Friday, March 7, 2025

HOME RULE PUBLIC SCHOOL

Home Rule School, 1949

Back row: Janet Underwood, Laurie Austin, Norma Sharrock Drew, Ron Austin, June Austin Devenish Jimmy Underwood, Albion Ellis Mackrill
Middle row: Marlene Pennell, Denise Drew, Kathleen Jennings, Jill Drew, Jan Pennell, Valma Austin, Riley Fay, Sharrock Power
Front row: Paul Drew, Noel Besant, Graham Sharrock, Edison King, Laurie Jennings


Home Rule School, photographed 1970
Source: Barbara Gurney

Home Rule School
Source: Peter Neilsen


NEWS ITEMS
 
1892 - PUBLIC SCHOOL SITE
[6605] Department of Lands, Sydney, 25th August, 1892.
PROPOSED RESUMPTION OF RACECOURSE AT HOME RULE (MOBELLAH) AND REDEDICATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL SITE.
IT is hereby notified, for public information, that in accordance with the provisions of the 105th section of the Crown Lands Act of 1884, it is proposed to revoke the dedication of the land at Home Rule (Mobellah), area 2 acres, dedicated 2nd April, 1874, for racecourse, and hereunder described, with a view to rededication of that area for Public School site—the purpose of dedication having been incorrectly given in the first instance
[Ms. 92-3,843 Ind.] HENRY COPELAND.

Description.
County of Phillip, parish of Wyaldra. Suburban lands of the village of Wyaldra, area 2 acres: Commencing on the east side of Britannia-street, at the intersection with the north side of Wollar-street; and bounded thence by part of that side of Britannia-8treet bearing northerly 8 chains to the south-western corner of allotment 2 of suburban section 14; thence by the southern boundary of that allotment bearing easterly 2 chains and 50 links to the western side of a lane intersecting section 14 aforesaid; thence by that side of that lane bearing southerly 8 chains to the north-side of Wollar street aforesaid ; and thence by part of that side of that street bearing westerly 2 chains and 50 links, to the point of commencement; to include allotment 3 of suburban section 14, village of Wyaldra,—as shown on plan catalogued P. 21-2,125 Roll.

Proclaimed in December 1892

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

HOME RULE BURIALS

Home Rule was briefly known as Wyaldra Village (also spelled as "Wialdra"). 

Source: Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001) Fri 6 Mar 1970 [Issue No.34] Page 795

Despite plans in the late 19th century, there is no cemetery at that location today. However, some burials are known to have occurred at Home Rule before 1910. It is possible, given that the majority were infants, and that no official undertaker or minister was involved, that these burials occurred on private property.

Parish Map (Wialdra), 1895, detail
Source: HLRV


Wyaldra Village Cemetery, 1895, enlarged diagram
Source: HLRV

According to family accounts, Clyde Hawkins died in infancy and was buried in the yard of the family home at Home Rule. The same is assumed to be the case for his sister.

  • Eileen M Hawkins (NSW BDM 23458/1898); died 1898 (NSW BDM 14801/1898)
  • Clyde Hawkins - born 1899 (NSW BDM 26492/1899); died 1899 (NSW BDM 11281/1899)
Source: Kevin Varney, descendant of Reginald Hawkins

Prior to 1910 a number of burials occurred at Home Rule. These were mostly for infants and were carried out by acting undertakers. The following records have details for these burials (listed in chronological order).
_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 05326/1872
19.11.72
ROBERT BATCHELA FORD, an infant aged 61 days, died from SEVERE COLD of 4 days’ duration.
Parents: WILLIAM JOHN FORD, miner and JANE nee NIXON
Informant: WILLIAM JOHN FORD, father
Burial date 20.11.72 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): W M BRANDER
Minister: None
Witnesses: ROBERT CANNON and W FORD Jnr

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 05395/1872
24.12.72
TONINA PERCOWICZ, aged 18 years, died from DYSENTRY of 6 weeks’ duration
Medical attendant: REEVE, Chemist
Parents: MATTIO PERCOWICZ, MINER and ELLEN nee HOURIGAN (born at AVISFORD MAROO)
Informant: MATTIO PERCOWICZ, father
Burial date: 25.12.72 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): MATTIO PERCOWICZ
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: PATRICK EGAN and JOHN LONERGAN

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 05420/1873
02.12.73
GEORGE BENNETT, an infant aged 4 months, died from PNEUMONIA of 2 months’ duration
Medical attendant: LEWIS DR
Parents: SPIRO BENNETT, miner and ANNA JANE CARROLL
Informant: BENNETT SPIRO father
Burial date: 03.12.72 at Home Rule
Undertaker: W T LEWIS of Gulgong
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: SPIRO BENNETT and ANN JANE BENNETT

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06237/1874
03.02.74
EMMA STEWART, an infant aged 5 weeks, died from MARASMOS of 5 weeks’ duration.
Medical attendant: Dr LEWIS
Parents: WILLIAM STEWART, miner and SUSAN nee JONES
Informant: WILLIAM STEWART, father
Burial date: 04.02.74 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): JOHN HOWLAND
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: C J MANN and ANN HOWLAND

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06239/1874
03.02.74
DAVID HOWLAND, an infant aged 11 months, died from MARASMUS of 10 days’ duration.
Medical attendant: Dr LEWIS
Parents: JOHN HOWLAND, a labourer, and MARY ANN BLOUNT (born at Hill End)
Informant: JOHN HOWLAND, father
Burial date: 04.02.74 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): JOHN HOWLAND
Minster: NONE
Witnesses: JOHN CHARLES MANN and WILLIAM STEWART

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 07950/1875
09.05.75
AH LOO, an unmarried miner of unknown age, died from a BOWEL COMPLAINT of 3 months’ duration.
Parents: unknown (born in China)
AH YEE no relation Home Rule
Burial date: 10.05.75 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): AH YEE
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: DA JUNG and DA SUN

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 08018/1876
10.09.76
DANIEL CARR, an infant just 18 hours old, died from CONVULSIONS
Medical attendant: Mrs SANDERSON, Midwife
Parents: DANIEL CARR, miner, and MARY JANE nee BATH
Informant: DANIEL CARR, father
Burial date: 12.09.76 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): DANIEL CARR
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: JAMES CARR and THEODOR EBNER

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06897/1877
04.07.77
[UNNAMED female] CARR, died from being prematurely born.
Parents: DANIEL CARR, MINER and MARY JANE nee BATH
Informant: H MARONEY, Post Master HOME RULE
Burial date: 07.07.77 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): DONALD CARR
Minister: NONE
Witness: MALCOLM CARR ONLY

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 07089/1878
24.12.78
THOMAS HOLT, an infant aged only 4 hours, died of convulsions.
Parents: THOMAS HOLT, FARMER and ELIZABETH nee STEWART
Informant: THOMAS HOLT, father
Burial date: 25.12.78 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): T HEFFERNAN
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: THOMAS HOLT and JOHN WILLIAMS

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 07129/1879
10.09.79
[UNNAMED male] RANDALL, an infant aged 4 hours, died from DEFECTIVE INFLACTION OF LUNGS AFTER BIRTH
Medical attendant: None. COR INQ held.
Parents: RICHARD RANDALL, MINER and SARAH ROSIER
Informant: T A BROWNE, Coroner
Burial date: 10.09.78 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): RICHARD RANDALL
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: ALFRED MORTIMER and LOUISA MORTIMER

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 09660/1883
02.03.83
ATHINA DORAN, an infant aged 1 month, died at Home Rule
Cause of death: INFLUENZA of 14 days’ duration
Parents: LOUIS PHILLIPS, a miner, and KATE nee LONERGAN
Informant: KATE DORAN (mother)
Burial date: 04.03.83 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): JAS ROBINSON
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: Mrs SANDERSON and Mrs GORDON

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 11635/1886
04.01.86
PRESCILLA * SKELTON, an infant aged 3 years, died from INFLAMMATION OF BRAIN of 3 days’ duration.
Medical attendant: Dr KEALEY
Parents: ALICE SKELTON (father unlisted)
Informant: DAVID KING, Miner from Home Rule
Burial date: 05.01.86 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): DAVID KING
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: JOHN SPENCE and Mrs RANDALL

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06960/1891
14.12.91
WALTER JAMES, an infant aged 5 days, died from CONVULSIONS FROM BIRTH
Parents: ERNEST ALISTER JAMES, a miner and ALICE MARTHA nee ALLEN
Informant: ERNEST JAMES, father
Burial date: 14.12.91 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting) H ALLEN
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: H ALLEN and E A JAMES

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06801/1893
01.01.93
WINIFRED MAY ALLAN, an infant aged 10 weeks, died from PNEUMONIA after 3 days
Medical attendant: Dr BENNETT
Parents: JOHN ALLAN, a miner and LUCY W SHARROCK
Informant: JOHN ALLAN, father
Date of burial: 02.01.93 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): HARRY ALLAN
Minister: MITCHELL (ACTED)
Witnesses: GEORGE CRAMPTON and ERNEST JAMES

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06122/1894
24.08.94
AH SING, a labourer, aged 70 years, died from INFLUENZA of 14 days’ duration
Buried by order Coroner WOTTON
Parents: unknown (born in China)
Informant: GEO STEELE, Sgt of Police at Home Rule
Burial date: 26.08.94 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): JOHN WELLS
Minister: NONE
Witnesses: GEORGE STEELE and JOHN COOPER MITCHELL

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 08630/1895
23.06.95
SIDNEY* SHARROCK, an infant aged 1 day, died of CONVULSIONS
INQUIRY by Coroner WOTTON
Mother: ELIZABETH SHARROCK
Informant: ELIZABETH SHARROCK, mother
Burial date: 27.06.95 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): JOHN LUCAS
Minister: None
Witnesses: MARY ANN DONALDSON and MARY JANE RAISIN

_________________________________________________

NSW BDM 06179/1903
06.04.03
LOVIS LUDOVICY, a miner aged 77 years, died from SUPPOSED SENILE DECAY of 4 days’ duration.
Buried by order B A EDWARDS, Coroner
Parents: Unknown (born in Germany)
Informant: EDWARD FERRIS, SNR CONSTABLE of Gulgong
Burial date: 07.04.03 at Home Rule
Undertaker (acting): OTTO L KIEN
Minister: None
Witnesses: A T DREW and EDWARD FERRIS (POLICE)

_________________________________________________


Tuesday, March 4, 2025

B E HEARD

BURTON EDGAR HEARD was the son of ROBERT WILLIAM HEARD. He was born in 1882 (NSW BDM 22233/1882); died 1934, Gulgong.

NEWS ITEMS

1926 - Sulky Overturns - MRS. B. E. HEARD INJURED
When driving in a sulky on the Stubbo-Gulgong road on Thursday evening last, Mrs. Heard, wife of Mr. B. E. Heard, met with an ac cident. The vehicle hit a stump and overturned, and Mrs. Heard and her baby were thrown out. Mrs. Heard received some nasty wounds, and several stitches had to be in serted in her foot. She was placed in the Gulgong District Hospital.

1934 - Mr. Bert Heard
A native of Gulgong, Mr. Bert Heard, died suddenly at his home on Monday night last, aged 52 years. Deceased was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Heard, who were prominent in the public life of the town in its early days. 
The news of Mr. Heard's sudden demise shocked the whole community. He had been in ill-health for some years, but during recent times had been making a steady recovery and had put on weight.
About 10 o'clock on Monday night he sat reading, when a blood vessel in his throat burst, causing his death within ten minutes. The deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Heard and family.
During the past few years the late Mr. Heard was in business in Herbert street, his residence adjoining his premises, and he was highly esteemed, being a straight going, conscientious man.
A widow and the following family is left to mourn: — Mr. Robert Heard, Mrs. H. Rush, Misses Lily Heard, Laura Heard and Bride Heard.
Ald. F. W. Heard is his only brother.
The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, the arrangements being carried out by Mr. R. S. Bayliss. Our sympathy is extended.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 5 Jul 1934 Page 12

1966 - ROAD CLOSURE
Land District—Mudgee; Shire—Cudgegong
Cudgegong Shire Council, 33 perches. Public road, being that part of Driscoll Street, Gulgong, separating allotment 2, section 37 from allotment 1, section 39, Parish Gulgong, County Phillip. R. 65-947.

Sunday, March 2, 2025

POPULATION

1870s - CHILD DEATHS PER YEAR

Number of children under the age of 15 years whose deaths were registered between 1870 and 1900 in the Gulgong District


1872 - Births Deaths and Marriages.
We are thankful to Mr. L.S. Donaldson CPS, registrar of BDM who supplied the following stats. For the quarter ended December, 31st 1871 - Deaths 24 males, 22 females, Births males 24, females 21, and 8 marriages. With a population greater than 8,000 in which a there is a large number are children, we think 46 deaths are not large.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 48, January 13, 1872

1901 - POPULATION
The Census Returns. Of Mudgee Police District.

The following are the census returns of the police district of Mudgee for 1901:-
Municipality of Mudgee — 1339 males, 1452 females, total 2791, inhabited dwellings 532, uninhabited
dwellings 47, building 2.
Cudgegong Municipality south of river— 866 males, 832 females, total 1698, inhabited dwellings 298, uninhabited dwellings 30.
Cudgegong Municipality north of river — 718 males, 570 females, total 1288, inhabited dwellings 220, uninhabited dwellings 30, building 1.
Gulgong Municipality — 822 males, 764 females, total 1586, inhabited dwellings 350, uninhabited dwellings 37, building 1.
...

The following are the totals for the whole of the census for the Mudgee police district: — 8119 males, 6812 females, total 14,931, inhabited dwellings 3301, uninhabited dwellings 331, buildings 9.
Included in these totals are:
Chinese — males 226, females 21, total 247.
Aborigines — males 7, females 5, total 12.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 2 May 1901 Page 19

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

NOY

Michael John Noy (1845-1916) married Hannah Robinson (1847-1929) in Mudgee in 1869. Their children included:

  • Michael - 1868 (out of wedlock?)
  • John 1869
  • Hannah - 1873 (married Henry Drew)
  • Sidney - 1875 
  • Elizabeth - 1878
  • William - 1880
  • Charles - 1882
  • George - 1884
  • Ernest - 1886
  • James Percy - 1888
__________________________
Michael Noy married Mary A McEwan/MacEwan in Brewarrina in 1896 (NSW BDM 7069/1896). Their children included:
    • William S - 12107/1898
    • Hannah M - 30451/1899
    • Michael J - 4946/1902 (born in Mudgee)
    • Charles E - 17950/1904
    • Ernest - 16634/1908
___________________________
Sidney Noy (born 31 July 1875; died 29 July 1964) married Mary J Sloman in Gulgong in 1907 (NSW BDM 10683/1907)

Their children (born in Gulgong) included:
    • William M S - 24942/1908
    • Ernest D - 15285/1910
    • Mary J - 15079/1913

NEWS ITEMS

1916 - THE LATE MR MICHAEL NOY.
The late Mr. Michael Noy, who was born at Richmond (N.S.W.), and resided around Mudgee and Gulgong for about 51 years. He owned a good deal of property at Home Rule, Three Mile, Mudgee and Cooyal.
He had resided on his property at Home Rule for some time. A widow and the following children are left to mourn their loss: Michael, John, and George (Queensland), James (Sandy Creek), Sydney and Percy (Gulgong), Ernest (Weetalibah) Charles and William (Cobbora), and Mrs. H. Drew (Home Rule).

1929 - MRS HANNAH NOY.
By the death of Mrs Hannah Noy, which occurred at Home Rule on Monday, the district loses one of its finest characters. Deceased, who had reached the advanced age of 81 years, was beloved by her many friends and deeply respected by all those who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. To the following sons and daughters universal sympathy is extended:— Michael (Queensland); John (Narrabri), Sydney (Gulgong), William (Coonabarabran), Charles (Dunedoo), George (Coonabarabran),
Ernest (Pilliga), Percy (Pilliga), and Mrs H. Drew (Home Rule). The funeral took place to the Church of
England portion of the Gulgong cemetery, the (Rev. L. Caldwell officiating. Mr J. Clarke conducted the funeral.

Sunday, February 9, 2025

MAYNE 23

 

23 Mayne Street, ca 1970
Source: Wes Stacey


Source: Google Street View



3 ROBINSON

Heritage listing: 2070345 House, 3 Robinson Street (Lot 11, Section 27)

3 Robinson St, ca 1970
Source: detail, Wes Stacey photo taken from corner of Mayne and White streets