Saturday, June 26, 2021

CORLETTE


Mr Corlette of Gulgong, alleged chemist.
Click here for zoomable image

There's something not right about this photo from the Holtermann collection. The State Library has him labelled as "Mr Corlette, chemist in Gulgong". There seems to be no information about this Corlette fellow when all the other chemists of the era (1870-75) were pretty well documented.  But then I found the following footnote:

"There is no record of a chemist called Corlette practising in Gulgong. On a NSW list of chemists for 1882, there is no Corlette."
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (July 2006)

The first clue that he may have been from a different profession entirely comes from a WANTED ad in 1874:

1874 - WANTED, A HOUSEKEEPER; must be a good Cook and Laundress. Terms liberal. References required. Apply W. C. Corlette, Bank New South Wales, Gulgong.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tue 28 Jul 1874 Page 8

It is very much confirmed by a further ad in September of the same year: 

Notice
Bank of NSW
to close on 1st October
for half-yearly Balance.

W. C. CORLETTE, Manager 

In 1869 William Curphy Corlette, had been a bank teller in the Bank of New South Wales at Newcastle as revealed in his testimony in a long article about a robbery of £1300 in £5 notes.

Next, we find he's the treasurer of the Gulgong Turf Club. In this same year, his father James Corlette of Newcastle died (8 Aug, aged 70), leaving his estate (approx 8 acres) to his two sons: James Christian Corlette of Ashfield, and William Curphey Corlette, of Gulgong.

1876 - [GULGONG TURF CLUB]
At the annual meeting of the Turf Club the following members were elected for the year: — President, Mr. R. Rouse, Guntawang; vice-president, Mr. R. Rouse, jun., Biragambil; treasurer, Mr. W. C. Corlette, Bank of New South Wales: and a committee consisting of Messrs. J. Scully, H. J. Woods, C. Driscoll, M. O'Neill, J. F. Plunkett, T. Brown, W. Selff, J. Powell, and M. McGrath; secretary, George Hewitt; clerk of the course, Mr. T. Ryan; starter, Mr. W. Selff. A committee meeting is to be held on Wednesday for the purpose of issuing the programme of the annual meeting.

Five years later he was still based in Gulgong but had been married in Holborn to a Londoner.

1879 - MARRIAGE.
CORLETTE—FAVENC.—On the 3rd June, at London, by the Rev. J. C. Corlette, D. D., brother of the bridegroom, William Curphy Corlette, of Gulgong (N.S.W.), to Edith, eldest daughter of the late George Favenc, of London.

CORLETTE—FAVENCE.—June 3, at St. John the Evangelist's, Holborn, by the Rev. J.C. Corlette, D.D., assisted by the Rev. E. C. Coney, M.A., W. Curphey Corlette, of Gulgong, New South Wales, second son of the late James Corlette, of Newcastle, New South Wales, to Edith, eldest daughter of the late G.A. Favence.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Sat 30 Aug 1879 Page 1

In 1886, William Curphy Corlette applied to register a mining company at Home Rule:

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, hereby make application to register "The Ellan Vannin Gold-mining Company," as a No-Liability Company, under the provisions of the " No-Liability Mining Companies Act of 1881."
1. The name of the Company is to be "The Ellan Vannin Gold-mining Company (No-Liability)."
2. The place of intended operations is at Brittania Lead, Home Rule, Gulgong.
3. The registered office of the Company will be situate at No. 12, Bridge-street, Sydney.
4. The value of the Company's plant and machinery is at present nil, the same being rented by the Company with an option of purchase.
5. The Company's mine consists of four Gold-mining Leases of twenty-five acres each, situate at Brittania Lead, Home Rule, Gulgong, now standing in the name of William Peter McGregor, and numbered respectively 193, 194,195, and 258.
6. The amount of money at the Company's credit is nine hundred and twenty-five pounds, and the total liability of the Company is nil.
7. The nominal capital of the Company is £25,000 in 25,000 shares of £1 each; the whole are paid up to nineteen shillings each, and the whole are contributing shares to the extent of one shilling each.
8. The number of contributing shares subscribed for is twenty-five thousand.
9. The name of the Manager is William Curphy Corlette.
10. The names and addresses and occupation of the shareholders, and the number of shares held by each at this date are as below :—

Name

Occupation

Address

Shares

C J Buckland

Sharebroker

Sydney

2,000

A J Brady

Solicitor

Sydney

1,000

Walter Edmunds

Barrister-at-law

Sydney

500

W P McGregor

Gentleman

Melbourne

5,000

J C Hallam

Chemist

Sydney

500

Edward Baird

Ironmonger

Sydney

500

Richard Stear

Produce merchant

Gulgong

500

John Newton

Merchant

Sydney

2,000

L J Marks

Architect

Sydney

500

Thomas Sheriff

Bank official

Sydney

500

James Dickie

Gentleman

Sydney

500

J F De Courcy Brown

MLA

Sydney

1,000

W W Millett

Hotel-keeper

Mudgee

500

W Thompson

Gentleman

Gulgong

7,000

A McGregor

Gentleman

Melbourne

1,000

George White

Commercial traveller

Sydney

500

B Stacy

Bank Manager

Mudgee

500

W C Corlette

Financial agent

Sydney

1,000

25,000

11. Ten per cent, of the subscribed capital has been duly paid up.
12. The only contracts entered into on behalf of this Company are for the rental of its plant and machinery, which are
rented from one William Thompson, at a rental of ten pounds per fortnight for the term of two years now to come, with an
option of purchasing such plant and machinery at any time during the said term for the sum of two thousand pounds.
W. C. CORLETTE,
Manager.
Witness to signature,—Albert Sturt.

I, William Curphy Corlette, of No. 12, Bridge-street, Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales, financial agent, do
solemnly and sincerely declare,—
(1.) I am the Manager of the said intended Company.
(2.) The above statement is to the best of my belief and knowledge true in every particular.
And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the ninth year of the reign of Her present Majesty, intituled " An Act for the more effectual abolition of Oaths and Affirmations taken and made in various Departments of the Government of New South Wales and to substitute Declarations in lieu thereof and for the suppression of voluntary and extra-judicial Oaths and Affidavits."
W. C. CORLETTE.
Taken before me, this 3rd June, 1886,—
J. A. FLYNN, a Commissioner for Affidavits, Sydney.
4272 £2 5s.

Then there's this peculiar case against the bank that employed him.

1890 - CORLETTE v. BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES — AN EXTRAORDINARY CLAIM
This was an action brought by William Curphy Corlette to recover the sum of £7000 from the defendant bank for that, while acting as a servant of the bank, his health had given way through the alleged neglect of the defendants in not providing suitable and healthful residences in the various towns where he conducted the business of the defendants. The plaintiff, who appeared in person, stated that he was first employed by the defendants in 1863, and in 1869 he was ordered to proceed to Araluen to take charge of their branch bank there. He alleged that the building in which the business was carried on was so badlyconstructed that in the summer of 1870 his health suffered very materially. 
In the year 1874, after repeatedly bringing the matter under the notice of the bank authorities, he was removed to Gulgong, and he alleged that at this place also the premises were very detrime ntal to his health. In 1878 his health, had given way to such an extent that he obtained twelve mouths' leave of absenee, and took a voyage to England. He was again ordered to Gulgong on his return, and in the summer his health again broke down. The health of his wife and his fallow officers also gave way. In consequence of his representations some slight improvements were made in the building. He subsequently came to Sydney and became relieving officer. He was sent to Coonamble and was there for six months, during which he suffered from sunstroke. His health continued so bad that he was ordered by his medical advisor to take absolute rest, and obtained three months' leave of absence, without pay. After being away for two months he returned to business and in ten days he again became ill. This was about September, 1884, and owing to the difficulty about getting leave he thought he had better resign, which he did on September 30. The-defendants pleaded never indebted, and also that plaintiff had no claim upon them, inasmuch as his illness was owing principally to a sunstroke which he received while at Coonamble.
His Honor thought plaintiff was very ill-advised in bringing this action, and he should not direct the jury to award him any damages; but they thought the bank might have had some consideration for such an old servant, and they recommended the bank to take the matter into their favorable consideration.

Source: Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) Tue 25 Mar 1890 Page 2


By 1893 he was entangled in a bankruptcy case:

1893 - Re William Curphy Corlette.
The bankrupt stated that he had an interest under the will of his father, which he valued at £500. His interest was disputed by the trustees, who advanced him, two or three years ago, £1000. The trustees considered the advance an absolute assignment. He valued the estate of his father at £6000, and there was £4000 cash. He held property at Gulgong, which was mortgaged. His furniture was worth about £30 or £40. There was £60 rent due. He had a right to introduce a patent for the manufacture of coke here, but he had to make a payment of £1000 before he could exercise the right. The right might be considered worth £3000 or £4000. The examination was adjourned to 6th March.
1893 - W. C. Corlette's Bankruptcy.
Before the Registrar in Bankruptcy yesterday Wm. Curphey Corlette, of Burwood, was examined in connection with his failure. He said he had put in his statement the interest in his father's will. It was a sixth share in the estate subject to his surviving his mother, since dead. It should be worth £500. The property consisted of £4000 in cash, and 2500 acres of land at Wallerawang and about an acre at Newcastle. His claim was disputed on the grounds that the advance of £1000 given to him some years ago was an absolute assignment. Through a solicitor he applied to the trustees to reinstate him, subject to the amount advanced and interest thereon. The trustees refused, and would not recognise him. He maintained, however, that he was entitled to the interest. The sum of £10,000 was refused for his father's estate, the value of which now should be £60,000. He (bankrupt) had property at Gulgong worth £300 or £400. He had a right to introduce a patent out here. He held it from Mr. Hy. Symons, of Manchester, and it was for the manufacture of coke. No payment was made, but it would have to be made before he could exercise the right, The patent had not been exercised here. The examination was adjourned to March 6.
1893 - EXAMINATION OF BANKRUPTS AND WITNESSES
Re William Curphy Corlette. The bankrupt (who was examined by Mr O'Brien) deposed that he owned the Herbert-street property at Gulgong. It consisted of two small houses. There was a mortgage over them to George Edward Fallence for £600. That was virtually overdue. Fallence held the deeds of that property. The title was Torrens. Mr. Tuxford had also a claim on the property. He had a mortgage for £103. No one else had any claim on the property. He had three lots in Gulgong near the showground There were 10 acres, two acres and one acre. Their value was about £300 or £400. That property, was in Fallence's mortgage and also in Tuxford's. Fallence's mortgage was registered, Tuxford's was not. No
one but those two had any claim on the land.

1920 - [RETROSPECTIVE]
Mr. Thomas Sheriff is amongst the oldest officers in the service of the Bank of New South Wales, as he is amongst the most highly respected, trusted, and popular. Mr. Sheriff is to be found daily at work at the head office of the bank, Sydney, as head of the bill department. He was the bank accountant at Gulgong in the roaring mining days of that once prosperous field and town, when the population of the town was any thing between twenty-five and thirty thousand, and when there were banks, stores, public houses and what not there galore.
Amongst the Gulgong bank officials of those great days were the late Mr. W. C. Corlette (manager of the Bank of New South Wales), the late Mr. Beauchamp Stacy (manager of the Oriental Bank, and afterwards manager of the Commercial Bank at Mudgee), Mr. A. P. Stewart, still happily alive, well, and active, and who only a few years since retired from the general managership of the Australian Bank of Commerce), and Mr. A. B. Cairns (uncle of Mr. Herbert Rouse, Biraganbil, who, after leaving Gulgong, was for many years manager of the Bank of New South Wales at Parramatta. The 'Guardian'' representative, when in Sydney recently, had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Sheriff, who talked most entertainingly of the good old Gulgong days, and retailed many most interesting experiences and recollections.

William C Corlette died on 15 February 1898 and is buried near his mother and brother at Rookwood Cemetery. A limited family tree is included at that link.

Source: austcemindex



Posted by at

Friday, June 25, 2021

DOUGAN

Mr D. H. Dougan
NEWS ITEMS

1930 - NEW CHEMIST AT GULGONG.
Gulgong's new chemist, Mr. D. H. Dougan, has had a wide and varied experience. He was apprenticed to Mr. J. F. McKimm, president of the Pharmacy Board, and later gained further experience around Sydney. Mr. Dougan has also had some sea-going experience, having taken up wireless as a hobby, and visited Canada, Honolulu, China, and the Islands as a wireless operator on various ships including R.M.S. Niagara. For the past two years has been representing Parke Davis and Co., the world's largest drug organisation, calling on doctors, chemists and hospitals both in New South Wales and West Australia. With such a wide experience it should not be Mr. Dougan's fault if Gulgong lacks anything in the pharmaceutical line.
Mr D. H. Dougan

1934 - GULGONG COUNCIL
"I beg to recommend that the following building permits be granted: Mrs F. Hasenkam, erection of a  dwelling in Belmore street; Mrs J. Haley, additions to dwelling, Little Belmore street; Mr H. Sweeney, addition of window in dwelling at the rear of shop in Mayne street; Mr D. H. Dougan for the fitting of a new front to shop, Mayne street".

1934 - THE LOCAL PHARMACY
Mr. D. H. Dougan, M.P.S., has purchased from Mrs Harris the premises in which he has conducted for a few years the business which he took over from her when he came to Gulgong. Mr Dougan, in keeping with the progressive policy he adopted, is having the front portion of the premises remodelled. 
The improvements will include a new floor in the pharmacy, interior alterations, the installation of new windows, and the concreting of the footpaths. A verandah roof has been erected, and when the final touch has been made to the premises the appearance of Mayne Street will have been greatly improved.

Source: John Esber 

Moving to rebuild

In 1952 the old two storey building which had stood since 1872, was pulled down and replaced in brick as it is today. Business was temporarily carried on where Albert Souter had traded for so many years. The new pharmacy commenced trading on the 1st May, 1953. Mr Dougan has now owned the business for over 40 years.

Source Julie Gillan
1934 - WISTARIA MONTH
JUDGING by the displays of wistaria to be seen in various parts of Gulgong this is indeed 'wistaria month.' At present wistaria is making a glorious splash of color. A vine partly overhangs the balcony of Mr D. H. Dougan's premises in Mayne street. The vine trained over a framework at the hospital is at present showing at its best.

1936 - GULGONG'S LEADING CHEMIST
Gulgong's leading and up-to-date chemist. Mr. D. H. Dougan, has had his pharmacy enlarged considerably. It is now indeed a large shop for a country centre. One of his show windows is at present dressed as attractively as any city establishment.

1936 - LADY CHEMIST
Miss N. Crossley, a qualified chemist, late of Hallam Ltd.. Sydney, has joined the Gulgong staff of Mr. D. H. Dougan, M.P.S., of Gulgong, Dunedoo and Wellington.
Don Dougan, 1942
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum

Flt./Sgt. D. H. Dougan, R.A.A.F. Four years service in New Guinea and northern operations.
Sponsor — Mrs. D. H. Dougan, Chemist, Gulgong.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 19 Apr 1945 Page 11


The following article was written by Gulgong chemist, Donald H Dougan, reflecting on his career and his time as a pharmacist in the town from 1930 to 1970. Images have been added.

_________________________________________

Yesteryear: -- Country Pharmacy and its owners

The Pharmacy is in Gulgong, a town 302km north-west of Sydney, on the lowest part of the Dividing Range. The town grew out of a gold rush in 1870 and at the peak of the diggings catered for a varying population which at times was estimated at up to 20,000 people.

The town was established within a few months of the gold discovery and despite distance, lack of transport and other difficulties many hundreds were able to buy food, clothing, have medical help and other essentials available to them.

If you look at the back of [the old] $10 note you will see a likeness of poet Henry Lawson. He lived in Gulgong as a boy and later used the town and district as a background for many of his poems and stories and also mentioned many of the local people by name. He would have known the Pharmacy as his Aunt Phoebe's husband owned 'The Times Bakery', also shown on the note. Level with Henry's forehead are produced sketches of buildings photographed by Beaufoy Merlin in 1872. On the first building can be made out 'Gulgong Dispensary. Dr. C. Zimmler.'


Dr. Zimmler established this Pharmacy in 1871 and although he had medical qualifications from Hanover he did not seek registration but practised only as a Pharmacist.

It was this business which I purchased in 1930. It had been carried on after Dr. Zimmler's death in 1891 by Clemence Harris and his wife, who was one of the first women registered in NSW in 1902.

I was registered in 1924, having been apprenticed to John F. McKimm at Ashfield. I did not seek permanent employment immediately as I was doing a course in Wireless Telegraphy and when qualified I spent some time at sea as a Marine Wireless Operator. I was replaced by automatic equipment early in 1928 and after a period of unemployment joined Park Davis and Company as a detailer.

My first territory was Western Australia — the whole state — 2 hours away in time and 5 days away by train. My last territory was Western NSW, with its boundary touching Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Bourke, Cobar, Condobolin, Cowra and the Blue Mountains.

This move gave me the opportunity to look for a business for myself. All travel was by rail and the interval waiting for a train out gave me a good chance to investigate the possibilities of Gulgong.

The population was about 1600 — there were two pharmacies — A.E. Souter and Mrs Harris — three doctors, Dr Leslie and Marjorie Tunley and Dr R.M. Allport and a good hospital of 20 beds. The hospital was supported by the town and district — income was supplemented by the NSW Government £1 for £1.

There was a passenger train up and down to Sydney seven days a week and a daily mail service. The goods train service was dependable and the passenger trains carried parcels every day. Roadside mails operated several days a week radiating from the town and medicine was frequently despatched by this means.

The takings of the Pharmacy averaged about £35 per week — rent was £1 per week and the stock was reasonable. Mrs Harris agreed to sell but wanted about double the normal price for goodwill, which I paid.

The premises, a large two-storey building built of pine, was in much the same state as when first occupied in 1873 when Dr Zimmler moved from the original location of the 'Gulgong Dispensary'. The street was gravel — the footpath was gravel and the customer stepped onto a bare cypress pine floor nearly worn through except for the knots. There was no display window and the walls were lined with dispensary bottles and jars, with rows of square gold-labelled drawers about waist high, many containing crude drugs. The back wall was half hidden by a dispensing screen with shelves in front for perfumes.

Pharmacy building on Mayne Street
HARRIS - Pharmaceutical Chemist: 
Teeth  carefully extracted
Prescriptions accurately dispensed
Purest drugs and chemicals

There was no running water and no sink or drainage. Kitchen type basins were used to wash bottles and measures. Water for dispensing was taken from a 400 gal. square ship's tank and put through an earthenware filter about 3 gal. capacity. This filter was very effective and also guaranteed that no mosquito wrigglers were ever dispensed. A small spirit stove supplied heat for most jobs and the kitchen stove was used for large quantities.

The two-storey wooden building was originally the 'Hotel de France' with dining room and bar on the ground floor and a dance hall upstairs. The dancing area opened onto a narrow balcony along which grew a massive wisteria on one end and an equally large grape vine on the other, so giving the building a unique appearance.

The kitchen was a large slab building in the back yard about 25 ft from the dining room and the lavatory was near the back gate about 25 yards away. Water was collected from the roof in three 400-gallon ships' tanks.

I think Dr. Zimmler had his own home but Clemence Harris must have partitioned the top floor to give sleeping accommodation and living area. There was no bathroom as such, but an area at the end of the kitchen served by using an ordinary galvanised tub. To dispose of wastewater meant spreading it about the yard around a few fig trees.


 
Clemence and Sarah Harris, both chemists in Gulgong 

My first job was to get a carpenter and plumber to make a bathroom upstairs with bath, chip-heater and shower. A new 1000-gallon galvanised tank was put in place of one of the square ones and a small tank placed in the ceiling was filled by a semi-rotary pump to supply water for the new bathroom.

The town had no water supply or fire brigade but did have a reasonably reliable electricity supply, though the system was not earthed.

A 48-hour week was worked by the business houses but the Pharmacy was open much longer as the Doctors' surgery hours ended at 8 pm. I followed Mrs Harris' hours to open at 9 am and close at 8 pm. Saturday hours were 9 am to 1 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm and Sunday 7 pm to 9 pm, which totalled about 63 hours per week.

The range and type of prescriptions would have been much the same as written 20-30 years previously, except that an occasional proprietary preparation appeared. Prescriptions were copied in the normal 500-page script book, with progressive numbering which had reached six figures. The remedies used in 1930 differed little from those prescribed in 1920 except perhaps that the call for freshly made pills, suppositories, powders, emulsions and blisters were gradually disappearing. Ointments were used fairly frequently and were often time consuming in preparation.

There was no law to restrict the use of any drug when prescribed by a doctor and no law required records to be kept. Prescriptions were valid for all time notwithstanding any drug ordered and any quantity could be lawfully dispensed.

Most prescriptions had to be compounded — the ingredients specified were for a dose with directives for the quantities to be supplied.

Some of the older doctors specified the quantities for a particular sized bottle and directed the dose to be taken. A fair degree of concentration was naturally required to check for errors with this method. Most prescriptions were written for mixtures, comparatively large amounts of Pot Cit, Sod Bicarb, Pot Brom, Sod Brom, Pot Iod, Bism Carb were ordered. Solutions of the soluble chemicals were kept to avoid the use of scales. Liquids were prescribed in the form of tinctures, liquors, spirits, infusions etc.

A signature and record was required for the sale of listed drugs such as Arsenic, Cyanide, Strychnine etc., but quantities were not controlled.

Prescriptions were few and became fewer as the Depression became worse and unemployed men arrived looking for work. Eventually the Government introduced the 'dole' which allowed single men to draw 7/- worth of rations and couples 12/- worth. No money was involved — the dole ticket was handed to the authorised storekeeper who handed out the required items. The cost of food was low at this time e.g. Loaf bread 4d, Top Side Steak 6d lb, Rump 8d lb, Butter 10d lb, Sugar 4d

lb, Jam 1/1 2lb tin, Flour 2hd lb, 2lb Treacle 7d, Corned Beef 4d lb, 28lb Potatoes 2/9, so the value allowed was enough for survival. Many men endeavoured to supplement their rations by searching for gold and had moderate success. They had a problem though and that was to find a buyer, the banks were not interested.

Eventually attention was focussed on me as they argued that as I was familiar with chemicals I should be an expert with gold and why didn't I buy it. One reason was that I had never seen raw gold before and also I had no money to finance the proposal.

Eventually, I decided to risk gold buying as more was being found and the old hands of the 1870s assured me that if I paid 3/6 per dwt I would get 3/9 provided I took care to remove sand and pick points. I had to buy 120z or 1 lb troy before Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Co. would handle it. Within 3 or 4 weeks I had the 12oz which I sent to Port Kembla and received 3/9 dwt as forecast. The price of gold was fixed at £4/4/11 ½ per fine oz and did not alter for years. There was no inflation and the pound note could be exchanged for gold by the Commonwealth Bank at any time.

As a matter of interest, Gulgong gold is of very high quality, averaging 980 parts per 1000 or better. It is the most malleable of metals — one grain can be beaten to cover an area of 56 sq inches or drawn into a wire 500 feet long.

The price of gold doubled overnight when England abandoned the gold standard in 1931. More men were encouraged to seek the metal and for several years I spent each Thursday morning (dole day) buying gold, anything from one grain up to whatever was offered. I averaged about £3 per week profit from gold buying and with this help the newly-purchased pharmacy managed to survive the depression.

Conditions were very bad during 1931 and 1932 as unemployment had increased and many of those with jobs were on half time so that no one was sacked.

A disaster which affected everyone was failure of the NSW Government Savings Bank, in 1931. Funds were frozen and not released for some years causing great hardship and distress to most of the Community.

There was no [national health] system or medical and hospital benefit funds and no free immunisation programme. It was a question of paying all costs yourself, be it doctor, chemist or hospital. The doctor's fee was 10/6 and medicine was charged on a flat rate basis of 3/6 for 8 oz bottle with a tablespoon ( ½ oz) dose. The Pharmacist was often asked to prescribe for common ailments such as colds and flu, rheumatism, indigestion, and backache for the shearers. The big worry for most people was to find enough money for relief when they were ill and many stuck to home remedies.


Other patent medicines being sold were Bidomak, Clement's Tonic, Bonningtons Irish Moss, Woods Peppermint Cure, Nyal Family medicines and Parke Davis Counter lines such as Alophen Pills (a small dose of Strychnine in each) Syrup Cocillana Compound for coughs (active ingredient Heroin), Cascara Evacuant, Metatone and others.



 
The nostrums of Dr Zimmler and Mrs Harris were gradually forgotten except Dr Zimmler's Quick Eye Ointment (2% Hyrarg ox flav – BP was 1%) and Cherry Balsam Cough Mixture of Mrs Harris. I continued to sell Cherry Balsam but altered the formula and it became a popular remedy.

I had the recipe books of Dr Zimmler (dated 1838) and Mr. Harris — they contained some hundreds of formulae for a variety of uses and make interesting reading — all were written by hand in copperplate.

The drawers full of crude drugs and an 1885 BP gave an indication of the work my predecessors had to do in preparing infusions, tinctures, decoctions and other galenicals, none of which had to comply with any required standards. In 1930 all these items were available as concentrates or extracts from the wholesalers.

D H Dougan MPS bottle
Source: Diane Hickson


What did surprise me as winter approached was the demand for Strychnine. The country was overrun with rabbits which could be trapped for food or poisoned for skins. It was not unusual to sell 25 or 50 oz of powdered Strychnine (Hulls Burroughs Wellcome or Sayers Allport) to one man who at the same time would get his favourite lure which could be Sandalwood Oil, Oil Rhodium, Aniseed Oil, Oil of Cumin or Spirits Chloroform. Milk thistle roots were cut into small squares for baits which were dusted with Strychnine and shaken with a few drops of the lure of the day. A false trail was usually laid with plain baits and next night the Strychnine baits were used.

The rabbits would be picked up the next day — the skins removed and dried by pulling them over wire bows which were stuck in the ground. The skins were sold to local buyers or sometimes baled and sent to buyers in Sydney.

Edward Wans with a truck load of rabbits during the depression

Although rabbits were a menace they were the means of supplying food and in winter the sale of skins brought in a little money. Farm and property incomes were very low as wheat fell to about 1/6 per bushel and wool to 10d lb. The basic wage was about £3/15/0 but many of those employed were not drawing a full week’s pay as they were on shared time.

Under these conditions, the money in circulation decreased and so had the effect of limiting any increase in turnover in all business undertakings, especially my Pharmacy which was also functioning under the handicap of having a new owner. However, my opposition was not very active and at times would close his business for weeks on end especially during Metropolitan Racing Carnivals.

The Gulgong Race Club was dormant at this time but the course, about a mile from town, was a Godsend for the unemployed as the stables and sheds provided them with shelter. The Committee was rather dismayed though, when inspecting the course later to find that every paling and picket and spare bit of wood had been used for cooking fires by the temporary lodgers. It was an expensive task to replace the fences and the missing timber.

Other sports in the town were not affected. Tennis was very popular as was cricket in the summer and golf (sand greens) in winter.

In 1937 the Government commenced building the Sandy Hollow-Maryvale railway line which was to join three systems, the Western Line (Maryvale), the Mid West (Gulgong) and the Northern Line (Sandy Hollow), connecting all to Newcastle for traffic to and from the Port. Work progressed from both ends with headquarters at Gulgong.

A large number of men were employed as the work was done by pick and shovel and horse and dray, and an odd motor truck. This work made a tremendous difference to the commercial life of the town and was responsible for a number of premises being enlarged and improved. A conventional shop front with display windows was added to the Pharmacy together with wall cases and glass counter cases. Turnover increased and it was not very long before the help of a shop assistant was needed

The railway work had been a big help to Gulgong business life and had given work to many men who had been unemployed for a long time. Then in 1939 war broke out and construction work ceased. The Services absorbed most of the unemployed.

In 1946, I resumed work at the Pharmacy with a very unsettled feeling which was hard to explain. Service life and civilian life were poles apart but the next 30 years were the most demanding, interesting and rewarding, even if a bit frightening at the end, with problems of unemployment and inflation to say nothing of the changing values, attitudes and behaviour accepted by the community.
Source: Article written by D. Dougan, unknown date and publication


Posted by at

CUDGEBEGONG

Cudgebegong (known as Mebul from 1917) had a public school located beside the road from Mebul to Upper Mebul.
Cudgebegong School, circa 1901

John Callaghan (teacher) and Annie (nee Pearce) at Cudgebegong School in about 1901. Annie is holding Cora, born 1901, and another daughter, Violet, is the small girl hunched in the centre. Their son Sidney is at the front with the hat.

John Callaghan was born in Rylstone in 1867 and died in 1923, buried at Cobbora. Annie was born in Grenfell in 1881 and died in 1962 at Port Macquarie.

Other relatives include:
  • Ida Callaghan, born in Cudgebegong in 1905 and passed away in 2005.
  • Bertha Callaghan, born in 1920, died in 2011.

NEWS ITEMS

1907 - The Cudgebegong School.
Sometime ago the Education Department gave the people of Cudgebegong to understand that the Cudgebegong Public School was to be closed owing to insufficient attendance of scholars. Now news comes to hand that that school is not be closed. We would advise the parents in that locality to send their children regularly to school, otherwise they may cause the Education Department to revert to their former decision.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 24 Oct 1907 Page 16

1915 - TRANSFERRED.
Mr. Hawkins, teacher of Cudgebegong School, has been transferred, and has been succeeded by Mr. McInervey, of Jerry's Plains.

1916 - SCHOOL MATTERS.
The subsidised school at Cudgebegong is in full swing under the teacher Miss Lett. The attendance of children has greatly increased.


Posted by at

INDEX - CAMPBELL

The following Campbell family history articles have been researched and written by Barbara Gurney. Photos from Barbara Gurney and Libby Sills.

John Archibald Campbell Snr (b 1802) married Christina Pillans
Posted by at

STUBBO

 STUBBO PICNIC

The Stubbo Picnic

The Stubbo picnic is thought to be an annual event, and probably put on by ‘Granny Bennett'. Families who attended included Bennett, Jackson, Watson, Davis, Carr, and Lee. The elderly lady seated in the centre is Eliza (Geoghegan) Campbell. For details of the other names, click here.
The picnics were great fun with lots of food, games and foot races for the children. Winners would receive a threepence and a few boiled sweets.
Source: Barbara Gurney

Here are close-ups of sections of the above panoramic photo:





STUBBO LANDSCAPE

The following letter was written in 1903 by one of the daughters of Benjamin Lorne Campbell and his wife Mary Jane Lee of  "Avoca", Barney's Reef Road.

Stubbo, via Gulgong.
Dear Princess Spinaway, -
My sister and I always have a race for the paper when it comes, to see who shall read the story first; we are so fond of reading it. I am going to tell you a little about the scenery and adjacent farms, from Stubbo to Gulgong.
As we drive from home, looking in one direction is my father's cultivation paddocks, and in the opposite, about half a mile of cleared land, and further out is a dwarf kind of wattle scrub; but it looks so pretty when in bloom; we often go out there in spring time gathering flowers and ground-berries.
Driving further, a little west are two other large farms, both adjoining father's, and about 300 acres of cleared cultivation land can be seen at a stretch. All the residences can be seen quite plainly from one another. But I am sorry to say the once green grass looks very withered and dry at present, and the wheat paddocks, that at this time any other year were covered with thick stubble, are now bare.
Several of the farmers about here had promise of some nice crops of corn. But these last few months of dry weather have settled them, and the stalks are now stacked for hay. Then we come to the Stubbo Public School and church. There is a nice playground attached to the school, in which grow several large apple trees, also gum and box; they throw out a nice shade in the summer time, and are a grand protection from the sun.
There are two more farms near here one belonging to Mr. T. Jackson, who is the largest farmer about here. Mr. Jackson owns about 3000 acres of land, about one-sixth being cultivation land. Through his cultivation land run two lovely creeks called Slapdash and Stubbo, which meet about 300 yards from the Stubbo School. Mr. Jackson's residence can be seen quite plainly from the road. It looks very pretty, too with honeysuckle, roses, and grape vine creeping up the verandah of his pretty weatherboard cottage, and a lovely flower garden in front of the house.
About half a mile from here is an old ruined house, once a farmhouse. All round the house grow uncared for roses, a tall poplar tree, and there is ivy clambering up the old fireplace. This place, though ruined, often proves a refuge for tramps.
About 200 yards further is a very nice farm with acacias growing all round the house, stables, and cowyards. The house is a neat weatherboard cottage. Honeysuckle twines up the verandah, and forms archways here and there. I have been told little birds build their nests there. How sweet it must be to hear them chirping and singing in the morning. The house is surrounded by a nice garden, in which grow many choice flowers, and is situated about 100 yards from the creek.
All along the banks of the creek grow acacias, prickly pears, and there used to be some lovely willow trees growing along a nice gully that ran into Slapdash, but of late some Chinese have taken up their abode, and, thinking willow trees very unprofitable, they cut them. But it is just as well, for now there is a large vegetable garden flourishing (looking what I imagined in the drought) like an oasis in a desert. Looking away into the distance are several other farms, in the midst of a dried field of corn.
Ten more minutes' drive brings us to a miner's house, fruit shop, and two more Chinese vegetable and fruit gardens, all situated on Reedy Creek [Wialdra]. On the other side of the creek is the Gulgong common. There are many more houses between Reedy Creek and Gulgong, but none are worth noting.
Looking into the west, about two miles along the road from Gulgong, can be seen Sunny Side and Trilby Estates; also, a few Tallewang residences. Now that I have given you a very poor idea of our six mile drive, I will close, with
Fond regards to all the Court.
I remain, your’s truly, "Sweetbriar."
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Wed 29 Apr 1903 Page 55
Stubbo Roll of Honour, WWI
Source: Gulgong Pioneers Museum

    • J BOYD
    • T _INLEY
    • D H GLASSON
    • R LEE
    • J LILLAS
    • N McMILLAN
    • A STARKEY
    • L STITT
    • C WADE
    • W WADE
    • C WATT
    • F WATT
    • W WATT




Posted by at

Thursday, June 24, 2021

LINCOLN

Transporting wheat

Two 17-ton loads of wool drawn by George Lincolns teams
George Lincoln standing on the right.

Loading Wheat at Tallawang Siding
Source: David Lincoln

Sacred to the memory of George Lincoln

1940 - The Late Geo. Lincoln
THE late Mr. George Lincoln, whose death we recently reported, was one of the grand old pioneers of the Gulgong and Tallawang districts. Arriving in the Tallawang district when it was almost virgin bush he, by hard work, and native shrewdness, literally carved out of the virgin bush an improved property which is now one of the most valuable to be found in the north-west. He was a fine upstanding man, charitable to a degree, and always ready to offer a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. He married a Tallawang girl (then a Miss Morgan), and together they reared a large and highly respected family. He loved the land and was remarkably active for a man of 83 years of age. Indeed, he supervised much of the work on his property up to within a few weeks of his death. His tall figure, straight as a rush, and astride a horse, was s familiar feature on his property. By his passing the district loses one of its outstanding figures. Besides a sorrowing widow he leaves the following children to mourn, viz.: Messrs. George and Robert (Sydney), Albert, Alfred and Thomas (Tallawang) Charles (Dapper), Mesdames Roy Adams (Birriwa), H. Cooper and Miss Elizabeth Lincoln (both of Sydney). He is also survived by the following brothers and sisters: Messrs. William (Sydney), Charles (Birriwa), Thomas (Trangie), and Mesdames G. Graham (Tallawang), Archie Enright (Gunnedah), J. Murray (Sydney), and Robert Lund (Birriwa).
Vale! George Lincoln. His memory will always be honored amongst the many who had the privilege of knowing him.

1944 - DEATH - Mrs. Mary Lincoln
Universal regret was expressed throughout the Tallawang, Dunedoo and Gulgong district on Tuesday night of last week, when it became known that Mrs. Mary Lincoln had passed away. Her death was not unexpected, as it had been known for the last two months that she was beyond medical aid. The deceased lady was with her husband (the late Mr. George Lincoln) one of the pioneer families of the Tallawang district, and when her husband was called to the Great Beyond four years ago she carried on the active life as before until a few months ago when her health began to fail and she was forced to relinquish many of her activities. She had reached the age of 77 years.
She leaves a family of three daughters and six sons to mourn the loss of a loving mother. The funeral, which was very largely attended, took, place on Wednesday, February 16, the remains being laid to rest beside those of her late husband Rev. Father Maher, Dunedoo, read the burial service. Funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. D. Whale, of Gulgong Motor Funerals.
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)