Mayhem in the Main Street

Driving down Queen Street today is an exercise in patience. The battle for the elusive parking spot, traffic lights and speed limits make the journey down Campbelltown's main thoroughfare a painstaking one. The result is very few accidents; something that was not always the case in years gone by. One of the first fatalities resulting from an accident in Queen Street was the death of Thomas Hyndes. On the evening of Sunday, 19 July 1846, Thomas Hyndes was riding with three companions down Queen Street. When he got to the courthouse (site of present courthouse) he started to ride at a furious pace and when he got to opposite the King's Arms (site of present First Nation Real Estate on corner of Queen and Cordeaux Streets) he was thrown from his horse and killed instantly.

Truck and trailer bogged in front of Wilkinson's plumbing business in Queen Street 1926-1932. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society)

On 1 August 1898, an accident occurred in Queen Street in the vicinity of W.W. Lee's store. A horse and sulky owned by Mrs Fowler was standing by, when young Austin Tripp 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.

A fatal accident occurred in 1926 when James Carroll was driving a horse attached to a sulky along Queen Street when a shaft broke, causing the horse to bolt. The runaway horse and sulky crashed into a cart driven by Aby Adams driving in the same direction. A shaft from the sulky penetrated the rear of the car and went through the lungs of John Adams, the father of the driver. He was rushed to hospital but died soon after.

By the early 1920s, the main street was becoming a dangerous place to navigate. Cattle were still being driven down the street by drovers. A couple of accidents prompted the Council to change the stock route to surrounding streets. Two of these incidents happened in 1921, with one fatal. A young girl was struck in Queen Street by cattle and knocked over, injuring herself. Another accident was fatal. Chun Yueon was killed by a cow that charged at him on Menangle Road near the southern end of Queen Street. Although not in the main street, this accident resulted in the coroner recommending that Council have proper times and stock routes for droving cattle. This lead to a change from droving cattle down Queen Street to running them down surrounding streets, thus avoiding the busy main street. The route was changed a few years later after the Inspector of Nuisances was harrassed by drovers claiming the old stock route was to difficult to navigate. Accidents in Queen Street kept occurring up until 1947. Mary Loftus was desribed as being "hale and hearty" for her age, 75, when a tragic accident took her life. Stepping off the footpath in Queen Street on Christmas Eve at about 8pm, Mary was struck by a truck and fatally injured. She was taken to Camden Hospital where she died not long after. The driver was later cleared of manslaughter.

Written by Andrew Allen

A "Titus Oates" tale

We have written about Titus Oates in a previous blog, pilot, adventurer, and publican of the Good Intent Hotel. Recently we received a fantastic story from Fiona Lennon, which we share below.

“I have sent this article to you as it’s part of my family folklore. Back in 1951 my mother Connie Thallon and her best friend Joan (both mid 20s) were trying to get back to Melbourne from London. They didn’t have enough money for a commercial flight so had a problem. Somewhere they met Titus and he offered them a passage back at the back of the crop duster. I believe one passenger for each plane. My mum who sadly has now passed away, recalled being cramped for hours and hours on the flight and her recollection was actually being shot at by soldiers on the ground over some country .

As I’m moving house I only today came across these in an old album of hers I hadn’t seen for years and then googled Titus. He sounded like a hero in my mother’s eyes. Anyway, just thought you might find this piece of interest. My mother is in the foreground of the photo. I’m not sure who is next to her friend Joan? Maybe Titus?” 

The newspaper clipping that accompanied the photo confirms that indeed, Squadron Leader ‘Titus’ Oates and Flight Lieutenant ‘Wac’ Whiteman flew from London to Australia in two crop dusters, known as EP-9s, delivering them safely to Bankstown Aerodrome. The aircraft struck ‘plenty of obstruction and hostility on the ground in Syria, India, Burma and Indonesia’ and the journey took a month! What an amazing adventure for Connie and Joan! Thank you Fiona for sharing this wonderful part of your mother Connie’s life.

Perfect Pictures

In 1995, Campbelltown City Library applied for, and received a grant for the digitisation of its large collection of historical photographs. The project would be undertaken in collaboration with the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society. This project would make the images much more accessible and students, local history and genealogy enthusiasts, the general public, and library staff would all benefit from it. After tenders in 1996, the project was awarded to Search Tech, who installed and set up its Perfect Pictures photographic database, and trained staff in its usage. Assistance was given by local historians and photographers including Marie Holmes, Stella Vernon, Verlie Fowler and Norm Campbell in identifying subjects in images. Search Tech also did the initial scanning and entered around 5000 images into the database which were then catalogued by library staff. The database finally became available to the public in April 1997. Initially held on CD Rom, the update of the collection was made to a web version of Perfect Pictures in 1999, and a further 1500 pictures scanned and entered. In History Week, September 1999, the web version of the “Campbelltown: Our Past in Pictures” database was launched with guest speaker Dr Carol Liston. Since this time the numbers of images have grown to around 10,000, and the database continues to grow in size. From humble beginnings, our photographic collection has become a valuable resource that anyone can access from the internet. The very first photo on the database – number 000000 - shown below, is an aerial photo of the Council Precinct.

Written by Claire Lynch, Sources - Library records

"Train whistle blowing"

William G. Tallentire was born 1856 at Patricks Plains, an area in the Hunter district.

He married his first wife, Alice Thomas in 1879 and they had one child, then moved to Campbelltown and had 3 more children. William was employed as a train driver at Campbelltown and by 1894 his salary was 13 shillings a day.

Group of men in front of Camden train with "The Teapot" ( Engine No. 293). 

William Tallentire is on the far right in front of the engine. Photo - CAHS, Norm Campbell

Alice died in 1890 and William then married Hannah Clark in Campbelltown. They had three children together. The family remained in Campbelltown and lived in Patrick Street.  William was a church warden of St Peter’s. He was well known and well liked in the community.
William’s obituary mentions that in his early years he came to Camden to install machinery at Camden Park for Macarthur-Onslow. After becoming a train driver he drove the first train from Campbelltown to Camden and was a regular driver on this route.

William moved to Fairfield in about 1924. He died in 1939, and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery. 

Written by Claire Lynch

Sources

Trove

NSW BDM

Library Photo Database

Cora Lynn

Cora Lynn once stood at the end of Douglas Boulevard in Ingleburn. The site is now part of Symonds Reserve. It was one of many lovely old houses sadly demolished in Ingleburn.

The building was originally a Cobb & Co Coach stop. It was built in 1890 by Thomas Townsend, after he purchased the block of land from the Redfern Estates. The house was made of brick and the roof was of galvanised iron painted in stripes. The house looked like it could have been transported straight from the suburb of Redfern, as it was similar to terrace houses of the inner city. It was like there was two semi-detached houses put together.

Thomas Townsend opened a general store and later also sold wine. In the middle of the shop was a trapdoor that lead to a type of cellar for the wine. He later bought the adjoining land and on this he established an orchard and vineyard.

At the end of the house was a big room that Townsend later added on. In an interview that Florence Allen gave in 1979, she described how the room was used as a dance hall. Because of this it was sometimes called The Club. As well as dances, the room was used for surprise parties and large gatherings of people. This was in the days that Robert Allen and his large family lived there.  When the property was sold in 1909, it was bought by Thomas Marks who sold it to Charles Symonds. It remained in the Symonds family until it was subdivided by Jack Symonds in the late 1970s. The house was still standing in 1979, although it had almost fallen down and was derelict.  

Cora Lynn taken in 1977

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

KERR, David

Old Ingleburn in Grist Mills: Journal of Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

Vol. 21, No. 1, March 2008, pp1-20

Florence Allen oral history interview, November 1979, held at Campbelltown Library.

We Can Help the Lockdown Blues!

All of us at Campbelltown Library are missing our wonderful customers. We know lockdown is difficult for most people. For all those who love their history- and we know there are many of you- we have tried to ease the lockdown blues with some exciting online initiatives. 

History Week this year is the first week of September and we are planning an online walking tour. In line with On Q and the revitalisation of Queen Street, we will feature ten buildings that once stood along the main street. These buildings range from iconic hotels to general stores that were an institution in Campbelltown for many years. When restrictions eventually lift, participants in the tour will be able to access these buildings from the past using QR codes attached to the existing building on the site of the old.

Keep an eye on the library's social media platforms. Besides our ever popular Flashback Fridays, we are featuring a new regular post every Wednesday. History Happened Here will provide you with a story about a site in Campbelltown with an accompanying photograph. Check out the first post on the library's Facebook about the Harrow pub and how it became etched in Campbelltown's folklore.

Do you think you are a local history genius? Another social media activity we are about to reveal is a local history trivia quiz. Watch out for this on our social media platforms very soon.

We always welcome your feedback about any of our history features. Your responses often bring our attention to something we had not previously realised or were aware of.

Stay tuned also for some interesting History Buff posts!

Cora Lynn once stood in Douglas Avenue, Ingleburn. Read more about it in our next History Buff post.

Written by Andrew Allen

Brave Jack

John Rankine Hadden was born on 14 March 1921, the son of David and Janet Hadden. The family lived in a cottage at 69 Dumaresque Street, Campbelltown where David worked as a carpenter. John, known throughout his life as Jack, attended Campbelltown Public School in nearby Lithgow Street.

Jack Hadden is pictured 3rd from left in the front row in this 1932 Campbelltown Public School 5th class photograph

 After school Jack was a member of the town’s 1^st Campbelltown Troop Boy Scouts.

Jack Hadden in 1934 1st Campbelltown Troop (Courtesy Morgan Family)

The Hadden’s lived close to the convict-built Cattle Tank and Reservoir between Dumaresque and Allman Streets. These water conservation structures provided water for the town’s population (including cattle), from their construction in 1840 to 1889 when water was sourced from a different supply. This proximity to the Cattle Tank led to one of the most profound experiences of Jack Hadden’s life.

The Cattle Tank photographed in 1957. Jack would have raced down this track that lead to the tank. Note the water still visible. (Campbelltown City Library)

At 8am on 31 January 1935, tragedy struck the sleepy village of Campbelltown. The Sun newspaper printed the following article later that day:            

GIRL DROWNED

Fell Into Dam

CAMPBELLTOWN Thursday

Betty Humphries, 16, youngest daughter of Mrs Eva Humphries, fell into an old cattle tank dam at the rear of her home about 8am today, and was drowned. Jack Hadden, 13, who had just learned to swim, made a gallant, but unsuccessful, effort to save the drowning child. The body was eventually found in deep water by John Parker, son of Constable Parker. Attempts at resuscitation failed.

Further reports described how young Betty had been having mental issues at the time. The outpouring of grief in the town was immense and her funeral at St John's Catholic Church enormous. The girls of St Patrick's Convent formed a guard of Honour. 

Betty Humphries grave in St John's Catholic Cemetery

So what became of Jack after the tragedy? Not long after, Campbelltown Council made a request to the Royal Humane Society of NSW for Jack Hadden to receive a bravery award in recognition of his attempt to save Betty. The request was successful and Jack received a Certificate of Merit for his actions. Jack was further recognised in October that year when the Scout Association honoured him with a presentation and an award of a medal and a certificate for his conspicuous bravery.  The Town Hall was crammed with about 300 people who danced the night away and played in a euchre tournament. When Jack was lead through the hall, the crowd cheered and a Guard of Honour formed. Everyone that night was very proud of him.

In 1938, aged only 17, Jack signed up for the 1st NSW Royal Lancers. His gave his occupation as an "attendant". Then in 1940, now aged 19, he was transferred to the 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion and served as a Private. The battalion took part in the fighting in the Mediterranean theatre. Jack was discharged from the army in 1945.

Jack Hadden's Army Photograph

The "attendant" that Jack recorded as his occupation when he signed up for the war was probably the same job he recorded after the war- a veterinary attendant. 

On 10 September 1949, John Rankine Hadden married Madge Lyneham at Campbelltown. Madge came from Minto and their wedding was a small affair, with only their parents in attendance. The couple made their home at "Weona" in Kent Street, Minto.

Jack and Madge later moved to 31 Bradman Street, Merrylands and Jack now worked as a laboratory assistant. He was to hold the same job until his retirement many years later.

After Jack’s retirement, the Hadden's moved to Kiama on the South Coast. Jack passed away on 28 January 1998 aged 76 years. Madge was still alive and living in Kiama in 2017. She was photographed attending an ANZAC Day ceremony in the town. It is unknown if she is still alive at the time of writing. 

Madge Hadden is pictured on the right of this 2017 photograph on ANZAC Day at Kiama (Kiamaindependent.com.au)

Update: Madge Hadden passed away at Kilbride Nursing Home in November 2022 aged 97.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

WILLIAMS, Wayne

Scouting in the Campbelltown Area 1921-1970

In Grist Mills: Journal of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society

Vol. 32, No. 1, March 2019

The Sun

31 January 1935"