Anthems, Graces, Dedications, Acknowledgements

Needs research and development re. history of these cultural habits.  HelperSteD

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The style most commonly heard in official performances was proposed as the "proper interpretation" by King George V, who considered himself something of an expert (in view of the number of times he had heard it). An Army Order was duly issued in 1933, which laid down regulations for tempo, dynamics and orchestration. This included instructions such as that the opening "six bars will be played quietly by the reed band with horns and basses in a single phrase. Cornets and side-drum are to be added at the little scale-passage leading into the second half of the tune, and the full brass enters for the last eight bars". The official tempo for the opening section is a metronome setting of 60, with the second part played in a broader manner, at a metronome setting of 52.[55] In recent years the prescribed sombre-paced introduction is often played at a faster and livelier tempo.

Doncaster Tower and Hotel (Ashley Smith)

From the late 1870’s until 1914, the skyline along Doncaster Hill was dominated by a lone tower which was used as a tourist site. Standing at over 200 feet, this lookout tower dominated Doncaster Hill for over 30 years. By comparison, it was taller than the reported tallest structures in Melbourne at the time, such as the Yorkshire Brewery Tower near Collingwood (112 feet or 34 metres), the Coop Shot Tower at Melbourne Central (at 164 feet or roughly 50 metres), and the Australasian Building (174 feet or 53 metres). Whilst there have been a few small articles and books on this landmark, such as the research done by Irvine Green and Ken Smith1, there has been little in-depth histories on the Tower and for something so unique of its time is hardly given much mention in recent history books. Therefore, this article will chronicle the story of the Doncaster Tower, the hotel built with it, and their relevance to local life during that period.

Origins

The Tower’s origins come from a wealthy local of the Doncaster region, Mr. Alfred Hummel. When he arrived in the 1860’s, Doncaster was a fledging town surrounded by picturesque countryside, which was starting to see growth after the arrival of German settlers, who grew fruit orchids in the region. Alfred himself would build his own homestead on Doncaster Hill known as Bay View2. He also owned a 16 acre garden, and because it was against a slope he inserted a 7 foot drain to prevent the area from becoming a bog in wet weather3. He would plant and grow fruit trees, oranges, raspberries, gooseberries, potatoes, maize and strawberries4.

What information is available on his life prior to, or outside the Tower is sparse, but indicates he was a respected man in the region. The Australasian reports an Alfred Octavian Hummel being awarded the title of Justice Of the Peace in 18765. This is likely the same Hummel who would build the Tower, as an 1883 Herald article notes the then-owner of the Doncaster Hotel (which he also built) as being removed from the list of Justices6. Graham Keogh identifies an Alfred Hummell (spelt with two L’s) who was a councillor for Doncaster for the Shire of Bulleen7, and when the local branch of a temperance organisation known as The Band of Hope were looking for a meeting place, Alfred (as Chairman of their Building Committee) donated 1 acre of land for what was to be the local athenaeum building8.

One notable aspect of Doncaster that stood out at the time was its high vantage point. Writing about the Tower for The Herald in 1880, a writer known only as ‘Louise’ claims that Hummel was inspired to build the structure from looking at the picturesque views from the top of his barn9. Another account by The Argus speculated that the tall structure was to do with a previous connection Hummel may have had with the sea, with the tower replacing “that mainmast in the front garden by which we all know the residences of retired sea captains”10.

Whether or not the Tower had any connection with seafaring life, Hummel’s project did face multiple setbacks. His first tower attempt, built around 1877, was around 100 feet (or 30 metres) tall and lasted three months before the wind knocked it over11. The second tower ended in near-tragic circumstances, as it fell and landed within inches of the house of the neighbouring Mrs Pickering, blocking her door as she tried to open it that morning12.

Learning from his mistakes, Hummel’s third Tower was not only his most cautious in approach, but also ambitious. Choosing a spot near Council and Tower Streets13 (and near the site of the current Shopping Centre), the Tower was built in two parts with pullies used to attach the top section to the bottom14. To avoid being knocked over by strong winds, the structure was held together with steel cables and ropes that were tied around logs and buried underground as anchors15. It reportedly cost around £1600 and was used around 50,000 feet of timber16, that was primarily Oregon Pine with a foundation of redgum17.

The exact date of the third Tower’s (also known as the Beaconsfield Tower) opening is unknown with varying sources alternating between 1878 or 1879. It may have been open by late 1878, as indicated by an advertisement in The Argus, dated 31st December 1878, promoting the tower’s “Panoramic views”18. However, it’s unclear if the third tower had yet opened, or if it was a tease before the eventual opening. Otherwise, we know it was open before 15th April 1879, when The Argus reported the tower was already in business19.

Regardless, when it did open, it was arguably the tallest view in the colony. 

The Tower: Early impressions.

Prior to Hummel’s construction, lookout towers were not new. Many towns required one in the event of a bushfire, and there is evidence to suggest that they were required for picturesque sites so visitors could take in the surrounding beauty that nature provided. Most notably, during the late 1870’s there was a fernery near Scotch College known as Jeffrey’s that featured a 40 foot tower20. However, with Hummel wanting to show the expansive view surrounding Doncaster (and likely the business opportunities that came with it), such a tower was not going to be enough.

Perhaps its biggest selling point was it massive height, which has curiously been inconsistent between reports over the years. The Argus article from 15th April 1879 reported the structure was around 180 feet (or 54 metres) tall21. By November that year the Leader newspaper reported the site was 231 feet (just over 70 metres) at the flagstaff22, which is close to the height reported by the Bendigo Advertiser in November 1880 as 230 feet, “or 100 feet higher than the famous leaning tower of Pisa”23 (an inaccurate claim as at best the height difference would be around 50 feet). However, an August 1880 article of The Australasian Sketcher contradicts the Bendigo’s claim, reporting that the tower was 200 feet (or 60.96 metres)24. Curiously, by the Tower’s last days, its peak height had ballooned to 285 feet (or roughly 86 metres) as claimed by The Weekly Times25 despite no apparent adjustment or extension reported. The reason for these fluctuations in height are unknown, though it could be because of poor estimates by the journalist, different approaches of measurement, or hyperbole for the sake of attracting curious readers to visit the site.

What is more accepted, especially with photographic evidence, is what the Tower featured. As a writer for The Herald known as ‘Louise’ reported, when one would lay eyes on the Tower, they would see “a very ugly erection” painted red and supported by ropes26. As soon as the visitor would pay the 1 shilling fee, they would start the staggering climb27. The ascent to the first gallery platform 100 feet up was boarded28, protecting an interior right angled staircase that would stop at a landing every ten steps29. If one had more courage, then they would then climb a 60 foot staircase that was “open to all the winds of Heaven” to a second platform, followed by a ladder climb to the top30.

However, regardless of how far one climbed, the view would be worth the journey and the biting of flying ants31. As soon as one reached the gallery, they were exposed to “a thousand hills and a thousand vales”32, including Mt. Disappointment, Buninyong, Juliet, and Macedon. To the East were the Dandenong Ranges, and with a telescope, one could supposedly read the tombstones at Borondoora cemetery33. It was also a good site for one to get a good view of the thriving city of Melbourne, including the dome of the recently constructed Exhibition Building34. Reportedly, visitors would be given field glasses to have a better look of the sights below, and on Sundays, a telescope35.

Articles about trips to the Tower appear to speak at length on the view, painting a picture of the scenery for those who couldn’t make the pilgrimage to see the sights themselves. The Argus in 1879 commented that “a landscape painter would have been fascinated by the incessantly changing aspects of the expansive scene”36, going on to say that “while one quarter of the heavens glowed with the brightness of summer, another was black with the gloom of storm and these striking contrasts were reflected from the face of nature.”37

Not all reports on the tower however were exactly taking a romantic or artistic perspective of the view. A poem published in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal took a tongue-in-cheek approach:

‘I went to the top with a friend who swore He was never so near to heaven before;

I said, that if wise, he had better remain, For he never would be so near again.38’

Needless to say, the Tower became a popular holiday spot for city slickers in need of fresh air, or craving to see some picturesque scenery. The appreciation by the public quickly became known, both with supportive reviews being posted on a fence near the Tower, and many visitors scrawling their names on the tower itself as a lasting memento to their short stay39. On the Prince’s birthday in 1879, 1000 people reportedly visited the site40.

The Tower Hotel.

Understandably, after such a dizzying climb, many tourists would want a stiff drink to settle their nerves. Whilst Hummel’s tower initially provided some tea and refreshments41, many would forgo this and instead find something harder at other known watering holes, such as the local Doncaster Hotel. In response, Hummel built his own Hotel (known as the Tower Hotel), at the cost of at least £140042. However, he would face opposition whilst applying for his licence. In particular, Sir Bryan O’Loghlan (representing the Bulleen Shire Council), opposed the Hotel on the grounds that he would be committing Sunday Trading (at a time when such businesses on the Sabbath was frowned upon), and had a small petition of 41 people opposing it43. Fortunately, Hummel would get his way and the Hotel was licenced from 1st January 188144. Ironically, Hummel himself had ties with the temperance movement, between his association with the Band of Hope, and his wife’s family (the Lawford’s) being teetotallers45. Regardless of his reasons, it’s likely he received scorn from his peers for his hypocrisy.

The way the Hotel was built suggests that Hummel may have been hoping to appeal to as many needs as possible. It featured 30 rooms for lodgers and weary travellers, as well as an expansive dining hall that could fit 300 people46 which made it an ideal place for large groups and organisations to book important meetings and banquets. At the time it was sold a couple of years later, the annual income one could afford at the Hotel was £40047. Alas, this would not be enough for Hummel to maintain both the Tower and hotel, for it sapped his finances. His heavy investments on his land cost him dearly, and he was forced to sell his Hotel before leaving for Tasmania in 188548, where he spent the remainder of his life. His Bay View home would later be converted into the town’s first bank49.

The Hotel’s replacement manager was William Meader, a prominent hotel owner who had previously opened the Railway Hotel at Box Hill50. Incidentally, Meader’s biggest claim to fame would be to another local attraction, as he would become the first chairman of the Box Hill-Doncaster Tramway when it opened in 14th October 188951. Credited as the first electric tram service in Australia, the tram journeyed from Box Hill, and navigated around 2 miles of hilly terrain before terminating at the main intersection where the Hotel and Tower lay nearby52. On the day of the tramway’s opening, a party was held at the Hotel to celebrate its success53. One can make the assumption that Meader used the tram to lure more curious travellers to visit his Hotel and Tower, though regardless of his intentions the tram would prove to be a bust. Despite a positive start, the tramway was dogged by various in-fighting with shareholders who owned the land the tramway crossed, leading to the tramway being deconstructed and closed54 multiple times. The looming financial depression didn’t help the struggling company, and it eventually was forced to close in early 189655.

As for the Hotel, it continued to be run by numerous owners after Meader relinquished his duties. However, disaster would hit the site on 2nd January 1895 when it caught fire56. Reportedly the blaze started around 6:30pm, being first noticed in the store room next to the bar57. The then-proprietor Mr. Nissen suffered burns whilst he was desperately saving the till, and had to be pulled out by former Essendon footballer and bank manager A. Meader (relation to William unknown)58. Most of the building was destroyed, with only the dining hall, outhouses and the Tower itself saved from further destruction by the fire brigade59. Whilst the hotel suffered much losses as its valuables inside were not insured, the Hotel itself (owned by the Commercial Bank of Australia) was,60 and after renovations, business would resume later that year. The new building featured a brick structure built in front of the recreation hall61.

Uses and other notable incidents.

Throughout its history, the Tower was generally used as a tourist attraction, and was also a notable landmark that provided the backdrop of many local events. For example, it is mentioned in a 1908 Leader article as a key marker surrounding a local 10 mile cycling race from Kew to Doncaster62. Around the mid 1900’s, the Tower was used as part of a promotional stunt by the company J. Halliday and co. To advertise their Zealandia tea brand, they launched a special balloon featuring “two small children” (assumedly a doll or some sort of toy), including a boy wearing a Zealandia hat63. Anyone who would find the balloon would be awarded £100064. The Tower also helped in the selling of real estate, even if for the novelty factor, with one advertisement for a land auction promoting the land as being seen from the top of the tower65.

However, its high vantage point also proved to be a useful attribute as technology advanced. The Mercury and Weekly Courier from 17th May 1901 reports of a lecture by Government electrician F. W. Chambers66. In the lecture, he discusses the Maconi system of telegraphy, which was designed to substitute vertical wires to transmit horizontal soundwaves and prevent interference with phone calls67. Allegedly, some of these experiments were done from Doncaster Tower to his residence at Mount Eagle in Heidelberg68. However, the article never explicitly specifies if the experiments were done from the Hotel, the Tower, or somewhere near the property.

Surprisingly, despite its decades long existence, the Tower reported few casualties or news-worthy injuries, but that didn’t mean it was not immune to such incidents. Most infamously, in 1908, a South Melbourne resident fell whilst climbing down the Tower by essaying down the support wires, injuring his hands and back69. However, even if the incident didn’t happen, the hazardous reputation the Tower gained should have given many visitors a reason not to climb in the first place.

The End of the Tower.

By the last decade of its existence, the Tower was a hazard waiting to happen. Being mostly made of wood, the tower would’ve gradually become worn and decayed through the decades of wind, rain and the thousands of feet that climbed the structure. Even attempts to repair it would be met with uncertainty by the Council70. During 1905, the Tower was described in an article from the Cumberland Argus and Fruitgoers Advocate as “structurally weak”, and it was closed and condemned71. However, the same article goes on to say that it didn’t stop some brave travellers from climbing it “free of charge at their own risk and for 6d at the risk of the proprietors” 72, and it’s likely the closure was temporary considering the 1908 accident. Fears of the tower being blown over were also real, as there were discussions to reduce the tower to its first deck when a cooling station was suggested for construction nearby73.

By September 1913, locals were reporting a “buckle” a third of the way up, and there were hopes that the owner (by then a Mr. Wenke) would fix up the “public nuisance”74. However, by December that year the local Council condemned it as unsafe and demanded its destruction75. By February 1914, the Tower had been dismantled, with its wood, steel and other parts sold at auction76. Ironically, for a Tower with few casualties, it was during its dismantling that the Tower hurt one last civilian, as a construction worker was felled by a 12lb beam, walking away with some bruises77. The wood itself was supposedly bought to be used for fruit cases78. Optimistically there were plans to build a new steel Tower that was “40 feet nearer the sky” than its predecessor79, but nothing ever came of it.

The Hotel meanwhile stayed open as a remnant of the Tower’s former glory, before it was delicensed and closed down in 1917, with the brick portion of the building becoming a shop front80. The Hotel’s remains were finally demolished in 1969 to allow the widening of the main road81.

But whilst there are no longer any signs of the once mighty Tower, the state’s obsession for high vantage points has never gone away. These days much taller (and safer) steel and concrete constructions such as the Railto Tower and the Eureka Tower (and soon the Australia 108 building) provide more choice and a much more expansive view for the eager tourist.

References

• ‘100 years ago- Doncaster School-Doncaster Bank’, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society Newsletter, No. 6, 1986.
• Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser, ‘A Narrow Squeak’, 14th February 1914, p.5.
• Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser, ‘Doncaster news’, 8th March 1918, p. 3.
• Collyer, Eric, ‘Doncaster- A Short History’, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society, 2013, https://dt-hs.blogspot.com/2020/05/doncaster-short-history-eric-collyer.html
• E.F.G, ‘A Trip To Doncaster’, The Record and Emerald Hill and Sandridge Advertiser, 17th October 1879, P. 3.
• Green, Irvine, and Smith, Ken, The Tower and Tram At Doncaster, Doncaster-Templestowe-Historical Society, 1980.
• Green, Robert, The First Electric Road: A History of the Box Hill and Doncaster Tramway, John Mason Press, East Brighton, Victoria, 1989.
• J.H., The Argus, ‘City and Suburbs Seen By Two Towers’, 8th May 1880, P.4.
• Keogh, Graham, The History of Doncaster and Templestowe, City of Doncaster and Templestowe, 1975.
• Kilmore Free Press, ‘Local intelligence’, 16th December 1880, p. 2.
• Leader, ‘Advertising’, 28th April 1877, P.15.
• Leader, ‘Cycling and Motoring Notes’, 29th August 1908, P.19.
• Leader, ‘Doncaster Gardens’, 29th November 1879, P. 8-9.
• Louise, The Herald, ‘Ladies Column: A visit to Beaconsfield and Doncaster Tower’, 22nd April 1880, P. 3.
• Mercury and Weekly Courier, “Lecture on wireless technology”, 17th May 1901, P.2.
• South Bourke and Mornington Journal, ‘Beaconsfield Tower’, 26th May 1880, p.3.
• Sportsman, ‘Mr William Meader’, 5th May 1896, P. 8.
• Supplement for the Bendigo Advertiser, ‘A Trip to Doncaster’, 27th November 1880, P. 1.
• 
  
• The Age, ‘A Well Known Land Mark: Doncaster Tower said to be insecure”, 27th September 1913, p.19.
• The Age, ‘Advertising’, 18th July 1883, p. 2.
• The Age, ‘Destructive Fire At Doncaster’, 3rd January 1895, P.5.
• The Argus, ‘Advertising’, 31st December 1878, p. 8.
• The Argus, ‘Advertising’, 31st December 1880, p. 8.
• The Argus, ‘Advertising’, 15th November 1902, P. 2.
• The Argus, ‘Doncaster Tower condemned as unsafe’, 10th December 1913, p.14.
• The Argus, ‘Fire at Doncaster’, 4th January 1895, p.6.
• The Argus, “Opening of the Doncaster Electrical Tramway”, 15th October 1889, P. 7.
• The Argus, ‘The view from Doncaster Hill’, 15th April 1879, P. 7.
• The Australasian, ‘Town News’, 22nd January 1876, P. 19-21.
• The Australasian Sketcher with pen and Pencil, ‘Sketches with Pencil’, 14th August 1880, p. 195.
• The Ballarat Star, “Melbourne News”, 8th January 1914, p.4.
• The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgoers Advocate, ‘Our Delegates in Melbourne’, 23rd September 1905, p. 7.
• The Geelong Advertiser, ‘An Australian Fernery’, 26th February 1880, P. 2.
• The Geelong Advertiser, ‘Fall From A Tower’, 20th April 1908, p.3.
• The Geelong Advertiser, ‘Melbourne (from our own correspondent)’, 29th December 1883, P. 3.
• The Reporter (Box Hill), ‘Advertising’, 28th April 1905, p.6.
• The Reporter (Box Hill), ‘Doncaster doings’, 14th October 1904, p.5.
• The Reporter (Box Hill), “Doncaster Tower”, 16th January 1914, p.7.
• The Reporter (Box Hill), “Doncaster Shire Council”, September 29th 1899, P.2.
• The Weekly Times, ‘Old Tower Dispersed’, 7th February 1914, p.2.

End Notes

• 1. Green, Irvine, and Smith, Ken, The Tower and Tram At Doncaster, Doncaster-Templestowe-Historical Society, 1980.
• 2. Collyer, Eric, ‘Doncaster- A Short History’, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society, 2013, https://dt-hs.blogspot.com/2020/05/doncaster-short-history-eric-collyer.html 
• 3. Leader, ‘Doncaster Gardens’, 29th November 1879, P. 8.
• 4. Ibid.
• 5. The Australasian, ‘Town News’, 22nd January 1876, P. 20.
• 6. Geelong Advertiser, ‘Melbourne (from our own correspondent)’, 29th September 1883, P.3.
• 7. Keogh, Graham, The History of Doncaster and Templestowe, City of Doncaster and Templestowe, 1975, P. 40
• 8. Ibid. P.49.
• 9. Louise, The Herald, ‘Ladies Column: A visit to Beaconsfield and Doncaster Tower’, 22nd April 1880, P. 3.
• 10. J. H., The Argus, ‘City and Suburbs Seen By Two Towers’, 8th May 1880, P.4.
• 11. Collyer, Eric, Doncaster- A Short History, 2013, found in, Doncaster-Templestowe Historical Society, ‘Doncaster tower’, https://dt-hs.blogspot.com/2017/05/doncaster-tower.html 
• 12. Green, Irvine, and Smith, Ken, The Tower and Tram At Doncaster, Doncaster-Templestowe-Historical Society, 1980, P. 2.
• 13. Ibid.
• 14. Collyer, 2013.
• 15. Supplement for the Bendigo Advertiser, ‘A Trip to Doncaster’, 27th November 1880, P. 1.
• 16. E.F.G, ‘A Trip To Doncaster’, The Record and Emerald Hill and Sandridge Advertiser, 17th October 1879, P. 3.
• 17. Leader, 29th November 1879, P. 9.
• 18. The Argus, ‘Advertising’, 31st December 1878, p. 8.
• 19. The Argus, ‘The view from Doncaster Hill’, 15th April 1879, P. 7.
• 20. The Geelong Advertiser, ‘An Australian Fernery’, 26th February 1880, P. 2.
• 21. The Argus, ‘The view from Doncaster Hill’, 15th April 1879, P. 7.
• 22. ‘Doncaster Gardens’, Leader, 29th November 1879, p. 9.
• 23. Supplement for the Bendigo Advertiser, 27th November 1880, P. 1.
• 24. The Australasian Sketcher with pen and Pencil, ‘Sketches with Pencil’, 14th August 1880, p. 195.
• 25. The Weekly Times, ‘Old Tower Dispersed’, 7th February 1914, p.2.
• 26. Louise, p.3.
• 27. Supplement for the Bendigo Advertiser, 27th November 1880, P. 1.
• 28. ‘Doncaster Gardens’, Leader, 29th November 1879, p.9.
• 29. J. H., ‘City and Suburbs seen from two towers’, The Argus, 8th May 1880, p.4.
• 30. The Australasian sketcher with pen and Pencil, p.195.
• 31. Louise, P. 3.
• 32. Supplement for the Bendigo Advertiser, 27th November 1880 p. 1.
• 33. Louise, P. 3.
• 34. Supplement for the Bendigo Advertiser, 27th November 1880, p. 1.
• 35. Louise, P. 3.
• 36. The Argus, ‘The view from Doncaster Hill’, 15th April 1879, P. 7.
• 37. Ibid.
• 38. South Bourke and Mornington Journal, ‘Beaconsfield Tower’, 26th May 1880, p.3.
• 39. Louise.
• 40. Leader, 29th November 1879, p.9.
• 41. Collyer.
• 42. Kilmore Free Press, ‘Local intelligence’, 16th December 1880, p. 2.
• 43. Ibid.
• 44. The Argus, ‘Advertising’, 31st December 1880, p.8.
• 45. Green, Irvine, ‘The Tower Hotel’, Doncaster and Templestowe Histoical Society Newsletter, No. 2, 1981.
• 46. The Age, ‘Advertising’, 18th July 1883, p. 2.
• 47. Ibid.
• 48. Green, Irvine, ‘The Tower Hotel’.
• 49. ‘100 years ago- Doncaster School-Doncaster bank’, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society Newsletter, No. 6, 1986.
• 50. Sportsman, ‘Mr William Meader’, 5th May 1896, P. 8.
• 51. The Argus, “Opening of the Doncaster Electrical Tramway”, 15th October 1889, P. 7.
• 52. Ibid.
• 53. Ibid.
• 54. Green, Robert, The First Electric Road: A History of the Box Hill and Doncaster Tramway, John Mason Press, East Brighton, Victoria, 1989, P.50.
• 55. Green and Smith, 1980, p.8.
• 56. The Argus, ‘Fire at Doncaster’, 4th January 1895, p.6.
• 57. The Age, ‘Destructive Fire At Doncaster’, 3rd January 1895, P.5.
• 58. ‘General news’, Weekly Times, 12th January 1895, P.27.
• 59. ‘Fire at Doncaster’, The Argus, 4th January 1895, p.6
• 60. Ibid.
• 61. Green, Irvine, ‘The Tower Hotel’, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society Newsletter, No. 2, 1981.
• 62. Leader, ‘Cycling and Motoring Notes’, 29th August 1908, P.19.
• 63. The Reporter (Box Hill), ‘Advertising’, 28th April 1905, p.6.
• 64. Ibid.
• 65. The Argus, ‘Advertising’, 15th November 1902, P. 2.
• 66. Mercury and Weekly Courier, “Lecture on wireless technology”, 17th May 1901, P.2.
• 67. Ibid.
• 68. Ibid.
• 69. The Geelong Advertiser, ‘Fall From A Tower’, 20th April 1908, p.3.
• 70. The Reporter (Box Hill), “Doncaster Shire Council”, September 29th 1899.
• 71. The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgoers Advocate, ‘Our Delegates in Melbourne’, 23rd September 1905, p. 7.
• 72. Ibid.
• 73. The Reporter, ‘Doncaster doings’, 14th October 1904, p.5.
• 74. The Age, ‘A Well Known Land Mark: Doncaster Tower said to be insecure”, 27th September 1913, p.19.
• 75. The Argus, ‘Doncaster Tower condemned as unsafe’, 10th December 1913, p.14.
• 76. Weekly Times, 7th February 1914, p.2.
• 77. Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser, ‘A Narrow Squeak’, 14th February 1914, p.5.
• 78. The Ballarat Star, “Melbourne News”, 8th January 1914, p.4.
• 79. The Reporter (Box Hill), “Doncaster Tower”, 16th January 1914, p.7.
• 80. Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser, ‘Doncaster news’, 8th March 1918, p. 3.
• 81. Green, Irvine, ‘The Tower Hotel’, Doncaster and Templestowe Historical Society Newsletter, No. 2, 1981.

Source: Ashley Smith gave permission for publication online in June2023. Ashley Smith is a researcher and volunteer at the Royal Historical Society Of Victoria

Joan Seppings (nee Webster) OAM

Joan (Seppings) Webster, OAM, Storyteller

Video: https://www.facebook.com/whitehorsemanninghamlibraries/videos/1302942993129106/

Rifle Clubs

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Rifle Clubs of the Yarra Valley - a historical perspective from 1885 - 2000 (Extract)

Need to scan whole booklet for archival preservation.

David Rapley 106 Longwarry Road Bunyip, VIC. Australia, 3815  drapley@bigpond.com ©2004 Printed by:  ECG Copy Centre, 3/57 Smith Street, Warragul, VIC. 3820 (03) 5623 6999

DB0340

A view of target shooting in Victoria as seen through the clubs of No. 16 District Rifle Association (DRA) located in the hill country east of Melbourne.

The area covered by No.16 DRA is roughly the electoral district of Evelyn and the clubs were for a time bound together as the Evelyn District Rifle Association formed in 1900. Scrutiny of this group reveals a typical slice of the target shooting cake. The formation, development, activities and in many cases the demise of these clubs is characteristic of the rifle shooting movement throughout Australia. In any District you will be able to transpose the names of other clubs onto these. It is also where my own club was located and this publication was borne from my own interest in its history.

Target shooting with a rifle is the oldest sport continuously practiced in Australia since European settlement, the first to represent the country overseas and one of only three with royal patronage. It is without doubt, the only sport to have been under direct government control and to receive mandated financial sponsorship. It is a curious and unique sport in many ways as it was primarily seen as augmenting national defence, and the necessary skills for elite level success were not actually taught. It also gave Australia one of its three greatest sportsmen in the first half of the 20th century - the legendary Percy Pavey.

By the 1930s there was, or had been, a rifle club in nearly every country town throughout Australia as well as many in the cities. In Victoria alone there were over seven hundred rifle clubs.

Doncaster Rifle Club c1908-1910.  Back row: L-R: C. Toogood, B. Laurie, W. Rieschrieck, E. Ireland, H. Serpell.  Front row: L-R: J. Sell, M. Miles, W. Vettler, J. Smith, P. Sharp, J. Russell. Eric Collyer Collection and Photograph on front cover.  (DP1727 E. P. Whitten Collection)

The background

It may well be impossible for the reader to understand the high level of government sponsorship and promotion that the sport of target shooting received in Australia during the years 1850 to I960, or the considerable public participation, support and press coverage in those days.

Today there is no government support and the press is only concerned with criminal use of firearms. In fact the greater proportion of the public have no knowledge of this sport which offers more to the participant than most others can.

Consider an all-weather sport where a high level of enjoyment and success can be achieved on an equal footing between people whose age, physical fitness and gender is not of primary importance. A teenage girl with excellent eyesight can compete on an equal level with an eighty-year old man with failing vision. The highest and most coveted award, the ‘Queen’s Prize’ was won by a grandmother in 1999 with her daughter coming eighth in the same event.

In this sport men and women can represent Australia in the same team, in the same events. No other sport offers this. The only requirement for success is the ‘want to’ factor. Someone joining at an early age can look forward to decades of enjoyment. It also offers the ability to leave for periods of time when life’s demands dictate, and return later to achieve success at the same or a higher level. It offers both team and individual competition and develops self-confidence and self-belief automatically. It has a technical and psychological challenge that may be pursued or ignored, yet either way the activity can still remain enjoyable.

The origins

The sport originated as training in skill-at-arms in the context of national defence. Since the earliest of times such skills have been integrated as both a necessary ability for survival and a non-fatal competition or sport.

Archers and swordsmen of bygone times perfected their skills through competition that did not continually decimate their population. Target shooting with a military rifle was the next technological progression from fencing and archery. Throughout the ages armies staged competitions to foster skill-at-arms. There was also civilian participation in the same events, not only because they were a popular form of exercise or competition, but also because it was well understood that a nation of civilians proficient in the use of the current military weapons - be they swords, bows or rifles - would provide a trained pool of reserves to supplement the professional force in times of need.

If we also consider the young and resource rich country of Australia with its extensive coastlines to defend and a horse the fastest method of deployment, it is obvious that a very desirable aid to defence would be a civilian population already skilled in the use of a rifle. What better way of achieving this, than through a sport which is very easy to enjoy and become passionate about! Not surprisingly, the government of the day poured many resources into fostering this sport in the colonies.

From settlement until 1870, Australia was defended by British Imperial troops; twenty-four British regiments were represented here, although usually only at company strength. Since their first arrival, competitions in rifle shooting were conducted.

Victoria’s Defences - Development of the Rifle Clubs

In 1851 Victoria achieved self-government and by 1853 the colony had started to build its own volunteer forces. By 1854 the Crimean War caused considerable concern to Victorians in 1854 and by 1859 there was fear of a French invasion. Both factors caused the hasty construction of forts and communication systems. The Government passed the Volunteer Act of 1859 and a rapid growth in the numbers of 'patriotic volunteers' resulted. Some of the Volunteer Corps had rifle clubs formed from their own ranks and competitions were conducted with other units on an informal basis.

As the development of these rifle clubs necessarily moved with that of the military, they need to be examined together. It is interesting to look at the strengths and areas of operation of the Volunteers at this time.

1859 - St. Kilda Rifle Corps.

This was the first rifle company to be recorded under the new Act. Their orderly room was located next to the Royal Hotel on the Esplanade, their butts - on the beach! (There were three rifle butts (ranges) in operation between Elwood and St Kilda in the earty 1860’s). They had 109 active members of which 100 were said to be ‘effective’ having passed the necessary musketry course.

1859 / 60 - Prahran and South Yarra Rifle Corps.

They had an orderly room in Osborne St. South Yarra and their unit strength was 115 active with 100 effective. They were equipped with Lancaster rifles and were negotiating with the municipal council to establish butts in Orrong Rd.

1860 - Portland Volunteer Rifle Company.

Formed in 1854 but not on an official basis until 1860, by which time they had 85 active members with 100 effective. This company disbanded in 1863 and after a lapse of three years, an artillery detachment was formed.

1860 - Hawthorn and Kew Volunteers Rifle Company.

The rifle butts of the Kew Rifle Club were located near the old clay pit in Studley Park, Hawthorn. The company boasted a Victoria Cross winner. (Private Frederick Whiripool -won for Gallantry while serving with the 3rd Bombay European Regiment during the Indian Mutiny). Active 72 members, 100 effective.

1864 - Maldon Volunteer Rifle Corps.

The local historical society holds a minute book of the Maldon Rifle Club for 1865. It shows 90 active, 75 effective members.

1876 - Malmsbury Detachment - 2nd Castlemaine Rifles.

There were 46 active, 50 effective members. Their butts can be identified to this day.

The English National Rifle Association was formed in 1860. 

Its aims and objectives were - 'For the encouragement of Volunteer Rifle Corps and the promotion of rifle shooting throughout Great Britain. By raising funds for the establishment of a Great National Meeting for rifle shooting, similar to the Tri-Federal which takes place in Switzerland, the principal prize will be open to enrolled effective volunteers but with a view to promote rifle shooting as a national pastime and custom. It is proposed to also establish prizes, which will be open to all comers.'

Victoria took notice of this, and against a background of existing activity within its Volunteer Corps in rifle practice and competition, the Victorian Rifle Association (VRA') was formed in 1860. Its intention: to encourage competitive rifle shooting between the Volunteers and all other classes of the community.

Their first rifle meeting was flagged for the 29th and 30th of December, 1860. Three matches were open to Volunteers but only with Lancaster or Enfield regulation rifles and service ammunition. A further four matches were open to all comers. These matches were shot at the Sandridge range. Entries were to be limited to 240. The announcement was made on the 21st of December and by the 28th, the limit was vastly exceeded. The meeting was a great success. The Governor of Victoria presented over five hundred pounds worth of prizes at the newly built Melbourne Exhibition Building. Captain Radcliff, Commander of the Carlton Rifles won the Governor’s Prize and the VRA Gold Medal.

The VRA was soon to become the body most supportive of the Volunteer Corps. The Victorian Government was also instrumental in its expansion by making Crown Land available in most country and coastal areas for rifle butts.

In 1862 the first Inter-Colonial Match was'shot against NSW. (The NSW Rifle Association was also founded in 1860 but did not shoot its first matches until September of 1861.) This match was for teams of ten members of the Volunteer Corps, shooting for a bronze challenge shield. The state that won three matches retained it In the first five years Victoria was only successful once so the shield stayed with NSW and is displayed at the offices of the NSWRA to this day. After a lapse of six years these matches were re-introduced in 1873 with New Zealand now entering the competition. Victoria was successful that year.

1863-4 - Some 2600 civilian volunteers and regulars left Australia to fight in the New Zealand Maori Wars.

1870 - The British forces were withdrawn so Victoria had to provide its own defences. These initially consisted of a small detachment of permanent troops plus citizen soldiery. As this was also the year of the Franco- Prussian War, defence was becoming a major issue.

1876 - The NRA of Great Britain invited a Victorian team to Wimbledon for their national championship, the Queen's Prize. This was the very first time a Victorian sporting team was represented overseas. (The MCC Cricket team was to do so a year later.) The NRA had been successful in its objective to popularize target shooting as there were 2324 entries. The Victorians acquitted themselves well and then travelled onto New York for the American Centennial International matches (also referred to as the Philadelphia matches) where they were joined by a team from NSW. These matches are well reported in 'Hasty notes of a flying trip with the Victorian Rifle Teamin 197& by Captain Blannin, Honorary Secretary of the VRA, who accompanied them.

1875 - A royal commission into Victoria's volunteer forces was held. Its recommendation was for a small, thoroughly trained and disciplined force, which should be concentrated for the sake of economy.  Recommended strength: Engineering, Torpedo & Signal Corps. 200;  Garrison & Field Artillery 2000;  Infantry 1200;.

At the end of December, Victoria’s armed forces stood at 137 permanent and 3723 volunteers.

1877 - The risk of another Russian war caused an upturn in volunteer numbers.

1881 - The Victorian Government announced that it would grant a special prize of one hundred pounds for a Queen’s Trophy rifle match. Although the value has altered The Queen's' is shot to this day and is the premier event on the target shooting calendar.

1882 - Following a change of government, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederick Sargood became Minister of Defence for Victoria. He was to be a great supporter of the VRA all his life and was also its Vice-Patron.

1884 - Minister Sargood announced an investigation of Victoria’s military system. The entire system of volunteer forces was disbanded as a result and a paid militia introduced, together with a Council of Defence. Victorian militiamen were required to attend a set number of parades and camps. They were to be supported by a 'nursery' of young, drilled recruits known as 'The Cadets'. Sargood also intended that the whole able-bodied male population should be trained in the use of the military rifle.

This laid the way for the formation of civilian rifle clubs. This concept was not without opposition from some of the military authorities - those who objected to any of their facilities being granted to independent organizations that did not have the obligations for service required from the Militia. Opposed to them were the many members of the disbanded Volunteers who were still interested in rifle practice but did not wish the obligation imposed by the new militia system. After considerable political lobbying the way was made clear for the formation of civilian rifle clubs under the auspices of the VRA.

1884 - A historic meeting took place on the 7th of October at the Port Phillip Club Hotel where the Melbourne Rifle Club was formed. This was the year Germany formally annexed northeast New Guinea, which again heightened the defence issue.

1885 - On the 7th of May, the Victorian Department of Defence issued a memorandum stating that the Melbourne Rifle Club had received recognition from the Council of Defence of the State of Victoria. A great number of applications were then received for the formation of other civilian rifle clubs.

leutenant-Colonel Tom Price was given command of the rifle clubs and did much to strengthen and expand the movement. He also had command of a new mobile force - The Victorian Mounted Rifles - and in establishing this, recruited extensively from the rifle clubs. Victoria’s defence strength then stood at: Military 4638;  Cadets 1850;  Rifle Clubs 6540

1886 - Transport and Ambulance Corps were formed. By the end of the year, 225 rifle clubs had been approved and membership stood at over six thousand.

1887 - Land was acquired at Langwarrin for the establishment of a permanent Militia training camp.

1888 - The Victorian Rangers were formed. These were volunteer infantry rifle companies ^ located in country areas. Again, their membership was largely drawn from the rifle clubs.

1890 - Two battalions of infantry were added to metropolitan regiments and a 40-pounder Battery was installed at Hastings to protect Westernport.

1897 - David Syme of The Age newspaper family donated two thousand pounds to send a Victorian team to contest the Kolapore Cup match at now famous Bisley range in England. Victoria won.

1899 - The VRA introduced an affiliation scheme to reduce membership costs and 78 civilian clubs affiliated for competition purposes by 1901. The yearly VRA medals were introduced with one being awarded to each club annually.

1899 - The Anglo-Boer War erupted and with patriotic fever running high, the colonies offered 2500 troops and organized public subscriptions for equipment. In all, 16,175 troops were sent. The Victorian Mounted Rifles served in every phase of the conflict and acquitted themselves very well.

1901 - Federation of Australia. Victorian forces were taken over by the Commonwealth Government. Victoria’s strength at this point was - Permanents 389; Militia 3586; Volunteers 2462

Senior Cadets 534

Under the Constitution of 1901, Australian rifle clubs were provided for under the Defence Act. They functioned under Army control and were part of the reserve forces.

1921 - Rifle clubs were reconstituted as a purely civilian organization under the Permanent Head of the Department of Defence.

1931 - Rifle clubs were again placed under control of the Military Board as reservists to the citizens’ military forces.

1940 - Rifle clubs were part of the Mobilization and received orders of allotment to various units. The clubs were then placed in recess for the duration of the war.

1941 - Privately owned and loaned military .303 rifles were impressed. (Match rifles were exempt). There were exemptions - rifles owned by members who were active in the Volunteer Defence Corps as vulnerability point guards, and also those of professional hunters.

1946 - The clubs were now allowed out of recess and competition recommenced.

1960 - This year saw the start of severing of ties with the military command and the loss of subsidies. Up until this time, the rifle clubs had received heavily subsidized equipment and free ammunition on a per capita effective status basis. Travel to ranges on public transport was also subsidized. Even as recently as 1988 members were still required to swear an oath of allegiance as a member of the reserve forces. The clubs were still under the direct control of the Minister of Defence and his Director of Rifle Clubs.

1998 - The Defence Act was repealed and so ended the relationship between the defence of Australia and the rifle clubs. Target rifle shooting became just another sport with historical military connections like discus, javelin, fencing and archery.

Success of the Volunteer Systems and the Rifle Clubs

Success of the system as part of a defence system is hard to judge. The most successful system would seem to be the one that never needed to be used. Australia has used its military forces to assist in wars commenced by others, choosing to meet the enemy -perceived or otherwise - on someone else’s shores. However it is certain that many, many Australians entered these conflicts better prepared because they were already competent shooters from the rifle club movement. A bronze plaque on the gates of Sydney’s Anzac Rifle Range proclaimed in 1914, that of the 56,000 National Rifle Club members, 50,000 enlisted.

VRA Clubs and Numbers

Prior to 1885 the VRA had been a strictly promotional body. Not until the act of parliament that permitted the formation of Melbourne Rifle Club did it administer clubs. I have been unable to locate the numbering book, but from analysis of known club numbers it appears that after 75 clubs had been authorized it was decided to allocate identifying numbers to them. The existing clubs were arranged in alphabetical order. Thus the No.1 club was Amphitheatre, No. 2 Apollo Bay. Melbourne Club - the first formed - was allotted No. 43. Yackandandah was No. 75.

After this initial numbering exercise it appears that a block of 200 numbers were allocated and the clubs numbered as they were formed - in alphabetical groups within this. There were gaps left within A to Z for more clubs to be alphabetically added. Some of these gaps were never filled and at some point of time the clubs were simply assigned the next number. It can be said with some certainty that clubs numbered 1 to 75 were formed in 1886 and that clubs number 76 to 275 were formed prior to the end of 1887.

After WW11, the VRA issued some newly formed clubs with the numbers that had not been previously allotted, or those of clubs that had disbanded. Thus Ringwood, not formed until 1954, was given No. 54. Victorian Sporting Shooters' Club formed in 1954 was given No. 55 - the former Pidgeon Ponds number - and so on. There are many such examples so clubs need to check before assuming a low number means that their club is amongst the founders. One current club claims it was formed in 1856, which is hard to reconcile with 1885 Act. The highest number recorded is 672 for RAAF Station, Laverton, formed in 1952. Clubs formed after this were given old numbers as previously explained. After 1969, numbers were not allocated at all. (As a matter of policy the VRA Archives have now issued these clubs with a 700 series number for filing identification purposes).

It appears that over the last 100 years Victoria has had around 700 civilian rifle clubs. Rifle clubs formed within military units that competed in the VRA competitions were seen as VRA clubs and were numbered. This practice appears to have occurred from the mid-1930s until the late 1950s.

There are several examples of clubs being re-numbered perhaps after long periods of inactivity. For example Pombomeit, which was in operation in 1907, was re-numbered 657 when it reformed in 1950.

Some known club formation dates give a picture of the growth of the movement although not totally accurate as clubs were disbanded for various reasons along the way.

No. 43 Melbourne - 1885

No. 390 Roseberry - 1904

No. 444 Gellibrand - 1906

No. 507 Corangamite - 1911

No. 550 Dunkeld - 1924

No. 603 Yallourn - 1929

No. 630 New Caledonia - 1934

No. 650 Bandiana Area - 1949

No. 672 RAAF Laverton - 1952

Administration of the Rifle Clubs and the Rifle Club Unions/ District Rifle Associations

In both pre- and post-Federation periods, the administration of the rifle clubs as a defence reserve in respect of funding and overall control fell to the Ministry of Defence. Daily administration was the responsibility of a regular Army officer such as Colonel Tom Price in pre-Federation Victoria. Under his direct supervision there was an Inspector of Rifle Ranges who was the person responsible for the construction and maintenance of ranges.

Competition, promotion and regulation were the brief of state rifle associations. In Victoria the individual clubs reported directly to the VRA but the State was also divided geographically into twenty-one unions of rifle clubs later called District Rifle Associations.

This had a defence purpose but was mainly for administration and competition. The unions were manned by elected representatives from each club within the relative union. They looked after local issues and ran inter-club competitions generally named 'Shield' or 'Pennant' series. Each union ran a closed prize meeting for members of that union only. They conducted a District Championship for the individual Club Champions with the winner going on to contest the annual State Champion of Champions match. Each union also appointed a team to contest the State Teams Championship. Most unions also ran prize meetings open to any affiliated shooter from any union, the entry fees being an excellent source of revenue. Rifle shooting has always operated as a professional sport although a competitor could contest as an amateur within the system by donating the prize money back to the relevant promoting body. Twice VRA Grand Aggregate Winner, Gina Black was an amateur. Neville Travina of Geelong Rifle Club also shoots as an amateur.

Equipment

Rifles

Prior to 1870 there was a great variety of arms held by the colonies and little uniformity between them. The British troops were armed with the ubiquitous 'Brown Bess’, this term covering a number of different pattern smoothbore muskets which were used in the earliest competitions. In 1855 the Lancaster carbine was adopted into British service. A number of these found their way to Victoria and were favoured in competition shooting. After 1866 the Snider breech-loading system became available and Snider Enfields and Henry rifles were used. Consistency finally came with the Martini-Henry .450 of 1871 and competitions were conducted in all colonies with these. A conversion to the .303 cartridge in 1896 saw the Martini-Enfield MK11 imported and used extensively by the rifle clubs. These early arms are covered in detail in two excellent publications - Australian Service Long Arms by Ian Skinnerton and The Target Rifle in Australia 1860-1900 by J.E.Corcoran. Around the time of Federation, large quantities of Magazine Lee Enfield rifles were purchased by all state governments and most were eventually issued or sold to the rifle clubs. They were to remain the issue reservist rifle until 1936, mainly due to the large quantities of ammunition still in store for this rifle. The Government Small Arms Factory at Lithgow began production in 1912 manufacturing the Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) No.1 Mklll but it was not made available to the rifle clubs until 1936 and not permitted in competition until then. When it was released a conversion was also carried out on many long rifles to suit the higher velocity ammunition designed for the SMLE.

The SMLE was a remarkable rifle and remained in Australian service until the late 1950s when it was replaced by the LI A1 Self-Loading Rifle. (The SMLE in telescoped version was to remain the 'Sniper' issue rifle until 1979). At the Lithgow factory work had commenced on the SLR in 1955 and in 1956 the last batch of SMLE rifles were produced. As the SLR came into service the SMLE, like its forerunner the Long Magazine Lee Enfield, became the reservist issue arm until the .303 ammunition was exhausted - the SLR was chambered for the 7.62 NATO round.

By the late 1960s it became apparent that a major change would have to occur in the target movement. The numerous established ranges and competitions revolved around long range single shot precision shooting, whereas the military were now arming for close contact warfare with selective fire weapons (those which would self-load for individual, burst or automatic fire). The 0.303 cartridge was obsolete and government funding had slowed to a trickle. The military and the rifle associations were now on diverging paths.

It was certain that the 7.62 NATO cartridge would have to be adopted for rifle club use but it was thought that the SMLE action was not strong enough for conversion to this round. Obviously a new rifle was required. Lithgow set to and produced a single shot version of the SLR but this proved unsatisfactory. The solution was provided by Sportco, a South Australian based manufacturer of sporting firearms. Their single shot target rifle, the 7.62 Sportco (later called the Omark) was so successful that it is still in use today.

Rifle club regulations were amended - a single shot rifle chambered in 7.62 NATO with weight and other limitation. This opened the doors for many specialized target rifles and conversions of Mauser and No.4 Lee Enfield rifles that were thought strong enough. Proof testing at Lithgow was required for such conversions. By the early 1970s the SMLE .303 had disappeared from the scene except for service and historical matches.

The previous level playing field of Army issue rifles and ammunition now only revolved around the cartridge that was produced by the Government Ammunition Factory at Footscray. This was not to remain long either as the Army moved to a 5.56 cartridge fired from a Styer selective fire rifle, the 7.62 round being retained for machinegun use only. When the ammunition factory was moved to Wangaratta they were unwilling, or unable to make a cartridge of sufficient quality to satisfy the target movement. As a consequence, hand loading of ammunition was permitted at the start of 1991 initially only using the military projectile. However the batch quality of these projectiles was inconsistent and in consequence an American Sierra match projectile was adopted. This put Australia in line with overseas competitions, but now it meant our rifle clubs had no connection with the military at all.

A comparison of the regulation cartridges appears in appendix 1.

Targets

Target size and scoring obviously reflected the accuracy of the rifle and ammunition and therefore tended to change as new rifles were introduced. They were also tied to some degree to those used in international competition. Until 1876-78 targets were made of iron with the scoring zones scribed and painted. After this time they were made of canvas stretched over a wooden frame, this apparently being introduced by a Lieutenant Keating at Wimbledon in 1876 and patented. With some change in facing material, targets of this design are in use to this day.

In most competitions each shot was individually scored and their exact position on the target indicated, thus giving the competitor vital feed back for the next shot. This obviously required a “marker” to be stationed at the target. With the heavy iron targets the marker had a hut or trench to take cover in while the shot was fired. Once fired, he would 'expose himself' to indicate the position of the shot, signal its score and paint-out the strike mark! A seemingly risky business, but there is only one record of an accident (non-fatal) at Williamstown, the state range. Later, the light Keating targets were mounted on sliding frames, which descended into a pit providing total safety. The shot hole could then be covered (patched out) with a glued patch of paper. A coloured disk secured to a stick was then inserted into the current shot hole to indicate its position and the target slid back up, the score was also signaled by the marker.

Generally targets have been white in colour with a black inner section known as the aiming mark and were originally square in shape particularly at shorter ranges. However by 1880 the targets had a circular aiming mark. Later the targets were divided into a series of scoring rings, the number and size of which changed greatly over the years and with the type of competition. Comparison of changes in target size is of interest, but I list below only the 'bullseye' or highest scoring ring as it gives some meaning to the exercise without reams of figures. For the pre-1864 square bullseyes' I have converted the area to diameter, which gives a reasonable comparison.

Around 1866 targets were referred to in classes: 1st Class - 700,800 and 900 yards.

2nd Class - 500 and 600 yards. 3rd Class - 300 and 400 yards. This definition remains today.

1880 - As 1864 but the 300 bullseye was circular and there were five scoring rings - 5,4, 3,2, and 1.

1899 - As before but the 0.303 cartridge was now in use and those still using the .455 Martini Henry were afforded a handicap advantage of plusl at 600 and 700, plus 2 at 800, plus 3 at 900 yards.

1900 - Handicap was adjusted to plus 1 at 500, plus 2 at 600 and 700, plus 3 at 800, plus 4 at 900 yards.

1922 8 18 20 20 20 36 36

1933 9 9 18 20 24 36 36

Coincided with the introduction of the SMLE and Mk7 cartridge.

1933 amended 7.5 12 15 15 24 30 30

1979 6.3 9.1 13.5 13.5 18.11 25 25

This size reduction reflects the 7.62 cartridge and the improved

accuracy of dedicated target rifles.

2003 5.5 8 10.6 13 15.75 24 24

This further reduction resulted from the introduction of the more consistent Sierra match projectile.

During the 1950s a ring within the bullseye was introduced called a 'centre'. This scored 5.1 points and was used to resolve tied scores. From the late 1930s to the late 1950s the aiming mark at 300 yards was a tin hat or semi circle and this was also used at 500 yards for some time. The gradual reduction in target size mainly reflects the advancement of technology, cartridge and barrel.

However an interesting question is, how much does it also reflect improvements in the skill of the marksman? It is beyond the scope of this work to argue this but it is worth some consideration. A dedicated target shooter can become very proficient at firing repeated shots close to the accuracy of his rifle and ammunition and yet fail in competition due to his inability to read changes in conditions. At the longer ranges particularly, the slightest change in wind strength or direction will affect the position of the shot on the target, it is therefore vital that these changes be recognized and compensated for, before the next shot is fired.

Some people can read the wind very well; some struggle for years and never get the vaguest grip on the problem. Certainly there are basic 'do's and don'ts' well written about and ‘standard’ wind-indicating flags at every range but the subtlety seems to lie in the unsatisfactory 'you either can or you can't'. The competition will be won by the shooter best able to read and respond to these changes, except on the rare days of constant conditions. As there is no way of measuring and recording this 'condition reading ability' there is no way of knowing if the skill of the marksman has improved over the ages. The general feeling seems to be that it hasn't.

Doncaster Rifle Club at 600 yards, c1912 (DP0370.  The range, McGowan's Road, Donvale.  The background is thick bush. 

Range Equipment

In all sports it is obviously necessary to standardize the equipment and facilities as much as possible. Target shooting is no exception and with the military involvement it will be no surprise that everything possible was drawn up and detailed ‘to regulation’- from target frames, shooting mounds and butts, to telephone communication etc. Some examples are copied for interest. See appendix 2.

The Matches

A typical club day has always involved three ten-shot matches sometimes at the same distance, sometimes at three different distances. All ranges ran to 600 yards, perhaps half to the full 900 yards. As there have been few newly constructed ranges, none in this State have been laid out in metres. A one-day prize meeting is typically three ten-shot matches at three distances generally in increasing length - 300, 500 and 600 yards or a long-range at 700, 800 and 900 yards. The Queen's Prize generally involves eight matches over three days. Day 1 - 300, 500 and 600 yards, Day 2 - 700, 800 and 900 yards and Day 3, 800 and 900 yards again.

There is an added problem to prize meetings, 'the luck of the draw'. A Queen's Prize may have three hundred competitors and even with twenty targets in use, it could take two hours to complete each range. The first detail at nine o’clock might be shot in overcast light with a choppy following wind. The last batch of competitors two hours later might see sunlight and still conditions. However, the top twenty shooters are often the same people!

Sources:

• Blannan, Major. A. Hasty Notes of a Flying Trip with the Victorian Rifle Team in 1876. Melbourne, 1887.
• Calder, Winty. Heroes and Gentlemen. Canterbury, Vic. Jimaringle Publications, 1985. Corcoran, J.E. The Target Rifle in Australia 1860 -1900. New York. R&R Books, 1995. The National Archives.
• Skennerton, Ian D. Australian Service Long Arms. Margate, Qld. I.D. Skennerton, 1976. Varzenty, G. Military Forces of Victoria 1857 to 1967. Publishing details unknown.
• The Victorian Review, vol. 1,1861. Victorian Government Printing Office.
• The VRA Archives.
• Ward, George. Victorian Land Forces 1853 to 1883. Croydon, Vic. G. F. Ward, 1989.

Doncaster Rifle Club No 337  Circa 1900 - 1939 (No. 20 Union)

Doncaster Rifle Club was originally founded around the turn of the last century. Their range was next to the old Morning Star Foundry site where the Eastern Freeway now goes under Doncaster Rd. They shot south up the gully that is now the freeway. This range was lost quite early as an application was made to the Department of Defence for a new range in 1911, sited at the other end of the District, off the lower end of Spring vale Rd. The targets were in fact in Warrandyte, just across Deep (Mullum Mullum) Creek. The range stretched over private properties owned by Mary Hislop and John Smith, and the safety zone extended over a further four properties so the shooting rights were quite complicated. Obviously it helped that most of this land was owned by club members.

The range was to 600 yards and had two-pipe frame targets, each carrying two targets -one up one down. These were arranged in a pit with a sliding roof (like Lang Lang uses to this day). Firing was into a hill that rose 160ft above the targets forming the backstop and the 600yard mound was an elevated platform. They were a strong club by all accounts and by 1918 had over sixty efficient members plus seven away, serving with the Australian Infantry Force.

The earliest report of their activities in The Evelyn Observer is of an away match, fired at Warrandyte on the 12th of November 1901. The team is recorded as Captain D. Laurie, E. Lawford, L. H. Smith, G. H. Thiele, John Smith, W. Ireland, Tom Petty, H. Hislop, T. Church and J. Townsend. Further reports are elusive until one from the newspaper on the 9th of September 1913 which recorded that The Don Lawford Trophy for newcomers was won by E. Bullen 202 points, from W. Wicking 201, and G. Adams 199.

Gellibrand Rifle Club visited Doncaster on the 20th of June 1914. This must have been quite an expedition! Doncaster was victorious with 584 points to 530. Top scorers for Doncaster were G. Adams 63, A. Thiele 62, and W. Ireland 62. For Gellibrand - Captain Hill 65, Bcwes 57 and Trotter 56. There was a special meeting held on Saturday night, the 22™ of December 1915 to 'farewell Mr. Temple Crouch, the best shot in the club who has joined the Expeditionary Forces'.

He was presented with an engraved wristwatch depicting a soldier. Thirteen members of Doncaster saw service in WW1 - J. Crouch, J. Dyer, H. Fromhold, F. Graves, J. Longmore, G.Ubergang, D.Laurie, A. Ireland, G. Lloyd, W. Rieschrieck, T. Toogood, F. Williams and C. Prior. The only other information is that J. A. Laurie and T. Crouch competed in the 1926 King's Prize without success, and in 1930 S. Cropley, J. Laurie, J. Galvin, S. Ireland, C. Toogood, and W. Ireland were regular competitors. They were certainly active in No. 20 Union and I have found reports of them defeating Upper Yarra on Easter Saturday 1933 -362 points to 361 - and going on to win the Pennant series for 1933 with S. Cropley, the Captain being top score.

The range certainly operated until the outbreak of hostilities and, was also used by the Volunteers Defence Force (VDC) during WW11. Bill Tucker reported that up until 1946 the range was in excellent condition and one of the best constructed in Victoria. When he again visited in 1951 it had been badly vandalized. Doncaster Rifle Club was never again to be reformed and it was officially disbanded on May 5th 1953. An interesting adjunct to Doncaster's target shooting days was a ladies miniature rifle range situated in Doncaster Rd near Wittens Lane that operated between the wars.

Doncaster - Known members

Captains: D. Laurie and S. Cropley.

G. Adams;; E. Bullen;; G. Cameron; T. Church; H. Clay; S. Cropley; T. Crouch; J. Galvin; H. Hislop; D. Kenny; B. Laurie; J. Laurie; T. Laurie;; E. Lawford; S. Ireland; T. Ireland; W. Ireland; M. Miles; H. De; Mole; E. Payne; E. Petty; T. Petty; W. Rieschieck; J. Russell; J. Sell; H. Serpell; P. Sharp; L. Smith; J. Smith; A.Thiele; G. Thiele; W. Thomas; W. Vettler; W. Wicking; A. Zerbe; Mr. Farqhuar; S. Laurie; J. Townsend; D. Sutherland; C. Toogood; J. Dyer; H. Fromhold; F. Graves; A. Longmore; G. Ubergang; A. Ireland; G. Lloyd; T. Toogood; F. Williams; C. Prior

Sources:

• Eric Collier. Research material and photograph. The Age newspaper.
• The National Archives.
• The VRA Archives.

Doncaster Rifle Club, circa 1912.

Back row L-R:  L Smith; D Kenny; B Laurie; G Cameron; Mr Farquar; W Vettler; H De Mole; A Zebra; D Sutherland; 

Front group L-R: A. Thiele; H. Clay; E. Lawford jnr; D. Laurie; J Laurie; T Crouch; E Lawford; J Smith; E Payre; H Thiele; Unknown; W Thomas; E Petty

Templestowe Rifle Club No. 522 1915-1939 (No. 20 Union)

This was a new club formed in 1915. Its only range was located opposite the very end of Blackburn Rd. on private property owned by Messrs. A. Andrew and R. Webster. Orientation was two degrees NW. The backstop was a hill that much later was to become the famous Templestowe Motor Racing Hillclimb. It was equipped with one pipe frame machine with two targets - one up one down, in a pit - and mounds to 600 yards. The Club was granted forty-five pounds for construction and range work was completed on the 17th of January 1916. Competition began immediately.

Templestowe was a member of No. 20 Union, always affiliated and a regular competitor in the Pennant series. I have had little success finding reports of their activities save one report of a Pennant match against Upper Yarra on the 4th of October 1929. It was a nine- a-side, seven- to- count match, from 600 yards fired at Templestowe. The visitors won by some twenty points. This report also gives us some member names listed below.

The range was destroyed in the disastrous 1939 bushfires and never rebuilt. Some members moved over to Doncaster but the war was soon upon them with one of their members Julian Serpell, serving with the RAAF in Europe.

Templestowe did not reform after WW11.

Known Members.

G. Adams, O. Chefler, H. Lovig, F. Neal, W. Ross snr, W. Ross, D. J. Serpell, H. Smith, W. Farqhuar, D. Lawford, L. Mahoney, J. Sell, R. Sell, E. Miles, A. Caunter, R. McKenzie, H. Aumann, Captain H. Ladd.

Sources:

• The National Archives. 
• Julian Serpell. Appendix 4.

Proposal for Templestowe Range construction by Inspector of Rifle Ranges, 1915.

Source: Rifle Clubs of the Yarra Valley - a historical perspective from 1885 - 2000 (Extract). Reprinted with permission of Author, David Rapley. May2023.  No NLA record,  No ISBN.

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Rifle Shooting

With the outbreak of the Boer War in 1900, patriotic men formed rifle clubs and built rifle ranges. The Doncaster Rifle Range was built at the end of McGowans Road on Deep Creek. A smaller club built a miniature rifle range and clubhouse on Doncaster Road near the present intersection with Whittens Lane, and was looked after by the Thiele brothers. Also, ladies rifle shoots were conducted in a paddock alongside Koonung Creek.

1900-1914 Doncaster Rifle Club Miniature Rifle Range, Doncaster Road, opposite Henry Thiele's store. The range was for use of .22 calibre rifles. Small shed with 12-paned window. Verandahs front and back. Open shed in the back at a distance. The range is fenced approx 12 feet wide. Henry Thiele's sons looked after the range. DP0621

Early 1900s.  Doncaster  Rifle Club. Ladies shooting in a paddock adjacent to the Koonung Creek.  DP0299

Source: Doncaster - A Short History By Eric Collyer (2013) Published by Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society, 12 Blair Street Warrandyte VIC 3113. National Library of Australia Card Number and ISBN 978 0 947353 04 9 - Original Scan

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Doncaster Rifle Club

The usual monthly spoon competition will be fired at Port Melbourne next Saturday, May 27, at 5-600 yards. On Saturday, June 3, a match will be fired at 2-300 yards against the Toora rifle club at Port Melbourne, to be followed by a dinner and theatre party. On Monday, June 5, the Donecaster team will visit Cockatoo Creek, where a match will be fired against the Emerald rifle club. Members of the club desiring to attend the above mentioned functions are requested to communicate with the vice-captain at once.


1911 'Doncaster Rifle Club.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 26 May, p. 4. , viewed 05 Feb 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89696689

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Doncaster Rifle Club

TThe deferred spoon shoot of above was held on Saturday, March 3. The veteran shot, in the person of Mr. J. Smith, who is always a consistent shot, secured the honors of tho day by win-ing first spoon. The shooting was well up to the average. Scores:— Score. Hcp. Total. J. Smith .. .. .. .. 48 3 50 E. Miles .. .. .. .. 43 7 50 A. Thiele .. .. .. .. 47 1 48 W. Reischeck .. .. 46 1 47 P. H. Sharp .. .. .. 43 3 46 J. Hewish .. .. .. .. 45 1 46 W. P. Vettler .. .. 43 3 46 J. R. Smith .. .. .. 40 5 45 J. Russell .. .. .. 38 7 43 H. Thiele .. .. .. .. 36 7 43 O. Zerbe .. .. .. .. 37 5 42 H. J. Bleauchue .. 29 8 37 Musketry, March 10. "I have something to tell you," said the young man, with a slightly embarrassed air, to the small daughter of the house. "After the party last night your sister Kitty promised to marry me. I hope you won't bear me any grudge for taking her away from you?" "Of course not," replied the small sister cheerfully. "Why, that's what the party was for!"

1917 'DONCASTER RIFLE CLUB.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 9 March, p. 5. , viewed 05 Feb 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75167156

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Rifle range c1914.  Group of shooters at the Templestowe Rifle Range situated north of Warrandyte Road in the vicinity of Target Road. The club was formed in 1914. Nearly all the men have suits and hats, and there is one man in army uniform. DP0530

Rifle Club Meet c1900-1910? Group of men, women and children, all very well dressed, attending a function possibly a Rifle Club event.  There is an orchard in the background presumably in the Doncaster area.  Four women are holding rifles, also four men.  There is a man dressed in military uniform.  All the people are probably locals but only John Tully and August Zerbe can be identified. DP1405

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Military Exemption Courts of the First World War - Box Hill

At the start of the First World War, there was no difficulty in obtaining voluntary enlistment of men to serve and fight overseas in the conflict. The Defence Act of 1903 had allowed for the raising and servicing of the new Australian army, but soldiers could not be conscripted to serve beyond the limits of the Commonwealth of Australia, so a volunteer force was required. 

As the war progressed the demand for new forces and reinforcements increased but volunteer numbers decreased. This was possibly influenced by the news of bloody and at times disastrous battles reaching Australia, along with a greater understanding by men and families of the horrors of the war and the associated increasing number of dead and wounded, many who may have been family members or friends from their district or town.

To address this, Australian Prime Minister Billie Hughes a called for a conscription plebiscite. The Plebiscite Bill was announced on 14 September 1916 with Australians to vote on conscription on 28 October 1916.   The question put to voters was: “Are you in favour of the Government having, in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service, for the term of this War, outside the Commonwealth, as it now has in regard to military service within the Commonwealth”?

A proclamation on 29 September 1916 required single men between 21 and 35 years of age register and report for medical examination in order to be ready if the vote for conscription was successful.

The Defence Act of 1903 allowed exemption from military service on the basis of certain medical grounds, certain exempted occupations and industries, and some religious grounds. Later war service regulations allowed further exemptions:

• For those working in protected industries and where it was in the national interest for a man to continue in his work, education or training;
• For men where military service would result in exceptional domestic financial obligations;
• For men who were the sole remaining son or one of the remaining sons of a family of whose sons one-half at least have enlisted;
• For sole support of aged parents, widowed mother or orphan siblings under 16 years of age or physically incapable of earning their own living.

These regulations were in force for the conscription plebiscite. The result of the plebiscite was a ‘No’ by 3.2 per cent. 

Even though a slim majority of Australians voted against conscription, many still believed that the war was a just cause. It was considered though that the deciding factor between the initial enthusiasm for the 'yes' vote and the eventual 'no' vote to be related to the actions of Prime Minister Hughes and his mistakes in the exercise of government power. On 23 November 1916 Hughes announced that, in the wake of the defeat of the conscription plebiscite, the military exemption courts would close.

In the interim though, for those who felt they came under one of the exemptions, local Military Exemption Courts were established to hear applications for exemption. Many were held during October before the plebiscite and some were held in November 1916.

One such Exemption Court was established at Box Hill and heard applications from men in the area that included Box Hill, Nunawading, Balwyn, Surrey Hills, Canterbury, Blackburn, Mitcham, Tunstall, Warrandyte, Templestowe, Doncaster etc. where men presented their case for exemption to the Magistrate.

Six sessions altogether were held at Box Hill before Magistrate Mr. W. Dickson, P.M. (Police Magistrate), on 13, 20 & 27 October and 3, 10 & 17 November 1916, during which a total or 230 applications were dealt with. Of these, 110 exemptions were granted, 43 refused, 28 allowed temporarily, and 11 were withdrawn; whilst the remainder were either deferred or passed on to the medical board. With the exception of a few adjourned cases, the above court concluded its sittings on Friday, November 17.

A review of local newspapers contained in The National Library of Australia digital resource “Trove” provides details on those who sought exemption and the decisions of the magistrate on the above hearing dates. Listed below are the applications from men from the Doncaster Templestowe area taken from “The Reporter” Box Hill newspaper reports on each session, and the magistrate’s decision on each application.

Session held 13 October 1916 [1]

• An exemption court to deal with applications for exemption from military service was held at the court house, Box Hill, on Friday October 13, and created much local interest. Altogether 44 applicants presented themselves, and out of these 26 were granted, 13 refused, and five adjourned. Mr. W. Dickson, P.M., presided, and the defence department was represented by Lieutenant Townsend.
• Frank Adams and Harold George Adams, of Serpell's Road, Templestowe, both claimed to be exempted because they were partners in an orchard, which would be ruined, as there was nobody to look after it. One brother had enlisted. Both applications were refused.
• Albert Aumann, George Street, Doncaster. —His orchard would be ruined if he were taken. Refused.
• Ernest Ferdinand Aumann, George Street, Doncaster. —Only remaining son at home and supporting his mother. Refused.
• Arthur Albert Aumann, Serpell's road, Templestowe. —One brother killed in action; the third aged 14. Granted.
• William Frederick Blobel, Main Road, Templestowe. —Owner of an orchard. Refused.
• Archie Crouch, Williams Road, Doncaster. —Sole remaining son with his parents; one brother on service. Refused. Note that in the 27 October edition of the newspaper, Mr. Crouch wrote of the need for a correction to this reporting of his hearing as follows: —"Dear Sir, —I notice in your paper (on 13 October) in connection with the exemption court at Box Hill, my case as being the sole remaining son at home. As this was not my grounds for exemption, and having made no such statement in court, I wish to explain this to the public through your columns, as some may think I made this statement”.
• Cedric Crouch, Doncaster East. —Two brothers gone to the front. Granted.
• John William Downing, Hunt Street, East Doncaster. —One brother enlisted, and applicant in the permanent forces. Granted.
• Arthur Elder, Surrey Road, Doncaster. —Three brothers enlisted. Granted.
• Ernest Edward Fromhold, Victoria Road, Doncaster. —Sole support of mother, and orchard of his own to look after. Granted.
• Edward H. Gallus, Main Road, Doncaster. —Only son. Granted.

Session held 20 October 1916 [2]

At the Box Bill courthouse on Friday, October 20, the sittings of the local exemption court were continued before Mr. W. Dickson, P.M. The court sat till 5 p.m., and altogether 62 applications were investigated, of which 31 were allowed, 2 temporary granted, 14 refused, and 15 adjourned. Two applicants did not put in an appearance, and one was withdrawn.

• John A. Gorman, Carbine Street, Doncaster East. —Only son. Granted.
• William Henry Hardidge, Tram Road, Doncaster. —Only son of military age; one brother enlisted. Granted.
• James Hodgson, Upper Templestowe. —Only son. Granted.
• William Cameron Johnston, King Street, Doncaster East. —Supporting invalid mother. Refused.
• Frank Kirkland, Elgar Road, Doncaster. —Father claimed that he is mentally deficient. Adjourned to medical board.
• Francis W. Kent, Main Road, Doncaster. —One brother enlisted; supporting widowed mother. Granted.

Session held 27 October 1916 [3]

The sittings of the above court were continued on Friday, October 27, before Mr. W. Dickson, P.M. During the day. 47 applications were dealt with, of which 19 were allowed, 12 temporarily granted, 9 refused, and 4 adjourned, while three did not appear.

• William Matthew Fitzsimons, Templestowe. —Sole support of mother, sister, and younger brother; dairy farmer. Exemption till December 31 granted.
• Roy James Mundy, Church Street, Templestowe, asked for a temporary exemption till December 15, to fix up his affairs. Granted
• John H. Plumb, Doncaster. —Practically only son and supporting his mother; one half-brother over 60 years old. —Granted.
• Herman F. Pump, Doncaster. —Supporting his widowed mother and sister; two brothers in camp. —Temporarily deferred till end of year.
• Albert and Richard Sell, Doncaster East. —Their father, Mr. William Sell, applied for exemption on the ground that their services were required during the spraying season. He had 460 acres of orchard, and it was necessary to have some practical men to keep down the pests, as he expected a crop of 30,000 bushels. —The P.M. agreed that it was a very large place to keep in order, but asked if a returned soldier could not do the work. In two months could he not instruct one to do the spraying. —Mr. Sell: No, it takes over two years for a man to become practical. He had had eight practical men employed and his own sons, but during the last year labor had become so scarce that 100 acres of orchard had to be neglected. Unless he could have the assistance till the end of March, when the spraying season finished, his crop valued at between £5000 and £7000 would be practically worthless. Questioned as to whether he could not teach two returned soldiers to do the work, Mr. Sell pointed out that he had to attend to the Mitcham cool store, which was the largest private cool store in Victoria. He had had a notice posted at the returned soldiers' bureau, but they had not been able to even supply him with a man who was not practical. Applicant also pointed out that Richard Sell was in bad health, and had only been passed as doubtful. —An exemption till the end of January was granted in the case of Albert Sell, and Richard Sell was referred to the medical board.
• James A. Sell, Doncaster. —In business as blacksmith, and also had an orchard to look after. —Exemption allowed till end of November.

Session held 3 November 1916 [4]

Before Mr. W. Dickson, P.M., the sittings of the above court were continued on Friday, November 3, Lieutenant Townsend representing the military authorities. Of 35 cases heard, 19 were allowed, 8 temporary granted, 6 refused, one withdrawn, and one granted by city court.

• James G. Carnochan, Templestowe, orchardist; business liabilities. —Temporary exemption granted till end of January.
• Frederick Smith, Doncaster. —Application by his employer, H. W. Mitchell, as he was his expert and manager of orchard. —Granted till end of January.
• Everard A. Thiele, Church Street, Doncaster. —Only son. —Granted.
• August M. Washusen, Doncaster. — One brother at the front, and his other brother not heard of for 20 years. — Granted.
• Robert Leslie Williamson, Williamson's road, Doncaster. —Engaged in harvest work; one brother enlisted. — Granted till end of January.
• Oswald A. Zerbe, Doncaster East. — Only son at home: one brother enlisted. —Granted till end of January.

Session held 10 November 1916 [5]

Twenty-three further claims for exemption from military service were heard before Mr. W. Dickson, P.M., at Box Hill court house on Friday, November 10. Six were allowed, one refused, six adjourned, 3 granted temporary, five withdrawn, and two did not put in an appearance. Lieutenant Townsend again represented the military authorities.

• Gustave Gamer, Waldau road, Doncaster - claimed exemption because he was denied the rights of a British subject promised in his certificate of naturalisation in being deprived of employment, and also in having been interred for three months in Tasmania. It was a moral impossibility for him to fight against his own country. He had served two years in the German army, and his two brothers were at the front at the present time, against whom he would be called upon to fight. Gamer admitted that he was a deserter, and if he were taken prisoner at the war the Germans would make him a soldier again to fight against this country. He had been in Australia since February 10, 1912, and was naturalised on July 30, 1914. —The P.M. said the application would have to be refused. Applicant then asked for an exemption till after the fruit season, as his employer desired his services. —The P.M.: You will have to go into camp in the first instance.

Session held 17 November 1916 [6]

No men from Doncaster Templestowe appearing.

On 11 November 1918 peace was finally declared. During the four years of the war more than 420,000 Australians volunteered for the AIF, the Navy and the Nursing Corps. Sixty thousand died serving their country.

The full listing of men from Box Hill, Nunawading, Balwyn, Surrey Hills, Canterbury, Blackburn, Mitcham, Tunstall, Warrandyte, Templestowe, Doncaster etc. who appeared before the Box Hill Exemption court can be found using the TROVE links below.

Sources:

• [1] 1916 'EXEMPTION COURT AT BOX HILL.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 20 October, p. 4. , viewed 02 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75166409
• [2] 1916 'BOX HILL EXEMPTION COURT.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 27 October, p. 4. , viewed 02 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75166452
• [3] 1916 'BOX HILL EXEMPTION COURT.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 3 November, p. 5. , viewed 02 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75166506
• [4] 1916 'BOX HILL EXEMPTION COURT.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 10 November, p. 2. , viewed 02 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75163716
• [5] 1916 'BOX HILL EXEMPTION COURT.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 17 November, p. 2. , viewed 02 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75166541
• [6] 1916 'BOX HILL EXEMPTION COURT.', Camberwell and Hawthorn Advertiser (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), 25 November, p. 5. , viewed 05 Jun 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153612388

Further Reading:

• [ i ] ‘Military exemption courts in 1916: a public hearing of private lives’, Provenance: The Journal of Public Record Office Victoria, issue no. 14, 2015. ISSN 1832-2522 - https://prov.vic.gov.au/explore-collection/provenance-journal/provenance-2015/military-exemption-courts-1916
• [ ii ] NSW State Archives and Records – Military Exemption Courts -https://nswanzaccentenary.records.nsw.gov.au/in-service/military-exemption-courts/operating-military-exemption-courts/
• [ iii ] National Museum of Australia – Conscription Referendums - https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/conscription-referendums

Source: Ian Schafter DTHS – June 2023