Donation of 50 cents gratefully accepted to help with the publication of this newsletter.

Volume 2 July Issue 6 2006

July 1906 - Floods! July 2006 - Praying for Rain (but not floods!)

The years of 1893-4, Sunday, 21st July 1906 and St. Patrick’s Day, 1946, are the years that will long be remembered by the citizens of Casterton and district. They were momentous years of the big floods, when the Wannon and Glenelg Rivers spilled their banks. Swollen from incessant rains and storms, they flooded the the low lying areas of the town. There was a great loss of stock, domestic animals and pets. In the town, fencing and buildings were washed away and in some cases there was near loss of life in which only for the devotion to duty and the courage of its citizens, drowning fatalities could have occurred. On the Saturday, 4 inches of rain put the Glenelg two to three feet higher than the 1894 flood, which at that time had been the highest recorded since the town was founded in 1846.

(Taken from, “Tales of Casterton, the Waines Murder and Other Stories” by Jack Gorman.)

1 of estates, including Robertson's, in the border districts; his wife had an independent income. In 1877 Shiels stood unsuccessfully for pastoral Normanby (the Hamilton, Coleraine and Casterton district) in the Legislative Assembly as a 'Constitutionalist' supporter of . He was elected in 1880 and in his maiden speech pleaded for an end to the bitterness of the previous session. He increasingly allied himself with Robert Murray Smith, warmly aided Pearson in the campaign to open the Public Library of and the museums on Sundays, and supported Rev. Charles Strong in his conflict with the Presbyterian Church. William Shiels (1848 - 1904), by unknown engrav- Shiels made his mark as a proponent of women's er, 1892, courtesy of La Trobe Picture Collection, rights. In 1883, supported by Pearson and Hearn, State Library of Victoria. IAN01/03/92/17. as a private member he carried an amendment to William SHIELS, premier and lawyer, was born the Marriage and Matrimonial Causes Act on 3 December 1848 at Maghera, Derry, Ireland, providing, in cases of divorce, for mothers' son of Robert Shiels, farmer, and his wife custody of the children. His exhaustive analysis, Patricia Sarah, née Kelly. The family migrated to while still a bachelor, of the married condition late in 1854 but Robert died five caused some ribaldry; he was clearly acting on weeks after arrival and in 1857 Patricia married behalf of an unidentified group of women. William Dickens. Later in life Shiels warmly Harriet Dugdale commented: 'It is fortunate for acknowledged the 'life-long sacrifices and manhood's honour that such men … are devotion' of his mother. From 1862 he attended endeavouring … to raise woman to the position Scotch College, where he was 'a great reader and of a human being'. With Hearn again, he drafted admirer of Parliamentary oratory', and liberal amendments to the Married Women's matriculated in 1866. At the University of Property Act which the government adopted Melbourne (LL.B., 1873), in his second year he (1884). In 1887 he carried an amendment to the won first-class honours and the exhibition in law law of slander to cover accusations of adultery and history, and in later years prizes for an essay against married, or of unchastity against single, on 'The crown of Demosthenes' and for a women. He supported equal pay for female translation of a poem by Goethe. His final years teachers. were academically undistinguished, but the ill He rose to fame as the sponsor of divorce reform. health which dogged his life had led him to delay In 1887 the New South Wales parliament passed his course overall for three years. He was a bill which greatly widened the grounds for admitted to the Bar in 1873. divorce; the Imperial government refused its as- sent. That year as a private member Shiels took a Shiels was considerably influenced by the similar bill past the second-reading stage but, for teaching of W. E. Hearn and the liberal Charles tactical reasons, did not proceed further. The Pearson and by the example of George governments of Victoria, New South Wales and Higinbotham. He had also spent considerable South Australia then agreed to make the issue time over the South Australian border as a tutor, one of self-government and to make a test case of a period he considered the happiest of his life, a Victorian bill. In 1889 Shiels carried his bill - exulting in riding and playing cricket. He became he would have liked to go much further - through closely attached to John Robertson (1809-1880), both Houses, with large majorities despite bitter a pastoralist of Struan House, Naracoorte, whose opposition from the Churches. Backed vehe- 27-year-old daughter Jane he was to marry there mently by colonial leaders, especially Sir Alfred on 6 May 1885; they settled at Summerland Stephen and Pearson, early in 1890 he visited House, St Kilda. Shiels's practice of law had been London to press the cause. The Imperial cabinet sporadic but he came to specialize as an executor

2 reluctantly gave way and 'the Shiels Divorce Act' Sheils won 58 seats, the conservatives 28 and was proclaimed, clearing the way for the other Labour (which had been supporting the colonies. government) only 11 at its first sustained attempt. Sir , the senior statesman, was An old-fashioned orator, Shiels wrote out and called in as treasurer to restore the colony's memorized eloquent speeches of great length, tottering finances, but his budget was weak and with frequent literary allusions and occasional use futile. The energy and long hours Shiels put in (he of Greek as well as Latin. He was a good and was a 5.30 riser, usually at his desk by 7.30) could amusing enough speaker to maintain general not arrest decline into deep economic depression. interest and popularity in the assembly, especially It was only a matter of time before a combination as he enjoyed provoking good-humoured conflict. was found to remove him. By November he had (Sir) Frederic Eggleston described him as 'a really decided to resign, but hung on into 1893. great Parliamentary orator, but just a little too florid … full of fine phrases and happy epigrams Continued next month..... but his voice was harsh, his delivery awkward … But he could make a budget exciting and he had a strain of patriotism … his speeches thrill anyone The Early History of Sandford who loves Australia'. as told by Mrs. Grogan circa unknown. Copy donated to The Casterton & District In 1886 Shiels had immediately placed himself in Historical Society opposition to the reconstituted coalition Gillies- by Carol McKinnon-Ward 2006 Deakin ministry. Over the next four years he was (?? = unreadable in transcript) a constant critic of boom extravagance, especially (*=Note made by Carol McKinnon-Ward) railway building; his attack on Gillies' 1889 budget was scathing. His visit to England and his Major Mitchell and his party first traversed the tact as a negotiator increased his stature as did his undulating country surrounding the present criticism in August 1890 of the government's township of Sandford on 11th August 1836. After crazy proposals for further railway extensions, to having crossed the Wannon River to the west of which Deakin replied - an oratorical duel on the present homestead on Sandford House Estate, which they congratulated each other. Major Mitchell passed along hills to the west of Thus when the government finally collapsed on Sandford and named this part of Victoria, 30 October and James Munro, at the command of ‘Australia Felix’. The country was then occupied David Syme of the Age, became premier, Shiels by tribes of aborigines till 1837. The Messrs. was a natural choice as attorney-general and Edward, Frank and John Henty came from minister of railways. In March 1891 he briefly Portland on the advice of Major Mitchell and attended the National Australasian Convention in settled on the three chief stations of the district Sydney as a substitute for (Sir) . viz, Muntham, Merino Downs and Sandford His time as minister was largely occupied in House. conflict with the defiant Richard Speight and the other railway commissioners, especially over the Muntham Estate comprising some 77000 acres of railways deficit. By September Shiels was rich pasture land, according to Mr. Featherstone- exhausted and took a break for several weeks. His Haugh in ‘After many days’ average about £2.00 amendments to the Railways Act, passed in per acre, when Mr. Edward Henty purchased it December, marked some shift back to political and settled there. Merino Downs contained control. approximately 16000 acres and was the home of Mr. Frank Henty, whilst Mr. John Henty with By then it was clear that Munro had to go - both 6000 acres settled at Sandford House. The name his colleagues and Syme had had enough of him - Sandford was given to the little village when it and Shiels became premier on 16 February 1892. was surveyed in 1856 by the late well known The railway commissioners were suspended on surveyor – Mr. Lindsay Clarke. Early residents 17th March for refusal to accept ministerial say it was so named because there was a sandy direction. At Casterton he made a famous policy fort at the Northern boundary of Sandford estate, speech in which the oratory did not outweigh the but late enquiries seem to indicate that the village reasoning. The election on 20th April was a triumph. was named after the station which John Henty had 3 in all probability named after, an old spot in Mr. C Radford, son of Dr. Radford who had England. *The Henty’s came out on a ship with settled in a practice hereabout that year. Shortly friends who were named ‘Sandford’ so the name after Mr. T. O. Evans was appointed to the may have come from there. position of school master, and during his regime, the Common School merged into the present State On 11th June 1847, Sandford House was taken School system with the introduction of free over by Mr. J.H.. Jackson, who came from his education in 1872. uncle’s station at Sunbury with a sound knowledge of sheep breeding. This was indeed It was deemed advisable to move the site of the most useful, for all the surrounding stations were school to a more central spot in 1875, and a then specially suited for the production of wool and commodious brick school and residence were sheep-rearing. built in the middle of the growing community. That school is still being used although a new After the passing of the Land Act in 1861 a land Infant Room had to be added in 1900 to board met at Casterton, and an influx of settlers accommodate the increased attendance. shortly after brought about an increase of trade Schoolmaster Evans was succeeded by Mr. and business in the little township which really Wilson then came Mr. L.H.. Renchan? And the came into existence in 1857. In that year Messrs. last of the old school were Messrs. C. Radford Waddley and John Scott Grant each built a Hotel, who had entered the service of the Education the former naming his Hotel the ‘Sandford Hotel’ Department that had charge of the S. School and the latter called his public house ‘Caledonia Sandford for 11? Years and C.W. Hill for 13 years Hotel’. Mr. Charles Grinham also opened a store the village Head Teacher. Both these gentlemen that year and Mr. Thos. Somerville with his wife are now aged residents of Melbourne. and family arrived from Wando Vale at the end of 1857. In 1866 Mr. Layley settled in Sandford as a shoe maker and in the following year opened a General The blacks about that time were very troublesome Store on the site of the present Post Office. On and a shepherd on the ‘Murdering Flat’ was 17th May 1873, Mr. Layley had the honour of murdered, by then this was avenged by the early laying the Foundation Stone of the Rechabate?? settlers following the mobs of blacks to the Hall. This hall was afterwards sold to the Ancient ‘Fighting water-holes’ near Coleraine and there a Order of Foresters and still is locally known as the great massacre took place. After that, there were ‘Foresters Hall’. On 21st June 1887, the late Mr. only a few scattered blacks in the neighbourhood. J.S.. Anderson saddler, planted an Oak tree in They became friendly and worked for the early front of this hall to commemorate the 50th Jubilee settlers. Yorkie, Peter, Tiger, Jim Powers and his of the late Queen Victoria, and it has grown into lubra, Louie are still well remembered by many a magnificent and much prized memento of old residents. The last corroboree was held on Forestry. Sandford owes its indebtedness to the Craig’s Hill and the final co-campment of mia- late J.S.. Anderson for a library. Through his mias was near the bend of the Railway Line now energy and love of reading, he established ‘Penny coming into the village on the north-side. Readings’ in the first place of amusement erected, in Sandford and known as Nicholls Hall. The The most important event in the history of the moneys he thus raised formed the nucleus for little community was the opening of the Common funds to build the present library and later, on the school in 1863. It was built on the Sand hill to the Mechanics Hall. The Foundation Stone of which South of the town. The money for the purchase of was laid in 1885 by the late Mr. W.M. Bond, the land and the erection of a substantial brick landlord & Licensee of the Commercial Hotel. school and a two roomed dwelling was donated by private subscriptions from all the residents – Flour milling was started here by the Miller?? the late Dr. Russell & Mr. J.H. Jackson being the Bros. from Coleraine but being unsuccessful, sold principal movers in the matter of education. Each out to the late Mr. Peter Learmonth of Hamilton. pupil according to his class paid at the rate of 6d, He engaged Mr. John Holmes as manager and 9d & 1/- per week as his education advanced. The later on his brothers George and William joined first teacher was Mr. Holt. He was followed by him and eventually purchased the mill.

4 The Holmes Bros. soon built up a reputation for the high quality of their stone ground-silk dresser As you may know, Jim Kent Flour and things boomed in those days. When the has been heard on the ABC roller-milling came into operation, Holmes Bros. radio recently, speaking about closed up and removed to Casterton. They the history of Casterton. For commenced the Brass band which is now known those who have not been able as the Vice Regal Band and for many years the to listen to the transmissions, majority of the members were the Holmes Bros here is a précis of them. and their sons. Part 4; Naming of Casterton: A rabbit trimming business was carried on in the Alexander McKinlay was without doubt the first old mill by ??inton Bros until the place was white person to set up in business in what is now mysteriously destroyed by fire. The butter factory known as Casterton, he established an Inn where was removed about the same time to Cton, and the he cared for travellers and people employed by reverses they experienced have never been the Henty Brothers and other pastoralists in the overcome. The early settlers did all their business district. and trade with Portland by means of bullock- drays, horse and cart and coach, and as there was The township rests in a valley under a canopy of no local council, the Portland Road Board had to eucalyptus trees and is bisected by the Glenelg maintain and look after all the roads. Things were River. It is surrounded by, in some places, quite greatly changed when the Railway from steep and large hills. At a logical place to cross the Branxholme to Casterton was opened in Sept river is where McKinlay set up his Inn. Firstly he 1884. wanted to site the Inn on the eastern bank of the river, which formed the boundary of Edward The Roman Catholic Church was the first place of Henty’s ‘Muntham’. Edward was not amused, so, worship built in the village and was completed by as McKinlay’s Brothers-in-law by this time had the late Mr. Jas Mc Cormack in 1866. The Rev acquired a huge pastoral holding called Father Marshall was the first parish priest ‘Springbank’ on the western side of the river, he stationed here. Then in 1883 the Presbyterian built his inn on their land. Church was opened by the Rev. Mr. Mc Millan of Hamilton – the Rev. Mr. Gillespie of Coleraine Now these brother’s-in-laws names were Kirby being the nearest minister to conduct the church and their birthplace was a Casterton in England, services afterwards. The Church of England was could this have influenced our town to be called opened by January 1888, the vicar of Christ Casterton? Church Casterton being the first minister of St. Mary’s Sandford. Another assumption could be attained from looking at the area surrounding the 2nd town in In the very early days, Sandford was noted for its England called Casterton. Like our town, it is Horse races. The famous Great Western surrounded by hills; the actual word has Roman Steeplechase was finished in the Main Street of connotations as in a “castellated nut”, to draw a today and the prize amounted to £50. Adam comparison, ‘castle’ meaning a building and ‘ton’ Lindsay Gordon, poet, politician and noted meaning a town. Anglicised, you have Casterton, horseman rode in that race one year; but his horse meaning a town surrounded by hills. refused to jump for him and he lost. Ned Gorry being declared the winner. The Race-Course now Again, I am in the dark as to who did the actual occupied was once part of the Recreation Reserve naming of Casterton, I have never found positive adjoining it. The grants were issued for them in proof of the person or persons who put this handle 1886 and 1887 respectively. on our town. Maybe it was the Kirby Brothers or In the seventies and eighties Mr. W. Storie who the original surveyors, it could have been James arrived from Portland in 1860 grew splendid Blair or Captain Foster Fyans, or as it was samples of wheat; but latterly Oats and Barley are originally known as ‘The Adelaide Crossing’ or the chief cereals grown. Dairy herds have recently ‘The Glenelg Crossing” or McKinlay’s Crossing. taken largely the place of the sheep- mixed with Maybe it was the members of the newly formed farming and dairying being the general local ‘Glenelg Road District’ who so named occupation of the present day Sandford. Casterton.

5 I have yet to see written authoritative proof as to Alexander McKinlay met an unfortunate death who did name Casterton as such. We will leave it from drowning while riding a horse through a there for now except to say, Casterton is a great swamp, at this time the movement to have a place to live. township established either to the north or south of McKinlay’s Inn was in being. McKinlay’s The Goldfields. widow implored Robertson of ‘Wando Vale’ Now the next major influence by which the station to use his influence with the Government, township of Casterton was to come into being was to prevent a township being built at either the the discovery of the goldfields of central Victoria. north or south of her Inn on the Glenelg River These goldfields caused an enormous migration bank. This suited Robertson as it would have of workers to the diggings and as Casterton is divided his property. He successfully lobbied on situated close to the South Australian Border, this behalf of Mrs. McKinlay, so we can thank Mr. J geographical situation had a great bearing on this G Robertson of ‘Wando Vale’ station for having particular spot becoming a township. Casterton sited where it is now. The state of South Australia was becoming It was around this time, 1848, a Mr. Wade, a impoverished, owing to the exodus of its Government Surveyor, was working in the nearby workforce to the Victorian goldfields. So, the Hamilton district. It was Mr. Wade who gave powers in charge of affairs of that state, decided instructions to the surveyors Messrs Clarke and that gold won by the diggers from South Derbyshire to survey and lay out a town at the site Australia, should come back to that state, so as to of McKinlay’s Inn. This they did around 1850. bolster the economy there. The great barriers of This is then how the present township of hills, cliffs, streams, etc on the direct route from Casterton came into being, who gave it the name, the goldfields back to South Australia would Casterton, I don’t know, except to say it is an old prove to be a problem. Either the gold escort Roman word meaning a town surrounded by hills. would have to travel via a longer, northern route, Footnote* a longer sea passage around the coast, or, a passage through the hills had to be found. When I went to school in the 1930’s, the population of the town was 2000 it is much the This is where Alexander McKinlay comes into same today. Over the years there have been four the picture. He was to establish a public house on different routes by which you came through the the west bank of the Glenelg River around which valley, and four different bridges at the site where grew other dwellings and places of commerce. you crossed the Glenelg River. Our current This area on the Glenelg River became known by entrance is a large cutting into the side of a hill, various names, such as, The Adelaide Crossing, then down over the bridge and into Henty St so McKinlay’s Inn and The Glenelg Crossing. All named after the Henty families who were the first this was in the 1840’s. While McKinlay was to settle in this area. establishing his Inn, there was a movement afoot to have a township surveyed to the north of the Jim Kent, July 2006 inn, on a place where four large pastoral holding boundaries met. These properties were ‘Muntham’, ‘Cashmere’, ‘Wando Vale’ and ‘The Hummocks’, at this time the latter was owned by Mr. McCulloch who later sold it to Mr. Pearson who renamed it ‘Retreat’. Supposedly there was a township surveyed in this locality, however, no plans or survey have ever been located. It is known that a slab and bark Court House and a Police Station existed on Pearson’s ‘Retreat Station’ adjacent to the everlasting hills known as ‘The Hummocks’. A strange quirk of fate decided as to where the eventual town of Casterton would be and it came about, thus:

6 She was a life member of the RSPCA and also Helen Macpherson Schutt - had a connection with the Royal District Nursing Philanthropist Service, going back to 1919. In that year, she 17th April 1874 - 19th April 1951 donated money to the Melbourne District Nursing Society. 1919 was a crisis year for both Extracts taken from a history of her life, Melbourne and the Society, when the worst Part 3. influenza epidemic ever struck the city. The Royal District Nursing Service continued to Married Life. receive personal donations from Helen until 1947, Helen married William John Schutt, Barrister, on some 24 years after she had left Australia to reside December 11, 1901, at Toorak Presbyterian permanently in Europe. One of the many Church. Helen was 27 and William 33. The examples of the legacy of Helen Schutt was the Reverend John Macrae officiated and Helen was recent opening and naming of the new Royal attended by three bridesmaids: her cousin, Ada District Nursing Service head office at Alma Howard and friends, the Misses Rosa Menzies Road, St Kilda, in inner Melbourne, supported by and Elsie Ingram. William’s best man was a Mr. funds from the Trust. A.O. Henty. Helen and William travelled to Sydney, then on to the Blue Mountains for their Helen and William appear to be a kindly couple, honeymoon where they stayed at ‘Yester Grange’ shown by their relationship with Anne Kate built for Goodlet and Smith, the family building Coles, (née Shutt) a second cousin of William, company based in Granville, New South Wales. who became their housekeeper. Mr Patrick Holder, who married Anne Kate’s granddaughter Used by its Managing Director, William Smith Joan Morison, says that Helen Schutt’s kindness and his wife Susan, ‘Yester Grange’ stands on the was often talked about within the family. Helen edge of the ridge above the spectacular and William Schutt befriended Anne Kate when Wentworth Falls and is surrounded by a her marriage broke up, and she became their manicured garden of 10.5 acres and specimen trees companion/housekeeper, bringing her daughter from all over the world. From the front verandah, Kitty with her. the view of the Jamison Valley is breathtaking. It is believed to have been named by William Smith Later, when Helen left to live in Europe, William after ‘Yester House’ in Gifford, near Edinburgh, Schutt bought the property at 14 Robinson Road, Scotland and there is also a ‘Yester Grange’ in the Malvern – ‘The Chalet’ in which he and Helen Shetland Islands. Built from New Zealand kauri installed Anne Kate and her daughter. William timber and with an iron roof, ‘Yester Grange’, a apparently stayed at ‘The Chalet’ on his travels house of 74 squares, was bought in 1902, the year between Europe and Australia. On William’s after Helen and William’s visit, by Sir John See, death, the property passed to Helen, who kept the Premier of New South Wales between 1901 and arrangement in place. She also gave her 1905. christening robe, dressing table silver and other mementoes to her housekeeper. These have been Helen and William returned to live in Toorak near kept in the family first by Kate’s granddaughter, Helen’s parents, at the villa which was their Joan Morison and on her death, by Joan’s wedding gift, ‘Wyahla’ in Clendon Road, now husband, Mr Patrick Holder. popularly known as the Toorak Heroes’ Club. Though the area of land on which the house Helen’s Landowner Forebears: stands has been subdivided and has undergone The Macphersons. extensive renovations, the house still stands at 72 Clendon Road and has belonged to the Toorak Helen was particularly fortunate in her forebears: R.S.L. Memorial Trust since 1958. on both sides they were hardworking and energetic. On the Macpherson side they were Helen supported a number of charitable causes good judges of land and excellent farmers while and was one of the first Life Members of The the Smiths were entrepreneurs with a talent in Lost Dogs’ Home. Her name appears in the list business and blessed with an eye for property of donors in the years between 1914 and 1935, with potential. as does, intermittently, that of her husband. (Continued next month.) 7 Society Meeting Times and Dates, Publications for Sale With Guest Speakers for 2006/7: Casterton Historical Street Walk “From Flour Mill to Glenelg Inn - $10.00 ------Extracts from the Casterton and District Historical Society Inc. 1966-1996 - $10.00 Corndale State School Honour Board Booklet $7.00 Casterton Cenotaph WWI soldiers - $20.00 Monday 17th July 2006 at 2.00 pm Casterton Cenotaph WWII soldiers - $10.00 Mrs. Pat Hein Mount Gambier Heritage and History Society Major Norman McDonald Photograph Album CD - $20.00 Monday 21st August 2006 at 2.00 pm History in the Depths – Gallipoli – DVD - $20.00 Ms. Jenny Fawcett - Genseek Genealogy Vern McCallum Photographs CDs ------Casterton High School - $20.00 th Wednesday 20 September 2006 at 7.00 pm Vintage Tools of Trade - $10.00 Basil Stafford, Local/Family History Researching Newsletters of the Casterton and District Historical Society 2005 Booklet – Indexed $10.00 th Wednesday 18 October 2006 at 7.00 pm Extracts from Gleanings – $1.00 To be advised Contact Jan 55 752578 Wednesday 15th November 2006 at 7.00 pm Dinner Meeting - Ms. Joan Hunt ------December 2006 and January 2007 - No Meeting ------

July 17th 2006 Casterton

July 24th 2006 Coleraine

July 31st 2006 Harrow President: Jan Lier Publicity Officer: Basil Stafford August 7th 2006 Balmoral Secretary/Treasurer: Cheryl Elmes August 14th 2006 Casterton Contacts: Cheryl Elmes and Jim Kent August 21st 2006 Coleraine P.O. Box 48, Casterton, Victoria 3311 August 28th 2006 Harrow Newsletter Layout: Alistair Boyle P.O. Box 186, Casterton, Victoria, 3311 September 4th 2006 Balmoral

September 11th 2006 Casterton Any material for inclusion can be left at P.O. Box 48 or passed to Basil Stafford or Jan Lier. September 18th 2006 Coleraine Any ideas or comments always welcome at P.O Box 186 th You can email Jan and Cheryl September 25 2006 Harrow via the Ballarat Genealogy Web site.

8