Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co. World War One Memorial

In Hopkins Street in Footscray, just over the Hopetoun Bridge and near the corner of Moreland Street,  on the site of the now demolished Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co. Tannery is a memorial to the employees of the firm who nobly gave their lives to a just and righteous cause. Before we look at these men, here is a short history of Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., taken from the 1959 publication Footscray's first 100 years: the story of a great Australian City (1).  The book was published by the City of Footscray for the centenary of the establishment of Footscray and it's a proud look at the community, history and businesses of the town.  Well worth tracking down if you have an historic connection to Footscray.

The story goes that in 1864 Isaac Hallenstein,  a wagon driver who worked between Melbourne and Ballarat had a wagon break-down and called in at the tannery to seek help. The owner of the business, Mr Cleghorn, said 'I'd be off to the diggings if I could find  a buyer for my tannery' so Isaac purchased the business and within a year his uncle, Moritz Michaelis, joined the firm and Michaelis, Hallenstein was born. In 1959 when the book was written, the business occupied 25 acres on the corner of Hopkins and Moore Street and employed 430 people.  Businesses were also established in other states and New Zealand and in 1948 they came under the holding company of Associated Leathers Ltd, the chairman of which in 1959 was Sir Archie Michaelis, former member of the Legislative Assembly.

Apparently, Mr Cleghorn did not become rich and he returned to the business and became the Manager. The Company produced leather for shoes, upholstery and suitcases and also had a large export business. The Company was one of Footscray's big industries that provided the population  with steady well paid employment. Footscray's first 100 years says they were the first large organisation to introduce the eight hour day for employees and  the first business to install an electric power plant.

The business eventually occupied the area bounded by Wingfield, Moreland, Hopkins and Maribyrnong Streets (2).

Aerial view of works of Michaelis Hallenstein & Co. Pty. Ltd. manufacturers of high grade gelatine,  c. 1930. 

State Library of Victoria Image H2003.54, click here to see a high-res version http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/365270

Descendants of Isaac Hallenstein and Moritz Michalis also worked in the business - including grandsons Albert (Hal) Hallenstein and Roy Michaelis and three family members who enlisted and lost their lives in the Great War and whose names appear on this monument Dalbert Hallenstein, Frank Michaelis and Grant Michaelis. Footscray's first 100 years records the deaths of the three boys - Three members of the two families paid the supreme sacrifice during World War 1. Lieut. Grant Michaelis fell at Gallipoli in 1915. A plaque installed overseas in his honor was eventually reinstalled in the offices of the company at Footscray. Stg. Frank Michaelis, A.I.F., died in the service. Lieut. Dalbert Hallenstein was killed while leading his men in action at Peronne. Commemorative plaques to the three stand above the stairway today.  

There is also a report in the Footscray Independent in November 1918 where a memorial scroll was unveiled in Frank's honour. It was described thus the copper scroll, which is enclosed in a plain kauri frame, the whole being covered with glass. The  entablature, with repousse medallion encircled by a wreath of laurel leaves, with raised copper architraves, bore a bust representation of the deceased in the uniform of the A.I.F., with the following inscription: Dulce et Decorum est pro Patria Mori. In Affectionate Memory of Sergeant Frank M Michaelis, A.I.F., Who gave his life for King and Country, 14th May, 1917. "To know him was to love him." Erected by his fellow-workers. (Footscray Independent November 9, 1918, see here.)  Was this the same plaque referred to in Footscray's first 100 years or was this another memorial?

The tannery was demolished in 1987 according to the book Footscray: a pictorial record of the Municipality from 1859 to 1988. (2)  I wonder where the three plaques in honour of Dalbert, Frank and Grant are and where Frank's copper scroll enclosed in a plain kauri frame is?

Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., Footscray works, over  25 years later than the aerial photo shown above.

Image: Footscray's first 100 years: the story of a great Australian City (1)

Sadly, like most businesses and families in Australia Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., was impacted by the First World War and many large companies produced an Honor Board to commemorate the service of their employees, but it is unusual to have  a granite memorial.  The memorial was unveiled on August 17, 1920 and there was a report of this occasion in the Footscray Independent of August 21, 1920, see here.

FIRM PAYS TRIBUTE
Memorial Unveiled at Footscray Tannery
Further proof of the feeling of mutual respect and regard existing at the Footscray Tannery between employers and employed was given on Tuesday afternoon, when a memorial, erected by the members of the firm as a tribute to their employees who had died in the Empire's cause, was unveiled.

In addition to members and employees of the firm there was a numerous attendance of other residents, including the Mayor and councillors and the Town Clerk. The ceremony was simple and direct, but very impressive. Those present stood with bared-heads, and the flag for which the men had died flew at half mast near by. 

Mr. Frederick Hallenstein was the first speaker. In a few sentences he expressed the gratitude which he and his fellow directors felt for those gallant men who heard the call and answered the summons to beat down the forces of tyranny and oppression. He then asked the Mayor (Cr. H. W. C. Jenkins) to unveil the memorial. The Mayor thanked Messrs. Michaelis, Hallenstein and Co. Pty. Ltd. for having granted him the privilege of performing the ceremony. He felt honoured in being allowed to do so. The Australian soldiers had proved Australia's nationhood by their wonderful work at Gallipoli, Pozieres, Amiens, and other places. They did not like war, but they went to war to save the world. He hoped that none of those present, nor their children, would experience another conflict of such a nature as had raged between 1914 and 1920. 

The firm of Michaelis, Hallenstein and Co. Pty. Ltd. was a good one for the city of Footscray, and
had always been ready to assist any movement that tended to forward the district. When approached to give a donation to the Memorial Hall a cheque for £200 was given at once, and later £100 was given towards the Footscray and District Hospital. Now a further sum had been expended in providing a monument to keep green the memory of those who had gone from the Footscray Tannery to fight for freedom, and who had died that others might live.

The Mayor then pulled the cord, the draping fell to the ground, and the monument was disclosed. Fashioned out of grey granite, the main pillar, which is 10 feet in height, stands on a base, also of grey granite, 7 feet by 5 feet. The stone is neither smoothed nor polished, except for a panel bearing the following inscription: In memory of Our Fallen Employees, who, in the Great War, 1914 1920, Nobly Gave their Lives for a Just and Righteous Cause. The article listed the names (which are below) and  continued with Brave Spirits! Mourned with Fond Regret." Erected by Michaelis, Hallenstein and Co. Pty. Ltd.

The monument, which weighs 2½ tons, was the work of Messrs. Jas Taylor and Sons, of Nicholson-street, Footscray, and is an excellent specimen of the mason's art. Rev. Danglow, who saw active service as a chaplain, Cr. A. A. Harris, and Mr. Fred Brown, a returned soldier, also briefly spoke, referring in warm terms of appreciation of the brave souls who had given their all for right and justice.  (Footscray Independent  August 21, 1920, see here.

The Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., Memorial - no longer standing outside the tannery, now in front of housing.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Here are the men listed on the memorial, I have included their Service Numbers (SN) so you can look up their full military record on the National Archives of Australia website, www.naa.gov.au. I can link some of these men definitely to Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., but some I can only link to the tannery or leather production industry and some I can only link to Footscray or surrounding areas such as Spotswood or Yarraville,  but I do believe I have the right men. There are three I cannot identify at all.

The men honoured on the The Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., Memorial.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Austin, Reginald Victor   (SN 3696)   Reginald was born in Footscray and enlisted at the age of 23 on July 12, 1915 in the 5th Infantry Battalion, 12th Reinforcements.  He was a labourer, the son of William and  Annie Austin of O'Farrell Street in Footscray. He was declared Missing in Action on July 25, 1916 and  a Court of Enquiry held in November 1917, found he had actually been Killed in Action on that day.

The Footscray Advertiser had this report of the fate of some local boys, including Reginald Austin.

Footscray Advertiser January 19, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88798360

Barnes, George  (SN 565)  George was a 22 year old tanner when he enlisted on August 20, 1914, in the 7th Infantry Battalion, E Company, this was the same day as Arthur Hetherton, who is listed below. He was born in Footscray and his next of kin was his father, John Barnes of Castlemaine.  George was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on May 26, 1915. George is listed as E. Barnes on the monument.  The report in the local paper, below, describes George as sturdy built - he was 5 foot 9 inches and just over eleven stone when he enlisted. He was also a popular employee at Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co.

The report of George Barnes' death.

Yarraville Weekly News July 17, 1915  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119677649

Bye, Bertie David Lester  (SN 31639)  Bertie enlisted on September 30, 1916 at the age of 29. He was born in Richmond, was a tanner and living in Melbourne Road, Spotswood.  He was in the 24th Howitzer Brigade, 9th Reinforcements. Bertie was Killed in Action on March 3, 1918. He left behind his wife, Lavinia, and two little girls - Edna and Jean.

Bertie Bye's death notice.

The Age May 18, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155098739

Cunninghame, T   This man is listed on the monument, but I cannot identify him. There are no Cunninghames on the Roll of Honor at the Australian War Memorial, so I presume his surname is Cunningham - but I still can't find a T. Cunningham with a Footscray connection and who did not survive the War. It is possibly Willliam Thomas Cunningham (SN 2056), a 23 year old warehouseman, born and lived in Albert Park and was Killed in Action August 31, 1918. My other thought is that is is Major Trevor Russell Cunningham, Killed in Action August 4 1916, He was from Geelong but his Roll of Honor circular lists his occupation as a manufacturer of salt. I believe salt is used extensively in the tanneries, so maybe Trevor Cunningham was a valued supplier to Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co.

The Michaelis, Hallenstein building 23-27 Lonsdale Street, 1865

Photographer: Charles Rudd. State Library of Victoria Image H12684

Evans, Alwyn Morris  (SN 5682) Alwyn was 29 years old, a clerk and he enlisted on August 19, 1915 in the 6th Infantry Battalion, 18th Reinforcements. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Stewart of Coburg. Alwyn Died of Wounds on May 31, 1918. A death notice from his workmates at Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co, is below.

Death Notice from Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., for Alwyn Evans. 

The Age June 20, 1918  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155097840

Gilchrist, Harold   (SN 2474)  Harold enlisted on June 22, 1915 in the 6th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements. He was a ledger keeper and nearly 22 years of age. His next of kin was father, Robert Gilchrist of Glenferrie.  Lieutenant Gilchrist was Killed in Action on October 4, 1917. Michaelis, Hallenstein & C0., held an annual picnic at which the entertainment included a sports program. The picnic and sports results were reported in the local paper and in 1911 Harold won the Warehouse Handicap. In 1912 he won the event again as well as the M.H. & Co Handicap race - both over  120 yards. (Footscray Independent, November 23, 1912, see here)

Part of the report of the Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., Annual Picnic day in 1911, where Harold Gilchrist won the Warehouse Handicap by three yards.

Footscray Independent November 25, 1911. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/73479029

I had found the reports of the race results and thought it was more than likely that this was the H. Gilchrist on the monument, but it wasn't until I found this short report below in The Argus, that I could establish the full identity of H. Gilchrist.

Short report of the death of Harold Gilchrist.

The Argus October 20, 1917  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1657471

Harold Gilchrist. What a handsome looking man. 

Image: Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1729664

Hallenstein, Dalbert Isaac    Lieutenant Hallenstein was 21 when he enlisted on January 16, 1915 in the 5th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements. He listed his occupation as a tanner and his next of kin was his father, Reuben Hallenstein of St Kilda. Lieutenant Hallenstein was Killed in Action on September 2, 1918. You can read about his military service in his obituary, below.

Report of Lieutenant Hallenstein's death

Footscray Advertiser  September 14, 1918 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88797982#

A reminder of the Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co., tannery - a street named after the Hallenstein family.  It's the continuation of Moreland Street, on the north side of Hopkins Street, which has been renamed Hallenstein Street.

Image: Isaac Hermann.

Harding, William Alfred   (SN 2318) William was a 28 year old salesman and he enlisted on August 22, 1916 in the 39th Infantry Battalion, 4th Reinforcements.  His next of kin was his father, Charles, of West Brunswick. William was Killed in Action on June 20, 1918. His fellow employees at Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co. put a death notice in paper for William.

William Harding's death notice inserted by Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co.

The Argus July 6 1918  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1444041

Hetherton, Arthur   (SN 596)  Arthur was born and lived in West Footscray. He enlisted in the 7th Infantry Battalion, E Company on August 20, 1914, same day as his work mate, George Barnes (see above). He was 22 year old labourer and his next of kin was his mother, Florence Hetherton. Arthur was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

Report of the death of Arthur Hetherton.

Footscray Advertiser July 3 1915  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89111467

Lloyd, P   I cannot work out who this is. There are no Lloyds on the Roll of Honour who have  a first or middle name starting with P and have also checked spelling variations of the surname (Loyd, Lloyde, Loyde) and no result. I have looked at all the six Lloyds from Victoria who enlisted and did not survive the War and there are none with an obvious connection to Footscray or the Tannery industry, so Mr Lloyd is a mystery.

Louis, Adrian  (SN 2623) Adrian enlisted on June 17, 1915, in the 8th Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements, he was 24 and his occupation was 'beamsman' which according to a website that explains old occupations - a Tanner's Beamsman draped part-cured skins over a Tanners Beam, a flat slab of wood or stone, to scrape off the remaining flesh, fat and hair (Hall Genealogy - Old Occupations, see here) Adrian's next of kin was his father, A.D. Louis, of Ryan Street in Footscray. Adrian was was Wounded in Action (gun shot wound to the head) in September 1916, returned to Australia and died April 15, 1917 at the Caulfield Hospital. Corporal Lewis was buried with full military honours at the Footscray Cemetery. His funeral was written up in the Footscray Independent of  April 21, 1917 (read it here), here is an excerpt - The last obsequies were most impressive. The coffin was mounted on a gun carriage wreathed in flags. A firing party and bandsmen from Broadmeadows Camp headed the funeral procession, while club mates of the Junior Football Club the Rowing Club and the Tannery followed.

Corporal Adrian Louis

Footscray Independent of  April 21, 1917  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74256363

Lowe, Hugh Mosman  (SN 1053)  Hugh was born in Scotland and enlisted at the age of 20 on October 19, 1914 in the 9th Infantry Battalion, C Company. His next of kin was his mother, Jessie Lowe, of  Lufra, Glen Eira Road, East St Kilda. Hugh died of wounds received while serving at Gallipoli, on June 3, 1915. Hugh and his three brothers are listed on the Elwood Presbyterian Church Honor Board, I have written about this here. The lovely death notice from his work mates at Michaelis, Hallenstein is reproduced below.

Hugh Lowe's death notice inserted by Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co.

 The Argus July 17, 1915  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1538065

Matthews, C.  I have looked at all the C. Matthews and C. Mathews on the Roll of Honour and there is none with a connection to the Footscray area or the tannery business. There is a Lieutenant Charles Matthews who enlisted December 24, 1914. He was 23, born in England, his mother was his next of kin and she lived in England. Charles was Killed in Action October 12, 1917. He was living at 162 Cecil Street in South Melbourne before he enlisted and a sweet notice was put in The Age after his death (see here) by Mrs Johnston and Mrs Bell, whom I presume were his land-ladies. The only flaw in this is that Charles' occupation was a Draper's Assistant, so not tannery related. There is one Matthews with a Footscray address - James Edward Matthews (SN 1232). He was a 27 year old labourer and enlisted  January 25,  1915 in the 22nd Infantry Battalion, A Company. His next of kin was his mother Mrs J. Madden of  31 Greig Street, Footscray. However for some reason his file is not digitised at National Archives and also he is not in nominal rolls and not in Roll of Honour. At the moment the full identity of Mr Matthews is a bit of  a mystery.

Michaelis, Frank Moritz   (SN 31586) Frank enlisted on August 23, 1916 at the age of 24, in the 6th Field Artillery Brigade, 12th Reinforcements.  He was  a tanner and his next of kin was his father, Frederick. Frederick David Michaelis (1861 - 1935) was a member of the St Kilda Foreshore Committee and the Chairman of the Carlo Catani Clock Tower Memorial Committee (read about this here). Frank later married and his next of kin became his wife, Kathleen. Frank died of acute meningitis in London on May 14, 1917.

Sergeant Frank Michaelis

Footscray Advertiser May 19, 1917 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89110557#

The Footscray Advertiser had wonderful tribute to Frank Michaelis, which shows how popular the family was with their employees  - By the death of Sergeant Frank M. Michaelis, at Salisbury Plains, England, Footscray is the poorer by one of its most popular employers of labor. He was the second son of Mr and Mrs F. D. Michaelis of Robe street, St. Kilda, and up to the time of his enlistment had for 5 years been learning the business at the Tannery. He was only 24 years of age and was educated at Wesley College and afterwards at Harrow, England. He was beloved by all who knew him, and the employees of the tannery, amongst whom he worked just as one of themselves, held him in high esteem. When the news of his death was received on Wednesday Messrs. Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co. closed the works for the day. Before leaving, however, the whole of the employees met together under the flag in the Tannery gardens and after tributes to the worth of the deceased soldier had been paid by several speakers a motion of sympathy was passed to be forwarded to the widow, parents and family. Mr and Mrs Michaelis have only one other son, Lieut. Archie Michaelis, and he has been on active service since the day after the outbreak of war. Another director, Mr Ed. Michaelis, lost his eldest son at Gallipoli. It will be remembered that Sgt. Frank Michaelis was "sent off" at a pleasant function at the Barkly Theatre some 10 months ago. (Footscray Advertiser May 19, 1917, see here)

Michaelis, Grant    As mentioned in the newspaper report of Frank Michaelis' death, another director of the Company, Mr Edward Michaelis, also lost a son. This was Grant Michaelis. Grant and Frank were first cousins.  Grant's military history can be found in this obituary published in the Footscray Advertiser, of October 9, 1915 (see here) Though not a resident of Footscray, Lieut. Grant Michaelis, son of Mr E. J. Michaelis, of Michaelis, Hallenstein and Co., was well known in this district, especially to employees of the firm named and to those who patronise the social activities of the firm and its employees. Regret is therefore freely expressed locally at the news received by cable that Lieut. Grant Michaelis met his death in action at the Dardanelles on 23rd September. Lieut. Michaelis, who was educated at the Church of England Grammar School, Geelong, left for England about four years ago to study engineering with Messrs. Alien Bros., electrical engineers, at Bedford, and when war broke out was lieutenant in the East Anglian Engineers. He at once volunteered for active service abroad, but, with his company, was retained for service in England until the end of August this year, when he left for the front. He can, therefore, have been only a few weeks in the fighting line when he met his death.  (Footscray Advertiser, October 9, 1915, see here)

McCall, James Patterson   (SN 6401) James  enlisted on October 23, 1916, in the 22nd Infantry Battalion, 18th Reinforcements. He was 29, born in Scotland and his next of kin was his mother, Mary McCall of Caulfield. James was awarded the Military Medal in June 1918 and was Killed in Action on October 4, 1918. James was listed as a postal clerk on his enlistment papers, the Electoral Roll has his occupation as warehouseman and the  Roll of Honour Circular has his occupation as Leather Worker.  The  Roll of Honour Circular was completed by the family, thus you would assume it is correct, and this links him to the tannery industry. I don't know why there are these discrepencies in regard to James' occupation, but as the only other J. McCall on the Roll of Honour is from Dubbo in New South Wales, I believe I have the right man.

James Patterson's Roll of Honour Circular listing his occupation as Leather Worker.

Image: Australian War Memorial https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068880/document/5578522.PDF

Neale, Henry   (SN 3101) Henry was 19 when he enlisted on July 13, 1915. He was a plasterer, the son of John and Eliza Neale of 18 Sydenham Street in West Footscray. He was part the 14th Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements. Henry was reported as missing on August 8, 1916 and at a Court of Enquiry held in April 1917 it was determined that he was Killed in Action on that date.

Private Henry Neale

Footscray Advertiser May 19, 1917  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/8586925

Henry's short obituary in the Footscray Advertiser, confirms he worked at the tannery - Mr and Mrs J. S. Neale, of 18 Sydenham street, West Footscray, received word on Monday that their son, Pte.Harry Neale, was killed in action France on the 8th of August, 1916. He was previously reported missing. Private Neale enlisted in July, 1915. Previous to enlisting he was employed at the Footscray tannery and was just turned 19 years when he volunteered. Pte. Neale was a member of the Footscray A.N.A. His brother, Pte Alf. Neale, has just returned home after a long illness and nearly two years of active service. (Footscray Advertiser, May 19, 1917, see here)

Ravenstrunck,  Arthur  (SN 1991) Arthur enlisted on June 19, 1915 in 21st Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements. He was 19 and 9 months years of age, a labourer and his next of kin was his mother, Sarah, of Buxton Street West Footscray.  Arthur was wounded in action (gun shot wound to the head) and died four days later on November 24, 1916. His surname is spelt as Ravenstraunk on the Memorial,  Ravenstrunch at National Archives, Ravensctrunck on the Embarkation Roll and Ravenstrunck on the Nominal Roll and Roll of Honour - which is correct because that is the way Arthur signed his name. He looks very young in the photo below, and that is because he was young, he lied about his age. His brother Clifford completed his Roll of Honour Circular and listed Arthur's age as 16 years and 9 months on enlistment, which meant he was only 18 when he died.

Private Arthur Ravenstrunck

Footscray Advertiser December 16, 1916 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89109752

Arthur's obituary in the Footscray Advertiser which mentions his employment at Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co.

Footscray Advertiser December 16, 1916 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89109752

Sarah Ravenstrunck (nee Carmody) died on April 14, 1918 aged 58, she is buried at the Footscray Cemetery. There were reports in the newspapers in 1917 that Sarah had been charged with assault. There had been an altercation between Mrs Ravenstrunck and Mrs Misken. Mrs Misken, who was reported to be of German background, had allegedly insulted her and Mrs Ravenstrunck had fought back, you can read reports here  and  here and here. One interesting thing that comes out of Arthur's obituary is that his brother also enlisted. I cannot find a record of his service under any variation of his surname, however the National Archives has this record - see below.

Clifford Ravenstrunck's alias

National Archives of Australia, www.naa.gov.au

It appears that Clifford had used W. Anderson when he enlisted and I found his record - William Anderson (SN 7) - enlisted December 8, 1914,  in Oaklands, a suburb of Adelaide.  He served in France and then Returned to Australia September 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds in the November (nephritis). Clifford said his address at enlistment was Footscray and his next of kin was his uncle, A. Anderson of Footscray. Why did he enlist under  a false name? Perhaps because of anti-German feeling at the time and perhaps because he, like his brother Arthur, lied about his age. He said he was 21, in reality he had been born in June 1895, so was only 19. Maybe his mother wouldn't give him permission to enlist.

Tognini, William  (SN 16065)  William enlisted on December 11, 1915, in the 17th Reinforcements. He was a 22 year old labourer. He was the son of  James and Elizabeth Tognini,  of the Bridge Hotel, which was located on the corner of Maribyrnong and Wingfield Streets, Footscray. William was Killed in Action on August 21, 1918. His brother Charles, who also served, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct medal (see here)

Report of William Tognini's death

Yarraville Weekly News September 7, 1918  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119683908

.............................................................................................................................

Acknowledgement: Thank you to my friend and research colleague, Isaac Hermann, for taking the photographs of the Memorial for this post.

Footnotes and sources:
(1) Footscray's first 100 years: the story of a great Australian City (City of Footscray, 1959)

(2) Footscray: a pictorial record of the Municipality from 1859 to 1988 (City of Footscray, 1989).  Some of the photos in this book are in Footscray & Yarraville:  a pictorial record (Footscray Historical Society, 2005)  which is still available for purchase from the Historical Society  https://footscrayhistoricalsociety.org.au/




This is an interesting history of the firm - The Michaelis, Hallenstein story 1864 - 1964 one hundred years in leather. It is available as part of the University of Florida digital collection - see  here   - https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00004165/00001

Cliffy Island - lighthouse, Dr Rutter, the Gledhills and the Myrtle Burgess.

At the South Eastern Historical Association meeting held on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at the Hastings Western Port Historical Society, John Woolley gave a talk about the Myrtle Burgess  a wooden, copper sheathed two masted ketch of 71 feet 6 inches, which was built in Hobart in 1917 for Bernie Burgess a member of a cray fishing family of Tasmania who also worked on the Victorian coast. John and Ron Bryant made a model of the boat and it is on display at the Museum in Hastings (corner of Marine Parade and Skinner Streets).

The model of the Myrtle Burgess on display at the Hastings Western Port Historical Society, made by John Woolley and Ron Bryant, 1987-1989. 

Rigging and final touches by Arthur Woodley, 2005.

As John told us, Bernie Burgess died in tragic circumstances on November 3, 1920 off St Helens, having been shot by the police for allegedly sailing to avoid arrest for illegal cray fishing. You can read a report of the Inquest in the Burnie Advocate of November 6, 1920, here. You can read accounts of the trial of Trooper Raymond Smith who was charged with the killing of Mr Burgess in the Hobart Mercury of December 1, 1920 here and the same paper on December 2, here. Trooper Smith was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. The Myrtle Burgess had been confiscated by the officials after the shooting but returned to Mr Burgess' widow after intervention by the Tasmanian Premier.

The boat was then purchased by John Ray and skippered by Jimmy Wilson and worked out of
Port Welshpool and Stony Point. In June 1943, the Myrtle Burgess was requisitioned by the Navy and worked in New Guinea where it remained after the War and was last seen in the 1950s eaten out by the Toredo worm. So that's the basic story of the Myrtle Burgess, however John introduced us to two other people - Mrs Gledhill and Dr Rutter. I have taken John's story and added some more information.

Mabel Annie Gledhill, was the wife of the lighthouse keeper, Ernest Bennett Gledhill,  on Cliffy Island, an island to the east of Wilson's Promontory, and in Victorian waters. Cliffy Island, named because if its cliffs (1) is part of Seal or Direction Island Groups, which consist of White Rock, Seal Island, Notch Island and Cliffy Island

Cliffy Island, part of the Seal Island group. The pink symbol represents a light of some sort and Cliffy Island is the light on the right. The chart also shows Wilson's Promontory, the Port Albert entrance and Port Albert, all referred to below. 

Image cropped from: Australia Bass Strait Maritime Chart - Surveyed by Commr. J.L. Stokes and the Officers of H.M.S. Beagle 1839-43, with additions and corrections from Australian Government charts to 1950. (2) State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/127832

Ernest had married Mable (nee Cronk) in England in 1918. After they moved to Australia, we can trace their locations through the Electoral Rolls - 1921 they were in Parkville; 1924 Ernest was the assistant lighthouse keeper at Cape Everard (now called Point Hicks); 1927 they were on Cliffy Island; 1931 - Wilson's Promontory; 1934 - Cliffy Island; 1936 - Cape Nelson near Portland; 1942 - Cape Schanck and also listed at Cape Schanck in the 1949 and 1954 Electoral Rolls, although an article in the Herald  (read here) in 1945 had  a short interview with Mr Gledhill and he was stationed at Wilson's Promontory lighthouse.

Cliffy Island lighthouse - the photo well illustrates the bleak nature of the island and the difficult access. 

The photo is from Bass Strait: Australia's Last Frontier (3).

 Cliffy Island lighthouse was built in 1884 and converted to automatic in 1971 and the buildings destroyed (4).  

It was on their second stint on Cliffy Island that we meet Mrs Gledhill. The Gledhills were on the island with two other men - both light house staff, the wife of one of the men and  a number of children, so there was other female company for Mabel. In February 1934, The Argus had visited Cliffy Island and interviewed the Gledhills. The island was described as three acres in size and a huge granite rock.  The article says - A few months ago a bunch of gum-tips was sent to Mrs. Gledhill, wife of the head keeper at Cliffy. "It was more than six months since I had seen gum," she said. "I was so pleased to see it that I nearly cried. For more than six weeks I kept it in water." But she is content with her lot on the lonely island, though the lack of change is depressing. "We are quite happy here," she says. "There is the wireless and our own work. The only thing wrong is that there is nowhere to walk, nothing to see, and no gardens."  (The Argus, February 17 1934, see here.)

Five months after the interview, Mrs Gledhill took ill and they contacted the Wilson's Promontory lighthouse keeper, Mr H.  Dickson, who then contacted Dr Rutter of Yarram. Dr Rutter engaged the  Myrtle Burgess and they set out for  Cliffy Island, a journey of about twenty miles. This was on Tuesday, July 10 1934 however due to rough weather they couldn't land until the Thursday. Dr Rutter finally saw Mrs Gledhill and she was eventually lowered in a basket to the cliff base, back to the Myrtle Burgess where, accompanied by her husband she was the taken to Port Welshpool and then by car to St Elmo's Private Hospital in Yarram. It was thought that she had appendicitis but it turned out Mrs Gledhill had an abscess on the kidney. The Gledhills were soon after  transferred to Cape Nelson, near Portland. Mable Gledhill died in 1970, aged 78 years old and her husband Ernest, died in 1979 aged 93 years old.

The crew of the Myrtle Burgess who went to Mrs Gledhill's rescue were James Wilson (skipper), Edward Scanlon (mate), Jack Floyd (cook) and two hands, George Swords (18 years old) and Len Norman (17).  Dr. Rutter is himself is a good seaman. He has for many years tended the lighthouse dwellers. (Burnie Advocate, July 13 1934, see here)

Dr John Rutter (1880 - 1944)

The Herald July 13 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243170339

Which brings us to Dr John Hemphill Rutter, who was born in Melbourne in 1880 to John and Elizabeth (nee Hemphill) Rutter. John married Carol Dodgson in 1910 and he served in the First World War in the Army Medical Corps. He died at the relatively young age of 65 in May 1944, having practiced in Yarram for  thirty five years, and left behind his widow, Carol and four children - listed in his obituary as Dr John Rutter (naval surgeon, R.A.N.V.), Joseph (A.I.F., prisoner of war), Elizabeth (W.A.A.A.F.), and Ellen (nursing sister at Yarram District Hospital) (The Argus, May 10 1944, see here)  As a matter of interest Dr Rutter's parents, John and Elizabeth,  had purchased 976 acres of land at Tooradin in 1877; he later had other property, including Moorlands at Tooradin which was operated by his grandson, Joseph, the one who was the Prisoner of War.  Rutter Memorial Park in Tooradin was left to the Tooradin Community by Dr John Hemphill Rutter. (5)

Cliffy Island and lighthouse October 31, 1933. Photographer: Russell Grimwade.

University of Melbourne Archive http://hdl.handle.net/11343/77186

There are reports in the newspapers of two other occasions where Dr Rutter attended the folk on Cliffy Island. On Saturday, February 1 1919 and fire took hold in the lighthouse keepers house and Mr and Mrs Owen were severely  burnt and the house was completely destroyed. Dr Rutter set out on Saturday night but it wasn't until Sunday morning that he could land and attend to Mrs Owen. She was then sent down in a basket to  awaiting surf boat, conveyed to the Lady Loch and lifted up in a derrick and then taken to Melbourne to recover (The Argus February 14, 1919, see here)

The Age of February 14, 1919 also had an account of the rescue of Nellie Owens which came from Mr N. Lockyer, who had been spending time at Yarram - we will just quote some of it to show you the conditions Dr Rutter and the crew faced. They has set out in Dr Rutter's motor launch, a vessel of  around 12 to 15 tons. He had enlisted the assistance of four fishermen - Goodwin Clarke, Charles Goulden, Cyril Robertson and Andrew Robertson - as a crew. The party left the wharf at Port Albert at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, 1st inst. The distance to the entrance is seven miles. The wind had been blowing fresh from the eastward for two days, and a fairly heavy sea was running. There was a heavy sea on the bar, but the boat got out safely, and reached Cliffy Island after dark. ..... It was found quite impossible to effect a landing in the dark, and the state of the sea at that time, even if it were daylight, would have made such an attempt impracticable. The doctor and his crew held off until daylight. It was not possible to sleep, and they experienced a very rough time. At daybreak next morning the sea had slightly moderated, and Dr.  Rutter left the launch in a 12-ft. dinghy, pulled by Charles Goulden, to seek a landing. There is no safe landing place on the island, except in calm weather and at low tide, and then only by means of a crane and cradle. Notwithstanding this, the dinghy was taken close in, and by extreme good fortune, as well as by good management, the doctor, with a box of medical requisites strapped to his shoulders, succeeded in leaping on to the rocks waist deep in water. He scaled the cliffs with difficulty, and on reaching the station one of the men, on seeing a stranger dripping wet, exclaimed, 'Who in the hell are you' ? His astonishment was not lessened when he learned that it was "the doctor". Dr. Rutter did all he could to alleviate the sufferings of Mrs. Nellie Owen, who was severely burned, and attended to her husband, who was similarly injured. (The Age, February 14, 1919, see here)

Dr. Rutter was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society for his bravery  and the
four fishermen were awarded certificates.

Cliffy Island October 31, 1933. Photographer: Russell Grimwade. 

It makes you dizzy just looking at it.

University of Melbourne Archives http://hdl.handle.net/11343/77393

In September 1930, Mrs Evelina Myers of Cliffy Island gave birth to a premature baby girl. Sadly Dr Rutter was too late to save the baby but he did save the life of Mrs Myers. After temporary assistance, Dr. Rutter decided to take Mrs. Myers ashore. The plucky woman although in great agony, went stoically through the ordeal. of being lowered 40ft. in a basket to the open boat. She is now in hospital at Yarram. (Gippsland Times, September 22 1930, see here)

These stories show us the perilous life that lighthouse keepers and their families lived and for women, I imagine, it would have been especially isolating. After the publicity of Mrs Gledhill's case there was a letter to the editor of The Argus, signed Sympathy-  It seems to me that a change is necessary with regard to the keepers at this isolated station. I think that single men should operate at the Island, and, further, that they should only be there for a limited time. If the authorities took this step it would relieve the great anxiety we have for the welfare of our womenfolk. (The Argus July 16, 1934, see here)

However, not everyone agreed with with this letter and this was published in response, showing how good conditions were - it was signed 'Here's to the Service'  - In reply to "Sympathy's" letter to-day suggesting the substitution of single men for married men at Cliffy Island, I would like to say, having spent many years in the lighthouse service-two and a half of which were spent on Cliffy Island that it is practically impossible to condemn single men to service there. Unmarried men have never at any time been encouraged In the service. The nature of their duties necessitates that they be properly housed and fed. Commodious, comfortably furnished houses, one for each keeper, are provided. The term spent at such a place rarely exceeds two and a half years, and, as in my own case and that of many others I know, the time may be very happily and profitably spent.

There is a weekly supply steamer, bringing mail and reading, and such fresh provisions as meat, vegetables, &c. A steamer arrives every quarter to deliver the dry goods and lighthouse stores. Goats are kept for milk supply, and fowls can be raised in large numbers. Fresh fish is often obtainable. Under Federal control the service enjoys many privileges unknown in former days, when each State controlled its own coastal lights. Women and children now receive special consideration. Lightkeepers of 30 and 40 years ago suffered far greater hardships than do their present day successors. Cliffy Island had a boat calling only once in six months then. To-day, the public is at last awake to the conditions under which the people of the lighthouse service are living, and is beginning to realise the value of their services to the community. (The Argus, July 21 1934, see here)

I found John Woolley's story of the Myrtle Burgess really interesting and I am glad that he introduced me to the Cliffy Island, Ernest and Mabel Gledhill and Dr John Rutter and Dr Rutter led me to Nellie Owens and Evelina Myers.

Trove list
I have created  a short list of articles on Trove relating to this story - the Myrtle Burgess court case and the stories connected to Mrs Gledhill, Mrs Owens and Mrs Myers. All the articles referred to here are on the list, which you cab access here.

Footnotes
(1) Names of Bass Strait by P. D. Gardner (Ngarak Press, 1996)
(2) Hard to believe that the charts of Bass Strait made by Commander Stokes and the crew of the Beagle from 1839-1843 were still being used, which shows you how accurate their mapping was and how skilled they were. We purchased a chart of Bass Strait  (Eastern Portion) Chart 1695A in June 1989 from Boat Books at 268 St Kilda Road, St Kilda and it was still based on Captain Stokes original chart printed with updates to 1982, and then of course updated to the date of purchase by Boat Books. John Lort Stokes (1812-1885) served on the Beagle for eighteen years, you can read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, here.
(3) Bass Strait: Australia's last frontier edited by Stephen Murray-Smith (ABC books, 1987)
(4) From Dawn to Dusk: a history of Australian lighthouses by Gordon Reid (Macmillan, 1988)
(5) Tooradin : 125 years of Coastal history, compiled by John Wells and the Tooradin Celebrate Together Committee (The Committee, 2001)

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was a fixture of carnivals for many years and this is a short history of it. I'd first heard about it at St Kilda, but it travelled throughout Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia. The Baxters who owned the merry-go-round were William Baxter and his cousin Fred Baxter. Fred died on May 26, 1937 at the age of 79, and we can find out something about his life from his obituary that was published in the Adelaide Mail on May 29, 1937 (see here)  Fred Baxter was the son of a Thames River tugboat owner and was an apprentice on a windjammer, but after one voyage he decided that the sea was not for him,so he runaway when the vessel arrived in Melbourne. He found his way to  Heywood in the western district, worked on a farm and drove cattle with his brother Frank. He then visited England and on his return to Australia he decided to join his cousin William in the side-show business, this was  in 1885. They imported a steam merry-go-round from England which had galloping horses, the first in Australia. William and Fred were also early pioneers in the moving picture business, but in the end Fred concentrated on his steam merry-go-round. After Fred's death in 1937, his son Arthur took over the running of the merry-go-round (Adelaide Mail, January 7, 1950)

Fred Baxter

Adelaide Mail May 29, 1937  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55934241

The Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was considered to be superior to the others on the side-show circuit. Here are some descriptions of it. The Hobart Mercury had  a report on the Hobart Agricultural Show of 1887 -  Mention must also be made of what proved a source of much attention to the youngsters present - a most elaborate merry-go-round, constructed by Mr. W. C. Baxter, of Melbourne, which comprised in its intricate anatomy a steam piano, that discoursed loud if not the sweetest music. (Hobart Mercury, October 22, 1887, see here)

This report of the New Year's Day Port Adelaide Regatta of 1892 was in the Port Adelaide News - Every kind of amusement was provided along the wharves, the most popular with the juveniles
being swing-boats and merry-go-round. The latter, however, was a very poor substitute for Baxter's merry-go-round of last year, which was driven (including the organ) by steam-power. The one provided on this occasion was worked manually, and had not even a barrel organ. (Port Adelaide News January 8, 1892, see here.)

In 1894  the merry-go-round was in Mount Gambier - Baxter's Steam Circuit, a merry-go-round of a superior character, and four swing boats, opened in Commercial-street on Wednesday evening, and have been a great source of enjoyment to hundreds of young people nightly since. There are in the circus 30 capitally made - horses and two cars, all prettily painted and named after Australian turf celebrities, the whole being set in motion by a small portable engine. The movement of the horses is accompanied by appropriate music, supplied by an organ composed of a number of brass instruments, which is also worked by the steam machinery, and plays 27 tunes. The centre of the circus inside the circle of horses is brilliant with mirrors and spiral columns brightly painted, and when the horses are moving these mirrors and columns revolve with a dazzling effect. (Mount Gambier Border Watch, March 17 1894, see here)

In 1895 a children's fete was held at Government House in Melbourne and amongst the entertainment provided was Baxter's steam merry-go-round (the most perfect of the kind ever seen in Melbourne), with its adjuncts the see-saw merry-go-round and the swinging - boats. (Weekly Times, December 21, 1895, see here.)

From the Laura Standard  - the merry-go-round is a most beautiful sight, the horses moving as nearly to life as possible, and the swing boats carry the passengers right around, at times just stopping in mid-air. They are of course fastened in, but the screams from the fair sex caused some amusement. (Laura Standard, June 10 1904, see here)

I did find one slightly critical report of the merry-go-round.  This was in 1907 from the Hamilton Spectator - The licensee of a hotel at Albury has been fined for allowing Baxter's merry-go-round to perform on a vacant piece of land adjoining and belonging to the premises. It appears that a merry-go-round falls within the definition of "music" though it requires some stretch of imagination to realise the fact. (Hamilton Spectator, July 23, 1907, see here)

This is a steam operated merry-go-round, like Baxter's was - the portable engine is on the left. It's from a series of photos at the State Library of Victoria called Bannon family and friends and views of Victoria and South Australia, taken c. 1914 to 1937. Is this actually Baxter's Merry-Go-Round? Right time frame, right location (Victoria and South Australia) and not dissimilar to the merry-go-round in the photograph, below, which I know is Baxter's.

State Library of Victoria Image  H84.201/4

You can see from the above that Baxter's Merry-Go-Round toured widely and not only to capital cities. There are reports in the paper of it being at Port Pirie and Orroroo in South Australia; Adelong and Tenterfield in New South Wales; Bairnsdale and Rochester in Victorian and Longford in Tasmania. Given that in the early days it would have been transported by horse and dray they are extraordinary distances. Even later on if they used a truck it was still an achievement. There is also a report that the merry-go-round arrived in Renmark by barge.

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was  a fixture on the St Kilda foreshore for over twenty years.  The first mention I can find of it connected St Kilda was in 1894 when the St Kilda Council had -  an application from Mr. William Baxter to erect swinging boats; steam merry-go-rounds, aerial slides and a cosmorama on the beach during the Christmas holidays. (Prahran Telegraph, November 21 1894)  I can't find  a report on the outcome of this application, but they were definitely there in the summer of 1896/1897 and they continued to exhibit at St Kilda until 1918.

Baxter  was obviously initially happy with St Kilda as according to a report in the Prahran Chronicle of February 22, 1902 he applied to the St Kilda Council to for  a lease of the reclaimed land, containing about 4 acres, on the Lower Esplanade, for a term of 20 or 21 years, at a pepper corn rental. I will expend during the first three years a sum not exceeding £5000, to be spent in three equal sums, one in each of the three years. Such money to be spent in the erection of brick and wooden buildings according to plans to be approved of by the Council - to comprise an amusement pavilion with refreshment and other conveniences ; also a stage and band stand, shrubbery, fencing etc. All improvements to become the property of the council at the end of the lease. (Prahran Chronicle, February 22, 1902, see here)

A grand plan indeed, and it was referred to the Council's Public Works Committee for consideration, but the Council did not accept Mr Baxter's offer. He made the same offer to the Council in September 1904. The Council discussion was reported in the Prahran Telegraph of September 17, 1904 (see here) The discussion covered a number of issues such as whether the Council actually 'owned' the land or whether it was a Reserve. Baxter has also applied for land at the pier. A rental for this was suggested but again there was a  discussion as to whether the Council controlled the land and whether it should be  a depot for shooting galleries and merry-go-rounds. Baxter's Merry-Go-Round was located on various sites in St Kilda (more on this below), so the Council did not agree to him having a 20 year lease on the four acres on the Lower Esplanade.

This is Baxter's Merry-Go-Round at St Kilda (1). Photographer: Nicholas Caire. 

To the right of the merry-go-round is Baxter's 'Royal Shooting Salon'  

State Library of Victoria Image H2014.184/123. Click here to see a higher res version on the SLV website.

 In 1918 Baxter's relationship with the St Kilda Council soured and he ended up in the St Kilda Court - Fredk. W. Baxter was charged on the information of Sergeant F. Dainty, summoning officer to the St.Kilda Council, with being the occupier of certain premises situate at the Upper Esplanade, did permit a public amusement to be conducted in and on such premises, namely, a merry-go-round, without such premises being registered, contrary to bye-law No. 79 and part 6 of the 13th schedule of the Local Government Act, 1915. The result of the court case was that Baxter was found guilty of twelve charges, fined ten shillings on each charge and over three pounds in costs.  Read about the case in the Malvern Standard May 11, 1918, here.

It was after this that Baxter moved his operation to Glenelg in Adelaide, where it was still operating in 1950. Another reason put forward for the move from St Kilda to Glenelg was mentioned in Fred Baxter's obituary - It was keen competition of St. Kilda that brought Mr. William Baxter and
his large merry-go-round to this State [South Australia] in 1918. (Adelaide Mail May 29, 1937 see, here)  There are other reports confirming the strong competition for the entertainment dollar (or more correctly the entertainment shilling) in St Kilda at this time. This is from the Sydney paper, The Referee of January 8, 1908 -  St. Kilda Beach is the outdoor show place of Melbourne. Up within three years ago Baxter's merry-go-round had the district "on its own." Then came "The Pierrots" two seasons ago, also "The pester King" in the the same year and the report goes on with various other amusements and how much income the St Kilda Council derived from these shows.

Where were Baxter's located in St Kilda?  J.B. Cooper writes about the merry-go-round in volume two  of his History of St Kilda (1) He writes about various amusements on the St Kilda foreshore such as the English Pierrots - Before those regular beach shows there was in full whirl, Baxter's Merry-Go-Round, which gave many happy minutes to thousands and thousands of holiday-making children, enjoying glorious days at St Kilda with their buckets, spades and sand castles. Baxter's Merry-Go-Round is notable because it was the first amusement on the first piece of reclaimed shore land. The St Kilda Council made the reclamation...starting at the foot of the pier and spreading out from there, towards Kenney's baths...the subsequent beautification of the foreshore of St Kilda, had its source, in this modest beginning, upon which Baxter was allowed to place his Merry-Go-Round, as so he became the first tenant on reclaimed shore land at St Kilda.

Advertisement for Baxter's 'riding gallery' located on the Esplanade between Pier and Kenny's Baths.

 Prahran Telegraph December 19, 1896. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144633411

The Merry-Go-Round had, as I said before, various locations in St Kilda in the time it was there - here are some of the locations as reported in the newspapers. Cooper's 'first piece of reclaimed shore land' was near Luna Park - the St Kilda 'triangle area' (3).  In 1896 - they were between the Pier and Kenny's Baths (see advertisement above). The Prahran Chronicle of November 19, 1904 said they  they were located at the entrance to the pier. The  Prahran Telegraph of  January 5, 1907 reported that Baxter's merry-go-round quite held its own in popular favour, and, although the location is different, this innocent amusement is just as popular as ever it was. This doesn't tell us any exact locations, but it does indicate it occupied various locations in St Kilda. In 1916 it was located on an allotment on the other - the Esplanade Hotel - side of the street. (The Argus January 17, 1916).  In 1917, Baxter applied to  use  the ground adjoining the Royal Hotel, Esplanade  (Malvern Standard, December 22, 1917). The Royal Hotel was on the corner of Robe Street.  At one time it was operating on the corner of the Upper Esplanade and Acland Street (where McDonalds is now located) and where the Empire Cafe was opened in December 1918. (3)

Baxter's Merry-Go-Round  brought a lot of joy to the public but there were also some accidents associated not with it but with Baxter's other side-show attractions - a steam swing boat and  a shooting gallery. Here are reports of some of these incidents.   In August 1891 a lad named Hammond, was in Market square [Castlemaine]  He was passing the swing boats attached to Baxter's steam merry-go-round when one of the boats struck him on the forehead and inflicted a severe wound. The lad was conveyed to the hospital and this evening was in a critical condition. (The Argus, August 17, 1891, see here)  The steam boat was also the source of another accident in December 1900 when an employee, Charles Beresford, was swinging himself to and fro in the boat and he stood up, toppled over and fell back downwards through the air, a distance of 30-feet, his head crashing with great violence against one of the solid wooden stays of the suspended boat, after which he lay on the sand bleeding from a large scalp wound as the Age of December 26, 1900 graphically reported (see here). Charles was rushed to the Alfred Hospital and operated on. I don't know what happened to him in the end.

In Numurkah the next year George Williams met with an accident with the lighting plant attached to the merry-go-round -  the calcium carbide used for lighting had somehow become damp and on Williams lifting the lid of the drum in which it was kept the lighted watch he was carrying ignited the gas from the decomposing chemical with a consequent explosion of flame. Williams had his hair and moustache burnt off and was otherwise rather severely singed. (Numurkah Leader, June 14 1901, see here) However, the most tragic incident occurred in 1907 in Rochester, when sixteen year old George Sullivan was shot at Baxter's shooting gallery -  A man was going to have a shot, but decided to change the rifle he was about to use for another. He laid the loaded weapon on the table, and an attendant, named Cooper, picked up the rifle to unload it. The rifle went off, and Sullivan, who was standing near by, was shot in the breast. (The Age, April 12 1907, see here)  The  verdict of  inquest into his death was that it was an accident and thus Cooper was not charged.

Sad though this is, given the number of people entertained by Baxter's side-shows over the years the number of incidents was very small, although I am not dismissing the pain and anguish these incidents caused. There was another side to Baxter's side-shows and that was their donations to various charitable causes - here's a few examples - the hospital at Narrandera, the Mining Disaster fund at Bendigo, the Blind Soldier's Fund at Mildura; the Alfred Hospital and the Womens' Hospital in Melbourne and the Chelsea Fire Brigade.

 Baxter's side-show exhibits at St Kilda (1). Photographer: Nicholas Caire.

The merry-go-round is on the left, then the shooting gallery, a ferris wheel and round-about attraction with boats - is that the Swing boat? There also appears to be another Swing boat on the very right of the photograph. 

   State Library of Victoria Image H2014.184/124. Click here to see a higher res version on the SLV website. 

Baxter's was around for so long that is worked it's way into the social fabric of the community - here are some anecdotes -
This was from an article on horse racing - reminds us of the old gag and the almost certain winning bet that used to be made on the way to down-the-line meetings. "There will be a lot of grey horses
seen out to-day" would say one chap. The shrewdie would consult his race book and see not more than one or two entered. He would offer to bet they would not see three grey horses. The alleged shrewdie alongside would see the book, too, and stand in half with him. But they never win. The
point of the joke is that every market gardener for miles this side of and beyond Mordialloc has a grey horse, and any day you may see not three but dozens of grey horses. The alleged shrewdie thinks only of the racehorse greys, and the market gardeners don't come into his calculation-but he has to pay. One day the joke nearly went astray. It was the market gardeners' picnic. The jokists seemed certain to lose their money, but darned if Baxter's merry-go-round wasn't planted right near the bridge on the main road. And they're all grey horses! (Richmond Guardian, February 23, 1908, see here)

While the merry-go-round is used as an excuse for taking little Mary and Willie out of an evening, in reality pa and ma desire the outing for the purpose of meeting old and lost-sight-of friends. And it is "marvellous how many old friendship have been renewed at Mr. Baxter's "show place"! (Glenelg Guardian November 15, 1923, see here)

This was in an article written by jockey, Laurie Meehan - As I returned to the jockeys' room a racegoer told me I would fall off Baxter's Merry Go-Round if I wasn't tied on. (The Call (Perth, W.A) July 17, 1947, see here)

What happened to the Merry-Go-Round?  1885 appears to be when they imported the first steam Merry-Go-Round, but in the interview with Frederick's son, Arthur,  in the Adelaide News of December 30, 1952 (see here)  he says the Glenelg merry-go-round is 50 years old, thus from 1902. It also says that Mr. Baxter's father imported a merry-go-round from Norwich (England) 60 years ago. It's still running at Cronulla (NSW). This dates the original steam merry-go-round to 1892.  But in the long run a couple of years here and there is unimportant and what is important is the fact that Baxter's Merry-Go-Round gave joy and happiness to thousands of children and adults over the years all throughout Australia.

Trove list
I have created  a list of newspaper articles on Trove about Baxter's Merry-Go-Round, access it here. Every article referred to here is on the list.

Footnotes
(1) To say I was excited finding these photos of Baxter's Merry-Go-Round and other side-show attractions is the understatement of the year. The State Library of Victoria have the five photos in this series labelled as "St Kilda Foreshore, Victoria, dated as '1890-1910?' They are stereographs - so I have cropped the 2nd photo.

(2)  John Butler Cooper wrote the two volume The History of St Kilda from its first settlement to a City and after, 1840 - 1930. It was published by the St Kilda City Council in 1931. The information on Baxter's Merry-Go-Round, which I quoted is from Volume 2, page 206 and 207.

(3) It was my friend and research colleague, Isaac Hermann, who told me about Baxter's Merry-Go-Round initially, and the fact that the Empire Cafe at St Kilda was built in 1916 on a previous location of the merry-go-round. I have more information on the Empire Cafe, here. Isaac also told me that the first piece of reclaimed shore land, which J.B. Cooper identified as the original location of Baxter's Merry-Go-Round in St Kilda was the land near Luna Park.

Sculpture of Mercury by C. D. Richardson

Sculpture of Mercury, The Age building, Collins Street

Collins Street, Melbourne, c. 1910 State Library of Victoria Image H82.62/11

I was looking at photos of Collins Street on the State Library of Victoria website and found this one, shown above, and wondered what the sculpture was on the building on the left. The building is The Age newspaper building at 239 Collins Street. It was built in 1879, designed by Reed & Barnes, and then extensively remodelled and enlarged in 1898/1899 at a cost of £15,000. The frontage has been doubled by the acquisition of the premises formerly occupied by the Victoria Permanent Building Society (The Leader August 12, 1899). The Architects, Hyndman and Bates had to undertake the work whilst the business of producing The Age and The Leader was still being conducted. There is a very informative article in The Leader of August 12, 1899 about the new building, read it here.

The Age building in Collins Street, before the 1899 remodelling

The Age 1879 office building. Engraver: F.A. Sleap.

Illustrated Australian News February 21, 1879. State Library of Victoria Image IAN21/02/79/20

In 1931 a new 'modern' eight story building was erected adjoining this building, you can read about this in The Age, here. It is a very extensive article and tells us that the building was designed by Godfrey and Spowers, that all the material in the building was Australian made and it also has interesting information about how the newspapers are produced and distributed.

The Age building in Collins Street, showing the results of the 1899 remodelling, the Mercury statue and the 1931 addition.

The Age building, 239-241 Collins Street, south side, Melbourne, c. 1957. Photographer: Lyle Fowler. 

State Library of Victoria Image H92.20/6031

As part of the 1899 works the sculpture of Mercury was erected on the pediment. It was designed by Charles Douglas Richardson, known as Douglas Richardson. Richardson (1853 - 1932) was born in England and arrived in Victoria with his family in 1858. He was educated at Scotch College, studied at the National Gallery of Victoria's School of Design and then the Royal Academy of Arts Schools in London. He was a painter and a sculptor and in 1898 he established the Yarra Sculptors' Society with others including Margaret Baskerville, whom he married in 1914. Margaret Baskerville (1861 - 1930) is responsible for the statue of Victorian Premier, Thomas Bent, in Brighton and the Edith Cavell memorial in St Kilda Road. You can read more about Charles Douglas Richardson in the Australia Dictionary of Biography, here and Margaret Baskerville's entry, here. She's an interesting woman, I will write more about her one day. I have a photo of the Edith Cavell memorial, here.

Back to the Mercury sculpture - the Bendigo Adveriser had an informative article on the sculpture
David Syme is certainly to be congratulated on the magnificent statue of Mercury erected over the new imposing "Age" edifices. The work, from the designing of the erection, was entirely conducted in Melbourne, under the supervision of those well known architects, Messrs. Hyndman and Bates. The figure is formed of stout copper sheets, shaped by hammer and rivetted together. From the base of the globe on which it stands to the extremity of its extended arm, the height of the figure is 12ft. 9in.; the weight, in spite of its massive appearance, is but about 15cwt. A 2½in. steel rod is fastened to a steel blade stretched across the chest in the same manner, but slightly higher, than the human diaphragm. This rod passes down the interior of the left leg and extends downwards through the parapet for a distance of 8ft., thus insuring stability and safety. The sculptor and designer of this artistic creation was C. D. Richardson, Esq., Collins-street, Melbourne, who must be warmly commended on the graceful outlines and correct pose of the figure. The realisation of Mr. Richardson's model was entrusted to Messrs. Rocke and Co., Collins street, who successfully performed this onerous undertaking at their factory in Leicester-street, Carlton. The workmanship of this enterprising firm, the only one in Victoria that undertakes high-class work of this description, is equal, is not superior, to that of any European manufacture. We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Herbert Wood, of Messrs. Rocke and Co., for the particulars of this latest addition to Melbourne's sights. (Bendigo Advertiser, July 12 1899, see here)

The Mercury sculpture was a reproduction of the statue of Mercury by John of Bologna - Giovanni Bologna (1529 - 1608). Mr Richardson also sculpted three figures in relief in the tympanum, the inner portion of the pediment, representing Literature, Science and Art (The Leader August 12, 1899). They can be seen in this photograph, below.

The figures of Literature, Science and Art sculpted by Charles Douglas Richardson, 1899

The Age building in Collins Street.

State Library of Victoria Image H93.335/81

By 1967 the original building has been demolished and replaced with, in my opinion, an incredibly bland multi-story and the Mercury statue had been moved to the top of the 1931 building.

The Mercury statue on the 1931 The Age building, the original building has been demolished.

Office buildings, 227-247 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1968. Photographer: Wolfgang Sievers.

State Library of Victoria (SLV) Image H99.50/188.

There is also a 1967 photo by Wolfgang Siever that shows the 1931 building with the Mercury statue, see it here on the SLV website.

The State Library of Victoria has a 1970 photograph of The Age building and this time not only has Mercury disappeared but seven stories of the 1931 building have also gone! What an ignoble end to a grand building.

1970 - all that remains of  The Age building is the ground floor.

Hothlyn House, 233-241 Collins Street, Melbourne, 1970. Photographer: Wolfgang Sievers. 

State Library of Victoria Image H99.50/150

What happened to the Mercury statute?  It is now at the Museum of Victoria. The is from their website -  In 1969 it was moved to the Age building on Spencer Street first standing on a platform on the corner of Spencer and Lonsdale Streets and then on the Spencer Street verandah. The statue did not appear to best advantage in either location, and was placed in storage. In 1985 it was lent to the Museum of Victoria for the Story of Victoria exhibition, and was then donated to the Museum in 1997. Read more and see photographs of it, here on the Museums Victoria website. One of the photos is shown below.

Statue of  Mercury by Charles Douglas Richardson. 

This photo is from the Museums Victoria website, taken by John Broomfield.

https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/247862

I have created a list of newspaper articles, on Trove, on The Age building in Collins Street, Charles Douglas Richardson and the Mercury statue - you can access it here. All the articles referred to in this post are listed.

Tubbs Hill and the Victoria Cross connection

I have an interest in War Memorials and also an interest in trucks, as my husband John was involved in the transport industry for over 50 years. Amongst our collection of truck photos is this one, it was a  slide that I scanned.

Tubbs Hill, near Euroa, early 1970s. 

Photo: John Arnold

It's a Kenworth John drove for Cameron's Transport and it was taken at Tubb's Hill, on the old Hume Highway near Euroa, in the early 1970s. If you are interested this is a S-model Kenworth, with a GM 6V71 engine and a 12 speed Spicer gear box (and see more here)

Anyway, I wondered why Tubb's Hill was named that and discovered that it was named after World War One, Victoria Cross recipient, Frederick Harold Tubb. In the same area is a Maygar Hill, named after Boer War Victoria Cross recipient, Leslie Cecil Maygar.  It's an interesting way to recognise war veterans and a bit different from an Honor Board or Avenue of Honor. It's probably peaceful now, but Tubb's Hill and Maygar's Hill wouldn't have been very peaceful until they were by-passed in the 1980s or 1990s - there would have been a continuous stream of trucks going through the gears night and day in the early days.

North Eastern Ensign, May 4 1934

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70789802

The hills were named in 1934, according  to this article, above. Balmattum Hill was not, in the end , named after Corporal Burton, but there is a bridge in Euroa, on the old Hume Highway, named Burton Bridge, after Corporal Alexander Burton.

Captain Frederick Harold Tubb - the namesake of Tubb's Hill

Image: Australian War Memorial   https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013425

Frederick Harold Tubb (1881-1917), was born at Longwood, near Euroa, the son of Harry and Emma (nee Abbott) Tubb, of St Helena, Longwood.  He enlisted on August 12, 1914 at the age of 34. He was a grazier. His brothers, Alfred, Arthur and Frank also enlisted.  Frederick was awarded his Victoria Cross for his gallantry at Lone Pine. Captain Tubb Died of Wounds September 20, 1917.  

This is Captain Tubb's citation from the London Gazette of October 15, 1915. 

Was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9th August 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter-attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieut. Tubb. They advanced up a sap and blew up a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing but Lieut. Tubb led his men back repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy succeeded in twice again blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion, Lieut. Tubb, although wounded in the head and arm, held his ground with the greatest coolness and rebuilt it and finally succeeded in maintaining his position under heavy bomb fire. Corporal Burton, see below, was also awarded a Victoria Cross for the same incident.

Captain Tubb has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, you can read it here. You can read his full military history in file at the National Archives of Australia, here.

Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie Cecil Maygar - the namesake of Maygar's Hill

Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013287

Leslie Cecil Maygar (1868 - 1917) was born at Kilmore to Edwin and Helen (nee Grimshaw) Maygar He served in the Boer War, in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles,  which was where he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He also served in the First World War, where he enlisted on August 18, 1914 at the age of 43. His occupation was grazier and his address was Strathearn, Longwood.  He Died of Wounds November 11, 1917.  

Lieutenant- Colonel Maygar's Victoria Cross was reported in The Leader - The action for which Lieutenant Maygar receives the cross "for valor" was performed in a fight at Grelhoutboom. One of his men was left dishorsed on an open plain, under heavy Boer fire, and Lieutenant Maygar, dismounting, placed the man  on his own horse, himself running the gantlet of the Boer fire of foot until he could reach cover. (The Leader February 15, 1902) During the Great War, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was Mentioned in Dispatches, three times. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Maygar has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which you can read, here. You can read his World War One service record at the National Archives of Australia, here.

Corporal Alexander Stewart Burton

Australian War Memorial  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1498

Alexander Stewart Burton (1893 - 1915) Service Number 384. Alexander was born at Kyneton, the son of Alexander and Isabella (nee Briggs) Burton, and he enlisted at the age of 21 on August 18, 1914. His occupation was ironmonger and he was living at Binney street in Euroa.  Alexander was Killed in Action at Lone Pine on either August 8 or 9, 1915.

Corporal Burton's citation reads -

For most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine Trenches in the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 9th August 1915.

In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporal Burton and Dunstan and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing, but Lieutenant Tubb with the two Corporals repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade, but on each occasion they were repulsed and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantry building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.

Corporal Burton has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, which you can read, here. You can read his World War One service record at the National Archives of  Australia, here.

Corporal William Dunstan (Service Number 2130) of Ballarat was also awarded the Victoria Cross, I have written about him here https://victoriaspast.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-chalet-geneve-on-albert-park-lake.html

Trove list
I have created a sort list of articles on the three men on Trove, you can access it here.

There is a Victoria Cross Memorial Park in Kirkland Avenue, Euroa, which has statues of the three men. See more details here http://www.nevictoria.com/euroa.htm