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Percydale School 1042

From Vision and Realisation, A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria, Education Department of Victoria 1973, Vol 2: 1042 Percydale (pages 724-5)

Early in 1869 William Sutcliff, on behalf of eighteen parents with 32 school age children, sought aid for a proposed school in the Parish of Yehrip at Fiddler's Creek. The Committee, which consisted of J. Dowe, T. Ward, C. Ebeling, J. McMahon, W. Harris, E. Townsend, W. Sutcliff, had collected £31 5s 6d 'towards the cost'. DI Elkington [District Inspector of Schools] reported on 16th of March 1869 and recommended aid. Meanwhile the Committee erected a wooden building 30ftx18ft, with a shingle roof and deal floor at a cost of £102 12s (with furniture). Mrs Caroline Morman conducted a private school in this building during 1869 when the a.a. [average attendance] was about 40. She unsuccessfully claimed salary from the Board from 1st of January 1869. DI Bolam [District Inspector of Schools] again recommended aid in March 1870. The Board granted aid on 31st of August, salary to be paid from 1st of January 1870. The Committee appointed Elijah Gilsenan as master in November 1869. The 2 acre site for a school Allotment 2, Section 9 - was gazetted on 13th of June 1873. By January, however, the NE [net enrolment] had reached 113 and the Wesleyan Chapel next door had to be leased for 5s a week. In 1874 an old residence built by the teacher was bought by the Department for £9. A 30ft x 18ft addition to the school built by Whitty & Co. for £279 10s 3d was completed by October 1877 and a 4 room wooden residence, built by Chas Ludbrook of Ballarat for £280, completed in 1877. In the 1890s the school building also housed the post office and the Registry of Births and Deaths, apparently under the charge of the HT. P.J. Haly was the Correspondent of the 1911 Committee. The school closed officially on 26th of February 1942.

Percydale State School flag in the collection of the Avoca and District Historical Society; donated by the estate of Dorothy Turpin.

Wikitree:

Letters from Maurice Leyden Percydale in 1900

In May 1900 a letter from eleven year old Maurice Leyden of Percydale appeared in the “Young Folks” pages of Melbourne’s Weekly Times. The Young Folks was a feature which first appeared in  1883. Originally a children’s column published alongside the newspaper’s Ladies’ Column, Young Folks offered stories and reading matter for younger readers.

A major change came in December 1892 when the newspaper announced a competition for original compositions by children under fourteen. When the competition commenced in the Christmas issue, the editors introduced a new figure, “Uncle Ben”, to receive the entries. Rather than writing to the formidable newspaper editor, children were invited to correspond with “that kind-hearted old gentleman” and to tell him about their adventures, pets, holidays, and everyday lives. Aunt Connie joined the enterprise a few months later.

The idea proved remarkably successful. Over the following decades thousands of children from farms, mining settlements, and country towns wrote to Aunt Connie and Uncle Ben. Their letters created a unique record of childhood in rural Australia. 

Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 12 May 1900, page 13

Fond of Shooting. — Percydale, April 18, 1900. — Dear Uncle Ben, — This is the first time I have written to you, and I hope that you will accept me as one of your nephews. I have two brothers, and their names are Phil and George. I have a foal, a ferret and a dog. We have three cows, and I have to feed them every morning and evening. I have about two miles to walk to school. I am eleven years old, and am in the sixth class. We are to be examined in May. We got 95 per cent. last year, and wish to reach the 100 this year. Our teacher is Miss Brown. Percydale is a pretty little place, being situated at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains. I have a pea rifle, and I often go out shooting. We have had some nice rains, which have made the grass spring up. All the farmers have put their crops in, and they are expecting a better harvest than last year. Would you please send me a collecting card, and I will try and help the poor little children. With love to Cousins Florrie and Connie, not forgetting yourself, I remain your affectionate nephew, — Maurice Leyden. (We are glad to add you to our large family circle, Maurice, and hope you will write again, after a time. Aunt Connie will send a card. — Uncle Ben.)

Maurice wrote again later in the year:

Weekly Times, Saturday 15 September 1900, page 8 

Ferreting for Rabbits. — Percydale, 23rd August.— Dear-Aunt Connie,— I am returning my collecting card with the amount collected 15s 6d. I have kept my card to the limit of the time, three months I was out ferreting to-day and I got six rabbits. I put a net on a very old burrow, and put in the ferret, but I really never thought that a rabbit was in the burrow. After the ferret had been in for about a minute, I heard a rumbling noise in the burrow, and the next moment a black rabbit jumped into the net. I took it home to try and tame it, but it got out of its hutch and ran away. My brother Phil has a pet goat, and also a cart, which the goat draws We have three cows and three calves. I have five rabbit traps and I often set them, but I never get more than four rabbits at a time from them. When I am out ferreting and do not put a net on every opening of the burrow, my dog reminds me of that fact by barking violently up the burrow without a net. Dear Aunt Connie,— as it getting late in the afternoon, and as I have to go for the cows, I will conclude with love. I remain your affectionate nephew, Maurice Leyden.

Wikitree:

Arbor Day

The first Arbor Day in Australia took place in Adelaide, South Australia in June 1889. It followed the American tradition established in Nebraska in 1872. Victoria first held Arbor Day in 1890.

In January 1890 Baron von Mueller, the Victorian government botanist, gave an address to the Australasian Science Association of which he was president elect. In his speech he mentioned Arbor Day:

“The annual “arbor day,” let us trust, will become universal as a legitimate holiday, to which will be looked forward with delight, particularly by the juveniles, who with a life of hope before them can await results from pleasurable action and intelligent forethought. Celebrations like these are not without a lesson to the whole community. The increment to the wood estate of Victoria would be now already 200,000 trees annually if some slight tending followed the impulse of planting.”

In that year, 1890, three miles of avenues in Victoria Park in Ballarat were planned to be planted to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday, 24 May, for Arbor Day. Otherwise preparations were made to celebrate Arbor Day on 21 June. Mr Perrin, Conservator of Forests, hoped 40,000 trees would be planted in the drier areas of Victoria.

I am not sure if the Avoca district participated in that first Arbor Day. However, by 1906 Arbor Day was celebrated in Percydale and by schools at Homebush and Avoca among others.

In April 1906 under Horticultural Notes the Leader (Melbourne, Vic) announced:

Mr. A. Sublet, head teacher, State school, Percydale, via Avoca, states that he is willing to forward wattle seed (black and golden wattle) to teachers, on receipt of a stamped envelope

In June 1906 many Victorian newspapers reported on Arbor Day at Percydale including The Argus and The Ballarat Star of 19 June 1906:

The Director of Education states that Arbor Day celebrations in connection with the State schools are now in full swing, a different day being observed in each district, in order to facilitate the despatch of trees from the State nursery. Amongst the various reports received on the subject from State school teachers is one from Mr Sublet, head teacher of the Percydale school He reports that on Arbor Day there, 60 loads of soil were deposited on the school gardens, and large number of visitors and scholars were kept busy. Previous to Arbor Day, the Percydale school nursery supplied 52 schools with acacia seed, and has also sent trees to schools at Homebush, Dunack, Rathscar, Carisbrook, Red Bank, Avoca, Kimberley, and Timor West

Lower Homebush No. 2258 – Arbour Day
Early twentieth century about 1905-1915

Wikitree: Albert Sublet (1871-1958) : teacher at Percydale school 1042 from 1901 to 1908.

More Homebush school reminiscences in “The Age”

The letter by John Bullock about school days in Homebush prompted several other letters.

Letter from E. Scott.

Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Wednesday 20 January 1937, page 15

LOWER HOMEBUSH.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE.
Sir. As a past scholar of Lower Homebush State school, I would like to write a few lines about my school and all friends I left behind. The teachers I remember are Harry Carter, Adam Long, P. J. Smith, J. E. Flynn, Mr. G. Wilkins. Miss Perrett, Miss Swain. I was thrilled when I read Mr. J. Bullock's letter. I know all the folks he spoke about. I wonder if he remembers the racehorses Lower Homebush possessed-Clarcus, Pompey, Jimmy. Catchpole, also Garry Brown. They were not exactly champions, but always finished well. Nob Douglas, the fighter, the Homebush Field Artillery Band was not so bad. I am not likely to forget the grand parties they used to give old Mr. Plowright, who used to drive us to the railway station. He always made Mary McDonald sing Ben Bolt for him. I would love to have a reunion of all Upper and Lower Homebush people. I hope some more folks from Lower Homebush will write a few lines thanking "The Age" for the good work it is doing re the schools. Yours, &c., E. SCOTT. Richmond.

I am not certain who E Scott was and nor it seems were his or her contemporaries as a follow up letter was published on 29 May 1937:

Homebush Lower.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE.
Sir,— A letter signed E. Scott (Richmond), which appeared In your paper on Wednesday, 20th January, has us all wondering who he or she is. Our names are at the foot of this letter. We know the names of all the teachers mentioned at Homebush Lower State school.---Yours, &c.
HOMEBUSH LR. PAST SCHOLARS.

[Update: a comment on this post, see below, suggests the author was Emma “Edna” Scott (1908-1987)]

Letter from William Andrew Tulloch (1867-1942)

Age, Saturday 6 March 1937, page 9

Timor, Homebush and Avoca.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE.-
Sir, — Though far away for some years, I still have found great pleasure in reading Old Victorian Schooldays. It has been a very popular column, and I think must have brought about many renewals of old friendships. I have just been reading a copy of 21st November. 1936 and I find there mention of three schools which I attended — Timor, Homebush and Avoca. As a very small boy I went to a school in Timor, [.. Timor section removed for brevity]. After leaving Timor I went to Homebush. Mr. Appleton conducted the school there, assisted by Mr. S. J. Rutter, Miss Opie and George McKinnon as assistant. After a time Mr. Appleton was transferred, and Mr. Murphy, a trainee from Melbourne Training College, took charge as a relief master. He was fine with the boys. Before he arrived the boys had a consultation in the playground, and decided that as we had had an easy time up to now, we would not submit to being caned by the new master. All went well for the first few days; then one of the boys got stuck with a problem, and called "Sam," meaning Mr. Rutter. Mr. Murphy was close by, and heard the call. He came over to our class, and gave us a lecture on showing respect to our teachers, and threatened punishment to any who should call out that way again. Only a few days later the same boy acted in the same way again, and Mr. Murphy again heard him. He called out to him to stand out in front of the class. Joe did not move and, after waiting quite a while. Mr. Murphy called out again, and reminded him that he had now called twice. Still Joe sat very tight. We boys were all keyed up, waiting to see what would happen. At last Mr. Murphy got his cane from his desk and stood in front of the boy. He said; " Joe, are you coming out?" Joe was depending on us boys to help, so he said. -No.' and before the word was properly out, Mr. Murphy had caught him bv the collar, lifted him over the desk, and had put him across his knee. Poor Joe ! We boys were afraid to move. Mr. Murphy was "boss," and needed no more to use the cane. After him came Mr. Porter. He was a harmless gentle man, so easy with the cane that the boys used to, qualify for the "cuts" just for the fun of holding up work for a time.
On one occasion a lot of boys were going home from school, when they fell in with a party of girls going the same way. The girls all had long hair hanging down, and the boys got handfuls of bidi bidi and stuck it in their hair. Next day we were all called out. There were three boys from one family. On looking over the names, Mr. Porter remarked: "Three Chesterfields. How many are there of you ?" One of the boys promptly answered "Seven," cor responding to the Seven Devils, and they went by that name for years. When we arrived at Homebush school we were not allowed to play cricket, because Miss Appleton had at one time been struck by a ball in the playground. Wc asked permission from the head, but he said he would confiscate our bats and balls if we attempted it. However, we got over that by arranging with an old man living close by to take charge of our gear. We played every day. After some time the head relented, and we were allowed to play. At Homebush we had the best cricket team in the Maryborough or Avoca district. We also had a foottball team equal to any, and we had a brass band. The miners at Homebush were mostly Cornishmen, and they were fond of sport. They got a pack of beagle hounds, and these were kept by the different families, a few here and a few there. We boys sometimes got a turpentine rag and trailed it round the town for an hour or more, each boy taking the rag through his home or through any other he could get to. Then we would go round and at a given signal, loose the hounds and set them on the trail. They could be heard five miles away when in full cry. The Cornish miners were a musical lot, and the men, coming off shift at 12 o'clock at night, would sometimes sit on a log and sing till daylight. "Nancy Lee" was one of the favorites. I notice by the same paper that Jack Redpath writes of Avoca. I went to Kirkwood's Grammar School at Avoca [ ... Avoca section removed for brevity]. School in our days was not as easy as it is to-day, but I am sure we got more real fun out of it.
And now, though separated by hundreds of miles distance and years ot time, in reading such articles as you have been presenting to us, we get the enjoyment over again and pass it on to our families. Please accept my warmest thanks to those who have written such interesting lettters, and to your good paper for printing them. — Yours. &c..
W. A. TULLOCH.
Auckland, N.Z.

Minnie Jones (1875-1945) of Glen Huntly followed up with a letter published Saturday 3 April 1937:

Lower Homebush.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE.
Sir,— Like E. Scott, I have been very interested in the Old Victorian School days columns in your paper. I was among the first scholars when Mr. Carter and Miss Williams opened the school. Other teachers were Helsby Twist, Ted Smith, Mr. Hessell, Mr. Cullen and Mr. Fricker. The scholars I rcmomber are the Bassetts, Hartys, Gruntys, Lockwoods, Pipers, Delworths, Larsens, Graves, Maggie O'Riely, Teenie Brown, Bertie Duke, Ethel Kost, Katie Levi, Jack Skewes, Will Rotalick, Sutherlands, Dalys, Trounsons, Billy Scott and his brother. Waughs, Bloxhams. Randles, Gilletts, Campbells, Nicholls, Pitchers, Blanches, Homes, Chesterfield, Jones, McCarthys, Tulloch, Catchpole, BradIey, Grose, Smith (three families), Hutchinson, Littles, Hartleys, Tresize (two families), Templeton, Hartigans, Barry, Harris, Waters, Cummings (two families), Hayes, Cross, Richardsons, Douglas, Hartigan, Nicholson, Rowlands (two families), Dalleys, McEwans, Mary Ann Browning, Calcott, Boughton, McDonalds, Kennedy, Bradleys, Ida and Will Bullock, Squires. There may have been others. I have forgotten. Who remembers old Antonio, Billie the Drummer, Cranby Frank, Bob Sturgeon and Bill Smith ? Wherever the old boys and girls are scattered, they will never forget those boys. Thanking you again for the pleasure your paper has given to so many. — Yours, &c., Glen Huntly. MINNIE JONES.

Bert Catchpole, Herbert John Catchpole (1875-1959), wrote from Western Australia. His letter was published Saturday 10 April 1937:

Lower Homebush.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE,
Sir,-A cutting of your paper with no date line has been sent to me, and it interests me very much. It was & Victorian Schooldays letter, signed E. Scott (Richmond) concerning the Lower Homebush School, of which I was a scholar.
I would be very pleased if I could get hold of Jim Bullock's letter, which Scott mentions. I knew the horses well, as named by Scott, as two of them belonged to my father. Only a few years ago I took a "Tatts" ticket in the name of "Pompey," and was lucky enough to get third prize.
I know all the head teachers well up to 1895, when I came to this country. A reunion of Upper and Lower Homebush scholars would give me the greatest pleasure in life. If some of my old school mates would like to drop a line I would only be too pleased to hear from them. I have only met two in this country Joe (Darkey) Waters and Charlie Little. - Yours, &c.,
H. J. CATCHPOLE (Bert).
Broad Arrow, West Australia.

A letter from Florence Grace (Calaby) Ure-Taylor (1876-1951) was published Saturday 3 July 1937

Upper Homebush,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE.
Sir, — I have been very Interested in the "Old Victorian School Days" columns in your paper, and as I read of Lower Homebush, written by Miss Minnie Jones, of Glen Huntly, on Saturday, 3rd April, I thought perhaps you might welcome a contribution about Upper Homebush, where I was born and went to school along with the following scholars whom I will mention later. My first teacher was Miss Jervis, then Miss Williams, and then came the teacher whom "Avoca Lead" wrote about being very harsh with the senior scholars, Mr. John Porter (also called "Specy" on account of his wearing glasses). Strange to say, the name followed him to Upper Homebush. His wife was our sewing mistress, a small, gentle lady, very clever, who taught us to make our own school frocks. It is only four years ago that she passed to a higher life at Buninyong. Her son, Mr. Alfred Porter, was also a teacher in the lower forms, and as for Mr. John Porter being harsh, we all thought he was very lenient, especially after a teacher named Mr. Philpot. I have heard my elder brothers talk about the way the latter used to punish them by making them bend over a desk and (whack !) hard down came the cane half a dozen times. They had to take their meals off the mantel piece for the next few days. Mr. Porter was transferred to Durham Lead, near Buninyong. We then had a lady teacher named Miss Opie, whom we all loved. She used to ride her chestnut pony out from Avoca every morning. I am sure that at times we were very troublesome, but she always won us over with gentle, loving kindness, and it is only a few months ago that she passed away to a higher life as Mrs. J. W. Field. We also had a singing master, Mr. Gilbert, who used to come out from Avoca twice a week. Now, the scholars I remember were the Plowrights, Bloxhams, Burns, Raws, Enderbys, Horleys, Craigies, Bullocks, Summers, Hughes, McKinnons, Thomp sons, Lardners, Fitches, Delimas, Shields, McCombs, Coglans, Camerons, Kernicks, Quinlans, Haines, Squires, Burkinshaws, Hamiltons, Panganettes, Miles Rutters, Kerrs, Kofoeds, Templetons, Calabys and Horns. There may have been others who I have forgotten. There were the Debenhams and Mr. Cardew, the local preacher, and Chris Gill, who came from England. All lived at Upper Homebush, together with such old identities as "Jimmy Govett," Peter Frome, "Jacky Wheat," Jimmy Swayne ("the old snob"), Black Bob and old Everell Mullholland, who was very deaf, and had a beautiful black mare called "Bessie." Many a ride he used to give to us children. I am sure that wherever the old boys and girls are scattered they will never forget the happy time we all spent at Upper Homebush. Thanking you once again for the pleasure your paper has given to so many. May I say in closing that my late father, Mr. Henry Calaby, was a daily subscriber to "The Age" as far back as I can remember. I am 62 years old, and am still taking it. —
Yours, &c., F. URE TAYLOR (Flo Calaby before marriage). Ballarat.

Lower Homebush School #2258 (1880-1967)

From Vision and Realisation, A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria, Education Department of Victoria 1973, Vol 2: 2258 Lower Homebush (p.822)

Lower Homebush was a bustling settlement on an alluvial goldfield about 6 miles to the NE of Avoca. In March 1878 William Campbell and others urged the establishment of a school for the large number of children. A hardwood building, 30ft x 13ft, but unlined, unceiled and without a floor, was purchased from William Burhlert for £30 and moved to a site on crown land that had been gazetted as a school reserve on Jan. 23, 1880. William Bennett carried out its removal, re-erection and renovation for £69 16s. This building was almost immediately overcrowded and a church hall, 44ft x 24ft, was leased from the Union Church in 1881 for £38 p.a. and used an adjunct. Within months the adjunct too was overcrowded, and children under 6 and over 13 were excluded. In 1882, when the enrollment was 183 and the *a. a. as high as 112, the Department provided a third building- a portable with quarters-which was erected beside the building purchased from William Burhlert. On the occasion of the inspectors visit in 1882 175 children attended.

Residents thought the makeshift building unworthy of their prosperous township and gained Board of Advice support when they urged erection of a permanent and substantial building. In 1887 a handsome new school was erected at an estimated cost of £1,360. It consisted of two rooms of brick-50ft x 20ft and 20ft x 20ft. The old hardwood building was left as a shelter-shed and the portable removed elsewhere. As with many goldfields schools the *a. a. soon fell rapidly: by 1903 there was only 40. The two small classrooms were now unused and HT J. T. Hynes sought permission to convert them into a residence, at his own expense. His proposal was approved but the project apparently proved beyond his means. He appears to have dismantled the galleries and used the timber as partitions in the classrooms. The name of the school was changed to Homebush in 1919, but the Lower was restored in 1951. This school was unstaffed in 1962 and finally closed on Aug. 10, 1967.

* a. a. - stands for average attendence

 

Lower Homebush State School #2258- Ring a Rosy
Lower Homebush School photographed some time between 1910 and 1920. In the back row are Laura Squires, Charlotte and George Wilkins. Laura Squires was sewing mistress from 1910 to 1920. In 1925 Laura married George Wilkins after Charlotte’s death.

Related posts and pages

Wikitree:

The games they played in the 1870s and 80s

John Bullock mentions several games in his 1937 letter reminiscing about his school days in the 1870s and early 1880s: egg cap, leap frog, fly the garter, fox and hounds, marbles (span hole and ring), saddle-my-nag and peg top.

The egg cap game

How the Game Works

  • Set Up: Players place their caps in a row on the ground.
  • The Throw: One player (often chosen by a rhyme or draw) takes an egg and tries to throw it directly into one of the caps.
  • The Chase: If the egg lands in a player’s cap, that player must scramble to grab the egg, while all the other players quickly run away to avoid being hit.
  • The Target: The owner of the cap holding the egg must chase the fleeing players and try to strike (or “tag”) one of them with the egg
A game of egg cap
Painting auctioned by Christies in 2003

Leap frog

The Boys Book of Sports and Games by “Uncle John”, published before 1889, describes the game of leapfrog as follows

This game will be best understood by supposing that eight boys are playing at it: seven of them stand in a row, about eighteen feet apart, with their sides to the leapers, hands on their knees, body doubled, and head bent down. The eighth player then takes a short run, and, placing his hands on the back of the first player, leaps over him, then over the second, and, in like manner, over all the other players, one after the other; he then places himself down in the line, in the proper position, and at the right distance from the last player; the first over whom he jumped, rises immediately he has passed, and follows him over the second, third, &c., who all rise in succession, and leap in their turn; and after they have successively jumped over the last players, they place themselves down in the line, as before described; and the game continues. Some players stand with their backs to the leapers, instead of their sides; the mode is optional, although in some places it is usual to compel those who can jump over the head, to do so.
Children playing leapfrog in Pieter Bruegel‘s Children’s Games (1560)

Fly the garter

From Indoor and Outdoor Gymnastic Games (1913) by Albert Meader Chesley

The person to be jumped over moves by degrees farther and farther from the point where the jump begins. A line is drawn (sometimes called the "Garter") to mark where the jump begins, and whoever steps on it must take the place of the player leaped over. After the players in turn have leaped, the last cries "Foot and a Half!" and the player who is making the back thereupon places his right heel in the hollow of his left foot, advances the latter so that its hollow covers his right toe and then brings up his right foot to its original position. The players then leap again, always beginning at the "Garter," after which the back advances again in like manner, and the game goes on until some one treads on the "Garter" or fails in leaping. The unsuccessful one then makes a back and another game begins.

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW), Wednesday 4 December 1912, page 2

Fly the Garter.
A lad belonging to The King's School, John Black (son of Mr. J Black, of "The Argus" staff), had the bad fortune last week to fracture one of the bones in his right fore-arm whilst playing "fly." "Fly," It may be explained for the benefit of the ladies and the rest of the uninitiated, is a short name for "Fly the garter," a game in which fellows jump, from a regulated distance, over the backs of others, whilst the latter are bending in a stooping position. It is to leap-frog what chess perhaps is to dominoes. Young Black was progressing as well as possible when interviewed as to his "honorable scars."

60 Indoor Games For Scouts (1932) gives the following instructions:

Draw a chalk line. One boy makes a back. All go over. Last boy over registers his landing place, and the boy who goes down moves on to that mark. All take off now from chalk line and go clean over. Last boy registers his mark, the boy who is down moves out to it, and the next time round the order is – one step and over.

Fox and hounds

The Scouts in the UK have the following game:

Select 1 hound and the rest are foxes. Their scarves are tucked into the pack of their shorts/trousers and is their 'tail'. It is the hound's job is to chase the foxes and remove their tails, at which point they become hounds. This is until there is one fox left who wins, and becomes the hound in the next round of the game

Marbles (span hole and ring)

A classic marbles game is described at The Vintage Toy Box blog: Marbles (4 Jan 2025).

... you need to knock your smaller marbles (ducks) out of the ring with your larger shooter marble by flicking it with your thumb (the knuckledown slingshot) without fudging or fouling the shot. If you manage to knock any marbles out of the ring, keep the marbles and add them to your pile. The winner at the end of the game is the one that has the most marbles.


Span hole might be what we called ‘follows’. There’s no ring. You follow–pursue–your opponent’s marble across any bit–span?–of ground. Hit him three times and the marble is yours.

Game of Marbles by Karl Witkowski (1860-1910)

Saddle-my-nag

Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium ny Jessie H. Bancroft (1922), pages 171-2, describes the game as follows

This is a game of leapfrog. The players are divided into equal parties, with a chief for each. One of the chiefs stands with his back to a wall or fence, and all of his party bend their backs as for leapfrog, the first with his head against the chief, and the others, one behind the other, in a line stretching out in front of him. Each player in the line braces his shoulder against the stooping player next in front, or each may grasp the forward player around the waist. The heads should all be turned to the same side. One of the opposite side then leaps on the back of the player farthest from the wall, and tries to make his way over the backs of the entire line to the chief to "crown" him; that is, to place his hand on his head. The players who are making "backs" try in every way, without rising to a standing position, to throw this player off and so prevent his crowning their chief. Each player of the "out" side tries in turn to crown the chief. Should they be unsuccessful the sides change. If one or more players succeed in crowning the chief, each successful player has a second chance before the sides change. The side that succeeds in oftenest crowning its opponent's chief wins the game. The limit of the game is usually placed at six trials for each side.

Peg top

The game is described by Stephanie Ann Farra in her blog World Turn’d Upside Down: Colonial games: How to play Peg-Farthing (February 2011). 

Peg-farthing, peg-top, or "ring" is played on a flat surface on which a circle is drawn about a yard in diameter. Another circle is drawn around this one for the players to stand on. A farthing (coin) or other flat marker is placed in the center of the circle. A string is wound around a wooden top and pulled quickly to propel the top to spin on its own. Players start their top at the coin and try to get their top out of the circle by spinning it. If a top spins out of the circle, the owner can pick it up.

While the first person's top is within the circle (spinning or stopped,) the other players take turns to throw the pegs of their own tops at the top in the circle in an attempt to hit the top out of the circle or to "split" the top--separate the top and its peg. The player who successfully does this gets to keep the peg of the other player's top. The point of the game is to get as many pegs as you can.

After one round of throwing, if no one successfully "splits" the top, another player releases his top into the circle to be pegged at also. If all of the tops are "dead" in the circle, the first person removes his top and starts the game again.

It was written that the tops infequently "split" but it never stopped boys from trying. Most boys tried to hit their own top out of the circle to prevent it from being broken by another player.

Wikitree:

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

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: 

Homebush school #1579 (1861-1908)

The rise and decline of Homebush and Lower Homebush can be seen in the history of its schools. In 1861 a Church of England school opened, with classes held in a rented building. Over the next two decades the number of students increased to more than two hundred and two more schools were built, one at Homebush, with another, even bigger, at Lower Homebush – the Lower Homebush Primary School.

State school 1579 Homebush developed from No. 316 Homebush, which was a non-vested Church of England school opened on 1st of October 1861 with Mrs Isabella Reynard as head teacher.

Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 13579/P0001, Teacher Record No. 1601-1900A page 142

The school had been built by public subscription and was a weatherboard building with iron roof and hardwood floor. It had been ‘originally an old store’. It stood on 1 acre (Allotment 25) and was also used for religious purposes.

In 1873, 99 children were enrolled, and the average attendance was 60. This building was leased by the Department (probably from January 1874) for £1 5s Od a month, until the new brick 50ft x 18ft building with porches at each end, was erected on the new 5 acre site chosen by DI Bolam (District Inspector of Schools). This site was part of Section 3 plus Allotment 22.

Homebush Township Plan, Imperial measure 5384 from the Public Record Office Victoria
The green arrows show the locations of the school

The new Homebush School opened on 1st of June 1875 with Arthur Appleton and his staff of 2, all from No. 316 which was then struck off.

Homebush school 1579
Group of school children in front of small brick school with gabled roof: Sign on school wall reads: State School 1579
L. Lang and Son, photographer. Date [ca. 1870-ca. 1900]
from State Library of Victoria Identifier(s) H2005.34/1723
The hairstyles and clothing of the older girls suggest this photo was taken probably not long after the school had opened.

While at Homebush 1579 Arthur Appleton was assessed as an intelligent and zealous teacher, his discipline was excellent, his records were satisfactory.

In 1877 a teacher’s timber residence of 4 rooms was built for £232. Rent was £16 p.a.

In 1879 sometimes as many as 140 pupils were present, but by 1894 the NE (net enrolment) had fallen to 32, and by 1903 to 18.

The school closed in 1904 and then reopened in January 1905 half-time with Lamplough. In 1908 the net enrolment fell to 12, and SS1579 closed on 8th of October 1908.

From Vision and Realisation, A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria, Education Department of Victoria 1973, Vol 2: 1579 Homebush (p.777)

Between 1879 and 1882 Elizabeth Jane Opie, later Mrs Field, taught at Homebush 1579. She received complimentary reports about her teaching: she was reported as teaching well, she kept her class in good order and attention; her infants class was well managed; she was a good disciplinarian.

Miss Elizabeth Jane Opie teacher record, extract for school 1579
Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 13579/P0001, Teacher Record No. 4601-4900A image 62

John Porter was the teacher at Homebush 1579 from 10 April 1880 to 1884. The inspector’s report of 1880 said of Porter:

A very fair teacher, & works hard, weak as  an organiser & as a disciplinarian is so inefficient that I doubt his ability to carry  on a school of this size successfully.

A photo of the school was featured in the 2022 Victorian Government short film Shaping our past: school inspectors in Victoria

Clara Smith, Eva Squires, Pearl Burkinshaw, Nell Shields [Shiell?}
Homebush State School #1579 1903

Wikitree:

Avoca Walking Tour: #10.c. Powder Magazine, 1860

This month’s blog posts concern places on the Avoca Walking Tour, a brochure published by the Pyrenees Tourism Association.

10.c. Powder Magazine, 1860: Built at the request of the Avoca Borough Council for the safe storage of explosives.

The Avoca powder magazine is off Napier Street, as shown by the purple square

Avoca Heritage Study (1993-4) A156 page 123 [Pyrenees Shire Heritage Precinct Study (2001) pages 231 – 233]

The powder magazine is a brick rectangular structure with a gabled slate roof, built in 1860 to one of the seven standard design types of the Public Works Department. It has significance for its rarity, associations and contextual importance. The Avoca powder magazine has value for its rarity, for although powder magazines were once common structures throughout the Victorian goldfields, only nineteen now remain in the State. It is closely associated with the township's goldmining era and is indicative of the development of lead and quartz mining where explosives were used to explore deep underground. The powder magazine is part of a complex of public buildings which includes the police quarters (1859), court house (1859), and lock up (1867). As a complex these buildings are important material reminders of the part played by the courts and the police force in maintaining public safety and good order among the highly mobile gold diggings population.

History: 
Regulations passed in 1857 prohibited the private storage of all but small amounts of explosives on the goldfields where they were frequently used in the search for gold, particularly in quartz and deep lead mining. Instead they were required to be stored under lock and key in a powder magazine controlled by a public officer, usually a member of the police force. Both the design of the building and the regulations for its operation were derived from military sources. Powder magazines were originally designed to store quantities of gunpowder within a fort until required to load guns in an attack. It was important to store the powder in such a way as to keep it dry so as to be effective when used and to prevent accidental explosions causing injury and death. 

One of the first motions passed by the Avoca Borough Council was a request to the Government for the erection of a powder magazine. 

On 11 September 1860 the tender of a local firm, Johnston and Steel, who had already built the Avoca police quarters the previous year, was accepted for the construction of a powder magazine. This was completed by the end of the year at a cost of £299.15.6. 

Strict safety precautions were observed to prevent accidents. Persons entering the magazine had to remove their outer clothing and footwear, and put on special magazine clothing. They had to empty their pockets of articles such as matches, pipes and tobacco. Rubber boots or wooden clogs were worn, because boots with nails could cause an accident. It was important to keep the premises clean as friction between a boot sole and grit could spark off an explosion. Tools were made of wood or copper and powder kegs or cases were opened on a special mat some distance from the magazine. 

Between 1895 and 1921 all the government magazines were closed as goldmining had declined. They were replaced by supervised and licensed private magazines where needed. The Avoca magazine closed in 1905.

Description

The powder magazine was designed to exclude all flammable materials and protect the stored materials from weather and dampness. The powder magazine is a rectangular brick building with a gable roof clad in slate. It has a small porch in the centre of one facade with the gable roof extending as a skillion over this area. The brickwork is in English bond as seen on the police residences and the bricks have darker headers which gives the brickwork a distinctive texture.  

The magazine is one of three identical buildings constructed in 1860. The other two were at Ararat and Dunolly. These are the only three designed with brick buttresses at the diagonal of each corner. 

The walls of the porch and two buttresses on the opposite side also strengthen the building so as to limit damage to surrounding areas in the case of explosion. 

The internal ceiling is a brick barrel vault constructed for the same reason. The only external openings were the door in the side of the porch, narrow ventilation slits and the window at the front of the porch. 

[As at 1993] The brickwork around the window has been broken open and the door is no longer on the building.  The slate roof extends as a deep overhand at each end and the eaves extend along the sides to cover the buttresses. The roof is in poor condition with all of the slate missing over the porch area and damage over the main roof. The floor is of timber and all fixings are of copper to prevent the risk of sparking caused by striking on iron. The two copper lightening rods which were fixed to each end of the roof have disappeared.  Although requiring reconstruction and maintenance, the powder magazine is an important element in the precinct. The careful design to minimise damage and the isolated site of the building indicate the dangers of life connected with mining.
The Avoca powder magazine photographed in 1993
The powder magazine in 1993. It has since been repaired.
Avoca powder magazine May 2026

People associated with the Avoca powder magazine

Avoca Walking Tour: #18 Herlihy Grocery and Drapery Store c1870

This month’s blog posts concern places on the Avoca Walking Tour, a brochure published by the Pyrenees Tourism Association. An online transcription is available here.   

Between 1870 and 1873, this building was operated by Tea Merchant, H. Brooks. In 1886, Kate Herlihy ran a grocery and drapers store here. In the 1960s Bill Burke operated as a barber from these premises.

Herlihy Grocery and Drapery Store 111 High Street, as shown by the purple square
111 High Street May 2026

Allotment 4 of section 7 in the Avoca Township was first acquired by C.K. Pearson (1827-1909), a jeweller and watchmaker, in 1856.

Henry Brooks (1833-1914) operated a grocery business from the premises from 1871.

Advertising (1871, April 22). The Avoca Mail, p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202430790

Kate Kirby (1848-1928) was born in County Cork, Ireland. In 1869 she married James Herlihy (1846-1876). They emigrated to Victoria arriving in January 1871. A son was born on the voyage. 

James Herlihy became a mounted policeman. In 1876 he was posted to Avoca. In January 1876 two children of the Herlihy family, aged  3 and 6, died and were buried in Avoca cemetery. Shortly afterwards Constable Herlihy was posted to Donald. He fell from his horse on 24 July and died a week later. He was buried in Avoca cemetery. Kate Herlihy was widowed with two young children, a two year old and an infant. She was reported to have been entitled to a widow’s pension of  £120 per year. 

In 1877, the year after her husband’s death Mrs K Herlihy commenced business as a milliner and dressmaker in High Street Avoca.

Advertising (1877, November 30). The Avoca Mail, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201446252

In 1881 she moved to new premises on High Street near the Avoca Hotel.

Advertising (1881, July 26). The Avoca Mail, p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201445526

In 1883 she advertised:

Mrs. K. Herlihy, of Trevenee House, Avoca, announces in our columns that she wishes the inhabitants of Avoca and district generally to know that she has just received a very large and well-assorted stock of new and fashionable goods, which comprise ladies' and gentlemen's clothing of every description. She has also a splendid assortment of boots and shoes. Dress-making and millinery in all their branches are carried on at the establishment, and under the entire management of Mrs. Herlihy.

Mrs K Herlihy served as president of the Avoca Ladies’ Benevolent Society.

Mrs Herlihy was still in business in 1915 and owned the shop in High street at the time of her death as well as several other properties. 111 High Street (allotment 4 of section 7) was valued at £800 at the time of probate.

Avoca High Street 1911
Avoca High Street, 1911
Collection of the Centre for the Government of Queensland
Retrieved from Avoca and Avoca Shire | Victorian Places

In 1994 the Avoca Shire Heritage Study reported:

By the 1920s the store had passed to Mr Henderson who sold a range of fruit and vegetables. In the 1930s Lou Summers ran a drapery store here. Bill Burke was proprietor of the store in the 1960s and he ran a barbers shop at the front of the building while living at the back. Later the Hushwaite's bought the property and Ralph Rowe is the present [in 1993] owner.

Further reading

Wikitree: