NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY 13 JULY, 2016

7.30pm at Commercial Club Albury

Baker Motors celebrating 70 years selling motor vehicles

in Albury. Alf Baker established the

business in Olive St in 1946.

Speakers: Baker Family Members

Registered by Australia Post PP 225170/0019

ALBURY & DISTRICT

HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC

BULLETIN

569 JULY 2016

Annual

subscriptions

are now due

please refer to

the attached

membership form

REPORT ON JUNE MEETING (08.06.2016)

Patron: Patr icia Gould OAM Honorary Life Members: Howard Jones, Helen Livsey, June Shanahan, Jan Hunter. Public Officer: Helen Livsey President: Doug Hunter Vice-President: June Shanahan Secretary: Helen Livsey 02 6021 3671 Treasurer: Ron Haberfield Minute Secretary: Greg Ryan Publicity Officer: J ill Wooding

Committee: Richard Lee, Howard Jones, Ray Gear, Greg Ryan, Marion Taylor. Bulletin Editor: Marion Taylor marion.taylor7@bigpond.com Publications & Stock Officer: Ray Gear Meeting Greeter: J ill Wooding Bulletin dispatch: Richard Lee Webmaster: Greg Ryan Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of the month 7.30pm usually at Commercial Club Albury.

Committee meets 3rd Wednesday of the month 5pm at the Albury LibraryMuseum. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

Single: $25 Family: $33 Corporate: $50

Research under taken $25 fir st hour. Enquiries in writing with $25

Page 2 Byramine Establishment Page 6 Vale Leighton Passant

ALBURY & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC PO Box 822 ALBURY 2640

<www.alburyhistory.org.au> For your reference A&DHS account details are:

BSB 640 000 Acc No 111097776 (Albury & District Historical Society Inc)

The Annual General Meeting of the Society chaired by Michael Browne was held in The Banksia Room of the Commercial Club. Twenty five members and one guest were in attendance and there were three apologies. Minutes of the previous AGM were read and confirmed and the President’s Annual Report received together with the Treasurer’s end of year report. As Michael was not standing for re-election he declared all positions vacant and those elected were President: To be decided by the committee; Vice President: June Shanahan; Secretary: Helen Livsey; Minute Secretary: Greg Ryan; Treasurer: Ron Haberfield; Committee: Marion Taylor, Ray Gear, Howard Jones and Richard Lee. The outgoing President Michael, thanked everyone for their support over the last twelve months which has been an extremely difficult one for his family. He also thanked Jill Wooding who has stepped down from the Committee for her contribution to the Society over many years. A motion was then passed that no change be made to subscription fees. Faye Stevenson’s meticulously researched presentation on Byramine and its establishment and development in the 1840s and 1850’s revealed the actual story from historical records. Her investigations showed that we must always question what has become accepted over the years as factual about early properties. There were numerous different spellings of Yarrawonga in the early documents as the original settlers struggled to pronounce and translate the aboriginal language. Kate Benson from The Border Mail spoke on the popularity of the historical articles written by Society members and encouraged more contributions.

A&DHS Bulletin 569 PAGE 2

Albury Public School 1948. Class 5A. Lou Lieberman, Third from the left. Photograph Courtesy: Ron Haberfield

Byramine; Establishment to the 1850’s.

The Real Story from the Records

by faye Stevenson

Byramine website statement: Byramine Homestead was built in 1842 by the famous explorer Hamilton Hume for his sister-in-law Elizabeth Hume and her nine children after her husband was murdered by Bushrangers in Gunning NSW. The homestead was classified by National Trust because of its unique design, featuring octagonal rooms. The central room, known as the fortress room allowed a clear view from all angles in case of attack from bushrangers or natives. A beautiful garden was established around the homestead, the elm trees planted by Elizabeth are the oldest in Victoria. Visitors are able to enjoy exploring the Byramine homestead and the surrounds. The homesteadwas originally nestled within the Yarrawonga run, a station of 85,000 acres of sheep & beef. Today it is surrounded by one of the largest vegetable farms in Australia. The General Scene before 1840

John Kennedy Hume married Elizabeth O’Neill on 7 Oct 1825 with Father Therry as the celebrant. Elizabeth O’Neill‘s mother Catherine McCourtney had arrived on the Atlas on 7 July 1802 and it appears that Elizabeth was conceived on ship with her father being Felix O’Neal, another convict on the same ship. John Kennedy Hume was shot at Coopers store, Gunning by bushrangers, headed by a man called Whitten in Feb 1840. The Hume family was living at Collingwood, Gunning at that time. Elizabeth and John Kennedy Hume had a family of 9 children which contained only 2 sons neither of whom married. Eliza was born before John and Elizabeth married and John Kennedy (Junior) was born after John died in Feb 1840. Daughter Mary married Charles Barber and settled at Gundowring, Ann married James Kennedy and Catherine married a McPherson then a Brodribb. Emma married Richard Clarence at Young in 1867. Eliza, Jane and Isabella didn't marry. John Kennedy Hume did not have a will, his youngest daughter was illegitimate and his eldest son was born after his father’s death so was not eligible to administer the estate. This caused problems for many years. Hamilton Hume was the ‘hands on’ mastermind behind everything that happened for the John Kennedy Hume family after his death and particularly at their stations up until mid 1850’s. In 1829, London set limits on the location of settlement which were already well exceeded by settlers. For example the William Warby, Guise and Hillas families already had stations on the Murrumbidgee down past Gundagai. During the years between1830 -1836 settlement spread and occupation of land continued. When James Hillas was murdered at Yabtree in 1835 a private prosecution of the murderer occurred because the Governor did not have power to prosecute beyond the boundaries. In 1836 the Colonial Office decided to legalize settlement outside of the boundaries by issuing Licences to graze stock and set up temporary dwellings. Government created districts whose boundaries were river banks – the Lachlan district was between Lachlan and Murrumbidgee rivers, the Murrumbidgee district between Murrumbidgee & Goulburn River to its junction with Murray then along Murray. In 1845 the Murrumbidgee district was reduced in size by the creation of Murray District for land between Murray & Goulburn Rivers. Up to 1845 a grazier could have multiple runs on one licence in a district but needed a second licence for runs in another district. From 1845 there had to be a separate licence for each run in each district. Records in the Archives Office NSW and Public Record Office VIC contain the following information mostly from sworn statements at Boundary Dispute hearing in 1850 June 1837. Alexander Ferguson Mollison, George Barber, Hamilton Hume, George Edward Mackay journeyed overland reaching the Murray river at the tree Hume had cut 13 years before. About 1841. Abraham Horsefall commences employment with Hume. Late Feb 1842. 1st Cattle taken from Barneywater to Yarra Womata according to Horsefall - George and Charles Barber assisted stockman Charles Clay to move cattle down – a week after the station was formed the Rowan sheep came over as their shepherd had lost himself. About Jan 1842. James Gullifer and James Rowan went out to build a hut – Clay and James Rowan agree on a boundary – Clay in charge of Hume cattle.

Elizabeth Hume

CONTINUED : Byramine; Establishment to the 1850’s.

About Jan 1842. Splitters & fencers grumbled about the distance to travel to cut timber for

boundary fence and Gullifer persuaded Clay to move the fence nearer to Rowans - this was cause for a later dispute with Rowans, settled in Hogg

and Bacon hut – Gullifer not present. Feb 1842. William High, working for Hume, lent team of bullocks to James Rowan to assist in

building the hut because the Rowan team was in Melbourne – Hume cattle arrive at the time the Rowan hut was being finished.

Mar 1842. Hume forms 1st station on South Bank of Murray River below Ovens River junction –Elizabeth Hume written evidence.

20 Mar 1842. 1st dray with supplies goes down to Yarramomatta after the cattle from Barneywater according to Abraham Horsefall.

12 Jun 1842. Bingham warns Rowans about their trespass with sheep from Peechelba 25 mile away on Hamilton Hume’s Station – must be removed immediately-copy of letter on file – Rowans reply – says distance between stations is 15

mile. 25 Jun 1842. Bingham visits and orders Rowans of Peechelba to remove a large mob of sheep from trespassing on Hume run – they were 3.5 mile from the Hume home station. 28 Sept 1842. licence 42/526 for 1842 – 1843 year Yara Wanga on Hume River for Hamilton

Hume of Cooma near Yass. 24 Mar 1843. Downstream of Noorilm, George Angus Robinson meets Mr Hume soon after leaving Holmes who had lost his way from Murray River – passes Dalemore old hut 2 miles from

Holm/Hume. 30 Apr 1843 John Kennedy Hume baptised b 26 Aug 1840 s/o John Kennedy & Elizabeth Hume Collingwood Co King – same day and place for child of William & Anne Cartwright servants.

About 1843 or 1844. Andrew Hamilton Hume, eldest son of John Kennedy Hume (dec) first visits Yarrawomatta for short time. 9 June 1843. George C Rowan evidence - 1st occupied and built hut -built by Gullifer.

19 Sept 1843. Jeremiah Bowes commences at Hume’s station - Charles Cheyne stockkeeper when he took charge – Clay pointed out Big Plain when he arrived. Late 1843. Alexander McLaurin was stockman to Howe at Broken River and saw Hume cattle on

the Plain – 1843 – 1846 constantly looking for cattle on Plain and never found sheep or sheep tracks – been stockkeeping since about 1837. 14 March 1844. Yarrawinga H. Hume with J Davis as Superintendent in Bingham itinerary.

18 Mar 1844. George Kilminster married Elizabeth Hillyer at Melbourne with John Hune of Hume River & R Walton as witnesses – Hume name mixup? Gazette July 1844 for 1844 -1845 year licence for Hamilton Hume for Murray District.

Nov 1844. Bowes sees a large mob of cattle on Big Plain – area under dispute. 1845. Port Phillip Directory Yare Warnal Murray - Hamilton Hume. 1845. Philpotts establishes or takes over Cobram station on the Murray River.

1845 to March 1850. Jeremiah Bowes was manager at YarraWomata. August 1845. Yarewambut Hamilton Hume - Left bank Murray River shows boundaries. 1846. John Gray becomes Supt for Rowans station Peechelba – never on Big Plain until 1849.

6 June 1846 Yarrawomo Hume river - Hamilton Hume of Cooma - Jeremiah Bowes free superin-tendent – Myles Kennedy Stockman free – Anne Reardon TL hut keeper – 41 horses 912 cattle. Sept 1846 Myles Kennedy was employed by Mrs Hume for a 12 month contract as stock keeper. Nov 1846 Jeremiah Bowes sees large mobs of cattle on Big Plain – cattle camps there when he

took charge – Hume had undisputed possession until about 1849 – 1500 cattle there.

A&DHS Bulletin 569 PAGE 3

CONTINUED : Byramine; Establishment to the 1850’s.

Map of 1847 for NSW showing Byramine – Monks Boomanoomanma – compilation map. 30 Jan 1848. Yarrawoomatta – Mrs John Hume owner – 72 horses, 1531 cattle rent 10/9/4. 30 Mar 1848. Hamilton Hume applies of behalf of Elizabeth Hume – held more than 12 months.

May 1848. Andrew Hamilton Hume comes to reside at Yarra Wamatta Hume station and brings sheep on to station and placed them – Rowan superintendent Grey considered that he was trespassing on Rowans and Hume kept them there for 7 months.

23 May 1848. Andrew H. Hume for Hamilton Hume enters caveat against Rowans and Philpotts – states he has held licence for 7 years. 3 Aug 1848. Octavius Philpott, Cobram lodges caveat and Hamilton Hume lodges caveat 31 July

1848 - withdrawn 9 June 1849, settle with Philpotts. 13 Aug 1848 William & Elizabeth Jones servants to Mrs Hume at Collingwood – baptism record. 1848. Details of every run including boundaries and licence holder were published in the

Government Gazette – this led to a large number of Boundary Disputes which the Crown Land Commissioners had to resolve. 10 Jan 1849. Yarra Womata Hamilton Hume applies – Andrew Hamilton Hume signs at Yass -

90 horses 1700 cattle 6500 sheep. 12 Mar 1849. Hamilton Hume applies on behalf of the Late J K Hume – amended application. Early 1849. Myles Kennedy returns to Hume employment and saw stock on Big Plain.

Sept 1849. Map AO5678 Hume Head Station L Bank Murray River – T. Woore cattle Station – Jeffries head Station R Bank – Toddamandara R Bank. Dispute hearing in 1850 with CLC Firebrace from Wimmera district as Chairman/Judge Bingham and Smythe could not be in the role because they had been Crown Lands Commissioner

of Murrumbidgee and/or Murray Districts. 8 Feb 1850. Hearing of the dispute between Hume and Rowans to be held at Black Dog Creek . 8 Feb 1850. Hume witnesses in dispute –Abraham Horsefall and Jeremiah Bowes both Yarra

Womata, Albury – Myles Kennedy/Kennelly, Peech Elba Ovens c/o Rowan– John Purcell, Yarra Womata, Albury c/o A Hume – E J Hogg, Mt Macedon, John Grey, Peech Elba, Alexander McLaurin, Publican Seymour, James McLaurin, Maidens Punt Murray River, Thomas Mitchell

Thurgoona, Albury, Octavius Philpotts, Cobram, Albury, W H Smythe CLC – incomplete list. 8 Feb 1850. Andrew Hamilton Hume signs statement of Elizabeth Hume at Melbourne regarding Yarra Wonga settlement and subsequent events.

20 Mar 1850. Alexander McLaurin, licenced victualler at the Goulburn River. 21 Mar 1850. George C Rowan writes letter authorizing John D Collyer and John Gray to settle dispute between Rowan and Hume – Firebrace was witness to document and adjourns court until

next morning. At the adjourned hearing it was stated the dispute had been settled and both parties signed statement of boundary. 1 June 1850. Firebrace report - giving summary of evidence used to create information above.

1 July 1850. Return for the station 120 horses 3000 cattle JK and Jane Hume - superintendent AH Hume who had transferred his interest to JK and Jane Hume,Yarrawomata. 1 Jan 1851. Return for the station 100 horses 2000 cattle JK and Jane Hume - superintendent AH

Hume Yarrawomata. 9 July 1851. Thomas Chapman transfers Brocklesby to AH Hume - or is it 1852? 1852 map AO3969 Squatting district - Hillas old Station R bank & Hume head L bank Old

Station R bank and Boomanooma, Jeffries Head Station R Bank. July 1852. Caveat lodged by Rowans against Mrs Hume and another by Octavius Philpott. 7 Nov 1853. Hume and Rowan line agreed and signed off.

10 Jan 1854. Map of Run boundaries – photo of map- Also PROV Murray River 21 road map of mid 1850’s showing homestead location. 26 Nov 1854. Map showing runs on Murray River – Octavius Philpott’s Cobram- Bould Station

Back Creek- Hume Yarroweyah -St James Station Clark- Rowan - Beggs Yabba Yabba-Cobram 21 April 1856. J K and Jane A Hume transfer Yarroweyah/Yarrawonga to Elizabeth Hume. There seemed to be a lot of family politics going on at this time.

A&DHS Bulletin 569 PAGE 4

CONTINUED : Byramine; Establishment to the 1850’s.

26 Feb 1857. Elizabeth Hume Yarrawonga requests a transfer from her 27 year old daughter and her 17 year old son to herself – Jane Hume signs letter saying she wants to transfer it to mother, signed at Yarrawonga with George Hume Barber witness. This is the first document that actually

places Elizabeth Hume at Yarrawonga!! All other documents place her at Collingwood, Gunning. 28 Aug 1857. Run Plan 365A shows Yarrawonga owned by J K and Jane Hume along with stations Peechelba, Bremin, Killawarra etc.

8 Feb 1858. Elizabeth Hume applies for 640 acre Pre-emptive Right land at Yarroweya. Subsequent events

Youngest son Andrew Hamilton Hume died on 22 July 1859 at Brocklesby and is the first burial in the Corowa cemetery. On 25 July 1859 Lt Col J M Bladen Neill 40th Regt of Brocklesby died in a fall from a horse in

Melbourne whilst riding to his house in Kew from Captain White’s residence in Toorak. (Border Post report.) Elizabeth Hume died on the 4 July 1864 and was buried on 7 July 1864 at the Corowa cemetery

in the same grave as her youngest son. Her death certificate states that she died at Yarra Wonga near Corowa– information from her son John K Hume also at Yarra Wonga – cause of death – breakup of constitution, measles and chronic bronchitis for about 9 yrs. Dr Dobbyn saw her on the day of death. Children were John

Kennedy Hume and six females were living - deceased were Andrew and Isabella. The Hume family sold Yarrawonga in 1865 to McCulloch and James Kennedy, who was probably a son-in-law, married to Elizabeth Hume’s daughter Ann. McCulloch was active in

buying stations in Victoria in 1860’s. The eldest son John Kennedy Hume died 1869 at Grogan on Bland River - buried Young cemetery in same grave as a 2 year old son of a James Kennedy. Byramine or Burramine name? There was a station Boramamin established in 1840’s across

the river in NSW by James Monks who had started as a supervisor for George Hillas. George Hillas had established Mulwala and Barooga stations before May 1842 when he had their licence. By 1848 Boramamin had morphed into Boomanoonama and ownership passed to Jeffrey/Jeffries.

So who built present day Byramine and when? My personal opinion is that no substantial house would have been built prior to gaining Pre-emptive right title to the land which was not gained until at least 1858. I think that it was built in 1880’s or 1890’s because freehold title to

land could be obtained then and separate external

kitchen design was still used because of risk of fire. It was

boom time!

A&DHS Bulletin 569 PAGE 5

Special thanks to the Commercial Club Albury Ltd for supplying a meeting room for many years and also for their continued support. Please click on the logo to access their website.

COMMITTEE SNIPPETS

The Committee

would like to thank members who are receiving a mailed bulletin who have

included the cost of postage with their

membership renewals.

JOURNEYING THROUGH THE JOURNALS

‘Argyle Bulletin’ – Goulburn – May 2016. Colonial Recreation (What did people do for fun back in the old colonial days?)

‘FAHS e-Bulletin’ – June 2016. New website expected in 2017 to assist users in dating family photographs based on the subject’s style and dress.

http://www.historycouncilnsw.org.au/inside-history-look-dater-tool/ ‘History’- Royal Australian Historical Society – June 2016. HMAT Port Macquarie: Carrying the ANZACs to War. An Article About Writing History That Will Be Published and Read

(By a Publisher). ‘Link ‘N’ Chains’ Liverpool June 2016. Learning How to Use Legacy. ‘Murrumbidgee Ancestor’- Wagga Wagga – June 2016.

The Importance of Checking the Spelling of Names When Researching. ‘Placenames Australia’- June 2016. Toponymy 101: Power

A&DHS Bulletin 569 PAGE 6

https://www.facebook.com/Albury.DHS

Leighton passant

Leighton Passant, member of our society, died in Melbourne on 31 May 2016. Leighton grew up in Albury and delivered groceries for his family’s store in Tribune Street, prescriptions for David Nicholson’s pharmacy and worked for Murray River County Council. He was an enthusiastic member of the Albury Car Club. He had an amazing knowledge of where people lived, whom they married and whom they were connected to, as well as the colour and make of their cars, and he usually remembered the number plate as well! Although he left Albury to work in the airline business he maintained a great interest in the city and, in retirement, was always willing to answer email questions, never giving a one word answer but providing all sorts of helpful details way beyond the original query. Leighton’s poor health over a number of years meant he did not visit Albury often, but he always tried to come to the December meeting and the Christmas dinner of the Society. His expertise and friendship will be missed particularly by Helen Livsey, Chris McQuellin, Richard Lee, Michael Browne and Jan Hunter.

Origins of others at Yarrawoomatta/ Yarrawonga

Jerry Bowes - “Earl Grey”. Dec 1836 – Born c1813, Tipperary - married with 1 child - convicted of grievous assault in March 1836 Tipperary – 1837 Muster was with John Kennedy Hume in Yass District - Ticket of Leave 1841- Certificate of Freedom March 1844.

Charles Clay > Charles Cherry - “Henry Porcher”. Jan 1835 – Born Leicester-farm servant – convicted burglary at Leicester March 1834 (Life) – recommended for Yass District by Yass Bench Nov 1842 - Feb 1846 with De Salis and Smythe at Darbalara – Cond Pardon

1850 – Smythe was Crown Lands Commissioner, Murray district from c1845 to death 1850. Abraham Horsefall - “Fairlie”. Feb 1834 - Born 1799, -Yorkshire weaver– convicted stealing cloth, Yorkshire July 1833 (14 yrs) – 1837 Muster with George Barber, Inverary. Jul – Oct 1841 hut keeper with George Hume Barber, Yass district - Hut keeper for Hamilton

Hume at Hume River and also with George Hume Barber, Murray River in 1840’s. William High - “Sarah”. Dec 1829 - Born 1807, Norwick brickmaker and reaps – convicted house breaking Shelford, Mar 1829 (Life) – assigned to Ben Warby Campbelltown on arrival.

1841 with Ben Warby Yass district - stockman with James Reid, Runkets Island after 1841 and Ben Warby after 1843. Ovens River – Jan 1844, Jul 1844, Jul 1845, Jan 1846 Ben Warby, Runkards Island/Taminick - recommended for Cond Pardon Apr 1838 by Robert

Henry Jones, George Faithfull, John Dight, George E Mackay, Hamilton Hume, John Hillas. George Kilminster - “Bengal Merchant”.Jan 1835 – Born 1815, Gloucestershire farm servant – convicted house breaking Gloucester Assizes Mar 1834 (Life) – Ticket of Leave

Mar 1843 Yass District – Cond Pardon Feb 1849 – married May 1844, Melbourne, Eliza/Ellen Hillyer assisted immigrant arrived “Strathfieldsaye” Jun 1838 – child baptised Feb 1846 at Melbourne from Murray river – Mar 1851, Jun 1852, Jun 1854 children baptized to

George Kilminster, farmer Albury. John Purcell - “Norfolk”. Feb 1832 – Born 1811, Tipperary-labourer convicted burglary and robbery, Tipperary Mar 1831 (Life) – Ticket of Leave recommended Yass bench Dec 1840

by John Hillas, Argyle, later at Yabtree, Murrumbidgee – also with George Shelley, Tumut. Jan 1845 with George Hillas, Murray River – Feb 1846 with John Hillas, Murrumbidgee. Myles Kennedy – arrived before 1839, if convict - not identified.

Anne Reardon - convict - before 1841 - not identified.