Tom Frost

Thomas Frost was born on September 10^th 1889. He was a Campbelltown man his whole life. Born to parents John and Elizabeth Frost, he was one of 14 children, and was baptised, confirmed and buried at St Peter’s Church, Campbelltown, as was his father before him.

Thomas, or Tom as he was known, married Theresa May Watson in 1924 in Camden. During the 1920s, Tom showed a few horses at the Campbelltown Show, including his trotting horse “Clarry Elmo”, as well as exhibiting shorthorn cattle.

Tom, who was described as a large framed man, lived at 304 Queen Street. This was a brick house set right up to the footpath. His dairy consisted of a long paddock of 23 acres where Koshigaya Park and the H.J. Daley Library are today, running along the railway, and behind the old Town Hall. Fisher’s Ghost Creek ran though the land, which he leased from P. Maher of Douglas Park. The dairy buildings on the property were built of timber and fibrolite, and had four bails for milking.

In the corner of Tom’s land was a railway gatekeeper’s residence. The cottage was used by a man named James Ashford. Ashford always seemed to at loggerheads with Tom Frost with constant bickering. It was told that one of Tom’s cows developed milk fever and the owner pumped the udder up with a bicycle pump- a recognised treatment at that time. Ashford on viewing this procedure disclaimed to a third person- “See what his doing, pumping the udder up to get a better price for her at the sale!”

On the census, Tom stated his occupation from 1913, up to 1954, as a dairyman. He died in 1955, and wife Theresa died in 1958. She is buried with Tom at St Peter’s Cemetery.

We can't find a photo of Tom! Please let us know if you can assist.

Tom Frost's house in Queen Street (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Memories of South Western Campbelltown, NSW 1931-1938 – Fred Seers

Dairy Farming in the Campbelltown Area – Ivor G. Thomas lecture notes, CAHS

McBarron, Eddie 1990

The Soldier's Settlement - (Poultry) Campbelltown, NSW 1918-60

Dodging a Bullet

There had been nothing unusual about this particular Saturday afternoon in the late summer of 1952. Gatekeeper James Ashford was on duty at the Camden Road level crossing at Campbelltown where he performed his regular duties. Golfers enjoyed a leisurely round of golf at the adjacent course and the rest of the town were making the most of the perfect weather. Then all hell broke loose...

Crouched on a hill about 300 yards away was a 15 year old boy who started firing shots at James Ashford. The bullets struck the gatekeeper's shelter box, where he was summoning police. One of the bullets narrowly missed his head. He later took shelter behind a gatepost, and two more bullets ploughed into the post.

Bullets also whined over golfers on the golf course. One player dived into the creek for safety and another into a pond. Several shots also flew over a passing car. Local police then blocked Camden Road.

Two men then found the boy under a nearby bridge. Drawing their pistols, the policeman rushed the bridge and captured the boy. They took possession of a pea-rifle. He was charged with assault, discharging a firearm near a public street, and being a person under the age of 16 found in possession of a firearm.

Local newspaper photographer Norm Campbell remembered the day. "This was great news for the papers, it was Saturday morning and Sunday was a big day for news. The place was riddled with reporters and staff."

It turned out that the boy was from the Sydney suburb of Enfield. He was ordered by the court to attend the Police Boy's Club at Burwood two nights a week. The court was told by the police that when captured the boy's breath smelt of intoxicating liquor and he was unsteady on his feet. He also received a bond which prohibited picture shows, intoxicating drink and the handling of firearms for two years. The boy told the court that he was "very sorry" for what he had done.

This is a photograph taken in the early 1950s. It shows what the scene would've looked like at the time of the shooting. The photograph overlooks the golf course with the Great Southern Railway line and the Camden Road level crossing at the bottom left. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Bridge over Bow Bowing Creek next to the level crossing. This was almost certainly the bridge where the 15 year old hid under and was caught. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society).

Written by Andrew Allen