Blt.Ae Mot.Anta.ins t-listov-ica.I Society inc. PO Box 17 WENTWORTH FALLS 2782 •HOBBY'S REACH' 99 Blaxland Road WENTWORTH FALLS

Vol.9 No.3 Sept., Oct. 1998 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE President Coral Ewan 47841831 Clyde Francis 47591n.i Vice President Roberta Johnstone 4757 2024 Valerie Paddod< 47572332 Treasurer David Dodd Bruce Adam 4757 4125 Secretary Shirley Jones 4757'22.70 Michael Finlay 47571584 SUB-COMMITTEE CO-OADINA TORS Researd'l Gwen snvey 4782 1292 Tarella Coral Ewan 47841831 · Book 8ales Helen Kershaw 4757 3283 Hobby's Outreach Roberti Johnstone 4757 2024 Bldg Maintenance · Clyde Francis 47591n4 Garden Bob Henson 4757 '2£75 Hobby's Reach Helpers Valerie Craven 4757 3433 Garden • Native Noreen Skellam 47571845 ' CALENDAR OF EVENTS - SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER 1998 Saturday 5 Sept Meeting - Speaker: Alan Smith Subject: Clean and Decent - Pt 2 See page 2 for details Monday 7 Sept Research activity day Friday 11 Sept Research activity day Monday 14 Sept Excursion - Medlow Bath - Hydro Majestic . See page 2 for details ·. Tuesday 15 Sept Research activity Day Monday 21 Sept Hobby's Reach Helpers - Working day, cleaning etc. 1Oam to noon Tuesday 22 Sept Research activity day Saturday 26 Sept Spring Festival - Open Day - Tarella '-..__/ Sunday 27 Sept Spring Festival - Open Day - Tarella . See page 2 for details Tuesday 29 Sept Research activity day Saturday 3 Oct Spring Festival - Open Day - Tarella No General Meeting Sunday 4 Oct Spring Festival - Open Day - Tarella Monday 5 Oct Spring Festival - Open Day - Tarella See page 2 for details Tuesday 6 Oct Research activity day Monday 12 Oct Excursion - Lithgow See page 2 for details Tuesday 13 Oct Research activity day Monday 19 Oct Hobby's Reach Helpers - Working day, cleaning, etc. 10am to noon Tuesday 20 Oct Research activity day Saturday 24 Oct Research activity day Tuesday 27 Oct Research activity day Tuesday 3 Nov Research activity day Saturday 7 Nov Meeting - Speaker: Andy McQueen SUbject: Grose Valley History See page 3 for details Continued on page 2 COMING EVENTS

Sept 5 - General Meeting

Clean and Decent - Part 2 Alan Smith, a member of the Society, will continue with his excellent account of the history of sanitation. On this occasion, the focus will be on the water, sewerage and drainage process in and the Blue Mountains. Hardly a riveting subject you might suppose, but in Alan's hands we are assured of an ·entertaining and enlightening morning.

Meetings commence at 10.30am but members are welcome to gather for tea or coffee from 1O .OOam onwards. A light lunch of soup and rolls is available, at a modest price, after the meeting.

Sept 14 - Excursion

Medlow Bath and the Hydro Majestic DATE: Monday, Sept 14 . TIME: 10.00am MEET AT: Hydro Majestic Car Park DURATION: Usual day trip GRADE: Mostly street walking - bring picnic lunch and drinks

Open Days - 26. 27 Sept. 3.4,5 Oct

"Tarella" and the Research Centre will be open to the public on these days. ·· As these openings represent our major fund raising effort, it is hoped that members will consider giving some time to manning gates, gardens, rooms in "Tarella", the Research Centre or to helping in the kitchen. ' Please ring Valerie Paddock (4757 2332) to discuss roster times. It is estimated that we need a total of 14 people on duty at all times.

In addition to the usual Open Day attractions, our neighbours, Hugh and Janet Bickford have kindly offered to open their garden, Bolberry House, for the benefit of the Society. Admission will be $1 and access is through the gate on the lower right hand side of our garden.

A photographic exhibition will be set up in the Research Centre during the Open Days. It will be titled "Men Who Shaped the Mountains", and is sure to be another triumph for Gwen and the Research team.

The new Cottage Shop will be open for business and donations of books would be greatly appreciated. Helen Kershaw is in charge and may be contacted on 4757 3283.

Oct 12 - Excursion Lithgow DATE: Monday, Oct 12 TIME: 10.00am MEET AT: Parking area - Mt Victoria Station DURATION: Usual day trip GRADE: Walking - bring picnic lunch and drinks

2 Nov 7th - General Meeting Grose Valley History Andy McQueen, author and Society member, will base his talk on the extensive research he undertook for his book "Back from the Brink: Blue Gum Forest and the Grose Wilderness". This is available in the Library and is for sale in the Cottage Shop. Ian Beveridge has written an excellent review of it in "Hobby's Outreach" Vol.8 No.5 page 4.

TALKING AND WALKING

JULY MEETING Our guest speaker at this meeting was Ollie Leckbandt who might best be described as an historical investigative reporter! For many years he has visited sites, drawn maps and conclusions, turned over sods, collected bits and pieces and written two books in an effort to produce an accurate picture of the stockades built for the convict road builders. At our meeting we reaped the benefit of all this work.

Building a road in modern times is difficult enough, as we know from watching the slow progress of our own highway. How much more difficult it must have been with nothing but wilderness ahead, convict labour to be guarded, housed and fed and troops to be provided for. Ollie Leckbandt brought this miracle to life for us as we followed the route of Mitchell's Road on its way to Bathurst. We first heard of the problems of choosing a route, particularly in the MountVictoria area, with maps to show the options. Then Ollie spoke of the convict labour and the stockades to house them, covering the sites at Mount Victoria, Bowen's Hollow, Hassan's Walls, Farmer's Creek and Mt Walker which he has thoroughly examined and searched for relics of the original inhabitants. There were often as many as 400 convicts at work, all of whom had to be housed securely, clothed, fed, disciplined, nursed, and sometimes buried. The iron gangs were locked into stockades made from 12 feet high stakes and not permitted to work more than two and a half miles from this area in any direction, while the trustees were in temporary huts and often worked fairly long distances away. There was housing for engineers, surveyors and road inspectors, military barracks for the troops guarding the gangs, quarries and timber yards. Often local farmers provided, or were forced to provide provisions from their crops and flocks. An ex-soldier actually set up a post office and eventually, there was also a courthouse and hospital in the area. There was sometimes trouble with those in charge - Mitchell actually poached workers from the Wiseman's Ferry roadworks, not a popular move! Many of the sites are now under water from dams or have been destroyed by bulldozers working on road improvements or drainage. All of which makes the work of people like Ollie, who is so anxious to preserve our history, so valuable, and we thank him for allowing us to share a little of his obsession.

JULY EXCURSION - Richmond Off to Richmond, one of the five towns founded {1810) by Governor Macquarie, for a tour packed with historical sites. First a glimpse of Cox's Hobartville, then to the town where we started, appropriately enough, at the Information Centre housed in Bowman's Cottage (1815). Here we admired the old stables with their original bricks and shingles and were able to purchase copies of

3 the Department of Planning's guide book "Richmond and Windsor Walks". Highly recommended if you do not have Jack or Gwen at your elbow! St Peter's Church and Cemetery (laid out in 1811) are both nearby, and here we found the grave of our own Thomas Hobby (died in 1837, aged 57), in company with other pioneers like George Bowman's parents, and Margaret Catchpole and William Cox Snr. A cracking pace enabled us to see the site of the Black Horse Inn, Macquarie House with its tall palms and"friendly" toilet (two and a half holes}, Josieville, the Manse of the Uniting Church, the Masonic Lodge building and the School of Arts, Price's House, Rutherglen and Richmond Park. Somehow we found time for lunch by Pugh's Lagoon, a pretty billabong. The grand old Toxana House was a highlight (restored in 1978 by the Council), then on to the interesting facade and foyer of the 1950s Regent Theatre, then to Benson House (1840s) and the Hawkesbury-Richmond Campus of the University of Western Sydney, formerly the Hawkesbury Agricultural College (est. 1891 ). Lots to admire among the century old original college buildings, including Yarramundi House, built as the Principal's ·residence and now a restaurant. Mount Pleasant was our last stop. Half hearted rain now falling, but we had been fortunate most of the day. At this very old property, parts of which date back to 1806, we were given royal treatment by the occupants who allowed us a close look at its buildings and grounds. Apart from Gwen and Jack's vast knowledge, we were fortunate to have several members with us who had lived and worked in Richmond, so there was a fair amount of reminiscing, particularly about the old railway which ran down a main street! All together a most successful tour with the general agreement that we need to return soon to see all the treasures we missed.

AUGUST MEETING The Society's Research Group Co-ordinator, Gwen Silvey, enhanced her reputation as a first class historian once again. On this occasion Gwen covered the life of Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, (1816-1878), her formal presentation lightened by many fascinating anecdotes. It was the old story, Dad is dead and the family fortune has gone! Undaunted, Thomas Mort, just 21 and obviously full of the confidence of youth, set off for "the land of promise" and arrived in Sydney in February 1838. He was just what the young colony needed. He had the good sense to start quietly as a clerk with an import firm, made some good contacts - men like John Fairfax and Henry Parkes - married the daughter of the Commissioner General, and by the age of 26 was in his own business as an auctioneer and broker. He was the first to auction Australian wool. Mort and Co. joined Goldsborough at this time and it was also the time of his first experiments in preserving meat for export. Mort became involved with the Sydney Railway Co. and with shipping, both immigration and trade, and persuaded the P.& 0 . Line to set up a regular service to Sydney, once he had built his famous dry dock and associated engineering works. It is interesting to note that waterfront disputes were responsible for the eventual demise of this venture - it would seem that little has changed! Mort was an excellent employer with interests extending as far as the South Coast where he produced dairy products and bacon. His old plant at Bodalla is still in existence and certainly worth a visit. A venture into the importation of alpacas from Peru failed through lack of private investment. One hundred and fifty years on they have finally become popular. The family moved from their home in George Street to Double Bay and then to "Greenoakes" in Darlinghurst which was extended from plans by Edmund Blacket. In the hands of the Church of England, it finally became "Bishopscourt". He

4 also donated the land for Blacket's St Marks Church. In 1857 Mort's health failed and he retired from all his activities (possibly the modern day "burn-out"), but he returned to commerce when in his sixties and invested in sheep stations and became known for an extravagant social life. There was always a party or ball to launch his ventures. His brother, Henry, supported the building of Blacket's All Saints Church in Woollahra and Henry's son, Canon Mort, had a home in Wentworth Falls and a street named after him . The holiday house "Kippilaw", in Leura, was owned by his son, Arthur. The wool stores at Circular Quay, demolished after 100 year's use to make way for the AMP building, were his, and the idea of an Australian Mutual Provident Company to help the "deserving poor", was his idea also. Mort was involved in gold and copper mining, shale mining in the Magalong Valley, in kerosene works at Hartley Vale and in land deals at Cullen Bullen. He was the first President of the Fine Arts Academy and encouraged the building of Schools of Art around the country. Many of these quaint buildings are still standing. Among his unusual activities was his campaign for free medical prescriptions for the chronically ill and the reform of the "gruesome pageant" of funerals. Experiments in preserving and refrigerating food for export continued, but Mort died in 1878 before the first refrigerated ship left Sydney. However, the NSW Fresh Food and Ice Company was set up in Darling Harbour and Lithgow in 1875 and later in Katoomba and many other country towns. Despite all this frenzied activity, Mort had time to have two wives, three daughters and eight sons. We remember him with a statue in Macquarie Place. As Gwen said, he was a man of vision who used his wealth to improve the lot of many people.

AUGUST EXCURSION - Castlereagh, Nepean, Penrith Lakes Scheme Monday morning and a meet at McDonalds at Blaxland. Good weather and a good crowd (around 42 when they stood still!), and an information and map hand­ out from Gwen and Jack. Our road led down Mitchells Pass and across the Lennox bridge, (1833) the oldest on the Australian mainland, and on past Emu Hall at Emu Plains. We had time at the end of our tour to have a closer look at this original home of Toby Ryan who was involved in building the early bridges which replaced the punt across the . How disheartening it must have been to watch the floods of 1854 and 1860 carry them away! We crossed the present Victoria Bridge (1867) and continued on to the completed rowing and canoeing course in the projected Penrith Lakes Scheme This international standard course is now in use and will be available for the Olympic Games. The staff showed us an interesting video of the Lakes Scheme and we were able to see the boating facilities and have our lunch in the grandstand, in the seats reserved tor "high persons". Pity about the noisy Blackhawk helicopters which chose to hover overhead at that time - presumably practising their security manoeuvres in readiness for the Olympic Games. The Lakes Scheme is a joint venture between the three companies quarrying sand and aggregate from the Castlereagh Plain, and will finally consist of six lakes with a combined area as large as Sydney Harbour's waters from the Bridge to the Heads. Back on our historic trail along Castlereagh Road, we were close to the site of the hamlet of Birds Eye Corner where the first school in the area was opened by Mary Collitt of Collitt's Inn (Little Hartley) fame. Along the road is a Methodist Church (1847) on the site of the first one built in Australia (1817). The land was donated by one, John Lees, after his conscience was severely shaken up when he nearly died of snake bite! The church graveyard has many old stones, among them a number for the Colless family whose dead child was named Leura. Is there a connection

5 with our local family of Colless? Next stop was the school (1879) once attended by Mary Gilmore, and then to another church on a hill, the Anglican Christ Church, which replaced an earlier one built with a 100 pound donation from William Cox. The site gives an excellent view of the lakes scheme which has lots of bird life already in residence. A final stop at Emu Hall for a closer look at the old property, then a sincere thanks to Gwen and Jack for another fascinating glimpse of the past, before heading up the hill for home.

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST RAILWAY

The following edited account has been contributed by our member and "Foreign Correspondent", Bill "Cob" Graham, who, since moving to Victor Harbor in South Australia, has been making a name for himself as a recorder of local history. This article is part of his monograph ''The History of Encounter Bay" , much of which was inspired by the many commemorative plaques in the area.

In 1851 the Governor, Sir Henry Young, was authorised to build a railway to link up the Murray River trade with ocean shipping. The line was to be from Goolwa on the River to Port Elliot and was completed on May 18, 1854. The service was run by horse traction, a.single horse pulling a single carriage, with several changes of horses along the way. The completion of the line however, was not celebrated until 20th March 1855, when a public dinner was held at the hotel at Port Elliot. A plaque in Goolwa and another at Port Elliot, the first terminal, commemorate the completion of the first railway in Australasia. There were shipping losses at Port Elliot so, in 1864 the line was extended to ·· Victor Harbor, then a connecting line from Strathalbyn to Middleton was built. In 1867 the foundation stone of a fine bridge over the Finniss River was laid by the Hon. T.English. He declared that a "noble structure will rise on the spot where we stand" and applauded the great work of the Government in undertaking the building of national railways. An inscription on the Foundation Stone told all! Alas, in less than six months the winds blew and the floods came and the site of the proposed bridge was a scene of havoc and ruin. The "noble structure" was an ignoble heap of jumbled masonry, the foundation stone washed from its bed, the historical container smashed and its contents scattered! However, the bridge was finally finished in 1868 and the completion of the line marked with a day of celebrations. The Vice Regal party set off for Strathalbyn at 5am, His Excellency handling the four-horse team part of the way. Following the Mayor's welcome, the party left for Middleton on the horse traction line, a change of horses being made at the Finniss River. From there it was on to Port Elliot and Victor Harbor. Comments in the newspaper, "The Register" point to the brilliance of the celebrations, and the comfort and safety of the line. A few years later the southern railway locomotive era dawned and by April 1 , 1885 the line from Adelaide had reached Victor Harbor. The "Observer" commented thus: - 'The line was opened through today. The two locomotives intended for the goods traffic were used. Application was made for children from the public school to travel free on the day, but was refused. The "Southern Argus" on March 31 remarked:- 'Tomorrow the traffic on the southern line is to be worked by steam, right through from Port Victor to Adelaide ...... Everything seems to be so muddled

6 that it would not surprise us to find that the fun, so often connected with April the First, is to be perpetuated with this railway'! It was remarkable how few accidents there were during the years the horse coaches ran - a credit to the careful and competent drivers. There is an historical marker, relating the history of the line, in Warland Reserve, and in the main street of Goolwa there is a glassed-in enclosure in which is displayed the first carriage to run on the railway. An odd little contraption, beautifully restored to mint condition. Adjacent to the enclosure is yet another plaque "To commemorate the Opening of Australia's First Public Rail Line". Happily, the era of horse traction railways was not relegated to the past. In 1894, nineteen years after a causeway was connected to Granite Island, a horse­ tram service to the Island was begun with double decker coaches pulled by one horse power over regular trains lines. The line was operated for sixty years by members of the Mahoney family, that is until 1954. Then, in 1986 the horse-tram was reintroduced by the Victor Harbor District Council. New stables were opened by the State Tourism Commission near the causeway with the usual commemorative plaque set in a granite boulder nearby. The service now operates for 363 days of the year carrying tourists to and from Granite Island - there are often four trams on the go. The popularity of the tram accounts, happily, for the proliferation in Victor Harbor of those gentle giants, the mighty Clydesdale draught horses. Bill "Cob" Graham

KENT RESERVE TO COMMEMORATE This cairn commemorates The naming of Victor Harbor by one of the last camping Captain R. Crozier, who entered grounds of the Ramindjeri with HMS Victor on April 26, 1837. An Encounter Bay tribe of Narrinjeri aborigines

In commemoration of the meeting near ihis Bluff between The ocean terminal of the first railway HMS Investigator MATTHEW FLINDERS in Australasia Port Elliot to Goolwa who explored the coast of South Australia was completed 18th May 1854. and MF Le Geographe NICOLAS BAUDIN April 8, 1802 Due to shipping losses here the line was extended to Victor Harbour These English and French explorers held in 1864. friendly conference and Flinders named the place of meeting ENCOUNTER BAY.

IN MEMORY OF CHARLES STURT and COLLET BARKER. Commemorating Hereabouts in February, 1830, First mail delivery on horseback 1839 Sturt first saw the waters of Encounter Bay, ADELAIDE to ENCOUNTER BAY thus crowning his heroic voyage of discovery down the Murray River. Truslove's Store and Post Office erected in this vicinity 1855. At the Murray mouth in April, 1831, Barker perished, having completed Sturt's task of exploration, during which he discovered the Port Adelaide Inlet and first ascended Mount Lofty. NOTES AT THE END

Judith and Alan Tierney

I am sure all members know by now that we have just lost two of our most valuable members, Judith and Alan Tierney, lured south by the delights of Goulburn! The Research Group is definitely in mourning and the call has already gone out for other members to fill the enormous void left by these two exceptional people. Not everyone would be aware of the amount of work undertaken by these two, of the hours they have given to the Society and the expertise they brought to all the challenges they undertook. Apart from Alan's co-ordination of the Publications Committee, his work with Gwen on Grants submissions (all highly successful), time and attention given as a member of the Management Committee, his overseeing of the installation and running of the new photocopier, and the many tasks Judith undertook in Tarella and in the Research Centre, they found time to combine their talents to produce an excellent history of the Society. They then sorted and put into order the Society's Primary Records, and finally produced a comprehensive Index . The Archives Room. is now a pleasure to use. We realise we must learn to carry on without them, and can only wish them a very happy and fulfilling time in their new location I

Lost Stolen or Strayed The Membership Secretary reports that an alarming number of name tags .. are missing from their rightful place in the box at the meeting room. Elizabeth is hoping that anyone who may have inadvertently taken theirs home, would be so good as to return it so that it may be replaced with the latest design. No penalty will be imposed!

Excursion Innovations At the start of our last excursion, participants were issued with stick on type "do it yourself" name tags which proved a great success - at last we could put names to faces!. The Committee also decided to attempt to cover the cost of photocopying the information sheets handed out on these occasions, by charging members 20 cents a set. There were no complaints heard and I am sure all were pleased to know the Society's funds are being responsibly managed.

Positions Vacant A successor to Alan Tierney as Co-ordinator of the Publications Sub­ committee is urgently needed. Michael Finlay is currently Acting Co-ordinator and would be very pleased to give any information regarding the position and the qualifications required to applicants. Michael's number is 4757 1584.

Henson Family A request has been received from Mr Robert Hooke for any information members may have on the Henson family. Grandfather Allen arrived in Australia from England in 1886, married at Bowenfels on 10th April, 1886, first child born in Bent St, Katoomba, nine other children born in Fitzgerald St. Four sons served in WWI, names are on the Council Honour Roll. Son, Herbert Allan, believed to have

8 been Postmaster at Leura for some time. If any person is able to add to this family history, Mr Hooke may be contacted at 7 George St, Pennant Hills, 2120.

Telephone News The Society has been notified, as have we all, that, as from 9th August 1998, all telephone 8 digit local numbers are operational, with 02 the STD prefix in . The Societyis new number is therefore (02) 4757 3824

Research Group Researchers please note: Commencing Tuesday, 15 September, Activity Days will be held on Tuesday of each week, plus the fourth Saturday of each month. Other times must be by arrangement with Gwen Silvey (4782 1292) or · Shirley Jones (4757 2270). Research days are held from 1Oam to 2pm, or by special arrangement.

Poetry Week Brian Craven has contributed this little gem which we thought appropriate for this week. We love the dear old Union Jack, We love the Motherland, Our help she will not ever lack, But by her side we'll stand; In peace or war, what it may be, No love could e're be truer, We'll build our health from colds so free, On WOODS' GREAT PEPPERMINT CURE.

"Hobby's Outreach" The closing date for contributions for possible inclusion in the November, December Newsletter is Monday, 26 October. There is a pigeon-hole marked "Hobby's Outreach" in the desk in the Research Room where contributions may be placed, or contact me personally. Editor (4757 2024)

NEW MEMBER APPLICATIONS

The person(s) whose name(s) appear below has/have applied for membership of the Society. Their membership fee(s) has/have been paid and their application(s) correctly nominated and seconded. Under the terms of Section 5 of the Society's rules of association, any objection to an application for membership must be lodged within ·14 days of an applicant's name being circulated to members. If no such objection to a person Is received within such period, that person will be deemed to have been accepted as a member of the Society.

Susan Warmbath Patricia Karr William (Bill) Evans Wentworth Falls Wentworth Falls Woodford Graham Warmbath Roland Karr Margaret McDonald Wentworth Falls Wentworth Falls Wentworth Falls

Carolyn Ab~ail Stephanie Moxham Beverly Smith Wenworth alls Wentworth Falls Katoomba Laurence Abigail Dawn Taylor Wentworth Falls Springwood

9 Membership Subscriptions

Subscriptions for the year 1st July 1998 to 30th June 1999 became due on 1st July 1998. Please check the two digit number at the bottom of your Hobby's Outreach mailing label if you are in doubt about your financial status. The number 198 1 indicates that your subscription is still due and the number '99' indicates you are currently financial. If you have paid very recently, please disregard the above.