the balmain association A NEWS SHEET

Vol 24 No 10 Issue 186 FOUNDED 1965 NOVEMBER 1989

aborigines were included in the convict him. After one of his attempts to escape GOAT ISLAND workforce. At Gov Bourke's instigation he was sentenced to be chained to a in 1835, legirons were removed from rock for two years. He was fastened EXCURSION second class convicts resulting in what by his waist by a chain 26 ft long Bouike described as an increase in and with trumpet irons on his legs. A WOTk 'with an alacrity unknown before'. hollow scooped out of the rock large A grouption membersof Balmain and Associa friends He also boldly allocated a teacher for enough to admit his body served for visited the neighbouring Goat the convicts. his bed and his only shelter was a Island on Sunday October 15th. The magazine and cooperage were perforated wooden lid which was locked They were escorted by a guide completed in 1836, the barracks and over him at night. He was fed by from the Maritime Services guardroom in 1838 and the stone wall means of a pole with which his food Board who was able to help with loopholes and sentry box soon was pushed to him. He was in full with the following historical after. The magazine is a building of view of the residents of .Balmain and background. massive construction with windowless his cries caused them to protest against Goat Island stands a decent walls, nearly 2 metres thick, supported his treatment. He remained unrepentant boomerang throw from East Balmain, by immense buttresses. Unusual and for 6 months and was sent to Port a natural watchtower rising to a summit skilfully crafted octagonal ventilation Macquarie. of 40 metres which explains the native shafts placed at regular intervals along The once handsome residence of the name 'Mel Mel', meaning 'the eye'. It the walls were designed to stop drafts Harbour Master on the summit is in may have derived its name from the and sparks from entering the magazine. an appalling state due to neglect and practice of keeping goats there, safely These and many other convict buildings vandalism and the original Water Police away from Town. are still in use by the MSB. The Station built in 1838 on the eastern It was as a quarry that Goat Island splendid barracks, a single-storey Regen had its first official use in 1831, by point is in no better condition. The cy building, contains a museum MSB is to be moved to Pyrmont and Captain Charles Wilson and his Depart including artifacts commemorating the the future of Goat Island is under ment of Public Works against the advice pilot vessels 'Captain Cook I, II , IIP. threat of development especially under of the Surveyor General, Major Thomas One prisoner who deserves special the present government's policy of Mitchell, who valued the eastern point mention for his rebellious and unbreak for the purpose of defence. The site selling public land. able spirit was Charles 'Bony' Ander Commanding such wonderful vistas was abandoned soon after. son. In 1834, at the age of 18, he on all sides and with many historical The need for the safe stcxage of was sentenced to seven years transpor buildings. Goat Island should be gunpowder away from the centre of tation for smashing windows in a brawl. preserved as a heritage site and made population made the island a sensible The authcxities on the island saw him available for the people of NSW. location as it was accessible to large as an inccxTigible rogue and the officers The sketch shows Goat Island as it ships. Governor Boiuke decided to did everything in their power to break was in 1839. Note the goat-like shape. implement Darling's 1826 proposal for an arsenal. In January 1833 the Sydney Herald reported that 'the ironed gangs on the hulk Phoenix were landed on the island for the first time and had been set to work preparing the ground and a wharf for a gunpowder complex'. The site on the western side of the island involved substantial quarrying to level the ground and this provided the stone for the buildings. To eliminate the time consuming >M,. •• daily transport of the convicts to and from the hulk, three portable wooden "boxes" were constructed by a private contractor. These boxes - see insert - (approximately 14ft long, 6ft wide & 6ft high) housed 20 men - 5 on each of 4 bedboards. By 1836 the number of boxes had increased to twelve. Because of the lack of incentive schemes later introduced into convict works and with mobility handicapped by irons, work proceeded slowly. Eight G O U R L I E ' S C O R N E R On Sundays, no shop was allowed Some of these comer stores have to open between 10.30am and 12.30pm now been converted into- residences, Corner Shops as these were known as "Church Hours". their painted glass windows, now screen Shop doors were closed but many items someone's living-room. Others still have were sold through a side window or Thesea s small a f t e rshops h o u r were s o r known " b a c k faded signs advertising products long street shops". Up to 1960s, back gale. The penalty for illegal trading since taken off the market. about 50 of these shops operated was very severe and shopkeepers were Below is a 1936 price list for Amolt's in Balmain, and their hours very aware of being caught. Biscuits. ranged ft-om 6am until 10pm. The owners were hit with many William Arnott Ltd., Biscuit Price List licenses, such as for tobacco, SUBJECT TO 10 PER CENT. TRADE DISCOUNT.-^ milk, small-goods and after Ni#. 1< size ttna about L i n e s m a r k e d ' a r e 121bs. net, tins 1/6 ea. No. 3 size No. 2 ilie hours trading. Restricted selling e x e m p t f r o m S a l e s Ta x o r N o . 6 s i z e t i n s a b o u t tina at tlna at 4]bs. net. tins 1/- each. p e r d o z . p e r d o z e n • . . . . 0 1 0 of groceries after 6pm daily and Afternoon Tea 22 6 12.30pm Saturday, until 6am the .\riio Shorll)r«'iui iKeud.) 1 3 S 13 0 Assoj'led .... 0 10 next working day. Assorted Creams ...... 13 .V.ssoi'li'd Hii\ourli;» (i-l).'. iJiickels) 1 O i After the restricted selling hours, all •N'o. 1 Assorted Creams 1-lb Tins (Tins extra 3d. each) 21/6 doz. I k i i i J i i u i C r e a m s 1 grocery shelves had to be panelled in H o n H o n C r e a m s 1 l l with plywood shutters and they wwe Best Assorted 1 < B u t l e r C r e a m 1 padlock^ at the end so that no contact IliiHer N'ui Cookio 1 li could be made with the groceries. H i U t e r O a l C a k e ® H Cabin, small 0 65 Covering the shelves with cloth or Cabin, best quality. Square 0 6J canvas was not permitted as this gave C a f e C r e a m 1 0 - t ' l i e r i ' . v H i p a 1 1 the shopkeeper easy access to grocery C h e e s e ( s m a l l ) 1 0 5 : s " C h e e s e ( L a r g e ) 1 0 5 items. Chocolate San Toy (Tina extra 1/- each) .. 1 10 Chocolate San Toy (Special Red Label Tins) 29 0 per dozen C h o c o l a t e F i n g e r B i s c u i t s ( T i n s e x t r a 1 / - e a i l o Chocolate Finger Biscuits (in Special Red Label Tins) 29 0 dozen Chocolate Asstd Biscuits (Tina extra 1/- ea) i lo Chocolate Assorted Biscult.i (in Special Red Label Tin.«) 29 0 dozen C h o c o l a t e F r u i t B i s c u i t s ( T i n s e x t r a 1 / - e a ) j l O Chocolate Fruit Biscuits (in Special RedLebel Tins) 29 0 dozen • ' t i o c o l i i i . ' . M o n t e 1 1 5 Cocoanut. Crystallised 0 11 Cocoanut. Plain 0 11 Cocoanut Crisp .1 05 H l i i l . ( " h ' - . - s - . - 1 i-ll. l.n. kClS l/t-i IM T 11. Crackncll. small or large . • . 1 Si Creamy Flake Puff 0 115 Creamy Chocolate 1 05 Crystalll.sed Cocoanut Bar 0 11 Currant Lvincheon 0 11 t'n.-iUird Cream 1 15 Date S.mdwich 0 11 j ' l u l i r y C r . ' i i m 1 1 5 l-hni)ii'.«.« 1 0 7;lm|>ire 12 Inspectors from the Department of F a i r M o t o r i s t 4 1 9 p e r d o z . Labour and Industry made regular visits • K a i r y C a k e s ( I c e d ) I 1 5 • F a i i - > - C u k e s ( n o t I c e d ) 1 1 5 to these small shops after 6pm to check • F a i r y C a k e s ( J a m ) 1 1 5 F a m i l y A s s o r t e d ( T i n s e x t r a 1 / - e a c h ) . . . . 3 6 0 p e r d o z e n that only soft drinl«, milk, bread, lollies, G a i i ' i y 1 1 5 biscuits and small-goods were sold. Ginger N'xit ...... ■ 0 10 32 0 P i s c u i t s i n 5 - 1 b p a c k e t s o n e p e n n y p e r l b e x t r a Biscuits in those days were in bulk, "Nruii* In i-lb. packets two pence per lb. extra. not packets and came in small and ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO SALES TAX RULING AT DATE OF DEUVERY large returnable tins.

Balmafft History Trail two sons were bom there although Wyoming Reprieved Nicolai spent only one year in the house but do NevfBe Yfrm as he left there to explore New Guinea. Autrtilia 11, Sir Hubt; Ansite application at 25a to Wharfdevelop Road, the He was the founder of the marine I V k e s r C i D c s o u o d ) l ^ e d e r S d c Birchgrove has been rejected biology station at Watsons Bay and his Wurd and Efbnund Bbidtei have by Leichbardt Council. It would in eommon? They ah ramous have resulted in the demolition exploits are well known in the country o f h i s b i r t h . names budnded In the Balmain of historic "Wyoming" a 120 year Soviet Consul-Oeneral Mr Issac Htstory IVail plaques hookleL old Victorian Italianate villa Slcherbakov made an impassioned plea The Balmain Assoclatloo Is built for Quarton Levitt for the retention of the building and hfddtog a gidded 'walk on Snn> Deloitte, the ^father of rowing' the proceedings were recorded for day i2tb November to view smne in NSW. transmission over Russian TV networks. Deloitte was a foundation member or the d3 historic^ plaques. Hie The decision has been supported by of the Birchgrove Park Trustees and waSm will start on the hour the Minister for Planning, David Hay. h ^ ^ H a m - f r o m t h e was prominent in the formation of the Homte at 1?9 Bmrling Balmain Cricket Club of which he was Congratulations! Street The cost is $3 Indadlng president 1902-1906 and patron until After the Leichhardt Council meeting the booklet h i s d e a t h i n 1 9 2 9 . that elected Aid Issy Wyner as Mayor, The house was also the home of Take the opportwdty to In when he was decked out in his mayoral Russian marine biologist, Nicolai Mik- spect the newdy deeor^ed Wateh robes, lixal MP Dawn Fraser was heard House and pen ami wash louho-Maclay and his Australian wife, to say, "You've got more gold than I s k e h ^ e s e l B a t e a t e b y K U n Margaret (daughter of a former Premier have, Issy". Sullivan. of NSW, Sir John Robertson). Their Colonial Secretary

Sir firstHenry Colonial Parkes Secretary was the to occupy the building known since 1959 as the Chief Secretary's Department com pleted in 1880 to James Barnet's 1863 plans. The room was open to the public on Tuesday, 24th October to mark the centenary of Parkes' "Tenterfleld Oration" in which he made a plea for the federation of Australia. Recently restored, the room is formal and ornate with elaborate, moulded ceilings and carved wMnut furnishings. A book cabinet hides a private staircase to the ground floor which Sir Henry used to escape unwanted visitors. Henry Parkes was the youngest child of a Warwickshire tenant farming family. An ivory turner by trade, he arriv^ in on 25th July 1839 and over the next 50 years became a Sir Henry Parkes at his desk in the Colonial Secretary's Room. powerful figure in forging the Australian nation. At first he aligned with the Parliamentary career he had held the a f t e r h i s fi r s t w i f e ' s d e a t h . H e w a s radicals in the new colony in working seats of Sy^ey City, Cumberland, East invited to resume leadership 1891 and for a "Great Federal Republic". By the Sydney, Kiama, Mudgee, Canterbury, served 8 months. early 1850s his republicanism had Tenterfield, Argyle and St. Leonards. From 1888 until 1892 he rented evaporated and he had joined the liberal In all he was Premier and Colonial Hampton Villa in Grafton Street Balmain. movement before he won a seat on the Secretary six limes over a span of 20 The residence has a commemorative Legislative Council in 1854. years. plaque as part of the Balmain History A talented journalist, he founded The He first became Premier and Colonial Trail. Empire newspaper which was the organ Secretary in 1872 until his Ministry Sir Henry Parkes was a self-educated for liberal and radical views of the mid resigned in 1875. He was Premier again man with a keen interest in history, 19lh century. At the age d 40, Parkes in 1877 (when he was knighted) and art and literature. His rooms in the was elected to the first Legislative 1878-1883. In January 1887 he formed Chief Secretary's Building reflect his Assembly in March 1856. his fourth ministry and his ministerial taste in art, furniture and books. He Throughout his life he was continual salary helped him through his third married three times and had seventeen ly plagued by fmancial difficulties and banl^ptcy. His Ministry resigned in children. He died in April 1896, one these forced him to resign from January 1889, a month before his 2nd month short of the age of 81. Parliament on four occasions. During his marriage which offended society a year

Callan Park is Sydney's biggest Heritage Colours waterfront park. It spreads from Balmain Save Callan Road down the slopes to a sweeping waterfront at the eastern shore of Iron Haveflurry you of noticed painting a recent and Parklands Cove. Only can boast decorating of Balmain buildings meeting of 500 people on a larger area of green space. It will in heritage colours? ^^25th October in Leichbardt become increasingly important when the In Darling Street, Balmain Framers Town Hall unanimously disap Balmain Power Station and Chemplcx and the Cricketers Arms Hotel have proved of the State Government sites are developed. shown the way for other shop owners. plan to sell the waterfront half This proposed sell-off is just another The Old Rectory, Montague Street has of Callan Park. They beard example of how NSW Inc threatens matched the colour scheme of the p l e a s f r o m t h e M a y o r, A i d I s s y the quality of life. Good government is resplendent Methodist Mission Hall next Wyner and Aid Nick Origlass not only about balancing books, other door and the second hand goods shop a s w e U a s l o c a l M P , D a w n wise why not sell Hyde Park (it is opposite looks fiesh again. Eraser. much more valuable). When the public Not to be outdone we have given The NSW Department of Health assets have been sold the financial the Watch House a birthday with owns the property and says it wants problems will still be there. painting in heritage colours. Consultant, to raise money for "upgrading the We urge all concerned people to Mr Ian Samson, suggested the colour public hospital system". It is feared write to the Minister of Health, Mr. scheme and Mr H. Weegen & Son were that the Greiner Government will rush Collins and the Minister of the able to complete most of the work just ahead with development planning Environment, Mr. Moore to express their in time for the mop brigade standing without waiting for a Heritage Study outrage. by to clean up for Jan Melville's of the area, and with little regard for More historical information can be the value of Callan Park to the people had from Leichhardt Historical Journal exhibition on Friday October 20th. No 14 priced $12. of Sydney. W H A T ' S O N

November I2th • Commemorative Plaque Walk EXHIBITION Booklet launch and History Traii walk on the hour between 11arn-3prn November 3-5 Patricia Quinn Chinese Bnjsh painting Rededlcatlon of 1914 Memorial Stone November 10-12 Klin Sullivan Centenary Mission Hall, Montague Street Pen & wash Balmain scenes by Mr. K. Pllcher - November 18th - 3pm November 24-26 December 2-3 Helen Engle Pottery Sunday November 26th • Rozelle Festival Elklngton Park - Stall volunteers please Saturday 16th December - Christmas Drinks All welcome

BALMAIN GARDEN CLUB O U R H O U S E W A T C H ROOTS The Watch House Is open every Saturday from 1 to 3pm - Call In for coffee Thetheir root branches. spread of Iftrees the and soil shrubs Is well Is drained, wider than and contains plenty of compost, great numbers of fibrous The Balmain Association meets roots occur. Moist soils that are well drained result in on the first Wednesday of each deep rooting. Humus in the soil encourages earthworms who aerate the month at 7.30pm in the Watch ground. Stony, shallow soils produce shallow, spreading root House, 179 Darling Street, systems. Fine root hairs drink mineral salts as they absorb Baimain. moisture from the soil. This is called osmosis. If too much plant food is applied, plants wilt. Then they need to be Send mall c/o PO Box 57, BALMAIN. 2041 heavily watered to save them. Plants transpire much water through their leaves after Our editorial phone Is 818 4954 heavy rain, or excess hosing; especially if cloudy and cool Interested artists, potters, sculptors etc. who would conditions continue. Therefore plants can be made sick at like to organise an exhibition in the Watch House the roots if pruning is done at that time. Reduce watering are urged to contact Steve South on 810 1411. The at pruning time, and reduce watering in cold weather to Watch House can also be made available as a prevent root sickness. Never prune at budding time for the meeting place for local organisations. same reascm. One benefit of pruning is that it causes plants to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of fresh the balmain association nourishment. Deep roots help plants through hot, dry weather. Deep 113 representing roots ^so anchor pl^ts fumly to the ground so that wind ,£ni Balmaln-Blrchgrove & will not blow them over sideways. Rozelle OurAimsAreTo: T Margaret Ford i The Balmain Garden Club meets at 1pm on the third • i m p r o v e t h e l i v i n g , w o r k i n g a n d Saturday of each month in the Watch House. recreational amenities of our area • maintain all features having natural architectural and/or historical value • compile and record history of the area Yottt 4«BtrS»Qti

MEMBERSHIP FORM Return to: Treasurer, PO Box 57, BALMAIN 2041 A H i s t o r y o f E a r l y E l e c t r i c i t y NAME: ADDRESS: Supply In Sydney

PHONE. HOME: BUS: Electricitybeginnings supply relative In the to Sydney the development region had of electric early ANNUAL SUBSCRIPnON 0nd NbiM 9iea ddivory in Balmain-RDZcIIe) technology. Rease dide-... NEW MEMBER/RENIZWAL David Dunstan will speak on power station development Single/Family/Household $10.00 Organisation $15.00 on Thursday, 23rd November at the Institution of Engines R n s i a n e r o r S t u d e n t ^ X X ) Auditorium, Eagle House, 118 Alfred Street, Sth Milstms Add SSXX) to above rates to have bfews Sieet posted Point He will mention the Balmain Powct Station. Cheques dwuld be made psyable to Hie Balmain Assodaticn