A History of "Mary's Creek"
Along the "Bird Trails of Cooloola"
A HISTORY OF MARY’S CREEK
The Mary’s Creek Area consists of flat to undulating hills in Forest Country in the lower land, into very hilly mountainous Scrub Country, then into State Forestry Pine Plantations. There is still virgin scrub on these properties.
This makes the area a haven for birdlife.
|
|
|
In the early years the lower country was all Dairy Properties, the higher scrub country was selective cleared
for timber and Bananas.
for timber and Bananas.
|
|
|
Five generations of the Long Family have lived and worked the land, still to this day. Grandfather Long owned a block and his son, Bill Long bought blocks for bananas when “Maryland” owned by Vic. Cross, was put up for auction in 1925, buying the remainder of blocks as they were put up for sale.
This was very rough land, huge rocks, steep gullies and steep mountains, clearing was done with axes,
and rubbish burned ready for planting, but bananas grew well.
and rubbish burned ready for planting, but bananas grew well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
There were two case mills in Mary’s Creek to saw logs for cases for transporting packed bananas to market.
|
|
|
The Red Cedar, Silky oak and good furniture timbers, where hauled out with bullock teams by Grandfather Anderson, his wife and family lived at the lower end of Mary’s Creek. Grandfather made beautiful furniture which is still in use. Ada May Anderson Married William Edward Long in 1929, They built a house on the new blocks, and had five children.
Australia was again at war in 1939. There was a training camp at the Showgrounds and when the soldiers were on route marches and came down Mary’s Creek Road out of the forestry the young boys of the family sold them fresh milk to drink, all the farms had some dairy cattle, milked by hand, separated for cream to make butter,
and the separated milk fed to the pigs.
and the separated milk fed to the pigs.
During the war years, with not enough men left at home to work the farms, the Land Army was formed
with willing Women prepared to work on the land.
with willing Women prepared to work on the land.
The labour problem was largely solved by Italian prisoners of war. These were prisoners captured in Egypt early
in the war and taken to India. When the Japanese approached India the Italians were shipped to Australia.
They were regarded as low risk prisoners and the Australian Government allowed farmers to employ them as labourers.
in the war and taken to India. When the Japanese approached India the Italians were shipped to Australia.
They were regarded as low risk prisoners and the Australian Government allowed farmers to employ them as labourers.
Most of the farms in this area had two or three Italians at work. They were provided with food and lodgings.
There is still an Italian Shed on this farm that has been kept maintained over the years.
At the end of the war many prisoners asked to be allowed to remain on the farms, but the government refused their requests. After returning to Italy, many of the Italian workers returned to Australia to rebuild their lives.
There is still an Italian Shed on this farm that has been kept maintained over the years.
At the end of the war many prisoners asked to be allowed to remain on the farms, but the government refused their requests. After returning to Italy, many of the Italian workers returned to Australia to rebuild their lives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
When the bananas were mature the large bunches were cut, secured to wires on a Flying Fox at a landing built up at the banana patch, (“Flying Fox” was a Structure with many steel wires attached at the top landing, and down onto another landing stage at the packing Shed.) This was quite a long way down the mountain, so they gained speed on the way down. There was a rope attached to catch to use as a brake to slow down the bunch, or it would slam into the landing.
They were then cut down ready to be packed. The eventual collapse of the Banana Industry was caused by oversupply and disease through imports from Fiji.
They were then cut down ready to be packed. The eventual collapse of the Banana Industry was caused by oversupply and disease through imports from Fiji.
|
|
After the collapse of the bananas, they bought land on the opposite side of the road and moved the house across the road to where it now stands, this land also had to cleared, to grow small crops, and continue dairying, they enlarged the herd, building a new milking shed next to the road, and putting in milking machines, saved carting cream down to the carrier. This building is still standing, another photography site.
After the death of Bill his son Lawrie bought the home farms, joining them to the original Vic. Cross property which he had previously bought, then extending into the two blocks across the road when they went on the market.
As the children of the families grew older with the passing years, the farms turned to dairying.
As the hilly steep country was mostly out of frost level it was very suitable for growing small-crops.
As the children of the families grew older with the passing years, the farms turned to dairying.
As the hilly steep country was mostly out of frost level it was very suitable for growing small-crops.
Citrus Orchards, Tree crops, Pawpaws, potatoes, pumpkins, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, were some vegetables
grown for the local and Interstate Markets.
grown for the local and Interstate Markets.
Beans are the main small crops grown at the present time on these properties.
With the decline in dairying, farmers converted to Beef cattle, and some farmers in the district are growing tree crops.
With the decline in dairying, farmers converted to Beef cattle, and some farmers in the district are growing tree crops.
References –
Winds of Change.
Widgee Shire 100 Years by Ian Pedley.
Longing for The Chatsworth by Dennis Long and The Long Family.
Memories of Lawrie and Anne Long.
Winds of Change.
Widgee Shire 100 Years by Ian Pedley.
Longing for The Chatsworth by Dennis Long and The Long Family.
Memories of Lawrie and Anne Long.
________________________________________________________________
EARLY MAPPING RELEVANT TO MARY'S CREEK
The earliest reference to Mary's Creek being used as the name of the creek is on a survey plan dated 1918 – LX940.
The relevant part of this survey plan is shown below.
The relevant part of this survey plan is shown below.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The earliest reference to the use of Mary's Creek as a place name was on a 1 mile to the inch military topography map – Cooroy dated 1942, the relevant part shown below. It does not show a creek named Marys Creek.
The “T “reference near Mary’s Creek is shown to indicate that it is a Post and Telegraph office.
The “T “reference near Mary’s Creek is shown to indicate that it is a Post and Telegraph office.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A 1979 Parish map for the Parish of Glastonbury shows both the name on a creek and a locality name as shown below. Qld State Archives may hold earlier parish maps of Glastonbury that could be checked for any references to Marys Creek.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Information & Maps courtesy of Kaye Nardella
Senior Curator, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying
Land and Spatial Information, Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Senior Curator, Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying
Land and Spatial Information, Department of Natural Resources and Mines
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Some Further History Of Mary's Creek (Refer Mapping Above)
(Information Courtesy of Gympie Regional Libraries)
(Information Courtesy of Gympie Regional Libraries)
There is no firm evidence of who Mary’s Creek is named after. A Skyring family story tells that it is named after one of the daughters of Zachariah and Amelia who was born in 1863. It is curious that Mary Louisa Eliza Ann Skyring,
who married Ernest William Cross in 1887, had a block of land at the head of Mary’s Creek Rd in 1924.
The Skyring family were some of the first settlers in the area of Eel Creek in around 1869.
At that stage the land would have been dense scrub that was cleared for cropping and cattle.
who married Ernest William Cross in 1887, had a block of land at the head of Mary’s Creek Rd in 1924.
The Skyring family were some of the first settlers in the area of Eel Creek in around 1869.
At that stage the land would have been dense scrub that was cleared for cropping and cattle.
The earliest mention of Mary’s Creek in newspapers occurs in 1922. A survey map from 1918 shows the creek named Mary’s Creek. The AF lease No. 1386 which was the property of Mary Cross and her husband appears on an 1890 map but there is no mention of Mary’s Creek at this stage. In 1892/3 Widgee Shire Valuation Registers the Cross’s owned this parcel of land. Zachariah Skyring owned much of the land around it in 1892.
Timber Reserves were part of the area from at least the mid 1800’s. On an 1890 map the reserve that Mary’s Creek Road runs up to is shown as a cancelled timber reserve. This reserve must have been reinstated or became State Forest
at a later date as timber operations were run from there in the 1930’s and 40’s.
There were temporary forestry camps and then later permanent camps in the Mary’s Creek area.
at a later date as timber operations were run from there in the 1930’s and 40’s.
There were temporary forestry camps and then later permanent camps in the Mary’s Creek area.
There is mention of pine tree plantation beginning in the State Forest in this area in the 1930’s.
In 1936 Forestry Department contracted H. Dorman to brush part of the reserve ready for the planting of pine trees.
Mary’s Creek Sawmill was run sometime through the 1930’s by firstly Oscar Bonney and J Burns and then later
by a Mr Pratt. In September 1936 a newspaper report in the Courier Mail boasts 100 000 superficial feet of timber removed from State Forests in the area for various sawmills.
In 1936 Forestry Department contracted H. Dorman to brush part of the reserve ready for the planting of pine trees.
Mary’s Creek Sawmill was run sometime through the 1930’s by firstly Oscar Bonney and J Burns and then later
by a Mr Pratt. In September 1936 a newspaper report in the Courier Mail boasts 100 000 superficial feet of timber removed from State Forests in the area for various sawmills.
There must have been a thriving community in the 1930’s as there are references to a Tennis Club and other social events. There was a Christmas event at Mr Cross’s farm in 1934 and a dance at the Mary’s Creek Tennis Club in 1936.
Farming became more relevant to the community in the 1920’s.
There are newspaper references for the growing of fruit such as bananas, pawpaws, pineapples and citrus. Crops such as lucerne and maize were also grown. In the 1930’s beans were grown as well. In the early 1930’s there was much debate about opening up the forestry reserves for settlement and agriculture.
Farming became more relevant to the community in the 1920’s.
There are newspaper references for the growing of fruit such as bananas, pawpaws, pineapples and citrus. Crops such as lucerne and maize were also grown. In the 1930’s beans were grown as well. In the early 1930’s there was much debate about opening up the forestry reserves for settlement and agriculture.
References -
Kerr, J. (1998) ‘Forest Industry Heritage Places Study: Sawmills and Tramways South Eastern Queensland’.
1936 ‘(no heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 14 July, p. 25, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1965720
1947’(no Heading)’, Worker (Brisbane, Qld.: 1890 – 1955), 4 August, p.7, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page6773544
1947 ‘(no heading)’, Queensland Country Life (Qld.: 1900 – 1954), 10 July, p. 10, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page10359801
1934 ‘(no heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 27 December, p. 18, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1954505
1936 ‘(no heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 9 September, p. 10, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1966985
1937 ‘(No heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 17 May, p. 10, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1972327
1931 ‘(No heading)’, The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), 11 March, p. 9, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1680106
1902 ‘(No heading)’, Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld.: 1868 – 1919), p. 4, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page19128242
1875 ‘Land Settlement in the Gympie District’, Gympie Times and the Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld.: 1868 – 1919), 16 October, p. 3, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168907971
1878 ‘Farming in the Gympie District’, Gympie and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld.: 1868 – 1919), 13 March, p. 3, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168611605
Kerr, J. (1998) ‘Forest Industry Heritage Places Study: Sawmills and Tramways South Eastern Queensland’.
1936 ‘(no heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 14 July, p. 25, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1965720
1947’(no Heading)’, Worker (Brisbane, Qld.: 1890 – 1955), 4 August, p.7, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page6773544
1947 ‘(no heading)’, Queensland Country Life (Qld.: 1900 – 1954), 10 July, p. 10, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page10359801
1934 ‘(no heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 27 December, p. 18, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1954505
1936 ‘(no heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 9 September, p. 10, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1966985
1937 ‘(No heading)’, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld.: 1933 – 1954), 17 May, p. 10, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1972327
1931 ‘(No heading)’, The Brisbane Courier (Qld.: 1864 – 1933), 11 March, p. 9, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1680106
1902 ‘(No heading)’, Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld.: 1868 – 1919), p. 4, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page19128242
1875 ‘Land Settlement in the Gympie District’, Gympie Times and the Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld.: 1868 – 1919), 16 October, p. 3, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168907971
1878 ‘Farming in the Gympie District’, Gympie and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld.: 1868 – 1919), 13 March, p. 3, viewed 29 May, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168611605
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Some Earlier History of Mary's Creek
(Information Courtesy of Gympie Regional Libraries)
(Information Courtesy of Gympie Regional Libraries)
This article was written by Clarice Tuck from the recollections of Zachariah Daniel Sparks Skyring’s two surviving daughters,
Mrs Ivy Bayliss and Mrs Adele Woolgar, and surviving son, Mr Zachariah Clarence Skyring of their fathers memories.
This article was written October 1976
Mrs Ivy Bayliss and Mrs Adele Woolgar, and surviving son, Mr Zachariah Clarence Skyring of their fathers memories.
This article was written October 1976
When Zachariah Daniel Sparks Skyring died on 4th June 1957 he took with him an invaluable reservoir of the knowledge of the language and customs of the aborigines of the Wide Bay area, particularly of the Kabi Kabi tribe who inhabited an area on the South Side of Gympie, where his father had taken up a large area of land for the purpose of grazing and timbergetting. He called his property "Mumbeanna", which means, "King sit here",
after the name of the aboriginal chief of the area. The district is known by that name to this day.
after the name of the aboriginal chief of the area. The district is known by that name to this day.
His father, Zachariah Senior, who was the eldest son of Daniel Budd Skyring, one of Brisbane's very first settlers,
had cattle runs between Brisbane and Maryborough, and had been in the habit of riding from Brisbane to
Maryborough after cattle. He had become friendly with the aborigines during his journeys, and was known by them
as a friend and protector.
had cattle runs between Brisbane and Maryborough, and had been in the habit of riding from Brisbane to
Maryborough after cattle. He had become friendly with the aborigines during his journeys, and was known by them
as a friend and protector.
He could communicate with most of the aborigines in these districts, having taken the trouble
to learn fluently the dialect of the tribes closer to Brisbane. Before taking his wife, four daughters and one son to settle at Mumbeanna he thought it would be prudent to make friends with the aborigines there, as the Chief, “Mumbee",
had a reputation of being averse to white settlers.
It was the custom, during the Bunya Season, for all the tribes to declare a peace and hold a great feast and corroboree on the Mumbeanna flats, at which the aborigines for many miles around would attend.
to learn fluently the dialect of the tribes closer to Brisbane. Before taking his wife, four daughters and one son to settle at Mumbeanna he thought it would be prudent to make friends with the aborigines there, as the Chief, “Mumbee",
had a reputation of being averse to white settlers.
It was the custom, during the Bunya Season, for all the tribes to declare a peace and hold a great feast and corroboree on the Mumbeanna flats, at which the aborigines for many miles around would attend.
It was during this feasting time that Zachariah Senior decided to ride out to see Mumbee, the Chief of the tribe. On the approach of the white-man Mumbee got ready to spear him. However, fortunately for Zachariah, there was at the feast the Chief of one of the tribes nearer to Brisbane who knew Zachariah Senior and he interceded with Mumbee for him
and told Mumbee that he had been a friend and protector of the aborigines for many years.
and told Mumbee that he had been a friend and protector of the aborigines for many years.
Zachariah Senior and Mumbee conversed at great length, with the aid of the Chief from the Brisbane area
acting as interpreter, Zac not being fluent in the dialect of Mumbee's tribe, which was quite different
from the dialects around Brisbane.
Mumbee showed his friendship by making Zachariah Senior his blood - brother. He scratched his arm and Zachariah’s with a spear and mixed their blood. From that moment Mumbee regarded Zachariah's son, Zachariah Junior,
as his tribal son.
acting as interpreter, Zac not being fluent in the dialect of Mumbee's tribe, which was quite different
from the dialects around Brisbane.
Mumbee showed his friendship by making Zachariah Senior his blood - brother. He scratched his arm and Zachariah’s with a spear and mixed their blood. From that moment Mumbee regarded Zachariah's son, Zachariah Junior,
as his tribal son.
The Chief became very attached to young Zachariah and a deep and lasting affection and respect grew up between them. The tribes never moved out to hunt and fish without taking young Zac (as he was called by his family) with them.
He would go walkabout with them and join in the hunt. He was totally accepted as one of the tribe and ran naked with them, carrying his own waddy or nulla nulla when he went on a hunt (battue) for kangaroos.
He would go walkabout with them and join in the hunt. He was totally accepted as one of the tribe and ran naked with them, carrying his own waddy or nulla nulla when he went on a hunt (battue) for kangaroos.
They gave him an aboriginal name "Bunda", meaning "Good-fellow" and they taught him
their arts of hunting and many of their secret customs which he would never reveal, despite many entreaties
from southern journalists and writers.
their arts of hunting and many of their secret customs which he would never reveal, despite many entreaties
from southern journalists and writers.
The tribe was always very protective towards young Zac, but he also was a protection to them. In those times aborigines were treated by the white people no better than animals to be shot on sight or whipped with a stock-whip or sold poisoned flour. When an unknown white-man approached, the tribe would send young Zac out to speak to him. Most people were amazed to see a young white boy with a tribe of wild aborigines. He would tell them that the aborigines worked for his father, and they would be left unmolested.
There would be days when young Zac's mother would inform the Chief that Zac could not go out, as he had wood to cut, or water to carry and other tasks to do. Miraculously heaps of wood and containers of water appeared.
They would help with his tasks so Zac could go hunting with them.
They would help with his tasks so Zac could go hunting with them.
On one occasion, whilst out hunting Kangaroos with the aborigines, Zac had his arm very deeply gashed, almost to the bone by the hindleg of a kangaroo, they had it encircled and it attacked Zac to escape out of the circle. The aborigines collected leaves from a tree growing in the area (unfortunately no record of the name of the plant) chewed them up, made a plaster, covering all of the wound and bound it up tightly with bark. They told his mother not to disturb it for three weeks. When he took it off, it was completely healed with only a slight scar. Zac knew of many remedies like this, but unfortunately, they were never recorded. I remember seeing the scar on my grandfather's arm, caused by
the above incident.
the above incident.
Another cure Zac witnessed when hunting with the aborigines was when a young lubra disturbed a bandicoot and it raced off. She gave chase (Bandicoot was one of their favourite foods, when roasted tastes like pork). Lubras always carried little stone axes with them, to cut out booyums and grubs from the trees. Zac decided to help round the bandicoot up and joined in the chase, but the bandicoot made straight for a hollow log and crawled in it.
The lubra looked into the hollow log, it was dark, but she thought she saw movement and put her hand up the hole to pull out the bandicoot, but she pulled out a large venomous snake which bit her on the finger, she immediately chopped her finger off her hand (then chopped the snake).
The lubra looked into the hollow log, it was dark, but she thought she saw movement and put her hand up the hole to pull out the bandicoot, but she pulled out a large venomous snake which bit her on the finger, she immediately chopped her finger off her hand (then chopped the snake).
She raced down the hill to the gully and searched for some clay, which she found and packed a good wad of the clay on the chopped finger to stop the bleeding and heal the wound, then collected the snake (which would be good roasted) and carried on the hunting. The clay was left undisturbed on her hand for some time and when taken off the finger was healed perfectly and, except for the loss of a finger, no ill-effects. She had chopped the finger off before the
venom could circulate.
venom could circulate.
When Zac was 13 years of age his father sent him with two drovers to Brisbane to collect 12 cows and a bull. On the way back the stockmen who accompanied him decided to slake their dusty throats at a little shanty just north of Brisbane. The potent sly grog got the better of them and they were taken under the wing of the constabulary, so Zac decided
to go on alone.
to go on alone.
Going over (lost text) (cattle missing?) and cried. Through his sobs he heard the sound of Aboriginal voices discussing what on earth such a young fellow was doing on his own. Speaking in their own language Zac told them he was Bunda of Mumbeanna and that he had failed in the task set for him by his father. Among Aborigines, such failure meant great disgrace, so they rounded up all the cattle and helped Zac drove them all the way to the outskirts of Gympie.
They would go no further for fear of being shot.
They would go no further for fear of being shot.
Young Zac's knowledge of the Aborigines stood him in good stead many times - and even saved his life.
Once, while drinking at a waterhole far from home and friendly blacks, he saw in the water the reflections of an Aboriginal standing behind him with upraised spear. Without a flicker of fear and without moving a muscle he called out in the aboriginal lingo '."What name you, what tribe you belong?". The young warrior immediately lowered his weapon.
Once, while drinking at a waterhole far from home and friendly blacks, he saw in the water the reflections of an Aboriginal standing behind him with upraised spear. Without a flicker of fear and without moving a muscle he called out in the aboriginal lingo '."What name you, what tribe you belong?". The young warrior immediately lowered his weapon.
