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Volume 2Issue 6

July2006

Donation of 50 cents gratefully accepted to help with the publication of this newsletter.

July 1906 - Floods!July 2006 - Praying for Rain (but not floods!)

The years of 1893-4, Sunday, 21st July 1906 and St. Patrick’s Day, 1946, are the years that will long be remembered by the citizens of Casterton and district. They were momentous years of the big floods, when the Wannon and Glenelg Rivers spilled their banks. Swollen from incessant rains and storms, they flooded the the low lying areas of the town. There was a great loss of stock, domestic animals and pets. In the town, fencing and buildings were washed away and in some cases there was near loss of life in which only for the devotion to duty and the courage of its citizens, drowning fatalities could have occurred. On the Saturday, 4 inches of rain put the Glenelg two to three feet higher than the 1894 flood, which at that time had been the highest recorded since the town was founded in 1846.

(Taken from, “Tales of Casterton, the Waines Murder and Other Stories” by Jack Gorman.)

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William Shiels (1848 - 1904), by unknown engrav-er, 1892, courtesy of La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria. IAN01/03/92/17.

William SHIELS, premier and lawyer, was born on 3 December 1848 at Maghera, Derry, Ireland, son of Robert Shiels, farmer, and his wife Patricia Sarah, née Kelly. The family migrated to Melbourne late in 1854 but Robert died five weeks after arrival and in 1857 Patricia married William Dickens. Later in life Shiels warmly acknowledged the 'life-long sacrifices and devotion' of his mother. From 1862 he attended Scotch College, where he was 'a great reader and admirer of Parliamentary oratory', and matriculated in 1866. At the University of Melbourne (LL.B., 1873), in his second year he won first-class honours and the exhibition in law and history, and in later years prizes for an essay on 'The crown of Demosthenes' and for a translation of a poem by Goethe. His final years were academically undistinguished, but the ill health which dogged his life had led him to delay his course overall for three years. He was admitted to the Bar in 1873.

Shiels was considerably influenced by the teaching of W. E. Hearn and the liberal Charles Pearson and by the example of George Higinbotham. He had also spent considerable time over the South Australian border as a tutor, a period he considered the happiest of his life, exulting in riding and playing cricket. He became closely attached to John Robertson (1809-1880), a pastoralist of Struan House, Naracoorte, whose 27-year-old daughter Jane he was to marry there on 6 May 1885; they settled at Summerland House, St Kilda. Shiels's practice of law had been sporadic but he came to specialize as an executor

of estates, including Robertson's, in the border districts; his wife had an independent income.

In 1877 Shiels stood unsuccessfully for pastoral Normanby (the Hamilton, Coleraine and Casterton district) in the Legislative Assembly as a 'Constitutionalist' supporter of James Service. He was elected in 1880 and in his maiden speech pleaded for an end to the bitterness of the previous session. He increasingly allied himself with Robert Murray Smith, warmly aided Pearson in the campaign to open the Public Library of Victoria and the museums on Sundays, and supported Rev. Charles Strong in his conflict with the Presbyterian Church.

Shiels made his mark as a proponent of women's rights. In 1883, supported by Pearson and Hearn, as a private member he carried an amendment to the Marriage and Matrimonial Causes Act providing, in cases of divorce, for mothers' custody of the children. His exhaustive analysis, while still a bachelor, of the married condition caused some ribaldry; he was clearly acting on behalf of an unidentified group of women. Harriet Dugdale commented: 'It is fortunate for manhood's honour that such men … are endeavouring … to raise woman to the position of a human being'. With Hearn again, he drafted liberal amendments to the Married Women's Property Act which the government adopted (1884). In 1887 he carried an amendment to the law of slander to cover accusations of adultery against married, or of unchastity against single, women. He supported equal pay for female teachers.He rose to fame as the sponsor of divorce reform. In 1887 the New South Wales parliament passed a bill which greatly widened the grounds for divorce; the Imperial government refused its as-sent. That year as a private member Shiels took a similar bill past the second-reading stage but, for tactical reasons, did not proceed further. The governments of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia then agreed to make the issue one of self-government and to make a test case of a Victorian bill. In 1889 Shiels carried his bill - he would have liked to go much further - through both Houses, with large majorities despite bitter opposition from the Churches. Backed vehe-mently by colonial leaders, especially Sir Alfred Stephen and Pearson, early in 1890 he visited London to press the cause. The Imperial cabinet

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reluctantly gave way and 'the Shiels Divorce Act' was proclaimed, clearing the way for the other colonies.

An old-fashioned orator, Shiels wrote out and memorized eloquent speeches of great length, with frequent literary allusions and occasional use of Greek as well as Latin. He was a good and amusing enough speaker to maintain general interest and popularity in the assembly, especially as he enjoyed provoking good-humoured conflict. (Sir) Frederic Eggleston described him as 'a really great Parliamentary orator, but just a little too florid … full of fine phrases and happy epigrams but his voice was harsh, his delivery awkward … But he could make a budget exciting and he had a strain of patriotism … his speeches thrill anyone who loves Australia'.

In 1886 Shiels had immediately placed himself in opposition to the reconstituted coalition Gillies-Deakin ministry. Over the next four years he was a constant critic of boom extravagance, especially railway building; his attack on Gillies' 1889 budget was scathing. His visit to England and his tact as a negotiator increased his stature as did his criticism in August 1890 of the government's crazy proposals for further railway extensions, to which Deakin replied - an oratorical duel on which they congratulated each other.Thus when the government finally collapsed on 30 October and James Munro, at the command of David Syme of the Age, became premier, Shiels was a natural choice as attorney-general and minister of railways. In March 1891 he briefly attended the National Australasian Convention in Sydney as a substitute for (Sir) Henry Wrixon. His time as minister was largely occupied in conflict with the defiant Richard Speight and the other railway commissioners, especially over the railways deficit. By September Shiels was exhausted and took a break for several weeks. His amendments to the Railways Act, passed in December, marked some shift back to political control.

By then it was clear that Munro had to go - both his colleagues and Syme had had enough of him - and Shiels became premier on 16 February 1892. The railway commissioners were suspended on 17th March for refusal to accept ministerial direction. At Casterton he made a famous policy speech in which the oratory did not outweigh the reasoning. The election on 20th April was a triumph.

Sheils won 58 seats, the conservatives 28 and Labour (which had been supporting the government) only 11 at its first sustained attempt. Sir Graham Berry, the senior statesman, was called in as treasurer to restore the colony's tottering finances, but his budget was weak and futile. The energy and long hours Shiels put in (he was a 5.30 riser, usually at his desk by 7.30) could not arrest decline into deep economic depression. It was only a matter of time before a combination was found to remove him. By November he had decided to resign, but hung on into 1893.

Continued next month.....

The Early History of Sandford as told by Mrs. Grogan circa unknown.

Copy donated to The Casterton & DistrictHistorical Society

by Carol McKinnon-Ward 2006(?? = unreadable in transcript)

(*=Note made by Carol McKinnon-Ward)

Major Mitchell and his party first traversed the undulating country surrounding the present township of Sandford on 11th August 1836. After having crossed the Wannon River to the west of the present homestead on Sandford House Estate, Major Mitchell passed along hills to the west of Sandford and named this part of Victoria, ‘Australia Felix’. The country was then occupied by tribes of aborigines till 1837. The Messrs. Edward, Frank and John Henty came from Portland on the advice of Major Mitchell and settled on the three chief stations of the district viz, Muntham, Merino Downs and Sandford House.

Muntham Estate comprising some 77000 acres of rich pasture land, according to Mr. Featherstone-Haugh in ‘After many days’ average about £2.00 per acre, when Mr. Edward Henty purchased it and settled there. Merino Downs contained approximately 16000 acres and was the home of Mr. Frank Henty, whilst Mr. John Henty with 6000 acres settled at Sandford House. The name Sandford was given to the little village when it was surveyed in 1856 by the late well known surveyor – Mr. Lindsay Clarke. Early residents say it was so named because there was a sandy fort at the Northern boundary of Sandford estate, but late enquiries seem to indicate that the village was named after the station which John Henty had

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in all probability named after, an old spot in England. *The Henty’s came out on a ship with friends who were named ‘Sandford’ so the name may have come from there.

On 11th June 1847, Sandford House was taken over by Mr. J.H.. Jackson, who came from his uncle’s station at Sunbury with a sound knowledge of sheep breeding. This was indeed most useful, for all the surrounding stations were specially suited for the production of wool and sheep-rearing.

After the passing of the Land Act in 1861 a land board met at Casterton, and an influx of settlers shortly after brought about an increase of trade and business in the little township which really came into existence in 1857. In that year Messrs. Waddley and John Scott Grant each built a Hotel, the former naming his Hotel the ‘Sandford Hotel’ and the latter called his public house ‘Caledonia Hotel’. Mr. Charles Grinham also opened a store that year and Mr. Thos. Somerville with his wife and family arrived from Wando Vale at the end of 1857.

The blacks about that time were very troublesome and a shepherd on the ‘Murdering Flat’ was murdered, by then this was avenged by the early settlers following the mobs of blacks to the ‘Fighting water-holes’ near Coleraine and there a great massacre took place. After that, there were only a few scattered blacks in the neighbourhood. They became friendly and worked for the early settlers. Yorkie, Peter, Tiger, Jim Powers and his lubra, Louie are still well remembered by many old residents. The last corroboree was held on Craig’s Hill and the final co-campment of mia-mias was near the bend of the Railway Line now coming into the village on the north-side.

The most important event in the history of the little community was the opening of the Common school in 1863. It was built on the Sand hill to the South of the town. The money for the purchase of the land and the erection of a substantial brick school and a two roomed dwelling was donated by private subscriptions from all the residents – the late Dr. Russell & Mr. J.H. Jackson being the principal movers in the matter of education. Each pupil according to his class paid at the rate of 6d, 9d & 1/- per week as his education advanced. The first teacher was Mr. Holt. He was followed by

Mr. C Radford, son of Dr. Radford who had settled in a practice hereabout that year. Shortly after Mr. T. O. Evans was appointed to the position of school master, and during his regime, the Common School merged into the present State School system with the introduction of free education in 1872.

It was deemed advisable to move the site of the school to a more central spot in 1875, and a then commodious brick school and residence were built in the middle of the growing community. That school is still being used although a new Infant Room had to be added in 1900 to accommodate the increased attendance. Schoolmaster Evans was succeeded by Mr. Wilson then came Mr. L.H.. Renchan? And the last of the old school were Messrs. C. Radford who had entered the service of the Education Department that had charge of the S. School Sandford for 11? Years and C.W. Hill for 13 years the village Head Teacher. Both these gentlemen are now aged residents of Melbourne.

In 1866 Mr. Layley settled in Sandford as a shoe maker and in the following year opened a General Store on the site of the present Post Office. On 17th May 1873, Mr. Layley had the honour of laying the Foundation Stone of the Rechabate?? Hall. This hall was afterwards sold to the Ancient Order of Foresters and still is locally known as the ‘Foresters Hall’. On 21st June 1887, the late Mr. J.S.. Anderson saddler, planted an Oak tree in front of this hall to commemorate the 50th Jubilee of the late Queen Victoria, and it has grown into a magnificent and much prized memento of Forestry. Sandford owes its indebtedness to the late J.S.. Anderson for a library. Through his energy and love of reading, he established ‘Penny Readings’ in the first place of amusement erected, in Sandford and known as Nicholls Hall. The moneys he thus raised formed the nucleus for funds to build the present library and later, on the Mechanics Hall. The Foundation Stone of which was laid in 1885 by the late Mr. W.M. Bond, landlord & Licensee of the Commercial Hotel.

Flour milling was started here by the Miller?? Bros. from Coleraine but being unsuccessful, sold out to the late Mr. Peter Learmonth of Hamilton. He engaged Mr. John Holmes as manager and later on his brothers George and William joined him and eventually purchased the mill.

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The Holmes Bros. soon built up a reputation for the high quality of their stone ground-silk dresser Flour and things boomed in those days. When the roller-milling came into operation, Holmes Bros. closed up and removed to Casterton. They commenced the Brass band which is now known as the Vice Regal Band and for many years the majority of the members were the Holmes Bros and their sons.A rabbit trimming business was carried on in the old mill by ??inton Bros until the place was mysteriously destroyed by fire. The butter factory was removed about the same time to Cton, and the reverses they experienced have never been overcome. The early settlers did all their business and trade with Portland by means of bullock-drays, horse and cart and coach, and as there was no local council, the Portland Road Board had to maintain and look after all the roads. Things were greatly changed when the Railway from Branxholme to Casterton was opened in Sept 1884.The Roman Catholic Church was the first place of worship built in the village and was completed by the late Mr. Jas Mc Cormack in 1866. The Rev Father Marshall was the first parish priest stationed here. Then in 1883 the Presbyterian Church was opened by the Rev. Mr. Mc Millan of Hamilton – the Rev. Mr. Gillespie of Coleraine being the nearest minister to conduct the church services afterwards. The Church of England was opened by January 1888, the vicar of Christ Church Casterton being the first minister of St. Mary’s Sandford.In the very early days, Sandford was noted for its Horse races. The famous Great Western Steeplechase was finished in the Main Street of today and the prize amounted to £50. Adam Lindsay Gordon, poet, politician and noted horseman rode in that race one year; but his horse refused to jump for him and he lost. Ned Gorry being declared the winner. The Race-Course now occupied was once part of the Recreation Reserve adjoining it. The grants were issued for them in 1886 and 1887 respectively.In the seventies and eighties Mr. W. Storie who arrived from Portland in 1860 grew splendid samples of wheat; but latterly Oats and Barley are the chief cereals grown. Dairy herds have recently taken largely the place of the sheep- mixed with farming and dairying being the general occupation of the present day Sandford.

As you may know, Jim Kent has been heard on the ABC radio recently, speaking about the history of Casterton. For those who have not been able to listen to the transmissions, here is a précis of them.

Part 4; Naming of Casterton:Alexander McKinlay was without doubt the first white person to set up in business in what is now known as Casterton, he established an Inn where he cared for travellers and people employed by the Henty Brothers and other pastoralists in the district.

The township rests in a valley under a canopy of eucalyptus trees and is bisected by the Glenelg River. It is surrounded by, in some places, quite steep and large hills. At a logical place to cross the river is where McKinlay set up his Inn. Firstly he wanted to site the Inn on the eastern bank of the river, which formed the boundary of Edward Henty’s ‘Muntham’. Edward was not amused, so, as McKinlay’s Brothers-in-law by this time had acquired a huge pastoral holding called ‘Springbank’ on the western side of the river, he built his inn on their land.Now these brother’s-in-laws names were Kirby and their birthplace was a Casterton in England, could this have influenced our town to be called Casterton?

Another assumption could be attained from looking at the area surrounding the 2nd town in England called Casterton. Like our town, it is surrounded by hills; the actual word has Roman connotations as in a “castellated nut”, to draw a comparison, ‘castle’ meaning a building and ‘ton’ meaning a town. Anglicised, you have Casterton, meaning a town surrounded by hills.

Again, I am in the dark as to who did the actual naming of Casterton, I have never found positive proof of the person or persons who put this handle on our town. Maybe it was the Kirby Brothers or the original surveyors, it could have been James Blair or Captain Foster Fyans, or as it was originally known as ‘The Adelaide Crossing’ or ‘The Glenelg Crossing” or McKinlay’s Crossing. Maybe it was the members of the newly formed local ‘Glenelg Road District’ who so named Casterton.

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I have yet to see written authoritative proof as to who did name Casterton as such. We will leave it there for now except to say, Casterton is a great place to live.

The Goldfields.Now the next major influence by which the township of Casterton was to come into being was the discovery of the goldfields of central Victoria. These goldfields caused an enormous migration of workers to the diggings and as Casterton is situated close to the South Australian Border, this geographical situation had a great bearing on this particular spot becoming a township.The state of South Australia was becoming impoverished, owing to the exodus of its workforce to the Victorian goldfields. So, the powers in charge of affairs of that state, decided that gold won by the diggers from South Australia, should come back to that state, so as to bolster the economy there. The great barriers of hills, cliffs, streams, etc on the direct route from the goldfields back to South Australia would prove to be a problem. Either the gold escort would have to travel via a longer, northern route, a longer sea passage around the coast, or, a passage through the hills had to be found.This is where Alexander McKinlay comes into the picture. He was to establish a public house on the west bank of the Glenelg River around which grew other dwellings and places of commerce. This area on the Glenelg River became known by various names, such as, The Adelaide Crossing, McKinlay’s Inn and The Glenelg Crossing. All this was in the 1840’s. While McKinlay was establishing his Inn, there was a movement afoot to have a township surveyed to the north of the inn, on a place where four large pastoral holding boundaries met. These properties were ‘Muntham’, ‘Cashmere’, ‘Wando Vale’ and ‘The Hummocks’, at this time the latter was owned by Mr. McCulloch who later sold it to Mr. Pearson who renamed it ‘Retreat’. Supposedly there was a township surveyed in this locality, however, no plans or survey have ever been located. It is known that a slab and bark Court House and a Police Station existed on Pearson’s ‘Retreat Station’ adjacent to the everlasting hills known as ‘The Hummocks’.A strange quirk of fate decided as to where the eventual town of Casterton would be and it came about, thus:

Alexander McKinlay met an unfortunate death from drowning while riding a horse through a swamp, at this time the movement to have a township established either to the north or south of McKinlay’s Inn was in being. McKinlay’s widow implored Robertson of ‘Wando Vale’ station to use his influence with the Government, to prevent a township being built at either the north or south of her Inn on the Glenelg River bank. This suited Robertson as it would have divided his property. He successfully lobbied on behalf of Mrs. McKinlay, so we can thank Mr. J G Robertson of ‘Wando Vale’ station for having Casterton sited where it is now.It was around this time, 1848, a Mr. Wade, a Government Surveyor, was working in the nearby Hamilton district. It was Mr. Wade who gave instructions to the surveyors Messrs Clarke and Derbyshire to survey and lay out a town at the site of McKinlay’s Inn. This they did around 1850. This is then how the present township of Casterton came into being, who gave it the name, Casterton, I don’t know, except to say it is an old Roman word meaning a town surrounded by hills.Footnote*When I went to school in the 1930’s, the population of the town was 2000 it is much the same today. Over the years there have been four different routes by which you came through the valley, and four different bridges at the site where you crossed the Glenelg River. Our current entrance is a large cutting into the side of a hill, then down over the bridge and into Henty St so named after the Henty families who were the first to settle in this area.Jim Kent, July 2006

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Helen Macpherson Schutt - Philanthropist17th April 1874 - 19th April 1951

Extracts taken from a history of her life,Part 3.Married Life.Helen married William John Schutt, Barrister, onDecember 11, 1901, at Toorak Presbyterian Church. Helen was 27 and William 33. The Reverend John Macrae officiated and Helen was attended by three bridesmaids: her cousin, Ada Howard and friends, the Misses Rosa Menzies and Elsie Ingram. William’s best man was a Mr. A.O. Henty. Helen and William travelled to Sydney, then on to the Blue Mountains for their honeymoon where they stayed at ‘Yester Grange’ built for Goodlet and Smith, the family building company based in Granville, New South Wales.

Used by its Managing Director, William Smith and his wife Susan, ‘Yester Grange’ stands on the edge of the ridge above the spectacular Wentworth Falls and is surrounded by a manicured garden of 10.5 acres and specimen treesfrom all over the world. From the front verandah, the view of the Jamison Valley is breathtaking. It is believed to have been named by William Smith after ‘Yester House’ in Gifford, near Edinburgh, Scotland and there is also a ‘Yester Grange’ in the Shetland Islands. Built from New Zealand kauri timber and with an iron roof, ‘Yester Grange’, a house of 74 squares, was bought in 1902, the year after Helen and William’s visit, by Sir John See, Premier of New South Wales between 1901 and 1905.

Helen and William returned to live in Toorak nearHelen’s parents, at the villa which was their wedding gift, ‘Wyahla’ in Clendon Road, now popularly known as the Toorak Heroes’ Club. Though the area of land on which the house stands has been subdivided and has undergone extensive renovations, the house still stands at 72 Clendon Road and has belonged to the Toorak R.S.L. Memorial Trust since 1958.

Helen supported a number of charitable causes and was one of the first Life Members of The Lost Dogs’ Home. Her name appears in the list of donors in the years between 1914 and 1935, as does, intermittently, that of her husband.

She was a life member of the RSPCA and also had a connection with the Royal District Nursing Service, going back to 1919. In that year, she donated money to the Melbourne District Nursing Society. 1919 was a crisis year for both Melbourne and the Society, when the worst influenza epidemic ever struck the city. The Royal District Nursing Service continued to receive personal donations from Helen until 1947, some 24 years after she had left Australia to reside permanently in Europe. One of the many examples of the legacy of Helen Schutt was the recent opening and naming of the new Royal District Nursing Service head office at Alma Road, St Kilda, in inner Melbourne, supported by funds from the Trust.

Helen and William appear to be a kindly couple, shown by their relationship with Anne Kate Coles, (née Shutt) a second cousin of William, who became their housekeeper. Mr Patrick Holder, who married Anne Kate’s granddaughter Joan Morison, says that Helen Schutt’s kindness was often talked about within the family. Helen and William Schutt befriended Anne Kate when her marriage broke up, and she became their companion/housekeeper, bringing her daughter Kitty with her.

Later, when Helen left to live in Europe, William Schutt bought the property at 14 Robinson Road, Malvern – ‘The Chalet’ in which he and Helen installed Anne Kate and her daughter. William apparently stayed at ‘The Chalet’ on his travels between Europe and Australia. On William’s death, the property passed to Helen, who kept the arrangement in place. She also gave her christening robe, dressing table silver and other mementoes to her housekeeper. These have been kept in the family first by Kate’s granddaughter, Joan Morison and on her death, by Joan’s husband, Mr Patrick Holder.

Helen’s Landowner Forebears:The Macphersons.Helen was particularly fortunate in her forebears: on both sides they were hardworking and energetic. On the Macpherson side they were good judges of land and excellent farmers while the Smiths were entrepreneurs with a talent in business and blessed with an eye for property with potential.(Continued next month.)

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Society Meeting Times and Dates,With Guest Speakers for 2006/7:

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Monday 17th July 2006 at 2.00 pmMrs. Pat Hein Mount Gambier Heritage and History Society

Monday 21st August 2006 at 2.00 pmMs. Jenny Fawcett - Genseek Genealogy

-------------------Wednesday 20th September 2006 at 7.00 pmBasil Stafford, Local/Family History Researching

Wednesday 18th October 2006 at 7.00 pmTo be advised

Wednesday 15th November 2006 at 7.00 pmDinner Meeting - Ms. Joan Hunt

--------------------December 2006 and January 2007 - No Meeting

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Publications for SaleCasterton Historical Street Walk“From Flour Mill to Glenelg Inn - $10.00Extracts from the Casterton and District Historical Society Inc. 1966-1996 - $10.00Corndale State School Honour Board Booklet $7.00Casterton Cenotaph WWI soldiers - $20.00Casterton Cenotaph WWII soldiers - $10.00Major Norman McDonaldPhotograph Album CD - $20.00History in the Depths – Gallipoli – DVD - $20.00Vern McCallum Photographs CDsCasterton High School - $20.00Vintage Tools of Trade - $10.00Newsletters of the Casterton and District Historical Society 2005 Booklet – Indexed $10.00Extracts from Gleanings – $1.00

Contact Jan 55 752578

President: Jan LierPublicity Officer: Basil StaffordSecretary/Treasurer: Cheryl Elmes

Contacts:Cheryl Elmes and Jim KentP.O. Box 48, Casterton, Victoria 3311

Newsletter Layout: Alistair BoyleP.O. Box 186, Casterton, Victoria, 3311

July 17th 2006 Casterton

July 24th 2006 Coleraine

July 31st 2006 Harrow

August 7th 2006 Balmoral

August 14th 2006 Casterton

August 21st 2006 Coleraine

August 28th 2006 Harrow

September 4th 2006 Balmoral

September 11th 2006 Casterton

September 18th 2006 Coleraine

September 25th 2006 Harrow

Any material for inclusion can be left atP.O. Box 48 or passed to Basil Stafford or Jan Lier.

Any ideas or comments always welcomeat P.O Box 186

You can email Jan and Cherylvia the Ballarat Genealogy Web site.