Cricket photo

Discovered a small 2"x 3" black & white photograph of unknown provenance, which appeared to depict a re-enactment of the 1868 Aboriginal tour of England.

The partly obscured sign on the obelisk reads: ...Australian XI ...to tour ...England ...in 1868 ...ned on the ...shore at ....Wallace
 There is only a 3 digit stamped number on the back, so no clues there.

The obelisk memorial on the Edenhope College grounds commemorates the fact that the Aboriginal team trained on the shore of Lake Wallace. The memorial was unveiled in October 1951 by former Australian captain & test cricketer Victor Richardson, so the photograph is probably some time after that. The original plaque states -

Back to the photograph, there are 4 figures - one obscured by the obelisk, one holding a trophy, a wicket keeper and a batsman. The trophy appears to be of relatively modern construction & not aware that the cricketers were awarded a trophy as such.

Wondering if this is a float from a Henley on Lake Wallace procession?

Would welcome any information on the photograph.
 

A poor man's bushranging

This story has surfaced again, there are all sorts of folklore associated with 'the bushranging gang in Edenhope', much of it associated with an engraving in the 1880 edition of "The Australasian Sketcher".

Reilly's prison photo

The article in "The Australian":- 

THE BUSHRANGING CASE AT EDENHOPE

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]

HAMILTON, THURSDAY.

The Court of General Sessions was opened here to-day before Acting Judge Smyth. Wm. Reilly, senior, pleaded not guilty to the charge of highway robbery at Edenhope. The prisoner, who was undefended, conducted his own case.

E. F. Hearne deposed that he was a grazier, residing at Lake Wallace, and was returning from church in a buggy with his family on Sunday morning, July 11, between 12 and 1 o'clock. On nearing prisoner's residence he saw him run into the road. He ordered witness to pull up or he would fire. He complied, and Reilly then said, "The day of reckoning has arrived ; your friends cannot save you now; and unless I obtain my rights, you will die." At the same time he demanded £300. Witness replied that he did not have so much money on him. Prisoner said, " Yon had better send to Cuik, (would be Crick) the publican, who will give you the money."

Witness asked him to send his son instead, which was done. While the lad was gone Reilly said he would take £100 down if he (witness) promised to give him £200 more on his arrival at the station. As soon as he had agreed to this, the prisoner said - "Do you see that coming down the road ; if you do not stop him, I will shoot him:" at the same time directing his attention to Constable Smith, who was riding towards the buggy. Witness beckoned him to stop, which he did. A storekeeper named Kerr then came up, and in answer to a question, said he had no money on him, but would give witness a cheque for £100. This was done, and the cheque handed to prisoner, who, after submitting it to several members of his family, said. That is all right," and put it into his pocket. Witness was then made to promise another cheque for £200, and that he would not stop the payment of the cheques at the bank or prosecute. During all this time he was covered with the gun at full cock. Mrs. Reilly and her son then proceeded with him to the station where she received the other cheque. He had bought land from prisoner at a sheriff's sale some time ago, for about £700, but there was nothing due to him.

Rose Fox, domestic servant, deposed that the prisoner bailed up the buggy, saying to Mr. Hearne, "Stop, or I will shoot you. I want my rights, and will give you five minutes to determine. If you do not give me at the end of that time £300, you and I will leave this earth to-day."

Mrs. Anne Hearne gave a recapitulation of the above facts, and further deposed that she sent her brother for the police. On Constable Smith appearing, prisoner said to Mr. Hearne, "I will soon have been off. I do not care for all the police in Victoria."

J. G. Kerr, storekeeper, deposed to giving the cheque for the £100 to Hearne, who passed it on to Reilly.

Constable Smith stated that he saw the prisoner covering Mr. Hearne with a gun, and also saw a piece of paper similar to a cheque pass from Kerr to Hearne, who gave it to Reilly. He afterwards, with Constable Balehim arrested the prisoner.

Constable Balehim also deposed to Reilly's arrest. When he got within 50 yards of his residence he saw the family run into the house, and the prisoner come out. Upon trying to open the gate, which was locked, Reilly picked up the gun and said, "If you come a foot further I fire.” After a little trouble he arrested him, and on the way to the lock up prisoner said he had stuck up Mr. Hearne in order to obtain his rights. On searching his house the gun could not be found, and Reilly refused to give up the cheques.

This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner made a rambling statement about the injustice his wife had received in being imprisoned for no offence whatever. Ever since January 23, 1879, Mr. Hearne had carried firearms for, the purpose of shooting him. He had made at settlement with Mr. Hearne about 50 acres of land which belonged to him (Reilly) and not to that gentleman. In spite of that agreement, however, Mr. Hearne had turned his family out of their home while he (the prisoner) was in the Hamilton gaol. It was in consequence of Mr. Hearne's threats of violence that he had carried the gun when he had demanded his rights.

The judge summed up against the prisoner, pointing out that he could have proceeded both criminally and civilly against Mr. Hearne, if those allegations were true. However, that was not for the jury to decide ; they had only to consider the authenticity of the evidence, and if they believed the witnesses for the prosecution they must record a verdict of guilty against the prisoner.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

The Court then adjourned sine die.

So William Reilly served his 3 year sentence in Hamilton, Geelong & Melbourne Gaols - and how do we know? Because now you can access some of the digitised Register of Male & Female Prisoners (1855-1947) files from PROV - there's even a photograph of an elderly looking William Reilly.

 

Returning to the folklore, back in October 1988 the Kowree Advocate published this article and photos on the front page. (right)

This was followed in May 1989 by another article furnishing more of the history of the now demolished cottage. (below)

Both agreed that it wasn't THE cottage - that Reilly's house was on the opposite (north side) of the main street, but it still added to the whole narrative.

So now in 2018 nearly 140 years after the events, researchers are delving into the history of the people involved.
Is the bearer of the cheque the storekeeper Kerr the same person who actually owned the Edwards/Carter cottage, and would therefore be Reilly's neighbour?
Did the Hearne family really swindle the Reilly family of their due in the land sale?
Why was the land up for a Sheriff's sale? 
Who was this man William Reilly, and when & where did he die?
Did the 'rest of the gang' (William's wife & son) also face robbery-under-arms charges?

The Edenhope Historical Society would love to hear from anyone with any information.

Hamilton descendants

Via its Facebook page 'Pioneering Days Western Victoria', the call has gone out to all the Hamilton descendants of J.C. Hamilton and his brother Tom Hamilton. The invitation is extended to all residents of the Western District, including the Bringalbert and Ozenkadnook sites. 

Lake Bringalbert

There will be a reprint of J.C. Hamilton's book ("Pioneering days of Western Victoria"), with added feature of Tom's association with the Aboriginal Cricket Team of 1868 including his inclusion into the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame.

J.C. (Joseph Charles) Hamilton was born in Ormiston in Scotland on 11th April 1836. He and his family arrived in Melbourne in 1841, and with J.C.'s uncle Thomas Gibson established Bringalbert and Ozenkadnook pastoral properties. J.C. died at Apsley in 1927, not long after publication of his manuscript "Pioneering days in Western Victoria : a narrative of early station life".
The Group is looking for any direct descendants of J.C.'s younger brother - Thomas Gibson Hamilton was born at Kilmore in May 1844, and died in 1875. His headstone in the Melbourne Central Cemetery reads. "Late of the Bringalbert Station near Apsley who died on the 2nd April 1875. Aged 30 years. His death certificate states he died from Peritonitis after suffering a fever for 3 weeks. He had a son Thomas Gibson Hamilton II was born posthumously in August 1875 and died in 1953. Tom Jnr's mother was Mary Grace Cross (1855-1934).
An earlier series of posts  'Overland' detail Thomas Gibson Hamilton's overland trek to Darwin as told by his nephew.

The flat practice ground in front of the Bringalbert woolshed

The book launch will take place in Edenhope on the shores of Lake Wallace where Tom bought his Aboriginal team from Bringalbert Station to practice with the Edenhope Cricket Club in 1865/1866.

Reviving the Mechanics'

Victoria once had more than one thousand Mechanics' Institutes scattered across the state. In many cases Institute halls were the first public building in a town, and today they are often the last.

Great Western

To obtain a complete picture of the heritage these organisations provided, the Mechanics' Institutes of Victoria Incorporated has been digitising the local records held by halls & institutes.

Murtoa

Records are sometimes held by the halls themselves, or with the local council, historical society, or museum, even with private individuals and trustees.
The digitisation process is funded from both philanthropic and government grant money.

Rainbow

After MIVic have made digital copies, the originals are returned to the records owner or provider along with a digital CD of the records. Copyright remains with the records owner.
Locally, records which have already been digitised are:  Apsley, Corack, Donald, Edenhope, Laen, Langkoop, Poolaijelo, Rich Avon West, St Arnaud, and Stuart Mill.

If you have Mechanics Institute records just waiting for the opportunity to be digitised, contact the Scanning Project Coordinator Judith Dwyer at mirc@mivic.org.au

Returning to Carpolac

The story that won’t go away...still on the Carpolac line

Kym Phillips commented on the post "Railways - Carpolac line" which mentioned that the Goroke Passenger service ended in 1965.

Kym found the following excerpt in "A centenary of education 1885-1985 : a history of Goroke Consolidated School", which while not saying that the passenger service continued after that date, is interesting to note that conditions for passengers must have continued to be suitable:
"In 1969 the Victorian Governor, Sir Rohan Delacombe visited the Kowree Shire. The Governor's train was stationed at Goroke for several days while the Governor and Lady Delacombe attended various functions in the area - at Edenhope, Goroke and Lake Charlegrark."

So that entailed a number of searches: firstly to see how the 'Mail-Times' covered the event - it had two articles from 22nd December

From the front page

And page 11

As well as, how did vice regal dignitaries travel in the 60s? That was a search of PROVs collection of Public Transport photographs which yielded up a variety of images.
Believe this would be the now derelict ballroom at the Flinders Street Station.

"Railways Ballroom function for Sir Rohan Delacombe"

The Royal Sleeper, don't know if it was limited to royalty or extended to royal representatives. It could be one reason why the Delacombes were based at Goroke (with a railway), and not put up at the pub.

"Sleeping compartment Heritage Carriage, Royal train, 1927"

This was included as it was titled Wimmera Buffet Carriage just to show how railway travel used to be.

"Wimmera Buffet Carriage"

Likewise this one of a rather grand Better Farming train carriage. The Better Farming trains toured the state demonstrating new equipment, and promoting improved methods to farmers.

"Better Farming Train Display. K Class loco No. 109 and various carriages & displays c1930s"

After the cessation of regular passenger services on the various local branch lines, there were still a number of special trains.
From the 'Power to the rails' book, this photo taken by Bob Wilson of an Australian Railway Exploration Association special excursion train returning from Carpolac, crossing the Wimmera River at Quantong, on 18th March 1983.

From the Western Victorian Railfan page is this image from 1985/86 of Loco D3 639 hauling a special steam train at Jeparit, on the Dimboola to Yaapeet line, showing the jumbo grain silo on the left and the station building & verandah that was demolished soon after.

Special train at Jeparit

And still on the Carpolac line - A. Ampt has commented on the much discussed Museum Victoria pic of the wheat stack at Remlaw, or is it Natimuk?

Stack of wheat bags, 1930

He says it IS at Remlaw looking east, towards Horsham. And yes there is a peppercorn in the Remlaw siding yard too!

So another road trip out to Remlaw Station Rd to see if we can line up all the elements. A road that could be the Remlaw Station Rd (or Sission St) is visible entering from the right. And is the peppercorn tree hiding the Remlaw Rd to Horsham?

Okay after a drive by here is a present day photo of Remlaw Siding looking towards Horsham.

Remlaw, the shadow is cast by one of the silos

And the verdict - yes the Museum photo is Remlaw. Even though not taken from the same height, the weigh-bridge is visible on the left, the peppercorn to its right (though strangely it appears to be shorter now & impossible to park a vehicle under), then the tall sugar-gum now with a sparser canopy, then the plantation at the paddock corner. There is a shed at the group of trees on the right which may or may not be faintly visible just above the stack.

Last leaves at Linden

The east side of the house

One of Edenhope's historic homes fell prey to the demolishers this week. The grand old house "Linden" has stood on a large double block in Elizabeth Street, opposite the hospital for more than 100 years.
The house was built by Edward Cranage (1856-1948) in the late 1800s to early 1900s, he lived there with his wife Johannah Fitzpatrick. When Johannah died in 1936, he was looked after by his daughter Kathleen "Kit" (1895-1986) until he died at home in Linden in 1948. Kit and her husband Aubrey Osborne (1895-1977) then lived there till they too passed away.

View of the front of the building

The house became the doctor's residence, and Dr Phil Dover and his family lived there for many years, till they moved to Ballarat, and the house convenient to the hospital continued in its role. Recently the hospital sold the building for removal to St Helen's Plains and it is now in the first stages of demolition.

Ghostly murder

A new local non-fiction book has just hit the stands, and is being snapped up (over 300 copies were sold in the first month).
The book is ‘The true story of the Maryvale Murders and the Langley family ghost’ written by Rupanyup’s John Henry Ellen.

John was approached by Langley descendant Neil Langley to write the history of his aunt Maria Langley and her daughter Louisa Jane Sugers, who were murdered near the Sheepwash Reserve on what was then Maryvale Station in 1874.

The remains were not found till 10 years later in 1884, and prompted a nation-wide hunt for the murderer, supposed to be Maria's husband Robert Cook.

In the meantime the remains were housed in the stables of the Edenhope police station, here they languished until their presence was raised in the Victorian Parliament in 1917.

The political pressure saw the skeletons conveyed to the cemetery and buried in an unmarked grave.

Now years on the full story from the Langley family's point of view is recorded, including the story that maybe Maria's ghost has appeared to wayfarers.
The story employed family papers, newspaper articles, and provides a historic perspective to describe the times and the environment of the story.

Murder in Mind?

As part of Family History Month, the Library is conducting two sessions of 'Murder in Mind?' at Goroke Library on Thursday 22nd at 2:00pm (bring a chair and a plate), and at the Edenhope Library on Friday 23rd at 10:30am.
Come and hear details of The Maryvale Murders, The Gymbowen Mystery, and The Gypsy Queen, and see if you were on the jury could you solve these cold cases or would you come to the same decisions?

Football 1912-2012

Recently the anniversary reunion was held for the descendants of Edenhope's 1912 football premiers.
In those early days players had no Saturday half-holiday and they had to beg the day off to compete. They rode wagons, bikes and horses to travel to matches, and when reaching the ground used to change behind trees as there were no dressing sheds.
The 1912 Grand Final was according to the press "the best game of football witnessed on the local ground for the season". The match was between Edenhope and Salt Lakes (Douglas). The final scores were - Edenhope 5 goals 13 behinds (43 points) to Salt Lakes 1 goal 12 behinds (18 points).
This was Edenhope's first ever premiership, they had had a team as far back as 1908. The presentation medals were awarded at a celebration at the Mechanics Institute in December. The president Mr S.H. Ramsden told how the football has been up to a high standard, the umpires satisfactory, and a creditable performance. He also said that while thanking those who were responsible for their success, they must not forget that indespensible portion - the barrackers.
Edenhope went on to win the 1913 and 1914 premierships, and after World War I the 1919 cup.
This year may also be Edenhope's premiership year too, as they are undefeated this season.

Back row: Jim Burns, Herbert Wynniat, Martin Cranage, Bill Burns, Bill Whittingham.
3rd row: Tom Robertson, Jack Ryan, Leo Kelly, Sam Burns, Henry Burns, Bert Robertson, Jim Robertson.
2nd row: Bill Bird, H.C. Carstairs, Charlie Whittingham, Jack Norris, Arthor Bird, Jack Marr.
Front row: Martin Ryan, Jack McDougall, Don Caldow (umpire), Alf Bird, Angus McDonald.

Remembering history

The book As we remember...Edenhope and district stories was launched in Edenhope on Australia Day, and is now available at several library branches.It is the work of author Yvonne McDonell and photographer Christine Bull.

Chris and Yvonne at the launch

The project began as monthly newspaper articles in the West Wimmera Advocate, focusing on the memories and reminisces of local identities.
The popularity of the articles ensured that Yvonne kept interviewing more and more residents, and requests that the articles be available in a more permanent form led to the inevitable suggestions - it should be put in a book.
Grants were sought, and the Edenhope and District Historical Society successfully obtained a grant to assist with publishing costs.
A number of additions - poems, letters (Bill Crabtree’s Letter is a gem) and photographs were added, making it a local history and biography.
Copies are also available for purchase from the Edenhope & District Historical Society