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John Harkness

30/11/2016

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The headstone John Harkness made himself. He engraved it leaving the dates to be filled in when it was erected at the cemetery.
According to family history John and Janet Harkness arrived in Australia about 1840, however shipping records show they arrived with their children on the Garland​ as assisted immigrants on July 1852. Their ages given were:
John — 42
Janet — 44
​James — 20
William — 18
Edward — 15
​John — 8
​Janet — 5
​The family settled at Mount Duneed on land known as Rock Hill Farm.
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from Geelong Advertiser 5 December 1864
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​Stonemasons, John and his son James were the builders of the Church of England school and church erected in 1863 to replace a primitive earlier building. They also built the Wesleyan church and many other stone buildings in the Mount Duneed district. Both churches were destroyed in the 1944 fire which swept the district.
​Fifty seven year old John Harkness was described as an elderly man after an accident on Torquay Road near Smart's paddock. He was driving home with Edward, his 28 year old son when they were both thrown from their dog cart, the older man being killed. The rear wheel of their cart had gone over a heap of road metal and the horse had fallen pitching them out. They had been drinking at the Barwon Bridge Hotel in South Geelong when they stopped for another drink at Grovedale, but Felix Mulholland, the publican at Germantown (Grovedale), refused to serve them any liquor as they were both intoxicated. They were found next morning and the body taken to the Bay View Hotel at Grovedale until the inquest. Edward was later taken to Geelong Hospital.

​Inquests were often held in hotels as the body could be kept cool in the cellar. The Bay View Hotel, on the corner of Heyers Road, was later purchased as a Lutheran manse.

​​He was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery on 31 December 1864. His wife Janet née Armstrong died on 30 August 1884 and was buried with him. 
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Their five children who were born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland were:
​James Harkness​, married Rebecca Weild, buried 22 June 1919 at Mount Duneed Cemetery
​William Armstrong Harkness, married Elizabeth Cronin, died 1914, buried 25 March at New Ballarat Cemetery
Edward Harkness, died of pneumonia on 7 July 1903 at Mungindi, NSW
​John Harkness, probably died young
Janet Armstrong, known as Jessie, married Samuel Town, lived at Bendigo.​

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Headstone of John and Rebecca Harkness, son and daughter-in-law of John and Janet Harkness
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from Geelong Advertiser 11 February 1916
James Harkness married Rebecca Weild on 1 March 1860 at Malop Street, Geelong. Rebecca was born on 29 September 1837 at Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Their children were:
John Bell Edward ​— born 21 March 1861, married Jemima Fuller on 19 September 1887, died in 1954 at Elliminyt
Andrew William ​— born 1863 at Connewarre, married Bridget Lawson in 1887, died 7 January 1956 at Belmont, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. 
​James — born 1966 at Connewarre, married Helen Fuller in 1897, died 19 September 1904, buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Elizabeth Janet — born 29 November 1869 at Connewarre, married Birregurra farmer John Stewart (son of John and Mary (née Webb) Stewart, died 4 December 1951 at ​Colac, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery

​Rebecca died on 6 February 1916 at her residence at Mount Duneed and was buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery.
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Andrew William Harkness was the first teacher of the Ecklin South Primary School. A 28 page booklet was produced to celebrate the centenary of the school. It includes several pictures of the school.

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The graves of James and Helen (left) and James and Rebecca (right)

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from Geelong Advertiser 20 September 1904
​James Harkness, third son of James and Rebecca Harkness, was struck by lightning on 19 September 1904. James was born in 1866 in Connewarre; his wife Helen née Fuller was born about 1868. They married in 1897.

Their two children were:
​Elizabeth (Bessie) Harkness ​— born 1898, married Eric McGee, died 25 June 1979, buried in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery​
​Ruth Rebecca Harkness — born 1901

He is buried with his wife Helen, who died on 12 June 1963, and beside his parents James and Rebecca (née Weild) Harkness.
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The headstone has the wrong date for the death of James Harkness. This suggests it was made many years later.

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Past Event

23/11/2016

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The next meeting of the Mount Duneed History Group is at 7:30 on Thursday 1 December. This will be the Christmas breakup. Participants are asked to bring something old to talk about or a plate of supper.
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Bible Christian Chapel, Modewarre

23/11/2016

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The former Bible Christian Siloam Chapel built in 1858 in Considines Road Modewarre, is the earliest known Bible Christian Chapel in Victoria, and only one of three known surviving former Bible Christian Chapels in the state. The Bible Christian Church was brought to South Australia through emigrant Cornish miners, and soon spread to Victoria. The Modewarre church became a centre for temperance lectures in the district with speakers from the Geelong Band of Hope. 1 January 1902 saw the re union of the five separate and competing sections of the Methodist Church throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. The parent body, the Wesleyan Methodists were joined with the Primitive Methodists, United Methodist Free Churches, Bible Christians and the New Connexion to form "The Methodist Church of Australasia".

The Band of Hope was founded in United Kingdom in 1847 and established in Australia by 1860 during a time when excessive drinking among adults was common, adding to the problems of poor living conditions and health, and maltreatment of children and child mortality. Alcohol was freely available to children. The organisation had a policy of education particularly with the young. Many Bands of Hope were associated with Churches and Sunday Schools. The Band of Hope targeted children of parents who wanted their children to be educated and have a secure future. It was seen by many adults as a way to develop self-reliant working men who could use temperance as a route to self improvement.

To encourage children to join and remain members, groups held annual outings, tea meetings, offered music lessons, established orchestras and produced newspapers whose content promoted temperance. Meetings began with a temperance hymn, prayers and the chairman's speech, this was followed by music, recitations, readings and pledge signing.

Queen Victoria became patron in 1897, the Jubilee year, and several celebrations were held. In some ways it could be said that the success of the Band of Hope caused its own decline. As alcohol misuse became less of a problem and as legislation improved there seemed to be less need to work so fervently in this area.

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Band of Hope members card 1870
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Grovedale Station and Post Office

18/11/2016

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The Grovedale station which was on the west side of Torquay Road had a platform on the south side of the tracks. This station was originally on the east side of Torquay Road but was shifted in 1913 to the west side of the crossing. It was named Germantown when it opened but was changed to Grovedale in 1916 when the suburb of the same name was changed during World War I. The station opened on 25 November 1876 and closed on 1 January 1954. The railway gates were closed at midnight and it was necessary to get the station master out of bed to get them opened.

The station also served as the local post office. When the station closed the post office shifted to a private house. Mrs Parrott operated the post office in the 1960s when it shifted to 291 Torquay Road. It was open in the mornings only and operated from a window which was opened when customers arrived. The first mail deliveries were made in the 1960s in a car. The post office then shifted to a shop in Peter Street and was operated by Des Coughlin.

​The first post office at Grovedale was the Germantown Post Office situated at the store attached to Benari's Germantown Hotel on the east side of Torquay Road. Albert Benari was the postmaster from the time it opened on 20 January 1860 until his death on 27 May 1886.
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Grovedale Post Office in the 1960s — 291 Torquay Road
​A railway station in Boundary Road, east of Ghazepore Road, called Duneed was in the vicinity of the new Waurn Ponds station. This station opened on 25th November, 1876 and closed on 1st January, 1921.
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Marshall Post Office

16/11/2016

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The former Marshalltown Post Office as it is today at the Lakers Siding station on the old Geelong to Queenscliff rail line.
Until the Marshalltown Post Office was closed on 30 June 1979, it was reputed to be Victoria's smallest post office. At 6 feet 6 inches square it had stood on the Marshall station platform since 1873 until the station closed in 1953. It was then shifted across the road to the front yard of a former Victorian Railways residence that was once the station master's home. Mrs Elsie Taylor, the last post mistress and her husband Angus, who was a foreman at the VR works depot at Spotwswood donated the building to the Bellarine Railway. The little building was taken on a trailer to the Drysdale station on Saturday 19 April, 1980. It was placed on the platform and became the booking office when the tourist railway began operating. In 1989 when a replice station building was completed at Drysdale it was moved to Lakers Siding.
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This interprative sign is at the side of the former post office at Lakers Siding station
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Lakers Siding is a station on the Bellarine Railway which is a volunteer operated steam driven tourist railway
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Mount Duneed School Centenary

9/11/2016

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PictureFront cover of the book
In 1978 a committee was formed to make suitable arrangements for a celebration of the opening of the state school 100 years prior. A book was produced documenting not only the history of the school but also the history of Mount Duneed, its early settlers and events up to the time of publication. A large crowd also enjoyed the historical display.
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​The following arrangements were proposed:
​11 March — Welcome by chairman at 1:45 pm. Official opening by prominent member of the public. Roll Call. Unveiling of plaque. Tree planting by oldest pupil present. Visitors book to be signed. Geelong West Technical School Band to provide music. Sale of Sherry Glasses with appropriate motif. Raffle consisting of 1st prize — hamper of groceries, 2nd prize — fruit cake and bottle of champagne, 3rd prize — box of chocolates. (all prizes donated). Sweets and soft drinks available. Hiring of amplifier from former pupil. Donation box to be available. Name tags supplied. Afternoon tea supplied by ladies. A centenary cake donated and decorated by former pupil. The cake to be in two blues, colour of the school, with a picture of the original school on top. To be cut by oldest former lady pupil present.

12 March — Church service to begin at 1:30 pm to be an ecumenical service to be followed by afternoon tea at the school.

​Shire of Barrabool and City of South Barwon both donated $100 towards the celebrations.

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The school council sent this letter of appreciation for the work done in organising the centenary celebrations

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Jubilee Celebrations
In 1928 a committee was formed to arrange the jubilee celebrations. Mr Rainford was chairman and treasurer. Messrs J Wohlers and J Alford were joint secretaries assisted by local ladies.

Back to school commenced at 10 o'clock with all seats filled. Mr AG White, from a position on a lorry, introduced the Hon HF Richardson, MLC — councillor and past president of the Shire of South Barwon. He also presented trophies. Councillor Richardson (a former resident of Mount Duneed) who knew Mr Abercrombie, the first teacher, presented the school with a photo of the former teacher. Mr W Burville unveiled this photo. The oldest visitor in attendance was Mrs Jacka who was in her 90s. She was the grandmother of Captain Albert Jacka VC. A sports carnival was held in a paddock lent by Mr Anderson. 

A sports carnival was arranged for the younger generation in the next door paddock lent by Albert Anderson. The programme included a motor cycle race, bicycle race, pole vault, high jump, Siamese race, musical chairs, potato race, apple eating and balloon race. The results were published in the Geelong Advertiser on Wednesday 4 April 1928, page 10.

A concert held in the evening was described by Melbourne visitors as one of the most pleasant they had ever experienced. At the concert Mr Harkness of Colac, one of the old scholars, moved a vote of thanks to all who had assisted in making the reunion so successful.
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Hillside

4/11/2016

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Hillside is a single storey homestead built of basalt with a slate roof. It was substantially altered by the addition of an early 20th Century art nouveau style veranda.

Alexander Fyfe erected Hillside in 1862. The land was originally taken up by him in 1855 and was intended to be a two storied home. After the ground floor was completed, Captain Fyfe chartered a ship to bring decorative temple stones from Burma for the second storey. The ship was lost at sea and the captain was unable to complete his home. He died on 8 May 1903 at the age of 76. He arrived in Australia with his wife in 1848 on the ship ​Stag. All of their ten children survived. He was a very prominent public figure in the early days of Victoria and Queensland, having been elected to the first Legislative Council for Geelong in the middle fifties at the early age of 24 years. He was the first person to open up a foreign trade between Geelong and the East Indies, having as many as five sailing vessels trading between these places. Migrating to Queensland in 1861 he took over a large squatting property. In 1868 he was elected to represent Rockhampton, and held the seat until 1874, when he returned to Victoria.

James Henty then purchased the house, adding the land to his holdings nearby and used it as a country holiday home for a few years.

James Stewart tendered for a four year lease of 682 acres for the years 1875-1879.

The next owner was Andrew White. He was born in 1829 at Stretton-on-Dunsmore in Warwickshire. He married Emily Walker in 1852. Andrew and Emily arrived in Australia in 1853 aboard the James L Bogert. He ran livery stables in Geelong which were well established by 1856. Emily died in 1861. His second wife Jane died in 1871. He had large land holdings in Connewarre. He purchased Hillside in 1878 and moved from Stretton Park with his family soon after. He became a councillor in the Barrabool Shire in 1878 and served until 1886. In July 1885 he was appointed a justice of the peace. He was also a South Barwon Shire councillor and served for ten years between 1878 and 1899 with several terms as president (1878-1879, 1885-1887, 1889, 1894, 1895-1896 and 1898-1899). He died intestate on 28 May 1900 in his 72nd year. His estate was valued at £46,305/17/5 and was divided between his widow, Catherine, and his children at the time of his death:
William Andrew White of Aphrasia Street, Newtown
Charles White late of "Darragh", Myamyn Street, Malvern
Emily Ann McGregor of Morangarell, NSW
Alfred Gilbert White of Hillside Mount Duneed
Henrietta Jane Whitelaw of Fitzroy Street, Geelong
Adeline Charlotte Collins of Prospect Road, Newtown
Laura Amelia Richardson of Pevensey Crescent, Geelong

His third son Alfred Gilbert (1868-19 January 1946) purchased Hillside from his father's estate in 1900 and lived there until his death. He was a former pupil of Mount Duneed School from 1878 until 1880. He was the municipal clerk at South Barwon Shire from 1894-1900, and served on the South Barwon Council for 46 years from 1900 until his death on 19 January 1946 being president for the following terms — 1903-1904, 1906-1907, 1921-1922 and 1931-1933. He married Elizabeth Orchard Matthews. His children were Mildred Bessie (born 1895), Constance (born 1897), Ruth Audrey (born 1899) Douglas Alfred (born 1900), Noel Stretton (born 1902) and John Wilfred (born 1907).​
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from Geelong Advertiser 10 July 1900
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Alfred Gilbert White
​​His grandson John Wilfred White (1907—5 August 1978), was elected to the Barrabool Shire Council in 1933, serving until 1946 with two terms as president (1936 and 1945). He moved to Hillside in 1947.

Grapes were grown at Hillside from about 1860 and a century later the old grape vines were still hanging on the rafters of the homestead. On one side of the property was a bluestone quarry and on the other side a scoria quarry. Scoria from this quarry was used for mixing with scoria imported from Italy for the 1956 Olympic Games. The Barrabool Shire and contractors paid royalty on all scoria removed, mainly being used for roads. The pistol club used the quarry after it closed.
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from Border Watch (Mount Gambier) 30 July 1949
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This map shows the land belonging to the White family in 1978 in Williams Road between Whites and Feehans Roads
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Col Hutchinson — Past Event

2/11/2016

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Next meeting:
Thursday 3 November at 7:30pm
​at Mount Duneed Hall, 40 Mount Duneed Road, Mount Duneed
​Col Hutchinson — 100 years of history — 1866  1916  1966
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Yarborough Inn

1/11/2016

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George Dodds was a former licensee of the Yarborough Inn on the corner of Torquay and Stewarts Roads. The road on the right side of the map marked Thomsons Creek Road is now called Horseshoe Bend Road. Thompsons Creek (now spelt with a "p") was named after Dr Alexander Thomson.
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Sale at Yarborough Inn on 30 September 1862
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The entertainment for New Year's Day 1863 was held at the sports ground adjacent to the Yarborough Inn. This block was used as the Connewarre Cricket Ground.
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In May 1864 the Hotel was advertised for sale or to let
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​Yarborough Inn was established at the south corner of Stewarts and Torquay Roads, Mount Duneed (now Armstrong Creek). A Mr Palmer, a former gamekeeper for the Earl of Yarborough in England, was the first person said to have run the inn. George Dodds became the first licensee in 1859 after unsuccessfully applying in 1858. He was refused a license as his premises were too small. He made a successful application in September 1859. Around 1960 it became known as the Yarborough Hotel. Dodds was followed by Adam Armstrong 1861 and 1862.

By the end of 1862 James Gleeson was the licensee. In May 1864 the business together with 60 acres of land was advertised for sale or to let. The lack of passing trade was the probable cause of this offer. In 1866 Thomas Palmer successfully applied for a beer license. There is no knowledge of an application for a license after this date although public meetings were held at the Yarborough Inn until 1871
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After Yarborough Inn closed it was transported to a site south of the Mount Duneed Cemetery in Williams Road to be used for a manse for the Presbyterian Church. As the church was never built, It was sold again to John Syrett of Grovedale. His son, John, was a station hand for Andrew White.

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During the nineteenth century properties were advertised showing the closest facilities. This farm owned by John Doughany was advertised for sale in 1864 suggesting it was just past Yarborough Inn even though it was almost 2 miles away.
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