Marsh Gibbon - Amos White

Amos White (1846 - 1932)

Amos selected his first 50 acres on the Nicholson (1) about 1872. They lived at three different sites on his holding which was then known as Glenfern. We remember only the present home, even though it is much changed from our childhood years there. Mr Charles Kennedy and family, present owners, say a pear tree still survives at site two. A huge light wood tree, which the 1965 fires destroyed, was found to have grown up through the old stone fireplace, which was the bark home Amos White first brought his wife and young son to. The other six children were all born at Nicholson Park.

As adjoining families moved away, Amos White purchased their properties, increasing his acreage to 320 acres. They commenced dairying, having plenty of milkers (2). The family all lived there only moving out to find work during drought etc. The three boys turned to timber work, as bridge timbers and sleepers were in demand with railways going through to Orbost (3). The elder girls had a Cook House made from sacks sewn together and they cooked for the workers at Bruthen, potatoes, pumpkin etc. All being grown at Nicholson Park as no doubt were the butter and eggs.

Several sawmills had commenced operations in the area, so timber buildings took over from the previous bark dwellings. Also, with relevant galvanised iron and tanks, peole were able to build on higher ground.

The timber for the Waterhole’s School was cut and donated by the White family. The sawmills were always situated near water for the steam engines which powered them.

Emily (Mrs Stanton), was the only member of the family to have children. They had moved back to Nicholson Park after Amos passed away, and it was here that her husband Reg was killed by a falling tree while getting wood. After that she moved to Granite Rock with her seven children. Mrs Betty Bowden is the only descendent to still be living in the area (4).

Obituary
“ A very old colonist and resident of the Waterhole’s district for the past 60 years in the person of Mr Amos White passed away at his home at “Hillcrest”, Sarsfield Road on Sunday last in his 89th year. The late Mr White was a native of Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, England, and was one of three brothers to come to Australia in 1861. Amos along with his father Thomas and step mother Fanny (Coles) sailed to Australia on the 'Utopia'. Soon after his arrival he turned his attention to gold mining, including Ballarat which was flourishing at the time. He was also at the Palmer River Queensland, and the New Zealand rush. Later he was active in the Nicholson River area when it was producing good values. Subsequently the late Mr White engaged in farming pursuits in the Nicholson and Waterhole’s districts and at Sarsfield Road with success. He was of a very genial disposition which made for him many staunch friends. He is survived by a widow and family of three sons, Robert, William and Amos and four daughters, Queen, Alice, Millie (Mrs Stanton) Yea, and Maud.

Accompanied by his wife and one son the deceased arrived at Nicholson from Ballarat per medium of horse and dray before any roads were in existence or any railways in Gippsland. The late Mr White was predeceased by two of his brothers, James (miner) and Harry (baker) (5) both formerly well known in Bairnsdale.

The funeral took place in the Bairnsdale General Cemetery on Monday when the Rev. J. E. Stannage conducted the burial service.”

Ellen died 11 years later, 13th August 1942 at the property at Sand Hill known as “Hillcrest”.

I suspect that Thomas may have gone back to England to get his son Henry and travelled back to Australia on the Suffolk in 1869 (6).

Notes:

1. Nicholson reference is the Nicholson River between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia.
2. Plenty of milkers could mean the actual number of cows or there were many hands to do the work.
3. Orbost is a timber town past Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
4. This was in Harry's correct name was Henry.
5. This is making assumption based on the shipping records.

Source: “Up The Clifton Creek” was put together by the Clifton Creek Primary School. First published in 1988 at the school. Amos granddaughter Betty Bowden had a large input into the information and photographs.