8 Tourism at Coranderrk After Its Closure In 1924 8.1 The Closure of Coranderrk, February 1924 Charles Robarts, the Coranderrk manager, was advised by the Board in mid-Decem- ber 1923, that the station would cease operation at the end of January 1924. However, tourism was now Coranderrk’s raison d’etre (Lydon, 2005: 212), and Robarts responded that this was impractical ‘owing to the Xmas and New Year Holidays which extend to the end of January in this Tourist district, hundreds of visitors visit this Station during this period and are entertained by the natives’ (Robarts 12/12/1923 in Lydon, 2005: 212). Nevertheless, Robarts’s objections came to nothing and in February 1924, Cor- anderrk was formally closed and reserve lands were opened up for closer settlement. Some fifty acres [20 hectares] were retained for a small number of select families who were allowed to remain there: Annie and Lanky Manton, Mrs Jemima Burns Wandin Dunolly, Alfred Davis and his wife, and William Russell were the ‘permitted residents’. The Argus (19/5/1924) announced the closure of the station: VICTORIAN ABORIGINES TRANSFERRED TO LAKE TYERS. Coranderrk Station Closed. HEALESVILLE, Sunday- After having been in existence since the early “sixties,” the Coranderrk Aborigine Station at Healesville has been closed. This has been brought about by the decision of the Aborigines Protection Board to concentrate the aborigine population of the State at Lake Tyers Mission Station. Coranderrk station was established by the Government at the instance of the late Mr. J. Green, who was in charge of an aborigine encampment on the Acheron River, and he induced these aborigines and those of the Yarra tribe to settle at Coranderrk. Later other aborigines from the Murray were sent along. Mr. Green was the first manager of the station, a position which he occupied until his death, nearly 40 years later. Mr. Charles Robarts was then appointed, and remained in office until February last year, when he relinquished his duties and was appointed an inspector of the Neglected Children and Reformatory schools. The Coranderrk reserve of 2,000 acres will be handed over by the Aborigines’ Protection Board to the Closer Settlement Board for subdivision and sale, but an area of 50 acres to 70 acres will be reserved for the use of seven old aborigines who will remain at Coranderrk, representations having been made to allow them to end their days at the home of their childhood. The rest of the aborigines from the station have been transferred to Lake Tyers. The area to be excised from the station will be bounded by Badger Creek on the south, Dalry road on the east, and the entrance road to the station will form a triangle. The Ministry will provide accommodation and food for the remaining aborigines, and the supervision of affairs will be carried out by the Healesville police. Years ago Coranderrk was a busy centre, producing large quantities of general farm produce, but of late years cattle breeding and raising has been the chief industry. Right up to the present time, however, the station has been a source of enjoyment and interest to tourists, who visited the place in large numbers, and were given the opportunity of witnessing various aborigine games and customs. All this has now disappeared, as at a clearing sale held by Messrs. Blacker and Co., acting for the Aborigines’ Protection Board, cattle, houses, hop kilns, and general farm imple- 216 Tourism at Coranderrk After Its Closure In 1924 ments were sold. Good prices were obtained all round, the herd of 150 head of mixed cattle, all of which were in excellent condition, reaching a good figure. In connection with the breaking up of the station the Healesville Tourist and Progress Associa- tion has decided to obtain enlarged photographs of King Barak, the last king of the Yarra tribe, who died at Healesville some years ago, and of “Lanky” Manton, the oldest surviving aborigine at the station. These photographs will be framed and hung in the Mechanics’ Institute, in the new memorial buildings. The Healesville Tourist Association had discussed the imminent closure of Coran- derrk at its February 1924 meeting and the issue of the Aboriginal legacy of the station was raised: Mr. R. Stanley said that in view of Coranderrk Aborigines’ Station being practically closed down, it would be a good idea to get a photo of Lanky Manton, the oldest and only full-blooded native in the district. It would be only a matter of time when the black people would remain simply in history. Thousands of people knew “Old Lanky,” and he considered it would be very appropriate to have a photo enlargement of him as the oldest black in Healesville, so that it could be placed in the public library in the new hall. It was pointed out by the secretary and Mr. W.B. Phillips that the last of the Yarra tribe, King Barak, died some years ago. While Lanky Manton was oldest black in the district he really belonged to the Murray tribe, from which district he came when Coranderrk was established many years ago. It was eventually decided, on the motion of Mr. R. Stanley and Dr. H. Symonds to procure photo enlargements of King Barak, the last king of the Yarra tribe, and Lanky Manton, the oldest and last full-blooded aborigine in Healesville; the photos to be hung in the public library in the new memorial hall (Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, 23/2/1924). Symond’s (1982), in her history of Healesville, has argued that Healesville’s heyday as a tourist resort was in 1925, the year after the closure of the Coranderrk Aboriginal station. The previous year a census taken on the Healesville Road revealed some 4624 petrol vehicles over five days compared to 610 horse-drawn vehicles. Some 32 large cars were plying the tourist trade over the Blacks’ Spur and 42 cabs and cars were available for hire in the town. During the Easter and Christmas holiday periods the town’s population increased by eight to ten thousand. 8.2 Frank Latimer and Henry F. Sennett, Art Exhibition October 1924 In the final years of Coranderrk up until its closure in 1924, two Victorian artists Frank Latimer and Henry Sennett were frequent visitors to Coranderrk and Healesville where they painted various scenes at the station, including a portrait of the noted Aboriginal resident Lanky Manton. The Argus (28/10/1924) announced and reviewed their exhibition of paintings at the Athenaeum Hall, which opened from 28 October until 8 November 1924. The article reveals that Sennett’s paintings included ‘Old Hop Kilns, Coranderrk’ and ‘Yarra Flats, Healesville’ and ‘Autumn sunrise, Coranderrk’ by Frank Latimer and Henry F. Sennett, Art Exhibition October 1924 217 Latimer. In November 1924 the Healesville newspaper published an account of the Coranderrk visit of the two artists: THE ARTIST IN HEALESVILLE. The attention of all lovers of art are drawn to all exhibition of paintings, water colours and drawings- Mr Latimer and Mr Sennett now on display at the Athenaeum Hall, Collins Street. During the past few years these artists have paid periodical visits to Healesville, making many friends and pictures worthy of [...]. Their work has been constantly admired by all who had the good fortune to meet them, and those who have spent pleasant hours in their company can say without hesitation that a day at their exhibition with a glimpse at “Lanky” Manton on canvas, would prove a most enjoyable and beneficent time. Mr. Sennett’s picture of the “Hop Kiln on a misty morning is so impressive that one can almost feel the crispness in the air when looking at it, and every artist must admire the magnificence of the beautiful soft, transparent haze which it is the great aim of every artist to reproduce on canvas. In issuing invitations for their forthcoming exhibition the artists desire to express their thanks to all who, by their presence and patronage, helped make their previous exhibition a success. … A feature of the work to be exhibited will be a number of pictures painted at Coranderrk, the well- known station for aborigines at Healesville, the courtesy of the superintendent and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. C. Robarts, the exhibitors were able to record with brush and pencil, pictures of life and scenery of this home (since closed), of some of Victoria’s last-disappearing native population. “Lanky” Manton, the only surviving full-blooded aborigine on the station, forms the subject of a portrait study, a study of the kitchen at his cottage also being presented. The picturesque hop- kilns provide the motif of several landscapes, and “The Last of Coranderrk” – fittingly a sunset study – was painted within a few days of the breaking up of the station (Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, 1/11/1924). Henry (Harry) Joseph Sennett (1883?-1955, aged 72), attended the National Gallery of Victoria School, where he was taught by Frederick McCubbin. He was a clerk when he enlisted in the A.I.F. in 1916. In WW1 he served with the 10th Brigade Headquarters (39th Infantry Battalion) A.I.F. in France. Sennett completed a number of drawings and watercolours on the Somme (1917–18). He returned to Australia in April 1919. Francis (Frank) Latimer (1886–1974), was also taught by Frederick McCubbin at the National Gallery of Victoria School where he was student from 1904 until 1909 (Munster, 1991: 3). He trained as a professional photographer and gave his occupation as artist when he enlisted in the A.I.F. in 1916 – he served in the Australian Flying Corps, No.