MAY 2009 Registered by Australia Post PP 225170/0019 490
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ALBURY & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC BULLETIN MAY 2009 Registered by Australia Post PP 225170/0019 490 REPORT ON THE April activity (19/4/09) NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY A crowd of 130 people gathered at the Albury Pioneer Ceme- 13 MAY 2009 tery for the 2009 Cemetery Walk. Nine presenters told the sto- 7.30pm at Commercial ries of 12 people buried in the cemetery. Our presenters were Club Joe Wooding, Ray Gear, Helen Livsey, Pauline Harbick, How- Albury ard Jones, Chris McQuellin, Ann Brennan, Kevin Monte and Speaker: Betty Dunn Doug Hunter. “Naming Lavington.” Subjects ranged from Colonel John Wilkinson, described as ALSO „short-listed‟ for “Albury citizen of the century” to designer of Ephemera Night the Albury War Memorial, Louis Harrison, to John Conness, discoverer of gold in the Chiltern-Indigo district. The amount of information gathered by our researchers is too QUESTION OF THE much for one Bulletin, but far too important to go unrecorded, MONTH so it will be included in subsequent Bulletins. Or, is it possible In lieu of a question, we can add the 12 biographies this year to the 14 we did last please bring along to the year and publish a Cemetery Booklet? Again we noted the weathering and deterioration of the earlier meeting any photographs graves in particular. Reading or photographing inscriptions has of Lavington that could become difficult. Fortunately, a transcription of headstones done be copied for the Centen- in 1980-81 is in the Library. ary Celebrations. Our new portable PA system, purchased with a Federal Government grant, made it easy for our presenters to be heard by the gathering. In response to last month‟s Bulletin, John Henwood has written, INSIDE THIS ISSUE adding to the story of the Turks Head Hotel. See page 6. William Joseph Gordon Page 2 Edward Scanlon Page 2 We extend sincere condolences to John Craig and his Louis Harrison Page 3 family on the sad loss of wife & mother, Heather. John Conness Page 3 Colonel John Wilkinson Page 4 Heather had not experienced good health for several years Charles Hilton Dight Page 5 finally resulting in her death on 24 April 2009. Turks Head letter Page 6 ALBURY & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC PO Box 822 ALBURY 2640 Patron: Harold Mair OAM Journals & Stock: John Craig History Meetings: 2nd Wednesday Public Officer: Helen Livsey Membership list & Bulletin dispatch: Ray of the month 7.30pm at Commercial President: Doug Hunter Gear 02 6021 2835 Bulletin Editor: Doug Hunter 02 6021 2835 Club Albury. Vice-Presidents: Joe Wooding, June Shanahan [email protected] Committee meets 3rd Wednesday of Secretary: Helen Livsey 02 6021 3671 the month 5.15pm at Albury Treasurer: Chris McQuellin ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION LibraryMuseum. Minute Secretary: Catherine Browne Single: $22 Committee: John Craig, Carole Whitbourn, Jill A&DHS website: Wooding, Howard Jones, Michael Browne and Family: $30 Ray Gear Corporate: $50 www.alburyhistory.org.au WILLIAM JOSEPH GORDON ple married. (1857-1903) The booming Ovens Goldfields acted as a mag- Compiled by Ray Gear net for the young couple. They settled at Eldorado Just before dark on Tuesday the 26 August to the north of Wangaratta where their first son 1902 when returning by bicycle from attending James was born in 1871. James, who was a re- business at Burrumbuttock, William Gordon had turned soldier from two wars, is buried in the an accident from which he never fully recovered. Catholic section further up the path. He died on the 4 July 1903 aged 45. The Scanlans were to stay in El Dorado for Born in Sydney in 1857, William Joseph about three years after having some success on Gordon arrived in Albury via Goulburn in 1869 the gold fields, before moving to Albury in 1874. when aged 12, with his parents, John Gordon, an He commenced a plumbing business in Kiewa Architect, and Eliza (nee Roberts). On leaving Street initially, but as business improved he even- school he joined his fathers Architectural prac- tually purchased the site now occupied by A.T. tice and became in 1878 an Associate of the Vic- Jones on the corner of Kiewa and Stanley Street. torian Institute of Architects. Scanlan‟s business was the predecessor to the Following the drowning of their father, William present A.T. Jones core business where Scanlan and his brother Charles at the start of 1880 was also involved in water reticulation in the formed the Architectural firm Gordon & Gordon. early days of Albury and in plumbing and tank Ten years later in 1890 their practice had offices supplies. in Melbourne, Corowa, Rutherglen, Mansfield, He was also a member of the Mechanics Insti- Benalla, Euroa, Wangaratta, Albury, Seymour tute locally for about 30 years. and Wodonga. In Albury, they designed over a In local politics he was a municipal councillor 22 year period more than 77 new buildings plus for a number of years where his expert knowl- numerous alterations, additions and minor works. edge was of assistance as the city developed its New buildings still standing today include:- Cot- water and sewerage systems. He was also on tage at 499 Hume St (1883); Railway Commer- council for the opening of the Union Bridge cial Hotel (1885); Higgins Coach Factory (1885); across the Murray in Wodonga Place. St Patricks School Hall (1885); Victorian style In regional politics he was an ardent protection- dwelling at 653 Kiewa St (1888); Carriageway ist and took an active part in supporting the then (1889); Beehive Corner Building (1889) and member for Hume, Sir William Lyne. Cottage at 460 Swift Street (1891). Locally Scanlan was responsible for the forma- In 1883 William began an eleven year associa- tion of the Albury Gas Company and was a very tion with the Albury Municipal Council, consult- large shareholder. He was also involved in the ing on a range of functions, in particular engi- Albury Brewing Company following the merger neering and surveying. He was at times a mem- of the Headley and Billson breweries. ber of local organisations including the Albury At the time of his death he was managing direc- Federal Capital Association and the Albury Vine tor of Albury Brewing. & Fruit Growers Association. Edward was a member of Manchester Unity William never married. His obituaries noted Institute of Oddfellows for nearly 35 years. him as an unassuming, a person of abstemious Personally he was one of Albury‟s best known and studious habits, having an interest in literary residents – his obituary described him as well and scientific subjects. read and a just, charitable and generous man and Edward scanlan upright both in his business and private life. (1839-1906) Compiled by Chris McQuellin He left a widow and seven children. Edward Scanlan was born in 1839 at Ruthin a Brother John Hands Paine read a burial service town in northern Wales with origins going back of the Manchester Unity order, amongst a large to the 13th century. He first came to Australia as a gathering of Albury citizens. 23yr old coming initially to Brisbane in 1862 Rev F Bevan, the Rector of St Matthews, also where he tried his hand at plumbing (his trade) officiated at the burial service. and later farming. Queensland in the 1860‟s was a Most of the family were present except for the rough hard life and Edward Scanlan decided to eldest son James who had stayed in South Africa return to the UK. after his service to the empire during the Boer Whist he intended to settle down back at home, War. his roving spirit was once again tempted and he sailed back to Australia in 1870. He initially landed in Melbourne and there met Catherine Ephemera Night Corley and after a three month courtship the cou- This is your opportunity to bring and tell about an item of passing historical interest. A&DHS Bulletin 490 PAGE 2 LOUIS HARRISON successful because a month later John Conness (1866 -1934) advertised Gibson‟s farm for sale. It was 84 Compiled by Ray Gear acres, half a mile from the township on the On the 19 March 1915 the Albury Banner an- main Sydney Road. nounced that Louis Harrison of Deniliquin had The next we know of John Conness is at began an architectural practice in Albury. For Chiltern when the Ovens and Murray Adver- nearly nineteen years he was to continue practis- tiser of Sept 20, 1858 printed news of a new ing in Albury. rush at Indigo Creek. Ten days later several Born at Wanganella near Deniliquin in 1866 he hundred miners were angry and believed they was the youngest son of English born Frederick had been hoodwinked by Publican, Edward Harrison and Emma (nee Havard) Harrison. Af- Morgan. They captured him and prepared for a ter leaving school he joined his father's Architec- lynching! After an investigation Mr Morgan tural practice. In 1899 he was elected a Fellow of was cleared of suspicion and there was a stam- the Victorian Institute of Architects. During his pede of miners to peg out claims. By October years in Deniliquin as well as designing many there were 2000 diggers there. Deniliquin buildings he was an Alderman of When friends and creditors advocated a Gov- Deniliquin Council and Secretary of the ernment reward for Edward Morgan as discov- Deniliquin P & A Society. erer of the Indigo Gold Field, John Conness By the middle of 1917 Albury was the principal wrote in the Indigo Advertiser in 1858 that he residence of the Harrisons. Albury buildings de- first discovered gold on the Indigo and that was signed by Louis still standing today include:- what induced him to move there from Ballarat.