ÒNurungiÓRemembered OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CONCORD HERITAGE SOCIETY email: [email protected]

EDITOR LOIS MICHEL No.191 AUGUST 2012 9744-8528 PRESIDENT The River Story MARK DURANCE 9743-0583 Part 5 of a series on the historic by a long-time resident, A S Mendel PUBLIC RELATIONS Vacant The days when An interesting sidelight of the Rosehill Parramatta was Rosehill district is that it gave its name to one of our SECRETARY/TREASURER most beautiful parrots. LOIS MICHEL The hop fields of Kissing Point gave way to 3 Flavelle Street progress and, a little upstream, Lars These birds occurred in great numbers in the (P.O. Box 152) Halvorsen built his Fairmiles to supple- area, and were called Rosehill parrots, Concord 2137 ment the war effort in World War II. colloquialised to Rosehillers and later Phone: 9744-8528 reduced to Rosellas. Fax: 9744-7591 Under the Ryde road bridge, passing Horse------shoe Bay and the spot where the Ryde punt Parramatta was actually the second settle- MEETINGS once crossed to Meadowbank, then under ment after Town. General Meetings the railway bridge with Its old buildings tucked in amongst the cit- 1st Saturday of month stretching away southward and with ies modern development perpetuate (except January) Ermington, now a densely populated area Parramatta’s past in stone. at 2:00 pm in the leading up to Rydalmere with Dundas and The original St John’s Church of England City of Bay the rolling “Hills district” beyond. Museum was established in 1803. The level land on the western banks of 1 Bent Street, Concord Recent excavations have uncovered the Homebush Bay, once a ti-tree and mangrove 9743-3034 footings of the parent church. flat, now forms the site of the largest ply- Executive Meetings wood factory in the southern hemisphere. Between 1817 and 1820 the twin towers 4th Wednesday of month were added and today they represent the On the gently rising land beyond, the State at 7:30 pm in the oldest civic structure in this second oldest Museum abattoirs flanked by tall broadcasting town. (all members welcome) masts, is backed by the green paddocks of Flemington, giving a faint rural backdrop. Trailing this latter period by just twenty Walker Estates Committee years, the Catholic church of St Patrick This position is vacant The name Ermington is slightly out of char- remains one of the show places of the early acter, the Ermington of the “Old country” years. Tours Organiser being located as far south as Plymouth, in Sandra Elliott, 9797-1040 the south-down county of Devon. Elizabeth Farm house still extant, was built [email protected] in 1794 and is the oldest dwelling on the Dundas derives its name from the British mainland of . Museum Committee Colonial Secretary in office during the forma- Meets on 2nd Wednesday of tive years of the colony. John Macarthur, the “stormy petrel” of Bligh’s month at 10:00am at museum and Macquarie’s times, raised Australia’s The last bridge at Silverwater joins Chairperson first Merino flocks here. Lorraine Holmes, 9743-2682 Ermington to the Western Highway, and the newer suburb of Silverwater is an extension Although James Ruse was the first farmer Oral History Committee of Lidcombe and Auburn, fronting the river commissioned by Phillip to pioneer the just as the first fresh water comes in from district, he sold his farm to Dr Harris in the south. 1793, later settling in Campbelltown where he was buried. * * * * This Duck River or Creek is almost imme- CITY OF CANADA diately joined by the estuary of the Darling It was Phillip’s surgeon who built the Experi- Mills Creek coming in from the north-west, ment Farm cottage in 1796. BAY MUSEUM after circling the Dundas-Carlingford high 1 Bent Street, Concord country. All the territory between these two arms Diary Dates Open Wed & Sat was once called Rosehill. 10am to 4pm AUGUST 4: John Oakes, Railcorp NSW, Today Rosehill is better known for its race- Guest Speaker “Mortuary Stations” on 1st Saturday of each course, but at one time the whole of SEPTEMBER 1: Andrew Tink, “Lord Sydney: month at 2:00 pm Parramatta was called by that name, later the life and times of Tommy Townshend. to be changed to Parramatta, the Aborigi- OCTOBER 6: To be advised Phone: 9743-3034 nal name for “a good place for eels”. during museum hours This country home remains the sec- On a Lighter Note . . . ond oldest of our colonial homes. The Working Bees Kings School built in 1835, is the World’s easiest quiz fourth and oldest of the greater public A very special thank you to all schools on the Parramatta River those members who turned up 1. How long did the Hundred Years’ system. for the last working bee. War last? (See Secretary’s Not far away from here on the Wind- Desk.) A great deal 2. Which country makes Panama sor Road the short-lived battle of was accomplished hats? Vinegar Hill took place. but there is more to 3. From which animal do we get cat Major Johnstone, under the direction be done. gut? of Governor King, succeeded in quell- ing the riots, led by his namesake, the And, if you can’t 4. In which month do Russians cel- rebel leader, more by diplomacy than manage the heavy work, we ebrate the October Revolution? have boxes of paperwork that with actual bloodshed. 5. What is a camel’s hair brush made need to be sorted. The Dog-trap Road, the Western of? Road, the road to Windsor, the road to We will be scheduling another 6. The Canary Islands in the Pacific Wisemans Ferry and Kissing Point one for Saturday, 11th August are named after what animal? Road all radiate from Parramatta. commencing at 10:00 am. 7. What was King George VI’s first They still service these districts, so If you can’t manage the whole name? Parramatta was destined to become day, then please come and a city in its own right. spend what time you can man- 8. What colour is a purple finch No legend of the river would be com- age. 9. Where are Chinese gooseberries plete without its sporting memories. We will supply lunch and morn- from? Everyone knows the “Head of the River” ing and afternoon tea. 10. What is the colour of the black box was once staged on the Parramatta in a commercial aeroplane? River. Conditions were entirely Please let us know if you are different from those on the dam- coming so that we can (You only need three correct answers to controlled Nepean. organise the catering. pass. Answers on page 3.) There was no following flow nor smooth surface water. To the contrary a sudden southerly squall developing Things you didn’t want to know! across the broad or a tidal change could give the Shakespeare invented the words “assassination” and “bump.” race to the strongest and not neces- The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. sarily to the more skilled Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes. Also the bends in the stream offered more difficult negotiation. (This series of 6 articles was printed in the “Adver- tiser”, November/December 1971. Many of the factories and buildings mentioned in the article are now long gone. It is only through the work of people such as A.S. Mendel that the memories can be preserved. That is why oral histories and written anecdotes are so important us.)

Museum Committee Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 8th August at 10:00 am in the mu- seum. This is to finalise planning for our Nursery Rhyme display which opens in December. We also need to make plans for future displays. Our Royal Family display will stay on until the end of September to give everyone a chance to visit. We will then use our own objects until we need to set up the Nursery Rhyme display. If you would like to become part of this We have recently received two photographs from the Harden-Murrumburrah group please come along to the meet- Historical Society but we have no information about the group. The pennant ing. New blood and new ideas are reads: “Western Suburbs Convent Schools Sports” and the year “1967”. Does always welcome. anyone know of this group? Or of any of the children in it? I Remember . . . Some Bowls History 1 Starched circular petticoats which Bowls today could very aptly be and her advisers deeming the game an stood up by themselves after being described, particularly in the present excuse for unlawful assemblies and ironed company, as a Sport of Gentlemen. conspiracies. 2 Listening to the “Argonauts” and Being bowlers, I thought you would be Not only did the game have a colourful “Yes What” on the wireless interested to know that in the very early history, it also had early ties with the 3 Taking the billy can out to meet the days, as the game grew in popularity, church as, when John Knox visited milkman in the morning. It was it came under the ban of King and Calvin at Geneva one Sunday, it is filled from the huge milk cans on the Parliament. Both feared it might jeop- said he found him engaged in a game; back of a horse-drawn cart. ardise the practice of archery, then so and John Aylmer, though Bishop of important in battle. Statutes forbidding London, enjoyed a game on a Sunday 4 Catching the tram to school. The it and other sports were enacted in the afternoon, but used such language as fare was 1 penny (1 cent). reigns of Edward III and Richard II and “justly exposed his character to 5 Wearing hats and gloves when go- other Monarchs. reproach”. ing to the city shopping or to church Even when, on the invention of gun I wonder how far we have progressed 6 Wearing a rope petticoat under a powder and firearms, the bow had from those days! full circular skirt. fallen into disuse as a weapon of war, An encouraging thing from the 7 Seeing people sitting on chairs on the prohibition was continued. Australian point of view is that it was the footpath outside the local elec- The discredit attached to bowling our country which took the lead in trical shop to watch television. alleys, first established in London making serious efforts to organise the in 1455, probably encouraged sub- game. 8 Taking a saucepan to the local Chinese restaurant to bring home sequent repressive legislation, for The Bowling Associations of Victoria our dinner. many of the alleys were connected and were estab- with taverns frequented by the 9 Buying fish and chips on Friday lished in 1880, twelve years before any dissolute and gangsters. similar organisations were founded in night - wrapped in newspaper. Being an unlawful game, this fact the United Kingdom. 10 Visiting our local corner shop, being confirmed by an Act of Parlia- I wonder whether Australia gained where everything came in big con- ment in 1541 – an Act which was not tainers, and having the owner weigh its lead in this field because Parliamen- repealed until 1843 – artificers, labour- tarians here, being followers of the out our orders into paper bags while ers, apprentices, servants and the like we sat on the chair at the counter. game, were not anxious to legislate were forbidden to play bowls at any against it. If it was a big order the grocer would time save Christmas, and then only in deliver it later in the day. their master’s house and presence. Young – chase women 11 Visiting the 2GB auditorium to Middle Aged – chase money It was further said that any one play- Old – Play Bowls watch the Jack Davey Show being ing bowls outside of his own garden or made. orchard was liable to a penalty of 6/8d I believe you can do all three. 12 Chasing the iceman as he made his (68 cents), whilst those possessed of I hope you have a most enjoyable deliveries from a horse and cart - lands of the yearly valueLaying of the£100.0.0 carnival, and return to your home Diggingready theto grab the chips of ice to cool might obtain licencesconcrete to play on their States with a firm resolve to return to foundationsus down. own private greens. Greenlees again as soon as possible. 13 Visiting the Markets in Haymarket However, although the statute abso- (This article was found amongst some on a Friday. Mum would give me lutely prohibited bowling alleys, Henry papers from Greenlees Park Bowling two shillings (20c) to buy what we VIII had them constructed for his own Club in our archives. The writer is not wanted and we always came home pleasure and would bet when he noted, nor is the occasion or the date for with lots of goodies. played. In Mary’s reign, however, the which this was prepared.) licences were withdrawn, the Queen 14 Going to the local picture show with one shilling (10c) - sixpence to go in and sixpence to spend at inter- val. And we always had two mov- Men’s Shed We have re- ies and a newsreel for our money. ceived a magnifi- Would you like a Men’s Shed in the cent donation from Mick and 15 Buying a huge bag of “broken bis- ? Chris McGillion. cuits” from the grocery shop for six- pence. An information session on how you can There are three reel-to-reel sound be part of this exciting new project will recordings made in 1980s concerning be held on Friday, 10th August at 10 history of Cabarita. They include an What do you remember? am in the Concord Library Function interview with son of Mr. Correy Room. (Correy’s Pleasure Gardens) and an A Men’s Shed tour will also be held on elderly resident, Mrs. Cox. Thursday, 23rd August from 9am-3pm Unfortunately, we have a problem. Answers 5. Squirrel fur leaving from the City of Canada Bay These need to be transferred digitally 1. 116 years 6. Dogs Administration Centre. to our computer and we don’t have the 2. Ecuador 7. Albert Registration is essential - 9911-6555 necessary equipment. 3 Sheep and 8. Crimson by 7th August horses 9. New Zealand Do you have, or know someone who 4. November 10. Orange Bring your ideas about what you would does have the equipment, who can help like to see from your local Men’s Shed. us get this done? Royal Family Display Luscious Lamingtons From the (to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee) The origin of the lamington hails from Secretary’s Desk from Old Government House in Brisbane during the tenure of Lord Lamington as Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth WELCOME to our newest member, Governor of Queensland from 1895- Richard Parry. We look forward 1901. The exact occasion is one for to getting to know you in the com- speculation. ing months. The Governor engaged French chef SIGNIFICANCE ASSESSMENTS: Armand Galland to work at Govern- These are now URGENT so we can ment House in Brisbane as head chef finalise the grant. If you have volun- from May 1900 until May 1901. This teered to do some of these please was a particularly busy twelve months get in touch and let us know your of celebrator events for Australia’s Fed- progress. eration. Also, there are still other items in our the only two Monarchs in the The Governor’s wife Lady Lamington collection that need to be catalogued history of the UK to celebrate their reminisced later in her diary that so and if you offer to assist we would be Diamond Jubilee many functions took place during this most grateful. It doesn’t need an Read about . . . time that her left-hand glove lasted out expert - you only need to choose the four right-hand gloves through the con- object and then do some research: * Attempted assassination of the stant hand shaking. Duke of Edinburgh at Clontarf what is it, approximate date; what One of Galland’s first events as the new was it used for; who by (if known). * Diary of a Royal Bridesmaid (Queen chef was to prepare an ‘at home’ after- We have samples to show what is Victoria) noon tea on the 25 May for 1200 guests needed. Please help us finish off * Bountiful Banquets fit for a King or at Government House. The lack of a this grant. a Queen ballroom at the Governor’s residence WORKING BEES: Special thank you * Extracts from Queen Victoria’s meant that large parties and afternoon to Betty Robinson, Betty Fletcher, Diary teas had to be held on the lawns; Trish Skehan, Alan and Lorna Wright, Margaret and Jim Lawther, Tim * and much, much more. Did Galland invent the Lamington for this particular occasion simply from the Heffernan, Irene Davidson and my- See pictures of . . . need to feed so many people in a self. All these people turned up for * Royal Weddings clever and innovative way? our Working Bee on 14th July and put in a good day’s work. * Royal Visits Perhaps Armand took his French love All our larger bulky items have now of chocolate, mixed it with his Tahitian * Coronations been sorted and stored for easy re- wife’s tradition of cooking with coconut, trieval. * Family Photograph Album and named it in honour of his employ- as well as Memorabilia, Objects and ers for what was possibly his debut There is still more work to be done - Souvenirs. event and voila, the Lamington was boxes to be opened and sorted and born! re-packed so items can be identified Stories to tell and photographs to see so we will call another working bee Browse Books and Magazines Sue Finnigan, National Trust, Queensland Watch the slide show of photographs for Saturday, 11th August from (Printed in Trust News Australia May 2012 and repro- 10:00 am. Lunch and other refresh- duced with permission.) ments will be supplied. RAG DOLLS FOR NURSERY RHYME On Being Poor DISPLAY: To the member who took the patterns for the “Jack and Jill” pair Annie, 6 years old, gets home from school. She please get in touch. We’re wonder- had her first family planning lesson at school. ing how this is going - unfortunately Her mother, very interested, asks;” How did it go?” I didn’t make a note of your name at the time. “I died of shame!” she answers. Special thanks to Trish Skehan, who “Kate from over the road, says that the stork has been very busy sewing - her dolls brings babies. Sally next door said you can buy look wonderful. babies at the orphanage. Peter in my class says you can buy babies at the hospital.” We now need to go through our boxes in the storeroom to find ob- Her mother answers laughingly, “But that’s no reason jects to support the various nursery to be ashamed?” rhymes. (i.e. egg cups, lamps, can- “No, but I can’t tell them that we were so poor that you dles, dishes, umbrellas, walking and daddy had to make me yourselves!” sticks, etc., etc.) We will have to draw up a “wish list” for other items that could support the stories.

More things you didn’t want to know. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. If Barbie were life-size her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand seven feet, two inches tall and have a neck twice the length of a normal human’s neck.