History Week Bus Tour

Join us on a guided tour of Shellharbour City's most significant historic sites on Wednesday 11 September 2013. We stop off at the Old Minnamurra Schoolhouse at Dunmore.

Bookings are essential - please ring Warilla Library on (02) 4297 2522.
Cost - $7 per person.

Illawarra Remembers Scan and Share Day

Illawarra Remembers Scan and Share Day

To commemorate the centenary of WWI Wollongong City Libraries will develop an online resource 'Illawarra Remembers 1914-1918 which will include information telling the stories of Illawarra's brave men and women who went to war.

Shellharbour Libraries needs your help. Please share your stories and treasures from your family's history during this period. Brign along your photographs , documents, stories and memorabilia to Warilla Library 10 September so we can scan them for future use on 'Illawarra Remembers'.

See details below

 

 

Crews Garage

Frank Crew originally worked as an engineer at Minnamurra Quarry. When he left that position the Crew's and their five children Frank (Jim), Charles (Chilla), George, Kathleen and Grace moved to Shellharbour where, after a time Frank decided to start his own business.

In the 1920s he leased a garage (corner of Mary and Addison Streets) from Ted Thomas. Frank Crew operated the garage and mechanical business, while his wife drove Ford cars carrying passengers to and from town, the railway station and Lake Illawarra and she also delivered bread, mail etc.

In those early years petrol for the garage was bought in four gallon tins which were packed in a wooden case. A hand operated pump was eventually installed before two pumps were placed at the footpath.

The family lived at 'Roseneath' in Mary Street near the Methodist Church, and as well as running the garage, Frank also operated a bus run that took passengers to and from Shellharbour Station and Lake Illawarra. The buses also took workers to and from the blue metal quarries.

Later, Frank's sold his business to his brother Alf who then leased the garage.

The family lived for a time at Avondale before moving back to Shellharbour. Mrs Crew opened a refreshments shop in the town and they lived at the old Police station 'Woodbine'. Mrs Crew was one of the first female motor car drivers in the area.

Crews Garage, Shellharbour Village 1926
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries

Alf and Flo Crew with their daughter Gladys At 'Roseneath' c.1930s
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries

Buick car outside 'Roseneath' c.1930s
Shellharbour Images, Shellharbour City Libraries

Frank Crew and family in their Buick car c.1930s
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries

Collette's Cafe, Shellharbour. This cafe was operated by Mrs Frank Crew as a refreshment room in 1936.
Shellharbour Images Shellhharbour City Libraries

Augustus Milton East

Augustus (Gus) Milton East was born in 1893, the son of Alfred and Katie East of Shellharbour. During WWI he joined the 18th Battalion AIF to serve overseas. He was killed in action in France on the 19th May 1918 aged 25yrs.

Tongarra Museum holds a collection of significant items relating to Gus and the legacy he left behind includes war diaries, letters, mementos from overseas and a souvenir 'wartime' scarf bought for his sister Marjorie. These precious objects describe Augustus' experience at war and the way in which his family dealt with his death.

What is particularly of note is the concern from Augustus for his family in Australia while he was fighting at war. His thoughts were always with his family and home, even as he was experiences the horrors of war.

One of the letters Gus wrote was to the James girls of Dunmore (see previous post).

These items were treasured by his family after his death and are now treasured by the museum and local community. They were donated to the museum by Gus' niece.

Augustus Milton East 1893-1918
Shellharbour Images Shellharbour City Libraries

Glasses worn by Augustus Milton East during World War One
Tongarra Museum collection

Augustus Milton East's war diary
Tongarra Museum collection