KURRAJONG - COMLEROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC POSTAL ADDRESS: PO BOX 174 KURMOND 2757 2003 - Volume Two Issue Sir November - December 2003 THE MILLSTONE" REFERS TO THE LrmE WHENEV CREEU MILLSTONES ON DISPLAY AT KURRUONG MEMOWL PARK, BEUMD TO BE THE OLDEZI ITEMS OF EUROPEAN SmLEMEM IN "THE KURRUONG' THISEXlRAVFROM THEFIRSTEDIl7ON OF '~HEMILLSIUNE'; JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2002 JOY SHEPHERD WITH JUDY AND COLIN BAIRD, ONE TIME KURRAJONG HEIGHTS RESIDENTS COLIN'S PARENTS OWNED BELMORE LODGE FOR MANY YEARS COLIN'S PARENTS ALSO HAD A CONNECTION WITH "MERRINDALE", AN HISTORIC HOME AT GROSE VALE COLIN BROUGHT LONG A PHOTO OF THE OLD SLAB BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY TO SHOW JOY AT THE LAND NEWSPAPER'S SMALL FARMS EXPO AT HAWKESBURY SHOWGROUND ON NOVEMBER 15 THE SOCIETY WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND HAD SOME 200 PHOTOS WITH A FARMING THEME ON DISPLAY, SELECTING PHOTOS COLLECTION OVER THREE YEARS BOTH THE SMALL FARMS EXPO AND THE "HIDDEN TREASURES OF KURRAJONG" EXHIBITION AT THE KURRAJONG CWA HALL BETWEEN OCTOBER 17 AND 19 WERE ACHIEVED WITH ASSISTANCE FROM HAWKESBURY SKILLS AND WORK FOR THE DOLE PARTICIPANTS, TERRY CHURCH, GRACE FISHER, LEUWIN TUCKERMAN AND JODY GINNS
A few "happy snap" from our growing society photo album I I I I I I Dorothy Butler visits the Hidden Treasures of Kurrajong exhibition and enjoys a "catch up" with Joy Shepherd The Society had close to 200 photos on display featuring then-and-now streetscapes of Kurrajong, North Richmond and Kurmond, as well as St John of God and Camp Mackay Vince Groch visits the Small Farms Expo at Hawkesbury Showground on November 15 and discovers a photo of his mother, Thelma Goch, taken when Thelma was a toddler living in a Soldier Settlement home Mr Scarecrow Festival himself, Roger Holliday drops by the CWA hall on Sunday, October 19 to see the photo exhibition and spread some cheer wi Pat O'Toole, Louise McMahon, and Carolynne Cooper The exhibition was previewed during the "Back to the Kurrajong" evening on Friday, Oct 17, and was visited by an estimated several hundred people over the weekend of October I8 and 19 Phil Shepherd sells society merchandise at the "Hidden Treasures" exhibition Raffle winners were, Saturday, I* prize K Parmenter and 2M prize, M Wybom Sunday, I", David Hegatty of Kunnond PO and Pa, Mary Robinson
THE MIUSrONE IS WRITTEN AND EDmD BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON ALL MATERLAL COPYRIGHT @I By enthusiastic request, this issue of the Millstone includes the first of two instalments of the speech given by Mr Phil Peck at the Back to the Kurrajong evening at Valley View Restaurant on Friday, October 17, attended by some 60 members and guests Please respect Phil's work and generosity do not reproduce without his permission ~ f~~~),,~+t 7yic;lt wy 3;::,! ~l+!;;:;i-i2cal; - - - :~;o:~~~ pers~cctive and recollectlou 'ji :,Lc,~: ::::ji<)r\~??(?jii!?i)/ ', 1 wlrl also put hrbaril soi?;c i!lorr&$s 3;;: IeCO]?:;:::j~l;:; :I:' j:ti;;i';j;::- ~ fie,ipllts ko171 era, sz, if T hnl-!":?*:? n!!t u?r!>icc:~ 19,on<\%l!cr 1 IIC~C L '(711 ~~jill be:ir zvitll me ~OSC (jf >:t>ki YI:~L) 2ifc?<::14s;; 5 ~?[thc F~;L%%~LS;~LI~\ <;;i,'~it<; <?ill 1iill:e :>r,tjcc+ 2sticle ;+I :I-: <?:l:>?t:r ::$:I;(-):? t-;l?'~~? $OCI- <: - ~:ls~<~l~? - i-;:fi! ~~oulc! touch on during this!rrllc anct! tl1rink Ini!is:: "is ht$r eff~rt in : preparation of the Gazette a;%icl:: i mtist stress that history uxifit-f!ia:ite\ii gets (1istc)rted wit11 time 1 have, tried not to rewrite it but have endeavoared to present lile i(>il~i\:ii~g its accurately as possible Speciiic dates a:?; i;!ji)rnla~io~~ arc fi-r)m 1:i>~ personal records and t!~asc o!'-rl\ i3are:lts <?ild grnnclp:~~rnts! have!hi: benefit of having - spent :tt least 60 c ~ rriy i 7h! vrtrs as a n:;ide111 ill' Murr~jo!lg Tieiglrts II-!~~! ; At thc age of6 mv graridfa~her T~tenrxr T'pck- --it!? 4i!: parenff;!!chcrt rrnd, -, iia~li>ai~ ari;ved ia c~ustraiicr,n i:o~iii ski!,, tic ':'C;$I~!:~T in ;!;l~or?;i'[ X~iil i-ii: oh~iously i\-ould have bee11 raised and educaicd i:] :he! EllgiishAustrt:ijan cl:s!-nr!: or?hp h &,(:; -,-; Robert and t3-fnrlafr came tn the F!:ir\:li~~S~ii>~ 3r~a i(>oi\ af'ter zr~'tvil:g in $Jsry, ; Histon tells us that car{? :;cflie~?~et:l!jf F<iirr:ii<irrg - i-(c:rr"y c:rr:c~;ri:d i;? t4p! ~ark>- ; $j()oxs in the 1850's rjeor~e Ri-nver? cs::~k!is!~i;a :\ rirr-i!s <irci!l::rcl ill tlic r(ii-rai,;\y Creek iiajjev < aoi;l:: ;,cars later ; stiij -\ ;>oiril\';as csiabii:jlad ai :lie six iitijldred inetrc - i 7:jint ::,$I the: Tabasap [",$f:?;c 'i'his bccn~~je :,:ccn's Irt~, - h(:::lz j;a:~n~ed afier 1 Canon Scot! who jn the mid 180ii's est:~h!isheii an i~imsii!~ citriis i ' : orchard on the edsterll side o[ surr%jofi Road ill ill,^ : i~~l,,!, v 01 a:; ji:,~! /!;1;01: as Cberly f'n:!c I 773r 'l':ihnrzcrs 7lidge by \KIT sf't;y*?l:>~~ntic~l~ is!he r::,??!;!-r!!lni!lc Nor~h:So~lti~ we look at tvesi oi'liurrajong 1: begins io tile i,oi-th of Kurrajong ileiphts 811~: esteild~ ~(;iitji io!11c ' viciniry o1'rowen Mount * in niy early days i krie:v iite uucrpcrc; Cilci-i-y il'arl, aa i'anoranla?c>itlt ivt~ere CfiarIcy Habbs aid ihn~i',:!l;e!! i THE MIU~NE - KURRAIONG-COMLEROY HISTORICAL SCKIETY NEWS~ER I PAGE 3 OF 8
~ 7, It ~ 3thCll s oparuted 3:; a Clicllrc gri,iin-' A i 1, ali -,:-,:- Lii:r u, ~it?- 'tu8<,, lll\ r:rinpe:-s i,h:lrir:< n:~d 5eev u r?c)\\:der,?ic,~?!<e-,:i!irm~t,x>~i?!~(:l~i:ii :>I sectior~s oibells's Line of Road I';-'or mar-~y ;ears lie read z 1~ntcr zorb~ ni;d height grugc i3catcd 01; T3:lrraiow C'r-!?:!r siz~ated ~lr:)~n ~1ret':llll oflj:;: '?riajgt crctisij?g C!ierrv Pad was ilsrabiished ancl renaraeci iil more ret;tnt times vilth plantii!gs of flowerinn chem treas arid a ~eiiciiii ~ :i{~uc;ing up :,l iiic nrca " but the view Ii-oi~: the Trig Poijlt is ~:othi:rg ilc\t-: nia~n~!~c-z;'t - 7Tocl::\, believe Chen-v Park is in sorrle c!isrepair,f:rirther so~itt :ii!>n:: ihe riciige :it~ci being one ok'tke iii?hest points on ihr iieiqiirs ihai \;lcirlii\ aas grovel\ lo!:,c all ideal lo~;stion fir radio uild i;l~~iio;:y is]a\ ;ouici:i iiiisi; 5re j-tldlo 1- ", iza be-lr;lt*:d ei~ormouslv iiom rclav faci!itx ia this locat~ons, 2 r-,,l ;r: ' 7 -:<- - - ~ '1, :I'<; ' A:- A i,"+,t,$;l A UL,& ::;::li-f :ili; l,,ix2~< :<:L;k ";,:,rc,>as:f:l- -k & -,,,&IlCL LC* J - Ofice,Ail $IL'~ :jillc' ;Ic:;:: -,{:):, :! >;fc:~ 23, *, ('-o ;q--t~, Iht;,! iivs:ci ill!?jt;i;~xj!>t>(i j,,>:- :! F~:?ittci ot liq~<: ~!;~!I:E- *,!;li,\ifig- iit B ~~o~~~<iiia~s coliage ovvrlh-' ', i): L;:II<)T?,,,;c:>! ;,;h~rc kit;llp,!\zs ir: cl~nrgc ci'tt?e c-trci:a-d:; oa: the es:z!e I,% i+: ti?$~ig':l *l):~t i;e iirst zoa$ over Kurr~joii~?jiigi:s \\as ;i:-di; more than a {rack \jl:ich was push& j&rvl:gl> in i:le c:iriy 1800's?'hi:; :+~:;i, ;\ith ~li;~!:;st im;~o:;si\de gr~des extended a!ong \-\ii~at is no\% ki~wl~ :IS 'W;IC~S Road To it's Wester!? eutrcmitv xnci tiown :,I\:er; sieep zig r:~:: -* ~ - LieSLerl? apprimcil to!he c:lii ii" j,i ~k i iits,;,ts li3~j!<;is L,:S:~:L~ :;I' : I,, I, =r,!+ *? i % " *, \ to %!gin ~, ", -?I'>,,,,' *L *:I3 % rc:ia're it7 t!le!hi: n;;rror?; road was t~acci diirlne i-r:cc:nstritt;~lc,rl ot liis ciit roc;;; irt io-i7,-, ~; ])ulilig L)e;7rcssion?,cars(>f:h- : '""i' - -, ibrough Kurrajong 1:Ieiglits as vetlei \i'<,i-ii gel)t*i:~ii, >,ii;:; ~ -,& tvi,?-l,:,, I '7 - itc4 --;$,-,-,I *m?-i]~i-pi<],s:,li::13:~! ;,roil+: 'is ::?-i"str?f 1 ~n the years 1947!48 the ci~r~cn'r :~!ig IC:~:;C~ :~:: "L!? cutensron of a road cotnrneflced i!i war tinla c:o~-ni~?!: - ihrouph!,?or11 M; 'T L urnal?, 'i'l~is rcrj~tiretl co;~siderairlc \tidenirsg i,: iiic ciir soclc bci:ds t:mi,: 41" c,$l,> (,,;>:l<;h '-% jjoll5t P!>'": ;821?s!i#,>$? :;!<j ;; :;(,~t?>--!-, Ji-,-t<, ~2;lerg!~l, -, i,: i'ak",~<>n :t
THE MIUS~ONE IS WRlTEN AND EDllED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON A U MATERIAL COPYRIGHT @ ' 7;, :,- I, < 1 I-,, i i:l%i;-y ' -_\ ' 'TIie tirsr :L\ II,tf-*s, --' ;,';-:i,, i Y* 1;iii LC "J'here being 6 '7 - efrix ;-;>';: ;Tc-';c~j \:i'',-cc>v-;; d i h ; j r i C : :-~!~;~:,,-, jjl 1883 my fatl~es i,rsilc Charles i;as i?oi-n jr\ Iif j 7 :!t tj?r: :tw: ir'! is oi?e -,?, i " majrlcd Lojlsiallie,-,j, ;! I - : '! &:'u as::<: Sc it;?l~~;)?b~i- ' '''{E, Kescarcl! sl,~ou:s irly great - nraitdf:+:athei and sonv: oi' ills hie!:,lthers were farriiers it] their OW-n riglit I ~I!,ng/~ii;d Li 315s i l i ~ ~ ~ iio ~ i)~iticidc(i~e i j i ~ that having arrived and scirlal iii j\~~s~ra!i:~ ;kq; iitil: ;;;S~:~::?<!L;J!:S SISG tb!?oj\-ed t 11';- jn &r;-[?iils Most nc?i~t,+-c in tl?e ezrlv [(>;Oils ii'~1c 111~ ti<g,;jt;s c>!iit is sons t>fl~ie~~rv 1 1 '~ -,,61, '3:: 1 (1?,;~k (~<>:I~I~ JCL~LL,s: :;[~G;I ~i::ii ;is %;,,a L,i,,uI:;~~~>i:<s d~;;;lk~<);v- R~ad SX~ ;, *-r'i j,?? 1-,; *-* I,,,::>, ',:, \,,rrus production at K:m-ajorig iie;pllts moved fhrwnrii drrrine rile li:)2(1's with 5 ix-cl~artls prodzcing the :irc:?iesf iir~~~ti-t;;i;z oi'or~:r?>les 'Stle 'nnr-ges~ \v:~s c!;i~!ed bv 1-fenlv F:cisnrri!'i-cl; and S<ii>~ i isl;~~ 1:ii::~;irii) 'peci; \-as rht: lirsl son ot'iierln: and ihrv lie~h clhcr cir-cll;iids ;A: ~i,~ :;e;:,j,i-,:, hi:> - vct~ - O~~GLLI k r? * iji <I* T,,~ I LIII'CI-~O:I ' 1'ra:jk *, i:<:cr>?e> L3fj1cr j,,!:,~ ]>cck!,{~rc; '?i! -- :it<!?*oji*?'::!:~ci, El 11 Peck and Sous orcii:i~-cl in the inid i 920's 1 ~!r>csteii s i i ~ an awn bounded b!; VJari;!s 1 {ill i),oad liziiss 7 $,L~* ;-:" :<(;;id :l!?<,i ik iic>:i:l, I,- )-7 '[f!~ pi-iilla[-:i ::3rie?+ (>f()ra{:ges e;;ri;, i;,:,i;iiri;;q,, ;, 2s!;?<: '*/*,:,i c;o~~lmon, ft was quire TOL{I~(~ 11'1th :'!I?;?~s :I: >:-i,:,:jc ;K -;,:j~ l;~;!~:-1:i~ii~ *~ - ij:iil <,, came tho fate valericia :i Vi:r\ si;!:,iiii> ii;iitci ii'i~i! riisiittc:ti~:r ilavo!~: iirje a i-fj,,,8rlil - il;ii? ctnd at l<t~rr:dop~!icirt,:s mai:ii:::d \il>c!; o:l;el- ;lis!i;<:is I:;<! iinl-viested -
THE MILLSTONE 6 WRlTEN AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT @, - ~, n,, '~s,f\ 07, 4 1,,,z,', :c,~:,-,>?vt<\( 2?>',,,5,,$, h,,,:, ~,, C;I:':;:!:; ;!?- j?i,j"%'l-~**?,',,, < <%A,,~,,~#Lt >,2 M;~r\r Peck; at IVln~ratoin View Yt!rrsjo~;y '-Tci~rl~t~i - l-:~?-r (k: able ::PS:S~::IICC :,I' some ot: 11er dacgi~ters hr close to 40 years o:j l;oi:epcd ;'isiiors t:ysk $,aii;:r b:ig:c lo 135 i,ecor-& tlcrl- -,A> i1nd deiigilt; txpeiiczced h:; x-:;i:-i: :-- '1:!;::::~::::;ir; -etrcr! * * $/is fzther 1,~s Pes;ii ofie!? reiaied srijri-s i ~i 17:': :rtps ai-lij,?j:~~: ~i~,~~c,rz i;viil ":,? 1,L3 o:;d ',pal"'!;" 3,*;: -?' *~i' 1 ~ ;,, +< &,< k)&l,,la*,,, ict,>; \-ia f,<?::- **L, -*LA s9-i :-!2~: c:--z\,, <21i' ' ~;r i:ight: :\;ct or &\ :f,;tot!nt:ljn Vie\\ K::rrc,jorlq herg{t;c :::;:;(::j rf\ :?r:-':-r;7 il-:, '-7i;j ' 1, t<\j:'',% ~ c,, :v131y died jl,!i <, LICU x,<>iw I-i?; i' ",I The pniperlv Mouiitciit~ Vie~v 12~s rcid s, r \ 1 ;,*, zl,,- sbl:\ca :t:j4 * bit,g dcst-meir hv iirc in the e~,ri\ 1 i?3ij!s, Tklc Kurraioilg iieigjits 1I:e! \-iss c:p;:ici: i;;r ta;,filss ;,-<, tllc!ieencc haying beer1 tracslerred li-on1 the Blacfr Liorse!!ore! cnr Wi!ldsi>r anif Bosworth St, Ri\imond 'The enormolls biliidins at Kurrc,~orig Ileigh~s l)cinp cornoleted in 1928!t :s tl?ought that lf!:nii J{d\v?rd :'f:ck I\;:! j::s!r::~lr~:?l:2~ cc;r?licl2~;r- c ' *- I,?,, ;" Yotel 2nd that 17s son Frank her,ni~tc thi?!rs!- ii-r!lcc-r 'The sandstone foundations ()!'the bltiidin~ was 1-;1!11 Li-oin a illlarr\l ii1;lt? \:;:IS estc5!isht:d :idjncenl tct Eells li:lr: Rti ciuprox Ic;c: ii,iies czar 3;!'f~!;s Rd ;it tbc? fjei$:]-:~:s,sl(>rle ~:+q\:?$ ~~:yc!>~-~~~i~~i~t cutshepe and Jay tile j;)i:j~d:iii~r>s oi the l>~ili!!!i)i' - :!T ~\:Y!I ; i ~/fil:t: ~ and staircases 2~j~,!,~!t-:~jl;~ [:> \i:~,i~ 4:; :I rili!~d I?veil rc!:nil l!73 rt~cirrnr~~~ :;nd ~rasdear o;'rl-!>1:iiiiit1? -~ 71:i:h ~ I W < sweeping wilite r;rarl;i;: siaircasc ascci~dii:!;!ti ;, ~ii:i:,(~ ::I?II:; ii'o~t!b:l;~; -r, kt~lge djlli~lg ri>alrj 2-11 i,;:j;]s>i; ;;i ~i~~;:j;r,:ic~ 'Y:7[:;:&Ljc ;l;ld 7 tn Svdncy,, ~ ~ ~ ~ ti1 ~!:<>tl~ i i c>[ti~<: c ~ so!r]$\,\,!;r,i ~ ~ ~ ~?rr,!:~i ~ :-,;t:i< e ~ A x 1 : ~ a3~-f:cl y i?le,% ci " ; ~c);i$i L~:;~LQ &<)r)g ' < :;r~',i ~L"*- P 'Jz] L#;tj twrr&<;;;$ cgil~~ll,~l: ;) :;:)tic s\l~rlj~s, 23, ",7,~e,;L-, h~onc st;ii:cnse ~ridvxaxr T~::PcP~I~~I:~ TO F"i!!!c: 1 - i R? ~ ~ belo~l- j,~j~:>;:~,jl b~,~,ti<~li~l>, t'or thosc nf W:II nrhn 173r:~ :I cop^' :?!?I!: currer1l 1ss:ie ot'!'he Mi!lstc>ne will see 01: page 2 3 reprodtiction ol'a piloto olthe ilo;el which silo%\-s, ~1-i; tcyrs<:ci; l ];;ii:e i-ci~if< I,: In front of this stood 3 ~naiestic h:r~~~:tirie trt": \iiij~ propor?ions ;i i?iiff,>i' in:tlll~~!ib
THE MIUSrONE IS WRmEN AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON AU MATERIAL COPYRIGKT @ Louisa Atkinson's Day of Tribute at Tomah, a Triumph KC H S Society WdeG &nnifer Stackhouse adxd as MC forthe day at Mount Tomah Botanic Garden on Sunday, November 23 She irdrcduced Victor Crittenden of Mum Press who has pahed several of Louh's novels and exbacts a her "Voice ~m the Counhry" mies that -inthe Sydney Morning Herald d d g the 1860s In many of these dumns Lo& wdtes of her expedences epl&g and observing the changing seasons at her home at Kumajong Heights &nnifer also irbxiuced author Patricia Clarke who has wdtten a book detailkg Louisa's life and achievements The two guest speakers were imited to inthe day by Mary Reyonolds, of the Mt Wilson and Mt &vine Histodcal Society who prepxed a display feahning some of Louisa's illmons With Mary is husband and sodety &asurer, Ell& Reynolds pic 2: Victor Crittenden, Jennifer Stackhouse, Name, Meredith Hungerford, Pat O'Toole, and Patricia Clarke I am doing some family history and am seeking some information on my grandfather, Alfred Slingsby and grandmother Gertrude, (nee Cattle) who lived on Blaxland Ridge about 1889 Their children were Arthur and Alfred were born in Lincoln, England Others, born here, were Henry, (Joyce Bullock's father, I think) and Edith (who I think died in infancy) Then Gertrude, Alicia, Beatrice (Mrs Bullock from Bilpin), Oswald (my father) William, Irene, Leonard (born at Bilpin, I think) I believe grandfather built the school of arts or local school at Blaxland Ridge (?????) I would be interested to find where they had their property and anything on the time they spent at Blaxland Ridge The moved to Bilpin about 1903 Anyone with info, contact Joy Shepherd on 4571-1524 STATE RECORDS VOLUNTEERS Do you have an interest in Australian history? And would like to help State Records make its collection more accessible to the people of NSW? We are looking forvolunteers to work three hoirs every two weeks at the Western Sydney Record Centre, 143 O'Connell Street, Kingswood Do you have any experience in word processing or data entry? Are you accurate, methodical, have a good sense of humour and are not easily bored? Then we would love to hear from you Contact the volunteer co-ordinator, Deborah Sims on 9673-1788 or email, Volunteers@recordsnswgovau
Mackenzie Farm, Kurmond Spec//bl yews for 2004 At the ordinary meeting of Tuesday, October 21 members resolved to alter the meeting cycle for 2004 From 2004 meetings will be held on the fourth Monday of every first month, instead of the third Tuesday of every second month Welcome to all our new memben, Thanks for joining KCHS, and come along to our special Christmas meeting, December 16 Special members-only Christmas get-together BBQ and final 2003 meeting at Mackenzie Farm, Kurmond, home of Geny and Vera Bentvelzen,WBells Line of Road (& 56?1 There is no charge for this event, but Vera has asked that people book ahead with Joy Shepherd on 4571-1524 This is strictly members-only Arrive from 6pm and enjoy a BBQ ahead of our society meeting at 73opm BY0 everything like meat and bitz committee BBQ from 6pm, : Carols at Comleroy Friday, Decl2 Comleroy hall singing from, 730pm Cost $5 adults, kids free Bookings essential Megan 4576-0033 : ;WW The first meeting of 2004 will Australia Day, ~anuary26,2004,atavenue~ettobe advised Meetings for 2004 will be: January 26, March& May 17 b July19 w August 16 -AGM H w September 20 w w November 15 a~mmm The reason for the change is to better fit in with both our Australia Day and October Scarecrow Festival events The change should also allow our Rotarian members who have a scheduling clash on Tuesdays to attend our meetings A might big "thank you" to Michelle at Valley View Restaurant, Kurrajong Village for hosting the Back to the Kurrajong evening for us on Friday, October 17 Michelle did us an extremely generous deal, and then topped that up with an excellent spread - a great night - Thanks Thanks al,, Lw ", two "Back to the Kurrajong" guest speakers, Phil Peck, who spoke on Kurrajong Heights Hotel, and Geoff Taylor who recalled some escapades fiom the Kurrajong of his youth Thanks to Phil for allowing us to print his speech from that night Part 2 will appear in 2004 w w