The Story of Clyde in Maps

Beginning with the time of squatters, first land sales, followed by  the building of the railway this slide presentation gives an over-view of the development of Clyde

Power Point : The Story of Clyde

Using maps to tell the  Story of Clyde 

The story continues with urban development in North Clyde which will soon swallow up Clyde as we know it.

**** As this page, the one you are reading right now,
is one of the most popular pages of this blog,
you may want to learn more about Clyde so:-

i) Check out the Clyde History website:

Clyde 3978 Victoria - History

ii) Contact the editor   clydehistory@gmail.com

New Suburb for Clyde and Cranbourne East

If you live in Clyde and Cranbourne then you will know about this.

Local newspapers have announced that the Casey Council intends to form a new suburb by combining the present Cranbourne East and Clyde North. The map displayed in the newspaper shows that the new suburb also includes Ballarto Road at the South Gippsland Highway end of that road. 

Residents have been asked to choose between Cameron and Ridgway as the name of this new suburb. The poll closes on August 30 and residents can vote via the internet at the following webpage. 

http://www.casey.vic.gov.au/rates/article.asp?Item=26899&nav=highlights

Historically, both Alexander Cameron and Anthony Ridgway contributed to the foundations of the two towns, Cranbourne and Clyde. It would be difficult to decide between them. However it should be noted that Alexander Cameron was more active in Cranbourne life whereas the Ridgways were involved with Clyde. 

If you are looking for yet another name then "Ballarto" would suit as the original Ballarto property was on the corner of Ballarto Road and South Gippsland Highway. Ballarto means very good, plenty and reflects the nature of the good land in our area. Choosing this Bunurong word gives something back to the people who first lived in the area. 

About this Blog

This companion blog to "a Clyde History" is designed to invite comment and further information about Clyde, its people, events and land features. It also gives space to the editor for personal reflection on events past and contemporary issues linked to our past.

If you wish to alert me to events then why not comment on this page or send me an email to the following cyber address clydehistory@gmail.com?

For an example what has been decided about the new name for the new suburb that includes some of Clyde North and Cranbourne East?


Thank you - from the editor

Clyde History Website  - Clyde 3978 Victoria - History

Hendersons from Clyde and Cranbourne

Emily Robins daughter of Richard Robins, the first ex-convict in Clyde, married James Henderson in 1872. Who was the witness to the marriage by the name of David M. Henderson?  A brother, cousin or no relation at all?
How many Hendersons can claim to be a descendant of Richard Robins through his daughter?

Several Henderson families in the Cranbourne Shire, all with similar Christian names, muddle up the genealogical story of the area. My neighbour was a Henderson. Was she also a descendant of Richard Robins?
So I began the search to unravel the family strings and this is what I discovered.

Hendersons Related to Richard Robins
James Henderson from Newry, Ireland, 54 (1842-1896)
Came to Clyde married Emily Eliza Rebecca Robins and farmed in Cranbourne.

Hendersons Related to James Hall McKay
David Metcalf Henderson, 65, (1846-1911) who married Christina McKay in 1873 and moved from Clyde to Tooradin.  He was the witness to the Robins-Henderson marriage of 1872. Christina's brother, Donald McKay married (1876) Sarah Beatrice Robins, daughter of Richard Robins. David M. Henderson died as a result of an accident.

Parents of David Metcalf Henderson. 
John and Mary Henderson (nee Douglas) came to Australia from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England in 1855 with four children and bought 112 acres in Clyde about 1864.

   Elizabeth Henderson, married Mr James Fry - Cardinia

   Mary Jane Henderson, married Mr Basan of Tooradin
   David Metcalf Henderson, married Christina McKay - and moved to Tooradin

   Ann Howey Henderson, married Mr Ogston - moved to Claremont WA
Two years after the death of his first wife (Mary Douglas) John Henderson married Mary McKay. Could she be the sister of James Hall McKay- the man who gave Clyde its name?
(Her parents were Anne Campbell and Donald McKay and she was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland)
The Hendersons initially rented then owned block No 67 on corner of Ballarto and Bells Roads. After John's death in 1885 Mary farmed 30 acres of the original block until the clearing sale in 1888.

The famous Henderson detective, Reginald Ernest Henderson (1910-2003) is a grandson to the David Metcalf Henderson mentioned above. Detective Henderson had a photographic memory and arrested criminals as he remembered their faces from photographs. Very interesting reading when you find articles about him in The Argus.

Hendersons in Clyde
Hugh Henderson, 71, (1853-1924) came from County Down, Ireland and first settled in Epping and married (1888 in Fitzroy) to Eliza Smith also from Epping. He later moved to Cranbourne sometime before his first son was born. His two sons were Robert John Henderson (1893-1970) married Miss Stapleton, and William George Henderson, 80, (1891-1971) married a Clyde lass, Hilda Kerslake and owned a dairy farm in Clyde. (Corner of Campbells and Beechers Roads.)

The Hendersons of Mollison Hill
Joseph Henderson, 40, (1831-1871) from Newry, Ireland, the first Henderson mentioned in the Cranbourne Shire Rate books, bought land that was also used by his brothers Andrew and Thomas  Henderson. Joseph, Andrew and Thomas were sons of John Henderson and Sarah McClements. 
They all at one time lived or work on Mollisons Hill, (crown allotment No. 48) located on the south western corner of Pound and Thompsons Roads. 

Andrew Henderson, 54, (1826-1880) married Catherine Fitzpatrick from Hobart.
Following her husband's death, Catherine Henderson married William Talbot and continued to live on Mollisons Hill. 

Thomas Henderson, 92, (1839-1929) is mentioned in the Cranbourne Rate books as owning  Lot No 29 (105 acres) and having a house on that land. One of his sons, also a Thomas, married Mary Adeline Kernot of Tooradin.
  
Hendersons in Cranbourne
James Henderson, 85 (1828-1913) the Carpenter from Antrim in Ireland in 1855 and came to Cranbourne in 1869. Married to Jane Ann Irwin they had 8 children who lived to be adults. One son, Isaac, was Pound Keeper and the hall keeper in Cranbourne and their single daughter, Rachael made her living from being a dressmaker. 

John and Ann Henderson (nee Moss) lived in Cranbourne and had  one daughter  Catherine. 

Mrs Catherine Henderson d 1895 ( perhaps nee Boag) widow of Robert Henderson owned land in Cranbourne. She was buried in family grave in Lang Lang. According to her husband's Will 1890 there were five children

Son: Robert – farm at Lang Lang  214 acres

Daughters: Sarah Ann Stick, Elizabeth Jones, Margaret Henderson, Mary Jane Addeson (Spelling not clear)

Lyndhurst and Berwick Hendersons
William Henderson (1839-1900) of Lyndhurst (1865) came to the district and lived on land owned by a Hugh Henderson. From County Down, Ireland he married Elizabeth Ann Singleton. Subsequently their family had connections with communities in Pearcedale, Frankston, Langwarrin and Mooraduc.

Thomas Henderson, 82, (1831-1914) from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, lived and worked in Berwick as a builder/carpenter. He owned land in the Cranbourne township and may have had a woodyard there. Look up TROVE for his Obituary giving details of his life and family.

More .......
Richard Robins  James Hall McKay  
Check the Cranbourne Cemetery website for more
Further reading or research: Cranbourne Shire Rate Books, Flinders Electorial Rolls.

Hendersons Family Researchers
The editor has compiled some Henderson family trees to explain the links and differences between the Hendersons of the area. There are six diagrams in the following document.
Hendersons of Clyde and Cranbourne area
  
Family Researchers are asked to check out this information against documents obtained from the Registry Office, Public Records Office or original documents of death, marriage, and birth.

Meteorite Mystery Solved

Clyde North School to the rescue.
In the  late 1960's early 1970's an adventurous young school teacher, James O'Shea took his students on a Clyde History journey. He documented the history of the school in an A3 sized scrap book and wrote the text which is recorded on the Clyde History website.
Mr Jim Lineham became the valuable source of information supplying photos and details.

  Mr O'Shea drew a map where the meteorite was found in 1853. In 1971 Mr D. J.  Mickle took the photographs shown below.

 Aug 1971 Jim Lineham standing next to the tree that was planted above the meteorite crater.
Facing north north-east showing poplar trees lining the drive- way to Stock's home.
Photo taken by D J Mickle.
Photo courtesy of the Cranbourne Historical Museum at Fisherman's Hut in Tooradin

Aug 1971 Jim Lineham standing next to the tree that was planted where the meteorite was discovered. Facing south with Twyford Road in the distance. Photo taken by D J  Mickle.
Photo courtesy of the Cranbourne Historical Museum at Fisherman's Hut in Tooradin.

Map drawn by Mr J O'Shea showing the location of the meteorite.
Note: The meteorite was found in 1853 and had landed there many many years before.

Updated version of the map is as follows

Clyde North School history:www.clydehistory.comyr.com/html/0508sch118.html
Look for School History written by Mr O'Shea - listed as a pdf at the bottom of page.
Meteorite Story: www.clydehistory.uphero.com/html/0310meteorites.html

Clyde North Primary School 1910

(Courtesy of Barbara White- Ern Ridgway's grand daughter)
Click on image  to enlarge this beautiful photo
Ern Ridgway - 3rd from right on the front row.
Where are the other Ridgways?
Taken sometime between April and late September 1910

Further details about this photo can be found on the Clyde History website 1910 School Photo

Clyde North School 1953

Back Row:

? Van Den Broek?,    Arnold Heathcote,    Leo Van Den Broek,   Terry Bell,   ? Bell,   Gerard Van Den Broek,

Middle Row

Francis Farquhuar, Elizabeth Cox, Janet Cox, Elaine Paige, Wendy Mogg, Valerie  Hunter,  Nancy Harrison,

Front Row

Jimmy Dee (?), Van Den Broek?,   Rohan Mogg?,   Billy Harrison,   Boy 8,   Geoff Cox,   Boy 8

Front on ground

Margaret Manks,   Pattie Hook

Teacher: Mr Frank Gebbie

Have I guessed correctly at your names? Can you supply the missing names?

In 1958 Mr O'Shea compiled a history of the Clyde North School.  This  30+ page document is available via the Clyde History website.

Editor - clydehistory@gmail.com
Researching for your Clyde ancestors? Check out  Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools

Clyde General Store-Poem

One Sunday Paper printed this when Hilary and Rob Reynolds were the store keepers. This poem was written for the owners of the Clyde General Store by one of their customers.

MY KIND OF TOWN I live in a rural town,  a tiny place called Clyde; the market gardeners tend their crops and market them with pride. We grow the best darned celery this country’s ever seen; fresh and crisp and crunchy and a perfect shade of green. We’ve got a general store and fire brigade, and a school the kids all love; there are tennis courts, well patronised, with lighting up above. Each morning I go to the Store for the papers and the post and always meet a smiling friend- that’s what I like the most. Dale Harvey

Dale Harvey- when did you write this? Do you know the date for the newspaper article?
Do readers have any other newspaper clippings about the Clyde General Store?

• More Clyde History can be found at
         https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com
• Editor - clydehistory@gmail.com
• Researching for your Clyde ancestors?
         Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools

Clyde History Walking Tour

Next time you are in Clyde you could take the History Walking Tour.

Actual walking time is 25 minutes - longer if you linger on the way- especially if you buy a snack at the Store.


The following document can be downloaded and printed out. Click on image to open up a pdf Map.




Notes about the main features of Clyde.

(Underlined articles are hotlinked to the Clyde History website)

1888 Railway Station

After the railway began operation it was realised that the line was too steep up to Clyde. It was regraded, the station temporarily shifted and then the bridge was built in 1915
Passenger services were stopped in 1981.

1889 Township Survey

The railway brought interest to the area. Three new streets and 49 house blocks were planned for “the very heart of what must become an important business centre”.

1900-30 Shops and Businesses

Bootmaker, blacksmiths, butcher, mail contractor, carpenter, baker, lawyer, and shopkeeper - all had businesses operating in Clyde’s township. Daily farmers brought their milk to the station for transport into Melbourne. Shops and services built up around this industry.

1905 General Store and Post Office

Tom “Corrie” Ridgway transferred the ownership of the shop to his sister-in-law, Ethel Ridgway after the death of George Ridgway in 1904.  In 1905 the shop was placed on skids and dragged by bullock teams from Ballarto Road to its present site. The Post Office was added in 1914.

1909 Methodist Church

Our first public building was used for concerts, the new school (No 3664), sports’ club meetings, polling booth along side the church activities.  Before it closed down in 1999 it gained fame through some TV serial dramas.

1910 School No 3664

The residents of Clyde took the initiative to request a school for their children.

For 7 years children were taught in the Methodist Church. In 1918 the new school was officially opened.

1915-1958 Native Animal Sanctuary
“Hiltonwood”, 87 acres, owned by Thomas Twyford was proclaimed a sanctuary for protection of native game. The farm had many trees and on the boundary fences were notices reading “Sanctuary for Native Birds".

1923 Telephone
Telephone services were extended to Clyde in 1923 with a phone at the Post Office and by 1924 there were 17 subscribers.The earliest record I have of Clyde telephone subscribers  can be found here along with a map of the telephone lines. The Automatic Exchange began operation in 1942. You can see this building at the rear of the property on the corner of Ballarto and Station Roads, In 1948 there were 25 connected to the automatic exchange.

1928 Public Hall and Mechanics Institute
Mr A Wenn donated land for this building and the locals raised the funds. Officially opened in 1928 the hall has been the centre of Clyde’s cultural life- a library, CWA, Baby Health Centre, dancing, concerts etc.

1944 CFA

Following a devastating fire in the area in early 1944 the Clyde – Cardinia Fire Brigade was formed. The CFA secured a 99 year lease with Victorian Railways at the present station site and a special building appeal was launched through the district in 1953 raising £385 ($770).

1978 Lineham Recreation Reserve
Clyde tennis (1913) and cricket (1888) match results were recorded in local newspapers. Before using Linehams Reserve sport was played on McKay’s land (North Clyde south of the Hall) and Ridgway’s ground next to the school. The old Cricket Club shed remains on the former Ridgway property.

• More Clyde History can be found at
       https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com
• Editor - clydehistory@gmail.com
• Researching for your Clyde ancestors?
         Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools

Letter from a Clyde Post Office?

Today mail is delivered to Clyde homes.
Before the railway was put through in 1888 mail was brought to the Clyde North School and children took letters home to their family.

Well there is more to the story than just this.
A visitor to the Clyde Picnic is investigating the background to this interesting part of Clyde's history. David Kajewski hopes to document and record the philatelic history of Clyde and its postal services over the years. Maybe a relative of yours still has that letter you sent them from Clyde? If you ever received a letter from Clyde with its post office stamp then David is interested in meeting you.
Contact     david.kajewski@yahoo.com
David's wife, a descendant of early Clyde folk (Walkers and Masons) brought valuable family history with her to the picnic. Her ancestor, Maria Anne Walker (nee Mason) 1841-1925 was a local mid-wife.

Clyde Picnic Update
About 30 other people added their stories and photos from the 1930-60's period. Clyde Hall Committee worked with us in providing a good venue - especially so as it rained most of the day. Newspaper clippings about the Public Hall, Fire Brigade, Schools, placed on tables stimulated the conversations. Picnic guests were from Warragul, Korrumburra, Tocumwal, Clyde, Cranbourne, Berwick, Noojee, Warneet, Devon Meadows, Mornington Peninsular and the suburbs. A good response with new material for me to work on. Photos will be uploaded on the website so one day you can see the contributions.

From all age groups represented came the strong affirmation of rural community life and a sense of deep regret, even grief, that the memory of Clyde will be wiped away by Urban Growth. 

A meaningful moment was the visit to the CFA building and hearing the Captain, Ken Blencowe tell us the local brigade history. Rain ended any plans to walk to the school and we only managed one history walking tour.

All costs were covered with $8 to spare-perhaps for coffee at a future picnic!
The Next Clyde Picnic?  Australia Day on an annual basis?  Another suggestions?

Missed out on the Clyde History Walking Tour?  Check out this item in the menu at the left hand side of this article. A pdf map and brochure is available for you.

• More Clyde History can be found at https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com
• Editor clydehistory@gmail.com
• Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
  The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.

Clyde North Anglican Church

Land donated by Anthony Ridgway in the 1860's  became the focus point for the Clyde congregation. What motivated this man to give up an income source for the benefit of others?

The above pictured church was the third one on this site. The first, possibly of wattle and daub was erected in the 1870's. The second that was opened in 1877 was destroyed by fire twenty-nine years later in 1906.

Marriages, baptisms, memorial services for WW1 soldiers, funerals and social gatherings took place under its roof.

Once the School's Pony Paddock stood on its north side and then remade into a tennis court. In 1999 the  building was dismantled and reerected at Beacon Hills College in Pakenham

The view you see above has been replaced by a roundabout and an entrance into Selandra Estate. My suggestions for streets to be named after Clyde people has been received by this developer.

Was your family ever connected with this church in some way?  Builder? Wedding? Funeral? Baptism? Confirmed? Minister? Organist? Choir member?  Sunday School teacher or pupil?

Look deeply into the photo's background to see glimpses of Cranbourne,  power lines and Thompsons Road. Did you know that the Clyde Creek had its source in these paddocks behind to the north of this church?

Other Churches in Clyde? The second church in Clyde was further north along Clyde Berwick Road - known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Time wrought its own destruction of the building and in 1910 the Clyde Methodists constructed the first public building in the new Railway Town, 1910.

About the photographer: Richard Ryland was the last Principal of the Clyde North School No 118.

Photo taken by Kath Soulsby in the 1950'60's


Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you
clydehistory@gmail.com
https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com

Clyde North School No 1926

In 1858 when education was neither free or compulsory a group of Clyde men realised that a school was needed for the development of the area. At the time more than half  (59%) of Victorian children did not attend formal schools. The efforts of these Clyde pioneers produced a school that was to function for one hundred and thirty-four years. Aerial photos via Google have a different view of the land. Instead of the church and pony paddock opposite the school there is a roundabout, the entrance to a new housing estate and both school and hall have vanished from sight.

Hidden from view is the record of hundreds of lives shaped and educated in that small school room. Some remnants can only hint at what happened there. The Pupil Register of 1910-1950 is stored in the Public Record Office of Victoria while some photos are kept by the Cranbourne Historical Society.

Next to the school was the first Clyde Public Hall and Library which housed the Honour Board for WW1 soldiers. Cricket was played in McKays paddock on the south side of the hall.

What year was this photo taken? 1926?

Back Row

Jack Manks, Bill Campbell, Jim Lineham, Dan Dawson, Harold Hook, Lindsay Rickey, Walter Manks, Charles Dawson, Gordon Harris,

Middle Row

Aileen Cantwell, Grace Campbell, Muriel Harris, Jean Cox, Hilda Morgan, Amy Manks, Evelyn Bonny,  Josie Dawson, Marjorie Campbell, Evelyn Manks,

boy standing – Lindsay Gamble

Front Row

George Manks, Ray Kerslake, Jack Dawson, Roy Dawson, Ken Kerslake, Ray Moore, Neville Avard, Clyde Manks

Photo source  - Henry Klein.

Clyde North School photograph album can be found aon the Clyde History website.

https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com

You can respond to this article via clydehistory@gmail.com, leave a comment below or add to

On-Line Clyde Family History Resources

Are you looking for information about your Clyde ancestors? Did they leave a Will?

The Editor of the Clyde History website has listed some steps in uncovering your family's details.
Most of the ideas do not involve any payment and are easily accessible via the internet.

Joan Vanderhorn has tagged over 2700 newspaper items related in some way to Clyde.
The majority of these are from The Argus newspaper.

Check out this special blogsite on how to find more about your family's history.

Online maps (old and new), advice on how to understand the Electoral Roll in relation to Clyde.
Guidance is offered on how to decipher the Cranbourne Shire Rate Books to find Clyde data.
How to find if someone else has developed your family tree, who had a telephone in 1931 and who was listed in the first Victorian directory can be found on the following blog. 

Blogsite name: Clyde Victoria-Family History Tools


The Clyde History website  https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com gives the historical context of your ancestors providing you with a clearer picture of what they experienced.

1934 Floods in Clyde

Eric Thomas, then a primary school boy, living on Ballarto Road recalls the following about this extraordinary flood.

"December 1, 1934. A wet season with heavy rain through October to November and into December led to excessive flooding throughout the KooWeeRup Swamp due to a king tide in Western Port Bay.

Water was over six feet deep in Koo-Wee-Rup town and all low lying areas were covered for a considerable time. Drainage works had been done for many years through the large Swamp with minimal results.

At the time the Water Commission was working on a new drain to take the waters from Clyde Creek on a direct course to the Bay. They had come from the Bay to within about 20 feet of connecting with Clyde Creek when the flood came so the waters continued along the Creek down to add to the Swamp. The new drain came up through the Thomas farm to connect with the Creek just south of the Ballarto Road bridge.

The Creek flowed within a few chain of our house and a large portion of our farm was inundated. Our truck was registered as an "Area Carrier" vehicle and was put into service clearing drowned stock from the area to a disposal point."



Learning from History
Oldtimers' stories like these have real value for land developers who want to avoid or mininize flooding on their properties. Even I can recall water covering areas of the Cranbourne and Berwick districts that are now housing estates. Do you have similar recollections?

Do you have any snippets of information about Clyde floods?

• Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde? The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.
• Clyde History website: https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com
• Editor - clydehistory@gmail.com

How Clyde looked in 2009

How did Clyde land look before housing estates were built?

Aerial photos of Clyde dating back to 2009 are available online for your enjoyment.

NearMaps, an Australian company, has many photographs of Clyde that illustrate the effect of the drought, the arrival of rain and the landscape changes wrought by property developers.

A registration fee is now required to join and see their good photos.
http://www.nearmap.com//
It is superior to any other company that takes aerial photos.

However there is a free option.
As of July 2013 Google still retains old scenes of Clyde before housing developments east of Clyde-Berwick, Clyde-Fiveways roads. So have a look and then keep some photos for yourself
What did your home look like in 2009?

Now have a look at the..
 * former Gillingham Pitman properties on Clyde Berwick Road.
 * land originally owned by the Ridgways (followed by Hunters, Antons, Lewrys)
 * 211 Grices Road land for sale opposite the Hillcrest college on Soldiers Road.

Enjoy.

clydehistory@gmail.com

More Clyde History can be found at
https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com

1921 Photo Clyde School No 3664

(Click the mouse over this picture to see an enlarged version)

The head master is  Mr Leslie Edwards- a First World War soldier who was decorated for bravery. He was so well loved by the community that as a farewell gift the towns people gave him a camera as a gesture of their appreciation of him.

Please read about him at https://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com/html/0600who3anzacs.html
Mr Edwards came to Clyde in May 1919 and stayed until 1926. He was highly regarded by the local community.

Is the lady Miss Inez Hunter? Miss Hunter was a gifted soprano and musician. As "Sewing Mistress" she assisted in teaching the smaller children and taught sewing to the older girls. At a later date Miss Hunter taught part time at both Clyde 3664 and Clyde North 118.

These 36 students shared the one classroom designed to accommodate 60 children.
The school commenced in the Clyde Methodist Church in 1910 and later, 1917 moved to their own property and building. The second classroom was added in 1962 separating the infant grades from the older children. Two full time teachers were required.

Family who may have had children in the school in 1921 have the following names:

Bailey, Cam, Clink, Cromb, Croskell, Cutler, Deanshaw, Finke, Forrest, Frost, Gardner, Gilmore, Grigg, Hatch, Howard, Manks, Matchett, McGeachin, McLachlan, Milne, Picken, Postle, Reynolds, Ridgway, Robertson, Rooke, Scott, Stewart, Stick, Wallace, Wenn, Wilson, Zenner,  

The pupils in this picture ranged in age from 5 to 14. Some of the older children would have been in Grade 8 - the equivalent today of second year of a secondary school. All grades were taught in the one room.

A Rural School like this one was the focus of the district. Annual school picnics, school concerts etc were attended by most of the community.

Can you identify any person in the above photo?
(Photo - Mr M. Cutler)

More Clyde History can be found at

www.clydehistory.uphero.com

Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.

1921 Photo Clyde School No 3664

(Click the mouse over this picture to see an enlarged version)

The head master is  Mr Leslie Edwards- a First World War soldier who was decorated for bravery. He was so well loved by the community that as a farewell gift the towns people gave him a camera as a gesture of their appreciation of him.

Please read about him at www.clydehistory.uphero.com/html/0600who1.html
Mr Edwards came to Clyde in May 1919 and stayed until 1926. He was highly regarded by the local community.

Is the lady Miss Inez Hunter? Miss Hunter was a gifted soprano and musician. As "Sewing Mistress" she assisted in teaching the smaller children and taught sewing to the older girls. At a later date Miss Hunter taught part time at both Clyde 3664 and Clyde North 118.

These 36 students shared the one classroom designed to accommodate 60 children.
The school commenced in the Clyde Methodist Church in 1910 and later, 1917 moved to their own property and building. The second classroom was added in 1962 separating the infant grades from the older children. Two full time teachers were required.

Family who may have had children in the school in 1921 have the following names>

Bailey, Cam, Clink, Cromb, Croskell, Cutler, Deanshaw, Finke, Forrest, Frost, Gardner, Gilmore, Grigg, Hatch, Howard, Manks, Matchett, McGeachin, McLachlan, Milne, Picken, Postle, Reynolds, Ridgway, Robertson, Rooke, Scott, Stewart, Stick, Wallace, Wenn, Wilson, Zenner,  

Until then over 600 children had experienced learning in that one classroom

The pupils in this picture ranged in age from 5 to 14. Some of the older children would have been in Grade 8 - the equivalent today of second year of a secondary school. All grades were taught in the one room.

A Rural School like this one was the focus of the district. Annual school picnics, school concerts etc were attended by most of the community.

Can you identify any person in the above photo?
(Photo - Mr M. Cutler)

More Clyde History can be found at

www.clydehistory.uphero.com

Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.

What are the Lessons of History?

What lessons?

The principles of good relationships that worked a hundred years ago still work today.  Conversely bitterness, lack of forgiveness, revenge, rejection, still create damage, hurt and emotional distance that can reach into following generations.


Human nature and human needs do not change because of new technology.

Clyde has its own stories of good and not so good examples of decision making.
Read "between the lines" to ascertain the difference. 
Some families have hung on to the hurts of the past while others have overlooked the "sins of the fathers' and begun new relationships with previously unknown relatives.


You could begin with Amazing Local Stories followed by the lives of the Early Families and then the Dairy Industry Impact and its articles.



Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.



Editor's email: clydehistory@gmail.com

Gain Wisdom Quote : A popular variation of quote by philosopher George Santayana 1863-1952

Old Photos of Clyde

Early Family Photographs
The Ridgways and Linehams have supplied photos for the website. 

Clyde North School 1902
Some of these children became the young men and women who served as soldiers and nurses in World War 1. A Roll of Honor was made to remember the former students and residents who enlisted.

Clyde School Photo Album
Clyde Primary School 3664 commenced in the local Methodist Church in 1910.
The accompanying photo is taken outside of the church.
Pupils from School No 3664 are included 
in photos from 1910-1961. Would any of your relatives be among them? Are you included in any of these pictures? Begin at the following link


What about more recent photos?
As of mid July 2013 you can still view online photos of Clyde before the housing developments west of Fisheries/ Clyde Berwick Road.
Look up a Clyde address on Google Maps and search for street view. Then zoom around to have a look at some properties. You can keep copies of these for yourself.
Has anyone ever tried obtaining permission from Google to share around the photos?



Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.

The life and death of a community

After land was available for sale and the railway line was extended through to South Gippsland, Clyde began to boom.

The Dairy industry really developed with milk being transported by train to the city on a daily basis. Shops and businesses sprung up around the Clyde Railway station.

Then in the late 1920's motorized pick up trucks visited the farms to collect the milk. No longer did farmers need to take their milk to the station. The businesses around the station moved away.

In 1981 the passenger service was discontinued.

Clyde has been re-zoned as an Urban Growth Area. Farmland is being turned into housing estates.

 What is planned for Clyde North? 96 pages-development for Clyde North
http://webadmin.gaa.vic.gov.au/Assets/Files/Clyde North PSP.pdf


You can read about the history of the railway line, the names of the Railway Staff and who owned the businesses in those boom days on the Clyde History website.
http://www.earlyhistory4clydevic.com
clydehistory@gmail.com


The rural community has disappeared. Those who lived there before housing development have been enriched with experiences of supporting each other, welcoming each other, knowing our tragedies and successes, that is typical of country towns. 
Have you been researching your ancestors who once lived in Clyde?
The blog Clyde Victoria - Family History Tools  is designed for you.