Reverend Alexander Duff (1824-1890)

The Reverend Alexander Duff (1824-1890) played a large role in the early development of the Cranbourne area and this is a short biography

Reverend Alexander Duff

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson  (Cheshire, 1968)

Sources - The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson  (Cheshire, 1968) and Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District researched and published by the Narre Warren & District Family History Group in 2009.

The Reverend Alexander Duff was born in Coagh in Northern Ireland in 1824 and obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Glasgow. He married Annie Tucker in Belfast when he was 29, around 1853, and they came to Australia soon after. Their eight children were all born in Victoria.

The Reverend Alexander Duff was appointed by the Presbyterian Church to Dandenong on June 26, 1855 and on September 20 he was ordained. The Duffs initially lived with Alexander Cameron, of Mayfield, Cranbourne and conducted services in his house until Scots Presbyterian Church was opened on May 27 1860. A manse was also built at the same time. Reverend Duff also preached at Berwick in the early days and as far south as the Bass River area. He visited parishioners on his horse, Dobbin.

Cranbourne Presbyterian Church, opened 1860.

A Presbyterian School opened in Cranbourne on June 1, 1856. This school was located on the site where the Presbyterian Church stands,  the first teacher being James Henry, the next teacher was Archibald Thomson. In 1862, the Commons School Act was passed and the School became Cranbourne Common School, No. 144. The School was closed in 1878 and the students moved to a new School on the South Gippsland Highway (where the Elderly Citizens are now located). In 1969, the Cranbourne State School, No. 2068, moved to Russell Street location.

On October 31,  1855 Alexander was appointed the Registrar of Births and Deaths for Cranbourne and Dandenong. 

Reverend Duff's appointment

Victorian Government Gazette, No 110, 2 November 1855, page 2806

The Reverend Duff also held evening classes for young men and women on 'arithmetic, physics, mathematics, English, Latin, Greek, French and German. He was obviously interested in intellectual pursuits but he also valued physical activity - Dr Gunson wrote that he tried his hand at black smith work and that he experimented with ways to improve cheese making. He ploughed his own paddocks and, in 1858, the Mornington Farmers Society held their ploughing competitions on his farm.

Reverend Duff retired to his farm at Cardinia in 1888 and he died on December 22, 1890 aged 65.  He left his entire estate to 'my dear wife, Annie Duff'. He was buried at the Cranbourne Cemetery. The value of his Estate was personal property of £1312 and real estate valued at £1574. (1)

Short obituary of the Reverend Duff 

South Bourke & Mornington Journal, December 24, 1890.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70398485

As we mentioned before, Alexander married Annie Tucker in Belfast around 1853. He was the son of Thomas Duff and Ann McMorran. They had eight children - 

Walter (1855 - 1925, married Eva Sharp)

Annie Elizabeth (1857 - 1934, married John Gason)

William Tucker (1859 - 1935, married Alice Hobart)

Dora Robina (1861 - 1939, married Robert Gibb)

Maggie (1864 - 1938, married James Lecky)

Mary Clarissa (known as Minnie, 1865 - 1924, married Ingebert Gunnelson)

Alexander (1869 - 1941, married Mary Irwin) 

Edward John Tucker, born and died 1877. 

Annie died November 24, 1905 aged 74. The three surviving sons farmed in the Cardinia area. Walter Duff, James Lecky and Robert Gibb were all Cranbourne Shire Councillors. 

Five of the Reverend Duff's grandsons were killed in the First World War - Charles Alexander Duff, the son of William and Alice Duff;  James Alexander Lecky and William Mervyn Lecky, the sons of Maggie and James Lecky and Ingebert and Perch Gunnelson, the sons of Mary and Ingebert Gunnelson who lived in Garfield. (2)

Alexander's brother, Robert (1827 - 1861) was also in Australia. He and his wife Margaret (c.1832 - 1902) established the Cranbourne Hotel, around 1860. It was in High Street, where Greg Clydesdale Square is now and was demolished around the 1970s. Margaret was also a Duff, perhaps a cousin, and her father operated an Inn in Coagh, County Tyrone, the birthplace of Alexander and Robert. After Robert died, Margaret married Edward Tucker (c. 1836 - 1872), who was born in America and operated a store in Cranbourne. Edward's brother William (born in Belfast) was also in the area. What connection were they to Annie Tucker, the wife of the Reverend Duff? Some sources say that she was the sister of Edward and William Tucker, however in the Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District their parents are listed as Edward Tucker and Elizabeth Moore and Annie's death certificate has her mother's maiden name as Phillips, so I am not sure.

The Cranbourne Hotel, established by Robert and Margaret Duff

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson  (Cheshire, 1968)

Footnotes

(1) Read his will at the Public Records Office of Victoria, here.

(2) Charles Alexander Duff - is listed on the Cardinia Honour Board and had a Memorial tree planted at the Cardinia School; he also listed on the Tooradin State School Honour Board. 

The Lecky brothers are on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Honour Board and the Cardinia Honour Board and had a Memorial tree planted at the Cardinia School. 

Cardinia Memorial Grove, see here https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/cardinia-tree-plantation-in-honor-of.html

Cardinia Honour Board, see here https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/01/unveiling-of-cardinia-state-school.html

Tooradin School Honour Board, see here  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/02/tooradin-state-school-honour-roll.html

Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Honour Board see here,  https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2022/02/cranbourne-presbyterian-church-honour.html

The Gunnelson brothers are on the Garfield Honour Board - see here https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/world-war-one-soldiers-with-connection.html

Motor Club Hotel Cranbourne - a short history

Kelly's Motor Club Hotel is a landmark in Cranbourne, but it wasn't the first hotel on that site. The original Hotel, called the Mornington Hotel, was opened sometime in the 1850s by Thomas and Elizabeth Gooch (1)  The historian, Niel Gunson, writes that -
Gooch, who held a master's certificate, had signed on the Sacramento (2) as mate in order to reach Australia. Elizabeth Minister whom he married at St Peter's Eastern Hill in 1854 had also been on the Sacramento and both lost all their possessions when it was wrecked near the Heads. Both Gooch and his wife took an active part in the life of the Church of England, Mrs Gooch having been one of Bishop Perry's school teachers in England. (3) 

Thomas and Elizabeth Gooch

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968)

The  actual date of their marriage was  September 19, 1853; Thomas was 31 years old and Elizabeth was 28 years old. Thomas had been born in Long Melford, Suffolk to Edward Woodcock Gooch, a draper, and his wife Fanny Munnings. Elizabeth was born in Cambridge, England to Edward Minister, a carpenter and his wife Elizabeth Amey. (4)  Elizabeth gave birth to nine children between 1855 and 1867; they are listed here with year of birth and place of registration - Thomas (1855, Western Port ), Alfred (1857, Cranbourne), Susan Ellen (1859, Cranbourne),  Arthur (1860, Cranbourne), Charlotte (1861, Cranbourne), Walter Edward (1863, Cranbourne), Harriet Beumont (1864, Cranbourne), Frank Frederick (1865, Cranbourne), Fanny Elizabeth (1867, Berwick).  (5)   Elizabeth died on September 28, 1900 at 1 McPhail Street, Essendon, aged 75 and Thomas died on November 13, 1902 at 407 Canning Street, North Carlton, aged 80. (6)

Gooch's Mornington Hotel

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Cheshire, 1968)

By then of course, the Goochs had long since left the Mornington Hotel. Thomas became insolvent in January 1866 due to depreciation in property and falling off in business. (7)  At some time, the Licence was transferred to James Harris, who in turn transferred the Licence to Isaac Mullin in July 1869. Dr Gunson wrote that Isaac Mullin held the licence until 1872, when he concentrated on store keeping. Harris came back to the Hotel, and after his death in September 1875, his wife Elizabeth, took over the licence. She was still there in 1887. (8) 

In the 1890s licensees included Thomas Pearson and Henry Nurse senior and Henry Nurse junior.(9) William Lang  took over the freehold and the licence in July 1901 from Henry Nurse; and later licensees in the first decade of the 1900s included J. Lane and Letitia Buchanan. (10)

Around 1911, John Taylor took over the licence of the Mornington Hotel and in December 1911  he applied to have the name changed to the Motor Club Hotel and this was approved at a Licensing Court Hearing held December 14, 1911. (11)  This name  may have been related to the birth of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria in Tooradin or may have reflected the fact that Cranbourne was a popular destination for early motor car excursions. (12)  John Taylor purchased the freehold of the hotel in 1912. (13).

The change of name from the Mornington Hotel to the Motor Club Hotel

South Bourke & Mornington Journal December 21, 1911 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66179793

Julia O'Brien took over the licence of the Motor Club Hotel in February 1913 and was there until March 1914. (14) It was then operated by Gertrude and William Kilroy, who I have written about here.  In May 1918, it was reported that William James Taylor had taken over the licence and the lease of the business from Gertrude Kilroy; I presume that William and John Taylor are related. In May 1919, William Taylor applied to transfer the licence to  Mrs Sarah Kelly of 214 Williams Road, Hawksburn,  however John Taylor is listed in the Cranbourne Shire Rate books as owning the Hotel until the  1921/1922 Rate Year. (15) This was a short-lived occupancy by Sarah Kelly as by July 1920 John Blencowe was advertising as the proprietor of the Motor Club Hotel. (16)  In April 1922 the licence was transferred from John Blencowe to Arthur Kelly and the 1922/1923 Rate books lists Arthur Kelly as the owner of the building. Members of the Kelly  family still operate the Hotel. (17)  I have no information as to whether Sarah Kelly was related to Arthur Kelly. 

At the bottom of this list of Hotel Licence transfers is that of John Blencowe to Arthur Kelly,

The Age, April 27 1922 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205044523

Arthur Kelly had previously operated the Cranbourne Hotel, which was situated where Greg Clydesdale Square in High Street is now located and which was demolished around the 1970s. It had been established by Robert and Margaret Duff, around 1860. Robert Duff (1827-1861) was the brother of the Reverend Alexander Duff, the first Presbyterian Minister in the area.  Margaret, whose maiden name was also Duff, married Cranbourne storekeeper, Edward John Tucker in 1866. (18)

Traditionally, hotel keepers in Australia are seen as being of Irish and Catholic background, but in the 1850s and 1860s in this area it was not unusual to have Protestants operating hotels. By the 1880s there was a movement towards abstinence from alcohol or the Temperance movement with the rise of groups such as the Band of  Hope, the Independent Order of Rechabites and the Woman's Christian Temperance. Many Protestant Churches promoted abstinence and as Dr Gunson writes The Gooches, Tuckers and Duffs and Mrs Bowman of the Gippsland Hotel were perhaps the last of their kind to combine Evangelical piety with the publican's profession.  (19) 

Kelly's Motor Club Hotel, c. 1930s

Image: Cranbourne Shire Historical Society

The existing Motor Club Hotel, was built around 1924, by Arthur Kelly. I am basing this date on the valuation in the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books - in 1923/24 and 1924/25 the Net Annual Value was 240 pounds, in 1925/26, it had leapt to 420 pounds and the next two years it was 400 pounds, so I believe the increase in rates was due to the erection of the new building. As the Local Government year used to run from October 1 to September 30 then the new building would have been erected between October 1924 and September 1925 to appear at the higher valuation in the 1925/26 year. (20) The building is listed on the City of Casey Heritage Database, which describes it as of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Casey. (21)

Footnotes
(1) Gunson,  Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (Cheshire, 1968), p. 65

(2) The Sacramento - wrecked off Point Lonsdale at 3.00am April 27, 1853; it had left London on December 22, 1852.  This report from the Geelong Advertiser of April 28, 1853 (see here) -

Wreck at the Heads - The Barque Sacramento, Holmes, master, from London, with 250 government immigrants, arrived off the Heads yesterday. At about 3 o'clock a.m. the ship struck upon the Point Lonsdale reef, about one mile from shore and four from the lighthouse. The long-boat, life-boat, and two smaller boats were immediately hoisted out, and the landing of the immigrants commenced. Some were taken to the shore and others landed temporarily on the reef. The news was brought to Geelong yesterday afternoon, by the Rev. Mr. Lord, chaplain to the Sacramento. When he left the pilot station yesterday morning at nine, the boats were busily engaged in landing the immigrants, but as a heavy surf was running the process was necessarily slow, and even if the weather remained favourable, it would occupy the greater portion of yesterday to land them all. The condition of some of the poor creatures; crowding into the boats, many of them in their night dresses only, was truly pitiable. From the ship's position she is not likely to be got off; and in the meantime the immigrants' luggage and cargo is in jeopardy; indeed, as the weather has since been very squally, the vessel has most likely already gone to pieces.

(3) Ibid; Bishop Perry (1807-1891) https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/perry-charles-4391

(4) Marriage certificate; St Peter's Eastern Hill, Victoria, Australia Marriages, 1848-1955 on Ancestry.com

(5) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. 

(6) Elizabeth death notice -  The Age, October 1, 1900, see here; Thomas death notice -  The Argus, November 15, 1902, see here.
(7) The Argus, January 10, 1866, see here.
(8) Licence transfer - Harris to Mullin - The Argus, July 10, 1869, see here;  Gunson, op. cit., p. 67; James Harris - application for licence The Argus, June 11, 1872, see here;  James Harris death - The Australasian, September 11, 1875, see here; the first reference I can find to Elizabeth holding the licence was in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 2, 1878, see here; meeting at Mrs Harris' Hotel - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 8, 1887, see here. 
(9) Licence transfer - Pearson to Nurse - The Argus, January 23, 1895, see here;  Henry Nurse snr to Henry Nurse jnr South Bourke & Mornington Journal, March 4, 1896, see here

(10) Licence transfer - Nurse to Lang South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 24, 1901, see here; Licence transfer - J. Lane to Buchanan - The Argus, June 19, 1908, see here. 
(11) Name change - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, December 21, 1911, see here.
(12) Priestley, Susan The Crown of the Road: the story of the RACV (McMillan, 1983).
(13)  Taylor freehold - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 18, 1912, see here.
(14) Licence transfer - Taylor to O'Brien - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, February 20, 1913, see here; Licence transfer -  O'Brien to Kilroy - The Age, March 7, 1914, see here. 

(15) The Kilroys - https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2022/08/mrs-gertrude-kilroy-of-motor-club-hotel.html Licence transfer - Kilroy to W.J. Taylor -  The Age, May 14, 1918, see here. Licence transfer - W. Taylor to S. Kelly - The Argus, May 3, 1919, see here. Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books. 

(16) Licence Transfer - S. Kelly to Blencowe - The Argus, May 15, 1920, see here; Blencowe - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, July 8, 1920, see here.
(17) Licence transfer - Blencowe to A. Kelly - The Age, April 27, 1922, see here. Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books. 

(18) Gunson, op. cit., p. 67. I have written about the Reverend Alexander Duff  here  https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2026/01/reverend-alexander-duff-1824-1890.html
(19) Gunson, op. cit, . p.185
(20) Shire of Cranbourne Rate Books. 
(21) Casey Heritage Study 2004: Volume 2 - Key Heritage Place and Precincts Citations (Readopted by Council in 2006 with minor corrections), prepared by Context P/L (City of Casey, 2006), access it here https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/heritage-at-casey

This is an expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. 

The Hunt Train and the Melbourne Hunt Club

 In 1850, George John Watson, the founder and first Master of the Hounds of the Melbourne Hunt Club arrived in Melbourne (1). His father, John, was the Master of the Carlow Hounds in Ireland from 1808 until 1869. George also bought with him from Ireland a few couples of fox hounds from his father's kennels. In 1853, George acquired the best of the hounds from the disbanded Werribee and Corio Hunts and the Melbourne Hunt Club was established. The hounds were kept at Kirk's Bazaar (2). Kirk's Bazaar was a horse bazaar (or sale yard) in Bourke Street, between Queen and Elizabeth Streets. It was established in 1840 by James Kirk, and later taken over by Watson. George Watson, also owned the I.Y.U estate on the Toomuc Creek at Pakenham from 1866 until 1884 (3).

In the late 1850s George moved the hounds to East St Kilda, initially in Dandenong Road and then to Alma Road (4). The Club later moved to Neerim Road in Caulfield, then in 1885 to Mount Derrimut or Deer Park. In 1897 the Club again moved, this time to Oakleigh, on land between North Road and Centre Road. It was at Oakleigh until 1929, when it relocated to Cranbourne (5).  

In April 1929, The Herald reported -
The Melbourne Hunt Club has purchased the Fenwick estate at Cranbourne and intends to keep the kennels there. The estate was formerly owned by Mr A. T. Creswick, master of the hounds, and is considered an ideal site. The surrounding country is suitable for hunting. There are large paddocks of cleared land. (6).  By the September the Dandenong Journal noted that  the Melbourne Hunt Club has installed its hounds in the new kennels, at Cranbourne, and the “music of the pack” is now a feature of the locality. (7)

Melbourne Hunt Club at Dingley 

Having made the Cranbourne district its new headquarters, the Melbourne Hunt Club met yesterday at the picturesque old church at Dingley, five miles from Dandenong, for another trial run with the young hounds. In the foreground with the pack is the huntsman (Mr. Norman Wood). 

The Argus May 22, 1929 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4007814

The Club were forced to move from one location to another due to development - the empty paddocks of St Kilda, then Caulfield, then Oakleigh became housing estates and this was the eventual fate of the Cranbourne land. In 1996 the Hunt Club buildings at Cranbourne were demolished or removed  -  two buildings are now in Modella and being used as a private house (8) - and the area is now also covered in houses.

The Melbourne Hunt Club at Cranbourne, November 26, 1980. 

It was located on the east side of  Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road (Cameron Street) and the north side Berwick-Cranbourne Road (Sladen Street extension). The railway line bi-sects the photo.

Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries

The Hunt Club at Cranbourne.

Image: Casey Cardinia Libraries

The Melbourne Hunt Club, when it was located in Cranbourne, played a large role in the social and community life of Cranbourne and the surrounding area. As historian Claire Turner noted - 

A curious and compatible relationship developed between the local Cranbourne community and the
patrons of hunting who travelled up from Melbourne. They shared a love of the country and of sport. Horse people and other locals from surrounding properties joined in the club activities, rubbing shoulders with prominent politicians, visiting dignitaries and wealthy business people from the city.....The Club was a very established part of Cranbourne’s identity. There are many memories held by locals who had various involvements with the club, either as members of the Hunt, workers at the hunt complex or as children. Children from nearby properties loved to play at the grounds. (9)

Window in the Oaklands Hunt Club building at Somerton.

Photo: Heather Arnold, November 2016

The Melbourne Hunt Club was one of four clubs operating in Melbourne at this time - there was also the Findon Harriers, the Oaklands Hunt and the Yarra Glen and Lilydale  Hunt (10). The Oaklands Hunt Club building, in Somerton, is now a reception centre. It consists of a mid 1870s homestead, Sherwood and a 1938 Tudor Revival style hall with six interesting etched glass windows with hunting motifs, including one of a fox with a hunting horn and a border which includes acorns. It is shown above.

The Hunt Train at Berwick Railway Station, July 11, 1927.

A2.800 on Hunt train at Berwick. Victorian Railways, photographer.

State Library of Victoria Image H1077

Before everyone had a car and a horse float participants in Hunts in the greater Melbourne area took the Hunt Train to the locations and I came across this photo (above) of the Hunt Train at Berwick in 1927. The Hunt Train not only took passengers but their horses and the hounds as well.

Notice of the Hunt train timetable

The Age September 7, 1925 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155816521

The earliest reports of Hunt Train which I can find is from 1883 (11). There was this interesting report from 1909, below, about this train holding up the regular trains on the Whittlesea line, on a Friday.

A complaint about the Hunt train

The Argus September 23, 1909 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10735700

The Melbourne Hunt Club frequented Shires of Berwick and Cranbourne, even when they were based at Oakleigh. In July 1913, the Melbourne Hunt Club meet was held at Tooradin and Punch (12) had a page of photographs of the event (see them here and three are below). As there are photographs at both Clyde and Tooradin Railway Stations, the Hunt Train must have dropped their passengers - human and animal - at one town and picked them up at the other.  There were some high-profile participants including His Excellency Lord Denham, who was the Governor General of Australia from 1911 until 1914;  Sir Walter Barttelote and Lord Richard Nevill.  The Australasian reported on the tragic fate of Sir Walter Barttelot, who in October 1918, was cruelly assassinated at Teheran, while on special service as military attached to the British Legation in Persia. Sir Walter did fine service in France, whence he went to Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. He was the owner of Stopham House, near Pulborough, in Sussex, and is succeeded by his eldest son Walter, a lad of 14. When Lord Denman was Governor-General of Australia, Sir Walter was a member of the staff, as military secretary and with Lady Barttelot. (13)

The sartorially splendid Sir Walter Barttelote and Lord Richard Nevill, about to board the train, possibly at Flinders Street, for the Melbourne Hunt Club meet at Tooradin.

Photographer: J.E. Barnes. Punch, July 10, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176547827

Lord Richard Nevill, who died in 1939, aged 75 was -

The fifth son of the first Marquis of Abergavenny, Lord Richard Nevill was private secretary to the Lord President, of the Council, the Earl of Cranbrook. Subsequently he was private secretary to the Governors of South Australia and Victoria, chamberlain to successive Governors-General of Australia, and controller of the household of the Duke of Connaught and the Duke of Devonshire, Governors-General of Canada. As a member of Victorian and Commonwealth vice-regal households, Lord Richard Nevill, tall and immaculately dressed, was an outstanding figure in the social life of the country for many years. He was educated at Eton and Magdalene College, Cambridge, and was a keen hunter and golfer. (14)

Members of the Melbourne Hunt Club at Clyde Railway Station, including Lord Denham, the Governor General of Australia.

Photographer: J.E. Barnes. Punch, July 10, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176547827

The Melbourne Hunt Club leaving Tooradin Railway Station

Photographer: J.E. Barnes. Punch, July 10, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176547827

The Herald reported on the Club in 1924 - It hunts over the wide-stretch of country lying between Beaconsfield and Clyde, and meets are hold regularly twice a week during the season - this year probably on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On an average some fifty members attend on each day, and many citizens of Oaklelgh have witnessed the picturesque scene when the hunt train draws in, and the clamoring, eager hounds are placed aboard by the huntsman and his assistants. It is the hounds, with their expressive faces and beautiful eyes, that usually attract the greater attention by the way, though fleeting glances are also thrown at the scarlet clad human beings (15). 

There was another report of a hunt in September 1927 in The Australasian, which started at Andrew Chirnside's property, Edrington at Berwick. It went from Berwick to Beaconsfield to Officer and if you know where Brunt Road and Rix Road is, it will give you some idea of the route taken by the Hunt -

Hounds were then taken on to the Cardinia Creek, which was worked from Lecky's crossing. Hounds found a fox in Abbott's, and pushed him through the timber into Marsden's, over Pound road, to Boag's. Here bounds took some little time to bustle their fox through the thick tea-tree, but at last got him away to the open on the Berwick side. Leaving the creek hounds ran through Boag's into Nixon's and May's, but here the fox turned back and crossed the Cardinia Creek to the sand pits. The pack ran up-stream for about a mile, then swung right-banded through the pipe works into Stevens's, where they turned in the cultivation and beaded for Brunt's. Travelling at a great pace hounds streamed across Brunt's flat into Jones's, where they crossed a lane into Rix's, and headed for Officer station. Heavy rain began to fall, and as hounds ran through a mob of cattle, they were at fault. Swinging on their own cast they hit off the line once more, and rattled through Rix's up to Officer road into C. Greaves's, where they were again in trouble in the crop. The heavy rain seemed to wash away all traces of scent (16).

On May 28, 1928, the Melbourne Hunt Club was at Berwick, and The Australasian had the following photographs, including the chaotic scene at the Berwick Railway Station.

Melbourne Hunt Club at Berwick 

The Australasian, June 2, 1928 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140811089

The Hunt Special, c. 1920s.

Image: Mrs G. Moore's collection from Hounds are Running: a history of the Melbourne Hunt by Heather B. Ronald (Lowden Publishing Company, 1970)

The fact that they hunted during week days meant that the average working person could not participate as they were at work. Hunting was an activity for the well off. The same Herald article from 1924, referred to above itemised the costs involved in hunting -
The average citizen knows comparatively little of this "Sport of Kings' - which is not at all surprising, in view of the fact that the average income is strictly limited. To hunt regularly during the season will cost a man at the very least £5 per week, and this is doing it cheaply. There is no difficulty in spending twice or thrice that sum if desired, and a fairly heavy investment of capital is required at the start. A suitable horse, for instance, may cost anything from £50 and upwards - often upwards. There are, indeed, a few "one-horse men," but the average hunting follower keeps two animals, and there are some even who use five or six. In addition, there is the hunting kit to be purchased - no small item, so that the would-be fox hunter must be prepared for a big outlay.

In any of the good stables the horse will cost about £3/3/ a week for keep, and to this the expense of taking it on the train to the various meets has to be added. Furthermore, the hunt club subscription, may be £10/10/, for the season, and there are sundry incidentals to be paid for, so that, taking it all round, hunting is not a cheap pastime; but it is a fascinating one, and the delights of an eight to fifteen miles run in the keen winter air across open country have been sung by poets and described by writers innumerable....the value of the hounds at Oaklelgh varies from £35 to £100 per animal (17).

The Hunts were an activity in which many women participated with the men. The names of the participants of the 1927 Hunt from Edrington at Berwick was listed in the report and there were 32 men listed and 23 women - Misses Moira Pennefather, on Phillip; Geraldine Pennefather, Dell; Daisy Farrell, Menander; Hylda McCardel,Clark's Chance; Ursula Syme, Red Harry; Fairlie Hagenauer, Little Rocket; Marie McKinnon, Simon; Betty Bayles, Snip: Margot Anderson, Albury; Violet Farmer, Rubicon Lad; Jess Mackenzie, Jemba; Gwen Johnston, Rocket; Fairlie Lyon, Harmony; Noel Lyon, Ansaldo; Lorna Embling, Delteetim; V. Jordan, Refrain; Violet Turner, Bonnie Lass; Jean Demergue, Redcap; Joan Sewell, Judy; Betty Sewell, Hazel; Suzanne Sewell, Sam; Edith Churchill, Greygown; Violet Richardson, St. Leonard (18).

These women are off to the Hunt, organised by the Findon Harriers. The photo gives you an idea of the outfits which were required to be worn.

Original caption: Misses L. Warner, D. Foster and D. Clarke arriving at Spencer Street station to catch the special hunt train to attend today's meet of the Findon Harriers at Epping.

The Herald, August 26, 1932 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243040370

Hunting also appeared to be an activity enjoyed by young and old. There was a report in The Herald in June 1933 of a meeting of the Findon Warriors -
Foremost among the riders was one of the oldest huntsmen in Victoria. Mr H. C. Pennyfather, riding Bogie, is more than 70, but had travelled from Berwick for the day's sport. Little Isabel Bunting, aged 5, was the youngest follower. On a shaggy pony she had ridden four miles with her father to the meet (19). It would be unlikely that it would be accepted that a five year child should ride with a hunt these days, as the whole aim is to chase down and kill a fox, however these were different times. Mr Pennyfather was Hugh Claude Pennefather of Ardsley, Clyde Road in Berwick, he died in February 1951 at the age of 87 (20).

 

The Whip and the Hounds: Mr Jack Snowden, the Whip of the Melbourne Hounds, waiting for the special hunt train which left Oakleigh today for Pakenham.

The Herald July 4, 1929 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244104560#

The last report I can find of a Hunt train was in 1936 (21). By then, more people would have had cars and it appears by the mid 1930s horse floats became more common (22). So the sight of horses and hounds waiting at railway stations for the Hunt Train became a thing of the past.

The Melbourne Hounds met at Lyndhurst on June 11. The Master (Mr A.T. Creswick) and the Secretary (Mr Norman Wood) are here seen waiting with the hounds for the train at Oakleigh.

The Australasian, June 16, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140745736

Trove lists
I have created a list of articles on Trove on the Hunt Train, access it here; as well, I have created a short list of articles about the establishment of the Melbourne Hunt Club at Cranbourne in 1929, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) There are various dates reported as to Watson's date of arrival in Melbourne and also his year of birth. His obituary in The Leader of July, 14, 1906, see here, says he arrived in 1851 and that he was born in 1831. His obituary in The Herald of July 11, 1906, see here, says he arrived in 1851 and had been born in 1828. His Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, see here, says he was born 1829 in Ballydarton, County Carlow, Ireland, and arrived in Melbourne in March 1850. Watson died July 11, 1906 and his death certificate, under George John Watson, records that he was 80, which makes him born in 1826 and had been in Victoria for 55 years, which means he arrived about 1851. His death certificate also said he was married at the age of 24, to Sarah Jane. I have a marriage certificate of a John Watson to a Sarah Jane Townsend - the marriage took place on August 20, 1850 at St James Church of England in Melbourne. James' death certificate lists eleven children.
(2) This information about the Melbourne Hunt Club and George Watson comes from Hounds are Running: a history of the Melbourne Hunt by Heather B. Ronald (Lowden Publishing Company, 1970). The direct quote about the fox hounds coming from Ireland is on page 6. Interesting book and well indexed, the book is worth tracking down if you have an interest in hunting.
(3) Read George Watson's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here. The author says that he owned I.Y. U from 1872 until 1884. I believe he purchased it 1866, see this article in The Herald, April 6, 1866, here and The Leader of April 7, 1866, here. He certainly owned it in 1867, Ovens & Murray Advertiser, July 25, 1867, see here. I.Y. U. was sold to the Staughton Brothers in 1884 (Weekly Times, August 23, 1884, see here.)
(4) Mrs Ronald writes on page 6 of Hounds are Running - that They firstly moved to a site in Dandenong Road near the junction with Wattletree Road, where the low-roofed sheds which housed them were a land-mark known as the 'old kennels' long after the Melbourne Hounds moved to new quarters. The new kennels were built in Alma Road East St Kilda about 1859 on land purchased from John Callow. They were situated on the south side of the road, on the face of the hill, east of St Kilda Cemetery, between what is now Alexander Street and Lansdown Road, and extending back to Inkerman Road. On the four and half acres of land was a small wooden house, stables and kennels. The boys school 'Cumloden' was afterwards built on the site. which is now covered by blocks of modern flats.
(5) Hounds are Running: a history of the Melbourne Hunt by Heather B. Ronald (Lowden Publishing Company, 1970).

(6) The Herald, April 23, 1929, see here.

(7) Dandenong Journal, September 26, 1929, see here.

(8) 1996 date - Claire Turner - see Footnote 7; Hunt buildings removed to Modella - Information from Mavis Martin, Modella resident; https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-acreage+semi-rural-vic-modella-132870694

(9) Cranbourne: a town with a history published by the City of Casey in 2001. Access it on-line here https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/historical-publications  The section written by Claire Turner (now Sandell) starts on page 8.7 of the Recreation chapter; Graham Facey has also written his memories of the Hunt Club at Cranbourne, starts on page 10.6 of the Appendixes and on page 10.14 is a list of the Masters of the Hunt Club.

(10) The Herald, May 10, 1924, see here.
(11) See my Hunt Train Trove list, here.

(12) Punch, July 10, 1913, see here. 

(13)  Lord Denham - Burnie Advocate, June 26 1954, see here. Sir Walter Barttelotte - The Australasian, January 11, 1919, see here.

(14) The Age, December 4, 1939, see here.
(15) The Herald, May 10, 1924, see here.
(16) The Australasian, September 3, 1927, see here.
(17) The Herald, May 10, 1924, see here.
(18) The Australasian, September 3, 1927, see here.
(19) The Herald, June 9, 1933. see here.
(20) Mr Pennefather's obituary was in the Dandenong Journal of February 21, 1951, see here.
(21) See my Hunt TrainTrove list, here.
(22) Shepparton Advertiser, June 6, 1935. Interesting article which starts with the transport of racehorses by motor horse boxes has now become a specialised business in most of the leading centres of the world. Read it here.

This is an expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. 

Nurse Brockhurst's private hospital in Cranbourne

In May 1918, Mrs Isabella Brockhurst applied to the Cranbourne Shire Council to register a private hospital. Dr Langley, the Shire Health Officer reported to the Council meeting that whereas the building is not large and the rooms small, the place is very clean, and the rooms are quite suitable for the purposes of a maternity hospital. In the hands of Mrs. Brockhurst it will be well conducted, and a great benefit to the district (1).  The Hospital was called Kilora. It would be interesting to know who the first baby was born at her Hospital, the earliest birth notice I can find is this one of Mervyn Forster, born September 22, 1918.  He was the son of Arthur John and Bertha May (nee Smith) Forster. 

The birth of Mervyn Forster at Nurse Brockhurst's Hospital, 1918

The Age September 22, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155133300

Sadly not all births had a happy ending and this is the notice for baby Leslie Westaway, who only lived 40 hours. Leslie was the son of Ernest and Theresa (nee Keighery) Westaway.

Birth notice of Leslie Westaway at Nurse Brockhurst's Hospital, 1923

The Argus, November 12, 1923 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1997125

In February 1919, Nurse Brockhurst applied to register the building as a nursing home (2), I presume so she could broaden the scope of her services. The Hospital was advertised regularly in 1920 in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal. The advertisement was always on the bottom left corner of the front page. 

Mrs Brockhurst's regular advertisement in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal in 1920

South Bourke & Mornington Journal June 10, 1920 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66198223

In the last months of 1926 and throughout 1927, Mr Branston, the Dentist, ran this advertisement, below. He consulted at Nurse Brockhurst's Hospital on Monday between 1.00 pm and 5.00pm. Arthur Branston began practicing as a dentist in Dandenong in 1902 and was an enthusiastic member of the tennis club, the Dandenong Progress Association and the Dandenong Mechanics' Institute (3).  As a matter of interest, in 1913, he sued Drayton & Garson, Funeral Directors for damages. They had inserted a notice regarding the funeral of an Arthur Branston, which he alleged in Court, thereby meant he was dead, and was to be buried, in consequence whereof  [he] has been greatly damaged in his reputation and business (4).  He didn't win the case, you can read about it here. 

Arthur Branston, Dentist, consults at Nurse Brockhurst's.

South Bourke & Mornington Journal September 23, 1926 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214585764

On June 8, 1927, Isabella was appointed the Registrar of Births and Deaths at Cranbourne (5). She held the position until her resignation on November 24, 1931 (6). This means that she could have both delivered the baby and then registered the birth.

Isabella's appointment as Registrar of Births and Deaths at Cranbourne

Victoria Government Gazette June 15, 1927  http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1927/V/general/79.pdf

There was an article in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal in June 1927 saying that Sister Gould had taken over the Hospital vacated by Nurse Brockhurst (7), however there are still references in the newspapers of Nurse Brockhurst's Private Hospital after this so either Sister Gould did not stay long or perhaps it was still referred to by it's original name. 

What do we know about Mrs Brockhurst? She was born Isabella Suriez around 1884 in the Falkland Islands, that very remote part of the British Empire in the South Atlantic Ocean. She is the first person I have ever come across born in the Falklands. Isabella was married to Frank Brockhurst on March 6, 1906 at St Stephen's Church of England, West Ealing, which is part of Greater London.   He was a 23 year old Dairyman, born in Alton in Hampshire and she was a 22 year old Spinster. Her father's occupation on the marriage certificate was listed as Shepherd in the Falkland Isles (8).

I believe Isabella's father was actually called Carlo not Claro. This is an excerpt from Isabella and Frank's Marriage Certificate showing his occupation.

London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers;

Reference Number: DRO/148/01/009 - From Ancestry.com

Their daughter, Isabella Mary, was born November 2, 1906 at Godalaming, Surrey and their son Francis George (known as George) was born June 5, 1908, also in Godalaming (9).  The family were listed in the 1911 Census at Godalaming - Frank's occupation was a Dairyman; Isabella's occupation was 'assisting in the business'. The household also had two boarders and a servant living with them (10). 

I do not have a date for when the family came to Australia, but in 1914 they were listed in the Electoral Rolls at Tallangatta. When Frank enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on November 27, 1916, they were living in Cranbourne. Frank was not considered fit enough  to serve overseas but spent two years with the Army on Home Service (11).  The 1917 Electoral Rolls shows them at Spring Meadows in Cranbourne. They are also listed at this address in 1927 (12).  Frank's occupation was a farm hand and they did not own the property. 

There was a clearing sale of cattle and some equipment held at Spring Meadows in February 1920 and the owner was listed as George Lehman (13) and another sale in March 1928 when the property was auctioned. It was described as 327 acres, stocked 750 sheep and 80 cows were milked  - a large concern in those days. Sel. Kennon Esq., was the owner in 1928 (14). This was Selbourne Kennon, of  J. Kennon and Sons - the operators of a large tannery, leather manufactuary and wool exporters in Richmond on the Yarra River (15). With Frank's previous experience as a dairyman, he would have been a valuable employee. After the farm was sold,  Frank and Isabella moved to Perivale,  a house in Childers Street,  Cranbourne (16).  Perivale is less than two miles from West Ealing in England where the couple were married - perhaps that was the location of their first home together.

Whilst the family was at Cranbourne their daughter, Isabella Mary, known as Molly was married on March 30, 1929 at St John's Church of England to Fred Whiteway of Northcote. The Church was filled, the bride being very popular said the report in the Dandenong Journal. Iris Stick was one of Molly's bridesmaids and later in 1929 she married Molly's brother George (17). George enlisted in World War Two, on August 11, 1943. He was a Post Office employee in civilian life and served with the 2nd Australian Base Postal Unit, initially in Victoria but from May 1944 until September 1945 in Lae, New Guinea (18).

Frank and Isabella left Cranbourne in October 1931 - Much regret is expressed that Mr. and Mrs. F. Brockhurst, after a residence of 15 years in Cranbourne, are shortly leaving the district. Mrs. Brockhurst has conducted a private hospital for a number of years, and has won the affection of many residents. She and Mr. Brockhurst have taken an active part in local movements' for the welfare of the town and district. They have been especially interested in St. John’s Church of England, having been actively associated with the organisation of that church (19). 

The next I can find of the Brockhursts was that in 1937 they were listed in the Electoral Roll at Maffra.  Isabella died on October 6, 1954 at Maffra and Frank in September 1963. They were both cremated at the Necropolis at Springvale (20). 

Small private hospitals, like the one operated by Isabella Brockhurst were the mainstay of medical care in the suburbs and country towns at this time - almost always run by women, and they dealt with births, deaths and everything in between - including illness, accidents and caring for people after operations

Other examples of small hospitals in this region are -

  

Shepton Private Hospital in Berwick, operated by Kathleen Duigan and Florence Vines. 

I have written about Nurse Vines, here.

Dandenong Advertiser January 29, 1914 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8487638

Mrs Harriet Fink's Private Hospital in Dandenong

Koo Wee Rup Sun August 20, 1919.

Mrs Osborn was at Koo Wee Rup - I am unsure whether she operated a hospital in her house or if she attended to patients in their own homes.

Koo Wee Rup Sun August 13, 1919.

From 1911, Bush Nursing Centres were established in country towns. The Bush Nursing movement provided a country town with a qualified, experienced Nurse and the local community had to raise the money to fund the cost of the nurse’s salary, board, uniform and transport. The earliest Bush Nursing Centre in this area was at Koo Wee Rup which opened in July 1918. The Nurse treated patients in their home. On May 23, 1923 the Victorian Bush Nursing Centre, Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital was opened in Koo Wee Rup. In December 1955, it was replaced by the Westernport Memorial Hospital. Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital was established in 1926 and Berwick in 1940. The first large public hopsital in the area was opened at Warragul in August 1908 and Dandenong was opened in April 1942.

Opening of the Koo Wee Rup Hospital

Koo Wee Rup Sun May 10, 1923

Isabella Brockhurst and many other nurses like her who operated their own hospitals in country towns provided a valuable service to the local area, where they were involved in community life and and even more importantly, won the affection of many residents (19).

Trove List
I have created a list of articles on Trove on Isabella and Frank Brockhurst and the Hospital, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Lang Lang Guardian, May 11 1918 see here.
(2) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, February 6 1919, see here.
(3) Arthur Branston - Weekly Times, July 19, 1930, see here;  Dandenong Journal, February 9, 1949, see here.  
(4) The Argus, July  4, 1913, see here.
(5) Victoria Government Gazette June 15, 1927, p. 1910 http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1927/V/general/79.pdf
(6) Victoria Government Gazette December 2, 1931, p. 3348
http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1931/V/general/278.pdf
(7) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, June 16 1927, see here.
(8) I found out Isabella's maiden name and birth place from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. This led to their Marriage Certificate, which is available on Ancestry.com and their entry in the 1911 Census, also available on Ancestry.com and these documents contained the details in this paragraph.
(9) Isabella Mary's Baptism record in on Ancestry.com and that gave her date of birth. Francis' birth date comes from his Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 at the National Archives. He enlisted in the Army on August 1943 and was discharged January 14, 1947. See Footnote 18. 
(10) 1911 U.K Census is on Ancestry.com.
(11) National Archives of Australia - Applications to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force papers,
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6535344&S=1&R=0
(12) Electoral Rolls available on Ancestry.com
(13) The Argus, February 21, 1920 see here.
(14) The Argus, March 14, 1928, see here.
(15) Articles about J. Kennon & Sons in The Australasian, August 25, 1923, see here and the Weekly Times of September 3, 1932, here.
(16) Dandenong Journal, April 11, 1929, see here.
(17) The wedding was reported in the Dandenong Journal, April 11, 1929, see here. George's wedding date is from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. Molly and Fred had two sons - Raymond and Robert. Raymond sadly died in July 1942, aged 12 years old. George and Iris had one daughter, Valma.

Death notice for Raymond Whiteway, Frank and Isabella's grandson.

The Argus July 18, 1942 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11986395

(18) National Archives of Australia, Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6060532
(19) Dandenong Journal October 29, 1931, see here.
(20) Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust https://smct.org.au/deceased-search

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. This is an updated and expanded version of that post.