Summary: This book contains personal accounts from scores of individuals involved in Post WW2 Soldier Settlement in Western Victoria, Australia.

Soldier Settlement Story

Mt. Fyans – Stokies – Terrinallum – Barnie Bolac – Jellalabad – Myngrong – Geddes’ – Morrison’s – Terrinallum West Estates and not least North Station.

Compiled by Merv McRae on behalf of the above settlers

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And God blessed them, and God said unto them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it.”

Genesis Chapter 1: Verse 11.

Acknowledgements:

This is a list of those who put pen to paper, to make this book possible.

*Austin, T. *Badham, Greta. *Badham, R. *Banks, J. & M. *Biggin, B. *Biggin, Marj. *Biggin, Rob. *Blain, Mick. *Blain, Marg. (nee Reichman.) *Brewer, Doris. *Buntine, L. & E. *Burgess, T. *Chambers, J. *Cumming, E. & L. *Creen, Ethel. *Edmunds, J. *Erwin, J. *George, D. (nee Watson) *Gill, Lena. *Gladman, Joyce. *Gleeson, W. & P. *Gleghorn, Mary. *Grant, L. & M. *Gray, B. & J. *Gray, D. & Y. *Gray, R. & P. *Grills, L.& L. *Guthrie, L. M. *Hamilton, A. & J. *Hannah, J. *Harding, Jean. *Harrison, J. & E. *Hebbard, E. & M. **Hill, Iris. *Inglis, Louise (nee McRae) *Jackson, Joanne. *Kennedy, F. *Kidman, J. & J. *Krepp, G. & A. *Lade, D. L. & W. L. *Lade, M. *Lawson, Pauline, (nee Piper) *Lavery, J. *Luckock, Jean. *Lyon, W. P. *Lyon, Molly. *Maconachie, G. R. *Menzies, J. *Monds, A. & M. *Moroney, Iris. *McRae, A. M. *McRae, M. A. *Muir, Freda. *Murray, G. & N. *Price, J. *Proctor, G. & M. *Rogash, Lorna. *Robertson, J. *Ritchie, N. *Schafer, A. & M. *Scott, T. & M. *Sullivan, Bonnie (now Kennedy) *Tonkin, A. *Turner, Elsie, (now Christie) *Walker, A. K. & L. J. *Wentworth, M. & I. *Wentworth, J. And Nance, *Whelan, Gary. *Williams (nee Rogash.)

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On the Block:

When we first gazed upon the block,

We suffered quite a culture shock,

Not much there but tussocks and rock,

And rabbits swarmed upon the block.

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We built a fence to hold our stock,

(The rabbits had to take the knock.)

Quite soon we owned a thriving flock,

And lush green grass upon our block.

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We built a hut upon our block,

With doors that never knew a lock,

And raised our kids upon the block,

Without advice from Doctor Spock.

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And now that life’s relentless clock,

Has made of us almost a crock,

Our hearts and minds are chock-a-block,

With happy memories of “the block.”

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Published by Merv McRae.

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Introduction:

The purpose of this book is to record the early memories of Soldier Settlement, and the good and not so good times we had. With this in view, who better to do it than the people who lived it?

Mortlake Shire has many soldier settlers, this book covers those in the Darlington area. I think the majority of the settlers were in a similar position to myself.

After getting out of the army in 1945-46 we were left to our own devices and were a bit lost. That was when the settlement scheme came into being. It gave us some direction, and we were ready and willing to take up the challenge. I think we would all vote it a resounding success, although you will see by this book it was no pushover. The women worked beside their men, and we felt a bit like pioneers. We were given a living allowance, until we had an income; after all we had to eat. Many of us milked cows to survive, nearly all the trees you see now on the soldier settlement were planted by the settlers, as well as the improved pastures; there was very little improved pasture on the earlier settlements.

I am grateful for the marvellous help and enthusiastic response that was given by so many. I must thank the contributors and acknowledge the great assistance I received from Molly and Bill Lyon, Alice and John Robertson, Joanne Jackson, Doris Brewer, and not the least, Alison my wife. I also must thank Jill Parker and her merry band of girls in the computer room at Mortlake High School, as well as Mr. Howard Mills for the use of those computers which I will never understand.

I am responsible for the compiling and editing of this book, but am not responsible for the total accuracy of the authors who made this book possible.

Merv McRae.

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COMMENT BY JOANNE JACKSON:

I appreciate Merv asking me to act on a committee to prepare this book, and also for asking me to contribute an article.

We were not Solder Settlers, but our farm, being part of Barnie Bolac estate, is surrounded by Settlement, and as a family we have been involved in Darlington RSL activities since 1951.

Settlement in the Darlington-Dundonnell area is of particular interest, in that an earlier attempt in 1923 at Closer Settlement and Migrant Land Settlement failed miserably. The blocks on Mount Violet estate were too small, liabilities too great, houses too dear, supervision lax, and in the case of ex-servicemen, a desire to recognize a debt of gratitude for war-service, resulted in many inexperienced and unsuited men being allocated blocks. The scheme was a disaster. A Royal Commission published in March 1933 included the Mount Violet settlement in its examinations. It concluded that the settlers themselves were not to blame for their failure.

The lesson was well-learned; the World War Two Soldier Settlement scheme stated that settlement should be undertaken only where economic prospects were reasonably sound, and holdings were of sufficient size to enable settlers to operate efficiently and earn a reasonable income. Importantly, applicants should satisfy a competent authority as to their eligibility, suitability and experience for farm work. The Commission also stated that adequate guidance and technical advice should be available to the settlers. That’s the theory of it all - the practicality will be borne out through the stories told to us by Merv and his mates.

My first knowledge of the Soldier Settlement Commission was when a large part of the property on which I lived at Woorndoo was acquired for settlement. Although the seventeen blocks on “Bolac Plains: and “Connabar” are not included in this book, historically it would seem appropriate to make some mention, as similar circumstances applied elsewhere.

In 1948 the Federal Government offered a pegged price of twelve dollars a dry sheep area. At the time of valuation, stocking rates on “Bolac Plains” and “Connabar” were low, as losses in the 1944 bushfires had not been fully replaced. Fourteen dollars per acre was offered and accepted. Soon after, the pegged price was lifted, and similar land was bought for fifty-six dollars per acre. The Commission sought large holdings for sub-division, and properties “occupied” by absentee owners. One of the immediate consequences was the break-up of many of the large fine-wool clips of the Victorian Western District.

Settlement in this area is now approaching forty years of age. The Mortlake Shire grew by some 248 families, schools expanded to accommodate the post-war baby boom, and every small township had its varied sporting teams. Today Ellerslie is the only rural primary school still open, and in many cases where settlers have decided to sell, their blocks have once again become part of the original property. Where the houses have been removed, the ubiquitous boobyalla (surely the emblem of Soldier Settlement) marks well the place, for posterity.

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Explanatory notes: boobyalla, a deep green tree that grows thick, is great for kids to climb, and is resistant to bushfires. A grouping of boobyallas can protect a house from being consumed by bushfires, (or so it is said.)

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