Category: Homebush

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.

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

 

Related posts and pages

• Lower Homebush School #2258
• Lower Homebush School Centenary History
• Teachers: Lower Homebush School Teachers
• Pupils: Homebush Former Pupils and Residents
• Lower Homebush School Inspectors Report 1937-1961
• Mount Waverley Secondary College camp 1996- 2011
• Charlotte Wilkins nee Young, 1861–1925 (wife of teacher George Wilkins)

Wikitree:

• William Campbell (1830-1894) : petitioned for school in 1878
• William Ernest Buhlert (1834-1883) : supplied the building for the first wooden school
• William Bennett (1845-1926) : removal, re-erection and renovation of wooden school
• James Thompson Haynes (1853-1930) : teacher 1903-1906
• George Edward Wilkins (1857 – 1944) : teacher 1907-1921
• Charlotte Ethel (Young) Wilkins (1861 – 1925) : wife of George Wilkins
• Laura Eliza (Squires) Wilkins (1878-1970) : teacher; second wife of George Wilkins

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

• Samuel James Rutter (1858-1891)
• Elizabeth Jane (Opie) Field (1855-1937)
• John Porter (1843-1925)

Homebush families mentioned: 

• Mackinnon had the P. office. James McKinnon (1830-1920)
• John Bullock’s school mates were the
  • Lardners, possibly William James Lardner (1864-1957), and John Stafford Lardner (1866-1939)
  • Fitches, possibly Thomas Frederick Fitch (1865-1937), George Henry Fitch (1867-1935), Caroline Jane (Fitch) Moore (1869-1954), Charles Edward Fitch (1871-1931)
  • Conroys, possibly Joseph Francis Conroy (1868-1923), Patrick Conroy (1869-1886)
  • Shaws, possibly Josephina Shaw (1866-), George Bernard Shaw (1868-1920), Blanch Bona Shaw (1871-)
  • Trounsons, possibly John Trounson (1865-1951), Elizabeth Mary (Trounson) Fitch (1867-1933), William Charles Trounson (1870-1878)
  • Shiels, possibly Edward Shiell (1864-1933),  William Henry Shiell (1866-1949), John Shiell (1869-1917), Richard Shiell (1871-1937)
  • Craigies, possibly Robert Peter Craigie (1863-1937)
  • Endersbys, possibly William Edward Enderby (1871-1883), Amy Catherine Ward (Enderby) Crosse (1875-1965), George Ward Enderby (1876-1966)
  • Dalys, possibly Michael Daly (1866-), Edward Daly (1867-), Denis Daly (1868-), Patrick Daly (1870-), Lucrete Daly (1871-), John Francis Daly (1872-1941), Annie Elizabeth (Daly) Ginnivan (1874-1960)
  • Skewes, [not yet identified]
  • Plowrights, possibly Frederick Edward Plowright (abt.1865-1878), Samuel Joseph Smyth Plowright (1868-1938)
  • Tullocks, possibly John James Tulloch (1865-1880), William Andrew Tulloch (1867-1942)
  • Campbells, possibly Henry George Campbell (1865-)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Wikitree:

• Some of the Teachers of Homebush State School 1579
  • Isabella Reynard (1830- )
  • Arthur William Wellesley Appleton (1846-1925)
  • Elizabeth Jane (Opie) Field (1855-1937)
  • John Porter (1843-1925)
  • Thomas William Kewish (1863-1937)
  • Helen Hain (Craig) Kewish (1867-1953)
• In photo
  • Eva Louisa (Squires) Taylor (1880-1961)
  • Pearl Alice (Burkinshaw) Lashbrook (1893-1933)