Tornado destroys Bungaree Mechanics' Institute

On June 19, 1927 Bungaree was hit by a tornado and many buildings were destroyed including the Mechanics’ Institute, however the  piano in that building survived unscathed. The Mechanics' Institute had opened in April 1894, and there is a history of the building at the bottom of this post. 

The Bungaree Mechanics' Institute, you can see the intact  piano.

Sydney Sun, June 21, 1927 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223618576

The Tornado of 1927

The Argus, of June 20, 1927 (see here) had the following report on the Tornado - 

Tornado at Bungaree. Many buildings wrecked. Mechanics’ Hall blown down. 

House Lifted and Turned Round.

Ballarat, Sunday - Although it has fortunately not accompanied by loss of life, a tornado caused tremendous  damage when it passed through the Bungaree district at 4 o'clock this afternoon. The Mechanics' Hall was blown to the ground, the Morning Star Hotel was partially wrecked, Tinney Bros chaff mills were ruined and the blacksmith's shop of Mr W. Chisholm has completely shattered. A remarkable instance of the force of the cyclone was  provided by the shifting of the home of Mr and Mrs E. Bennett's on the Millbrook road. The building was lifted from its foundations and the house changed from its eastern aspect to face in a southerly direction. Mr and Mrs. Bennett were in the house at the time, and its rockings gave them a terrifying time. The duration of the wind was just under two minutes but it blew with terrible intensity and caused wreckage in its path. It was followed by a heavy hail storm and rain.

Havoc Among Timber
According to Mr W Hamilton, curator of the Black Swamp reserve of the Ballarat Water Commission the cyclone came from beyond Pootilla through the forest, uprooting trees and causing havoc among the timber. The path of destruction was about 200 to 300 yards wide, but owing to it traversing a sparsely populated area damage was not so great as might otherwise have been recorded. The wind just missed Mr Hamilton's house, but the stables and other outbuildings were reduced to fragments. Huge trees was uprooted, and large branches scattered about the roadway, while telegraph and telephone wires were also destroyed.

Struck by Flying Iron
The only injury reported was that of Mr Martin Moran a resident of Clarke's Hill, who was a visiting Mr Hanrahan's place on the Millbrook road and was was struck be a flying sheet of iron from one of the ruined outbuildings of Mr Hanrahan's farm. Mr Moran's injuries were only of a minor character. 
A remarkable experience was that of four potato-diggers living in a hut situated in the yard of the Morning Star Hotel. The hut was completely demolished, but none of the four men were hurt. A huge uprooted tree near the hotel spoke eloquently of the violence of the storm. The Bungaree police station, occupied by Constable Pattinson, was just on the fringe of the disturbance. The garage and fencing suffered severely, but the house was not touched. Many narrow escapes from being struck by flying pieces of iron and branches of trees were reported to the constable.

No of estimate can yet be formed of the value of the destroyed property. Many exaggerated reports concerning the blocking of the road and consequent danger to traffic by falling trees were current 
this evening, but investigation showed that no serious obstacles to traffic occurred in this way.

Damage at Sulky
The storm appeared to have travelled from the north-west, and can be traced back a dozen miles to Sulky, a township situated about six miles from Ballarat, in a northerly direction. It was the scene of a similar visitation a quarter of a century ago, when many houses were wrecked. 

A graphic description of the Sulky phase of the cyclone was given by Mr. Eric Thomas of Mair street, Ballarat, who was an eye-witness. He saw the storm coming up from a valley situated near the racecourse at Dowling Forest. It appeared to him to cut a track of 200 yards, and upended huge trees and stripped the bark off saplings in its track. 

It raced up the railway line near the Waubra Junction signal box, just missing the large building by a few yards, its full force striking the gatehouse on the Waubra line where it crosses the Creswick road, and completely wrecked it. One huge tree was uprooted and deposited 150 yards away on the Creswick road. A heavy tank attached to the smashed gatehouse was carried away by the gale and wrapped round a telegraph pole. Pieces of galvanised iron were summarily twisted round the trunks as if they were paper. The roof of the gatehouse was lifted and carried many yards away. Some distance north of this was a cottage which was entirely wrecked and all the outbuildings demolished. Considerable damage was done along the railway line, and the ground signal lines were all destroyed. Mr. Thomas added that the storm seemed to cross the railway line, and the Ballarat to Creswick road, and cut a clean path through the forest country in the direction of Bungaree, leaving stumps and levelled times in its track.  The cyclone was brief in its duration, lasting about a minute.

When he reached Ballarat, Mr. Thomas telephoned details of the occurrence to Mr Maddern (Ballarat district railway traffic superintendent ) and he sent a gang of men out to Waubra Junction to clear up the line. (1)

The Age of June 20, 1927 also published an account of the Tornado, you can read it here.

The Herald of June 20, 1927 had the following photographs under the headline - Special Pictures tell story of Bungaree Tornado.

Caption - A series of photographs taken today showing the havoc wrought by the tornado which swept the township of Bungaree, near Ballarat, yesterday afternoon. (1): The ruins of the Mechanics' Institute in the main street. (2): Tinney Bros. hay and corn store. (3): Mr. Bennett's home, which, was literally picked up and dropped a distance of 30 feet the original site is seen on the right. (4): The Morning Star Hotel, partially wrecked. (5): Mr and. Mrs Maher and their two children. They escaped death when their roof fell on top of them.

The Herald of June 20, 1927, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243963755

The Sun News-Pictorial of June 21, 1927 showed the ruined Mechanics' Institute of its front cover - All That Was Left By The Raging Tornado.

Caption: Ruins of the Mechanics' Institute, in the track of the Tornado at Bungaree, near Ballarat. The Institute was one of the most pretentious buildings in the village. When Sunday’s storm had passed, it was a mass of twisted girders, smashed planks and corrugated iron. The piano in the hall was one of the few fittings that faced the music, and remained intact. Buildings were flattened, roofs torn off, huts carried away, and trees uprooted along a storm trail 100 yards wide.

Sun News-Pictorial, June 21, 1927 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article274869471

The Weekly Times of June 25, 1927, published a full page of photographs, under the headline - Damage Caused By a Tornado At Bungaree On Sunday Afternoon.

Caption - 1. Chisholm's blacksmith flattened out. 2. Messrs. W. and Stan Forbes, of Morning Star Hotel, which was partially wrecked. 3. Tinney's hay and corn store 4. Mr and Mrs. Maher. whose home was wrecked. 5. Damage to roof of Mr. Maher s house. 6. Mr Bennett's house lifted and deposited 30 feet from the original site and twisted round. 7. 100 bags of potatoes and roofing iron were strewn about the farm of Mr. M. Hanrahan. 8. Forbes's Morning Star Hotel in Main-street. 9. Remains of Mechanics' Institute (the piano in the hall was undamaged)

Weekly Times, June 25, 1927 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222616423

Bungaree Mechanics' Institute, erected 1894

The Bungaree Mechanics' Institute was opened on April 11, 1894. It was designed by Mr William Brazenor, Architect of Lydiard Street, Ballarat. The building tender, advertised in January 1894 was awarded to the firm,  Quayle and Williams, Ballarat contractors. (2)

Tender for the erection of the Bungaree Mechanics'Institute

The Ballarat Star, January 25, 1894 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article209803520

The Architect, William Brazenor was born in 1832 in Shropshire in England and came to Victoria in 1857 and a few years later arrived in Ballarat, where he designed many buildings, the Ballarat cattle and sheep yards and the railway trucking yards. He was a member of the  Ballarat Coursing Club (greyhounds) and the  Ballarat Hunt Club. He died in September 1916. (3)

As you can see in the advertisement Bungaree was called Bungaree Junction, the original name of the railway station which opened in 1879 and gave it's name to the town which developed around the Station. The Station was renamed Bungaree in 1890. (4)

Advertisement for the opening of the Bungaree Mechanics' Institute

Ballarat Star, April 9 1894 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206498821 

The Ballarat Courier of April 12, 1894 (see here) published a full report of the opening - 

Mechanics' Institute and Free Library, Bungaree Junction. Opening Ceremony. 

By Our Own Reporter.

Bungaree and its junction were en fete yesterday and last night. The occasion being the opening of the Mechanics' Institute and Free Library. In honor of the event a ball, which was carried out on a lavish scale, took place in the evening. It must be borne in mind that although the opening ceremony assumed the form of a ball, the committee did not lose sight of the fact that the institute was built for educational advantages.

It had long been the aim of the inhabitants of Bungaree to have a Mechanics' and Free Library erected in the district for the public, but the difficulty of collecting sufficient funds to supply the requirements of the district confronted those who mooted the question. It will be in the recollection of our readers that some two years ago the inhabitants of Bungaree tendered a banquet to Mr E. Murphy, M.L.A., the member for the district, and it was such an unqualified success that after paying all expenses in connection therewith, there remained a surplus of £20 in the hands of the banquet committee. Mr Murphy, with his usual go-aheadism in the interest of the district, incidentally mentioned to the committee, whilst expressing his high gratification at the great success of the banquet, that the surplus money would form a nucleus to a fund to be raised for the erection of a Mechanics' and Free Libray. Mr Murphy promised to lend every assistance that lay in his power, with the view of furthering the movement, and e also promised to supplement the amount already in hand by a substantial donation. Mr Murphy also waited upon the Treasurer for a grant-in-aid of the library, and although an amount has not yet been placed on the estimates, Mr Murphy has received an assurance that the request will be favorably entertained. 

The committee who supervised the banquet, subsequently considered the proposal, and it was decided to hold a public meeting to determine whether the erection of a suitable hall would meet with the general approbation of the inhabitants. The meeting unanimously resolved that such a hall as that mentioned by the committee was highly desirable, and it was left to an influential committee to take the initiatory steps to report progress.

A second public meeting was held, and the question then assumed, so to speak concrete form. The Rev. Father Cleary, and Messrs A. Wade, A.J. Forbes, and J. Hogan were elected trustees: Messrs H. Acton, T. Hanrahan, and P. O' Day, committee; Mr J. Horne, treasurer: and Mr J. Gibson, secretary. The district was cut up into sub-districts and canvassers were appointed to collect subscriptions, the result of their efforts being that about £100 was collected. Several sites were selected on which the building should be erected, but the committee after much consideration, chose the piece of land owned by Mr Lindsall, situated on the north side of the main road and next to the Hibernian Hall, which was purchased for the sum of £25. Tenders were called for the erection of the hall, the work being left in the hands of Mr Brazenor, architect, Lydiard street. 

The building, which is almost completed, there being a few coats of paint to put on it, is a handsome structure, and is a credit to the district. It is 70 feet long by 28 feet wide, and the walls are 14 feet. The entrance to the main hall, which is 50 feet by 27 feet, is by a well-appointed porch. The building is of elyptical design; the roof consisting of galvanised iron, which is supported by iron girders. The building is well ventilated by a ridge in the roof - running the whole length of the building - and at the basement. The platform is commodious, and is semi-circular in design. Much attention has paid to lighting the hall; there being four windows on each side, whilst the front portion above the porch consists of glass. At the rear of the main hall on the east side is the ladies' retiring, reading rooms, and lavatory, and on the west side the gentlemen's retiring and reading rooms. Altogether, the organisers of the movement may well be proud of the hall.

On the opening of the hall last night, there was a brilliant assemblage; the hall being crowded to excess. Amongst those present were a large number of visitors from Ballarat, and Fathers Cleary and Foley. The main hall was gaily decorated with flags. After the first set of quadrillies had been gone through, Mr A. J. Forbes, in the absence of Mr S. Murphy, M.L.A., who was unavoidably detained for some hours at a wedding at Gordons, formally declared the institute open. He expressed the hope that the ball would prove highly enjoyable, and that the institute would prove of incalculable benefit to the young and old residents of the district. The committee were anxious that the hall should be opened free of debt, but unfortunately this was not the case. The trustees, however, had entered into a personal security for the amount owing on it, and they were thankful for the interest manifested by them. Three cheers were then given, and dancing was resumed and kept up till an early hour this morning. 

Mr C. Mc'Intyre, of Bridge street, catered for the requirements of those present, and he gave entire

satisfaction. Mr J. C. Fraser, Ballarat, fulfilled the duties of M.C., and the music was supplied by Messrs Millar (piano), Scarse (cornet), and Gude (violin). Mr Murphy subsequently attended the gathering, and received an ovation from those present. The secretarial duties were ably carried out by Mr J. Gibson, who was assisted by Mr H. Acton. Excellent service was also rendered by Mr J. Horne, treasurer, to whom much praise is due. The thanks of the committee are due the Revs. Father Cleary and Foley, Mr E. Murphy, M.L.A., and Messrs A.J. Forbes, Hogan, Wade, and Coghlan for the great interest they evinced in the matter. (5)   

The new Bungaree Mechanics' Institute, erected 1928

The replacement Mechanics' Institute was opened just over a year after the  tornado on September 4, 1928. The Sun News-Pictorial of September 5, had a short report (with one error, the cyclone was only the previous year, not two years previous.)  Lady Peacock, who had the honour of opening the hall, was the wife of Sir Alex Peacock, the Speaker of the Parliament and previously the Premier of Victoria.  

Bungaree New Hall Opened

Ballarat , Tuesday. -  The new public hall at Bungaree, erected to replace the building which was destroyed by a cyclone two years ago, was opened today by Lady Peacock. She was presented with a silver key to the building by Mrs. W. Burke, president of the ladies' committee. An official luncheon was presided over by the president of the Bungaree Shire (Cr. G. Davies). The hall cost £1500, of which £500 was contributed by the Government. (6)

The Bungaree Mechanics' Institute

Image: https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/Services-and-support/Community/Find-a-venue-or-facility/Bungaree-Mechanics-Institute-Hall

Footnotes

(1) The Argus, June 20, 1927, see here

(2) The Ballarat Star, January 25, 1894, see here;  Ballarat Star, April 12, 1894, see here.

(3) Ballarat Courier, September 22, 1916, see here.

(4) Lost and almost forgotten towns of Colonial Victoria: a comprehensive analysis of Census results for Victoria, 1841-1901 by Angus B.Watson (published by the author in 2003); VicSig website   https://vicsig.net/infrastructure/location/Bungaree

(5) Ballarat Courier, April 12, 1894, see here

(6) Sun News-Pictorial, September 5, 1928, see here.

Joseph Antoine Deneys (1858-1924) of Dimboola

I came across this photograph of J. A. Deneys' store, in Dimboola, on the Museums Victoria website when I was looking for photos for the Lost Country Victoria Facebook page, and as it is a bit of an unusual surname, I thought I would do some research.

 Joseph Deneys with his wife Agnes, son Charles and daughter Elizabeth, c. 1905 outside their store in Dimboola. 

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/769750

The store was owned by Joseph Antoine Deneys, who died on December 8, 1924 at the age of 66, so we will start this post with his informative obituary in The Labor Call, to gain some background of his life –

Another Laborite Gone - The sudden passing away of Joseph Antonia De'neys came as a great shock to a large number of his old Victorian acquaintances and comrades. Joe Deneys, as he was familiarly termed, was born in Roubaix, France, and came to Australia in the early eighties. He worked at his trade, as a carpenter at Townsville and Charters Towers for several years. The comrade came to Melbourne in 1890, and then went to Warrnambool, where he followed the calling of his trade. In 1901 he started business as a news agent and tobacconist in Jeparit, and shortly afterwards he opened another similar business in Dimboola. It was through his pushfulness that the "Tocsin" (now the "Labor Call") became fairly well known throughout that part of Victoria. Our old friend had a very fine tenor voice, and he was never known to refuse to sing at any charitable or Labor gathering when asked. We extend our deepest sympathy to his widow and grown-up son and daughter. (1) The obituary has one mistake, Joseph went to Warracknabeal and not Warrnambool.  

As noted in his obituary, Joseph first lived in Queensland and it was there that he married his first wife Elizabeth Ann Ladd Goodliff on January 26, 1889 in Charters Towers. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Mary (nee Scrivens) Goodliff and had been born in Hackney in London (2). Their daughter, Alice Maud was born on April 15, 1890, but she sadly only lived eleven weeks and died on July 8, 1890 at King Street, Charters Towers. (3) The couple then moved to Victoria where their son Charles was born in 1891 in Warracknabeal. Elizabeth died on July 26, 1898, aged 39, from heart disease and was buried at the Warracknabeal Cemetery. Her death certificate notes that she had been five years in Queensland and seven years in Victoria. (4)

After the death of Elizabeth, Joseph married Agnes Stewart Heatly on November 6, 1901, when she was 34 and he was 43. Their marriage certificate shows that he was 43 year-old storekeeper of Jeparit and Agnes a 34 year-old housekeeper from South Yarra. She had been born at Castlemaine to Charles and Elizabeth (nee McAuslan) Heatly; Charles worked for the Victorian Railways.  On May 23, 1896, Charles who was the Station Master at Hawksburn, was struck by a train whilst he was standing on the tracks between two platforms and died later in hospital; he was buried at St Kilda Cemetery. (5)

Joseph's birth place was listed on the marriage certificate as St Nicholas, Belgium, which differs from the obituary which was Roubaix, France. Roubaix was the name he gave to his house in Melbourne, so this  seems the more likely birth place. His father was Augustin Deneys, a Cabinet maker, and his mother Carlotta Von Mullum. Joseph became a naturalised British Subject in Queensland on October 31, 1887. (6)

I am going off on a tangent here, but the Minister who conducted the Presbyterian service was William Stothert Rolland, the father of the Very Reverend Sir Francis William Rolland - famous in Presbyterian circles for his mission work at the Smith of Dunesk Mission based at Beltana in South Australia and for helping the Reverend John Flynn launch the Australian Inland Mission (and Flynn later established the Royal Flying Doctor Service).  Francis Rolland was also a practical Chaplain with the AIF in World War One serving in Egypt, England and France, where he ministered to the men in the trenches. He was Principal at Geelong College and later the Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. He also reorganized the training of Deaconesses, and the Deaconness Training College in Carlton was named Rolland House in his honour (where my aunty did her training to become a Deaconess). (7)

Back to Joseph and Agnes - they had two daughters - Elizabeth Ernestine (Bessie) born in 1902 at Jeparit and Angele, born in 1908 at Warracknabeal, who lived only six days. (8) From 1903, the family are listed in the Electoral rolls in Dimboola, where Joseph operated the store, as shown in the image at the start of this post, as well as taking up the profession of a photographer, which his son Charles also practiced (9)

One of Joseph Deneys' photographs - Clearing sale, Dimboola, c. 1910s. 

State Library of Victoria image H2008.27/1

Detail of his signature, on bottom right of the photo above.

State Library of Victoria image H2008.27/1

Joseph was very involved in the community life of Dimboola and surrounding area - a Provincial Grand Master of the Wimmera District Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows; Chairman of the Dimboola Progress Comittee; a member of the Western Wimmera Waterworks Trust; he organised a petition to have part of the Dimboola Shire annexed to the Wimmera Shire and put his name forward for pre-selection for the Labor Party in various elections. (10)

Joseph retired in 1922 and he and Agnes moved to Roubaix, 26 Norwood Road, Caulfield and this is where he died suddenly on December 8, 1924. Agnes continued living at the family home in Caulfield, until her death at a private hospital in Windsor on July 21, 1933. Agnes was well regarded as her five siblings, George, Bertha, Leah, Gilbert and Elsie inserted a lovely notice to their dearly beloved eldest sister after her death. Joseph and Agnes are buried together in the Presbyterian Section at the Brighton General Cemetery. (11)

Before we leave the Deneys well have a look at the lives of their two surviving children, Charles and Elizabeth. Charles married Emma May Forlington in 1912 and they had five children - Kenneth Charles (born 1913), Joseph Harold (1914), Elizabeth (1916), William Harry (1922) and Jack Fortington (?-2014). Charles was a photographer, based in Dimboola until the early 1940s when the Electoral Rolls list them at 139 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Charles died in 1959, aged 68 and Emma in 1971, aged 79. They were both cremated at Springvale Crematorium and their ashes were interred there. (12).

As we said before, Charles was also a photographer and the State Library of Victoria has some of his photographs, one of which is shown below.

Lochiel Street, Dimboola. Photographer: Charles Deneys

State Library of Victoria image H2019.50/31. See others of Charles photographs here    http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/4181545

Joseph and Agnes' daughter Elizabeth, or Bessie as she was known, married James Frederick Rigby in 1926 and they had two daughters, Leonie and Claire. James was a clerk and the couple lived with Agnes at Roubaix, 26 Norwood Road, Caulfield;  Bessie inherited the property in 1933 after her mother's death. James died on September 13, 1979 aged 79 and Elizabeth on February 1, 1982 aged 79. They were both cremated at Springvale Crematorium and their ashes were interred there. (13)

We will finish this post off with this interesting observation about Joseph Deneys. In 1929, the Horsham Times published an article entitled After Many Years: A Visit to the Old Town, where Nathan F. Spielvogel (14) looked back at his time in Dimboola, which he left in 1905 and where he had been a school teacher, and he noted this about Joseph - Joe Deneys, ever ready to abuse the Capitalist. (15)

Footnotes 

(1) Labour Call, December 18, 1924, see here.
(2) Index to Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages; information on Elizabeth's death certificate. 

(3) Index to Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages; death notice of baby Alice - Northern Miner, July 10, 1890, see here.

(4) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Elizabeth's death certificate.

(5) Deneys/Heatly marriage certificate; I found out about Charles Heatly's accident from - Rigg of the railways: stationmasters of the Victorian railways by Tom Rigg (published by the Author, 2001).  Charles Heatly - report of accident The Age, May 30, 1896, see here and death and funeral notice - The Argus, May 30, 1896, see here. 

(6) Deneys/Heatly marriage certificate. Natauralization - from his Grant of Probate Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/46AD1A5B-F1F2-11E9-AE98-2DD3255274EB?image=7

(7) Geelong Grammar website - https://gnet.tgc.vic.edu.au/wiki/ROLLAND-The-Very-Rev-Sir-Francis-William-Kt-CMG-OBE-MC-MA-DD  Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rolland-sir-francis-william-frank-8261 

(8)  Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages

(9) Electoral Rolls from Ancestry.com 

(10)  Ballarat Star, April 20, 1904, see here; Horsham Times, July 19, 1907, see here; Horsham Times, December 20, 1907, see here; Horsham Times, January 26, 1915, see here; Dimboola Banner, July 14, 1914, see here; Horsham Times, July 21, 1914, see here; Labour Call, July 14, 1921, see here. 

(11) Joseph - short obituary Horsham Times, December 12, 1924, see here; death notice - The Argus, December 9, 1924, see here. Agnes - death notice The Argus, July 22, 1933, see here, short obituary - Horsham Times, July 28, 1933, see here. Brighton Cemetorians database  https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/

(12) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls; Jack Deney's death notice   https://www.mytributes.com.au/notice/death-notices/deneys-jack-fortington/4844126/ ; Springvale Botanical Cemetery https://smct.org.au/our-locations/about-springvale-botanical-cemetery

(13) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Springvale Botanical Cemetery https://smct.org.au/our-locations/about-springvale-botanical-cemetery 

Agnes Deneys Probate papers Public Records Office of Victoria  https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/E57EF78F-F576-11E9-AE98-EF468208D602?image=1

(14) Nathan Frederick Spielvogel - Nathan was listed in the Electoral Roll as a school teacher. He died in September 1956 - 

Nathan F. Spielvogel, historian of Ballarat, and former State School teacher, died this morning at his home. He was 84. Mr Spielvogel was prominent in local community life and founded the Ballarat Historical Society. He was the author of several books on travel and early Ballarat history, including the Eureka rebellion. Tomorrow evening, he was to have been elected president of the Historical Society for the 23rd year.  (The Argus, September 11, 1956, see here)

Mr. Nathan Spielvogel, who died this week, at an advanced age, was the very symbol of the old Ballarat Jewish Community. The late Mr. Spielvogel’s family was associated with that community from the very first, almost a century. (Australian Jewish News, September 14, 1956, see here). 

Australian Jewish Herald of September 14, 1956 had a longer obituary, see here.

In the December 14, 1956 issue of the Australian Jewish Herald (see here) there was this note about his work - The Australian Jewish Historical Society’s meeting on Thursday, December 20, will be devoted to an appreciation of the writings of Nathan F. Spielvogel, whose death in September last seemed to close an epoch in the history of the Australian Jewish community. As a teller of tales of Australian Jewish life - the only one of his period - his writings speak and breathe the atmosphere of an era that is fast slipping into the past.

(15) Horsham Times, June 11, 1929, see here

The Murphys of the Wharf Brewery and Kotupna and St Kilda

In 1891 and 1892 there were  newspapers reports on the largest hog farm in Australia - at Monomeith, near Koo Wee Rup. The enterprise was started by James Murphy, and in February 1890 he sold to the Waters - Thomas Beaumont Waters and his son of the same name; with young Thomas managing the business at Monomeith.  The Waters sold out in October 1892 and James Murphy repurchased the property. The Monomeith property was 606 acres on the Yallock Creek, part of Old Monomeith, the property once owned by John Mickle. Murphy had originally purchased the land when the 4,425 acre Monomeith Estate was subdivided and put up for auction on December 17, 1886. I wrote about this on  my Koo Wee Rup Swamp History blog, see here.  

James was the son of John Robert Murphy (1807-1891) and his wife Elizabeth Terry (1812-1882) and this is the family story.

Elizabeth Terry had arrived in Tasmania in October 1819 with her parents John and Martha Terry, who were free settlers, with her ten brothers and sisters and a servant.  She married John Robert Murphy on June 18, 1835 in the parish of New Norfolk in Tasmania. (1)

Marriage of John Murphy and Elizabeth Terry in 1835

Tasmanian Archives https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD36-1-2/RGD36-1-2P213 

Three years after their marriage John and Elizabeth moved to Victoria, where they amassed a large amount of property;  John also established the Wharf Brewery in 1839 with his brother James, at the west end of Flinders Street. The Brewery was sold in 1861 to Albert Terry, Robert Murcutt and Robert Cunningham who owned the Victoria Brewery in Chapel Street, Prahran. (2)  Elizabeth died on April 21, 1882 and John died on August 4, 1891. John left an estate of £250,000, of which £240,000 was in real estate. (3)  John and Elizabeth are buried in a family grave at the Brighton General Cemetery (more of which later).

John Murphy's Wharf Brewery

Murphy's Brewery Offices, Melbourne, 1858. Photographer: Barnett Johnstone.

State Library of Victoria image H27175

This is John’s informative obituary from The Argus of November 28, 1891 -
The granting of probate to the will and codicil of the late John Robert Murphy, of Victoria House, St Kilda Road, on Thursday last, recalls the fact of the death of another of the early pioneers of Victoria. The deceased gentleman had attained the ripe age of 84. He was born in Dublin in the year 1807, and brought up to the business of a brewer. He emigrated to Tasmania in the year 1828, taking with him a not inconsiderable amount of capital, which enabled him under the then existing laws of that colony, to select an acre of land for every pound sterling he possessed. He availed himself of this right, and settled on the banks of the Tamar. In 1838 he crossed Bass's Straits, and on his arrival in what is now Victoria, but was then part of the colony of New South Wales he took up a run in the neighbourhood of Warrnambool, and stocked it with sheep. A pastoral life, however, did not long content him, and in 1839 he came up to Melbourne, where he built a brewery, and established a business which ultimately became the leading brewing business of the colony. He was a most liberal employer of labour, and his relations with those who were engaged with him were always of a cordial character, and his business turned out most successful. With great foresight and a strong reliance on the growing prosperity of Victoria he invested most of his savings in the purchase of city and suburban lands, which all proved to be investments of the first class. In 1850 he practically retired from business and went to Europe with the object of educating his family. He returned to the colony in 1870, and has since resided principally at Victoria House where he died on the 4th August last. He left three sons and four daughters surviving him as well as many grandchildren. Mr Murphy was a member of the Church of England, to the funds of which, as well as to those of several of the charities of the colony, he was a very liberal contributor, and almost in every case anonymously. (4)

As noted before, James, the son of John and Elizabeth, was at one time the owner of the largest Hog Farm in Australia at Monomeith. 

In June 1891 the Warragul Guardian published a two-part article under the headline - The Largest Hog Farm in Australia. Parts of the reports are reproduced here.
The largest pig breeding establishment in Australia is situated about a couple of miles from the Monomeith railway station in Gippsland, and is only 48 miles from Melbourne. Pig breeding and fattening on an extensive scale was started here some four years ago by Mr. Murphy, who continued long enough in the business to discover that the handsome profits which he had worked out on paper were not so easily realised in practice. Mr. Murphy was possessed of independent means, however, and although the neighbors alleged that he was more theoretical than practical in his knowledge of pigs, he must be credited with having formulated a system for breeding and fattening them on a large scale that may be taken as a model and guide in many respects by even the most experienced farmers.

He certainly spared no expense in adapting the farm to the purpose required, and if he found the system less profitable than he anticipated, the fault must have been in the management and not in the scheme itself. In any case Mr. Murphy, who from the first went into pig keeping as a hobby more than mere profit, and never gave the business the close personal attention it required, sold out after two years' experience to Messrs. Waters and Son, from the Wodonga district. (5)

In April 1892, The Australasian published another article on the farm and included these references to James Murphy - Mr. Murphy, besides erecting miles of pig-proof fencing, built many substantial pig-sties, with the necessary offices for storing and cooking the food for the pigs. An abundance of water is obtained from a well, and raised by a wind-mill pump to tanks, whence it is distributed to where it is required….All the fences I saw on Old Monomeith were made pig-proof by the addition of a strong wire netting with a 4in. mesh. Of this netting there are 10 miles put up on the property. It was imported by Mr. Murphy for the purpose of making pig-proof fences, and cost, landed in Melbourne, £33 per ton. (6)

James Murphy in 1872

Photographer: Thomas Foster Chuck. 

From the collection - The explorers and early colonists of Victoria. 

State Library of Victoria image H5056/626

James was born in 1843 in Victoria. On May 22, 1867, when he was 24, he married 18 year-old Margaret Fraser at her parent’s house at Tallygaroopna.  James' occupation was a Squatter, and his father's occupation was a Brewer; James’ address at the time of his marriage was Kotupna Station, which is east of Echuca. Margaret was the daughter of William and Mary (nee McIntosh) Fraser and William’s occupation on the couple’s wedding certificate was in common with his new son-in-law also a Squatter. (7)  

James and Margaret had five children. The first child, James Kotupna Murphy, was born in St Kilda on November 15, 1868, obviously named in honour of the family property. He trained as a solicitor and barrister and died on June 10,  1910 in England. (8)  

There were two other sons -  John Robert, who sadly committed suicide at his home in Balaclava Road, Caulfield on April 29, 1925 aged 55. The Herald had this short obituary -

News of the death of Mr. John Robert Murphy at Caulfield has been received with deep regret by those who knew him. Mr. Murphy used to race under the name of "J. M. Roberts," and owned such noted performers as Harpist, Orient, Blitz; Keyless, Nantuckett and Cornquist. He had been an invalid for several years. His Inquest found he had been suffering great pain, owing to advance stage of consumption. He left a  wife Josephine and at least one one child (9).  

The other son was William, who was born August 15, 1871; he tragically also committed suicide on October 7, 1928 at his house in Toward Street, Murrumbeena, where he lived with his wife Janet. He was 57 years of age and his Inquest noted he had been suffering from depression due to ill health and had threatened to take his life on other occasions. (10)  

James and Margaret's daughter, Margaret May, was born on March 26, 1873 at Kotupna. She married George Wilson Paxton on  March 29, 1899 at Christ Church St Kilda. Table Talk had this interesting report of the wedding - 

Yesterday (Wednesday) the nuptials of Miss Margaret Murphy, daughter of Mrs. Murphy, "Marina," Beaconsfield Parade, St. Kilda, with a George Selby Paxton, a well-known Melbourne bachelor and a member of a prominent family of South Yarra, were celebrated without any particular flourish of trumpets at St. Kilda. The bride is a tall, smart unaffected girl, who dresses simply; in fact, I have seldom seen her in any me but the tailor-made coat and skirt, and gem sailor. Mr. Paxton, too, shows a contempt for dandyism in his own person. In his case the fine feathers are not indispensable to the creation of a fine bird. The marriage of such a popular couple would have created some interest had they not taken the precaution to have it made known that they were opposed to ostentation, to the jingling of the wedding bells and the inevitable orange blossom parade.  The couple had one child, James, born in 1900. (11)

The following two notices published in The Argus on the same day, shows the sad reality of life for women in the past - the birth of a baby followed quickly by the death of the mother, in this case the birth of James and Margaret's fifth child on March 5, 1874 and Margaret's death on March 11, six days later. (12)

Sad family notices.

The Argus, March 20, 1874  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5866272

As the articles noted, for James Murphy the Monomeith property was a hobby, as he lived with his family at Marina, Beaconsfield Parade, in St Kilda. Marina was listed in the St Kilda Council Rate Books as being of 17 rooms; it was next to the Beaconsfield Hotel, which is on the corner of Cowderoy Street (13). James died in London on May 1, 1896, aged 53.  His probate papers list an estate of £83,000 which included real estate valued at £37,500, including the Monomeith land valued at £4,215 and the Marina property at £5,000. (14)

James is buried in the Murphy Family grave at the Brighton General Cemetery, along with his parents John and Elizabeth Murphy. Also in the grave are James' two sisters, Mary Martha, who died in 1925 aged 87 and Elizabeth, who died in 1932, aged 83.  As well, James' son William is also buried in the grave. James' other son John, who died in 1925 is buried in a separate grave at the same Cemetery with his wife Josephine. James' daughter, Margaret Paxton, who died on August 6, 1960 aged 87, was cremated at Springvale Crematorium. (15)

Marriage announcement of James Murphy and Jane Balcombe

The Argus, August 27, 1878 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5945802

After the death of his wife Margaret, James married for the second time on August 22, 1878 to 30 year-old Jane Emma Balcombe. At the time he was living in Terridgerie in the Coonamble / Coonabarabran region in New South Wales.  Jane was a Balcombe from The Briars, in Mornington, the daughter of Alexander and Emma (nee Reid) Balcombe. Her father, Alexander, was born on the island of St Helena, and his father William was a purveyor to Napoleon’s household, when he was in exile on the Island. Alexander was one of the earliest European land-owners on the Mornington Peninsula. Jane and James had the one son - Alexander Balcombe Murphy who was born in St Kilda on July 12, 1880. Jane Emma Murphy died September 23, 1924, aged 79, at her childhood home, The Briars. She is buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery. Her son Alexander was left a life interest in The Briars, which was then situated on 1,100 acres. (16)

Alexander married Gena Thompson in 1918; he died on October 29, 1935, aged 55 and The Argus had this short obituary - 

The death of Mr. Alexander Balcombe Murphy occurred yesterday at his home, The Briars, Mornington. Mr. Murphy, whose family had occupied The Briars for 90 years, was a well-known pastoralist of the district. He was aged 55 years, and was a grandson of John Robert Murphy, formerly of Victoria House, St. Kilda road, and also of Alexander Beatson Balcombe, both of whom were well-known early pioneers of Victoria. Mr. Murphy served with the Lincoln regiment in the Great War, and he was wounded severely at Suvla Bay. A widow and three daughters survive him. The funeral will leave the residence of his sister, Mrs. George Paxton, Orrong road, Toorak, at 2.30 p.m. to-day, for the Melbourne Crematorium, Fawkner.  (17)   Alexander's ashes are interred in the Murphy family grave at Brighton General Cemetery

Footnotes

(1) Terry family arrival in Tasmania  https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON13-1-1/CON13-1-1P250 and Murphy/Terry marriage https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD36-1-2/RGD36-1-2P213 

(2) Deutsher, Keith M. The Breweries of Australia: a history (Lothian, 1999), p. 157.

(3) Elizabeth death notice - The Argus, April 24, 1882, see here; John death notice - The Age, August 5, 1891, see here;  Contents of will - The Australasian, November 28, 1891, see here.

(4) The Argus, November 28, 1891, see here.

(5) Warragul Guardian, June 12, 1891, see here and the Warragul Guardian, June 19, 1891, see here.

(6) The Australasian, April 2, 1892, see here.

(7) Murphy/Fraser Marriage certificate.

(8) James Kotupna Murphy birth notice - The Argus, November 19, 1868, see here; Nathalia Herald, April 10, 1896, see here; Probate Papers, Public Records Office of Victoria   https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/5E68B5AF-F1F6-11E9-AE98-9377D93F101B?image=1  His executors were his brothers William and Alexander - The Argus, August 19, 1910, see here.

(9) John Murphy - I cannot find any trace of his birth date or place. Obituary - The Herald, April 30, 1925, see here;  His Inquest at the Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/8F59A43F-F1B2-11E9-AE98-51825D6727C5?image=1 and Probate papers 

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/E1C822C1-F1F2-11E9-AE98-95E8718B3C77?image=1  Report - The Herald, May 6, 1925, see here.

(10) William Murphy - Birth date - Brighton Cemetorians database - https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/ 

His Inquest at the Public Records Office of Victoria - https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/1CF3A469-F1B3-11E9-AE98-630D9F22D93C?image=1  and Will and Probate papers https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/DCC4C707-F56B-11E9-AE98-DB7D572610E7?image=1 Report - The Age, October 8, 1928, see here.

(11) Margaret May birth - The Argus, April 2, 1873, see here; marriage report - Table Talk, March 31, 1899, see here; other wedding reports - The Australasian, April 15, 1899, see here and Prahran Telegraph, April 8, 1899, see here; death notice The Age, August 9, 1960, p.16.

(12) Notices - The Argus, March 20, 1874, see here;  Another death notice for  Margaret, which lists her father - North Eastern Ensign, March 24 1874,  see here

(13) Rate book on Ancestry.com; Sands McDougall Directories.

(14) James Murphy - Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria  https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/49AB6496-F1E3-11E9-AE98-49BFDCE7E54B?image=1; James Murphy - family and estate information - The Australian Star, December 26, 1896, see here

(15) Brighton Cemetorians database https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/. Margaret Paxton death notice -The Age, August 9, 1960, p.16.

(16) Murphy/Balcombe marriage certificate; Murphy/Balcombe wedding notice - The Argus, August 26, 1878, see here; Alexander Murphy's Birth certificate;  Jane Emma Murphy death notice - The Argus, September 24, 1924, see here and  her Obituary Frankston & Somerville Standard, September 26, 1924, see here;  Jane Murphy's Will at the Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/0D1AA1AD-F562-11E9-AE98-FD384DDD5A9F?image=1

 Alexander Balcombe entry – Australian Dictionary of Biography - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/balcombe-alexander-beatson-2922; 

(17) Alexander Balcombe Murphy - engagement notice  - Punch, August 22, 1918, see here [I can't find the exact date of the wedding];  death notice - The Age, October 30, 1935, see here and obituary The Argus, October 30, 1935, see here.

Burke and Wills Commemoration Tree, Essendon

On August 20, 1860  Robert O'Hara Burke (1) and William John Wills (2) set off from Royal Park in Melbourne. They were accompanied by 16 other men, 26 camels, 22 horses and wagons and drays carrying 12 months worth of supplies, with the aim of crossing the Continent from the south to the north. We all know the story, they reached the Gulf of Carpenteria on February 11, 1861 and then  headed south again and perished at Coopers Creek in South Australia around June 1861 (3)

Their first night was spent at Essendon. Dr Ludwig Becker (4), artist and naturalist, who was a member of the exploring party and who also perished at Coopers Creek, kept a dairy and  the entries up to September 6, 1860 were published in The Age in September 1860. This is the first two days -

Monday, August 20. - All day engaged packing and loading. Mounted a camel at 4 p.m., and proceeded with the greater portion of the Exploring party through Moonee Ponds, and camped at Essendon. One of the waggons broke down before reaching the halting place. About sunset one of the horses broke loose and ran away.
Tuesday, August 21. - In the morning caught the horse. The remainder of the waggons arrived unloading and reloading the same. Started at a quarter-past 2 p.m. The horses, camels, and waggons proceeded together. A valuable little watchdog belonging to Mr. Landells was lost. At 6 p.m. camped in a paddock near the Inverness Hotel, Bulla. (5)

I came across the photograph, below, of the stump of the tree in Queens Park, Essendon (or Moonee Ponds as the location was also called) which marked the site of the Expedition's first camp and decided to undertake some research on the tree.

Burke & Wills Commemoration Tree, Essendon, sometime between 1927 and 1938.

Victorian Railways photographer.

State Library of Victoria image H91.50/569. 

An almost identical photograph was published in The Age, August 12, 1936, see here.

The first mention I can find in the newspapers about the Burke and Wills Tree was in December 1892 when at an Essendon Town Council meeting -
Cr. Dangerfield moved that the surveyor have a small fence put round the tree near the Moonee Ponds reserve, this spot having been the first camping place of Burke and Wills, when setting out on their expedition. (6)

The fence was not erected at the time and later on, in October 1896, the Essendon Gazette reported on the monthly meeting of the Ascot Vale People's Association, held on Friday, October 2 where a letter was received on this matter -

H. P. Williams, drawing attention to an old tree near Moonee Ponds  reserve, under which the Burke and Wills' expedition camped the first night of their journey. An interesting discussion took place on the subject of the "old tree" it being decided to send the letter to the council, asking them to  erect  a protecting fence, and put a tablet on the tree, so as to make it an historical landmark in the district. (7)

The letter from the Ascot Vale People's Association was sent very promptly as it was presented at the Essendon Town Council meeting held on Monday October 5 where -

Cr. Cowan said that the Ascot Vale People's  Association was a day behind the fair as to the Burke and  Wills tree as the council had had it  under consideration....and  as long as five years ago he (Cr Cowan) had tried to spend a few shillings on the tree in question but was thwarted by lack of funds. (8)

The Mount Alexander Mail published this report on the Tree in their October 12, 1896 edition - 

The preservation of an old gum tree at Moonee Ponds, under whose shelter the ill fated Burke and Wills expedition made its first halt, after its start on 20th August, 1860, has ever been a matter of concern to the Essendon Council. It is a grim relic of the courageous attempt of the intrepid explorers, and here it was that they watered their camels and rested under its shelter. The Council has now decided to erect a picket fence for its protection, and to mark the dead eucalypt with a commemorative tablet. (9)  Interesting, that the grim relic - the tree - was already dead in 1896.

The next mention of the Burke and Wills tree I can find is this one from August 1898, where it is mentioned in conjunction with the new lake formed at Queen's Park. 

Queen's Park Lake, Moonee Ponds - This lake is the outcome of Jubilee celebration works done at Essendon, and is named to commemorate the Queen's reign. Queen's park was the first camping-ground of the Burke and Wills Expedition. A tree on the margin of the lake marks the spot where Mr. FitzGibbon, then town-clerk, addressed the members of the exploring party and wished them God speed on behalf of the citizens of Melbourne. (10) 

The Gum Tree, c. 1905, before limbs were removed in 1927

The Old Gum - Burke and Wills' first camping place, c. 1905.

State Library of Victoria image  H36145/32

In 1909, the Burke and Wills Tree had some distinguished visitors as on May 24, which was Empire Day, Essendon was proclaimed as a City and the Governor, Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael and Lady Carmichael were amongst the visitors on this auspicious occasion. Amongst the activities of the official party they motored to Queen's  Park to see the memorable tree under which Burke and Wills camped in the early exploring days of Victoria. (11)  

As a matter of interest in 1910, the second camping place of the Burke and Wills expedition was commemorated - 

A very interesting ceremony took place on Monday, 22nd August, when the scholars of Bulla State School, under the direction of Messrs A. F. Daniell (shire secretary) and Mr D. Griffiths (head teacher) erected a monument and planted some native trees at the spot where Burke and Wills' expedition camped 50 years ago. A small crescent had been fenced off, and each of the senior scholars planted a tree, the trees being kindly supplied by Mr A. F. Daniel. The monument consists of a box post about 16 feet long and 1 feet in diameter. It is intended to place on the post a plate bearing a suitable inscription......(12)

The tree after the removal of limbs in 1927 and before the plaque was installed.

The caption reads - Under this tree Burke and Wills rested for the first night after they had set out on their great expedition into the interior. It is situated in Queen's Park, Moonee Ponds. The Essendon City Council recently cut it down as shown, and will shortly erect a guard rail around the butt and attach a brass commemorative plate.

The Argus May 5, 1927  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3852646

In 1927 there was concern about the preservation of the tree and in the May some limbs were removed by the Essendon City Council and a plaque attached. However, there was still concern about the long term preservation of the tree, as well as the mis-spelling on the commemorative plaque. This report is from The Place in the Sun column in the Sun News-Pictorial in September 1927 -

Concern is being experienced as to the preservation of the Burke and Wills tree at Essendon, and, while they are about it, I think the local council might rectify a point or two of the inscription by which it is surmounted. This declares rather humorlessly that ‘‘Under this tree and in its immediate vicinity the Bourke and Wills exploration party camped, August 1860, by order of Council.” And Robert O’Hara Burke didn’t spell his name ‘‘Bourke.” (13).

The tree after the plaque was attached.

The Sun News-Pictorial, September 13, 1927 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article275443373

A few years later in 1933, there was more concern about the tree, this time about whether the tree did, in fact, mark the camp site. The Argus had the following report - 

Burke and Wills Camp. Is Tablet in Wrong Place? Councillor Kinnear informed a meeting of the Essendon council on Monday night that a wooden tablet on a tree in Mount Alexander road Moonee Ponds bore the incorrect statement that under that tree the Burke and Wills expedition rested on its journey from Melbourne to Central Australia. Actually the expedition had camped on the opposite side of the lagoon in Queens Park. He thought that a permanent memorial should be erected in the right place. Some of the very old residents of Essendon remembered the exact spot where the expedition had camped. Councillor Royle suggested that the council should not be in a hurry to remove the tablet. An old resident had stated that she had seen the expedition at the tree opposite the Moonee Ponds bowling green. Councillor Gilbertson said that his relatives who had been born in the district, agreed that the expedition had not camped under the tree in Mount Alexander road, but on a site on the other side of the lagoon, now enclosed in Queen's Park. The council resolved to have the question investigated and to place a permanent tablet at the correct place.  (14) 

The Herald also reported on the matter - 

Essendon Council is trying to ascertain the exact spot where the Burke and Wills Expedition camped at Moonee Ponds in August, 1860. The oldest living Essendon native in the district is Mr John Woods (uncle of Cr. R. J. Gilbertson), who is 81 years of age. Mr Woods remembers having been taken by his mother to see the Expedition camp and its camels. He is positive that Burke and Wills camped on the site now occupied by the Catholic Church tennis court in St. Monica's grounds, at the bottom of Hutchinson Street, and 500 yards away from the tree stump now marked by a placard as the site of the camp. Mr John Cooke, a resident of Essendon for 76 years, was 17 years of age when the Expedition camped at Moonee Ponds. He and his brother Robert agree with Mr Woods that the spot was somewhere between the Catholic Church tennis court and the lagoon in Queen's Park. Other old residents who might be able to throw light on the matter are: - Mr George Bishop (Essendon) and Mr Granville (Aberfeldie). (15)  

It appears nothing came of this uncertainty as to the exact location of the first Burke and Wills camp and five years later, in 1938, the Essendon Council made the decision to remove the tree stump as part of a beautification project. The Age reported in April - 

Burke and Wills Memorial. The slump of an old tree in Mt. Alexander-road, Essendon, marks the spot where Burke and Wills camped on their first night out from Melbourne on their fatal expedition. Residents of Essendon have felt for a long time that some suitable memorial should be erected to mark the historic place. As it is probable that the remains of the old tree will be removed under a beautification scheme of the council for the laying down of lawns, the town clerk was instructed at the meeting of Essendon council last night to submit a report regarding the erection of a memorial. (16) 

 

The Age had a follow-up report in the June - 

Historic Tree. Time marches on, and sentiment, apparently, cannot be allowed to stand in the path of progress. To-day the stump of the old tree under which Burke and Wills camped on their first night out from Melbourne in August, 1860, will be dug out by employes of Essendon city council. The council is laying down plantations, and the old tree was in the way, and it was officially decreed that it had to go. Residents of Moonee Ponds and Essendon will miss the familiar landmark in Mt. Alexander-road, opposite Queen's Park. Bearing a simple inscription that two brave men slept beneath it before facing their deaths in the pioneering of a continent, the old tree braved many a storm. But the passage of 78 years took its toll, and old limbs broke under the strain, until in the last few years all that remained was a stump that all the forces of nature seemed powerless to destroy. Human agency, however, will tear it out by the roots. The stump will probably be presented to some historical society and preserved, and near the spot where the tree stood for so many years a memorial tablet will be placed. No doubt, however, despite the rush and bustle of 1938, the spirit of 1860 will still hover. (17) 

A memorial tablet was installed on the site of the tree, but not until January 1940. The Sun News-Pictorial reported - 

Where Explorers Camped. Obelisk Marks Spot At Moonee Ponds. An obelisk has been erected on the lawns in Mount Alexander Road opposite Moonee Ponds bowling green, to mark the spot where the explorers Burke and Wills camped on August 20, 1860, on their first night out from Royal Park. The memorial is the gift of Cr Thompson, a former mayor of Essendon. This historic spot was marked until recently by the trunk of an old red gum tree, but when modern plantations were laid down it was found the decayed butt could not be retained any longer. (18)  

The plaque in Queen's Park, installed in January 1940.

Image: https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g2023413-d21336147-Reviews-Burke_And_Wills_Expedition_Monument_Camp_One-Moonee_Ponds_Moonee_Valley_Greater.html

In 2002 a new monument was installed in Queen's Park to commemorate the first camping place of the Burke and Wills Expedition. Dr Dave Phoenix, in his paper, A Monumental Task: Remembering Burke and Wills noted - 

Moonee Ponds Camel Sculpture - The public artwork titled “Burke and Wills” was commissioned by Moonee Valley Council and managed by the Council's Environment and Urban Design Department. Big Fish Workshops constructed the camels from rusted, perforated steel and the project was funded by the Essendon Rotary Club at a cost of $26,000 and installed in 2002.

The Camel sculptures at Queens Park.

Image: Dr Dave Phoenix  A Monumental Task: Remembering Burke and Wills - 

  https://www.academia.edu/44569701/A_Monumental_Task_Remembering_Burke_and_Wills 

Footnotes

(1)  Robert O'Hara Bourke - Australian Dictionary of Biography - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/burke-robert-ohara-3116

(2) William John Wills - Australian Dictionary of Biography - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wills-william-john-4864

(3) A good map of the Expedition can be seen here https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231339887/view, Two accounts of the Expedition setting out - The Age, August 21, 1860, see here;  The Argus, August 21, 1860, see here.

(4) Ludwig Becker - Australian Dictionary of Biography - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/becker-ludwig-2961

(5) The Age, September 24, 1860, see here.

(6) Essendon Gazette, December 22, 1892, see here.

(7) Essendon Gazette, October 8, 1896, see here.

(8) Essendon Gazette, October 8, 1896, see here.

(9) Mount Alexander Mail, October 12, 1896, see here.

(10) The Australasian, August 6, 1898, see here.

(11) Essendon Gazette, May 27, 1909, see here.

(12) Sunbury News, September 3, 1910, see here.

(13) Sun News-Pictorial, September 13, 1927, see here.

(14) The Argus, June 14, 1933, see here.

(15) The Herald, June 17, 1933, see here.

(16) The Age, April 27, 1938, see here.

(17) The Age, June 16, 1938, see here.

(18) Sun News-Pictorial, February 1, 1940, see here.

(19)  Phoenix, Dave A Monumental Task: Remembering Burke and Wills A study of the memorials and monuments erected to commemorate the Burke and Wills expedition. A paper presented to the Inaugural Burke & Wills Enthusiasts Outback Conference Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia. 18th & 19th August 2003. Downloaded from   https://www.academia.edu/44569701/A_Monumental_Task_Remembering_Burke_and_Wills