the tedmain TKe Peninsula association incorporated news sheet

Vol 30 No 6 Issue 238 Founded November 1965 D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 5

Christmas in with silver polish, washed in warm for Christmas Day, one for New Year's, one to keep for Easter, and D u r h o m H o u s e soapy water and dried, ready - Oh! - ready for the climax! Every jjerson in one/two/three to give away. I mind me, too, of Christmas cakes - [With Christmas coming, we bring the house, even studying sisters out of you our final excerpt from Barbara the eyries, had to come down to the not nearly as exciting as the puddings. Whitley's reminiscences with Seasons kitchen, throw in a coin, have a stir with I mostly remember having the carry Greetings to all.] the big wooden spoon, and make a them round to the baker's in Darling wish. Even Dad. (There used to be little Street, mixed and in tines, to be put in Thisand reminds the me making of Christmas of puddings time, magic tokens too. If you got the ring in the "dying oven" after the days' bread (though they'd be made weeks and had been taken out. I used to wish I weeks before.) Another all-in to the kit wouldn't be seen by anyone I knew on the way. 1 didn't mind so much the chen, but Mother at the center this time. What a huge pudding basin it was! In collecting of them after they were would go the brown sugar and dripping, cooked - the smell was absolutely pounds I'm sure, and there'd be more scrumptious! than one of us taking turns at the cream Christmas itself - how did our mother do it! We hung a sock (boy's, long, ing of them - we didn't have any electric woollen and stretchy) try a piece of gadgets, hands were the thing. But we liked this better than the long business string to the bottom of our beds, each of picking the stalks and bits out of the child, one sock (a pillow case? unheard dried fruit, far far more than I used to of!) In the morning, mysterious bulges; which would turn into - an orange in the toe, peanuts in the foot, presents and lollies in the leg, and always, somehow, she managed heart's desire poking out the top; for me, a book, perhaps even two. I wonder how many socks she your pudding on Christmas Day - filled? In my memory time, the number anyone can imagine what that meant. must surely have been well on the The button - you'd be a bachelor. The decrease. She used to go Christmas thimble - an old maid.) shopping in Anthony Hordern's, her Mother did the final part, portioning best-loved shop; and It's b^ond me to deal with on Saturday mornings. A love the mixture into pudding cloths, tying imagine what her shopping list must ly job was cutting up the candied peel. them up, and popping them into the have been like. This came out of the grocer's bag in great pot of boiling water at the back of [As indicated in our last issue, halves of oranges with the most un the stove, where they'd cook for hours. Barbara has recently published her believably delicious lumps of crystall (And what about scraping the basin, m e m o r i e s i n " K i d S i s t e r " w h i c h i s n o w ised sugar in them - and - and - and - they what about that! I can see it now, available from Bray's Books and at the were for the eating! But he or she doing browny-yellow on the outside, white Watch House. If you wish to order it the cutting up, of course would go fair inside, with the remnants of the direct from Barbara, you can write to 47 Farnsworth Street, Castlemaine 3450 shares. There was nutmeg, not powder luscious-smelling mixture sticking to it; in a bottle but round nuts that had to be Mum would mark three equal divisions, but please add $2 to the price of $17.95 grated, and watch out for your fingers. and away we'd go at it. 1 can't remember to cover postage.]. A small heap of thrippeny and sixpenny how many puddings were hung, Edited Debby Nicholls pieces had to be cleaned and shined afterwards, on hooks In the pantry - one The Old Balmain President of the Manly- Warringah and Stephen's Church, Penrith. The Rev Cemetery Pittwater Historical Society. Fourteen of Elijah Smith was rector of that parish the headstones - those belonging to from 1853-1868. Mr Gledhill again Charles Davis, William Graham, Henry participated In the unveiling when the ThisCommittee year the of theHistory Balmain Sub- made Morgan, Henry Palgrove, Bridget Sloan, rector's monument was re-erected on the Old Balmain Cemetery Its focus of Richard Fowler, Jane Thompson, 1 4 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 1 . attention, with the aim of tracking down Edward Martin, David Hall, John Leys, all the headstones which had been Bessie Breillat, Samuel Turton, the moved from the Old Balmain Cemetery Shoobert family and Edmund Blacket before it became Pioneer Memorial Park and his wife Sarah - were removed to in Leichhardt. Camperdown Cemetery. The remains The first burial took place at that of Edmund Blacket and his wife were cemetery on 26 January 1868 with a removed and cremated and the ashes further 10,608 interments before the placed at St Andrews Cathedral, cemetery closed. The last person to be Sydney. The Shoobert obelisk was buried was George Holley, aged 79 re-erected at Camperdown Cemetery years, on 7 May 1912. A Balmain on 22 October 1943 in memory of the resident, he had married Agnes Aborigines buried there. Howard, the daughter of William Other headstones became historical Howard, who was Balmain's first boat m a r k e r s . T h o m a s R o w n t r e e ' s w a s builder. placed in Macquarie Terrace, Balmain. Robert Towns' memorial was removed to Townsville which is named after him. Mr Gledhill gained the permission of the Leichhardt Municipal Council to erect the Harwood family monument at the Spit, Middle Harbour, on 19 May 1942, to commemorate Peter Ellery's hand punt which started there in 1850. An obelisk belonging to the Shaw family Obelisk at Church Point was officially unveiled by Mr Gledhill on 22 May 1943 at McCarrs Creek, The History Sub-Committee has Pittwater to commemorate the first photographed all except three of the survey of the creek by Captain John headstones, the existence of some of Hunter in 1789. It is now situated in which was previously not generally Church Point. known. The Brelliat, Davis and Martin Two obelisks were sent to the monuments were, sadly, lost to vandals Ebenezer Presbyterian Churchyard: at Camperdown Cemetery. Further John Leys headstone at Camperdown those of Rev Robert Blain and of Rev details will appear in a subsequent The records of the cemetery, which George Macfie, who for many years was article, but in the meantime the show place of residence, indicate that a minister there. The obelisks were re- Sub-Committee wishes to share a piece many of those interred were not from dedicated at the 140th Anniversary of Information with you. Undertaking Balmain, some living as far afield as Celebrations of Ebenezer Church on 26 was one of the professions which Rose Bay, Lynden, Muswellbrook and January 194Z occasionally passed to women on the even one from Melbourne. St Barnabas Church Ground, death of their spouses. In the 1860s a When the cemetery was demolished Broadway, also has monuments to two Mrs Jane Thomas and a Mrs Kirby each in the early 1940's a few family former rectors - Rev Joseph Bainer and took over the business on the demise of headstones were saved by Percy W. Rev Canon Thomas Smith. Another h e r h u s b a n d . Gledhill who for many years was clergyman's obelisk is now at St Bonnie Daoidson

Anniversary Party previous campaigns and good wishes the balmain association from absent friends. Thank you Debby TT^he Watch House needed rubber Micholls and Diana Garden for J. walls to accommodate all who organising such a successful evening. attended the 30th Anniversary Cocktail To commemorate the occasion two Party on 28 October because a wines with 30th Anniversary labels are downpour prevented the use of the available. These are blends from garden. Many old friendships were McWilllams Riverina and Hunter rekindled. Eight past presidents as well vineyards - a Semillon Chardonnay and 30*Anniversary a s o t h e r o f fi c i a l s m a d e i m p r o m p t u a Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon and can speeches. There were cheers and be purchased for $12 per bottle from Semillon Chardonnay U c m N S V ' delightful anecdotes and reminisces of Jeremy Arnott, Tel 818 1902. 7XM 9i ti

In March,stone cottage 1843, Sizar(11 Johnston Elliott bought Street, a Balmain East) where he began a ships' grocery and chandlery. The cottage became the Balmain Stores, and when he found himself in financial difficulties in 1848, he was still able to settle the Balmain Stores on his wife, Sarah. The Sydney Morning Herald, 20th June, 1848 carried his advertisment: "Office to Let" - A superior office to let in the house at present occupied by the subscriber. Rent, moderate. S Elliott, Charlotte Place. He survived his financial problems, pursued his career in Melbourne, and became the "oldest J P in Victoria" (aged 83 years in 1897). (From the Leichhardt Historical Joumal No 14, page 26 by Peter Reynolds). Sizar Elliott came to Sydney in 1837, aged twenty three and newly married. He set up a buisness supplying ships' stores, mainly groceries and wine, and he created the Balmain Stores in Johnston Street in 1843. By the late 1830s, Australia's exports depended on the sheep farmers who suffered severe losses from drought from 1838 to 1840. Then followed the financial depression of the early 1840s. Farmers were ruined, the notice the temperature of the oil and the where he became well-known. In price of sheep, counted in the millions, tins exploded causing considerable Sydney he promoted colonial wine, dropped so low that sheep were damage. exported lamb skins to China and slaughted for the "boiling down" works, The diagram shows straw-sha|:>ed canned meat for ships. He imported their fat being used for tallow. This quills and escaping steam. After Kauri gum from New Zealand. invention raised the price of sheep from heating, the tins were topped up with Sizar was at his most creative while one to five shillings. gravy and the tins were sealed by living in Balmain. He was a survivor of S i z a r r ( h e w a s n a m e d a f t e r h i s soldering. family disaster as his father died when grandmother) was concerned about the Sizar resorted to charcoal firing and he was four. His mother took her three waste of lean meat in the boiling down set the temperature at what he thought children from England to Ireland, but process. He knew that meat had been would be average heat of a ship's hold the ship was wrecked and his baby preserved in tins in Britain, but did not at the equator. He discarded any tins sister drowned. The family then understand the process. Undaunted, he that failed his tests, and by 1847 he travelled to Canada where his brother set to work: "A few tins of meat were first received a first-class medal in the and uncle were also drowned in ship cooked by the kitchen fire, but without annual show for his sample of preserved wrecks. He himself survived a shipping success. A further quantity were then meat. "The article was good but would d i s a s t e r o n h i s r e t u m f r o m C a n a d a t o boiled in strong brine, and these gave have borne a taste more seasoning" England. some indication of keeping but they (Sydney Morning Herald, 24th However, from the time he arrived in decayed in time...an old copy of Ure's February, 1847). He opened his last tin Hobart, aged 21, married, aged 23, and Chemical Dictionary convinced me that twenty years later and it remained in migrated to Sydney he was an asset to a greater degree of heat was wanted. excellent condition and retained its full the colonies of New South Wales and Chloride of Calcium was then unknown, weight. Thomas Mort wrote him in Victoria. at least to me, and while looking for 1873; "1 can testify to your great energy His published pamphlets and some some liquid with which to get an in pushing new industries along, more letters kept by his uncle's wife give an increase of temperature, I thought of particularly those connected with the insight into the character of an energic oil" (This was whale oil). preservation of food". and optimistic "Colonial". On one occasion after sealing his Sizar Elliott left Sydney in 1851 and F r a n c e s H e a t h fi e l d tins and cooking them, he failed to spent the next fifty years in Melbourne will accept. The eastern or southern B a c k t o B a l m a i n S^OWl aspect is good.

Hydrangea — Sundaysunny29 forOctober the 7thwas Backwarm to Balmainand S u m m e r S h a d e L o v e r Day. Many former students visited Balmain and Birchgrove Schools, and for the first time Nicholson Street, Perfectwatered for partly gardens, shaded hydrangea parts of well pro Balmain High. Rozelle and Father duces their posies of blooms from Terry(St Augustlnes) Schools. The St around November to well into February. Andrews service was well attended and You can cut flowers for Christmas ended with singing of Brown Slouch arrangements or for even longer indoor Hat and Pack Up Your Troubles. Then display you can grow them in pots. to the families picnic at Eiklngton Park The most common and most beaut for reunions with old friends. iful species is the macrophylla, some The Association did brisk selling of times known as a hortensia. These now books and had many family history come In a big range of colours and enquiries as well as promises of mature shrubs can be anything between photographs. The Leichhardt Municipal 50cm and 2m tall. Band played from the bandstand and it Greenthumb groundniies. was a very happy day. Congratulations Climate. Best is cool and moist to the committee. See you all next year. although hydrangea do well in most Soil. Must be well drained yet Kath Hameg gardens where water can be assured. reasonably water retentive. Water Frequent hot dry winds are not helpful. generously during the warmer half of Peter Reynolds has published On the Site. Hydrangea like a few hours of the year, less in winter. Feed with annual Pigeon Ground ■ Balmain Public morning sun but prefer to spend the rest application of complete plant food in School W60-I965. 56 pages and 29 of the day in bright dappled shade. The early spring. photographs. $12 plus postage hotter the garden the more shade they Bonnie Davidson available at the Watch House or Tel 818 4954.

New Verandah The Balmain Association Inc I ^he latest project at the Watch We wis. 1 y o T i a representing Balmain, Birchgrove, X House has been the replacement of Rozelle. the verandah floor. The floor, as it stood, .iristmas O u r A i m s A r e T o : ^lerry C • improve the living, working and was a patch job, probably done in the 1960s. The narrow tongue and groove aiis a IL JLa}ppy New recreational amenities of our area deck, though of jarra, was not original. • maintain all features having We were hoping to reuse some of the Y ear natural architectural and/or bearers and joists but these were a mix historical value of old and not so old timber that could • compile and record history of not be satisfactorily reworked with any the area & keep a permanent degree of integrity for the new floor coiiectlon of items of historical boards. An interesting find was a joist interest cut from an original verandah post. W h a t ' s O n • seek the cooperation of Some existing posts, made of oregon everyone concerned in the and installed in the 1960s, required realisation of the above removal to the workshop and new Watch House Exhibitions The Watch House is open every bottoms scarfed in. A hinge that had Saturday from 12 to 3pm failed causing the gate to carve an arc Printmakers Nov 25 - Dec3 The Balmain Association meets on the in the old floor was repaired by a Rozelle Chris McLean Dec 9-17 first Wednesday of each month at blacksmith. Photos,drawings & acrylics 7.30pm in the Watch House The new floor timbers are of tallow Elaine Norling Feb 3-18 179 Darting Street. Balmain. and the bearers and joists are treated W o m e n s C o l l e c t i v e M a r 1 5 - 1 6 fJail c/o PO Box 57, BALMAIN. 2041. with copper napthalate to deter Susan Kerville Mar 22-31 Our editorial phone/fax Is 618 4954 whiteants. The floor boards are butt Auotographed documents Interested artists, potters, sculptors, etc. who would like to organise an jointed as was the custom and certain Judy Brownlie May 18-19 boards are lightly nailed and stamped Toneal impressionism exhibition in the Watch House are l i f t " t o a c c e s s t h e s u b - fl o o r f o r urged to contact Steve South on 8101411. inspection purposes. Printed on recycled paper by Annual Subscriptions: The new verandah should last at least Snap Print, Balmaln Household $16, Pensioners & fifty years. © N o t t o b e r e p r o d u c e d w i t h o u t Students $7, Organisation $21. Jeremy Amott authorisation