MAX. And it might be hard for you to believe,
but there was this feller who lived down
near us ('Log Farm') by the name of Hickson
Hay and Craig & Mostyn had him employed,
he was an aged person, about in his late
fifties and they got him a horse to ride
around and if there was a small wattle that
wasn't growing straight, he had to put a
stake down along side and tie it up so it
would grow straight.
Such a contrast to what it is today.
MAX. Oh, yes. It was a crime to drop a wattle
down in those days. "
*** Excerpt from Max Sawer's interview in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.
Some strange and unusual events occurred
in the district. These were carefully noted
and duly printed to keep the public informed,
bringing some excitement into their everyday
lives.
Strange sightings and curious happenings
from outside the district captured the reader's
imagination so that over the years these
events had the tendency to develop into myths.
November 15, 1895
Wyndham
Tin of young trout recently obtained by Mr.
W. Grant of Wattle Hill... The fish, about
40 in number, were liberated in the Towamba
River, near Mrs. Collins' residence, on the
morning after their arrival.
February 19, 1897
Wyndham
A very strange animal was recently seen in
the vicinity of Wyndham.... noise like the
roaring bull.... strange animal proceeded
from the thickset of the scrub.... a man
or beast about 5 feet in height, it had arms
like a man which appeared to be of great
length. Its head was rather small and round,
something like a monkey's. This curious affair
travelled on two legs and appeared to be
able to get along at a good pace..... It
is said that several residents have seen
it at various times.
'Pambula Voice' January 14, 1898
ROCKY HALL
At about half past eight o'clock on Thursday
evening last a meteor was observed to pass
through the sky in a southerly direction.
The heavens were lighted up for a few seconds
with a bluish light which was followed by
a low rumbling noise lasting for fully ten
minutes. This phenomenon caused no small
amount of alarm in the locality.
July 6, 1899
'Delegate Argus and Border Post'
Peculiar Gun Accident. - A lad named James Ryan, 17 years of age,
being a State-school boy in the service of
Mr. William McCloy of Narrabarba, was brought
to the Eden-Pambula District Cottage Hospital
on Sunday afternoon, and admitted as a patient
to same. It is stated that the youth was
out shooting on Saturday afternoon, and upon
returning home was about to extract the charge
from the gun (a muzzle-loader); he got the
shot out all right, but the powder had become
damp and stuck. After trying various methods
in vain, Ryan put the nipple of the gun in
the fire, and as that did not have immediate
effect he foolishly put the barrel to his
mouth and blew down it. The powder ignited
at that moment, and was discharged into Ryan's
mouth, burning and lacerating it terribly,
and rendering him incapable of swallowing
food or liquid. On arrival at the Hospital
the sufferer's injuries were attended to
by Dr. Morgan, who administered food by means
of a tube. The patient is now doing splendidly.
'Pambula Voice' February 22, 1900
Mr. Oliver, Commissioner for the Federal
Capital site, came to Eden last week and
after inspecting the harbour he started on
a second visit to Bombala, via Towamba and
Bondi, accompanied by the Eden Progress Association,
(Mr. Phillips).
'Pambula Voice' December 7, 1900
During the terrific thunderstorm on Friday,
Mrs. Chas.Galli of Bega, a sister of Mr.
Love of Towamba, was struck by lightning
and killed instantly. Seven small children
mourn the loss of a mother. The flash struck
terror in the hearts of most people. The
chimney of the house was split.
January 18, 1901
'Pambula Voice'
YAMBULLA
*
Now that that scourge of horses, the bot
fly, is beginning to make its presence felt
in the district it may be of some interest
to some of your readers to know that an old
resident of Victoria states in the district
where he resides, a simple and effective
preventative was found for the ravages of
this pest by applying grease under the lower
jaw and under the flanks of animal. He states
that in no case would a fly attempt to deposit
its eggs upon an animal so treated.
August 2, 1901
Burragate
* On Sunday the inhabitants were surprised
to see snow on all the hills around. It is
bitterly cold.
August 26, 1901
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE.
EDEN
* Mr. Blackstone, a commercial traveller,
well known on the South Coast, had an exciting
experience yesterday evening. While attempting
to cross the Nullica River, which was in
flood, his horses and coach got into deep
water, and were swept down the stream. The
driver, whose name is Corrigan, cut loose
one horse, but the horse attached to the
coach drifted down the river and was drowned.
Mr. Corrigan reached land. Mr. Blackstone
dived from the coach into the river, and
was swept for some distance by the current,
which ultimately carried him near a log projecting
from a bank, which he grasped and retained
hold of till rescued by Mr. Corrigan.
March 29, 1909
* It is currently reported that a Burragate
resident intends to speculate by the purchase
of a motor car.
September 29, 1911
'South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus'
* One day last week Mr. W. Scanes, of this
town, in severing a potato (for seeding purposes,
discovered in the centre of that esculent,
like a toad is found in the rock, an insect
about a third of an inch in length, proportionally
constructed, of a bright copper color, and
somewhat resembling a weevil. There was no
trace of where it made its ingress.
July 12, 1913
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
FOR BRAVERY.
HUMANE SOCIETY'S MEDALS.
* A bronze medal was awarded to Robert James
Goward, of Kiah River, N.S.W., aged 22 years,
for rescue work in Lower Lake, Mallacoota
(Vic), on January 4 last.
Wednesday, 6 October 1920
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
LOST IN THE BUSH.
ELEVEN DAYS WITHOUT FOOD.
EDEN
On the morning of last Friday week, September
24, William Parker, a former resident of
Towamba,- essayed to travel on foot about
eight miles across thick bush country from
Nethercote to the Eden-Towamba road on his
way to Towamba. Not arriving at his destination
within reasonable time, inquiries were made
throughout the district without satisfactory
result. Search parties were organised, as
many as 40 persons scouring the bush for
several successive days without being able
to trace his whereabouts. Yesterday the search
was given up as futile. All hope of discovering
the missing man alive was abandoned. This
morning, however, Mr. Tom Hite, sawmiller,
of Towamba, was drawing logs some miles out
In the Jingera Ranges when he saw staggering
towards him a man who proved to be Parker.
He, it seems, had despairingly sunk down
exhausted the night before, but the next
day, hearing timber-getters in the vicinity,
had struggled to his feet and staggered forward,
with his last remaining strength, about 60
yards to reach them. His appearance was wretched
in the extreme. Lost and foodless for 11
days, weakened and worn out by almost incessant
walking through rough and mountainous bush
country, he was reduced to a walking skeleton.
His face and body were terribly lacerated,
and most of his clothes were torn off as
the result of forcing his way through dense
jungle scrub, which left him almost nude.
After drinking some hot tea and eating lightly
he revived, and later was taken to Towamba,
where his relatives reside. He is well known
throughout the district, and is 65 years
of age.
September 12 ,1927
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
FATAL GUN ACCIDENT
EDEN
* Yesterday John Maxwell Dorron, aged 14 ½
years son of Mr. and Mrs. A J Dorron, of
Kiah River was found dead shot through the
body, a shot gun lying along side him. He
went out early in the afternoon, taking a
dog and a gun. The return of the dog alone
a few hours later occasioned concern, and
a search was instituted. Late at night the
body was found near a log in the creek in
Whelans Swamp. Marks discovered indicated
that the lad had attempted to cross by stepping
on the log, but slipped and fell, the hammer
of the gun striking the log and discharging
the firearm with fatal result. At a coroners
inquest a verdict of death by accident was
returned.
October 13, 1927
'Morning Bulletin'
ATTACKED BY SHARK
HORSE AND RIDER IN PERIL.
While riding a horse across the lower ford
on the Kiah River, near Eden, Norman Severs
was attacked by a shark in midstream.
The tide was high, and the horse was nearly
swimming when a huge shark came close to
the horse's head. The monster turned to make
for the animal's leg. The horse became frantic,
threw Severs off, and swam for all speed
to the shore. The commotion evidently frightened
the shark, which made no further attacks.
June 19, 1929
'The World's News'
A Motley Crew
* In a recent flood a haystack floated down
the Towamba (N.S.W.) River towards the sea.
On it were fowls, rabbits, hares, snakes,
and a couple of cats all huddled together.
As it passed down the river its crew was
added to by other rabbits, etc., which were
clinging desperately to partly submerged
logs and trees.
Thousands of beetles and spiders of all descriptions
were swarming everywhere over it, and though
many of the animals on the haystack in normal
times were deadly enemies, they made no attempt
to attack each other.-Eureka.
'Magnet' August 3, 1929
* Grass gum getters at Nadgie. Gum used in
the manufacture of high explosives
'Magnet' August 17, 1929
A photo of Mr. H. Richards of Towamba, who
was a Police Constable at Jerilderie when
Ned Kelly and his gang held up the bank of
New South Wales there in 1879 appeared in Tuesday's 'Sun'.
Mr. Richards has not enjoyed the best health
of late and recently consulted city specialists.
'Magnet' October 1929
* Long haired rabbit caught at Towamba at
'Restalrig'.
'Magnet' February 1, 1930
SEARCH FOR OIL AT BOURNDA
OFFER TO ASSIST
In connection to the reported existence at
Bournda of indications of oil, we have received
from Mr. George D. Meudell, Chairman of the
Petroleum Association, 7 St.James Building,
135 William Street, Melbourne C1, a letter
which reads as follows:
Sir,
It has recently been reported to me by one
of the leading oil men interested in the
search for petroleum in Australia, that there
are indications of oil at Bournda, near Bega.
Having been connected with the quest for
oil in Australia for twenty-eight years,
I read a report on this likely oil area by
Mr. H. Hooke of Sydney, and agree with his
deductions which corroborate those of the
late Reverend W. B. Clark in 1878, whose
books on the geology of New South Wales I
have studied. It is a matter of such great
public importance to find oil in the Commonwealth
that I make no apology for offering to help
to have Bournda oil occurrence investigated.
Yours etc.,
George D. Meudell, Chairman Petroleum Association,
established 1914.
'Magnet' March 29, 1930
* The Shire engineer, Mr. Hinley, considers
that the Towamba - Eden Road is now the best
in the Imlay Shire.
* "The Kelly Gang's holdup of Jerilderie
is described in a current "Life"
Magazine. Constable Richards, who with Constable
Devine was captured by the gang, is living
at Towamba."
'Magnet' April 12, 1930
* Mr. Oscar Love has been through a grueling
experience when some weeks ago a fire broke
out near Indigo, he went to give assistance.
After the fire was beaten, he, with some
other young men, went for a swim to cool
off. A few days later, he became very ill
and the doctor informed him he was fortunate
in not losing his life after such an act.
After spending a couple of weeks in bed having
careful attention, he is now well on the
way to recovery. Curiously enough the other
young fellows suffered no ill effects.
* Mr. Norman Easterbrook who recently spent
a fortnight's holiday with his aunt at Pericoe
House, had rather, for a city lad, a frightening
experience. Leaving Bombala on a push bike,
he rode until dark overtook him. As night
came on he looked for shelter. At last he
caught sight of a hollow log and so crawled
into that. He missed the rain but the wind
came through and made the occupant shiver.
To make matters worse, he could not move
from one side to the other. However, a fine
morning followed such a hectic night and
Mr. Easterbrook continuing, missed the Pericoe
Road and went to Nungatta where he had breakfast
with Mr. Napier. No doubt, Mr. Easterbrook
who is in one the Northern suburbs' Boy Scouts
associations, would have many thrilling tales
to enrapture his boy friends when they meet
again.
'Magnet' June 14, 1930
STRANGE ANIMAL AT NULLICA
WHAT IS IT?
Children at the Nullica River settlement
have been scared and excited by the appearance
in proximity to their homes of a strange
animal, brown in colour, much larger than
the average cattle dog, and resembling a
monkey in shape. That, at least, is the description
given of it by Tommy Bobbin, the biggest
of the two boys who have seen it. He has
seen it on several occasions, once at a distance
of only a few feet. The first time he saw
it, the animal was sitting up in a gorilla-like
attitude with what appeared to be a stick
in one of its hands. Terrified, but brave,
Tommy threw at it a cob of corn which he
was eating. Thereupon, the horrible looking
creature disappeared into the scrub. Subsequently,
it was seen by other children and they ran
homewards screaming hysterically. All attempts
to convince the children that the animal
may have been a strange dog are scouted by
the children, some of whom at least are old
enough to know the difference between a monkey
and a dog. The parents so far, have not sighted
the animal, the identity of which, is so
far, a complete mystery.
'Magnet' June 28, 1930
BELLAMBI'S SEA SERPENT
Describing a huge sea serpent seen by a launch
party of fishermen off Bellambi, Roy Wiley
says, "We got within twenty feet of
the object when the monster raised its head
and about four feet of its neck out of the
water. Its fins, which projected from its
shoulders, were fully three feet high. The
colour was between brown and black with white
stomach. It had a beak something like that
of a pelican and its mouth, when fully open,
was easily big enough to swallow a man or
a full size boat. When it rose out of the
water it wriggled like a snake, it roared
like a seal, only louder, and we saw for
an instant about twenty-five feet of its
body.
'Magnet' August 16, 1930
GOING HOME
The sea serpent is reported to have been
sighted off the Queensland coast. This may
be a mistake as the animal which some scientists
now supposed to be an amphibian has (it is
more or less reliably stated) been observed
cruising leisurely to the southward in the
direction of its antediluvian home, Eden.
Ladies, look out!
'Magnet' August 30, 1930
BOURNDA OIL
(Excerpt from the "Voice")
Since last report, extensive researches and
testing for petroleum oil have been carried
out on the area in question by Mr.Wm. Dowling.
Several distinct organic seepages have been
located and by simple tests made with a crude
home-made plant has proved the country to
contain a quantity of crude oil which is
strong presumptive evidence that deposits
of oil should be found by boring. Samples
have been taken and forwarded to Sydney for
analysis which is now being carried out and
a much higher extraction is expected. From
all parts of the district, Melbourne and
Sydney, people are visiting the locality
while persons who have had vast experience
of oil-bearing country in other parts of
the world are very favourably impressed with
the prospects. Keen enthusiasm increases
on the future of this field for oil. Samples
sent to Sydney from organic seepages prove
to contain free crude oil. The organic matter
exudes from the cliffs in the form of sludgy,
irony, oily looking substance. From information,
the oil clays carry a large quantity of crude
oil with enormous gas results. A further
extraction of crude oil, approximately one
quart being very superior to that extracted
with the home-made plant. It is reported
that a Melbourne syndicate is on the eve
of putting Bournda Oil into a very large
company to thoroughly test the area by deep
boring. The proposition should be well supported
as nature's evidence is very pronounced and
probably the only place of its kind known
in Australia.
September 18, 1930
'The Argus'
"OLD TOM" DEAD.
"KING" OF KILLER WHALES.
More Than 100 Years of Age.
* "Old Tom," king of the Twofold
Bay killer whales, and the last of his tribe,
is dead. For more than a100 years he and
his mates, who at one time numbered 30, gave
invaluable service to industry by intercepting
whales on their way north, driving them into
Twofold Bay, and keeping them there until
they were killed by the whalers. It is said
that "Old Tom" invariably went
to the river mouth and, attracted the attention
of the whalers to a capture by lashing the
water with his huge tail.
A week ago "Old Tom" killed a grampus
at Leonard's Island, and, was seen disporting
himself with joy, but this morning, impelled
by a breeze and the tide, his dead body drifted
into Twofold Bay.
Arrangements are in hand to have "Old
Tom's" skeleton set up at the whaling
station at Kiah River.
'Magnet' September 20, 1930
MARTYRED MAN
CURERS FOR RHEUMATISM
GREAT SUCCESSES
From London "Morning Post" we take
the following related to important discoveries
and successes in the treatment of the world-wide
scourge of Rheumatism.
A TERRIBLE SCOURGE
Rheumatism has been spoken of by Sir George
Newman and the Ministry of Health as one
of the most terrible scourges to which England
is subjected today.
Certain varieties of Rheumatism crippling
in childhood, heart disease and early death.
Other forms attack the middle-aged and the
old in cases that run into hundreds of thousands.
Nothing can be done. The patients remain
bedridden until death ends their suffering.
CAN BE CURED
Recent work at St.Bartholomew's Hospital
has shown that certain forms of these cases
that have resisted all treatment can be cured
and that many cases which cannot be definitely
cured can be very greatly alleviated.
CAUSES OF RHEUMATISM
The medical profession admits that it knows
little of the causes of the various forms
of Rheumatism. It does know, however, that
Rheumatism may be the result, and often is
the result, of infection in very deep seated
organisms. A tooth that is apparently perfectly
sound may contain beneath its roots a disease
and that tooth is acting day by day as a
hypodermic syringe injecting into the blood
stream a poison far more dangerous than cocaine.
The great drainage system of the body is
another very great offender and those tissues
that act as the guardian to this avenue,
the tonsils, are capable of causing Rheumatism
or Arthritis as the medical profession prefers
to call, it in such far distant parts as
the knee or the ankle.
A NEW WEAPON - DIATHERMY
Within recent years diathermy has become
a new weapon at the disposal of the physicians.
It can be used locally and the arrangements
are such that the temperature of the damaged
joint can be raised. The rising blood temperature
acts directly by inducing a rapid flow of
nature's finest antiseptic, blood, to the
damaged part; the pain is relieved and in
most cases complete recovery is effected.
TWO IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES
Work on diathermy at St.Bartholomew's Hospital
has resulted in two discoveries of very great
importance which have hitherto not been published.
It has been found that deep seated organisms
in the pelvic region may be infected with
bacteria that are particularly susceptible
to heat. Diathermy, which means essentially
an application of heat to the exact part
which the physician wished to reach, eliminated
the microbe just as effectively as the dental
surgeon is able to remove the diseased tooth
that may be causing similar disastrous effects.
This is only one side of the question. Evidence
is accumulating that arthritis may, in certain
cases, be due to a defect of certain endrocene
secretions; the failing glands are stimulated
by the electric current. The secretions are
restored and released in the body and experiment
has shown that the local manifestations in
the form of painful immovable joints with
neuritis, with sciatica, with the host of
Protean diseases classed under the name of
Rheumatism disappear.
'Magnet' September 20, 1930
THE DANGERS OF SCIENCE
Are the present immense developments in science
going to release forces over which we shall
lose control? It all depends on the use we
make of science. None of us wish to see a
moratorium in science. The facts of science
are giving us a deeper realisation of the
fundamental principles of life than we have
ever had before. The world is being given,
by the Powers that be, hitherto hidden knowledge
of natural forces that may be a God-sent
offering. Where we utilise them wisely we
may enter a period of light. Should we not
use them wisely we shall have a return to
the dark ages, a decent into luxury and sensuality.
If we prostitute our scientific discoveries
to ignoble ends, if we do not use them for
humanity, for brotherhood , Powers will cast
a veil over these discoveries. If we are
unable to restrain ourselves from war and
are going to utilise science for the purpose
of making war all the more terrible, then
a merciful Providence will take away the
powers we have. That is why the power within
the atom is not released to us. We are so
unfit to deal with it that science stops
short. Keeley did wonderful things with the
release of atomic power but that faculty
soon left him and no one else has been able
to conquer it. We must utilise any power
we have to the most humanising advantage.
It must be used for righteousness otherwise
we shall be plunged into darkness.
'
'Magnet' October 18, 1930
CANDELO PRECIOUS STONE
The Reverend Mr.Campbell wrote thanking Council
for permission to prosecute the search on
the road for continuation of the recently
discovered deposit of Verd Antique Porphyry
and stating that any mining operations would
of course be in conformity with the requirements
of the Mines Department.
'Magnet' November 1, 1930
BOURNDA OILFIELD
Mr. W. Turnbull, a Wollongong broker, is
now busily engaged in placing in the Bega
District, shares in Bournda Oilfield (N.L.)
The shares are 10/- each subscribed at 1/-
per share on application, 1/- on allotment
and 1/- per share as required. Thousands
of shares have been applied for through Mr.
Turnbull and it is expected that the Company
will soon go to registration and boring operations
begin early in the New Year.
'Magnet' November 22, 1930
SEA SERPENT RE-APPEARS
A sea serpent is stated to have been seen
of Narrabeen by Mr. & Mrs. Parrington
who at first took it to be the mast of a
ship. That impression was quickly dispelled
by observation with field glasses. The serpent
was about seventy feet long with a tail resembling
an eel.
'Magnet' December 6, 1930
The giant caterpillar found recently on a
honeysuckle tree in the State plantation
at Broadwater by Mr. C. Gandon has been forwarded
by the local forest officer, Mr. B. Pigott,
to the Forestry Commission as an entomological
specimen for identification. Tentatively
Mr. Pigott is disposed to place it as a Banksia
Iongicorn and either an outsize of the Paraplites
Australia or another variety altogether.
'Magnet' December 20, 1930
GIANT CATERPILLAR
With reference to the giant caterpillar found
at Broadwater plantation by Mr. C.Gandon
and forwarded by Mr. B.Pigott, forest officer,
to the Forestry Commission for identification,
Mr.Pigott has received from the secretary
to the Commission a letter which advises
as follows:
"Dear Sir, I have to inform you that
the Government Entomologist has advised that
the larva forwarded by you on the first instant
for identification is the caterpillar of
a Hawk Moth (Coequosa australasiae). Hawk
moths, comprising the moth family Sphingidae.
C. Australasiae, in the adult form is a large
moth measuring up to seven inches across
the outstretched wings. The stout wings are
narrow and pointed whilst the general body
colour is a light buff or fawn colour. Usually
the larvae feed upon the foliage of wattles
(acacia spp.) and geebungs (Persoonia spp.).
When full grown they pupate in the rubbish
at the base of the tree trunks. The larvae
are not regarded as pests of any of our native
or introduced trees."
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Many Hawk Moth caterpillars are easily recognised
by the dorsal horn on the last segment.
It
looks quite dangerous, but is quite
harmless. Many of the Caterpillars are brightly coloured, with diagonal stripes and eyespots. The caterpillars grow to a length of 5 cms. or more. When disturbed, they commonly rear up with their anterior segments arched and their head facing the disturbance. The scientific name of the family is derived from this sphinx-like posture. |
'Magnet' January 3, 1931
* Making paper from bracken fern.
'Magnet' January 24, 1931
* Strange animal seen on Nerrigundah Mountain,
"brindly looking, the colour of a dingo
but with a very big head."
'Magnet' June 27, 1931
* The travelling public declares that the
road between Towamba and Eden is the best
in the shire........
'Magnet' July 4, 1931
* Mr. Peter Sawers had a narrow escape from
death, or at least serious injury on Friday
last, returning from Wyndham on his motorbike,
swerving to pass a car when his bike skidded
and smashed into a tree. Peter was thrown
heavily against the tree and lost consciousness.
The car continued on its way without waiting
to see how things were with the fallen man.
Regaining consciousness an hour or so later,
Peter was able to walk four miles home and
after dressing the bruises and scratches,
walked another five miles to 'Sheepskin'.
That's how we reared them out here this week.
'The Grenfell Record and Lochlan District
Advertiser'
13th June 1935.
WAS IT THE TANTAWANGLO TIGER AND DID THE
BAGPIPES DO IT.
We have heard of Scotland's national music,
the bagpipes, scaring people away who did
not appreciate what our friend Hector McKenzie
would describe as real music; but now comes
the story that the playing of the bagpipes
brought from its lair what is claimed to
be the Tantawanglo tiger, seen on various
occasions by people out in that locality.
It happened this way: Young Mr. Kemp, of
Bald Hills, Pambula, was visiting Mr. Grahame
and family, who are dairying on the Kameruka
Estate of Niagra, and he brought his pipes
with him. A night or two before several fowls
had been taken, and two of the domestic cats
had also disappeared. It was thought that
a fox was responsible. Anyhow, the other
night Mr. Kemp was entertaining the family
with the bagpipes when a noise was heard
outside. The men folk rushed out, one armed
with a gun, and something was seen to run
into an outhouse. The door was promptly slammed,
and then it was found that the intruder was
an immense tiger cat, stated to have been
several feet long from nose to tip of tail.
It was promptly despatched. Was it the animal
that others have taken to be a tiger, and
was it the bagpipes or the fowl yard that
attracted it? Whichever it was it was fatal
to the cat, and that is all that really matters.
Music is believed to entice snakes out, and
perhaps the pipes led the tiger cat to its
doom. - 'Bega District News.'
TANTAWANGLO TIGER
* Mr. Earle Britten saw on the south slope
of Mr. Harriet an animal, striped and resembling
a tiger.
'Magnet' October 3, 1931
* While bringing a load of timber from their
saw mill to Towamba, the Hite brothers met
with a very nasty accident. In the descent
of Mt. Indigo the brakes and gears of the
lorry failed to work and the vehicle crashed
into a large stump. Both occupants were much
cut about and badly shaken but fortunately
escaped more serious injury. They were able
to walk the seven miles to Pericoe for assistance.
The truck was damaged considerably.
'Magnet' November 28, 1931
* 'Tantawanglo' was 'Tanglo Angle'
* 'Candelo' was 'Candalo' - the Imlay Brothers'
residence.
'Magnet' May 14, 1932
Daisy Irene Myrtle Jones and William Edward
Jones... Charles Alfred Whitby was married
to Daisy Irene and was a labourer residing
at Towamba. They had separated 10 - 11 years
ago. She had reported him as dead and married
again. He appeared alive and well and caused
an upset for Daisy Irene.
* Rocky Hall was referred to as 'Rocky Orr'.
* There was a member of the New Guard (Capt.
De Groot's New Guard) living at Pericoe.
'Magnet' May 28, 1932
* Booth Bros. Had a eucalyptus distillery
near Towamba for a considerable time, some
years ago.
* Bracken fern for paper making.
The Bombala Times Friday 19 August 1932
The 'Tantawanglo Tiger.'
On Tuesday of last week Mr. W. G. Newport,
who is employed by Imlay Shire Council, while
cleaning drains opposite Crawley's property
at Whipstick, near Wyndham, had an exciting
few minutes. He heard a great growl some
distance away, and on looking up saw at first
sight what appeared to be a wallaby coming
through some high ferns, but when it came
into the open ground he observed it was a
large tiger with a rabbit in its mouth. It
came on to the road about 60 yards away,
dropped the rabbit and set its eyes on Mr.
Newport, who saw the cat like face and big
yellow stripes. Mr. Newport had his axe as
the only means of defence, but luckily after
letting out another growl the animal picked
up the rabbit and trotted off towards the
old Jingera mines, much to the relief of
Mr. Newport, who made a hasty retreat from
the locality in case the animal returned.
During the past two years several residents
of Tantawanglo have observed this animal
in the mountain country, and it has become
famous as the 'Tantawanglo Tiger,' and Mr.
Newport can vouch the truth that it is a
tiger without a doubt. Pambula Voice.
'Magnet' August 20, 1932
* Snow seen on Mt. Jingera
'Magnet' September 3, 1932
WONBOYN
The Great What-is-it? Seen Near Wonboyn
The experience of a motoring party coming
into Wonboyn suggests the possibility of
the Tantawanglo Tiger having decided to visit
the coast in the vicinity of the Wonboyn.
As the car in question rounded a bend in
the road and threw its headlights along a
straight section of the track, a large animal
of a bright tawny colour was seen to move
away from the roadside. By swerving the car
slightly the driver brought the creature
again within range of the brilliant headlights.
The animal was about five feet in length,
standing much higher than an ordinary dog.
Its eyes reflected a distinctly green glow,
a marked feature in carnivorous animals.
It had short ears, somewhat blunt headed
and very muscular neck and shoulders. When
it again moved out of vision its action was
more smooth and sinuous than dog-like.
The writer visited the spot today and examined
the tracks, being perfectly fresh they were
easily distinguished. The pugs of the foot
were very much larger than those of an ordinary
dog, with well developed claws. The footprints
in the earth, evidence that they had been
made by an animal of some weight. Attempts
are being made to trap or poison this unwelcome
visitant and results are being waited with
very great interest indeed.
![]() |
Canis Familiaris, Dingo (Dog, Wild Dog, Warrigal) |
'Magnet' September 17, 1932
WONBOYN
Terrifying Tiger
The Wonboyn Warrigal
The wild and ferocious looking animal seen
recently under the powerful lights of a tourist's
car near Wonboyn Lake and suspected of being
a feline beast of the jungle, was closely
tracked and by the agency of a carefully
prepared bait became in due course a fit
and proper subject for a post-mortum exam.
It proved to be an exceptionally large wolfish-looking
warrigal, the greatest of the genus canis
australis whose size and apparent strength
were so super normal as to excite curiosity
as to its identity, a not unnatural fear
of its carnivorous capabilities and a fixed
determination to ensure its capture or destruction.
Its appearance is an amply sufficient to
emphasise to amplify the fact that well grown
specimens of the East Coast warrigal attain
a dangerously large size and are so powerful
as to be a serious menace to stock without
the admixture of Alsatians or other large
breeds of canine blood.
This creature proved to be a bright redish-yellow
male warrigal. As it lay in rigor mortis
it measured five feet ten inches from nose
to extended hind foot. Its weight was 63lbs.
Its skin has been preserved and may be inspected
at the Magnet Newspaper Office, Eden where
it is on public view.
The method employed to poison this animal
was the drawing of a trail by hanging a drag
behind a car which was driven each day for
a distance of six miles. In the make-up of
the drag, fish, rabbit, part of a sheep skin
and a shin of beef were used. The car was
run some distance along an old bush track
to where there was the skeleton of a dead
beast. The drags were then tied up out of
reach on small trees without anyone alighting
from the car. Two bullocks horns have been
filled with raw suet, the strychnine being
inserted under the surface in several layers
as the suet was packed in. The horns were
thrown near the skeleton. The scheme was
completely successful. The warrigal, attracted
by the perfume of the out-of-reach dainties
devoted his attention to the tit-bits lying
on the ground. Having a sweet tooth for suet,
he gnawed off about two inches of one horn,
picked the other one up and carried it about
twenty-five yards away where he was found
lying dead.
The finders invite any of the "Magnet'
readers who own large dogs, to put him on
the scales and try him out for inclusion
in the heavyweight class against the 'Wonboyn
Warrigal'.
'Magnet' October 1932
To grow big marrows place a small dish near
the half grown specimen, fill the dish with
water and a fair amount of sugar. A slit
is made in the stem behind the pumpkin and
a strand of wool or a narrow strip of flannel
is passed through the slit in the stem while
the other end lies in the liquid. Resupply
the liquid as it is absorbed.
'Magnet' August 19, 1933.
LOTTERY WIN.
£5000 to Towamba
Towamba, a little township 20 miles west
from Eden was fairly in the limelight on
Monday last when it became know that the
ticket winning first prize in the 146th State
lottery was held by Mrs. E. I. Parker of
Towamba Post Office. Mrs. Parker was apprised
of her good luck by a message from the 'Sydney
Sun' newspaper and in reply to an inquiry
as to what she planned to do with the money,
stated that she intended to visit all the
state capitals by air. Owing to the publication
of this statement by the 'Sun', Mrs. Parker
has been deluged with offers of aeroplanes.
One enterprising proprietor offered to lend
her his star pilot for a fortnight of her
intended tour. The offer has not yet been
accepted. To the 'Magnet' Mrs. Parker said
that contrary to newspaper reports it had
not been her life's ambition to own an aeroplane
and that she did not propose to become the
owner of one. Never in the history of Towamba
has there been such excitement as prevailed
when the news of the win was released. Work
was incontinently suspended for the day and
great was the rush to the Post Office to
offer to the winner of the £5000 most hearty
congratulations and good wishes. So improbable
seemed the news that it was difficult to
realise that fortune had smiled upon a lady
in this little country town. Mrs. Parker
was perhaps the least excited of all who
heard the glad news. Her husband was for
some time incredulous but their three sons
had no time for skepticism had made no secret
of their delight in their mother's success.
Mrs. Parker named her ticket 'Lift Me Up'
and strangely enough the injunction was heeded
by the goddess of chance. Apropos of this
it may be mentioned that among the shoals
of letters she has received is one which
stated that the writer's ticket number was
but three off the winning one and that the
writer had named it 'Put Me Down'.
Mrs. Parker states that she has not yet decided
what her plans for the future will be, but
that she intends to very shortly entertain
the people of Towamba at a dance and the
children with afternoon games and tea.
'Magnet' July 14, 1934
WINGHAM TO WYNDHAM
Quite recently on June 27, a party of Wingham
residents left their town by motor car on
a round tour via the South Coast and Western
Districts. The trip is pleasingly described
in the "Wingham Chronicle" and
we take the liberty of reproducing that portion
of it relating to the South Coast. Mr. C.
R. Chapman is the writer and thus he tells
the tale.
"The party motored as far as Sydney
the first day and stayed there that night.
Two days were spent in Sydney and early on
the third morning a start was made for Batemans
Bay on the South Coast. There a day was spent.
Batemans Bay is a very pleasant place and
most picturesque.
From Batemans Bay the party motored to Wyndham.
This is a small town boasting of a big Court
House. As matter of fact this Court House
was really intended for Wingham in other
days, not Wyndham. There is a fine police
station and an office there and the chap
in charge is well satisfied with everything
the Government has provided him with. Just
recently, it will be remembered, this Court
House business came into the limelight when
the "Wingham Chronicle" mentioned
that plans for a Wingham Court House had
got mixed up with the result that what was
intended for the North Coast town had been
planted in the South Coast township. Anyhow,
we understand that the story is quite correct.
However, it may happen that before very long
Wingham will be compensated for the lost
prestige in past years by getting a Court
House quite in keeping with present day progress."
'Magnet' October 6, 1934
THE SHIPTON PROPHECIES
Mother Shipton lived in the latter part of
the fifteenth century, in England. She was
popularly supposed to be a child of the devil.
When she grew to womanhood, she lived in
the forest, refused to associate with other
human beings and uttered her prophecies while
fleeing from those who desired to make her
acquaintance.
She is said to have foretold the changes
that came to pass in religion - the fall
of Wolsey, the death of Sir Thomas More and
other Lords and Ladies who were beheaded
by Henry the Eighth. Her general prophecies
were put into doggerel rhyme by some unknown
poet, have been handed down through four
centuries. They are, moreover, as firmly
believed in by the English public as prophecies
of St.Columbkill, are by the Irish.
Following are some of Mother Shipton's prophecies
in rhyme:-
A house of glass shall come to pass in merry England, but, alas, war will follow with the work in the land of the Turk, and State and State in fierce strife struggle for each other's life. Carriages without horses shall go and accidents fill the earth with woe. In London, Primrose Hill shall be and the centre of a Bishop's See. (Primrose Hill, now in the heart of London was, in Mother Shipton's day, 12 miles out of the city.) Around the world thought shall fly in the twinkling of an eye; through the hills men shall ride and neither horse or ass astride underwater men shall walk, shall ride, shall sleep, shall talk, iron in the water shall float as easily as a wooden boat. Gold shall be found and shown in a land that is now unknown. Fire and water shall wonders do and England shall admit a Jew. Three times three shall lovely France be led to dance a bloody dance; before her people shall be free three tyrant rulers she shall see; each sprung from a different dynasty and when the last great fight is won England and France shall be as one. And now a word in uncouth rhyme of what shall be in the latter time. In those wonderful far off days women shall get a strange odd craze to dress like men and breeches wear and cut their beautiful locks of hair and ride astride with brazen brow as witches do on broom sticks now. Then love shall die and marriage cease and babes and sucklings so decrease that wives shall fondle cats and dogs and men live much the same as hogs. In eighteen hundred and sixty-nine build your houses of rotten sticks for then shall mighty wars be planned and fire and swords sweep o'er the land. But those who live the century through in fear and trembling this will do: fly to the mountains and the glens to bogs and forests and wild fens: for tempests will rage and oceans roar and Gabrielle stand on sea and shore: and as he toots his wondrous horn old worlds shall die and new be born. |
BEN BOYD
INTERESTING REFERENCES
Few rivers have as many names as the Towamba
that rises in the Big Jack Mountain and empties
in to the sea at Twofold Bay. At the head
of the river where it is known as 'The Rocky
Hall' grow some of the finest fern trees
in the Commonwealth. Here also is a great
variety of bush birds and wild flowers and
shrubs. It really is an unofficial sanctuary.
Lower down, the stream is known as 'The Burragate'
and the town here is so small that one might
travel right through it without noticing
it. After another short run the town of Towamba
is reached and the river retains the name
of Towamba till the tidal water is met and
then it is known as 'The Kiah' which empties
itself into Twofold Bay and there it is between
two settlements, Ben Boyd and East Boyd.
Had luck been with Ben Boyd instead of against
him these two deserted settlements might
have become cities with a harbour equal to
any in the world.
BIG JACK MOUNTAIN
Jack Hayden was a stockman employed by William
Hibburd on his lease at Rocky Hall. A man
of immense size and a voice to match, he
was called "Big Jack" by all who
knew him. It has been handed down over generations
that when he was mustering Hibburd's cattle
in the mountains his call could be heard
for miles echoing down the valleys. The mountain
derived its name "Big Jack" from
this man.
Source: 'Bygone Days of Cathcart' by Laurie Plates.
'Magnet' October 27, 1934
"IMPOSITION" PENALISED
In 1670 the House of Commons adopted a measure
which reads: "All women of whatever
age or rank or profession whether maids,
widows or not, that shall from the passing
of this Act, impose upon or betray into matrimony
any of His Majesty's male subjects by scents,
paints, cosmetics, high heeled shoes or bolstered
hips, shall incur the law now in force against
witchcraft." The Act has never been
repealed but it would be a brave politician
who would try to enforce it in Australia.
'Magnet' December 1, 1934
LOST YOUTH RESTORED
Seaweed, it is claimed, is a potent agent
in restoring their lost youth to aging glands
and certain tonic tablets are now available
to the purchasing public. The manufacturers
ascribe the value of the preparation to the
fact that seaweed contains iodine. They have
succeeded in making seaweed palatable and
by means of these tablets, the iodine can
be passed on direct by the thyroid gland
into the blood stream. Those who take them
will, if the claims of the makers prove fully
justified, be rewarded in the possession
of thicker hair, a clearer eye and skin and
a "dynamic energy".
'Magnet' December 8, 1934
CAULIFLOWERS BECOME CABBAGES
A Nethercote farmer has just found that a
big crop of plants grown by him from cauliflower
seeds, specially selected and saved from
last year, will be cabbages!
There was no doubt whatever about the seed
being taken from cauliflowers; there were
two varieties and the seed from each was
carefully gathered and labelled.
The secret of the phenomenon lay in the fact
that plants from which the seeds had been
taken were grown near a cabbage patch and
became pollenised accordingly.
'Magnet' January 12, 1935
TANTAWANGLO TIGER
Not the only one.
Interest in the Tantawanglo Tiger recently
reported as having been seen near Eden has
been reawakened by a statement in Wednesday's
Sydney papers that the skull of the 'Springdale
Tiger', an animal which caused a scare out
Temora way a couple of years ago, had been
found and was being sent to the museum for
identification.
Two years ago, a farmer while out hunting,
saw a tiger-like animal attack and kill his
dog and later cattle and horses were found
with the flesh ripped from their bodies.
Early this week, Mr. Ben Hayman, a farmer,
found in thick scrub at Combaning, near Temora,
a skull nearly twelve inches long and four
inches wide with two teeth an inch and a
half long on the upper jaw. This is believed
to be part of the same animal.
As for the Tantawanglo Tiger, it is beyond
dispute that something of the kind existed,
if it does not still exist, for it was seen
at close quarters by reputable men on various
occasions principally about Tantawanglo hence
its appellation. The general belief is that
the animal seen had escaped from a circus
and gone bush.
From time to time the 'Magnet' has received
reports of a tiger-like animal having been
seen in the gullies at the back of Palestine
and quite a few people are convinced that
its lair is somewhere in the hills between
Palestine, Jiggamy and the top of Nethercote
mountain.
As it "what ever it may be" appears
to have done no damage, most people will
be quite content to let it remain there.
'Magnet' May 25, 1935
That he knows a tiger when he sees one is
asserted stoutly by Mr. Earl Britten of Tantawanglo
who also knows tiger cats well and scorns
the suggestion that the animal he saw at
Mount Harriet some time ago was a tiger cat.
He says he had a good view of the animal
in the open and has no doubt that it was
a tiger.
June 29, 1935
* Reports that have reached us from outlying
centres indicates that the frost that covered
the landscape on Wednesday morning in last
week was the heaviest for many years - for
as long as fifty years some old hands consider.
At Towamba, we are told, the countryside
looked like a bit of old England and about
Rocky Hall and Big Jack the creeks were frozen
over all day.
'Magnet'
April 4, 1936
EDEN, TWOFOLD BAY
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS HENCE - INTERESTING FORECAST
In an article contributed to the monthly
journal "Over-seas" Sir Frank Fox
discussing Australia twenty-five years hence
writes: "The Australian population of
1960 will, as today, be chiefly grouped around
the coastal area where rainfall is abundant
and the climate has no severities of heat
or cold but the mistaken policy of over centralisation
in great cities will have to abandoned. Rather
the example of Queensland will have to be
followed and a chain of sea ports linked
directly with their hinterlands will have
been developed. On the shores of Twofold
Bay for example, a considerable city will
serve as the shipping centre of the Monaro,
Tableland and the Riverina."
Elsewhere the writer says, nature has given
the coast and the coastal tableland what
are perhaps the most pleasant climatic conditions
in the whole world.
"Copper" Farrell and 'Robin' sailing
over a high jump at the Bega District Show
in the early 1960's.
Photo courtesy Leo Farrell.
'Magnet' June 20, 1936
THE GIPPSLAND TIGER
MYSTERY SOLVED
The Gippsland 'Tiger' that made Briagolong
famous has been caught at last and has proved
to be a monster dingo which in death, measured
8 feet from nose to tail. The tail, tufted
and streaked with white, was so unlike a
dingo as to amply justify the many aliases
that from time to time has been thrust upon
the strange animal by startled residents.
After a long and unchecked career the dingo
fell victim to poison laid by Mr. A. Grogan
in the carcass of a sheep upon the property
of Mr. H. Miller of Upper Mafra who estimates
that during the last twelve months it had
destroyed sheep valued at £200. Mr.
Miller's property is eighteen miles from
Briagolong. There is little doubt locally
that the dingo is identical with the mysterious
animal which has been seen often in the district.
Frequent sudden appearances of the 'tiger'
has lead to wide variation in its description.
It became known as the 'Mafra Leopard' and
was believed to have escaped from a circus.
It had been described by observers (on the
run) as possibly the survivor of a vanishing
race. Learned as well as flippant men discussed
its vagaries.
Examination of the carcass reveals some cause
for all the conjecture. The dingo's body
is brightly yellow, the tail is large, bushy
and white tufted. There is a vivid dorsal
stripe of white and the animal's size is
extraordinary.
The history of Briagolong's 'tiger' is marked
not only with sheep killings but with vicious
maimings and at one stage of its highly colourful
life, it established a minor reign of terror
among those who were obliged to travel lonely
roads by night. Today these people re-tell
their experiences with a liveliness of detail
stimulated by the visible evidence.
The dingo is easily the largest that has
been caught in the Gippsland district where
farmers say it may be a new species. Experiments
have yet to be made with the dingo's pads
but it is considered certain that their imprints
will be identical with those which have been
discovered often near the scenes of sheep
killings.
'Magnet' July 4, 1936
Candelo-ites were all agog last week when
the news was circulated that Mr. P. Lucas
had shot a large strange animal that may
be identical with the often seen but never
captured, Tantawanglo Tiger.
'Magnet' July 11, 1936
The 'Pambula Voice' reports that a curiosity
that several people have unsuccessfully endeavoured
to capture, is a white wallaby, sometimes
seen in the vicinity of Kirby's and Grealey's
on the Merimbula-Wolumla Road.
November 6, 1937
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
QUEER BURIALS OF WHITE MEN.
It is not only Aborigines who have queer
burials at times. I have known of many unusual
burials of white men in various parts of
Australia.
On the shores of Wonboyn Beach, South Coast
(N.S.W.), a man lies buried in a big wooden
cask. His body was washed up on the little
beach, and at the time it was almost impossible
to transport it to the nearest cemetery,
and just as difficult to get a regular coffin
to the spot. The men who found the body also
found a large cask that had been washed ashore
from a wrecked vessel, so the cask served
as a coffin.
This strange interment recalls the fact that
for many years a spare coffin was to be seen
at Green Cape Lighthouse, a short distance
from Wonboyn Beach. When the Ly-ee-moon was
wrecked there it was decided to bury the
victims close to the lighthouse, and coffins
were sent from Eden. One coffin too many
was sent, so it was kept in reserve at the
lighthouse. The little Ly-ee-moon cemetery
at Green Cape is one of the most Isolated
in Australia.
In Queensland a man is buried in a grave
cut out of solid rock. In Sydney one of Australia's
greatest statesmen is similarly buried. William
Charles Wentworth expressed a wish to be
laid to rest beneath the rock at Vaucluse,
where he used to spend much of his leisure.
The grave was cut out of the solid rock,
and a fine mausoleum was erected over it.
Near Towamba (NS.W.) an old man was buried
with his wheelbarrow. He had wheeled his
worldly belongings about in it for many years,
had used it for carrying dirt to a creek
to wash for gold, and at night had used it
as a breakwind when he retired. In deference
to his wish, it was buried with him.
W. P. T. I
February 8, 1939
'The Queenslander'
Slow Death for Animals
Birds and animals of the bush sometimes meet
tragic deaths. Near Delegate (New South Wales)
a dingo was found dead in a wire fence. It
had apparently attempted to either climb
or jump over the fence, and in doing so got
one of its hind feet twisted in the top wires.
It was held in this vice-like grip with its
front paws just touching the ground. Marks
on the ground showed where the animal had
struggled to get a grip with its front paws.
It is safe to say that it would have lived
for several days.
On Monaro a wallaby was found hopelessly
bogged in a patch of soft ground. He had
eaten all the grass within his reach, and
had even eaten the roots of the grass, and
then gradually got weaker. He was still alive
when a boundary rider found him and put him
out of his misery.
Near Moree the carcass of a kangaroo was
found firmly wedged between two rocks. It
was evident that the kangaroo had at tempted
to jump over the crevice between the two
rocks, but had misjudged the distance and
fallen between them, to be held in a vice-like
grip.
A farmer in the Bega (N.S.W.) district found
a magpie dying-in its own nest. The bird
had been building the nest or bits of wire
and string, and had got one of its feet tangled
in the wire, and had made itself a prisoner.
The magpie would have died of starvation
had it not been released by the farmer.
A swallow used some cement that a builder
had been using for making its nest underneath
a veranda, but had settled on the nest before
the cement had set, with the result that
when morning came the bird was firmly cemented
to the nest.
A domestic cat was found in the bush near
Towamba (N.S.W.) with its head in a salmon
tin. The cat had evidently been licking the
tin out, and in some way got its head fast
in the tin. The cat had the tin on its head
for four days at least. It was first seen
late one afternoon, but it disappeared in
some blackberry bushes, and could not be
caught. Four days later the cat was seen
again. It was still alive, but so weak that
it was easily caught. Though the cat was
given food and water, it died soon after
it was released.
Near Bega (N.S.W.) a fox was found tangled
up in monkey ropes in the bush. The fox had
fallen into a small gully, and in his struggles
had become hopelessly tangled up in these
vines. He was almost dead when found, having
practically starved to death. Cattle are
frequently found tangled up in these vines,
and unless they are found and released death
is certain.
July 28, 1947
'Goulburn Evening Post'
Dingoes in Main Street.
* Dingoes are killing cattle right in the
main streets of Towamba and Burragate. "The
dingo position is much worse than most people
realise," said Director J. Alcock at
the regular monthly meeting of the Eden P.P.
Board.
September 15, 1950
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
Haystack Or Haycock?
Sir, - The rock where the Empire Gladstone
went aground is referred to in reports as
"Haystack Rock."
I was born and reared amongst the Davidsons,
those famous whale-men of Kiah River whaling
station, Twofold Bay, Eden. These intrepid
adventurers always referred to that spot
as "The Haycock," where we fished
for years.
Captains of coastal boats frequently explained
to me the dangers of "Haycock Reef,"
and a nearby bombora known as "The Hunter
Rock."
The reef acquired its name from the early
pioneers, because the main outcrop's remarkable
formation resembled a rick of hay, many dray
loads of which were required in those days
to build a haystack.
W. G. NOBLE. Coogee.
December 25, 1953
'The Land'
* The Towamba tiger was reported to have
been seen by several people on the Towamba
River, between Eden and the Victorian border.
June 5, 1954
'The World's News'
Platypuses
* Most country people nowadays have a great
respect for the harm less platypus and give
it plenty of protection. However, many have
been poisoned by baits laid for rabbits.
The platypus comes out of the water at night
and roams about anything up to 50yds away
from the water and is apt to pick up any
bait, particularly a pollard bait. On a recent
visit to the South Coast I discovered platypuses
are increasing in numbers in the Myrtle Creek
and Towamba River areas. Fortunately the
law does not allow shooters to kill these
animals for their skins as they did in the
early days of the settlement, when it was
possible to find platypus skin rugs in many
country homes. A platypus skin rug today
would be a museum piece.
June 19, 1954
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
Size of Whales
Sir, - A recent report ("Herald,"
June 12) of the capture of a 90-ton blue
whale off the Queensland coast states that
"the largest whale caught by Australian
whalers previously was a 70-foot fin whale
taken off Albany, Western Australia, last
year."
This is incorrect. I was born and reared
at Eden, Twofold Bay, where the Davidson
family of whalemen operated for over 60 years
from the days of Ben Boyd. The largest whale
captured by Australian whalers was an enormous
fin-back harpooned and lanced by the Davidsons
at East Boyd, near the old whaling station
on Kiah River. It measured 97 feet.
The huge jawbones, 27 feet long, afterwards
formed an archway to the home of a retired
pastoralist, the late James Logan, at Edrom,
East Boyd.
W. G. NOBLE.
Coogee.
September 27, 1954
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
BONES FIND REOPENS MURDER CASE
Discovery of a human skeleton on a South
Coast beach has caused police to reopen inquiries
into the murder of a woman.
Mr. Justice Kinsella sentenced a man to death
in 1950 for murdering Mrs. Phyllis Page,
50, a Blacktown widow.
The man, Lionel Charles Thomas, 44, later
suicided in a cell at Long Bay Gaol, but
Mrs. Page's body was never found.
Fishermen found the skeleton in sand late
on Friday near the entrance to Lake Conjola,
120 miles south of Sydney.
Police will bring the bones to Sydney to-day
for scientific examination.
A Government medical officer examined them
at Wollongong and said he thought they were
a woman's bones.
Mrs. Page disappeared from her home in Sunny
Holt Road; Blacktown, in February, 1950.
WIDE SEARCH
Police searched 15,000 miles over five States
before they arrested Thomas in Perth, in
July, 1950.
The Crown alleged at his trial at Central
Criminal Court that he had persuaded Mrs.
Page to sell her property and travel with
him in a panel van to Melbourne.
They had camped at Kiah bridge crossing (about
12 miles from Eden), and Mrs. Page had not
been seen after the van had moved on from
there early on February 20.
It was alleged that Thomas had killed Mrs.
Page and thrown her weighted body into the
Towamba River at the crossing.
Thomas claimed he had driven Mrs. Page to
Melbourne, had seen her later in Adelaide
on May 8, 1950, and had not seen her again
after that.
Mr. Justice Kinsella told Thomas: "You
took this unfortunate woman, with whom you
professed to be in love, on a trip she thought
was a trip to marriage and a new life of
happiness. In fact, you were taking her to
her death."
Thomas - his sentence commuted to life imprisonment
suicided on September 11, 1951.
"INNOCENT"
He left a note: "I again assert before
God that 1 am innocent of the murder of Mrs.
Page."
Police in August, 1950, spent more than a
fortnight in the Eden district when searching
for Mrs. Page's body.
They dragged the river at Kiah bridge crossing
- the last definite clue to Mrs. Page's whereabouts
was a letter which she wrote to her daughter
while' camped there.
Lake Conjola is about 200 miles north of
Eden, but police think it is possible that
the couple doubled back to Conjola, despite
official reports which last placed them together
at Kiah bridge.
One police source reported seeing a van in
the Lake Conjola district.
'Magnet' April 12, 1956
Oil Tankers Asked To Send Tankers To Twofold
Bay
A suggestion was made at the monthly meeting
of the Eden Advancement Association that
petrol companies are asked to send their
tankers to discharge petrol in bulk at Eden
for use by people in the south-eastern portion
of Australia.
The meeting was informed that petrol was
9d. cheaper in Sydney than in Eden and this
was mainly due to the costly method of transport.
It was explained that it would only take
a tanker an hour or two to discharge the
required amount of petrol for this area and
this would enable consumers to purchase petrol
at a much cheaper rate.
'Magnet Voice' February 19, 1959
Kiah farmers are mystified by the appearance
of a strange wild animal south of the river
a few weeks ago. The beast, which was seen
on the property of Mr. Jim McMahon, appeared
to be about the size of a large dog with
a long tail and black in colour.
Unknown newspaper fragment. (all readable text is printed below)
Names Fail the Test of Time
Pambula, Bermagui and Mallacoota - well known
townships on the South Coast whose titles,
over one hundred years ago, stood in stark
contrast to those which they are known by
today.
A naval chart of the coastline between Montague
Island and Gabo Island surveyed in 1868,
reveals that many names and localities along
the Sapphire Coast have not stood the test
of time.
Many long-time residents of the Pambula area
would probably realise that the former name
of the township........
Other interesting adaptions to historic localities
include the present day spelling of Bermagui
which in 1868 was spelt Bermaguey and Montague
Island, known then as Montagu Island has
gained an "e" to make the present
day spelling Montague.
The body of water at Merimbula known locally
as the Back Lake was originally charted as
Panbula inlet, and the Nullica River was
originally charted as the Myruial River,
although the small cove where the Nullica
River enters Twofold Bay was originally called
Nullica Bay.
.........coastal town in Victoria, Mallacoota,
according to the chart, was known as Mallagoota,
the 'g' replaced by a 'c'.
The chart surveyed by Navigation Lieutenant
J.T.Gowlland of the Royal Navy, includes
soundings of the coastline taken right out
to the Continental Shelf, safe anchorages
for shipping and hazards such as bombora's
and rocks and the degree of swell it took
them to break dangerously. The chart has
come to light after being sent to the area
by a descendant of Captain J.T. Nicholson,
the master and owner of "Ellen",
a schooner which frequented local waters.
Captain Nicholson was born at Berwick on
Tweed (England) on July 18, 1820.
Another startling discovery after viewing
the chart is a small town situated roughly
between Mt. Imlay and Egans Peak charted
as Sturt.
It is fairly obvious from its location that
the village of Sturt has in actual effect
become the town of Towamba.
The village of Sturt was quite large by comparison
to the towns of Panbula and Merimbula, and
situated adjacent to the Towamba, or Waler
River as it was also known.