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The Royalauto for October, 2013 has an article on page 8 called THE FISH SHED in its feature CURIOUSLY VICTORIAN.
It states that five generations of Hutchins have fished Port Phillip at Mornington since 1860. It's a fair bet that George Hutchins and his wife Harriet were members of the first generation.
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 above-named 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. WISEWOULD and GIBBS, 61 William-street, Melbourne, proctors for the said Harriett Hutchins. (P.3,Argus, 26-4-1878.)
The Royalauto article has a photo of the shed and Neville Hutchins,61,who with his brother,Dalton,59, still sells their catch from the shed. Their original shop at Fisherman's Beach was obliterated by storms,just one of several setbacks the family faced. The brothers still use an old technique used by such as the Watsons of Portsea and Sorrento, but with a modern advantage. Neville tracks shoals of fish from the headland,directing Dalton's run of nets by walkie-talkie.
It's now some years since I read LIME LAND LEISURE, and ,although I made no note of it, I seem to remember that there was a connection between the Hutchins of Sorrento and Mornington. It is interesting that two fishing families were thanked for their support for the Hutchins of Sorrento. The Watsons were fishing at Portsea by 1862 and Erland Erlandsen commenced fishing near Sorrento after (jumping ship?) in 1879.
WATSON.-Mrs. WATSON, sen., and Family, Sorrento, wish to convey their sincere THANKS to many kind friends for letter, cards,and personal expressions of sympathy during their recent sad loss of son and brother, especially thanking Hutchins Bros, and Mr. Erlandsen and sons. (P.1, Argus, 8-1-1923.)
The Sawyer family was not known to be involved in fishing but the well known fishing families of Prosser and Hutchins were related to it by marriage. Isaac Sawyer married Sarah,the daughter of Henry Prosser, one of the founders of the Frankston Fish Company, and after Isaac's death she remarried to Amis Renouf,a director of the same company.
RENOUF.-On the 15th July, at her daughter's residence, Dromana, Sarah, widow of the late Amice Renouf, Frankston, and dearly beloved mother of Mrs Jonah Griffith (Dromana), Mrs.John Hopcroft (Caulfield), Mrs. I. Sawyer(Neerim South), Mr. H. Sawyer ("Sylvan," Neerim Junction, Gippsland), Mr. J. Sawyer(Moorooduc), Mr. F. Sawyer (Bittern); grand-mother of Mr. Alex Henry and his sister, Mrs.W. Martin (Mt. Eliza), aged 93 years. A colonist of 68 years. (P.13, Argus, 29-7-1916.) See my journal RENOUF ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA.
Thus, Sarah Renouf, mother of Fred Sawyer, was the grandmother of John Hutchins' bride, Caroline Sawyer.
Mornington Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1911 - 1920) Saturday 16 September 1911 p 2 Family Notices Marriage. HUTCHINS-SAWYER.-At St. James' Church, West Melbourne, on the 25th August, by the Ven. Archdecon Hindley, John Hutchins, Mornington, to Caroline third eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs F. Sawyer, " Glenfield," Bittern.
This journal results from a private message conversation between myself and Shah, who has consented to her information being published.
Very interested in all you have written about the Mornington Peninsula.
In regard to the Thistles in Boneo Road. My grandparents ran this as a guest house around the 1930s. I understand it was then a double storey house.
Would this be correct and is there anything else you could tell me about it?
Researching Moser, Rogers, Munday, Bennett, Dixon, Pilbeam, Belsar, Parkinson, Fitzgibbon, amongst others.
Thank you
Hi Shah. You referred to "The Thistle" by which I presume you mean "The Thicket". This was bounded by First Avenue, Eastbourne Rd and Boneo Rd and contained the curving streets such as Warranilla Ave. It adjoined the Hope St houses which were part of "Hindhope", a farm which occupied the northern half of crown allotment 14 Wannaeue.
Unfortunately I know very little about The Thicket. The late Ray Cairns told me that the homestead was near the site of the church that stands at the corner of Boneo Rd and The Drive. I need to know the name of your grandfather who ran the guest house in what must have been an extension of the homestead described below. The only mentions of The Thicket seem to be the following sale notice and a fire and a brief advertisement re holiday accommodation in shallays (chalets) in the 1940's. With a bit more information, I might be able to find other articles or advertisements about the property on trove.
CLEARING SALE At "THE THICKET," BONEO ROAD, ROSEBUD, THURSDAY. JUNE 22.
At One O'Clock. On the Premises.
McInnes, Whinfield, and Co. (late J.K. Jennings and McInnes) have received Instructions to SELL , on the above date A farm property, consisting of 56 ac. 2 rd. 22 perches, situated close to Rosebud township, and only a stone-throw from the water frontage,
A good house, consisting of 5 rooms and conveniences, is erected on the property, including a garage, extra good well equipped bails and sheds, machinery shed, pig run and sty, buggy shed, chaffhouse, &c, &c.
The properly is subdivided into 7 paddocks. This includes three very good orchards, peaches, apple, pears, and other fruit in full bearing, and is watered by windmill, pipes laid, and an abundant supply.
CATTLE. 14 dairy cows, 3 heifers, 3 bullocks, 1 bull, 4 calves.
HORSES. 1 draught gelding 5 years old; 1 medium draught mare, 7 years old, extra good.
PIGS.-2 sows with broods, 1 boar.
IMPLEMENTS.-Seed drill, disc plough, 2 single furrow ploughs, cultivator, mower, 1 set harrows, 1 grindstone, 1 spray pump, 1 portable engine (Richardson), 1 shellcrusher, I chaffcutter, complete with belt; shovel, forks, garden utensils,
&c, 2 incubators, 3 brooders, pair of scales.
HARNESS. 2 sets of buggy harness, 1 set of dray harness, collars, and hames.
DAIRY.-Separator (Globe No. 1), 2 milk churns, 2 butter churns.
FURNITURE. 4 bedsteads and mattresses, chest of drawers, small tables, washstand &c.
VEHICLES.-1 dray, 1 springcart, 1 buggy, 1 phaeton.
Terms on Land Purchase 1230 may remain on mortgage for 3 years, bearing 5 per cent. interest,balance cash.
The auctioneers have inspected this property, and have to report that it is a snug, comfortable home, well equipped, and a very fine front garden. The land is good black sandy loam, and well suited for growing maize, lucerne, onions, and the like, and, being within a stone-throw of the bay frontage, must eventually command a big price for building blocks. We strongly recommend it as a comfortable home and a good Investment.
Further particulars from McInnes, Whinfield, and Co., 411 Bourke street, Melbourne.
Local representative, Mr. Jennings, land and estate agent, Rosebud.
(P.3,The Argus,27-5-1922.)
Yes, I did mean the Thicket! My great grandparents names were Sydney and Mary (May) Moser. My grandmother Mona Moser was married there. She married Bartholomew Rogers who had bakeries in Rosebud and then managed the pine plantation*. (*See "Bogies and Birdies" the history of the Rosebud Country Club-itellya.)
Are you interested in my grandparents businesses and where they lived etc?
Bartholomew (Barty) Rogers was on many committees such as the building of the local high school and memorial hall. He has a road named after him in Cape Schanck where he owned a lot of land at one stage.
Thank you for your reply.
I'd love any information concerning your ancestors in relation to Rosebud and the Mornington Peninsula. I think I remember Peter Wilson mentioning Bart Rogers in relation to the memorial hall.
Did your great grandparents own just the homestead block of The Thicket or the whole (almost) 57 acres? Did they know Keith McGregor who had probably leased the homestead block from Alf Rawlings while he ran the transport business and owned Hindhope Villa (50 First Avenue) after his return from the Western District?
Who were their friends in the area? Was Cr.Forrest Edmund (Joe) Wood one of them? If you have any anecdotes in the family folklore about funny incidents, accidents, events etc., I'd love to hear about them.
When did the Mosers arrive in the area from Swan Hill and what was M.A.Moser doing at Dromana in 1948? I presume this was Murray who escaped serious injury in 1938 while presumably living at Rosebud. Did Murray run a garage in Rosebud West?
MOTOR Mechanic A grade or equivalent experience Furnished house
available right man reasonable rent Apply giving complete details of qualifications and experience M Moser Chatfeld ave Rosebud West
(The Argus, Saturday 17 July 1948, p 18 Advertising.)
Just in case you haven't used TROVE, I'll include the articles referred to above.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 24 October 1938 p 3 Article
... CAR SNAPS POST ROSEBUD, Sunday.-Struck - Struck by a motor-car when it swerved after a collision lision with another car this afternoon, an electric light pole on the Sorrento road was snapped off at the base. The driver of the car, Mr. Murray Moser, escaped with a cut nose and a passenger ... 80 words
Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1939 - 1949) Thursday 18 March 1948 p 11 Article
... T. Atherton (Rosebud), H. Atherton (Main Ridge), R. Donaldson (B3alnarr ing), J. Fanning, L. ... W. G. Cochrane (Merricks), W. Pedley, W. Brace (Red Hill South), G. Brasser, MA. Moser (Dromana), ... 292 words
I also tried Rogers, Rosebud and found this one.
P G Rogers of Rosebud applied to the board for permission to carry with one commercial vehicle goods within a radius of 20 miles of Rosebud. He applied also for permission to carry goods to and from Flinders and Portsea to places within a radius of five miles of the G P O Melbourne. Tho application was opposed by the railways E G
White. W A Peterson and B A Cairns The board reserved its decision.
(The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thursday 1 September 1938 p 12 Article)
Hello again,
I will have to get back to you re some of the questions. Yes, Murray Moser ran a garage in West Rosebud that has in the past few years been knocked down and there are units and a caf there. Dad has just told me they bought a house that was at the back of where the garage was they lived in. I am regularly on Trove.
I have found my grandfather Barty better by searching for BP Rogers. He owned Bakeries in Kilmore and I've found recently Hurstbridge, but not at the same time.
I think the Moser's arrived in Rosebud quite possibly in 1938. I have a photo of my grandmother Mona standing in a garden, that mum thinks was the Thicket. Only shows a palm tree in the background. My grandmother's father Sydney Moser worked on the Rosebud Hotel, bricklaying (I think). They would not have owned the Thicket but probably rented it. They weren't well off due to my great grandfather's roaming.
They lived quite a number of places in Victoria before settling in Rosebud.
His father Herman Frederick Moser was a quite well known photographer and was involved in getting the bridge over the Murray in Swan Hill. He was the first person to take bullocks and dray across it; though I don't think he was supposed to!
The Mosers were distantly related to cricketer (Pontrose?) who owned a holiday home in Rosebud on the corner of Point Nepean Road and Rose Road. Sydney Murray Moser was born in Deniliquin in 1888 and married Mary Ann (May) Bennett in Deniliquin in 1910. May Bennett was a granddaughter of two convicts Elizabeth Taylor and Samuel Benjamin Bellamy Bennett. Her maternal great grandfather has an island named after him near Swan Hill called Belsar's Island. Barty Rogers had two bakeries at different times in Rosebud, one where the now ANZ bank was and the other where the men's wear shop is now next to Peebles. This shop was more of a milk bar/mixed business which granddad owned with May Moser. I rang Dad, Charlie Munday,to ask where grandad's 2nd shop was and he said he thought the information you have about Bill Chatfield may not be correct as he doesn't remember him fishing. He had a truck and did cartage work and put in Electric power poles etc. Murray Moser bought the garage from him and when they extended the garage, this is where the house was moved back. It is no longer there. Chatfield also built a shop next to the garage where a Tattoo place is now. Dad also said there was a man called Chadwick and another man called Lynch who ran the store. Lynch went on holiday to Queensland and drowned. The PG Rogers you found about permission for cartage may well have been my grandfather except they have the initials wrong. He did carry bricks etc. He used to buy concrete bricks my other grandfather Charles Munday made.
Charles Munday (my dad has the same name) used to sell the bricks to Barty and Barty would often return to buy more as he had lost some of his load on the journey.
Dad's side Charles William Munday and Amy Evelyn Munday(nee Parkinson) came to Rosebud on the 12th March 1946 and lived in a shed just behind where McDonalds is now. Grandad then built a house and built units in Fourth Avenue that still stand though are totally changed now. He also built the house opposite which is now behind the Tyre place. My grandparents ran a boat hire place where the Scout hall now stands. They then built a house in Murray Anderson Road and lived there until my grandfather's death in 1976. Barty and Mona Rogers and their children lived in the old pine house that used to stand beside the drive to the Rosebud Football Ground. They then built a brick home opposite the site of the present high school but this was demolished by the power company who used the land. They built another home two doors down that still stands in Boneo Road.
I will speak to my Uncle (mum's brother) as he may remember more.
Thanks for taking the time to record all this; it is fascinating!
This is fantastic because I rely on rates (available only until 1919) and old residents for most of my information, many of the latter having now died. With so many changes (e.g. McDonald's, the transmission station on the Boneo/Eastbourne corner that you mention, K.F.C.-formerly a caravan park mentioned in one of my journals etc),only people that have "been there; done that" can fill the gaps.
In regard to William Chatfield, he had been a fisherman before becoming a shopkeeper,living in a hut on the foreshore which was probably taken over by a (Swede)who is mentioned by Vin Burnham in his memories of Rosebud in the early days. Vin (Owen) had forgotten his surname but I've got it somewhere.(Axel Vincent!)
See "Life in Rosebud in the early years: by Vin Burnham | steveburnham.net
By Owen Vincent (Vin) Burnham. Unknown-3 When I was quite young (about seven, early 1920s) the Nepean Highway was a gravel and dirt road right up to ..."
In seeking information about William Chatfield, I made the fascinating discovery that residents of Rosebud West and Tootgarook had decided to call the area "Eastbourne".
At a public meeting held at Eastbourne a committee of management, consisting of Messrs D.Cairns, W.Chatfield, F.Luscombe, and W.Truman, was formed to take over control of portion of the foreshore between Rye and Rosebud. It was decided to name the locality Eastbourne.
(P.15, Argus,23-6-1926.)
Eastbourne is the name given to his West Rosebud grant by Sidney Smith Crispo and used by Edward Williams, his great friend when he took over the property before Crispo's death in 1899. Williams had a new limestone homestead built at 17 William Crescent, and the name now applies to the primary school and Eastbourne Rd as well as the historic house.
Eleanora Davey Cairns lived at Eleanora, which was also built in the early 1900's and having been donated to the Alfred Hospital as a nurses' refuge,is now part of the Rosebud Hospital. Luscombe might have been a poultry farmer at Rosebud West,perhaps on "Woyna" east of the Truemans Rd corner. William Trueman had the eastern half of the land granted to his father,James. This land was later occupied by poultry farmer, Alf Doig, who was responsible for the area west of Truemans Rd being officially named Tootgarook. It is possible that the shire had denied a request for Eastbourne as an official name because of possible confusion with another place in Victoria of that name. (The Pascoe Vale Girls' School, established in a prominent house named Mt. Sabine could not be given that name because of such a situation.)
In the Sands and McDougall directory of 1950,Bartholomew P. Rogers is listed as a Rosebud resident and M.Moser, motor garage,was one of 24 Rosebud West residents. Also listed under Rosebud were Charles W. and Ernest H.Munday.
One thing I need to establish is the location of the Narooma Guest House. Jim Dryden said it was between First Avenue and Boneo Rd but his brother, Bill, claims it was on the site of McDonalds.
What I would like to do is write a journal about Rosebud, featuring your families, in the form of a conversation. In other words,to copy and paste our conversation, deleting any info of a private nature or that you don't want published. Something like MOSER, ROGERS AND MUNDAY MEMORIES OF ROSEBUD,VIC., AUST. How does that appeal to you?
Eastbourne Rd was a government road shown in the survey of the parish of Wannaeue. In about 1900,It was known as Ford's Lane because of Cr William Ford who had earlier owned the Wannaeue Estate bounded by Jetty Rd, Hiscock Rd (which continued eastward to the Old Cape Schanck/Jetty Rd corner), Boneo Rd and Eastbourne Rd. Later it was owned by Jack Raper (apparently pronounced Roper for obvious reasons)and the lane was known to locals as Roper's Lane by such as Ray Cairns and Bill Dryden.Jack built the house on the east side of the Olympic Park driveway in which Bart Rogers lived. Its demolition illustrates how little effort the shire has made to document Rosebud's heritage; thank goodness my curiosity has saved the Boyd Cottage in Rosebud Pde!
Hello again,
My father has given me some names and places you may be interested in.
I also know other old locals if you would like their input as well.
Narooma Guest house was on the corner of 4th Avenue where the current Safeway Petrol Station is. Dad also mentioned an old lady that used to live in quite a substantial house on the foreshore where the current Village Green is. He doesn't remember her name but she used to cut men's hair during WW2. She boarded a man by the name of Bucher who drowned when he fell in a drain. (As the village Green was the footy ground, the house probably adjoined the eastern end of it-itellya.)
The body of Lewis Thomas Bucher, 71, of Rosebud was found in a drainage canal near his home yesterday. He had
been missing from his home since Monday. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
(P.6, Argus, 23-6-1948.) N.B. The drain was probably Chinaman's Creek. itellya.)
On the current site of Woolworths next to Rosebud Primary School there was the Presbyterian Church and a menswear that used to be owned by the Weatherheads. This was moved to its current site. Patterson's garage also used to reside there (woollies site).
Where there is a doctors surgery near the site of the old Rosebud tennis courts, this used to be the Methodist Church.
Dad mentioned Bill Paige. Frank Whittaker owned a furniture shop amongst other things. Bobby Weatherhead, Ernie Jensen, Bruce Jensen who was a Panel Beater and Micky Dark. I haven't been able to establish if my great grandparents knew the people who you asked about but dad played cricket or baseball (forgotten) with the army person you mentioned. Happy to have the information I provided in the journal.
MELBOURNE BRINDLE, FERRIER, LACCO AND McLEAR SAVE ERNIE RUDDUCK'S LIFE, DROMANA, VIC., AUST.
It's not often that I base a new journal on just one incident. There are six people mentioned in this story, an Australia-wide hero in 1905, a renowned wooden boat builder, an un-named Greek fisherman, the son of a circa 1871 Dromana pioneer, a boy who saved a life shortly before leaving for America (1918) and achieving fame and the son of one of the PIONEERING NEIGHBOURS NEAR CARRIGG ST,DROMANA.
The funny thing is that I would never have found this story if I had not been contacted by Shah about her ancestors who arrived in Rosebud in about 1938. Her father had not known Bill Chatfield of Rosebud West to be a fisherman and I told her that Bill's fishing operation was taken over by a Swede,but like Vin Burnham in his memoirs of life in early Rosebud,I couldn't remember his name. (I just remembered that it was Axel Vincent!)
In the hope of finding it,I did a search for "Rosebud, fisherman" on trove.
DROMANA, Saturday.
A strong easterly wind, a choppy sea, A motor engine in need of repair, and a lucky escape were the chief features of an unpleasant experience which befell Mr Ernest Rudduck, a well-known grocer of Dromana, on the Bay last evening. Intending to have the engine repaired at Rosebud Mr Rudduck arranged with an elderly Greek fisherman to tow the boat, but he started from the Dromana pier alone shortly before 6 p.m., presumably
through a misunderstanding. The Greek failed to overtake the boat, and as the wind increased in force, Mr Rudduck was soon in difficulties. A return to Dromana was impossible, and to continue to drift meant increasing the danger of his already perilous position.
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 the motor boat was reached it was drifting rapidly in the direction ofthe Heads, and had the rescue been delayed the incident might have been attended by still more unpleasant effects. The fishing boat, however, towed it safely to the Rosebud jetty, where the little group of watchers congratulated Mr Rudduck on his escape, and warmly commended the rescuers on their skilful handling of the boat in the trying circumstances.
Ferrier and Lacco are noted for their fearlessness at sea. Some years ago when the barque La Bella was wrecked offWarrnambool, and when all others considered it suicidal to attempt a rescue, Ferrier rowed to the scene of the disaster in a dinghy saving three of those on board. For his courage the citizens presented him with a purse of sovereigns.
(P.4,The Ballarat Courier, 24-1-1916.)
Ewart Brindle was more likely on the pier to sketch vessels sailing past rather than fishing. It hardly seems to have been a day for fishing. Twenty or so years after leaving Dromana,he produced a fabulous map of Dromana that is a history on its own. This map is available from the Dromana Historical Society. With such fabulous recall,his omission of his heroic deed from his recollections of his days as a schoolboy at Dromana, must have been due to modesty. See my journal THE FAMED MELBOURNE BRINDLE.
Much information about Fred and his stepdaughter Mary B.Stone (a.k.a. Polly Vine)is given in Peter Wilson's ON THE ROAD TO ROSEBUD. Fred was one of the original grantees in the Rosebud Fishing Village but was associated with Dromana from early days,Vine being one of the original names on the Dromana State School roll in 1873,the Rosebud school opening a decade later. Fred later lived in a hut on the Dromana foreshore,roughly opposite Seacombe St. How would I know this? Melbourne Brindle's map,of course! There is a photo of Mary in Peter's book and one of Fred on page 73 of Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.
Son of Nelson and Jane Sophia Rudduck, Ernie expanded the family business to Rosebud and when the shop was burnt in a bushfire, he soon replaced it. He leased the shop to Rosebud residents. Nelson was the grantee of two Rosebud Fishing Village blocks and donated one of them for the Methodist Church. Three reminders of the Rudduck family in Dromana are the beautiful two-storey Piawola, on the highway just east of Arthur St, Karadoc St on "Karadoc" (as is also the vacant paddock donated by the family for the Dromana Bush Nursing Hospital) and Ruddock Square on the foreshorejust east of the Pier.
See my journal WILLIAM FERRIER: AUSTRALIA-WIDE HERO IN 1905. William sailed out to the wreck with his disabled arm strapped to the mast. Despite this error,the article does credit to the journalist.
I've written a journal about the Laccos. Fort Lacco married a King girl whose sister married a Greek fisherman who probably died after their son, Tony, was born. His mother, Emily, later became Mrs Durham and Tony adopted this surname. Emily later owned Fort's Rosebud Fishing Village block on the east side of Durham Place. Tony's grand daughter was Judith Mavis Cock,better known as Judith Durham of The Seekers. The Laccos are revered as builders of wooden boats and the Rosebud Chamber of Commerce has installed a wooden statue of Mitch Lacco on the Murray-Anderson Rd corner, just across that road from thesite of his boat building premises. Mitchell St may have been named after Mitch.
John McLear married Janet Cairns of Boneo and settled just east of the Dromana Hotel. With Harry Copp and Dohn Griffith,he was one of Dromana's professional fishermen. As he was about 70 at the time of this incident,and died in 1918,it was more likely his son, John (Nip), aged 32, who took part in the rescue. I quote from page 104 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.
John (Nip) lived out his life at his father's home.He was Ern Rudduck's right-hand man in the (Dromana) Jetty Store for forty years or more and roved to him in the local football team.... In earlier days he had fished with his father. At one stage he drove Rudduck's grocery cart around the mountain bringing supplies to customers.
As Ernie Rudduck's wife's family seems to have arrived in Dromana not long before W.W.1, the four heroes probably also ensured the lives of Ernie's three children: Rene (Mrs King)who died at Mt Martha in 1988, Grenfell, a very prominent architect honoured by a plaque near Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, and Jack, who starred in sport and academics at Wesley College and was the school captain before becoming a pioneer of the great Australian outback. Jack was killed in 1956 while accompanying his sick youngest daughter on a Flying Doctor plane; it crashed in a violent storm and all aboard were killed.(A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.)
Red Hill and Main Ridge residents don't have the same access to local papers as Peninsula coastal dwellers but thanks to the Red Hill District Lions Club,they enjoy the HILL 'N' RIDGE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER. The September 2013 issue has an article by Bev. Laurissen (a descendant of Sarah Wilson,subject of one of my journals)about the Bayne family. I will quote it in full for the benefit of those not fortunate enough to live at Red Hill or Main Ridge.
BAYNES ROAD RED HILL SOUTH. Located behind RedHill Village shops from Shoreham Road to Point Leo Road.
When William Bayne decided to leave Perthshire Scotland I wonder if he thought he would have a road named in his honour.
William,his wife Annie and daughter Ellen, arrived in Melbourne on the "David Fleming" from Liverpool in November 1859. William had sent his two sons James and John ahead. They had arrived on the "Ida" a month earlier. The boys were listed as labourers, but William was a farmer as well as a skilled stonemason.
William and family settled in the Dromana area. It didn't take himlong to find work. In 1861 William was awarded thecontract to build the Electric Telegraph Office at Mornington for 861 pounds. This is now the home of the Mornington Historical Society,pictured below (in the newsletter.)
He also set about becoming a farmer in his new country.
In 1862, William had a lease on 208 acres close along the west side of Shoreham Road in the Parish of Balnarring. The family acquired more land in the parishes of Flinders and Wannaeue and by 1874 had possession of most of the land on both sides of Shoreham Road to Punty Lane. When William died in 1889 he left his extensive landholding to his wife and family. Annie died in 1891 and her share went to her children. Ellen married Tom Eynon (pronounced Eenon)and lived on the property below Shands Road,nearer to Shoreham. Today, longstanding Red Hill folk remember the hill below Red Hill Estate as Eynon's Hill*. James and John were bachelors. James died in 1913: John in 1915 and members of the family are buried in the Flinders Cemetery.
After John died his land was auctioned. In the Peninsula Post April 1916, the substantial holding of over 300 acres of his rich farm and orchard areas, seaside blocks etc in and around Red Hill, Shoreham and Flinders were listed for sale. Some of the land listed was the original land owned by William. These were "the 208 acres A and B, Crown allotment 78 parish of Balnarring, situated opposite the well known Simpson's Orchard and within one mile from the proposed Red Hill Railway. Lot D was 142 acres of Crown allotment 89 opposite the last named commanding beautiful views of Westernport bay."
This early settler family is now remembered only by a road name.
Thanks so much for this great information, Bev!
*Not being aware of the topography, I can only surmise that Eynon's Hill was on 66B or 65 Balnarring.
Baynes Rd was part of Shoreham Rd until 1921 when the Country Road Board built a deviation from the west end of the station in c/a 74K Red Hill Village Settlement and through the McConnell grant, c/a 75,reaching its farthest point west at Beaulieu Rd (named after the native abode of the Nash family) which is called Simpson Rd east of the deviation. The land between the original road and the deviation was purchased by one of the Simpsons. (See the JOSEPH SIMPSON entry in my journal DROMANA PIONEER PATHWAY.)
The 208 acre property advertised in 1916 was 76 AB, not 78AB at the south corner of Stanleys and Red Hill Rds, granted to W.Gibson (A.190 acres; see DROMANA PIONEER PATHWAY) and J.B.Journeaux (B1. 95 acres.) The mistake was probably caused by a hard-to-read parish map used by the auctioneer or the Post's typesetter.
76 AB; 104a. 0r. 18p. each; W.Bayne; no date; Cherry, Allorn, Russell Rds and Webb St area,Melway 190 J 10.
89B; 142a. 1r. 21p.; W. Bayne; 8-9-1880; between Pine Ave and Oceanview Ave with s/e boundary of c/a 89 (including Joseph Simpson's 89A) being a line between the bends just west of 202 Pt Leo Rd and 19 Oceanview Ave.
90 and 91; 322a. 0r. 19 p.; J&J.Bayne; 4-9-1879; fronting sth. side Oceanview Ave and Shoreham Rd with s/e boundary indicated by a line from Punty Lane corner to Rahona Rd corner.
66 B; 39a. 3r. 26p.;H.Bayne; 24-4-1889; between Shoreham Rd and Stony Ck with road frontage opposite No 49 and including No 58,roughly 255 J2. (South of 66A, granted to George Wilson, son of SARAH WILSON.)
65; 99A. 3R. 23P.; Helen Bayne; 14-3-1881; east of 66B, between 58 Shoreham Rd and Punty Lane.
64A; 69a. 3r. 26p.;John Bayne; 14-3-1881; east of Punty Lane to Stony Creek at 256 B/C4 border and 30 Shoreham Rd.
No grants found until I read the Mornington Standard advertisement of 1916. See locations after this advertisement. Most were very early grants.
24D, section B.; 84a.1r.22p. J.Bayne; 18-1-1905; fronting east side Purves Rd between bend in 171 F2 and Whites Rd, roughly 171G 2-3.
23A1,section B.; 52a. 1r. 8p.; J. Bayne; 18-1-1905; fronting south side of Whites Rd to middle of 171 J4. Southern boundary is an extension of the northern boundary of Austplan Nurseries to the east.
William Bayne was obviously still using his building skills in 1874 when he was a witness in the case of the Schnapper Point Murder.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 14 September 1874 p 6 Article.)
John Bayne, of Shoreham, farmer,left real estate valued at 2947 and personal estate valued at 924. Testator bequeaths certain allotments of land at Balnarring to a friend, the residue of the estate to the Melbourne Hospital. (P.24, Weekly Times, 4-3-1916.)
A quiet wedding took place on Tuesday at the residence of Mr. Bayne,when Miss H. Bayne and Mr. T.Henan were joined together in the holy bonds of matrimony. The Rev.Somerville performed the pleasing ceremony. When they returned on Saturday a number of the young fellows accompanied with their usual instruments, gave them the usual salutation. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 21-3-1895.)
JOHN BAYNE'S LAND WAS ALSO ADVERTISED IN THE MORNINGTON STANDARD. (Excerpt only.)
Red Hill District.
A.-146 acres, 2 roods, 30 perches being Crown Allotments 23A1 and 24D,parish of Wannaeue, situated in Purves
road about 3.5 miles from Dromana and proposed Red Hill Railway Station. A fine block, partly fenced, with timber largely killed, comprising a nice slope and rich flats, watered by a good creek and carrying rough natural grasses, the soils being chocolate and grey and well adapted for orchard and other purposes.
B. 73 acres. 1 rood, 16 perches, allotment 23A, section A, parish of Flinders, with long frontage to Main Creek and Dromana and Flinders road. A good irrigable block with rich soils.
C.-208 acres, subdivisions A and B of allotment 76, parish of Balnarring, situated opposite the well-known Simpson's Orchard and within 1 mile of the proposed Red Hill Railway Station. The land is fenced and nearly all cleared with the exception of a few dead trees and logs, with good soils, watered by Creeks and Springs. This land is exceptionally adapted for Strawberry and Orchard purposes or for subdivision into small blocks for which the demand is increasing greatly in the locality.
D.-142 acres, 1 rood 21 perches, being Crown allotment 89B, parish of Balnarring, situated immediately opposite the last named. A fine block, commanding beautiful views of Westernport and having fine eastern slopes and good flats watered by permanent creek.
Flinders District.
E.--197 acres, 2 roods. 20 perches, being Crown allotment 20, section A, parish of Flinders, fronting the Merimendicwokewoke Creek and close to the Main Coach road to Bittern and Flinders, 3 miles from Flinders and adjoining the well-known property of Mr Henry Tuck. A splendid, partly cleared, but practically virgin block, with rich chocolate soils, very suitable for a growth of English grass, root crops, etc, and well-known in years past for its fattening qualities, though now partly overgrown with sapling timber.
F.-381 acres. 1 rood, 12 perches, being Crown allotment 18 and 19, section A, parish of Flinders, adjoining the last mentioned, and fronting the Dromana and Flinders road, close to the well-known properties of Dr. Spark and Mr Beecher with good chocolate soils, fenced and partly cleared, and watered by the Merimendicwokewoke and Cotton Creeks. This is also a fine block and suitable for cultivation and subdivision.N B.-Together with last-mentioned it would make a fine area for subdivision into orchard and agricultural blocks.
Shoreham District.
G.-19 acres, 2 roods, 18 perches, being Crown allotment 2 and 3, township of Balnarring, at Shoreham, situated close to the charming sea-side residence of Mr Churnside, and also to the pier, school, post-office, etc., commanding uninterrupted views of the Bay. Phillip Island, etc. This is a very attractive block and the
only one available on the shore frontage.
H.-1 acre, 3 roods, 10 perches, being allotment 9A, at Shoreham, parish of Flinders, fronting Flinders road and forming a choice week-end block.
I.--69 acres, 3 roods, 26 perches, being Crown allotment 64A, parish of Balnarring, situated on the Red Hill to Shoreham roads, comprising a commanding chocolate soil hill* and rich flats, nearly all cleared and-fenced, watered by permanent creek and overlooking Westernport. This is both an ideal residential and a first class farm block. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 15-4-1916.)
*This would probably be Henan's (Eynon's) Hill.
23A, Section A.(Lot B, 73 acres.)There was no crown allotment 23A. Crown allotment 23 of 159a.1r.26p. was granted to Edmond Riley and must have been subdivided. c/a 23 is roughly Melway 256 B-E8.
20, Section A. (Lot E, 197 acres.)Granted to William Bayne on 7-7-1863. Roughly 255 G10.
18, Section A.(Lot F.) Granted to James Bayne on 28-8-1878. Roughly 255 H9.
19, Section A. (Lot F.)Granted to James Bayne on 28-8-1878. Roughly 255 J11.
C/A18 and 19 fronted the south side of Punty Lane from Musk Creek Rd to Merimendiewokewoke Creek, and south east of them was c/a 20 which extended south east to adjoin Henry Tuck's 20A about 80 metres past No 95 Musk Creek Rd.
C/a 2 and 3, Balnarring Township (Lot G, 19 acres)were at the end of Shoreham Rd in the parish of Balnarring. Townships almost always straddled a stream which was often,as in this case, a parish boundary. J.Bayne was granted all but one of the seven township blocks (most on 9-7-1869), lot 4 being acquired by lime merchant W.A.Blair. Lots 2 and 3 were between Prout Webb and Cliff Rds, south east of the Steen Ave house blocks.
9A, Shoreham in the parish of Flinders (Lot H) was part of the same township and was granted to J.Bayne on 19-9-1871. Being triangular it had the whole frontage on the north side of Higgins Lane, a fair frontage to Stony Creek but none to the main road.
Mornington News 10-9-2013. "100 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK."
A meeting of the Beachdale Progress Association was held at Latimer's store etc.
Where the hell was Beachdale? Beachdale was the original name of Seaford!
Moved by Mr Hall, and seconded by Mr Erwin, " that the name of the
Association be changed from Beachdale to Seaford, which is the name of the new station." Carried.
(P.3, Mornington Standard, 8-11-1913.)
How long had residents called the area "Beachdale" and who were they? This was the article reproduced in the Mornington News,which would have been useless for family historians researching Seaford pioneers unless they knew the area's original name.
Beachdale Progress Association.
A meeting of the above association was held at Mrs Latimer's store on the 6th inst, when there was a large
attendance of members, and the following business was transacted:
Mr Martin moved that the secretary (Mr Wilson) interview Cr Ritchie, and point out that the Government reserve between the railway line and Kananook Creek may be suitable for an approach to the new railway station, from Martin's road, instead of a road to the east of the line; also to urge the opening up at once of the entrance to the station from Broughton's road. Mr McInnis seconded the motion, which was carried.
Mr Hall moved that the Hon. A. Downward. M.L A., be asked to assist in securing a school for the district. Mr McInnis seconded the motion, which was carried.
Mr Klauer moved, and Mr Martin seconded, that the secretary write to the secretary of the Carrum Downs Progress Association, requesting a delegate to attend next meeting, to confer to Abbott's road, which is a new outlet to the new station.Carried.
Mr Klauer moved, and Mr Roche seconded, that the secretary write to the proper authorities, and ask that a
quantity of scrub cut and stacked on the Government reserve, between the creek and railway line, near the new
station, be removed, as it is a harbour for fires.-Carried. Mr Wilson drew attention to what he considered a criminal neglect on the part of the authorities in allowing such a quantity of dry wood and rubbish to gather on the foreshore, between Frankston and Carrum. Should a fire start through some careless person there would be no possible chance of saving the whole of the reserve. Houses are now being erected on the opposite side of the road to the reserve, and the owners are in constant dread for fear of a fire starting in the reserve and sweeping all before it. Other members spoke, supporting Mr Wilson's contention.
Mr Wilson then moved that the Frankston Council be urged to form a deputation and wait on the proper authorities, with the view of having what is now a wilderness transformed into a beautiful seaside park of Mel-
bourne, of which thousands of city people would gladly take advantage of during the summer months. Mr M'Innes seconded the motion, which was carried. (P.3,Mornington Standard, 13-9-1913.)
Beachdale Progress Association.
On the 2nd inst the Beachdale Progress Association again met at Mrs Latimer's store. The President, Mr.H. Broughton, occupied the chair. Mr Martin moved that the secretary write to the Frankston council and ask that their officers pay a visit of inspection to roads leading to the new station between Carrum and Frankston.-Mr McInnis seconded the motion, which was carried. The President (Mr Broughton) moved that the Railway Commissioners be asked to erect a milk dock at the new station.--Mr Martin seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Wilson (secretary) moved that a letter of thanks from the association be forwarded to the-Hon. A. Downward, M.LA., for the great amount of work and trouble he had to secure the erection of the new station between Frankston and Carrum.-Mr McInnes seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Wilson (secretary) moved that the Frankston Council be written to with the view of urging the Government to clear all dead timber and
rubbish from the Government Reserve, which extends along the beach between Carrum and Frankston, and thereby make it a beautiful seaside park, which would be visited by thousands from the city every summer. Also to have notices posted cautioning persons from lighting fires. The cost of clearing the dead timber would be paid for by selling the timber gathered for firewood. Also, it would give employment to numbers of persons.-Mr Klauer seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Martin moved that the Education Department be again written to,
with the view of obtaining land for a school -Mrs Latimer seconded the motion, which was carried.
(P.3, Mornington Standard, 9-8-1913.)
No wonder the progress association was willing to change its name. Beachdale was not a traditional name for the area and was only used for about two months. It would seem that the council was allowed to choose the name of the new council and decided on the one which recalled Assistant Aboriginal Protector, William Thomas, wading waist deep across the Kannanook Creek, at the north end of Long Island, in 1839 on the way to his protectorate at Kangerong.
Sir,-As secretary of our newly formed Beachdale Progress Association between Frankston and Carrum I have been instructed to furnish you with a few particulars. The new railway station between Frankston and Carrum will be completed in about 6 weeks. It will be the means of opening up without exception the finest beach in the Commonwealth. The public during the summer months will find the benefit of 2 miles of beautiful shelter, the ti-tree being all Government reserve. No such advantages are to be had at other watering places. Therefore, this new station should be one of the busiest on this seaside line. I might state that a name has not yet been selected for the new station, but several names are at present being considered by the Frankston council.
A very large gathering of residents met on the 11th last at Mr Latimer's store and a progress association was quietly formed, Mr Harry Broughton being elected first President and Mr W. Wilson secretary and treasurer. The name of Beachdale was selected as the name of the progress association,pending the naming of the station. Business was gone into and the Education Department is to be urged to open a school. Aspendale, Chelsea and Carrum Progress Associations have done a great deal for those parts, and before very long our Beachdale Association should be one of power.
Yours, etc., W. WILSON, Secretary of Progress Association.
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 19-7-1913.)
The Seaford Post Office opened on 6 March 1914.[3] (Wikipedia.)
Sir.-In your issue of the 18th May Mr Coppin is called the discoverer of Sorrento. This is a mistake. When
the Hon. James Grant was Minister of Lands and Survey, Mr Charles Gavan Duffy and` Mr Blair, lime merchant,
each applied fpr the site of Sorrento, no doubt on account of the limestone in the ground, but by some oversight, it could not be discovered who had made the first application, and a long dispute arose, appearing in the press at the time. But as both applicants had much land I wrote to Mr Grant, and suggested the site should be cut up into small lots and put up at 4 an acre, so as to give other people a chance to get land.
This was done, and a Government township surveyed, and a jetty built. Mr Kerferd and Mr Anderson, Commissioner of Trade and Customs were the first to build houses, and then I believe followed the Sorrento hotel. Who built next I do not know, but old Sorrento residents may be able to supply the information. Some considerable
time afterwards Mr George Coppin got a company to promote journeys to the Back Beach, but at that time the
cost of steamboat fares was 1, and I wrote to Mr Coppin suggesting that his company should run a steamer at
reduced fares, after trying to get the fares reduced without result. Mr Coppin's company, after a time, bought and ran the Golden Crown, and reduced the fares to 3s 6d. This made the place go ahead quickly, and great credit is due to Mr Coppin and his Coy. Mr Duffy suggested the name Sorrento as he had been travelling in Italy, and named it after a town there. Long before Sorrento was founded I tried to start a town for summer resort threemiles east of Sorrento, but no lots were sold at that time. After Sorrento started I sold many lots. Canterbury never became a township, being eclipsed by Sorrento. Some place Mr Duffy, and some Mr Coppin as the founder of Sorrento, but no one has placed Mr Grant or myself in that position.
(Crispo should have stuck to his own experience because he concluded by giving the wrong origin of Dromana's name, supplied by an Italian. Drom is a Celtic word for hill and Dromana is of Irish origin.)
Rye. (P.3, Mornington Standard, 1-6-1899.)
Duffy and Blair had been fighting court battles over land before Crispo suggested the village of Sorrento be created.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 15 January 1869 p 6 Article
... dummies, preferred against Mr. C. G. Duffy And Mr.W.A.Blair., Yesterday the decision of the ... Blair against the Hon. Mr. Duffy, and tho other a counter-charge brought by Mr. Duffy Against Mr. Blair. The charge in each case is one that is commonly called dummy ism. It has been referred to ... 3570 words
Government Advertisements.
Crown Lands Office, Melbourne,
December 21, 1869
A SALE of CROWN LANDS by public auction will be held at 2 o'clock on Friday, 11th January,1S70, at the auction rooms of Mostr. Gemmell,Tuckott, and Co, Colllns-ntreet west, Melbourne,
The following lots will bo offered :
Sorrento, oounty of Mornington, parish of Nepean, on Port fhillip Bay, at Point Sorrento. Upset price,
1 per acre. Allotments to 6, Sec. 1 ; 1 to 8, Sec.
2. Dr. 8p. to la. ICp.
County of Mornington, parish of Ncpoan, adjoining the last-named lot, on Port Phillip lUy. Upset price,
3 per acre. Allotments 1 to 12, 9.1 to 16A, 13 to 30, la 8r. 17p. to 0a. 2r. IE 4-10p.
, Piano and Information can be obtained at tho Crown Land Office, Molbourno.
(P.7, Argus, 10-1-1870.)
Extract from: It's a Small World - Vicnet
Since I began entering the details of our pioneering ancestors into the records from 1977 onwards, there have been many amazing co-incidences and stories that have emerged, but none more so than the tale which can now be told.
Two men - James Sandle Ford, baptised on 12th of May, 1811, at Havant, Hampshire, England, and Samuel Morey, baptised on 2nd of May, 1811, also of Havant, Hampshire, were among a large group of men who were convicted at the Winchester Assizes on 30th of December, 1830, on a charge of machine breaking. Both men were sentenced to seven years transportation per the ship "Eliza II" (3rd voyage), which arrived at Hobart, Van Diemen's Land on the 26th May, 1831.
It is known that James Sandle Ford received a Free Pardon on the 3rd February, 1836 and that he left Launceston, VDL for Melbourne, Port Phillip, on 9th December, 1836, per the vessel "Enterprise".
Meanwhile, Samuel Morey was married at Hobart, VDL on 2nd May, 1836 to Catherine Travers. It is not yet known how or when they crossed to Melbourne.
James Sandle Ford was married on 8th February, 1841 at St. Francis' Roman Catholic Church, Melbourne, to Hannah Sullivan and Samuel Morey and his wife, Catherine, were the witnesses.
James Sandle Ford died on 18th July, 1890 at Portsea, Victoria; his wife Hannah having died there on 15th December, 1878.
Dennis and Honora Sullivan arrived at The Heads in about 1843(from memory) and their daughter, Hannah, married James Sandle Ford. They had probably met in Melbourne where some Sullivans had astounded everyone with their giant cucumber and an Honora Sullivan had committed an offence against the Masters and Servants Act,leaving the employer with whom she had undertaken a contract to serve another who had offered her more money. (BEARBRASS and EARLY MELBOURNE.) It is extremely likely that cucumber-growers were the elderly Dennis Sullivan and his children. If so their horticultural skills were extremely handy for James Sandle Ford who supplied vegetables and other produce to the Quarantine Station, which displaced the Sullivan family. Patrick Sullivan moved the family to the Rye area, married William Grace's daughter and later built the Gracefield Hotel on the site of the present Rye Hotel. When Patrick died,the management of the lime kiln (on The Dunes golf course site) was left in the hands of Antonio "Albas*" while his son James concentrated on firewood for bakers' ovens in Melbourne and the Gracefield Hotel. Later Mrs Weir (a Sullivan girl) ran the hotel for many years.
*It was stated in Lime Land Leisure that the kiln manager might have actually been Tony Salvas; such misinformation was the reason I wrote my first FAMILY TREE CIRCLES journal, about Antonio Albress!
Extract from:
The Farnsworth Track - Visit Mornington Peninsula
European settlement
The first European explorers described the Nepean Peninsula as park-like, with Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticilla) and Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata) interspersed with grassy clearings. When Lieutenant John Murray aboard the Lady Nelson entered Port Phillip Bay in 1802 he described the topography of the southern shore as . . . bold and high land with stout trees of various kinds ... The trees are at a good distance apart and no brush intercepts you. This timber was rapidly cleared when European settlers came; larger grazing areas were required, fence posts and firewood were needed, and the Sheoak was used to burn limestone to make lime for
the Melbourne building industry.
Arriving in 1840, James Sandle Ford was the districts first successful settler. Convicted of machine breaking in the agricultural unrest in southern England in 1830, he had been transported to Van Diemens Land, then pardoned before finding his way to the Peninsula.
He named the area Portsea after his home town in England and his energy and enterprise were soon evident, as he shipped lime to Melbourne and supplied produce to the nearby Quarantine Station established in 1852.
The Farnsworth family
The local Farnsworth family originated from John Farnsworth, who built some notable Sorrento and Portsea houses; the Sorrento Hotel and the Nepean Hotel, Portsea. John married James Fords daughter, Anne. Their son John Nepean Farnsworth farmed the area between Campbells Road and Portsea Golf Course (north of the walking track) and operated a horse-drawn transport business. Twentieth-century developments were introduced by John Nepeans two sons John James and Harry, who developed an extensive transport business.
John James Farnsworth (1902 -1984) had a long and active association with the district. After the Second
World War he established a red bus service linking Sorrento and Portsea via Mt Levy. He is mainly remembered for the Sorrento- Portsea-Queenscliff ferry service that he initiated in 1953 with the Judith Ann; he worked actively on the ferries until 1979. His desire to encourage more people to share the beauty of the ocean beach led to a long involvement with the former Ocean Park Committee.
By B.H. McKERNAN
My grandfather, James Sandle Ford, with his wife and several young children settled at Portsea in the forties and named it after Portsea, a suburb of Portsmouth. At that time is was open well grassed country without tea-tree. After getting a home together my grandfather began to rear cattle and horses. The cattle he sold as meat to the shiploads of early settlers who landed in the adjacent quarantine station where they had to stay till granted a clean bill of health before proceeding up the bay to Sandridge. After weary months on board ship they
must have enjoyed fresh meat and eggs and butter from the dairy of my grandfather. The horses were driven in large mobs to Melbourne to be sold.
My father Alfred Ford was born in Portsea in 1850 and he lived most of his life there till his death in 1928. He often told us of his first visit to Melbourne at the age of 11 years, when he rode on horseback with some of his father's stockmen who were taking a mob of horses to be sold. When they reached the city they had great trouble in getting the horses safely across the ford at the Yarra where Princes Bridge now stands. My father spent some of his time fishing at this ford.
From the cottage in which he lived my grandfather built the present Nepean Hotel which has been added to and increased. It remained in his family for many years being kept by himself, a son and a son in-law for some years. It changed hands about 30 years ago. It again came into the family being bought by a son-in law John Cain whose daughters still own and conduct it. John Farnsworth who afterward married a daughter of James Ford and died there last year and whose son became a coach proprietor was the contractor and builder who erected the Nepean Hotel and houses owned at present by Mrs O'Hara (previously owned by Mr Ross Cox) and Mr Le Souef (originally built for Dr Robertson of St Kilda father of Dr W.Robertson of the Department of Agriculture) My grandfather reserved the beautiful block of land in front of the Nepean Hotel for a park and also built at his
own expense the first portion of the Portsea pier which extended to where the steps now are but was then deep enough to permit vessels such as the Golden Crown to load and unload their cargoes. He also built sea baths several piles of which are still standing and bathing boxes.
My father received his first education in a building which stood where some of the bungalows at Marshalls Hotel
now stand. The late Walter Knight, father of Charles Jack and Archie was also a scholar there. My father was
sent to school at Dromana later to finish his education. Later a school conducted by the late Mr and Mrs Hiskins was erected between Portsea and Sorrento where children of both places were taught. About 40 years ago a school was erected in the grounds of the quarantine station but it was not very satisfactory. When the quarantine station was closed during an epidemic the teacher stayed in quarantine and taught the children of the station hands. The few children who went from Portsea had to sit on a form outside the fence and receive their instruction,as well as the cane,from the mistress on the other side. The present State school built at Portsea about 17 years ago is really its first school.
The Lime Kilns...
Until all the limestone was taken from the ground lime burning was for many years the main industry. At one time my father had about 20 Chinese quarrying for him. The stone was burnt in kilns and sent to town in lime craft. As a child I remember going for our daily mail to the Nepean Hotel whither it was brought by coach from Dromana. It had been brought by another coach from Mornington where it had arrived by train. As there was not a post office the post mistress had a room at the Nepean Hotel. There was then not even the small wooden store which was afterward built by Mr Roberts and later bought by Mr W H Goss who enlarged it and had the post office transferred to where it now is.
My father told us that 60 years or more ago Portsea was the holiday rendezvous of men of letters learning and law from the city. Some of their descendants even to the fourth generation are still regular visitors. Before the death of the late Dr Fitchett there were four generations of his family there on holidays together.
More than 40 years ago Portsea became a garrison town. Barracks and fort were built and guns now long obsolete and dismantled were its pride and joy. For many years a company of permanent soldiers consisting of about 80 men and officers was stationed there. They were called the Victorian Permanent Artillery. Many had served in British regiments and it was a great delight to us children to see them march to the pier headed by the band which was sometimes stationed at Portsea. They wore navy uniforms well tailored with white helmets and white gloves. Once a month they boarded the little Mars or Vulcan to attend a full dress parade at Queenscliff. For many years now the barracks and fort have been deserted and left in charge of one gunner.
The Dispatch
In the early days people came for a change and a rest, and wore their oldest clothes. When mixed bathing began,
about 35 years ago, and the women wore bathing gowns from neck to ankle, how horrified the inhabitants were to see them bathing by the pier with their menfolk clad only in bathing trunks! In spite of all the crowds which have bathed at Portsea, there has never been a drowning accident, which speaks well for the safety of the beaches. When one sees service cars arriving and departing frequently throughout the day one thinks how means
of transport have improved during the last 30 years. During the winter months, from May till November, one relied on the S.S.Dispatch, which called once a week, to get either to or from the city. This little steamer, calling at Queenscliff and Portsea on the way, was advertised to leave Melbourne for the Gippsland Lakes
every Saturday at 2 p.m, but on the amount of cargo to be loaded often depended the time of sailing. Given a favourable wind and tide, and not too much cargo to unload at Queenscliff,
the Dispatch arrived at Portsea at any time between 7 p.m. and midnight. This weekly arrival was the social event of the week. The village turned out and often waited for hours in the cold and wind on the pier or in the shed. On her return from Lakes Entrance the Dispatch was due to call at Portsea to pick up passengers and cargo at 9 a.m. on Thursday, which she did if weather permitted. Sometimes passengers waited for a couple of days on
the pier, and the Dispatch would pass through on Saturday morning without calling and go to town to set off on her weekly trip outward bound. The intending passengers then had to wait till the following Thursday for their trip to the city.
How eagerly the residents waited for the Hygeia or Ozone to commence the season on Derby Day! They ran for six
months until the end of April. Everybody turned out on Derby Day to meet the boat at Sorrento and to welcome
friends and relations whom they had not seen for six months. Visitors during the winter months were few and rare, though several families which had seaside cottages came for the midwinter holidays.
SORRENTO, Thursday.
Mr. William B. Ford, late of the Nepean Hotel, Portsea, and a member of the Flinders Shire Council, committed suicide yesterday by cutting his throat. He was missed from his room by his wife, and upon a search being
made he was found with his face downwards on the floor, quite dead. The police immediately took possession of the place, and a magisterial inquiry will be held tomorrow. Troubles of a pecuniary nature are thought
to have been the cause of the fatal act.
(P.3, Argus,22-8-1884.)
The journalist beat the shire by thirty years in dropping Kangerong from its name!
William had lived on Wannaeue Station, bounded by Eastbourne, Jetty/Old Cape Schanck, Hiscock and Boneo Rd and had a hero, named William Salmon, as his cook.
SHIRE of FLINDERS and KANGERONG.-Notice is hereby given, that an ELECTION to fill an ordinary vacancy in the council for the West Riding of the above shire will be held on Thursday, the 9th day of August next.And I hereby appoint Tuesday, tho 31st inst, as the day before which, and my residence, Wannaeue, as the place at which, nominations of candidates, shall be delivered. WILLIAM FORD, Returning Officer.
(P.8,Argus, 25-7-1877.)
The following account of the history of Portsea and Sorrento by Sidney H.Wilson is excellent although the newspaper ink must have been running short, resulting in about 1% of the digitised text resembling English.
ORTSEA and SORRENTO MEMORIES OF SIXTY YEARS AGO
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 12 March 1932 p 8 Article Illustrated.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 21 February 1877 Supplement: The Argus Summary for Europe p 1 Article
... age in March. He is employed as cook on the station of Mr. Ford, at Wannaeue, between Rye and ..
Apart from lime burners and James Ford, many early settlers in the Portsea/Sorrento area were fishermen. See my journal about the Watsons and Stirlings of Portsea and Sorrento. Don't forget to visit the Nepean Museum and John Watt's nearby limestone cottage. Oh,and one more thing, while there,the tramway station above the Sorrento pier.
If I interpret the following correctly, James Murray married James Sandle Ford's sister and James Ford's father had died the day after Murray, both being buried in the same grave,presumably on the Vic.market site.
CORONER'S INQUEST.-Yesterday a Coroner's Inquest was convened at Mr. Howard's Union Inn, Elizabeth-street, upon view of the body of Mr. James Murray, landlord of the Melbourne Tavern, Elizabeth-street, who died at the
station of his brother-in-law, Mr. Ford, at Point Nepean, on the evening of Wednesday last. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased had latterly been drinking to such an excess as to bring on an attack of delirium tremens. The jury returned as their verdict, " That the said James Murray died by the visitation of God whilst in a state of delirium tremens the effect of previous intemperance." It is a somewhat extraordinary coincidence that the father-in-law of the deceased expired four and twenty-hours after his son-in-law; he was an old man named Ford, and had been bed ridden for some time. They were yesterday both consigned to one tomb.
(P.2, Melbourne Argus,16-2-1847.)
I have read much about the area west of Rye but as the Nepean Historical Society has published so many books, I never felt a need to write about the area and thus made no notes. Elizabeth McMeekin's THOSE COURAGEOUS HARDY WOMEN and Jennifer Nixon's FAMILY, CONNECTIONS, SORRENTO AND PORTSEA both give a comprehensive history of the Nepean Peninsula and its pioneers, with the Skelton family as a starting point.
Naturally, as I examined other areas and pioneers on trove, I found out things about this area that nobody had mentioned previously, so I will confine myself to this new information. Both of the above authors discussed Clark's Cottage, which was unfortunately demolished after the Clark family's Mornington Hotel had become the Koonya. Jennifer stated that the cottage was built in about 1850 by a Mr Wells, despite contrary claims.
This extract comes from THE WELLS STORY which is available online.
Henry Cadby Wells born in September 1820, in the Parish of Potterne, Devizes, Wiltshire, England, to Richard Wells, (who was well-known as Dick Wells in the coaching world as he drove the four-horse coach across Salisbury Plain when highwaymen were not uncommon); and his wife Martha, nee Cadby.
Henry Cadby Wells was a boot-maker, he married Hanna Hill on the 9-9-1839. In December 1839 the young couple boarded the ship 'ADROMACHE' in Plymouth and sailed to Australia. When the ship was just off the Isle of St. Paul, during a raging storm, a daughter was born. The little girl was named Mary, but at the suggestion of captain she was nick-named Polly. Sadly Polly did not live very long and was buried at sea. The ship arrived in Melbourne on the 28-6-1840 after being becalmed off Port Phillip Bay for several days, (source; Bert Polglase's book)
All ships at that time had to anchor in Hobson's Bay off shore from Williamstown; the emigrants were taken by boat along the lower Yarra towards Melbourne. Both banks of the river were then still densely covered with tea-tree and Wattle. At the township immigrants scrambled through mud, or as is recorded, 'grandfather had to carry his wife ashore through water waist-deep' to a landing bank on the north side, where warehouses, inns and stores were replacing earlier hovels along the west end of Flinders street. Slightly uphill from this flood prone area, Collins Street West had already developed into the main retail location, especially between Queen and King Streets. 'There were good shops with drugs, groceries, haberdashery, ironmongery; indeed each shop seemed to be quite an emporium', (wrote J.B.Were)
Henry and Hannah are believed to have made their way down to Frankston where they stayed for a short time This would require first crossing the river on a punt or a ferry as no bridge existed until the mid 1840s. They would then have travelled through virgin bush, either on horse back or perhaps with a horse and jinker or cart of some sort. They may have had some bullock tracks to follow, but we can be sure the track was slow and difficult. It probably took some days for the young couple, camping overnight along the way. One may wonder how many other travellers they might have met along the way, or did they only see Kangaroos, Wallabies, Dingoes and other wild life, as well as bird life and the Aborigines. No doubt there was also a large population of snakes.
They may have passed some of the 500,000 sheep and 15,000 cattle that were in Victoria by that time, the property of licensed squatters, (Old Melbourne Town; P. 8)
It is believed that after a short stay in Frankston, Henry and Hannah made their way down to Sorrento, they known as Point Nepean. They were blessed with another daughter, Mary Louise Wells, also nick-named 'Polly', born 7-6-1841 at Sorrento and Baptised in the Church of England, Parish of St. James on the 10-10-1841. Polly was the eldest of 13 children, having 12 brothers ! ! Polly is believed to have been the first white baby born to permanent settlers of the Mornington Peninsula.
Most of the following history comes from Robert Cadby Wells, published in the Frankston Standard, in 1951/52. He states his grandfather, Henry Cadby Wells went into partnership with ship mate Robert Rowley in the business of lime burning, "Robert Rowley and Richard Kenyon began the industry in Sorrento. The depresion of 1842/43 put most of these pioneers out of business. Gideon Lang's map of 1842, when he applied for leasehold of much vacant land on the Peninsula, showed none of the original names. By 1845 business had recovered and 17 kilns, each employing several men, hard at work burning lime between Rye and Portsea.
Robert also states his grandfather maintained an interest in the lime burning industry and travelled between Sorrento and Melbourne, staying at Frank Stone's hotel after whom Frankston was named.
In 1846 the family moved to Melbourne where Henry worked at his trade of boot-making, he had learnt the art of tanning and dressing leather; riding boots were in great demand in those days; these were his speciality. He was there for some years, then sold the business and started a similar one in St. Kilda. After a few more years Henry was ready for another change, so he sold out again and had a go at Cray fishing. he bought an up-to-date boat and gear and with ship mate friend Rowley went down to Western Port Bay to catch crayfish. From a money point of view this venture exceeded all expectations. After being there for a few months they decided to go home for a few days, which they did but extended their stay to seven days. they had made the fatal mistake of leaving the boat anchored in the bay. the tide in this bay has a rise and fall of about 8 feet, and consequently when the tide ebbed the boat settled on the anchor, with the result that a hole was broken through the bottom. He sold the boat and gear for a few pounds and retired from the fishing business.
Robert Rowley's father was a soldier stationed in Sydney but some time after his transfer to Van Dieman's Land, he retired and was granted some land. Too fond of drink, he was fishing one day and drowned after falling out of his boat. Robert's mother later married Richard Kenyon and the couple moved to The Heads to burn lime, possibly for John Pascoe Fawkner. Robert did not go with them but visited them in about 1839. How Robert, who must have kept close links with Tasmania, marrying Christine Edwards from Longford, knew Henry Cadby Wells is a mystery but it would seem that he had received a letter from Robert outlining the lime-burning plans; why else would he risk travelling all the way to Sorrento with a pregnant wife? I believe the references to Robert being Henry's "old shipmate" relate to their crayfishing venture.
Owen Cain was from Tyrone in Ireland, where limestone was a feature of the landscape. His property Tyrone stretched from the Whitecliffs/Cain Rd midline, where it adjoined the township of Rye,to Canterbury Rd. Street names on this area recall Cain in-laws (Murray, Neville, Ford),Owen's son (Michael), the name of a Cain house (Roslyn)as well as the farm and its owners. Centre Rd follows the course of Owen Cain's loading road where lime was taken from the kiln to be loaded into boats on the west side of White Cliff.For many decades Catholic services were held at Tyrone and Rosslyn,priests coming across the bay.
Mr Owen Cain died near Rye, on Thursday last, aged 98. He settled in the district early in 1842.
(Bairnsdale Advertiser and Tambo and Omeo Chronicle (Vic. : 1882 - 1918) Thursday 2 July 1896 p 2 Article.)
Councillor Anderson referred to the death of one of the oldest and most respected residents of the district, Mr.Owen Cain, of Rye, father of the president, Councillor John Cain, J.P. He moved " That as a mark of respect this council adjourn until 2 o'clock to transact the business of importance." then he would move a further adjournment. Councillor Callanan also spoke of the deceased gentleman as a highly respected resident. He seconded the motion, which was carried. (COUNCIL NEWS. Flinders and Kangerong Shire Council.
Mornington Standard (Vic. : 1889 - 1908) Thursday 2 July 1896 Edition: MORNING p 3 Article.)
CAIN-FORD.-On the 9th inst., at St. Finbar's Church, Brighton, by the Rev. Michael Carey, John, son of Owen Cain, of Rye, to Julia, daughter of James Ford, of Portsea.
(The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 10 August 1877 p 1 Family Notices.)
On Sunday, 28th June, about one of the largest funerals ever seen in the peninsula took place at Rye, when
about 500 people followed the remains of an old and respected resident named Mr. Owen Cain, sen. to its last
resting place in the quiet and picturesque little cemetery at Rye. Mr. Cain was 98 years of age, and was a native of Ireland. He has been a resident of Rye for the last 55 years. and had always taken a great interest in mattersconnected with the district in the early days. When Mr. Cain first settled at Rye he commenced business in the lime trade and in the early (40's?) supplied most of the lime that built the principal buildings in Melbourne. Doing such a large trade in lime, he employed a large number of hands in and around the place. Mr. Cain and his wife will long he remembered for their hospitality by many a weary traveller who had travelled many miles through the bush under a broiling sun, and always found a welcome rest under their roof. Mr. Cain had enjoyed good health almost up to the time of his death. Just a few hours before his death he had been out walking in the paddock, looking at the men ploughing, and had just returned to the house (the residence of his son, Mr. John Cain. J.P., with whom he had been living for some time) and was sitting in the arm chair when he passed quietly away. About eight months ago* he lost his wife, who had also reached a ripe old
age. The loss he deeply felt, and he never completely recovered from the blow.
(P.3, Mornington Standard,2-7-1896.)
I remember reading that Owen had said that he knew he was getting old when he had trouble mounting his horse (when aged over 90!)
*A very old colonist and resident of this district, Mrs. Sarah Cain, aged 96, died at the residence of her son, Councillor John Cain, J. P., president of the shire of Flinders and Kangerong, on Saturday last. She, with her husband, Owen Cain, who survives her, arrived in the colony in 1841, and settled in this district in February, 1842. Deceased and all her family were very popular, as was testified by the large number of persons in conveyances and on horseback, who attended the funeral in the Rye Cemetery on Monday last.
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 31-10-1895.)
Another careless click has wiped out my quote from page 32 of Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, which I had just discovered was the source of my story about Rye's little girl lost. It contradicted I SUCCEEDED ONCE, which gave the location of George Smith's Wooloowoolooboolook as fronting Capel Sound, whereas John McLure, the McRae tutor, seems to have given its location as being 7 miles from the McCrae homestead on the road to the Schanck,which would put it in the vicinity of Pattersons Rd, Fingal. Luckily the following article about Georgiana McCrae's journal gives most of the story.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 3 January 1885 p 4 Article
...nbsp; the discovery and safety of Sarah Ann Cain, the child of the lime-burner. She was only four ...
" October 26. (1844)News from Arthur's Seat of the discovery and safety of Sarah Ann Cain, the child of the lime-burner. She was only four years old, and had been lost for four days and five nights in the bush. Some of
the nights were very severe, with heavy rain. She had heard the men cooeying, but did not answer, fearing they were blacks. When found, she was warding the attacks of the crows on her face with her hands, and was all but exhausted. A warm bath and the administration of food in small quantities (a teaspoon at a time,by Mrs Smith*)
brought her completely round ; and she afterwards grew up a fine young woman.
*Mrs Smith was Edward Hobson's widowed mother and no proof of a marriage to George Smith has been found, according to Marie Fels in I SUCCEEDED ONCE. I have added the year and detail from Colin's account in brackets.
Lived in Victoria for Almost 94 Years.
MORNINGTON, Friday-Mrs Sarah Ann Rogers, the last member of the Cain family, pioneers of the Rye district, has
died. She was aged 94 years She was the widow of Mr James Rogers of Balnarring, and she had lived in Victoria for almost all her life, having arrived from New York (USA) in 1840. Her parents were Irish emigrants to the United States. (P.20,Argus,30-6-1934.)
There is extensive Cain genealogy in LIME LAND LEISURE but emigration to the U.S.A. and Sarah Ann's marriage are not mentioned as far as I remember. Phil Cain, a great researcher for the Rye Historical Society, would get a chuckle out of Sarah being the last of the Cain family. The journalist probably meant to say "the last of Owen Cain's children". James Rogers was the grantee of crown allotments 20,19A and 19B in the parish of Balnarring, 296 acres on the south side of Bittern-Dromana Rd,indicated by Melway 162 F-H12,the southern boundary being a line heading east to the corner of Warrawee and Balnarring Rds.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 3 April 1869 p 2 Advertising
... and Hollins, TUESDAY, APRIL 6. At Two O'Clock. The Marine Village of Manners-Sutton. Sale of Allotments of Two Acres Each. G.WALSTAB has received Instructions from S. S. Crispo. Esq., to SELL by A ... favourite watering-place of the colony, known as MANNERS-SUTTON. It is situate between Point Nepean and ...
The Governor, Sir John Manners-Sutton, had been elevated to Viscount Canterbury while in office and Crispo, who had built a jetty, quickly changed the name of his village,which was across Canterbury Jetty Rd from Owen Cain's Tyrone.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 11 May 1874 p 7 Advertising
... A R Y NOTICE* COUNTY of MORNINGTON STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY It has been suggested hy Mr Crispo that ... tho following places -Frankston, Mornington, Dromana, Rye, Canterbury, Sorrento, Portsea, and ...
The house that gave Blairgowrie its name was built as Villa Maria by a prominent Irish parliamentarian. When it was bought by Dr. John Blair,he renamed it as Blairgowrie. An excellent free pamphlet detailing the history of the house can be obtained at the Nepean Historical Society Museum at Sorrento. The house was described as being in East Sorrento and the first instance I have found of the area being called Blairgowrie was in an advertisement for the sale of the Cain Estate.
And Between Canterbury Jetty and Mac's Corner
The subdivision of this newly opened up section of the Mornington
Peninsula, held by the descendants of the original Crown Grantee, John Cain,
for over three-quarters of a century, presents you with a unique opportunity
lo secure a seaside home site. Here, you and your family can enjoy all the
pleasures and excitement of Sun Bathing, Swimming, Surfing, Ocean, Bay,
and Rock Fishing, Flounder Spearing, and Cray Fishing.
The new roads that have been formed have made possible entrancing walks
of hitherto unrevealed beauty . . . roads which lead lo the surf beach of Bass
Strait or to the placid beach of Port Phillip Bay.
Already, attractive and modern homes have, been built there, and others
arc in course of construction. Situated between Rye and Sorrento (actually
2.5 miles on the Melbourne side of Sorrento), Cain's Estate commands a
glorious view of ocean, bay, and bushland scenery.
The Mornington Peninsula Bus Service, which runs from Frankston Rail-
way Station to Sorrento passes the Estate, and maintains a regular time-table.
Mac's Corner, the well-known landmark, is but 500 yards from St. John's Wood
Road, and provides a Post-office and Store.
This Estate offers the ideal site for a Holiday Home and an investment for
letting purposes.(P.15, Argus,15-12-1951.)
N.B.The above estate was not "Tyrone" which was granted to Owen Cain in 1860. John Cain's estate was probably comprised of crown allotments 32, 33,34,Nepean, 92 acres 2 roods and 15 perches on the north west corner of Canterbury Jetty and Melbourne Rds granted to John Cain in 1875, extending 982 metres to the west and an average of about 400 metres to the north. As St JohnsWood Rd was probably not officially named,it was probably called Mac's Corner. Blairgowrie residents would be surprised to find that the shopping centre was built on the site of Wilson's old abbatoir.
Further investigation into the first use of Blairgowrie to describe the locality is prompted by a memory that the post office was opened (and called Blairgowrie) before 1951. The following is from wikipedia. The first sentence is nonsense. Dr. Blair gave the same name to his other estate in Berwick. It does not state that the post office was called Blairgowrie when it opened;it may have been called the Sorrento East P.O.at first.
Blairgowrie was named after the Burgh of Blairgowrie, the second largest town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. A post office was not opened until 1 November 1947.
We continue our journey to The Heads.
Not expecting much,I set out to find mention of limeburners on the peninsula a decade each side of 1850.
NOTICE.-The undersigned has CEASED to be in any way CONNECTED with tho BUSINESS now carried on by George Lancaster, in tho name of GEORGE WHITE, a limeburner, at Point Nepean, and will not be responsible for any debts that may be contracted by him on any account whatever from this date.Dated this 21th day of November, A.D. 1858.
Witness, Walter Barter.
(P.8, Argus, 25-11-1858.)
I didn't have much luck finding articles about peninsula limeburners on trove but the above entry prompted me to check my journal about George White's family to see if I had provided detail re the 1859 petition there, which I had. (It can be found at the end of the TOOTGAROOK entry.) I did find an article about Owen Cain being robbed near Tullarook circa 1858.
My commentary concerning the petition lists the limeburners operating near Rye in the 1850's and the WHITE journal from which it came gives the locations of the White Brothers' kilns. As most of the kilns were not on the coast their locations will not be mentioned here but these can be checked in the maps in LIME LAND LEISURE.
In the 1850's Rye would have been a few huts on or near the foreshore. Their inhabitants probably combined limeburning and fishing to eke out a living. The township was proclaimed in 1861 and several histories claimed that the township was officially known as Tootgarook. I believed this until a search for the township of Tootgarook on trove produced not one result. So I searched for the township of Rye.
County of Mornington, Parish of Nepean, situate on the south shore of Port Philip (sic)Bay, eight miles east of the Quarantine ground.
Upset price, 8 per acre.
Lot 1.-2r., 5 6s. the lot. Alex. K. Cowan. Lot 2.-2r., 4 Ids. Gd. the lot. Jno. Campbell. Lot 8 -2r., 6 the lot. J. Campbell. Lot 4.-2r., 5 10s. tho lot. Thos. T. Anderson. Lot 6.-2r., 4.5s. the lot. Joseph Eagin,
Lots 6 to 10.-No offer. Lot 11.-2r., 7 7s. 0d. tho lot. Alice Grace Cook. Lot 12-2r., 5 10s. the lot. A. G. Cook. Lot 13.-2r., 9 6s. the lot. Mary Ann Stenniker. Lot 14-2r" 4 the lot. M. A. Stenniker. Lot 15.-2r., 5 10s. the lot. M. A. Stenniker. Lot 16.-2r., 9 tho lot. William Grace.
County of Mornington, parish of Kangerong, adjoining the township of Dromana, on Port Phillip Bay.
Upset price, 8 per acre.
Lot 17.-2a 3r. 26p., 3 per acre. John Campbell. (P.7,Argus, 28-4-1864.)
Alex K.Cowan's grant was crown allotment 5 of section 1, with frontages of 20 metres to the Esplanade and Nelson St between points 100 metres east of Napier St and 80 metres west of Lyons St.
John Campbell's adjoining grants were c/a 7 and 6 of section 1, on the western side of Cowan's between points 300 metres east of Napier St and 100 metres west of Lyons St. This would have been the site of the original RYE HOTEL which gave the township its name. John Campbell and William Cottier, both former Dromana residents, built this hotel.Campbell was supposed to have built the first Rye jetty in 1860. He was probably involved in the lime trade. Both Cottier and Campbell signed the petition of 9-1-1861 requesting that Robert Quinlan's school be chosen (rather than Nicholson's) to become the Dromana Common School, so they were obviously still residing at Dromana. (If they weren't, Nicholson would have pointed this out!)
Thomas Y.Anderson's grant, c/a 8 of section 1, was west of Campbell's, between points 40 metres east of Napier St and 140 metres west of Lyons St.
Joseph Eagin purchased c/a 5 of section 2 which had a frontage of one chain (20 metres) to both Nelson and Collingwood Sts and was between points 100 metres east of Napier St and 80 metres west of Lyons St.
Alice Grace Cook's grants were c/a 1 and 2 of section 3, fronting the west side of Napier St with 40 metre frontages to the Esplanade and Nelson St.
M.A.Stenniken was probably Mary Anne Stenniken (nee Sherlock),the wife of Ben Stenniken. The above mis-spelling of the surname was not an isolated incident. It is written properly on the Rye Township map but as Stenniker and Stenigain on the parish of Nepean map! As her grants were consecutive lots, I presume they were c/a 5, 4, 3 of section 3 with frontages to the Esplanade and Nelson St of 60 metres between points 100 metres east of Dundas St and 40 metres east of Napier St.
William Grace (who established the 250 acre "Gracefield" near Dromana in 1857) was granted c/a 6 of section 3 which had frontages of 20 metres to the Esplanade and Nelson St between points 80 metres east of Dundas St and 100 metres west of Napier St. His daughter married Patrick Sullivan who built the Gracefield Hotel on this site. The hotel was demolished about 50 years later by Mrs Hunt who built the PRESENT RYE HOTEL in its place. (See the foundation stone!)
Rye first developed because of lime and one of its old families can trace its time in the area to the late 1830's. It is known that Robert Rowley was lime burning ,with Henry Cadby Wells, by 1841 but his mother, a widow who remarried to Richard Kenyon, had already been there for about two years. James Little Brown,the man who transformed the ti-tee and rabbit infested wasteland south of Rye into beautiful pasture from about 1909, stayed with Robert Rowley for a couple of weeks when he arrived. No doubt Robert shared many stories of the old days with James, but not many would be as interesting and funny as this one.
Sir,In the interesting article, "The Gippsland Mystery," on Saturday, by Ernest McCaughan, it is stated that a
party of five whites and ten blacks were sent out under the leaderhip of De Villiers, an ex-police officer who kept the extraordinary named No Good Damper Inn. Apropos of this, a story was related to me by the late Robert Rowley, then of Rye (a very old colonist who had known Buckley, the wild white man). The story, which may be of interest, is that about the year 1840 lime was being burnt about Sorrento and Rye. A layer of sheoak logs was laid on the ground, then a layer of limestone. Another layer of logs, then again stone, and so on, until there was a considerable stack. Fire was next applied. By this rough and ready, though wasteful, system, lime used in the building of early Melbourne was then burned. The lime was then "slacked", afterwards sieved through a fine sieve, and forwarded to Melbourne by ketch. One of these old windjammers had the misfortune to go aground
near the site of Frankston. The lime was taken off undamaged, stacked, and carefully covered a little way from the shore.
A number of blacks were in the vicinity. They had had some little experience of the white fellow's flour. When they found the lime, sieved and done up in small bags under a tarpaulin, they were sure they had got the genuine article in plenty. So they mustered in force, took away all they possibly could, and, fearing pursuit, did not stop running till they put about 12 miles between them and the stack of lime. The blacks then mixed their flour with water upon their 'possum rugs and put the dough in the ashes to bake, the result being
spoiled rugs and bad damper. In the words of Mr. Rowley, "they called that place Dandenong," which means "no good damper. Yours, &c., J. L. BROWN
Sandringham, Sept. 8. (P.4, Argus, 9-9-1924.)
Though the following report from the Rye Correspondent comes well after 1850, it does relate to that era. The pier was required for the lime trade (which co-existed with fishing) and the void caused by the downturn in demand for lime was filled by the firewood industry.
We have to record the death of Mr. John Campbell, a very old resident of this township, at the age of 77 years. He was one of the first contractors for the erection of the Jetty at this place, and afterwards followed various occupations up to the time of his decease. He was buried on the 11th inst., in the Rye general
cemetery-his funeral being well attended. He has been residing with his married daughter, Mrs. Jas. Cain,
for a long period, and he expired at her house.
The wood trade is very brisk, and the demand almost difficult to supply, as the ti-tree is so much required by
bakers and others, that it keeps the local suppliers at full pressure, for there are so many craftsmen* in the
trade, and the trip being short to Melbourne. they are able to make their passages very frequently.
A petition signed by nearly all the fishermen of Sorrento, Rye, Rosebud, and Dromana, to the " Anglers' Protection Society," and which was presented some time ago with regard to the destruction of the fish in the
Bay by different parties using mesh nets, has not yet had the desired effect, viz., the stopping the use of
them; but it is confidently expected that at the next meeting of that body, they will continue to urge upon the
Government the necessity of taking action before the Bay is denuded offish by this wholesale way of destroying them, and eventually depriving a number of industrious men from gaining a livelihood by hooking.
(P.2, Mornington Standard,18-5-1907.)
* Men sailing lime/firewood craft.
Another report in the same year is about one of the above-mentioned "craftsmen*." Ben Stenniken had land grants on both sides of Rye, on the west corner of Truemans Rd and south of Rye Township near the start of Melbourne Rd. He supplied the limestone for Rye's original church/hall/school on the site of the historic Anglican Church. When this was rebuilt as the church, some of Ben's limestone was re-used, supplemented by other limestone supplied by James Trueman, his neighbour at Wannaeue. Ben's lime was also used for the construction of the Dromana Anglican Church.
*Ben probably employed a skipper. I think I've read that John Cain was also a lime craft owner.
Ben's daughter, Maria, married Godfrey Burdett Wilson whose second given name (and his mother's maiden name)is recalled by a street on the Wannaeue grant. Ben's wife was the sister of Sam Sherlock who carried mail on horseback between Rye and Cheltenham in early days. The Stennikens eventually moved to Port Melbourne but Mary Ann (nee Sherlock) owned property at Dromana, which is probably how a Stenniken lad married (Lily?*) Clemenger of Parkmore at Rosebud whom he married. Mary Jane Stenniken received the grant of crown allotment 14, Fingal (Melway 253 J11), which would explain family connections with the Kennedys, (Pattersons?*) and Harry Prince.
* I just had to check. M.Wilson was Maria who married Godfrey Burdett Wilson. The Kennedy, Patterson and Stenniken graves are on the south side of the main path at Rye Cemetery about 30 metres from the gate.
PATTERSON. In loving memory of my dear sister, Rachel, who passed away at Dromana,May 27, 1923.Ever remembered.
Loved In life, treasured in death. A beautiful memory is all we have left.
(Inserted by her loving sister, M. Wilson,Dromana.)
PATTERSON (nee Stenniken).-In loving memory of my dear wife, Rachel, and our dear mother,who passed away at Dromana on the 27th May,1923. (P.1, Argus, 27-5-1925.)
STENNIKEN (nee Lily Clemenger). -On the 5th September, at Nurse Sandford's private hospital, Canterbury road, Albert Park, to Mr.and Mrs. J. Stenniken-a daughter. (P.17, Argus,15-9-1923.)
We are happy to state that the favorite ketch " Gertrude" belonging to Mr. B. Stenniken and which sank in
the lagoon at Port Melbourne during the late gales, has been successfully floated, and it is sincerely hoped by the residents here that she will shortly be again carrying her cargoes of wood and lime, etc., to Melbourne as she has been doing for a great number of years.(P.2, Mornington Standard, 14-9-1907.)
We continue our journey to The Heads.
James Purves' contribution to Mornington Peninsula history.
1.He was one of the two most important horse breeders in the colony's early days, his prime interest being business activity in Melbourne and his stud near Kilmore, but the horse business was also a major focus at Tootgarook.
2.Being a successful businessman he was able to purchase in 1850, the lease of the Tootgarook Run from Edward Hobson, incorporate the Wooloowoolooboolook Run (which was probably between Boneo Rd and Truemans Rd as it fronted Capel Sound according to I SUCCEEDED ONCE) and buy the Tootgarook pre-emptive right soon after.
3. He owned the Rosebud when it was stranded in May 1855 and had it insured for 700 pounds. Edward Hobson moved to Gippsland in about 1843,managing and naming his brother Edmund's Run and naming it by the aboriginal term for river of little fish,corrupted to Traralgon. It is possible that Tootgarook was managed by the Purves brothers, mainly Peter, with James paying the occasional visit. Edward Hobson got into financial difficulties and James Purves may have bought the Run and the schooner as a favour to help him out.
Charles Hollinshed, author of LIME LAND LEISURE (history of the shire of Flinders) was an architect and devoted many pages to James Purves and Edward Latrobe Bateman who followed the same profession. I don't recall him mentioning Peter Purves.
If you enter PURVES on trove and choose the decade 1850-1859,you'll find that James Purves did indeed spend much of his time in Melbourne, much of it in the courts.
Come on itellya, how can you say that James Purves spent little time at Tootgarook? A search for PURVES,TOOTGAROOK on trove produced these results.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Friday 4 July 1862 p 4 Family Notices
...ohn Corboy, hotelkeeper, of Nenega, Ireland. PURVES -QUINAN-On the 16th ult, at the residence of the brides father, Dromana, by the Rev. James Glover, of Schnapper Point, James Purves, of Tootgarook,
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Monday 11 November 1867 p 4 Family Notices
PURVES.-On the 3rd inst., at Broomielaw, Tootgarook, Mrs. James Purves of a daughter.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thursday 13 June 1878 p 4 Article
... Purves was born in Berwick-on-Twccd, and carno out to Tasmania at tho ugo of 21. He arrived at Hobart ... \oyago occupied over a week, and the sheep were nearly famished on their ar- rival. Mr. Purves took up ... the Chintin station, at Deep Creek, and was also owner of Tootgarook station, near Dromana,
My first answer is that only the obituary concerns the architect and that it refers to Tootgarook only as an after-thought. The marriage and birth concern his nephew, the son of Peter Purves. This James Purves was born to Peter Purves and his wife Barbara(nee Scott)on 29-9-1835 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. A month later, Barbara died and heartbroken, Peter left the babe in the care of an aunt, and sailed to Van Diemans Land to join his brother James. Their expertise as architect and mason won them many bridge building contracts. At 18, young James had a burning desire to get to know his father and arrived at Tootgarook in 1852. Father and son had 8 years together before Peter died in 1860.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Saturday 31 March 1860 p 4 Family Notices
... daughter of Mr. Charles Cumming, farmer, Bacchus Marsh. DEATHS. On the 16th inst., at Tootgarook, Point Nepean, formerly of Berwick-on-Tweed, Mr. Peter Purves, aged 58 years, deeply regretted
If you were looking for James Purves, the architect and owner of Tootgarook,the following results for James Purves, Tootgarook, give a fair indication where to look.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Thursday 16 October 1856 p 8 Advertising
... Tom o'Lincoln. These will stand at Tootgarook, fifty miles from Melbourne, and near Arthur's Seat. _ For further particular seo Circulnrs, or in- quire of JAMES PURVES, 74 Collins-street west,
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tuesday 23 June 1863 p 8 Advertising
... tho Breodiug Establishment at Tootgarook, consisting of impoittd thoroughbred mares, colonial do, ... For further particulars apply to J. PURVES, Scott's | Hotel, Collins stroot.
The clincher,if further proof is needed that the architect spent little time at Tootgarook,cannot be found on trove but is available in Peter Wilson's ON THE ROAD TO ROSEBUD and Jennifer Nixon's FAMILY, CONNECTIONS, SORRENTO AND PORTSEA. (P.S.I have pasted a commentary about the petition at the end of the TOOTGAROOK entry.) It involves a dodgy petition opposing a plan to build a fence from White Cliff, circa 1859, to enclose the police paddock. Investigation by a government official found that many who signed the petition did not really oppose the fence, many actually wanting it. They had been persuaded to sign by James Ford and Peter Purves, who between them had something like 600 bullocks obtaining free grazing on the police paddock. It would have taken some time to get all the signatures and they don't seem to have missed anybody except James Purves, Peter's brother, the owner of Tootgarook!
The Tootgarook pre-emptive right started 833 metres west of Truemans Rd (Keith/Morris St midline), extending west to Government Rd, Rye. The southern boundary is indicated by the ends of streets heading south off Brights Drive. The architect had also purchased crown allotments 1, 2, 3 of the parish of Nepean, 174 acres between the pre-emptive right and the township of Rye (originally called Tootgarook.)
The following commentary about the 1859 petition comes from my journal about the WHITES OF SORRENTO AND RYE.
At this time, there was no township of Rye, and according to LIME LAND LEISURE, the Rye Hotel was in Dromana! When the Township was declared in 1861, it was called Tootgarook, probably because it had been part of the Tootgarook run. John Campbell apparently had built a jetty in 1860 and this probably prompted lime burners to erect houses near the pier so they would be close to home when they brought the day's production for shipping. One house, occupied by John Berry, and later by the Sullivans when they moved from the Heads in 1852, is said to have been the first house in the township area. In 1869, almost all of the suburban blocks south of the cemetery and west of Dundas St were bought by limeburners ( more truly lime merchants such as W.A Blair. It has not been definitely established whether Thomas Monahan was connected with the lime industry or just a land speculator.)
James Purves bought his square mile pre-emptive right on 22-10-1855. Ford's land was mainly near Portsea. The Wannbaeue parish map does not indicate when the Fords acquired Wannaeue Station bounded by Eastbourne Rd, Boneo Rd, an eastern extension of Hiscock Rd and Jetty/Old Cape Schank Rd. O'Shannassy reported that Purves and Ford were the only landowners.
Many of the limeburners would have been illiterate. Their names would have been printed (by Peter Purves or James Sandle Ford) and followed by "their mark", usually a cross (X). The names on the petition opposing construction of the fence were: James Ford, Peter Purves, Robert Rainey, James Patterson, George Mitchell, Robert Quinan, George White, Robert White, Richard White, Jeremiah White , James Swan,
Arthur Robinson MATCD (presumably the other Melbourne resident), Alfred Evans, Nathan Page, John Dillon, Edward Russell, Patrick Sullivan, Edward M.Williams, Richard White, George White, Isaac Prout, Owen Cain, Mrs John Devine, Ben Stennigan (Stenniken), Timothy Sullivan, Thomas Clancy, George Baker, Charles Dean, Mrs Edward Skelton, Samuel Clark, Samuel Williams, Richard Kenna (Melbourne resident!)
Snr Constable O'Shannassy was asked to ascertain why the settlers and limeburners had signed the petition. He found that Clark, Williams, Nathan Page, Mrs Skelton and Jeremiah White had not signed and weren't even asked to sign. George White senior and Robert Quinan, both limeburners, had signed, not wanting to offend their old neighbours,even though they actually wanted the fence. Thomas White and 15 other limeburners wanted the fence to prevent Ford and Purves overgrazing the area with their combined 800 head of cattle. They complained that their own bullocks (obviously used for ploughing and hauling lime)were dying from starvation.
Robert, George and Richard White, Ford, Purves, Cain, Stennigan (sic), and Patrick and Timothy Sullivan feared that their cattle would be turned out of the area.
N.B.Much genealogical information regarding Peter Purves and the descendants of his son, James, are available in Hec. Hanson's MEMOIRS OF A LARRIKIN. Send a private message if you would like this information.
We continue our journey to The Heads.
Having just lost 150 minutes worth of text through careless clicking, I will have to abbreviate this entry. Dromana celebrated its 150th in 2011 but 18-8-2006 would seem to have been a more appropriate date. The township of Dromana was proclaimed in 1861 but many township blocks were sold on 18-8-1856. The buyers on that date included Commander Ross, William Dixon Scurfield and W.McRea*.
The township map can be accessed online:
Township of Dromana, Parish of Kangerong, County of Mornington ...
Township of Dromana, Parish of Kangerong, County of Mornington [cartographic material] / drawn and reproduced at the Department of Lands and Survey, ...
Note the suburban blocks accessed by way of Tower Hill Rd. Captain Adams (discussed later) owned 36 acres near the summit.
The township of Dromana stretched west from McCulloch St to Burrell Rd. The section of Dromana east of McCulloch St was part of section 1,parish of Kangerong. The coastal blocks in section 1 extended south to the "main road",Palmerton Ave. William Grace, who established Gracefield in 1857, bought most of these coastal blocks, with Samuel Rudduck, Nelson's father, buying Karadoc in 1858.
Commander Ross is the subject of one of my journals. William Dixon Scurfield built Scurfield's Hotel(later the Arthurs Seat Hotel) between Permien and Foote Sts. In 1864 it was described as having 9 rooms. Dromana's other hotel, the Dromana had 12 rooms by 1864. The latter was built by Richard Watkin*** on the western half of crown allotment 5, section 1, Kangerong, the other half being owned by Peter Pidoto.
Dromana's growth was caused by timber-getting on Arthurs Seat. Peter Pidoto** carried timber (piles, beams, sleepers) around the bay on his vessels with the assistance of employees such as Robert Rowley (who will be discussed later.) When Mornington got its pier, Dromana residents (who claimed they had a bigger population)were most irate but were told that without a municipality, they would have to raise the money themselves.Robert Caldwell,(subject of one of my journals) who established "Dromana Hill" in 1859, never gave up and was eventually successful.
* W.McRea was Victoria's first chief medical officer.
Biography - William McCrea - Australian Dictionary of ...
William McCrea (1814-1899), medical administrator and naval surgeon, was born on 14 October 1814 in County Tyrone, Ireland. His father died before William
** Peter Pidoto did not ply only in the bay and was known to sail as far as Warrnambool, taking his chances with the Rip. The Phoenician probably replaced Peter's first vessel. Little Angelina most likely replaced the Phoenician;it was wrecked as the Woolamai after he had sold it. Peter's wife,living in Clifton Hill,was still rated on the 17 acres west of Carrick Drive in 1910 as well as unsold lots in Dromana's Railway Estate. Mrs Frances Pidoto of Queens Pde, Clifton Hill, was assessed in 1919 on the Railway Estate land and c/a 2,3 section 16, c/a 2 section 18 of Dromana Township; Peter had bought several township lots in 1864 and soon afterwards.
04/03/1881 Phoenician (+1881) wreck
PHOENICIAN; Ketch; Length: 16.4 m.; Owned by P. Pidoto, Dromana; Built at Benjamin Fairhall in 1852. Registered at Melbourne. Registration no. Melbourne 32/1865. On 04 March 1881, PHOENICIAN (Peter Pidoto) with a cargo of not known, was lost after capsizing. see wreck
(PHOENICIAN KETCH 1852-1881 - WRECK WRAK EPAVE WRACK PECIO www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?57256)
*** I must confess to supplying Ray Stella of the Dromana Hotel with incorrect information. The place mats that Ray had printed must now be in hundreds of homes as very few are left. What Colin McLear actually stated in A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA was that the Dromana Hotel was built in the 1850's and that Richard Watkin was credited with building the first house in Dromana, as distinct from Kangerong,in 1857. I had taken this,in my early days of research, to mean that the Dromana Hotel was built in 1857. The following article shows that Scurfield's was the first hotel in Dromana and that Richard Watkin was running it.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 21 April 1858 p 6 Article
... George Williams, Fletcher's Hotel, Haw- thorne. Granted. Richard Watkin, Scurfield Hotel, Dromana. ..
As mentioned at the start of this entry, it was Arthurs Seat and its timber that was responsible for Dromana's rapid growth. Unfortunately, only Colin McLear has written much about the timber getters and those who hauled it to vessels. He hints that many of these men were Irish, accounting for the township's name. John Bryan lived in a hut just east of Gracefield near the summit and the track through the town common was called Bryan's Cutting.(See Melbourne Brindle's map.) He was known to have been in the area by 1860 because when Mary Ann McLear moved into Maryfield in that year, Bryan moved into The Willow (on the Survey just west of the drive-in site.) He later moved closer to his work. John Bryan cut piles, slabs,sleepers,beams and firewood.
No saw mills have been mentioned before Alexander Shand's at Main Ridge, decades later, so those early timber- getters used the splitting wedge, pit saw and perhaps the adze to square their timbers, just as Henry Tuck had done for the Arthurs Seat homestead in about 1843. Thomas and Charles Rymer,recalled by a Safety Beach street name,were probably involved in the early timber-getting but mainly worked at building fences, such as at Maryfield for Charles Graves before the McLears bought it and Arthurs Seat Park in the 1870's. Jonah (Doan) Griffith, Charles Brown,Thomas Tyler (perhaps an ancestor of Rye's Vic Tyler)and Jose Reman were other involved in supplying timber, some also supplying wattle bark for tanning leather.
George McLear, Henry William Wilson and Charles Dyson were three bullockies known to be operating by 1864. McLear and his brothers were Dromana's first butchers until they gave it away and were replaced by Wilson, whose son Godfrey hugely expanded the business. Their work was not easy either. Tracks to the coast through the forest would have had to be blazed and you can't drive a dray over stumps.Loading was another problem with no pier available. I quote from page 89 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA.
PETER PIDOTA. (This is how the surname appeared in rate books from 1864 until 1919, so we can hardly blame Colin! I didn't twig until I failed to find mention of Pidota in trove.)
Peter seems to have had a thriving water transport business operating from the Dromana beach,his craft carrying the varied forest products to Melbourne and other shores of the bay. These craft, of very shallow draught, came almost to the shoreline for loading. Bullock teams waded out to them to effect the transfer of fire-wood,post,rails, shingles, slabs, sleepers, piles and wattle bark. On October 16,1864, George McLear supplied Peter with 94 feet of blackwood,the timber so prized for the manufacture of fine furniture.
While looking for Captain Adams' advertisement re his 36 acres fronting Arthurs Seat Rd near the summit, I discovered another Captain who carried Arthurs Seat firewood from Dromana to Melbourne. It seems that his ship suffered the same fate as Captain Billy Moore's vessel, co-owned by William Henry Blakeley of Red Hill, but with no survivors.
Three weeks or a month ago, a small schooner, the Cousins, Captain Irving, left Dromana with a cargo of firewood for Melbourne, two young lads being on board with him. The trip should have been made in one or two days, but nothing has been seen or heard of schooner, captain, or boys since. Captain Irving was one of the oldest and most experienced captains in the port. He leaves behind him a widow in distressed circumstances and two young children. An appeal has been made to the public in this case, and has met with some response.
(P.1s, Argus, 18-8-1873.)
This run was taken up by Andrew McCrae in 1843 and was taken over by the Burrells who purchased the pre-emptive Right in 1851. The following description of the boundaries was given when McCrae renewed his lease.
On the north by Mr Jamiesons special survey 4 miles, on the west by
the coast line of the bay to the nose of the mountain called St Anthonys
Nose, from thence along the Cape Schanck road to the Drumdunnuallock
creek being the boundary line with Mr Barker, and on the south by
the creek to its source, thence by a line bearing east to a point where
the continuation of the eastern boundary of the said special survey
meets the said line, the large waterhole below the bald hill being in
common with the Mt Martha run; also that piece of land between the
Cape Schanck road and the sea, commencing near the rocks or the Point
known as St Anthonys Nose, and ending at the creek* at the junction of
the Point Nepean and Cape Schanck roads, nearly opposite the end of
the paddock fence. (Pages 311-312, I SUCCEEDED ONCE.)
*Adams Creek which approached the bay shore where The Avenue is today.
If you can make sense of the above, you've left me for dead. Determining the southern and eastern boundaries rely on the "source of the Drum Drum Alloc Creek". I believe that the creek which flows over Kings Falls has been confused with the Drum Drum Alloc. This creek starts in "Sea Winds" and the line east from the "source" may have been approximately Arthurs Seat Rd which met a "continuation of the Eastern boundary of the Survey "(Bulldog Creek Rd.) This continuation today is Junction Rd and the n-s part of Red Hill Rd. The line east from the source and the continuation south of the Survey's eastern boundary later were used as the boundaries between the parishes of Kangerong and Balnarring, the latter separating the central and East Ridings of the Shire.
No wonder there were so many disputes about Run boundaries!
The time of the old sea-dog's arrival is shrouded in mystery as is the "Village of Wannaeue" which was mentioned once, in 1877. Adams folklore maintains that he was granted 750 acres FOR CARRYING CONVICTS*, which he clearly wasn't but as he came into ownership of the majority of Crown Allotment 20, Wannaeue, this may have been some sort of pre-emptive right. An Adams family historian maintains that he must have arrived after the Burrells bought the Arthurs Seat pre-emptive right in 1851 but the Run description above does not seem to include 20 Waanaeue. The Captain was supposed to have beached his ship in 1841 or thereabouts and used its timbers to build his house (on the McCrae car wash site.) Today's Wattle Place became known to all as Adams' Corner.
*Ticket of leave men were brought from Van Diemans Land in about 1841 to solve a severe labour shortage.
The strange thing was that the house that Captain Adams built was on crown allotment 20 of the parish of Wannaeue, which must have been reserved in early days as the site for a village. It was between The Avenue and the line of Parkmore Rd. Yet it was not crown allotment 20 land on which he was assessed in the first Kangerong Roads Board assessment of 1864. He was the owner of 191 acres, which was crown allotment 19, between Parkmore Rd and Adams Avenue, the next block west. This was granted to Issac White who was involved in an indenture with Captain Adams regarding a property at Port Melbourne. (Document in the possession of Harvey Marshall, an Adams descendant.) The captain also owned 36 acres in the Township of Dromana (Melway 159 E-F11)fronting Arthurs Seat Rd, McLear Rd and Arthurs Seat Park and, for a shorter time, 56 acres in the parish of Nepean bounded by Diamond Bay Rd, Melbourne Rd, the ends of Tullyvallin Cres/ Hartley Crt, and the coastal reserve.
The 1877 advertisement (in italics below) seems to indicate that Captain Adams had settled on the peninsula in 1857 but it is possible that Isaac White, grantee of crown allotment 19, Wannaeue, had settled there in about 1850 to look after Eliza while Captain Adams traded to places such as Singapore where they couldn't get enough of his potent Vivyan Vineyard wine, which Robert Rowley Senior said would have you climbing telegraph poles after a glass or two. Eliza would not have been the only wife waiting for her seafaring husband to come home; Mrs Newby, housekeeper for Jamieson on his special survey, waited many times,but in 1845 accompanied her husband and three of her daughters perished. (See article under the SAFETY BEACH heading.)
IN the SUPREME COURT of the COLONY of VICTORIA : In its Probate Jurisdiction.-In the Will of JOHN COCKBILL, late of Little Bourke-street West, in the City of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Publican, Deceased.-Notice is hereby given,that, after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication of this notice, application will be made to this honourable Court, in its Probate Jurisdiction,that PROBATE of the LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of the said John Cockbill, deceased, may be granted to Henry Everist Adams, of Vivyan Vine-
yard, near Dromana, in the said colony, the sole executor named in and appointed by the said will.
Dated this twentieth day of March, 1873.WILLIAM HUGHES, 13 Bourke-street west, Melbourne, proctor for the said Henry Everist Adams. (P.7, Argus,21-3-1673.)
At Twelve O'Clock Noon At the Rooms, Corner of Swanston and Little Collins Streets.
PARISH of WANNAEUE,
Near Dromana, Close to Arthur's Seat, on the Main Road to Sorrento, Farm, of 191 Acres, with Weatherboard House. Also,
PARISH of KANGERONG,
Adjoining Dromana park, and Close to tho Residence of Professor Hearn,
TWO GOVERNMENT ALLOTMENTS, Containing in All 36 Acres.
To Parties Requiring a Delightful Marine Residence, Squatters, Merchants, Capitalists, and Others.
BYRNE, VALE, and Co have received instructions from Captain Adams (who is retiring after a residence in the district of 20 years) to SELL by AUCTION, at their rooms, on Tuesday, March 20, at twelve o'clock noon,
The following valuable properties :
WANNAEUE, Near Dromana.
That valuable farm containing 191 acres, being Government lot No 19, subdivided into seven paddocks, partly laid down in English grasses, substantially fenced with post, rail, and wire, and having a bay frontage of nearly half a mile ; orchard, garden, and vineyard containing 2000 vines all in full bearing, with a comfortable weatherboard house containing 10 rooms, out-houses, &c.; brick tank holding 4000 gallons.
Crops to be removed or taken at a valuation. The auctioneers beg to call attention to tho above property, the land being good for cultivation, well timbered, and permanent water. Inspection invited.
KANGERONG, Adjoining Dromana-park.
Two Government allotments, being Allotment 5 of Section D and Allotment 6 of Section D, containing in all 36 acres, close to tho resldence of Professor Hearn.
Title, Crown grants.
(P.2, Argus, 20-3-1877.)
The 36 acres eventually passed into the ownership of Dromana's Nelson Rudduck but in 1879 Henry Everest Adams was assessed on both properties (as well as 61 acres in crown allotment 20, while his son, Robert, was assessed on 20 acres and a house*.)
* Crown allotment 20 had been alienated a year or so earlier, with the Adams family acquiring most of the land west of Wattle Rd. Robert had probably persuaded his father to leave the house as Robert's wife refused to live with the hard-drinking former mariner. Henry moved to live with his friends, the Mullens of South Melbourne.
NOTICE is hereby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication of this notice application will be made to the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, in its Probate jurisdiction,
that PROBATE of the LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of HENRY EVEREST ADAMS, late of Vivyan Vineyard, near Dromana, in the colony of Victoria, land-owner, deceased, be granted to Eliza Adams,of Vivyan Vineyard, near Dromana aforesaid, the widow of the said deceased, and sole executrix named in and appointed by the sold will.
Dated this 7th day of November, 1881.HUGHES and MICHIE. 53 William-street, Melbourne, proctors for the said Eliza Adams. (P.3, Argus, 7-11-1881.)
FOR SALE CHEAP 191 ACRES of LAND,
Wannaeue, near Dromana, all fenced, divided into six paddocks, good grass and permanent water, beach frontage 600 fruit trees, 2000 vines, all bearing. 10 roomed house, brick,* tank, stables, &c. Sold in consequence of death of Mr Adams. No reasonable offer refused. Apply Mrs. E ADAMS, Wannaeue, near Dromana.
(The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tuesday 13 December 1881 p 12 )
The 191 acre block did not sell and passed into the ownership of the captain's son, Robert Adams, who sold it to a land developer circa 1889. The land bisected by Rosemore Rd was subdivided but the developer soon became insolvent,the land south of South Rd, and unsold blocks, reverting to Adams. Parkmore was built in about 1896 by Albert Holloway.
Much more information is available about the captain and his descendants. In 1860,it is probable that along the coast from Anthony's Nose to TOOTGAROOK STATION, the only houses were (today's)McCrae's Cottage, a four roomed house and workmen's huts on crown allotment 17* (bounded by the beach road, Jetty Rd, Eastbourne Rd and the linr of Norm Clark Walk)and perhaps huts on the foreshore erected by crewmen of The Rosebud who may have decided to use a boat from the stranded vessel in May 1855 to try their luck as fishermen.
*The advertisement doesn't say crown allotment 17 but I'll bet you any money that it is!
TUESDAY, 10th MARCH~
Parish of Wannaeue, Arthur's Seat.129 Acres.
Four-roomed Cottage, Men's Huts,fronting Hobson's Bay, and within Thirty Miles from Melbourne by Water, and Forty-five Miles by Road.H.A. COFFEY, for F. E. Beaver and Co., is instructed to sell by auction, at
their rooms, 30 Collins-street west, on Tuesday, 1oth inst., at eleven o'clock, 129 acres superior agricultural land, having a large frontage to Hobson's Bay, and described in the Government plan as having water at a short distance from tho surface ; together with a neat cottage containing four rooms and a garden ; fruit trees, fenced in. From the great rise in tho value of property in this locality, tho healthful air and the beautiful
scenery, there can be no doubt but that this opportunity offers a fair chance for profitable investment to
the small capitalist, or would be admirably adapted for a marine residence.
The water is sufficiently deep in shore to admit the landing of provisions and goods close to the frontage.
(P.2, Argus, 5-3-1857.)
In ROSEBUD:FLOWER OF THE PENINSULA, Isabelle Moresby mentioned Maori fishermen living at Rosebud and I thought she was mistaken,thinking of the Maori Farm at Rye. However, a year or so past, I found that she was right. Although this incident happened quite a while after 1850, I will include it here in case I never find the article again.
Mr. Candler held an inquest on Wednesday, at Tootgarook, on the body of Patrick Wee Wee, a Maori fisherman, living at Rosebud, aged 30 years. On the 27th inst., Senior-constable Lyons was directed to the body of
deceased on the beach, between Rye and Dromana, it having been taken thereby two young men who saw it in the water. There were no marks of violence, and from the froth and blood coming from deceased's nose he appeared to have been drowned. On Sunday evening, the 20th inst., deceased was heard to agree with four young men sup-
posed to be Richard Knott, Richard Barry, Richard Abbott, and Richard Betwright, stonemasons, employed by Mr. Muir, contractor, at the Quarantine, to convey them in his boat to the Quarantine-ground. All the young men were sober, but the deceased was not quite sober. Shortly afterwards the five left, and were never seen on shore again. About 10 minutes after they were last seen on shore, a gust of wind suddenly sprung up from
the westward, the weather having been quite calm previously. Deceased could manage a boat well and was a good swimmer. On the afternoon of the 20th, Christian Miller, a seaman who was on board the fore-and-aft schooner Result, anchored off the pier at Tootgarook, heard a voice calling, and about 150 yards to the westward saw a man whether white or coloured he could not tell, clinging on a boat which was upset and drifting towards Rosebud. Miller was attending to the schooner, there being a heavy squall, and could give no assistance, and the boat and man drifted out of sight. The schooner was about half a mile from the pier, and the storm had risen very suddenly. The deceased's boat had never turned up, but the oars had been washed ashore, and the four young men had never since been heard of. The jury stated that deceased was found drowned, and that they believed he was accidentally drowned during a squall while conveying passengers to the Quarantine-ground on Sunday, the 20th inst. (P.5, Argus, 31-12-1869.)
Richard Barry's body was later found and an inquest was held.
Mr. Candler held an inquest on the 6th inst. at Tootgarook, on the body of Richard Barry, aged 18 years. Deceased was a mason, employed at works on the Quarantine-ground, and on the 20th ult. he was last seen arranging with a Maori to sail across to the Quarantine. The boat went, and deceased and three others who went in her were never seen again, a storm having sprung up. The Maori's body was washed up shortly afterwards. The body of deceased was discovered on the 3rd inst., much bitten about the face, hands, and left thigh by fishes, but deceased was identified by his clothes. It was found about a mile from Rye, on the beach. A verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. (P.6, Argus, 11-1-1870.)