Reminiscences of Upper Homebush School in the 1870s

In the 1930s the Melbourne Age newspaper published many letters concerning old school days. The correspondence series began in 1934 as “Re-Living the Early Days” but in 1935 letters and reminiscensces by past scholars were separated out as a new series on “Old Victorian Schooldays”. One of these letters concerned the school at Upper Homebush by J. Bullock, Richard “John” James Bullock (1869-1946).

Age, Saturday 21 November 1936, page 10

Chinaman's Flat.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE
SIR — As past scholars, our best thanks are due to you for space granted for these letters. It is remarkable how the old school days revival does stir up memories of bygone days and make us eager to open the Saturday issue.
My earliest or first school dates back to Chinaman's Flat, later named Timor and now Bowen Vale. Mr. O'Brien, H.M: Mrs. O'B. in charge of juniors; also Miss Williamson. The school was held in the Mechanics' Hall, alongside of James Gray's Hotel, where a monkey was tied up by a chain under the verandah, and caused us great amusement during lunch hour. The mines were Magnum Bonum, Band of Hope Junction and Grand Duke, and they provided great interest to us boys. I remember Mr. Macugh, the hotelkeeper, who suffered from his name. When one boy would say, near him, "What does the cat say," always came the chorus "Meeow!" drawn out, and he would charge and scatter us. The hot pie man was another character. He used to peddle his basket on his head me the main street, with the cry, "Pies, all ‘ot!” As we walked behind him we would sat, "What did you choke your mother  ??? and the unwitting answer to ??? be, "Pies. all 'ot." I remember the Lauders, Groses, Morgan, Gough, Ken. Gowrie, Jack Bunny, Hornsbys, Dubergs, Jack Charley, Marleys, Bodys, Wilks and Carolans.
Alma to us was out of bounds ??? to old shafts from the diggings and dangerous, but sly visits of adventure were paid now and again. I lived between Miss Phillips' private school and the primitive Methodist church. From here we removed to Homebush (near Avoca), and settled midway between Upper and Lower Homebush, on Engine Drivers' Hill.
I attended Upper H. School, 1 1/2 mile away, near railway. Mr. H. Porter, H.T., wore spectacles, and was nicknamed "Spessie." Other teachers were Sam Rutter and Miss Opie, who came from Avoca per horse, side saddie. Mackinnon had the P. office. My school mates were the Lardners, Fitches, Conroys, Shaws, Trounsons, Shiels, Craigies, Endersbys, Dalys, Skewes, Plowrights, Tullocks and Campbells. Going home from school we would let the rope go from the windlass on to the Chinamen working down the shaft, and hear them cry out, "Whafor?" Mining was booming then also, but too far away.
From Homebush we went to Carisbrook, and my final school. Mr. H. Bielby was H.T., and other teachers were his daughter, Isabella, and son, Will, W. C. Waite, Miss Cambridge, Lal Sweet and Lucy West. The school was well conducted, and very pleasant. I remember Mr. Foster, drawing master, and Mr. Ruxton, singing master, with his songs, Little Brown Jug, Some Folks Get Grey Hairs and Melbourne's Burning, &c. He used to pass along the forms as we warbled with his ear close to us, and he said to me once, "Your voice is cracked." I never attempted to sing again at school. But all was pleasant until exam time, and we lived in awe of the inspector, Mr. Phipp, who was a big man, with the thickest boot soles we had even seen. Our games were egg cap, leap frog, fly the garter, fox and hounds, marbles (span hole and ring), saddle-my-nag and peg top. I was a member of the drum and fife band, just formed. The teachers made our uniforms-sailor suits, with light blue collars. A rifle club was formed, and H.T. used to take us to Timor to the butts. It was thrilling to 115 boys. I remember the Kittos-Will, author of those local letters, and cricketer against two English elevens; Jim late Federal Deputy P.M.G.), and Broadcasting Commission: Ted (late railways); the Walters and Hockings, two families, Bill, Jacob and Mary; Alice and Sarah Birket, Arthur and George Seymour, Sam Cole, Paul Williams. Jack Linton. Stove Aston, Jim Cook, Frickes (Alf, Charley and Fred), Whites, Whitmores. Penningtons, Jim and Amy Blackburn, Dan and Rees Williams, Doss Armstrong. Landrigans, Kinniburgs, Bucknalls, Hearses, Sam Miller (uncle of Bobby Lewis), М. J. Polson (of Winooka fame), Robinsons and Annie Medcraft. It is good to revive their names again. Mr. Fred Fricke (Country Roads Board) was a member and captain of our drum and fife band. He played a piccolo. I would be pleased to see a reunion of Carisbrookites-Yours, &c.,
J. BULLOCK.
Coburg.

Wikitree:

Letter writer: Richard “John” James Bullock (1869-1946) 

Teachers of Homebush State School 1579 mentioned

Homebush families mentioned: 

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Author: Anne Young

I blog about my family history at http://ayfamilyhistory.com/

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