Sept2011_DAYBORO DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
Est. 2004
The residence was built abt. 1905 for Christopher Riek, one of the brothers who had the store (Building No. 7) featured in the August Edition. The builder is believed to have been Hans Rohlf with the assistance of his son or sons. The Post Office was built in 1936. Mr. Norman Hill was the Post Master at the time. An article published in the “Courier Mail” on 22nd February, 1936, states:
“To enable the unofficial post office at Dayboro to be housed in more commodious premises a large office is being erected in Williams Street, nearly opposite the present site. Private letter boxes will be provided.”
The Unofficial Post Office in the township was on at least three other sites before the present Post Office was built in 1936. On 11th December, 1888, James Berry, Store Keeper, was appointed Post Master and on 1st April, 1889, Mrs. Mary Ann Berry was appointed Post Mistress. A store was attached to the original Crown Hotel and from 1900 to 1907 either the publican or a member of his family was the Post Master or Post Mistress [1900 James Cowan, Crown Hotel; 1901 Mrs. James Farrell, Crown Hotel; 1903 Miss Warland, daughter of Alfred Warland, Crown Hotel]. In 1907 the Post Office was relocated to the Silverwood Store premises. It was later operated from premises owned by the Scanlan family in Williams Street almost opposite the present site. Since 1975, the Dayboro Post Office, which is a privately owned licensed Post Office business, has been run by members of the Linnane family.
FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH: Our family history research day held on 1st August as part of National Family History Week was a great success with about 20 people in attendance. One of the guests became a member of our Society on the day which is really encouraging. He had with him a copy of his great-uncle’s birth certificate. The place of birth was the South Pine River in 1885 and when I looked at the Birth Certificate I realised that the “Nurse” in attendance was my great-grandmother. Both ladies were about 40 years of age, both Irish, and had probably been friends and neighbours for some time. I think he felt obliged to join our Society after that. Charlie Nolan is still visiting “Dayboro Cottage” on the last Monday of every month (excluding December) from 10am to help people with their family research. Everyone is welcome so come and join us.
CENOTAPH RELOCATION: The August Dayboro Grapevine featured the relocation of the Cenotaph. I thought readers might be interested in the following newspaper articles:
“Brisbane Courier 30th May 1917 UPPER NORTH PINE
The Progress Association at a meeting on Saturday night decided to take steps to erect a
monument in honour of the boys who have gone to the front.”
“Brisbane Courier 19th November 1920 DAYBORO
Memorial to Soldiers: The Dayboro and District honour monument to soldiers who fought in the Great War was unveiled on Saturday afternoon by Mr. R.J. Warren M.L.A. in the presence of a large assemblage of residents. The monument is erected in the State School grounds on an elevated site overlooking the town, stands about 14ft high and bears the names of 49 men, 15 of whom made the supreme sacrifice.”
There was a photograph taken that day and I was wondering if anyone has a copy of it.
What we have is a copy of a copy etc. and it is not all that clear.
“Courier Mail 8th March 1938 DAYBORO”
The article refers to the elected school committee for the ensuing three years: It also goes on to state…
“Mr. C. Enchelmaier brought forward the matters of…and the care of the Soldier’s Memorial, which is in the school grounds. Mr. Long said the care of the memorial was vested in trustees,
a component part of the school committee, but the local sub-branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. would now interest itself in the matter.”
That’s right, there was a sub-branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. (now known as RSL) in Dayboro in the past. There was an article in a recent issue of the Dayboro Grapevine about the formation of a sub-branch of the RSL – nothing is new!
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS: I still don’t know when the main road in Dayboro was bitumened but what I have found is that in January 1935 the Pine Shire Council accepted the tender of Mr. Keith Morris for the construction of a concrete culvert in Dayboro township in the sum of £524. 9.10. The Council had approached the Government in August 1934 for a loan for this work and this was approved in September 1934. Still looking for the date for the bitumen. Now for the answer to last month’s question – I have been told by a couple of people they believe that the first person in Dayboro to own a Holden Ute was Billy McKenzie. This month’s question is to do with street lights. Dayboro did not get electricity until 1936. There is a photograph taken about 1923 showing a gas light on the corner of what are now Williams and McKenzie Streets. Was this the only gas light in Dayboro and did it function up until 1936?
Carmel Bond, President – Ph: 3425 1717 (h) or 3425 2032 (Dayboro Cottage)
Email: carmel.bond@bigpond.com or dayboroinfo@techsus.com.au
