Even then there were evidently many who were interested in local history, for that night the meeting room of the Athenaeum. Hall was crowded. Miss Serpell was highly complimented on her talk.
Miss Selina Serpell has the distinction of being a daughter of one of Doncaster's first line Pioneers.
In May, 1853, Richard Serpell bought 20 acres of land at the corner of Tucker's Road and King Street. Later the orchard was extended to Reynold's Road. In the 1880's, he moved to the corner of Main Road and Williamson's Road, where the family remained till 1968.
In May, 1853, Richard Serpell bought 20 acres of land at the corner of Tucker's Road and King Street. Later the orchard was extended to Reynold's Road. In the 1880's, he moved to the corner of Main Road and Williamson's Road, where the family remained till 1968.
Richard Serpell was one of the leaders of Doncaster, being remembered for donations of land to the school and the shire.
Extracts from Miss Serpell's history, written in 1930: Memories of Early Doncaster:
Extracts from Miss Serpell's history, written in 1930: Memories of Early Doncaster:
A little imagination, and a few facts are all that remain to remind us that Doncaster was once frequented by the "Blacks". The name of the creek on the southern boundary is of Aboriginal origin, and stories told by the older women settlers give details of their actions when their men-folk were away from home, and they feared they were likely to be molested by the "blacks". They would "coo-ee", as though signalling to the husband and the dusky intruders would at once scuttle off.
Another story relates the finding of aboriginal bones, carefully buried, and covered with bark, on the cutting in Williamson's Road:
About the year 1853, a man named Burnley bestowed the name of Doncaster upon this new district, after Doncaster of Yorkshire, England, of which he was a native. Having made considerable money at the gold digging, Mr. Burnley invested it in property in this district - at one time owning land stretching from Springvale Road to Wetherby Road.
The roads in those days were, for the most part, merely trecks through the bushland, with corduroy across the wet places - a little of which still remains and can be seen when the metal wears thin in Williamson's Road.
As wood carting was the chief occupation of the early settlers, the roads mainly consisted of ruts and dust in Summer, and mud up to the horses girths in Winter; at times taking all the hair off the horse's legs.
As Doncaster, generally referred to as the "Bush" or the "Highlands" in the early days, was covered with dense forest, the industry of the early settlers was wood carting, and until recent years, the wood carter with his horse and dray, or sometimes bullock cart and team, could be seen late at night, wending his weary way home, after selling his load. Only the rattle of the dray and a faint glimmer of light announced his approach.
Not so long ago, the picturesque sight of Mr. Kent's team of Bullocks could be seen with their load, either resting under the trees opposite the butchers, or making their way along the road, guided by the drivers long whip.
As time went on, vegetables and fruit trees began to be planted. Small fruits, such as gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries, were widely grown, as were also damson plums, egg plums, cherry plums, apples, pears, almonds and walnuts, and even pomegranites.
Mr. H. Crouch claims to have grown the first beans. For these he found a ready sale, at a time when vegetables were very scarce in Melbourne. He also gives a description of a load of market produce taken in by him. On top of a load of sawn timber (worth
10 pence per cwt.), he carried 150 gallons of milk, 1 gin case of butter (40 lbs.), 1 kerosene case of eggs, and sometimes half a pig.
The time of the land boom in Doncaster was a very exciting one. The orchardists on every hand catching the fever, began cutting down their trees and placing their holdings on the market. Estate Agents Offices sprang up in every direction, and the name of R. G. Cameron was very conspicuous on the large advertising hoardings.
One office stood on the site of the corner store, another near Mr. F. Cameron's gate, this one having a very imposing approach of long steps. The building occupied by Miss Semen, and one at J. Petty's are still standing, silent reminders of the boom which has since become past history.
The scanty water supply caused most of the early pioneers to settle along the banks of the creeks. Large wells were sunk and bricked. Later a small pipe was connected with the main, about Platt's, and reached as far as Reynolds, but this was too small to prove satisfactory, and often during the hottest days ran dry. After a good deal of agitation, the Board allowed a main to be laid from Mitcham, but this also, proved inadequate, and a larger main was granted.
Wild Flower Shows were held by Mr. A. 0. Thiele in the school, about the year 1886. The scholars collected orchids and other wild flowers. These were arranged in the ink wells of the desks. The boys also made fern baskets, filling them with maiden-hair fern. This did much to foster in us a love of our native flowers.
The idea of Flower Shows was revived by the Church of England in about 1912, when Mr. Hennel was Vicar.
Source: 1968 05 DTHS Newsletter AND 1999 06 DTHS Newsletter
Another story relates the finding of aboriginal bones, carefully buried, and covered with bark, on the cutting in Williamson's Road:
About the year 1853, a man named Burnley bestowed the name of Doncaster upon this new district, after Doncaster of Yorkshire, England, of which he was a native. Having made considerable money at the gold digging, Mr. Burnley invested it in property in this district - at one time owning land stretching from Springvale Road to Wetherby Road.
The roads in those days were, for the most part, merely trecks through the bushland, with corduroy across the wet places - a little of which still remains and can be seen when the metal wears thin in Williamson's Road.
As wood carting was the chief occupation of the early settlers, the roads mainly consisted of ruts and dust in Summer, and mud up to the horses girths in Winter; at times taking all the hair off the horse's legs.
As Doncaster, generally referred to as the "Bush" or the "Highlands" in the early days, was covered with dense forest, the industry of the early settlers was wood carting, and until recent years, the wood carter with his horse and dray, or sometimes bullock cart and team, could be seen late at night, wending his weary way home, after selling his load. Only the rattle of the dray and a faint glimmer of light announced his approach.
Not so long ago, the picturesque sight of Mr. Kent's team of Bullocks could be seen with their load, either resting under the trees opposite the butchers, or making their way along the road, guided by the drivers long whip.
As time went on, vegetables and fruit trees began to be planted. Small fruits, such as gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries, were widely grown, as were also damson plums, egg plums, cherry plums, apples, pears, almonds and walnuts, and even pomegranites.
Mr. H. Crouch claims to have grown the first beans. For these he found a ready sale, at a time when vegetables were very scarce in Melbourne. He also gives a description of a load of market produce taken in by him. On top of a load of sawn timber (worth
10 pence per cwt.), he carried 150 gallons of milk, 1 gin case of butter (40 lbs.), 1 kerosene case of eggs, and sometimes half a pig.
The time of the land boom in Doncaster was a very exciting one. The orchardists on every hand catching the fever, began cutting down their trees and placing their holdings on the market. Estate Agents Offices sprang up in every direction, and the name of R. G. Cameron was very conspicuous on the large advertising hoardings.
One office stood on the site of the corner store, another near Mr. F. Cameron's gate, this one having a very imposing approach of long steps. The building occupied by Miss Semen, and one at J. Petty's are still standing, silent reminders of the boom which has since become past history.
The scanty water supply caused most of the early pioneers to settle along the banks of the creeks. Large wells were sunk and bricked. Later a small pipe was connected with the main, about Platt's, and reached as far as Reynolds, but this was too small to prove satisfactory, and often during the hottest days ran dry. After a good deal of agitation, the Board allowed a main to be laid from Mitcham, but this also, proved inadequate, and a larger main was granted.
Wild Flower Shows were held by Mr. A. 0. Thiele in the school, about the year 1886. The scholars collected orchids and other wild flowers. These were arranged in the ink wells of the desks. The boys also made fern baskets, filling them with maiden-hair fern. This did much to foster in us a love of our native flowers.
The idea of Flower Shows was revived by the Church of England in about 1912, when Mr. Hennel was Vicar.
Source: 1968 05 DTHS Newsletter AND 1999 06 DTHS Newsletter
Doncaster's Original Historian
In 1930 the Doncaster Literary Society asked Miss Selina Serpell to prepare a talk on the history of Doncaster. At that time there were many old residents, with memories of the early days for Miss Serpell to interview. Even then there were evidently many who were interested in local history, for on that night the meeting room of the Athenaeum Hall was crowed. Miss Serpell was highly complimented for her talk.
Miss Selina Serpell had the distinction of being a daughter of one of Doncaster's early pioneers. In May 1853, Richard Serpell bought 20 acres of land at the comer of Tucker's Road and King Street. Later the orchard was extended to Reynolds Road. In the 1880's he moved to the comer of Main Road and Williamson's Road, where the family remained for many years.
Richard Serpell was one of the leaders of Doncaster being remembered for donations of land to the school and the Shire.
Extracts from Miss Serpell's History written in 1930:
Memories of Early Doncaster
"A little imagination and a few facts are all that remain to remind us that Doncaster was once frequented by the "Blacks".
The name of the creek on the southern boundary is of Aboriginal in origin and stories told by the older women settlers give details of their actions when their men folk were away from home and they feared they were likely to be molested by the "blacks". They would "coo-eee as though signaling to the husband and the other dusky intruders would at once scuttle off. Another story relates the finding of aboriginal bones, carefully buried and covered with bark, on the cutting in Williamson's Road.
About the year 1853, a man named Burnley bestowed the name of Doncaster upon this new district, after Doncaster in Yorkshire, England of which he was a native. Having made considerable money at the gold diggings, Mr Burnley invested it in property in this district, at one time owning land stretching from Springvale Road to Wetherby Road.
The roads in those days were for the most part, merely tracks through the bushland, with corduroy across the wet places, a little of which remains still, and can be seen when the metal wears thin in Williamson's Road. As wood carting was the chief occupation of the early settlers, the roads mainly consisted of ruts and dust in the summer and mud up to the horses girths in winter, at times taking all the hair off the horses legs."
Source: 1999 03 DTHS Newsletter
Doncaster's First Historian
In 1930, the Doncaster Literary Society asked Miss Selina Serpell to present a talk on the history of Doncaster. At that time, there were many early residents, with memories of the early years of the district, for Selina Serpell to interview. On the night of the talk, the meeting room at the Athenaeum Hall was crowded and the talk was well received, the Society complimented Selina on her talk.
Selina Serpell, who died in 1969, was the daughter of Richard Serpell, who came to East Doncaster with his mother and family in 1856. She was a foundation member of the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society. The following are extracts from her talk:
"A little imagination, and a few facts are all that remain to remind us that Doncaster was once frequented by the `Blacks'. Stories told by the older women settlers give details of their actions when the men-folk were away from home and they feared they were likely to be molested by the 'Blacks'. They would coo-ee, as though signalling to the husband and the dusky intruders would at once scuttle off. Another story related to finding of aboriginal bones, carefully buried, and covered with bark on the cutting in Williamsons Road.
About the year 1853, a man called Burnley bestowed the name of Doncaster upon this district, after Doncaster in Yorkshire. The roads in those days were for the most part, merely tracks through the bushland, with corduroy across the wet places. They mainly consisted of ruts and dust in summer and mud up to the horses girths in winter; at times taking the hair off the horse's legs.
As Doncaster was covered with dense forest, the industry of the early settlers was wood carting and until recent years, the wood carter with his horse and dray, or sometimes, bullock cart and team, could be seen late at night, wending his weary way home after selling his load. Only the rattle of the dray and a faint glimmer of light announced his approach.
As time went on, vegetables and fruit trees began to be planted. Small fruits such as gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries, were widely grown, as were also damson plums, cherry plums, apples, pears, almonds and walnuts, and even pomegranates.
The time of the land boom was a very exciting one. Estate agents offices sprang up in every direction. Many orchardists cut down their fruit trees to sell their land. Such were the early days of Doncaster."
Source: 1995 09 DTHS Newsletter
Selina Serpell, who died in 1969, was the daughter of Richard Serpell, who came to East Doncaster with his mother and family in 1856. She was a foundation member of the Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society. The following are extracts from her talk:
"A little imagination, and a few facts are all that remain to remind us that Doncaster was once frequented by the `Blacks'. Stories told by the older women settlers give details of their actions when the men-folk were away from home and they feared they were likely to be molested by the 'Blacks'. They would coo-ee, as though signalling to the husband and the dusky intruders would at once scuttle off. Another story related to finding of aboriginal bones, carefully buried, and covered with bark on the cutting in Williamsons Road.
About the year 1853, a man called Burnley bestowed the name of Doncaster upon this district, after Doncaster in Yorkshire. The roads in those days were for the most part, merely tracks through the bushland, with corduroy across the wet places. They mainly consisted of ruts and dust in summer and mud up to the horses girths in winter; at times taking the hair off the horse's legs.
As Doncaster was covered with dense forest, the industry of the early settlers was wood carting and until recent years, the wood carter with his horse and dray, or sometimes, bullock cart and team, could be seen late at night, wending his weary way home after selling his load. Only the rattle of the dray and a faint glimmer of light announced his approach.
As time went on, vegetables and fruit trees began to be planted. Small fruits such as gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries, were widely grown, as were also damson plums, cherry plums, apples, pears, almonds and walnuts, and even pomegranates.
The time of the land boom was a very exciting one. Estate agents offices sprang up in every direction. Many orchardists cut down their fruit trees to sell their land. Such were the early days of Doncaster."
Source: 1995 09 DTHS Newsletter
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