“Bunk” Sydney 1839 — Recollections of Jules Joubert
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HUNTERS HILL HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC February 2021 Patron: The Mayor of Hunters Hill Volume 22, Issue 1 We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Hunters Hill and show respect to Elders past and present. www.huntershillmuseum.org.au “Bunk” Sydney 1839 — Recollections of Jules Joubert ven amongst Australians the Syd- occupied by Government officials— ney people are daily “chaffed” for military and civil—troops and convicts— NORA HEYSEN E the pride they on all occasions some already rich and arbitrary, the others evince about what they call “Our Har- still serving their sentence—obedient, orn 11 January 1911 in Hahn- bour.” I must say that after Brest, Cork, Rio even cringing—but holding their rich dorf SA, Nora Heysen was the Janeiro [sic], and the Bay of Islands—even the “pals” in perfect abhorrence. B daughter of famous Australian far-famed Bay of Naples, all of which I have It was in those days quite a common oc- painter Sir Hans Heysen. She studied art visited, and in turn admired—I did not antici- currence to hear of a woman arriving in in Adelaide and in Sydney at the Julian pate any very great surprise at the first the Colony as an emigrant, claiming her Ashton School of Art. As her father was glimpse of Port Jackson. husband — a convict — as her assigned fairly well off, she was able to travel to But when, at daybreak, on that beautiful sum- servant, and vice versa. Couples re-united in London in 1934 to study art and paint for mer morning, I came on the poop of the brig this wise have, in many instances, begun a few years. Martha, and, for the first time, saw as we the world over again in Australia, and turned round the inner South Head this vast She returned to Sydney and in 1938 be- ended their days in affluence and respect- expanse of placid blue water—North Har- came the first women to win the Archi- ability. Officers, public servants, in those bour and Manly on the right, Middle Head bald Prize. It was a controversial choice days, when the male sex predominated, in and Middle Harbour facing us, and Port Jack- with a few male artists at the time who many instances married their assigned son on the left, with the Blue Mountains in thought a woman should not have been servants, picked at random at the the distance—all other harbours dwindled chosen. “factory” in Parramatta. down to almost insignificance. As we sailed This may now seem outrageous, neverthe- In 1943 she became the first woman to towards Farm Cove, and each succeeding less in most cases the result of what may be appointed a war artist with the rank bay, inlet, or headland were passed, my admi- appear a most objectionable match, has of captain, serving mainly in Papua New ration increased. proved quite the reverse from what might Guinea. She completed over 170 works – I have spent many years in Sydney; very many have been expected. It would not do even a lot are with the War Memorial Museum days boating; have visited every nook now to search too deeply into the pedi- in Canberra. and corner of that immense bay, and I must gree of some of the Australians; but I will She moved to Hunters Hill in 1954 and confess that the natives of Sydney have every say that some of the most honourable, her residence, The Chalet, in Yerton reason to be proud of their “Harbour.” best educated, and highly refined men of Street at the bottom of Ferry Street has Sydney in 1839 was, as compared to its pre- the day, would, if their escutcheon was one of the Historical Society plaques out- sent condition, a very small village. It was a scratched, show beneath the emblazon- side. quaint, old -fashioned township, principally (Continued on page 2) Whilst she painted some buildings, Nora mainly painted portraits, flowers and her had not been very long in Sydney, the Resident Magistrate, M. Lavaud favourite cats. She said, “my father has a when the French corvette—the indiscreetly mentioned the object of copyright on gum trees.” I Aube — called for stores on her way his errand in the presence of the com- She died on 30 December 2003 at Hunt- to New Zealand. Captain Lavaud, hearing mander of an English man-of-war brig. ers Hill and is buried at Hahndorf. that I had been there, asked me to accom- During the afternoon, whilst we were paying a visit to the French Mission Nora Heysen’s painting of St Mark’s pany him, and act as his interpreter. On our way down to the Bay of Islands I learned the brig sailed; and when, a few days Anglican Church in Figtree Road is in that his orders were to take possession of after we reached Akaroa, we found the Community Art Gallery. New Zealand for the French Government. her at anchor, and the Union Jack At the Bay of Islands, at a déjeuner given by flying on shore!! Jules Joubert (Continued from page 1) Hunters Hill memorials to Boer War soldier n the grounds of All Saints Anglican Church, Spier, 'Araluen," Alexander Street, Hunter's Hill, ments, a trace of the broad arrow Hunters Hill there is a monument in polished received an enthusiastic send-off the other evening. The on some part of it. I pink granite. Listed in the War Memorials of gathering took the form of a harbour excursion on the I do not wish, in making this state- NSW, it is to Corporal Walter Laishley Spier, who steamer Rose and was attended by about 150 of Cor- ment, to say anything disparaging of died in the Second Boer War poral Spier's personal these people—quite the reverse. in 1901. In the Hunters Hill friends, who assembled to The history of New South Wales is Town Hall there is a small bid him farewell prior to quite unparalleled in that of the shield-shaped plaque adja- his departure for South world. The management of the pe- cent to the large honour Africa.” boards for WWl and WWll Spier sailed to South nal settlements of Australia is one of casualties; this shield also Africa on 28 February the most striking instances of the commemorates Corporal 1900. From April 1900 thoroughly admirable system of Spier. Who was Corporal to April 1901, the Citi- colonisation on record. With a Walter Laishley Spier and zens’ Bushmen served country like Australia—in view of why have these Victoria monuments Road Gladesville in Rhodesia, West its distance—the trying and capri- been erected in his honour? Transvaal, including cious climate—the wretched pov- Walter Laishley Spier was the defence of Elands erty of the soil—it could never have born in South Melbourne in River Post, and in been colonised by free emigration. 1874 and enrolled at Caul- northern Transvaal. He field Grammar School in died of enteric fever It needed the indomitable energy, 1888 as a boarder while his (typhoid)at Woodstock and the spirit of enterprise of a Brit- parents Walter and Charlotte lived in Hunter’s Hospital in Cape Town on 23 January 1901 ish Government, and the pluck of Hill. In January 1889, as a 14-year-old he was and was buried in Maitland Cemetery, Cape the Anglo-Saxon race, to cope with enrolled at Sydney Grammar Town. He was posthumously the difficulties of such an enterprise. School, and his parents address was awarded the Queen's South This is an excerpt from Shavings given as Alexander Street, Lane Africa Medal with clasps. & Scrapes From Many Parts, the Cove. We believe Alexander The Sydney Morning Herald of memoirs of Jules should have been Alexandra Street Friday, 1 March 1901 report- as records have his parents moving ed “At a well-attended meeting of Joubert. into “Araluen” at 71 Alexandra the residents of Hunter's Hill and Street, Hunters Hill in 1889. surrounding districts held at the Hunters Hill Historical Society Inc Spier was a station overseer in council chambers, Hunter's Hill, country NSW/Victoria when he on Tuesday last, at which Mr. Office Bearers and Committee enlisted for the Boer War on 13 Henry Deane, in the absence of the 2020-2021 February 1900; he gave his parents’ Mayor, occupied the chair, it was President Chris Schofield home address. He joined the NSW Citizens’ Bush- unanimously decided, on the motion of Sir George Vice President and Treasurer men, the third mounted infantry contingent sent Dibbs, seconded by Mr. Justice A. H. Simson, to Peter Kelly by NSW to South Africa. The contingent consist- erect a monument to the memory of the late Corporal ed of 30 officers and 495 other ranks, with 570 Walter Laishley Spier, of the Bushmen's Contingent, Secretary Tony Saunders horses. He would have enlisted at Victoria Bar- who died at Capetown on January 23 last.” The Committee racks, Sydney. dedication of the memorial in the grounds of Judith Butt The CO was originally to have been Lt Col Harry All Saints Church is described in the Sydney Dorothy Cubban Lassetter, a former British regular, now a reservist. Morning Herald, 28 May 1901. Jan Griffiths He had led the Jubilee contingent in 1897 but due Corporal Spier is also commemorated on the Dean Letcher to business commitments could not accept com- memorial at Maitland Cemetery, Capetown, mand in 1900 so Colonel Airey, another regular, South Africa. Rod Stewart, past president Ross McBride took command. of Hunters Hill RSL. Bob Mostyn The Australian Star , Sydney, 27 Feb 1900 covered Pictures: Memorial to Cpl Walter Jean Pritchard the farewell of Corporal Spier in part as follows: Laishley Spier in the grounds of All Saints “DEPARTING BUSHMEN.