonderful website.

Name: Cheryl Hayes Email: hays1e@bigpond.com
Welcome Page:
Country: AUSTRALIA Date: 17 Nov 2013 12:42:08 GMT
Comment: I am the grand-daughter of Alan Leslie Hutchins 2nd 22nd Battalion Lark Force, died POW. Seven of the Hutchins brothers* went to war and only 3 returned home. (The greatest single family loss in Australian history)I am interested in any photo's or information anyone may have on any of the Hutchins brothers. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I am also after the book "Little Hell" THANK YOU!

*I should find out whether Cheryl's grandfather was descended from Osborne George when Steve Johnson has finished researching the 2nd 22nd Battalion Lark Force.

by itellya on 2014-05-06 03:12:41

This is Cheryl's grandfather (see previous comment) and there's a great photo.
Alan Hutchins - Sevensoldiersons.com.au
www.sevensoldiersons.com.au/page_9.html‎

The following website also has a photo, and details of the brothers which seem to indicate there was no connection with the Osborne/Mornington/Sorrento/Williamstown family. Alan was from Woorinen, Victoria.

by itellya on 2014-05-06 03:52:23

Oops! I forgot to give the second website. There are plenty more.
P05555.004 | Australian War Memorial
www.awm.gov.au/collection/P05555.004‎

by itellya on 2014-05-10 21:22:08

Google FERRIER, WARRNAMBOOL, GEELONG HERITAGE and, in the first result, see a photo of 25 year old William John Ferrier taken in 1905 shortly after performing his heroic deed.

by itellya on 2014-05-11 06:18:18

Referred to as the barefoot fisherman and the unofficial harbour master/ ambassador for Queenscliff harbour, Lew Ferrier, pictured on the following website, sounded like a really young 89 year old on the phone but he looks far younger than the normal 65 year old!


The Barefoot Fisherman - RN Breakfast - ABC Radio ...
www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/bst-26-12.../5170018

The Barefoot Fisherman
Download audio
Thursday 26 December 2013 8:30AM
Lew and Rosebud IMAGE: COUTA BOAT SKIPPER LEWIS FERRIER (MICHAEL CHAMBERS/SURF COAST TIMES)
The first breath Lewis Ferrier took was sea air. He was born on the beach at Queenscliff 89 years ago, during a record salmon catch. He was one of 18 children, in a fishing family. Lew always goes barefooted and he's spent his life fishing the ocean beyond Port Phillip heads. With his boat 'Rosebud' he's had countless adventures and misadventures at sea. His stories come from a lifetime's experience navigating the dangerous waters of The Rip in a little wooden boat that he loves and trusts.

by itellya on 2014-05-13 08:15:35

I talked with Lew Ferrier for almost an hour tonight. The conversation was so rapid that note-making was out of the question. I have no idea what the mention of Thomas Maltby (after whom the Maltby Overpass was named) had to do with the price of fish,if you'll excuse my pun.However, I remember a fair bit of the conversation.

One of my first questions concerned "number seven" which he mentioned in his letter. His answer confirmed my meticulous research that established that William Ferrier's house in Rosebud was on crown allotment SEVEN of the Rosebud Fishing Village,the second block west of the Murray Anderson Rd car park on the foreshore.

I then asked Lew for the maiden name of his mother,Frances Ferrier. It was Aikin and her family had been involved with the Hudson Bay Whaling Company in North America. "Was she a Warrnambool girl?" I asked. No,she lived in Queenscliff and they were married at the Presbyterian Church there in 1900. What??????????

William,born in 1880,had moved to Queenscliff at the age of 16 in about 1896 to help his fishing family, which was probably struggling because of the depression, by sending home some of his earnings from fishing near the heads. William and Frances LIVED at Queenscliff for years and it was while VISITING his parents in 1905 that he performed his heroic deed. So when he escaped the publicity he was simply GOING HOME TO QUEENSCLIFF.

Lew said that the job in the lighthouse service was DEFINITELY a REWARD for his heroic deed. William started at the Cape Schanck lighthouse, and in what I presume was a transfer, he rode a horse across the peninsula for service at what was then called the Dromana lighthouse (McCrae.)

DROMANA.---- Among those now doing duty at our local lighthouse is no less a distinguished personage than Mr. W. Ferrier hero of the La Bella wreck whose gallant action in setting out alone in a small dinghy through mountainous seas, and rescuing 3 of the crew of the ill fated schooner, La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool on Nov. 10th, 1905, has stamped him as one of our nation's heroes. Mr. Ferrier's heroism, endurance and skill so gallantly displayed on that memorable occasion was highly commended by press and public throughout Australia, and he was the recipient of letters, telegrams and gifts from all quarters of the Commonwealth. He was awarded a medal by the Royal Humane Society of Victoria, and other societies made similar acknowledgment. From the Governor of Western Australia came glowing tribute in the
form of an illuminated address drawn up by the President of the Life Saving Society, Perth, and signed by the leading men and women of the State. The concluding part of which reads as follows:-" When in our own or distant lands, there may be dire danger by wreck or otherwise, may God again give the guidance of a Ferrier ". Residents extend to Mr. Ferrier a healthy welcome and trust that he will have a pleasant time at the local station. (P.2,Mornington Standard,23-11-1907.)

In ROSEBUD:FLOWER OF THE PENINSULA, Isabel Moresby said that the roster for light house keepers was one week on the water (south pile lighthouse,formerly in the middle of the south channel) and three weeks on shore (McCrae.) William and some of his children spent much time on the cramped south pile lighthouse,while the rest of the family lived on crown allotment seven, and to pass the time,painted the ship pictures shown on the Queenscliff Maritime Museum website.


When I mentioned Lew's brother, Frank's, find of the 80 tins of opium,which was handed in at the police station, Lew told me of Frank's anger at the police searching Frank's house, thinking he'd kept some of the stash.

When I told Lew of my plans to have his dad's heroic deed celebrated jointly in Warrnambool,Rosebud and Queenscliff on its 110th anniversary in November 2015,he asked if I thought he'd last that long. I reminded him of what he'd told me about his grandfather Ferrier chopping wood at Warrnambool at the age of 93 and the photo from a year or so ago in which the barefoot fishermen looked like a 60 year old.

I am to ring Lew on Sunday night (by 8 p.m. so he can be up early to fish on Monday morning) to arrange a visit on Monday or Tuesday.

by itellya on 2014-05-17 06:45:56

AIKIN, QUEENSCLIFF.
How long had the Aikin family lived at Queenscliff?

QUEENSCLIFF - Mrs. Emily Aikin, aged 89 years, has died. She was a native of England, and had lived at Queenscliff for 70 years. Her husband, Mr. Joseph Aikin, died many years ago. P.13, Argus, 21-8-1931,COUNTRY NEWS, QUEENSCLIFF.)

I could find no death notice for Emily's husband, Joseph. There was one for their youngest daughter.

As 20 year old Joseph Aikin was apparently born not long after Emily arrived in Queenscliff, I presume that the victim below was her son.
VICTORIA.
MELBOURNE, Friday.
Two Queenscliff fishermen, named Joseph Aikin and Thomas Owens, attempted to pass through the Heads at noon to-day, when there was a heavy sea running. Their boat was hurled on the rocks. Aikin was rescued by two fishermen, named Sanders and Vantine, but their boat also got smashed. Atkin was then stunned and sank. Vantine clung to the timber and was rescued. Sanders swam to the assistance of Owens, and in the struggle they sank together, Aikin and Owens were each 20 years old, and Sanders 50. None of the bodies were recovered. (P.2,The Mercury,Hobart, 20-2-1882.)

Had a Port Fairy resident moved to Queenscliff at about the same time as William Ferrier moved from Warrnambool?

BRAZIER-AIKIN-On the 9th of February, at St George's Church, by the Rev H.J. Wilkinson, John Thomas, eldest son of the late John Brazier, of Port Fairy to
Susan Ada, third surviving daughter of the late Joseph Aikin, of Queenscliff.
(Queenscliff Sentinel, Drysdale, Portarlington and Sorrento Advertiser (Vic. : 1885 - 1894) Saturday 11 February 1893 p 1 Advertising.)

The registrar at Queenscliffe, R.Jordan, wanted the names of three Queenscliff fishermen and ratepayers removed from the roll for the Queenscliff Division of the Electoral District of Barwon because they were all dead. They were Joseph Benjamin Aikin, Daniel (Mouchemore?*) and Robert Porter.
(Queenscliff Sentinel, Drysdale, Portarlington and Sorrento Advertiser (Vic. : 1885 - 1894) Saturday 31 January 1891 p 4 Advertising.)

*I couldn't disrespect a pioneer by guessing the spelling of his surname so I googled my guess.
Vale Harry Mouchemore - Couta Boat Association of Victoria ...
www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-10019-0-0...
May 25, 2008 - Retired Queenscliff fisherman Harry Mouchemore died from a stroke. He gave up his craft about twelve years ago and was one of the last two of ...


I have previously mentioned having sent a private message to Audrey Provan. I received no reply and asked Janet McDonald of the Warrnambool Historical Society if she could find the identity of Audrey's aunt in Warrnambool who is writing a Ferrier history. By chance I just came across Audrey's post on Mundia in which she has included several photos. It seems that I misheard Lew Ferrier's comment about the marriage of his mother and father. According to Audrey, they were married at the Presbyterian church in WARRNAMBOOL and in 1902.

Marriage: Reg No 5602
1902Warnambool, Victoria, Australia

Here's how Audrey fits into the family.

Audrey Provan
mothers name Dorothy Irene Barnes fathers name James Richard Ferrier Both parents borne in Australia.James Richard Ferrier was a Light house assistant and a Motor Machanic. Myself and 2 older sisters where placed in an orphanage for 3 months. I never grew up with my natural father so all information on the Ferrier side is new to me and very interesting. husband Murray William Provan his parents are Mary and William Provan all borne in scottland they came out in about 1966.

I was doing a google search for FERRIER-AIKIN when I found Audrey's post on:
Frances Elizabeth Aikin profile - Mundia
www.mundia.com/au/Person/19984566/878445926

It would seem that the hero of the La Bella wreck married a hero of the quest for equality for women (Audrey's first photo.)

by itellya on 2014-05-20 07:00:36

Today I visited Lew Ferrier at Queenscliff. I gave him a 34 page paper copy of my journals concerning his father because he has no computer. He and I were photographed in front of "Rosebud" by Carmel Murphy of the Queenscliffe Herald. Lew gave me a personal tour of the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum. He showed me a vast collection of cuttings etc. When I grabbed my mobile to take a photo of the framed original of the letter/address from Western Australia, I discovered that my mobile had turned itself on when I put it in my bag, and despite being fully charged last night,was now too flat for the camera to work. Amidst all this, I managed to fit in some note making.

The three girls buried at Dromana Cemetery were Lew's sisters but he couldn't tell me their names because they probably didn't have any. They were all stillborn while Frances was on the South Channel Pile Lighthouse with William. As the only regular contact with shore was a schooner that brought provisions from Williamstown monthly, Frances had to put the tiny body in a bag packed with salt each time this happened until they could get to Dromana to bury the mite.

The desire to be with William led to Frances finding ways to stay with him briefly but often the visits finished up longer than intended because rough weather caused a delay in getting back to NUMBER SEVEN at Rosebud.

The correct term for those who worked in the lighthouse service was light keepers not lighthouse keepers.

Although Lew was born on 1-12-1924, about eight years after William and Frances moved (back!) to Queenscliff,he was named after Lou Bucher of Rosebud, William's great mate,(whose sister,Rose,was the first white child born in Rosebud,delivered on 8-9-1867 to Ann and Henry Bucher by midwife,Susan Peatey-PINE TREES AND BOX THORNS, Rosalind Peatey.)

William John Ferrier was known in Rosebud as Sammy the schnapper king. Lew said that a tree on the other side of the road from the site of the future Rosebud Hotel soon after "Sammy" arrived in Rosebud. This was probably in 1906 when William worked at a light keeper at Cape Schanck,probably getting a week off a month during which he would ride across the peninsula to NUMBER SEVEN at Rosebud, and spend some time with his beloved but long-suffering Frances. As the same amount of husbandless time continued when William transferred to the South Channel Pile Lighthouse,it would not surprise me if Frances coped with her loneliness by seeking intelligent female company such as Evelyn Gough. ( Mornington Standard (Vic. : 1889 - 1908) Saturday 23 November 1907 p 2 Article DROMANA.. Among those now doing duty at our local lighthouse is no less a distinguished personage than Mr. W. Ferrier hero of the La Bella ..)

Evelyn Gough, (maternal grandmother of the great artist,Arthur Boyd),who spent time on two different fishing village crown allotments near Judith Durham's great grandmother,Emily Durham (sister of Fort Lacco's wife) was a leader of the fight for equality for women as indicated below.

OBITUARY MRS. EVELYN GOUGH. A Philanthropic Worker.
Tho death of Mrs. Evelyn Gough,which occurred after a short illness at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Merric Boyd, at Murrumbeena (V.), recalls(says the "Argus") many reforms which she helped to establish in the interests of women and children. Mrs.Gough played an important part in having established the office of police matron in prisons. She was actively involved in the work of the Epileptic Colony and the Talbot Milk Institute, as well as in the inspection of boarded-out children. She was formerly international secretary of the National Council of Women of Victoria, and in 1909 represented the council of the conference held in Canada. Though living in
retirement for some years, Mrs. Gough took a lively interest in public affairs,and was a regular correspondent to overseas publications. A woman of charming personality, she will be missed by a large circle of friends.
(P.8,The Mercury,Hobart, 14-1-1932.)


Frances Elizabeth Ferrier (nee Aiken) seems to have been one of the Queenscliff women who followed Evelyn Gough's lead judging by a MENU for INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY,2002, posted on the following website by her (great, great?) grand daughter,Audrey Provan

by itellya on 2014-05-20 09:03:54

...on the following website:
Frances Elizabeth Aikin profile - Mundia
www.mundia.com/au/Person/19984566/878445926

Oops,I made the same mistake as the printer of the menu made,as you will notice.

Getting back to the tree planted in honour of Sammy the Schnapper King,if you take a look at the Meeting Tree History Board, you'll get an idea of how wide the "road" was in circa 1906. The Village Green was the home ground of the Rosebud Football Club from 1929 until about 1963 when the road was widened.It had probably been widened to some extent by the time the aerial photo of the foreshore footy ground was taken. This photo should be on Steve Burnham's new website.(www.burnham.net.au)
(By the way,here's a little conversation that Steve and I had today.
As mentioned, this is my new email, xxx. Website is back too.(www.burnham.net.au)
Thanks Steve. Ever heard of William John Ferrier?
Were they the family on the south channel pile?
ROSEBUD REMEMBERS SAMMY!

William was appointed to the Cape Schanck lighthouse in 1906 at a salary of five pounds per month. William John Ferrier Junior,when about 18 months old,fell off this lighthouse but was spared serious injury because he landed in a boxthorn bush. (He might have resembled an echidna for a while!)

I can't work out why, but Lew is sure that the oldest boy,Valentine,William John and Alice attended the Red Hill State School for some time. Perhaps this was at the time the three girls were stillborn and a friend of Frances offered to help her overcome her grief by taking some of her children in for a time.

Frank,who performed the rescue of the yachtsmen near Queenscliff,was born at Rosebud. Frank sculled his boat,which three mates were bailing to combat the rough seas,standing at the stern just as his dad had done in his heroic rescue in 1905. Lew explained how this was done. The paddle or oar was placed through a cut-out slot in the back of the boat (transom)which provided a fulcrum. The oar was then moved in a figure 8 pattern,just as hands are used by swimmers in survival sculling.

If you see a photo of William John Ferrier sitting on a log,it is actually a photo of a charcoal drawing executed brilliantly by an aboriginal woman for whom the hero posed. The framed original hangs on Lew's wall next to the original address/letter from Western Australia.

Lew has a pamphlet about the Queenscliff Maritime Weekend 2014 which has ship paintings at the top and bottom. Unfortunately I can't find this on the internet. These were done by William John Ferrier on the wall of his bedroom in "Rosebud" in Beach St. Lew said that some of the children complained of not being able to get to sleep so our artistic ship lover gave them something to look at until they dozed off. There is no danger of the present owner of "Rosebud" not showing the greatest care for these treasures which she feels so privileged to own.

There is another cutting showing William and a much shorter man walking through an avenue of clapping men. There in no text accompanying the photo which appeared in the Argus but Lew said that the smaller man was the Mayor of Melbourne who had just granted the freedom of the city to William. The clapping men seem to be wearing Lodge regalia.

I couldn't find this photo on trove but-

WARRNAMBOOL.
Whilst Captain Nicol, the local pilot and harbourmaster was using an axe on a piece
of spar, the head flew off and struck a fisherman named John Ferrier on the ankle,
inflicting a deep gash, necessitating medical aid.(P.8, Argus,29-11-1906.)

by itellya on 2014-05-21 09:22:34

Steve Johnson has kindly supplied a report of the inquest into the death of George Hutchins in 1878. It has been included under STEVE JOHNSON'S CONTRIBUTION in the journal and supplied to Val Wilson in case she wants to include it in her Mornington Cemetery pioneers website.

Last night I was going to include some Ferrier genealogical detail that I hastily copied from Lew Ferrier's notes. However when I started, my notes seemed confusing, and I decided to Ring Lew tonight. I had written that those listed were the children of William John Ferrier's brother but they were his grandfather's children.

The hero's father was John Robert Ferrier, born in Warrnambool (as all his siblings were)on 4-8-1858. He was the grandfather of Lew Ferrier, who remembers him chopping and carrying firewood at the age of 93. Possibly he was the John Ferrier* who suffered the accident described at the end of the previous comment; he would have been 48 years old in 1906.(Also possibly a brother of the hero.)

I've asked Lew if he can get the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum to scan one of the Queenscliff Maritime Weekend 2014 programs and put it onto its website so people can see two of the pictures that William John Ferrier painted on the bedroom wall in "Rosebud" at Queenscliff. Lew is also sending me information about Two Ferrier brothers who were captains of ships which took convicts to Hobart and Sydney in the 1820's.

It seems likely that the coxwain of the harbour master's boat at Warrnambool (below), ANOTHER FERRIER HERO, was the father of John Robert Ferrier and that the coxswain's brother, George, died in the same way as George Hutchins of Balcombe's Creek did in 1878.

J.FERRIER, THE HARBOUR MASTER?S COXSWAIN.
WARRNAMBOOL.
(FROM THE WARRNAMBOOL EXAMINER, JULY 7.)
FEARFUL GALE.-LOSS OF TWO VESSELS.

As an addendum to our narrative, we may mention that the conduct of Captain Helpman, the harbour-master: J. Ferrier, his boatswain; the crew of the Government boats, and a number of others, deserves the highest praise. The weather was absolutely frightful, and up to the hour of our going to press, there appeared but little sign of abatement. (P.6, Argus, 10-7-1863.)

You would not believe the number of people who moved from Victoria to Western Australia in the 1890's.(See my journal about Murray Gomm,Local Footy Hero,in which the Western Australia connection is discussed in considerable detail in comments. THE MAN (WEISS)WHO ORGANISED THE WESTERN AUSTRALIA LETTER/ADDRESS TO THE HERO IN 1905 WAS BORN IN WARRNAMBOOL!) Victoria was in the midst of a depression and Western Australia, a gold rush! I found this when I was looking for the article about George Ferrier's accidental death. This George was born in about 1856 and was probably the son of the unfortunate George,not John Robert Ferrier's brother George who (according to my scribbled notes) was born on 5-7-1887.

The Late Mr. George Ferrier.
The funeral of the late Mr. George Ferrier, a highly esteemed resident of Cottesloe, took place in the Presbyterian portion of the Karrakatta cemetery on November 21. The late Mr. Ferrier was born in Warrnambool 78 years ago and came to this State in the nineties, and later went to South Africa, returning to Western Australia in 1908. He left a widow and a grown up family of four sons and three daughters. The
cortege left his residence at 8 Griver-street, Cottesloe and his remains were laid to rest in the presence of a large gathering of friends.
(P.9,The West Australian,23-11-1934.)

This was almost not noticed, and only a failed internet connection, when I tried to confine my search for unfortunate George to the 1850's, enabled me to find yet another Ferrier hero. I wouldn't mind betting his given name was STEPHEN and that he married Miss Carter of Warrnambool, settling at Queenscliff by 1907.

Letters were read from the Premier of Tasmania, asking for a further supply of life-
saving gear for that colony; also from the honorary correspondent and town clerk of Warrnambool relative to the action taken by some young men, viz, S. Ferrier, Thomas Hayes, Charles Heberg, and George Mitchell* in attempting the rescue of a young woman named Alice Angus, who was drowned, the consideration of which was deferred pending further information,
(P.5, Argus, 23-4-1887, THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA.)

(*Probably related to John Mitchell who went with the hero when he first sculled out to the La Bella wreck.)

AHA, HERE'S UNFORTUNATE GEORGE!
WARRNAMBOOL.
........A melancholy accident occurred on Friday evening last to Mr. George Ferrier who was returning home from this town about seven o'clock in the evening; when near his own house, the dray upon which he was riding in company with his brother and another man, was upset by running upon a stump, and though the other two were unhurt, he was killed on the spot. An inquest was held on the body by Dr Tierney, the coroner, and a highly respectable Jury, who returned a verdict of accidental death, occasioned by the upsetting of a dray. He has left a widow and two children to mourn the loss of a loving and affectionate husband, and a kind and indulgent parent. He was aged 36 years and in the prime of life, strong, healthy, and industrious, and successful at the diggings; which enabled him to purchase an excellent allotment of land about two miles from hence, which he had cleared
and activated, and had erected upon the same a neat cottage; his prospects were
good until the last harvest, when a sudden change was apparent upon his mind,
occasioned by a wet and expensive harvest,the low price of corn and potatoes and
other circumstances which led him unfortunately to indulge too freely in the
abriating cup, and has been the principal cause of his premature removal from a large circle of Friends and neighbours by whom he was much respected.
(Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 - 1876) Friday 18 July 1856 Edition: EVENING. p 3 Article)

Was George Ferrier, who died in W.A. in 1934 (born circa 1856)one of his two children,a young baby? It is assumed that his brother was John Ferrier,a member of the customs boat crew, who was in trouble concerning counterfeit sovereigns in 1855. See:
Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 - 1876) Monday 24 September 1855 Edition: EVENING p 2 Article.) As Dobson's Hotel was involved in the article and there is a Dobson Way in Warrnambool,I presume the incident took place there.

by itellya on 2014-05-21 21:02:29

SAMMY THE SCHNAPPER KING'S HOUSE AT ROSEBUD ON NUMBER SEVEN.
This is part of an attachment sent to Simon Lloyd,heritage planner at Mornington Peninsula Shire on 10-11-2011. As part of my efforts to gain a heritage status of STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE for William John Ferrier's house on NUMBER SEVEN (crown allotment seven of the Rosebud Fishing Village)I contacted Janet McDonald at Warrnambool and the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum. The latter sent my letter to Lew Ferrier, and as explained at the start of the journal,that is how this journal came about.

A previous email had been sent (see attachment) with information from ratebooks (including nett annual value each year), the early Rosebud map detailing residents, the Parish map,physical inspection and measurement to match crown allotments and present house numbers etc. to show that "Sammy's" house was indeed on crown allotment seven and indicate possible build year.

A heritage overlay has been achieved for the Boyd cottage,just as well because the original Boyd dwelling at Elsternwick has been demolished. My proposed joint celebration (Warrnambool, Rosebud, Queenscliff) in November 2015 is partly aimed at achieving Statewide Significant heritage assessments for Sammy's house in each place.

EXTRACT FROM ATTACHMENT.
LIST OF HERITAGE HOUSES; ROSEBUD ?SAFETY BEACH.
XXX XXXX. 11-10-2011. (Replaces list of 23-8-2011.)
Much more detail has previously been provided. Note that a demolition application might soon appear for 858 Pt Nepean Rd which was recently sold!

OF EXTREMELY HIGH SIGNIFICANCE. (Nationwide.)
62 ROSEBUD PDE, ROSEBUD. This is a weatherboard cottage, probably used as a holiday retreat for some time by Arthur Merric and Emma Minnie Boyd before Emma?s death in September, 1936. It seems likely that it was built in the mid 1920?s, at about the same time that Evelyn Gough sold lot 26 of the Rosebud Fishing Village. Evelyn, a leading feminist, had spent holidays at Rosebud since 1905 or before but both houses she occupied have been demolished. Her daughter, Doris married Merric Boyd, a famous potter and son of Arthur and Emma. When Emma died, Arthur moved to Rosebud permanently until ill health forced a return to Murrumbeena shortly before his death in 1940. During this period, his grandson, Arthur (born 1920), the son of Merric and Doris, stayed with him. Having had little formal tuition, the 1995 Australian of the Year executed about 10 paintings of the Rosebud area with his grandfather?s advice, his first works exhibited in 1937. Two of the Rosebud paintings were ?House at Rosebud? and ?Interior, Living Room, Rosebud?. The house, including the living room, seems to be fairly original. As Arthur Boyd was internationally famous and so many links, such as Open Country, have been demolished and it was probably the subject of two of his paintings, this house must never be demolished.

OF HIGH SIGNIFICANCE. (Statewide.) 858 PT NEPEAN RD ROSEBUD. This weatherboard house is of particular significance because of its association with Victoria?s maritime history. The Ferrier family probably settled at Warrnambool originally, where Ferrier Drive is named in its honour. William John Ferrier, a 25 year old fisherman, performed a heroic rescue there when the La Bella was wrecked in 1905 and was awarded a Humane Society gold medal for his bravery. It seems that the cash-strapped Government might have also rewarded his deed with a position in the lighthouse service. (In 1905, there was a proposal to close the Rye school, its pupils being forced to walk to the Rosebud school.) William was in charge of the South Pile Lighthouse between 1905 and 1915 and in this period painted ship pictured on timber lining inside the lighthouse, two of which are shown on the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum website. William probably bought lot 7 from the grantee, Thomas Coppard (a member of the Queenscliff Fishing Company), and was said to have sold the house to George Fountain, a plumber, who served as the last Mayor of North Melbourne. William John Ferrier of Rosebud, opposed mesh net fishing in 1915 and probably moved to Beach St, Queenscliff, shortly thereafter, naming his (new)house "Rosebud". Lewis Ferrier, a descendant, continued the marine tradition and at the launching recently of the revamped Queenscliff Harbour, his fishing boat "Rosebud" played a prominent part.

by itellya on 2014-05-22 00:14:17

I have tried twice, without success, to attach an image of the poster mentioned previously which shows two paintings done by William Ferrier on the bedroom wall at "Rosebud" in Beach St,Queenscliff so his children would have something to look at when they couldn't get to sleep. Hopefully this problem will be resolved but thank to Lew and Meryl for their help. I have downloaded the poster so private message me your email address if you can't wait to see the paintings.

Hello xxx

I have just been speaking with Lewis Ferrier and he mentioned sending this poster. Please let me know if you prefer a paper copy.

Hope your visit yesterday was fruitful.

Regards


Meryl Hodgson
Administration Officer
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum Inc

by itellya on 2014-05-22 04:00:42

PHEW!
It was late. I was tired. I was lazy! I knew that comments could not be edited if I made a mistake but I took the chance. Luckily I was right! Lew Ferrier had told me that he had been named after Lou Bucher of Rosebud. He told me that Lou Bucher had drowned and asked me where I thought that had happened. I already knew that Lou had drowned and had decided that Chinaman's Creek was a more likely location than Peatey's Creek, Eeling Creek and Adam's Creek which enter the bay at Murray Anderson Rd, Tom Salt Park and The Avenue respectively. My guess was correct.

But it worried me that I could be wrong about Lou being the son of Henry and Ann Bucher. So I asked Trove.

BUCHER.-On June 21, at Rosebud, Louis Thomas William, beloved son of Ann and Henry (deceased), dear brother of Henry (deceased), Rose(Mrs. Nichols, deceased), Lea (Mrs.Cairns), Arthur (deceased), Dan, Annie, and Samuel (deceased). -In
God's keeping. (P.2,Argus,24-6-1948.)

Rose was reputed to be the first white child born in Rosebud,in 1867,about five years before Rosebud officially existed. Her father had built a humble house on the foreshore on what became crown allotment 17 of the Rosebud Fishing Village,on the west side of Bucher Place,and called it Modesty Cottage.

I discovered the report of Lou's drowning over a year ago by chance while I was chasing other information, so I knew it was there. Why then couldn't I get a result for "Bucher, Rosebud,1948" on trove. The pronunciation of his surname, which is perfectly represented by the only word I did not correct in the article!

GRIM EXPERIENCE FOR MORNINGTON MAN.
At about 12.30 p.m. last Tuesday, a Mornington traveller was sitting in his car at Rosebud eating his lunch, when he heard a woman calling frantically for help. On investigating, he found the woman trying to pull an elderly man out of the creek. With the traveller's assistance, the man was dragged out, but was found to be dead.
The police and a doctor came quickly to the scene, on being notified.

From marks on the bank, it would appear that the man (Mr.Lou Busher, of Rosebud) must have fallen into the creek in the dark, and, being unable to get
a grip on the bank, had drowned. His wife had made the tragic discovery at 12:30 p.m. and had called for help. (P.6,Standard,Frankston, 24-6-1948.)

Was my clue about the only uncorrected word bold enough to help you find it? Just for a giggle,this is how the article originally appeared.
MORNING'TONI MAN.
At about 12.30" p.nm. last Tues
da-y; Mdrriington traveller wava
sitturig in his oar at* Rosebud" eat
ing his lWrich, when he heard a
woian' calling fra'itically for
hells.
(4i investigatinfg, he" fouxid the
womian trving, to pull, an elderly
inari: out of then 'creek:, With' the
traveller's assistance, the mani
was chagg'ed` out, but' was folnd'
to be' dead:
The police and a doctoi carme
.quickly -to. the scene, - on being
notife'd.
From marks on the banik, "it
would-.alppear' that the nian (1? i
Lot Busher, of Robseb?d-) must
hav'e' fal'eri " ifi" th'e dieelk in' ti`e
dark, and;. beinlg ui'alhle tb get
a gri9. on'f the b?ank,. hiad' dro?f',
ed.
leis'- ife had Irnade tie' t?.tgic:
discovery': if :.l 3t?:.;?-?r an'd?:: a - )ad
called for hel:

by itellya on 2014-05-22 10:16:08

Audrey Provan stated that she had a photo of William John Ferrier with survivors from the La Bella. This is in the collection of Warrnambool's Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and can been viewed online on the following website:
Postcard ? Victorian Collections
victoriancollections.net.au/items/521606f819403a17c4ba1311


With the postcard is much detailed information not given in newspaper accounts. However the reason given for Ferrier sculling by the stern is not consistent with Ferrier's own account-that his dinghy only had one oarlock. The text is pasted below.

Postcard

FROM THE COLLECTION OF


Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
Merri St Warrnambool Victoria
Sepia photograph of William (Bill) Ferrier (seated in middle), heroic rescuer of two crew members of the La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool. The photograph is in the form of a postcard and shows five men dressed formally in suits and hats.
Printed below the photograph is the name and place of the photographer, a royal crest and the details of two patrons of the photographer.
Also below the photograph are some handwritten words in black pen.
On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message in the same writing as the front.

Size: H 10.5cm x W 6.5cm

OBJECT REGISTRATION

3499

KEYWORDS

la bella, foyle, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

The postcard shows a photograph of William Ferrier, the 25 year old Warrnambool fisherman from South Warrnambool whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight National hero, quoted as ?one of the most heroic rescues in Victoria?s shipwreck history?. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905 and the photograph was taken on the next day. In the photograph William Ferrier is seated in the centre, with four of the five survivors beside him: (from left to right) Leonard Robertson, R. Payne, Oscar.Rosenholme and Jack Noake.
The photograph was taken by Foyle Photography Studio in Warrnambool, originally owned by James Charles Foyle. He previously had a photographic studio in Melbourne 1882 1887, then opened ?Foyle?s Photo Card Studios? in Liebig St, Warrnambool . James Foyle died on 13th July 1905 and his son and daughter, Charles and Lilian Foyle, continued on with the business until 1945. This photograph was most likely taken by either Charles or Lilian Foyle.
The story of William Ferrier?s brave act follows on below ?
The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company being one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.
On 5th October, 1905, the twelve year old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia . She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. . Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast.
On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea.
As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella?s lifeboats were filled with sea water and broke up on their chocks.
The blue light was the first indication to people on shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master?s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea.
At around 11pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn?t wash off. Around 11pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion.
The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ?house? and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ?boy? Denham had kept them safe until about 2am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat.
By sunrise the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen.
Early in the morning Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target.
Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship?s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat.
Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25 year old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours.
The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days an unidentified body of a young person was washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription.
William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for ?20 from the Governor General, over ?150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier?s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria?s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier?s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later, when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan, after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. )

The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name.
Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake.
Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship?s boy),
Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked, but found not guilty. The event?s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery.
The La Bella was ?the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand?. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in ?Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella? written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ.
As well as this postcard, Flagstaff Hill?s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery.

Made: 11th November, 1905

SIGNIFICANCE

This postcard is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria?s Shipwreck Coast. The photograph of William Ferrier and four of the five survivors demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast.
The postcard is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it portrays William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The postcard connects to the congratulatory letter which was sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia and demonstrates the importance they attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia.
The postcard is also an example of the photography of Foyle Photographers who were in the town of Warrnambool from the late 1800?s. Charles and Lillian Foyle took over the business when their father James died in 1905. Lillian Foyle is significant as the first woman photographer in Warrnambool. It is not known whether Charles of Lillian took this photograph.

INSCRIPTIONS & MARKINGS

Printed on the front of the card ?Foyle, WARRNAMBOOL?
?PATRONS: / HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CORNWALL & YORK. / HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRAS_ EY, R.O.B.?
Handwritten on the front of the card ?Bill Ferrier / rescuer / Oh my hero _ _ _ ?
Handwritten on the back of the card is a message. ??La Bella? Wrecked off W.Bool Breakwater Nov. 1906 (_ _ _ _ show night) Payne Noake Rosenholme Robertson and Capt Mylius (saved) (moonlight bright) Watson (_ _ _ _ boy) Richwoud drowned? and signed ?Desdewoua Slogos?

LAST UPDATED 15/10/2013 AT 1:11 PM

by itellya on 2014-05-22 23:05:50

The detail regarding the rescues in the previous comment mentions Coe, the harbour master in relation to assembling a life boat crew, but not Constable Trainor who is praised for his efforts in many newspaper articles of the time. He was the one who rode to William John Ferrier's house to enlist his help.

William John Ferrier's son,Lew, told me that his father was at that time at Mailor's Flat,about 8 miles from Warrnambool, but Lew was not sure in which direction. I don't like missing jigsaw puzzle pieces, so I searched for a Mailor's Flat map.

Trainor would have headed west nor' west along Raglan Pde (Princes Highway) to Caramut Rd and then roughly 8 miles north to Mailor's Flat.

It was while I was moving around the map in Warrnambool itself that I discovered Aitkins Rd on the north side of the Victoria Park Reserve! The Aitkins family was in residence by 1863, living on a property called Ellerslie. When William John Ferrier moved from Warrnambool to Queenscliff at the age of 16 in about 1896,he may have been aiming to catch more than fish. Had Frances Aitkin originally lived at Warrnambool or had she been visiting relatives when the lad,later known to Rosebud residents as "Sammy the schnapper king",first saw his angel?

Family Notices
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 9 January 1863 p 4 Family Notices
... BIRTHS. AITKIN.-On the 1st inst., at Ellerslie, Warrnambool, the wife of J. W. M. Aitkin, Esq, of a daughter.

by itellya on 2014-05-24 12:37:10

The Tides Of Change Carry Away Memories Of A Home At Sea
The Age
Thursday June 11, 1998

SIAN WATKINS
The 111-year-old South Channel pile lighthouse, four kilometres offshore from Rosebud, was yesterday sliced from its foundations the way one slices the top off a boiled egg.

Sliced horizontally at its foundation, the cottage was lifted from its timber piles, which run into the mussel-coated seabed seven metres below, by a crane and placed on a barge for its trip to Melbourne for restoration. It was the last intact 19th-century manned pile lighthouse in Australia.

The $600,000 cost of the restoration will be shared by Parks Victoria and Heritage Victoria. The lighthouse will be given new footings and relocated to the mouth of the Rye Channel in about two months.

Big and small boats circled yesterday's engineering spectacle. On one stood Mr Lewis Ferrier, a 73-year-old barefoot fisherman from Queenscliff whose parents lived in the lighthouse cottage above the sea from 1906 to 1916.

Mr Ferrier, 73, with pink, swollen feet and chapped heels (he hasn't owned shoes for 40 years) was happy and sad. Happy that the cottage is to be restored, but sad that so tangible a reminder of his parents was disappearing.

The cottage is being moved because two ships have come close to hitting it in recent times, and because its foundations are close to being undermined by the dredging of the South Channel.

The three-room, octagonal cottage lighthouse, completed by Robert McColl of Little Bourke Street West in 1874, operated until 1985. Mr William Ferrier and his wife, Frances, lived there for rotating three-month stints. The last person to man the light was Mr Phillip Asher. He left in 1925 after the introduction of bottled acetylene gas as fuel for the light.

Mr William Ferrier, who died in 1937, painted several murals of passing ships on the cottage's walls. They are now at the Polly Woodside Museum.

The South Channel pile lighthouse was one of four main pile lighthouses built in Port Phillip Bay.

Parks Victoria is now trying to decide whether public access should be granted to the South Channel pile lighthouse after it is repaired and moved.

? 1998 The Age

by itellya on 2014-05-25 08:03:45

The Official Newsletter of The Warrnambool Branch ... - Vicnet
home.vicnet.net.au/~aigswbl/Issue44May1994.pdf
aged 7, drowned at South Warrnambool. rescue attempt by Wm FERRIER,.

Page 6.
MAY, 1894.
George STEVENSON, aged 7, drowned at South Warrnambool. rescue attempt by Wm FERRIER, Thos FISHER, A EVANS, Roger and Peter EDWARDS.

EH?????????????
DROWNING CASES.
Melbourne, May 10.
George Stevenson, aged 7, was drowned in the Merri River at Warrnambool today by the upsetting of a boat. The deceased fell into the river yesterday, and was almost drowned. (DROWNING CASES. Melbourne, May 10.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Friday 11 May 1894 p 5 Article)

Newspapers often copies articles from other papers. That's how William Ferrier's heroics of 10-11 November,1905 were made known all over Australia. But surely you'd makes sure that what you were copying made sense!

George Stevenson, aged 7, was drowned in the Merri River, Warrnambool, on Thursday.
He was in a flat-bottomed boat, which began to fill, and he jumped out.
(EPITOMISED NEWS.
Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic. : Moama, NSW : 1869 - 1954) Saturday 12 May 1894 p 3 Article)

I have found no evidence to prove whether George drowned or was saved by the 14 year old fisherboy Ferrier and his four mates. William Ferrier was born in 1880 and according to the extract of his 1905 interview (below)he started fishing in about 1891. Lew Ferrier said that his grandfather (John Robert Ferrier) lived in Stanley St (possibly No.11, known to be occupied by a Ferrier family) which is very near the Merri River.

"I am a native of Warrnambool, and am 25 years of age. I have a wife and two young children. I have been connected with fishing for the last 14 years."

by itellya on 2014-05-25 08:16:31

This was the family living at 11 Stanley St, as mentioned above.

FERRIER- On the 19th May at Panmure(result of accident), Allan Douglas, beloved
son of Steve and Frances Ferrier (of 11 Stanley street, South Warrnambool) and loved brother of Bill (AIF abroad), Win (Mrs Les Johnson), Jack, Beryl, and Syd., aged 24 years. (P.4, Argus,25-5-1940.)

by itellya on 2014-05-25 10:51:36

jessie - Heritage Victoria - Victorian Heritage Database
vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/shipwrecks/heritage/354

In 1924, the year that Lewis Ferrier was born, three young fishermen took a wooden boat with one mast and a motor from Queenscliff to Pt.Nepean to gather periwinkles. Unattended, it broke away and was wrecked. All the local fishermen clubbed together to buy a second boat (Ferrier, pers. com.) Built in 1890 at Queenscliff,it had RFB 1714 painted on each side of hull (registered fishing boat), and was owned by William John Ferrier. It was 22 feet long and 8 ft wide.

No mention of the above has been found on trove.

by itellya on 2014-05-26 03:41:19

Today, I received, from Lew Ferrier, a copy of the poster,with the ship paintings on the bedroom wall of "Rosebud" in Queenscliff,and another sheet. This had details of three convict ships whose master was James Ferrier. Lew said this ship master was his great grandfather but alarm bells were ringing (just as Audrey Provan's had been about a decade ago.) I'd gained the impression that the father of Lew's grandfather was named John.

I'd tried to contact Audrey, without success. She'd mentioned on a website that the person at Warrnambool writing a Ferrier history was not her aunt but Laurence Ferrier.Lew gave me the address he had for Laurence but it didn't match any of the Ferriers on white pages.com. I took a stab. First go!

Lew's father was William John Ferrier,the overnight national hero in 1905. His father,who chopped firewood at 93, was John Robert Ferrier (Lew's grandfather.) His father and Lew's great grandfather was John Ferrier who died at Warrnambool in 1900. His father and Lew's great great grandfather was Robert Ferrier.

More detail to come when I ring Laurence after tea.

by itellya on 2014-05-26 10:10:56

I rang Laurence at 7 p.m. thinking we'd be finished by 7:30 so I could watch Talking Footy. We finished at 9:15. As I was struggling to keep up,some detail given was not recorded.

HERE STARTETH GENESIS.
FERRIER.
Alex b. 1630 Scotland
begat John b.8-9-1661 Brechin, Barry, Angus, Scotland
who begat John b.19-3-1891 Dundee,Angus
who begat Andrew b. 19-5-1723 Barry, Angus
who begat John b. 16-8-1749 Barry, Angus
who begat James b.10-9-1775 Barry, Angus
who begat Robert born 24-2-1798,married Ellen Milne, had 9 children and died 13-7-1855 Forfar, Scotland,
who begat John b. 21-4-1832 Arbroath, Scotland,married Catherine Mary Dowling,had 13 children and died 18-6-1900 at Warrnambool,
who begat John Robert b.4-8-1858 at 1 Edina St,Warnambool.

Having been told by Lew Ferrier that his grandfather (John Robert 4-8-1858)lived in Stanley St on a corner not far from Ferrier Drive,and having toured the street on google maps, 1 Edina St has to be that house.It was Stephen Alfred, John Robert's 6th child who lived in 11 Stanley St. His son, John Robert who married Gisele Albertine Eugine Duvert from Orleans in France lived in McDonald St (No.23?) on the Stephen St Corner.

John Robert (b. 4-8-1858) begat William John Ferrier of La Bella fame (1881-1937)
who begat the barefoot fisherman, Lew Ferrier of Queenscliff. Laurence Ferrier is also a grandson of John Robert but as he is the youngest son of Allan Vidmore, the youngest child of John Robert,he is 9 years younger than Lew.

Peter Ferrier b.2-7-1843,who owns a book store in Queenscliff is the son of Stephen Alfred Ferrier (born at Rosebud on 24-6-1912 to William John, 1881-1937, and Frances,nee Aitkin) who married Freda Willoughby.

John Ferrier b.21-4-1832 and Catherine Mary (nee Dowling) had 13 children:
1.Ann Jane 1855, 2. George born and died 1856, 3.George 1857 whose obituary in W.A. can be seen in earlier comments, 4.John Robert 1858, 5.William Alexander 1860-1888, 6.David Patrick 1861, 7.Mary Elizabeth 1863-married Wm Alex Swanston, 8.Alice Catherine -married Bolden, 9.Annie May 1866-married Hogan, 10.Stephen Hugh 10-8-1867 Warrnambool-married Carter and was by 1907 at Queenscliff where they resided for quite a while and lost several children as mentioned earlier; he was not the S.A.Ferrier who played for the Warrnambool Woolen Mill Cricket Team circa 1920, 11. Alfred Edward b.21-4-1869-married Julia Frances Kennedy and was buried in the Melb.General Cemetery, 12. James Peter b.18-6-1871-married Sophia Mitchell (possibly of the family involved in two rescues with members of the Ferrier family as mentioned previously)-no children, died 5-3-1936 and buried in the R.C. section,
13. Winifred Ellen, born 10-10-1872 and died 11-11-1872.

TO BE CONTINUED. CHILDREN OF JOHN ROBERT FERRIER (B.4-8-1858.)
and when Laurie's letter arrives, the children of the La Bella hero and Frances, nee Aitkin.

by itellya on 2014-05-26 23:06:34

John Robert Ferrier, grandfather of both Lew and Laurence, was born on 4-8-1858 in Warrnambool, possibly at 1 Edina St. I had not recorded his wife's name last night but she seems to have been Eleanor Conn (born Mt. Taurut,Victoria 1858,died Warrnambool, 1920.) Strangely there are no results for Mt. Taurat on google or trove. Hopefully Laurie will be able to help me with this mystery.

John Robert Ferrier's children were:
1. William John 1881-1937 if La Bella fame.
2. Ellen Catherine b.1881-married Thomas Martin Dunn.
3. Winifred Annie-married name Guinea, born at Tower Hill (Mt Taurat?) Died in child birth in 1912.
4. Albert Stanley Gordon b.4-6-1885 d.1887,both at Warrnambool.
5. Alice Meta May b.1887-married Byrne,buried Fawkner Cemetery.
6. Stephen Alfred b.1891-married Frances Frisch,died 1970. This would be the one who played for the Warrnambool Woollen Mill cricket team in 1920 (as in the photo)and lived at 11 Stanley St.
7. David born and died 6-4-1892. Buried in the same grave at Warrnambool as John Robert (his father.)
8. Harold James b.2-3-1893- married Jessie (Blanc?)and died at Stawell in February 1957. Their son Harold George b.21-7-1914 will turn 100 in July.
9. Madge Evelyn 1895-1967 married Sid Ellis and they lived in Brunswick but both are buried at Warrnambool. They had no children.
10.Joseph Edward b.1897 buried 11-2-1898.
11.Allan Vidmore b.4-12-1898 d.18-2-1963. (Laurie's father.)

THANKS SO MUCH TO LAURIE WHO HAD TO REPEAT SO MUCH INFORMATION DURING OUR CONVERSATION BECAUSE I WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH HIS FLOW OF INFORMATION (AS INDICATED BY JESSIE'S SCRIBBLED SURNAME WHICH COULD BE BLANCK.)

POSTSCRIPT. MT TAURUT.
Laurie Ferrier is a genius. He'd had the same problem. Did Mt Taurut exist? Yes but only for one year. It certainly wasn't a mountain,more like a mole hill says Laurie. In an original land plan,it was wrongly written with t on the end but this was amended to Mt Taurus on the next land plan. Mt Taurus near Winslow is about 17.5 km north west of Warrnambool. That's where Eleanor Conn,who married John Robert Ferrier, was born!

Now for the family of the La Bella hero. Were William Ferrier and Frances Aitkin (b.1885)married at Queenscliff or Warrnambool? Audrey Provan appears to have documentation of the latter.Why did the first-born of William and Frances,George William born in 1903,come to be called Val? When were the three stillborn girls born at Dromana? The birth years of the living children should give an indication. However it is possible that one of the girls was born in 1904/1905 and survived until the move to Rosebud rather than being stillborn. I quote William's words of 1905:
""I am a native of Warrnambool, and am 25 years of age. I have a wife and two young children."
The second child in Laurie's records was Ellen Isobel,born in 1906.

by itellya on 2014-05-27 07:49:23

Peter Ferrier of Queenscliff is the son of Stephen Alfred Ferrier who was born in Rosebud in 1912 as stated earlier.He is thus a grandson of the La Bella hero.

Peter has a good memory of nicknames and knows the origin of his grandfather's nickname "Sammy". The youngest son of William John Ferrier (called baby Geoff in a death notice included previously,1927?) married Joy (daughter of a sergeant-major at the Queenscliff fort) who is living in Pt. Lonsdale.

Three of the Ferrier boys were enlisted in the army for W.W.2 but got into trouble for insubordination, but just as Joy's dad was about to throw the book at them they received their acceptance into the Navy and off they went. They were among a small number of servicemen with military and naval service records. Commander McRoe mentioned at the Anzac Day ceremony at Rosebud that one of them was born in Rosebud.
See: ANZAC DAY 2014 AT ROSEBUD, VIC., AUST.

I'd noticed Ferrier graves in the Apollo Bay cemetery. Peter explained that William John Ferrier, his father's brother (who fell off the Cape Schanck lighthouse circa 1906 as an 18 month old), had moved to Apollo Bay.

Peter's dad's brothers George (Val.),Colin and Geoff were light keepers at the Pt. Lonsdale lighthouse.

William John Jnr was known as Putty, Peter's dad was Toppy (Peter became Little Toppy),and Colin was known as Darkie because of middle-east strains on his maternal side. George was called Val because he was born on St Valentine Day.

by itellya on 2014-05-30 00:33:56

A very detailed 95 page genealogy of the Ferrier family, compiled by Laurence Ferrier of Warrnambool, has been received in the post today. A summary will be posted in the journal. It has been wrongly assumed that William John Ferrier was descended from James Ferrier, master of three different vessels that brought convicts to Sydney and Hobart on 27-2-1823, 23-1-1824 and 25-4-1836,but the earliest confirmed ancestor was Robert Ferrier whose last occupation was given as "weaver."

by itellya on 2014-06-01 09:49:12

I think I've finally made contact with Audrey Provan. She had mentioned an aunt in Queensland, and I'd consulted Queensland newspapers on trove with a "Ferrier, Warrnambool" search in an attempt to find which member of the family had made the exodus to warmer climes.As a result I found another rescue at Warrnambool, in 1890,again involving a Ferrier, (and a Mitchell!)

It has refined my proposal for a joint 110th anniversary celebration of W.J.Ferrier's 1905 heroics. I am now thinking of an annual celebration at every seaside town to remember its maritime heroes. I am now thinking of a ROLL OF HONOUR for each of these towns,listing the heroes who performed rescues at sea, with November 10-11 and the most celebrated marine hero,W.J.Ferrier, being the symbol for all those men who were NOT accorded their MEED.

Victoria's development very much depended on the sea, because the roads were fairly poor and early railways were mainly built to link goldfields and the Murray River trade with Melbourne. Melbourne's early non-timber buildings depended on lime (for mortar) from both sides of Port Phillip and squatters could obtain provisions brought by Bass Strait traders rather than having to undertake arduous trips by bullock dray. If the limecraft or coastal traders were wrecked,the crews and passengers were doomed unless the locals (usually fishermen) were prepared to show the same bravery for which our ANZACS were renowned. The pioneers who organised rockets to enable rescues could also be counted as heroes. I reckon the Nepean Historical Society would have plenty of marine heroes to put on their roll.

No doubt Lifesaving Clubs and Coast Guard Squadrons would like the idea of a MARINE HEROES DAY to let the public know of the sterling work they do today. Here's my headline for the article.
ROWING TILL THEIR HANDS BLED!

A GALLANT RESCUE AT SEA.
During the gale which prevailed along the Warrnambool coast on the 31st November, an
exceptionally heavy sea was rolling into the bay. To venture on the sea while such a
storm prevailed would be courting great danger, but the task was undertaken by a
fisherman named Robert Rentoul, of South Warrnambool. At about noon be launched a
small dingy for the purpose of proceeding to his fishing boat, anchored in the Bay above 100 yards from the jetty, which he succeeded in reaching. After completing his work on board, shortly after one o'clock, he commenced the return journey in his dingy.

He had only got a few yards away when a squall caught the little craft and carried it seaward. On getting away beyond the shelter of the breakwater it became exposed to the full force of the wind, and was tossed about by the huge seas, which threatened the boat with speedy destruction. Pilot Cloke had one of the Government whaleboats launched to go to the rescue, and called for volunteers.

The four men chosen were John Ferrier, senr.,stevedore ; Roger Edwards, a fisherman;
John Lennis, a stevedore ; and Robert Johnson, a seaman employed by the Government.

By this time Rentoul's boat had been blown about a mile from the jetty, and it was being carried toward the spot where the ship Edinburgh Castle had been wrecked some two years ago, and where the surf was extremely dangerous. Pilot Cloke and his men
knew that it had become a race for life. Every stroke of the oars lessened the gap between the rescue party and the dingy, and the latter was overhauled when it was within a few yards of the breakers.

Rentoul quickly sprang out of his boat into that of his rescuers, and immediately he did so the craft he had just left was carried into the breakers, and in a few moments was broken up. It required all the efforts of the whaleboat crew and the skill of the helmsman to avoid the breakers, they having now to pull against the wind.

By this time the townspeople had assembled in numbers on the heights overlooking the bay, and they watched the struggle with breathless interest. Pilot Cloke and the men had a hard battle to fight, as at the outset they were far beyond the shelter of the breakwater, so that they had to withstand the full force of the waves rolling in
from the ocean. For a time they made good progress, and had got to within a mile of the jetty, but their strength was failing and soon afterwards the boat appeared to be almost stationary. One moment they went ahead, the next they went astern, then ahead, and again astern.

The men had now been pulling incessantly for an hour and a half, and to the onlookers it seemed only a matter of time when they would have to give up the struggle and drift to destruction. At length, a sailing boat, the Ethel May, manned by John Fisher and Walter Mitchell, under very little canvas,proceeded toward the party in distress, towed them some little distance, but in attempting to wear round missed stays, and got near the breakers, narrowly escaping capsize. The whale boat was cast adrift again, but the men, after a short respite were able to pull safely to the pier. They were thoroughly exhausted after being two hours at sea, and the blood was streaming from their hands.
(Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954) Thursday 18 December 1890 p 5.)

by itellya on 2014-06-14 01:48:44

NUMBER SEVEN AT ROSEBUD. 858 Pt Nepean Rd, Rosebud.
Lew Ferrier wrote in the letter that prompted, and is included in, this journal:
"Mum so often spoke of number seven in the house where Dad and family lived."

When I was transcribing the letter into the journal, NUMBER SEVEN made no sense, so I asked Lew what it meant and he replied that number seven was where his parents lived at Rosebud. That was when the penny dropped. There were no official street names so there certainly would have been no house numbers. It could only mean CROWN ALLOTMENT 7, ROSEBUD FISHING VILLAGE.

It was this allotment and the house upon it that had ignited my interest in
"Ferrier, Fisherman,later sold to Fountains then later to Archers", as a map of early Rosebud puts it. At that time,crown allotment 7 had pine trees in front of it, as c/a 6 on the Murray Anderson Rd foreshore car park corner still does. This made sense because George Fountain called his place "The Pines" and it was on crown allotment 6 and, according to the early map,included crown allotment 7 for a time.

Crown allotment 6 has a frontage of 184 links (36.8 metres)and crown allotment 7, like most of the fishing village blocks including c/a 8 (now occupied by the BEACHSIDE APARTMENTS), had a frontage of 100 links (1 chain or 20 metres.)

One day I had driven my daughter to a medical clinic at 19 Mitchell St, a beautiful old building which turned out to be the homestead of HENRY POTTON'S FARM, which De Garis (who committed suicide twice) called Wahgunyah. Wow,there was a piece of Rosebud's heritage that had not yet been demolished! Were there any more? A long investigation uncovered the Boyd Cottage (62 Rosebud Pde), Hindhope Villa (50 First Avenue) and the house on NUMBER SEVEN. The high fence on Crown allotment 6 prevented me from seeing 856 Pt Nepean Rd (the address for "The Pines" given in the heritage study),which I took to be the second "The Pines" house built by George Fountain while he occupied Ferrier's old house.

If you google "858 Point Nepean Road, ROSEBUD VIC 3939
www.onthehouse.com.au/.../858_Point_Nepean_Road_ROSEBUD_VIC_...", you will get a street view showing the weatherboard house in the middle of crown allotment 7. Click on the street view to enlarge it, go left to Beachside Apartments,whose address is given as No. 262 and then right, almost to Murray Anderson Rd, where, near the gate, No.254 can be clearly seen on the high crown allotment 6 fence. Referring to the aerial view,you will see that c/a 6 contains Nos. 254, and 256 on the west side, crown allotment 7 is Nos 258 and 260 and crown allotment 8 is called No. 262.

At about that time,I found an advertisement for No 858 in which Henderson's Real Estate proclaimed that it was ideal for restoration or DEVELOPMENT! Not sure whether No.856,in the heritage study meant 854 or 858,I launched into rate research to provide evidence to support a heritage overlay for No. 858, mainly based on the prominence of George Fountain,the last Mayor of the Borough of Hotham (North Melbourne) and his probable occupancy of the house for a time. AT THAT TIME I KNEW NOTHING OF WILLIAM FERRIER,THE HERO OF THE LA BELLA WRECK IN 1905! Soon after I had sent an email to Simon Lloyd,the Shire's Heritage Planner (which I later apparently accidentally deleted), I found a report of the sale of No. 858 and, seeing the pine trees being sawn down,just about had a heart attack. I wrote my journal:
HISTORY DISAPPEARS TODAY IN ROSEBUD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. The workmen informed me that the new owner had no intention of demolishing the house!

In my rate research for No.858 Pt Nepean Rd, I had started from 1912 when there was some chance of properties being properly described,(see Cr Terry in my SHIRE OF FLINDERS journal)and worked my way to 1919 re George Fountain,Archer etc. Recently,I found to my amazement,that there was no mention of FERRIER in my 1910-11 rates transcription. Eh?

Time to hit the books (microfiche) again! To summarise, I will paste from an email to ROSEBUD RIPPLE,the community weekly newsletter produced by the Seawinds Community Hub, re my first article, A HERO COMES TO ROSEBUD: THEY CALLED HIM SAMMY.

Ratebook research today indicates that William Ferrier's house was built before 1894 by Antonio Bosina,who had earlier obtained a loan from Captain Henry Everest Adams.Antonio (nearly blind) was followed as occupant by Mrs Lennie Edwards in 1902-3 and Frances Elizabeth Ferrier followed her in 1910-11. This would mean that the Ferrier family was at Cape Schanck in 1906 living in lightkeeper houses and that from 1907-1910 their accommodation was on the south channel pile and lightkeepers' cottages by the shore (McCrae) lighthouse.
*The monthly trips to Rosebud that Lew Ferrier mentioned were probably to seek companionship minus shop (i.e lighthouse) talk.

The rate book details regarding crown allotment 7 are as follow. The assessment numbers are given in brackets. Connections with other assessments are confirmed by the number in next rate and number in previous rate columns re Edwards to Ferrier but not re Bosina to Edwards.
1914-15 (1395) Frances E.Ferrier, Rosebud, crown allotment 7 and buildings,N.A.V. 7 POUNDS. DITTO FOR 1914-15 (1275), 1913-14 (1178), 1912-13 (1103), 1911-12 (921)1 LOT AND BUILDINGS,n.a.v. 6 pounds.
1910-11 (880)Mrs Lennie Edwards, Dromana,1 lot and buildings, n.a.v. 6 pounds. Frances Eliz. Ferrier written faintly in property description column.

1909-10 (796),1908-9 (745), 1907-8 (740)address now Flinders, 1906-7 (720) address now Mooroopna. 1905-6 (681), 1904-5 (700), n.a.v. only 4 pounds, 1903-4 (700),
1902-3 (553)Antonio Bosina crossed out and Mrs Lennie Edwards written above.n.a.v. 4 pounds.

1901-2 (517), 1900-1 (518), 1899-1900 (517), 1898-9 (519)and 1894-5 (473) are all the same (Antonio Bosina,1 lot or allot. and building, Wannaeue or Rosebud, n.av. 4 pounds.)

The only problem is that Antonio Bosina was granted crown allotment 22 of the fishing village and I can find no mention on trove of c/a 22 being sold. Although Antonio seems to have had a house on c/a 7 by 1894,the only way to prove this, apart from a title search, would be to trace Bosina entries from 1873 in the hope of finding his name replaced re c/a 22 and his name replacing that of Thomas Coppard, the grantee of crown allotment 7.

by itellya on 2014-06-14 07:54:30

RE ANTONIO BOSINA AND 858 PT NEPEAN RD (continued from previous comment.)
On 3-5-1880,Henry Everest Adams of Adams' Corner (Wattle Place, McCrae) gave Antonio Bosena a loan of 20 pounds. Antonio put up as security on the loan crown allotment 22, Rosebud Fishing Village (which is two blocks west of 890 Pt Nepean Rd and was granted to Antonio on 27-8-1872), and his fishing boat,Lilly. (P.13, ADAMS' CORNER, The Adams Family:Peninsula Pioneers, Ray Gibb, November,2010. Sourced from a loan document in the scrapbook of Harvey Marshall,a descendant of Captain Adams.)

NEW INSOLVENTS.
Antonio Bosenna, of Rosebud, near Dromana, Fisherman, Cause of insolvency-Adverse verdict in tho County Court Liabilities, ?77 12s 6d , assets, ?31 10s , deficiency,
?46 2s 6d Mr. Jacomb, assignee. (P.5, Argus,4-8-1880.)

I guess that explains what happened to crown allotment 22 and why he later lived on crown allotment seven. As Captain Adams gave the loan only three months before his property was sequestered,he may have done this knowing of Antonio's financial situation and as a means of ensuring that Lilly was not lost to creditors.

Antonio was obviously a bachelor so moving from one house to another would not be a great problem as long as he still had a boat to continue fishing. Why was he obviously a bachelor? That's what I have been trying to find for the last two days and the reason I found the insolvency notice.

I am fairly certain that Antonio Bosina had given an engagement ring to the daughter of Fred Vine and when Fred, who thought Bosina was far too old,went to Antonio's house to protest it finished with one charging the other with assault. As Fred's surname is given as Vine,Vean, Vien and Velan in various articles and Antonio's as Bosina, Bosena, Bosenna etc., there is little chance that I will ever find the article again.

However the search has resulted in several finds which

by itellya on 2014-06-14 10:23:26

(continued) have been added as comments under my EARLY ROSEBUD journal. Not only that,I've also found another court case which I have trying to re-find for two years. It involves another piece of land including the present FJ's site,2 acres on the Jetty Rd corner,known as lot 86 of crown allotment 18 Wannaeue. The fact that this 2 acre site had been sold is mentioned on a document of August 1878, recording a loan of 128 pounds 9 shillings from Captain Adams to William Edwards that is also in Harvey Marshall's scrapbook. Edwards mortgaged lot 86 of crown allotment 18.

Jack Jones was the grantee of crown allotment 6 of the fishing village and had operated Rosebud's first store on the block using an upturned boat at first. Isabel Moresby gives fair detail about this in ROSEBUD; FLOWER OF THE PENINSULA. Jones probably built a house/store later and the early rosebud map mentions (on c/a 6)that the store burnt down. By 1900,Jack Jones was assessed on "2 acres and building, lot 18,Rosebud". Of course the "building" was the new store on the FJ's site and lot 18 should be lot 86 of crown allotment 18. According to the Early Rosebud map, George Fountain established The Pines on crown allotment 6 of the fishing village in 1907.

It is likely that this court case would have led to Jack Jones staying on c/a 6, George Fountain not becoming a Rosebud identity and a neighbour of the Ferriers, and no store being built on the FJ's site by 1900. It is far too long for me to correct the digitisation.

William Jamieson apparently bought lot 86, crown allotment 18 and subdivided the 2 acre block.In 1919 he was assessed on 1 lot s/w corner of c/a 18 and 2 lots Esplanade to the east. Mrs P.J.Potton, owner of the remaining 150 acre Potton's farm owned another three blocks.

LAW REPORT. SUPREME COURT. EQUITY COURT. FRIDAY, SEPT. 13. (Before His Honour Mr. Justice A'Beckett.) LAKE V. JONES.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 18 September 1889 p 11 Article

The first court case about crown allotment 18 Wannaeue revolves around Blakey or Blackey (not Blakeley)selling the 2 acre lot 86 to Jack Jones in 1871 before he sold c/a 18 to "Blooming Bob" White. White sold the whole of c/a 18 to the Lake* brothers who wanted to evict Jones from lot 86 in 1889. The uncertainty about ownership of c/a 18 led to The *LEAK BROTHERS being recorded as owners of the unspecified 150 acres for a couple of years circa 1889 and then Robert White for one year before the Pottons bought the farm.

There was later another case,either Leak/Lake v Jamieson or visa versa which involved the south west corner of crown allotment 18.

The court case re lot 86 of crown allotment 18 might seem to have little relevance to the presentation of a case for a heritage overlay being placed on the hero's house,858 Pt Nepean Rd,Rosebud. But it does have great relevance. It illustrates that ROSEBUD was a fishing village on the FORESHORE and that any of the few houses on the other side of Point Nepean Rd should have been described as lot- of crown allotment-,Wannaeue, for example, the Peatey house on the south corner of the track behind the school (later called McDowell St) was lot 76, crown allotment 17, Wannaeue.

This makes a mockery of the claim in the Rosebud Foreshore Management Plan of a historical connection between Rosebud and the foreshore across the road. Rosebud was ON the foreshore,not ACROSS THE ROAD! As the fishing village is the very essence of Rosebud's heritage, it is critical that the heritage study of the village promised by Simon Lloyd identifies any remaining heritage before it is destroyed.

858 Pt Nepean Rd seems to have stood since 1894 or earlier,which would probably make it the oldest intact house in Rosebud ; build date of John Cain's limestone house just south of Bunnings is unclear, as is that of 19 Mitchell St. It is pretty much like the timber house in the middle of the block on the west side of Durham Place in which Judith Durham spent her first six summers (demolished!) It was the home from 1910 to 1915-16 of William John Ferrier, the OVERNIGHT NATIONAL HERO of the La Bella wreck at Warrnambool and a symbol of the heroism of fishermen (such as his grandfather John and his son,Frank) who performed rescues at sea before the days of volunteer coast guards and the like.

One of the themes in thematic heritage studies is CONNECTING VICTORIANS BY SEA and as the Ferrier family was involved in rescues at Warrnambool, Rosebud and Queenscliff, I think there is a reasonable case for the status of STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE to be given to 1 Edina St, Warrnambool,20 Beach St,Queenscliff ("Rosebud") and 858 Pt Nepean Rd,Rosebud. I don't know if the hero's son,William John Jnr,performed similar heroics at Apollo Bay but the family was certainly as symbolic of Victoria's maritime heritage as any others.

by itellya on 2014-06-15 10:07:40

FERRIER AT APOLLO BAY.
Apollo Bay,like Warrnambool has a street named after the Ferriers, Ferrier Drive in a suburb named after the reef. The parliamentary transcript is a good read. Like Lew and Laurence,Harry doesn't put up with people who are strangers to common sense.

Although Frank Bernard Ferrier (supposedly an only child according to Ancient Faces)was at Apollo Bay by 1954 after his "Merlan" heroics in 1949,he was buried at Queenscliff.

Fishermen drowned Apollo Bay, Tuesday
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 18 August 1954 p 7 Article
Fishermen drowned
Apollo Bay, Tuesday
Two fishermen who lost their lives when their boat capsized off Cape Otway on June 27 had been fishing too close to the rocks, Frank Bernard Ferrier, fisherman, of Apollo Bay, told Mr. F.E. Martin, J.P., deputy coroner, today.

Mr. Martin found that William Albert Willats, 27,of Apollo Bay, died from injuries received when the boat in which he was fishing capsized. Willats was in the boat
with his brother, Graham John Willats. 23, whose body has not been recovered.

Frank Bernard Ferrier was not buried at Apollo Bay, but at Queenscliff. I presume Eva was his wife.
Queenscliff Cemetery - RootsWeb
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausvsac/Queenscliff.htm
FERRIER FERRIER Elma Lucy, George W Valentine FERRIER Eva Jessie, Frank Bernard FERRIER Geoffrey B FERRIER Jean Isobel FERRIER Karen Ann
FERRIER Eva Jessie, Frank Bernard

Photo of Ross Ferrier in the following:
Apoli Bay's harbour receives $2.2 million - Terry Mulder
www.terrymulder.com.au/.../150711%20Apollo%20Bays%20harbour%2...
An Apollo Bay fish- erman has welcomed an almost $2.2-mil- lion injection into the town's harbour. Crayfish and shark fisherman Ross Ferrier was the first of ...


Corrected Transcript.pdf 44.16 Kb
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/documents/.../Ferrier.pdf
Nov 8, 2007 - Witness. Mr H. Ferrier, professional fisherman and boat repairer. ... I am a resident of Apollo Bay, a fisherman for 30 years and boat builder.

Lighthouses@Lighthouse Digest ... Cape Otway Lighthouse
www.lighthousedigest.com ? Digest ? Archives ? October 2000
The wreck of the City of Rayville was reputedly located in January of 1999 by Harry Ferrier a local Apollo Bay deep-sea fisherman.

Apollo Bay; Cemetery Index Frame - Contact Ian Marr
www.ianmarr.net.au/APOLLO1.HTM
647 FERRIER, Joyce Norma, born Abt. 1924, died 6 Jan 2004 aged 80, Wife of William (646); nee HAYES
646 FERRIER, William John "Putty", born Abt. 1907,died 1 Nov 1979 aged 72
Hus of Joyce (647)

by itellya on 2014-09-21 06:41:00

HUTCHINS.
Shire of Flinders Heritage Study - Part 2.pdf - Mornington ...
www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/.../Strategic_Heritage_Flinders_Study_Pt2.pdf

SHIRE OF FLINDERS HERITAGE STUDY,PAGE 542.
Newberry Hill,3039 Pt. Nepean Rd, Sorrento.
HISTORY.
Ratebooks suggest building activity c.1909 and c.1912 when the site was owned by E.E.Onge and Richard Onge. However Newberry Hill seems to date from the 1920's based on a visual inspection of the building. William Hutchins owned the property with Robert Onge from 1915 to 1919 and then continued in ownership until 1968. William was the first son of George Hutchins who took up a fishing licence at Cameron's Bight in the 1890's. Three generations of Hutchins fished at Cameron's Bight,and as late as the 1970's were selling fish there.

More detail re the dwelling and setting in the study. As I did with the above,you'll have to transcribe, because you can't copy and paste.

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