ÒNurungiÓRemembered OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE CONCORD HERITAGE SOCIETY email: [email protected] www.concordheritage.asn.au

EDITOR No. 78 August 2002 Mr. GRAHAM PACKETT 9743-3007 PRESIDENT The Big Submarine Ms. TRISH HARRINGTON Holbrook Landmark 9764-3296 In recent years Australia has become home to a large number of man-made giants — PUBLIC RELATIONS weird and wonderful creations such as the Big Pineapple, the Big Banana, the Big Sheep Mrs. TRISH SKEHAN and the Big Potato. 9743-4172 These are all intended to be a bit of fun, a way to catch the attention of passing motor- SECRETARY ists, who may stop and smile, spend a few dollars and perhaps have their photo taken Mrs. LOIS MICHEL next to a weird and wonderful giant. 3 Flavelle Street (P.O. Box 152) But there’s a giant of a different kind that resides in the town of Holbrook, which is on the Concord 2137 Hume Highway about midway between New South Wales and Victoria. Phone: 9744-8528 Holbrook’s best known feature is a full-sized submarine, the HMAS Otway. Motorists Fax: 9744-7591 cannot help but see it as they drive through the town, and once seen, curiosity runs ram- * pant. Why in the world does this little dot on the map of inland Australia have its very own submarine? MEETINGS It all began in World War I General Meetings 2nd Wednesday of month The story begins during World War I. Then Holbrook was known as Germanton. Given at 7:30 pm in the that our country was engaged in war with Germany the town elders wisely decided that Concord Citizens’ Centre a name-change was in order. (except July) At about this time Lieutenant Norman Executive Meetings Holbrook became the first naval Victoria Cross winner of the war for his gallantry 4th Wednesday of month Wednesday, 14th August - Annual at 7:45 pm in the in sinking a Turkish battleship with the submarine he commanded. General Meeting and Election of Concord Citizens’ Centre Officers. It was soon decided that the town could do Committee Meetings At this meeting all positions will be de- As arranged no better than be named after a great war hero, and so in 1915, Germanton became clared vacant and nominations will be Contact Chairpersons called to fill them ALL. If you would like for details Holbrook. Ever since then it has main- tained a special link with submarines. to become part of the Executive, please let the secretary have your nomination Museum Submerged in history prior to the meeting. Fred Stansfield, 9743-1866 Holbrook Council acquired the Otway Just a Reminder: Membership fees Walker Estates when it was decommissioned and and due and payable prior to this meet- First Thursday each month scrapped. The above-the-water section ing. Please assist by paying yours as (please contact to confirm) was rebuilt and is now on permanent dis- soon as possible. Strathfield North Public School play in Holbrook’s Germanton Park. Correy’s Avenue, North Strathfield It measures 90 metres from bow to stern. Wednesday, 11th September - Peter Errol Grace, 9743-4301 Reynolds, “Horbury Hunt (Architect) Also on display, are an actual torpedo of and the Horbury Hunt Club” the kind used by Lieutenant Holbrook. Heritage Nearby, at the Woolpack Inn Museum Horbury Hunt designed Ardill House Bill Barlow, 9743-3662 you’ll find an extensive collection of Lieu- (Our Children’s Home) in Davidson tenant Holbrook memorabilia, including Avenue. Oral History replicas of his VC. Lola Sharp, 8753-0659 Wednesday, 9th October - a repre- Perhaps next time you’re down Holbrook sentative from the Western Suburbs way you’ll stop awhile, and like me, you’ll Lapidary Club, or a representative. * become “submerged” in the town’s unu- Wednesday, 13th November - to be CONCORD sual history. advised HERITAGE MUSEUM (Reprinted courtesy of author Bill Condon, Wednesday, 11th December - 5 Wellbank Street http://users/bigpond.com/billcondon/ Annual Christmas Party at Rhodes homepage.html and Australia/New Zealand for Park. Cost $10.00 per head, all food Open 2:00 - 4:00 pm Visitors http://goaustralia.about.com where it supplied. BYO liquid refreshments. Wednesday & Saturday was first published.) Rookwood Cemetery Tour - Sun., 27th October John Horbury Hunt Everyone enjoyed Robyn Hawes talk to (1838-1904) us last month so much that we have organised a bus tour to see all the things John Horbury Hunt, architect, was she told us about. born in Canada. The son of a car- penter, he trained at Boston under the We will meet at the Museum at 9:15 am significant architect, Edward Clarke (leaving promptly at 9:30) and proceed by bus to the Cemetery where we will Cabot. When the Civil War broke out meet up with Robyn. he embarked for India and en route We have arranged this tour in two parts in case you feel that a full day would be arrived at Australia in 1863, where he too much. stayed to work with Edmund Blacket, The half-day tour will cost $22.00 per person (which includes the cost of the bus) the leading Sydney architect. By or the full-day tour will cost $30.00 (including the bus cost). 1865 he was chief assistant but left in May 1869 for a brief partnership with We will be able to travel through the area by bus but there will be some walking John F. Hilly. Later that year he es- to specific places during the day. tablished his own practice. We will need to bring our own picnic lunch and we will have access to chairs For the ensuing thirty years Hunt’s and tables. free-Gothic mastery of complex form For those who only want to do the half-day tour the bus will take them back to and asymmetrical balance, combined the museum during the lunch break. with outstanding skill in timber and We need to have numbers as soon as possible because if we can’t fill the bus brickwork, produced many significant buildings such as the cathedrals at (maximum 48 people) we’ll have to look at alternative means of transport. Armidale (1871) and Grafton (1880), This should be a wonderful day out and the gardens should be magnificent as and churches at Denman (1871), they are holding their Spring Garden Fair the week before. Branxton (1873) and Dapto (1882). Please make a note of the date now in your diaries and phone the secretary to The stone-vaulted Chapel of the make your booking. First come, first served. Sacred Heart, Rose Bay (1896), is his finest work. His houses, Relatives, friends and neighbours are welcome to join us for the day. Booloominbah, Armidale (1888), Camelot, Narellan (1888), Pibrac, To all those tracing their family tree . Warrawee (1888), and Highlands, Wahroonga (1891) are distinctive. He Am I Really Me? also designed such schools as Frederickton Public, Balmain West I started out calmly tracing my family (now Rozelle Public), St Alban’s and tree to find if it would be the making Barrengarry. of me, As president of the Institute of Archi- . . . to a fundraising dinner in aid of the And all that I had was great-grand- tects of New South Wales (1889-95), Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway on father’s name, not knowing his wife’s his campaign for professional status Friday, 16th August - 7 for 7:30 pm at the or from whence they both came. led to schism. He reconstituted the Concord Function Centre, Majors Bay I chased him across a long line of States institute, saw its incorporation in Road Concord. and came up with pages and pages of 1891, and alliance with the Royal In- The price of the tickets is $80 per person dates. stitute of British Architects in 1893. (includes pre-dinner drinks, beer, wine, When all put together, it made me for- Eccentric, quick-tempered and argu- soft drinks and a 3-course meal). lorn; I proved poor great-grandpa mentative, he was extremely fond of Guest speakers: Mr. Rusty Priest, AM had never been born. animals and was an active member and vice-president of the Animals and Mr. Charlie Lynn, MLC. One day I was sure the truth I had found, Protection Society. Be entertained by a “Between the Wars” determined to turn this whole thing Fashion Parade, to the music of the upside down; Hunt’s practice collapsed in the 1890s Charleston era! Three-piece Navy Band. I looked up the record of one Uncle John, depression and he spent the last ten then found the old man was younger years of his life in penury at Sydney Further information from Alice Kang on than his son. where he died on 27 December 1904. 9757-8488. His wife, Elizabeth, predeceased him But then when my hopes were growing in 1895.” . . . to the Strathfield District Historical quite dim, I came across records that Society’s C.S. Malcolm Memorial Lec- must have been him. ture on Saturday, 7th September at 1:45 The facts I collected, they made me quite Did you Know . . . for 2:00 pm, in the Community Centre, 1B sad - dear old great-grandfather was The ice cream sundae got its name Bates Street, West Strathfield (near Airey never a dad. Park) from a law in Illinois in the US in the I think someone surely is pulling my leg, 1800s, which ruled you couldn’t buy Lecturer: Dr. Barrie Dyster, teacher and I’m not at all sure I’m not hatched fountain sodas on Sundays. Ice author. Subject: “Who was Sir William from an egg. Cream Parlours devised a way of get- Walkley - and Why?” After hundreds of dollars I’ve spent on ting around the law by inventing a R.S.V.P. 26th August to PO Box 117, my tree, I can’t help but wonder if I’m soda syrup for ice cream, without Strathfield, 2135 or phone 9746-6960 really me. soda water. (Doreen Rich) or 9642-3142 (Lucy (Ron Callaway, The 1788-1820 Pioneer They sold it legally on Sundays and it Stone) Gazette. Printed with permission.) became known as an ice cream sun- dae. Rookwood Cemetery - A beautiful and historic place to visit. Rookwood Cemetery is the largest cost of the funeral and its trimmings, Despite these misfortunes, the cem- cemetery in the southern hemisphere even if this money could have been etery is still a beautiful place. It can - it is a total of 777 acres. The first used for essential items such as feed- be peaceful and relaxing to sit under burial was in 1867. ing and clothing the often large fami- the shade of native trees in the older Today it is a beautiful, peaceful place, lies. sections, and feel the peace and with an interesting assortment of old Later on, however, less importance quiet, or walk among the roses, or and new monuments, in a (somewhat was place on this aspect of life. admire the beautiful statues of angels overgrown) park-like setting. Al- When motor vehicles replaced trains and cherubs, and the intricate carving though the idea of walking (or even and horses, some of the impressive on many of the headstones. picnicking!) in a cemetery may seem signs of the typical funeral disap- Some people use the cemetery for bizarre, once you see the place, you peared. Large amounts of money more active recreation, such as walk- will realise that this isn’t so. Wildlife were still used to pay for headstones ing dogs, and even jogging! of various kinds is abundant, includ- and carving, but less money was In recent years several groups of peo- ing native birds, lizards, even snakes. available for the upkeep of the graves. ple have become interested in the However, there is a sense of sadness Gradually the cemetery began to lose preservation and restoration of the when you compare photos of the its glory. The summer-houses and cemetery. As part of a job-training cemetery at its peak, with fountains other buildings fell into disrepair. project local youths have been em- and streams, rose gardens, paved Gardeners were no longer employed ployed to clear overgrown vegetation pathways, and the serpentine canal by the cemetery, and the roses and and provide other maintenance work. running beneath bridges and past other plants became overgrown. Also, much work has been done in try- beautiful summer-houses. Headstones fell over, and were not ing to restore it to its previous gran- In Victorian times people placed a returned to their original positions. deur and on our tour you will have a great deal of importance on mourning Finally, as traditional society values chance to see what has been done. and monuments, and families would disintegrated, the vandals moved in. The inscriptions on the gravestones destitute themselves to create a Gravestones were overturned and have also been recorded, for the sake proud monument for their missing broken, wings and arms were broken of history, and to help people re- family members. Widows therefore off cherubs, mausoleums were bro- searching family histories. were extremely grateful for money ken into and destroyed, and worse collected by work-mates towards the things happened. (Can anyone see a parallel with our own Yaralla estate?) Australia’s Postal Service The beginning of the postal countries. them are employed in the major capi- service By 1939 the Australian Post Office tal cities. They make one delivery a handled just over 1,000,000,000 day and visit 2,000,000 addresses It began on April 25, 1809 with the ap- each day. If he rides a bike he cov- pointment of Isaac Nichols as Post- postal articles for the first time, and the full-time staff stood at 33,821. ers from 16 - 20 miles and by foot 8 master to the then infant settlement of to 10 miles. Sydney, in the Colony of New South Today the post offices handle more than triple this amount. Wales. In 1812 a postal service was The rural mail service and what established in Tasmania; Western Australia in 1829; South Australia The origin of the city delivery it has meant to the people and Victoria in 1837. In 1859 Queens- service and its development. residing in the country. land became a separate colony, with The story of the city delivery service Like the famous Canadian Mounted its own postal service. Until then its is brief. In 1830 the first men and Police, Australia’s equally famous postal services and government had youths were employed to deliver mail outback mailmen have been finding been part of New South Wales, with to addresses in Sydney and Hobart. their men for generations. They have the first Postmaster appointed in Some rode horses and they were all made the slogan - ‘the mail must get Queensland in 1833. As the colonies required to accept mail from the pub- through’ - a reality, in conditions in were settled, the mail services went lic for dispatch to other places. This which most people would not survive. out with them - lines of communica- requirement was dropped with the tion by foot, by horse, and by coach. Perhaps the most famous was one appearance of street letter receivers called ‘The Fizzer’ (no one seems to In 1854 the Telegraph service arrived. in the 1850’s and 1860’s. know his real name) who brought the In 1873 the telephone was introduced. The pattern of development was simi- mail out back in the Northern Territory. These services were brought under lar in the other capital cities. The He travelled 1,000 miles under shock- the control of the colonial postal de- postboys and postmen were provided ing conditions on horseback. One of partments as they appeared. In with uniforms, which distinguished his predecessors died of thirst on the 1901, with the Federation of Colonies, them on their duties, by the respec- same run. Finally ‘Fizzer’ was the Commonwealth Government cre- tive Colonial Governments. Following drowned trying to save the mail in a ated the Post Master General’s De- Federation in 1901 and the amalga- flooded crossing, his first trip on a dif- partment, bringing the State posts mation of the Postmaster-General’s ferent run. and telegraph departments under one Department, they all received a simi- administration. Before and since ‘The Fizzer’s’ day, lar uniform. heroic men have been getting the mail The 1920’s and ‘30’s saw the birth of Today there are 4,800 postmen in through to the outback corners of our regular air mail services - first within Australia and the vast majority of Australia and then with overseas (continued next page) continent - to the lonely mining From the Got a couple of hours to camps, the tiny townships of two or spare once a month . . . ? three buildings and to the cattle sta- Secretary’s Desk tions where homesteads are some- . . . then why not nominate yourself to times 100 miles or more from their become part of our Executive Com- front gate. I’M BEGGING NOW!! mittee. We have several vacancies, particularly for someone to take care John Conway Bourke could probably I desperately need the help of an as- be described as Australia’s first of our archives and the secretary sistant Secretary who can spare a could do with one or two assistants to mailman. He was the first to under- half day or an evening once or twice take carrying mail from Melbourne ease the work load, or you could just a month for general help. No experi- become a member. overland to Sydney on horseback. ence necessary. If you can help His first trip on January 1, 1838 took please nominate or let We need some new blood and new 6 days to reach the Murray River near me nominate you at ideas, and we need you to supply it. Albury. He had to cross the Murray the AGM this month Won’t you offer? with his saddle and pack horses, and for the position of It’s a great opportunity to become mail, and hand over to another horse- Assistant Secretary. more involved with the work we do man farther up the track. On other and learn more about what goes on occasions he was attacked by hostile *** behind the scenes. natives on this trip. MUSEUM ROSTERS: We still need In more recent times, another outback helpers for the Wednesday Museum mailman, Tom Kruse was awarded Rosters. Can you spare a couple of the O.B.E. for his efforts in carrying hours? the mail over the Birdsville track. *** Another outback mailman is Jim CHRISTMAS PARTY: We have MacDowall, a veteran who carried the booked the Rhodes Park Barbecue mail on packhorses for 17 years in the area for our Annual Christmas Party far north of Queensland. Every fort- - 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Mark the date in night he rode a hazardous 350 miles your diary now so you won’t double round trip using up to 12 packhorses. book. This is always a good social Each fortnight he spent 13 days in the evening, enjoyed by all, so make sure saddle riding 30 miles a day. The odd On This Day - 14th August you’re there. day was spent checking his gear. 1880 - Construction of Cologne Ca- Everywhere he went he was liked and *** thedral completed (began in 1248) respected, and if word got round that NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS: We’re he was overdue, there would be many 1945 - V-J Day; Japan surrenders un- still waiting to hear from all those who conditionally to end WW II anxious enquiries. He died “in the volunteered earlier to help with this. harness” in 1951 - on the trail. Were you one of them? We need 1966 - 1st US lunar orbiter begins or- The longest and loneliest mail run is your help. biting Moon from Meekatharra to Marble Bar in Western Australia, a distance of 1164 miles. Incidentally Marble Bar is the Yaralla Open Day - Sunday, 29th September, 2002 hottest township in Australia, with Our next Open Day is coming up fast and we need your help to make the day a temperatures between 100 and 120 success. degrees most of the year. This run is done by motor vehicle taking a week We always need guides to take on the tours of the mansion and the grounds. for the round trip, and doing it twice a We have a very comprehensive book which gives you all the information you month. Another run in the Southern would need - the only other requirement is a love of and interest in this magnifi- Alps of New South Wales, is snow cent estate. bound for several months, and if the If you doubt your capabilities, why not come along and accompany some of our mailman cannot dig his vehicle out of regular guides to get a feel for the job. drifts he dons skis to get to his desti- We also need helpers for the Devonshire Teas and Souvenir/Display area. If you nation. Some mail is delivered by can spare some time on the day please contact the secretary. boat to lighthouses. Things are changing in the outback however; more motor vehicles are being used, Dates for your Diary . . . and in some cases, air service is more practicable. One airline com- Wednesday, 14th August - Annual General Meeting and Election of pany in Alice Springs covers more Office Bearers. than 10,000 route miles served regu- larly by surface transport. The ben- Wednesday, 28th August - Executive Meeting efit is illustrated by the case of one Thursday, 5th September - Walker Estates/Yaralla Committees outback mail run which had to be un- dertaken by horseback, taking 13 Wednesday, 11th September - Peter Reynolds, “Horbury Hunt and the days. Now a plane serves the route Horbury Hunt Club” in one day. Wednesday, 25th September - Executive Meeting (Printed with permission of the author, Bryant W. Rogers. Source: http:// Sunday, 29th September - Open Day at Yaralla sdayouth.cybersite.com.au/pathfind/ Thursday, 3rd October - Walker Estates/Yaralla Committees honours/recreat/files/stamps.rtf.) Wednesday, 9th October - a representative from a Lapidary Club