lost village : sherbrooke & black diamond railway museum bulli australia u3a central illawarra
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Black Diamond HC & Sherbrooke - A Lost Village on Bulli MountainPresentation to Central Illawarra U3A – 22.8.2014
Kerrie Anne Christian“Sherbrooke Sister” & President of BDHC Museum Bulli & of Illawarra Family History GroupMember of early 19thC Illawarra - Shoalhaven Pioneering Families-Thomas Hynde - Green (1820’s), Hicks (1820’s) & McKenzie (1830’s) families
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BDHC – Celebrating 25 years Open Sundays 1- 4pm
except 5th Sunday in month & groups mid-week by appointment
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Bulli– Early 19th Century• 1796-97 Coal discovered at Coalcliff but
no Illawarra mining commenced in 19th Century until 1848 which held region back
• Early European contact by Charles Throsby – guided by Aborigines - brought cattle down Bulli Mountain during a drought in 1815
• Cedar-getting also commenced similar time frame
• Bulli derived from Bulla Bulla – Wadi Wadi for “Two Mountains”– Mt Keira & Mt Kembla
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Sandon Pt children playing in front of the property of Bulli’s 1st European Settler in Bulli
- Cornelius O’Brien (by 1820’s)
O’Brien was engaged in farming & whaling activities – was reputed to have co-existed peaceably with local Aborigines
– interesting in context of 1816 Appin Massacre over the mountain
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Many have painted Sandon Pt – like Grace Cossington Smith. The earliest European artist was Captain Robert Marsh Westmacott – who lived in the area during the 1830’s - 1840’s before he was bankrupted by his dreams of establishing coalmining in the area. William Somerville would later pursue the goal of coalmining in 1858.
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By 1865 Bulli had its first
church – Wesleyan – supported
by the Somerville Family - a
School followed
Sherbrooke Sandstone & Timber is believed to have been used in the church construction
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Bulli Village – early 1870’s
Slower to develop than Dapto etc in Southern Illawarra until coal mining- In the distance is “Mail Bag Hollow” at Slacky Flat and Hungry Hill
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Coal Miners at Bulli
Coal mining started in Bulli by 1858 & ended in 1987.
In the 1830’s, Captain Robert Marsh Westmacott unsuccessfully tried to break Newcastle’s monopoly on coal - held by the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC)
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Cokeworks at Sandon Point
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Sandon Point Jetty, Bulli
Note - Originally horse drawn wagons took the coal down to the jetty before steam trains were introduced
Good Quality Coal - used in Coke Ovens locally & later in Steelmaking - sent overseas for steam ships
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Difficult Access to Coast : Treacherous Seas & Steep Roads
held back Development - ‘ Wreck of the “Waniora” ‘
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Mid 19th Century changes• Pressure for a northern Mountain Road to avoid
access via Mount Keira • Opening of Rixon’s Pass up the Mountain• Westmacott’s Pass overtook Rixon’s Pass• 1858 opening of Sydney Campbelltown Railway
• Illawarra people travelled up Bulli Mountain to connect to the Railway to reach Sydney
• Bulli became the main stopping off point for Illawarra travellers
• Coal mining commenced• Churches, Inns, Shops & Newspaper in Bulli• Late 1850’s saw political activity emerge• Region wide push from Kiama to Austinmer for a
South Coast Railway in late 1870’s• Nth Illawarra Council starts – push for Bulli Council
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Bulli had 6 inns by 1887, & 7 in 1889 – 4 buildings remained in the 21st C
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Bulli Oddfellows (Masonic) Hall was centre of activity in the village in the 19th C years
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Bulli Mine Explosion –81 killed - 23.3.1887
Australia’s second worst Industrial Disaster – telegraphed to NSW
Parliament
- only exceeded by Mt Kembla Disaster of
1902 – 102 were killed
- led to a push for Bulli Cottage Hospital - built
with miners contributions
- Disaster to be commemorated by the
Black Diamond Heritage Centre in 2015
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The Disaster severely impacted families, Churches, Mining Union
Note - Bulli Coalfield was birthplace of Illawarra’s Trade Unions in the 1870’s – although political activity flourished from late 1850’s – meetings were held at the home of Alexander McKenzie in Bulli.
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Late 19th Century ChangesComing of the Railway in 1887
• Opened up the Illawarra region• Bulli Village shops etc moved south• Demand for coaching, accommodation & meals
at Bulli inns changed – instead of flourishing as expected – people went straight to Wollongong
• Improved market access for mines & farmers – dairy & fruit (helped Sherbrooke)
• Increased tourism • Note – duplication of railway occurred much later
& completed during WW1 years
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Bulli Telegraph Office was at the Jetty until South Coast Railway came in
1887 – relocated to Station
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Naming of Sandon Point George Adams’ home – Sandon House –
he also owned Bulli Mine & Tattersalls
• later some of Adams’ land sold for housing• but during 1930’s depression years a Shanty Town was at Slacky
Flat• 1930’s : “Pig Iron Bob - Dalfram Dispute” protest - down Bullli Pass • Bulli Hospital expanded
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Sandon Pt & Bulli post WWII :boatsheds & surfing continue
1950’s Changes : housing estate at Sandon Pt - Young families drove need for new facilities –
but crucially no supermarket opens- Surfing takes off- AIS owns & invests in the Mine- Sherbrooke’s story is fading away
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Bulli - From 1980’s - 90’s : Activism then Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy • Industrial land converted to residential estates• The SP Aboriginal Midden was known for years
before it was uncovered in a storm – studies reveal a very significant Aboriginal site
• UOW Archivist Michael Organ, after conferring with Dr Joe Davis and Inga Lazarotto, produces “Illawarra & South Coast Aborigines : 1770-1850” – greater understanding of Sandon Point area as a meeting place for Aboriginal people pre and post early European years
• In the midst of growing opposition to development at Sandon Point, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy opens & still remains – is now recognised as significant in Aboriginal Heritage
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From 1987 : Concern that Bulli was losing its historyBulli Mine closed - Bulli Hospital Maternity Ward threatsState Heritage listed 1887 Bulli Station building faced demolition.Community fight & building opens as Black Diamond HC Inc in 1989 Back to Bulli Festival 1989 - led by BDHC’s Ray BrownBulli Township Townscape Study – Miners Cottage purchased
Early BDHC volunteers : Mick Roberts’ mum Rita, Fay Haines & Fay’s mum Mrs Hosa
• Mountain man Westie Hapgood begins memoirs of Sherbrooke
• BDHC’s Mick Roberts, encouraged by UOW Historian, Dr Win Mitchell, writes “Little House on the Hill” on Northern Pubs
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2014 : Black Diamond Gallery owner Alan Upton’s “Sherbrooke”unveiled
by Jackie Haines & Rita Roberts
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2013 – 2014 : “Sherbrooke Sisters” brought together by a Facebook
history lovers group & IFHG members
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Bulli Mountain - 1850’s but too many “Bulli’s”
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Sherbrooke – named in 1880’s for Lord Sherbrooke – Robert Lowe - who opposed reintroduction of convict
transportation in Australia
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Sherbrooke - 1902- Resumption
Map after a NSW Government Inquiry
- March 1902 plans for Cataract Dam in Sydney newspapers had volumes on reservoirs etc
- but no mention of Sherbrooke
- Sherbrooke residents didn’t realise threats to their property until late 1902 – too late
- they fought for years for decent compensation
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Sherbrooke’s Heritage captured by Thirroul’s RTC Jones & shared
by his granddaughter Sandra
Sherbrooke Sister Sandra has been a great catalystfor ensuring Sherbrooke’s history is not lost – a great fan of Trove
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Charles Edward Jones & Elizabeth Spinks of Sherbrooke
– parents of R T C Jones
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Sherbrooke - Timber Menlike the Jones’ family
(Some also came down the mountain to work in mines during the week)
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Browns of Ferndale Orchards – returned to Dapto & dairying after resumption
Blackberry picking : also a major activity
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Bullock Carts taking Sherbrooke fruit down Bulli mountain to the Station – to Sydney & export
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Sherbrooke Cricket Team
NB. Cricket was played in the Bulli area by the late 1850’s
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Sherbrooke was renowned for its wildflower shows – charity
fundraising for hospitals etc
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The School – was Sherbrooke’s last “in-situ” building
Cataract Dam’s Ranger lived there until 1968 bushfires
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Union Church is Sherbrooke’s last building - now at Grevillea Park Bulli
Shared by Protestant churches & was Sherbrooke Community Hall – eg Banquets, political meetings & the Athenaeum Debating Society
No pubsNo shops
InSherbrooke
- went down theMountain
To Bulli
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The “Lost Village of Sherbrooke” on Bulli Mountain
• Prosperous community, located on Bulli Mountain above Illawarra Escarpment & west of Bulli Pass – from above Thirroul to west of Brokers Nose Corrimal
• European settlement on Bulli Mountain from 1850’s – timber, farming, orchards, tourism -benefited from South Coast Rail in 1887
• Floods (late 19th C) & Droughts (early 20th C) drove need for a better dam for Sydney
• Sherbrooke resumed for Cataract Dam 1902 – selected because of its geography & sandstone
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Where did they go ? Jones : Bulli & Thirroul
Many resettled on the coast - from Thirroul to Woonona, others went to Dapto, Camden, Sydney & even the North Coast
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The “Blinkco Room” at BDHC
Blinkco’s were one of the families who re-settled at Woonona after Sherbrooke’s resumption. Later their home site was redeveloped & contents from their home were donated to the BDHC Museum.
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Building the Dam – Cataract City : 1902 -1907
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Sydney’s Water : Cataract Dam
But today : Sherbrookeis off limits- even for descendants - big fines if you go in there
Sherbrooke – Bulli Mountain Family Network – 1850 to 1902 - One Big Family & connected to Southern Illawarra Families
Reeve Spinks
Harrigan
Wade
SmithersChilby - Leach
Blinkco
FritzCavill
Knight
Dumbrell
Vidler
Organ
LovedayHaberley
Martin
Brown
Williams
Jones
Taylor
JohnsonLaneConroy
Fletcher
McAuley
Pearson
Callcott Hicks
Cram
Wales
Hunt
WoodTurnbull
Parsons
BourneMurray
Campbell
McKay
King
SlocombeHapgoodCharlesworth
Candie
Keene Keegan
Parmenter
Hildebrand
Roberts
Black
HenningJarrett
Eales
Molloy
Downie
Ford
Osborne
Bishop Rixon
Nash
Wilson
Kimbrey
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National Trust Heritage Festival – Sherbrooke Event 2014 – by the “Sherbrooke Sisters” at BDHC
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Where to next for Sherbrooke ?
NSW Heritage Festival 2015
- FindingSherbrooke’s
Sons In
WWI
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Also !! Planned BDHC 2015 exhibition event The Role of the South Coast Railway in WW1.
Often, but not always, train engine drivers would blow “cock a doodle do” on the engine whistle to let local townspeople that a returning soldier , or nurse, was on the train in WW1Our aims• Capturing stories, reported during the WW1 years, of soldiers,
sailors and nurses being farewelled and welcomed home at South Coast Railway Stations south of Waterfall to Bomaderry
• drawing heavily from the Illawarra Mercury, South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus and the Kiama
Stations North of the PassStations South of the Pass to North of Dapto – excluding WollongongStations Dapto to BomaderryWollongong Station• capture stories of South Coast Railway employees and their
families who served in WW1
Can you help us ?
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30th Battalion at Kiama Station 1916
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Dapto : BDHC WW1 – South Coast Railway in WW1 • May 10 1916 - Kiama Independent & Shoalhaven Advertiser – soldiers return by
Paper Train to the Kiama camp Khaki Invasion on milk Dapto Butter Factory• October 13 1916 – Illawarra Mercury – Private Edward Clifford died of
meningitis developed while in camp – remains conveyed to the station and interred at the Brownsville Church of England cemetery
• November 2 1917 – Illawarra Mercury – Private Bob Hargrave returned after service in Gallipoli & wounded in France – welcomed home at the station
• November 2 1917 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Private R Hargrave welcomed back home at the station
• July 19 1918 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Private Clive Bailey welcomed home at the station
• February 7 1919 – Illawarra Mercury – Private Arthur Lindsay welcomed at Wollongong station and conveyed by motor car to Dapto
• May 16 1919 - Illawarra Mercury – Private Edgar Mark welcomed at station• June 13 1919 - Illawarra Mercury – Privates H Gillen & C Chie welcome station• August 1 1919 – Illawarra Mercury – Peace celebration march from the station
to the Dapto Showground• August 15 1919 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Private Harry
Chippendall welcomed home at the station• December 12 1919 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Dr Charles
Bateman welcomed home at the station
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Acknowledgements – photographs & information
• Sherbrooke Descendants especially R T C Jones & Sandra Jones• BDHC – Ray Brown, Bron & Peter Chamberlain, Graeme Stewart, Mick
Roberts, Rita Roberts, Fay Haines & Sherbrooke exhibition visitors• Sherbrooke Sisters - Pamela Rose McGovern, Sharynne Chapman, Susannah
Cavill, Sandra Jones• Historians - Joe Davis, Michael Adams, Lorraine Neate, Michael Organ,
Westie Hapgood, Bill Bayley, C Singleton, J Southern, A Cousins• Illawarra Family History Group – Illawarra Branches & members – T Bugg• NIRAG – Ross Dearden & Max Ackerman• Joan Adams, David Christian, Mary Blinksell & Brian Blair• Trove – National Library of Australia Digitised Newspapers• Facebook Groups - Pages & their contributors
– Lost Wollongong on FB,– Black Diamond Heritage Centre on FB, – Back in Time – Photos from the Past on FB,– Looking Back with Mick Roberts on FB,– Sherbrooke on FB,– Sandon Point, Then & Now on FB,– Thirroul History in Photos on FB,– Kiama Remembers , A History of Kiama on FB,
• ABC Radio, Illawarra Mercury, Wollongong Advertiser, NSW National Trust• Alan Upton, Black Diamond Gallery, Destination Wollongong & NSW,
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BDHC – Celebrating 25 yearsOpen Sundays 1- 4pm
except 5th Sunday in month & groups mid-week by appointment
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