From Scone to the Head Waters of the Hunter
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FROM SCONE TO THE HEAD WATERS OF THE HUNTER A Survey of Properties and People Following the Gundy Road and Various Side-roads Along the Way 1896-97 Including descriptions of areas such as Gundy, Moonan Flat, Moonan Brook, Belltrees, Ellerston, Omadale Brook, Stewart’s Brook, Brushy Hill Written by M H (Mac) Bridge of Muswellbrook in 1963 Transcribed and indexed by his granddaughter Margaret Ashford in 2016 1 The following recollections were written by Malcolm Henry (Mac) Bridge of Muswellbrook, dated 10/1/1963 They have been transcribed by his granddaughter, Margaret Ashford, Lambton, in June 2016, from a photocopy of a handwritten document. As the document is addressed to the Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society, it is assumed that they hold the original. Some punctuation and paragraphing have been added for clarification purposes. Explanatory notes or corrections have been added in italics inside square brackets. To the Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society In 1896-7 from memory those who owned or lived adjoining and near the road leading from Scone to the head waters of the Hunter. This road branched to the right from the Great Northern Road near the southern approach to the town of Scone near what is now (1963) Rotary Park. After leaving the town the property on each side as far as the three miles peg belonged to the St Aubin’s Estate owned by William Bakewell. On the right about opposite the 1 mile was John Newman’s Brick Kiln. On left near the 3 miles peg stood the home of the Montgomery Family quite near the boundary of St Aubin’s. The head of the family was an employee on the estate. Directly opposite the house, Bakewell’s dam. After passing the boundary on the right the land belonged to the Segenhoe Estate, at the time was owned by the “Scottish Widows” and managed by Harry York. About the 3 ½ mile a road branched right leading to the Segenhoe homestead, a branch from this road led to Brushy Hill and was used as a short cut bridle track from and to Rouchelbrook. On the right Segenhoe property skirted the Upper Hunter Road from the 3 to near the 7 miles peg. On the left from the 3 to the 6 miles pegs was the property of George Milton Capp who also had a property where he resided near Allandale between Greta and Lochinvar on the Lower Hunter. The property on the Gundy Road was originally part of Segenhoe at the time the home on the place near the 6 mile was occupied by John Bridge and wife nee Susan Clifford. John managed the place for G M Capp. Shortly after the property was purchased by James Leighton Tulloch and became known as Leighton Park. James Tulloch was a horse buyer chiefly for the Indian market. Near the 6 mile the road crossed the Page River. The crossing later became 2 known as Tulloch’s Crossing. From Tulloch’s to the Cedar Crossing near the 7 mile, as well on the right the country on left also belonged to Segenhoe and extended over the river and on into what is known as The Glen, on Glen Creek. After crossing the Cedar Crossing near the 7 mile on the left the paddock belonging to Belltrees used as a camping paddock for stock travelling between Belltrees and Scone, and also used as a camping ground for the station teams when on the road. This was known as their Glen Paddock. On the opposite side of the river near this spot the bluff end of the brush known as Brushy Hill ends at the river bank. A short way on, about 7 ¼ miles the Page River is again crossed at the Peach Tree Crossing. From that to the next known as Moran’s Crossing the road passed through Crown Land. This later became known as Bob’s Reserve. This is where a part aborigine Robert Stevens, made his home. In his younger days he was known as a first class stockman and had been employed on various properties on the Hunter including Segenhoe, Belltrees and Glen Rock, and was spoken of as Yellow Bobbie. After leaving Bob’s Reserve the river was crossed at Moran’s Crossing. On the left after crossing the river shortly before reaching the 8 miles peg stood the home of Thomas Moran Senior and his wife nee Meehan. Thomas Moran owned the land on both sides of the road hereabouts. It was he who was fairly constantly employed with horse and bullock teams for 50 years carrying between Scone and Belltrees. At one time Thomas Moran held a licence to retail colonial wine which he served in a room in his dwelling. Then on over Moran’s Hill on the right the home of Mrs Riley senior. Next on the same side before reaching the 8 ½ mile the home of son George Riley and wife nee Jones was passed. On the opposite side of the river the home of John Davidson and wife nee 3 Stevenson, then a road led to left and a short way up Carragan’s Creek the home of John Wharton and wife nee Nettle. Then on right of main road Charles Jones Senior and wife nee Riley. The locality hereabouts was called Gunda Gunda or Gundy Gundy. The road crosses Carragan’s Creek near the 9 miles peg, a short way from right of road the home of James Wharton Senior. At the time James was a widower, son James Junior and wife nee Dearman lived nearby. Near the 9 ½ miles the road crossed the river at the crossing known as Rocky Crossing. Land on right owned by James Wharton Senior. Between the Rocky and next crossing known as Oaky Creek Crossing is where in the bed of the river on flat rocks aboriginal carvings could be seen, believe they were covered by gravel etc during the 1955 flood. Before crossing at the Oaky Creek a track led right up the river to Elgin Valley the home and property of James Bridge and wife nee Mary Bowles. Then over Oaky Creek Crossing on left the home of Charles Jones Junior and wife nee Agnes McCue. Oaky Creek Crossing takes its name from the fact that Oaky Creek which heads somewhere in the Elmswood country, enters the Page River near the crossing. After leaving Oaky Creek Crossing the land on either side is belonging to Belvue Estate as far as the next crossing, a short way before the 11 mile is reached. On the right before reaching the river crossing Belvue House stands, was occupied as well as the property by John Wiseman who was a widower, sons Percy and “Anno” for Anstruther and daughters Bee and Constance resided with their father. Then across what was known as Minch’s Crossing, a stock route turned right at the crossing and on the bank of the river passed the home of Ben Ellery and wife nee Dearman. It has been said it was in this house the one-time world’s heavyweight boxing champion Paddy Slavin was born. [In a different, unidentified, handwriting there is the following margin note – Paddy Slavin was never world champion but was a noted fighting man. His greatest fight was with Peter Jackson, who defeated him.] On left after crossing the river The Northern Miner’s Hotel stood, 4 kept by John Jospeh Minch and wife nee Annie Murphy. Around the hotel was a real hive of industry, mostly run in the name of J J Minch which in addition to the hotel he employed a wheelwright, a blacksmith and did undertaking work. Also a baker, a bootmaker, and butcher. On the premises was an independent saddlery. James Bruce and son Gordon ran this business. And John Ralston occupied a room where he ran his tailoring business. The crossing known as Minch’s Crossing was number 7 on the Scone-Gundy Road. That was in the days when it could be called a wet road. In about 1909 it became a dry road. On the left after passing the hotel was Minch’s Wheelwright and Blacksmith’s Shop where Bill Orr was employed as wheelwright and Bill Stanbridge as blacksmith with Bob McMillan who did carpentry and cabinet making work, such as a coffin if one was needed. Next on the same side was the General Store kept by C A Green and wife nee Dodd. The Gundy Post and Telephone adjoined the store and was conducted by Mr. Green. In his employ was a nephew, Alf Green, and Harry Ayling. The latter later went to and lost his life at the Boer War. Harry was a son of the late Rev. Ayling, Presbyterian Minister, in the early days in charge of Scone care [?] which went as far as the head waters of the Hunter. The home of Mr and Mrs Green adjoined the store as also did the home of Thomas Barnes and wife nee [sic] Mrs Dodd, she being the mother of Mrs Green and Mr Barnes her [Mrs Green’s] stepfather. [A note in a different hand, same as the previous notation, reads ‘Thomas Barnes’ wife did not live in Gundy’.] In a land at the rear of the store was the home off Joseph Meecham and wife nee [corrected to ‘formerly’ in the handwriting of Heather Ashford, a daughter of Mac Bridge] Mrs Keene, son Charlie and daughter Ann lived with the old couple. On past the store in a lane lived John Molloy and wife nee Jones along with their family of sons and daughters.