0761 Aireys Inlet

By 1921 Charles Lane had acquired all of the land between Boundary Road at Aireys Inlet and the cutting below Anglesea’s lookout. At his own expense constructed a road (planned by the Country Roads Board) between these two points. This was opened to the public in 1924 and was soon cut up by heavy traffic going through to Lorne. The inland Winchelsea Shire voted to have nothing to do with the maintenance of this coastal inconvenience at the far end of their boundary. To keep the carriageway open the only alternative for Charles Lane was to charge the travelling public for the upkeep of this shorter track through his private property. This proved unpopular with those living locally and a route known as the ‘Scotchman’s Track’ came about. This devious course entered the forest just west of Urquharts Bluff (where today’s slow car turnout is located) and went through to Aireys via Gilbert Street. This effectively by-passed the Toll Gate at the Sunnymead Homestead gate near Boundary Road. To counter this the Tollgate was re-located to the east of Urquharts Bluff. It was not until 1930 the free use of Lane’s Road was offered to the mobile travellers. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0746 Aireys Inlet

In 1891on the 1st September the lighthouse, locally known as the “White Lady”, became operational. Maintained by 2 lighthouse keepers who lived with their families in the nearby lighthouse cottages. The lamp was powered by kerosene until 1919 when it was updated to automatic acetylene. In 1972 it was updated again to mains electricity with a stand by generator. The lighthouse was lucky to survive the Ash Wednesday fires and in 1991 celebrated its 100 birthday. I think for a lot of people this would have been the first time they would have seen the lighthouse from the inside and its breathtaking view from the top. The lighthouse is open for tours most days and is a must if the you visit Aireys Inlet. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: February 2016

0747 Aireys Inlet

The Split Point Lighthouse The 'White Queen' as she is affectionately known is a welcome sight for ships that have rounded Cape Otway. The lighthouse communicated to ships in two ways. At night an acetylene Morse lamp was used, and by day a signal tree – a T-shaped flagpole system- from which maritime flags were hung. If, for example, a ship was coming into danger the letters J.D was to be hoisted as warning. FROM: http://www.lighthouses.org.au/lights IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: August 2008

0748 Aireys Inlet

Overlooking Eagle Rock the lighthouse is not only a beacon to seafarers but also to travelers on the Great Ocean Road. FROM: http://www.lighthouses.org.au/lights IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: August 2008

0749 Aireys Inlet

The original light source was vapourised kerosene. When it was taken over by the Commonwealth Government in 1919 the light was converted to acetylene and automated. Conversion to mains electricity took place in 1972. FROM: http://www.lighthouses.org.au/lights/Vic/Aireys IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: June 2006

0750 Aireys Inlet

The nights tending lights were long and Gordon Reid tells of one keeper's solution to the problem in his book, 'From Dusk Till Dawn'. "The keeper at Split Point at Airey's Inlet in Victoria did not exactly sleep on the job but he did not see why he should be deprived of his social life at night. He scratched a small hole in the black paint on the back of the lantern, which prevents the light shining inland and annoying residents. This keeper, Richard Joy Baker, scratched the hole to line up with the Airey's Inlet Hotel. Each time the lenses rotated, the light winked through the hole, assuring the keeper (who had retired to the hotel) that all was well." FROM: http://www.lighthouses.org.au/lights IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: June 2006

0751 Aireys Inlet

There were always three keepers on duty each night so a head light-keeper and two assistants lived in the precinct. George Bardin was the first head lighthouse keeper who originally came from the Channel Islands. It was amazing that he could hold such a position considering that on his way to Australia he fell from the crows nest on board the ship, breaking both his legs. Other keepers included George Stevens (1893-96), Samuel Buse (1899-1902), Henry Cohen Stafford (1910-1915), and Richard Baker (1915-1919). FROM: http://splitpointlighthouse.com.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: February 2016

0752 Aireys Inlet

The head light-keeper ensured that the light was correctly lit 15 minutes before dusk and he was replaced after five hours by an assistant. Five hours later the third keeper relieved him. They overlapped their shifts for an hour to ensure that the new watch was awake. There were communication pipes between the lantern room and the three main bedrooms of the cottages. FROM: http://splitpointlighthouse.com.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: February 2016

0754 Aireys Inlet

Kerosene required active maintenance to ensure that the wick was always burning at the correct length and that maximum oxygen was available to brighten the light. It produced a stinky vapor and black soot which had to be cleaned from the lens and the windows. The fuel also needed to be lugged up the stairs. Further tasks for the keepers involved maintaining the light tower (including washing the outside windows!), taking weather readings, and rocket launch practice once a month for shipwreck rescues. FROM: http://splitpointlighthouse.com.au IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: August 2008

0755 Aireys Inlet

Life at Aireys Inlet also involved growing fresh food and looking after farm animals which provided them with eggs and milk. The farmers in the valley were able to provide some food as well. In the early 1890s a supply boat provided all other provisions twice a year. There were up to 20 children living in the two residences, so store rooms were turned into bedrooms in the quarters to house all of them. There were enough children to open the first Aireys Inlet school. They were able to ride horses and helped with the farm work. FROM: http://splitpointlighthouse.com.au IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0763 Aireys Inlet

A visit to the Split Point Lighthouse precinct will unveil the lighthouse stables and the 2 lighthouse cottages where the lighthouse keepers lived. There is a walking track down to the point where Eagle Rock stands around 200 meters away and looking southward down past Lorne to Apollo Bay is a fantastic view. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0756 Aireys Inlet

The area of Grassy Creek was originally named by William Urquhart. Alfred Anderson occupied this delightful valley to the south west of Jonas Hollingworth’s ‘Eastern View’ in 1912. He built a South African style mud and log hut there. Anderson’s land was split when the Great Ocean Road was built. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: February 2016

0757 Aireys Inlet

0758 Aireys Inlet

Edna Walling was respected as one of Australia’s most noted landscape designers. She selected some 16 acres of sloping land, abundant with rocks, at Big Hill. With the aid of a few friends and local tradesmen she erected a small villa amongst the iron barks. This gave her an opportunity to blend the property and private driveway into the landscape without unduly disturbing the tranquil scene. East Point was one of her favourite places. The 2 storey holiday abode was constructed of fibro cement sheets. Stone steps linked the higher and lower sections. Roof water drained into two galvanised tanks. Edna preferred her abode to receive filtered sunlight through leaves of her beloved ironbarks. Her magnificent view of the ocean was through the trees, not from a cleared area. Unfortunately the unusual villa was destroyed by the 1965 bushfire which swept through that area. She moved to Buderim Qld. during 1967. The property was left to the Bird Observers Club. Edna Walling died in 1973. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au/ IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: February 2016

0759 Aireys Inlet

Charles Lane from Melbourne loved his 106-acre property ‘Sunnymead.’ He spent most of his time there between 1913 until 1925. This property also had a beach frontage under licence. Charles had a bathing box there. In 1920 Lewis Grutzner at a game of cards, won the right to purchase one acre of the ‘Sunnymead’ homestead land fronting Boundary Road. He erected a holiday cottage known as ‘The Shack’ and also built a bathing box close to Lane’s at the then little known beach. After Charles Lane died in 1925 the ‘Sunnymead’ property was subdivided and sold. The 1936 fire burned Lewis Grutzners holiday abode. The two bathing boxes were still there after WW2. The bottom of Boundary Road became a popular camping area. The Shire later prohibited camping in this part. The bathing boxes were by then vandalised, and removed in the early 1960’s. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0760 Aireys Inlet

Operatic singer Dame Joan Hammond’s house was built on a sixty three acre site to the north of the Great Ocean Road. This spacious allotment also had frontages to Boundary Road and Gilbert Street. This block was once part of the old ‘Sunnymead’ homestead site lot 2a, which was subdivided after being split by the Great Ocean Road. The single storey four bedroom home (constructed by RJ. Butterworth) featured an indoor heated pool, entertaining room, and large lounge. The generous garage could accommodate up to 4 cars. There was also a caretaker’s cottage. The splendid dwelling together with its contents was destroyed by the Ash Wednesday fire. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0762 Aireys Inlet

During March 1892, Henry Buckhurst from Urquharts Bluff chaired an important meeting regarding the town’s education facility. Two resolutions were passed at this gathering. The first was that a proper schoolhouse should be provided and the second requested the Department of Education to select a suitable site. The Department replied that a school could not be provided unless 20 children attended. An Inspector’s report stated that with the children from the three lighthouse keeper families, plus those from local families, 23 children were available. Also found at Hasty’s was a suitably detached room 30 feet long and 14 feet wide available at a rental of £6 per year. Over the years these premises proved unsatisfactory. New owner Albert Anderson removed the building to a different site in 1911. Presumably the School still used this re-Iocated building until it closed in 1919, due to a drop in attendance when the lighthouse went to automatic control. Only three children were left after the lighthouse children departed. The School re-opened part time between 1935/9, then full time 1940/2. A new school was built in 1965. Even as late as 1983 pupil numbers were a worry. It was not until after Ash Wednesday that fresh families came to the Inlet and rectified the situation. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0764 Aireys Inlet

Bambra Road was once the mail route into the first Aireys Inlet Village. Traffic from Anglesea came this way into town. During 1890 the mail coach from the Wensleydale Station also arrived via Bambra Road into Aireys. Mrs Esther Blake, in anticipation of a great influx of tourists passing the front door, opened a small Hotel named ‘The Grand’ in 1894. A thorough search and double check of maps and rate books, shows that the Hotel was on lots 5, 6 & 7, section 24, on the western side of Dambra Road. These 3 blocks ran through to River Road at the rear ( in 1998 this would include house numbers 519 in Bambra Road. and house numbers 16120 in River Road at the rear). Even though special seaside excursion tickets were offered during each summer season, the anticipated railway tourist traffic did not come. The Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1898. The Licence was cancelled after rebuilding was delayed. The Blakes later erected a house on the site. In 1928, rate book entries record that Mrs Sarah Roadknight (wife of Ivan) owned these three blocks with house. This parcel was later subdivided into six sites. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

0765 Aireys Inlet

Miss Lili Elizabeth DeC. Bertbon (1863/1946) moved to ‘The Wattles’ on lots 5 & 6 section 25 in Bambra Road during 1915. Her brother William Jnr. lived nearby at ‘LuIotte’ on the comer of Bambra Road and Philip street. Her parents at first lived at Inverleigh, and moved pennanently to ‘Wybellenna’ at Aireys in 1880. An oil painting by Lili Berthon entitled ‘Entrance to Aireys Inlet 1898’ is at the Geelong Art Gallery. Lili let her cottage during the Xmas period and lived at Wybellenna. She died in 1946 aged 83. ‘The Wattles’ was burnt in the 1983 fire. The generous site was later subdivided and the cottage replaced. FROM: http://www.aireys-inlet.net.au IMAGE BY: Peter Hogarth TAKEN: June 2015

AIREYS INLET