The following is an article from the Tongarra Heritage Society Inc's July 2013 newsletter. It is a tribute to local Albion Park Rail identity, Gordon Orange who passed away 17 June 2013 aged 94 years.
'The passing of Gordon Orange cannot go un-noticed without a tribute to a quiet gentle man, who many of us knew as a long-time resident of Albion Park Rail and formally Oak Flats. A devoted member of his church, Gordon was the son of Albert and Nellie Malin nee Edelsten.
Gordon's father, Albert Edwin Orange, ventured in the estate business and was involved in the establishment of The Rural Land Company, and purchase of the Panorama Estate at Oak Flats. He built a guest house, Illawarra House at the Esplanade Oak Flats and a stone wharf adjacent to the guest house. Albert had purchased a ferry ‘The Lady Albion’ registered in 1927 as the Illawarra Ferry Company. The manager of the vessel was William Green of Albion Park and captained by Mr. Jacobson. Passengers were picked up from the Sydney train at Albion Park Rail station and ferried from the Windang Street wharf Albion Park Rail to the guest house wharf at Oak Flats.
This project failed during the 1931 economic depression, and Albert’s venture fell to hard times. The Guest House was dismantled and transported in 1936 to Reddall Parade at Lake Illawarra South by the Chambers family. The building was re-assembled and has survived, now known as the ‘California’.
Albert continued selling his allotments of his Panorama Estate, and four streets are named after the family, Malin after his wife Nellie Malin Orange, Gordon, Eleanor and David Streets after their children.
Gordon donated the ferry flag from the ‘Lady Albion’ to Tongarra Museum and his father Albert donated three, 1928 panorama framed photos of scenes looking towards Lake Illawarra and Lake Entrance.
Gordon would drop into the Tongarra Museum many times with memorabilia for the museum collection and for our heritage society archives. He invariably left us with a bible quote of the day and a prayer book as well as a cheery smile. One of his donated booklets ‘The History of Oranges’ Poultry Farm Albion Park NSW’ is a great account of the history of his father’s farm, 'Brinawa' at the Illawarra Highway.
Excerpts from The History of Oranges’ Poultry Farm by Gordon Orange,
The Orange Tree –Third Branch-Australia,
Oak Flats Garden Suburb by Kevin Gillis.
Article contributed by Dorothy Gillis. ©The Tongarra Heritage Society Inc. Newsletter –July 2013 No. 177 Page 4
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| Looking towards the Koona Bay jetty that services the Lady Albion tourist launch Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries |
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| The California Guesthouse 1999 Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries |
I just stumbled upon this site by accident, or was it? My brother geoff and I once worked for Mr Orange at his Poultry Farm (Albion Park). Gordon, his wife and two children (daughter being the oldest and son) which I forget their names were a lovely family. Very pious they were. 94 years of age, incredible. Strange, I only started to think of those days last week and here I am reading all about him and much more I never knew. Thank you for this much appreciated. Wayne Farquhar
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great feedback. Yes, the Orange family were indeed lovely people with a very interesting history. Glad you found it :)
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