During 1865 the idea of a railway from Mosquito Plains (Naracoorte) to Port Robe was mooted. Meetings were held in support of the proposal. An amount of £2,500 was placed on the Estimates for Survey. Lindsay Gordon argued in Parliament for a broad gauge railway with rails of 50 lbs to the yard. However, the estimates were to be based on light rails, on a narrow gauge track. These rails were 28 lbs to the yard. The proposed railway started a round of controversy in the Guichen Bay District.
As 1866 approached it was apparent not everyone was in favour of a railway to Port Robe. Suggestions were made in early 1866 to change the destination to Kingston S.E. at Lacepede Bay. This was the catalyst for more controversy.
In January 1866, Harry and Amanda Medcroft were blessed with another son. They named him Cameron. Their family was growing, Cameron was their fifth child. Harry continued to be busy with his Customs’ work. Annie Townsend their trusted maid gave notice to leave their employment. Annie had been engaged to a young man Frederick Taylor for three years. The wedding was planned for Saturday, 24-Feb-1866. Amanda and Annie were quite excited about the wedding. Annie and Frederick had secured work together on one of the major sheep runs. Annie would do domestic work at the main house and Frederick would be a general roustabout on the property. They planned to live in a small cabin near the main house.
Harry and Amanda felt obliged to help the young couple. Annie did not have family in Australia. Harry and Amanda spoke to Annie, “Annie, we are going to miss you. You have been a real boon to our family. We have decided to hold a wedding reception for you and Frederick at the Caledonian Inn; after the wedding ceremony.”
“Oh, Mr and Mrs Medcroft, I don’t know how to thank you. It’s such a lovely gesture.”
Harry spoke again, “Annie it’s our pleasure to help you and Frederick have a memorable wedding day.”
“Oh Mr Medcroft, thank you so much!”
Harry booked the Caledonian Inn function room for Saturday, 24-Feb-1866. Amanda and Annie set about planning the reception. Harry made inquiries around town about a new maid. It was a busy time in the Medcroft household.
Saturday, 24-Feb-1866 was a hot, sunny day. Harry had hired two carriages to take Annie and the Medcroft family to St Peter’s Church of England church for the ceremony; and later to the wedding reception. Reverend Stephen Anderson would officiate at the wedding ceremony. The ceremony was scheduled to start at 11:00 am. The carriages were outside Harry and Amanda’s house at 10:30 am; in plenty of time for the wedding ceremony.
Annie looked as pretty as a picture. Her blue eyes glowed with happiness. Her long black, glossy hair was neatly pinned up under her wedding veil. Her cream coloured wedding dress accentuated her trim figure.
Annie had asked Harry to give her away. Harry was quite chuffed about this. Harry and Annie rode in the smaller carriage. Amanda and the children rode in the larger carriage. There were lots of well wishers at the church.
Promptly at 11:00 am the organist began to play the Wedding March. Harry accompanied Annie up to the church altar. Frederick was waiting expectantly for his bride. He watched her walk slowly up the aisle. Annie was almost bursting with happiness. A broad smile was on Frederick’s face. He was dressed in a well fitting, hired suit for his wedding day. Annie was so proud of her strong, gentle bridegroom.
Harry and Annie reached Frederick and Rev. Anderson. Harry quietly took his seat alongside Amanda. The ceremony began. When Rev. Anderson asked, “Who gives this woman away?” Harry rose from his seat and said, “I do.”
Harry sat down again and the ceremony continued. Harry had custody of the wedding ring; at the appropriate time he handed it to Rev. Anderson The ceremony continued and reached its conclusion. Rev. Anderson introduced Mr and Mrs Frederick Taylor to the congregation. After a round of hand clapping, the newlyweds walked down the aisle and the congregation followed them outside. Everyone formed an avenue of well wishers to the waiting carriages. Frederick and Annie walked slowly to their carriage conversing with their well wishers along the way. They boarded their carriage and moved slowly away to their reception at the Caledonian Inn. The wedding guests followed them.
Amanda and Annie had liaised with John Park as to how they wanted the function room set up. All was in readiness. Harry was honoured to be the Master of Ceremonies and soon had the reception underway. A sumptuous dinner, interspersed with toasts and speeches was enjoyed. Music, singing and dancing followed. The afternoon was hot and the drinks flowed freely. Harry had booked the best room at the Inn for Frederick and Annie to spend their nuptial night together. By late afternoon, the festivities wound down to their conclusion. The guests packed up and went home. Frederick and Annie retired to their room.
Next day Harry and Amanda’s new maid Gladys Yarrow moved in to begin her duties. Gladys was a bright 16 years old lass; the daughter of a local fisherman. She fitted in well and was well spoken of in Robe Town. When she was given time off she was able to spend it with her family.
Father Julian Tennison-Woods in Penola was growing more concerned about the lack of education for children in the Guichen Bay District. He was particularly concerned for the children of Irish immigrants in his Parish. He decided to invite Mary MacKillop, and her sisters Annie and Lexie, to come to Penola to open up a Catholic school. Mary was an experienced teacher and knew the Penola area well.
Mary had taught at her uncle and aunt’s farm at Penola as a governess in 1860. At the farm she taught her cousins and other farm children. It was during this time she met Father Tennison-Woods. After two years Mary left to teach at the Portland school in Victoria.
Mary MacKillop answered Father Tennison-Woods call for assistance and moved back to Penola. On 19-Mar-1866 in Penola, under the guidance of Father Julian Tennison-Woods, the Order of the Sisters of St Joseph was inaugurated by Mary MacKillop; as the first Sister and leader. The Sisters’ charter was to go wherever they were required. There would be a dependence on God for their needs; and no ownership of personal belongings. Meanwhile, Father Tennison-Woods looked for a suitable block of land to build a school.
On Thursday, 12-Jul-1866 the telegraph station at Port Robe received news that George Ormiston’s former ship the Ant had been wrecked at Barwon Heads in Victoria. George Ormiston was relieved that he had sold the Ant in 1864. Whist he was sorry to hear about the tragedy; he was happy the financial loss was not his to bear.
On Friday, 3-Aug-1866 Father Julian Tennison-Woods bought a block of land in Penola for a school. The land had a rundown stable on it. Sister Mary MacKillop asked her brother to renovate the stable and make it suitable for a school. As soon as the renovations were done, the MacKillops started to teach children. Over 50 children were enrolled in their school. Plans were made to build a stone school house on the site. Father Tennison-Woods was called to Adelaide by Bishop Shiel to become the Director General of Catholic Education in the Province.
In Adelaide, Lindsay Gordon was thoroughly fed up with Parliament and its goings on. On Tuesday, 20-Nov-1866 he resigned from Parliament; much to the dismay of his constituents.
He decided to buy sheep and start a sheep run in the Colony of Western Australia. Conditions in South Australia convinced him to look elsewhere. So he formed a partnership and negotiated to buy several thousand sheep and transport them by ship to Western Australia.
Conditions in the Guichen Bay area were not good. The price of wheat fell and many farmers could not afford to cart their wheat all the way to Port Robe. A new port opened at Port MacDonnell to service the Mount Gambier area. Ports at Beachport (Rivoli Bay) and Kingston S.E. (Lacepede Bay) also increased their export tonnages. Port Robe was the loser from these changes.
Lindsay Gordon chartered a sailing ship to transfer over 4,800 Corriedale sheep to Western Australia. His plan was to land at Bunbury, muster his sheep and walk them overland to Manjimup; about 68 miles away. He landed at Bunbury on Tuesday, 11-Dec-1866; after a soul destroying trip. Most of his sheep died on the voyage from Port Robe; only a few hundred survived the sea vo
yage. To make matters worse the area around Manjimup was heavily wooded and unsuitable for sheep.
Lindsay Gordon in Manjimup was depressed. His sheep run venture had failed! His wife Maggie was expecting a baby and wanted to be back in Robe Town. They returned to Robe Town and landed at Port Robe in March 1867; having suffered a severe financial loss. On Friday, 3-May-1867 Maggie Gordon gave birth to a baby girl, Annie Lindsay Gordon.
The railway debate continued. A further meeting was held in Robe Town. This time the proposal was for a railway from Penola to Robe Town. The citizens of Robe Town generally supported its claim by stating that £1,500,000 worth of produce had been exported from Port Robe in the last 12 years. However, there was a ‘fly in the ointment’. George Ormiston was opposed to the railway idea; maintaining that the sea lanes served Port Robe better and that there was no ongoing maintenance costs involved. Thus, another round of controversy started.
When baby Annie was a few months old the Gordons moved to Ballaarat in Victoria. Lindsay Gordon, in partnership with Harry Mount rented Craig’s livery stables; behind Craig’s Hotel. He continued to ride in horse races and steeplechase events. By now his writings were becoming more accepted. He was recognised as an accomplished, published poet. His poetry was highly regarded in country Victoria. Melbourne on the other hand continued to ignore his poetry.
Back in South Australia, the Province was agog with excitement. His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh was expected on a Royal visit. Adelaide would be his first port of call on the first Royal visit to the Colonies in Australia. Stops were planned for Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other places along the route. His Royal Highness was expected in Adelaide at the end of October. Preparations were made for a grand occasion in Adelaide. The whole city entered into the spirit of the occasion.
It was only 31 years since the Province of South Australia had been proclaimed; and now they were to have a Royal visit by Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred. What a great honour! Residents from other places in South Australia made their own plans to be in Adelaide for the grand occasion.
Thursday, 31-Oct-1867 was the big day. Prince Alfred’s ship the ‘Galatea’ was moored at Glenelg. Promptly at 2:00 pm the 23 years old Prince came ashore; and stepped into his waiting carriage. When others of his party were seated in their carriages, the procession set out for the city. The procession consisted of Cavalry, and carriages containing Parliamentarians, Adelaide City Councillors and other ‘big wigs’. It made its way slowly along the seven miles route into the city.
Along the route hundreds of well wishers waved and clapped. At the south western corner of the city an arch 30 feet wide and 35 feet high had been erected. The arch was covered in green boughs and garlands of flowers; interspersed with bunting and flags. The procession made its way under the arch and proceeded to King William Street.
Hundreds of well wishers lined the city streets waving, clapping and cheering. Shopkeepers had done up their premises with flags, bunting, lanterns and flowers.
The procession made its way up King William Street to Victoria Square (named in honour of Prince Alfred’s mother, Queen Victoria). At the entrance to Victoria Square was an even larger arch. This arch was 90 feet wide and 40 feet high. It was festooned similarly to the smaller arch.
The procession went under the arch and proceeded to the Town Hall. An enormous star, 25 feet across lit up by gas highlighted the Town Hall. The whole city entered into the occasion. Even on streets not on the Royal route, shopkeepers had decorated their shops. The official reception was held in the Town Hall with much pomp and ceremony. Mayor Fuller in his address to Prince Alfred made mention of these sentiments, “Though separated from Great Britain by many thousands of miles, we have lost none of our attachment to the mother country.” Ties with mother England were still keenly felt.
News of the reception arrived in Robe Town. When Harry Medcroft read about it in the newspapers he thought, ‘Oh well it’s another occasion for the Chief to show off his cocked hat.’ Harry and Amanda were pleased about the Royal visit. It was a grand event for the Province.
The Royal visit was the talk of all the Colonies. Pride in mother England was at an all time high. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane had grand civic receptions planned for Prince Alfred. Colonial pride was uppermost on people’s lips.
As 1867 drew to a close Harry Medcroft reflected on the changing fortunes of the area around Port Robe. In 1865 a total of 8,000 bales of wool were shipped out of Port Robe. By the end of December 1866 only 7,600 bales of wool were shipped from Port Robe.
Lacepede Bay, Rivoli Bay and Port MacDonnell were becoming serious contenders for the annual wheat harvest, and wool clip. On the other hand, work had commenced on a third jetty to replace the poorly constructed Government owned jetty at Port Robe.