About us..
ABOUT SMEATON INDEPENDENT
This website’s main intention is to inform, guide, even educate, anyone who may be interested in the small rural town of Smeaton, Victoria, Australia, past and present.
We focus mainly on Smeaton’s history, however stories on modern-day Smeaton will be added as they come to hand.
All historical information has been gleaned from books, reputable websites, and reliable local sources, but as we know all research can have it’s flaws, so any corrections or more detailed information, will be gratefully accepted.
Comments disagreeing with the Editor of the Smeaton Independent News are more than welcome but have a greater chance of being taken seriously if they’re cordial and/or constructive. Of course, this does not guarantee good manners in return.
The Editor will exercise complete control over all comments, dismissing any that are incorrect, insulting, or just plain stupid.
We will however, make every effort to reply to each one.
Hopefully you’ll find these pages as interesting to read as it was compiling them.
Signed,
Si Lilburne
EDITOR
Smeaton Independent News 
Hi Si – do you have an email I can contact you on? I’m researching some ancestry for a television documentary and would love to chat about some Smeaton history!
Hi Helen,
My address is sinews@live.com.au but I’m not as useful or even as knowledgeable as I used to be, not since I ‘misplaced’ (I refuse to say lost ‘cos then all hope is gone) a 2TB portable drive that I stored all my Smeaton info an’ history an’ articles an’ pics an’ stuff on, which depressed the hell out’a me (no I hadn’t saved it to any cloud) and made me realise how little my actual memory had retained.
Anyway it definitely put a dampener on my interest in Smeaton history.
If you email specific questions I may be able to help..
Regards,
Si
Liked your newsletter. Question: Doing some family history – Any information on John & Margaret McManus from Smeaton – married 1892, and some of their children born in Smeaton from 1892 – 1900? Any records about this family would be helpful.
Hi Si. You do a great job with this site. I’m a tour guide in Melbourne who is taking a bus load of opera-lovers from Auckland on a tour of the Goldfields in a fortnight. While researching the route a few weeks ago, I was intrigued by the sign as you come towards Smeaton: “Volcanic district, 13 kilometres.” The topography really is intriguing. I speak a lot in Melbourne about it being the bluestone city, courtesy of one of the world’s largest volcanic plains stretching west from Melbourne towards Adelaide. Do you know anyone I could speak to about the old volcanoes you can see from the road through Smeaton? Cheers, Paul Daffey
Hi Paul,
I don’t know who you can talk to specifically about our volcanic plains but this [below] is an extract from an article called “Moorookyle – And the Colours of the Earth” by J. S. T(aylor) which is on Page 23 of the Smeaton Centenary Booklet.
(Gotta admit I’m amused and irritated by the oh-so casual way the discovery of an ancient crocodile skeleton in the volcanic hills is mentioned. I would’ve found that news almost as exciting as the gold lead they were looking for!)
“Moorookyle And the Colours of the Earth –
If Kooroocheang will always be associated with the early enterprise of Captain Hepburn, Moorookyle also serves as a memorial for those laid to rest (in Smeaton Cemetery) on its southern shoulder.
Moorookyle lacks the variety of Kooroocheang; it has no green foot-hills to give it a generous, cumbrous spread, it has no resemblance to the general irregular surface of its neighbour whose trenches and valleys and lichened boulders give it the genius of variety; it is mainly a compact lava mass curved almost oval and smooth, having however, the remnant of its crater to relieve the monotony on its southern side. Out of this probably once poured much of the lava that filled the hollows and so helped to form the Smeaton Plains.
On all sides of Moorookyle the view comprises, in addition to much rare mountain and lush scenery, many volcanic hills rising in battalions. At the foot of one of these, McRorie’s or Vale Hill, is the Spring Hill and Central Leads Mine, where, during mining operations in the locality, some crocodiles’ bones were found, thus indicating a former tropical or sub-tropical climate.
“Professor Gregory, who knew more about that distorted area than anyone else, said McRories Hill was an extinct volcano and the course of the lead was just at the foot of the hill and while the volcano was active it was creating a vacancy directly under the river bed, until the crust of the earth became so thin that the bottom fell out of the river bed and caused a chasm which was afterwards filled with scoria, as we found it when looking for the continuation of the lead, half a mile of which was practically blotted out. East of the hill and east of the run of gold Professor Gregory said there was a cold water lake on top of the hydro-thermal deposit… that deposit broke up the run of gold and caused a lot of expense and gave the district a setback from which it never recovered…”
I hope while you’re guiding your opera-lovers around this region that you visit Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat which opened on 7th June 1875. The first production was “La Fille de Madame Angot, ”a comic opera by the French composer Lecocq, presented by the Royal Opera Bouffe Company run by W. S. Lyster, Australia’s first opera impresario.
Happy tour-guiding!
Hi Si, do you know any information on a Roger Hargreaves who owned a hotel in Smeaton in or around 1865 and not The Cumberland? It’s a small small world but my great, great, great grandfather owned a hotel here…. Cheers Amanda at the Cumberland
Hi Amanda,
There aren’t many things left that I still love but three things I’ll always have a soft-spot for are: Smeaton history, the pub, and the little full-circle coincidences that make me believe in “destiny”! And your great-x-3 grandfather seems to tick all those boxes. And its nice knowing your links to Smeaton history make you more ‘Old Smeatonian’ than a helluva lot of other families in town.
There were either two men called Roger Hargreaves who lived in and around Smeaton in the 1860s-’70s.. OR your great-times-3 grandfather was a publican just as a passing hobby and was a highly-respected gardener as a life-long profession.. (which is what I now believe.)
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On Tuesday 7th February 1865 at the Clunes Police Court Mr Roger Hargreaves was granted a ‘beer license’.
A Robert Hargreaves was Publican of the Borough Boundary hotel on Creswick Road around this time.
19th May 1870 Mr Roger Hargreaves was sued by his son-in-law Mr Haylock for ‘illegal detention of property’.
From the Ballarat Courier – 3rd June 1870 –
“Thomas Haylock and wife vs Roger Hargreaves; Mr Jessop for complainant. Mr Hoskins for defence.
This was an action for the recovery of a quantity of wearing apparel and other articles value £19.
It appears that Haylock married Hargreaves’ daughter, and they both resided in his (Hargreaves’) house.
Some eight weeks after marriage and when they left, they claimed the goods in question as their own property; and Haylock, at the instance of the daughter, summoned the father for them.
The wearing apparel had been returned, but the defendant demurred to parting with the rest.
The defendant was the holder of 79 acres of land under the 28th section, upon which a number of cows were depastured, and the family was kept from the produce of the dairy.
The complainants said the cows belonged to the daughter, but the defendant said he had left the entire control of the purse to his daughter since his wife’s death (three years ago), and she had squandered all his money away or kept it herself in readiness for her marriage, until he had been forced to give a bill of sale over his property to Haylock’s brother.
Mr Hoskins for the defendant applied for a non-suit, as there had been no proof of marriage between Haylock and his wife. He spoke at great length in support of his argument, and his worship remanded the case for a week, to consider the point.”
10th June 1870
“Thos and Elizabeth Haylock vs Roger Hargreaves – for ‘Illegal detention of property’.
This case was adjourned from last Wednesday on a point raised by the defence, that the plaintiffs had not proved their marriage by the production of the certificate.
His worship overruled the point, as he considered the defendant should have given the plaintiffs notice to produce in time, and made an order for the defendant to give up a certain portion of the goods, value £1 1s 6d, with 18s 4d costs.”
(This habit of family members taking other family members to court continued well into the 1900s.)
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1st July 1871 Roger Hargreaves was engaged as landscape gardener to carry out work at Smeaton Park.
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22nd November 1873 Mr Roger Hargreaves was a judge (with two other gentlemen) for the Smeaton, Spring-hill and Bullarook Agricultural Association, awarding First Prize in the Hepburn Best Managed Garden competition to Mr Wm. Anderson.
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Roger Hargreaves:
– came to Victoria in “the early days” (this usually means pre-goldrush)
– he was described as “educated” and knew all the Latin names for flowers, trees, etc.
– he worked “for a time” as gardener for Governor La Trobe the first governor of the Colony of Victoria
– he lived at Smeaton, and later told friends he wanted to be buried in Smeaton alongside his wife (a landscape painter) who he said was buried at Smeaton (altho’ I can’t find her in the cemetery index)
– he obtained his “beer license” from Clunes Police Court on 7th February 1865 (but no further mention of a publican’s license or even which pub)
– he had 3 daughters: one being Mrs Elizabeth Haylock
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The original Mr and Mrs Haylock arrived in Australia in 1852 and settled on a 96 acre allotment “adjoining the village of Kingston Victoria”. They had several children, including a son Thomas who later married one of Roger Hargreaves’ daughters.
(There is a time-line/name problem here because after this case Thomas isn’t mentioned again and Abner Haylock is recorded as being the husband of Elizabeth Haylock (née Hargreaves).
Their allotment may have been close to the ‘Kingston Park’ gold mine (near Stag Rd corner) or perhaps the father or sons were employed at that mine.
This is relevant because by 1878 Mrs Elizabeth Haylock (née Hargreaves) and whichever husband (Thomas or Abner Haylock) had become wealthy enough to buy land (eventually16,000 acres) near Hay in NSW. They named this new property “Kingston Park”. (They are listed in the index of pioneers for that area.)
(Another time-line/name query comes up here because their property ‘Kingston Park’ near Hay NSW is only a quick horse-ride away from another homestead called ‘Smeaton Park’, and in 1871 Roger Hargreaves was employed as landscape gardener at Smeaton Park, which I assumed meant at Smeaton Victoria.)
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Death notice for Roger Hargreaves (Published 3rd November 1891)
“It is with sincere grief that I record the sudden and melancholy death of Mr. Roger Hargreaves, a selector on Gunbar, the more so that the deceased had been a familiar friend a year and a half since.
Mr Hargreaves was the father of Mrs. Haylock, of Kingston Park and of course grandfather of the Haylock family, the younger members of whom he regarded with peculiar affection.
He resided on his selection about two miles from his daughter’s house all alone, but every second or third day would come to Kingston Park for provisions. He had not paid his usual visit, so a messenger was sent to enquire. The house looked as if nobody had been in it for some days.
Enquiries were next made in the township; he had not been there.
Next day his grandson hied to the hut again, and on his way, about three-fourths of a mile from Haylock’s, he found the body of his grandfather Roger Hargreaves lying in the paddock face downwards, and in a state of advanced decomposition for the weather was hot. A parcel lay beside the corpse indicating that on his way back from his daughter’s on the occasion of his last visit he had met the mortal stroke that laid him low, probably dying as he fell to the ground and without lingering pain, as the poor old gentleman had long suffered from heart disease.
The body was taken to Hay for interment in the cemetery there. The medical testimony showed he was liable to death at any time during the last three years.
Mr Hargreaves was a professional gardener, and that little paradise of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, Kingston Park is living proof of his high skill as such.
He was educated, and was often heard pronouncing with correctness and fluency the Latin and scientific names of the various shrubs, trees, and flowers which his hands had planted.
He came to Victoria in the early days and was for a time gardener to the first Governor, Mr. La Trobe.
He afterwards lived in the Smeaton district, where he reared a family of three daughters, and where his wife, who was an accomplished landscape painter, died, many years since. With a tear in his eye he expressed the wish more than once that he might die at Smeaton and be laid beside his wife. Rest in peace.”
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November 9 1891 – (published in Australian Town & Country Journal)
Sudden Death – A solicitor, residing at Gunbar, named Roger Hargreaves, was found dead by the roadside the other day at a spot between his house and his son-in-law’s.
Evidence at the inquest disclosed that he had been suffering from heart disease, and in the doctor’s opinion death has resulted from that cause.
A verdict to that effect was recorded.
(I believe that the Aust Town + Country Journal got it wrong when they called him a “solicitor”; Roger Hargreaves was called a “selector” [one who takes up Crown land for mixed farming] in all other publications.)
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In the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Probate Jurisdiction
In the Will of Roger Hargreaves (late of Gunbar), in the colony of New South Wales, selector, deceased.
APPLICATION will be made after fourteen days from the publication hereof that probate of the last will of the above named deceased may be granted to Abner Haylock (grandson) of Kingston Park, Gunbar, in the said colony, the executor named in the said Will.
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Really hope this is of some help.
Best regards,
Si.
I’m wondering if you know of any local information regarding the private township of Jerusalem? I have dredged Trove – where I found the “sale” notice of the town in 1907 – and I have some information about the Jerusalem primary school, including a 1913 District Inspector’s report which reads, in part; “…both schools, Clementston and Jerusalem, are in decadent mining centres and should be worked on the part-time basis.”
I haven’t been able to pinpoint the location of the township, other than one line which states that, in 1932, the Jerusalem primary school building (by then renamed to Lawrence) was about 5 minutes walk from the Lawrence post office.
Many thanks for your time.
Hi Jenny,
I always groan when I’m asked about Jerusalem-Clementston because there really is so very little info available on these places, and they’ve completely disappeared ‘physically’ as well..
When I first came to Smeaton a thousand yrs ago, the old-timers at the Smeaton pub would occasionally mention “Jerusalem” and when I asked about this unknown place and where it once stood, one old man pointed west from the pub and said “just down this road, just down there” and he was pointing down Daylesford-Clunes Rd Smeaton.. I stupidly never asked any more about it.. which is why I still groan today.
(Btw, in a lot of historical docs Daylesford-Clunes Rd Smeaton is often referred to as ‘Cumberland Rd Smeaton’, or ‘Government Rd Smeaton, just to add to the confusion.)
If you’re looking for a particular surname/family who once lived in that area you might have better luck chasing their name rather than the town’s.. or try town-names like Ullina, or just Smeaton, or Creswick, even Clunes or Ballarat.
Jerusalem was a town originally created by and for the miners who worked at the Jerusalem Lead gold mine so maybe a search of the old Central Victoria/Smeaton/Creswick gold mines…?
Good luck.
Hi,My great, great grandfather was Joseph Isherwood born 1822 Salford, Manchester, England, died 1/10/1889 in Kingston and buried in Smeaton according to his death certificate. I am looking to find a burial record. His first wife Jane Pearce died in Manchester in 1866 whilst he was touring Australia with the Lancashire Bellringers from 1863. There is evidence he toured to the USA between 1844 – 1847 with Barnum. His daughter Georgina Pearce Isherwood came to Kingston in 1869 and married Samuel Brinsden who was in partnership with John Eales in the Kingston store. After touring with the Lancashire Bellringers and performing in the Ballarat area Joseph left that troupe and came to Smeaton about the same time as his daughter and he successfully applied for a publicans license at The Sportsmans Arms Hotel in Smeaton in 1871. He married Elizabeth Ann Healey of Clunes in Feb 1871. She was a catholic so the family disapproved. Rate notices show that he continued as a publican in Smeaton until the 188o,s. They lived at Moorookyle. He and Elizabeth had four children two of whom died in infancy, ( Joseph Rawson d 1874, Mary Ellen d 1875). Elizabeth Ann died in her 20’s in Heidelberg, Melbourne and Sydney Stewart 1877 to 1927 stayed in the area mining I think. Elizabeth Healey died in 1880. Joseph lived in one of the Brinsden cottages in Kingston in his last years and was the postman. If anyone has any information on this family it would be much appreciated.
Hello you wouldn’t happen to know anything to do with the McCormack family? I am tracing my family back and I have found a decent amount of info on Alice Borden, but nothing on her husband. I would be greatfull if you had any info on John McCormack.
Hi Jess, (Sorry for the late reply!) I’ve had a look thru’ the list of names of early Smeaton families but haven’t found any McCormacks (OR Bordens). Are you sure John McCormack lived in Smeaton Victoria?
Hi Si
Can you please tell me where to find information about the times that various Presbyterian ministers were in Smeaton. I’m interested in finding out more about Reverend Harrison who was a relative of mine. My grandmother says she remembers holidaying in Smeaton as a young girl with her sister Trixie so my guess that it was the around the 1930s.
Thanks,
Keir
Hi Keir,
The only reference I can find to Reverend Harrison is: “The present minister Reverend G. E. Harrison was inducted on the 2nd February 1933”. This is on Page 11 of the 1938 Smeaton Centenary Booklet. (Click “Centenary Booklet” in the menu on the right and go to page 11, then zoom your screen-size to 200%.)
If your grandmother and great aunt holidayed in Smeaton while Reverend Harrison was “the present minister”, there’s the possibility they might’ve been here during the April 1938 centenary celebrations, while Reverend Harrison held special church services for the many visitors, including the PM at the time, Joseph Lyons! What proud reverend wouldn’t want his relatives there that day?!
(Btw, the day after tomorrow will be the 82nd anniversary of Reverend Harrisons induction.)
I loved looking at this site as I am tracing the family hisotry of the Malone family (james and Ellen) who resided in the area around 1864 and onwards for an uncertain amount of time. it seems james may have worked at a brick works ? and possibly mined for gold. One of the children Jim Malone was reported to have stayed on and worked as a butcher at Smeaton. The family also had 2 children at Smeaton William 1864 and Esther in 1866 . Esther is reported to have died also in 1866and is buried at Smeaton. The family were Catholic and we are trying to trace Esther’s burial records as there is no head stone in the cemetery. Jim went onto to bu yhis own farm near Barham and named it Moorookyle after the region he lived in. Any help or information would be grateful.Regards Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
re: Malones –
If you click on [or copy&paste] http://bit.ly/1ughfg5 (and increase your zoom size) you’ll see the Malone mentions in the Smeaton 1838-1938 Centenary booklet:
· Page 15 – “Malone” is first mentioned.
· Page 19 – “James Malone [farmer & grazier] took up farming at Durham Ox”
· Page 23 – “Mr Malone, butcher” is mentioned as a new business owner when gold mining started.
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re: Esther’s burial at Smeaton –
· My quick check of cemetery listings [ http://bit.ly/1E4I7E5 and http://bit.ly/1rzDuxT ] hasn’t found an Esther Malone buried at Smeaton cemetery, nor at any of the other surrounding town’s cemeteries. Is your info reliable?
· The Catholic church in Creswick apparently held Smeaton Catholics’ pre-1882 records, so maybe getting in touch with them might help.. altho’ I haven’t found Esther’s name in the Creswick cemetery’s Catholic section, or in the Eganstown Catholic cemetery either.
Hi Si, thank you so much for your information and the web sites, It actually sounds good, the Beechworth information, that timeline seems to fit. Appreciate your help, I too will continue looking. Is there an email I can send mail to?
cheers Karin Speed
I would love to know about the Speed Family that lived in Smeaton, end of 1800 or beginning of 1900. There were 3 sons, they moved to Speed, small township on other side of Victoria. Any help would be very grateful
cheers Karin Speed
Terrific website Si! Did you know that a copy of the centenary song is also available at Trove called, “The Dreaming Hills of Smeaton”? If you google it, and print it off the Trove website, it downloads in pdf document.
Emma.
Thanks Emma.. I’ve already got my own original Dreaming Hills song & music booklet. I found it (with the Centenary booklet) under a rubbish pile in my stables back in 1982, and I’ve still got it. I’m not even slightly musical so I can’t imagine what the ‘tune’ might sound like.. which is a terrible admission, now that I think about it. (Wonder why the primary school never sang it at an end-of-yr concert..) And ahh, browsing Trove… my version of porn! I drool at the very thought…..