CONTENTS 1 Darwin Memorials West of the Blue Mountains - John Low HOBBY’S 2 Library News 3 John Henry Emerson Was A Thief. There’s No Question About That - Robyne Ridge OUTREACH 6 Membership and Other News 6 A Comment On Phil May - John Low 7 When the Cliff Fell Down - Paul Innes ISSN 1835-3010 Vol 30 No 4. August - September 2018 8 A Comment on Robyne Ridge - Jim Smith 9 Scene of the Henry Lawson Poem - Don Morison DARWIN MEMORIALS WEST OF THE 10 President’s report BLUE MOUNTAINS - John Low 11 Diary of Events
Readers will no doubt be aware that Charles Darwin passed through the Blue Mountains while travelling to Bathurst in 1836. They will also know that there council, with the assistance of the Bathurst Historical are memorials to that visit, in particular the English Society, inally acted. On 13 November 1949, before a oak (Quercus ilex) planted in 1936 on the site of the crowd of around ifty people, Mr. Glasson unveiled a Weatherboard Inn where he stayed and the popular small plaque attached to the front entrance to The ‘Darwin’s Walk’ created in the 1980s along the path Fernery in Machattie Park. In Bathurst there is also a he would have walked beside the Jamison Creek. street in the suburb of Llanarth named ‘Darwin Jim Smith has recently written a two-part article Drive’. about the various Darwin memorials on the The second and largest of the memorials is at Mountains in Hut News (Nos. 353 & 354), the journal Wallerawang: On 5 September 2006 the NSW of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society. I Governor, Professor Marie Bashir, unveiled a enjoyed Jim’s article and decided to add a ‘Part 3’ monument situated in the parklands adjacent to describing several further memorials that exist west Lake Wallace. This included a plaque attached to a of the Mountains. stone boulder accompanied by a couple of small The earliest of these is at Bathurst: Towards the end sculptures (a platypus and cray- ish) by Lithgow of 1936, the centenary year of Darwin’s visit, the artist Tim Johnman and was initiated by the Lithgow Director of the Institute of Anatomy in Canberra branch of the National Trust. wrote to a local Bathurst doctor expressing regret that his city, the terminal point of the naturalist’s inland journey, did not possess any memorials to the great man and suggested that this would be an appropriate time to redress the matter. While the letter was passed to the Bathurst City Council and the press reported its favourable reception and a likely public meeting, nothing happened.
The monument commemorates Darwin’s pause in his journey at the ‘Wallerawang’ property of James Walker where, hosted by Walker’s superintendent Andrew Brown, he remained for two nights and spent a day riding around the enormous property. During his ride, which extended as far north as the It was not until the late 1940s when Molong Wolgan Valley, he collected geological samples and pastoralist and historian, W. R. Glasson, approached observed a potoroo, but was disappointed at not the Mayor and offered to assist inancially that the seeing any kangaroos. He also took an evening walk along the Cox’s River, a walk that was to prove 1 signi icant for it rewarded him with his much-cited examination of the conical pit-fall of an Australian ant-lion and his irst sighting of a platypus (he saw several).
The third and most recent memorial is in Lithgow: In 2008 a plan was conceived to draw people into the historical Eskbank precinct at the ‘Blast Furnace’ end of Lithgow’s commercial centre. Funded by the Lithgow City Council and Glencore Coal, this concept was ultimately re ined into a public art project for the development of a ‘Lithgow History Avenue’ and in 2012 a local artist, Phil Sparks, was engaged to implement it.
The result is a fascinating walk, beginning at the visit in 2036 would offer Blackheath (where Darwin town end of Inch Street, marked by a series of spent a night and walked out to Govetts Leap) an sculptures mounted on poles and depicting key excellent opportunity to make its own contribution, moments in the history of the Lithgow region. One of thereby enhancing what is already a pretty these sculptures, a platypus by local sculptor Tim impressive pilgrim trail for any Darwin enthusiast Johnman, references Darwin’s excitement at seeing travelling to Bathurst. several in the Cox’s River during his stay at Wallerawang. [Originally published in Hut News, No.355, February 2018, page 9] More memorials are likely to be erected as the years go by and I agree with Jim that the bicentenary of his
LIBRARY NEWS - Sherida Currie
As a person with a minor talent for cooking and a major talent for drinking wine, I was absolutely delighted to receive Judy Barham’s latest donations to your Library.
So French by Dany Chouet with Trish Hobbs [760.26] tells the story of the French chefs who introduced proper bistro food to Sydney. I was a little young for Upstairs, but I do remember Au Chabrol. Dany and Trish are most renowned for their restaurant and guest house at Blackheath, Cleopatra, which operated from winter 1984 to December 1999. The book chronicles the highs and lows of the life of this restaurateur and the large part she played in educating our palates.
Interspersed with the stories of Dany, Trish, Dany’s sister Monique, and her husband Michael Manners (both of Glenella fame), are fabulous traditional recipes. Many are authentic family recipes – the Chouet family came from the south-west of France – but others are sourced from various regions of France. I have already cooked a few and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. I will continue to dip into this book when I have the desire for food in the authentic French manner.
Can I now turn your attention to wine? First Vintage – wine in colonial Australia by Julie McIntyre [522.03] explores the forgotten history of the early Australian wine industry.
Thankfully, there were those among the First Fleeters who preferred not to live without wine. Not only did Captain Phillip ensure that wine was purchased at each stopover, he also purchased the irst grape stock to be planted in the new colony from the Cape colony at the southern tip of Africa.
This is a comprehensive history of the wine industry, from its origins in the Governor’s garden at Sydney Cove to the spread of plantings throughout the Cumberland Plain and beyond. I commend this book to those of you who enjoy a glass of ‘research’.
And just a reminder, please keep searching for those elusive Library books that may have found their way into your collections at home.
2 JOHN HENRY EMERSON WAS A THIEF. THERE WAS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT - Robyne Ridge
Born in Dublin in 1792, John Henry joined the Royal Artillery about 1809. Unfortunately, in 1821, Sergeant John Emerson, of Major the Hon. Herbert Gardner’s company, 5th battalion, was court martialled for desertion and fraud.1
He had stolen 121 pounds 9 shillings and thrippence from the mess and 28 pounds 18 shillings 5 pence and 3 farthings from his fellow soldiers. With the money, he absconded without leave on the morning of 2nd April 1821. He was caught and brought back under guard in the afternoon of the 23 April. He was immediately court-martialled. Found guilty, he was ‘reduced to the station of a gunner, and … transported as a felon for a term of fourteen years.”2 This was an ignominious end to a career in the British army in a battalion which had seen service in many theatres.3
John Emerson was conveyed to the hulk, Justitia4, where he remained until the ship to transport him to New South Wales was ready. He was one of 125 prisoners on the Justitia where living conditions were deplorable, food sparse and disease prevalent. Life on the hulks was intended as punishment; one of the principles by which the men were treated was the concept that their conditions were to be no better than those of the poor free peasant and working-class labourers of England. Thus, their conditions were deliberately harsh.5 John was fortunate that he was not long on Justitia.6
The Shipley, on which he was transported to NSW, left London on 7 November 1821 and arrived in Sydney 11 March 1822. Although there was severe weather early in the voyage, the captain, Lewis Williams Moncrieff, came direct. Diarrhoea and scurvy were problems but only one convict died.7 The Surgeon Superintendent, George Shaw Rutherford, was on his second voyage as Surgeon Superintendent and ensured that all the men shared lemon juice, to lessen the effects of the scurvy. He also ensured that cleanliness was a major priority. Only one convict died on the voyage out. Rutherford meticulously kept his medical journal; John Emerson was not listed as reporting sick at any stage on the journey.8
In the September 1822 General Muster, John Emmerson of the Shipley is listed as a clerk in the Dock Yard, Sydney.9 This bears witness to the quality of his handwriting, which we see in facsimiles of his petitions, and to the fact that he could read and write well.
By December 1822, John was petitioning Governor Brisbane for free passage for his wife from England.10 That he was successful is obvious, as Margaret Emmerson arrived, a free passenger, on the Brothers, via Van Diemen’s Land, on Friday 7 May 1824, having left the Downs on 6 December 1823.11
1https://books.google.co.uk/books? id=FukGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA590&lpg=PA590&dq=court+martial+woolwich+1821&source=bl&ots=Ed0OvgBN04&sig=4vUPLLYhfYxE6Td1xvkJqB9bfBI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj Mjd_CuMrWAhWBaxQKHRjOCukQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=court%20martial%20woolwich%201821&f=false The practice of courts-martial, also the legal exposition and military explanation of the Mutiny act, and articles of war. William Hough. January 1, 1825. John Emerson is mentioned in the book, Page 590 to page 591
2Hough, as above, page 590. 3History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Compiled from the Original Records. By Captain Francis Duncan, M.A., D.C.L. Royal Artillery. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1872. In The Project Gutenberg http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/5/2/2/5/52258/52258-h/52258-h.htm 4Source Citation Home Office: Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books; Class: HO9; Piece: 4 Source Information Ancestry.com. UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.
Original data:
Home Office: Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849. Microfilm, HO9, 5 rolls. The National Archives, Kew, England.
5Prison hulks on the River Thames, Port Cities London http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.56/chapterId/429/Prison-hulks-on-the-River-Thames.html 6Ancestry.com. UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data: Home Office: Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849. Microfilm, HO9, 5 rolls. The National Archives, Kew, England. 7Jen Willetts, Free Settler or Felon? Webpage http://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_shipley_1822.htm
8Ancestry.com. UK Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1857 . Original data: Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Medical Journals (ADM 101, 804 bundles and volumes). Records of Medical and Prisoner of War Departments. Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies. The National Archives. Kew, Richmond, Surrey. 9http://colsec.records.nsw.gov.au/e/F18c_e-11.htm#P4988_162001 I have ordered copies of the documents but have not yet received them so comments are based on outline only. 10As above, footnote 9. 11Free Se ler or Felon? Web page http://www.jenwilletts.com/, page on the Brothers, http://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_brothers_1824.htm. To be confirmed through documents ordered from NSW archives (above, footnotes 9 and 10). 3 John Emmerson was assigned to Margaret Emmerson12 of Sydney on 8 June 1824. On 26 September 1825, he petitioned Governor Brisbane to pardon him so that he could follow a new enterprise.13 He most humbly implores that Your Excellency as a soldier’s friend, will be graciously pleased to extend that portion of clemency towards him, as to Your Excellency may seem it.14
The timing was in John’s favour. With his departure set for November 1825, Brisbane realised there was little time to research the request and thus approved it.15
In his petition, John did admit to his desertion but made no reference to his theft. Had Governor Brisbane had time to explore all the circumstances of John’s position, clemency possibly would not have been granted.16
In 1827 John’s name appeared in the Sydney papers as a despicable forger. He was charged with forging a cheque, was tried and found guilty. Unfortunately for John, the Chief Justice was making a stand against the many forgers who were apparently operating at that time and John was sentenced to death by hanging. However, his sentence was commuted to life in chains on Norfolk Island17, a slightly better alternative.
Norfolk Island from 6 June 1825 until the penal station as abandoned on 8 June 1856 was a place of harsh secondary punishment, as outlined in the Bigge Report. Governor Darling described it as a place of the most extreme punishment, short of death.18 Marcus Clarke, in his novel, For the Term of His Natural Life, describes the harshness, injustices and constant con lict between the gaoled and the gaoler. It was a summation of all the evils.19
By the 1828 census the Emersons were living together in Windsor.20 John Emerson was clearly listed as a convict on the Shipley. The Census record undoubtedly showed that the John Emerson cohabitating with Margaret Emmerson was John Emerson from the Shipley 1822. However, John’s pardon, referenced below, also clearly identi ied him as John Emerson from the Shipley and further clari ied that he had been sentenced to Norfolk Island for life in chains. This anomaly in John’s life story requires further research.
John returned from the horrors of Norfolk Island on 14 May 1834, with a free pardon granted on 23 May 1835.21
Margaret Emerson fell down steps and died on 3 December 1840. Her inquest occurred on Monday 7 December where Dr Russell certi ied that death was caused by apoplexy produced by injuries on the head. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.22 She and John had no children.
12We are waiting on a certificate and information from the UK re Marriage John Henry Emerson and hope this is the relevant certificate. Spouse's Name Margaret Gibson Event Date 14 May 1816 Event Place Lee, Kent, England. 13Source Citation State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia; Title: List of Assigned Convicts Non-Mechanics, 1822-1824; Volume: 4/4570D Source Information Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Convict Records, 1810-1891 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Convict Records. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales. 14Series: NRS 900; Reel or Fiche Numbers: Fiche 3163-3253 Source Informa on Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788-1856 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Opera ons, Inc, 2010. Original data: New South Wales Government. Main series of le ers received, 1788-1825. Series 897, Reels 6041-6064, 6071-6072. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. New South Wales Government. Special Bundles, 1794-1825. Series 898, Reels 6020-6040, 6070; Fiche 3260-3312. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. New South Wales Government. Memorials to the Governor, 1810-25. Series 899, Fiche 3001-3162. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia. 15Approval scribbled on the side of the papers referenced in footnote 10 above, Colonial Secretary’s Papers. 16It is interesting (for family reasons) that on this petition John Emerson spells his name with the single “m” in the middle. His handwriting is very clear and well-formed, to be expected of a man working for the Government Printer. 17The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Tuesday 6 March 1827 p 2 Article; The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Thursday 8 March 1827 p 2 Article; The Monitor Friday 16 March 1827 p 8 Article; The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Wednesday 16 May 1827 p 2 Article; The Australian Wednesday 30 May 1827 p 3 Article; The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Monday 4 June 1827 p 3 Article; The Australian Wednesday 6 June 1827 p 3 Article; The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Friday 15 June 1827 p 2 Article. 18Norfolk Island – a tiny fist of volcanic rock, Tim Causer. http://convictvoyages.org/expert-essays/norfolk-island 19Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life, Penguin Books, Published: 29th June 2009 Format: ePUB 20Source Information Ancestry.com. 1828 New South Wales, Australia Census (Australian Copy) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: New South Wales Government. 1828 Census: Householders’ returns [Population and Statistics, Musters and Census Records, Census, Colonial Secretary] . Series 1273, Reels 2551-2552, 2506-2507. State Records Authority of New South Wales. Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia 21Source Citation State Archives NSW Source Information Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom, 1810-1814, 1827-1867 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Original data: New South Wales Government. Butts of Certificates of Freedom. NRS 1165, 1166, 1167, 12208, 12210, reels 601, 602, 604, 982-1027. State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, New South Wales 22NSW death certificate 550/1840 V1840550 24A EMERSON Margaret age 48. Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales; Commercial Journal and Advertiser Wednesday 9 December 1840 P. 3 Domestic Intelligences. 4 John’s closing years were more fertile. He met Elizabeth Mary Ann Eldridge some time after her arrival on the Bussorah Merchant in April 1843.23 Elizabeth was a bounty migrant, from Hastings, England, one of a number of young ladies sponsored by Alexander Campbell on that ship. Elizabeth was under the protection of George Standing’s family. She was 23 and healthy. Her occupation was needlewoman and housemaid.24
John and Elizabeth met before1843 when their irst child, William, was born. Margaret followed in 1846. John and Elizabeth married in 1848, Louisa arriving 1849 and Sarah 1851.25
John died on 13 January 1852 at his residence in Gloucester Street, Sydney26 where he had for many years been in the employ of a Mr. Mackay.27
It was a peaceful end after a hectic life. One does wonder at his charisma; he robbed his fellow soldiers and was transported, it is true, but he spent little time in the hulks awaiting transportation. In Sydney his every petition was granted; his wife joined him, free. When he committed a capital crime, his sentence (and that of his accomplice) was commuted although another group of forgers was hung. He had returned from Norfolk Island, where he had been sentenced to life in chains, by 1834. He is an interesting man.
Bibliography Norfolk Island – a tiny ist of volcanic rock, Tim Causer. http://convictvoyages.org/expert-essays/norfolk-island
Ancestry.Com
Marcus Clarke, For the Term of His Natural Life, Penguin Books, Published: 29th June 2009 Format: ePUB
Colonial Secretary’s Records, NSW Government, NSW State Archives.
History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Compiled from the Original Records. By Captain Francis Duncan, M.A., D.C.L. Royal Artillery. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1872. In The Project Gutenberg http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/ books/gutenberg/5/2/2/5/52258/52258-h/52258-h.htm
Brisbane, Sir Thomas Makdougall (1773–1860) by J. D. Heydon , Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ brisbane-sir-thomas-makdougall-1827
Prison hulks on the River Thames, Port Cities London http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.56/chapterId/429/Prison-hulks-on-the-River-Thames.html
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales
Roots Chat Forum, http://www.rootschat.com/forum
State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales
Trove, various newspapers, as listed in footnotes.
Jen Willetts, Free Settler or Felon? Webpage http://www.jenwilletts.com/
https://books.google.co.uk/books? id=FukGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA590&lpg=PA590&dq=court+martial+woolwich+1821&source=bl&ots=Ed0OvgBN04&sig=4vUPLLY hfYxE6Td1xvkJqB9bfBI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjMjd_CuMrWAhWBaxQKHRjOCukQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=court%2 0martial%20woolwich%201821&f=false The practice of courts-martial, also the legal exposition and military explanation of the Mutiny act, and articles of war. William Hough. January 1, 1825. John Emerson is mentioned in the book, Page 590 to page 591
23Source Citation State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314; Reel: 1321 Source Information Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. 24As reference 23 above. 25Marriage of John and Elizabeth. NSW marriage certificate 4344/1848 V18484344 74B Emerson John H Eldridge Elizabeth M A Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales Births of three children born to John and Elizabeth. The fourth child has been registered as born to a William J. John’s death notice (see below) refers to a fourth child.
2426/1843 V18432426 27A Emmerson William J Parents John H and Elizabeth M Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales 53/1849 V184953 34A Emerson Louisa A Parents John H and Elizabeth Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales 44/1851 V185144 37A Emerson Sarah M Parents John H and Elizabeth Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales 219/1846 V1846219 31A Emerson Margaret Parents William J and Elizabeth A Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales 2657/1852 V185257 38B Emmerson John K (sic) Age 60 Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales 27The Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 15 January 1852 Page 3 Family Notices 5 Membership - Jeane e Robertson A warm welcome to the Society’s latest members - Roslyn Kos Judy Matheson Cate Mitchell Robyn Murray Ernie & Madeline Rosen Pennie Steel & Brian Reid Thanks to all those who’ve already renewed their membership for the 2018/19 (financial) year. If you’ve overlooked renewing, there is s ll me. Renewal form and informa on is available via the website: h p://www.bluemountainshistory.com/membership-renewal.pdf Recipients of the newsle er in hard copy format will have received a reminder with this edi on.
News from Abroad Wayne Hanley sent an extremely informative email, detailing some of the adventures that he and Julia have experienced, especially in non-English speaking parts of Europe. Regardless of language, it seems public transport is problematic the world over! No doubt the Hanleys will have some interesting tales to tell upon their return in late August.
Upcoming Meetings September: Kate O’Neill: 'My Dearest Jack'. Many of you will remember Kate from her talk last year on the Memorys of Woodford, part of her Women of Woodford series of which My Dearest Jack is part three. Jack is, in fact, John McManemy, the founder of the boys' school at Woodford Academy. October: Andy Macqueen: ‘Wayfaring in Wollemi: stories of people in wilderness’ Andy has been an enthusiastic bushwalker, conservationist and wilderness advocate since the 1960s. Originally a water resources engineer, in the 1990s he turned his attention to Blue Mountains history, with particular focus on Aboriginal history, colonial exploration and surveying, bushwalking and conservation history. November: Lt Colonel (Retired) Peter Sweeney: The Battle of Hamel Peter is a Blue Mountains resident and a noted speaker on Australian military history. He’s spoken at Probus and View Clubs as well as historical societies and military associations. Here’s the opportunity to learn more about one of the lesser-known WWI battles. December: Final gathering for the year and our Xmas function. See October/November Hobby’s Outreach for details.
At the June meeting, Sue Castrique spoke about the convict history of Cockatoo Island. For anyone who missed the talk and/or would like to purchase Sue’s book on the topic, please use the following link: http://anchorbooksaustralia.com.au/product/under-the-colonys-eye/
Publica on Deadline for the next Hobby’s Outreach 22 September
A COMMENT ON PHIL MAY - John Low
I enjoyed Jim Smith’s articles on ‘ Blue Mountains Cartoons’ published in Hobby’s Outreach over recent issues and would like to make a comment on Phil May who had a signi icant in luence on many young black and white artists who followed.
My uncle, the New Zealand-born caricaturist David Low (1891-1963) who worked on the Bulletin in Sydney and Melbourne during World War 1 and later forged a respected career in Britain, was one such artist. He wrote in his autobiography published in 1956 that “having discovered Phil May I never let him go”. One of the books he took with him when he moved to London at the end of WW1 was a volume on rambles around the city illustrated by his idol. He thought May “combined quality with apparent facility” but he was always careful never to fall into the trap that many others did, of jumping “to the disastrous conclusion that the way to make drawings was to dash them off”.
I think Katoomba was very lucky to host Phil May for the short time he was here and the caricatures he did while staying at the Carrington Hotel, observing the locals and mixing with the Katoomba College artists, should be considered a local treasure.
6 WHEN THE CLIFF FELL DOWN - Paul Innes
The lone igure in the photo gives us an idea of how much rock tumbled into the Jamison Valley in January and May 1931, when the cliff face, just east of the Narrow Neck Peninsula in Katoomba fell down.
The beginning of this extraordinary event began several months prior to January 1931, when a local coal miner, called Arthur Mellor, noticed a long crack in the ground behind the cliff face, above and to the south of the Katoomba Coal Mine. Then, with the help of a Surveyor, the crack was measured – 8 inches wide and over 400 feet deep! Word spread. As the crack widened, the impending collapse became a popular tourist attraction to both the curious and the fearful – with the Sydney Press whetting the appetites of both.
“Katoomba is waiting with some trepidation,” reported the Sydney Morning Herald on 27th January 1931. “Literally millions of tons of rock are trembling in the balance at Narrow Neck.” ... adding ... “Holiday crowds waited in the hope that they would witness the inal spectacle. Their interest was rewarded by many dire rumblings...”
On the same day, The Sun reported ... “The rugged headland hangs in threatening insecurity” ... “Ominous rumblings, followed by the crash of falling rock, causes many to beat a hasty retreat.” ... adding ... “Startled eyes turned towards the frowning headland when a dull cracking, like the distant peal of thunder, came from some subterranean source.”
Hundreds of onlookers came from Sydney and across the Blue Mountains to view the cliff and hopefully witness its collapse.
While some of the many who came to view the cliff walked down from Katoomba Railway Station, other tourists were driven to the site by local tour operators.
Photographers and even local fruit sellers got in on the act – and why not!
“Local photographers are doing a boom trade and already more than 2,000 photos at 3d to 1/6 each have been sold” reported the Sun on 1st February 1931.
On the 7th February 1931, the Sydney Morning Herald informed its readers that ... “An old spring cart comes up ... loaded with cases of fruit and bags of watermelons ... plums, peaches, pears and oranges gleam temptingly in the shade of a tree and a heap of green skinned watermelons hardly needs the invitation of the burly man ‘noice, roipe watermelon, penny a sloice’, to tempt the hot and thirsty to come and buy.”
Then, to make the collapse even more interesting, the bulk of the cliff came down in the wee small hours of 29th January, with nobody witnessing the event - although many locals were woken by the rumbling sound as the rocks cascaded into the depths below.
Maintaining the suspense, a sizeable portion of the cliff remained – teetering menacingly until it fell down, around three months later.
But, when the second portion fell down, on 2nd May 1931, only three people witnessed the event.
“Mr Cameron, of Stanmore, who is holidaying in the Mountains with his wife and child, declares that they were the only witnesses of the new and prodigious landslide”, as reported by the Sun on 3rd May 1931.
The Herald added on Monday 4th May ... “The occupants of the regular bus service were astounded when they arrived a few minutes late, and saw the great clouds of dust rising from the valley” ... adding ... “the landslide has left a practically clean yellow face to the cliff.”
Today, if you stand at the Narrow Neck Lookout, you’ll see the “clean face” and perhaps you might imagine yourself standing there in 1931, hoping to see the cliff fall down – while enjoying a plum, or a pear, or even a “noice sloice” of watermelon. 7 A COMMENT ON ROBYNE RIDGE - Jim Smith
Robyne Ridge’s article ‘On the road to Jenolan Caves’, in the Blue Mountains Review issue of 14 February 2018, included a reproduction of this postcard by Charles Kerry, showing an early model car outside the western entrance to the Grand Arch. This photo is one of the most commonly reproduced images connected with Jenolan Caves. There is no date on the photo, and it has been published with various dates estimated between 1903 and 1909. It has been claimed to be a photo of the irst car to reach Jenolan Caves. None of the captions accompanying reproductions of this photo have ever named all the people in the picture.
The driver of this 1902 model De Dion car, owned by Mark Foy, was Axel Burnett (‘Bert’) Beckman (1881-1951), who married Rebecca Haslop in 1907 while still employed by Mark Foy at the Hydro Majestic. He later became a guide at Jenolan Caves. Also in the front seat is Susan Baxter, Mark Foy’s granddaughter. Mary Shaw, described her as an actress, but I could only ind one record of her on Trove, in an amateur performance in Burwood in 1905. She may be the Susan J. Baxter born in Carcoar in 1877. Between them is Mark Francis Foy Jr (1898-1961). He was born out of wedlock in England while Mark Foy senior was still married to his irst wife Annie née Davey. At the time of his son’s birth, Mark was waiting for approval from the Pope for an annulment of his irst marriage on the grounds of non-consummation. When this, and his civil divorce, came through, he married ‘Lizzie’ in 1900. Elizabeth, née Tweedie (1863-1940) is seated in the rear, wearing her customary large hat. Beside her, in the shadows, is an unidenti ied woman.
Standing on the road are two cave guides, James Carvosso (‘Voss’) Wiburd (1866-1942), and John (‘Jack’) Edwards (1866-1908), who is leaning on the fence. Both started working at Jenolan in 1885. Wiburd is wearing his of icial uniform, but Edwards is in casual clothing, and probably came to see the novel sight of the car.
*I have submitted a longer article about this photograph to Heritage, the newsletter of the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations (BMACHO).
A Bequest – please remember us in your will You may like to consider leaving a bequest to the Society. If so, the Law Society of NSW recommends the following wording: I bequeath the sum of $... to the Blue mountains Historical Society Inc for its general purposes and declare that the receipt issued by the treasurer for the time being of the Blue Mountains Historical Society shall be complete discharge to my executors in respect of any sum paid to the Society
8 SCENE OF THE HENRY LAWSON POEM, Mount Victoria Sugarloaf - Don Morison Generously offered by the author. Previously published in the BM Conservation Society Newsletter (February 2018)
In 1832, Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell directed hundreds of convicts to construct the still impressive stone causeway at Victoria Pass which currently carries the Great Western Highway. This structure became known as “The Second Bridge”. On New Years Eve 1841, events occurred which could be the source of the ghost story in the most famous poem from Henry Lawson’s “Blue Mountains period” of the late 19th century. You’d call the man a senseless fool, a blockhead or an ass, Who’d dare to say he saw the ghost of Mount Victoria Pass. But I believe the ghost is there, for, if my eyes are right, I saw it once upon a ne’er to be forgotten night. Whether the real ghost source is an eerily shaped overhanging tree or simply vivid imaginations, the story of Caroline Collits, nee James, is deeply poignant. Caroline’s mother hanged herself when Caroline was still a child being brought up at the building now known as Woodford Academy. Richard Davis, in his 1988 book, The Ghost Guide to Australia, reports that her father was a drunk. She married James, supposedly the black sheep of the Collits family of innkeepers and her sister married Irish immigrant John Walsh. By 31 December, 1841, Caroline had separated from James and was living with Walsh and her sister at Blackheath. James was drinking with Walsh and Caroline at Jaggers Inn at Little Hartley, Caroline allowed only treacle on account of her youth. The three began walking up Mount Victoria Pass, en route to Blackheath, but there was obviously an altercation and Caroline’s body was found by a mail van driver, Matthew Mall, on the roadway at Soldiers Pinch hill on New Years Day. Walsh was hanged for her murder at Bathurst the following May. Why would Caroline have chosen to haunt the Second Bridge, several kilometres from the scene of her probable murder? The cleft in the Mount Victoria sugarloaf is undoubtedly the most spectacular landform along the route of Caroline’s inal walk. The steep, in places jagged, sandstone cliffs are the stuff that ghost stories are made of. And the old stone causeway evokes the suffering of the convicts. It is a itting place to be linked to the union of tragedy and awe at Australian landscapes represented in the life of the poet Lawson and to other tragic lives of the past.
Illustrations (from top of page) J Edgar’s sketch of the apparition in Lawson’s poem, published by permission of the editor of Blue Mountains Folk Book (1996); The “Second Bridge” cleft in the sugarloaf; Sugarloaf and Kanimbla Valley from Mitchell’s lookout. Photos by Christine Davies; A32 traf ic crossing the 1832 convict causeway in 2018. (Only safe pedestrian access via Berghofer’s Pass walk).
9 PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Alan Foster Our open days continue to attract members of the public in spite of some very chilly weather in the past few months. This is only possible through the tireless efforts of our team of volunteers and we extend our thanks to all. Thanks also to the gardening team who have also been very active in tidying up the grounds the day before each open day.
A major attraction on open days has been our exhibitions. Currently we have a toy exhibition allowing us the opportunity to browse and reminisce. Come and spend an hour or two being taken back to your childhood. Remember, entry to Tarella is free for members, $5 visitors.
The saga of the meeting room seats has reached its conclusion with the old seats being returned to their original home at the Savoy Theatre. We have kept one seat which should probably be raised to the height of the new seating and placed next to the Mayoral Chair in the meeting room, thus creating a signi icantly historical rear corner in the room.
A generous donation has made possible the purchase of new sound equipment in the meeting room, including a wearable wireless microphone. As we work through the learning curve this will result in important improvements in the audibility of presentations, and provide the Society with its own recording facilities.
Of great interest to members is the recently completed book, “Platinum - Blue Mountains Historical Society at 70 - Years 1997-2016”. This is the culmination of a huge effort by Erik Halbert and the publications team and details the work carried out by the Society since “Blue Mountains Historical Society - a Golden Jubilee History 1946-1996” was published in 1996. “Platinum” is now on sale for $20.
2018 Executive: Other Responsibilities: President - Alan Foster (4757 3750) Membership - Jeanette Robertson (4757 3750) Vice President 1 - Robyne Ridge (0419 985 546) HO Editor - Lindsay Duncan (0419 439 024) Vice President 2 - John Pike (4788 1046) Secretary - Ross Ingram (4787 5589) [email protected] Treasurer - Anthea Mitchell (4757 3824) Maintenance Supervisor - Wayne Hanley (0400 316 689) Committee: Tarella Curator - Linsi Braith (0404 061 820) Fiona Burn (0418 620 264) Publicity/Catering - Robyne Ridge (0419 985 546) Jim Esgate (0407 230 506) Welfare - Ruth Eslake (4782 6534) John Hill (4782 1303) Grounds Supervisor - David Bradley (4758 6151) Jeanette Robertson (4757 3750) Hobby’s Research Centre (02 4757 3824) Monthly Meetings - Held at Hobby’s Reach on first Open Tuesday & Friday 10am-2pm for members & public Saturday of each month (unless otherwise notified)
www.bluemountainshistory.com Morning tea 10am - Meetings start 10.30am Email: [email protected] Visitors welcome
10 CALENDAR - AUGUST - DECEMBER 2020 August Monthly mee ng: Speaker – Carolyn Williams - 'The Travelling Table' Saturday 4 The remarkable journey of an 18th century wri ng table…with a Blue Mountains twist!! Excursion: Parrama a - Old Govt House & other historic Thursday 23 sites Sunday 26 Tarella open day - Toy Exhibi on Friday 31 Management commi ee mee ng September Monthly mee ng: Speaker – Kate O'Neill Saturday 1 'My Dearest Jack' TBA Excursion Friday 28 Management commi ee mee ng Sunday 30 Tarella open day - Toy Exhibi on October Monthly mee ng: Speaker – Andy Macqueen Saturday 6 'Wayfaring in Wollemi: stories of people in wilderness' TBA Excursion Friday 26 Management commi ee mee ng Sunday 28 Tarella open day November Monthly mee ng: Saturday 3 Speaker - Lt Colonel (Ret) Peter Sweeney 'The Ba le of Hamel' TBA Excursion Sunday 25 Tarella open day - final for 2018 Friday 30 Management commi ee mee ng December Christmas/end of year lunch (no formal mee ng) – Saturday 1 details closer to the date Hobby's Outreach to close; re-opening Tuesday 8th Tuesday 18 January 2019
11 Blue Mountains Historical Society Inc Hobby’s Reach, PO Box 17 Wentworth Falls NSW 2782
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