On October 22, 1917, 25 year-old William went to his work as a bank clerk at the Bank of London branch at Koo Wee Rup. He had only been appointed to the branch a few weeks earlier. That morning, the Bank's loaded revolver was on the counter, wrapped in a cloth and William removed it from the counter and placed it on a stool so he could dust the counter before the Bank opened. When opening the cash drawer he accidently knocked the gun off the stool, it hit the ground and exploded, and a bullet entered his groin. He was taken to Nurse Campbell's Private Hospital in Dandenong, operated on, however the wound became septic and he died fifteen days later, on November the 6th. (1)
Evidence was given at the Inquest by Clarence Adeney, the Bank manager, who said it was usual for me to place the automatic pistol in the counter, there was also another revolver for the use of the bank officials. William's father, also called William, who had spoken to his son in hospital, said in his evidence that his son did not like the automatic revolver, and had not seen [it] for three weeks prior to that morning. William's father also noted in his evidence - My son left my home at Springvale at 6.45am in good health and spirits, and he had no financial or other troubles. The Inquest determined the incident was an accident. (2)
The local newspapers reflected the sadness that William's death caused in the Springvale and Heatherton communities - A gloom has been cast over the district owing to the death of Mr Wm McClure, who was accidentally shot at Kooweerup Mr McClure was well known and highly respected throughout the district (3) and Genuine expressions of regret were heard on all sides, when it became known that Mr W. L. McClure, son of Mr W. McClure, secretary of the progress association, had met with an untimely death. (4)
I found out about William when I was researching the history of the Bank of London at Koo Wee Rup (5), and thought he deserved to be recognised and remembered as his death was senseless and preventable if only there had been better procedures in place at the Bank.
The Hallinans were farmers, who had selected land at Heatherton in September 1872 (7). Thomas' Probate papers tell us their address was Boundary Road, Heatherton and they owned 8½ acres, part of Allotment 3, Section 15 and 11½ acres part of Allotment 3, Section 14 - both in the Parish of Mordialloc. (8)
Thomas Hallinan's property, as listed in his Probate papers. Thomas was William's grandfather.
Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 28/P0002, 68/957
Thomas, who died March 7, 1898 and Margaret, who died October 24, 1908, are buried in the Roman Catholic section at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. (9)
Death notice of Thomas Hallinan, William's grandfather.
The Leader, March 12, 1898 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197303732
Short obituary of Margaret Hallinan, William's grandmother.
Brighton Southern Cross, October 31, 1908 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164346824
Sadly for the Hallinan family, James Hallinan, the brother of Thomas, passed away just a few weeks after his sister-in-law Margaret on November 9, 1908. He had an informative obituary in the Brighton Southern Cross newspaper, which gives some background to the Hallinan family.
Heatherton lost one of its best known residents on Monday last, when Mr. J. Hallinan, senr., passed away at his residence, Centre Dandenong-road. The deceased gentleman was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1830, and arrived in Australia in the ship James Bain in 1853, and was married in Victoria, settling first at East Brighton, and coming to Heatherton in 1856. During his long residence in the district, he had seen many changes, and was noted for his knowledge of the locality, being ever ready to assist anyone with the information that he possessed. Until a few months ago, Mr. Hallinan was in the enjoyment of excellent health, but he was suddenly taken ill, and it was found that his heart was affected. In spite of the attention that be receded, he grew slowly worse. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family in their time of trouble, as it is only a few weeks since Mrs. Hallinan, of Boundary road, died, and the shock caused by her loss has left Mrs. Hallinan, of Centre Dandenong-road, in such a condition as to cause her family to feel the greatest anxiety about her health. The funeral, which was largely attended, took place on Wednesday, and proceeded to the Cheltenham Cemetery, where the service was conducted by the Rev. Father Quinn. (10)
Johanna Hallinan (nee Mackey), James' widow, passed away, less than a year later, on August 4, 1909 at the age of 71 and she is buried with her husband in the Roman Catholic section at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. (11)
Back to William and Catherine McClure. William and Catherine had three children - Margaret Flora 'Florrie' (birth registered at Cheltenham in 1890); William Lees (Cheltenham, 1892) and Thomas Hallinan, (Dandenong, 1894). (12)
Gillian Hibbins in her book A history of the City of Springvale notes that William had been leasing Andrew Clarke’s old estate from its new owner, John Catto, since 1895. In 1905 the 1,298 acres, or McClure’s paddock, as the sandy land between Springvale Road, Heatherton Road, Tootals road and Old (Centre) Dandenong Road, was known, had been subdivided and sold as the Spring Vale South Estate and McClure had bought the house he lived in and another 21 acres. (13) McClure Road in Dingley, part of this sub-division, is named after the family.
William's father was Secretary of the Heatherton Progress Association
Moorabbin News January 29, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91355807
Along with managing his farm, William senior was also the Secretary of the Heatherton Progress Association. A report in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal in September 1915, showed how seriously he took his role. The Shire of Dandenong councillors, and the Shire Engineer and Shire Secretary, accompanied by a journalist, were undertaking their Annual Inspection of Roads -
From the Heatherton road we travelled along West Boundary road to Cheltenham road, and on to Dingley church, to view the clearing done some time ago on the unmade road near the church. The party was about to set off along Tootle's road when a man was seen running along Cheltenham road, evidently keen upon an errand of importance, so the city fathers decided to await developments. In due course Mr. W. L. McClure, a property a owner in the vicinity, and a prominent member of the local progress association, duly arrived, and ere long was advocating claims on behalf of the locality. First, a footbridge was required on Tootle's road, near the church, and the request appeared to meet with a favorable consideration. Mr McClure was taken along to the private road intersecting with Tootle's road, which, in its present state, is a drawback to residents, and in order that the road, about two miles in extent, could be gravelled, the majority of the people interested are prepared to repay the council if a loan is floated in order that the work might be carried out. There are about 40 people concerned, and the estimated cost is set down at £1120. Mr McClure put the request in a plain, business-like way, and in such a manner as to enlist the support of those whom he was addressing. (14)
Gillian Hibbins in her book A history of the City of Springvale (15) produced this map of the Dandenong Council 1915 Annual Inspection of Roads, and it shows the location of the McClure property.
At the time of young William’s death, he was the only one of the children living at home. Flora and Tom were both school teachers and Flora was at Balliang East School and Thomas at Dartmoor School. Flora had started her teaching career in 1909, close to home at the Heatherton State School. (16)
Florrie McClure teacher at Heatherton State School
Brighton Southern Cross, February 27, 1909 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164349728
Catherine died on May 5, 1921, aged 53 and is buried with her son, William, in an unmarked grave in the Roman Catholic section at the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. (17)
Death Notice of Catherine McClure, William's mother.
Her son Thomas seemed to have been known as Hal (short for Hallinan, his middle name)
at the time.
Melton Express, May 14, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article254690614
After Catherine died, William and his daughter Flora left Australia for England, where William died on July 3, 1946. The Melton Express published this short update on the family-
The announcement in the "Argus" of Saturday last of the death of William Lees McClure, at Whiston, England, on 3rd July, recalls the fact that about 1922, following the death of his wife, he left Australia to take over property in England left him by his brother, and he was accompanied by his daughter, Flora. Many of us have pleasant recollections of her sojourn in this district, as she was beloved by both pupils and parents when she taught in the Balliang East school prior to 1922. She corresponded fairly regularly with a few of her pupils and the last heard of her was that she was travelling with her father in Italy. She has one brother in Australia. Over the period of years she has never been forgotten and these notes have been written to acquaint her many friends of her sad loss. (18)
William of The Lathams, Whiston, Lancashire left an estate of £6800 in England. His second wife, Ellen Myfanwy McClure and his daughter Flora were executors. Flora, who never married, died in Whiston, on April 4, 1951 and is buried in a family grave in the St Nicholas Churchyard, Whiston with her father, great-grandparents and other relatives. (19)
William of The Lathams, Whiston, Lancashire left an estate of £6800 in England. His second wife, Ellen Myfanwy McClure and his daughter Flora were executors. Flora, who never married, died in Whiston, on April 4, 1951 and is buried in a family grave in the St Nicholas Churchyard, Whiston with her father, great-grandparents and other relatives. (19)
Thomas taught at various schools in Victoria throughout his working life, including Dartmoor, Ensay, Werribee South, Macedon and Epping. He married Eileen Weston in 1937 and died on July 28, 1972, aged 78. (20)
Death notice of Thomas McClure, William's brother.
The Age, August 2, 1972. p. 23 from newspapers.com
Trove List - I have a list of articles about the Koo Wee Rup Bank, which has articles on William McClure and family, access it here.
Footnotes
(1) Appointment to Koo Wee Rup - South Bourke & Mornington Journal, October 11, 1917, see here; William's Inquest - Public Records Office of Victoria Inquest Deposition Files VPRS 24/P0000, 1917/989 https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/92888D50-F1C3-11E9-AE98-6D8B14280B73/about
(2) William's Inquest - Public Records Office of Victoria Inquest Deposition Files VPRS 24/P0000, 1917/989 https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/92888D50-F1C3-11E9-AE98-6D8B14280B73/about
(3) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, November 8, 1917, see here.
(4) Moorabbin News, November 10, 1917, see here.
(6) Date of birth from his Inquest file; McClure/Hallinan marriage certificate; Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages - the children of Thomas Hallinan and Margaret Condon - Catherine, born 1865, birth registered at Mordialloc; Margaret, 1867 Cheltenham, married name Garvey; Grace, 1870, Cheltenham, married name Sheridan; Bridget, 1871 Cheltenham, married name Williams; Mary, 1875 Cheltenham, died aged 7 in 1883; Annie, 1878 Cheltenham, married name Kelly.
(7) Hibbins, G.M. A History of the City of Springvale: Constellation of Communities (City of Springvale, 1984) p.77.
(8) Thomas Hallinan's Probate papers Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 28/P0002, 68/957
https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/A166631D-F1E4-11E9-AE98-91A36ACDFA06?image=1
(9) Thomas Hallinan death notice The Leader, March 12, 1898, see here; Friends of Cheltenham Regional Cemeteries database - https://www.focrc.org/https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/A166631D-F1E4-11E9-AE98-91A36ACDFA06?image=1
(10) Brighton Southern Cross, November 14 1908, see here.
(11) James Hallinan death notice The Age, November 11, 1908, see here; Johanna Hallinan death notice The Age August 5, 1909, see here; Friends of Cheltenham Regional Cemeteries database - https://www.focrc.org/
(12) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages
(13) Hibbins, op. cit, p. 109.
(14) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, September 23, 1915, see here.
(15) Hibbins, op. cit., p. 107.
(16) Public Records Office of Victoria, Teacher Records Books, VPRS 13579.
(17) Death notice Melton Express, May 14, 1921, see here; Friends of Cheltenham Regional Cemeteries database - https://www.focrc.org/
(18) Melton Express, July 13 1946, see here.
(19) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 on Ancestry.com; Grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224160358/margaret-flora-mcclure
(20) Tom's schools - Public Records Office of Victoria, Teacher Records Books, VPRS 13579; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com and various newspaper mentions - Omeo Standard, May 20, 1927, see here; Bairnsdale Advertiser, September 23, 1930, see here; Sun News-Pictorial, July 25, 1936, see here; The Argus, March 29, 1944, see here.
