Bravery Award

In 1935 The Committee of the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society awarded its certificate of merit to a young Campbelltown lad by the name of Jack Hadden. The award was for endeavouring to rescue Betty Humphries from drowning at Campbelltown on January 31.

According to the Campbelltown News, 16 year old Betty had been suffering from a nervous breakdown and, although she appeared to be recovering, managed to escape her mother's watchful eye one morning and ran to the cattle tank dam in Allman Street. Young Jack, a Boy Scout, just learning to swim, was also at the dam that morning. He saw her jump in and immediately swam after her. He managed to drag her to the stone wall. However, after again slipping back under the polluted water Jack could not hold off her struggles the second time and she once again disappeared under the water.

Eventually Betty was found by the son of a local constable but after an hour and a half of resuscitation, the rescuers failed to revive her. Jack Hadden received much praise from the community, the press and the scouting association. In fact the scoutmaster was so impressed by Jack's heroism he decided to have an award made to him. The coroner too in his report made special mention of Jack Hadden's efforts. He called him a very game little boy.

Above is the cattle tank as it looked for a regatta in 1917 and below is a photograph of Betty Humphries grave in St John's Catholic Cemetery

Written by Andrew Allen

Keighran's Mill

Just south of the original Woodbine homestead, and adjacent to the old Sydney Road (since renamed Hollylea Road) there once stood an imposing landmark named Keighran's Mill. John Keighran purchased the site in 1844 and in 1855 built the mill on the banks of Bow Bowing Creek. The mill was a relic of colonial days when wheat was harvested on surrounding farms. It was built of sandstone and had a shingled roof.

During the 1870s the mill fell into disuse when rust ruined local wheat crops. An 1875 entry in James Payten's diary, now held by Campbelltown Library, reads "Harris and I nailed up doors and windows in old mill". This suggests the mill was by then deserted. In 1879, Kidd and Fieldhouse acquired the mill but probably did not use it for gristing wheat.

Most Campbelltown residents who remember the picturesque landmark knew it as Payten's Mill. Percy Payten was the last member of the Payten family to own the mill. In 1954 he offered the mill to the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.

In later years, the mill became a favourite haunt of children's games. Young Rose Payten and her brothers loved to climb its secluded heights. In a recent interview I did with Leumeah local Noeline Jury (nee Hawkes) she describes how the mill entertained them as children and later as teenagers. On one occasion she was exploring the mill with a friend when they noticed a noose hanging from the rafters! This, combined with the constant croaking of frogs in the nearby creek, added to the creepiness of the place.

A large sign advertising 'Wolfe's Schnapps' was painted on the side of the mill. This can be seen in the photograph below taken by Steve Roach in 1959.

By the 1960s, Council considered the mill to be in a 'ruinous and dangerous state' and the Department of Main Roads indicated the Campbelltown Road was about to be widened. The historical society also didn't have enough funds at the time for its restoration and the Heritage Council of NSW had not yet come into being. So, in 1962 the mill was dismantled and the stone was used in the building of the RAE Memorial Chapel at the School of Military Engineering at Moorebank, which opened in 1968.

The old mill was one of the all-time favourite landmarks of our district. It even features as the logo for Campbelltown North Primary School.

Where is the site of the mill today? The re-alignment of Campbelltown Road makes it difficult to pinpoint its exact location using old photographs. After talking to a number of local residents who remember the mill, the general consensus is that it was located somewhere in the area bounded by the overhead railway bridge on Campbelltown Road, Bow Bowing Creek and Campbelltown City Ten Pin Bowl.

                   This undated photograph shows the mill adjacent to Campbelltown Road.

Written by Andrew Allen

Girl in the Tyre

Do you recognise the girl in this photograph? It was taken somewhere in the Campbelltown area on a date unknown. If you can help us then please contact the Local Studies section of Campbelltown Library or click on the comments link below.

Written by Andrew Allen

Bradbury Park House

In 1816, Governor Macquarie gave a grant of 140 acres to Joseph Phelps who sold it to William Bradbury the following year. Bradbury Park House was built on this land in 1822. That year Macquarie and his party were touring Airds and the Illawarra and they had breakfast at Bradbury's. Macquarie noted that Bradbury was then building a good two-storey brick inn on a "very pretty eminence immediately adjoining Campbelltown". He also wrote that he named it Bradbury Park. It would have been one of the first substantial private buildings in the town vicinity.

Bradbury Park House had a quadrangle of kitchen, servants' quarters, wooden stables, granary and barn behind. Elaborate flower and kitchen gardens lay to the south of the house. These gardens are featured prominently on an 1844 map of Bradbury Park Estate below.

When Bradbury died in 1836, his estate was inherited by his daughter, Mary Shiel. Bradbury Park Estate was subdivided in 1844.

The house was located about 140 metres opposite where the town hall is located in Queen Street. Today's Asher Place off Bradbury Avenue is the location of the house. The two storey house still standing at the corner of  Moore-Oxley Bypass and Lithgow Street is said to look very similar to what Bradbury Park House looked.

Unfortunately, Bradbury Park House was demolished in 1954. Interestingly, two nails from the building are held at the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo.

                           Bradbury Park House around 1918. (Claude Haydon Collection)

Source:

Demolished Heritage Buildings of Campbelltown, 2005

Camden News 18 December 1941

Written by Andrew Allen

The French Pedestrian

He may not be as well known as other Australian explorers such as Sturt, Flinders and Burke and Wills but Henri Gilbert's achievements were just as admirable. The French journalist is believed to be the first white person to walk across Australia from west to east coasts. Gilbert travelled from Fremantle to Brisbane in 1898 solely on foot. His visits to towns and cities along the way, including Campbelltown, aroused much excitement and fanfare each time.

Gilbert was attempting to walk around the world by May 1900 and win a 10,000 pound bet put up by a Parisian syndicate. He left Paris on foot in February 1895 to walk around the world with special instructions not to beg his way or solicit help. By the time he arrived in Australia, he had already walked through Spain, the Middle East, India and Singapore.

At 32, he set off from Fremantle in August 1897, arriving in Brisbane in 1898. Gilbert had became something of a celebrity and large crowds came to see him. His diary, now held by the State Library of Queensland, is packed with Australian newspaper clippings about his travels. It talks about the harshness of the climate and countryside and describes his Australian trek as the "most suffering I have ever known". He came close to death when he collapsed from dehydration while following the telegraph poles through the Nullabor Plain.

                     Henri Gilbert photographed at Barcaldine in April 1900


Henri Gilbert's visit to Campbelltown in August 1898 created similar excitement. The Campbelltown Herald described him as the "French pedestrian". The newspaper wrote that "M. Henry Gilbert bobbed up serenely on Wednesday last. His arrival at Campbelltown was looked for by a large number of people, and during the time he remained in town he was the object of much curiosity. Immediately upon entering the place he sought the postmaster, and that gentleman, in a book provided for the purpose, certified to the arrival of Gilbert at Campbelltown on foot, the hour being 12 o'clock (noon)."

Gilbert took 3 hours to walk from Camden. After visiting the postmaster he visited the office of the Campbelltown Herald where he spent an hour or two and then set off in the direction of Sydney. He altered his plans at the last minute however and decided to remain at Campbelltown for the rest of the day and night. He left by train the next morning.

Nothing was heard of the adventurer after he left Brisbane bound for China. Dr Colin Dyer has recently published a book on the explorer. He has written to every fourth person with the Gilbert surname in his birth region of Nantes, France, and has tracked down Gilbert's birth certificate, but has been unable to discover his fate, or whether he indeed collected his bet.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown Herald August 24, 1898

Regarding Henri, Research at UQ at http://uq.edu.au/research/index.html?page=4164&pid=0

The Oar Factory

Campbelltown once had an oar factory. The factory, built of sawn timber framework, was founded in 1947 by Thomas William Gonsalves in a large garage in Queen Street. It was extended in 1954. It produced about 800 boat oars and 100 pairs of sculls per month. In 1957, the company branched out to make wooden crates for Crompton Parkinson and occasionally small boats and caravans.

To make the oars the factory used an oar shaped template to score out the basic shape from Mountain Ash wood. These were then shaped with a circular saw and sanded with a fine blue-metal sanding belt. A final dressing was applied and then the oar would be ready for the drying shed.

After Tom Gonsalves' death in 1956 the factory was run by his son-in-law, Brian Favelle.

In 1973, the factory closed as Rod Lawrence was interested in acquiring the property. The poor quality of mountain ash wood it received was another factor.

The factory was located at the northern end of Queen Street at what was once 20 Sydney Street which later became 32 Queen Street. The Brands on Sale business is now located on the site.

The oar factory was a recognisable landmark at the northern end of Queen Street for many years. (Photo supplied by Brian Favelle). 

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Favelle, Brian and Jennifer
The Oar Factory
In GRIST MILLS Vol. 3, No. 3, July 1986

Indecent Exposure

Readers of the Campbelltown-Ingleburn News would have choked on their corn flakes on the morning of Tuesday January 13, 1970 when they sat down to read their local newspaper. There on page 14 was an advertisement for Peter Williamson Toyota, Liverpool that featured a bare-breasted attractive young woman next to the heading of "Why Be Hot and Bothered". The ad went on to describe the benefits of buying their Toyota Hi-Lux and Hi-Ace and finished with the line "Demonstrators are always available".

Although 1970 was in the middle of the flower power and free love movements there was still a large element of conservative thought at that time. An ad like this would have been shocking for some. The advertisement attracted disapproval and condemnation and Peter Williamson Toyota was forced to make an apology in the following week's edition.

Below is the apology that appeared in the January 20 edition. The library holds past issues of local newspapers on microfilm and hardcopy.

Written by Andrew Allen

Campbelltown Recollections Project Update

Interviewing continues for our Campbelltown Recollections: Stories From Our Past project. We have gathered many wonderful stories from locals from different backgrounds and various ages. These filmed interviews provide a fascinating insight into our area's past. Various forms of multimedia such as photographs, film and music will be used with these interviews to help make each story come to life.

Each of the 9 interviews will be shown as part of an exhibition at H.J. Daley Library in January 2013. They will also be available for viewing on the library's website.

An example of one amusing story from the interviews comes from Paul O'Loughlan. One day when Paul was a small boy he was playing cowboys and indians and, feeling rather adventurous, lit a fire and did an indian war dance. The fire however got away from him and completely burnt out the paddock behind his house in Railway Street. Smoke could be seen for miles and the fire almost burnt 3 houses and the nearby Hayes's cordial factory. Lucky for Paul the local fire brigade got there in time. He said he never played with matches again!

Locations from the Fisher's Ghost Legend

There is regular debate about where the main events of the Fisher's Ghost story happened. I have therefore attempted to make this clearer using resources held in the local studies section at the H.J. Daley Library and the opinions of various local historical experts from the area.

Where was Fisher's Ghost spotted?

Local farmer John Farley claimed he saw the apparition of Frederick Fisher in October, 1826. Opinions are divided about the exact location where the ghost appeared. The general consensus is that Fisher's Ghost was sited on the corner of Queen and Dumaresq streets in the centre of town. In the early days of Campbelltown a natural water way flowed down Dumaresq Street and passed through today's Queen Street. Evidence of this water way came to light when the remains of a corduroy bridge were located near where the entrance to the car park behind the eastern side of Queen Street and running off Dumaresq Street is located. It is believed there was another bridge approximately where Queen Street is located between the 7 Eleven and Subway today. It is that bridge that most local historians believe was the bridge that Farley saw Fisher's ghost.

The location for this bridge was in the vicinity of Worrall's farm in 1826. It was adjacent to Fisher's horse paddock.

The Queen and Dumaresq location is further supported by the story that Fisher pointed in a south westerly direction. This would mean he pointed towards the place where it is proven that his body was found.

Another piece of evidence supporting this location was that the pub that Farley ran into after spotting Fisher, The Harrow, was located only a short distance from this bridge. If the ghost was seen where today's Fisher's Ghost Bridge is then Farley would have passed a number of inns before reaching the Harrow and relaying his amazing claim. Why wouldn't he have stopped at the first one?

There are some who firmly believe that the apparition did appear where today's Fisher's Ghost Creek is. Adding support to this belief is that Worrall would not have had to travel as far to bury Fisher's body. A problem with the argument for this spot though is that there was no bridge in 1826 and the legend does have Fisher sitting on a bridge (some stories have him on a fence though).

The above photograph shows how Fisher's Ghost Creek Bridge looked in the past. The date is unknown but judging by the vehicles is probably 1950s.


Where did Worrell bury the body?

In 1981, members of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society went in search of the location where Fisher's battered body had been buried. They used a copy of an 1826 hand-coloured plan of the scene of the crime and a surveyor's chain. From this they were able to pinpoint the location as the place where Fisher's Ghost Creek flows under the railway line. A plaque on the Namut Children's Early Learning Centre indicates that the centre is near the location of where Gilbert or Namut discovered the body.

Marking the approximate burial site of Frederick Fisher at Fisher's Ghost Creek next to the railway line. (Rod Fowler Collection, Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)


Where was the pub that Farley told his story?

Research undertaken by David Patrick revealed that the Harrow Inn was located on the western side of Queen Street almost directly opposite Lithgow Street. It was probably built in 1822. The building housed various commercial premises over many years and was demolished around 1959.


Where is Frederick Fisher buried? 

Fisher was buried in an unmarked grave in St Peter's Cemetery. Despite his brother living in the country and being well off, no headstone was paid for. Burial records for the cemetery prove that he was buried there but the location is unknown. There have been numerous claims on the whereabouts over the years but the truth is nobody knows where the exact location is.


Where was Worrall's House?

The man who murdered Fred Fisher, George Worrall, had his house located exactly where today's town hall is. His property bordered Fisher's. The land that Fisher owned is now part of Campbelltown Mall.


Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

FOWLER, Verlie
Colonial Days in Campbelltown: The Legend of Fisher's Ghost, 1991

The Harrow: the Fisher's Ghost Pub
In Grist Mills Vol. 11, No. 3 pp 46-62

Interview with Marie Holmes 30.10.12

Early Banking Days in Campbelltown

There were no banks in the early years of the town's settlement. Most business was conducted using the exchange of promissary notes as there was little cash in circulation. By the late 1830s John Hurley was virtually Campbelltown's private banker mostly because of his connection with John O'Sullivan the manager for Goulburn's Commercial Banking Company. From the mid-1860s post offices accepted deposits for the government savings bank. By the 1870s there was a need for branches in the larger towns like Campbelltown.

George L. Jones opened the Campbelltown Branch of the C.B.C Bank in October 1874. Banking was originally done from 282 Queen Street, now one of the four historic Queen Street buildings located opposite Campbelltown Mall. Records reveal that the manager was the only employee for several years, and was paid a salary of £12/10 a month.

In 1877, an assistant was appointed to the branch on a salary of £6/5/ a month. Conditions for the manager had improved, he was supplied with a horse and carriage and in increase in salary to £25 a month. In addition, he was given an extra monthly allowance to provide for servants, fuel, feed for his horse and entertainment.

Life in Campbelltown could not have been easy in those days. Bank records reveal hardship with an entry in a ledger, "Purchase of pair of spectacles for use by customers, 1/ (10 cents).

The first purposely built bank building was erected in 1881. This is today's Macarthur Advertiser building. The building was used as a bank until 1985. Quaint stables at the rear were demolished soon after.

The Commercial Banking Company Bank in Queen Street photographed in 1881, the year it was built.


The Bank of New South Wales opened its Campbelltown Branch in February 1878. Its first manager was William Hurley, a son of the local member of parliament and publican, John Hurley, who for many years acted as a private banker. Hurley's Royal Hotel was later leased to John Graham and became the Family Hotel. The Bank of New South Wales opened in these premises. The building was located in Queen Street almost opposite Lithgow Street but a little to the south.

The Bank of New South Wales taken in 1894. It was still standing in the 1960s although much altered.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Liston, Carol
Campbelltown: The Bicentennial History, 1988

Campbelltown Ingleburn News July 1976

The Changing Face of Railway Street

The scene of today's Railway Street is completely different to that of even 40 years ago. So different in fact that not one building from then or before 1970 remains today. It has gone from a street bustling with shops, pubs, a police station and houses to a street dominated by a car park on one side to the new court house extension on the other. So, what did Railway Street once look like and what places could we find if we jumped in a time machine and travelled back to when it was a hive of activity?

If you were to walk from the Railway Station towards the street and start with the right hand side the first building you would have come across would be the Royal Hotel. This hotel was built in the 1840s and was originally called the Cumberland Hotel. It became the Royal Hotel in the 1890s. Licensees included Charles Laws, W. Hodge, Thomas Meehan and Mrs Sexton. The hotel was demolished in 1986. In the 1940s the hotel was a destination for the Drunks' Express. This was when people were forbidden to drink beer in a hotel on Sundays unless they had travelled more than 25 miles and regarded as "weary travellers". As Campbelltown was 32 miles from Sydney it was a prime target and the Royal would've been the first hotel encountered from the railway station.

Today's taxi rank is located where the hotel once stood.

The above photograph shows four unidentified men pictured outside the Royal Hotel in its early days

Continuing your walk up Railway Street you would then come across a house owned by Fred Sheather. Fred was the Town Clerk for the council for an incredible 43 years from 1901 to 1944.

Next was a house where Geoff Winton lived and this adjoined a milk bar at number 11 that he owned. It was famous for its ice cream and banana splits. In 1946 Alf and Elsie McLean purchased the shop. The business prospered by selling 7 days a week: morning and afternoon teas; sandwiches, drinks, ice creams and sweets; cigarettes and tobacco. In the 1960s Alf Billington took over and the property was later sold and became part of a car park.

Continuing the journey along the southern side of Railway Street in the 1930s you would next find Vic Ducat's Auctioneers followed by a barber shop. At the back of these shops was a snooker parlour ran by Paddy Hunt. In later years the auctioneers was replaced by a doctor's surgery. This building was owned by the O'Loughlan family who lived in a house next door at 29 Railway Street. This house was built in 1872 and had numerous owners over the years starting with Elizabeth Graham. The O'Loughlan family were the last to live there until it was demolished in 1967. According to Paul O'Loughlan the house was built of sandstone and was freezing in winter.

A 1970 photograph then shows a long building running parallel to Short Street that was used originally as stables but later for car parking. Then on the corner of Railway and Queen Street was Lack's Hotel. Built by Daniel Cooper in 1830 as the Forbes Hotel, in 1901 it was refurbished and renamed the Federal Hotel. The license was transferred to Herb Lack in 1929 and it became Lack's Hotel. After Herb's death in 1956, his son-in-law and daughter Guy and Tib Marsden took over. Lack's Hotel was demolished in 1984. A modern commercial building including a modern tavern now take its place.

Photograph showing Lack's Hotel from Railway Street undergoing demolition in 1984 (Verlie Fowler Collection).

The other side of Railway Street, or the northern side, always contained fewer buildings. Beginning from the bottom of the street was the police house and next to this was the police station. The station was built around 1890 and was typical of the style for that period. The old cell blocks and stables were located on the building's north side. A tunnel was supposed to have linked the
cells to the nearby courthouse! The police station was pulled down in 1987. The new court house extensions are on the site of the old police station.

Above is the police station and adjoining police house as they looked in 1979.

Finally, on the corner of Railway and Queen Streets is the old court house built in 1886.

This photo was taken in April 1970 and shows how the street looked then. Compare it to the Railway Street of 2012. (Geoff Eves Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Paul O'Loughlan Interview October 2012

Demolished Heritage Buildings of Campbelltown, 2005

Do you have memories of buildings from Railway Street's past? Please share these with us.

Bushrangers Rob Redfern

As Dr William Redfern of "Campbellfields" at Minto was travelling along Liverpool Road in his cart one evening in 1824 he was bailed up a group of bushrangers. The bushrangers had struck as the cart was passing James Meehan's Estate at Macquarie Field. Redfern was speechless with anger and offered a reward of eighty Spanish dollars for information leading to the conviction of the bushrangers. This was a huge amount for the day.

A tin trunk containing some of Redfern's very best wearing apparel had been stolen. This included: black and blue dress coats; a dress uniform coat, blue with red cuffs and collar; black trousers, open and to fit the boot; black dress pantaloons; plus clothing belonging to Mrs Redfern.

It is not known if the culprits were ever tracked down.

Dr William Redfern

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

The Crier, October 12, 1983.

Gaoled for Stealing Peaches!

In the small hours of February 8, 1898 four Campbelltown men were charged and gaoled for a heinous crime: eating another man's peaches from his tree!

Daniel Dwyer, Patrick Meredith, Michael Daly, Daniel Daly, and Alfred Brown were brought up charged with having been found in the enclosed garden of William Gee for an unlawful purpose. The case was withdrawn against Brown and he was used as a crown witness. The rest pleaded not guilty except Meredith.

William Gee had suspected that his orchard was being raided in the early mornings and had arranged with police to catch the culprits in the act. At about 1.45am on the 8th of February Gee, armed with a gun, and Constable Auckett waited for the orchard raiders to appear. A quarter of an hour later five men jumped the fence and commenced to pull the peaches from the tree. Gee called upon them to stand or else he would shoot but instead of obeying him after Gee did fire his gun, they ran away and climbed back over the fence. Meredith however was caught by Gee and detained until Auckett joined him and was taken to custody. The other four were arrested at their residences.

At the court hearing, Alfred Brown swore to Meredith and Dwyer being in the garden but would not swear to the others. Daniel Dwyer gave evidence on his own behalf. He admitted being one of the group, but denied entering the garden. None of the other accused wished to give evidence.

The Bench considered the offence proved, and sentenced the four accused to one month's imprisonment in Parramatta Gaol.

William Gee was a local builder and also served as an alderman on Campbelltown Council. He was involved in the Congregational Church in Campbelltown and was also an undertaker at one stage. He died on the 11th of September, 1915 and is buried in the small Methodist Congregational Cemetery on St John's Road, Campbelltown.

               Above is a photograph of William Gee taken in 1912

Written by Andrew Allen

The Upper Canal

The Upper Canal photographed in the 1980s (Macarthur Development Board)

You may have noticed when driving along Narellan Road heading towards Mount Annan a long drain type structure. This is actually a canal or water race known as the Upper Canal. It is a system of aqueducts, tunnels and open canals which enable water diverted through the Nepean Tunnel to flow a distance of 64kms to the major distribution reservoir at Prospect. The canal runs along the western boundary of the Campbelltown Local Government Area.

Construction of the canal was carried out from 1880 and completed in 1888. It relies on gravity to divert water, so it was a remarkable feat of the time and functions today much as it did more than 100 years ago.

The canal is 3.7 metres wide and 2.5 metres deep and relies on natural sandstone bedding, lined where necessary with sandstone rubble or cement, and with brick in the shale country nearer Campbelltown.

Campbelltown welcomed the building of the canal in the 1880s as it provided employment for local men and income for shopkeepers, carriers and tradespeople. It also added to the town's population. Another benefit was to the town's water supply. It was the first town to receive water from the system.

According to former Campbelltown resident and St Gregory's College student Ted Sedgwick the water race claimed the lives of a number of students from the college. (see update below) Attracted by the prospect of a refreshing swim on a sweltering day the victims underestimated the freezing temperatures of the water and tragically drowned in the canal. Mr Sedgwick also remembered how the canal became a potential threat during the Second World War. Authorities were concerned that the water supply could be sabotaged by the enemy. This lead to mounted guards patrolling the canal for a period of time.

The canal is still in use today. There have been threats over the years to the structure, particularly from longwall mining near Appin. It has local heritage listing and is classified by the National Trust (NSW).

*Update: Further research has revealed the names of the people drowned in the water race. Harry Miggins was drowned in it in 1948 and Graeme Cook from Randwick in 1958. Another person was saved, the wife of the racekeeper, who overbalanced into the water and was found by a day student clinging to a crack in the wall, a short distance from the inlet to the tunnel.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

LISTON, Carol
Campbelltown: The Bicentennial History, 1988

Macarthur Advertiser, Dec 5, 2007 p28

AIRD, W.V
The Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage of Sydney, 1961

BOYLE, Valens
Pioneering Days: St, Gregory's, Campbelltown 1923-1951, 1987

A Skilled Craftsman

The name John Charles Rider would not be familiar to most Campbelltown people, yet his skills in glass decorating in the late 1800s and early 1900s won him the admiration from people around the country. Examples of his delicate crystal engravings are now highly sought after by collectors.

Born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England in 1850, Rider was apprenticed to glass manufacturers Thomas Webb and Sons at the age of 14. Rider settled in Sydney when the firm decided to open branches in Australia. After occupying various premises in the city, Rider moved with his wife and son Fred to Minto in 1896. However, he continued to work in the city and was assisted by his son. It is assumed that Rider commuted by train daily to the city since it would have incurred too great a risk transporting glass engraved at home to clients in the city.

Rider's method of glass decorating was carried out with a mixture of oil and fine abrasive powder. He was known to have used etching as a support for his engraving. His subjects were said to have displayed movement and strength and were more scenic than the works of his original masters- Thomas Webb and Sons. Often the tumblers he worked on were of thin and delicate metal and light in weight. His touch was equally as light and delicate.

Some examples of his creations that won him much praise were an engraved glass with arms of the colony of NSW and an engraved bucket-shaped tumbler featuring a group of 3 aborigines spearing a possum in a gum tree.

                            An example of Rider's engraving on a glass.

 
John moved with his wife and son to Condamine Street in Campbelltown just before he died aged 82 on 18 July 1934. He was buried at St Peter's Cemetery. Interestingly, the Campbelltown News carried no obituary notice. Fred did not follow his father's trade and took up farming in Minto before his move to Condamine Street. He died in 1951.

Are you fortunate enough to possess a Rider engraving? Please let us know.

The Rider home "Kiera-Ville" in Hansen's Road, East Minto. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Written by Andrew Allen

Gated Campbelltown

Think Narellan road is a pain? Early last century, a night trip to Camden meant waking up Mrs Mortimer so that the gate might be opened for you to cross the railway track.

In the days of sulkies, drays and even into the 1930’s and the era of the motor car, both the North and South ends of Campbelltown were barred by gates in order to regulate road and rail traffic.

Gatekeeper George Morgan attended the North Gate, with his ‘old walking stick and a cheery goodnight to those going or coming.’ The crossing was a well-known black spot to locals. A newspaper article of 1926, entitled ‘Morgan’s Gates Again’ reports that the driver of a Hudson Motor car travelling along Queen Street failed to see the closed gates until it was too late, ploughing through Mr Morgan’s fence and into his garden. The occupants suffered no injuries.

Tragically, Irene Ruby Orontess Scattergood was not so lucky dying in an accident at the gate in 1925.

Irene Scattergood in the back row on the left at Campbelltown South Public School c 1917.

Photo: McMahon Collection

It was this accident that began the crusade of the Local Member of State Parliament Mr Andrew Lysaght. He requested the Main Roads Board and the railway department construct an overbridge. ‘There is no money’ came the answer.  Mr Lysaght had a big say in the Lang Government and so with additional labour from council workers the original Morgan’s gate overbridge was opened for traffic on the 7^th March 1930.

 Plan of the proposed overbridge 1926

Mortimer’s gate had not quite so many accidents. It was tended by H Mortimer and after his death his wife Emma. A ‘blanket around her shoulders’ on cold days, she helped travellers on their way until her death in 1923 aged 58.

Afterwards the job went to the railways. A gatekeeper’s box stood by the gate with a coal stove to keep them warm in winter. Connected by telephone to the signal box at Campbelltown station three men maintained three shifts around the clock.  James Ashford worked with two one armed men,  Joe McGarrity who could still hold a cigarette with his stump and Hilton Charles Rumery, victim of a shunting accident.

 

Bibliography

Thanks to Fred Seers and Norm Campbell

Campbelltown Ingleburn News 22.1.1926

Campbelltown Ingleburn News 27.08.1937

Campbelltown: the Bicentennial History – Carol Liston

Memories of South Western Campbelltown NSW 1931-38 Fred Seers 1990

Norm Campbell – Oral History, Campbelltown Library

Written by Michael S

 

A Grusome Discovery

Imagine the horror the driver of a train from Sydney felt one night in May of 1928 when he came across the decapitated body on the line near Ingleburn. News reports described how the driver stopped the train, walked back along the line, and found the dead man's head lying some distance away from the body. After informing the stationmaster at Ingleburn of his discovery, the Campbelltown police were sent for and the body removed to the morgue.

It was believed that the man deliberately put his head on the line in front of the train. There were no marks on his clothing and no papers to identify him. A portion of the lining of his hat, supposed to have been described with his initials, was torn out apparently to prevent identification.

The man was dressed in a dark blue suit, black patent boots and a grey hat. He was aged about 25.

Further reports revealed the man's identity. He was a man by the name of Pont from Balmain. A check of the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriage records shows a man by the name of Levy T. Pont dying in 1928 aged 25. The death was registered at Campbelltown.

   A steam train leaving Ingleburn Station

The House Built by the Man Who Saw Fisher's Ghost

The charming house "Denfield" was reported to be built by John Farley in 1837- the man who first saw Fisher's ghost in 1826. Farley, an emancipist, was transported for life arriving in the "Guildford" in 1812. Capable and industrious according to Reverend Thomas Reddall, he received a conditional pardon and as his farming prospered he added Denfield to his property in 1826. He settled down with his wife Margaret on their 325 acre farm on the Appin Road, south from Campbelltown.

John Farley's grave in St Peter's Anglican Cemetery. He died in 1841. (Verlie Fowler Collection).

In 1840 Farley sold Denfield to John Bray and it remained in the Bray family for many years. Bray was appointed magistrate in Campbelltown in 1852.

In 1866 Joshua Bray wrote from Denfield "They are very much excited about here, the Mail was robbed ten days ago....The night before last they stopped it about a quarter of a mile from this house- the coachman and passengers came about 4 o'clock in the morning to tell us. These robberies take place in the night...they were hiding all their jewellery. Papa has loaded his pistol".

The house was built of sandstone brick on stone footings with stone flagged verandahs. The kitchen was detached to reduce the risk of any kitchen fires spreading and was linked to the main house by an open "breezeway" with a flagged stone pathway.

Denfield was typical of the colonial homesteads of the time with a wide central hallway and bedrooms running off the hall and a lounge/sitting room with an open fireplace and marble mantlepiece.

The property passed from the Bray family about 1917, to people named Hickey, who leased it to the Carroll family. The house became derelict and was vacated in 1963. It was restored about a year later by the architect S.C. Palmer.

Like most old homesteads there is supposed to be a resident ghost that haunts Denfield's kitchen. A past female owner would never go to bed until her husband was ready to join her.

Today the surrounding housing estates hug the perimeters of Denfield. The original 320 acres of rolling hillsides with the picturesque views are now groaning under the pressure of urban sprawl.

Unidentified family on the verandah of "Denfield" taken on March 14, 1914. (Gately collection)

Written by Andrew Allen

Campbelltown City Library Celebrates History Week 2012

Campbelltown City Library will be celebrating the History Council of New South Wales' History Week from September 8-16. The theme this year is Threads: they wore what?  which is designed to explore the history of clothing and the impact that fashion makes on society.

Throughout the week a display of historical photographs of uniforms worn by people from Campbelltown will be presented along with an exhibition of historical garments from the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society collection from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The photograph above is of a group of nurses from a Campbelltown Hospital immediately following the First World War. The hospital is probably that which was located in Lithgow Street that preceeded Milby Hospital where the old Fisher's Ghost Restaurant is located.

In addition to these displays, Dr Vicki Karaminas, an Associate Professor at the University of Technology in the School of Design, will be presenting a talk about "Men's Fashion in Australia from Colonial Times" at HJ Daley Library. The talk is free and will commence at 1:00pm on Tuesday 11 September. Bookings are essential on 4645 4436.

Chamberlain Street Then and Now

These photographs of Chamberlain Street, Campbelltown were taken from approximately the same position. The black and white image was taken in 1941 and the colour in August 2012. The only landmark I had to line up the comparison with was the cottage on the right hand side in the 1941 photograph today partially hidden by trees (click on the colour image for a larger and clearer view). Another clue to the location was that the photograph was donated by the Bentley family who lived in a now demolished house at number 19 just out of the picture on the right. The people in the 1941 photograph are unidentified.

Written by Andrew Allen

Saturn's Rings

One of the more unusual constructions built in Campbelltown is the Universal Power House or Saturn's Rings perched high on a hill in the suburb of Eschol Park. Saturn's Rings was built by a Polish immigrant from Ingleburn named Stefan Dzwonnik. Construction began around 1979 and continued for some years after that. At the time the building was regarded as one of the most spectacular in New South Wales with a limitless, panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

So what was the purpose of this unique building? Stefan Dzwonnik had plans for it to be the mecca for a world-wide movement directed toward a better life on Earth. It was intended to become the home of him and his family; and the "power house" of his proposed Universal Power World Society.

The unique design of the house was based on the rings of the planet Saturn and comprised three concentric units. The largest on the top level was to provide living quarters for the family. The two lower levels were for the society.

Dzwonnik wrote a book around the time of construction called "The Universal Life Challenge". It discussed the Universal Power philosophy and outlined the aims and objectives of the society such as engaging in cultural and sporting activities and promotion of truth, love and peace.

Saturn's Rings was never completed.  When its frame used to be visible on the skyline, people would contemplate what is was, often mistaking it for a casino! It still sits on the hill at Eschol Park now virtually obliterated from public view by trees.  My research leads me to believe that Stefan Dzwonnik moved from the area and is now living on the Far South Coast of New South Wales.

The Universal Power House or Saturn's Rings still under construction in November 1985. (Richard Lawrance Collection. Campbelltown City Library)

Update

Stefan Dzwonnik died in 2018
 

Written by Andrew Allen

Arthur Hill

Arthur Samuel Hill was born locally in 1893. A Leumeah signwriter, he enlisted in the 33rd Batallion in June 1917. On the 3rd of April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneaux in France, he was brushing his clothes when a shell landed close to him and wounded him in the thigh and shoulder. He was taken to the aid post 200 yards away but Arthur's life could not be saved and he died of his wounds two days later. His mate Private England described him as "a very nice chap about 22 or 23, dark." Private Hill was one of the many Campbelltown soldiers never to return from an overseas war. He was buried at St Sever Cemetery at Rouen in France.

Written by Andrew Allen

Charles Kerry Photographs

The library's online historic photographs collection "Our Past in Pictures" contains a number of photographs taken by Kerry and Jones of George Street, Sydney. These are all dated 1886 indicating that a visit to the Campbelltown area was made by someone from their photographic studio that year.

Charles Henry Kerry was born at Bombala, New South Wales in 1857. He began his career as a photographer in about 1875, working for the Sydney portrait photographer, A.H. Lamartiniere. By 1884, Kerry had taken over the business and had his studio at 308 George Street, Sydney. Lamartinere absconded with Kerry's small capital but Kerry stayed on, and in partnership with C. D. Jones, built the small studio into the colony's largest photographic organization.

Kerry was later appointed official photographer to the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Carrington. In addition to his portrait work, Kerry took on a number of government commissions, including travelling through New South Wales to photograph Aboriginal peoples, their camps and corroborees and taking detailed interior views of Jenolan Caves. Kerry and Jones later became Kerry and Co. He retired in 1913 to take up mining and died in 1928 at his home in Neutral Bay.

The Kerry and Jones photographs in our collection are all sepia photographs. Some are taken of the Gilead property on Appin Road, including the windmill. Others include distant shots of Campbelltown taken from Terrys Hill and recognisable landmarks of the area from the time such as St Peter's Church of England and the cattle tank.

One of the Kerry and Jones images taken in 1886 of Mount Gilead farm buildings with the windmill in the distance.

Do you have any old photographs of the Campbelltown area? Please contact the library if you are interested in sharing them with us as we are interested in donations or the chance to copy them for our collection.

Written by Andrew Allen

How they used to treat snake bites!

From the Australian Town and Country Journal dated 2nd November, 1872:

Campbelltown. Wednesday. "Today, a man named Edward Barrett, while lifting a sheet of bark, was bitten in the finger by a black snake. After lacerating the wound, he galloped into town, a distance of three miles, where Mr. J. Egan sucked the wound, and accidentally swallowed some of the poison. Barnett is much better, but Mr. Egan is in a very dangerous state."

Snakes have a long history of terrorising Campbelltown folk. This one was caught around 1920 at Denham Court by Fred Asher and John McDonald.

Written by Andrew Allen

Mrs Hickey's General Store

One of the earliest photographs the library has in its collection is this one taken in 1871 of Mrs Hickey's general store. The building was built of weatherboard with a shingled roof. The rear annex was of brick and rough stone set in a mortar matrix, probably of sand and lime with or without cement. In the shop window you can see various bottles, vases and jars. Other items that Mrs Hickey sold included cutlery, pottery, garden tools, farm products, linen, clothing, pots and pans, lamps and lanterns.

If you look closely at the photograph you can see the absence of guttering. Rain drops from the roof created shallow trenches along the frontage to the verandah and from all accounts meant mud was everywhere in wet weather. A foot scraper would've been essential!

Also note the cat sunning itself on the road. A reminder of the placid life of that time so long ago.

Mrs Hickey's quaint little shop was situated 50 metres south of the Queen Street and Bradbury Avenue intersection on the western side of Queen Street. This places it in the vicinity of where the car wash is located.

Source:

"Buildings of Yore in Campbelltown" by Eddie McBarron
In Grist Mills  Vol.3, No.3, July 1986

Written by Andrew Allen

Macarthur Square

Macarthur Square Shopping Centre was officially opened on Monday, September 10, 1979. A crowd of about 600 people attended the opening. The centre cost $30 million and was completed six months ahead of schedule. Workers were still delivering the finishing touches to the centre on opening day as live music played in the background as well as the Macarthur Square jingle!

Various businesses immediately advertised their products and services. P & S Michael advertised a 2 piece safari suit for $89.90 and the supermarket sold Stork margarine and a 1kg bag of sugar each for 10 cents. Macarthur Dry Cleaners offered an enticement of $1.20 per article of clothing to be dry cleaned.

High drama struck the square one day in early December 1983. A three year old boy plunged 10 metres from the balcony to the tiles below and fractured his skull. Ali Elassad and his brother were looking over the railing at Christmas decorations on the ground floor when the accident happened. Ali became known as the miracle boy of Sydney after he escaped death and permanent injury. After some weeks in hospital he returned home for Christmas.

I'm sure many people have wondered who the faces of the people are on the Bolger Street facade of the centre. The artworks were created by local artist Fiona McDonald in 2006 and are of people connected with the Campbelltown region. They include John and Elizabeth Macarthur, their son James, Nanny Barrett a representative of the local Aboriginal people, Charles Sturt, Hamilton Hume and local community identities teacher Kat McGuanne, town clerk Fred Sheather and publican John Hurley.

An $160 million expansion in 2005, which expanded the centre's floor area from 29,000m² to 90,000², saw Macarthur Square become one of the largest shopping complexes in Sydney.

This photograph is of Macarthur Square looking from Macarthur Station. It was taken in the 1980s. (Macarthur Development Board Collection. Campbelltown City Library. Local Studies Collection.)

Written by Andrew Allen

The First Man Hanged in Campbelltown

On the 7th of August, 1829 at Campbell Town Supreme Court, John Holmes was sentenced to death for maliciously setting fire to a barn of James Bean with intent to injure and defraud. The execution of Holmes on August 21 was the first public hanging in the Campbelltown area. In the early days of the township executions were mostly carried out in the area where Mawson Park is located and opposite the court house. However, in this case the hanging occurred at the scene of the burning. This was at the farm belonging to James Bean at Menangle, where gallows were specially erected.

According to the Sydney Gazette, Reverend John Therry communicated Holmes's confessions to the "numerous assemblage of persons who were collected to witness the execution." He told the crowd that the unfortunate culprit acknowledged his guilt, as well as the justice of his sentence; that he had committed many crimes, but sincerely hoped that God had forgiven him, as he freely forgave all those by whom he had ever been injured. Holmes than spoke and warned the crowd about them taking the same path of crime as himself. He then joined in prayer with great devotion, and in a few minutes the drop fell.

After the hanging, perhaps because it was the first in Campbelltown, the dead man's family were allowed to take the body away for private burial.

Written by Andrew Allen

Fred's Lack of Spirit

This Sunday, June 17 marks the 186th anniversary of the death of Fred Fisher, so I thought it was timely to share the following story with you. When I interviewed local identity Norm Campbell in November 2011, he spoke about the night in 1956 the town came out to witness the re-appearance of the ghost of Frederick Fisher. The ghost was scheduled to appear at midnight on the night of June 17. 

Publicity for the event was started by Sydney radio station 2UE and a liquor company that sold spirits (no pun intended) in the weeks leading up to the night. They had promised that "Fred" would make an appearance that night. Estimates of the crowd from the Campbelltown-Ingleburn News were around the 1500 mark- an extraordinary number considering Campbelltown's population. The newspaper counted the cars at 229 at 11.25pm. By the time midnight had come around those that were still there had waited up to three hours. There was no entertainment and the night was freezing cold but the crowd waited patiently for midnight.

In his interview, Norm relayed that the local police sergeant Whiteley accused him and Jim Vernon, both from the local newspaper, of stirring things up. Norm tried to explain that it was 2UE that originated it all.

Approaching midnight the crowd began to leave the warmth of their cars and began to congregate along the bridge. At midnight of course nothing happened and the crowd slowly drifted away. The newspaper described how "the anti-climax seemed to hit the crowd as a body. People were not backward in saying what they thought. Typical was a woman from Crow's Nest who said it was terribly disappointing after leaving a warm home to wait three hours for nothing." Many had left feeling Campbelltown had let them down.

Within a half an hour only a handful remained. By 12.50 only 2 had remained, determined to be the last in case something appeared. Norm remembers when he left the scene, while walking through long grass, literally stumbling over the local doctor Thomas. He was sitting in the grass with camera just in case the ghost appeared!

Norm Campbell's interview as well as many other interviews can be accessed by contacting the local studies section of the library. A small number of interviews can be borrowed from the library and this number will increase in the near future.

This photograph was taken at Fisher's Ghost Bridge in the 1950s. Note the mannequin on the railing of the bridge. (Ivor G. Thomas Collection, Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Written by Andrew Allen

Milton Park Homestead

For years this charming two storey house dominated the landscape between Ingleburn and Macquarie Fields. Built in 1882 by hotelier David Warby, Milton Park changed ownership and uses many times during its history. Why it was named Milton Park is unknown.

At one stage it had a rooftop garden, tennis court, private golf course and an orchard all surrounded by superb gardens. A large verandah once surrounded the house but was pulled down after it was purchased in 1937 by Allan Newmarch.

The property was purchased by the McGarvie Smith Institute in 1952. One interesting use for the property was as a poultry farm and model stud that covered 44 acres. The farm had accommodation for 2000 birds, 1500 of which were white leghorns, some prize-winners at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

The property continued to be used as a research laboratory by the McGarvie Institute until 1972 when it was sold to Cantua Pty Ltd., who then sold it to Campbelltown City Council. A large sporting complex that now adjoins the old house site is called Milton Park.

Photograph of Milton Park taken in 1981. (Verlie Fowler Collection)

Do you have any experiences of Milton Park homestead that you would like to share with us? Please click on the comments link.

Sources:

Liston, Carol
Campbelltown: The Bicentennial History
Campbelltown: Campbelltown City Council, 1988

"Milton Park" Pamphlet File, Campbelltown Library

Written by Andrew Allen

Can you help us identify this photograph?

The library needs assistance in identifying the people and location in the above photograph. The photograph was a recent donation to the local studies section and is not dated. The sign near the front door reads "South British Insurance Company". Do you know where the Campbelltown News Printing Works were located? Please let us know if you do!

Update

This building was located in Patrick Street. In the 1920s this was next to Brunero's Sawmill (now the Coogan Lane car park).

Written by Andrew Allen

The Flying Doctor comes to Campbelltown

The sprawling weatherboard homestead of "Glen Lorne" was built in the 1820s on the Appin Road, not far from Campbelltown. In 1936, the house was used to film the movie The Flying Doctor starring Charles Farrell and Mary Maguire and a special appearance by Don Bradman playing himself. Farrell, an American star of the day, and a British crew were imported. The plot revolves around a complicated love triangle, a doctor who falls in love with a married woman and then becomes a flying doctor in the outback. Box office receipts were poor but the film lead to a flood of donations to the flying doctor service. "Glen Lorne" homestead was destroyed by fire on 9 July 1981.

Another old Campbelltown homestead was the scene for filming in November 1969. St Helens Park was used as a film set for the ABC television series Delta. The series starred Frank Thring, John Gregg and Kirrily Nolan and was based on a fictitious scientific investigation unit. Frank Thring attracted the most interest, playing a "sinister anthropologist" who had returned to Australia after living in the wilds of New Guinea. The house and grounds were described as a "hive of activity" during those days of shooting back in 1969.

Written by Andrew Allen

The Shop Famous for its Snake!

Bursill's Produce Store was an institution in Campbelltown for many years. It supplied the local farmers with all their feed requirements. The building stood on the southern side of a shop run by Bussell Brothers on the corner of Queen and Lithgow Streets. The shop's most infamous occupant was a carpet snake that terrified and fascinated the locals. The snake was used to keep the rodent population down and so protect the produce. Long time former resident of Campbelltown Lily Hepher, now in her late nineties, remembered as a young woman looking at the reptile through the top floor window of the store. It was always a source of fascination for her and other passers by. Another local David Milliken when interviewed remembered that when moving a bag of feed in the shop one day he was startled to find the snake right in front of his eyes. The shopkeeper assured him with an "its alright mate it won't hurt you".

The colourful Dr Ivor Thomas of Campbelltown in the 1940s was one night returning from a call in the early hours of the morning when he saw an obstruction over the trellis in the driveway. The storeman at Bursill's had his sleep interrupted that morning by a phone call from the doctor. "Come down and pick up your bloody snake" was the call. When the man arrived he found Dr Thomas busy photographing the snake which habitually escaped from Bursill's Produce Store and roamed the town at night. So much for Occupational Health and Safety!

Update: Susan Chandler, daughter of local identity Bon Wrightson, also discussed Bursill's snake in an interview she gave the library in August 2011. She said one day as a child she found it in the strawberry patch at her home in Dumaresq Street. She yelled at her grandpa that she found a big lizard. A worker from Bursill's who also lived next door retrieved the snake, knocked it out, wound it around his arm and took it back to Bursill's store! Susan also explained that after it had escaped so many times Dr Thomas lost patience and had it killed.

             This shot was taken from the interior of Bursill's shop in 1950. (Col Clissold Collection)

Do you have memories of or have heard stories about the snake? Please share them with us.

Written by Andrew Allen

Tragedy of the Terry Sisters

Campbelltown has experienced many tragedies over the years but the drowning of the Terry sisters in 1900 was one of the most shocking and heart breaking for the community. Lillian aged 15 and Irene aged 12 both drowned in the Georges River in March, 1900.

The Campbelltown Herald reported that the two St Patrick's Convent pupils had a half day holiday due to the Campbelltown Show. Two of the nuns from the school and a Miss Cecily Hill took their classes for a walk to the river. The two Terry sisters went for a swim in the shallow area but wandered into deep water and got into difficulties.

At the inquest, Sister Cecily stated six girls went in to bathe. She succeeded in rescuing two girls and tried to save Lillian and Irene Terry. She told the inquest "I grasped Lily by the hair. But, getting in to deeper water myself, I lost hold." The police searched the river and recovered the bodies two hours later.

The girls came from the New South Wales town of Hay and their bodies were returned there by mail train for burial. A large number of sympathising friends followed the hearse to the station and the children of the convent joined in the procession.

The photograph below shows their headstone in the Roman Catholic section of the Hay Cemetery. It was reported as the largest funeral Hay had seen.

                            W.Carter Collection (Campbelltown City Library)

Source: Campbelltown Herald March 14, 1900

Written by Andrew Allen

Charles Tripp- Radio Pioneer

Imagine the scene: its a cold Saturday night in early September of 1928 and a large crowd of Campbelltown locals have gathered outside Charles Tripp's Silver Star Garage at the corner of Queen and Dumaresq Streets. They are all rugged up against the cold to listen to a broadcast of the fight at the Sydney Stadium between the Englishman Kid Socks and the Australian Archie Cowan. But why have they gathered outside a garage in Campbelltown?

Charles Tripp was Campbelltown's pioneer radio buff. He was a member of the Wireless Institute of Australia from 1914.  Radio was very much in it's infancy at the time Tripp became interested. Charles would have learned about radio from two magazines of the period catering for the home constructor- The Wireless Weekly of Sydney and The Listener In.

In 1925, Charles built a four valve wireless set that was reported as a box-like structure. He then fixed a loud speaker on the front door of his garage on the corner of Queen and Dumaresq streets. The speaker was described as a horn type variety. The sound from the speaker could be heard fifty yards (45 metres) away. This attracted crowds who would listen on Friday and Saturday nights to boxing matches from the old Sydney Stadium or to popular serials.

Charles Tripp lived in Campbelltown for the remainder of his life. He died on the 17th of March 1953 and is buried in St John's Catholic Cemetery in Campbelltown.

Charles Tripp's early radio experiments are featured as part of Campbelltown Library's "Creative Campbelltown" display for the 2012 National Trust Heritage Festival. The display will be available for viewing at the H.J. Daley Library from April 14 to 29.

Tripp's Garage on the corner of Queen and Dumaresq Streets in 1940. Ralph's Chemist now occupies this site. Haydon Collection (Local Studies Collection. Campbelltown City Library)

Do you remember Tripp's garage? Let us know your memories.

Sources:

Holm, Marie (Tess) et al
Campbelltown 1930-1940: Dumaresq Street and Environs
Campelltown NSW: Campbelltown City Council, 1985