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1916

31/12/2016

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100 years ago — a few items from newspapers and cemetery records:

King George V was monarch, Billy Hughes was prime minister, Gough Whitlam, 21st prime minister of Australia was born and three year old Sasanof won the Melbourne Cup.
​
​The first plebiscite on the issue of military conscription was held; it was defeated. 25 April was officially named and widely observed as Anzac Day.

​The Victorian Football League was feeling the strain of World War 1. Attendances were affected, only four clubs competed (Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond) and teams were missing players. Geelong among many other teams, refused to play on "patriotic grounds". Fitzroy won the wooden spoon and the premiership in the same year, finishing fourth out of four and also winning the grand final.

Melbourne receives its highest annual rainfall.​

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The old Connewarre Presbyterian Church, at 1411 Barwon Heads Road, Connewarre is now used by the Geelong Aero Club. It has skillion roofed extentions at the front and back and a doorway near the rear of the body of the church which has been closed off. Originally the door probably looked like the one at St Cuthbert's Church of England at Marshall which was built 5 years earlier and in a similar style.
PictureThe Church before the entry at the front was altered
​​Connewarre Presbyterian Church was erected in 1916 on a block given by Mr D Polley on the corner of Staceys (then Lake) and Barwon Heads Roads, as it was decided that the old building was beyond repair. The architects, Laird & Buchan called for tenders in May and the successful applicant was Mr H Rose. The church was weatherboard on the outside with Californian redwood and beaverwood on the interior built in the Federation Carpenter Gothic style. It had a gable roof with skillion-roofed extentions each end and leadlight windows in the gothic style. The pulpit for the church had come from St Andrew's in Geelong. It would seat 100 people.

​The church was crowded for two services held on 8 October to commemorate the opening of the church. At the morning service Mr RC Blyth, chairman of the Board of Management, gave a short address, then handed a silver key to Mr R Fuller sen., the oldest church member, who opened the church. The celebrations continued the following Tuesday with a tea meeting and concert. There was a large attendance and the sum of £22 was obtained. The total expenses  of building the church amounted to £350 of which over £200 had been paid off.

​In 1977 the church became the Connewarre Uniting Church, and about a year later it closed and was sold to the Geelong Aero Club.

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from Geelong Advertiser 8 April 1916
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Private John Godfrey (Jack) Baensch killed in action 8 August 1916 — photo News of the Week 17 May 1917
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This picture appeared in print on 27 April 1916 with the caption Private F Stacey of Mount Duneed. If you know who he was or what he did that month please let me know.
​Burials at Mount Duneed Cemetery
​Rebecca Harkness — 8 February (78 years)
Elizabeth Archer — 15 May (100 years)
Sarah Graham — 9 September (82 years)
Ida Stacey — 15 October (26 years)
Robert Ellis — 23 December (74 years)

Burials at Germantown Cemetery
Leslie Adolf — 26 April (20 years)
Ada Plier — 9 July (58 years)
​George Rechenberg — 15 July
Eleanora Thomas​ —  6 October (85 years)​​
​
Burials at Freshwater Creek Cemetery
Augusta Seiffert — 21 Jun (37 years)
M Seiffert
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Private Harold Clifford Lewis is remembered on his parents grave. He was the son of William and Ellen (née Middleton) Lewis — monument by Joseph Smith
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from The Argus 25 April 1916 — Harry Adolf ran his blacksmith shop where Odyssey Tavern is now (611 Torquay Road) Mount Duneed

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from The Argus 12 October 1916
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from Geelong Advertiser 29 April 1916
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from The Argus 10 April 1916
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from Geelong Advertiser 18 February 1916

Killed in Action
​Albert Clery ​died of wounds in France on 19 July 1916. Before the war he had worked for his aunt, Jane Clery at Connewarre. A memorial service was held at St Dunstan's church on 1 October.​

Private Arnold WC Decker ​was killed in action in France on 17 August. He was a member of St Cuthberts Church of England in Marshall. A memorial service was held on Sunday evening 24 September. A parade of members of the Young Men's Club paid a tribute to the memory of their late vice president. A former scholar of the sunday school he was later a teacher.

​​Private Fred J Holmes ​ was killed in France on
26 August but news of his death did not reach his parents until June 1917, after which a memorial service was held in his honour at St Cuthberts Church.

Private Harold Clifford Lewis, ​son of William and Ellen (née Middleton) Lewis, is remembered on his parents headstone in the Presbyterian section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. He was born at Mount Duneed on 27 September, 1894. He was killed on 15 July in France and is buried at Rue de Bois Cemetery.​

​Bernard Jasper, aged 23 years, was reported killed in action in France of 19 July 1916. He was the youngest son of Hr and Mrs H Jasper of Grovedale. He has previously been reported missing.

​Private John Gedfrey (Jack) Baensch, eldest son of Godfrey and Margaret Letitia (née Mawson) Baensch of Grovedale, was born at Grovedale on 28 March 1891. Although baptised at Trinity Lutheran Church at Germantown the family later joined the Grovedale Methodist Church. Prior to the war he worked at the Australian Tannery. He died of wounds received in France on 8 August 1916. He was 25 years and 5 months.​

​​Died of Illness
Erwin Mallette Spencer, ​son of William and Jane (née Gardiner) Spencer, died of Meningitis on 17 August 1916 while en route to Egypt. He was buried at sea.
​
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1866

28/12/2016

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150 years ago — a few items from newspapers and cemetery records:
Picture
from The Ballarat Star 18 April 1866
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The Connewarre Flour Mill, built in 1856 by John Armstrong, was in Stewarts Road, the Yarborough Inn was on the corner of Torquay and Stewarts Roads and the block advertised was on the corner of Stewarts and Horseshoe Bend Roads. The mill ceased operating in 1892.

Picture
from the Leader 7 July 1866

Burials at Mount Duneed Cemetery
David Armstrong (11 years)
Edward John Harkness Armstrong (infant)
Eliza Burville
Ann Challis (36 years)
Robert Dow (25 years)
Alexander Hogg (53 years)
William Radford (58 years)
Louis Roulier (1 year)
Hephzibah Smith
​Rosa Windsor


Burials at Germantown Cemetery
​Isabella Herron (1 February)
Emma Baensch (10 February)
Johann Beansch (13 April)
Johann Paech (24 April)
William Gibbs (18 May)
Samuel Bieske (23 July, 56 years)
Johann Deutschmann (10 August, 13 years)
​Ernst Gottlieb Schultz (1 January, 10 months)
​Johann Benjamin Paech (24 April, 11 months)


​
Picture
from the Geelong Advertiser 24 January 1866
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This land is on the corner of Torquay and Boundary Roads. It is part of the land that later became the airport.

Picture
from Geelong Advertiser 15 March 1866

In May, William Landale owner of the post office was appointed deputy registrar of births and deaths for the district of Mount Duneed.
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Mail Delivery
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St Patrick's Church Mount Moriac

21/12/2016

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PictureThe church before rebuilding
In 1952 working bees were held to clear away the stone from the original church that had been erected in 1860. As the old church was unsafe after the recent storm damage it was decided to rebuild the new church on the foundations of the old church. Built of Mount Gambier limestone, the cost was £5000. The old steeple was incorporated into the new design. It was hoped to find records of the laying of the foundation-stone (31 October 1858) in a bottle inserted into one of the stones, but this did not happen. 

The new church was not as large as the old one which had beautifully carved doors and windows. When it was erected in the early 1860s there was also a presbytery and school. It had been built to serve a much larger population. The Mount Moriac country was once thickly populated. Evidence of this could be seen from the number of deserted and decaying houses fifty years ago. The blocks were relatively small and as families grew the settlers found they could not make ends meet. These farmers often shifted to remote areas where blocks were larger such as in the Wimmera.
​A large proportion of the earliest settlers in Mount Moriac were Catholic and as this was the only Catholic church between Geelong and Colac parishoners flocked to it. It was reported that the stone used in the construction of the first church was faulty, and on many occasions the church had to be repaired. In 1869 the walls, erected at a cost of £4,500, were cracking and needed a large amount of money to make them secure. This damage was caused by the loose manner in which the foundation was put in. Alterations were again carried out in 1887. Damage to the church in that year included broken slates, and the destruction of the large stained glass western window which was shattered by a furious hailstorm. ​In 1929 leadlight windows were broken by someone throwing stones. 

​In February 2017 more than 200 people watched at the auction when the property was sold for $605,000 to a local buyer.  

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The Wodowrongs

20/12/2016

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Stewarts Reserve, formerly known as Dooliebeal, was set aside as a camping ground for aboriginals in the area. Dooliebeal is the aboriginal name for red gums. This area in Stewarts Road has many old red gums.
The Aborigines who named the district
Aboriginal place-names are plentiful in the Corio district. Corio itself means a small wallaby. Geelong is a cliff, Connewarre comes from Koonnoowarra, meaning the black swan. "Ude Youang", the aboriginal name for big hill, was the origin of the You Yangs.
In the 1840's the aboriginal remnants of the Barrabool tribes used to go into Geelong every day, but by regulation they had to leave the town every evening at sundown for their camps near Mount Duneed. They were harmless, and even helpful to the whites.
The native name of the Geelong tribe was Wodowrongs. Some of the aboriginal identities of early Geelong were Billy Murray and Jacky Cococoint, from Colac, King Jerry and his lubra, Billy Gore (a wonderful mimic) Gellibrand and Alice his gin, Billy War War and Billy Wiridgil.
From the Geelong Advertiser 23rd October 1936
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This map shows that Stewarts Reserve was crown land and was not donated to the local Aboriginal people by John Stewart, as a family member once claimed, as it never belonged to him.
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Robert Purdie

14/12/2016

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Purdies Corner — North west corner of Ryrie and Moorabool Streets — The spire of the Ryrie Street Presbyterian Church, mentioned in the tribute below, can be seen to the left of the post office
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Robert Purdie
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Helen Purdie (née Chisholm)
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This allotment was in the control of J Williamson by 1872 when a road along the bay was planned — from Geelong Advertiser 22 March 1871
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The Purdie farm on the corner of Feehans and Williams Roads. It included another 40 acre allotment, probably the one to the south marked "L".
Picture
from Geelong Advertiser 6 December 1887
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from Geelong Advertiser 1 January 1874
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from Independant (Footscray) 14 June 1884
Robert Purdie was a native of Peeblesshire, Scotland, arriving in Geelong in 1852 with his family:
John Chisholm  (born about 1849, died May 1926)
​William (born 1847, died 1916, married Annie Blair in 1881 — shifted to Wunghnu, served on Numrukah for many years and one term as shire president)
Helen (born about 1849, died 19 June 1926)
Elizabeth (born about 1851, died 1911, married Col William Henry Hall)
Jessie (born 1853, died  July 1932 aged 78)
Margaret (born 1856, died 1938, married Henry Cooke Hanna in 1884
​Jean (born 1859, died 28 August 1939 aged 79)

​The family initially settled at Clifton Springs at Greenvale Farm. This allotment, with a bay frontage, is to the east of Coryule. From here they shifted to Bellfield Farm, Hovells Creek. By 1884 they were living in Feehans Road at Mount Duneed in a bluestone cottage built by Charles Rowand in 1858.

​Son, John Purdie  was a stationer, bookseller and book publisher. Mentions of his shop appeared in the Geelong Advertiser regularly starting in 1871. It is not clear when he became a newsagent. He continued living at Mount Duneed after the deaths of his mother and father with his unmarried sisters, Helen, Jessie and Jean until 1924. He travelled to Geelong from this property each day in a pony drawn jinker. He died on 18 May 1926, aged 79 years, and was buried with his sister, Helen, at the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. By the time of his death he was living at 54 McKillop Street, Geelong.

Robert died on 20 August 1902 at the age of 86 at his late residence  at Mount Duneed. He is buried with his wife Helen (née Chisholm) in the Presbyterian section of the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. Helen died on 21 August 1904 at the age of 84 at Mount Duneed.
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This property was still on the market in 1925 — from Geelong Advertiser 6 November 1923
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Helen Purdie (1829-1926) outside Tyneholme, the family home 54 McKillop Street, Geelong
​​TRIBUTE TO LATE JOHN PURDIE
from the Geelong Advertiser Thursday 20 May 1926

​
As announced in the death notices appearing in yesterday’s issue of the Advertiser, another well-known and highly esteemed citizen in the person of Mr John Purdie, has entered into his last rest. Mr John Purdie died at 5 o’clock on Tuesday evening. He was a native of Peebleshire, Scotland, and came to Victoria accompanied by his parents in the year 1852, and they settled in this city.

In early youth he began his business career as clerk in the drapery business conducted by the late JM Anderson, in this town, a few years later entering into the book and stationery establishment known to old residents as Wise’s Book Store. At the death of Mr Wise, Mr Purdie took over the stock, and for many years conducted a successful business, inspiring by his steadfast commercial principles the confidence of one and all. This business as old residents of Geelong and district well remember, was familiarly known by town and country folk alike as “Purdie’s Corner”. Subsequently, the business was moved to the property in central Moorabool Street, where the name still appears although now under new management.
Mr Purdie was from early life connected to the Ryrie Street Presbyterian Church, and remained a faithful member all through the ministry of the late Rev Arthur Davidson until the time when the services were removed to Newtown. He enrolled then as a member of the High Church, where he continued as an earnest dependable committee man, also an elder until a few months prior to his death. Mr Purdie was also a member of the Geelong Hospital Committee, and in his connection of service, both with church and hospital committee as well as on other charitable institutions with which he was associated. Mr Purdie by his natural graciousness and courtesy, combined with his exceeding humility, was most highly esteemed by all who came in contact with him.
Many old residents of Geelong and district will realise that by his death they have lost for a while a true and faithful friend.
The funeral takes place this afternoon, leaving his late residence McKillop Street, at 2.30 pm for the Eastern Cemetery.

​
Photos contributed by Julie Campbell
Picture
Greenvale Estate which was west of Jetty Road — Drysdale in lower right corner
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Hester Tansley

7/12/2016

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Picture
from Geelong Advertiser 28 January, 1867
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from Geelong Advertiser 15 February 1867
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The well on John Ford's land
​Hester (often called Esther) Tansley (1828-1894) was a lace maker in Cottingham Northampton before her marriage on 9 August 1847 to Harold Humphrey. They sailed for Australia aboard the ​Blenheim, arriving at Moreton Bay in 1857 with two children Harold, aged 4 and Elizabeth, aged 1. Their other children Mary, Tarion and Lewis had already died. Esther, Madaline and Mary Ann, who were born in Australia, also died. Mary Ann who died in May 1867 is buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery. Harold, Elizabeth, another Esther and George survived to adulthood.

​In 1867 Harold was killed when he fell off his waggon and the wheel ran over him. He left Hester destitute.

​Back in these times people often dropped their aitches and some didn't read or write. Names were often spelt as people pronounced them. This accounts for the fact that Hester was often called Esther. Harold was often called Erle and this name was recorded when he was buried in an unmarked grave at the Geelong Eastern Cemetery. In Harold's case the dee at the end of his name was often dropped too.

​In 1868 Hester married John Ford (1920-1892). They were both in their forties. They had two children — Ann born in 1869 and John born in 1871. Ann married Benjamin Blyth and John married Mary Ann Blyth, both children of Ewing Blyth, a survivor of the Earl of Charlemont shipwreck, and Agnes née Tait, the daughter of early Connewarre settler James Tait.

​Ann and Benjamin Blyth had eight children. Many of their descendants lived in Connewarre and Mount Duneed. John and Mary Ann had six children. The land being currently marketed as Ashbury in Armstrong Creek was formerly owned by members of the Ford family.

​Hester died in March 1894 aged 66 and John died on 7 June 1892 aged 71. Both were buried in the Methodist section of the Mount Duneed Cemetery.
​
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