March2014_DAYBORO DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
Est. 2004
DAYBORO HERITAGE TRAIL:
Marker 12 – Skerman Bros. Blacksmith
Fred Skerman opened a blacksmith shop here around 1900. Newly qualified in the trade, his brother John also joined Skerman Bros. Wheelwrights & Coachbuilders Terrors Creek.
By 1903 John had moved to Mooloolah while Fred carried on as F.J. Skerman Coachbuilder & General Smith. Around 1911 Frank Hart purchased the business, then in 1914 it was bought by Ferdinand Schmidt and became F. Schmidt & Sons Coachbuilders.
The business then had various owners, the last being Leslie George (Mick) McKenzie who was the proprietor from 1944 until the 1960s.
Fred Skerman decided to move to Dalby to become a farmer. The Presbyterian Church then decided to purchase his newly built home as a manse for the minister. On 22nd October 1910 the Ladies Guild held a fete in the afternoon and a concert in the evening, raising £100 towards the purchase of the manse. At that time the Presbyterian Church was situated near and to the north of the Cemetery and Fred Skerman’s house was just south of the Cemetery. That house is still there on “Church Hill”.
Fred farmed at Dalby, Milmerran, and Harlaxton near Toowoomba and then retired to Toowoomba where he died on 8th May 1961, one week shy of his 90th birthday. His brother, John Hope Skerman, was a blacksmith at Mooloolah for a time. He was involved in the formation of the Maleny Co-operative Dairy Association in 1908 and was the Factory Manager from 1913 until his retirement. He died in 1971, aged 96.
Frederick John Skerman and John Hope Skerman were 5th and 8th of the 16 children of Frederick John Skerman and Alice Darlington of “Rockangle”, Harrison’s Pocket. One child (a twin) was stillborn. Maria died aged 24, and Alfred died at 45. 8 of them lived to be in their 80s and 5 lived to be well in their 90s. Their family farm is now under the waters of Lake Samsonvale.
Frederick John Skerman Snr., his wife Alice, his infant daughter Alice and his brother Walter, were passengers on the “Netherby” when it sank off the coast of King Island in Bass Strait on 23rd July 1866. Remarkably, all of the 413 passengers and 49 crew were saved, firstly from drowning in the rough waters of Bass Strait and then from starvation on the mainly uninhabited island.
Some 2014 Anniversaries
19th February, 1864 150 years from the arrival in Moreton Bay of Bridget Farrell and her 5 Bond children. I will do a report on the Bond Family Reunion held at the Dayboro Showgrounds on Sunday 23rd February for next month’s “Grapevine”.
23rd February 2004 10 years since the formation of Dayboro District Historical Society
18th May 1874 140 years – Terrors Creek Provisional School No. 191 opened
26th May 1924 90 years – Silverwood Store and attached dwelling destroyed by fire
6th July 1924 90 years – re-opening of Presbyterian Church after move into town
4th August1914 100 years – Great Britain declares war on Germany. The declaration is binding on all Dominions within the British Empire including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. The United States declares its neutrality.
13th September 1894 120- years – 1894 Shearing Dispute – Parry-Okeden and party of 50 Special Constables, all members of the Moreton Mounted Infantry, departed Brisbane for Bundaberg. The group included a number of locals – John Bond, William Bond, Conrad Buhmann, Rudolphus (Dosh) Cruice, George Heathwood, John Lacey, Ludwig Lindenben, William Rohlf, William Sellin, Gabriel Strain and William James Strain.
Carmel Bond, President – Ph: 3425 1717 (h) or 3425 2032 (Dayboro Cottage)
