More about the Cassilis Cemetery

Recommemoration of Cassilis Cemetery
Sunday 28 February 1999

Click on the picture to see a larger view and possibly find people you recognise.

Cassilis historic pioneer cemetery re-dedication

Introduction

Prayers

Hymn - For all the saints

For all the saints who from their labour rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy name, 0 Jesus, be for ever blest. Hallelujah, hallelujah.

But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day; the saints in triumph rise in bright array;

the king of glory passes on his way,

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost,

Scripture readings

Joshua 4:1-7,l9-24 Israel builds a monument

Mark 922-8 Disciples build a monument

Address

Monuments Celebrations of the past

Lessons for the present

Signposts for the future

Another (f)route Breakfast on Sunday 7 April 2013

There is another (f)route breakfast scheduled at the Cassilis Recreation Reserve and Cemetery on this coming Sunday.

It is the hope of the organisers that many will come and those who can will bring fruit and fruit products. So everyone can get together round some tasty fresh fruit and catch up. It should be a pleasant morning. So see you there at 9:00 am, earlier if you want to enjoy the peace, quiet and tranquillity which awaits the visitor to this small haven.

From Howard:

Over the years, Cassilis has had a number of precedents and unique features that have added considerable wealth to the history of Gippsland.

Gippslands first reef gold was discovered here on the Cassilis road.

Historic Cassilis Cemetery and Recreation Reserve 

An ideal scenic spot for a picnic and a bit of relaxation whilst the kids run about in a safe and picturesque environment.

Mount Hepburn - King Cassilis Mine 1888

Rich superfine nuggety gold was mined with a “state of the art” gold recovery process that has been described recently by mining consultant/historian Dr Sandra Close as “world significant”

In its heyday employing 200 people, the remnants of this amazing mine are still in good condition and can still be observed.

The Cassilis Gold Mining Company (CGMC) 1897

The principal mine of Cassilis, rising to a height of 3300 feet above sea level this rich reef was discovered by Robert Howard and Ed. McLaren in 1890.

Water for the works was piped from ” The Springs” a natural watercourse in the head of a gully heading up onto the Great Dividing Range a short distance from the mine.

Between 1898 and 1916, the CGMC produced approx. 3.5 tons of gold, today worth about $50 million

The Springs

The Springs later became a small mining community made famous by Eddie Clements and Keith Shepherd in their book “Around The Campfire Ashes” recollections and stories of their life in the bush as kids.

Jirnkee Water Race 1899

Construction started in 1899 and commenced operations in 1901 the race was cut with a fall of 1 inch in the mile for a length of over 50 miles to service the sluicing company operating at Tongio West.

Tongio West State School 3419 1903

When the Cassilis School (1890-1903) prematurely closed a great deal of debate took place as to where a replacement might be built. It was decided it would be situated midway between Tongio West and Cassilis.

In 1911, the school was put firmly on the map when under the leadership of teacher Mr. Ronald MacDonald it was awarded a massive 11 scholarships out of Victoria’s possible 40. Only two schools in the State where awarded scholarships that year and Tongio West had a record number.

Hydro Electric Scheme 1905

Victoria’s first Hydro Electric Scheme was constructed for the King Cassilis Mining Company to overcome the rapid loss of timber used in the furnaces for gold recovery.

It covered almost 16 miles of country from the Victoria River north of the divide to terminate at Tongio West.

Markey Line Gold Reef

Mt. Markey Winery & Micro Brewery Est. 1992

Almost exactly 100 years after the first official pub was opened at Cassilis, the regions first winery 

Was granted a license on the same premises.

Alfred William Howitt (1830-1908)

ABSTRACT

As an individual I'm uncertain as to why we remember these figures and their achievements, because we really have no idea about the complete person. Not that we have any better knowledge of anyone, even one quite close to us and a long time of our acquaintance. Was Howitt a kind and caring man, and thought of in that way by his wife and children and his peers, or just one that was able to draw, organise or make his mark amongst his peers to the extent that they placed him in positions they didn't want to populate or occupy themselves. Were those who bestowed upon him the responsibilities of the position he was given, really just using him to their own ends. Possibly to curtail any advancement by him that would hinder their own.

These are questions that we will never answer with any accuracy, yet we want him remembered for his contribution? Like Ned Kelly is also remembered for his contribution of making an area that he frequented known and place it on a modern map?

There is some evidence that the man whose reputation is from Snowy River and made famous by Banjo Patterson, himself famous for his writings, buried his sister in the Cassilis cemetery. Or even someone possibly mistaken for that man or a relation for that man is buried in the cemetery, but to what good? So that people may walk over the ground under which lies another man who was eulogised in verse? Possibly because he was the only one who came to the notice of one who was good with words and had a talent of rhyme and was therefore able to spin a tale that would excite the minds of those whose life seemed not as big as this appeared?

We have to wonder if Howitt should be remembered any more than the average miner who was working in the tunnels and stopes of the King Cassilis mine and made one woman or their children happy, or one hotel licensee wealthy with the wage that he passed over the bar?

But because he was better known and held a position of a higher rank than the average miner, butcher or baker. An employee of the government is maybe the reason we remember him. But mainly because he was widely known outside the Cassilis area.

Alfred William Howitt (1830-1908)

There are many memorials of one kind or another to Alfred William Howitt. The Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management decided that there should be some reference of Howitt at the reserve, as the Omeo Goldfields of which he was appointed Magistrate and warden, probably also encompassed Cassilis. In this the 150th year of the date that Howitt was appointed Magistrate and warden of the Omeo Goldfields it seems appropriate to place something about him on these pages.

Alfred William Howitt (1830-1908), by Batchelder & O'Neill
La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria, H25326

It should be noted that a Howitt oak, though still small, was planted at the Cassilis Recreation Reserve in 2012 with the purpose of remembrance of Alfred William Howitt, another of the people that contributed to the area around it. Coincidentaly the area for which Howitt was responsible, is said to cover 150 square miles on the 150th anniversary of his appointment to the Omeo region.

Howitt born at Nottingham, England on 17 April 1830 to Quaker parents William Howitt and his wife Mary, née Botham. The Quaker connection seems to be of little interest to most chroniclers of his life and times, yet it appears to be important. That upbringing would have set in place much of what he actually did.

From:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5741198?searchTerm=Howitt%20AND%20%22magistrate%20howitt%22%20AND%20%28warden%20OR%20howitt%29&searchLimits=exactPhrase=magistrate+howitt|||anyWords=warden+howitt|||notWords|||l-textSearchScope=*ignore*|*ignore*|||fromdd|||frommm|||fromyyyy|||todd|||tomm|||toyyyy|||l-word=*ignore*|*ignore*|||sortby#pstart209118

THE GAZETTE. Saturday 19 December 1863

The following notifications appeared in the Gazette of yesterday :

TERRITORIAL MAGISTRATE.- -Alfred William Howitt, Esq.

POLICE MAGISTRATE, WARDEN, AND CORONER.-Alfred William Howitt, Esq., J. P., to be a police magistrate anti warden of the colony of Victoria, and also to be a coroner of Victoria, and to act at Omeo in those several capacities, vice W. H. Foster, Esq., transferred.

3.1 Cite:

Article identifier

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5741198

Page identifier

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page209118

APA citation

THE GAZETTE. (1863, December 19). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), p. 5. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5741198

MLA citation

"THE GAZETTE." The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) 19 Dec 1863: 5. Web. 28 Mar 2013 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5741198>.

Harvard/Australian citation

1863 'THE GAZETTE.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), 19 December, p. 5, viewed 28 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5741198

Wikipedia citation

{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5741198 |title=THE GAZETTE. |newspaper=[[The_Argus_(Australia)|The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956)]] |location=Melbourne, Vic. |date=19 December 1863 |accessdate=28 March 2013 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Much About Howitt

Much has been written about Howitt, his organisational skills, artistic ability and such things, and an odd journal entry. But can we know the man from these? They are but the skeleton of the person, and not the fleshed out persona and character of a man of his time. His known achievements were many.

More information can be gleaned here:
Australian Dictionary of Biography

Planting More Trees with Campbell and Joel

Slowly the trees and shrubs, partially financed by the FRRR, are being planted.

Campbell and Joel planting 2 more trees Trident Maples in
the cemetery in 35 degree heat

It would have been nice to get all these trees planted in winter. But that wasn't possible because the grant didn't come in time and when had opportunity to do the planting. The main problem with securing a grant where a bit more physical presence/work is required, is that there has to be time to do the work. It takes longer than what we imagine, because trying to have everyone in one place and all with a space available at the time can be a logistical nightmare.

The planting, not only maintaining them and watching the plants grow, is a huge pleasure and especially so when we plant the larger shrubs and trees. Because this makes an instant viewable difference to an area. The board of trustees of the Cassilis cemetery have decided to plant trees that are colourful because, the area is beautiful and serene in it's own right. It has room for a little or a lot of colour that will make it even more desirable to sit and enjoy, and this is just the start.

Unpredictable and unreliable rainfall makes the task challenging, but that will make it all the more wonderful when we see the fruits from the sweat of our brow deliver a result that will give all residents and visitors pleasure

The planting of these trees in both the cemetery and the recreation reserve has been a family affair where possible, but has had to be done at times, when people were available.

There are two more Trident Maples to be planted in the cemetery area and then the established tree planting will be complete for this year.

Tree Planting Continues in the Cassilis Historic Cemetery.

The Crimson Century trees that have now been planted in the cemetery were selected not for their normal coloured leaves that go some way to matching the cast iron grave surrounds also seen in the image. But because they have such a beautiful foliage transformation in the autumn. They become different trees almost.

Looking forward to seeing them in autumn

The ground where they are planted is hard, mostly clay and very compacted and therefore these trees will require extra watering depending on the rainfall the cemetery gets each year from this point on. We're hoping that in time, these trees will, like the other trees already in the cemetery long planted, and probably cared for when young and then neglected, will also become heritage trees.

The interesting thing about the cemetery is that people came to find gold or to engage in commerce with those who found gold and in many cases the trade off was leaving something valuable in the cemetery. Was it worth it? One would hardly think so. Especially seeing the families of most of these miners and merchants left the Cassilis township when the gold ran out, and in many cases, the area completely. One might easily imagine that Cassilis was not to their liking, not congenial to what they wanted from life.

Like most gold mining areas, it would have been wonderful to see Cassilis prior to gold being found and coveted. What we see today is hardly a shadow of what it would have been when the gold was still in the ground.

Planting in the Cemetery

Planting of trees started again today, this time in the cemetery.

Two Crimson Century trees have been planted as can be seen

So it begins.

The trees, other plants and tree guards etc., for the cemetery is partly funded with a grant supplied by Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal [FRRR] More trees will be planted as the weeks progress. It's not a good time to plant trees, as the weather warms and the soil dries out and hardens, but we have to do this when we are able, and when money, in this case the grant is available.

This project is to replace trees that have been lost, removed or need to be in situ so people can sit in shade as they visit and enjoy the gentle and enriching ambience of the cemetery and recreation reserve. Though in the case of the Cassilis recreation reserve it has been funded by the Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management and the people who have sponsored a tree.

The deciduous nature of the cemetery trees will deliver shade in the summer, present colour in autumn and then during the winter months will allow the sun to penetrate and brighten the area when the trees have lost their leaves. There is the added benefit of these growing trees to sequester carbon from the air around them.

Proposed shelter site.....

This is the site of the proposed shelter site on the recreation reserve, and it's ready to roll. It requires approval from the planning department of the East Gippsland Shire and then, like everything else, when we get that we can get onto the next step.

Nice job done by Brian Keating

We had to send out letters to people with the project number detailing what was intended on the site so they could object if they desired to do so. We had to give them 14 days notice, but gave then 21 days to place any objections with the East Gippsland Shire. We don't want anyone coming in later and saying that we are causing “material detriment” to their way of life or any other thing that is proposed for the area. We've heard nothing one way or the other, and now we are again at the waiting stage. Time is slipping away.

We won't have this up before Christmas, but hope that it might still go up before Easter. We would have at least liked to have all the paperwork approved before Christmas, but it would seem that's not going to happen either.