G'day ALL ...
As you know, I've been lost in old-time Bendigo (Sandhurst) this week
and came across this fantastic re-cap through Trove ... lucky genies who
had this chap in their tree to leave such a treasure waiting to be
discovered!
As I've said, my lot came for gold in the early 1850s and soon took up
either printing at the local paper, or in the case of my direct
ancestor, who would have had trouble finding work as a house painter,
moved into the work his mum had back in Bristol ... the hotel and
entertainment trade.
My lad placed quite a few ads over the years and after successfully
setting up a bowling alley, he graduated to a rifle range and then
incorporated it all in a hotel.
Have a read of the following account and I'm sure you'll follow it
through to the end as the correspondent remembers who he crossed paths
with and what became of them ... verrrry revealing!
Cheers, ROB!
rnelson@xxxxxxxxxxxx
----< Bendigo Advertiser, Friday 13 April 1917, page 5 >---->
"BACK TO BENDIGO."
EARLY BENDIGO.
PIONEER'S REMINISCENCES.
From Mr. J. C. Brownhill, a member of the firm of Messrs. J. C.
Brownhill and Sons, general printers, of Geelong, and one of the
pioneers of Bendigo, the Mayor (Cr. Beebe) has received the following
interesting letter:—
"As one of the earliest arrivals in dear old Bendigo, permit me to
congratulate you and the other promoters of the 'Back to Bendigo'
movement, on the successful carrying out arrangements in connection
there-with. Owing to circumstances of a domestic nature intervening, I
was unfortunately prevented from being present on the auspicious
occasion, but I was certainly with you in spirit. It may possibly
interest you to know that as a boy of nine years I arrived in Bendigo
with my people in 1852, and resided in various parts of Bendigo
(including Golden-square, Specimen Hill; Job's Gully, Eaglehawk, Back
Creek, Quarry Hill, etc.) until 1863, when I left, for Geelong, where I
have lived ever since, having reared a family of eight— three daughters
and five sons. Three of the latter are at the front—at least two of them
are still there, but the other poor fellow has been in hospital in
England for eight months, having been terribly damaged in an engagement
in France on 19th of last July. Although for 33 years after I left
Bendigo I frequently visited that city (then known as Sandhurst), I have
not been there for about 20 years. Needless to say, during the period of
my sojourn in Bendigo (1852-1863) I witnessed many stirring scenes and
the most primitive surroundings, and experienced to the full what
'roughing it' meant, especially during the first five or six years,
living first in a tent, then in a hut, and finally in a so-called
'house.' I learned my trade (that of a printer) in the 'Bendigo
Advertiser' jobbing office, situated at the back of the newspaper
office—an adjunct to the paper at the time I refer to. The proprietors
of the establisment (both news and jobbing) were Messrs. Angus Mackay
(afterwards Minister for Mines), J. J. Casey (later on Minister for
Lands, and ultimately Judge Casey), and Mr. Henderson. Mr. Mackay was
editor of the paper, and Mr. Casey was the business manager of the whole
concern. Among the names of those connected with the front office at
that time, I call to mind those of R. R. Haverfield, 'Bob' Mackie,
George Collier (afterwards a noted professional actor), 'Dick' (now the
Rev. Richard) Fitcher, Sangster, Levy, and S. W. Viney, of each and all
of whom, I could relate interesting stories. In the 'Advertiser'
composing room there were Mr. Hechle (overseer), Slobom (sub-overseer),
B. L. Farjeon (afterwards a famous novelist), 'Tom' Hellier, and others.
In the machinery section the most prominent name was that of 'Joe'
Anderson, well known then, and I believe for many years afterwards. In
the jobbing office the overseer was Mr. Thomas Talbot Wilton, known to
fame at that time as Doctor Panglors, LL.D. and A.S.S., having reference
to his masterly assumption of that character in the 'Heir-at-Law,' a
play produced by Bendigo amateurs in the late fifties. Mr. Wilton
eventually, with others, started the 'Bendigo Mercury,' which I think
ultimately merged into the 'Bendigo Independent,' after which he (Mr.
W.) associated with Reuter's Telegraph Co. I treasure the memory of the
years I spent in the 'Advertiser' jobbing office, during which period I
had a splendid time, but had to leave in 1863 with great reluctance.
"Among the many vivid recollections of those early days, some of the
most interesting to me are those connected with the stage, having been
brought into fairly intimate relations with many of the professionals of
the time, notably Mr. G. V. Brooke, Miss Avonia Jones, Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Heir, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Vinson, Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Murray,
Messrs. Stuart O'Brien, J. R. Greville, R. D. Ireland, etc. At that time
there were three theatres running constantly, viz., the Lyceum, in Pall
Mall, afterwards turned into a general store; the Haymarket, a fine old
home, with an excellent stage; and St. James's, in connection with the
Shamrock Hotel, then kept by 'Billy' Heffernan, who engaged the
inimitable Thatcher for a long season. Thatcher was immensely popular in
those days (or rather nights), and his comic songs were unique. I
remember the names of many men who eventually became notables, such as
Mr. Robert Strickland, of Bridge-street, who forsook the 'chopping
black' for the bar (the legal, not the liquor); Mr. J. H. Abbott, who
ultimately became a legislator; Mr. Alf. Bailes, who after serving his
apprenticeship on the 'Advertiser' took to politics; Mr. John (later Sir
John) McIntyre; Mr. Robert Clark, ultimately well known in connection
with political matters; Mr. W. D. C. Denovan, and many others. Of
course, my Bendigo reminiscences will naturally have little, if any,
interest to yourself or other members of the present generation, but to
me they are endearing, and to a great extent delightful. Although I was
not able to be at the gathering during Easter time, I am hoping to get
at least a day in the very near future to visit the dear old city, which
has for me so many interesting associations, and if such an opportunity
occurs I will certainly take the liberty of calling upon you for the
purpose of shaking hands with the present representative of the people
of my old place of abode. So far as I am aware, the only present citizen
of Bendigo that I can claim to have even a casual acquaintance with is
Mr. Luke Murphy, whom during the Mayoralty I had the pleasure of meeting
in Geelong, in company with your former clerk of courts, Mr. W. W.
Harris (now, of course, P.M.), and Mr. Honeybone.
<----
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Genealogy: Tracing yourself back to better people
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