Lost Village : Sherbrooke & Black Diamond Railway Museum Bulli Australia U3A Central Illawarra

Black Diamond HC & Sherbrooke - A Lost Village on Bulli MountainPresentation to Central Illawarra U3A – 22.8.2014

Kerrie Anne Christian“Sherbrooke Sister” & President of BDHC Museum Bulli & of Illawarra Family History GroupMember of early 19thC Illawarra - Shoalhaven Pioneering Families-Thomas Hynde - Green (1820’s), Hicks (1820’s) & McKenzie (1830’s) families

Central Illawarra U3A - BDHC - 22.8.2014 2


BDHC – Celebrating 25 years Open Sundays 1- 4pm

except 5th Sunday in month & groups mid-week by appointment


Bulli– Early 19th Century• 1796-97 Coal discovered at Coalcliff but

no Illawarra mining commenced in 19th Century until 1848 which held region back

• Early European contact by Charles Throsby – guided by Aborigines - brought cattle down Bulli Mountain during a drought in 1815

• Cedar-getting also commenced similar time frame

• Bulli derived from Bulla Bulla – Wadi Wadi for “Two Mountains”– Mt Keira & Mt Kembla


Sandon Pt children playing in front of the property of Bulli’s 1st European Settler in Bulli

- Cornelius O’Brien (by 1820’s)

O’Brien was engaged in farming & whaling activities – was reputed to have co-existed peaceably with local Aborigines

– interesting in context of 1816 Appin Massacre over the mountain


Many have painted Sandon Pt – like Grace Cossington Smith. The earliest European artist was Captain Robert Marsh Westmacott – who lived in the area during the 1830’s - 1840’s before he was bankrupted by his dreams of establishing coalmining in the area. William Somerville would later pursue the goal of coalmining in 1858.


By 1865 Bulli had its first

church – Wesleyan – supported

by the Somerville Family - a

School followed

Sherbrooke Sandstone & Timber is believed to have been used in the church construction


Bulli Village – early 1870’s

Slower to develop than Dapto etc in Southern Illawarra until coal mining- In the distance is “Mail Bag Hollow” at Slacky Flat and Hungry Hill


Coal Miners at Bulli

Coal mining started in Bulli by 1858 & ended in 1987.

In the 1830’s, Captain Robert Marsh Westmacott unsuccessfully tried to break Newcastle’s monopoly on coal - held by the Australian Agricultural Company (AAC)


Cokeworks at Sandon Point


Sandon Point Jetty, Bulli

Note - Originally horse drawn wagons took the coal down to the jetty before steam trains were introduced

Good Quality Coal - used in Coke Ovens locally & later in Steelmaking - sent overseas for steam ships


Difficult Access to Coast : Treacherous Seas & Steep Roads

held back Development - ‘ Wreck of the “Waniora” ‘


Mid 19th Century changes• Pressure for a northern Mountain Road to avoid

access via Mount Keira • Opening of Rixon’s Pass up the Mountain• Westmacott’s Pass overtook Rixon’s Pass• 1858 opening of Sydney Campbelltown Railway

• Illawarra people travelled up Bulli Mountain to connect to the Railway to reach Sydney

• Bulli became the main stopping off point for Illawarra travellers

• Coal mining commenced• Churches, Inns, Shops & Newspaper in Bulli• Late 1850’s saw political activity emerge• Region wide push from Kiama to Austinmer for a

South Coast Railway in late 1870’s• Nth Illawarra Council starts – push for Bulli Council


Bulli had 6 inns by 1887, & 7 in 1889 – 4 buildings remained in the 21st C


Bulli Oddfellows (Masonic) Hall was centre of activity in the village in the 19th C years


Bulli Mine Explosion –81 killed - 23.3.1887

Australia’s second worst Industrial Disaster – telegraphed to NSW

Parliament

- only exceeded by Mt Kembla Disaster of

1902 – 102 were killed

- led to a push for Bulli Cottage Hospital - built

with miners contributions

- Disaster to be commemorated by the

Black Diamond Heritage Centre in 2015


The Disaster severely impacted families, Churches, Mining Union

Note - Bulli Coalfield was birthplace of Illawarra’s Trade Unions in the 1870’s – although political activity flourished from late 1850’s – meetings were held at the home of Alexander McKenzie in Bulli.


Late 19th Century ChangesComing of the Railway in 1887

• Opened up the Illawarra region• Bulli Village shops etc moved south• Demand for coaching, accommodation & meals

at Bulli inns changed – instead of flourishing as expected – people went straight to Wollongong

• Improved market access for mines & farmers – dairy & fruit (helped Sherbrooke)

• Increased tourism • Note – duplication of railway occurred much later

& completed during WW1 years


Bulli Telegraph Office was at the Jetty until South Coast Railway came in

1887 – relocated to Station


Naming of Sandon Point George Adams’ home – Sandon House –

he also owned Bulli Mine & Tattersalls

• later some of Adams’ land sold for housing• but during 1930’s depression years a Shanty Town was at Slacky

Flat• 1930’s : “Pig Iron Bob - Dalfram Dispute” protest - down Bullli Pass • Bulli Hospital expanded


Sandon Pt & Bulli post WWII :boatsheds & surfing continue

1950’s Changes : housing estate at Sandon Pt - Young families drove need for new facilities –

but crucially no supermarket opens- Surfing takes off- AIS owns & invests in the Mine- Sherbrooke’s story is fading away


Bulli - From 1980’s - 90’s : Activism then Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy • Industrial land converted to residential estates• The SP Aboriginal Midden was known for years

before it was uncovered in a storm – studies reveal a very significant Aboriginal site

• UOW Archivist Michael Organ, after conferring with Dr Joe Davis and Inga Lazarotto, produces “Illawarra & South Coast Aborigines : 1770-1850” – greater understanding of Sandon Point area as a meeting place for Aboriginal people pre and post early European years

• In the midst of growing opposition to development at Sandon Point, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy opens & still remains – is now recognised as significant in Aboriginal Heritage


From 1987 : Concern that Bulli was losing its historyBulli Mine closed - Bulli Hospital Maternity Ward threatsState Heritage listed 1887 Bulli Station building faced demolition.Community fight & building opens as Black Diamond HC Inc in 1989 Back to Bulli Festival 1989 - led by BDHC’s Ray BrownBulli Township Townscape Study – Miners Cottage purchased

Early BDHC volunteers : Mick Roberts’ mum Rita, Fay Haines & Fay’s mum Mrs Hosa

• Mountain man Westie Hapgood begins memoirs of Sherbrooke

• BDHC’s Mick Roberts, encouraged by UOW Historian, Dr Win Mitchell, writes “Little House on the Hill” on Northern Pubs


2014 : Black Diamond Gallery owner Alan Upton’s “Sherbrooke”unveiled

by Jackie Haines & Rita Roberts


2013 – 2014 : “Sherbrooke Sisters” brought together by a Facebook

history lovers group & IFHG members


Bulli Mountain - 1850’s but too many “Bulli’s”


Sherbrooke – named in 1880’s for Lord Sherbrooke – Robert Lowe - who opposed reintroduction of convict

transportation in Australia


Sherbrooke - 1902- Resumption

Map after a NSW Government Inquiry

- March 1902 plans for Cataract Dam in Sydney newspapers had volumes on reservoirs etc

- but no mention of Sherbrooke

- Sherbrooke residents didn’t realise threats to their property until late 1902 – too late

- they fought for years for decent compensation


Sherbrooke’s Heritage captured by Thirroul’s RTC Jones & shared

by his granddaughter Sandra

Sherbrooke Sister Sandra has been a great catalystfor ensuring Sherbrooke’s history is not lost – a great fan of Trove


Charles Edward Jones & Elizabeth Spinks of Sherbrooke

– parents of R T C Jones


Sherbrooke - Timber Menlike the Jones’ family

(Some also came down the mountain to work in mines during the week)


Browns of Ferndale Orchards – returned to Dapto & dairying after resumption

Blackberry picking : also a major activity


Bullock Carts taking Sherbrooke fruit down Bulli mountain to the Station – to Sydney & export


Sherbrooke Cricket Team

NB. Cricket was played in the Bulli area by the late 1850’s


Sherbrooke was renowned for its wildflower shows – charity

fundraising for hospitals etc


The School – was Sherbrooke’s last “in-situ” building

Cataract Dam’s Ranger lived there until 1968 bushfires


Union Church is Sherbrooke’s last building - now at Grevillea Park Bulli

Shared by Protestant churches & was Sherbrooke Community Hall – eg Banquets, political meetings & the Athenaeum Debating Society

No pubsNo shops

InSherbrooke

- went down theMountain

To Bulli


The “Lost Village of Sherbrooke” on Bulli Mountain

• Prosperous community, located on Bulli Mountain above Illawarra Escarpment & west of Bulli Pass – from above Thirroul to west of Brokers Nose Corrimal

• European settlement on Bulli Mountain from 1850’s – timber, farming, orchards, tourism -benefited from South Coast Rail in 1887

• Floods (late 19th C) & Droughts (early 20th C) drove need for a better dam for Sydney

• Sherbrooke resumed for Cataract Dam 1902 – selected because of its geography & sandstone


Where did they go ? Jones : Bulli & Thirroul

Many resettled on the coast - from Thirroul to Woonona, others went to Dapto, Camden, Sydney & even the North Coast


The “Blinkco Room” at BDHC

Blinkco’s were one of the families who re-settled at Woonona after Sherbrooke’s resumption. Later their home site was redeveloped & contents from their home were donated to the BDHC Museum.


Building the Dam – Cataract City : 1902 -1907


Sydney’s Water : Cataract Dam

But today : Sherbrookeis off limits- even for descendants - big fines if you go in there

Sherbrooke – Bulli Mountain Family Network – 1850 to 1902 - One Big Family & connected to Southern Illawarra Families

Reeve Spinks

Harrigan

Wade

SmithersChilby - Leach

Blinkco

FritzCavill

Knight

Dumbrell

Vidler

Organ

LovedayHaberley

Martin

Brown

Williams

Jones

Taylor

JohnsonLaneConroy

Fletcher

McAuley

Pearson

Callcott Hicks

Cram

Wales

Hunt

WoodTurnbull

Parsons

BourneMurray

Campbell

McKay

King

SlocombeHapgoodCharlesworth

Candie

Keene Keegan

Parmenter

Hildebrand

Roberts

Black

HenningJarrett

Eales

Molloy

Downie

Ford

Osborne

Bishop Rixon

Nash

Wilson

Kimbrey


National Trust Heritage Festival – Sherbrooke Event 2014 – by the “Sherbrooke Sisters” at BDHC


Where to next for Sherbrooke ?

NSW Heritage Festival 2015

- FindingSherbrooke’s

Sons In

WWI


Also !! Planned BDHC 2015 exhibition event The Role of the South Coast Railway in WW1.

Often, but not always, train engine drivers would blow “cock a doodle do” on the engine whistle to let local townspeople that a returning soldier , or nurse, was on the train in WW1Our aims• Capturing stories, reported during the WW1 years, of soldiers,

sailors and nurses being farewelled and welcomed home at South Coast Railway Stations south of Waterfall to Bomaderry

• drawing heavily from the Illawarra Mercury, South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus and the Kiama

Stations North of the PassStations South of the Pass to North of Dapto – excluding WollongongStations Dapto to BomaderryWollongong Station• capture stories of South Coast Railway employees and their

families who served in WW1

Can you help us ?

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132408895

http://blackdiamondheritagecentrebulli.wordpress.com/nsw-south-coast-railway-in-ww1/north-of-the-pass/

http://blackdiamondheritagecentrebulli.wordpress.com/nsw-south-coast-railway-in-ww1/south-of-the-pass-to-kemblagrange/

http://blackdiamondheritagecentrebulli.wordpress.com/nsw-south-coast-railway-in-ww1/1134-2/

http://blackdiamondheritagecentrebulli.wordpress.com/nsw-south-coast-railway-in-ww1/wollongong-railway-station/


30th Battalion at Kiama Station 1916


Dapto : BDHC WW1 – South Coast Railway in WW1 • May 10 1916 - Kiama Independent & Shoalhaven Advertiser – soldiers return by

Paper Train to the Kiama camp Khaki Invasion on milk Dapto Butter Factory• October 13 1916 – Illawarra Mercury – Private Edward Clifford died of

meningitis developed while in camp – remains conveyed to the station and interred at the Brownsville Church of England cemetery

• November 2 1917 – Illawarra Mercury – Private Bob Hargrave returned after service in Gallipoli & wounded in France – welcomed home at the station

• November 2 1917 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Private R Hargrave welcomed back home at the station

• July 19 1918 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Private Clive Bailey welcomed home at the station

• February 7 1919 – Illawarra Mercury – Private Arthur Lindsay welcomed at Wollongong station and conveyed by motor car to Dapto

• May 16 1919 - Illawarra Mercury – Private Edgar Mark welcomed at station• June 13 1919 - Illawarra Mercury – Privates H Gillen & C Chie welcome station• August 1 1919 – Illawarra Mercury – Peace celebration march from the station

to the Dapto Showground• August 15 1919 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Private Harry

Chippendall welcomed home at the station• December 12 1919 – South Coast Times & Wollongong Argus – Dr Charles

Bateman welcomed home at the station



http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/cite/15256518/132409117










Acknowledgements – photographs & information

• Sherbrooke Descendants especially R T C Jones & Sandra Jones• BDHC – Ray Brown, Bron & Peter Chamberlain, Graeme Stewart, Mick

Roberts, Rita Roberts, Fay Haines & Sherbrooke exhibition visitors• Sherbrooke Sisters - Pamela Rose McGovern, Sharynne Chapman, Susannah

Cavill, Sandra Jones• Historians - Joe Davis, Michael Adams, Lorraine Neate, Michael Organ,

Westie Hapgood, Bill Bayley, C Singleton, J Southern, A Cousins• Illawarra Family History Group – Illawarra Branches & members – T Bugg• NIRAG – Ross Dearden & Max Ackerman• Joan Adams, David Christian, Mary Blinksell & Brian Blair• Trove – National Library of Australia Digitised Newspapers• Facebook Groups - Pages & their contributors

– Lost Wollongong on FB,– Black Diamond Heritage Centre on FB, – Back in Time – Photos from the Past on FB,– Looking Back with Mick Roberts on FB,– Sherbrooke on FB,– Sandon Point, Then & Now on FB,– Thirroul History in Photos on FB,– Kiama Remembers , A History of Kiama on FB,

• ABC Radio, Illawarra Mercury, Wollongong Advertiser, NSW National Trust• Alan Upton, Black Diamond Gallery, Destination Wollongong & NSW,


BDHC – Celebrating 25 yearsOpen Sundays 1- 4pm

except 5th Sunday in month & groups mid-week by appointment

Lost Village : Sherbrooke & Black Diamond Railway Museum Bulli Australia U3A Central Illawarra

Education

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