Allora’s Past 75 years ago November 1934
Stray Dogs and Cats
Reference to the stray dog and cat nuisance provided the only humorous interlude of the day at the regular meeting of the Allora Council this week. The ranger (Mr. Dick Wright) gravely accounted for the large number of useless dogs in town as being the result of owners bringing them in from the country and letting them fend for themselves. He also mentioned that stray cats were on the increase, as only recently he saw a man who had half a dozen in a bag and was taking them to dump somewhere in the main street. No finality was reached by the Council over the matter, and the meeting quickly passed to more important business.
Allora’s Past 100 years ago November 1909
Closed Season for Emus
The Allora Guardian has received from the Department of Agriculture and Stock, a copy of a proclamation limiting the protection to emus in the district of Darling Downs under the Native Birds Protection Act, to a closed season from the 1st to the 7th July in each year. The protection formerly extended to emus in the Darling Downs district was from the 1st July to the 30th September each year.
The Department concludes with the hope that we will kindly draw attention to the alteration in our columns. As we always endeavour to assist the various Government departments in every way possible, we express the hope that our readers will cease slaughtering the emus which abound in this district, during the period mentioned.
The Dalrymple Hotel
The Dalrymple Hotel was Allora’s first licensed hotel. The licence was issued to Donald Clark in November 1860. The Moreton Bay Courier reported that the hotel was situated at Allora, better known as Dalrymple Creek, and was the only house of accommodation between Drayton and Warwick. Donald Clark landed in Melbourne from Scotland in 1854. In June 1860 he selected four blocks of ground to the north of the newly surveyed town, totalling 124 acres. He had a two roomed cottage built on the land, this cottage probably being the first sawn timber dwelling in the district. Clark’s house was situated where Norco Bowdler’s shed stand today and was later lived in by Charles Burge and family.
Allora’s first land sale took place on the 5th March 1860 and the 1 acre allotment on the corner of Drayton and Raff Streets was the first sold. The buyer was Warwick storekeeper Simon Meyer. In the Moreton Bay Courier of 3rd November 1860, Donald Clark advertised for sale or let, the Dalrymple Hotel, a building with 3 large rooms with bar and landlord’s apartments, 6 bedrooms, and detached kitchen and stables, situated on the Drayton and Raff Street’s corner.
John Holmes took up the licence of the Dalrymple Hotel in July 1862, transferring it to Martin Roggenkamp in February 1864. Roggenkamp was declared insolvent in December 1868. No further licence was issued for the hotel.
In 1879 the former hotel building was occupied by the Australian Joint Stock Bank until their new premises was completed in Herbert Street in 1880. J. H. C. Meyer operated his Bee Hive store and bakery on the Drayton and Raff Street’s corner until August 1881. The building then fell into disuse and was later demolished. The late Mr. Jack Kerr could remember the floor of the building still in place during his school days in the early 1900’s.
Drayton Street Museum
The Allora and District Historical Society is investigating the possibility, subject to approval of the Southern Downs Regional Council, of relocating their Drayton Street museum to a site between the Old Shire Hall and the Q. C. W. A. Restrooms in Warwick Street.
The building was erected in 1866 as Allora’s first court house on the site of the present police station in Raff Street. The builder was local carpenter James Dougall. In 1884 when a new court house was built, the old building was purchased by the local School of Arts Committee for £14 and moved to the Drayton Street site obtained from Mrs. Emily Buxton (nee Gwynne). The Allora School of Arts had been formed in 1873 with a library in the Town Hall in Forde Street.
The Drayton Street building served the Allora community as a library and reading rooms until it was closed in the 1960’s. The final meeting of the Allora School of Arts Committee was held on the 26th January 1967. The Allora Boy Scout Troop then took on the lease of the building. When the local Boy Scout Troop folded, the Allora and District Historical Society sub-let the building from the Boy Scouts Association on the 1st July 1970, taking over the lease in November 1971.
Difficulties caused by having museum buildings at two separate sites have caused the Historical Society to investigate the possibility of concentrating their buildings on the one site.
Doctor’s Death
Dr. Charles Sassadius came to Queensland from Germany in 1865. He spent time at the Pratten goldfields before coming to Allora in late 1866. On the 28th December 1866 he was summonsed by an employee of Pilton Station to attend a man who had a broken leg. In company with another man they set out from Allora at 8 p.m. calling in at Gillam’s public house at Spring Creek for two glasses of beer. Dr. Sassidius was seen taking frequent sips from a small bottle that he carried. About 2 ½ miles past McIntosh’s public house at Spring Creek, the doctor tumbled from his horse. The men made him comfortable at the side of the road but Dr. Sassadius passed away later that night.
Dr. Margetts J. P. was called from Warwick to carry out a post mortem and gave evidence at a later inquiry that Dr. Sassadius died from congestion of the brain brought on by the excessive use of intoxicating liquor, combined with the immoderate use of laudanum (an opium derivative).
Dr. Sassadius was buried in the Allora cemetery and his grave marked with a simple wooden cross.
Allora’s Past 75 years ago November 1934
Obituary
The death occurred on the 31st October 1934 of Mrs. Janet Cooke at the advanced age of 88 years. Mrs. Cooke arrived in Australia from Scotland with her parents Mr. and Mrs. William Marshall in 1853. She married Mr. Robert Cooke, a well known Allora farmer, in 1868. The Cooke’s lived at “Hillside” a few miles to the north west of the town and had extensive property in the Pilton district.
Mrs. Cooke was survived by two sons, Charles and William of Pilton, and three daughters, Mrs. J. Finlay, Mrs. M. Biggar, and Mrs. H. G. Deacon.
Allora’s Past 25 years ago December 1984
NOW OPEN
AT ALLORA
CUT PRICE
The Food Discounters
Wally and Robyn Kienzle offer you
a wide range of food and groceries
at very low prices, and friendly
personal service
Allora’s Past 75 years ago December 1934
Bowls Club Opened
The new club house and green of the Allora Bowls Club were officially opened on the 8th December 1934, by the President of the Queensland Bowling Association, Mr. D. Farquhar. At the invitation of Mr. Andrew Hamilton, the President the Allora Club, Mr. Farquhar made a short speech and without further ado, sent a bowl down the green towards “kitty”, amidst applause from the large crowd. Mr. John Dodd then unfurled the pennant on the flagstaff in the club’s colours of royal blue, maroon and gold.
The Allora Club was founded at a meeting convened by Mr. Bill Leggatt and Mr. John Holmes on October 8th 1931 when a number of prospective players decided, on the motion of Dr. C. P. Sapsford and Mr. R. Frizzell, to form a club. A committee of investigation comprising Dr. C. P. Sapsford, Messrs A. Hamilton, John Holmes, John Dodd, P. H. Imhoff, R. Frizzell, and W. Leggatt was then appointed, with Mr. S. Blair as secretary. The founding members each subscribed £10 in the form of debentures to get the project off the ground. Some time later, with the assistance of the Allora Shire Council and the Department of Public Lands, a 21 year lease of the green site was secured and the construction of the club house and green commenced.
Allora’s Past 100 years ago December 1909
Tender Accepted
We understand that the tender of Stodart & Leggatt, a firm of local contractors, has been accepted for the erection of new premises of brick for the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney. The work, when complete, will cost in the neighbourhood of £1,500. The plans, prepared by Messrs. Marks & Son, Toowoomba, show that the building will be an ornate and commodious structure and a distinct gain to the architecture of the town. The work will commence very shortly.
Tender Re-awarded
Stodart & Leggatt could not go on with the building owing to numerous contracts on hand. The Bank was desirous of having the erection of the building started so have accepted the tender of Mr. J. D. Draney, of Toowoomba, who will use Brisbane bricks made by hydraulic power.
Allora’s Past 25 years ago December 1984
Opening 15th December 1984
WATNEY’S
Incorporating The Old Country Tea Gardens
& Watney’s Herb Farm
Homegrown, Homemade, Wholesome, Wholefoods.
Potted Herbs & “The Old Country”
Homemade Products
Herbert Street, Allora.
Allora’s Past 75 years ago August 1934
Hendon Hotel Closes
According to a statement made in the Licensing Court on Wednesday, there will be no hotel at Hendon in the near future. The statement was made when the court was again considering the question of the licence of the Railway Hotel, Hendon. “I have inspected the hotel,” declared Mr. P. G. Knyvett P. M., “and have ascertained that the licencee (Arthur Martin Masters) does not intend to proceed any further with his application for renewal. He only desires time to dispose of the liquor on the premises. The matter will therefore be adjourned until the end of this month.” The hotel is an old landmark at Hendon, its history being closely associated with early days on the Darling Downs. It was built for Francis Kates in 1869 with the completion to Hendon of the Toowoomba-Warwick railway.
Allora’s Past 145 years ago August 1864
Police Presence Required
The following letter was written by the Warwick Police Magistrate, Mr. J. C. White, on the 20th August 1864, to the Colonial Secretary.
Sir, I have the honour to bring under your consideration the fact that Police protection
is required at “Allora” on Dalrymple Creek about 14 miles from this.
There are two public houses in that locality and every Sunday there is a gathering of
idlers from the stations in the vicinity – Clifton, Talgai, Pilton, Goomburra and
Glengallan. Games are carried on as well as horse racing and the Sabbath closes
frequently with scenes of riot and drunkenness.
I am informed that during the last shearing season scarcely a day passed without
some lawless and disgraceful event and that life was often in danger for want of some
Police control.
I am at present under the necessity of sending one of the Warwick Police force to that
place every week to protect the peace and preserve order.
As however the shearing season is approaching – I have the honour to recommend
that a district constable be stationed there as a permanency and that a lock-up be
erected for the custody of prisoners as well as for the reception of parties under
escort, the only place which an escort party can now put up being a public house.
(According to the 1864 Census, Allora had a total of 169 residents. Of the 50
completed residences, 46 had walls of slab or inferior and roofs of bark or inferior.
The two public houses were the Princess of Wales and the Dalrymple. Allora’s first
police officer, Acting Sergeant Robert Grayson, was appointed on the 1st September
1864)
December 17th. 2009.
Help Wanted
Help is needed in tracing the descendants of Pte. James Robert Smith who was killed in action in the Battle of Fromelles in 1916. With the recent discovery of a mass grave at Pheasant Wood in France, efforts are being made to identify the bodies of Australian soldiers believed to be buried at the site.
James Robert Smith was born in 1893 and enlisted in December 1915 from East Talgai. He was a farm labourer and had attended the Hendon State School. His father, James Smith, is thought to have been a groom at East Talgai. His mother was Harriet nee Flint, and is believed to have had previous children including Francis David Sarjeant who died in Allora in 1946. James Robert Smith had two surviving sisters, Harriet Parthenia Smith and Annie Smith who married Walter George Brest. DNA tests of surviving descendants could possibly identify the bodies of the soldiers in France.
Allora’s Past 75 years ago December 1934
Christmas Preparations
With Christmas little more than a week away, most people are turning their thoughts to the pleasant, but exacting task of selecting gifts for relatives and friends. Considering the wide variety of seasonal gifts displayed in the stores, Allora residents should experience little difficulty in solving the annual problem, thereby giving satisfaction to themselves as well as the happy recipients.
We will take a walk around some of the shops and see what they have to offer.
Barnes Emporium (76 Herbert St.): According to Mr. J. Jutsum, manager of Messrs. Barnes & Co., “A Happier Christmas,” aptly sums up the combined effect of better goods, in better designs and styles, better assortments, and better prices in the emporium this year.
Co-operative Store (22 South St.): “Don’t leave the placing of that Christmas order until the last minute,” is the sound advice offered by Mr. S. Blair, manager of the Warwick Co-operative Dairy Association’s Allora store.
Holmes & Co. (41 Warwick St.): A delight to childish eyes is Holmes & Company’s main window which is piled high with toys of all descriptions, from smiling dolls to speeding railway engines.
Cross’ Drapery Store (60 Herbert St.): Special care has been taken by Mr. W. H. Cross, draper, in selecting novelties for the Christmas season and prices are within the means of everyone.
Bob Brown’s Tobacconist (42 Herbert St.): As most men are smokers, the gift problem in this direction can be speedily solved by the purchase of high grade cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, or pipes, tobacco wallets, pouches, and cigarette lighters.
Gordon’s Pharmacy (74 Herbert St.): As agent for Kodak, Mr. W. A. Gordon, chemist, suggests that you take a Kodak with you for the Christmas holidays. His window display features the new box camera in various sizes.
White’s Garage (13 Drayton St.): As many car owners will be leaving the district in the all too short vacation, they would be well advised to have their vehicles thoroughly overhauled at Mr. J. E. White’s garage.
Gifford’s Newsagency (54 Herbert St.):Mrs. E. H. Gifford, the Allora newsagent, is again featuring the best range of Christmas and New Year greeting cards in town. Tickle’s Bakery (48 Herbert St.): Although bread is a daily item, don’t forget to advise your baker, Mr. G. R. Tickle, if through an influx of visitors, your requirements over the Christmas season will be greater than usual.
Neale’s Radio Service (47 Warwick St.): Mr. W. R. Neale is agent for Radiola wireless sets in the newest electric and battery models and will be pleased to demonstrate them for you.
December 21st. 2009.
Descendants Found
From information provided by several sources, descendants of the family of Pte. James Robert Smith, killed in the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, have been found.
A granddaughter of Francis David Sarjeant, a half brother of James Robert Smith, and his wife Betsy, sang at the wedding of Joyce Dougall and Ron Gordon in 1951 and Pat and June Lawson have given contact details for the family. Although there is no connection between the two families, Ms. Jillian Trethewey, the Glengallan Smith family historian, has made contact with descendants of the East Talgai Smith family. One complication to the task of identifying the body of Pte. James Smith is the fact that he had only sisters on the Smith side of his family, and his half brother Francis David Sarjeant, had only daughters. Apparently DNA is easier to trace between male descendants.
The story of James Robert Smith as we know it, is that he was born at East Talgai on the 29th March 1893, the son of James Smith and Harriett, formerly Serjeant, nee Flint. James Smith snr. was a groom at East Talgai. James Robert Smith attended the Hendon State School. He would have caught the train at Ellinthorp Railway Station as did other children of East Talgai employees including the late Mr. Reg. Rix.
The 1903 electoral roll records James and Harriett Smith living at East Talgai Station where James was a station hand.
James Robert Smith joined the Star of Allora Protestant Lodge in 1910. His occupation is given as farm hand. He enlisted on the 12th December 1915 and was later posted to the 31st Battalion in France where he was killed in action on the 20th July 1916. His name appears on the Allora cenotaph, the Warwick cenotaph, the P. A. F. S. O. A. honour board, and appeared on the Hendon honour board (lost in the 1926 school fire). A headstone was later erected to his memory at the Warwick cemetery.
Allora’s Past 100 years ago, Editorial, 25th December 1909
Christmas Spirit
Though we live in a materialistic age, yet none the less, the festival of Christmas has still a wonderful power to awaken dormant sentiment and to bring to the surface the best and kindest thoughts of which we are capable. It is a time too, for retrospection, for a calm review of the events of the past year. And we have all surely something that we can look back upon with pleasure – something that has touched the better part of our nature – and unquestionably we will benefit from dwelling, for however brief a period, on these bright spots in the calm and ordered progress which distinguishes the lives of most of us in this favoured land of ours.
This in its own way is a true interpretation of the spirit of Christmas and we, in wishing our readers the compliments of the season, may be permitted to express the hope that their Christmas may be as happy as the heart may wish, and that the coming year will be signalled by unexampled prosperity and progress.
This is the final "Looking Back" article for 2009 so we wish to thank David and Fraser of the Allora Advertiser who print the column each week, and wish all our readers and members of the Society, a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous (and hopefully Wet) New Year. We will be back in 2010.
Allora’s Past 25 years ago January 1985
A PRE-WEDDING AFTERNOON
will be held at the Senior Citizen’s Hall, Allora,
on Sunday, 27th January, in honour of
Miss Beth Gibson’s approaching marriage
to Mr. Andy Boullier.
Allora’s Past 50 years ago January 1960
A PRE-WEDDING EVENING
will be tendered Miss Beryl Christensen
in the Freestone Hall on Saturday, February 13th
in honour of her approaching marriage
to Mr. Don Wright.
M. Ryan and R. Shelley Convs.
Allora’s Past 100 years ago January 1910
Early Days Reminisces
At the reunion of old residents of the Allora district held on New Year’s Day 1910, Mr. Thompson, at that time probably the district’s longest resident reminisced on his arrival at Goomburra Station exactly 60 years to the day ago. Previous to his arrival at Goomburra, Mr. Thompson had worked for the Leslie Brothers at Canning Downs. His wages had been £6 per year plus two suits of clothing. Mr. Thompson recalled that on one occasion he had been sent from Goomburra Station to Jubb’s blacksmith shop to have a horse shod. This was in the days before Separation and long before the town of Allora was surveyed. There were no railways in the Colony at the time. It was then said that the land was no good and should be returned to the aborigines. The land was worth more in pounds now than it was in shillings then. Mr. Thompson ended his reminisces by saying that the young people of today might well be proud of the stock that they had sprung from.
INFORMATION REQUIRED
The Allora Historical Society has received an email from Michael Doyle who wants to find out about the boxing career of his father, Timothy Patrick Doyle, who was born in Allora in 1915 and appeared in boxing rings in and around Allora in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Michael remembers a photo of his father in a boxing pose on the wall of one of the Allora hotels in the early 1970’s.
If anyone has any information about the boxing career of Timothy Doyle or the photo, please contact Colin Newport 46964139.
Timothy Patrick Doyle
Tim Doyle was born in Allora in 1915, the son of Patrick Joseph “Paddy” Doyle and Honora Mary nee Killeen. “Paddy” Doyle drove the steam roller for the Allora Shire Council and was a keen tennis player. He was the president of the committee which organized the building of the tennis courts at St. Joseph’s and was elected foundation president of St. Joseph’s Tennis Club. Tim Doyle attended St. Joseph’s Convent School and was a handy boxer and a good footballer. In September 1933 he fought one of the preliminary bouts to the match in which Percy Carsberg, the Lockyer middleweight champion, narrowly outpointed Bill Clifford, the Darling Downs champion. The match took place in the Allora Central Hall before 350 boxing enthusiasts. In a preliminary bout, Tim Doyle fought a creditable draw with another local lad, Charlie Gwynne. Tim Doyle conceded over half a stone to his opponent, and despite the difference in weight, held his own and showed more science than his opponent. Tim Doyle played fullback in the Allora football team and his place in the side was taken by his brother Rom, who was nominated in that position by Tom McVeigh in his Allora Rugby League “Team of the Century”. In about 1937, probably following the death of his uncle, Tim Doyle travelled to Cairns to work in the hotel of his aunt, Mary Gorry. The Gorrys had been licensees of the Commercial Hotel in Allora from 1915 to 1923. Tim Doyle enlisted in WW II from Cairns in 1941 and served with the 2/3 Anti Tank Regiment. He may not have returned to Allora after the war.
Allora’s Past 100 years ago January 1910
More Early Days Reminisces
The Allora Mayor, Alderman Alexander McMillan, read a paper at the Old Resident’s Reunion held in the town on New Year’s Day 1910 outlining his memories of the town when he arrived in a wagon driven by his father in 1862.
Alderman McMillan said that as they approached the town from Warwick they noticed the hut lived in by Jacob Ward near the present day Church of England. There was no settlement between the hut and Goomburra Station.
The only hotel in the town faced the road to the crossing and was kept by John Holmes. Samuel Gordon was building a cottage where the Princess of Wales Hotel now stood. Mr. Erhardt had just completed the cottage which is now a landmark in the town. Three other cottages and the hotel were the only shingled buildings in the town. David Sinton and Aaron Masters lived in bark huts as did all the farmers surrounding the town. Apart from the hotel there were no regular businesses. The settlers killed their own meat and exchanged it amongst themselves. Goods were very expensive with tea costing 3/- per lb, flour £3 a bag, moleskin trousers 12/- and a pair of blucher boots 15/-. Wages for labourers were 15/- to 18/- per week plus keep. For this they worked all day pulling corn and up to 10 o’clock at night husking it. Shearers and fencers could earn from £2 to £3 per week.
All blacksmithing was done in Warwick and the farmers worked the ground with wooden ploughs. There was no wire and all fences were post and rail.
Alderman McMillan commented that although times were hard, people seemed contented with their lot.
Alexander Munro
Alexander Munro was a horticulturist from Cromarty, Scotland, and worked on the Duke of Sutherland Estates. He received an appointment at Kew Gardens in London but a worsening asthma condition caused him to relocate to Australia where he met up with his brother George, a farmer at Allora in Queensland. In 1872, Alexander Munro married Mary Ann Armstrong, the cook at Talgai Homestead. He was appointed as second in charge of the Brisbane Botanical Gardens and while there landscaped Albert and Wickham Parks. He was in charge of the Bowen Park experimental gardens and also worked with Captain Charles Hope to develop the fledgling sugar industry in Queensland. He took the position of curator of Queens Park gardens in Ipswich in 1882 and held the position until 1909.
On the 13th March 2010, as part of the City of Ipswich celebrations on the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Ipswich, an unveiling of an avenue in Queens Park, named in honour of Alexander Munro, will take place. The descendants of Alexander Munro are hoping to contact the descendants of his brother George, so that some of them can be present at the ceremony.
In 1863 George Munro married Julia Schriek. The marriage is believed to be only the second performed in the town of Allora. George and Julia went on to have ten surviving children, two sons and eight daughters. The sons were John (Jack) and Alex, and of the daughters, Christina married Bill Crisp, Ellen married George Gwynne, Margaret married Harry Blanchard, and Bessie married Bert Sims. At the time of Julia Munro’s death in 1922 there were 22 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Descendants of George and Julia Munro are invited to be present at the unveiling ceremony.
Spring Creek Schools’ Reunion
A reunion of ex-pupils and teachers of the Spring Creek and Spring Creek Upper Schools will be held in the F. E. Logan Hall, Clifton, on Sunday, 18th April, 2010.
The programme will include a Roll Call and the cutting of the cake by the oldest former student present. Lunch will be available on the day. A special feature will be the launch of the book “Spring Creek – A Look at Yesteryear on the Downs” written by Joy King. Invitations will be issued in February.
For further particulars contact Del Bell 46973429 or Pam Dalton 46123126.
Allora’s Past 25 years ago January 1985
AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS
ALLORA 1985
Dalrymple Creek Reserve
Monday, 28th January
With Dramatized presentation from
ON OUR SELECTION
ALSO Warwick City Band
Allora Bush Band
Buggy Rides, BBQ
PRIZES Best Australian Poem
Best Australian Costume
Gumboot Throwing, Kookaburra Calling
Come along, one and all.
Allora’s Past 25 years ago February 1985
ALAN SMITH B.D.Sc.
wishes to announce that he has commenced
GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE at Herbert Street,
Allora, and part time at King Street, Clifton.
Allora’s Past 50 years ago February 1960
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
I wish to advise that I have taken over
Mr. M. J. Larkin’s Cordial Manufacturing business
in Allora. Orders will be taken up to Monday
each week for Tuesday delivery.
All bottles bearing the brand L. Jensen or L. K. Jensen
are now the property of A. L. Ruhle.
A. L. Ruhle, Cordial Manufacturer, Warwick.
Allora Football
Rugby Union football was played in Allora from the early 1890’s. At a meeting on the 13th April 1907, the Allora Rangers Football Club was formed with W. E. Hawes elected president and P. Bonfield secretary/treasurer. The club colours were green and gold and the membership fee was 2/6.
The Central Downs Rugby Union was formed at a meeting in Clifton on the 11th May 1907 with teams from Allora, Clifton, Nobby and Greenmount. Mr. P. J. Dalton was elected the first president. Allora matches were played at the racecourse and in the final match of the season Allora defeated Nobby by 25 points to nil to be awarded the premiership for 1907. At a social held in O’Callaghan’s Hall, 17 players were presented with premiership medals. J. Rynne won the honour cap and Tom Collins was presented with a pipe as best players for the season.
ALLORA RANGERS FOOTBALL TEAM
PREMIERS 1907
Back row: P. G. Gordon, A. McLeod, W. J. Rynne, M. McCarthy, J. Maher, T. Flynn, D. Holmes
Centre: J. M. Flynn, J. Collins, T. Hassett, W. Wilson, J. Winfield
Front: W. E. Hawes (President), T. Collins, T. Buckley, W. Clarke (Captain), J. M. Rynne (Deputy captain), J. Buckley, P. P. Bonfield (Hon. Secretary).
Photo courtesy Gerard Buckley
