I recently wrote an article for Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society's journal
Grist Mills on the Tripp family of Campbelltown. The Tripps are probably best known for their garage that once stood on the corner of Queen and Dumaresq Street. Tragedy struck this family one Summer day in 1900 when young Austin drowned in the Nepean River at Menangle. The following is an extract taken from my article about Austin Tripp and what happened on that awful day at Menangle.
Charles and Phillis Tripp’s second child
was James Austin, who used Austin as his name. He was born in 1883. Austin was
a bright, talented and popular boy who suffered from a speech impediment.
The Freeman’s Journal of 2 July, 1898
wrote about a school concert at St. Patrick’s that Austin performed at. It
described how “Master Austin Tripp fairly
brought down the house with his comic song, The Broken-Down Masher, his
‘get-up’ was perfect, and the enthusiastic encore he received was fully
deserved”.
Austin again made the news a month
later, however this time the news was not as happy. On 1 August an accident
occurred in Queen Street in the vicinity of Mrs W.W. Lees’ store. The horse and
sulky owned by Mrs Fowler was standing by, when Austin rolled the wheel of a
vehicle up the street. The horse took fright and bolted, striking another
conveyance owned by Rev. J. Ashmead with considerable force. Miss Ashmead was
thrown out of the vehicle but was not seriously injured. The sulky was badly
damaged.
Austin’s bad luck continued in February
1900 but this time it proved fatal. He was 16 years and 9 months when, on
Saturday the 3rd February 1900, he went with his father Charles and a man named
Harold Brown at Menangle to fish on the river. They stayed there all night,
intending to return home about 9 o’clock next morning. At about 8.15am the next
morning Austin joined his father and Brown for a swim in the river. Austin
could not swim, so he paddled out in shallow water for about 5 minutes. He went
too far however, entering a spot where the river suddenly drops into deep
water. Charles was about 20 yards from him and could see his son struggling. He
swam across as fast as possible to assist him and by the time he got there he
was sinking. He managed to grasp him but they both sank after Austin grabbed
his father around the neck and arms. Charles then freed himself, came up to the
surface, and again went down, but could not reach him. Brown helped in the
search but they could not locate Austin.
After searching for about a half an hour
and assisted by two other people nearby, Charles came into Campbelltown and
informed the police. Constable Loomes and numerous others journeyed to the spot
where the body was recovered at 3.30pm.
News of the disaster reached the town
shortly before 11am on that fateful Sunday morning. It was a devastating blow
to the people of Campbelltown. Austin was held in high regard and Father Dunne
spoke to his congregation about his splendid character.
Austin’s body was brought back to Campbelltown
on a wagon. He was buried the following day in St John’s Cemetery. The grief
suffered by Charles and his young family would have been unbearable. It was
theorised by Harold Brown that Austin didn’t call for assistance because of his
speech impediment.
Austin's grave in Campbelltown's St John's Catholic Cemetery
My article and other articles from Grist Mills can be purchased from the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society at 8 Lithgow Street, Campbelltown. Alternatively, they can be viewed in the local studies room at Campbelltown Library.
Written by Andrew Allen
