The "Hope Inn" - on this day 165 years ago

We have mentioned the “Hope Inn” a couple of times in other posts, but have managed to unearth some more information about it.
Henry Thatcher was the earliest  publican of the Hope Inn (1838)  that we know of, followed by Michael McQuade (1839). The Inn which was situated on a block fronted by three streets – the Sydney Road (now Queen Street), Browne and Howe. This large block originally belonged to William Howe. It's frontage on the main street was 118 feet, (36 metres).

Bordered by Browne, Howe and the Main Road, opposite the court house.

The two storied brick building was built on stone foundation, and had 10 rooms, a bar, and a flagged verandah the whole length of the building. Outhouses included a brick kitchen with a store attached, two stables – one weatherboard and one brick, capable of housing 14 horses, and a granary. A large yard and garden were at the back of the building.
Isaac Rudd had the licence from 1840 to 1846. He was followed by William Rixon who took on the Hope Inn licence in 1847, however Rixon died the same year, and the following year his wife Ann Rixon took on the licence. Records do not show who held the licence from 1849 to 1853 however William Henry Phibbs had it in 1853, after marrying Ann Rixon in 1852.
The Hope Inn was advertised in February 1854, for sale by auction. It is reasonable to assume Edward Fitzgerald purchased the Inn at the auction held on March 1st of that year as his licence was dated 21st April 1854. Unfortunately this would not be a happy purchase for Edward.
On Tuesday 14th November 1854 a fire destroyed the Hope Inn completely. All of Edward Fitzgerald’s furniture, stock of spirits, ale and porter, and 200 pounds cash were destroyed. Locals took up a collection for Edward, and he moved to the other end of town, taking up the licence of the Farrier’s Arms. Along with the Inn a store also burned down, which had only recently been opened by a Mr McGrath. It was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that “in consequence of the want of an engine people could only stand and look on, instead of lending efficient aid”. A fire brigade was still 37 years away.
We do not have a picture of the Hope Inn, however it does appear on an 1840 map of Campbelltown, faintly written. The large block on which it stood eventually was absorbed by Mawson Park and the Bowling Club.

Very faintly, the Hope Inn is marked on this 1840 map of Campbelltown.

Written by Claire Lynch
Sources
Trove
With many thanks to Brendan Leenders of Museum Macarthur

Making Cider

With the increase in Campbelltown's population beginning in the 1950s, industry became important to the town. People needed somewhere to work. Crompton Parkinson and Nile Industries were established early. Another significant company named Bulmer Australia was to set up a plant in Campbelltown in 1969.

The plant cost 1.5 million dollars when it was erected on Badgally Road that year and a further one million dollars in machinery completed the operation. In 1972 Bulmer's bottling plant was opened. This meant that the entire process of making cider "from the apple to the bottle" would be carried out in Campbelltown. The cider was formerly transported in bulk to a bottling plant near Sydney. The cider produced at Campbelltown supplied 90% of the use in NSW in 1972.

The company would make a strange brew called 'scrumpy'. It had the most alcoholic content at 8.5% and was one of Bulmer's principal lines. They also made Strongbow, Sweet Strongbow and the non-alcoholic Apple Cyder (with a Y). The name of the vats where the cider was fermented were called Brisbane and Wattle. A Bulmer tank was either named after a capital city or a native Australian wildflower.

The company made significant extensions to the Badgally Road factory in 1982. Bulmer's were having trouble keeping up the demand for cider around this time and business was booming. The factory was also great for local employment. It had also broken new ground by selling to Japan.

In early 2003 Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) bought the Bulmer's Australia business.

Witten by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News: Nov 7 1972, Dec 18 1979, Jun 15 1982

Hairdressing to Health Foods

A recent request for information regarding a particular building in Campbelltown led me to discover some information about a former resident as well as the building he occupied.

Born in 1842, Francis Joseph married wife Mary McMahon in 1885, and then came to Campbelltown in 1886, wasting no time setting up in business as a hairdresser and tobacconist on Queen Street.

It would appear that four children were born to the Josephs during their time in Campbelltown.

Frank operated out of the same building for just over 12 years, but then, it seems, moved into a brand new building in 1900, on the corner of Queen Street, and Sewer Lane (later to become Dumaresq Street).


F. Joseph Hairdresser and Tobacconist on the side of the building right in the
 centre of the photo. (Photo c1900 Campbelltown City Library)



Frank must have been a bit of a character, as his advertisements in the paper often took the form of poetry, with such entertaining stanzas as

“ Who is it when you’re old and grey

Takes the snow of age away

And makes you jolly, young, and gay,

FRANK JOSEPH”

The Joseph family stayed in Campbelltown until 2nd May 1907 when Frank and his family moved from the district. He was given a farewell at Edmonson’s Railway Hotel, where he was presented with a gift by a number of residents as a token of their esteem and respect. 

The census of 1913 shows Frank Joseph living in Leichardt, and in 1916 he died. I was unable to trace any further information about his family after leaving Campbelltown. Over the years other businesses operated in the store, including Mort Clissold's barber shop (before he moved further up Queen Street to Atherstone). During the 1960s and '70s a health food was operated here by Daphne and Colin Hendrie. It's street address was 237 Queen Street.

The Health & Bulk Foods store sometime between 1971 and 1977.
Photo - CAHS

 It, along with its neighbors, was finally demolished in 1977 and is now the site of David Wilson Chemist.

237 Queen St was demolished with it's neighbours in 1977.
Photo - Trevor Richardson Collection, Campbelltown City Library

Thanks to Julianne, daughter of Daphne and Colin Hendrie, who spent a lot of her childhood in this building.
Written by Claire Lynch


Sources
Trove
Our Past in Pictures
Norm Campbell
Grist Mills Vol.31 No.1
1974 Phone Directory





"Via Crucis" at Maryfields

Maryfields Franciscan Novitiate celebrated its first “Via Crucis” or “Way of the Cross” on Good Friday in 1936. The service depicts Christ’s journey to Calvary, and consists of the 14 stations of the cross, culminating in the preaching of the Passion sermon from the final station.
It was believed to be the first open air celebration of the Via Crucis in Australia, following examples from Europe and the United States.
Special railway timetables were put in place to transport pilgrims coming in from the city, as well as police to control traffic and the NRMA to supervise parking arrangements for the many vehicles expected. St Johns Ambulance were also on hand. The railway stop was at “Rudd’s Gate” on the Campbelltown Camden line, immediately opposite the entrance to Maryfields.
A special choir of 200 St Vincent de Paul brothers was formed for the singing of the “Stabat Mater” – a 13th Century Christian hymn to Mary, depicting her suffering at Christ’s suffering. The choir also accompanied the priest from station to station and modest Australian hardwood crosses marked ‘the way’
On the day itself, reportedly more than 30,000 people were in attendance, and many newspapers spoke of the “remarkable religious fervour amid unforgettable scenes that were displayed at the pilgrimage of ‘Via Crucis’ in the picturesque grounds of the Franciscan Novitiate at Maryfields, Campbelltown."


The Franciscan monks with the wooden crosses in 1936.
Photo: Franciscan Provincial Office Collection
 (Local Studies Collection. Campbelltown City Library)

In the year following, with the support of the local community and various Catholic groups, the Franciscans imported a set of 14 French statues for the 14 stations and installed them with water features and gardens. In view of the numbers from the previous year, the Railway Department constructed a new 500 foot long platform. It was estimated that the crowd was even bigger than that of 1936. In 1938, the name “Rudd’s Gate” of the railway platform was changed to “Maryfields”.
Over the years, with the closing of the Campbelltown-Camden railway in 1963, and the relocation of the Novitiate in 1983, numbers dwindled. In 1990, after two years of cancellations due to bad weather, the Stations were no longer held on Good Friday.
Since 2000, there has been a resurgence of interest, and in 2010, more than 2000 people observed Good Friday at Maryfields. The following year the Friars marked the 75th Anniversary of the first “Via Crucis” at Maryfields.


Written by Claire Lynch


Sources
Trove
Campbelltown Clippings by Jeff McGill
Macarthur Chronicle 26.4.2011

Apex Park: Past and Future

An exciting new Billabong Parklands Project is coming to Campbelltown. The $18.75 million water recreation space will be delivered under the Western Sydney City Deal Liveability fund and located in the city centre in Apex Park, Bradbury. The next phase of design is underway and ideas are welcome from the public. The project is forecast for completion in June 2022. A fascinating and exciting future awaits! But what about Apex Park's past?

The park, first known as Fisher's Ghost Park, was opened on June 19, 1971. It was constructed by the Apex Club of Campbelltown and officially opened by Mayor Clive Tregear. A sum of $2800 was set aside by the club for the park. The "futuristic play area" as the newspaper described it, featured a vintage car, fort and a fire engine. It also featured seven bronze plaques which all tell the story of Fisher's Ghost. They can still be found in the park. A fireworks display and pony and train rides for the children marked the occasion.

Despite being taken in 1979, this view hasn't changed too much. The bridge is still there but with a path leading to it. The vegetation around the creek has obviously grown also. (Trevor Richardson Collection).

On June 3, 1989 the new Skateboard Bowl was opened by Mayor Jim Kremmer in Apex Park. Sometimes referred to as the Mexican Hat Rink or Sombrero, the skateboard bowl provided hours of entertainment for the youth of the town.

Mark Gatherer, Michael Fanning and Jim Kremmer at the opening of the skatebowl on June 3 1989. Michael Fanning grew up to be surfing champion Mick Fanning.

By 1997 Apex Park was looking run down and shabby. That's when members of the original Apex Club got together for a huge clean up. Led by former president Gerry Bakkers, the retired members rejuvenated the park to its former glory days.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, June 15, 1971

Macarthur Advertiser, October 29, 1997

St Elmo: Tales of Ghosts, Parties and Survival

Perched high on the hill with a commanding view of the town is a masterpiece of nineteenth century architecture named St Elmo. What a colourful history it's had. Often the centre of Campbelltown's social life in days gone by, St Elmo survived demolition to become one of the town's most important historical buildings.

The two-story rendered brick house appears to have been constructed from the late 1880s and completed in 1892, although every source I find muddies the waters about when the first work was carried out. It was built for John Moore, a wealthy real estate investor from England. Apparently the builder was courting John's daughter but went broke and in the Depression and left for Melbourne. The origins of the name St Elmo are unclear. There is a theory that it relates to John Moore's nautical background and is connected to either St Erasmus, the patron saint of Mariners of which St Elmo is an abbreviation for or to 'St Elmo's fire' and the electrical discharge emitted from ships after storms.

Joseph Seddon on his pony in front of St Elmo around 1900

The building was sold and by 1916 the Allen family were living there. The family were lavish entertainers and huge parties were regular occurrences at St Elmo. Frances Allen was renowned as a splendid hostess at the famous parties. One of the daughters, Addie, played the piano which stood in the drawing room. She was also an accomplished organist, playing at St Peter's Church.

This view of St Elmo was taken ca. 1920

The original kerosene chandeliers were replaced (not long after the Allens moved in) by Quirk's Air Gas Lighting Equipment, which lit the exterior as well. This impressed the residents of the town, because beautiful St Elmo could be seen by night as well as day, from all over the district. Modern lighting was eventually installed after 1924 when electricity came to the town.

Now let me get to the ghost stories. The first occurred a long time ago. A statue once stood in front of the house. One evening a man (well "lubricated") startled the household by claiming he had seen a ghost. The family assumed it was the statue in the front garden which has caused the commotion!

In the 1920s a maid said she often heard footsteps but was unable to find who was walking. She also said doors opened without explanation. In the 1950s a child became upset after seeing a bearded ghost.

In 1985 Campbelltown alderman and campaigner John Hennessey walked around the back of his flat at St Elmo at 2am on New Years morning. He saw a young woman sitting on the old well, apparently waiting for him. The pretty 18-year-old was wearing a long white dress. John was almost within touching distance of her when she vanished into thin air. "I didn't think anything of it. I thought I was seeing things, or that someone was playing a joke on me," he said. He laughed it off thinking someone was pulling his leg. However, he had a "strange feeling" that someone was around the house. After about 30 minutes he went into the bathroom and looked out at the well. He saw the young woman standing beneath a tree about 10 metres away. She was looking at John and had a serene expression on her face. She then vanished after he turned on the outside light. "I didn't get a shock at all, just a funny feeling."

St Elmo in November 1979

John Hennessey was also responsible for a preservation order being placed on the building. There had been a suggestion that the building would be demolished to allow for widening of Broughton Street. A building conservation report was written to support further the conservation of St Elmo for future generations to enjoy.

I thought I would include a few more short interesting facts and stories about St Elmo:

• When Neil McLean moved in in 1947, despite the house being described as "in perfect order", it was not sewered, had no hot water system, damp walls, broken windows and rotted verandah boards.
• The bath was huge and was described as "the size of a Viking ship".
• St Elmo was divided into flats in the 1960s
• Henry Lawson and Jack Lang would regularly sit on the grass next to St Elmo and discuss various topics.
• In 1995 a fierce storm caused severe external damage
• The house was sold at auction in 1998 for the first time in 45 years
•  Owner Neil McLean ran a chicken farm there and delivered chickens around the metropolitan area. It was advertised as "Ronross Hatcheries" with chicks delivered from 1-9 weeks old.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Macarthur Advertiser, 28.06.1995 p3

Macarthur Advertiser, 02.09.1998, p45

Campbelltown District Star, 10.01.1985, p2

St Elmo House: A Building Conservation Report, 1993

FOWLER, Verlie in History Corner, July7,14,21 and 28 1982

The Can Man

John Scattergood pictured in 1977

Campbelltown lost one of its most lovable characters and fund raisers on October 16, 2009. John Scattergood was the council gardener at Mawson Park and had lived and worked in Campbelltown for 62 years. It was his fundraising efforts through collecting aluminium cans for recycling that one him the most praise.

John was born into a family that has a long association with Campbelltown. The Scattergoods came from Warwickshire in England before moving to Australia and settling in the Campbelltown area. They had a farm at South Campbelltown, where Wedderburn Road intersects with Rangers Road. John's father Walter, affectionately known as Wally, was the son of Charles and Mabel Scattergood. Wally had a sister Irene who was tragically killed when a train struck her in 1925.

John's collecting of cans and bottles originated around 1971, after Wally was admitted to Camden Hospital. To show the gratitude for the care shown to Wally, the father and son combination began to fund raise by collecting recyclables. They would push a wheelbarrow for miles around suburban streets, ignoring the stares of passers-by while rummaging through garbage bins. It resulted in $370 donated to the hospital- a large sum in 1971. In a letter to the hospital Wally wrote "About six years ago, your nurses saved my life. So, now I am remembering you all. My son John and I raised this money by collecting beer bottles and aluminium cans. Hoping you make use of it. Please let me know if you get the money safe."

John's collecting didn't end there. He continued to collect mostly cans but some bottles for the rest of his life. Many local organisations benefited, such as the Salvation Army, scouting groups and the bushfire brigade. In 1977 he received the Australia Day citizen of the year award. He received the Jubilee Award in 2006.

Perhaps local businessman and identity Ronald McDonald summed him up best after John's untimely death from cancer: "Whether it was the heat of summer or the cold of winter, you could see him with his barrow. He lived on his own and had an Australian flag above his house. The house was coloured green and gold. He was a true Australian."

 

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown Ingleburn News 6.9.1977

Campbelltown District Star 27.1.1982

Macarthur Advertiser 21.10.2009