Snapshot of the past

A photograph taken in camp of 19 soldiers from a local contingent of Victorian Mounted Rifles c.1895.

In 1899, a group of 12 soldiers from the Shire of Warragul sailed on steamship Medic to join the Boer War.

The war in South Africa occurred between 1899 and 1902 with about 16,000 Australians serving.

As seen in the photograph, the brim of the slouch hat was first worn turned up on the right-hand side.

The khaki hat was first adopted into Australian military service in 1885 when it was chosen for the newly formed Victorian Mounted Rifles.

Around 1901, and to the present day, the slouch hat is worn turned up on left-hand side.

Photograph and information courtesy of the Warragul and District Historical Society.

The society’s museum at the Old Shire Hall in Warragul displays a range of historical photographs. It is open every Thursday between 10am and 2pm and the second and fourth Sunday of each month between 2pm and 4pm.

If you have any additional information about this photograph, please contact The Gazette on 5623 5666 or editorial@warragulgazette.com.au.

A recent “Snapshot” featuring a 1937 photograph of a Penny’s Parlour Coach and c1923 photograph of the Penny residence at Fumina drew the attention of Warragul resident Shirley Penny.

Shirley’s father, Tom Penny, ran the coach service from Noojee to Warragul as well as to Korumburra, Leongatha, Inverloch, Wonthaggi and Cowes daily.

As well as the coach in the photograph, Shirley said Tom also had a 27-seater coach and a hire vehicle.

She added the Penny’s Parlour Coach service, which ran over 13 years, “was a big deal in Warragul at the time”.

Shirley said Tom travelled 9200 times over the Strzeleckis and the three vehicles travelled 730,000 miles – more than 90,000 kilometres per year.

Shirley also recalls the need to black out coach lights during war time.

The Fumina residence was built by her pioneering grandparents, Nicholas and Eva Penny. Whilst trying to build the house, Shirley said the couple were impacted by bushfire and snowstorm.

As a result, Nicholas chipped away at what later became known as “The Penny Tree”. This created a 3.6m by 3.6m space inside for shelter.

The couple later lived on a farm on Brandy Creek Rd.