A Virtual Excursion to the Capertee Valley
The day had come.
We were assembling outside the Rylstone Shire Memorial Hall which some 50 years ago
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| Rylstone Shire Memorial Hall as Roxy Talkies Photo: RAHS collection |
was known by many as the Roxy Talkies.
However, more interest was taken in examining this Silver Trowel
which was:
'Presented to Major General C.F. Cox. C.B, C.M.G D.S.O on the occasion of the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Rylstone Memorial Hall 17.4.26'
Time to get going.
Heading out, with a slight diversion, we passed the Rylstone Cemetery and then some old properties such as “Dabee” Station, “Ti Tree”, Max Jackson’s “Marloo” and Rox Jackson’s “Marsden”.
Then you go down the hill into the valley and, if you turn your historical watches back some 125 years, you come upon -
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| Photo: Rylstone and District Historical Society |
William Moss (1856-1937) of "Warrangee Terrace", Glen Alice with his team of horses hauling bags of wheat on the Glen Alice Road heading for Rylstone.
A bit further on, with watches set to 70 years ago, we can see that a retort, on its way to the Glen Davis shale oil works, has fallen off the jinker at the entrance to Ted Mulholland's property "Marsden Forest".
His children Gwenda, Betty, Nona and Patricia are enjoying their latest new toy and pose for a photo.
Continuing on, there is a road off to the left with the pointer saying 'Dunville Loop' which rejoins the Glen Alice Road a bit further on. Do we have time to go this way? Not too much longer if we don't stop for too many photos.
However, we must stop for the one.
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| Photo: Dunville Loop, Capertee Valley by Vicki Powys |
Getting back on the Glen Alice Road, we check our latest map.
Bit faded but looks as though we are nearly to Glen Alice.
Whats this? The Glen Alice mailman blocking the way - Pantony’s Crown can be seen in the background.
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| Glen Alice mailman blocking the road Photo: original source not known |
Before we get to Glen Alice we come upon Thorne's "Umbiella" property.
Christo Aitken tells us that "Settlement in this region started in the mid 1820's with individuals such as Dr James Innes at Warrengy and John Savary Rodd at Umbiella. Umbiella is in fact the first gazetted land in the valley and also in the Rylstone area."
In 1838, "Umbiella" was purchased by Sir John Jamison as was "Numietta" in 1836.
We were now in Jamison country. Sir John, while he never resided there, owned most of the Valley in 1800's.
For more on Sir John, "Numietta" and the Capertee Valley read - its a 50 page report and best left 'till you get home.
Arriving at Glen Alice we look for the old school, having seen a photo of Claude Agnew and Charles Booth in front of it in 1986.
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| Photo: Mickel Cowie collection |
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Oil Shale Works Ruins
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A bit of history:
Between 1939 and 1952 National Oil Proprietary Limited extracted oil from shale at their Glen Davis works in the Capertee Valley.
The plant was built using much equipment salvaged from the closed Newnes shale oil works nearby.
Although regarded as strategic for Australia's wartime oil supply, the venture was plagued by technical, financial and political difficulties, and anticipated production was never fully realised.
Viability of the shale mine and oil works were always questionable and they closed after a short and troubled life.
One of the technical problems was the supply of water.
The works needed one million gallons of water per day. This was provided by the Public Works Department by building a pipeline from the Oberon Dam to Glen Davis. The pipeline crosses the Great Dividing Range three times but by clever surveying the water gravitates all the way, without a pump on the line.
A few photos:
