In 1909 Cheltenham was hit by two whirlwinds - the first one was on January 27 and the other one on November 19. This post looks at the January whirlwind and I have written about the November whirlwind,
here. In 1909, Cheltenham and neighbouring Highett were still very much country towns surrounded by market gardens. In fact, in 1906,
The Australasian could report -
From the Highett railway station a lovely panorama of the highly cultivated gardens is to be obtained, and so perfect is the ploughing and sowing that to the casual observer the country looks as though it had been divided by parallel rulers. (1)
This is Cheltenham, dated 1928-1930, and you can see the extent of the market gardens. The building in the centre is the Methodist Livingstone Home for Children, it faces the Nepean Highway, the curved street to the right is Jamieson Street and the road at the back is Chesterville Road. The Children's Home site is now occupied by Southland.
Photographer: Charles Daniel Pratt/Airspy. State Library of Victoria image H91.160/389.
The Brighton Southern Cross published this interesting report on the January whirlwind -
A phenomenal whirlwind swept through the Highett and Cheltenham districts on Wednesday afternoon. It was about 10 feet wide and travelled at a furious rate, carrying dust and all sorts of debris up out of sight. It was first noticed in Wickham-road, and travelled west, skirting Mr. Stayner's property, and going round Mr. Williams's house. A big pine tree in its course did not break it, and it continued on through Messrs. Allen, Brough and Davies' gardens. It made a track through Mr. Brough's tomato patch, scattering the fruit about, and dust, paper leaves, grass and debris of all kinds went up hundreds of feet high, and tea-tree boughs, kerosene tins and heavier materials were also caught up. It swept through Mr. Phillips's and struck the billiard-room of the Mechanics'-institute. This home of big breaks was too much for the cyclone, the building breaking up the wind in its course, and diffusing it down the Main-road. (2)
I have identified the people mentioned in the article through the Electoral Rolls - Messrs Stayner, Williams, Allen, Brough, Davie and Phillips. What follows, is a look at their lives as well as a short history of the Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute.
Mr Stayner
George Alexander Stayner lived on Wickham Road, South Brighton and his occupation was a gardener, by which they meant a market gardener. He was married to Winifred Ann, whose address was Wickham Road, Moorabbin, so it appears there was some fluidity of place names at that time. George was the son of George and Flora (nee McLeod) Stayner, listed in the Electoral Roll at Nepean Road, South Brighton. George and Flora, the daughter of Alexander McLeod of Cheltenham, had married at the Presbyterian Manse in Brighton on December 14, 1870. (3) George Alexander was the third George Stayner living in the area as his grandfather George Christopher Stayner (1822-1895) first settled in Brighton in 1849.
In 1894 the Oakleigh Leader wrote -
The patronymic of Stayner is among the historical ones of this district. Mr. George C. Stayner, sen.,
came to Brighton in 1849 from the old country, and although he did a little gardening his chief avocation was in the carting and carrying line. Like almost every one else he departed for the goldfields when the gold fever was on, but returned to this locality, and in 1854 took up land in South Brighton on the Highett road. (4) The article continues with a detailed description of his orchard, and you can read it
here.
George Christopher Stayner died on August 14, 1895; 36 years after his wife Dinah (nee Wedmore) who died on August 16, 1859. They are buried at the Brighton Cemetery. (5)
George Stayner (1847-1922)
George (the middle George) was also a market gardener and he died on May 30, 1922. His Probate papers show that he owned 12 acres of land on the triangle bounded by the Nepean Highway (also called Main Road or Point Nepean Road), Worthing Road and Wickham Road, in what was called Highett. This was where his market garden was located along with his house, Beaumont, which fronted the Nepean Highway. The property also had 5 other cottages, constructed in 1888 and a Blacksmiths shop. (6)
George Stayner builds five cottages
George also owned ten acres of land in Keys Road, Moorabbin; two acres in Highett Road, Moorabbin; ten acres in Wickham Road East, Moorabbin and a small block adjoining the Wickham Road property on Sandford Street. His Will shows that his wife, Flora, was left £400; that the Beaumont property was left to his son George; and that the remaining property was to be sold and divided amongst his eight daughters - Mary Friday, Letitia Jane Allen, Flora Isabella Andrews, Ethel May Stayner, Lydia Grace Andrews, Lavinia Ivy Mills, Clarice Evelyn Hore and Christina Dinah Allen. (7)
The youngest George had married local girl, Winifred, in February 1903 at the Presbyterian Church in Cheltenham; she was the daughter of Sidney and Sarah Clayton of Wickham Road, Moorabbin. They had two children, Nancy and Sid. (8)
George was also a Boer War veteran; he had served in the First Victorian Mounted Infantry Company.
he was "welcomed home" at a function in December 1900 with three other local men and they were presented with a gold medal suitably inscribed, by the Shire President, Cr Bent, M.L.A. (who later became the Premier of Victoria). The Oakleigh Leader began their report with -
Privates Matson (East Brighton), Stayner and Daff (South Brighton), and Rigg (Mordialloc) received a most enthusiastic welcome home from the South African war at the Shire Hall South Brighton on Monday evening last. As the result of a public meeting the demonstration was made a shire affair and arranged and carried out under the supervision of the shire officers and a large committee of rate-payers. The hall being too small for the large gathering that was expected a marquee was erected, and the exertions of a section of the committee made it a comfortable rendezvous for some 700 people. (9)
This wasn't his only military service, both George and his father were members of G Company of the Victorian Rangers, part of the Colonial Military Forces. G Company was formed in July 1889 and its headquarters were at Cheltenham and in 1891 it became part of the 3rd Battalion, also based in Cheltenham. George (the father) retired from service in 1895 with the rank of lieutenant
and quartermaster. (10)
George Stayner (1878-1953)
The caption that accompanied the photo noted that George was well-known in athletic circles having twice won the Market Gardeners Cup
George died May 30, 1922 and Flora on August 28, 1919; the youngest George died on December 10, 1953 and his wife, Winifred, a year later on November 7, 1954. They are buried together in a double grave at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. (11) Not long after the deaths of George and Winifred, Beaumont, on that triangle of land bounded by the Nepean Highway, Worthing Road and Wickham Road was subdivided into 67 superb residential sites, with two internal roads Stayner Grove and Florida Court. (12)
The sub-division of the Stayner property, Beaumont.
Mr Williams
The whirlwind was heading south as it ended up at the Mechanics' Institute which was on the intersection of Charman Road and the Nepean Highway, and it went around Mr Williams' house. This is likely to be Joseph and Hannah (nee Westlake) Williams who lived on Highett Road, Highett, as did their son Ernest Joseph. Ernest and his father Joseph were market gardeners, although a few years later their occupations had changed to orchardist and their address to Highett Road, Moorabbin.
In 1942, Joseph and Hannah celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary (60 years) and The Argus reported on the occasion -
Mr and Mrs Joseph Williams of Mayfield Highett rd, Moorabbin will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary tomorrow and members of their family will gather for the occasion. Mr Williams who is 85 came to Victoria from England when he was one year old and has always lived in the Moorabbin district. Mrs Williams was born in Victoria 79 years ago. They have spent all their lives on the land and still conduct an orchard market garden and dairying herd. Both are in excellent health. (13)
Joseph, who died on April 21, 1946 and Hannah who died on May 2, 1943, are both buried at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. Their son Ernest married Adela Constance Swan in 1931. Her brother, Dr E.F. W Swan, a Minister of the Congregational Church, was appointed the Chairman of the Congregational Union in May 1945; her sister Miss Florence Annie Swan was the Principal of Box Hill Girls' Technical School. Ernest died in January 1961 and Adela in March 1976 and they are buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park. They had no children. (14)
Hannah Williams' death notice
Mr Allan
The whirlwind continued through Messrs Allen, Brough and Davies' gardens.
The Electoral Rolls list five members of the Allan family (incorrectly spelt Allen in the article) - Bertha Rosina, Edith Alice, Louis John, Percy Albert and William Leonard Allan at Highett Road, Highett. Percy was a labourer, but Louis and Leonard, as he was known, were market gardeners. The three men were the sons of Charles and Emma Elizabeth (nee Blencowe) Allan. Louis had married Edith Alice Hall in 1894 and Leonard had married Bertha Nelder in 1906 (15). I have no confirmed information about Percy.
The Allan family were long term settlers in the area. Charles' father, also called Charles, came to Highett Road in the 1860s, perhaps earlier. His farming enterprise was profiled in The Leader in December 1891 -
Many of the first settlers planted orchards, which after a few years proved very profitable, the ground in the meantime having yielded a considerable profit in vegetables. Among these were Mr. Charles Allan, who planted an orchard, which was gradually increased to 20 acres, on the Highett-road, about a quarter of a mile westwards of that of Mr. Stayner, mentioned last week. Mr. Allan having some stalwart sons, was able to make the business so successful that in course of time he gave it up to them; about 20 years ago one of them, Mr. Charles Allen, jun., planted an orchard of 8 acres half a mile to the southward; and when his father retired about 15 years ago, and planted a small orchard further west chiefly for his own amusement, his other son was given possession of the original orchard, but left it after a few years, and Mr. Charles Allan became occupier, so that he now holds the two orchards, comprising 28 acres, and, not satisfied with that, has broken up a paddock of 5 acres alongside, and is gradually filling it with fruit trees of various kinds. (16) You can read the rest of the article
here. The Leader's article about George Stayner, can be read
here.
It was Charles Allan, junior, who was the father of Percy, Louis and Leonard. Sadly he died January 1896 at the age of 53 and The Leader had the following obituary -
The decease of Mr. Charles Allan, of Brighton, will be noted with much sorrow by a very large number of friends. Mr. Allan has been a representative man in Victorian horticultural circles for a very lengthened period, and the loss of his able and energetic association with all movements connected with the advancement of the gardening and fruit growing industry will be very much felt. (17)
There are at least three generations of the Allan family buried at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. Charles Allan, the original settler who died January 29, 1901 is buried with his wife Ann (nee Anderson) who died October 23, 1893. Charles junior, died January 17, 1896 and is buried in a double unmarked grave with his wife Emma, who died July 17, 1891, along with their daughter Lucy who died in 1910. Of the next generation - Louis who died July 15, 1930 and Edith on February 10, 1939 are also buried there. Leonard who died October 6, 1941 and Bertha on September 2, 1962 are buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park, with their daughter Lily, who died in 1998. (18)
The death notice of Louis John Allan
The death notice of Leonard Allan
Mr Brough
The Brough family were also impacted by the whirlwind, especially Mr Brough's tomato patch. The Electoral Rolls of the time have Ellen Mary, Elsie Lillian and Horace Walter at Bay Road, Cheltenham. On Point Nepean Road, Cheltenham we have Charles, Charles Richard, Florence Elizabeth, George John and Mary. All the men were market gardeners and the women, no matter what they actually did, had home duties as their occupation. This is the family - Charles Brough married Mary Evans on December 25, 1875 at Ballarat; the service was conducted by the Congregational Minister at the residence of the parents of the bride. Charles and Mary had nine children - Florence, Ada, Clara, George, Charles, Horace, Ellen, Stanley and Amy. All the Broughs from the Electoral Roll are from this family and Elsie (nee Crittenden) is the wife of the eldest son George. It seems likely then, that as George and Elsie had a different address that the Broughs had two properties one on Point Nepean Road and the other on Bay Road, and this is confirmed by Charles' Probate papers - he had two farms one of 20 acres and the other 28 acres. I cannot tell you at which property the damage to the tomato patch occurred. (19)
Charles Brough (1846-1920)
Death notice of Charles Brough
Charles, who died on May 15, 1920 and Mary on July 11, 1923 are buried at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery in a double grave with Charles' parents John and Sarah (nee Morton) Brough. John, a stonemason, died on November 14, 1892 and Sarah on December 31, 1902. John's death notice noted that he was from Whitby Cottage, Bay Road, Cheltenham and that he was one of the Eight Hours Pioneers. This was movement by stone masons and other building trades to gain the eight hour working day, with eight hours rest and eight hours recreation, which they did in 1856.
(20)
Death notice of John Brough
Death notice of Sarah Brough
Mr DavieThe whirlwind then moved on to the Davie property. The Electoral Roll lists George and Beatrice Davie at Point Nepean Road, Cheltenham; and George, Robert Alexander and Jane Davie, of Bay Road, Cheltenham. The men were all market gardeners. George and Jane (nee Bain) were the parents of George junior and Robert Alexander. Beatrice (nee Roberts) was the wife of George junior. (21)
The Moorabbin News obituary of George, the elder, tells the story of the family -
Death of Mr Geo. Davie, senr. Another of our very early pioneers of the district, Mr George Davie,
passed away at his home "Fern Hill," Bay Road, quietly, yet suddenly, on Wednesday morning. He was a man who possessed some of the finest qualities of the true pioneering Scot of the type of men to whom Australia owes so much. The sympathy of all is extended to Mrs Davie, and her family in their loss. There are two sons, Messrs George Davie and R. A. Davie, and two daughters, Mrs A. R. Judd and Mrs L. M. Penny. Miss G. Judd also lived with her grand parents, and there are twelve other grandchildren. Mr George Davie was a native of Aberdeen Scotland, arriving in Tasmania in 1852, and two months afterwards came to Melbourne and started for Bendigo, where in one month he secured 11lbs weight of gold. After a short pleasure trip to Tasmania, he went back to the diggings for three months, but not being successful, decided to return to Melbourne, which he did, and purchased 25 acres of land in Cheltenham which he held up to the time of his decease, and for which he paid £12 per acre. He first started wood carting to Melbourne, and after a time turned his attention to carrying to the diggings, in which he was engaged for eight years. He then left for New Zealand, but being unsuccessful there, returned to Victoria and subsequently went to Lachlan, N.S.W., New Zealand, Sydney and Queensland. In the latter State he worked as a carrier to and from the Peak Down Copper Mines for four years, clearing £1000 profit. He afterwards sold out, and went again to the goldfields of New Zealand, was unsuccessful and took a trip to the old country where he married. Returning to Victoria, he settled on his land at Cheltenham, where ever since he has continued in the market gardening industry. (22)
George, the father, died on June 2, 1915 and Jane on September 29, 1924, they are buried together at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. Their son Robert died April 16, 1958 and is buried in the same Cemetery, with his wife, Constance (nee Curtis), who died eleven days later on April 27. Robert and Constance had married at the Brighton Congregational Church on September 30, 1914. (23)
Robert was still growing vegetables as a hobby in 1937 and entering his produce into the Royal Melbourne Show, where the judge was fellow Cheltenham resident, George Alexander Stayner.
(It's a bit hard to read, but is transcribed in footnote 24.)
The other son George, died January 4, 1935 and his wife Beatrice on November 25, 1955. They are also buried at the Pioneer Cemetery, in the same grave as Beatrice's parents James Neilson and Bridget Elizabeth (nee Devereaux) Roberts. James' 1899 death notice notes that he had been a Colonist of 60 years and a resident of Mordialloc for over 40 years. He was 62 at the time of his death, so had come to Victoria as a 2 year-old around 1839, quite an early arrival to the Colony. He was the son of James and Sophia (nee Neilson) Roberts, who are buried at St Kilda Cemetery (25)
Death notice of James Roberts, the father-in-law of George Davie
Mr Phillips
From the Davie property the whirlwind then swept through Mr Phillips, who I believe is Mark Phillips, a market gardener, of Charman Road, Cheltenham. He lived with his mother, Mary (nee Comerford), whose husband Henry Phillips had died on April 24, 1872, when young Mark was only 5 years old, and his sister Sophia just one year old. At the time of his death, Henry's two children from his first marriage 18-year-old Caroline and 11-year old Henry Edwin were also living with the family.
Henry was a market gardener and left assets of £181, including seven acres of land at Cheltenham. His Grant of Administration file at the Public Records Office of Victoria shows that one of the listed executors in his Will was Alexander McLeod, the father-in-law of George Stayner, who renounced this role in favour of Mary Phillips. As well, James Roberts, the father-in-law of George Davie, signed an affidavit confirming the truth of Mary Phillip's affidavit regarding her husband's estate. These documents demonstrate how inter-connected these early residents of Cheltenham were. (26)
Henry Phillips' assets at the time of his death.
PROV - VPRS 28/P0002, 11/679
Mary died on February 14, 1913 and is buried with her husband at the Pioneer Cemetery. Mark died on September 10, 1926 and is buried at the same cemetery with his sister Sophia, her husband James Gregory and their son Norman. Also in the grave is Miss Alice Izett Bale, who died in July 1955, aged 85, I don't know what the connection is, and a matter of interest (but irrelevant to this story) in February the same year, another Miss Alice Bale died - 79-year old Alice Marion Ellen Bale, who was an artist (27)
Death notice of Mary Phillips
The Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute
Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute and Temperance Hall, c. 1910
Two Acre Village: A Cheltenham History by Graham Whiteside (City of Kingston, 2012), p. 33
Which brings us to the Mechanics' Institute on the corner of Charman Road and the Nepean Highway, where the whirlwind struck the Billiards room. The Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute and Temperance Hall site was reserved in July 1864 and the Trustees appointed in February 1865. The original Trustees were James McKnight, William Ruse, Henry Wells, Norman McSwain and Jonathan Stanway Parker. (28)
Original Trustees of the Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute
Victoria Government Gazette Tuesday February 7, 1865, p.291.
I don't have an exact opening date, however in January 1865, it was reported that a lecture was held at the re-opening of the Cheltenham Mechanics' Institute, would imply that it had already been opened and then closed for some reason. (29)
The re-opening of the Mechanics' Institute
Either way, early 1865 would seem to be a reasonable date to list as the opening of the building. In the late 1880s the building was expanded (30) and in 1906 the Billiard room and other works were undertaken, as the Brighton Southern Cross reported in the July -
The usual monthly meeting of the Mechanics'-institute, Cheltenham, was held on Wednesday last; a full attendance of committeemen being present. The sub-committee recommended the erection of two ante rooms at the rear of the hall; a new fire-proof proscenium; alterations in accordance with the requirements of the Central Board of Health; extension of library, with necessary improvements; and the building of a billiard-room. The recommendations were adopted by the full committee with little discussion. Plans are to be prepared at once by the architect, Mr. Schreiber. (31)
As the whirlwind article noted This home of big breaks was too much for the cyclone, the building breaking up the wind in its course, and diffusing it down the Main-road, so there was no damage to the building. In March 1909, the Mechanics' Institute committee accepted a tender to extend the Billiard room and and in June they purchased a second billiard table. (32) In the late 1950s the Trustees made the decision to surrender the title of the building to the Moorabbin Council and the original building was demolished in 1958 and replaced with the hall which stands there today. However, the Billiard Room was relocated to Highett for use a Scout Hall. (33). I have no information if it is still in use.
So this is the story of the January 1909 whirlwind which hit Cheltenham. To read about the November 1909 whirlwind, click
here.
Footnotes
(1)
The Australasian, August 25, 1906, see
here.
(2)
Brighton Southern Cross, January 30, 1909, see
here.
(3) Electoral Rolls from Ancestry.com; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; George and Flora's 25th wedding anniversary -
The Age, December 16, 1895, see
here.
(4)
Oakleigh Leader, November 3, 1894, see
here. This wasn't the first account of George's farming enterprise,
The Leader wrote about him on December 19, 1891, see
here and earlier still in 1884 -
The Leader, February 23, 1884, see
here. There was also another story in the
Brighton Southern Cross, April 4, 1908, see
here.
The Age, November 14, 1888, see
here.
(8) Wedding report -
Brighton Southern Cross, March 28, 1903, see
here; George - death notice -
The Age, December 11, 1953, see
here;
Oakleigh Leader, December 22, 1900, see
here.
(10) Whiteside, Graham
Two Acre Village: A Cheltenham History (City of Kingston, 2012). pp 93-97 and
Brighton Southern Cross, April 4, 1908, see
here.
(11) Death notices - George, can't find one, date death is from his Probate papers (see Footnote 6). Death notices - Flora -
The Argus, August 30, 1919, see
here; George -
The Argus, December 11, 1953, see
here; Winifred -
The Argus, November 8, 1954, see
here.
(12) Land sub-division -
The Argus February 23, 1956, see here. (13)
The Argus, February 14, 1942, see
here.
(14) Death notices - Joseph -
The Argus, April 24, 1946, see
here; Hannah -
The Age, May 4, 1943, see here ; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Dr Swan -
Suns News-Pictorial, May 1, 1945, see
here; Florence Swan -
Box Hill Reporter, August 11, 1950, see
here. Friends of Cheltenham Regional Cemeteries
https://www.focrc.org/(15) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages
(16)
The Leader, December 26, 1891, see
here.
(17)
The Leader, February 8, 1896, see
here.
(18) Death notices - Charles -
The Argus, January 30, 1901, see
here; Ann -
The Argus, October 24, 1893, see
here; Charles -
The Age, January 21, 1896, see
here; Emma -
The Herald, July 18, 1891, see
here; Louis -
The Age July 16, 1930, see here; Edith -
The Age, February 13, 1939, see
here; Leonard -
The Age, October 7, 1941, see here; Bertha -
The Age, September 3, 1962 (from newspapers.com)
(20) Death notices - Charles -
The Argus, May 17, 1920, see
here; Mary -
The Argus, July 12, 1923, see here; John -
The Age, November 15, 1892, see here; Sarah -
The Argus, January 1, 1903, see here.(21) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages
(22)
Moorabbin News, June 5, 1915, see
here.
(23) Death notices - George -
The Argus, June 3, 1915, see
here; Jane -
The Argus, September 30, 1924, see
here; Robert and Constance - dates from headstone photograph
https://www.focrc.org/;
Report of the wedding of Robert Davie to Constance Curtis - Brighton Southern Cross, October 17, 1917, see here.(24) Giant Pumpkins article -
Giant Pumpkins and Cabbages of Rich Green. Vegetable Quality There, But Quantity Disappoints Judge
There was no Good Fairy to turn the pumpkin into a Cinderella carriage at the Royal Show yesterday - but there should have been. Giant pumpkins, ruby red rhubarb and a new type of curled silver beet brought praise from the judge of table vegetables. The expert vegetable grower must have the artists' striving for perfect formation and color. For instance, rich green defeats the lighter green in cabbage judging. The carrot is not completely judged until it is sliced through the centre to reveal formation. Mr. R. A. Davie, of Cheltenham, who adopted vegetable growing as a hobby on his retirement, won the coveted prize for the best collection of 12 vegetables. Mr. Davie has won this prize for several years. Praising the high quality of the exhibits from a seasonal viewpoint, the judge Mr. G.A. Stayner) expressed regret at the small number of entries. The collection exhibits, he said, were well staged and everything they contained was of high quality. Cabbages won many points for their excellent formation, color and size. Cauliflowers were up to standard, but their centres showed faint yellow tinges front the effects of warm weather. Mrs. R. Brinsmead, of Leopold, Geelong, won the first prize with an outstanding lettuce exhibit. Almost perfect in formation and color, it dominated other lettuce entries. (
Sun News-Pictorial September 25, 1937, see here.) (25) Death notices - George -
The Age, January 7, 1935, see
here; Beatrice -
The Argus, November 28, 1955, see
here; James Roberts -
The Argus, August 14, 1899, see here; James and Sophia Roberts - James died December 17, 1893 and Sophia on April 14, 1874 - St Kilda Cemetery transcriptions on Ancestry.com. (27) Henry, Mary and Mark- dates from headstone photographs
https://www.focrc.org/; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages
(29)
The Leader, January 14, 1865, see here. (30) Whiteside, Graham, op. cit.,pp. 31-41.
(31)
Brighton Southern Cross, July 7 1906, see
here.
(32)
Brighton Southern Cross, March 6, 1909, see
here;
Brighton Southern Cross, June 19, 1909, see
here.
(33) Whiteside, Graham, op. cit., p.39.
