Merry Christmas

A big thank you to all the followers of this blog and I hope you all have a happy and safe Christmas. My next post will be in early January 2015.

Andrew and the Local Information Team

“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
― George Orwell

Table set for Christmas dinner in the dining room of Lottie Follan's mother's house in Minto just after the depression c 1935 (Follan Collection).

The Hume and Hovell Monument

I am sure many of you have driven past it but some of you might not know its significance. Located between Campbelltown and Appin on the left hand side of the road heading towards Appin is an obelisk dedicated to the explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell. This stone monument was erected by the Royal Australian Historical Society in 1924 to commemorate 100 years since the explorers Hume and Hovell set out on their exploratory journey to Port Phillip in Victoria.

The monument was unveiled in 1924 by the Minister for Justice, the Hon. T.J. Ley. A speech was made by the President of the Royal Australian Historical Society Aubrey Halloran which began with "Standing today upon this historic site where, a century ago, two of Australia's greatest explorers commenced their journey into the great unknown, our hearts are stirred at the memory of their magnificent pioneering work in blazing a trail to Port Phillip".

Stone recovered from the ruins of Hamilton Hume's house at Brookdale Farm (adjoining the monument) is said to have been used in the building of the monument. The inscription reads "To commemorate the Hume Hovell expedition. The site of the home of Hamilton Hume. Starting point of the expedition to Port Phillip October 2 1824. R.A.H.S."

As you look from the monument out to the west, you can only imagine what both explorers were thinking as they took those first few steps with their bullocks, horses, dogs and four other convicts into the unknown. The expedition was a success as they accessed previously unexplored land south of the Murrumbidgee. They reached Corio Bay on December 16 and reported suitable grazing land at Westernport to the Governor.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Unveiling of the Obelisk at Appin
Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society
Vol. 11 Part 2, 1925 pp57-62

Memories of the Show

The Campbelltown A.H. and I. Society held its first show on March 16 and 17, 1899. It was held on the society's grounds adjacent to the old town hall and where the Campbelltown Mall is now located. Among prizes listed in the schedule for this first show were 5s 6d from the Fresh Food and Ice Co., of Sydney for the best British game cock in the poultry section while 1 pound and a certificate was offered to the best draught horse stallion three years and over. Dr S. Simons offered a prize of 1 pound 1 shilling for the best six varieties of apples.

The Campbelltown Show was once seen by many locals as the entertainment highlight of the year. As long time resident Kevin Rixon put it "that was the only event in Campbelltown that ever really happened". From 1902 the show was held on the new showground on the corner of Moore and Warby Streets. It remained here until 1974 when it moved to Menangle Park. These days the show doesn't quite capture the interest like it used to.

Ruth Pemberthy, Margaret Noel and Maureen Patrick and the Campbelltown Show in 1950


I thought I would write about some of the more interesting and amusing stories associated with the show gathered over the years. Here are some of them:

According to long-serving member, Syd Percival, a wayward monkey once caused mayhem. The story goes that the produce stewards had gone to considerable trouble to set up a district exhibit with prize-winning produce from the district. As they locked the building the night before the show, they looked forward to returning the next morning to show visitors the wealth of local produce on display. However, as they slept, a monkey escaped from the sideshow and found its way through a hole in the wall. The stewards were horrified to find a monkey asleep on a bale of hay and the best fruit and vegetables eaten, with the ones he didn't eat thrown all around the pavillion!

In 1935, CJ Clarke's bull was awarded grand champion bull and repaid the judge by attacking him and goring him in the leg!

In 1929, one sideshow attracted considerable interest. It was called "bubbly ping pong", a new game recently invented by Sid Madden and played for the first time in public at this show. It obviously never caught on!

In the 1950s a dog was once seen running from a display of the "Wonders of the Barrier Reef" with a shark's head firmly between its teeth!

When Mr W Jones, a horse competitor, in 1909 allegedly told the judge, "you are a robber and would put your hands in a man's pocket" he was disqualified for life from appearing at Campbelltown show.

                                      Prizewinning cow at Campbelltown Show, 1969

In 1916, in the middle of the First World War, the show society agreed to the use of the grounds and pavillion by the military. The show society was told that the use by the military of the grounds meant there would be no show until after the war. A show member quipped to loud applause, "if we don't help the soldiers, the only exhibits at future shows will be German sausage".

Frank Laurie's merry-go-round was a regular attraction at the Campbelltown Show. It featured 10 oil paintings depicting paddle steamers, ploughing, logging, gold mining, hunting and early travel scenes. Above a column of mirrors were panels of scantly clad women. Some suggested they should be replaced by Disney characters but Frank argued that they were there for the benefit of the fathers while their children enjoyed the ride.

Over the years there have been numerous stunt riders and daring acts. Dale Buggins appeared in 1980 performing his "stunt spectacular" followed by David Pinkerton the following year. In 1983, a blazing stuntman became a human torch before diving from a 30 metre tower into a water tank. In 1977, human time bomb Frank Lennon stepped into a coffin of death with 30 sticks of dynamite. He walked away unscathed but caused havoc among the horses and livestock around the grounds!

The show was somewhere where you always got dressed up. Chris Thomson, formerly Vardy, remembers how you bought a new dress and all the girls wore gloves and little handbags. "Cause it was a town thing. Everyone was there. All the men used to hang out at the bar. It was just a social event".

The side shows would often have curiosities that made a lasting impression on those wandering by. Celeste from Quebec packed in ice was a wonder to be marvelled at, while "The Tumblers", the girls with the wicked curves, raised the eyebrows of the more sedate locals.

The show was an institution in Campbelltown for many years and its history is closely bound with the history of the town.

 

Indoor Exhibits at the Campbelltown Show, 1907

 

 

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

 

LEARY, John K. 1998

.....And the show goes on: The 100-year history of the Campbelltown Show Society

Campbelltown City Show Society Inc.

 

Campbelltow-Ingleburn News, March 13, 1979

 

Campbelltown Centenary Show: celebrating 100 years of shows in Campbelltown 1898-1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cransley

Tucked away amongst the trees at 104 Waminda Avenue, Campbelltown is a neat little State Heritage listed cottage named "Cransley". The house seems to be built around 1882, although some sources date it to 1890. John Knight, one of the first Campbelltown alderman, bought the land in 1881 and built the house, so 1882 would seem the likely year.

The cottage is constructed of sandstone with a slate roof and has an unobtrusive and well designed verandah to the one side. It has been described as a typical "Hunter's Hill" type of house.

The original occupier of the land was Michael Wholohan who received a 50 acre grant which he held from 1821 to 1844.  After his death, the land was willed to his brother Daniel followed by other family members before being sold to Benjamin Warby in 1859. It then passed through a number of hands including John Knight in 1881. In 1918, the Government purchased the Cransley Estate as a soldiers resettlement scheme and the 391 acres was divided into 44 small farms with Cransley being the manager's residence while the project got underway.

In 1921, Bill Price settled on Cransley and ran a poultry farm until World War 2. On his return from war he established a nursery and became well known in the area as a very able nurseryman. A 1949 newspaper advertisement talks about the variety of trees, shrubs and roses for sale. In 1965, Price surrendered 11 of the original 12 acres and kept one for the nursery. On his retirement he subdivided the acre and gave part of it to Campbelltown Council to be used as a park which is now known as Cransley Reserve.

On Bill Price's death in 1976, the property passed to his widow and son who then sold the property at auction to Alice Minut. Alice developed the house as a craft centre and built a pottery at the rear. In 1982, it was sold at auction and again in 1994.

The photograph above is of Cransley in 1982. Today the house is partly hidden behind well established trees. (Verlie Fowler Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Archaeological Artefacts Displayed

The artefacts retrieved from the archaeological excavation at the site of the convict built Macquarie Fields Gatehouse are now on exhibition at H.J. Daley Library at Campbelltown. The exhibits include bottles, convict made bricks, bone and everyday household items as well as much more. To read more about the gatehouse and the archaeological dig, click on the archaeological artefacts label which will retrieve my earlier blog post. The display will be at the library until December 15.

Above are the convict built gates to Macquarie Field House which were located next to the Gatehouse.

Who's with Michael?

We need your help in identifying the women in this photograph pictured with Michael Knight. The photograph was taken in front of the old Campbelltown City Library in the civic precinct in Campbelltown. The photo is not dated but appears to be taken around the early 1970s.

Michael Knight was the member for Campbelltown in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1981 and 2001. He is probably most known to Australians as the Minister for the Olympics between 1995 and 2001 in the Carr Labor government. In January 2002 Knight was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia partly for his service to the Campbelltown community.

If you can identify anyone, please click on the comments link or contact the local studies section of Campbelltown Library.

Written by Andrew Allen

A Pre-historic Discovery

It was the main topic of conversation in the street for Campbelltown and in particular Macquarie Fields residents in July 1970. The footprints of a pre-historic animal were discovered, solidified in clay, by men constructing a sewage tunnel near the railway line at Macquarie Fields Railway Station. Dr Anne Howie from the Department of Zoology at Sydney University identified the animal as a labryinthodont, known as Paracyctosaurus Davidi. It measured 3 metres in length and was similar to a crocodile with wide opening jaws which contained very small teeth. The animal had been preserved for 200 million years!

It was believed the animal made the footprints in mud or clay which solidified and eventually filled up with sand and silt. This sand and silt then solidified over the ages. Workmen then removed the earth under the impressions.

Unfortunately the tunnel had to be cemented and once again the footprints disappeared from sight, but not before the university team made recordings for official records.

                                                        Drawing of a labryinthodont

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, July 7 1970 p4

McGill, Jeff  1993
Campbelltown Clippings
Campbelltown: Campbelltown City Council

Miss McGuanne

It was an unusually large gathering at the Town Hall in 1922 when the people of Campbelltown gathered to honour local teacher Miss Catherine (Kate) McGuanne after forty years of service.

Many former students were among the audience that night, remembering their first lessons with Miss McGuanne as well as the “smiling welcome each morning as they came to school” Mayor Hannaford proclaimed that his old friend had “all her life carried out the arduous task of training young minds” so that they could “take their place in the world.”

The evening opened with children singing, the Wattle, and followed by a cup of Camamile tea for which an encore was called.

Born in 1855 to Campbelltown shoemaker, Martin McGaunne (owner of 284-286 Queen Street, McGaunne House) Miss McGuanne began teaching at her own private school located near the Fisher’s Ghost restaurant. In 1894 she was appointed to Campbelltown Public School’s infants department, teaching there some thirty years before her retirement. She wore ‘four different frocks, black, bottle green, grey and mauve, each with high boned collars done up to her throat. Always, she wore a bonnet with an ostrich feather and had a jacket fastened with frogs.’

After being presented with a gold wristlet Miss McGuanne responded she would not lecture or preach as she had done in days of long ago when their childhood hours were her special care. She instead, thanked everyone for ‘this lovely, this very lovely watch’ and was reminded not only of the present time but of past hours of satisfaction, gratification and “sometimes minutes of misery.”

She recalled the stage where she stood now being filled with the ‘creditable’ work of her kindergarten class during an agricultural show. And then of taking 40 children to Sydney for School Sports and though the day was ‘perfect, crowded with scenes of entrancing beauty’ at home-time the tram filled fast, and a boy, little Walter Carey became separated from them. Arriving at the station the tram emptied and ‘joy of joys there was Walter eating an apple.’

Earlier in her career, a young man of 19 arrived at the door of her school room.
           ‘How do you like me in Khaki?’ he asked.
            She admitted to liking him very well but didn’t know who he was.
            ‘I’m Harvey Edmondson. I came from Sydney to say goodbye before I go to the front.’
It was not the last time ‘bronzed and brawny’ lads would seek her out before going off to the Great War but the two she mentioned, Harvey and Willie Rowe are on the honour roll at Campbelltown Public School.

Though many of her ex-students had good memories, John Cheeseman remembers her differently, “Miss McGuanne was a tyrant and I hated her... She would regularly get me carrying her shopping basket after school.’ John would help deliver the groceries to a corner house on the site of Campbelltown Mall today. ‘Her brother was a real sourpuss too! He just grunted.’

Miss McGuanne always set aside time in the morning for a conversation piece where the class would tell her what had happened at home. John reckons she used this time to find out all the gossip of the town.

If John’s recollections’ seem subjective there is another worth mentioning. ‘I was fidgeting with my pencils in the groove of the desk and without warning she brought the cane across my knuckles and broke my finger. It never recovered properly and I shall always have that as a reminder of her.’

I doubt John was at the town hall that night as the musical entertainment resumed - an action song sung by five junior girls ‘dressed as negresses’ but Catherine McGaunne ended her retirement speech, ‘But why linger? The tale is told. My work is finished.’

Miss McGuanne lived out her retirement, ‘in a shady nook of her garden among flowers and books’, dying on the fourth of June, 1946.

                                                             McGuanne House.

Do you have stories of Miss McGaunne? Perhaps your parents shared an anecdote or two. Please, share them with us! 

Article written by M. Sullivan


Sources: Campbelltown and Ingleburn News Sep 8th 1922
Campbelltown and Ingleburn News Oct 21 1980 p13
John Cheeseman Remembers his Childhood Grist mills Vol 4 No2 Campbeltown Public School 1876-1976
Campbelltown Pioneer Register 1800-1900
Campbelltown & World War One 1914-1918 by Jeff McGill.
Campbelltown : the bicentennial history by Carol Liston.

Macarthur Community College Photography Group.

The Macarthur CC Photography Group was formed in late 2009 by Macarthur Community Photography tutor Debra Pearson. Comprised of digital photography students, the newly formed group met monthly to discuss ideas, their work, and photography together. Their first group exhibition “Points of View” debuted at Fairfield City Museum and Gallery in 2011, then traveled to Narellan and Camden Libraries. 2012 saw new student members added to the group, and a second exhibition “Points of View 2” was mounted at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, Fairfield City Chambers, and Campbelltown and Narellan Libraries. The exhibition showcased a variety of styles & interests, as well as individual experiences & cultures. In 2013 www.macphotogroup.org was launched – “Points of View 3- Inspirations Around Us” showed at Fairfield City Museum & Art Gallery, Campbelltown City Library and Narellan Library and members of the group also took photographs for the covers of the Macarthur Community College brochure. This year’s exhibition, “Living Culture”, is currently showing at the H.J. Daley Library Campbelltown until the 28th November. It represents 12 former photography students exploring an individual vision of the Campbelltown and Camden areas. Debra Pearson remains as mentor and co-ordinator of the group. More information about the group can be found at their website www.macphotogroup.org

Written by Claire Lynch Sources www.macphotogroup.org "Living Culture" exhibition, HJ Daley Library

Koshigaya Park: Then and Now

Koshigaya Park was developed from an old paddock originally granted to Joseph Phelps. In the 1930s it was a paddock belonging to Tom Frost who ran a dairy nearby. An aerial photograph of the area taken in 1970 shows a sporting field with a cricket pitch occupying the site. After Campbelltown formed a Sister-City pact with the Japanese city of Koshigaya in 1984, the lovingly landscaped park was named in its honour.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Campbelltown's Sister-City relationship with Koshigaya since it was agreed on in April 1984. An official delegation from the Japanese city led by its mayor is arriving here in early November to join in the celebrations.

The Local Studies team at the library took some then and now photographs of the park. The older photographs were taken in the 1980s. They reveal how much the park has changed in such a short time.

This photograph was taken on 23 February, 1988 (Campbelltown City Council Public Relations Department)

  This photograph was taken on 29th October, 2014 (Campbelltown City Council Library Collection)

This photograph was taken on May 21, 1984 (Campbelltown City Council Public Relations Department)

This photograph was taken on 29th October, 2014 (Campbelltown City Council Library Collection)

 

Chop Jim Crow

This is not from the Campbelltown area but I thought it was worth sharing. The article appeared in the Campbelltown Herald of November 18, 1903.

At Cobar the other day, J. Farrell, six years of age, was playing with a doll, when another boy named Jim Crow tried to chop off the doll's legs, but instead chopped two of Farrell's fingers nearly off.

Imagine poor Farrell having to explain that for the rest of his life.

Written by Andrew Allen

"The Campbelltown Sensation"

"The Campbelltown Sensation" was one of a number of dramatic headlines that filled both local and national papers in the late Autumn of 1905. The small village of Campbelltown was left in shock at the news of the attempted murder of a young woman by a man from a well known and respectable local family. The incident left the community shaken in a way similar to the Richardson-Lack murders 56 years earlier.

On the morning of the 17th of April 1905, shortly after 9am, 20 year old Thomas Oxley Kershler visited the residence of the parents of Maud New, a girl he had been seeing for the past eight months. The house was located in Broughton Street, Campbelltown. Maud was alone at the time in the kitchen attending to the fire when Kershler entered. He first sat on the kitchen table. She said in her evidence in court that she was "suddenly struck across the face with a poker, and, on turning round, saw that the accused's face wore a peculiar expression. He had a horrible look in his eyes, as if he were mad."

Maud quickly ran out of the house but was chased by Kershler and she was hit on the head several times by the poker. Despite her severe injuries, she managed to grab hold of the poker, and got it away, but Kershler secured it again. He hit her again a number of times and she fell to the ground. Whilst on the ground she was struck with a block of wood on the shoulder. She got away again but he caught up with her once more and got her by the throat and tried to choke her. She fell and then Kershler picked up a board with nails on it, but she could not remember if he struck her with it or not. He then picked up an axe which was lying close by. She caught hold of the axe and got it from him and then said "Oh Tom don't kill me: if I am to die, let me die easy."

Thomas Kershler didn't let up. He asked Maud "Have you got any poison?" She replied "Yes in there, behind the door." When he asked her to show him where she replied that she couldn't because she had blood all over her face and couldn't see. Kershler forgot the poison and then asked Maud for the axe back. He then went behind the door of the wash-house, and as he did this Maud ran into the next door neighbour's house. During the whole time she was attacked, Maud kept calling "Help! Help! Murder! Murder!

Thomas Kershler was eventually contained by the neighbours. He was reported to have said "I have done it now. I went off in another of those fits." Kershler was driven into town in his cart and gave himself up to police.

Dr Wilson examined Maud New's injuries. He said that they were dangerous but that she would survive.

Thomas Oxley Kershler was committed for trial at the Criminal Court, Darlinghurst on May 29 for having wounded Maud New with intent to murder her. He was found not guilty on the grounds of insanity at the time he committed the crime. The jury, in returning their verdict, added that, in their opinion, the accused should not be allowed out at large. It was recommended by the Government Medical Officer that Kershler be sent to the appropriate ward in Darlinghurst Gaol and kept under strict observation. His honour then ordered Kershler to be kept in strict custody in Darlinghurst Gaol, pending the Governor's pleasure.

Thomas Oxley Kershler's Gaol Portrait and Description on June 1, 1905 (click on image for a larger version)

Records reveal that Thomas Kershler was released from Darlinghurst Gaol in 1908. He married that same year to Winifred Wilson at Mosman. They had one child named Edwin. In 1924 an item appeared in the NSW Police Gazette: A warrant has been issued by the North Sydney Bench for the arrest of Thomas Oxley Kershler charged with wife desertion. He is 40 years of age, about 5 feet 10 inches high, thin build, fair complexion, fair hair going grey, grey eyes, clean shaven, majority of teeth missing, a carrier. Complainant, Winifred May Kershler, 32 Gerard St, Neutral Bay.

Thomas later got laboring, contracting and storeman jobs around Sydney. His last address was in 1943 at Vaucluse where he was working as a storeman. Later that year or the next he moved to Adelaide with a woman he had been living with. The woman's name was Mary Turner and he had gone into a housekeeping business with her. It was not a particularly harmonious relationship and Mary decided to leave Kershler. On April 11, 1945, the day that Mary broke up with him, Thomas was involved in a melee at Mary's flat in the Adelaide suburb of Norwood. It was the same one that he had been living in with her. Mary's son Lawrence was charged with stabbing Thomas 20 times in the chest with a large sheaf knife when Thomas broke into the flat to retrieve his belongings. Mary Turner was sent to hospital to treat her injuries that she received in the melee. Although both claimed self-defence, Mary at least was found guilty and sent to gaol.

Despite his disturbed past and a life involved with crime, Thomas Oxley Kershler went on to live to the age of 93. He passed away in the Adelaide suburb of Myrtle Bank in 1977. His son Edwin died in Cooma in 1956.

It is unclear what became of Maud New. A search of the Births, Deaths and Marriage records for NSW reveal a Maud New dying in Gunnedah, NSW in 1971. Of all the Maud News that come up in a search for that name, this is the only possibility of being the Maud New that was assaulted in Campbelltown in 1905. Those with the Maud New name that married can all be ruled out for various reasons. It appears that she left the area after the attack.

One can only imagine the horror the families and the Campbelltown community felt at that time. Despite surviving the ferocious attack, poor Maud would have suffered terribly from the memories of that day in Campbelltown for the rest of her life.


Update

This week I serendipitously came across a newspaper item that revealed what became of Maud New. I was checking an unrelated news story and happened to glance at the funeral notices next to it. A September 1961 obituary of a man with the surname New mentioned that he was a sister to a Maud Singleton of Lindesay Street Campbelltown. A check of both siblings parent's names and dates confirmed that this was our Maud and that she was living in Campbelltown! Maud Singleton passed away at Carrington Nursing Home near Camden on 7 September 1981 aged 96. She died five years after Thomas Oxley Kershler who died aged 93. Andrew December 2017.

Update 2

Maud (actual spelling is Maude) was buried at Camden General Cemetery. Her epitath reveals she was referred to as Maunie. She was born on 9 August 1886. Maude married Jim Singleton in the Randwick area in 1911.

Written by Andrew Allen



Sources:

Campbelltown Pioneer Register

NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages website

Campbelltown Herald, 19 April 1905, 7 June 1905

Singleton Argus, 29 April 1905

Adelaide News 15 June 1945

Gaol Description and Entrance Books 1818-1930,
State Archives NSW; Kingswood, New South Wales

Wilson's Butchery

Butchers in front of Wilson's Butcher shop in Queen Street around 1881. The girl on the crutches is Nell Chinooks. (Photo courtesy Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

Wilson's Butcher Shop was originally a weatherboard building constructed by cooper turned butcher Daniel Fowler. It stood between today's old post office building and Dumaresq Street. It was built prior to 1860.

James Wilson worked for Daniel Fowler for 16 years. Wilson emigrated to Melbourne in 1857 from Scotland and two years later moved to Campbelltown. He purchased the butcher shop from Fowler in the mid 1870s and in the late 1880s built a new two-storey shop on the same site. It was at 249 Queen Street. The business thrived and was so successful that James Wilson was able to retire thirteen years later. In 1881 James was referred to as a wholesale and family butcher.

The photograph above shows James Wilson's second butcher shop in about 1890. Pictured from left to right are: Balcony: Helen Wilson (nee Baxter), Nell Gregory, James Wilson; Ground: George Mabbott (below sign), unidentified boy, ? on white horse, Jacob Cook, George Chinnoks, James Hickey, ? on horseback, ? on horseback. Nell Gregory was raised by James Wilson and his wife Helen.

The photo above shows Wilson's Butcher Shop between blacksmith George Mabbot's shop on the southern side and Newling and Walker, cordial manufacturer on the northern side.

James Wilson died in 1912 after suffering from Chronic Bronchitis. He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery at Campbelltown.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

HOLMES, Marie
The Presbyterian Cemetery Campbelltown

Demolished Heritage Buildings of Campbelltown
A Joint Project of Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society and Campbelltown City Council
November 2005

Forty Three Years Ago

By now you are probably aware that South Sydney won their first premiership in 43 years last Sunday (this is a touchy subject for this mad Canterbury Bulldogs supporter). Last week I watched a number of news reports that showed what the country and the world was up to 43 years ago when Souths last won the 1971 premiership. So I thought I would look and see what Campbelltown was up to for the week of the 1971 Grand Final by checking out the Campbelltown Ingleburn News for Tuesday, September 14, 1971.

The front page was dominated by plans for Lend Lease Homes to extend the present Sherwood Hills (now Bradbury) housing project.  Plans for lakes and natural open space were high on the agenda. Also on the front page was a photograph of Jo Meyerink with the mayor of the day Clive Tregear. Jo won the Miss Spirit of Campbelltown contest for 1971. In those days the Fisher's Ghost Festival was held in September. Another heading on the front page talked about a "Record Issue" with the paper proudly announcing that this issue contained a record 44 pages!

A large section of the newspaper was dedicated to the upcoming local government elections. A pre-election round up was provided with each candidate promoting their credentials. One thing that struck me was the number of candidates wearing the typical thick coke bottle glasses of that era! The newspaper took a humorous look at the election with page 12 describing the field for the "1971 Campbelltown Stakes". One such horse was Yvonne Bentley (by Big Effort from Likeable Lass). She was described as a petite filly having her first run in this event.

Also making news was the appointment of B.P. McDonald as the new Town Clerk for Campbelltown Council. Four pages of the paper was given to the 125th anniversary of the Methodist Church in Oxley Street, Campbelltown.

Another headline that jumped out at me was a remark made by a Mr P.H. Morton M.L.A. accusing State Member for Campbelltown Cliff Mallam of being a "first class coward". Morton was annoyed that Mallam "talked about a letter but didn't have the guts to lay it on the table of the house". The matter concerned the sale of Campbelltown Golf Course.

Some of the advertisements are interesting and occasionally amusing. Burrows and Hawthorne Photographers advertised children's portraits in colour for only 48 cents. You could also buy a leg of lamb from Coles New World for $1.59! Or perhaps a tub of Eta margarine for 33 cents.

While Souths were preparing to take on St George that week, a last minute field goal to the Campbelltown Kangaroos at Duguid Oval against the RSL Warriors sent them into the Group 6 Grand Final.

So completed a busy news week in Campbelltown 43 years ago.

"M.A.S.H." Float in Fisher's Ghost Parade on 4 September, 1971 (Hugh Bairnsfather Collection)

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News 14 September, 1971

An Interview with Rita

Queen of Campbelltown Competition, 1922. Rita is the queen seated in the middle of the photograph.

In 1977, 73 year old Rita Brunero gave an interview to the library about her life in Campbelltown. The interview took place at her home at 28 Oxley Street. Rita's interview is one of 119 sound recordings that the library has now digitised and is to be made available on the library's website.

Rita Brunero, formerly Tripp, was born in Campbelltown in 1904, the daughter of Charles and Maria Tripp. Her interview provides an insight into what life was like in Campbelltown for a young girl in the early years of the twentieth century. Campbelltown was then a small village and far enough away from Sydney to be regarded as a country town. Life was simple for a girl like Rita but still full of adventures and memorable moments that she recalled with fondness in her interview in 1977.

Rita was there in 1917 for the "Jack's Day" Regatta on the reservoir in Allman Street. She remembered the day fondly. The navy used it to raise funds for the war effort and people would pay to have a turn on row boats floating on the reservoir. Rita made sure she had a turn on a boat. On that same day her younger sister lost her gold bracelet there and Rita, not knowing she had taken it, was devastated when she found out. The bracelet had been given to her by a young man who went to war. The next morning at 5.30am she went back to the reservoir and found the bracelet in the grass!

She went on to talk about the night that electricity was first turned on in Campbelltown in 1926. (1924 ed.) A large crowd including Rita had gathered at the electricity station in Cordeaux Street for the switching on at 7pm. Her family had left the switches turned on and when they returned home they found their house lit up like a Christmas Tree!

In the interview she talks about her father and how he was a pioneer in developing radio (see my earlier blog post on Charles Tripp). He would get her to test the sound by going into a nearby room or on the verandah. If it worked there would be great excitement in the house.

Rita married Leslie Brunero, an Italian migrant who was to establish a saw mill in Patrick Street. She fondly recalled how handsome he was and how nervous she was that her parents would not allow the couple to marry because of his background. If they had not given permission she would have accepted this, as back in those days one never argued with your parents. Fortunately, they took a liking to the friendly Italian.

I hoped that Rita might have discussed the photo shown above of her as Campbelltown Princess in 1921 but unfortunately she didn't. One can imagine the excitement she would've experienced that day too.

Rita Brunero lived the rest of her years in Campbelltown. She died in 1982 aged 78 and is buried beside her husband in St John's Catholic Cemetery.

Rita's interview and the other 119 sound recordings will, in the near future, join our current oral histories on our website at http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/OralHistories.

I will keep you informed of the project's progress on this blog.

Written by Andrew Allen

The Glenlee Train Accident

There was a crack like a 'gun blast' that was heard from Menangle. It was regarded a miracle that everyone of the 73 passengers escaped. The date was March 27, 1961- a date that would be etched on the memories of all those involved.

The accident at Glenlee occurred when the engine of the second division of the Melbourne express, due in Sydney at 10.55am hit the engine of a goods train hauling coal trucks from a siding. The engine and four leading cars of the express left the rails after travelling some distance. The fact that there was a bank above the line to Sydney which is not level with the line from Sydney, prevented the carriages from falling right over and not a window in the carriages was broken.

The other astounding fact, according to the Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, was that the main section of the express engine remained on the line after hitting the huge Garrett engine so hard that it ripped the side out of the front tank and threw it yards into the mud near the signal box. It was so badly smashed that it had to be dismantled and removed in pieces.

Four ambulances from the Macarthur area were on the scene within ten minutes. Within one hour over 30 civilian and army ambulances were present. Ambulance men treated a dozen or so passengers for bumps and abrasions. A relief train from Campbelltown conveyed the passengers to Sydney.

News reports also described how within an hour of the accident the narrow road leading from Menangle Road to Glenlee siding was jammed with cars. Sightseers swarmed around the damaged trains and police had to keep them away from the railway gangs.

Local photographer Norm Campbell was on the scene immediately to take photographs. Below is one of those images.

Do you recall the accident at Glenlee? Were you one of the sightseers? Please let us know.

Train accident at Glenlee showing Sydney-bound passengers from the second division of the Melbourne Express joining a replacement train to continue their journey to Sydney after collision with a coal train on 27 March 1961

Written by Andrew Allen

Source: Campbelltown-Ingleburn News March 28 and April 4 1961

Southern Queen Street Then and Now

The two images above reveal just how much the southern end of Queen Street has changed in the last 50 years. Both photographs are taken from approximately the same spot- near the exit to Kentucky Fried Chicken. The photograph at the top was taken by local historian Alex Goodsell in the early 1960s. It shows the soon to be demolished Commonwealth Flats in the foreground with the orange roof. The Commonwealth Flats was formerly the Jolly Miller Hotel and then the First and the Last Hotel (see my August 19 post). To the left of the Commonwealth Flats is today's Macarthur Legal Centre building formerly Fieldhouse's Store and later home to the Campbelltown News. Looking in the distance past this building is what used to be known as Miss Raymond's Cottage. It was a timber house with brick nogged walls. It had an attic upstairs that was said to be haunted. This house was pulled down in the early 1980s. It stood where the old pizza hut building and later Anytime Fitness building is today. The petrol bowser on the other side of the road would be where the footpath is in front of the KFC car park shown in the bottom photograph. Note the absence of the telephone poles in the bottom photograph.

Written by Andrew Allen

"Honest John"

The Kidd family at Blair Athol in the 1890s. John Kidd is on the right. (Photo courtesy Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society).


John Kidd was born at Brechin, in Scotland, in 1838, the son of a shoemaker. At the age of 18 he migrated to Sydney on the Mary Anne and established a bakery. In 1860, three years after arriving in the colony, he married Sophie Collier and moved to Campbelltown. Here he established a bakery and general store which he ran from 1860 to 1876.

John soon developed a reputation for honesty which was to last for the rest of his life. It won him many customers for his businesses and later was enough to be asked to run as a candidate for the Legislative Assembly of the NSW Parliament. He became known as "Honest John" in the Campbelltown community.

John was prominent in the Presbyterian Church and later became an elder. He was also involved in the local School of Arts. In 1870 he was appointed a magistrate and served as a chairman of the local licensing branch. He was a foundation member for the Masonic Lodge in Campbelltown and became the first Patron of the Campbelltown Agricultural Society.

After he returned in 1877 from a trip to Scotland, John took up dairying and began to breed Ayrshire cattle. He bought land at St Andrews and Campbellfields to graze the cattle on and by 1900 was one of the largest rate payers in the municipality. He also planted orchards and vineyards on the land.

John Kidd was elected to the seat of Nepean in 1880. In 1901 he was re-elected to the new seat of Camden until his retirement in 1904. John was a strong supporter of Federation and Free Trade.

He was a member for the steering committee to form a new council for Campbelltown and saw the first council incorporated in 1881. He was also asked by the NSW Premier to be Postmaster General in 1891. Kidd also owned the Campbelltown Herald in 1887.

"Honest John" and his family owned Blair Athol homestead built in 1881. They entertained extensively and their home was one of only very few in the district that had a ballroom. The house still stands in the Campbelltown suburb of the same name.

John continued to supervise his farms after his retirement from parliament in 1904 until his death at 81 years of age. Australia's first Prime Minister Edmund Barton said "I always found him to be a loyal colleague and a strictly upright public man". He died on April 8 1919 and was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Campbelltown. John and Sophie had 4 children: Thomas Collier; Jessie Maud; Mary Elizabeth and Frederick Norman John Kidd.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Pamphlet by A. Robinson of Leumeah High School

HOLMES, Marie
The Presbyterian Cemetery Campbelltown

East Minto Public School

Unidentified people beside East Minto Public School in 1920 (Jessie Newham Collection)


East Minto Public School was opened in September 1898 in Hansens Road, East Minto. The School, like other surrounding schools, served children who lived within a 3 mile (5 kilometre) radius.

East Minto was a one-teacher school. The school's first teacher was Cecil George Browning Sutton. He remained at East Minto Public until he retired in 1921 and remained in the district as an active community member until his death in 1951. The altar at St James Minto is dedicated to him.

The next teacher was Percy Kable who also taught at Campbelltown Public School. He was followed by Mr Haines or Pop Haines as he was known. A former pupil by the name of Keith Longhurst remembered him playing cricket and rounders with the children at lunch time. He was regarded fondly by his pupils. A Miss Henderson taught years 1-2 while Mr Haines took 3-6.

Keith Longhurst described his days at East Minto further: "We were taught reading, writing and arithmetic. And I don't mean maybe- we WERE taught. The only thing that spoilt my school life, if any, was that I was shifted from 2nd class to 4th class in one jump and it was a long hop and of course I missed my tables that you had to learn in 3rd class".

In the 1930s the teachers were Mr Edwards and Miss Frost. The school's numbers remained high during this time. Names such as Etchells, Denison, Longhurst, Porter, Johnson and Hansen being prominent.

On October 2, 1947 the school was destroyed by fire. It started in the early morning and destroyed everything except a store-room. As farms had closed down and the population of East Minto had decreased after World War 2, it was decided not to rebuild. Students were being bused to nearby schools after the fire and eventually they would attend a new school at Minto.

East Minto Public School was located on the corner of Hansen's Road and Hereford Place.

East Minto Public School after the fire that destroyed it in 1947 (A.Denison Collection)


Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

FOWLER, Verlie
"Keith Longhurst- his life and times"
In Grist Mills
Vol. 17, No. 3, pp 2-37, November 2004

LISTON, Carol 1988
Campbelltown: The Bicentennial History

History Trivia

Calling all history buffs! Campbelltown City Council Library is celebrating this year’s History Week with a history trivia night at HJ Daley Library on Wednesday September 10 at 6pm. Great prizes to be won and light refreshments will be served. There will be a maximum of 6 people for each team. 

The cost is $10 per person. Bookings are essential on 4645 4436. 

The library is also hosting a display featuring Campbelltown during the war years from 1914 to 1918. Based on this year’s theme of “The Great War” it will feature photographs of Campbelltown during the First World War years as well as personal letters, diaries and other war related memorabilia. The display will capture what life was like for those at the home front. 

 

The library is looking for objects that could be included in our display. This could be clothes, homewares, farming equipment, photographs or every day items from the 1914-1918 period in Campbelltown. In addition to items from the home front, we are also requesting war related memorabillia such as diaries, letters or photographs that could be included in the display.

If you have any items that you would like to lend the library for the display, please contact the library on 4645 4431.

The exhibition will run from September 6 to 14 at H.J. Daley Library.

For more information contact the Local Information Librarian at Campbelltown Library on 4645 4431.

The Jolly Miller

 

 

The Jolly Miller Hotel was built in the late 1840s at the southern end of Queen Street opposite Kendall’s Mill. The hotel was opened by George Fieldhouse who had followed his convict father to New South Wales in 1828. George’s two sons William and Edwin Hallett opened a general store next to the hotel in 1853. This building, which later became the offices for the Campbelltown and Ingleburn News, is still standing opposite McDonald’s restaurant in Queen Street.

George Fieldhouse was the licensee of the Jolly Miller until his death in 1880. An interesting side story regarding George Fieldhouse concerns a visitor to the town in the same year as George’s death. The traveller, a Frederick E Sawyer, noticed George sitting in front of the inn and began to quiz him about his knowledge of Fisher’s Ghost and to show him the spot “immortalized in story, where the ghost of Fisher made its appearance”. To his astonishment Fieldhouse stated most emphatically that there never was a Fisher’s  Ghost  or any other ghost in Campbelltown, at any time or in any place, or under any circumstances! He knew all the parties connected to the story.

 

The Southern end of Queen Street showing Fieldhouse's Store and the Commonwealth Hotel (formerly Jolly Miller Inn) on the right. (Photo courtesy Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society).

After the death of George Fieldhouse the license to the inn passed through a number of hands for the next twenty years. In 1891 it was run by Elizabeth Cooper, Meyer in 1894 and Charles Stanley from 1896 to 1899 and William Day was the proprietor in 1900. That year the application to renew the license was opposed as the inspector ruled that it was not up to the requirements of the Act. The standard of accommodation was not such as the Act provided for. It was deemed “old and unsuitable for present requirements, the sanitary arrangements, ventilation and drainage not being up to date.” The improvements were made and in February 1901 the new proprietor Fred Mulholland applied successfully for a name change and the hotel became the Commonwealth Hotel. A new name and improvements heralded a new beginning for the old hotel.

The hotel was often the scene of various inquests in the early days. Examples of this include the inquest into Elizabeth Walsh’s death written about in my previous blog post. The hotel was in the news in 1904 when a man named Thomas Griffiths committed suicide in a paddock at the rear of the hotel. Thomas was living on the premises at the time.

In 1909 architect Alfred R. Payten designed alterations and additions to the Commonwealth Hotel.

The hotel licenses continued to change hands after the turn of the century with Henry Bridgeland, Helen Hutchison, Mr Reidy and John Williamson owning the hotel between 1912 and 1919. In 1917 Helen Hutchison was taken by surprise when an inspector fined her for remaining open past the allotted hours. A patron was also fined for assaulting and insulting the inspector when he forced the pub to close.

By the 1930s the Commonwealth Hotel was being promoted as the ‘First and Last’ and ‘19^th Hole’- the house where sports meet. The license was transferred to the newly erected Good Intent Hotel in 1939 and the premises were converted to residential use known as the Commonwealth Flats. The building was demolished in the early 1960s. The site today is a vacant block next to the now Macarthur Legal Centre.

Photograph showing the much altered Commonwealth Flats next to Fieldhouse's Store in the early 1960s just before the flats were demolished. (Alex Goodsell Collection).

Written by Andrew Allen

Elizabeth Walsh

I recently came across the following newspaper article from the Sydney Morning Herald dated December 9, 1859: An inquest was held at noon on Tuesday, at the house of Mr Fieldhouse, sign of the Jolly Miller, by Dr Bell, the coroner, on the body of an infant named Elizabeth Walsh, aged one year and eight months. It appeared that on Saturday, the 20th November, the child, who was able to walk about the house, went to the table, and pulled a plate with hot flour and milk, food prepared for her, off it, when the contents went over her face and chest, causing an extensive scald. The burns were deep and they turned gangrenous. Poor Elizabeth died 15 days later on December 5. Dr Bell's verdict was that she "Died from the effects of accidental scalding." Elizabeth would probably have survived today but in the middle of the nineteenth century there was little that Dr Bell could have done to save her life.

Elizabeth was the first of 7 children to John and Mary Walsh. They were married in 1856 at St David's Presbyterian Church in Campbelltown. They later moved to Berrima in the early 1860s.

My next blog post will feature The Jolly Miller Hotel referred to in the inquest above.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 9 December, 1859 page 3

Friends of The Manse

The Presbyterian Manse at 32 Lithgow Street, Campbelltown has been home to Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative (MDSI) since 2008. The building is in urgent need of repairs and the costs for this far exceed the financial resources the MDSI can afford. In June this year MDSI established Friends of The Manse to help and maintain the heritage listed aged care facility. Although repairs and maintenance have been carried out by MDSI, The Manse still requires much more conservation work to be done. You can help by becoming a member and receiving a regular newsletter. Membership is open to individuals and organisations. The aim is to have 200 members by December 2014. More information can be obtained by contacting 4627 1188 or by emailing maureen@mdsi.org.au

The Manse was built in 1882. It's a grand two storey building next to the Presbyteran Church in Lithgow Street.

Unidentified people on the verandah of The Manse around 1900.


Written by Andrew Allen

Dr Mawson

William Mawson was not quite four years old when he came from England, with his parents Robert and Margaret Mawson and his younger brother Douglas, in 1884. The house where the Mawson family settled was in Plumpton. William and Douglas were educated at Woodstock (later Plumpton) Public School, Forest Lodge Superior Public School and Fort Street Model Public School. In their youth, both William and Douglas sang in the choir of St Andrew’s Cathedral.

William entered the Faculty of Medicine at Sydney University graduating with honours in 1904. He then became Resident Medical Officer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. After his residency he practiced in Gundagai from 1906. Dr Mawson brought the first X-ray to be used in country NSW.

Dr William Mawson married Miss Jessie Louise Oliver Davis in 1905. They had three children Robert Windram (Bobbie), Dorothy and Jeanne.

It is recorded that Dr Mawson came to Campbellown in 1908/1909. At this time Dr Mawson was offering honorary medical attendance and assistance to the community. The Campbelltown Bed Endowment and local Relief Fund Committee was formed in 1909 because Dr Mawson wanted to be able to provide free medicines to the needy. Fundraising was ongoing and enabled the Committee to endow a bed at Camden Cottage Hospital and the Campbelltown Cot at Renwick Hospital, Ashfield.  He continued to provide free medical services for those in financial difficulties. Dr Mawson was a member of the British Medical Association and Captain of the A.A.M.C. Reserve.

Dr Mawson bought the medical practice of Dr Dight who was a tenant of Glenalvon in Lithgow Street, Campbelltown in January 1910.  He built ‘Mulwaree’, a house and surgery in Cordeaux Street opposite St Peter’s Anglican Church in 1913.

Dr Mawson and his wife were very active community members. He was a member of the St Peter’s Anglican Church Committee and choirmaster at the church. He was both President and a Trustee of the Campbelltown School of Arts, President of Campbelltown Orchestral and Musical Society and Campbelltown Rifle Club.  Other activities included Vice President of both Campbelltown Agricultural Society and Campbelltown Wallaby Football Club and he was the conductor of Campbelltown Choral Society. Singing was his greatest love.  Dr Mawson was also a lover of animals.  He was particularly fond of a retired trotting horse, named ‘Man Friday’, who was given to Dr Mawson to pull his buggy. The vets had said that ‘Man Friday’ would never race again until the Doctor said that the horse had travelled from Campbelltown to Wollongong in 35 minutes! ‘Man Friday’ was returned to racing and won many more races.

Dr Mawson owned the Millhouse in southern Queen Street and had it converted to the Milby Private Hospital in 1925. Macquarie Theatre was owned by Dr Mawson, some of the sandstock bricks from the mill were reused in the construction of the theatre in 1926. It is said that the doctor wanted to provide a place for the youth of Campbelltown to have fun. The theatre was also used for jazz and old time dancing classes, ballet classes, balls, school speech nights, dance and euchre parties, variety concerts and even auction sales. Dr Mawson lent the Macquarie Theatre free of charge for charitable fund-raising purposes. The Ambulance Benefit night in December 1929, for example, was in support of the Liverpool and District Ambulance which served a vast area of Western Sydney including Campbelltown.

Dr Mawson was held in high esteem amongst the community. His services and contributions to the town must have been unselfish and kind. Full of compassion and drive to achieve the corner stones that communities are made of.

Mawson Park was named in honour of Dr William Mawson in 1937. Included were a pergola, shelter shed and entrance to the park. Two plaques were erected on the pergola: one engraved with ‘Commemorative pergola to William Mawson Esq., M.B. Ch.M’ the other with ‘Erected by the citizens of Campbelltown in appreciation’.

Sadly, in February 1931, Dr Mawson suffered a stroke and was unable to continue his practice. Therefore he retired and a social event at the Town Hall on the 24^th July 1931 was held in honour of Dr Mawson and his wife.

Late in November of 1936 news came that Dr Mawson was a patient in Gloucester House, R.P.A. Hospital.

Dr William Mawson passed away at his then home in Turramurra on 4^th June 1939. He is buried in St Peter’s Anglican Cemetery, Campbelltown.

By Cathy Mitford

Crowds gathered to witness the unveiling of the memorial to Dr William Mawson in Mawson Park, Campbelltown 1929-30.

 

Grist Mills Vol.15 No.2  July 2002.      History of  Mawson Park.  By E.J.McBarron

More Aerials

I recently posted about the library acquiring copies of aerial photographs from the collection of Peter and Marie Thomson formerly of St Andrews farm. Peter was an amateur pilot and during the 1960s and early 1970s would take Marie with him to shoot aerial photographs from his plane.

Aerial photographs are excellent for comparing the landscape of a location over periods of time. I thought I would show two more aerial photographs from Peter and Marie's collection. For more aerials of the area or any other historical images from Campbelltown's past, go to our Our Past in Pictures at http://pictures.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/OPIP/scripts/home.asp

The above shot is of St Andrews farm. In the background is Campbelltown Road intersecting with St Andrews Road. The house in the background belonged to sculptor Tom Bass who died in 2010. Aberdeen Road now runs through where the outbuildings are behind the house on St Andrews farm. The photo was taken in 1960.

 

 

This image is of Mt St Joseph in today's suburb of Eagle Vale. This building is now Odyssey House in Moonstone Place. The main building is all that's left from the original farm and then monastery that can be seen in the photo. The buildings were demolished after the land was subdivided in the 1980s. The small unusual building in the foreground was a lacrosse court according to the Thomsons. The aerial shot was taken in April 1970. (Remember to click on images for a larger version).

Written by Andrew Allen

The Campbelltown Convicts

Our local studies section recently acquired a copy of Peter Hind's fantastic new book The Campbelltown Convicts. It's a must read for those with an interest in Australian history and in particularly our convict past.

On 19 March 1818, a young man called John Champley was committed to the House of Correction in Beverley, Yorkshire, England, for two years’ hard labour. He had been convicted of being a party to the theft of eighty pounds of butt leather in Pocklington on 13 December 1817.

Four months later, after an attempted escape from the House of Correction, he was sentenced to transportation to one of His Majesty’s ‘Plantations or Colonies abroad’.

Champley arrived in the penal colony of Sydney Cove on Thursday 7 October 1819 and was assigned to a shoemaker at Parramatta. After receiving his freedom in May 1826, Champley left Parramatta – with the shoemaker’s wife.

Early in 1829, Champley and his family left Sydney to live at Bong Bong. In February 1830, following a robbery at the nearby Oldbury estate, Champley and his two alleged accomplices, John Yates and Joseph Shelvey, were sentenced to death at Campbelltown. They were saved from the gallows upon appeal by their barrister and their death penalties commuted to ‘life and hard labour in irons’. Champley and Shelvey were sent to Norfolk Island, and Yates to Moreton Bay.

About a year later, two captured bushrangers from Jack Donohoe’s gang made confessions concerning the robbery and Champley, Shelvey and Yates were brought home and pardoned. However, the trial and incarceration had by now reduced their lives from one of hope to one of despair.

~~~

Many Australians now take great pride in tracing their convict heritage, but this has not always been the case. Historically governments destroyed convict records and families kept their offspring in the dark about their convict ancestry which has made it difficult to establish the true stories of these convicts.

The backdrop to this story is the slavery of the convict system in New South Wales with the terror of the penal settlements of Norfolk Island and Moreton Bay.

Under this evil system excessive floggings were handed out by the magistrates. The floggings and starvation drove many convicts to abscond and take to the bush to become bushrangers. Even when the convicts were emancipated they were still treated as second class citizens.

This book serves to record as many facts and details as possible of one story from this tragic period in our country’s history. It is a timely reminder that compassion and authority do not always go hand in hand.

Written by Andrew Allen

A Distinguished Geologist

Few people from Campbelltown have made as much impact on the world as geologist Sam Carey. Carey was influential in the world of geology as an early advocate of continental drift and later plate tectonics. He became founding Professor of Geology at the University of Tasmania for 30 years from 1946 to 1976 and continued his vigorous belief in Earth expansion as an explanation for what he observed in his studies of continental drift.

Samuel Warren Carey was born was born on 1 November 1911 at Campbelltown to Tasman George and Hannah Elspeth Carey. He was born at home with his father and a neighbour in attendance, several days after his mother was thrown from a sulky when the horse bolted. The family had built a small stone cottage on a 4 ha farm on the Georges River. His name was chosen by his father to honour his own father. He was the third of six surviving children in a family of nine. As primary school students at Campbelltown, he and his siblings had to walk the five kilometres to school whatever the weather or their state of health. When he was six or seven years of age, the family moved to Campbelltown where his father had a job as typesetter for a local newspaper.

Sam later attended high school at Canterbury where he was strongly influenced by his teachers. After completing high school he enrolled at the University of Sydney.

The people of Campbelltown took a keen interest in his academic development. An article in the Campbelltown Ingleburn News in 1933 talks about the 'success of a Campbelltown native' and how he received 6 scholarships in 5 years. It proudly went on to list all Carey's achievements up to that time.

Professor Sam Carey received a DSc from the University of Sydney in 1939 for his work on the tectonic evolution of New Guinea and Melanesia. He worked in the petroleum industry in New Guinea and then served with the Australian Infantry Forces from 1942-44.

Carey supported the theory of continental drift, explaining the movement of the continents through a model in which oceanic crust was formed at mid-ocean ridges and old oceanic crust underwent subduction at deep ocean trenches. The University of Tasmania became a leading university in tectonics and in 1957 he organised the Continental Drift Symposium, which influenced many scientists about the importance of continental drift.

Following his retirement from the University of Tasmania in 1976 Sam Carey was awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to the field of geology. He continued to support and investigate expanding earth models up until his death in 2002 aged 90.

 

 

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown Ingleburn News 23rd June 1933

Australian Academy of Science website at http://www.sciencearchive.org.au/scientists/interviews/c/sc.html