The Brighton Switchback Railway

A Switchback Railway operated at Brighton Beach from Christmas 1890  until early 1894. This post is about the railway and the two  promoters, Mr Ruck and Colonel Harrison. 

Switchback Railway, Brighton.

Labelled as Switzback Railway Brighton. State Library of Victoria Image  H15549/31

At the meeting of the Brighton Council held December 8, 1890 Mr Ruck, asked for permission to erect a Switch-back railway on the beach. Mr Ruck appeared in support of the application, and the council after very long discussion referred the matter to the Mayor and Crs Francis Budd and Burrows (1).

The application was approved and the Railway was erected and was open by Christmas 1890, on a Council Reserve, with a weekly rent of £2 10s (2).  It ran into controversy immediately when it wanted to open on Sundays, a day trading was generally banned unless  local authorities allowed. Colonel Harrison said that the Mayor had told him that he would allow Sunday operations, and in fact had said that he had not the slightest objection to it. However when word got out that the Railway would be open, the Police stepped in and threatened to prosecute, the Mayor backtracked and denied giving permission and the Railway remained closed (3).

One of the reasons the promotors of the Railway wanted it to run on a Sunday was that  the patronage of the public was not quite up to expectations during week days (4), and this seemed to be an ongoing issue. Less than a year after it was opened, Colonel Harrison was  already behind in the rent and at a November 1891 Brighton Council meeting he offered to pay  £20 in satisfaction of all demands, conditional upon being allowed to remove the structure. Given that the Railway cost around £500 to erect, there was a large amount of salvageable material - timber for the structure as well as the iron rails (5). This was refused by the Council. In the December the Brighton Council decided to call for tenders to find an operator so the railway could be opened over the  Christmas New Year Holidays.

It was leased again over the next two summers as well - in October 1892 to W.R. Clarke and October 1893 to W.T. Grant. In December 1893, Mr Grant asked the Council for permission to extend the hours of operation from 8.00 pm to  to 10.00pm, which was granted. At the same Council meeting Cr Burrows asked for a report regarding  the condition of the railway and was told by the Mayor, that the surveyor reported the structure to be stronger than when first erected (6).

By October 1894, the Brighton Council made the decision to invite tenders for the purchase of the switchback white elephant (7). The ultimate fate of the Railway was recorded by the Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader of  November 10, 1894 - The celebrated switchback railway, which is now regarded as a menace to public safety, has been restored to its original owner, Mr. A. W. Harrison, on condition that he removes it expeditiously. Mr. Harrison wrote a plaintive appeal to the council at its meeting on Monday evening, asking for the restitution of his dearly beloved white elephant, and the council "switched it back" to him with all the gracious beignity of philanthropic benefactors. It was not mentioned whether any tenders had been received for its purchase, but when the good deed was done, and Mr. Harrison metaphorically folded his boom-bred darling to his bosom, Mayor Walstab and the whole of the civic circle appeared to heave a sigh of glad relief (8).  By January 1895, it was gone (9). 

Who were Mr Ruck and Colonel Harrison? The first reference to Mr Ruck I can find is in the Tasmanian News of  January 4, 1890, in an article about the Switchback Railway in the Domain in Hobart - Mr Noel Ruck, under whose supervision the switchbacks of Victoria, New Zealand, Launceston, and the one at present in Hobart were constructed, and who has always been a very popular manager, opened the Switchback on the Domain this afternoon for a new season, and a fair number availed themselves of the opportunity afforded for a ride which is, as those who have tried it are aware, invigorating and healthy. The Switch-back was a very popular institution while running last season, especially among the young people, while those of mature years who did the short journey over the rails were pleased with the novel sensation they experienced, and many have professed that a couple of trips have had the effect of driving away a bad headache. The Switchback will run every afternoon and evening (10). 

This sounded very successful, but in the January 30, 1890 edition of the Tasmanian News a small advertisement appeared saying the Switchback Railway was closing as the Manager was returning to Melbourne (11).  More on the Hobart Switchback later.

Mr Ruck returns to Melbourne

Tasmanian News January 30, 1890. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163568151

Noel Ruck arrived back in Melbourne on February 2, 1890 on the Flinders (12).  In the December of 1890 he applied, as we know, to erect the Switchback Railway at Brighton. It appears that was the end of his role at Brighton and that Colonel Harrison operated it. Noel Ruck had been born in London, around 1854, he married Alice McWatt in 1878 and they had three children in the next three years - Charlotte Maude, Mary Oram and Walter Melville. Alice also had a daughter Waltine Alice, born in 1874. Alice arrived in Melbourne in early June 1888 with Waltine and Charlotte (known as Maud); Mary and Walter had died as infants. I can't find Noel on a shipping record, however they had another daughter, Lena Patricia Winifred born in 1888 and registered in Victoria, so either Noel was on the same ship but not listed or else little Lena was born prematurely. Sadly, little Lena died in 1888 at the age of only two months (13). I feel the family arrived together and Noel is not on the shipping list.

The Rucks are listed in the Electoral at Fairfield until 1919. Noel's occupation was a Collector, Alice died in 1919 (14) and the next we find of Noel is that he was involved in an interesting criminal case. The Age of November 4, 1920 reported it under the headlines - The Scarf Trick - Billiard Room Episode - Before Judge Dethridge, at The General Sessions yesterday, Edward Brown, of St. Kilda, who was defended by Mr. Sonenberg, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having stolen a purse, containing £4 10/ in notes, and a gold locket from Noel Edgar Ruck, commission agent, Tennyson-street, St. Kilda. The theft was alleged to have taken place at a Swanston-street billiard room on 22nd September. Mr. Wanliss prosecuted for the Crown. Ruck, giving evidence, said he was holding his purse in his hand in the billiard room when accused came to him and offered him for sole a silk scarf, which he spread over witness's hand, containing the purse, and then snatched the purse away. Witness, who stated he was a teetotaller, denied he had been drinking, and "picking up shadows" off the floor of the billiard room. Accused was found not guilty and discharged (15). 

Noel Edgar Ruck, the man who constructed Switchback Railways in New Zealand, Tasmania and Brighton, died on August 9, 1927, aged 72. His daughter Maud, placed a death notice for him in The Age, saying he was Loved by all (16). 

The other man involved with the Brighton Switchback Railway was Colonel Arthur Harrison. I don't have any details of his Military service (17).   However, he was connected to Switchback Railways before his involvement at Brighton. 

Arthur Harrison and installed a Switchback Railway the Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition which ran from August 1, 1888 until January 31, 1889 (18). The Railway was described thus - the wooden structure which carries the railway is 381ft. long. At either end there is a platform 37 1/2ft. high. The cars start from the eastern platform, which is approached by steps. They obtain their motion by gravity. As soon as they are let go they ran down an incline of 9ft., when they gain sufficient velocity to carry them over a rise of 7ft. Then comes a fall of 14ft., from which they rise to the level again. On completing the journey the one way the passengers change cars and are brought back to the starting point. The time occupied is about 18sec. The cars run easily and smoothly on rails, and a ride upon them is an invigorating and agreeable experience (19).  Over 300,000 people rode on the railway during the life of the Exhibition (20). 

In early October1888, Colonel Harrison, under his full name Arthur Wellesley Harrison, applied to lease 36¼ perches at Manly Beach, for a Switchback Railway. It was not allowed as the land was not zoned for recreation (21).  Rejected in Sydney Colonel Harrison then proposed a Railway in Bendigo - the Bendigo Advertiser of October 28, 1888 reported - We are to have a "Switchback Railway" herein our "Golden City." Colonel Harrison, who visited Sandhurst last week for the purpose of securing a site for the above, will return at an early date to make final arrangements; and those who have not seen that far-famed "Switch-back Railway" at the Centennial Exhibition will be able to avail themselves of the most exciting recreation of the present day (22).  I do not know if the Bendigo Switchback went ahead.

But by February 1889 the Colonel had moved to another State - to Hobart, Tasmania  where a switch-back railway in the Queen's Domain was opened, to the public yesterday afternoon, and was largely patronised. The railway has been erected by the Switchback Outdoor Amusement Co. of Melbourne, under the personal supervision of Colonel Harrison, the manager reported the Hobart Mercury.  The Colonel, states that everything is exactly on the same principle as that adopted in the Melbourne exhibition (23). This Hobart Railway is of course, the same Switchback Railway that Noel Ruck was also credited with overseeing the supervision of. I believe that Noel Ruck acted as a contactor and, at times, a manager to Arthur Harrison or Harrison's Company.

In spite of the wonderful beginnings by the April 1889,  the Switchback Railway venture  had rather disappointing financial results (24) and, as we saw before, it closed in January 1890, either because the Manager, Noel Ruck was returning to Melbourne or the closure was the catalyst for his return. 

 In February 1890, Colonel Harrison's Company was wound up. The Argus reported on this event  - This was a petition for the sequestration of the Switchback Railway Company. The petitioning creditor was Arthur William Harrison, a judgment creditor, who said that the company was formed to take over all his rights in the switchback railway and rifle galleries in Australia, with certain exceptions. The capital was to be £25,000, in shares of £100 each. The actual number of shares issued and allotted was 99, upon which £85 per share had been called up. The petitioner said that the company was unable to pay its debts. On the 1st February, 1890, the petitioner recovered judgment against the company for £1,560 the balance of the purchase money due to him from the company under their agreement, and this judgment was unsatisfied. On the motion of Mr. Vasey, for the petitioner, an order was made for the winding up of the company (25). 

Colonel Harrison, perhaps due to his experience at the Centennial Exhibition, was in August 1891  appointed superintendent of the Victorian Court at the Tasmanian Exhibition (26). Then just over three years later, he regained control of the Brighton Switchback Railway - or by that stage, the right to remove the entire structure. 

Arthur Wellesley Harrison died at the age of 60 on October 22, 1897, he was living in Glenroy at the time.  Interestingly, his death notice lists neither his wife nor his children. His wife Harriett, died in August 1935 and she had  a short obituary in The Argus - Mrs. Harriett A. Harrison, of Glenroy, whose death occurred this week, was the widow of Colonel A. W. Harrison. The Beattys of County Armagh were her grandparents, and her great-uncle, Lieutenant George Evans, landed in Victoria with Batman. She leaves four sons Messrs. Frank H., Tom Curtis, Douglas H,, and Arthur Harrison; and three daughter's-Mrs. F. Hamilton Nicol, Mrs. V. V. Cook, and Mrs. A. J. Morgan (27).

Switchback Railways were described as being the most exciting recreation of the present day (28) and one of the attractions of Brighton Beach  - the gliding switchback car mounting into the heavens and sliding down into yawning valleys (29).  Sadly for the promotors - Noel Ruck and Arthur Harrison, their venture into Switchback Railways was more a journey to yawning valleys, rather than a journey to heaven.

Trove list

I have created a list of articles on Trove on Noel Ruck, Arthur Harrison and their involvement with Switchback Railways, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader, December 13 1890, see here.

(2) The Herald, January 20, 1891, see here.

(3) The Herald, January 20, 1891, see here.

(4) The Herald, January 20, 1891, see here.

(5) Quote - The Argus, November 21, 1891, see here. Cost of the Switchback Railways - Hobart Mercury, December 18, 1888 (see here) and Hobart Mercury, February 8, 1889, see here.

(6) Mr Clark - Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader October 22, 1892, see here;  Mr Grant - Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader, October 21, 1893, see here; Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader December 2, 1893, see here.

(7) Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader, October 27, 1894, see here.

(8) Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader,  November 10, 1894, see here.

(9) Caulfield and Elsternwick Leader, January 5, 1895, see here.

(10) Tasmanian News, January 4, 1890, see here.

(11) Tasmanian News, January 30, 1890, see here.

(12) Shipping record - Public Records Office of Victoria Inward Passenger Lists

(13) Family information - Birth, Deaths and Marriage records on Ancestry.com and the Victorian Indexes to BDM;  Public Records Office of Victoria Inward Overseas Passenger Lists.

(14) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com and Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(15) The Age, November 4, 1920, see here.

(16) The Age, August 13, 1927, see here. 

(17) He seemed to use the Colonel title intermitting. For instance, Arthur wrote a letter to The Argus July 20 1888 (see here) about some issues he had encountered in having the Switchback Railway installed at the Centennial Exhibition and he didn't use the title then, but I would have thought he might have to give himself more status.

(18) Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition - read about it here on State Library of Victoria website   https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/interexhib/1888to89 

(19) The Argus, August 18, 1888, see here.

(20) Hobart Mercury, February 8, 1889, see here.

(21) Sydney Evening News, October 10, 1888, see here.

(22) Bendigo Advertister, October 24, 1888, see here.

(23) Hobart Mercury, February 8, 1889, see here.

(24) Launceston Examiner, April 16, 1889, see here.

(25) The Argus, February 21, 1890, see here. Regarding the Company - the Hobart Mercury of December 18, 1888 (see here)  reported that - Mr. H. Etherington, one of the firm of proprietors of the switchback railway at the Melbourne Exhibition, and who has also had considerable experience in the management of this new source of amusement in Glasgow, is now in Hobart for the purpose of erecting a switchback railway here if an eligible site can be found. I am unsure of his connection to Arthur Harrison.

(26) Tasmanian Exhibition - held in Launceston for four months from November 25, 1891 - read more here https://launcestonfamilyalbum.org.au/about and here https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/E/Exhibitions.htm

(27) Death notice - The Argus October 23, 1897, see here; Harriet Harrison's obituary The Argus, August 31, 1935, see here. 

(28) Bendigo Advertister, October 24, 1888, see here.

(29) Prahran Telegraph, November 28, 1894, see here.

Walter and Veda Thewlis and their happy time at Middle Park

My grandfather, Walter Herbert Thewlis, was born on December 15, 1900 at Monea North. He was the youngest child of Frederick and Catherine Maria (nee Roberts) Thewlis, and had four older brothers.  The family later moved to Locksley and then to Euroa, where on leaving school after completing Grade 8, Wally started work at Burton's Store. When he was 20, he came down to Melbourne to work in hardware/ironmongery stores and learn the business. Wally worked at Alfred Tharratt, P/L at 373-385 High Street, Northcote and J. E Thomson, 223 High Street, Preston. (1) He boarded with Mary Murray at 63 Waterloo Road in Northcote and whilst he was there he met Mary's niece, Veda Read, his future wife and my grandmother. 

In 1925, he opened his own business at 712 Sydney Road, Brunswick in the recently completed Whiteway buildings and called his business Whiteway Hardware shop. Wally and Veda were married on May 4, 1929 at the Church of the Epiphany, Northcote by Mr James Hughes. Veda was a teacher and had taught at Thornbury State School and Mr Hughes was the Head Master. He then retired and became an Anglican clergyman. After they were married they boarded at a house near the Moreland Railway Station but then decided it would be nice to live near the beach, so they moved to Middle Park.

Life by the beach at Middle Park - Wendy, Wally and Veda's daughter, at 15 months, 

with her cousin George. Taken around December 1935. 

The buildings on the right, originally a terrace of four, are on the corner of Harold Street and Beaconsfield Parade (2). The building on the left is 197 Beaconsfield Parade, a double storey terrace. The block to the right of this,  is where the flats at 199 were built, which Wally and Veda moved to at the end of 1936. 

Photo: Veda Thewlis

They moved firstly to 174 Canterbury Road, and then around 1932 they moved again to 328 Danks Street. This was a large house owned by Mrs Agnes Collis, a widow. She had no children of her own, but her husband had three children from his first marriage - they were grown up with families.  One of them was a Mrs Dixon, who lived in Wright Street, and whose back gate opened onto the lane which ran beside Mrs Collis' house. Mrs Collis was apparently known as Collie, but asked Wally and Veda to call her Billie (for some unknown reason).

Wendy, on her first birthday, in her pram, at 328 Danks Street, Middle Park

Photo: Veda Thewlis

Wally and Veda rented three unconnected rooms in this house - a bedroom, lounge room and kitchen/ dining room. Mrs Collis also had three rooms and another family, the Mansfield's rented three rooms. There were two bungalows out the back where two single men boarded. There was one bathroom and one laundry and each of the ladies had their own washing day.

Wally and Veda's daughter, Wendy was born in September 1934, when they were at Danks Street and this made their three rooms a bit crowded, so they decided to move. However, because Mrs Collis' was furnished, they had to save to buy their own furniture, thus it was towards the end of 1936, that they moved to 199 Beaconsfield Parade, right across the road from the beach. It was a flat with 2 bedrooms, a lounge, a breakfast room, a kitchen/laundry and  a back verandah. The building was erected around 1935/ 1936and the block next to them was a vacant allotment and not built on until after the War. The benefit of this was that three of the rooms all had windows facing the side-way, so they received a lot of light. 

199 Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park. Wally and Veda had the flat downstairs on the right.

Photo: Veda Thewlis

They were living at 199 Beaconsfield Parade when their second daughter, Marli, was born in January 1938. In December 1939 they moved back north to a house in Bell Street, Coburg, to be closer to the shop and then in December 1941 moved again to 4 Butler Grove, East Coburg, where they lived for the next 25 years. 

Wendy, four years old, at 199 Beaconsfield Parade.

Photo: Veda Thewlis

Whilst at Middle Park Wally joined the Middle Park Surf Club. The Club, based at the end of Nimmo Street, was established in 1917.   A report in The Herald in February 1917 said that objects of the Club are to promote swimming and life saving, and help to maintain order on the beach at Middle Park. An energetic secretary and enthusiastic committee have been elected, and have already met with great success, more than 140 financial members having been enrolled. A diving board is in use, and a floating raft is being constructed (3).

Fast forward to 1931 where in the November it was reported that the Club was financially strong, with funds of £250, one of the soundest in Victoria, as well as having club-rooms and equipment such as the diving platform valued at £500. There was a new President Arthur Russell, one of the foundation members of the club, a prominent business man in the city, who has been engaged in moving picture presentation from the business for years, and who has numerous other business interests. He was also well known in swimming, world for his successes, took the quarter-mile championship of the State, and had many other wins. It was Mr Russell who coached Ian Macintyre, the winner of the Yarra three-mile swim. He has now formed a staff of expert swimmers at Middle Park Surf Club, and these have taken over many of both sexes whom they are teaching to swim. Arthur Russell guarantees to teach any non-swimmer in half an hour, and judging by his successes, this is no idle boast (4). The Club received  a lot of publicity, not surprising as it was noted for the number of journalists it has among its members. These are combining to produce a small, bright surf club paper, which gives all the M.P.S.C. news each week (5).

It was this very successful Club which Wally joined, he was in 'good' company some of the new members who joined in 1931 included  Frank Winslow, who won the championship of Scotch College; Fred and Will Findlay, the sons of the well-known golf professional, who were other old Scotch collegians; Billy Buck, the old Geelong Collegian; Clive and Rus Niall, old Melburians (6). Another swimmer who has appeared prominently in various club events to date was Wal Thewlis (7). This is the first connection I can find between Wally and the Club. Interestingly the newspaper did not report on his education pedigree - eight years of schooling at Locksley and Euroa State Schools.

At the Annual General Meeting in November 1932, Arthur Russell was re-elected President and there were six Vice-Presidents elected - Messrs. H. Sholl, W. Thewlis, J. Buck, E. Buck, J. Meisenhelter, J. Saunders, by then there were 271 members (8). The Emerald Hill Record reported that Club provided swimming classes for children and adults were opened, and there are now numerous trained instructors at the beach daily ready and willing to teach any child or adult the art of swimming. Lessons are free, and thus there is no excuse for anyone not securing knowledge of this valuable art (9).

In October 1933, the Sporting Globe reported that due to the good work of Messrs J. Ludlow, Frank Russell, A.F. Russell, F. Findlay, W.H. Thewlis and others, the Middle Park Surf Club are in the remarkable position of having a credit balance of £275 9 7. The loyalty of the members and their enthusiasm for the club is responsible for such a excellent position, and members can indeed praise their executive when the annual meeting is held at St Anselm's Hall, Langridge Street, on October 26 (10).

Veda (right) and her sister Merle, sitting on the sea-wall at Middle Park, early 1934.

The Middle Park Baths are in the background.

Photo: Wally Thewlis

The Club members were obviously impressed by Wally's good work because at the Annual General Meeting held in 1934 he was elected President. Wally had a dramatic start to his Presidency as at the end of November a huge storm hit Melbourne and their Club rooms were destroyed - The Herald of December 1, had an extensive report on the storm, beginning with - After two days and a night of buffeting, Melbourne today took stock of its storm destruction. It revealed a toll of eight lives, tremendous damage along the foreshore, over the watershed of the River Yarra, in the flooded areas of Kensington and Elwood, and in public parks and gardens...At least 6000 people were forced to leave their homes...Postal Department reports the greatest damage on record, 3500 suburban and 150 trunk lines being affected. This has cut off communication from many in the city and country (11).   

The damage to the Clubs along the Bay was extensive - it is worth reporting the article from The Age of December 4, 1934 in full -
Tens of thousands of pounds and years of tireless efforts by swimming and life-saving clubs were wiped out by the storm, and has resulted in clubs both along the foreshore and the Yarra being homeless and in a serious financial position. On the eve of what promised to be a busy season the effect on clubs' operations will undoubtedly be most severe, as both on the seafront and along the River Yarra clubs have lost their all.

A typical case is Middle Park Surf Club, which has had its dressing sheds and equipment, built at a cost of £500, demolished. From Williamstown to Mentone and all along the Yarra the scene of desolation beggars description. Baths battered beyond recognition, club houses and dressing sheds swept away or submerged ten and fifteen feet, and banks and concreted pools battered down, all provide a disheartening sight. The Williamstown baths, the home of the local swimming club, are practically demolished, but the new club house of the life-saving club, built at a cost of £1000, escaped lightly. The South Melbourne ladies' baths are another almost complete wreck, while at Albert Park the club's premises suffered a severe battering and the loss of the life-saving reel. Further east along the foreshore Wright-street club has lost its dressing shed and all equipment, as did clubs in Middle Park proper. 

The premises of Middle Park Surf Club, Middle Park club and Middle Park Baths club, the latter with its head quarters in the local council baths, were completely demolished, while club equipment, wireless sets, &c were swept away. The premises of the three clubs were reduced to matchwood, excepting the front portion of the baths. By an irony of fate the baths club's opening day was scheduled for the week end, and instead a special meeting was held amidst the debris of what was once the baths, and £10 10/ was voted to Mrs. Lamb, the lessee, who with her children was compelled to leave the baths during the height of Friday night's storm, losing most of their belongings. West St. Kilda lost its diving platform, which was driven ashore, but its neighbors, Melbourne club, whose head quarters were in St. Kilda baths, lost every thing except their club records, the club-rooms in the old wooden portion of the baths being swept away. Middle Brighton baths and Brighton baths also suffered severely, but further around the Bay at Mentone, the baths, the home of the new Mentonian club, were practically demolished with the exception of the front kiosk (12)  

The Middle Park Surf Club banded together and by December 15, had made a temporary shelter, which will serve until it is decided what will be done to provide a permanent structure. An effort may be made to replace the demolished club premises with a structure capable of withstanding the worst storms known on the beach (13). By May 1935, the plans of the Club room and Dressing shed were completed (14)  and the Annual General Meeting in  October was held in the the new Club rooms, built at a cost of £326. A further £76 had been spent of diving boards, springboards and the like (15).

During the 1930s the Middle Park Surf Club continued to take part in Victorian Amateur Swimming Association Carnivals, their Water Polo team was still strong and they also participated in inter-club events such as the "Ray Nuzum" junior teams' challenge shield, in 1936. Cr Ray Nuzum represented  Canterbury Ward in the South Melbourne Council from 1930 until 1949 and was Mayor in 1935/1936 (16)  The Shield that year was won by Wright Street over the Langridge Street Club and the Middle Park Surf Club (17).  

The Sun Swimming Cup being presented to the President of the 

Middle Park Surf Club Team, Walter Thewlis. 

Undated clipping - but from the 1930s, from our family collection.

Another inter-club event took place in February 1937, when the Middle Park Surf Club competed for the Sol Green Trophy against other Foreshore Clubs.  The competition was discussed at a meeting held at the Middle Park Baths on Monday, representatives from Middle Park, Middle Park Surf, Middle Park Baths, West St. Kilda, Langridge Street, Wright Street and Albert Park were present, and conditions were discussed for a competition for the "Sol" Green trophy.  Mr. W. Thewlis (Middle Park Surf) was elected chairman, and Mr. J. Graham (secretary). It was agreed to hold the surf competition at Middle Park Baths on Sunday, February 7 (18). Once again the Wright Street Club was successful and they took home the Sol Green Shield (19).  Sol Green was a bookmaker, racehorse breeder and philanthropist who had what The Age described as a picturesque career. He died in 1948, aged 79 and left many charities in Melbourne a substantial legacy (20). 

In May 1936,  a Ladies Section of the Middle Park Surf club was formed with Miss D. Armistead as the inaugural President, and Miss P. McDowell as the secretary and treasurer (21). A table tennis Club was also established at the Club, perhaps to provide activity during the colder months. The Club also held an annual Cabaret Ball during the 1930s - venues being Leonard's Cafe, St Kilda and Earl's Court. These Balls were well reported in the newspapers and often included the names of the guests (22).  It was not surprising that the Balls were held or table tennis was on offer as it was reported in 1936 that the Middle Park Surf Club had made substantial progress, in its chief objective - swimming, and in its secondary objective - sociability (23).   

Wally resigned as President of the Middle Park Surf Club at the Annual General Meeting in November 1939, after five years at the helm. At the meeting  Cr. Nuzum, in presenting a smoker's stand to Mr. Thewlis, said his chief reward would he the remembrance of his services, which had placed the club in such a sound position, for the benefit of swimming and life-saving. He moved that a record of those services be placed in the minutes, This was supported by Mr. J. P. Barry, Mr. J. W. Chapple and Mr. Findlay, and was carried by acclamation. Mr. Thewlis said he had not severed his connection with the club, which was so full of happy memories; and where he had made many friendships (24).

Wally and Wendy, on the pier at Port Melbourne, April 1938. 

They often walked down to see the ships.

Image: taken by a street photographer.

Wally was also involved in another Middle Park organization - the Old Buffers Club. The Old Buffers were a sporting body, with no politics, and benevolence the one creed (25).  It was established in 1908 with a football match to determine whether the south side of Armstrong Street could beat a team from the north side. A match  was then held yearly on the King's Birthday holiday to raise money for charity, and by the 1930s the Old Buffers held a street parade up Armstrong Street, a carnival and football match. In 1937 it was reported that in the last three years, for Prince Henry's Hospital, the Mayor's Relief Fund, and local charities, the sum of nearly £800 had been raised (26). Interesting group, which deserves more research one day.

In 1939, the family, as I said before, moved from Middle Park to be closer to Wally's shop in Sydney Road, Brunswick to which he was travelling to everyday by public transport as the family did not have  a car, and so their time of living by the beach was over. The house in Butler Grove was still near the water, it actually backed onto the Merri Creek, not quite the same though as having the Bay at your front door step. 

Sadly, Wally's life was cut short - he was killed in a hit and run accident at the age of 49. He was riding his bike home from the shop and was nearly home, but he was struck by a car on the corner of Nicholson Street and The Grove, East Coburg on September 6, 1950. He died the next day. We still have all the Condolence cards, letters and cards that arrived with the wreaths that were sent including the one from the Middle Park Surf Club. There was also this letter, below, from the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association.

The letter to Veda from the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association, after Wally's death,

This is not of course, a comprehensive history of the Middle Park Surf Club, or a comprehensive history of Wally and Veda's life, but it is a look at the happy years that they spent by the beach at Middle Park.

Acknowledgement - Much of this is  based on the memories of my mother, Wendy Rouse. Ironically, given how involved Wally was with the Middle Park Surf Club, neither Mum or her sister Marli ever learnt to swim! I also received valuable help from the Middle Park History Group in identifying the buildings in the background of two photographs - see Footnote 2.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Wally and the Middle Park Surf Club, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) High Street has been renumbered at some time in the past. The 1920 Sands & McDougall Directory lists Alfred Tharratt, P/L at 373-385 High Street, Northcote, corner of Arthurton Road. The building is still there and is now a Chemist Warehouse. The 1925 Sands & McDougall Directory lists J. E Thomson at 223 High Street, Preston. This was on the Bell Street side of the Rechabite Hall, which is still there and now numbered 251 High Street. The J.E. Thomson building still appears to be there behind some later add-ons.

(2) I am indebted to members of the Middle Park History Group, Max Nankervis, Sonya Cameron and Meyer Eidelson for identifying the buildings on this photo. Max wrote - I'm  quite a bit more certain it is the terrace block on corner of  Harold St. Google Street view shows two different houses near the corner,  but those sites were originally terrace houses as part of a set of four. Only one (the far right) is intact, the adjoining one is almost intact, the next to the left has had the verandah section bricked-in, and the corner is completely new. They also confirmed that the building in the background of  the photo of Veda and Merle, was the Middle Park Baths.

The buildings on the corner of Beaconsfield Parade and Harold Street, Middle Park, 

from Google Street view.

(3) The Herald, February 23, 1917, see here.
(4) Sporting Globe, November 21, 1931, see here.
(5) Sporting Globe, November 21, 1931, see here.
(6) Sporting Globe, December 12, 1931, see here.
(7) Sporting Globe, December 12, 1931, see here.
(8) Emerald Hill Record, November 5, 1932, see here.
(9) Emerald Hill Record, December 10, 1932, see here.
(10) Sporting Globe, October 18, 1933, see here.
(11) The Herald, December 1, 1934, see here.
(12) The Age, December 4, 1934, see here.
(13) Emerald Hill Record, December 15, 1934, see here.
(14) Emerald Hill Record, May 25, 1935, see here.
(15) Emerald Hill Record, November 2, 1935, see here.
(16) Cr Nazum - Elected - Emerald Hill Record, August 30, 1930, see here; defeat - Emerald Hill Record, August 27, 1949, see here.
(17) Report of the participants in the Ray Nazum Challenge - Emerald Hill Record, March 7, 1936, see here.
(18) Emerald Hill Record, January 23, 1937, see here.
(19) Report of the result of the Sol Green Cup - Emerald Hill Record, February 13, 1937, see here.
(20) Sol Green - Obituary Australian Jewish News, May 14, 1948, see here; Obituary The Age May 12, 1948, see here; Report of his Will - The Age, May 21, 1948, see here.
(21) Emerald Hill Record, May 2, 1936, see here.
(22) See my Trove list  for reports of the Balls.
(23) Emerald Hill Record, October 10, 1936, see here.
(24) Emerald Hill Record, November 4, 1939, see here.
(25) Emerald Hill Record, February 13, 1937, see here.
(26) Emerald Hill Record, February 13, 1937, see here.

Telling time with flowers - Floral Clocks

One of the new attractions at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1930 was the Floral Clock. The Argus was one of the newspapers who reported on this clock - All the works, which are electrically operated, were improvised by the showgrounds staffs with odd material available, including a cream separator and a number of bicycle wheels. The ground of the clock face is a garden bed planted with a carpet of violas, pansies and red and white daisies. The figures around the circumference are picked out in light green exhibition border, and the hands are troughs of earth in which pansies and exhibition border are planted. The seconds hand, by reason of its rapid movement, is the most spectacular part of the setting. It is claimed that this is the only floral clock in the world which has a seconds hand. Mechanism, buried in a pit below the garden bed, chimes the hours and half hours, and at each quarter-hour a set of sprinklers on the circumference waters the plants. An amusing novelty connected with the clock is the "information bureau." By placing the appropriate iron key in a spot, the bell below the bed may be made to give such information as the daily attendance at the show, the number of exhibits, the number of workmen and attendants employed, the rainfall for the last month, and many other statistics (1).

Floral Clock, Royal Agricultural Showgrounds, Ascot Vale.

State Library of Victoria Image H93.228/30

The Clock was a popular exhibit at the Show and in the 1930s the newspapers reported in great detail about the thousands of flowers that were used.  In 1937, for instance, 6,000 flowers were required to plant out the Clock (2).  This report from The Australasian in 1935 is typical of the many detailed reports - The clock, which covers a diameter of about 25ft., has as a central ground work a choice, low-growing, white-flowered sweet alyssum variety Little Dorritt. This is a bushy plant 3in. to 4in. in height, with a spread of 3in. or 6in. A couple of thousand young plants, just commencing to flower, have been used, and are smothered in white bloom. It would be an ideal plant for crazy paving or path edging, for planting as a low bordering plant in borders. Viola papilio in soft lilac blue shades cover the space between the hours, and the hours are worked in a dwarf Pyrethrum, P. excelsior, golden green, a variety of the well-known Golden Feather, which grows slowly and retains its compact low habit. A good strain of pansies, Roggli's Giants, is planted between the hours. The blooms are large, and in rich yellow-brown to purple tonings. Bounding the clock are Anemone Scarlet Emperor, and the violet shaded strains of St. Brigid anemones (3).

The Clock was planted out in the early years by  C. E. Isaac and Sons of Noble Park.  Cyril Everett Isaac established his firm in 1922 and by the 1930s had the largest seedling trade in Victoria (4). Cyril trained as a School Teacher and in February 1911 was appointed the inaugural Secretary of the newly established Victoria State Schools' Horticultural Society; one of its aims was to promote amongst teachers and pupils a genuine love of gardening and flowers (5). He was a Shire of Dandenong Councillor from 1922 until 1931, then 1937 until 1941 and a member of the Legislative Council from 1940 until 1952 (6).

C.E. Isaac's advertisement in the Australian Home Beautiful October 1, 1930, 

featuring the Floral Clock at the Showgrounds.

Digitised on Trove, here.

The Floral Clock was still a feature at the Show in 1940, but I can find no reference to it after that until 1965 when The Age reported that the floral clock, which has been absent from recent Melbourne Royal shows, will return this year as a centrepiece of an enlarged floral display in Centenary Hall (7). The Age also reported on the clocks heart of junk  (the cream separator etc) and said it had been made by the Showgrounds Plumber, Mr Jack Carlton (8). Was the Floral Clock on display at all in the 1940s and 1950s? I cannot tell you.

However, by the 1960s Melburnians had another Floral Clock  - the one in the Queen Victoria Gardens on St Kilda Road. In November 1965, the City of Melbourne Parks and Gardens Committee recommended that Melbourne plant a floral clock as a contribution to the City's 'beautification.' Cr Bren, the chairman of the committee was quoted a saying this will bring us into line with places like Edinburgh - nearly all the world's big cities have floral clocks (9). The cost of the clock was estimated to be £4,100. 

The Floral Clock in the Queen Victoria Gardens, taken in 1967 a few months after it was installed.

Photographer: Brian Ferguson. The report said he went up in one of the 

Council's travel towers to take the photograph.

The Australian Women's Weekly, April 19, 1967  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41853863

Fortuitously for the Council, on March 8, 1966, Mr Gerard Bauer, the President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Makers, presented the Clock to the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Cr Ian Beaurepaire. It was a gift to mark the Federation's participation in Third International Trade Fair (10).  The Clock was actually displayed at the Trade Fair, which  was held at the Exhibition Buildings from March 5 - March 19, 1966 (11).  After the Fair the Clock was also on display at a  Ball given by the Lord Mayor at the Melbourne Town Hall in the July (12). It was later installed in the Gardens where it was officially 'opened' by Cr Beaurepaire on Friday, November 4, 1966. The weekend before the opening the Clock was attacked by vandals who pulled out seedlings and bent the hands of the clock, however  the damage could be repaired before the opening (13). The Clock is 20 feet in diameter, the long hand is nine feet long and the report in the Women's Weekly in April 1967 said it took 10,000 plants and that it would be replanted three times per annum  (14). The Clock is still a feature of the Gardens.

A postcard of the Melbourne Floral Clock. 

The statue is of King Edward VII. It was erected in 1920 and was 

made by Sir Edgar Bertram McKennal (1863-1931) 

Postcard published by Bartel.

Ballarat also has a floral clock, which was presented by the the Ballarat Begonia Festival to the City. The Clock, which was 20 feet in diameter, had hands 14 feet and 11 feet long and was made in Melbourne (15). It was started by the Mayoress of Ballarat, Mrs Cutts, on March 6, 1954. As is appropriate for a City that owed its existence to gold mining, Mrs Cutts used a gold key to start the Floral Clock, which was located in gardens in Sturt Street (16). March 6, 1954 was  golden day in Ballarat as that was the day that the Queen visited the town, as part of her visit to Australia and New Zealand. The Clock was moved in 1980 to the Botanical Gardens, where it was operating until around 2003 when the hands were damaged by vandals. It was finally repaired in 2017 as as part of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens 160th anniversary celebrations (17).

The Floral Clock. Sturt Street Gardens, Ballarat

Photographer: Frank Hurley. State Library of Victoria Image H2014.76/108e

The Queen's visit was also the catalyst for the installation of other floral clocks - Two floral clocks, each with a face 18 ft. in diameter, have been made in London to commemorate the Queen's visit to New Zealand in December. One will be displayed at Auckland, the other at Christchurch (18). 

The Floral Clock, Albert Park, Auckland.

Postcard published by A.H. & A.W. Reed.

I also found a report that in preparation for the Queen's visit to Yallourn - women are working against time in the Town Hall to complete an 18 ft. by 15 ft. floral clock containing more than one million blooms (19).  I have no other information about the Yallourn clock. 

Victoria does not get the credit for the oldest floral clock in Australia - this honour goes to Sydney where on Wednesday, December 19 1928 - Sir Arthur Rickard set going the floral clock which he has presented to Taronga Park Zoo. The clock is situated close to the seals' pool, and seven varieties of plants have been used to make the clock-face and the hands. In all 14,000 plants wore used by Mr A. N. Allen, who carried out the design for the trustees of the park. The clock-face is a replica of that to be seen in Princes-street Gardens, Edinburgh (20).

Floral Clock, Taronga Park Zoo. Note the Harbour Bridge in the background. 

Photographer: Frank Hurley. 

National Library of Australia https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-160111046

The Edinburgh Floral Clock in Scotland, mentioned by Cr Brens and the inspiration for the Taronga Park Floral Clock, was first planted in 1903 with up to 40,000 plants in an ornate design reflecting a different theme each summer. The idea came from James McHattie, City Superintendent of Parks and James Ritchie, the Edinburgh clockmaker, using the mechanism of a redundant turret clock. In 1905 a cuckoo which pops out every hour was added (21).  I rather like the idea of cuckoo.

The Floral Clock in Edinburgh, taken in August 1945 by Cyril Hampden Isaac, the son of C.E. Isaac, who first planted out the Showgrounds Floral Clock (22).

Australian War Memorial Image P00687.885

In 1904, a year after the Edinburgh Floral Clock was installed, the World's Fair in St Louis, Missouri, in the United States, was held and a very grand floral clock was on display. The clock was reported on in the Sydney Mail -
Time's fleeting hours are ticked off at the World's Fair at St. Louis on a wonderful chronometer. This is the floral clock which lies on the slope of the hill in front of the main entrance in the north facade of the Palace of Agriculture. The floral clock has a huge dial all of brightly blooming flowers, marking off the numerals and minute spaces. Spread on the side of the hill, it announces to visitors in far-off parts of the enclosure what hour of the day it is.

The dial is 100ft in diameter and the minute hand 50ft in length. The numerals marking the hours are 15ft long. These numerals are all picked out, in bright coloured coleus, a foliage plant of dense growth, which is kept symmetrical by pruning without danger of impairing its growth. Flowers of variegated hue cover the entire face of the clock, and to ensure a perennial bloom the plants are changed frequently. Collections of 12 distinct plants fill the circles surrounding the numerals, each collection being 25ft long and 15ft wide. The hands of the clock are of steel troughs, in which plants are growing.

A thousand incandescent electric lights illuminate the clock at night, the white light bringing out the brilliant hues of the flowers and foliage as vividly by night as by day. The machinery of the clock is housed in an ornamental pavilion at the summit of the hill. The pavilion is glass enclosed, the  movements of the works being visible to visitors. The hours and quarter hours are struck by  a great brass bell in the pavilion, which may be heard throughout the greater part of the fair grounds. In the pavilion is also a large hour-glass of the time of our grandfathers, the evolution of the process of ticking off time being thus shown in contrast with the most modern methods of keeping account of the passing of the hour (23).

Floral clock and north end of Palace of Agriculture, from Ceylon Building, 

St. Louis World's Fair, 1904.

Photographer: Truman Ward Ingersoll

Library of Congress http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/stereo.1s03592

We will finish off this post with this unusual floral clock at Water Works Park, Detroit in Michigan in the United States. It was unusual for two reasons as firstly it was water-powered and secondly it was vertical. This following account of this clock is written by Dan Austin, from the Historic Detroit website, here. 

The clock was unveiled in the park in 1893 and was designed by Elbridge A. “Scrib” Scribner, the superintendent of the park's grounds. Scribner's clock ran on cup-shaped paddlewheels that moved as water flowed. The clock itself was made up of more than 7,000 plants that were held in place by chicken wire. It stood seven-and-a-half feet high and was 10 feet across. The dial was 6 feet in diameter and had numerals made out of alternantheras, a type of shrub. The rest of the clock's face was sempervivum Tectorum, known as common houseleek. In front of the clock sat beds of tulips or begonias.

By the 1930s, however, the clock had become a liability. Park visitors were no longer enraptured by its water-powered wonder. It also stopped keeping accurate time. In 1934, automaker Henry Ford had a fascination with clocks -- not to mention relics of American history -- and bought the floral timepiece to display at his Greenfield Village. The clock was altered, however, replacing the water-powered mechanism with a traditional pendulum-and-weight mechanism. Unlike its days being powered by water, the floral clock had to be wound twice a day. But also unlike the old days, the clock now kept accurate time. The restored clock sat near the Greenfield Village Gatehouse and was dedicated July 4, 1935. Much like it had at Water Works Park, the clock would delight visitors to Greenfield Village for another 39 years.

In 1974, however, the clock started breaking down, and it was decided to retire the old timepiece. In 1989, Greenfield Village returned the clock to the City of Detroit's Water and Sewerage Department, which oversees what was Water Works Park. The clock was moved to the entrance on the island side of the MacArthur Bridge in 1990 (24).

Floral Clock, Water Works Park, Detroit, Michigan, c. 1900-1910.

Library of Congress http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a22205/

Are floral clocks kitsch or are they an essential and decorative ornament to a big City, as Cr Bren believed in 1965? I like massed plantings of flowers, but with Councils out-sourcing their Parks and Gardens Departments and recent water restrictions floral displays are not as common as they used to be. It is unlikely that we will ever see new floral clocks that require the planting of thousands of seedlings on a regular basis, so we just have to treasure the floral clocks which remain.

Acknowledgement - The title of this post - Telling time with flowers - I wish I could say I thought of it, but it is from The Herald, September 19, 1935, see here.

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove, connected to Floral Clocks, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Argus, September 10, 1930, see here.
(2) The Herald, September 22, 1937, see here.
(3) The Australasian, September 28, 1935, see here.
(4) Dandenong Jubilee Celebrations Souvenir and Official Program, 1933. Digitised at the State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/248012

(5) The Leader, February 4, 1911, see here.

(6) Cyril Everett Isaac (1884 - 1965) was born in Brunswick to Abraham and Mary (nee Judd) Isaac. Abraham was a Congregationalist Minister. Cyril married Elizabeth Brown in 1907 and they had seven children - Percival Everett (b. 1908). Cyril Hampden (1910), Edna Myrtle (1911), Arnold Frederick (1913), Ruby Alice (1914), Bernard Miles (1916), Dory Pearl (1917). Cyril enlisted in the A.I.F in June 1917, had the rank of Lieutenant and Returned to Australia in July 1919. Council dates  http://seha.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/dandenong-mayors-and-councillors.pdf  and articles on Trove.   Legislative Council dates and some family information from  https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/people-in-parliament/re-member/details/24/1312

(7) The Age, September 8, 1965, from newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com add-on.

(8) The Age, September 18, 1965, from newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com add-on.

(9) The Age, November 25, 1965, from newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com add-on.

(10 The Age, March 9, 1966,  from newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com add-on.
(11) There is a photo of it here, but I can't use it as it is still in Copyright - https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/796146

(12) The Age, July 14, 1966, from newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com add-on.

(13) The Age, November 1, 1966, from newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com add-on

(14) The Australian Women's Weekly, April 19, 1967, see here. 

(15) The Age, December 8, 1953, see here; The Australian Women's Weekly, March 10, 1954, see here

(16) The Herald, March 5, 1954, see here.  Mrs Catherine Cutts (nee Garrett), was the wife of the Ballarat Mayor, Francis John Cutts, who was listed as a painter in the 1954 Electoral Rolls.

(17) Report and photo in the Ballarat Courier, November 23, 2017. I could access it on July 31, 2021 but it is now behind a pay-wall - https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5074176/time-is-ticking-for-ballarat-botanical-gardens-floral-clock/

(18) Weekly Times, October 7, 1953, see here.

(19) The Herald, March 2, 1954, see here.
(20) Sydney Morning Herald, December 20, 1928, see here.

(21) Edinburgh City Council https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory-record/1086024/floral-clock

(22) Cyril Hampden Isaac is the son of Cyril Everett Isaac, so it is no wonder that he was interested in the floral clock. I was trying to find a good photo of the clock to use, saw this on the Australian War Memorial website, looked at the photographer's name, and was surprised and thrilled with the connection. Cyril enlisted in the RAAF in February 1941 and was discharged in December 1945. His brothers Arnold and Percy served in the Army in the War

(23) Sydney Mail, September 21, 1904, see here.

(24) https://www.historicdetroit.org/buildings/floral-clock-at-water-works-park

The Heriot family of Williamstown

I came across this wonderful photo of Andrew Heriot's Sail Loft, in Nelson Place, Williamstown. It was taken in 1885. Andrew was a sail maker and a ship's chandler, a Mayor of Williamstown and the father of seven children, three of whom served in World War One, including his daughter Sister Katie Rae Heriot. Sister Heriot served at the Front in France in the First World War and, in 1937, survived the fall of Shanghai. This posting is about the Heriot family, with the focus on Andrew and Katie. 

Interior of Andrew Heriot's Sail Loft, Nelson Place Williamstown, 1885

State Library of Victoria Image H2016.404/57

Andrew Simpson Heriot was born in Peterhead in Scotland, on June 18, 1852 (1). He was the son of George Dalgleish and Jane (nee Martin) Heriot. Jane and their children Sophia (aged 20), Jane (aged 16), Andrew (aged 12), Robert (aged 9), John (aged 7) and James (aged 1) (2) arrived in Melbourne on the Champion of the Seas, on November 17, 1864, George having come out earlier to prepare a home for them (3). It was sad start for their new life in Victoria as little James died just after arrival at the age of 18 months and Jane, the mother, died in December 1864 (4). The family lived at Williamstown, where George was a Shipwright. George Heriot is listed at Cox's Garden, Ferguson Street in the 1875 and 1880 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directories (5). The City of Hobson's Bay Heritage Study says that Cox's Garden was a privately created subdivision and street of modest timber cottages, established by fisherman Samuel George Cox in the early 1850s (6).

Andrew married Catherine Isabel Rae on October 3, 1877 at South Melbourne, the service being conducted by the Reverend John Clark of Williamstown (7). They had seven children, all born at Williamstown - Eva Matilda (born 1878), Andrew Simpson (1880), Katie Rae (1883), Aubrey Martin (1885), Grace Jessie Buchan (1887), Francis William (1890) and Rae (1892) (8). After his arrival, Andrew, with the exception of twelve months spent at sea as a sail maker, has resided in Williamstown since (9). Andrew, Catherine and family lived at Inverugie in Verdon Street. The house was named after Inverugie, which is a small town two miles from Peterhead in Scotland, the birthplace of  Andrew Heriot (10). 

In 1922, in an article in the Williamstown Chronicle,  Andrew claimed to be the senior business man of the city, having been established here since 1871. His first job was the making of a set of sails for the brig Challenger, for which he holds a complimentary letter from the owners, Messrs. Tope and Holten (11).  His business premises were in Nelson Place. There are various street numbers listed in Sands and McDougall Directories, however he was located between Ann and Thompson Street; on the Ann Street side next to the Royal Hotel. The Woolpack Hotel was on the other side of the Royal Hotel, separated by a right-of-way. 

Andrew Heriot's entry in the 1900 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory.

Andrew Heriot also made sails for the yacht of Lord Brassey, the Victorian Governor. We know this as he wrote a letter to the Williamstown Chronicle in 1934 about this experience. The letter starts with -  Lord Brassey, ex-Governor of Victoria, was a sailor and navigator. "The Sunbeam" was one of the largest and best yachts visiting these southern seas, owned and sailed by His Excellency. The writer did the sailmaking work for the "Sunbeam" whilst it was in Victoria (12).

Lord Brassey's Yacht "Sunbeam"  1895. Andrew Heriot made sails for this boat.

State Library of Victoria Image H96.160/447

Andrew Heriot was interviewed a number of times in the local newspapers and we learn from these interviews that he was involved in many organizations in the community and as you might expect from a man born in Scotland, activities connected to Presbyterian or Scottish interests.  This was written in October 1927, when the Williamstown Chronicle reported on his Golden Wedding  - About 50 years ago he became Past Chief Ruler of the Williamstown Tent I.O.R.,  and was president of the I.O.R. Cricket Club, and also president of the local blue ribbon movement (13). Being in business in the nautical line, he was appointed as commodore of the Hobson's Bay Yacht Club. Later on he became treasurer of the local Mechanics' Institute, and then president. In connection with the Williamstown Hospital he was associated on the committee, and was president when the present matron was appointed (about 20 years ago). He has also been treasurer of the Excelsior Lodge of Industry, V.C (14). In 1906 he entered public life, being elected as a councillor, and for nine years occupied that position, being the Mayor of Williamstown in 1914-15, at the time of the outbreak of the great war. He has taken an active interest in the Scottish movement as a past president of the Royal Caledonian Society of Melbourne and last month completed a term as president of the Victorian - Scottish Union, being a representative of the Williamstown Thistle Society on that body. He has been president of the St. Andrew's (Cecil-street) Literary Society, and the family's association with the Cecil-street Presbyterian Church has been continuous (15). Interesting that he was very much involved in Temperance movements and his business in Nelson Place was located next to two Hotels. 

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Cecil Street, Williamstown, taken in 1972 - the church where Andrew and Catherine worshipped. The original Church was built in 1859/1860 and rebuilt and extended in 1870.

Photographer: John T. Collins. State Library of Victoria Image H98.252/5

The Mechanics' Institute, Williamstown, 1870 . Andrew Heriot served as President 

and Secretary of the Institute.

The building was opened in 1860 and over the next 20 or so years single storey extensions were added on both sides of the original building.

Artist: A.C. Cooke; Engraver: W.H.H. The Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers,

March 28, 1870. State Library of Victoria Image IAN28/03/70/60

The report of Mr Heriot's activities mentions that he was a Williamstown Councillor. He was first elected in August 1906 and resigned at the end of his Mayoral term in August 1915. Whilst he was in Office he had some big-picture ideas. In 1906 he moved  a motion that the Council investigate the cost of a tunnel, under the Yarra, to connect Williamstown to the other side  - That this council instructs the surveyor to prepare estimates of a two-tube tunnel, each cylinder for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and to show separate estimate for completing one tube at a time; and further, that after the particulars are supplied that this council make the necessary arrangements for deputations to meet the Melbourne Harbor Trust, the Federal Government, and the State Parliament, and submit the bridge and tunnel schemes with the view to learn what can be done in the best interests of the district (16). His motion was not supported.

In 1909 the Commonwealth Government was looking for a site for a Commonwealth Dockyard. Williamstown had not been mentioned as a site, however Cr Heriot believed it was an ideal site for six reasons - First - The ground possesses a solid foundation, with deep water to launch into; 2nd., It is the only site within Port Phillip Heads eligible for a dock, that is in close proximity to the railways; 3rd., The average rise and and fall of the tide is only about 2 feet 9inches. (This was highly important as there was not much difference between high and low water mark: no miles of mud to traverse at low tide.) 4th., This is the only side of the Bay where the largest ships of the Australian squadron can lie with safety (the American fleet had found it most serviceable.); 5th., That a large workshops building site was directly available, including, the battery site, military reserve and likewise the Williamstown Cricket Ground-a tremendous area (This could all be utilized for various workshops.); 6th., That the building yards would be a full 30 miles inside Port Phillip Heads, and therefore secure from any enemy's fire outside.  Cr Heriot moved the motion that - That this Council, desires to bring under the notice of the Commonwealth Parliament the splendid sites for ship-building and ship-launching, with deep water at Gellibrand Point, and that here the Government already possessed an Alfred Graving Dock and Patent Slip, and that these ought to be on Government land (17).  His motion was carried unanimously. Williamstown did not become the location of the commonwealth Dockyard - it was established at Cockatoo Island, in Sydney Harbour.

In 1909 the Beach and Foreshore Improvement Committee of the Williamstown Council proposed £14,000 worth of improvements to beautify Williamstown. They were hoping that the State Government would pay for the work. The improvements included  a landscaped walk from Breakwater Pier, along The Esplanade to Victoria Street.  This would have been a very scenic walk, overlooking Port Phillip Bay on the south and east of Williamstown and would cost £4,000. A new pier was also proposed  at a cost of  £8,000 as well as a Band Stand and Rockeries along The Esplanade. Read the full proposal, here. The Williamstown Chronicle reported that Some discussion ensued as to the reasonableness of the proposal, seeing that St. Kilda and Brighton had benefited immensely by means of governmental advances. On a division being taken, Cr Heriot was found the only opponent of  the proposal (18). Perhaps Cr Heriot thought Williamstown was beautiful enough or he felt that money spent on beautification was frivolous. 

Andrew Heriot died October 5, 1934 at the age of 82 and his wife Catherine died March 23, 1944, at the age of 89. They are buried at Williamstown Cemetery, with their daughter Grace who died in 1947 and son Rae who died in 1965 (19).

Three of their children served in World War One - Frank served in the Royal Australian Navy, having enlisted in 1915. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He transferred to the emergency list in 1935 and then served again in World War Two (20). Their youngest son, Rae, was in the transport service during the war as a marine engineer (21).That's how the Williamstown Chronicle described his War service, I can't find an enlistment paper for him, that's all I know. Their daughter Katie Rae served as Nurse in the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service and we will have a look at her life.

Miss Katie Rae Heriot, 1916

The Herald January 4, 1916 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242402940

Because Katie did not serve with the Australian Army Nursing Service, her record at the National Archives of Australia is very brief. The official facts of her service are that she embarked from Melbourne on April 14, 1915 on the Orontes. After serving overseas she embarked on the Runic for Return to Australia on September 23, 1918. Sister Heriot was then employed as a Staff Nurse at the 5th A.G.H, St Kilda road, Melbourne and the 16th A.G.H McLeod and left the McLeod Hospital during late 1919 (22).

The reason Katie Heriot had  a file at all was to officially record her service as she was entitled to a War Gratuity. There is a letter in her file stating that Payment of  War Gratuity was made to nurses who were selected in Australia and sent abroad in 1915 by the Department of Defence, at the request of the Imperial Government, to join the Q. A. I.M.N.S. R. Gratuity was paid to those nurses on the same basis as if they were "members of the Forces' within the meaning of the War Gratuities Act, 1920 (23).

We can discover something of the details of Sister Heriot's  war service from newspaper reports - this is from The Herald, January 1916 - For some time Mr A. S. Heriot, formerly mayor of Williamstown, had known that his daughter Miss K. R. Heriot had been selected for special army service, so the news that she had been recommended by Field-Marshal Viscount French for distinguished service did not come as a surprise to her relatives. In October she was right in the thick of the fray, working with a special army corps in close proximity to the firing line in France. She was among the first British nurses to undertake this dangerous duty. Her last letter indicated that she had marching orders to leave France and join a special nursing unit at Lahore Hospital, Calais (24).

The article mentions other Australian Nurses who were also honoured - Margaret Cumming, Madeline Alice Raye, Ada Gabriell and Nan Reay. The newspaper report added - It is worthy of note that the majority of the nurses figuring on the honor list are members of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association. This is a feather in the cap of the educational side of the movement. By the association all Victorian nurses are trained to a uniform standard of proficiency. Miss Heriot, The Herald noted, was a trainee of the Homoeopathic Hospital, Melbourne. She also had some experience at the Women's Hospital. For a time she was acting matron at the Homoeopathic Hospital, Sydney, and later left for West Australia, where she was associated with the Fremantle Hospital (25). Katie Heriot had successfully passed her final Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association examinations in June 1911 (26).

Whilst nursing on the Somme she met a fellow Melburnian, Reverend Doctor Rentoul (27), who was Chaplain General of the Australian Imperial Force, and was visiting Australian soldiers in the trenches. He had an attack of bronchitis and was sent to the hospital and was treated by Sister Heriot. Not surprisingly both being from strong Presbyterian families, they knew people in common, including her cousin Fred Heriot, a Presbyterian Minister. Their encounter in France was reported in the Williamstown Chronicle (28).  The Reverend Doctor was the father of the artist Ida Rentoul Outhwaite and in 1915 he produced a book of poetry, At the sign of the Sword: by four in a family. Two poems were contributed by his wife Annie Isobel Rentoul and Ida provided two illustrations, including the cover. The profits from the sale of the book went to support wounded Australian soldiers. It is digitised at the State Library of Victoria, here.

Sister Heriot also nursed Albert Jacka, Australia's first Victoria Cross recipient in the First World War. She wrote about him in a letter to her mother - We have Captain Jacka, V.C., M.C., M.M., who has been wounded three times. He has a dose of gas this time--not very bad. He is a very unassuming young man, and we are very proud of him. He must be thoroughly fearless (29).

Sister Heriot was welcomed home at a function organised by the Red Cross in December 1918 where she was presented with a handsome jewel case. The Red Cross Hall was crowded with friends and well wishers, she was officially welcomed by the Williamstown Mayor, Cr Dennis. After speeches and a musical program afternoon tea was served by the ladies, and the visitors given an opportunity of meeting Sister Heriot and chatting with her on her wonderful experiences (30).

Katie Heriot married Walter Le Brun on January 21, 1920 at Scots Church, Collins Street (31). He was a Master Mariner (32)  not surprising that she should marry a man with that occupation given the long association her family had to the Sea and sailing. In 1930, Katie left Melbourne for Hong Kong to join her husband, Captain Le Brun, who was engaged in the shipping trade (33). At some time they moved to Shanghai, and were there when the fighting between the Japanese and Chinese troops broke out. Shanghai fell to the Japanese towards the end of 1937 (34). Many Westerners left Shanghai  including Katie Le Brun who was evacuated from Shanghai half an hour before terrific havoc was done by Japanese bombs. She travelled in a ship to Hong Kong with 1,400 women and children and she arrived back in Melbourne in February 1938 (35).

They settled into a house at 210 Punt Road, Prahran. Katie died November 10, 1977, aged 94 and Walter having died the year before on May 6, 1976, aged 88.  Katie was cremated at Springvale and I don't know where Walter's final resting place is (36). What an amazingly, adventurous life she had.

Trove list

I have created a list on Trove connected to Andrew Heriot and his life and work; Katie Rae Heriot and her life and work, as well as other members of the Heriot family. Access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Williamstown Chronicle, June 20, 1931, see here.
(2) George Dalgleish Heriot died August 11, 1893 in South Melbourne at his daughter Sophia's house. He was 72 years old. His wife Jane died at the age of 44 in December 1864. They are buried at Williamstown Cemetery. Of their children: Sophia Hunt Heriot - born c.1844, married Robert Harris Dodd in 1867 and died at her daughter's house in  Watson's Bay, New South Wales at the age of 67 in January1910. Jane Buchan Heriot -  born c. 1848. Married James Taylor in 1868. Died in 1879 aged 32. Their son James, who died as a baby in 1870 is in the same grave as his grandparents, George and Jane.  Andrew was next, then Robert. Robert Maitland Heriot - born c. 1855. Married Martha Mary Wilson in 1883 and died 1918, aged 62. John Martin Heriot - born c. 1857. Married Mary Jane Shewring in 1882 and died 1938 aged 81. John worked for the Victorian Railways, you can read his obituary in the Morwell Advertiser of November 24, 1938, here. James Heriot - born 1883 and died December 1884, aged 18 months.

(3)  Arrival date from The Age, November 20, 1914, see here. The article talks about his 50 years in Williamstown. The quote about George arriving earlier is from the Williamstown Chronicle, June 20 1931, see here.

(4) Williamstown Cemetery records https://www.gmct.com.au/our-locations/williamstown-cemetery

(5) Sands & McDougall at the State Library of Victoria, see here.

(6) Cox's Garden -  https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/15006

(7) Williamstown Chronicle, October 8, 1927, see here.

(8) Andrew and Catherine's children - Eva Matilda Heriot (1878-1950). Eva married Alva Lee Cloyd in the Philippines on January 1, 1910. He was an American from Missouri and working there for their Education Department. They later returned to Australia, where he was also a Presbyterian Minister and conducted the marriage ceremony of Eva's sister Katie. Eva Cloyd died March 16, 1950. Andrew Simpson Heriot (1880-1952), married Mary Elizabeth Barnes in 1904, worked in New South Wales as an estate agent and garage owner. He died October 8, 1952 in NSW.  Katie Rae Heriot (1883-1977).  Aubrey Martin Heriot (1885-1958), married Clara Lillian Margaret Davies in 1913. He was an engineer and died February 12, 1958. Grace Jessie Buchan Heriot (1887-1947), never married, involved with philanthropic work and Temperance causes,  died August 24, 1947 and buried with her parents at Williamstown. Francis William Heriot (1890-1963) the Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, married Elsie May Rickwood in Adelaide on August 17, 1916. Died September 14, 1963 and cremated at Springvale.  Rae Heriot (1892-1965), sometimes called Ray and the only child who does not seem to have a middle name. He had a nervous break-down around 1927, can't find him in the Electoral Rolls, but he  died July 22, 1965 and at the time of death was living in Olinda. He is buried with his parents and sister Grace at Williamstown. Some of this information comes from the report in the Williamstown Chronicle of October 8, 1927 of Andrew and Catherine's Golden Wedding anniversary, see here and Family notices in the papers and the Index to Wills and Probate at the Public Records Office of Victoria.

(9) The Age, November 20, 1914, see here.

(10) Inverugie - You can read about the castle at Inverugie and some of the history of the area here https://www.maybole.org/history/castles/inverugie.htm

(11) Williamstown Chronicle, January 14, 1922, see here.

(12) Williamstown Chronicle, May 19, 1934, see here.

(13) Independent Order of Rechabites - a temperance movement. Blue Ribbon Movement was another Temperance movement. Andrew's daughter, Grace, was took a prominent part in the Women's Christian Temperance Union, according to the Williamstown Chronicle, October 8, 1927, see here.

(14) Excelsior Lodge of Industry was the Williamstown Freemasons Lodge http://www.lodgedevotion.net/devotionnews/masonic-buildings---articles-editorials-and-histories/masonic-buildings/masonic-buildings---williamstown-masonic-centre-2015-09

(15) Williamstown Chronicle, October 8, 1927, see here.

(16) Williamstown Chronicle, October 27, 1906, see here.

(17) Williamstown Chronicle, July 3, 1909, see here.

(18) Williamstown Chronicle, November 13, 1909, see here

(19) Death dates from notices in the newspapers, see my Trove list and Williamstown Cemetery records, see Footnote 4.

(20) Francis William Heriot - read his file at the National Archives of Australia here.

(21) Williamstown Chronicle, October 8, 1927, see here.

(22) Katie Rae Heriot - read her file at the National Archives of Australia, here. A.G.H. - Australian General Hospital.

(23) As per footnote 21.

(24) The Herald, January 4, 1916, see here.

(25) The Herald, January 4, 1916, see here.

(26) Ballarat Star, July 7, 1911, see here.

(27) John Laurence Rentoul (1846-1926). Read his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, written by Stuart Macintyre, here.

(28) Williamstown Chronicle, April 7, 1917, see here.

(29) Williamstown Chronicle, January 23, 1932, see here.

(30) Williamstown Chronicle, December 14, 1918, see here.

(31) The Australasian, March 6, 1920, see here.

(32) His occupation taken from the Electoral Roll. Walter was in charge of the Edina, when she run aground off Point Gellibrand, Hobson's Bay, on July 9, 1924. The Marine Court of Inquiry cautioned him over the matter. See my Trove list, here, for some relevant articles, the list is in chronological order.

(33) Williamstown Chronicle, July 12, 1930, see here.

(34) I realise this is a  very simplistic view of the fall of Shanghai, but you can read about it on the Warfare History Network, here.

(35) The Argus, February 8, 1938, see here.

(36) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and Springvale Botanical Cemetery records https://smct.org.au/deceased-search