Fruit wagon with driver (thought to be James Mann) and horses, Arthurs Creek. The Evelyn Observer of 1917 reported that a local fruit wagon was on its way home from market with a passenger sitting on the empty cases behind. Coming down one of the hills these slipped, and the passenger was deposited on the roadway… In October 1873 James Mann selected land on the upper reaches of the Arthurs Creek in the Parish of Queenstown which he named ‘Lang Fauld Farm’. He was joined by John Mann in 1874 who selected adjoining land which he named ‘Carseburn’. Photo credit Bruce G. Draper
…a local fruit wagon was on its way home from market with a passenger sitting on the empty cases behind. Coming down one of the hills these slipped, and the passenger was deposited on the roadway…
To Market
An article in the Evelyn Observer of 16 February 1917, by W. Smithers Gadd J.P. Secretary of the Early Pioneers’ Association, describes the orchardist―‘who travels the long and weary roads in silent thought whilst his horses, the treasured friends and help-mate of man, pull a heavy laden vehicle to the Melbourne markets, and once his destination is reached he falls asleep for an hour or so to be awakened by the bell, that forcible indication that the market is now open. After selling his produce there is a long drive back to his home, which he reaches worn-out and tired, he lies his head on the soft pillow to rest. The work of the orchardist is not for a lazy man ’
Home Again
The following item was published in the Evelyn Observer of 2 March 1917 under the heading ‘When Ignorance is Bliss’ (By Revenge).
The truth of the saying, ‘Where ignorance is bliss ‘tis folly to be wise’, was very strikingly demonstrated down at Arthurs Creek the other evening.
A local fruit wagon was on its way home from market with a passenger sitting on the empty cases behind. Coming down one of the hills these slipped, and the passenger was deposited on the roadway, from which he was picked up unconscious some time later.
Meanwhile the wagon proceeded happily on its way, the driver (Marty Brennan) being quite unaware till he got home that anything unusual had happened.
Well, my dear, and did you hear
The news that’s going round,
How Marty lost Jack Oliver
Coming home from town.
‘Twas coming down McDonald’s hill
A lot of cases slipped,
And Oliver and cases, too,
Were o’er the tailboard tipped.
But the driver still went on his way,
And not a thing did miss,
Which proves the good old saying true
That ignorance is bliss.
An article in the Evelyn Observer of 16 February 1917 describes the orchardist―‘who travels the long and weary roads in silent thought whilst his horses, the treasured friends and help-mate of man, pull a heavy laden vehicle to the Melbourne markets’. Carrier's wagon, W. Deipenau, Sydney Road, Melbourne
Hillary Hewitt with a reversible hillside plough at 'Mt Osborne', 1940
Stripping oats in 1925 at 'Barton Hill', the home of James Draper, 1863 - 1940 and Blanche Draper (nee Hurrey), 1880 - 1968; the author's grandparents. Photo credit Draper family
Watering Colty and Gundhy, Middle Hut Road, Hazel Glen (Doreen). Photo credit Reid family
John Williams and Barrie Apted with Punch the horse at 'Glen Ard' coolstore. Photo credit Apted family
Early settlers included Pierce Brennan who, in about 1867, selected land along the Running Creek to the north of William Murphy and Charles Draper’s ‘Charnwood’, which he called ‘Fernvale’, and his brother Michael Brennan who selected land to the west of the Deep Creek, which he called ‘Pine Hill’. Pictured in 2003, 'Fernvale' on Running Creek, Brennan's Road East. The Evelyn Observer of 1917 reported that Marty Brennan accidentally deposited a passenger and some empty fruit cases on the roadway while travelling in his horse-drawn fruit wagon. Photo credit Bruce G. Draper
Baskets of fruit being loaded into a horse drawn conveyance, Arthurs Creek district
A fine horse and carriage, Arthurs Creek district
Looking north west across the 'Glen Ard' coolstore to the site of Mann's ‘Lang Fauld’ (Langfaulds), with Lobb's Hill in the background. In October 1873 James Mann selected land on the upper reaches of the Arthurs Creek in the Parish of Queenstown which he named 'Lang Fauld Farm'. Photo credit Bruce G. Draper, November 2003
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