How things have changed

Discovered during the re-carpeting works at the Horsham Library, were some old photo prints. Unfortunately the backs of the prints were blank and they had no documentation with them – so no title, description or dates.

Some were reasonable easy to identify. One particularly interesting one was this.

It took a moment to orientate oneself to work out it would have been taken from the old Post Office tower looking east south-east to the old 298 School. Works out it was part of a larger panoramic of Firebrace Street looking south.

It is possibly easier to understand it as a ‘now and then’. The ‘now’ is a composite of two photos taken from in the State Government Offices (in 2016 as part of the Art Is tour, and why there is a bird-net over the images).

Here is another of the same panoramic scene from the Post Office tower, taken at a later date, spot the changes – the brick St Michael & St John, rooms & buildings added to the school, the Methodist Church is also brick and the Jubilee Hall has been built, and the Presbyterian Church has a tower.

Further investigation was needed to calculate a date, or range of dates for the old photograph, and to ascertain the fate of some of the buildings depicted.

The Water Tower

The brick tower in McLachlan Street was built in 1875 when Horsham’s water was pumped from the Wimmera River. The original steam boiler pumping station was at the end of Baillie Street and fed water up wood-staved pipes to the tower till 1911. In May 1933 Horsham’s water came from Lake Wartook via the Mount Zero station. The new gravity-fed supply did not require the tower to provide pressure, so the Council staff dismantled it. The tower was approximately 15m high.

From "The story of Horsham", with captions added

The current concrete water tower at the corner of Mill & Gertrude Streets was erected in 1956 as suburbia extended into the higher ground to the north & west.

In McLachlan Street showing the Water Tower, the State Government Offices & the Post Office

The Power Station

Prior to the SEC (State Electricity Commission) when Horsham generated its own electricity, the power station was next to the water tower. Power arrived in Horsham in 1955, and it was connected to the state grid in 1958. The SEC built their offices (now the CFA offices) on the power station site.

298 School

Horsham School No.298 began as a National School in January 1857, in a two-room dwelling previously used as a private school. Richard Spry built the new one-room school and four-room residence on a site on the west half of the block of land bounded by Wilson, Hamilton, Urquhart & McPherson Streets. In 1862 the Horsham National School became Common School No. 298, but the school buildings were overcrowded and dilapidated beyond repair. In 1874, 2 acres were reserved for a State School. In 1877 a new school was built on land enclosed by Roberts Avenue, Urquhart and McLachlan Streets, however the brick building of 2 large rooms was overcrowded from the outset. In 1878 a verandah was enclosed to make 2 extra classrooms. In 1880 a further 2 rooms were added, and another in 1890. In 1902 a dead-end corridor was enclosed as another room. In 1929 the school was remodelled and a new section constructed of Mt Gambier stone. A brick building (one of the 3 main buildings), which housed 3 grades, library and staffroom was demolished in 1966 and replaced by 4 prefabricated units. The Police acquired part of the 298 site in 1967. In 1970 there were 13 classrooms, library, art-craft room & remedial room. 298 was re-established on a site in Baillie St East at Sunnyside in 1975 when half the children were still taught at Urquhart Street.

298 looking from Urquhart Street, with the Court House in the background

The 298 school buildings were demolished and a new complex - Civic Centre (for both the City of Horsham & the Shire of Wimmera) and the Department of Education’s Regional Office – was erected on the old school site. The new Police Station & Commissioner’s Residence opened in May 1980, 2 months after the Civic Centre.

Wesleyan Methodist Church 

The weatherboard Methodist Church (Turner postcard)

The original 1876 weatherboard building was moved to the corner of Roberts Avenue (then Splatt Street) & Urquhart Street in 1882 by a team of 24 bullocks & 2 horses. A new timber building was erected in 1902. 

The brick & timber buildings (Williams postcard)

A new brick building opened in 1912 and the old weatherboard building was turned to face Roberts Avenue. In 1924 the Church celebrated its Jubilee with the opening of a new Sunday School Hall. In 1936-41 the front of the Church was rebuilt, the chapel enlarged & new porches added. It joined the Uniting Church in 1976, but services were still held there in the 1980s. It became the Wesley Performing Arts Centre who added a new foyer & kitchenette to the facade.

The brick church & Jubilee Hall (Palamountain postcard)

St Andrews Presbyterian Church 

The Presbyterian Church prior to the tower (Rose postcard)

A small brick church was erected in 1860 at the corner of Pynsent & Urquhart Streets. In 1874 the building was condemned & demolished. A new McKenzie Creek stone church & manse were built in 1875. It was enlarged in 1928 with a tower & porch added. 

The church with its tower & the Masonic Temple behind (Valentine postcard)

The stone church building was demolished in 1962 and the current building opened in Nov 1963 utilising the original stone on all exposed walls. 

St Michael and St John's Catholic Church

The first Catholic Church was wooden structure, erected in 1876. It was situated in the middle of the block bordered by McLachlan Street and Splatt Street. It was placed across the block running east to west. In 1913 a new red brick Church facing Roberts Avenue was opened and the old church building became the school. The current church was opened in 1987, and again the old building was used by the school, till it was demolished in 1997. 

S.S. Michael & John's Church with the Presbytery to the left & the Convent on the right (Rose postcard) 

The Court House 

The Court House & Police Station to the left (George Ryan postcard)

The first Court House was in Darlot Street in 1849. It then moved to a timber building in Splatt Street (Roberts Avenue) in 1860-62. The timber building was replaced by the colonial-style two-storey building in 1879. 

The Police Station with a front verandah, the Court House & 298 school (Real Photograhic Postcards)

In turn this was demolished and the current building erected on the site in 1967. 

 Court House from '"Horsham in focus"

So when was the mystery photograph taken? We can narrow it down to between 1902 and 1912.

It all comes down to the Methodist Church. The timber church building is in Splatt Street, and is yet to be moved and replaced by the brick building.

We welcome any further information on the buildings or dates, in the Comments section.

Sources: “The story of Horsham” by Brian Brooke & Alan Finch;  “Horsham in Focus: 1849-1999” by Noelene Jenkinson;  Australian Christian Church Histories (https://www.churchhistories.net.au);   “Greetings from Horsham: Picture Postcards from the Past” (http://greetingsfromhorsham.au);  Trove newspapers.

Nigh on the end

Another local landmark building sold recently - the Ni Ni Well Lutheran school/church. This one comes with a video and a chance to see what the inside of the building is like.

A Beautiful Historic Canvas

This property is situated on 2 lots being approximately 3.78 acres in total and is set amongst a picturesque rural tall timber setting.
Lot 1 features the stately Ni Ni Well School which is a once in a life time opportunity to purchase a prestigious property which oozes rich history and character commencing from approximately 1893. The standing school which is a substantial concrete building with stunning pioneer features and character from yesteryear was founded on 15th July 1923. Inside the building offers formal entry room including authentic air vent shutters to cool the building on summer days. The main class room is vast in size boasting large blackboard, open fire place, 2nd entry/exit door, alluring timber ceiling and an abundance of windows. There is also a concrete smaller hut located on the property in need of repair.
Lot 2 is the site of the Ni Ni Well Lutheran Church from circa 1883 and all that remains today is a monument and sign. The property was sold in Sep 2022.

(from the RealEstate.Com people)

Looking south-west from in the main room (RealEstate.com)

At the main entry, to the schoolroom, space between the 2 is for the wall vents (RE.C)

A video of the property from WestTech AG

Ni Ni Well the Lutheran congregation was organised in 1873. The Zion Lutheran Church 1883-1973 opened in a buloke & mud building which was dedicated in November 1886, and rebuilt and enlarged in 1889. A weatherboard church was built in 1906 and the Lutheran School moved into the old church building. The concrete building was erected in 1923 and opened as the school in 1924. Church services moved to St Paul's Church at Woorak, till it closed in March 2022.

Ni Ni Well Lutheran Day School No. 805 opened in a room of the teacher’s residence across the road from the church in 1893. When the new church opened in 1906, the school moved into the old buloke & mud church building. A new concrete school building was erected in 1923. The Lutheran school closed at the end of 1929.

The schools plaque

Ni Ni Well State School No. 4500 opened in 1932 in the former Lutheran Private School, as the old Lutheran School building was closed, and leased by the Department on 17.5.1932, the adjacent residence was also leased. Blackboards came from the closed Angip School in April 1948. A shelter shed was built in 1943. Owing to a small enrolment, the teacher was transferred to No. 2541 in May 1952 and it was unstaffed from February 1953, and the school officially closed in April 1955. The furniture was moved to Woorak No. 2246. The lease with the Lutheran Church Trust was terminated in May 1955. 

The Church, the Hotel, the Society

This week's curly question was: where did the name for the Blue Ribbon Road originate from?

It is the road runs north for over 50kms, from Horsham to its terminus at Fryatts Rd, near Willenabrina.

It passes through the Greenland Dam, Kalkee, Garup, Sailors Home, Murra Warra, Wallup, Cannum, Aubrey, and Crymelon localities.

Some maps call it the Horsham-Kalkee Rd, for the section to the Borung Highway at the Blue Ribbon Corner.

But why 'Blue Ribbon'? This is the question that no-one - long-time residents or historical societies - seem to have the answer for.

The best guess so far is from Marj, who believes it relates to the Temperance Movement.

The Temperance Movement was a social movement upholding the ideals of an alcohol-free lifestyle, through moderation or banning the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Movement became more radical, advocating the legal prohibition of alcohol – teetotalism. It was particularly important and developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It saw temperance halls and coffee palaces as an alternative to hotels, they ran lectures and films upholding family values and discouraging drunkenness, successfully implementing early hotel closing times (6 o’clock swill) which didn’t lead to a curbing of consumption. The Movement’s role began being wound back in the 1950s and 1960s in more relaxed liberal times.

Members of the Temperance Society would take the Pledge to either become a teetotaller – a soldier of the Blue Ribbon Army, or the White Ribbon – for women of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
The Society promoted alternatives to alcoholic drinks like ginger beer, creamy sodas, and sarsparilla, served in Temperance bars and coffee palaces. 
It also gave rise to the popularity of aerated waters and cordials, and led to the establishment of a number of localised cordial factories and manufacturers (whose old bottles are now rare collectors' items).

Callawadda's old cordial factory

 

In October 1883 the people of Cannum East met in the Wallup Free Church to establish a branch of the Blue Ribbon Army. Other branches sprang up in Clear Lake, Jung, Horsham, Rupanyup, Nurrabiel, Pimpinio, Kalkee, Warracknabeal, and other areas.
There was a close link between the Society and the local churches, often meetings were held in the church buildings. Both the Kalkee Wesleyan Church (built in 1885) and Wallup Presbyterian Church, faced the Blue Ribbon Road. The Wallup Presbyterian Church was first held in the Wallup State School, till a church was built across the Wallup Church Road in 1910. Anglican services were also held in the church in the 1930s and 40s. 

Wallup Presbyterian site 1910-1973 with the school site behind

Both the Cannum East (1875-1955) at the corner of Matheson & Antwerp Rds, and the South Cannum Presbyterian churches at the corner of Boundary & Cannum Church Rds were further east.

The Women's Christian Temperance Union water drinking fountain erected in 1911 in Warracknabeal. It was inscribed with the Union's motto: "For God, home and humanity". The fountain was given to the Borung Shire and originally located at the Town Hall. In 1939 it was transferred to Anzac Park (Photo I. Phillips).
 

So if people were against drinking, where were the hotels they were campaigning against?  
One would be the Blue Ribbon Hotel on the Blue Ribbon Corner. It was originally known as Patterson’s Wine Shanty, but by 1889 it was called the Blue Ribbon Hotel. 3 acres Allotment 68A in Wallup Parish was sold to Alexander Patterson on 5th January 1882. (The Pattersons owned a number of surrounding allotments). 

By 1884 the intersection was called 'Patterson's Corner'.

 The hotel was also a 'Post Office' from 1899 (a mail bag was dropped off there).
 
It was 'Patterson's Blue Ribbon Hotel' when it was destroyed by fire in April 1903. A new 5-room Blue Ribbon Hotel was erected, but it had its licence surrendered by December 1925, and then, on 12th January 1926, it again burnt to the ground, not to be resurrected again. 


"The HorshamTimes"  Friday 15th January 1926, page 6.

 

The site of the Blue Ribbon Hotel

It would be interesting to know how many participants at the 'Blue Ribbon Raceway' were aware of this conjecture?
We would be interested in hearing from anyone who could confirm or refute this hypothesis.

Institutions crumble

Two  Wimmera institutions crumbled and were reduced to rumble this week.

The Church of Christ before demolition begins

Firstly the Horsham Church of Christ building. The church has stood on the corner of Firebrace and Urquhart Streets since 1918, and over the past fortnight has slowly been demolished. Watched and mourned by many as another Horsham heritage building succumbed to the reactive soils and progress. 
The building with its square tiers, mock buttresses and tiled roof was extended in 1957, but was considered no longer suitable for the congregation and will move to River Road. The old site will become a child care centre and townhouses.

Going...the tiles removed

Going...the rear extension gone

Further north in Warracknabeal the old hospital building is being torn apart as some of the buildings make way for the new Rural Northwest Health redevelopment.

The Warracknabeal Hospital

More than $10 million will be spent to build a new acute care and community care area, and refurbishment of the Landt & Banksia sections.The hospital opened in March 1891, and has steadily grown since.

West of civilization

Hopetoun West Baptist Church sign

The Hopetoun West Baptist Church operated from 1906 until it was closed in 1965. Between 1933 and 1954 the Karkarooc Shire's population fell by 35%, due to farm mechanisation and the drift to larger towns, the droughts in the 40s and 50s. To say nothing of mouse & locust plagues, sand-drift, drought or farm income fluctuations.

The Church & its monument

This left the hopes and dreams of the church founders empty and abandoned. Fortunately for us today they built to last, and the remains of their stone buildings still stand today, abet somewhat shakily. The floor is a little treacherous, and sections of the roof have fallen in, but you still get the impression of what the church was like.

The interior with its pressed tin ceiling

The lead-light window panes have been destroyed

Likewise the Hopetoun West State School No. 3321. It opened in August-November 1898 in a hall with a porch built of pine plastered with lime and later an iron shelter shed.

.

The school entrance to the school

 A new hall, built with local labour, was occupied in 1913. The Hopetoun West school closed in May 1947 due to falling attendance.
In this marginal land, schools opened and closed with remarkable frequency, with buildings moving from one site to another following the population flows. Of the 378 schools established in the Mallee region, only 100 remained open by the 1970s, and they have dipped even further since. 
Despite being unused for more then 50 years the building stands as testament to the efforts of the local families who erected it.

The interior with its fireplace and tongue & groove board ceiling