The Payten Ponies.

The Payten brothers Alf, Percy and Jim, and their sister Rose, of “Woodbine”, Campbelltown, had been breeding ponies for a number of years prior to the establishment of the Australian Pony Stud Book Society. They actively selected sires and used foundation mares of different strains and breeds, the result being fine quality ponies. One of their most influential stallions was the cream stallion Arcus. The story of his background is quite fascinating. He was apparently left with the proprietor of the Royal Hotel in Cooma in the 1880s, as payment for an unpaid bill. Going through a number of owners, he was eventually purchased by the Payten brothers who used him as the cornerstone of their breeding program. His lineage was an interesting mix of Thoroughbred, (through his grandsire Smuggler, a first generation Australian Thoroughbred), pony, through his granddam Minette, who was a champion pony mare, and surprisingly, brumby, through his dam, who was apparently a creamy brumby mare. Arcus sired a number of daughters and sons whose lines still exist in the Australian Pony Stud Book today. Of all his sons, a colt called Marcus, out of a Welsh pony mare named Olive would go on to become highly influential. He was a beautiful type of pony that produced many fine progeny. 

"Marcus" by Arcus, bred by the Paytens.

The Paytens did not just breed beautiful ponies, they exhibited them at shows, in hand, in harness and under saddle. Rose Payten, (more famous for her tennis), was a proficient harness driver, taking out many awards, not only at local shows but also at the Sydney Royal Show, mainly throughout the 1920s.

Rose Payten driving her pony "Picture". 

The contribution of the Payten family to the establishment of the Australian Pony is invaluable, as they were hugely instrumental in breeding foundation stock. 

Written by Claire Lynch

 Sources:

The Pony by Lorna Howlett

Pony Magazine Australia V.1 Iss.3.

Pony Magazine Australia Facebook page

A 'Serious' Posty

Occasionally I read about someone from our town's past that I find fascinating. They mightn't have been a mayor or an alderman, or a prominent business or sportsman, but nevertheless they left their mark on the world. One such person was Jack Campion.

Jack was born next door to where Alpha House once stood, about where Campbelltown Mall's food court is. He was a letter carrier for 48 years and began working in his home town Campbelltown in 1919 where he retired in 1942. He had previously been attached to Haymarket in the city.

The late Eddie McBarron writes briefly about Jack in his book "Campbelltown 1930-1940: Dumaresq Street and Environs" that he co-wrote with Tess Holm, Fred Peers and Archie Walker. It's a book I refer to regularly. I love the way Eddie described him: "tall and very thin, he was a keen dancer. He had a mannerism of walking away when conversing with company only to return again, only to repeat the act again. Rarely bought a newspaper, always borrowed the neighbours'; rarely if ever smiled- a very serious man."

The Campbelltown News gave Jack an impressive write up after he announced his retirement. He was married twice to different women from New Zealand that may have been either sisters or cousins. Jack Campion died in 1948 at Liverpool Hospital.

Looking as serious as ever, Jack is photographed standing in the back row on the far left with the suit and bow tie. This was a cricket final and was taken at Camden in 1933. (Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society).


Written by Andrew Allen

Flowers for a Lady

The cute little girl in this photograph is Marjorie Skerritt. It was taken when she was about three or four years old on a memorable day for Marjorie and Campbelltown. The date was 19 September 1907 which saw the visit of the Governor of New South Wales Sir Harry Rawson accompanied by his daughter Lady Rawson. The reason for the visit of the pair was to open the Garden Fete and Continental, in the Agricultural Society's Ground, in celebration of the jubilee of the Congregational Church. On arrival at the showground, Lady Rawson was welcomed on behalf of the ladies of the church and was also presented with a bouquet of flowers by little Marjorie.

Marjorie's father Samuel Skerritt owned a drapery store on the corner of Lithgow and Queen Street where the ANZ Bank is today. It later became Marlow's and Solomon's stores. They lived at Richmond Villa which still stands in Lithgow Street. Marjorie later married Arthur Chapple and moved to the Lane Cove area where she died in 1982 aged 79.

Written by Andrew Allen

Woolwash Memories

Almost without fail, everyone remembers the Woolwash as being the best, and favourite swimming spot in Campbelltown. Kids would walk, ride their bikes, or be dropped off, to spend a glorious summer day at this lovely spot on the Georges River.

Swimming, however, was not the only entertainment on offer at the Woolwash.  With great ingenuity, kids created their own forms of fun. Homemade canoes were constructed of tin and wood. These were mainly made of a sheet of corrugated iron bent down the middle and nailed to a piece of timber on each end. Apparently these home made canoes spent a fair bit of time on the river bed! Luckily, they could be retrieved by means of a rope tied to one end of the canoe, and the other end attached to a floating four gallon kerosene tin.

A homemade corrugated iron canoe sinking at the Woolwash in 1940 - photo courtesy CAHS and Col Braithwaite

Jimmy and Frank Lappin were brothers who were born and grew up in Campbelltown. Jim had a canoe he had made from flat iron, which he towed to the Woolwash behind his pushbike.  Frank created a home-made diving helmet, enabling him to walk along the river bed! Using a five gallon oil drum, arm holes were cut out of the drum and a glass viewing panel fitted. By attaching his Dad’s garden hose to the top of the drum, and the other end to a motor car tyre pump, he was able to create an air supply. The pump was operated by a person sitting in the canoe.  All this would work fine until the canoe sank!! Then the helmet had to be abandoned and the diver swim to the surface!

On one occasion, Frank complained that the operators of the pump were “a bit bloody scarce with the air”!!!

Luckily, no one was ever injured during these escapades!

Written by Claire Lynch

 Sources:

Grist Mills

Vol. 13, No. 2 “More Reminiscences of Old Campbelltown by Alf Cooper” by Verlie Fowler

Vol 16, No. 1 “Around the Woolwash in the 1930s and 1940s” by Col Braithwaite