Newsletter No 8
May 2010

Editor: Barry Aulich

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Piccanny Point & Chain of Lagoons Beach

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The Society meets for a General meeting on every second month on the third Sunday of that month.
While on alternate months we have a field day to some prominent spot of interest in the Fingal Valley and neighbouring areas.
Visitors and Members are very welcome to attend either or both.
President Barry Aulich / 63725752
Vice Pres Darlene Wright
Secretary Lois Hayes
Treasurer Jim Haas 63 722127
News Editor Barry Aulich
Public Officer Jim Haas
Publicity / Jim Haas 63722127 & Peter Troode 63722783.
Or PO Box 148 St Mary’s 7215

Membership
Single
$10-00
Family
$15-00

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Well folks here we are a third of the way through the year, and it just seems to get faster and faster, “But we have achieved a remarkable amount in that time”, with a trip to Picanniny Point to view the few remaining relics that remain in the rocks there on the point. They had great visions, and must have had a great disappointment when it all went wrong. It is marvelous that the metal fittings have with stood the Salty air for such a long time and they don’t look like giving in at any time soon.
Then our most recent walk was to Kringles Caves at Irishtown Road in the foot hills of the Mount Elephant, This was a great day the weather was fabulous and we started at Gerald & Wendy’s place where Barry A gave a detailed talk on how the Aulich’s started the sawmilling at Irishtown Road and had a dairy farm there until 1968 when the big drought struck and they went back into the timber industry. We set off and managed to get to the Caves and had a look around and then retreated to Elaine’s place of abode about 300 meters back, and sat at the edge of the stream to have our lunch, after lunch we set off back down to the cars at a very leisurely pace,
It was great to see some new faces on the trip, because people are interested to find these places that they hear about, It is a pleasure to be able to show them so as the knowledge of the place gets handed on to the younger generations.
A little bit more about the early inhabitants of the Irishtown Road area, As I said on the day the only settlers in the older times settled on the left hand side of the road as this was the side closest to the water and water had to be carried in cans or buckets in those early times. The first home was a Birthing place before the St Mary’s Hospital was built, Then I remember Syd and Daphne Stone lived there, before Johnson & Holly Bean, just up the road was a house right on the edge of the road, in later times Mrs Smythe lived there, It was raised by fire, about a couple of hundred meters up the road on the rise was a slaughter shed, being known as the slaughter shed hill as a land mark. Then the house where now lives Geoff Gillies was the home of the Chester’s, it was here on a Sunday afternoon, a game of cricket went horribly wrong, a young chap “Monaghan” was hit on the temple with the cricket ball and died, later on Arty & Joan Margison and then Harry & Mrs Smith lived there, next family up the road was the Nailer family Albert & Ethel lived and reared there family there. Then a bit further on become a Settlement of homes necessary for the employees of the sawmill,
Five in all, But before that sawmill the next home was just past where Gerald & Wendy now live it was built by Oscar & May Aulich but was burned down I think in the late Thirties, Then there was the home of the Rowe’s Ben & Tom Later being Lewis & Florrie Dunn, then Max & Glady’s Freeman & now Michael Aulich. Up the road towards St Patrick’s Head was Jack Curran’s, near where the Nelsons now live, over the paddock was Bill & Mrs Jones place, then Johnny & Mary Curran, in the old place that most know as the “Curran’s house”, “This was not the original home of the Curran’s” that was further to the North West, Up the Irishtown road there was the Gards , Known as “Gards lane” then the Old school at which my grandmother taught She was May Curran then, at one time there were 60 children attending, coming from as far as Fourmile Creek on Horse back, walking and push bikes, No Buses those days. Then where Bruce Cornelius now lives was Charley Heise's place, Later occupied by Bill, Oscar & May Aulich, then the Davie family, Below that was the Koglin’s where Elaine now lives, further on there were several families of Kings, Johnny, Harry & Billy that I have been told of. And the Mitchells.
Before that and closer to St Patricks Head, along the school road, was the Hopewell’s and up at the beginning of the Mill Ridge the Connell’s related to the Currans & Jonses and then the family of Silas & Julia Jones they had two sons Reg & Vern
Many a great evening was had at the Jones’s place, Silas would tell yarns and ghost stories, to the extent that the visitors would leave to go home when it turned to day-light, There would be fabulous suppers served and music around the huge fire place in the house.
Talking of entertainment, on a Sunday afternoon some-one’s place would be the place to be for afternoon tea every one from near and far would attend, the folk from the really older times, told of how they used to walk, that was why there were tracks between the properties, if there was a shorter way to get there they found it, some of the families of Kings used to walk from the southern side of the Elephant around through Wescoms to the kings and Mitchell’s at Irishtown.
The Irishtown road was the original road to get to Fourmile creek.

From Barry Aulich.

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SNIPPET FROM THE MERCURY 19TH JAN 1884 From their correspondent

ST MARYS

Bush fires have been raging in this neighborhood for several days, But on Monday, owing to the terrific gale which swept over the district, they became very serious, and spread with alarming rapidity. Much valuable property has been destroyed. Dwelling houses, barns, fences, and crops have been burned down. The fires raged with terrible fury, Many there were occupied for hours on Monday throwing water on their houses to prevent them catching fire, and had to leave crops and fences to their fate, and their fate was in many cases to entirely disappear before the fiery deluge. A fine field of barley belonging to Mr Wardlaw, was completely burnt up. An old man named Bryant, and his wife and three small children, had to make their escape from their burning residence, with nothing but their clothes, all they had in the world being reduced to ashes. Large trees were falling in all directions, and some had very wonderful escapes from falling limbs, One man, lately came from Germany, in making his escape, was very severely burned. The wind was so strong that sparks were carried several hundred yards in sufficient numbers to ignite anything on which they chanced to fall. Cattle in some instances have disappeared, and no doubt they are buried beneath the fallen trees. Crops in many places have been much injured by large trees falling into the paddocks. The damage done cannot be easily estimated at present, but there is no doubt that it will be the work of years to repair it.
Page’s stables, which are about half a mile distant from the township had a very narrow escape, and, but for the praiseworthy exertions of a number of men from the township, they would have been reduced to ashes.
On Monday afternoon a large decayed tree near the Wesleyan church, came down with a terrible crash. Fortunately no person was near it at the time or fatal consequences might have ensued. There are some more still standing which are very dangerous, especially when there is a strong gale.
On Monday night St Patrick’s Head was enveloped in flames and presented somewhat the appearance of an active volcano.
A very smart shower fell on Tuesday afternoon, which had the very beneficial affect of extinguishing the fire, and so preventing further damage
( January 17th 1884)

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Kringles Caves

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Society Calender

Sunday 16 May 2010 meeting at the St Marys Online Centre at 2.30 pm
Sunday 20 June 2010 guided tour of Mathinna Gold Mines meeting at Mathinna Recreation Ground at 10.30 am
Sunday July 18 2010 meeting at the St Marys Online Centre at 2.30 pm
Sunday 15 August 2010 walk to the old Dalmayne coal mine site meeting at Rubernach's home on Dalmayne Road at 10.30
Sunday 19 September 2010 meeting at the St Marys Online Centre at 2.30 pm
Sunday 17 October walk to the old coal mine working at Cornwall meeting at Cornwall Park at 10.30 am

Any one is welcome to come along on these trips / ventures you don’t have to be a member, but you may feel that you would like to become a member after you experience the casual atmosphere of our group.
Even meetings we try to keep as casual as possible without getting too much out of hand.
For the history walks you need to bring along good footwear, your lunch and drinks for the day, and suitable clothing, at your discretion when you decide what the weather is going to be on the day.

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Yorkshire Pudding
Usually served with roast beef,
But is good with all meat and poultry dishes
250g flour ,sifted >2 eggs, beaten> 750ml milk,> pinch of salt
Place flour in basin, make well and add salt and eggs, then add milk slowly while stirring to moisten all flour. Beat well, adding remaining milk and stand 30 minutes. Grease square tin, heat until hot then pour in batter and bake 45 minutes,
Serve in neatly cut squares.

The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your Bra and Panties.
The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy

Disclaimer
You could find some errors in this publication.
This is in keeping with my policy of trying to please everyone all of the time.
Even those who look for mistakes. B Aulich Editor