Heron brown book preview

THE HERON & BROWN FAMILY HISTORY

Digital Design & Production Faye Maxwell Rainforest.art@gmail.com

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Digital Design & Production Faye Maxwell Rainforest.art@gmail.com

THE HERON & BROWN FAMILY HISTORY

THE HERON & BROWN FAMILY HISTORY

Digital Design & Production Faye Maxwell Rainforest.art@gmail.com

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Digital Design & Production Faye Maxwell Rainforest.art@gmail.com

THE HERON & BROWN FAMILY HISTORY

THE HERON FAMILY HISTORY

SARAH HERON Jack Heron's grandmother 1

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The Heron family were from Wigan, near Manchester, UK. John Speir Heron, known as Jack, didn’t spend the money to have a genealogy done, as, having only daughters, he couldn’t see the point! He said that the family had always had property, and he alluded to Norman blood! Sounds good!

John Speir Heron, (Husband of Edith Heron, and father of Jack Heron, Dora's husband) 2

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Edith Pape Heron (John Speir Heron's mother)

Jack’s father, and Grandfather, were also called John Speir.

John Speir Heron was elected Mayor of Wigan on 1st January, 1836, and held office until Nov. 9th of the same year. This was Jack’s grandfather. He has been described as a cotton spinner in Wigan, and the one time owner of the Old Sovereign Mills in Warrington Lane, where he also lived in a “commodious house in the mill yard”. His brother, Sir Joseph Heron, was the 1st town clerk of Manchester.

His son, John Speir, husband of Edith, was a civil engineer.

John Speir, father of Jack, also had a brother, Arthur, married to Miss Penson. She was born and died in a house on Standishgate, demolished in 1914 to make way for Wigan Girls’ High School. It is assumed that Arthur Heron lived there with her.

The Heron’s had a family crest of a half-lion rampart. There were some old glasses with another emblem of a head of a heron. The half-lion rampart image was carved into the dining chairs, engraved on the cutlery, worn as a signet ring, originally for pressing into sealing wax, and on notepaper etc. – obviously an important statement

The census of 1881 for Great Malvern, Worcester, England tells us that Edith Pape Heron, was aged 29, and a widow, born in Broughton, England, and her son, John Speir Heron was aged 8, and was born in Bowdon, Cheshire, England.

On the night of the census she was staying with Mary L. Robinson & family, and it would appear that Mary was Jack’s father’s sister. Mary’s husband, Stephen Robinson, was Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Hereford. In the household of 9, which included Edith & Jack Heron as visitors, there were 8 domestic servants.

Jack Heron as a young child

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Jack Heron's school reports 4

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Jack Heron was born at Richmond Hill Bowden near Manchester Northamptonshire on the 27th May 1872 and educated at Rugby School. He did not attend University, as he had not studied Greek, a compulsory subject for university education. The senior students at Rugby had their own smoking room, smoking being permitted for the older boys.

Thus began a lifetime habit.

Pastel portrait of Jack Heron aged about 5 years.

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CASTLEFIELD 113 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills

Edith & Jack Heron first came to Australia on an ocean cruise. Steam ships had become the way to travel to Australia, and, combined with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the trip to Sydney went from 9 months to 6 or 8 weeks. It was sometime in about 1890, Edith & Jack came on a cruise to Sydney. Edith & Jack fell in love with Sydney, so they went back to the north of England, sold up, and moved all their possessions to Sydney. On the 24th October, 1890, Edith Pape Heron, widow, of Castle Hill purchased the land at Pennant Hills Rd., Castle Hill where she was to build the house known as ‘Castlefield’. The land consisted of 51 acres, 1 rood and 21 perches. It was formerly the Delaney grant, issued to John Delaney in 1818, and the lease extended to 999 years and leased to M. Mucklar 1st April, 1820. It changed hands another six times before becoming Edith’s.

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Opposite page: Family group at Castlefield.

Dora behind the woman in the fancy hat.

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‘Castlefield’ was built for Edith Pape Heron. She was born in Manchester about 1852. She had one son John Speir Heron. It is not known when she arrived in New South Wales. On the 24th October 1890 she purchased the 51 acres at Castle Hill.

On the 15th April 1896, Edith Heron transferred most of the land to son John Speir Heron, gentleman, of Castle Hill. On this land John Speir Heron developed an orchard which was soon being called a ‘model’ one. He only lived in the valley for a short time, but he became a noted orchardist. He was Secretary of the Pennant Hills Progress Association in 1897 and in 1899 he became President. He then gave up that post in 1900 due to the pressure of his work to concentrate on the Castle Hill and Hills District Agricultural and Horticultural Society of which he was President in 1901. Heron was also a writer about fruit growing.

Meanwhile, Edith Pape Heron had retained the rest of the land to build a home. A new CT (certificate) for the balance of the land was issued to Edith Pape Heron of Castle Hill, widow, on 15th May 1896. The house, ‘Castlefield’, was built about this time. A book, the Parramatta and Districts Illustrated was published by the Cumberland Argus in 1899. In it was a photo of this house labelled as “Mr J.S. Heron’s Residence, Castle Hill” even though it was owned by his mother. The house was taken from its' southern façade from across the romantic rock bordered pond. The site has the raw bare look of a newly built house with little vegetation to soften the edges or shield the house and grounds from the prevailing weather. A hip-roofed summer house or green house was between the pond and the main house, with an area adjacent enclosed with trellis probably to shield the inner garden from the blast of the southerly winds. In another part of the same publication, it noted that, “Several magnificent properties are passed on the road from Pennants Hills to Castle Hill, including the farm and stables until recently occupied by Mr. E.J. Black, the well-known Govt. ‘whip’, the fine estate of Mr. J. Hopkins, and the really model orchard and residence of Mr. J.S. Heron. The last named gentleman is not only a practical fruit-grower, but also an author whose writings on fruit cultivation are valuable additions to the literature of the subject.

It is unusual for the building of such a house to be referred to in published sources. Yet on 18th January 1898, when John Speir Heron, fruit grower of Castle Hill gave evidence to the parliamentary committee on the proposed railway to Dural, he went into some detail about its construction.

He stated that he was a fruit grower at Castle Hill. He had only been in the district for about seven or eight years with a holding of 50 acres of which 40 acres is under fruit trees. He sent his fruit to market via Pennant Hills and Thornleigh stations. He said that he was not highly interested in the proposed railway since he would gain relatively little advantage. When asked if growers would be prepared to pay a levy of 3d a case for the railway, he said that the value of the cartage is only 1d to 1.5d for him.

However, when Heron revised his evidence on a later reading, he added further data. He enlarge upon the description of his orchard which consisted of 40 acres and contained 17 acres of old orchard, with the rest from 1 to 6 years of age. The trees were mixed citrus with a large variety of summer fruit trees. In the last year, he had produced 1,560 cases of fruit in 2,108 packages which he estimated was above the average for growers in his area. He then went on to elaborate about the cost of cartage. He said that he had paid 10/- per thousand for 7lb bricks (i.e. 62 cwt per thousand) to be carted from Thornleigh.

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‘The builder of Mrs. Heron’s house on land adjoining mine three years or so ago, when wages were exceptionally low, paid 7s. and 8s. per 1,000 for the carting of 140,000 bricks this distance. Owing to the number of cars employed, the men could help each other to load and unload, but the price was exceptionally low”

Castlefield Ochard and worker cottages and sheds.

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When another inquiry was held about a proposed railway to Dural, John Speir Heron again gave evidence. On 11th September, 1900, he gave evidence to the second inquiry on the railway to Dural. He admitted that the railway came very close to his property, but he stated that he suffered practically no disadvantage from the lack of rail communication in the district. When asked about the cost of cartage, he said’ “We had a house built about five years ago, and the contractor paid that rate (2/6 per ton) for the cartage of the material used, though wages were lower then than they are now.”

The current cost of carting the same would be about 3/- per ton. The proposed railway “would go through the same property belonging to my mother” ie ‘Castlefield’ or its grounds. When asked about his orchard, he said that at present, he had very little of his orchard of 40 acres plus 20 acres of his mother in full bearing. Twenty acres of the orchard was less than two years old.

Nonetheless, that same year, Heron was advertising fruit such as plums, apples, pears, peaches and nectarines for sale. Heron’s orchard was well regarded and two photographs of Heron’s orchard were published on 17th December 1904. A photograph of J.S. Heron, himself, was published in the Cumberland Argus amongst a group of notable men of the Hills district.

In 1905, fruit fly attacked the orchards of the district and ravaged the trees of many growers. Stern measures were brought into force to eradicate the pest. Heron stood out against some of the most drastic measures.

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In October 1906, J.S. Heron responded with vigour to the suggestion that peach trees should be destroyed to rid the area of fruit fly. He state he had been a peach grower for 16 years and had seen no evidence of the fly attacking peach trees. He later suggested a remedy against the insect.

John Speir Heron had married Dora Brown of Castle Hill at St. James, Sydney on 29th November, 1902, Their first child, a daughter named Valerie, was born on 4th September, 1904. It was about 1902 that his mother Edith built another house to the rear of ‘Castlefield’, and went there to live with a companion until her death in 1908. From later evidence, it appears that she left her furniture in ‘Castlefield’.

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EDITH HERON'S COTTAGE AT CASTLEFIELD

Situated behind the main house Edith Heron build a cottage for herself at Castlefield. Pictured here is Jack's two wheeled horse drawn carriage in front of Edith's cotage.

Opposite page: Dora with baby Valerie and Edith Heron to the right, on the steps of Edith's cottage.

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Above: Jack with Valerie in the garden of Castlefield Right: Maurice and Valerie.

Opposite page: Dora with Valerie at Castlefield September 1904 14 14

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Valerie 16 16

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Valerie as a toddler holding a kitten.

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Above: Valerie Oppossite: Edith on the left and Dora on the right with Valerie 18 18

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Dora and Valerie

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PICNICS A popular past time for the Herons

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Above: Dora in black dress sitting with Jack.. Opposite page: Picnic with Edith Heron (centre)

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.Second left Jack, his mother Edith Heron, Dora and young Valerie with two friends.

Opposite page: Sitting left to right: Young Valerie, Dora and Edith Heron (Dora's mother in law centre) with guests

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VALUATION OF THE ESTATE OF THE LATE MRS. EDITH P. HERON. Edith Heron began to feel the effects of old age. She was in her early fifties, but, like many people of that period, she did not have the benefits of the more advanced medical drugs and procedures of the late twentieth century. She was suffering from heart trouble and insomnia and was feeling affected mentally by the strain. On the 18th December 1907, she went to live with her son who lived a short distance away in the house ‘Castlefield’ still owned by Edith Heron.

In January 1908 C.E. Sellar carried out some minor repairs of an unspecified nature on ‘Castlefield’ worth Ten pounds Eleven shillings. One the evening of 1st February 1908 Mrs. Edith Heron went to bed, upstairs in ‘Castlefield’, but at sometime she rose and went outside to her own cottage at some distance from the house. There, worried and oppressed by her increasing frailty and the dissolution of her body, she shot herself in the heart with a revolver she had kept in the cottage to use against burglars, in the early hours of the morning. She was found there the next morning by her son.

To prepare the estate for the payment of death duties, valuations of her assets were completed. On 18th February, 1908, a valuation of the real property of E.P. Heron described the land as measuring 1 acre 3 roods and 20 perches with a 343 frontage to Pennant Hills Rd. On 19th February 1908, a detailed inventory of all her furniture and jewellery in ‘Castlefield’ was completed. On 13th May 1908, a transmission of the ownership of the property to the Permanent Trustee Co was produced and then registered.

It should also be noted that from 1908 to 1942 the land to the south comprising 3 acres 2 roods and 35.5 perches also had common ownership. It appears that this land formed part of the garden and grounds of the main house.

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LATER OWNERS OF 'GLENHOPE' (FORMALLY CASTLEFIELD)

Though Heron had now inherited a fine new house fronting his model orchard, it probably held very painful associations for him.

He went to live in ‘Pomona’ in Pennant Hills. This was built about 1886 for W.H. Paling, and although it was an older house both in age and style it probably lacked the particular memories that ‘Castlefield' held for him’. On 16th August 1909, ‘Castlefield’ was transferred to Elliot Ralph Jacobs of near Melbourne, gentleman, who mortgaged it back to John Speir Heron. Jacobs also bought much of Heron’s orchard. It was then transferred to James Burns of Coogee, gentleman on 13th February 1912, who mortgaged the land back to Jacobs described as an orchardist of Sydney. When ‘Castlefield’ was transferred to Francis James Salisbury of Annandale, manufacturer on 23rd May, 1912, it came into the hands of a family which would own the property for many decades to come.

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JACK HERON'S ART DEALER'S INVENTORY

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JACK AND DORA'S TRAVELS Venice water colour by Jack Heron

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After Jack's mother died and Castlefield was sold Jack and Dora commenced their international travels. Jack turns his hand to collecting art.

Young Felicity travelled to England four times before she was five years old.

Left: A young Felicity standing on the deck chair.

This page: A formal letter of introduction.

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Above: Maurice on the left. Right: Jack and Dora with friends.

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Jack outside the room where he used to be a boarder at Rugby School in Rugby Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest Independent schools in Britian.

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Dora in England in the 1920's Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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Felicity and Valerie 38 38

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Valerie's memorial seat in London at St. Clement Danes church, Strand W.C.2.

Dora and Jack Heron were in London when they received the shocking news of Valerie's death from pnemonia at age eleven. Dora commissioned the above seat in remembrance of Valerie at the church she attended in London.

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Valeries report card 1911. Valerie was an exellent student as her report card shows.

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POMONA Pennant Hills, NSW

Jack and Dora moved to "Pomona" at Pennant Hills after Ediths death circa 1909.

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Felicity and baby Rosemary on the steps at Pomona Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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Felicity on bicycle with friends in fancy dress. They loved fancy dress parties.

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Maurice Brown (Dora's brother) and Felicity Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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Dora with baby Rosemary.

Felicity with baby Rosemary in pram Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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Above: Rosemary Right: Rosemary as toddler and Felicity. Felicity is eight years older than Rosemary.

Opposite page: Felicity

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Felicity with watering can 50 50

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Jack in uniform, probably the home guard.

He was rejected from the army on medical grounds.

Left: Felicity and Jack Opposite: A drawing by Jack 52 52

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TERRIGAL BEACH circa 1920's

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JACK HERON'S BEACH HOUSE Barn Hill Road, Terrigal NSW

The smart set had a beach house at either Terrigal or Palm Beach. Jack chose Terrigal because the road was better and the train went to Gosford. Jack built the house and all the building materials were shipped by sea from Sydney.

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On the road from Gosford to Terrigal Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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The Heron's spent three months every summer at their beach house in Terrigal. Rosemary learnt to body surf very young. When the moon was right they would go prawning in Terrigal lagoon.

Languid summers were spent reading, doing water colours and having a pleasant time free from care.

Above: On the steps at Jack's house, Terrigal.

Opposite page: Felicity with unknown baby at Terrigal beach.

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Felicity and Rosemary at Terrigal beach.

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Dora and family often travelled to Victoria to visit her sister Eva Franklands.

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JACK & DORA'S HOUSE 1927 - 1960 42 Arnold St. Killara

A 1980's photo of Jack and Dora's house. When they lived in the house the brick wasn't painted and there was a big Canary Palm in the middle of the front garden.

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Jack and Dora at Felicity's wedding to Bob Bingle in 1943. The wedding was at St. Martin's Killara and the reception was in the garden at 42 Arnold St, Killara.

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STREET SNAPS

Jack in the city. He went into the city every Friday to see his stockbroker and visit second hand bookshops.

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At this time it was popular for street photographer to snap people going about their town business. Goind to town was a big deal and people dressed to impress.

Capturing them in their finest was the bread and butter for photographers of the time as most people purchased their photos.

Left: Jack Heron with his youngest daughter, Jacqueline and grandchildren, Louise Bingle and Tony Coote.

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DORA HERON nee BROWN 188? – 1967

By Lissa Coote.

Dora Heron, nee Brown, was my grandmother. She was always known as “Dodie”, so that’s how I’ll refer to her.

(She always lied about her age, not even her daughters knew how old she was – so I’ve put that question mark there, as a lady never reveals her age))

Dodie was a fabulous lady. She loved company, was great company, and a generous hostess. She loved to play the piano, and lead sing-songs around it, encouraging everyone to join in. She lived in a grand house, huge reception rooms, haf a dozen bedrooms, and managed to spend half her time travelling by P.& O. Liner to London and the Continent, shopping all the way.

The story, as told to me by my mother and Dodie, was that Dodie’s parents had moved to Australia in the mid 1880’s due to her mother’s health. She talked of her mother, Janet Lee, as having had a horse accident, which left her physically damaged. It certainly left a scar on her forhead, and from then on all her photos have her with a fringe, to disguise the scar.

Dodie was the youngest of the eight Brown children, and by the age of about eleven, she was orphaned. At about the age of 20 or so years, Dodie was living with two or three of her brothers in a house in a valley at Castle Hill. Up the top of the hill from the Brown orphans lived Mrs. Heron and her son Jack. They were well-to-do folk from the Manchester district of England. Mrs. Heron was widowed, and some time in the late 18880s she and her son went on tour to Australia. They fell in love with Sydney, and returned to Manchester to pack up their house there and move to Sydney. They had copious belongings – family crested silver, crested dining chairs, glasses, and all manner of acoutremonts to gracious living, which was shipped out with then when they moved.

Edith Heron then bought 50+ acres at Castle Hill, a beautiful piece of land overlooking Sydney. The train line had just gone in, and the land was a short carriage ride to Pennant Hills Station. They built a grand pre-federation style house, and set themselves up in the manner to which they were accustomed. Jack styled himself as a “gentleman farmer”, and chose to specialize in growing citrus. He is reputed to have introduced a particular citrus from Spain which endeared him to the local citrus industry. Family folklore has it that he was encouraged to run for parliament, but, being a very retiring soul, he said no.

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Dora with her fat cats 67 67

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Jack’s retiring nature was frustrating to his mother, and, so the story goes, when, at the age of about 30, he had never made any moves to look for a wife, and his mother suggested that it was time he did. Whether his mother suggested he take that young Brown girl out for a date, or if he had noticed her first, is conjecture. Anyway, the legend goes that he went down the hill in his horse and carriage, and asked the pretty young Dodie out for a drive. Her brothers were thrilled – that rich gentleman with the big house on the top of the hill. So out in a carriage ride Dodie was taken by Jack.

When he returned her to the orphaned Browns’ household, they were all waiting in anticipation. “What happened?” they quizzed her. “Well he asked me to marry him” she declared (on the first outing too!) “and what did you say”, they gasped. “No, of course!”

Dodie declared. “Well, you go right back there and say yes” they chorused. And so she did, and so her fabulous life began.

They were married at St. James Church in King Street, the oldest church in Sydney, and designed by the convict architect Greenaway. They were going to go to Japan for their honeymoon, but that trip was to happen later. Dodie moved into the house ‘Castlefield’ that Edith had recently built. A few years later Edith built herself another smaller house on the land, and lived there with a housekeeper. After Edith’s death, ‘Castlefield’ was sold and Jack & Dodie, with their daughter Valerie, moved to ‘Pomona’ at Pennant Hills. Jack had sold his orchard, and ceased being a citrus grower. He now started a new career – art collecting. It is possible his father was an art collector too. For the next many years, the family sailed to England & the continent, collecting art and having holidays.

One famous family story was told to me by Dodie. It must have been in 1910, because she talked about seeing Halley’s Comet from the ship – a spectacular sight, with a long tail. The ship hit an uncharted rock off the coast of Western Australia, and it went down within half an hour. Jack managed to rush back to his cabin to grab his letters of credit, but could not take his two valuable paintings with him. The ship went down without loss of life, and somehow everyone made it to shore. But his Titian and Tiepolo paintings, wrapped together in waterproof paper, went down too. Amazingly, six months later, the Tiepolo paint was washed ashore, but not the Titian. But they were wrapped together! Jack give the Tiepolo painting to the newly formed Art Gallery of NSW – they were calling for donations, and he decided they should have it. (And maybe he had had it insured with Lloyds of London?)

But where is the Titian? (As an aside, I read in the Sunday tabloids of a story of a monastery at New Norcia off the coast of Western Australia having all its’ painting vandalized, except their Titian. Now I ask – how come a monastery in Western Australia has a Titian - could it be the missing Heron Titian?)

When my mother, Rosemary, was a young girl, living at “Pomona”, they lived very comfortably. They had about 8 or 9 permanent staff, which included a cook, maids, and a few gardeners. They had a five acre garden, divided into different gardens – an English garden, a Dutch garden, etc.

In about the mid 1920’s they moved to 39 Arnold Street, Killara. Dodie always had a live-in housekeeper, and daily help in the house and garden. My mother told us stories of living with so much household help – eg dinner always had to be on time, otherwise there was much grumbling from the staff about missing trains, etc.

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Dodie & Jack became endless travellers.

They travelled all over Europe, Russia, Japan, America, India, Burma, Malaya, Java, Bali, The New Hebrides, New Zealand and maybe more!

Dodie was a very keen Bridge player, and attended Bridge parties at least three times a week, and hated women who chatted instead of playing. She was serious about it.

Her pantry was set up for copious parties, Six different dinner ware services, endless fancy china, silver – you name it, she had it.

As a little girl, all my mother had to do to have me baby-sat was to leave me at Dodie’s place. I was endlessly fascinated going through her cupboards – she had everything, including a doll collection, with a doll from every country she ever visited – there were dozens of them, plus copious amounts of things such as miniature tea-sets, and all sorts of amazing knick-knacks from around the world. She was a relentless consumer!

In 1939 my mother Rosemary and Dodie went on a grand tour of India and the Far East. The photos albums have been turned into a book. They travelled by ship around Australia, to Colombo, then disembarked at Bombay , and spent six weeks travelling across India, via Delhi, Agra, visiting the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Fatuphur Sikri, and then on to Calcutta via Darjeeling. They then went to Burma, Malaya, Java, and finally Bali – a fabulous trip that took about 4 or more months.

As an old lady, Dodie travelled to London every year or two, with her friend Mrs. Tait. They would rent an apartment, and go the theatre, shop, and no doubt play bridge. They usually travelled on the P.&O. liners, travelling 2nd class! Both economical old ladies.

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Jack had died in 1951 and Dora (Dodie) starting travelling with her friend Mrs. Tait. They travelled to London on the P.& 0.

Line. They played bridge all the way and went to the theatre in London.

From left: Dora's grandchildren, Lissa, Tony in boater hat, Chris, Deidre, Louise and Nerissa.

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Dora with her daughters Rosemary, Felicity and Jacualine in the background.

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JOHN HERON'S DAUGHTERS 1920's - 1930's

Felicity and Rosmary circa 1920

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Jacqueline circa 1925

ROSEMARY COOTE by her daughter Lissa Coote My mother, Rosemary Coote (nee Heron) was born on the 26th February, 1917 at ‘Pomona’, Pennant Hills. By Lissa Coote.

She was called ‘Rosemary’ in remembrance for her eldest sister Valerie, who had tragically died of pneumonia aged 12 years in 1915. Life at ‘Pomona’ was very gracious – with 5 household staff and 4 gardeners. The house was on 5 acres, with views over Sydney. The garden was divided up into different gardens – The Dutch Garden, The English Garden, etc.

In about 1929 the Heron family moved to ‘Glendor’, 42 Arnold Street, Killara, which was a large Federation house on a double block with a large garden. The garden was attended to by a gardener, who also grew cut flowers for Dodie’s many vases.

Dahlias, Hydrangeas, and Sweet Peas were amongst the favourites. Dodie was an adventurous spirit, and had a car from the 1920’s. She drove, and Jack sat in the back! When Ro was about 14, she would drive the car to school, picking up all her friends, some who would stand on the “running board”, and then take them to school. Driver’s licenses were yet to be invented!

Ro went to school at Abbotsleigh, Wahroonga, and after finishing the ‘Intermediate’ at age 15, then went on to East Sydney Technical College, whe she excelled in her 3 year design course. When she was 17, she and her sister Felicity were given a trip to Europe by their father, Jack, and headed off by sea to the UK and Europe. They cycled in England, and travelled by train in France and Italy, visiting Paris, and then Florence, Sienna, Pisa etc., staying in youth hostels for most of their trip.

When Ro graduated from the Tech, she worked in the city doing various jobs, including newspaper illustrations of fashion, and was working as a fabric designer for a well-known Japanese textile company when she met Stacey Coote. Prior to this, in 1939 she and her mother Dodie did an epic journey across India by train, from Bombay to Calcutta, with side trips to Darjeeling, Lucknow, etc., then visiting Burma, Malaya, Singapore and finally Bali on the return trip.

In 1940 Ro met Stace Coote, recently arrived in Sydney from losing his sheep farm near Junee. She was soon smitten with Stacey’s innate charm, his story-telling ability, and wooed with poetry readings such as ‘The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam”, read to her by firelight. They were soon engaged, and then married in a hurry, as war had been declared, and Stace had signed up for the Army on the first day of enlistment.

A hurred wedding, followed by a honeymoon at Jack Heron’s beach house at Terrigal, and Stacey then sailed away for two and a half years to the Middle East. At the end of 1942 Stace returned to Australia, and Tony was born October, 1943.In 1946 Stace was still with the Army, bringing the troops back home. Lissa was born there in March, 1946. Ro, Stace & family returned to Sydney in 1946, renting a house in Hurstville. Chris was born in 1947.In 1951 they moved to the house they had built at 2 Coronga Cres. Killara.

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Ro was a wonderful wife, soldiering on the face of adversity. She never complained about the financial struggles they would have had, and put her ‘shoulder to the wheel’ – earning money running a fancy dress costume business from home, staying up late sewing the costumes, plus sewing all her clothes and Lissa’s as well, making shirts for Stace, and all the ‘Parkas’ for our skiholidays, plus sewing brides dresses, and all the other dresses for the wedding party – mother-of-the-bride, bridesmaids etc. A very hard worker.

Ro’s interest in sewing and clothes had an outlet in her helping create The North Shore Cavalcade of Fashion’, now ‘The Cavalcade of History and Fashion’’. (www.thecavalcade.org) She and a few friends started this organisation, still going today. It started with a hat collection, then branched out to clothes. The collection currently has over 2,500 gowns, all donated over the years. Ro would spend many hours restoring some of these gowns by hand, and would be one of the models in the early parades. She also gave lectures on lace, another interest she acquired, and had a sizeable collection of lace from all over the UK and Europe. Her children’s fancy dress costume business had grown out of her extensive collection of ethnic clothes from all the countries she and her mother had visited, especially India and Burma.

Ro was a very kind and generous woman, extremely capable, who loved sewing and cooking, especially cakes! She always hand-made her Christmas cards, and believed the best gifts were hand-made. She was devoted to her family, and loved the only grandson she knew, namely Gully Coote.

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Stace Coote and Rosemary Heron on their wedding day, 20th November 1940 at St Martin's church Killara.

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FELICITY BINGLE, nee HERON by her daughter Louise Weingott My mother, Felicity Bingle (nee Heron) was a beautiful, loving, joyful, wise, loyal, generous, supportive and a totally unselfish mother. Felicity was born on the 10th February, 1909 at ‘Castlefield’, Castle Hill, a house built by my great grandmother Edith Pape Heron, as a home with her son John Speir Heron, (Jack), my grandfather. After John Speir’s marriage to Dora Yeoman Percival Brown, (Dodie, my grandmother) in 1902, this house became their family home where firstly Valerie was born in 1903, then six years later Felicity.

After the death of Edith Pape Heron, ‘Castlefield’ was sold, and my grandparents, John Speir and Dora Heron, with their two children, Valerie seven years, and Felicity almost two years, all moved to ‘Pomona’, at Pennant Hills, which had formerly belonged to the Paling family. ‘Pomona’, now the Heron family home, was to be my mother’s home for all of her childhood. Pomona was a grand old stone house, with orchards and beautiful formal gardens with views west towards the mountains and east to the city. It was set back from Pennant Hills Road, which was then just an unsealed dirt road. Rosemary, Felicity’s younger sister, was born there in 1917, and Jacqueline, the youngest, was born in 1922. Very sadly, Valerie at the age of twelve, died of pneumonia. It was a terrible shock to the family. Dodie and Jack were in England at the time, while Valerie, remaining at home, had been left in the care of close family friends. After this great loss, Valerie’s bedroom was kept just as it had always been when she was alive, and was never to be used by anyone else. It remained always Valerie’s room.

Felicity travelled to England with her parents three times before she was five years old, when a journey then, o course, took very many weeks. An early voyage for Felicity, in 1910, was on “The Pericles”, which on it’s return voyage hit uncharted rocks off the coast of Western Australia. No lives were lost, but among the ship’s cargo were precious paintings that my grandfather, John Speir had purchased for his collection. Only one painting, a Tiepolo, “The Weary Pilgrim” wralled in oil skin cloth, was found washed up on the beach. He gave it to the Art Gallery of NSW for their collection.

From ‘Pomona’ Felicity went to school – several, as Dodie changed her schooling a number of times. She went from Pennant Hills by rail to PLC Pymble, then later to Abbotsleigh. She became a life member of the Old Girls Union, and later enjoyed many talks and lectures that were a part of the Abbotsleigh School Community Program. At some time Dodie was son concerned about her education she engaged a private tutor for two years to have her schooled at home. Her last three years were spent at North Sydney Girls High, where she completed her Leaving Certificate and Matriculation.

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In spite of her erratic schooling she was accepted into Sydney University to do Architecture. After one year at University she transferred to East Sydney Technical College (ESTC), where she completed a five year Diploma in Design. This Design course was closely modelled on The Bauhaus Design School in Germany. She was now in the right place and at the right time in her life. She loved every part of the course, which included furniture design, textiles, silver-smithing, weaving and many other areas of design.

In the years between finishing her schooling and marriage …… she not only spent a year at Sydney University, 5 years at ESTC., but also trained for 1 year at a women’s motor repair garage. A must, according to Dodie, if she was to drive a car.

Together with Rosemary in 1936, she again travelled to England and then Europe, a gift from their father, John Speir. Cycling from London to the Isle of Skye, they visited Cheshire where their father was born.

Always on a careful budget, they stayed at Youth Hostels, all part of the wonderful adventure, and ‘no alcohol permitted’ was stipulated by Dodie. It was an amazing trip for the two sisters, with memories that lasted a lifetime.

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Felicity met my father, Robert Harry Bingle (Bobs) at East Sydney Technical College. He was a professional engineer, undertaking an evening course in sculpture. It was here she also made several lifelong friendships. After graduating she was invited to join the staff of ESTC to teach Design to students of Dress-making, which she enjoyed very much.

Also during these early years she had her own column in “The Woman”, an innovative magazine, where she answered questions on Home Decorating & Interior Design.

Felicity married ‘Bobs’ in 1943 at St. Martin’s Killara, and had her reception in the garden of 42 Arnold St., then her parents’ home.

Felicity did not wear a formal wedding dress as her mother would have liked, it was wartime, (WW11) everything had to be paid from one’s coupon rations. So instead, my sensible Mum, made a choice which suited her and wore a soft blue afternoon dress with a hat to match. I was the first born, with Deirdre in the middle and the youngest was Nerissa. My parents, being older than many others at that time, really treasured their role as parents, and we three always felt so lucky to have such a wonderful happy childhood.

Right: Felicity on her wedding day.

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Our family life at Neutral Bay was a very happy one. We always had a dog (which had a very special place in the family), a cat, some birds over the years, and there were always friends ‘dropping in’ over the weekend, and school friends after school.

Home was a federation house with a big garden of old willows, jacarandas and frangipani. It had been my grandmother Bingle’s home.

Felicity loved her family life, she was a natural homemaker. She learned to cook from The Commonsense Cookery Book, after her marriage. She loved more than anything to sew, making many of our clothes. That was a creative pleasure for her. She enjoyed whatever was to be done at home with her family. Birthdays were special. We always had a birthday party every year with handmade everything.

Felicity, my mother, was truly an amazing person. She was loved and admired by all who knew her. She was resourceful, imaginative, gently, forgiving and at all times positive. There were challenges, and later on in her life, there were many. She took them on bravely with her own determination and strength.

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FELICITY & ROSEMARY'S TRAVELS TO BRITAIN AND EUROPE 1935

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JACK HERON'S AUNTS circa 1850

Suzanne Collins on the left with her sister.

Portrait rendered in pastels.

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John Howard Angas

Suzanne Angas

John Speir Heron's aunt Suzanne Collins, was born 1835 at Bowden, Cheshire. She married John Howard Angas who was a very important early colonialist of South Australia, and son of George Fyfe Angas who was instrumental as a "founding father" in the formation of the colony of South Australia.

The family story was that Suzanne's family did not want her to marry some 'wild' Scotsman and go off to the unknown of Australia. But she did, and immigrated complete with trunks of beautiful elegant gowns etc., and lived with her husband, at the home built for her, and named after her family, Collingrove, now a National Trust House, at Angaston S.A. 89 89

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'COLLINGROVE' ANGASTON, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

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The house that John Howard Angas, son of George Fyfe Angas, built for his wife Suzanne Collins and named Collingrove to honour her family. Now a National Trust house. George Fyfe Angas was one of the founding fathers of South Australia and the wine industry.

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THE BROWN FAMILY

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Left: Fergus after his wife Janet died with their eight children. Dora on the left.

Right: Janet Brown nee Lee 93 93

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OUR BROWN'S CAME FROM WANSFORD

JANET LEE CAME FROM YAXLEY

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THE BROWN FAMILY HOUSE Wansford, England

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The Brown family came from Wansford. Wansford is on the old Great North Road about 90kms north of London in Northamptonshire, and 10km west of Peterborough. Wansford lies beside the River Nene which flows east to The Wash, and is at the navigable extremity of the river and canal system. Fergus Malcom Brown, born at Lidgett, Keighley in Yorkshire on 24th Dec. 1848.

He was educated at The Academy, Cookstown Co. Tyrone. Later he was enrolled at Queens University in Belfast. Fergus entered the Faculty of Medicine at Queen’s University, Belfast on 16th October, 1866, aged 17, attending 1st Year classes in Chemistry, Practical Anatomy, Anatomy and Physiology and French. He enrolled in May 1870 for Practical Chemistry and attended 2nd year classes in 1870-71 in Practical Anatomy, Practice of Medicine, Anatomy and Physiology.

The Brown and Lee families came together in 1870 when Fergus Malcolm Brown and Janet Lee were married on 24th March 1870 in the parish church of Bromley, Kent where Fergus was then living.

They were married by M.D. French, Rector of Allington, Lincoln, in the presence of John Lee and Alice E. Brown. On 27th January, 1871, Fergus’ and Janets’s first child, Helen Aileen was born in Belfast. Fergus was 22 and Janet almost 30. Their address was given as 1 Antrim Place.

During 1871 Fergus Brown obtained his medical licenses from Edinburg and Glasgow. Fergus was a 22 year old in 1871, and registered in Edinburgh as a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, and in Glasgow as a Licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons. Fergus and Janet’s second child and first son, William Charles Angus was born in Belfast on 2nd August, 1872. They were then living at 1 Peters Hill, Belfast.

Mabel Isabella was born 17th Sept. 1873 at Walton.

Janet Lee's Mother Harriette

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In 1875/6 Dr. Brown, with his wife Janet and three young children, was established in practice in Wansford in Northamptonshire. This is not far from Yaxley, where Janet’s family had lived. Wansford is about 10 miles west of Peterborough, at the junction of the A1 and A47 highways. Five more children would join the family here in Wansford over the next six years. Maurice Paul was born in Wansford on 26th Jan., 1876, Colin McKeown Brown on 13th July, 1877, Eva Mary on 17th Jan., 1878, and Fergus Lee on 17th Jan. 1880, also at Wansford.

The 1881 Census records the Brown family at Wansford. The household includes a groom, cook, two young nurses, a housemaid and a governess (teacher). 8 year old William Charles Angus is not living at home with his family. The Census reports him separately at Christ’s Hospital Hertford School at Hertford St. John, Hertford. He was one of about 500 students.

Dora Yeoman Percival Brown, the last of the Brown’s eight children, was born on 24th June, 1881, after the Census. The Brown’s were well to do and prominent members of the community. They maintained a large household with their eight children and servants etc. The tales handed down in family folklore suggest a lavish lifestyle for Dr. & Mrs. Brown. Much entertaining and socialising, and of course hunting and riding with the hounds.

Janet Brown’s ill-health that is believed to have been the reason for the family’s move to Australia is attributed to a fall from a horse. Family folklore and Dr. Fergus Brown’s obituary speak of the Brown’s association with the hunt and horses. His obituary speaks of his involvement with the famous Pytchley Hunt Club.

Janet Brown nee Lee

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Janet Brown and her children in the garden at Wansford, England.

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Dr. Fergus Brown’s wife was Janet Lee. When Dr. Brown & Janet and their 8 children arrived in Australia, they went to Runnymeade in Victoria where her brother Cornelius Lee had a farm. Also in the Brown family group was James Rose, the orphaned son of Janet’s sister Louisa. He was born in 1854, and aged 31 when they emigrated.

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JANET LEE'S FAMILY Janet, Louisa and Cornelius Lee were part of a large family, all born in the Vicarage at Yaxley, a village just a few miles south of Peterborough in Huntingdonshire, where Janet’s father, The Rev. Charles Lee was the Vicar from 1836 to 1868, when he died.

There is a memorial to him in the North chapel of St. Peters. The Lee family records go back to 1665, starting with Francis Henry Lee, born 23rd April, 1665.

Janet Lee was born on 15th February 1841 in the Vicarage at Yaxley, a village just a few miles south of Peterborough in Huntingdonshire, where Janet’s father was the Vicar. Janet’s parents were the Rev. Charles Lee, Vicar of Yaxley, who was born at Thame near Oxford on 29TH August 1801, and Harriette Brown. Janet’s parents were married on 1st March, 1827. Janet’s brother, the 21 year old Cornelius, is recorded as arriving in Australia in June 1863 on the ‘Golden South’.

On the 21st December 1868 Cornelius married Elizabeth Lucas at All Saints Church of England in Sandhurst. Elizabeth had been born in Adelaide – her parents were Thomas & Catherine Lucas, and her place of residence on her marriage certificate was given as Runnimede. She and Cornelius had 6 children. Cornelius Newmarch Albert Lee, and his son Albert Arthur Lee, are buried at the Yabba cemetery in the Mitta valley Victoria. Cornelius died on 22nd Aug, 1906 aged 64 years.

One of Cornelius & Elizabeth’s sons was Albert Lee. When Dr. Brown & family arrived at Runnymeade to visit Janet’s brother Cornelius, Cornelius’ son Albert his wife, Bessie (Lucas) and their 6 children had already left to take up a selection in a more fertile place – the Mitta Valley. Albert had obtained 400 acres and had a little hotel about half a mile up the old Bullhead Road.

He grew vegetables to sell to the miners who used to travel up this road to the goldfields. The Lees had come from Runnymeade in a cavalcade with Albert leading in the dray, loaded high, and one of the children with him. Next came Frank Lucas, Bessie’s brother, who had been on the next block to Alert at Runnymeade, and had already rented the Crosthwaite farm Gundowring in the Kiewa valley. This farm, just near a bridge over the Kiewa River, is at the junction of the Mount Beauty Road and Crosthwaite Lane. So the whole party, Albert with the dray, Frank with a wagon, Bessie and some of the children in the pony trap, and another vehicle with the remainder all came to this farm and stayed for some time until Albert was able to gain possession of his 400 acres on the Bullhead Road where he later had the little Bullhead Hotel.

Janet Lee’s nephew, Charles Frederick Rose, had originally arrived in Australia as an 18 year old in 1871. He married Maria Eather at Walgett NSW in 1882, and that their son Percy F.C. Rose was born the same year. Charles must have returned to England, then come out again with Dr. Brown and family. Charles & Maria had a daughter, Louisa L. Rose in 1887, born at Richmond NSW. Dr. Fergus Brown’s father was Capt. Thomas Brown of the 83rd Infantry in the British Army. He married Isabella Macdougall.

They were both from Lidgett, Keighley in York where Fergus was born 24th December, 1848. Thomas’ occupation is given as Watchman and Pensioner, which would suggest that he was already retired from Army service. “Pensioner” would also suggest that he had been an NCO rather than an officer. Capt. Thomas Brown served in the Crimea and was sometime Aide-de-Camp to Arthur Duke of Wellington, and on the staff of Lord Wolseley. Thomas Brown was born in Co. Tyrone, Ireland, and had lived at Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.

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THE BROWNS EMIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA IN 1885

Dr. Brown took on the role of Medical Officer (Ship’s Doctor) on the sailing ship ‘Darling Downs’ and with his family sailed from London on 11th July 1885. Dr. Brown was 36, Janet was 44 and in ill health. The children were Helen (14), Willie (12), Mabel (11), Maurice (9), Colin (8), Eva (6), Fergus (5), and Dora (4). Travelling with the Browns was Charles Frederick Rose, the 31yr. old orphaned son of Louisa Lee, Janet’s sister. The Darling Downs arrived in Melbourne on 11th October, 1885.

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The three-masted ‘Darling Downs’ presented a magnificent sight under full sail. She was a comfortable passenger ship, capable of fast trips to Australia. She was one of that numerous fleet of ships, that converted from steam to sail. She was one of the most successful of the lot. She was built as far back as 1852 and sailed under the flag of the General Screw Steamship Company, as the ‘Calcutta’, an auxiliary steamer with a 300 horse-power engine.

Like nearly all early steamship business the General Screw S.S. Co. did not remain solvent very long, their ships were sold and were promptly converted into sailing ships, and in many cases renamed. As a sailing ship, the Darling Downs was a very favourite passenger ship to Sydney. Like all converted steamers she was a very fast sailer, and made very good and regular passages. After a prosperous career as a Sydney trader, she was finally run into and sunk off the Nore in 1887.

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BOWMAN COTTAGE Windsor Road, Richmond, NSW

The Browns and Charles Rose travelled to Runnymede near Bendigo to visit Janet’s older brother Cornelius Newmarch Albert Lee who had already been in Australia some 18 years. Dr. Brown and family wasted no time in moving on to Richmond NSW, where Dr. Brown established a practice. The Browns set up home in Richmond in ‘Bowman Cottage’, 367 Windsor Rd. Richmond.

‘Bowman Cottage’ was built in 1815-7 by a free settler and farmer, James Blackman. It was a 100ac. Farm, but Blackman was forced to sell off 40 acres as the farm was not sufficiently prosperous. Blackman sold to George Bowman, who sold liquor under the sign of the ‘Royal Arrow’. He lived here until his death in 1878.

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Dr. Brown involved himself in local activities – in”The Hawkesbury Chronicle” Jan.9th mentions that he is a member of the rifle team in the New Year’s Day rifle match. On the 16th Jan, it was reported ‘Dr. Brown is one of the “old ‘uns” in the local cricket team. On June 5th, 1886,The Hawkesbury Chronicle” mentions Dr. Brown was elected a committee member at the inaugural Richmond Philharmonic Society.

On Tuesday 7th Dec. ‘The Chronicle’ : We regret to hear that Mrs. Brown (wife of Dr. Brown) has been dangerously ill during the week. On Wednesday evening it was thought unlikely that she would survive.

On the 15th December, 1886 Janet Brown (nee Lee) died. She is buried in the cemetery opposite the Church of England a little further along Windsor St. Her Death Certificate records her cause of death as ‘alcoholism and softening of the brain’ with her duration of illness lasted as one year. Apparently alcoholism was a common cause of death as a result of the use of alcohol for pain relief. On March 26th, 1887, Dr. Brown retired in favour of Dr. Bruce.

Dr. Brown and his 8 young children then moved to Cootamundra in March, 1887. At that time, Helen was 16, Willie was 14, Mabel 13, Maurice 11, Colin 9, Eva 8, Fergus 7 and Dora 5.

Dr. Brown’s practice flourished in Cootamundra, and, as before, he involved himself in the local life. The local newspaper comments that he ‘became involved in many facets of the town’s activities and was a popular man. He joined the ‘Lodge Cootamundra St. John’ from the ‘Lodge Duke of Connaught 2152’ at Richmond. He was one of the gentlemen involved in the formation of a rifle club, and elected captain. He chaired a meeting to ‘consider the question of forming a football club to play under the Rugby rules.’ Club colours of black and gold were chosen by the 40 present. Dr. Brown was elected vice president.

In 1892 he was appointed surgeon to Cootamundra’s first fire brigade. He opened a practice, first from the Albion Hotel, then from his home in Thompson St. next to the Vicarage.

Tragedy would again befall the young family with the good doctor dying on 21st May, 1893. He was only 45. The local newspaper wrote ‘we have lost a well loved physician with the death of Dr. Fergus Malcom Brown, at the age of 45 years. His funeral on June 3 was described as the largest seen in the town. The Browns were at the time living next door to the Masonic Hall in Cooper Street. He was buried in the Church of England section of the Cootamundra cemetery.

At the time of Dr. Fergus Brown’s death his children were aged: Helen 22, Willie 20, Mabel 19, Maurice 17, Colin 15, Eva 14, Fergus 13 and Dora 11. The eight children orphaned at a relatively young age, managed to hold together fairly well until all were settled and secure in their own lives. The eight children dispersed as they grew up, some in NSW, William and Fergus to the Boer War, Colin to Fiji, Mabel to W.A., Eva to Tasmania and Victoria.

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OBITUARY FOR DR. FERGUS MALCOLM BROWN Cootamundra was brought under a cloud of sadness on the morning of Wednesday last, when the news quickly spread that one of its most popular and prominent townsmen had that morning breathed his last. And the news fell upon us, as upon most of our town’s fellows, as a sad and sudden blow.

Dr. Brown cast his lot with us about 6 years ago, being then a man in the prime of his life, of the age of 38, though looking older. His genial manner, his fine, open manly traits of character, and his natural goodness of heart, soon won him many friends, and in a year or two he seemed to know almost every man, woman and child in the town and district; in a formal but in a friendly way, for his manner was to address almost all his friends by their Christian names. Socially we do not know a man to compare to him. In his own house he was the soul of hospitality. He was physically a fine stamp of the Englishman, and had a noble presence. When we think that his cheery voice and hearty handshake will be known to us no more, we feel we have lost a friend and neighbour whose place cannot be filled. Dr. Brown lived for his family, but it is not just them that will miss him.

The poor of Cootamundra never had a better friend.

Many a time did Dr. Brown remit his charges, and many a time tear up a bill when he believed the patient could ill afford to pay. His heart was a large one.

The funeral took place on Thursday at 3 o’clock, and the obsequies lasted the better part of two hours. The coffin, which was of cedar, with black and sliver mountings, was first borne into the Masonic Hall (next door to the late doctors residence), from which it emerged about 3.20,

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and was conveyed by 6 members of the craft to the Church of England, attended by strong processions of the Masonic Brotherhood, and the Oddfellows Lodge, which has been attended for the last five years by Dr. Brown.

The church was filled with these bodies, and there was a good representation of the Local Football Club in their uniforms. Dr. Brown was their president. They bore a beautiful wreath, the Lodge all sent floral offerings, and many kind friends had sent crosses and wreaths of the choicest designs, more than sufficient to twice cover the coffin.

The usual portion of the Church of England burial service was then read, when the coffin was again borne out and placed in the hearse. The others following. The line of carriages was over half a mile in length. The cortege consisted of a great number of people walking, including the Masons, the Oddfellows, footballers in uniform, the Buffaloes. The cortege reached from the cemetery back beyond the Temora railway line. At the gates of the cemetery the procession was met by the Rev Canon Betts, who proceeded amid a solemn and impressive stillness, to conclude the Church of England burial service. After the conclusion of same, the members of the Masonic Brotherhood closed around the open grave, and Brother Miller WM read in a clear voice the beautiful Masonic burial service.

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EVA BROWN

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DORA'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS Willie (aka Bill or Billie) went off to South Africa and the Boer War in 1902, aged 30 years. Mabel eventually went nursing in Western Australia, and Maurice and Colin established a house on land they had acquired outside Cootamundra. Young siblings Eva, Fergus and Dora attended Roman Catholic boarding schools in Goulburn.

Eva Brown

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Their father’s death in Cootamundra in 1893 was followed by unsuccessful experiences on the land for brothers Maurice and Colin, culminating in them losing everything in a tragic fire. Maurice and Colin took on a lot of the responsibility for the younger children, Eva, Fergus and Dora. Colin was recognised as the peace-maker amongst his siblings, and had beautiful letters from Edith Heron, Dora’s mother-in-law, sad at the fact he was leaving for Fiji On the other hand, Mabel was a stirrer who delighted in setting younger sisters Eva and Dora at each other. Much of Colin’s peacekeeping was focused on these two.

The young men were expert horsemen, breaking and raising their own animals. Colin carried the Goulburn mails on horseback, and would present a dashing sight when galloping by accompanied by the auburn tressed Dora during the school holidays. Dora too was a proficient horsewoman.

Colin is believed to have ridden with the Australian Light Horse. Through the late 1890’s he sought his fortune on the Kalgoorlie gold fields, and returned to southern NSW to sell fertilizer.

Fergus married Bessie Maunsell in Manly in 1905. He was renowned for his beautiful singing voice. He and Bessie lived in Rose Cottage, part of the old Pomona Estate, and owned by his sister Dora.

FERGUS BROWN

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MABEL BROWN

Mabel trained as a Nurse for 2 years at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, and 2 years at the White Feather Hospital in Western Australia, where she became relieving Superintendent. By about 1900 Mabel was nursing at the Perth, Western Australia Hospital, and was joined there by her younger sister Eva. She became a Sister then Matron in Kalgoorlie, and then Matron of her own hospital in York.

Mabel's war service is a fascinating read. She embarked from Australia on 15 December 1914 and joined the 1st Australian General Hospital at the Australian base at Heliopolis (Cairo). In July 1915 she was 'lent' to the British Expeditionary Force and served on Hospital Ships backwards and forwards to Gallipoli.

In 1916 she was on Hospital Ships operating out of Bombay to Basra in the Persian Gulf. She then served in the Gerard F. Thomas Hospital in Bombay before returning to Suez to join her unit at 1st Australian General Hospital. She served as Matron in Chief at the 14th Australian General Hospital before departing for Europe in Jan. 1917. 1917 was spent at various hospitals in France, many around Abbeville - 25th General Hospital, 2nd Australian Casualty Station, 3rd Australian General Hospital. Leave in England in March 1918 was cut short by a recall to her unit in France. In July 1918 Mabel was transferred to UK for transport duty to Australia.

She was attached to the 2nd. A.A.Hospital at Southhall. At the end of September 1918 she disembarked from the H.T. Malta in Australia. The War ended in November and she was discharged in December 1918. Certainly a full and varied war-time nursing career. She was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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COLIN BROWN

Daku, 1913. Colin's brother Maurice is holding 1 year old Jean.. Colin is at top right.

By the turn of the century young Colin was an orchardist in Sydney. He managed Penrose orchard in Castle Hill, and came into close association with the Herons who were prominent landowners and orchardists in the area. Sister Dora would eventually marry Jack Heron in 1902. Colin left his orchard management in 1903 to join the Colonial Sugar Refining Company to assist in opening up the sugar industry in Vanua Levu in Fiji. CSR was expanding the rail and supportive infrastructure for its Labasa Mill that had been established in 1894.

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Colin took up the lease of the remote Daku Estate in the Wainikoro District, some 32 miles from Labasa in Fiji. After seven long years of engagement, Colin and Letty were eventually married in St. Phillips Church of England in Sydney on 14th June, 1911. They sailed for Fiji in July 1911 on the SS ‘Levuka’, a ship mainly engaged in the pacific banana trade , and returned to Vanua Levu where Colin took his new bride to his Daku plantation. This was a lonely and remote location for Letty. She was the only white woman in the district, and Labasa was a days travel away. Access to Labasa was on a flattopped rail car poled along by two of the Estate’s coolie labourers. The Estate workforce comprised indentured Indian labour brought out under a Colonial scheme that offered them repatriation or land after 5 years of service.

The Daku home was a tiny little cottage where Letty would produce her own butter, bread and soap. They were too far out from Labasa to receive ice and so had no refrigeration. In January 1912 the couple with Letty now pregnant with baby Jean were to lose virtually everything in a devastating hurricane that went through northwestern Fiji. In 1921 they moved with their 2 children, to Coqekoa – a significant improvement, with ice now being available.

Colin was an accomplished artist.

Above: His watercolour of the Wai-Ni-Koro River, Fiji Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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Mary Ann's Rock at Daku, by Colin Brown

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Daku was remote, and facilities were basic, but picnics were done in style.

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BILL BROWN

Above: Frances Suttor Left: Bill Brown with his young bride Frances Elizabeth Suttor.

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Of Dora Brown’s (later Heron) 7 brothers and sisters, the story of her brother Bill Brown is a classic sad tale of his times.

His wife 2nd wife, Frances, wrote of him when she was 85 years: (They had met at the end of WW1, when he was a 44 yr. old war veteran patient and she a young nurse). She wrote: ‘Bill had a terrible time in France on the Somme. He was left on the battlefield for 24 hours or more before they could get to him. A wonder he survived and would not have I am sure, only he was very strong and in good health prior to the war, and that brought him through. His leg was shattered, and Dr.s wanted to amputate, but Bill would not allow it, and his leg got almost well, only he suffered lots of pain in it, also his head wounds’.

Bill was so badly wounded it is a wonder he lived. He was sent to Bathurst Red Cross Convalescent Home in 1917, and that is where I met him. He was much older than me,(he was 49, she was 26) but we were very much in love. He said it was love at first sight when he saw me working on a stall in the Home grounds. Before we married, and since I knew him, he was in the Taxation Dept. in Sydney, but left it. City life didn’t suit him, his nerves were his chief trouble.

After the War the Government granted land to Returned Soldiers on a ‘Soldiers Settlement Scheme’. The land Bill was given was far out back in a poor part of the country near Coonabarabran, or up that way. A block of virgin land and very poor country, heavily timbered, you can imagine it. No water even. We went there when we were married in February 1922 (in Bathurst Cathedral). It was a struggle, the land was very poor. We had a bore put down for water, but it was all too much for darling Bill, he was a sick man, but very strong and determined’. ‘We were only married for three years and my poor man was very far from well, and was in hospital a lot of the time. Cynthia was born in the second year of our marriage (1923) and Bill in the year after (1924). We really hadn’t got very far, when he last went to hospital in Sydney, where he died (by his own hand in 1925). Bill’s Death Certificate sadly notes that he died ‘in the reserve at Bennelong Point, Circular Quay, of cyanide poisoning (suicide). Young Bill was only a few months old when his father died.’

The above is such a sad story, and one repeated all over the country with inadequate soldier settlement blocks. Broken by the war, and killed by blocks too small to provide adequate income, some, as the story above told, with NO water!

On his Death Certificate, Bill’s address was given as ‘late of ‘Clandeboye’, Neilrex, NSW. Neilrex is just north of Dunedoo, central NSW. Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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This book has been put together by Lissa Coote in 2017 with the help of Faye Maxwell. The information came from various souces, including family photos - many damaged by water in the 1950's when the garage at Killara flooded. A major source of information and photos has come from the complete history of the Brown family put together by Robin & Bruce Hunt. For anyone wanting to know more information on this side of the family - please consult this marvellous effort by Bruce Hunt. I am also indebted to Louise Weingott, who supplied photos of her mother Felicity, and other information, plus writing a piece on Felicity.

More information on the Heron Family has come from the compendium put together by Keith & Lyn Stapley, current owners of 'Glenhope', formerly 'Castlefield'. The Stapley's spent a large amount of money employing researchers to find out an amazing amount of information re 'Castlefield' and the Heron family. Ironically the railway that Jack Heron campaigned against has arrived, and a station has been built opposite 'Glenhope', and the Stapley's are fighting hard to stop 'Glenhope' being destroyed to make way for a carpark or a block of flats. Let's hope they succeed in keeping the house for posterity.

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