T"'EWSLETTER .JULY - AUGUST 1998

KOGARAt--J HISTORICAL SOCIETY II\ICORPORATED

Sponsored by J(ogarah Municipal Council Posta' Address: P. O. Bo.~ 367 ... Kogarah. I "-4 es. I t"'EWSLETTER .JULY - AUGUST 1998.

Registet~ed by Austr~alian Post- Pub. No. N. 8. H. t. S. N No.0311-0E:!3

This Newslet t er- is pr-inted by Kogar-ah Hunicipal Cour,cii 0

Patroon: The Mayor of .

- ~RS.s COTTRGE MUSEUH is open each Sunday and Public h.::.!i-d.=!l:_l (cHá;C...sp t bood Fr ideu and Chr is trnes Day) it-Dm l.J:::Opm to 5.80 pm. hdmlSSlon". - - ,-,nar-'gec'á H""'d u 't s ~ce;;.- L .¥n_,U r t.rnr'o' ld -:-e-n c;...... _áUc eacn.1- l..:;ráoups.- b y spec.al- ¥ arrangamen tá1..Lácon rae I. - áJ.:-:d" +t t on O~-á

)l.1B£RSHiP or l::OGRARH HISTORICAL SOC!El~: is: $6.00 per' annum (Sir.gie) .$9.1]0 per annum (Coupie) . J-!-,You ;-taye fot~QOtten to p-ay_~ Subsc,-áiQtion we would aQQn3ciate- ilearing 'from you as we do value .yourá Hemberáship-':"

MONTHLY ~-1EETINGS. f.1eetings ar-e now held in the Kogarah School o'f R.-áts ... Boums RoaeL KDQar-ah. Genera! Meet ings er e he!d at 2 p.rn. on the second Thur'sd03~ of aach month.

- Generai Hee t inq - Spe eker- Hr. .Jemes Kane "tells the ::;ton::i DT Regina Coeli Chur'ch at Beverá!y Hi lls . - _._ .¥.¥ _ .. _~. - , ~_ ... '!-:;._. ~. ¥ o__ o._' ~ __ \_ ~ .... -. ¥¥ , _ ¥ o.-... ¥__ .... ¥ __ ._, ¥¥¥¥ Rugust 13 - Generá,:;; Meeting - Spe aker- Mr', St-áian Madden ft-om the c.antef-bury His t or-ic al Society teHs and shows: si ides ..r-eta _- t 'Ing +n~W theiIIá::'.1 1-..',_ t or-u1_ .Ji~-F t he¥__ 1- "'-:;.en .....t _..er bur-ut::;:;._ ~rá,;:::,-áá_c.

SOC iP.L CALENDRR.

The monthly t r-ips are sti II being enjoqed by many. Mar-y Ar-ms tt-ong pu t s a lot of time and e'f f or-f into arranging these. The coaches leave Kogan::h at 9 a.m. and r-e tur n about '-f p.rn. The cost is ebout s15.00. Please contact---- Mat--u -_._------on (95b7-b3::-ob), tviondau -27th julll .~ Benks t oum Rrea. 8ettl~ Good~~r is looking --' fL!rwat~d to ente,-átaining you on this: daq. C"l'T" .. -.r-,,~c:hQ~rárl I IInrh {-a+ 1 ,nl'''~ nIt ¥ ., excense> A¥ .lJia'_::; ::,,0,-- ...... ~ _ ...... ;-. * ._- It. :-1-'-- - ...... 11 '=# ... &...1 ¥ """"-.' wili be at the Tr o t t ino CJ~b. á 2Gth August - Parramatta. - 2~th September - La Perouse & Randwick, 1 =~_\~',,:.~ . ..., r ~\ ~:r,"\"~'~ £t~~l' . t:J ~::'~~"'~~ -~ ~-:~-':""'S~" CARSS PARK ffiSTORIC WALK , tf"_' ¥ iif . - t, U i!I ¥ '", .¥. " .~~~~~~ LI ! ! I' I _ _ ,-' ,it'~ ~;5::li;",.~ , ¥ ~"'6 - - ¥¥¥¥ M~.:á... - -:--- _ ... ,~- --- Come and enjoy some interesting commentary on beautiful Carss Park. It will take about 45 minutes on an easy flat walk, starting from and finishing at Carss Cottage,

Did you know we had Life Savers at Carss Park up until 19801 They worked hard to make Carss Park a safe place in which to play and swim. We shall be able to visit the First Aid Dressing Shed which was Opened in 1929 as a memorial to James Stewart. Who is buried in the vault? What made Kogarah Municipal Council purchase this wonderful area known as Carss Park?

WHEN: Sunday, 23 August 1998 at 2 pm .MEET: Carss Cottage COST: Adults $3, Seniors $2.50, Children $1 INCLUDES: Walk with commentary (about 45 minutes) plus Museum visit

MUSEUM ROSTER.

July '-i - Betty Goodqer & Janet t e Hnl lehone , 12 - Glad Baldurin eá Thellie Tatum. 19 - Cath Sui livan

GET UJELL UJISHf'S.

Gut- s t ehuer t l"iefr.berá .. Me.td Gr-ieve .. tilt-ned 97 on the 24th . Junc.¥ .... . I t -" .. h ..... d . .., I '" ' STill spencs a 0 0 I 't ime erne e lmg an' 1$ so men12!IY 2;e:-- l iDr' h~.-. ~J'_.. :::::J'J.I""",::.,-,.,...... ,~. 1+¥ z. IWi"!~'. _-_ rnen.1. ".".t ioned a"""'- !'n a recen'-.. ¥ t... Educat ion Ilepar-f merrt C;.fr.:>et~ jáyáin.C! , : that she is the aIdes t ! _. Pubi ic S.:.hocd T eacher-.

Lerro time member,. Ida ~iijier. turraed 90 en the Hth June. She too .~¥ á -'.. ~r.d..:>;-áá'¥ C u I": .. :-)"... h.-.~- . 'e-t-~ f. ~ UJY' (J It ¥ .._, tea ~=,'-O ::r &

~~t i - n.1 your' f r-iends at Koaar'.ah Hi s t cr-i ce! Socieh! ar-e r-emember-inn t.JOU ~ - '-' ooth on YC:Ui-' Eirthdays"'; and send Best Wishes for" ~m"n-' Happiness.

2 TOUR OF TIlE ROCKS AND rvfILLERS POINT, Thursday, 21 May 1998

It was a beautiful and sunny day when we set off from Kogarah with Ted at the wheel. We stopped at Rockdale Plaza for a cuppa and then headed for the traffic on Southern Cross Drive. Slow, slow, slow. We turned left at the end of the Drive and Ted somehow wended his way through traffic at Zetland, Beaconsfield, Waterloo, Redfern and we entered The Rocks area along Hickson Roa~.

Mary met the guide at the Sydney Sailors Home, which is now the Visitors Centre, and we were directed down to the waterfront to look at the back of Cadman's Cottage. This is the oldest dwelling in the City of Sydney, built in 1816 as The Coxswain's Barracks, part of the / Government Dockyard. It was designed by Francis Greenway who lived across the road in George Street. Our guide informed us that there are plans to show where the waterline used to be, right near the house, and quite a few feet below. Part of the original 1818 sandstone wall of the dockyard forms the retaining wall of George Street. ---.-

Our eyes, of course, were very aware that Cadman's Cottage was beside the Sydney Sailors Home, and from our vantage point we could easily see the stonework which was in readiness for the huge extensions that never happened, and if it had gone ahead it was obvious that Cadman's Cottage would have been demolished. The extensions in 1926 that had been made possible by the legacy of Mary Carss was at the George Street face and along most of the northern side. We were able to add to the guide's information about the Carss family. On the north side of the Sailors Home is the 1857 Mariner's Church designed in classical revival style by John Bibb but has been spoilt by extensions. The brick and stucco top floor was added in 1909. A restaurant was set up on the balcony but that business did not prove successfu1.

We drove past the Passenger Terminal which was built in 1964 (replacing the original 1938 one), then re-modelled and shortened in 1987. Perhaps it will shrink even further, but we do have to keep this spot for the ships which cannot fit under our Bridge.

Looking over Campbell's Cove was very pleasant. The old paddle steamer and The Bounty were moored nearby, and the pleasant lines of the Park Hyatt Hotel which blended into the background.

Robert Campbell's stalely Wharf House was built' in '1'803'at -CamPOellSLOVe:- ana som-to tne-- -. --- --• Australasian Steam Navigation Co in 1876, who demolished the house to build the ASN Co stores. Fortunately the old stone Campbell's Stores survived, and a second storey added in 1890 of brick in a similar colour. These Stores are full of restaurants.

Ted drove our little van into Atherden Street with a rock wall dead end, Sydney's shortest street. Our guide told us of an elderly lady who had lived in each of the terrace houses. Someone asked why the name of Avery Terrace was used, and it was the surname of the elderly lady. In this street is the Westpac Museum which opened in 1987 to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the opening of Australia's first bank, the Bank of New South Wales in 1817. The sandstone

3 sculpture crafted by Bud Dumas in 1979 is called First Impressions; the figures on three sides are of a convict, family and soldier.

In George Street, The Earth Exchange building used to be the Geological and Mining Musewn, which set out to be in 1902 an electric light power station designed by Walter Vernon, but was never used. No smoke has emitted from the chimney and it is now sealed.

The Merchants House was built in 1848, a sandstone Georgian townhouse designed by John Bibb for Martyn & Combes, painters, glaziers and plumbers. Then the Sergeant Major's Row Terraces, built in 1881-1883.

Not far from the Harbour Bridge was the 1914-15 Mercantile Hotel with Art Deco green tiles decorating the outside wall. This pub was filmed in Caddy .

. By the 1850s houses were crammed together and others almost on top-criss-crossed by steep alleys and lanes which acted as open drains.

In January 1900, Arthur Payne, who lived in Ferry Lane, was the first person diagnosed with bubonic plague, and this outbreak continued until the end of August. In March the Government took control of the wharves at the head of Darling Harbour to Circular Quay including all lands stretching 300 feet inJand from the high water mark. AI1 privately owned land had their titles released to the 'King and Minister for Public Works', and owners were compensated. The whole area was placed under quarantine, surrounded by police, and residents were paid to help clean and disinfect. Fences and walls were whitewashed and furniture, mattresses and piles of rubbish were burnt Rat catchers were at first paid 6d per rat caught, and told to dip the dead rat in boiling water to kill the fleas.

A plan was put forward at this stage to flatten all buildings in The Rocks and replace with grand squares, avenues and wide boulevards lined with stately houses, but the Government couldn't afford it Slum clearance took place and was replaced by council housing. In the 1920s entire streets disappeared during construction of the Harbour Bridge.

The next big change came in the 1970s when the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority sent notices to residents to move out as the entire district was to be rebuilt as highrise. Residents ------illllted arnrvotced theirfeefings-th-atifwas'an historic area: TheBuildets Labourers-Federatioll imposed a Green Ban for five years. Some high rise did take place in the south west section, but the remainder is being preserved and restored. 'Redevelopment' was dropped from the Authority'S name and is now known as Sydney Cove Authority.

On the western side of the Bridge, Pier One is not doing well financially. We drove along Lower Fort Street and our guide pointed out the various houses which had been restored or about to be. Bligh House had been beautifully done with a shiny coat of paint and renamed, but I cannot remember what it is called now. We stopped outside the Garrison Church and drove around the village green in Argyle Place, and down through Argyle Cut in Argyle Street. The Argyle Centre is now a Department Store which has not been a successful venture.

4 sculpture crafted by Bud Dumas in 1979 is called First Impressions; the figures on three sides are of a convict, family and soldier.

In George Street, The Earth Exchange building used to be the Geological and Mining Museum, which set out to be in 1902 an electric light power station designed by Walter Vernon, but was never used. No smoke has emitted from the chimney and it is now sealed.

Not far from the Harbour Bridge was the 1914-15 Mercanti Ie Hotel with Art Deco green tiles decorating the outside wall. This pub was filmed in Caddy.

By the 1850s houses were crammed together and others almost on top; criss-crossed by steep alleys and lanes which acted as open drains.

In January 1900, Arthur Payne, who lived in Ferry Lane, was the first person diagnosed with bubonic plague, and this outbreak continued until the end of August. In March the Government took control of the wharves at the head of Darling Harbour to Circular Quay including all lands stretching 300 feet inland from the high water mark. AI1 privately owned land had their titles released to the 'King and Minister for Public Works', and owners were compensated. The whole area was placed under quarantine, surrounded by police, and residents were paid to help clean and disinfect. Fences and walls were whitewashed and furniture, mattresses and piles of rubbish were burnt. Rat catchers were at first paid 6d per rat caught, and told to dip the dead rat in boiling water to kill the fleas.

A plan was put forward at this stage to flatten all buildings in The Rocks and replace with grand squares, avenues and wide boulevards lined with stately houses, but the Government couldn't afford it. Slum clearance took place and was replaced by council housing. In the 1920s entire streets disappeared during construction of the Harbour Bridge.

The next big change came in the 1970s when the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority sent notices to residents to move out as the entire district was to be rebuilt as highrise. Residents ------i.iJ1lred arulvoicedthei'rfeeting-s--tlrar-itwas'an historic area=ttre Builders Labourers"Fedelatioll imposed a Green Ban for five years. Some high rise did take place in the south west section, but the remainder is being preserved and restored. 'Redevelopment' was dropped from the Authority'S name and is now known as Sydney Cove Authority.

4 After thanking our Guide, Ted drove us all the way to The Sydney Rowing Club at Abbotsford for a lovely lunch, and then a surprise trip on the Putney Punt across the Parramatta River and return. Another lovely day shared with good friends. J. HDllebDne

... o_ --á---áá-~-.------" - ... , ft'swsn.thaUhe Fourth Earl ofSancfwfch Invented thesandwfch. But hIs motfvesfor dOing so I me kept rather quIet He was suclran Inveterate I gambler that he hated leaving the gambling table to eat. His solution to the problem was to devise a lunch he could eatwhiCe still sittIng at-the gamblIng table. I

NATURALUTILE AT WORK GENTLEWOMAN My dear sisters, ... thanks to .'virs Dawson I have Even far in the Wilds. the Bush girl has a knack of become a n!'St rate woman and can cure meat, dairy refinement. That is one of the characteristics of the make butter; cheese. fatten calves or equal to pigs Australian girl. She may be poorly educated, she Aunt Goddard herself and when I tell you that we may run almost wild, hob- nob with blacks, ride have had no man the last month. that George has after cattle. and scrub, cook and clean as many a had to be away every alternate day with the cows, girl has to do out West, but Withal. the squatter's that I have all the baking, washing and in fact daughter is almost always a natural little everything to do and that I am now within a gentlewoman. moneh of my connnement you will allow that we Only it was the young Marge this Polly was have no time for dress or play. .. calling. Old Marge used. as a regular thing, to get Penelope Selby Letters 1839á1851. quoted in For up and skim and set the milk. Young Marge only LoIJ( 0' Monty. Megan McMurchy, Margot Oliver & does it on occasions when there's no one else to Jenni Thornley (eds), 1983 take the duty. Generally, she practises before breakfast. prepares hcr French translations, or does Euclid problems. for her mother holds modem views on education, and these girls have a strict governess, The old Marge and the old Mena, certainly did lessons, but 'in spells' with churning, bedmaking, and so forth, and their preparation happened informally among the gum-trees on the flit or on the roP-Qf;, miJlct bnp in the Culnvarion-paddock. Perhaps. though, the gumtrees taught them something outside their books!

Rosa Campbell Praed, quoted in ThÇ \Vo,ld MOIJ~ Slowly. Beverley Kingston. 1977

I shall pass through this life but once. If, therefore, there is any kindness I can show, Or any good I can do any fellow being, '[)/ON5~-e Let me do it now! :~ ~~ 0.';;: rrz.: .J.uIf.; Let me not deter or neglect it, For I shall not pass this way again. 5