Jervis Bay Job Adds.

 

This add appeared in the wanted column of “The Scrutineer Wednesday March 14, 1900”.

The forests of the south coast were heavily exploited for their timber during this time, bullock teams and their drivers “ Bullocky’s “  were in high demand and would be paid well for their daily toil.

The town and Country Journal 1905 -  A correspondents observations as he travelled around Jervis Bay and the Shoalhaven

Six teams, laden up with "sleepers," drawn each by fourteen bullocks, gave life lately to the peaceful little-frequented roads between Nowra and Jervis Bay. The timber-getters have to go well back into the bush, far off the main roads, for the blackbutt and other hardwoods. They fell, saw, measure, and dress the sleepers there, and then bring them along on a sort of trestle or scaffold, which rests on the wheels of the original dray. Six teams on the road, one behind the other, made a fine sight, and helped to make one realise how essential the country is to the city; how we are fed and supplied by the rural districts, and how the energy and enterprise of the man on the land makes tho whole State go "forward." Bullocky Bill's language may be lurid as he "explains" the patient oxen out of the deep, soft, treacly rut;   but his accomplishment of a load of heavy timber at the Jervls Bay wharf is a far more creditable performance than many a city man can show for a day's work.

This old bullock bell and yoke are on display in the museum.

Continue reading – a previous post about the bullock teams and the “timber jinkers”" used to haul logs and timber to North Huskisson late 1900’s

Storm cell over Point Perpendicular.

Quite the dramatic start to the day over Jervis Bay – a massive storm cell rumbled across the headland as the Australian Navy conducted exercises.  Every now and again lightning flashed from the cell,  but I was unable to get the timing right as it was so infrequent.

HMAS Creswell – clock tower.

HMAS Creswell clock tower – constructed between 1913-1914. The tower bell chimed in nautical chimes every half hour. Between 1930 and 1958 the college was decommissioned for economic reasons and most of the buildings leased out as holiday accommodation. Somewhere during this time the original  bell was removed and it’s whereabouts became unknown. In the mid 1960’s the bell turned up at an engineering works owned by Mr Hopkins in Chatswood. Mr Hopkins decided to take the bell home, where he had it mounted as a display in his foyer. After Mr Hopkins died, his son held onto the bell for some time.  The bell had faint markings that indicated it had come from the Naval Training College,  Mr Hopkins contacted the historical officer at HMAS Creswell asking if the navy would like it back,  a 50 year old mystery had been solved. The markings were the initials of four 1914 entry cadet midshipmen who had gained entry to the tower and left their initials on the bell in what is thought to be some sort of crayon, the crayon has slightly etched into the bronze over time. The bell was returned to the college, restoration was discussed,  but it was decided to leave the bell as it was found,  and is a valuable part of the navy’s collection at the college.. The bronze bell weighs between 200-300kg.

The College Quarterdeck featuring the Clock Tower

.

The bay was alight

A slow dissolving mist drifting across the bay, catching the the orange of the sunrise, made the water appear to be being on fire.. It was really amazing to watch.  This photo doesn’t do the reality justice.

Denman Flowers

A quick stroll around the garden today revealed a lovely selection of winter flowering plants in bloom.

I don’t know the names of any of the flowers shown. That might be something someone else can help me with. Feel free the post a comment below.

World War One Exhibition.

Appeal for Recruits.

While the first wave of Australian Soldiers were entrenched in a bloody struggle for survival on the foothills of Gallipoli,  Newspapers were starting to report on the carnage and brutal nature of the situation,  news of the mounting casualties were starting to effect the enlistment rates. Emotional appeals and illustrations were used to get more men to enlist. This emotive, appeal for recruits appeared in the Shoalhaven Telegraph in 1915.

The Jervis Bay Recruiting Association have issued the following circular:- Tomerong, October 27th, 1915. Men of Tomerong,  Huskisson,  Falls Creek,  and Wandandian. The need for soldiers is greater now than at any time since the war was forced upon us,  15 months ago. More soldiers are wanted at Gallipoli.     400,000 more are required in the Balkan Peninsula. Have you read the brutal murder of Nurse Edith Carvell?.     Have you read of the horrible atrocities everywhere committed by our cruel,  unscrupulous,  and inhuman enemies?.     Are you willing to your wives to the power of the German Huns?. No Conscription or Compulsion is necessary.      Your brethren at Gallipoli call on you to help them. Your women call on you to protect them.       Your country calls on you to defend it. Your King appeals to you in a noble,  dignified and earnest manner for your help.       Are you going to refuse all these appeals?. Avoid the inevitable future reproaches that await you.       Join the forthcoming Route March from Nowra to Sydney with your mates on the South Coast. By Order of the Association JOHN C. GRANT Hon.  Sec.  Jervis Bay Recruiting Association.         Another hand drawn image from the front pages of the Illustrated Sydney Mail 1915.

The illustration above is a very clever, guilt laced, emotional piece of artwork.

The Museum has an amazing collection of images taken at Gallipoli,  running through to September.  Don’t miss it – More Information.

On this day – 7th July 1822.

1822 – Completion of Berry’s canal. It took Hamilton Hume and three men twelve days to complete the 209 yard long canal. It was Australia’s first canal. No Environmental Impact Study was required. The river itself cut the canal wider and deeper and dredging many years later opened up the Shoalhaven River for steamships and the coastal trade. Continue Reading

A swift and fearful destruction

The loss of the Schooner Jones Brothers.

"It seemed to me,  looking back on that awful experience,  as though some providential hand had been stretched out to save us".

Bert Lovett Collection The Jones Brother schooner being towed out of port.   Newcastle Region Library.

The Jones Brothers three mast topsail schooner was built by George Dent Snr. at Huskisson in 1892. She was originally built as a steamer,  but converted into a sailing vessel after being launched. She was - 114ft 2in long,  24ft 6in wide,  and 7ft 4in deep – 133 tons She was a well known schooner and made many voyages while engaged in carrying coal from Newcastle to Sydney for it's owners,  Jones Brothers of Sydney.  1899 – Like so many other vessels working the open oceans she had some rough experiences, In June 1899 while coming from Newcastle to Sydney she uncounted a fierce squall,  Captain Teghlan and the crew had to work for their lives to avoid being carried to the bottom, she was forced to return to Newcastle losing her foremast,  and main topmast and parts of her rigging.  Like most coasting schooners working between ports at this time,  she used her sails when the winds were favourable,  but sometimes as in this case for the Jones Brother schooner,  she would be towed from port to port by steamers,  this was still the most economical  way of moving large quantities of coal and other cargo along the coast. The Helen Nicholl was also owned by Jones Brothers, and was employed to tow the schooner Jones Brothers.

Old Newspaper image : Jones Brothers being towed out of Port Jackson on one of her many voyages to Newcastle.

She was in command of captain Peter Olson, one of the oldest skippers on the coast,  who had been trading between Newcastle and Sydney for 35 years.

Mixed reports.

Some accounts of the day report relatively calm seas with a strong westerly to south westerly wing blowing off the land. While others report a fierce gale was already blowing with a heavy sea rolling,  throwing up large clouds of spray on the break-wall. Whatever the case the fateful decision was made to leave Newcastle Harbour for her trip to Sydney.

August 30th 1905 5 p.m. - The Jones Brothers passed out of port under sail and off Nobbys Head was joined by the steamer Helen Nichol,  in command of captain Henry Pender.  A hawser was attached to the schooner and Helen Nichol headed under full steam for Sydney. 6 p.m. - At first they made good progress,  but the wind increased to a full blown gale and turned to the south,  bring with it mountainous seas.   The Jones Brothers schooner pitched and plunged the seas swept both vessels. The hawser snapped and the schooner,  at the mercy of the wind and seas was driven northward.  The Helen Nichol undertook a risky manoeuvrer by coming about in the conditions,  by expert seamanship captain Pender got his steamer around,  his ship was badly battered, deck fittings being swept overboard. It was a long chase catching up with the schooner,  which was being driven before the gale at an alarming speed. Nearing Nobby's Head the Helen Nichol was close up and after great difficulty a line was got aboard and with full steam an effort was made to enter port. 12.30 a.m. - The lookout man at the signal station saw the lights of a steamer with a vessel in tow making for the entrance,  The steamer was rolling heavily and huge seas were sweeping right over her, The night was intensely dark,  and the outline of the schooner,  which was hardly discernable, at any time was soon entirely lost to view.  But the Helen Nichole was observed to be steaming in a northerly direction,  which led to the impression that the other craft was making for Port Stephens. Now almost abreast of Nobby's,  and in grave danger of being wrecked as well, the line was cast off,  and the Jones Brothers drifted towards the dreaded oyster bank.

" It was a case of every man for himself." said Olsen,  " and had we kept hold of the schooner both vessels would have been wrecked."

2 a.m. - Captain Pender found that his steamer was in a very dangerous position,  being within a few yards of the  Adolphe that had gone on to the oyster bank and become a total wreck in October 1904..

The Adolphe wrecked on the Stockton Breakwater at Newcastle Item is held by John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.   John Turner Collection 1904

The steamer was at once headed for the open sea,  and although the engines were going at full steam little headway could be made against the great rollers,  with the captain expecting every huge wave to smash the vessel onto the banks,  the Helen Nichol battled with the storm for more than two hours before making her way to the open sea and safety. 3 a.m - The steamers light were observed again for about an hour by the signal hill,  before appearing to head away towards Sydney. Captain Pender, hove his steamer to, waiting for daylight and a sight of the schooner.  but nothing was seen, at this time Captain Pender made the decision to head to Sydney, without making any signal to the station. The first intimation the port officials received that anything unusual had happened was when the lookout man at Nobbys perceived a quantity of wreckage drifting into the harbour shortly after daybreak. Spars and beams and a quantity of decking,  shortly after masts of a vessel were found.  11 a.m - The identity of the vessel wasn't ascertained until coamings of the main hatch and fittings were discovered off Stockton Beach and towed into harbour with the official number 10,118 attached.  The figures corresponded with the designation of the Jones Brothers.

News spread and anxious relatives were waiting for news from the Helen Nichol, when she arrived in Sydney,  authorities and relatives were hoping she had saved the crew of the Jones Brothers.    When the Helen Nicholl arrived anxious enquiries met with the reply.

"No, we have not saved anyone" .

Inspection the  Helen Nicholl showed signs of a great struggle against the elements, deck fitting were ripped off,  ladders were missing,  stanchions broken and doors bent,  twisted and wrenched, railings on both sides torn off,  with some still hanging over her sides,  her decks were a mass of debris.

Monday morning, 4th  Any faint hope that the missing 7 men from the Jones Brothers had some how survived were soon dashed. A body from the wreck of the Jones Brothers was washed up on Stockton Beach, about three miles from the scene of the disaster. Shortly after two more bodies were found washed onto a beach, 30 miles away near Anna Bay. The other 4 bodies were never found.

Enquiry Findings: The enquiry found no fault on the part of the master or officers of the Helen Nicholl.   But he added,  it would have been better had he communicated with the men at Signal Hill before proceeding on his way to Sydney.  Further enquiries - At the time of the disaster,  the Signal station men said they hadn’t  observed any signals or flares to warn them of what was happening,  but a flare or light was seen by local resident, “Mrs Foster”  for a brief moment as the tragedy unfolded.  The enquiry accepted that the men of the signal station hadn't seen any kind of signal, but the enquiry was also of the opinion -  “because  these men had grave doubts and misgivings about the position of the vessels it would have been infinitely better had they taken the course put upon them by the port authority,  of firing the gun,  had this been done and the lifeboat launched it was probable,  seeing that a distress signal had been made from the schooner,  that some lives would have been saved”".

Crews on ships plying the Australian coast came from many nations, Below is a list of the men lost from the Jones Brothers schooner. Peter Olsen Master 60 years, Sweden. Thomas Jenkins,  mate 45, England. John Sheilds, AB., 38, Russia. William Malley, AB., 31 Halifax. W.A. Mason A.B., 37, Sweden. Charles Peterson. A.B Sweden Charles Johnson, cook. unknown.

The infamous Oyster Bank near the entrance to Newcastle Harbour claimed many ships, and the remains of those wrecked vessels above and below the water, made entering the harbour in rough weather, an even more perilous journey.

Jervis Bay, “"the navy’s favourite resort”

The Navy and the history of Jervis Bay have been running on a parallel course since August 1791 when Lieutenant Richard Bowen, aboard the convict transport ship Atlantic, part of the Third Fleet, sailed into the bay and named it in honour of Admiral John Jervis, under whom he had served. The bay has been used by the British, Australian and surprisingly by the German navy before the first world war for practice. At the moment the Australian Navy is conducting manoeuvres inside the bay,  sirens, flares and helicopters can be seen coming and going from this ship. Sound travels quickly and clearly across the bay. When this was taken a couple of days ago before dawn, the sound of the helicopter on the platform at the stern of the vessel was very loud,  soon after it took to the air.   The Navy recognised Jervis Bay as an ideal area for practice,   in the early 19 century the navy conducted much the same style of exercise,  but used live shells and ammunition,  which causes a few problems…    ”more on that story in another post.”.

June 30 1888 – Artists impression - Town and Country Journal.  The vessels Nelson and Rapid in Jervis Bay – Torpedo and boarding practice.

H.M.S. Nelson, the flagship of the Australian station, accompanied by H.M.S. Rapid, left Sydney on May 28 last at noon for a course of torpedo and gunning practice in Jervis Bay. The target, a large one made of canvas, supposed to represent a ship under way, was towed from Sydney by the Nelson. The first portion of the exercise was the Nelson firing torpedos at a target towed rapidly past by a steam launch. The torpedos, of course, were not exploded. The gunners showed considerable efficiency in this practice.

May 14 1898 – Artists impression - Town and Country Journal.  Shot practice in Jervis Bay.

Part of the description attached is quite illuminating.   “Not that one imagines an armed invasion of Australia by any of the Great Powers at all probable.  Still either Russia,  France,  or Germany might,  choosing her time,  work terrible havoc along  our coasts by means of a flying squadron detached from one of of the naval bases they are so busily acquiring in the east.  And in such a case our only means of defence or retaliation lies in the Australian Auxiliary Squadron, a portion of which the artist has depicted as engaged in shell practice in it’s favourite resort,  Jervis Bay.  The big ship in the foreground is the Royal Arthur,  first class cruiser,  on the left is the Mildura,  whilst steaming along in the background is the 18-knot gunboat Karakatta.

Friday 10th July – more drills, sharp turns,  horns,  flares and  gun fire while being chased by small boats  involved in a small boat attack simulation..

On this day

1849 3rd July - The Schooner “Susan” of 23 tons and carrying tallow and hides struck Ulladulla reef. She went down in 10 minutes. Continue reading.

Jervis Bay Snippet

Another small article takes us back to a time when life around Jervis Bay moved at a much slower pace. Funding cuts driven by the great depression in 1930 saw the government lease the beautiful buildings of the Royal Australian Naval College out as hotels and guesthouses., the publicity drew more and more people to the bay seeking it’s amazing beauty and quiet charm,  tourism became an important part of the local economy. .

The Sydney Morning Herald March 1933. .

“Set like a jewel on one of the low promontories of Jervis Bay stands the modern town of Huskisson.  Here hurry ceases,  for is there not fifteen miles of bush to break the disturbing influence of a railway connection to the hustling city of Sydney? Nothing more exciting that the crack of a bullocky’s whip as a huge log is bought into the shipbuilding yard,  the arrival of the daily mail,  or the dispatch of a few cases of schnapper and blackfish,  mars the even tenor of life in this idyllic spot. But it is known to motorists,  who comes with all his paraphernalia and a section of his family to camp beneath the great Bloodwoods and Blackbutts that crown the headland of Tapalla Point,  or the grass – grown banks of Moona Moona Creek.   There he stays for a day,  a week,  or a month – to vanish suddenly,  leaving no trace of his temporary home except a tent peg or a shallow channel that suggests a showery holiday. By day the silver beaches that boarder the bay are alive with a colourful foreground of bathers;  by night the flash of the light at Point Perpendicular lends it’s charm to the nine-mile stretch of water that spans the spacious inlet eastward.”

Newspaper photograph and description from the same era.

Net mending - Huskisson

One of many old photographs from the Museums collection.

Smoky Cape Lighthouse

The last of the three light houses we visited on our trip was Smoky Cape lighthouse located near Seal Rocks within Hat Head National Park,  another beautiful light house with magnificent views of the coast. Standing 460ft above the sea,  it is the highest lighthouse in Australia.  Designed by James Barnet, The building was completed in 1891.  An easy walk and well worth the effort.

Looking North towards Hat Head.