Christmas Comforts

Norman Gamble was born into a household where tales of duty and Empire were common. His father, Tom Gamble, the mayor of Campbelltown for two years in the l890’s, had arranged recruitment rallies for the Boer War and gave rousing patriotic speeches. Thus it came as no surprise that with the outbreak of World War I, Tom’s sons would enlist. Roy was rejected on medical grounds, but his brothers Norman and Leo enlisted in 1915 and 1916 respectively.

Norman served in Gallipoli and France. At Christmas time, any reminder of home would have been a comfort to the soldiers. Helping to send Christmas cheer was the Campbelltown Comforts Fund Committee, part of the Australian Comforts Fund.  Mainly run by women, they provided and distributed free comforts to the Australian fighting men in all the battle zones. Norman wrote in a letter to his mother “I received a beautiful parcel from the Campbelltown Christmas Gift Committee, which contained everything a soldier could wish for.”

Among the items were tobacco, soap, plum pudding, sardines, camp pie, pencils, cocoa and socks. 

Campbelltown Comforts Fund Committee on the side verandah of Campbelltown's first post office packing parcels for Australian troops overseas during World War I (Reproduction rights W.Wilkinson)

Written by Claire Lynch

Sources:

Trove

National Archives of Australia website

NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages

First Citizen by Jeff McGill

Dodging a Bullet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Written by Andrew Allen

The Clayton Sisters – Part 2

Further to the previous blog “The Clayton Sisters”, more information has come to light about this endearing pair.

Miss Margaret Jane Clayton was born in 1851 at Gunning, and her sister Miss Ultima Clayton in 1853, (also probably at Gunning), New South Wales. They were the youngest daughters of Dr Benjamin Clayton and Frances Broughton, and the grand-daughters of Commissary General William Broughton, First Fleeter and one time governor of Tasmania, who had a grant of a thousand acres at Appin.

Their father, Dr Benjamin Clayton, was for many years the only doctor between Yass and Goulburn. He had built a beautiful two storey home in Gunning, which he named “Baltinglass” after the town he came from in Ireland.  He established flocks and herds, experimented in grape growing and wine making, kept bees, and bred racehorses.  In 1853 he suddenly decided to leave Gunning, and it was sold for 5,500 pounds. He purchased a farm at Appin called “Rockwood” near William Broughton’s property. Sadly, Dr Clayton died in 1854. The girls and other members of the family went to live permanently at Appin. Frances was now a wealthy widow, and lived until the age of 79.

It is here the trail runs cold, but we pick the sisters’ story up again at the end of the World War I.

It is reported that they traveled the world for two years, and on their return, engaged a suite of private rooms at the Campbelltown Club Hotel. The Electoral Roll describes them as being of “independent means”.  The sisters were known for their kindness and generosity, giving charitable assistance to anyone that might need it. They quietly went about making contributions and giving monetary assistance to friends and relatives, assisting those in need. They actively sought out people needing help. They were true philanthropists. 

They lived at the hotel until Margaret died in 1932 in Milby Hospital. Ultima then moved to Minto to her brother Bland’s residence - “Weerona”. After Bland passed away in February of 1936, Ultima collapsed with grief, and passed away shortly after. Both sisters were laid to rest in St Peter’s Church. 

Written by Claire Lynch

Sources

Trove

Chronicles of Appin, NSW - Syd Percival 1992

William Broughton and the Kennedy Connection – Margaret Carty 1987

The Clayton Sisters

The library recently came into the possession of some fascinating photographs. They have been shared with us by the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society and were donated to them by Michael Clayton from Young.

The photographs are taken in 1926. They show two unmarried sisters named Clayton who were living at the Club Hotel at the time as well as members of their family who were on a family visit. Some of the shots are of locations nearby. I personally like the one of the two sisters in the garden at the back of the bank all dressed up and posing in their finest attire.

I find it fascinating that two spinster sisters would choose to live together at a country hotel- something that belongs to a bygone era I guess. I wonder what became of the Clayton sisters?

The Club Hotel was on the corner of Queen and Cordeaux Streets. It was demolished in 1986.

Club Hotel 1926

 

Club Hotel 1926

 

 

Margaret, one of the resident sisters, with Jess and Ellen on the veranda, Club Hotel

 

 

Margaret and Ultima on the veranda

 

 

Bland Clayton visiting his sisters

 

 

Sisters in the garden at the back of the Bank of NSW. Photo taken by Mr Brown the Bank Manager.

 

 

Clayton sisters at the top end of Mawson Park with St Peter's Church in the background.

 

 

Colleen on swing, aged 4, niece of Ben Clayton. Photo taken by Ultima in Mawson Park with St Peter's Church in the background

 

 

Clayton family

The Eye Stopper

Earlier this year I wrote about Tom Cooper from Menangle Park under the title 'A Man of Colours'. Tom was a colourful character in more ways than one. I recommend that you read this short post again to remind yourself of this remarkable man. This background on Tom will help when reading the following blog post. Here is the post from earlier this year:

http://campbelltown-library.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Cooper%20Tom

Thanks to local history enthusiast Garry Seddon, I am able to reveal much more about Tom Cooper. In the 1963-64 winter edition of The Literary Review, Menangle local Melva Thomas published an article on Tom Cooper titled The Eye Stopper. Garry was able to provide me with a copy of this article which also includes a photograph of Tom. Melva was Tom's neighbour at Menangle Park and one of the few neighbours, if not the only neighbour, who accepted Tom's eccentric way of life.

Instead of attempting to summarise the article I thought I would include it here in full. The article is quite long but I assure you it's well worth taking the time to read. It gives a wonderful insight into the life of such a beautiful character from our area's past. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did and I would love to know your thoughts.

Click on the Tom Cooper link below:

Tom Cooper


Written by Andrew Allen

Outfoxed by Alf

I came across this photograph from our collection whilst doing research for a client. Thinking it would be useful for the what I needed, I enthusiastically included it in my package of information for my enquirer. As you can see the photograph shows a fox peering down a rabbit hole waiting patiently for his next meal. Or does it?

Alf Longhurst took the photograph around 1940, presumably on his land at Eagleview Road in Leumeah. He lived on Eagleview Road on a ten acre block with his wife Maud.

It seems Alf possessed a great sense of humour. The fox in the photograph is actually dead and the "rabbit hole" was dug with a shovel! So much for my accurate search.

Alf was also a well known breeder of dogs, especially fox terriers. He used his dogs to hunt along the Georges River. The photograph below shows some of these dogs.

Written by Andrew Allen

The Big Gun

If you’ve ever been to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra you’ve probably noticed this gun on display (see below).

 

 

This is the same gun that caused great excitement in Campbelltown when it stopped at the train station on its way to Canberra in May 1923. No doubt the heading on the front page of the Campbelltown News which read ‘The Big Gun’ caught the town’s attention. We know this because the following edition described how “the platform was besieged with children, and a goodly number of adults.” It was at 7.50am on a Wednesday, so the children were on their way to school.

 

The 'Amiens Gun' (William Bayley Collection)

 

This German railway gun, often referred to as the ‘Amiens Gun’, was captured at Guillecourt on August 9, 1918 as a war trophy by Australian Engineers, the day following the battle of Villiers Brettoneaux. It was transported to Australia and was exhibited at Central Railway Station until it was moved to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The Amiens gun barrel weighs 45 tons. It was originally a German naval gun, until it was modified to be used as a railway gun during the war. The gun’s carriage was eventually destroyed however the barrel remains intact.

The gun stopped at Campbelltown station for inspection for only 10 minutes.

 

 

The Amiens Gun after its capture in France in 1918

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown News, May 11 &18 1923

Budbury

Described by William Macarthur as a fine warrior , 'a brave man and a quiet one too', Budbury was also highly respected for his efforts to maintain peaceful relations between the early settlers and the aborigines in the early part of the 1800s. He is remembered with pride among the descendants of the local Dharawal people.

Budbury and his wife Mary were part of a group whom Macquarie met in the Cowpastures in 1810. He was one of the guides who accompanied John Warby in search of outlawed aborigines in 1814. Budbury was to develop a strong friendship with Warby.

It was in 1814 as a guide for John Warby that he succeeded in capturing one of the colony's most feared bushrangers, Patrick Collins. This stunned officials who were determined to bring Collins to justice. Budbury was warmly praised for his efforts and immediately won respect from the white population.

Budbury acted as both a peacemaker and interpreter between the white settlers and blacks. Although he was friendly towards the settlers, he was in danger as not all of them could identify him. An example of this hostility from a terrified settler prompted Charles Throsby to write a letter to the Sydney Gazette expressing his concerns for Budbury.

Budbury acted as one of the guides for Captain John Wallis on his punitive expedition to the district of Airds and Appin in 1816. This was on the orders of Governor Macquarie. Budbury was an unwilling guide as was John Warby, who also acted as a guide. Warby secretly let Budbury and his other guide Bundle escape, to the fury of Captain Wallis.

By 1821, Budbury was regarded as the leader of the Cowpasture people. He was always linked with the Macarthurs and Camden estate and also lived there. A paddock on the estate was known as Budbury's.

Records mention his name throughout the 1830s and 1840s and even as late as 1859, where he is listed in the electoral rolls as a labourer on Camden estate. A 'John Budberry' is recorded as being baptised at Camden in 1842. It's believed he lived until about 1860.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Liston, Carol 1988
The Dharawal and Gandangara in Colonial Campbelltown, New South Wales, 1788-1830
In Aboriginal History Vol 12, No.1

McGill, Jeff 1993
Campbelltown Clippings

More Rare Photographs

The library has purchased the remaining rare historical photographs of Campbelltown places from the State Library of Victoria (see http://campbelltown-library.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/historic-photographs-unearthed.html). It's exciting to be able to show these wonderful old images to you at a high resolution. So here they are! Remember to click on the image for a larger one.

This photograph has the title of "One of the 1st Mills in the Colony Erected about 1817". The mill was actually erected in 1845 by Laurence Kendall and William Orr. It operated as a steam-driven flour mill. In 1861 Sims, Barker and Bocking leased the mill. James Bocking later purchased the property and it became Commerce House. Bocking and his sons used it as a grocer, baker, draper and general store.

Dr William Mawson demolished the mill in the 1920s and converted the adjoining mill house into Milby Private Hospital.

This scene has changed dramatically. The only structure remaining is the now dilapidated old Fisher's Ghost Restaurant, the former mill house. The waterway now runs underground close to where McDonald's drive through is now located. It once ran under a bridge that spanned Queen Street in front of today's entrance to Campbelltown Mall's underground car park. The photo is dated 1924.

This image has the title of "Old Mill at Mt Gilead, Campbelltown". Note the man sitting in the window at the bottom. The wooden sails have almost gone. This shot was taken in 1924, almost a hundred years after it was constructed. The windmill still stands today on the property and can be seen from Appin Road.

This one is of St Peter's Church of England taken on April 4, 1940. On the western side of the church is Howe Street which used to run from Browne Street to Cordeaux Street. It was removed in late 1969 and grass laid on it for an extension of Mawson Park.

The title of this photo really intrigued me when I first read it. It's titled "Convict Gaol at Mt Gilead Near Campbelltown" and taken in 1925. I had never heard of a gaol at Mt Gilead and wondered why it was there. After doing some research I believe the photograph could be the old servant's barracks. In the July 1994 issue of Grist Mills, Verlie Fowler refers to a photograph taken by Frank Walker entitled "the old barracks, used for accommodation of the assigned servants in the early days". It showed the building without a roof like this one. Is this Walker's actual photograph? She did, however, state that evidence had yet to be found to support this being a barracks.

Written by Andrew Allen

Lost but not forgotten...

During the era of silent films, Raymond Longford, a prolific director, writer, actor and producer, and Lottie Lyell, regarded as Australia’s first film star, formed a production company. (Longford had directed  “The Sentimental Bloke”,  generally considered to be the finest silent Australian film.)  In May 1922, Longford-Lyell Australian Productions was launched, with initial capital of 50,000 pounds. Sadly, the backers of the company did not wish to remain in production, and liquidated the company, but Longford and Lyell persisted as independents with Longford-Lyell Productions. The first film made by the new company was “Fisher’s Ghost”!! Made in 1924 on a budget of 1000 pounds, the film was rejected by the Australasian Films-Union Theatres combine, on the basis it was “too gruesome”, and so Longford sold it outright to Hoyts for 30 pounds for a one week season.  It was belatedly released in October 1924, with the magazine “Everyone’s – Incorporating Australian Variety and Show World” saying of the film – “we desire to point out that, having in view the limited capital at the disposal of the producer, we have every cause to congratulate him on having made a most entertaining story out of one of the most astounding tragedies in the history of Australia”. The film was also shown in England and Scotland, to great acclaim.

Sadly, despite much searching and investigation, from Australia, to Britain, to America, no copy of the film “Fisher’s Ghost” has ever been found. How wonderful it would be if a copy were to finally come to light!

Written by Claire Lynch

 Sources:

Local Studies Pamphlet Files

“Australian Cinema : the first eighty years”  by Graham Shirley and Brian Adams 1983