In Memory of Violet

Occasionally in my research I stumble upon a story that tugs at the heartstrings. One such story was an accident that occurred at the St Andrews farm at Minto almost one hundred years ago.

On the afternoon of 10 May 1923, Phillip Gray was cutting chaff on the farm at St Andrews, assisted by his two sons. The chaff cutter was a horse-driven machine, and whilst engaged in the work five-year old Violet Gray walked into the shed without being seen by her father. Phillip was busy working the chaff cutter at the time. Violet reached across for a bag near the chaff cutter. Her frock was caught in the driving-wheel of the machine, and she was hurled around several times before her father was able to stop the machine. Poor Violet's head was injured too severely to be saved by the doctor and she died a few minutes after his arrival.

The Gray's had recently moved from near Robertson in the Southern Highlands. Violet was born at Kangaloon near Robertson in 1917. She was the second youngest of nine children born to Phillip and Ellie (nee Papworth). Phillip died in Iolanthe Street, Campbelltown in 1932 and Ellie died in 1964. All three are buried in St Peter's Cemetery in Campbelltown.

Violet's grave in St Peter's Anglican Cemetery. The dates for Violet are incorrect. She was born in 1917 and died in 1923. Her father Phillip died in 1932 and not 1930 and he was born in 1878 and not 1874.

 St Andrews Farm in the 1960s- scene of Violet Gray's accident in 1923. (Thomson Collection)

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Sydney Morning Herald, 11 May 1923, p12

Campbelltown Federation Register 1900-1920, 2008
Campbelltown District Family History Society Inc.

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

Farmland Before The Urban Sprawl

Last week Campbelltown Library was generously given access to a large number of photographs from the collection of Peter and Marie Thomson. The Thomsons lived on the St Andrews property in the suburb of the same name. The homestead and its outbuildings located in Shiel Place are likely to be the oldest constructions in the Campbelltown Local Government Area. They possibly date from as early as 1810.

Most of the photographs from the collection are aerial shots taken by Marie as Peter flew his aircraft. They are of the land surrounding St Andrews farm and show Campbelltown, Raby and St Andrews Roads in the early 1960s. There are also aerial shots of Minto and Campbelltown from the same period. It's amazing to see how much has changed in the photographs in such a short time and compared with today's same scene.

I have chosen two photographs from the collection to show. Both scenes are virtually unrecognisable today.

This aerial photograph taken in the early 1960s is of Eschol Park House and its surrounding buildings. The road that runs behind the buildings and across the photo is Raby Road. Where the road changes to run in a straight direction is about where the large roundabout that leads to Eagle Vale Drive is today. The dams and creek have disappeared and are now where the Eschol Park Sports Complex is. The Eagle Vale Shopping Centre would be behind the last dam on the right of the photograph in the middle. (click on the image for a larger version)

This aerial photograph above is of Hannaford's Farm on Campbelltown Road. To get an idea of where this is, you can just make out the turnoff to the left that is Raby Road just after the house. The sight of Hannaford's Farm and house is now developed with housing in the suburb of St Andrews. In the background is Minto. The photograph was taken in 1960. (click on the image for a larger version)

Written by Andrew Allen