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