Woodbine

Due to the need for a police presence in Shellharbour Village, a site in Mary Street was approved in 1859 for a temporary watch house that was completed in 1861.

A public meeting sought the construction of a basalt building to replace the temporary watch house and in 1877 the new Courthouse and lock-up was built.

The court eventually moved to Albion Park in 1908 and the Mary Street building was purchased by Mr E Thomas in 1938 and converted into a private residence.

The home  was later sold to the Miller Family who named it 'Woodbine' after their former property 'Woodbine Farm' at Croome.



Woodbine c.2000, former Courthouse and Lock-up, Shellharbour Village
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries



Outhouse, former Courthouse and Lock-up, Shellharbour Village Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries



Woodbine, former Courthouse and Lock-up, Shellharbour Village Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

Signal Hill

In the early days of settlement at Shellharbour, when ships came into the harbour, the Dunster family who farmed ‘Signal Hill’ (known locally as ‘Duster's Hill), would send a signal to farmers living in the outlying areas.

Early settlers and farmers relied on the shipping trade to make their living and survive. From as early as 1856 steamers called in at the harbour however the ships were restricted by the tides as the water was not very deep at that time.

Over the years vast improvements were made to the harbour; it was deepened and a jetty added for loading and unloading goods. A storehouse was also built at the end of the jetty to store supplies.

In those early years before the telegraph when communication across Shellharbour was greatly restricted and the population widespread, a means of communicating with the outlying settlements was needed.

Dunster’s Hill is the highest hill in Shellharbour and is visible over almost the entire City, even to this day. High atop this hill, the Dunster family could keep watch for coastal ships calling at the harbour. When ships did arrive, a huge wicker ball was raised into one of the large fig trees atop the hill.

Settlers in the low lying areas of the Macquarie Valley would then set off to the harbour with their produce to be taken to the Sydney markets.

The ball tree and members of the Dunster family at Dunster's Hill c.1923

Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

Draw tube telescope used at Dunster's Hill to watch for coastal shipsin the 1800s

Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

Windang Bridge

Residents requested a operational punt at Windang in 1926 but conditions at the Lake Entrance were not suitable.

In 1936 work began building a timber bridge of Lake Illawarra to connect Shellharbour and Wollongong. The bridge was officially opened 2 April 1938 and was 1,050 feet long with a 12 foot clearance at high tide, a 20 foot carriageway and a 5 foot path. The bridge cost £43,600 to construct.

George McIver was the head builder. A crane was used to pick up huge logs and poles (40 foot long with a big concrete block about 4-5 feet high and 3 feet wide), and lift them into the air about 30 feet. The logs were then released and a pile driver hit the pole into the water, to make the footings.

The bridge builders lived in canvas tents painted with a little lime and cement while they were constructing the bridge.

The townspeople held a party when the bridge was finally finished and everyone walked over the bridge. A corroboree was held near the Windang camping area.

On 22 December 1971 a new cement bridge was completed and opened for south side traffic access, and on 22 September 1972 the north side was opened providing a four lane carriageway over Lake Illawarra.

Windang Bridge c.1940
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Windang Bridge c.1938
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Windang Bridge c.1938
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

 

Shellharbour Surf Life Saving Club

In 1925 the Shellharbour District Surf and Life Saving Club was formed and new surf sheds were opened at the beach. In 1937 a meeting was called at the Shellharbour Hotel to kick start the Surf Club. Local identity Keith Hockey was 16 years old when he attended the meeting and he played an integral part in reforming the club. He served as Honorary Secretary until 1952.

During the war years the club folded up, though the reel was still on hand at the beach if anyone needed assistance in the water. After the war, the Army sold off a lot of its assets. Jim Cullen, owner of the Ocean Beach Hotel, with the help of donations from the local community managed  to get a Nissan Hut from near the Steelworks that had been used as an Army canteen. The Nissan Hut was brought on a truck from Warrawong and became the first club house. For the first couple of years, Shellharbour Workers Club rented the hall from the Surf Club for £5 per week, and with this money, the club house was paid off.

In 1962, Keith was appointed Secretary of the Shellharbour South Beach Committee, which was formed to establish life saving on South Shellharbour beach during the holiday period. Campers at South beach would not walk over to North beach for a swim and it became very dangerous.

Shellharbour Council put a lifesaver on the beach during the weekends and eventually increased this to full time, and Lifesavers have been on the beach ever since.

Shellharbour Surf Lifesaving Club 1957.
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Beatrice Slater

Beatrice was born at Waverley in 1900.  She lived in the same one room house that  her husband built at Oak Flats in 1920 on the west side of Horsley Creek, until she was 100 years old.

Mr. Slater worked as a timber getter for Bernard Kirton, a saw miller from Thirroul. Kirton had purchased 266 acres of the Kembla Vista Estate (Oak Flats) and  had a contract to supply pit props for the coal mines. The swamp oak casuarinas glauca was perfect for pit props and grew all over the Kembla Vista Estate .

Mr. Slater was also a bridge builder and built the bridge on The Esplanade in the 1920s. He also helped built the first Windang Bridge, opened in 1938. The first bridge built across Horsley Creek, near the Slater’s family home was built by Mr.Slater but unfortunately it washed away in a flood. The replacement bridge that exists today was named Slater's Bridge, in honour of the family.

There weren't any buildings at Oak Flats when the Slater family arrived, just one house owned by the land agents, Watts’. The Slater's added one room at a time to their house - just what they could afford, bit by bit. The  home was made of fibro and iron. The windows were purchased from Waters, and the timber came from a saw mill up the coast. The floor was given to them by the local rifle range and was 4 inches thick. The front door was made out of tram seats from Sydney.

Beatrice Slater used to swim in Slater’s Creek every morning at 6am. One day eight children walked onto the middle of the bridge and jumped off into the creek, where they became stuck. Beatrice swam out and swan each child back to shore. This was when she was 75 years old.

Sadly Beatrice's husband died when she was just 50 years old but she always had the company of her 70 year old Cockatoo, Cocky, who she shared a cup of tea with every day.

Beatrice lived through two world wars, men landing on the moon, and the development of the automobile. Beatrice Slater died in 2002 aged 102 years. (Information Gillis, K, 'Oak Flats A Garden Suburb')

Beatrice Slaters house at Oak Flats c.2000
Tongarra Museum.

Tram seat front doors, Beatrice Slaters house c.2000
Tongarra Museum.

Slater residence c.2000
Tongarra Museum.

Evelyn Owen

Evelyn (Evo) Owen was born 15 May 1915 and grew up in Wollongong. His mother Constance, was the daughter of Sir William McMillan who farmed a property called ’Riverfarm’ at Tongarra.

 As a young man Evo lived in a hut at the foot of Macquarie Pass, and worked on the prototype for his famous Owen Gun, at Brewster’s Garage at Albion Park. He became one of the greatest Australian heroes of World War II when he invented the Owen submachine gun, which contained just one moving part.

The Owen Gun could be used easily and reliably in jungle warfare, unlike other guns available at the time. In New Guinea and at Kokoda during World War II the gun proved its worth to Australian Soldiers in battle, operating in wet, humid and muddy conditions with no problems at all.

The Owen gun was the subject of much scrutiny for many years by the authorities, who preferred the British Thompson gun, and delayed its manufacture for years. The Owen gun was manufactured for £12 against the Thompson’s £50, and never jammed.

Evelyn enlisted in the AIF 2/17 Infantry Battalion in 1940  but was discharged in 1941 for employment in a reserved occupation. 

Evo’s Owen Gun was tested and produced at Lysaghts, Port Kembla, and cleared for production on 23 September 1943, becoming a vital part of the defence of Australia in WWII.

Evelyn got little recognition of his famous Owen Gun, and a large portion of the money he made for his invention was taxed. He died 1 April 1949, just short of his 34^th  birthday.

Lest We Forget.

Evelyn Owen c.1940
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries. 

Evelyn Owen c.1940
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Macquarie Pass

Aboriginal people  travelled up and down a track from the valley at Macquarie Pass to the escarpment for thousands of years before European settlers came to the area. Tullimbar camped with his tribe at the base of Macquarie Pass.

During the early years of settlement, when cedar was cut and transported to the harbour, many tracks were made through the thick forest. Ben Rixon was paid £5 to cut a path for horsemen, drays and buggies.    

Mr. Carl Webber was employed to map a route for a road up Macquarie Pass when pressed by the local residents. Archibald Campbell MLA for the Illawarra paid for the cost of the initial survey.

                

On the 4th July 1898 Macquarie Pass was officially opened with over 600 people attending the festivities. The Albion Park Band entertained the crowds and a banquet was held at the Commercial Hotel at Albion Park; officiated by Louis Robert Mood of Shellharbour.

A marble tablet marking the opening of the Pass was placed on a rock wall at the top hair pin bend.

It reads - Macquarie Pass opened July 4^th 1898 by the Hon. J. B. Young Minister for Works and Archibald Campbell M.P., this tablet erected by the Borough Council L. R. Mood Mayor Shellharbour, S.N. Co. J. Fraser J.P. Chairman, Albion Park A&H Society J. Brownlie President Robertson A. Society W.R. Hindmarsh President. 

Macquarie Pass Survey Camp c.1894
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Ladies on Macquarie Pass c.1898
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Macquarie Pass c.1898
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Historypin

Historypin is a website and social media tool designed to bring millions of people together from across different generations, cultures and countries; to share glimpses of the past and eventually build up a larger story of human history.

Historypin operates in partnership with Google and uses Google Maps to 'pin' historic photographs of people, places and events, from across the globe.

Shellharbour City Libraries and Museum have added some of our Shellharbour Images photograph collection to the Histroypin map, and have made a channel on the website. So far we've added over 100 'pins' of people, places and events significant to Shellharbour City.

Happy searching,

http://www.historypin.com/channels/view/13585037/

Seal meets man on the site of the Cities Service Boston shipwreck at Bass Point c.1950
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

Whispering Gallery

Whispering Gallery lies on part of the original Croome Estate.

The Gallery is a natural cavern, 200 feet deep in places, approaching a quarter mile long and about 300 feet wide. It contains several threatened and other species of flora including sassafras, staghorn fern, fig, wild orchid, and some of the oldest and least touched forests along the Eastern seaboard.

By 1840, Whispering Gallery was a significant tourist and picnic site that continued into the early 20^th century. It is noted in guesthouse, road and railway tourist booklets.

Whispering Gallery is said to take its name from its acoustic properties, which resemble those of the celebrated whispering gallery of St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

This circular cavern has been washed out from beneath the overhanging basaltic rock by the slow action of the weather and waterfall.



Whispering Gallery c.1910
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries




Whispering Gallery c.2003
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries



Edward Killalea

Edward Killalea was born in County Galway, Ireland in c.1816. When Edward was 19 years old he was involved in a brawl in which two men were killed. On 17 March 1836 he was charged with Manslaughter at Galway and sentenced to transportation to Australia for the term of his natural life.

Edward was transported on the ship Captain Cook 3, which    arrived in NSW 13th November 1836. Edward was described on arrival as being 20 years of age, could read and write, was single, Roman Catholic, farm servant, no former convictions and was 5'5 ½ tall. Edward was issued a ticket of leave 11th January 1845 with a Conditional Pardon granted in 1850.

In 1847 he married Maria/Mary Rolwright/Molright at Jamberoo NSW. Edward acquired a leasehold on the Bassett-Darley Estate in the area we associate with Killalea today. He also had land at Kiama and Foxground. Edward and Maria had 12 children.

Edward became a major pioneer of Shellharbour and an enterprising settler. He was an Alderman on Shellharbour Municipal Council from 1870-1872 and was on the committee to form the Shellharbour Steam Navigation Company. In 1868, Edward became involved in a gold prospecting venture at Killalea Beach (The Farm) with Thomas Henry, after  discovering alluvial gold in the beach sand. The enterprise eventually failed and Henry left for the goldfields at Nerriga NSW. In 1872 Thomas A Reddall and Killalea reopened the mining operations, however Edward Killalea died later that year and mining ceased.

Edward died suddenly at the Commercial Hotel in  Wollongong in 1872 after enduring several seizures. An article in the Kiama Independent stated ‘The late Mr. Killalea, an old resident of Shellharbour an Alderman of the borough, the father of a large family of seven sons and five daughters, very generally, indeed we may say universally, respected for the kindliness of his disposition and integrity of character’ .

The Coroner and jury found ‘that deceased, Edward Killalea, came to his death by strychnine, taken by him whilst labouring under the effects of excessive drinking’. A bottle marked ‘Poison’ was found in his pocket. He was buried at the Shellharbour foreshore cemetery.  Maria lived to 86 years. She had left Edward several months prior to his death.

 

Shellharbour Municipal Alderman c.1870. Edward Killalea third from right.
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

The Farm Killalea and lagoon 1987.
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

Old Minnamurra School House

In 1881, two acres of land were resumed under the Acquisition Act from George Laurence Fuller’s Dunmore Estate for a school and residence. Mr. Fuller petitioned for the new school to be renamed  Minnamurra School in preference of the old Peterborough School situated on the opposite corner. In 1884, settlement conditions between Fuller and the Council of Education included ‘that the school be called Minnamurra Public School’. Reputedly built by Anton Ettinghausen, John Dwyer and Frederick Watson (carpenter, wheelwright and stonemason), it was officially opened as Minnamurra Public School in 1883 with Mr Richardson as Teacher. Minnamurra School is one of the oldest examples of public school buildings in the area. Both the school and residence demonstrate excellent use of local materials, and have been lovingly restored.

Minnamurra Schoolhouse at Dunmore.
Tongarra Museum.

Minnamurra teachers residence, Swamp Road, Dunmore.
Tongarra Museum.

Wetland Bird Walk - Lake Illawarra

Take a walk around Lake Illawarra on Sunday 7 October and try to spy some of Shellharbour's local wetland birds. Bookings are essential.

 

Toongla Homestead

Toongla is a beautiful Victorian homestead built on a portion of land originally granted to John Paul called ‘Tullimbar’. Maurice Scanlon purchased the property in 1873 from solicitor William Billyard, who reputedly built the house. Maurice Scanlon’s daughter married prominent Albion Park figure Gabriel Timbs Junior, and their wedding reception was held at Toongla.

In 1898, William Moles, a man of much standing in the locality, purchased the property. Moles arrived at Shellharbour in 1841 as a young boy with his father Alexander and they farmed on a clearing lease near Killalea before moving to Tullimbar. 

William married the daughter of Illawarra Shorthorn pioneer Andrew McGill and was a founding member of Shellharbour Municipal Council, serving as Mayor from 1860-1861, and Alderman, 1859-1863, 1866- 1867. Among the many local improvements Moles directed were those for education, development and dairying.

After his death in 1911 Toongla passed to his daughters, Marion and Barbara Moles.

Toongla at Tullimbar.
Tongarra Museum.



Toongla front verandah looking north west.
Tongarra Museum.



Toongla silo
Tongarra Museum.

The Ghost of Courtney Puckey Guided Walking Tour

Take a guided walk with a twist and uncover the history and magic of Puckeys Estate in Fairy Meadow. Learn about the intriguing history, the environmental significance and the aboriginal culture of this beautiful piece of natural coastal vegetation. You may even get to meet the infamous Courtney Puckey himself!

Thursday 13th September

10am-12pm

Cost: $8.50pp

What to bring: Hat and water, comfortable walking shoes

 Meet at Stuart Park car park behind the Lagoon restaurant at 10am

 

Bookings are essential by calling 4225 2636 or 4229 2600

Marks Villa

An old silo and fig trees mark the site of the original ‘Marks Villa’ homestead, near the Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park Rail.

The Johnston family, a well known farming family from Albion Park, leased ‘Marks Villa’ from John Russell in 1907 and then purchased the property at the Russell Estate sale in 1916.

‘Marks Villa’ homestead had two large bedrooms and a  lounge room, a kitchen and laundry. The verandah was closed in by the Johnston family and the children slept in there.

During World War II  the Department of Defence resumed part of the Johnston’s farm when they built the airstrip in 1942. This put great strain on the Johnston family and their dairying business, as much of their fertile farming land had been lost. At times the cheque the family received for their milk did not cover costs and the family almost went bankrupt.

Mrs. Mimie Johnston’s brother James Russell East was the Mayor of Shellharbour during the war years and tried to stop the land from being taken, however he was unsuccessful. Many sacrifices were made by local people during the war.

The homestead was relocated to a site behind the historic home ‘Ravensthorpe’, some two kilometers to the west. The house was lifted up, put on blocks and transported across the paddock. This caused a huge disruption to the family for a number of years.

The Johnston's were provided some compensation from the government for the resumption of their precious land, however it didn't amount to much and certainly did not cover the costs they incurred.

‘Marks Villa’ still lies behind Ravensthorpe homestead today.

 

The Johnston family outside Marks Villa at Albion Park c.1910
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

John Alfred and Mimie East c.1910
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries.

History Week Bus Tour

Learn more about the history of Shellharbour City with a guided bus tour of our most significant historic sites.

Participants will see over 50 historic buildings on the tour and travel all over the city; from Shellharbour Village to Tullimbar.

A stop off will be made at the Old Minnamurra School House, Dunmore.

Bookings are essential.

Local Government Week 2012

To celebrate Local Government Week, Shellharbour City Council invited school students to Blackbutt Forest, to become involved in and learn about the range of projects managed by Council staff.

All the children enjoyed the archaeological digs organised by Tongarra Museum. This was voted most popular activity on the day.

Thank you to the Albion Park Men's Shed for building our fantastic dig boxes!

History events in the Illawarra - August 2012

Kiama Family History Centre is hosting a family history writing workshop 25 August 2012 from 10am-1pm & the Mount Kembla Heritage Centre is launching its new Pit Pony exhibition in the afternoon from 2pm.

Why not make a day of it and enjoy what our region has to offer!

Writing and publishing your family history workshop - Kiama Library

This workshop will provide useful strategies to get you writing! Noeline Kyle and Lorraine Purcell will give you the information you need to get your precious family story into print.

Saturday 25^th of August 2012, 10am to 1pm

$30.00 per person

Bookings essential Kiama Family History Centre

7 Railway Parade, Kiama • Telephone: 4233 1133

Pit Pony exhibition launch - Mount Kembla Heritage Centre

Isabella McGill

Isabella McGill (nee Russell) was one of the first generation of local girls born at Shellharbour.

Her parents were Ebenezer and Janet Russell (nee Meek) who came to Shellharbour from Linlithgow Scotland in 1840, when Isabella and her twin sister Janet were seven years old.

In 1869, Isabella married James McGill (son of Andrew and Jane) at her parents' home at Croom. Isabella and James farmed 'The Meadows' at Albion Park before moving to Stoney Creek in 1883.

Isabella became renowned in the area as a good nurse and midwife, and used bush methods to assist her patients. In the 1880s she treated many who had contracted diphtheria in an epidemic that affected many people in Shellharbour, especially children.

Diphtheria weakened the body and claimed up to a third of its victims, with patients ultimately dying from suffocation. Archibald and Margaret McGill lost four of their children to the epidemic within four days in 1883.

Isabella developed a treatment using the quill section of a feather to allow patients to breath throughout their illness, and by this method saved many young lives.

On Arbor Day in 1895, Isabella planted one of the Norfolk Island Pines which adorn the waterfront at Shellharbour Village. 350 residents of the municipality gathered on 14 August and 45 trees were planted.

Isabella was at that time the oldest female resident of Shellharbour, aged just 62.

James and Isabella McGill c.1870-1880

Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City libraries.

John Radecki - Stained Glass Artist - Wollongong Works Tour

National Trust of Australia (NSW) Illawarra Shoalhaven Branch with support from the Illawarra Migration Heritage Project presents John Radecki: Stained Glass Artist The Wollongong Works.

In January 1882 a new Polish family arrived to Wollongong; the family of Victoria and Paul Radeski. The family lived in Young Street and Paul eventually worked in the one of the local coal mine.

While looking for work on day, Paul and one of his sons John went to Kiama as they heard that there may be jobs at the quarry, breaking up stone. They were too late however, and the job had been taken.

Tired and hungry Paul and John were walking back through Dunmore and they stopped at William and Elizabeth James’ house, Bravella. William James, once a Mayor of Shellharbour, helped the men and let them stay overnight at their family farm. William and Elizabeth gave them food and some money  which John used to continue his studies in stain glass window art.

In 1885 John Radecki (he spelt his name with “c”) finished his studies and was employed by Frederick Ashwin who was the owner of J. Ashwin & Co the largest stain glass window company in Sydney. After Frederick Ashwin's death in 1909 John Radecki became the company chief designer and co-owner, and from 1920 until 1954 the owner of the company.

In 1938 John had the opportunity to show his gratitude to William and Elizabeth James for the help he and his father received from them. A new St. Andrews Presbyterian Church was built at Wollongong, and John Radecki was commissioned to do a few windows (some of the windows were brought from the old church). He designed, made, and dedicated one window, the Good Samaritan window, to William and Elizabeth James. Under it he wrote:

“I was a stranger and you took me in. In the grateful remembrance of William James of Shellharbour and his wife Elizabeth who in 1882 befriended artist and his father”.

John Radecki (1855-1955) became an accomplished sketch artist and Australia’s first locally trained stained-glass artist.  He designed and produced some of the finest stained glass windows for public and church buildings in Sydney and country NSW, including Illawarra.

Research and above text from The Illawarra Migration Heritage Project.

A travelling tour of the three central Wollongong churches which contain some of John Radecki’s most personal works starts at St Mary Star of the Sea College Chapel, continues at City Central Church (St Andrew’s Presbyterian) and concludes at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, where afternoon tea will be served. Local historian Zofia Laba, will provide commentary throughout the tour on Radecki’s life and works, including a work created in remembrance of a kindness 50 years after the event.

This tour is based on the research conducted by Zofia Laba and Barbara Manzur for the Migration Heritage Project.

  

Price:   $20 NT members / $25 for non-members

Date:   Saturday 18^th August 2012

Time:   1.30pm

Where: The Chapel, St Mary’s Star of the Sea College, 15 Harbour St Wollongong

For Further Information and Bookings please call Gillian on Ph 42274614

 

The Good Samaritan Window, St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Wollongong.
Photo - Illawarra Migration Heritage Project