Phillip Island Historical EARLY LIFE ON PHILLIP ISLAND AND SURROUNDING AREA’S FROM 1798
Issue One
FIRST EDITION
$3.00
RING OF ROSES OPENS COWES JETTY (1870)
Pictures courtesty of the La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
At a cost of £ 2153, Cowes Jetty was opened in 1870
AUSTRALIA’S FIRST GRAND PRIX, HELD AT PHILLIP ISLAND (1929)
WOLLAMAI WINS 1875 MELBOURNE CUP
Get the story on the trainer, Page: 8
KOALA’S NOT NATIVE TO PHILLIP ISLAND. See Page: 9
TEN YEARS OF RACING
See Page 16
S.S. SPEKE WRECKED Whole story on page 26 Indoor fishing Lake fishing Sheltered BBQs Fully licensed Open for lunch & dinner Fresh & smoked trout
INDOOR GARDEN WEDDINGS CATERED RECEPTIONS & PARTIES
36 Rhyll-Newhaven Road, Rhyll Ph. 5956 9255 www.rhyllfishingpark.com.au
EARLY EXPLORERS WHO CAME FIRST? (1433)
Recorded history does not reflect the achievements of the Portugese. This seafaring country had accurate maps of our bays and seas in 1433.Once again they were drawn here by whales and seals for skins and oil, and mutton birds for food and oil.
Surgeon George Bass by courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library NSW
Surgeon George Bass. (1795)
Matthew Flinders by courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library NSW
Surgeon George Bass was 24 years old when he arrived in Sydney aboard the H.M.S. Reliance in 1795.He was the ships surgeon, and his 21 year old friend, Mathew Flinders, was the master's mate. On the journey from England the two seamen had made friends with the soon to be new governor of N.S.W. John Hunter. It was Hunter who encouraged the expedition to discover what is now known as "Bass strait". He provided a six man crew, a whaleboat (The Tom Thumb) and supplies for six weeks. They sailed out of Port Jackson on the fourth of December 1797 and
after encountering storms and rough seas their journey into the unknown found them in "Western Port Bay" on the fifth of January, 1798. After some basic mapping and assessment of the area, the crew of the "Tom Thumb" headed back to Sydney with news of a new western port. Still unable to prove the existence of a straight due to a lack of supplies and a boat in need of repair. The job of proving there was a straight fell to Lieutenant James Grant, captain of the 'Lady Nelson".
BASS DISAPPEARS! (1803) Bass’ Whale Boat by courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library NSW
'BASS A VANDAL?' (1798)
Surgeon George Bass has been excused for carving his name on a rock in the south east corner of Churchill Island. He was the first British subject to set foot on this lovely little Island on the 5th of January 1798. Unfortunately this carving has been lost with time and erosion.
WEST OF WHAT? (1798)
When Surgeon George Bass found himself and his crew of the "Tom Thumb" sailing into an unknown bay in 1798, they named it "Westernport Bay". At the time it was the most westerly bay (from the N.S.W. coast) from where they had just sailed. It is worth pointing out that Port Phillip Bay was found in 1802 and Melbourne was established by John Batman in 1835. Thirty four years after Grant had built a block home and garden on "Churchill Island".
Phillip Island Historical
The fate of George Bass has become an inconclusive mystery. His ship, the brig "Venus", was engaged in a trading expedition and left Sydney in 1803, the crew and Bass never to be found. It had been suggested that the "Venus" is one of the unknown wrecks off the coast of New Zealand, though it was bound for South America carrying cargo to trade with the settlement there. The story is told like this. "Bass and his crew proceeded to "Valparaiso" and proposed to the authorities of the port "Buy my goods or I'll open fire on the town". The SpanishAmericans professed to comply, and gave him permission to trade. Relying on the word of the Spanish-American authorities, for their safety, they proceeded onto shore unarmed. The vessel and cargo where seized, Dr. Bass and his people where taken prisoner, sent to the quicksilver mines and never heard from again. The working of these horrible mines is indeed certain death in a very few years to the unfortunate creatures condemned to it, for the mineral so pervades the system that they cannot remain above ground again, without suffering dreadful attacks of cold, fever and shivering ague." As told by James Francis Hogen (1891) Page 2
GRANT'S PLANTS (1801) Lieutenant James Grant, captain of the 'Lady Nelson', has commanded his crew to establish a garden from the seeds supplied by John Churchill esq. of Dawlish in Devon. Vegetables, grains, coffee, and fruit trees have been planted. Grants gift, 'For the future benefit of our fellowman, be they countrymen, Europeans or savages". Grant also had trees felled so as to build a block house'. The Island will now be known as 'Churchill Island'. NOTE: Victoria's first official European building
The Lady Nelson by courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library NSW
'LADY NELSON' NOT SUCH A LADY (1805) The first ship ever to defend Australia on the high seas was the Lady Nelson. On a voyage to Jervis Bay she discovered a large strange vessel bearing down on her.
She upped her skirt and fired a shot across the stranger's bow, later boarding and seizing her log and ship's papers. Never underestimate a lady.
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? (1803) Lieutenant John Murray (Captain of the Lady Nelson) has visited 'Churchill Island'. He has reported to his predecessor, Lieutenant Grant, that his garden is doing well with wheat, corn, oats, barley, onions and potatoes surviving.
LADY NELSON SHOCKED BY NAKED MEN (1802)
3RD January 1802 account by First Mate Mr. Bowen. The Aborigines were not alarmed but, as Mr. Bowen approached, they were greatly surprised at Bowen's white skin. They made signs suggesting that he must have washed himself very hard indeed to become that colour. All the natives were wearing possum skins and each one carried a bundle of spears. One very old native with a large bushy beard had his face smeared with red ochre. The firing of a gun into the air had an electrical effect on the natives, they vanished in an instant.
STRAIGHT THROUGH STRAIT (1802)
A shortcut linking the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean has been found. It is no longer necessary to tackle the boisterous coast around southern Tasmania thanks to George Bass and his suspicions of the existence of a straight. The Lady Nelson captained by Lieutenant Grant has successfully sailed west to east through what is now to be known as 'Bass Straight.'
LADY NELSON BURNED (1825) The gallant Lady Nelson has met her end. While endeavouring to obtain food and cattle she has been run ashore in Timor by natives, the crew massacred and the ship was burned. She will be missed by her many Captains. Phillip Island Historical
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EARLY EXPLORERS
UNION JACK FLIES (1826)
Four acres of land have been cleared, a tide well is providing water, a flagstaff erected, two 6 pound guns were landed, the Union Jack has been hoisted and a royal salute was fired. The two officers, eighteen
soldiers (Captain Wright & Lieutenant Birchell) and twenty convicts, having sailed from Sydney in the "Dragon and Fly" have successfully established "Fort Dumaresq" in Rhyll.
1826 - 27
more suitable strategic point on the eastern Captain Wright has shore of the bay, 2 chosen to relocate miles to the east of Fort Dumaresq to a Red Point (Corinella).
FORT DUMARESQ DESERTED (1828) The "Dragon and Fly" and crew have returned to Sydney after a successful mission to claim Western Port for the British Empire.
Fort Dumaresq was established to prevent the French claiming Western Port as their own, if Napoleon had conquered England.
THE WEARY SENTINEL (1800’s)
Captain Arthur Phillip Esq.
How a guard at the Wireless Station at Flinders Island fired at a supposed intruder, and what he hit, was recently told by Mr. H. J. Holloway, a resident La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria of the island.
THE NAMING OF OUR ISLAND (1800's)
Attend! I fain would sing to you Of Flinders island waterloo. The watch was long, the task was hard. The wireless station's double guard. Stood to post, while nightfall's hush Enveloped all the dreaming bush. A mopoke hooted far away, CAPE WOOLAMAI PENAL SETTLEMENT? (1857) A nightjar said his dreary say In the year 1857 it was tlement. Up until the decided it wasn’t big proposed that Cape time when the mutton enough for both of them. The tree-frogs crooned and creaked and croaked. And a lonesomeness through nature soaked Woolamai may be a good birds started mating and When hark; a sudden thump was heard! location for a Penal set- nesting, when it was Alert, the sentry gave the word, "who goes?" but no reply was made: The foe was stealthy - or afraid. "'Alt-oo-goes-there?" The shout renewed Roused echoes 'mid the solitude. But no reply. The strain was dire; Then followed, "Answer or I fire!" No answer came. Then swift as the light A tongue of flame shot through the night, And silent, without a shriek or yell Out in the dark the foeman fell. Was it a German enemy? A Turkish or an Austrian spy? The sentry who had tempted fate Until the day could hardly wait. Then came the dawn of waterloo He'd shot an old man kangaroo! The first fleet ever to leave England's shores for Botany Bay consisted of eleven vessels containing one thousand people in the 1800's. The
Phillip Island Historical
fleet was shepherded by Captain Arthur Phillip R.N. Following this Captain Phillip became the Governor of N.S.W. for 4 years, of which the
Island (and the rest of Victoria) was a part. The Island was ceremoniously named after this great Captain.
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A FRENCH INTERLUDE (1826)
Sealers’ Hut La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
FAMOUS EXPLORER DIES IN TRAIN ACCIDENT (1840’s) Captain Dumont d'Urville, the most successful French explorer of the 19th Century, has been killed in a train accident near Paris. D'Urville first entered Westernport Bay (then un-named) on 12th November 1826. He explored and mapped the bay's main western channel. He then continued to New Guinea, New Zealand and the South West Pacific. D'Urvilles' next expedition was to Antarctica and resulted in the discovery and naming of Adelie Land and the
Captain Dumont d’Urville
Adelie Penguins (after his wife). A sea and a French Antarctic Base are named in his honour.
The French explorer Captain Dumont D'Urville, while engaged in an expedition collecting specimens to take back to France and to map Westernport Bay, has encountered what is now known as a sealers party. They have established what is thought to be the very first settlement on Phillip Island. With gardens and huts, several sealers and 5 Aboriginal women have been living peacefully for over 2 years. The leader of this party was a man known as "Old Scott" or John Scott and having legally married his Aboriginal wife was engaged in the skinning of seals and the boiling down of their oil. As D'Urville had no objection to a man making an honest living, he returned to Sydney with some of the sealers on board and left the Scott family to carry on.
Captain Nicholas Baudin
'LE NATURALISTE' (APRIL 1802)
Captain Nicholas Baudin and his crew of the ship 'Le Naturaliste' has discovered the large promontory described by Bass is actually an island. He has named it "Ile des Francais" Island of the French peoSANDY ISLAND ple (now French Island). The surDISAPPEARS! rounding mainland is marked on (1800’s) their maps 'Partie de la Terre East of Observation Point at Rhyll, an Napoleon" Napoleon Land (now Island of several acres has disap- Victoria). peared! Early pioneers The crew of the d’Urville expedition, fishing from Sandy had sunk a beef casket Island. La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria into the sand to provide drinking water and it had supported stock crops and vegetation before its demise. A survey tripod and beacon had also been erected. Over the years the waves just covered it.
OH WHERE OH WHERE HAS MY LITTLE HOUSE SURPRISE SURPRISE! (1880's) bushfires, and people digging out mutGONE? (1870's)
A small farm has been engulfed in the vicinity of Forrest Caves. Mr. Garnet Dixon has returned home to find his stables, dairy, and his pigsty gone. Mr. Dixon has been moving his farm slowly back after erosion caused by rabbits,
Phillip Island Historical
ton birds started the sands shifting. He recalls 'The sand began to blow and produced an effect almost unbelievable.' When it stopped the farm was gone.
When Mr. Heath met Mr. Dixon, he was justifiably shocked to discover he had built his home on top of Mr. Dixons old farm! Mr. Dixon was adamant his farm was buried 50 feet below on the former landscape. Watch that wind!
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A CIVIL INVITATION Amess Amasses a Fortune (1872)
Samual Amess and his wife have purchased Churchill Island after amassing a fortune on the Australian goldfields. He has commemorated the occasion by planting La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria Above: The opening of the Melbourne Town Hall (1869) a Norfolk Pine on the Island and naming it 'the homestead tree'.
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria Above: Samuel Amass Below: Captain Waddell
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
PLOT TO BLOW UP SHENANDOAH (1869)
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR COMES TO MELBOURNE! (1869)
A fully rigged steam sloop flying the confederate flag, the Shenandoah has docked in Melbourne. Her Captain, James Waddell, has made it known she is short of coal and stores and in need of repairs. She is carrying Yankee prisoners, taken at sea, of which two are women. Mr Blanchard, of the American consulate, has stated that 'As Britain is neutral, in this conflict, the ship must only be allowed to stay in port for 48 hours, as it is well known she has been engaged in attacking undefended whaling and merchant ships, and was out to cripple the U.S merchant marine.' The governor is considering his reply. HIGH SOCIETY BALL (1869)
King Sam, our Lord Mayor (1869) The owner of Churchill Island, Mr. Samuel Amess (King Sam), has been elected as the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, following a distinguished career in the Melbourne council. Our new lord mayor has vowed to open our recently finished Town hall with a fancy dress ball, never to be equalled. For this, he has employed Mr. Horsley (the leading musician in Australia) to compose the music and Mr. Henry Kendall, the poetry. Mr. Amess will not accept any financial assistance from council, and has paid the 8,000 pounds, for the entertainment, himself.
A plot to blow up the confederate ship the Shenandoah has been uncovered. A group of Yankee sympathisers have conspired to remove this devil of the south from the water to forward their North American cause. Their plot was foiled when the ship sailed from Melbourne sooner than A high society ball in Ballarat and a dinner at the La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria expected. Melbourne Club have
YANKEE PRISONERS ESCAPE (1869)
Escape or let go? Captain Waddell of the Shenandoah, now docked in Melbourne's port, has reported the escape of his prisoners. He is not overly concerned and rumour has it he left the door open! Less mouths to feed. Phillip Island Historical
greeted Captain Waddell and his crew. The Mayor of Melbourne, Samuel Amess, and Melbourne's high society have gone to all lengths to show we can wine and dine with the best of them. The Albion Hotel
in Melbourne owned by Mr. John Cleeland of Phillip Island has also extended a warm greeting to Captain Waddell. Mr. Cleeland, a sympathiser of the 'southern' cause, has impressed the Captain
naming one of his winning racehorses, ‘Shenandoah’. A lovely but restless grey mare. The jockey will wear the confederate colours of grey and gold. Mr. Cleeland plans to race her in the Australian Cup.
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NOT SO CIVIL!
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
AN ACT OF WAR (1869)
Captain Waddell of the Shenandoah recruited 4 local crewmen from the Melbourne Docks, for his return journey to America. This is forbidden under the flag of neutrality. So the ship's departure has been stopped! Police blocked the launching of the Shenandoah by any Australian dockworker. To this Waddell replied his ship had been "seized". This would entitle him to fight his way out! He notified the government that he was prepared to use four smooth bore 69 pounders and two rifled 32 pounders to shoot up Melbourne to enable his escape. This could be seen as an act of war. The recruits were returned to land and the Shenandoah was granted clearance on 17th February 1869 after three and a half weeks in port.
YANKEE DOODLE AUSSIE’S (1869) After having his ship impounded for recruiting four Australian crew and threatening to blow up Melbourne, Captain Waddell of the Shenandoah has picked up 70 Australian crewmen at Williamstown Dock! These men are to fight in the Civil War as confederate seamen, which goes directly against the instructions forwarded to the Captain from the Colony of Victoria. Captain Waddell may not have been aware that the war was over. The North had won!
The Shenandoah at war
SHENANDOAH SINKS 37 WHALERS MASSACHUSETTS After leaving Melbourne, the Shenandoah has travelled to the North Pacific where it was reported she sunk 37 US whaling ships. The US Government is furious the Shenandoah was not seized while in Melbourne, as the war was officially over when she took to sea. The loss of its
whaling fleet has sent oil prices from 140 pounds a ton to 240 pounds per ton! The USA has taken their case to the Geneva Tribunal which found the British Colony of Victoria responsible, ordering ÂŁ802,375 compensation to be paid to the USA by the British Government.
The Captain and Crew of the Shenandoah which has been docked in Melbourne for three and a half weeks, wish to extend their gratitude to the Lord Mayor, Mr. Samuel Amess, for showing them a splendid time. As a gift of appreciation he has presented Mr. Amess with a cannon and cannonballs from his ship. He also wishes to thank Mr. John Cleeland for his stay at his Albion Hotel and Melbourne's
high society for being such gracious hosts. Mr. Amess has vowed to fire the cannon every New Year much to the delight of Captain Waddell. Note: The cannon on display at Churchill Island is this very cannon. It was brought to the Island by Mr. Amess' sons between the years of 1877 1919. It was fired every New Year up until the 1950's.
A CANNON OF THANKS
207 Settlement Road Cowes, Vic 3922 Phone: 5952 1363 Fax: 5952 1032
Rhyll General Store & Licenced Post Office
Phone: 5956 9205 rhyllgspo@bigpond.com
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41 Lock Road, Rhyll Vic
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WOLLAMAI WINS MELBOURNE CUP
The Albion Hotel, Burke Street, Melbourne (1869) Both pictures are courtesy of La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Trained on the beaches of Newhaven by Captain John Cleeland owner of Wollamai House, Phillip Island, and the Albion Hotel, Melbourne. This magnificent thoroughbred has romped home in the 1875 Melbourne Cup. Captain J.B. Loch built a special stall on the deck of the vessel the "John and Elizabeth" to transport him to Stoney Point from Newhaven. The skipper even borrowed 2 ton of chaff for the horse's stall so the horse would be comfortable. It seems to have worked.
VICTORIA STOLEN (1870's)
A notorious bushranger has stolen 'Victoria'. Victoria is one of Captain John Cleeland’s, of Wollamai, up and coming racehorses. The bushranger rode from Melbourne to the Murray River, (Victoria's border), where he was shot. Mr Cleeland has commented "he rode her too hard for too long, she'll never race again"
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CUP TRAGEDY (1870)
Shenandoah, winner of the Australian Cup has been the victim of a racetrack accident. While lining up for the Melbourne Cup, she has bolted out of control around the track, resulting in a fall which broke her neck. We extend our sympathies to John Cleeland, her owner and trainer.
Wollamai House, Newhaven, Phillip Island (1870’s)
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FUZZY MIGRANTS NO DRINKING!
It was duly noted that Aboriginals called the 'koala' by this name, as in their language it means 'no drink'. Observation has shown that this is true; koalas don't drink unless fevered through illness or infection in which case they have been seen to drink fresh or sea water, which is usually as a last resort. It was also duly noted that Aboriginals believed if a koala drank it would die. Koalas usually died from the illness that made them thirsty. I couldn't resist 'The Koala Café' was once located where ‘The Hotel’ is now. It sold milkshakes and spiders in the 1920's to the young and old alike. But alas the 'no drink café'. Thats a bit like a pub with no beer!
KOALAS NOT NATIVE TO THE ISLAND (1880) Koalas are flourishing, but are not native to Phillip Island. Bill and Jack Walton, while hunting with George Smith and his brother, at the Bass River in 1880, bought back 3 baby koalas and let them loose in the cemetery paddock. Twelve months later they were seen fully grown. If they only new what they had started!
GOING NOWHERE Erehwon Guest House (1920's) was located where Erehwon Park is situated on the Esplanade, Cowes. Below is an add from the 1900's. A hang out for the rich and famous; Erehwon spelt backwards is Nowhere.
‘EDWARD’ Below is a picture of 'Edward', Mrs. Oswin Robert's Koala. This is the only Koala ever allowed to be owned privately. Mrs. Roberts donated the land where the current Koala Park is located.
Both picture are courtesy of La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
A FRIEND CALLED PERCY! Edward had a lot of admirers and one was a constant companion when Mrs. Roberts had other commitments. His name was Percy Drawbridge, and he was a dwarf that lived with the Thomsons of ‘Talofa’.
Private functions available along with private cocktail bar with great Jetty views.
Phillip Island
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Tel. Fax. A.H. Mob.
03 5952 2670 03 5952 3092 03 5952 2801 0417 502 001
56-58 Thompson Avenue, Cowes, Vic 3922 Email: ljhooker@waterfront.net.au
Visit ljhooker.com Phillip Island Historical
Open 7 days a week 11 - 13 Thompson Ave, Cowes, 3922 Ph. 03 5952 2060 Mob. 0415 777 388 Fax. 03 5952 1829 Email: info@hotel.com.au www.hotelphillipisland.com
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ISLAND CHARACTERS THE McHAFFIES (1842) The first settlers of Phillip Island were the McHaffie family.In1842 the brothers William and John leased the Island for 10 pounds and set about clearing the land, buy burning teatree. The ensuing bushfire lasted for weeks, with the end result being grazing areas suitable for stock. Accompanying the brothers were Georgiana McHaffie, the wife of William, and two aboriginals from the Bass river tribe, Elizabeth and Peter. Georgiana was responsible for the
beacon at McHaffies reef, and her many talents included breeding silkworms, the profits from the silk being donated to hospitals. Elizabeth and Peter helped on the farm. John McHaffie bred cattle sheep and horses, one of these being 'Woolamai", trained by Mr Cleeland, and won the Melbourne Cup. When land was opened for selection in 1868, the McHaffie's holdings were reduced to 500 acres. This proved to be too restricting so they moved to 'Yanakie', a very well known property in South Gippsland. But that's another story
J.D. McHAFFIE SHOT. (1850's)
J.D. McHaffie, who has held the lease of Phillip Island since 1842, while out shooting has become the victim of a would be pig shooter. The party had become separated, and Mr McHaffie became hidden by bush. He received a bullet in the leg, but as no doctors could attend, his brothers wife has nursed him back to health. The bullet will remain in his leg.
UP GOES THE BEACON (1862)
Mrs. Georgiana McHaffie, 1850’s
Mr. J.D McHaffie (1850’s)
ACCLIMITIZATION SOCIETY OF VICTORIA
SHEEPS AHOY (1864)
Mr and Mrs McHaffie of Phillip Island have successfully loaded 2503 sheep aboard the "Island City". The ship is departing for New Zealand on 12th May 1864. Selling sheep to New Zealand? Nice to know the kiwis are wearing Aussie wool jumpers.
ANNUAL DINNER OCTOBER 15TH, 1861 MENZIES HOTEL LATROBE STREET MELBOURNE It is to be noted that our annual dinner will be all Australian game. 70 guests only. Among the chef's specialties are: Les Bandicoots Rotis Le Wallaby au Jus Le Wombat au Lievre Les Oiseaux Wattle (Wattle Bird) Le Cygne Noir Roti (Black Swan)
FILL YOUR TUCKER BAGS! (1870)
Above: Eliza and Peter. Below: Peter
Most of the game is supplied by Mr McHaffie of Phillip Island. We trust it will be a great success.
THE SOCIETY
The acclimatization society was established to endeavour to make Australia more European. Hares, deer, gorse bush, and other plants and animals were released, often reaching plague proportions in a short amount of time. J.D. McHaffie received a medal for his efforts, even though time proved this an unsuccessful approach. Phillip Island Historical
On 25th March 1862 Mrs Georgiana McHaffie successfully placed a beacon at Gossard Point. The beacon warns of the dangerous conditions caused by a 700m reef, which extends towards the channel. In tribute to Mrs McHaffie and the many lives she saved, the reef has since been named McHaffie Reef. We would also like to thank Mrs McHaffie for the generous donations to the hospital from the sale of silk from Mrs McHaffies silkworms.
AN EXTRACT FROM MRS. MCHAFFIES DIARY ‘And when I lie in the green Kirkyard with the mould upon my breast say not she did well or ill only - she did her best’
A party of escaped convicts have landed their open whaling boat, sailed from Tasmania, and stolen food and supplies from J.D McHaffie's. Not one to be trifled with, Mr McHaffie has chased the scoundrels across the bay to Hastings. The convicts escaped through the bush but Mr McHaffie is the proud new owner of a Tasmanian whaling boat.
< Eliza and Peter - La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
A REASONABLE REQUEST (1842) W.J. and J.D. McHaffie having taken up the license on Phillip Island have requested that Charles Manton of 'Manton Villa' Flinders please remove his pigs forthwith. The letter was addressed Charles Manton Esq, Westernport, and thats how they settled it with the Mantons! Page 10
ISLAND CHARACTERS 113 YEARS YOUNG
"She can crack walnuts with her teeth" and was the oldest subject of Queen Victoria. Her name was Miss Eliza Coghlan. This remarkable woman was employed by Mr James Duffus, who had selected Block 142 around the year 1873. She had worked for two generations of the Duffus family and was
renowned for her hardiness and insistence on old traditions. "Old Eliza", as she was known to Islanders, was once met walking to Cowes (about 5 miles distance), carrying a heavy turkey for sale. When asked why she walked the journey, she replied "The servant must not drive with the Master".
WHO WAS KITTY MILLER?
Eliza and James Duffus (1873)
DIGGING UP BUSINESS! (1869) It appears Mr George Walton Snr was a very adaptable man. After purchasing 8 acres of land adjoining the township of Rhyll, he went about sinking a water hole, being one of the first needs of a settler. The hole was sunk exposing a deposit of clay suitable for brick making. A business is born! He then set about building a kiln. His children squelched around in the mud pit to mix the mud which was then formed into shape and left to bake in the sun. The bricks were laid, the kiln complete, baked brick by the dozen!
LIME (1870's) It appears Mr. Walton Snr. has been at it again. He has been gathering shells at low tide and floating them in at high tide. He then digs a pit measuring 5m long x 3m wide x 2m deep. Mr. Walton then covers the bottom with firewood and after cleaning and drying the shells layers them over the wood. Its then burnt and allowed to cool, after which the residue is carefully riddled off. The resultant material is lime. What will he do next?
Old ‘Eliza’ (1876)
An Islander's pretty daughter! Kitty Miller Bay is the home of some beautiful examples of topaz and agates banded with white, blue, yellow, brown, red, and almost black. It is also the resting place of 'The Speke'. Shipwrecked in 1906. James Duffus and Eliza’s wattle and daub home (1860 - 70’s)
MUTTONBIRDS AND PENGUINS SAY THANKS!
Mr Richard Graydon, at the turn of the century (1900) related a story about a vixen pup kept on a crayfishing boat. The pup had crawled into the folds of the main sail. As the sail was run up in low wind, the little fox was thrown into the sea. She was last seen swimming strongly for the Island. W. Haddinott of Anderson remembers cornering a male fox on the beach with his dogs around
the same time. The male fox jumped into the surf and swam away towards the Island. The coming of foxes to Phillip Island. Not long after this the evidence of foxes prey lay everywhere. The names C. West and R. Forrest should be noted in history, because for the next forty years they kept a constant vigil - declaring war on Mr Fox. Charlie and Bob, as they were known
among islanders, would be sent a message by bush telegraph if a fox was suspected in a neighbourhood. A day or two later a kill would be reported. All this was done voluntarily. The penguins and mutton birds and hence our tourist industry would not exist today, were it not for these gentlemen. Thanks Charlie and Bob.
TALLY HO (1870’s)
Mr Harbison of "Innes-Howen" Phillip Island has sold hundreds of horses to the Indian cavalry to be used in the Boar War. He has applauded the army's decision to pay up to 100 guineas ($350 Australian) for some of his stallions. NOTE: A guinea is a former British coin, originally of gold from Guinea and for trade with Guinea. Of fluctuating value, it was chiefly worth 1 pound 1 shilling.
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ISLAND CHARACTERS
THE McGREGORS OF PYRAMID ROCK. (1870) The McGregor's immigrated from the 'Island of Islay', one of the most rugged spots on the Scottish coast, and selected their land at Pyramid rock, one of the wildest places on Phillip Island's coastline. Before coming to the Island, the McGregors were victims of progress. They owned a very successful coach building business in Melbourne, but with
the coming of trams, contracts were cancelled, and they found themselves penniless without work. Their home had been taken by creditors (even though it was owned by Mrs. McGregor, property rights for women were some years away), so the family selected land on the Island. They arrived on the Island with a pure shorthorn bull of booth breed, an Ayshire cow (bred by Grant), and a pure Durham
cow. Mrs. McGregor took charge of the heard and lived to see it increase to 100 head. She did not go into the township of Cowes for nine years after her arrival. Duncan McGregor established a blacksmiths and supplied springs to all over Australia. He was the inventor of the 'Chicory devil', a tool developed to harvest chicory.
'ERIC THE RED' RED FACED! (1880) 'Eric the Red's' ship has gone down off Cape Otway. His cargo of 'dog headed' walking sticks and wheel spokes has unfortunately been lost to the tides.
A DOG OF A DAY! (1880) Hundreds of dog headed walking sticks and wheel spokes have washed up at 'Storm Bay' and 'Pyramid Rock'. Duncan McGregor suggests 'You had better be quick' as the canny Scot is already adding rooms to his home with the salvaged timber.
ODD JOBS (1880's)
Charlie McGregor has once again climbed Pyramid Rock and has collected two Osprey eggs. These have been sold to Monsieur Bauer publican of the "Isle of Wight" Hotel for the astonishing sum of 10 shillings each. Monsieur Bauer reports that he will make a handsome profit after resale to a customer.
CHARLIE 33-00? I have to admit to being a fan of the McGregor children from Pyramid Rock, and while walking from Red Rocks towards Ventnor found an engraving in the rock. It simply says 'CHARLIE 33-00 .' Charlie McGregor was 33 in the year 1900, and possibly rode across the Island and along the beach to get to Cowes. Is this maybe how they saw in the New Year!
TRAGEDY (1885)
Johnnie McGregor at the age of 36 has lost his life. Johnnie was on the jetty to meet an Uncle and Aunt with their little son, when the child's hat flew off into the water. Johnnie gallantly run to the police for permission to swim during ladies' hour and then dived into the water to recover the hat. Time had elapsed, the hat had drifted out, the swim became too much for Johnnie. He lost his life in the effort. UPDATE (1880's) It is sad to report that the Osprey of Pyramid Rock has been shot by a hunting party of tourists. The Osprey is a bird of prey commonly known as the fish hawk.
TAKE AWAY FISH (1880)
It was common knowledge that of the two fresh water lakes, Swan Lake and Green Lake, near Kitty Miller Bay, only the Green Lake was stocked with fish. It was such a lovely sheet of water that Monsieur Bauer, of the Isle of Wight Hotel, had a jetty and boat shed built for the purpose of hiring out boats for fishing. During an uncommonly dry season, Green Lake became a victim of the drought. Jessie and Charlie McGregor were riding past and found the lake almost dry. The small remaining pool was alive with Perch. These two youngsters then filled Charlie's hat with water and perch and hightailed it to Swan Lake on their horses. They repeated this several times and successfully saved the remaining Perch. Many an angler who's hooked one in Swan Lake would have to say a quiet thankyou to the initiative shown by these young pioneers.
WHAT WHISKY?
The police wish to inform the population of Phillip Island that the kegs of vinegar and beer, washing up at 'Storm Bay' are there for the taking. The police however, state any whisky or brandy must be given to them!
BEER PIGS! (1880's)
The McGregor children, Jessie and Charlie, have taken up the offer of free beer washed up on the beach. After hauling the find up the cliff, they laced their pig's slops for the evening with a generous amount of ale, and then sat back as the pigs and their piglets spent the next week rolling around squealing with delight until the booty ran out. BURP! Phillip Island Historical
Page 12
HER MAJESTY'S MAIL
Below: Coxy’s fishman hut (1850 - 60’s)
George Cox was the first to bring Her Majesty's mail officially to Phillip Island. At first he used a small boat the 'Bella' and then a larger one, named 'Alert'. In his latter days, he was granted a fisherman's licence, which allowed him to build a hut on the foreshore. Locals brought Mr. La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria Cox hot soup etc. It is believed that one day as he was walking along the beach he suffered a heart attack and was taken out with the tide.
HOW MANY COXY? (1850's)
Mr Cox of Cowes has reportedly caught 100 snapper in 1.5 hours off the Cowes foreshore. They ranged from 10 to 14 pounds (4 to 5 kilo). What wasn't sold to the local, was shared with his dogs.
COXY'S WEATHER INDICATOR (1860's)
It has been found that one bottle of shark oil and one bottle of stingray oil side by side, is all that is needed to forecast weather. When left on a shelf, it has been found they clouded for rain and cleared for fine. That's reliable.
THE GREAT WHITE CHIEF (1840) The Warwoorong tribe have honoured their adopted white chief 'Grandpa O'Grady', with charge over the Mornington Peninsula. Fluent in the language of the Aborigines, Grandpa has had to explain that Queen Victoria, the white woman who has claimed this land as her own, has decided to sell it all to white settlers for one pound an acre, and to expect and influx of neighbours. Unable to purchase their land back, the tribe (now considered squatters) have chosen to relocate and Grandpa O'Grady has decided to marry. He and his new wife are to move to Phillip Island where he will work taking people across the passage in his 26 foot boat.
JACKASS! (1870) Captain Wragg was a skipper who new Australia well. With his crew, newly arrived from England, they were lying off McHaffie's reef one foggy morning at daybreak. The boy on watch suddenly heard what impressed as a blood curdling chorus. He ran to the ladder and shouted below 'There's a boatload of wild women coming towards us!' Nothing could have emptied bunks in
less time than this staggering announcement. The sailors fought their way to the deck and over to the rails, but, after peering into the fog and hearing another peal from the sirens, they heard the Captain laughing. 'They're La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria just jackasses like yourselves'. NOTE: Jackass was the first name The O’Grady’s visited by Archbishop Clarke (1904) given to the 'Kookaburra'.
'WE'LL SETTLE IT WITH MANTONS!' (1790's)
The name Manton has become synonymous with the practise of duelling. Joseph and John Manton the famous inventors and makers of firearms, in London in the 1790's have produced the perfect duelling pistol. Gentlemen of the day now choose to settle their love quarrels and other differences by standing up and shooting at one and other. In modern 'parlance', the usual catch cry would be, 'Right, we'll settle it with Mantons'.
ODDS AND SODS (1870'S)
In Gippsland they're fencing with logs In the west they're fencing with stone But the Murray's, of the Island, Are using their cows, They're fencing with sods on there own. It takes a good highland couple, to use cow pats for fencing. These fences were so successful they were still there 80 years later!
PHILLIP ISLAND ONLY FIT FOR PIGS! (1840)
The youngest son of Joseph Manton, maker of the Manton Duelling Pistol, Charles, has released several boatloads of pigs on Phillip Island. He has removed them from his property 'Manton Villa' of Mantons Creek near Flinders. He trusts with time the muster will be plentiful. Phillip Island Historical
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ISLAND FERRIES S.S GENISTA “GINNY” PHILLIP ISLAND FERRY (1889 - 1930) FORTY YEARS OF RELIABLE SERVICE >>>>
THE ALVINA (1887-1950)
PHILLIP ISLAND FERRY (1923 - 1933)
The S.S. Genista La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
The S.S. ALVINA was a pleasure yacht to a royal prince, she THE NARRABEEN was the play thing of a beautiful actress, the pilot ship at Port Phillip Heads, and then the Phillip Island ferry. The dear old PHILLIP ISLAND FERRY girl was then stripped of her elegant fittings, and became an (1928 - 1932) underworld gambling den. But her life was not over yet; she was re-fitted in the 50's, and became the headquarters of the BELOW: ALL TO ONE SIDE PLEASE OR YOU’LL BE SWIMMING WITH THE PERRY BROS. CIRCUS ELEPHANT Launceston SEASCOUTS, still to this day.
The Alvina La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria Below: The ferry S.S. ALVINA ariving at Cowes Pier (1930’s) The Killara
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
THE KILLARA PHILLIP ISLAND FERRY (1933 - 1943) The KILLARA was built in 1901 and was originally used in the Sydney Harbour. With the coming of the harbour bridge her services were no longer required and she was snapped up by Mr. A. K. T. Sambell to become a roll on/roll off ferry service for Phillip Island. She could take up to 36 cars and 1000 passengers at a time. Unbelievably, she carried 3000 people in one trip to accommodate the Grand Prix crowd, successfully transporting 7000 return passengers in one day. She transported the steam roller that sealed Phillip Island's roads, but ironically, the coming of the Island Bridge in 1940 led to her retirement. Phillip Island Historical
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FIRST CHICORY KILN OPENED (1870)
A lavish banquet has been held at the Isle of Wight, Cowes to celebrate the opening of John West's chicory kiln. This will improve and simplify production considerably and together with their mustard seed exports to Holland are to establish a future filled with growth. I'm sure Mr. West would like to thank Mr. Knights for bringing La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria chicory to the Island in the Chicory kiln and general store, main street, Cowes (1870) late 1860's. JUST A POINT! (1912) This was followed by some 80 points on the 23rd, making a total of over 5 inchMr. W.E. Thompson of 'Talofa', has es. The driest year was 1938, with 18 been acknowledged and thanked by the inches, and the wettest 1924, with 39.27 Government for voluntarily keeping inches. The wettest month was April in records, equal to the most efficient in 1935, when 750 points were recorded. the state, on Phillip Island from 1912 to For 56 years ending 1943, the official 1952.When asked to comment on his average annual rainfall for Cowes was findings, Mr Thompson recalls, 'The 29.91 inches. For 30 years unbroken, greatest downpour ever recorded on the being 1911 to 1940, the figure was Island was in January, 1946, when 168 29.06 inches. points fell on the 17th, 195 points on the Note: 100 points to an inch, an inch 18th and another 65 points on the 19th. equals 25 mm.
WEST OPENS GENERAL STORE (1870's) J.S. West has opened a general store next to his chicory kiln. The store will supply the Island with the essentials for a good family life, and a few extras for the ladies.
WHAT CAN'T A WEST DO? (1870's) Outside of the West's family concerns with the General Store and chicory kiln in the main street, Cowes - one of the family, Bryant West, has turned a hobby of making violins into a work of art. He uses 70 pieces of wood in their construction.
NOTE:
Above: Main street, Cowes, 1912
The Thompson family are responsible for many other contributions to the Island, one of these being the magnificent mile of golden Cypress in the main street. Thompson's Avenue was named after Below: Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Avenue, 1920 them in recognition of their generosity to the community.
This comprises of English Willow, Swiss Pine, Ebony from Ceylon, European Rosewood and Maple and Silver Spruce personally imported from Alaska. Small quantities of this are obtained from a man engaged in salmon trawling; the timber is matured under snow from one season to the next. Celebrities praise the quality of his instruments.
WATT PRIME MINISTER? (1912)
Pictures above La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Vic
Phillip Island Historical
The naming of Watts Point and in honour of W.A. Watt (Bill). Watts Road, Kitty Miller Bay, is Eleventh child of a Phillip Island farming family, who rose to the highest political position in Australia. At the age of 26 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Two years later he became Post Master General and in 1912 Premier of Victoria. Transferring to the Federal arena, in 1917 he was the Right Honourable W.A. Watt Acting Prime Minister of Australia. Our local boy was one of the stalwarts who laboured hard to create Federal Parliament, in which he became a cabinet minister and later Speaker of the House of Representatives. From small acorns grow large oaks.
Page 15
THE BEGINNING OF MOTORSPORTS IN AUSTRALIA TEN YEARS OF RACING ON PHILLIP ISLAND (1928-1938)
It was in December of 1927 that the' Victorian Light Car Club' first approached Phillip Island residents with a proposal to run the 'Australian Grand Prix'; the first time ever in this country. As the Island had self contained roads, no through traffic, and plenty of accommodation, it was agreed that this would be the ideal location. A horse and dray measured out the dirt track using a rag tied to its wheel, so each revolution could be counted. Different corners were given names such as 'The Needles Eye', 'The Bridge of Sighs', 'Young and Jackson's', Gentle Annie' and 'Heavens Corner'. The date was set , Monday March 26th 1928.The eight hour day holiday, our Labour Day. As the day drew nearer, competitors keen to try the track, came down to practise, only to declare it dangerous. The clubs funds were already stretched to the limit so the call went out for help to businesses and locals alike. Heard loud and clear by the Islanders they all set to work to improve the surface together. Melbourne firms collected waste oil and delivered it to the Island
free of charge to combat the dust. Eventually, the 6 ½ miles of dirt track started to resemble a racing circuit. Most spectators arrived on the Sunday, 25-31928.They came on the ferry with their families, cars, motorbikes and tents. They paid 1/allowing them entry to the race, and they occupied every house, barn, and shady piece of tea-tree available. Sunday was a day for the young to show off their prowess behind the wheel, much to the delight or fear of the onlookers, and then it happened. Well it still happens today! Down came the rain. The track turned to mud and to every persons dismay the race was postponed to the following Saturday. But nobody listened! People still flooded onto the Island despite the rain, and the officials were forced to hold an impromptu meeting, running three demonstration laps in the mud. Continued next page
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Vic
Photos by Charles Daniel Pratt with permission from La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Phillip Island Historical
Page 16
TEN YEARS OF RACING ON PHILLIP ISLAND (1928-1938) The following Saturday a record crowd converged onto the Island and with the weather fine and expectation high the races were on. The smallest (750cc) and the largest (2000cc) cars raced in the morning. The two middle classes (1100cc and 1500cc) racing in the afternoon. Everything went off without a hitch and it all proved to be a huge financial success for everyone concerned. The winner clocking an average speed of 56.25 m.p.h (approximately 100km). All was going well, until the government of 1929 decided all of this was not exactly legal. The club lobbied unsuccessfully to modify the highway act but it took a change of government to give the assurance "No legal action would be taken, if they did not offend the law. 'This was later amended, in 1930, to 'Roads may be closed for the purpose of motor racing'. Now the paperwork was done, this allowed the 'Motor cycle Club of Victoria' to also hold their events on the Island. The track now hosted 'Australian Grand Prix', The 'Australian Premier Annual Road Race' for cars, and the 'Australian Tourist Trophy' for motorcycles.
Many, many events were held over the next ten years. Oil companies were organized to spray low grade crude on the track, to combat dust, and metal for the roads was being supplied by the 'Diamond Dolly Quarry', in Rhyll. The Islands reputation was similar to that of 'The Isle of Man' and with local business and sports associations providing good prize money ,it had become the best known motor racing venue in the southern hemisphere. Over the years the Islands popularity began to wane. With poor visibility, from the dust, it was becoming THE STRAIGHT RACING CIRCUIT, COWES, PHILLIP ISLAND La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria more dangerous the higher the speeds achieved. Competitors complained of 'Watching the treetops to see where they were going' and then C. Graham and his mechanic were killed when their car overturned. This changed the mood forever. Sealed tracks were springing up around the country, attracting the best of the racing fraternity. Inevitably without sealing the track the islands racing days were numbered, with no major events held after 1938, although smaller race days continued up until the war.
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
DIAMOND DOLLY QUARRY (1930- 1940)
Alex Finlay, Winner of the Australasian 200 mile T.T. Championship on his 4.93 O.H.V. B.S.A. La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Phillip Island Historical
The Diamond Dolly Quarry in Rhyll, was worked in the 1930's to supply road metal to the Island. Part of the cliff would be blasted and the men would come in to load the trucks and drays using picks and shovels and take it to the
desired sites. One of their customers was the Phillip Island Racetrack, but the metal proved unsuitable because of its high clay content and the quarry was abandoned in 1940. Note. The Quarry is now a sight of national geological significance, as the rock formation was found to be from the lower Cretaceous period which is unlike any other found in Westernport. The rock has been given the name 'Rhyll Arcose'.
Page 17
ISLAND INDUSTRIES THE SILVER MINE MYSTERY? (1880's)
The shallow 2m shaft at the end of Watts Rd has been known locally for years as the silver mine. When the mine flooded with water and they were forced to leave, the two enterprising young miners paid a visit to the McGregor home. Displaying their samples, Jessie McGregor clearly recollects they had a 'very attractive appearance' but nobody knew what it was. The mystery continues to this day.
HARVEST TIME (1880’s)
SELLING GRASS! (1880's)
'EUREKA' (1840) It may as well be gold! Phillip Island has been inundated with escaped convicts, pirates, sailors, some with aboriginal wives, all in search of one thing, seals. A gang of sealers can easily slaughter 5000 seals in an eight week period, and with skins returning 25 shillings each ($2.50) and copious amounts of oil collected at 4 shillings a gallon (40 cents per 4.2 litres) it's a lucrative trade. They have well established gardens, an abundance of food and up to 50 huts at any given time. Any wonder they come from as far away as Britain and the U.S.A. These huts where the first unofficial European dwellings in Victoria.
Seagrass is fast becoming the new industry. Not only do farmers use it La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria in times of drought to feed their stock, it has also been found to be fire resistant. It’s uses don't stop there. Seagrass is also an ideal insulator for the home; it is even replacing horse hair as stuffing for furniCoarse sponges for the clean- Ships are now being loaded ture. A few whinnies of relief in the ing of horse and vehicle can with tons of Westernport air. be obtained in abundance dur- wattlebark and making their ing the winter season, on the way to England. It has been shores of the whole southern found to contain an incredicoast of Phillip Island. Soft bly strong dye used in the It has been reported that only approx- sponges of the finest quality tanning of leather. At 13 pounds per ton it's attracting imately 100 seals are left on Phillip are also plentiful. many a taker. Island.
SNAKE STOPPER! (1880's) THE SPONGE WATTLE Anchor ropes are being BARK (1860 INDUSTRY used to stop the invasion of 1870's) our homes by Island (1857)
SEALED DEAL (1860's)
WHERE’S THE BOAT? (1870’s)
Both images are courtesy of the La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Phillip Island Historical
snakes. Residents believe the roughness of the rope stops the snake entering, and are placing rope across doorways to deter them.
CRAYFISHING IN THE 1870 - 80’s
The Crayfish are the size of the dog!
Page 18
CUNNING SMUGGLING (1870's)
COALS ON TIME (1890) The Steamer "Time" has been wrecked on a sandbank eastward of Cowes. Its cargo has conveniently washed ashore, providing coal for the families of the island. The local blacksmith, Duncan McGregor, now insists customers must bring their own coal for any work done.
Melbourne and local police are happy to report that a small schooner, bought in for repair, has been the source of many a drunken evening. The vessel was found to be filled with a remarkably fine distilling plant. Quantities of the raw spirits were continually run ashore on dark nights - at times when no boats had entered the bay completely baffling police. Mr. David Hill of Melbourne, has Mystery solved. I'll drink to recently extracted 16 tonnes of that! stone from the soft reddish coloured rock in a cave on the face of the 'Red Bluff'. He hopes it is suitable to make paint and red ochre. Note: It wasn't
A RED BLUFF (1880's)
LEFT TO ROT! (1850's)
A mutton birding party, note the baseball bat.
BEAT 'EM GOOD! (1880's)
Melbourne cake manufacturers are overjoyed with this years' yield of mutton bird eggs. In all, 20,000 eggs have been collected from Phillip Island, mostly to be used in this years Christmas cakes. And a Merry Christmas to all!
An industry in swan products has left Rhyll strewn with rotting carcasses. Oil, eggs, feather, skin and down is used. We are now witness to an on mass slaughter daily and rotting birds are piled high. We trust this can not continue.
MR. DAVID â&#x20AC;&#x153;DINNYâ&#x20AC;? CHARLES JUSTICE (1898) Dentist Blacksmith Maker of dental equipment Coach builder Farrier Agricultural Engineer Wheelwright Farmer Shipbuilder Over 800 teeth pulled, no anaesthetics.
Phillip Island Historical
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
WHAT A WHOPPER! (1901) A 91 pound pumpkin! Now that's a pumpkin. This certainly has taken the prize, grown on Phillip Island, 1901. (In picture) Surrounded by pumpkins from French Island.
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WOOLAMAI GRANITE (1891)
The magnificent pink granite, found at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island, has been rated as some of the best in the world. The granite is to be used in the construction of the 'EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE USA' on the corner of Elizabeth and Collins Street, Melbourne. Finn and Company, of
Bendigo monumental stone masons, have secured the lease to remove the granite to supply the contract. This entails 26 thousand cubic feet in 5 to 10 tonne blocks and up to 14 tonne pillars. The quarry will be fitted out with a tram line, jetty and crane, and will employ 80 - 100 men.
QUARRY UP AND SHIPPING (1890's) Up to 50 tonnes of granite is being loaded onto small ships at the Woolamai granite quarry. The granite is extracted by drilling holes into the block wanted, and then the holes are plugged with wooden pegs. The tide comes in, soaking the pegs so they swell, subsequently splitting off the blocks of granite ready to load.
CHICORY GROWING (1870-1950's)
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria ABOVE: Quarry and Jetty, Cape Woolamai (1890’s)
ISLAND HICKORY HOLDS rats will breed and be fed UP WOUNDED to the cats. The suitable (1914) cats will be harvested and
INVESTOR WANTED (1850's)
An investor is required for the following proposal
An upsurge in the demand for cat skins has encouraged the idea of establishing two giant sized holding yards, in the desert. One is to be stocked with cats, the other is to be stocked with rats. The theory goes like this. The
skun, the rest left to breed. The skun cat carcass will then be fed back to the rats. Leaving no expense to the investor, except the initial fencing and skinning. Anyone interested?
Chicory has been grown on Phillip Island since the 1870's. It is a laborious task to manure, weed, and dig out the plant, which is very similar to a parsnip. After harvest they are topped, bagged, washed, sliced and then dried. Chicory is the root of the endive and many use the tops in salads. It has long been regarded as an excellent beverage with health giving properties. It was used widely during the war, mixed with coffee.
The Red Cross and local schoolboys have combined to provide wounded WW1 soldiers with hundreds of tea-tree walking sticks. The tea-tree has been found to have similar properties to La Trobe Picture Collection, European hickory. Keep up State Library of Victoria Above: Chicory Kiln (1900’s) the good work lads!
"OYSTERS, ALIVE ALIVE O" 1850's
WESTERNPORT OYSTER INDUSTRY (1910 - 1930's)
Abundant oysters in Westernport were the call that was heard by up to thirty fishermen in the 1850's. Westernport Bay and around the Rhyll area was populated with oyster fishermen making a living dredging the bay. All that was left, by 1862, was a ghost town, consisting of twenty to thirty well built cottages and the remnants of a bygone era. Overgrown gardens, the remains of dredging equiptment, anchors, old ropes, broken boats, and the most telling sign of all, oyster shells strewn everywhere, but not a live one to be found. The natural enemies of the oyster were evident, with examples of burs, sea urchins, sea devils, sting rays and borers still existing but ultimately it was the relentless dredging that caused the oysters demise. An attempt at reseeding in 1862 failed dismally.
Around the year 1910 an oyster industry was springing up again in Rhyll. It had been fifty years since the bay had been fished out and the oyster population had recovered. Once again up to forty boats were to be seen dredging at a time. It was found that even after self imposed
bag limits the dumping of debris, from the boats, covered the oyster beds destroying their breeding ground. Note: That's now over seventy years ago, who knows what's down there.
Below: Cowes pier with jetty shed (1870’s) La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
JETTY SHED (1870'S) Mr. R. Thornton has been given permission to install a goods shed at the shore end of the jetty. The structure is to cost 349 pounds. Phillip Island Historical
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PHILLIP ISLAND HOTELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
AH POY (1880- 90's) HAWKER OF: TEA FANCY GOODS SHIRTS PRETTY UNDIES WHATNOTS.
HERBALIST. CURES ACHES, PAINS, ILLS. Above: Isle Of Wight, built in 1870 La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
THE' ISLE OF WIGHT' (1870)
The 'Isle of Wight' hotel was licensed to Mr. Francis Bauer in 1870. Mr. Bauer came to Victoria in 1856, as the chef to Governor Barclay. Around 1870 he came to Phillip Island, and bought a small private house, on the site of the present hotel. He added to it from time to time until it became one of the most comfortable and commodious watering holes in Victoria. By 1925 the hotel had 60 rooms and
WATCHES AND JEWELLERY TAKEN TO MELBOURNE FOR REPAIR (MUCH TRUSTWORTHY)
ON THE ISLAND FOR SIX WEEKS. catered for 100 people, but once La Trobe Picture Collection, again, fire destroyed another Phillip State Library of Victoria Island landmark. Strangely enough the walls of the two original rooms, built of wattle and daub nearly 60 years before, were the only ones left standing in the midst of the charred ruins. The ISLE OF WIGHT hotel was rebuilt, and still runs to this day Above: Ah Poy look alike
CHINAMANS ROOM 1880's
Isle of wight (1940â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s)
Ah Poy has beaten the patrons at the' Isle of Wight' hotel again. After bets were laid, the heavily laden baskets - which the wiry chinaman balances La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria between a bamboo pole on his shoulders, and lifts with ease while trotting
THE 'PHILLIP ISLAND HOTEL 1870
across Island tracks were surrendered to be lifted by the fittest and strongest. No one was up to the task! Monsieur Bauer has since named his room 'The Chinaman's Room' in honour of his oriental friend.
JACK WHO? (1880's) As more people come running out of the 'Isle of Wight' Hotel, those in the know, suspect 'Jack' is at it again. It has become a favourite past time of 'Jack', Monsieur Bauer's La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Originally called Woods Family Hotel' and later changed to the 'Phillip Island Hotel'. It was built by James William Wood who came to the Island in 1870. After many changes in ownership it became the property of Mr. J. Hill, who had bought with him the Islands first generator in 1920. This
provided power for the pub kitchen lights. Up until then they had used candles stuck into beer bottles. Unfortunately, like so many other Island icons, the hotel was destroyed by fire in the 1960's. Note: the hotel site was where 'Harry's restaurant' is now located on the esplanade.
UNDERAGE DRINKERS! (1870)
seal, to greet incoming guests halfway down the stairs. A loud bark and a flopping seal is enough to send anyone sprinting, much to the amusement of the locals.
HOTEL BURNS! 1860's The ale house of Mr. John Dunsmore has burnt to the ground. While away picnicking in Hastings with his family, the establishment, which was the first hotel on Phillip Island, was lost. Mr. Dunsmore was originally connected with the 'Dunsmore Hotel' in the Glenrowen area - where the 'Kelly Gang' used to frequent - and came to the Island early 1860's to build his hotel. Dunsmore Rd, Cowes Industrial Estate, was the location.
One very warm day, a few unexpected locals strolled into the Woods family hotel for a 'snort'. The mother and her 13 offspring lay down on the floor and all 13 lined up, one for luck! The other patron's laughter alerted the publican his pet sow (female pig) had pulled up a chair and she was drinking like a pig. The hotel was known as the 'Pig and Whistle' from then on. Phillip Island Historical
Page 21
GETTING AROUND!
GOING TO THE GAMBLE DOESN'T PAY END OF THE OFF (1869) It was reported that Mr. Gamble, a settler on LINE (1889) Phillip Island, has had an unfortunate
The train line has been extended from Hastings to Stoney Point. Stoney Point is now expected to become the major terminal for Westernport ferries, making coach travel to the Stuck in the mud (1870’s - 80’s) Island a thing of the past.
encounter while swimming his mare and foal across the eastern passage. A shark has bitten the young foal's leg off, thus, losing it to the current. James Forest, a local since 1869, has been swimming up to 20 horses a day across in his row boat, says it was bad luck.
FOAL FOUND FLOATING (1904)
PENINSULA POST Friday, January 14, 1914. Geese with Shoes on.
Rough Roads Made Them Footsore. (1914) The largest goose dealer in the world is William H. Firke, of Mansfield, Illinois. Late in the summer of each year Mr. Firkes buyer spends several months in the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee, where goose raising is an important industry. There the geese are purchased, some here, some there, but scarcely ever in lots of more than a hundred. Sometimes the geese are assembled in places remote from a railroad, and must be driven miles before they can be loaded. The driving is comparatively easy, but before the long march over the rough and rugged road is started, the geese must be shod. Rough roads will make even a goose footsore. Shoeing geese is a simple matter to the goose raiser. The birds are driven over soft tar or pitch, and then onto beds of fine sand. The sand and tar form a soothing mixture, which affords great protection to the feet on the long marches.
WHAT THE??
Astonishment spread among the men of a fishing fleet far out in the western passage, when 5 runaway horses swam past! Later investigation has
The Launch-Towed Punt (1930’s)
NOT ROWING, TOWING A boatload of boys has been seen jetting past the Cowes Pier out to sea. The speed achieved by this small row boat was truly remarkable and on further investigation, it was found they had hooked a shark. The shark put up a good fight dragging the small boat for miles. But the lads landed their catch and their families have eaten well for a week.
A nine day old chestnut foal has been found by Mr. Bob Forrest, struggling through the surf west of Forrest Bluff. It was obviously from the mob of Shetland ponies bred by Mr. Cleeland. They were bred for the Wonthaggi coal mines, and run on his Cape Woolamai property. Evidently, after falling off a cliff, it had been caught in a current and carried a distance of about 2 miles! The little gelding, cold and exhausted, was not much bigger than a dog. After a warm drink of cow's milk, Mr. Forrest named him Tony, and was informed he was allowed to keep him.
THE SMOKIER THE BETTER! (1870's) The ferryman 'Bluenose' and 'Blackguard Harry' wish to inform that transport across the bay can be summoned by lighting a fire and waiting. They hope to be there within two hours.
found the horses had been sold by William Harbison of "InnesHowen" to a property in Hastings. They swam home. "Innis-Howen" is gaelic for Island Home. I suggest the horses agree.
THE ROAD TO THE NOBBIES
(1880’s)
YOU COULD ALWAYS WALK... COWES FORESHORE (1880’s)
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria. La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria. The crossing at Salt Water Creek, near the Ventnor General Store.
NEWHAVEN NEWSAGENCY WEEKDAYS 4:30AM - 5:30PM WEEKENDS 4:30AM - 2:30PM Ph. 59567250 Phillip Island Historical
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THE COMMUNITY
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Vic.
EASTER M O N D AY SPORTS (1875)
Easter Monday Sports will once again be held at the Cowes Esplanade and Ventnor. High jumps for men, rolling pin throwing for ladies, wheat sheaf throwing and barefoot races for Above: Annual community easter picnic Below: First aerial bread delivery in Australia (21-03-1921). Hot the children. The crossed buns were dropped from the clouds for the picnic. greasy pole contest (a slippery wooden pole you would climb) will be held at the pier along with the usual sailing races. The main event will be a draught horse and dray race. This entails the Clydesdales thundering down half the course pulling the dray, where their owner then unharnesses the dray and continues the race bareback to the finish. All entrants welcome.
COWES BATHS OPENED (1893) Above 1893 sees the opening of the Cowes Baths. A red flag will depict ladies' bathing hour. A blue flag will depict men's bathing hour. This will be followed on the beach also. We trust the baths will alleviate people's minds with concern to sharks.
NEW HOME UNDER 20 POUNDS (1869)
An entry from Mr Robert Gall's diary costing his new Phillip Island home in 1869: July Friday 9th - to building parlour chimney 2 pounds 10 shillings August Tues 3rd to building kitchen chimney 3 pounds 91 yds to lathing, plastering parlour 109 yds to lathing, plastering kitchen 81 yds to lathing, plastering bedroom 281 yds, @ 1/- per yd 14 pounds 1 shilling PHILLIP ISLAND OPEN FOR SELECTION (1868) 19 pounds 11 shillings TOTAL 132 lots of rural land have been sold by ballot at Phillip Island. Township lots were available around Cowes, Ventnor, Newhaven and Rhyll and were auctioned for eight pounds ($16.00) per acre.
PHILLIP ISLAND DECLARED A DISTRICT (1871) With the selection of crown land, now sold at auction, Phillip Island has become a district, supporting 318 ratepayers with an annual income of 143 pounds ($286).
PHILLIP ISLAND AMALGAMATES (1874)
Extremes in farming, caterpillar plagues and general hardship, have seen a mass exodus of residents off Phillip Island. The population has plummeted to 52 ratepayers. It has been decided that Phillip Island will amalgamate with the Woolamai Shire, only three years after being declared a district.
THE STATE SCHOOL (1870'S)
The first school on the island was run by John Cheyne and opened in 1871 in his private home in Rhyll. Cowes state school opened in 1874 because of growing demand, and at this time 95 children were enrolled on the Island from ten families. S. West - 8 children J. West - 8 Children The Burtons - 8 children Gall Family - 8 children Morrison Family - 10 children Richardson Family -11 children Smith Family - 13 children Soloman Family - 3 children McFee Family - 10 children Kennon Family - 11 children
Phillip Island Historical
MYSTERY SOLVED While hunting deer in the Rhyll swamp, Mr. Walton of Rhyll found the water to be at a very low level. Penetrating the area further then usual, he was suddenly confronted by a human skull with reeds growing up through its eyeless sockets! The investigation decided that the gruesome discovery cleared up the mystery of the disappearance of the son of Mr. Cheyne the early schoolmaster many years before. Page 23
JURASSIC AND ON (150,000,000 YEARS) JURASSIC LAKE
Phillip Island was once a part of a great Jurassic Lake that spanned approximately 800 kilometres east to west and 145 kilometres north to south across Southern Victoria. This lake was frequented by dinosaurs that ruled the land, large swimming reptiles that ruled the sea and huge ugly winged lizards that dominated the sky. This was only 150,000,000 years ago.
THE CLAW
Menu A La Forest Caves
While drilling for coal at Cape Patterson (32km from Phillip Island) the claw of a carnivorous dinosaur has been exposed and recovered. Dating back 150,000,000 years, this sample is an example of the Jurassic period when this entire area was a giant lake. La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Rufous Bellied Wombat Marsupial Mouse Mutton Bird Penguin Mutton Bird and Emu Eggs Mussels Fish. I’ve had worse.
HAPPY 1,000,000th BIRTHDAY
THAT’S A LOT OF FOOD!
HOW BIG?
DROWNING THE TARAGO RIVER SYSTEM
The remains of 12,000,000 meals have been found at Woolamai is Aboriginal for Snapper Head. The shape of the 109 Forest Caves. Wash this down with a fresh water spring metre elevation, called Woolamai, reminded Bass of this at his first and you've got an Aboriginal camping ground that's sighting. This Cape is over a million years older than the rest of the 18,000 years old. Island as it was not submerged before the Ice Age. From the tip of Cape Woolamai to the Nobbies, the distance is 26 kilometres. The greatest width is 8.5 kilometres on the Pyramid Rock Road. The area is 24,320 acres and there are 100 kilometres of coastline. An acre is the amount of land a man could plow with a horse in one day!
(WHO DUG OUR SHIPPING CHANNELS?) 20,000 years ago, Phillip Island experienced significant fault movement which changed our sea level. This resulted in the flooding of the Tarago River system which originally surrounded Philip Island. This fine river system is what now makes Westernport so valuable for shipping. These huge ancient rivers became our shipping channels. Ventnor, Richardson's, Watts, McHaffie and Quoins Hills are all Well, where did you think they came from? remnants of old volcanoes. Volcanic activity ceased on the island 40,000,000 years ago. The iron content in the lava is what gives the island's rocks such magnificent colours. As the iron rusts, the reds, The exquisitely delicate oranges and purple colours are created. The most obvious lava plug paper nautilus shell - which is that at Quoins Hill, where a quarry is operating. It produces blue cradles the eggs of an octometal for roads and concrete. pus - have been found on Cape Woolamai ‘The Pinnacles’ rock platforms and beaches around Cat Bay and Shelly Beach. If you happen to be east or north/easterly wind, on these beaches in mid be aware. You could be winter, especially just as the walking on eggshells tide recedes, on days of an
ISLAND VOLCANOES
STEPPING ON EGGSHELLS
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
ONLY FOURTEEN YEARS (1830 - 1844)
The sealers attracted to Phillip Island are said to be responsible for the demise of the western port aboriginals. White flour, sugar, alcohol, tobacco, and the introduction of white man diseases all contributed to the destruction of a proud race, which had walked these lands for 40,000 years prior to European occupation. Phillip Island Historical
ABORIGINAL BURIAL GROUND? A stone tool factory has been discovered at Cat Bay containing stone chips, spoiled tools, scrapers, axe heads, points of jasper, crystals, anvils, grinding mills and aboriginal skeletons. Aboriginal skeletons? Is Phillip Island the site of an ancient burial ground, or some horrific mass murders, where the white This magnificent display of natural sculpture can man buried the aboriginals in mass be found at low tide on the rock platform between graves? The sad truth is there are Smiths Beach and Sunderland bay. no surviving local tribe members who can verify.
LOOK FAMILIAR?
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AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE! Research can often turn up little unexpected surprises, and no more surprising than finding my Great Grandfather was indirectly responsible for a small part in Phillip Island's history. While reading a beautiful book on Rhyll "WITHIN THE PLAINS OF PARADISE', one word was written that grabbed my attention. The "Ragna". The name was so familiar to me it jumped out screaming for attention, and within minutes a part of my very own
history was unfolding. The "Ragna" was my Great Grandfather's boat. His name was Captain Simon Jörgensen and he moved people and cargo around the trade routes of the world. In 1886 one of these people was Jack Jansson. The Janssons have had a long association with the Island purchasing land in Rhyll in 1891 and building "Jansson Cottage," the following year. They had five children, producing many grandchildren, some of which are still living on the Island today. Captain Simon Jacob Englehardt
Janssons and Jörgensens (1890’s)
Johan August Jansson and Evelyn The Jansson house and family 1892 Ann Powell, Married 1 January 1894
The ‘Ragna’, Co-owned by Simon Jörgensen and his brother
1890
Above: The Storm King in Cape Town (1889) Left: The Storm King exhibited in the Adelaide Baths
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS BIG THINGS GROW
Ironically the Jörgensen family also has Island history. Captain Simon Jörgensen had several children, one of which was Justus Jörgensen. Justus was an artist and responsible for building 'Montsalvat" in Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham, Victoria. "Montsalvat" is now run by the National Trust and is open to the public. In itself it is a representation of Melbourne's historic buildings pre 1930's as "Yergie" (Justus's nickname) best friend was "Whelan the Wrecker". The entire place has been built from salvaged Melbourne building materials of which many where historically significant. The artists that lived their created and built a legacy for us by preserving materials that would have otherwise ended up as road fill. The ultimate in re-cycling.Yergie owned the land "Parks and Gardens" are situated on in San-Remo, on the esplanade. He was frequently seen driving his yellow 1920's Willies Jeep, across the bridge to Phillip Island Historical
Jörgensen (on the left) Johannes Nielsen. Photographed in 1890
THE CAPTAIN
Captain Simon Jacob Englehardt Jörgensen was an adventurer. He sailed a ship called the "Storm King" from England that he believed to be unsinkable. The principals of the little craft were based on that of an old kerosene tin that would float in any conditions. On his journey he and his mate, Johanne Nielson, where hit by oil tankers and whales alike but survived to have their achievement recognised with a ticker tape parade in Sydney. The "Storm King" was then put on display in the Adelaide baths for the people to see. The ship was designed to be an unsinkable lifeboat and was offered to the owners of the 'Titanic' as an alternative to the original lifeboats They refused and we all know how that story ended! Later, Simon was the harbour Master in Perth but eventually retired in Melbourne.
Newhaven, where he would row out to his little couta boat to go fishing or painting. Max (,my father ,Justus's son), met my mother Mavis at the "Westernport" hotel. At the time he was a fisherman and at one stage he was employed to service the lighthouses in Bass Strait, resulting in him surviving two complete shipwrecks. Montsalvat Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham To finish the story I am also a resident of • Café • Galleries Cowes. • Functions The "Jansson's", the "Jörgensens", what would have happened if that ship hadn't Open 7 days made it .History would be somewhat different and some of us wouldn't be here. Ph. #### Thank-you to the Janssons for remembering how you got here, and thank you to our brave ancestors who gave us a reason to be proud. Edgars Garage was purchased by Justus Jörgensen in the 1940’s and is now ‘Parks and Gardens’ offices. (To right) Page 25
GOING DOWN!
SUICIDE CREW Captain S Kennon has purchased the wreck of the 'Speke' for the figure of 12 pounds. He intends to salvage as much as possible using a great barge he has built out of the salvaged timbers. Locals have called them the 'suicide crew' because of the rocks and tides, but if anyone can do it, Captain Kennon can!
THE ARTISAN (1901) WRECKED NEAR SAN REMO
THE S. S. SPEKE WRECKED (1906) The biggest three masted full rigged ship in the world 'The Speke' has come to grief on the rocks of 'Kitty Miller Bay', Phillip Island. The tragedy occurred at three pm February 22 1906 and by 8 pm word had reached Cowes. Rescue parties immediately set out for the area and began locating crew strewn along the immediate coastline. It was reported that two lifeboats were lowered but smashed to pieces on the rocks. The men after a terrible fight for life managed to reach shore. The second mate Mr Cook, and a young apprentice named 'Kingcross' then risked their lives again by attaching a lightline to allow the remaining crew to come ashore. Fatal boat accident in the bay.
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Vic
SHIP BUILDING (1873)
A final headcount revealing one seaman called Henderson had lost his life. The 'Speke' was built by T. R. Oswald and The very first ship ever built on the Co, Canarvon, Wales, in 1891 at a cost of Island was the 'Trusty', in 1873. A 100 ton ketch, built by Captain 22,000 pounds. McLeod of Newhaven. It was a red letter day for the Island and most Islanders attended the launch.
C R U S T Y ' T R U S T Y ' T R A G E D Y. (1880's)
The Speke at home in Scotland La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Vic
OLD PHIL DISAPPEARS (1870's)
It has been reported that the 'Trusty', the first ship ever built on the Island, has been encrusted with marine growth and put to shore between the jetties at San Remo. A shocking tradgedy then followed with the shore giving way, under the weight, leaving the 'Trusty' with no support. The 100 ton ketch then lurched and tipped over trapping and crushing poor Captain McLeod, to death. His family run the Newhaven P.O. and are devastated.
Two ladies knitting on the beach of Cowes have reported seeing 'Phil the Ferryman' fishing from his boat in the passage. Without a sound he disappeared and sadly has not been sighted again. Phil was well known in the 1870's as the local ferryman between San Remo and Newhaven. His boat leaked like a A GREEK TRAGEDY sieve, but not being one to bother with (1870's) repairs, was quoted as saying "the bucket was cheaper". Maybe the bucket had a hole Islanders were at a loss today as five Greek men who had set up a in it too. sponge industry at Cat Bay were lost at sea while fishing in the Western Passage. The men had erected a series of squares in the The Kermandie has been lost with no apparwater, with a pole at each corner, ent survivors, whilst shipping Woolamai with lines hanging between. To granite to Melbourne. The captain was on his these, the sponges were attached second trip when told to secure his load due to during the process of preparation. heavy seas. This advice he ignored, costing Their innovation and selves will be himself and his crew their lives. The quarry is missed. to cease operations.
THE SINKING OF THE 'KERMANDIE' (1890's)
Phillip Island Historical
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TRAGEDY
THE LONELY GRAVE (1868)
It was the 16th of December, 1868, when Captain William Phillip Grossard left Captain Lock's ship, 'The John and Elizabeth', and in a small rowing boat, headed for Phillip Island. He beached his boat and lit a fire. The retired Captain of the Merchant Service was just a visitor to the island; almost a pioneer to the thousands of tourists who now flock to the island every year. He had come to stay with the McHaffies, the Island's first settlers, who often took people into their home. And, although food was not always assured, Captain Grossard of Bideford, Devon, looked forward to an enjoyable stay, with hunting as the main activity. As he sat by his fire on the beach, waiting for the McHaffies to see his expected signal and pick him up, he thought of the times to come. Why, with Christmas coming up, he could expect quite an enjoyable couple of weeks. Little did he know that an event would occur which would change his life. It was getting dark when John McHaffie's bullock dray stopped above the beach and McHaffie called to him. Grossard was delighted upon hearing of the prospect of roast deer as a special dinner prepared by Mrs. McHaffie. It was not the captain's first visit. The children even had a nickname for him, 'Sardy', which endeared him to the McHaffie family. Eventually the two men arrived at the homestead. Smoke was pouring out of the chimney, and as they entered, the cooking fire added a homely effect to the atmosphere. The delicious smell of the meat brought a smile to Grossard's face. "Hello Sardy. Look everybody, Sardy's finally here" said one of the children. "Are you going to tell us another sea story?" came the chorus. "Oh, I might get around to it." The
Phillip Island Historical
Captain smiled. This answer was greeted by a cheer and then everyone sat down to dinner. Captain Grossard was not the only guest at the house that night. Frederick Sheppard Grimwade and a Mr. Conche, both of Melbourne, were also enjoying the hospitality of the homestead. A great many stories were told around the open fire and an enjoyable time was had by all. The gentlemen had plans to go pheasant hunting on the morrow and everyone went to bed with expectations of a pheasant dinner the next night. Unfortunately, it was not to be so. The next day was the 17th December, 1868. Captain Grossard and Fredrick Grimwade were at the homestead. Mr. McHaffie and Mr. Conche were out looking for a place to hunt pheasant. Grossard handed Grimwade a loaded, double barrel shotgun. Grimwade was an inexperienced shooter and was unaware that the right hand barrel was fully cocked and ready to fire. Grossard, who was very fond of children, carried the 7 month old McHaffie child to the nursery and laid her in a cot. He then walked onto the veranda, in front of Grimwade. Then the tragedy occurred. The gun went off, hitting Grossard and knocking him off the veranda and into the garden below. Mr. McHaffie and Conche heard the shot and ran to meet Mrs. McHaffie's distressed nurse, Margaret Riley, who told them of the tragic occurrence. Captain Grossard was alive for an hour after the shot. In that time he forgave the man who shot him and expressed his wish to be buried at his favourite place on the island, now known as Grossard Point.
At 11 am Captain William Phillip Grossard died. The inquest into his death found that the tragedy was an accident and that there were no suspicious circumstances. But no one knows what went through Grimwade's mind when he pulled the trigger. Did he secretly dislike Grossard? Had they argued? Perhaps he was insane? Nobody knows.
FIRST GRAVE IN CEMETERY (1810)
In 1870 Mary Smith, a very young child, was the first buried at the Phillip Island Cemetery. Her father, Mr Smith Snr., had to make a crossing to Hastings and walk to Mornington to obtain permission, as the cemetery has been surveyed, but not officially opened. The casket was carried 2 miles through dense scrub to reach her final burial site. A baby boy of the McGregor family was buried next. R.I.P. Young pioneers.
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"THE BRIDGE" (1940)
Here we are on the last page. I find it fitting that the bridge that spans the Eastern passage, between San-Remo and Phillip Island, should be the final story. The bridge was built after relentless lobbying by Mr. Richard Graydon. Committed to the task, Mr. Graydon led the committee that eventually succeeded in purchasing the suspension cables used to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge. With a little adjustment, and at a cost of $124,000, the 530 metre long bridge was completed on the 29th of November, 1940. At the time, this was the longest bridge in Victoria. The steel and concrete replacement built in 1969 cost $3,000,000.
The bridge saw an end to an era. Ferries and timetables were no longer necessary for the Islands population. They could now come and go as they pleased. Day-trippers could pack a picnic lunch and be back in Melbourne by nightfall. The weather was no longer a factor as to when you got home. This was so unlike the pioneers who would walk, ride, boat, train, coach and swim if they had to, to reach their Island home. Modern times were upon us, and with this came prosperity and development. The pioneers burnt the trail so the Island could become what it is today. I wonder: would they like what they see?
THE TWO BRIDGES (1940)
NOTE: On the right, the original suspension bridge coming from the point in San Remo
CAPE WHAT AM I? Time can often be responsible for alterations. Spelling errors in publications can be interpretated as fact and before you know it an unsuspecting name change has taken place. Cape Woolamai, as it is now known, was originally called ‘Cape Wollamai’ as quoted in George Bass’s journal. It was named this as the cape reminded an aboriginal, travelling aboard the ‘Tom Thumb’, of a snapper head as they entered Westernport Bay for the first time. Wollamai is aboriginal for snapper. Wool am ai is a remark a sheep might make. Baaaaa!
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Friday, January 8, 1915 PENINSULA POST Australia's People. Five Millionth Arrival. Other Nations: Astonished. We are waiting for the five millionth Australian. With a little luck we shall get him or her this year. He won't be branded. He will never know his claim to distinction, and we shall never recognise him. A month after his arrival the statisticians will announce that he is here, but they will never be able to pick him out from his ten thousand comrades, and nothing more shall be known than that "the population of Australia reached 5,000,000 in the month of -------." Recent research by Dr. J. F. Watson, editor of the Historical records of Australia, shows that the original nucleus of white population in Australia was 1024. This was in 1788. It dropped to 645 the next year. Our map is still more white than piebald, with only a few black dots indicating proper density of population. But no other country can show such an achievement as the multiplication of its population by 8000 in a century and a quarter - about five generations. Not even America can show such progress as this. It is only when we see how remarkably well we are doing that we appreciate the difficulties of the long task before us. We reached our first million in 1858, soon after the discovery of gold showed itself an influential factor in bringing about the rapid settlement of the country. The second million arrived in 1877, the third in 1889, and the fourth in 1905. Droughts delayed the fourth; there is always a close relationship between plenitude of food and plenitude of life; prosperity means more Australian babies, more adult Australians for the future. A period of unequalled prosperity has hastened the five millionth, and he should be here in the record time of nine years from the fourth.
Modern Times!
O
ur forebears brought with them their traditional cookware and utensils … cast iron pots and frypans, woks, cleavers, meat mincers, wooden chopping boards, spoons & rolling pins, ceramic pudding basins … and, guess what, we still sell them today! Cleanskin Kitchenware specialise in everything for the kitchen from fish tweezers to litre stockpots! Come and enjoy good music while you browse next time you’re in Cowes.
Phillip Island Historical
... Fine Food In The Making ...
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While You Wait 26 The Concourse, Cowes
Melways Ref: 634 F3 - Ample Parking
Phone: 5952 3494 Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 5:00 Sunday 10:00 to 4:00 Also at 24 Main Street Lilydale
Lay-by, Gift Vouchers and Delivery Service Available
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