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Reminiscences of Sam Sweeney. |
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The original diary of Sam Sweeney was handed on to Henry and hence to his son Harry. The ticket illustrating the Port Arthur text was in between the pages of the diary, both of which are now in the collection of Harry and Jill Sweeney.
Friday February 27th 1948.
My birthday, born February 27th 1883 which makes me 65 and in consequence was retired from the South Australian Railways yesterday and am starting tonight for a trip to Hobart. Mum and I catching the Melbourne express at Aldgate station tonight. Caught the train alright and was surprised to find Neal and Audrey and Gwen and Ferg and the biddies there to see us off. We had good travelling companions only that a couple of them was very talkative and smoked nearly al night, especially one young woman. My cold was pretty troublesome. Landed in Melbourne alright, went straight to the Australian National Airlines office and left our things, then went and got some dinner, had a walk around, by that time it was getting time to go back to get the bus for Essendon. By this time we were getting a bit excited. We got down to the drome alright and it was a grand sight to see all the planes, they were coming and going all the time, leaving for Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart and Launceston.
At last it came time for us to get aboard our plane, I dont know how mum felt but she didn't look excited or nervous as for myself I was not a bit nervous. At last we are off and it was lovely the weather was perfect, the sun shining and not much wind. When we were about half way we flew into clouds and the plane started to bump and we lost sight of everything. Luckily neither mum or myself was affected but several of the other people were sick. It started to rain and was raining when we landed in Launceston. We got a taxi to the place we were staying and it is very nice. This finished up Saturday 28th.
Sunday February 29th.
Today we have been out all day, we went up to the Cataras Gorge and believe me it is some place, we have seen nothing to beat it or I think equal it, it is just ovely there is a hydro electric plant there and should say it is about 5 miles from where we are staying and we walked al the way. Had dinner and tea there and are now home and not over tired but ready for bed all the same. I suppose I ought to add we didn't walk all the way back.
Monday March 1st.
Had rather a quiet day today, it happened to be a holiday 8 Hours Day and practically everything was shut up, we had a bit of bother finding a place to eat but eventually found one and so OK. We visited the museum and it is not bad, quite a lot of relics of the old convict days. Went for a good walk and it is very hilly but very nice, called on Mrs Mills, Kaths grandmother, and spent the evening and am now going to bed. It has been showery and very cold today.
Tuesday March 2nd.
Spent the morning fixing things for our return from Hobart, had dinner at Coles and then in the afternoon took the Talbot Road tram to terminus, walked to Talbot lookout which gives a beautiful view for miles around, then walked to Car Villa cemetery to see the crematorium which is a nice place. Caught the car back, had tea and went home, mum not so bright with a bit of a cold.
Wednesday March 3rd.
Poked about a bit in the morning, had dinner at Coles again then went to the museum again to see the Chinese Joss house which is on view every day at 10.30am and 2.30pm and an attendant gives a lecture about it. It is a nice place and some very wonderful chinese work to be seen. Then to Mrs Mills place to tea and spent a very pleasant evening and now to bed, also went for another walk after the museum, very nice.
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Thursday March 4th -- Cora Lynn.
Went into town and walked around the park till time for dinner, then took the bus for a ride all around the city called in at the powerhuse but didn't have time to cross the bridge and inspect it so decided we would walk back around the gorge tomorrow and have a look at it again. The bus went on again, stopping at many places to give us a view of many parts of the city and on to a place called Cora Lynn which is situated on the North Eske a very beautiful place. The South Eske comes down the gorge and they join into the Tamar.
Friday March 5th.
We walked into the city as usual this morning and passed the station and railway works on the way. I've called in and made arrangements to go for a trip on Monday to a place called Scottsdale. I also had a look through the works, mum went on and waited for me in the park. After dinner we walked up through the gorge again, up to the power station and this time crossed the swing bridge and had a look through the station, very interesting visit, something we have never seen before. Back into town for tea and now are in bed.
Saturday March 6th.
Wandered around the city as usual, there are quite a lot of interesting walks, the city is right in a basin and from where ever you climb to look at it, it is very nice.
Sunday March 7th.
Didn't get up to early and then went up to the gorge kiosk and had dinner and sat onthe grass for quite a long time watching the bathers, then we came home by another path called the zig zag up over the hills, it is a fairly stiff climb and approaches Launceston from another direction and a very steep hill down to the city. Had tea and home to bed.
Monday March 8th -- Scottsdale.
Got up eary to catch the train to Scottsdale it wasn't a very promising morning as it was drizzling rain. We got to the train without getting wet and believe me it is some train, but it was a nice ride through the hills al the way quite a lot of tree ferns along the line. We arrived a Scottsdale at eleven o'clock and hadn't been there long when it stopped raining and the sun come out. We caught a bus there and went on to Bridge Park. We only had an hour there and it was blowing like the devil but not a bad place. It was after 8pm when we got home but we were not tired as we had been riding nearly all day. I might add that we saw the prettiest garden there at Scottsdale that we have seen since leaving home.
Tuesday March 9th.
Didn't do very much today, went for a tram ride to Newstead terminus and then for a walk, it was very nice, now to bed.
Wednesday March 10th.
I forgot to mention on Saturday that we went to the Trotts in the afternoon. Today we went into the city and into the reading room to see the Adelaide Advetiser but they are about 8 days behind with them and we didn't see much, from there we went and arranged for a trip tomorrow by bus to Beauty Point. From there we went again to Car Villa to the crematorium to see if we could see the insides of it and luckily saw the man that is in charge and he showed us everything, it is the most the modern he says in the southern hamisphere, it is a very nice place.
Thursday March 11th -- Beauty Point.
Home again after a real good day. We got up early and caught the bus at 8.15am for Beauty Point a place on the river Tamar, 29 miles from Launceston. It was a very nice drive through apple orchards and scrub country and dairy land, very much like Adelaide hills only that on one side was the river Tamar and that made it very like the Hawksbury river. There are two small wharves there about half mile apart and the pretty big boat tied to each one, one loading apples and the other wool, they told us they were both going to the old country via America. We walked on to a place called Sandy Beach, I should say it was more than a mile and a half from Beauty Point, it is a very pretty place. Sufficient for the day we are now in bed and tomorrow catch the train for Hobart.
Friday March 12th.
Entrained for Hobart at 10.30am a nice day and was very lucky in getting a couple of good seats in the Buffet car a chat to one of the porters and a couple of bob did the trick. The seats were like lounge chairs made of tubular steel and can adjust them to suit yourself, a realy comfortable ride, the country was very undulating for a long way with everywhere on the horizon hills and big ones too. We arrived in Hobart about 5.30pm and getting a taxi landed at our digs which is very comfortable, a lot better than we had in Launceston although there was nothing to growl about there. The funny part about it is the lady who keeps it used to be a Miss Sweeney before she was married. The train runs right along the river Derwent for quite a long way, when nearing Hobart, it is very pretty and a place quite near to Hobart is called Bridgewater.
Saturday March 13th -- Mount Wellington.
Had a corker day today it was a beautiful morning and decided it would be a good day to go up Mount Welington, so made our plans accordingly. Went and booked our seats and wandered about till time for dinner. I might say we couldn't wander much as my leg is giving me trouble but I bought a crepe bandage last night and am pleased to say it is much improved. We got in the bus at 2.15pm and away we went. You start to climb the moment the bus starts and believe me it is climbing, it is about 12 miles to the summit and is 4,166 feet high, in the last 4 miles you climb 2,000 feet. At the top we had a good view, the driver said it wasn't the best of days but it wasn't bad, I know that from what I have seen from Mount Lofty sometimes. We had afternoon tea at Springs Hotel which is not far from the summit and then stopped further down at a place called the Bower which was very nice with a lot of tree ferns about the place.
Sunday March 14th -- Fire on the Wharves.
Sunday as shining brightly through the window when we woke up but by the time we had had breakfast it was drizzling rain and looked as if we might have a wet day but it hasn't been bad and didn't rain but fairly cold. Just walked about until dinner time then went to the botanic gardens which isn't much but the glass house is very nice with a nice show of begonias but I dont think as good as the show in Launceston. We left the gardens and went for a wander on the wharves and while we were there saw a fire break out in one of the sheds on the main wharf, it was marvelous how quick it went from one end to the other and we were told the shed contained 50,000 cases of apples for export and that a ship is on the way to pick them up. There must be a frightful big loss but I suppose we will hear more about it tomorrow.
Monday March 15th.
Had a busy morning this morning, we went to the station and got a pass to go to the National Park then to the Cascades Brewery office to go and have a look through the brewery then to the Tourist Bureau to arranage a visit to Cadburys chocolate factory, then to Tatts office to get some tickets and arrange to go and see the sweep drawn next Thursday morning. By that time it was time to put the nose bag on. After dinner we got a tram to Lena Valley terminus and went for a good walk ot was very nice, we just took our time and got back in time for tea then home to bed. I forgot to say that we went down to the wharf first thing in the morning to see the result of the fire. You could hardly credit that a fire could do so much damage. Part of it was burned right to the water and only a few blackened ends of piles were standing among apples and cases of apples floating everywhere.
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Tuesday March 16th -- National Park.
One of the best days we have had yet. We caught the train at 9.35am for National Park, we went back the way we came in from Launceston as far as Bridgewater. From there it leaves the main line and goes up the Derwent valley. We passed the paper mills at Boyer going through apple orchards galore and then came the hop fields, they looked lovely, in a lot of places they were ordered all round by poplar trees for wind break. The hops are planted in rows and trained up strings to a height I should say of up to 14 feet when they are ready to pick. They are cut down and the pickers pick the hops off. The best part we saw was at the McQuarie plains.Then on to the National Park which is about 45 miles from Hobart. We had dinner then walked up to the Russell falls and it is a really beautiful walk through tree ferns and natural bush. Some of the trees are as big as we saw in Cairns but there is not the variety of ferns that we saw there.Tomorrow we are going up the same line but not so far to a place called Plenty, about 2 miles from there is the Salmon pools where they hatch slmon to stock their rivers. By the way we noticed a beautiful avenue of gum trees and when we got home Mrs Salter told us that her grandfather Mr Quinn planted them with a table spoon.
Wednesday March 17th -- Fish hatchery and Hop farms.
Are now up at Pleanty and are sitting under a willow tree having a rest and kiling a bit of time waiting for the train. We have just been to the salmon ponds and it is very nice and interesting. This is a State owned hatchery where they breed salmon, maintow trout and other kinds of fish to stock their rivers and lakes. We went through hop fields on our way and didn't see them picking but saw the process of drying the hops and pressing into bales. The bales average about 200 pounds. The hop plants after they are planted last a long time, something after the style of raspberries and are cut down every year and the young growth trained up strings to wires running across the fields to a height of about 12 feet. The hops are dried in big rooms on a wire floor which is heated from underneath by furnaces and are kept at a temperature of about 110 degrees. They are kept at that for about 24 hours and then alowed to cool down and are bailed up.
Thursday March 18th -- Tattersalls Sweep Draw.
Today it is to see the drawing of the seep at Tattersalls. We got there early and got a good seat and they started punctually at 8.30am. The drum containing the marbles is a big bronze affair and is turned by electricity, it revolves in the one direction and is then reversed, making sure the marbles are well mixed up. it is then opened and a rod is inserted which can pick up only one marble which is dropped into a ladle held by another man. Another man takes it out and anounces the number which is repeatd by two others making of no mistakes. The marbles are returmed to the drum after the first 10 prizes are drawn and the next batch of prizes are drawn and the marbles returned again after every batch to theend so that there is a chance of the same being drawn again, which I suppose would be very remote as there are 200,000 in the drum. We were interested in the draw, having 3 tickets one each for Mary and Bet and one for ourselves. It was all over at 9.30am and we had the rest of the day wandering around to shops etc.
Friday March 19th -- Cascade Brewery.
Went for a tram ride to North Hobart and a nice walk back to dinner, then caught the bus to Cascades to see the brewery. We got an early bus and had a nice walk before neeting the crowd and going into the brewery. It is a fine place but you bustled through too fast with the tourists as you do everywhere, you go from one floor to another till you get to the top which is about five up and is the reception lounge for the visitors where you sample the beer. And some of them do sample it, you can drink as much as you like for about half and hour. Mum and I had a glass each. Mum said it was very nice but I didn't like it, not sweet enough for me.
Saturday March 20th -- Hydro Electric Scheme.
I forgot to mention there was snow on Mount Wellington yesterday. We had a good day today and it should have been good, it cost us £2.3.0 each. We went to the great lake which supplies the water power for one of Tasmania's electric schemes. The Waddamana. The great lakes area is 100 miles around and is 4,000 feet above sea level. The water is controlled at the lake by a big concrete wall made up of a lot of concave arches and allowed to run into the Shannon river which is then diverted into pipes down to the power station which we visited and then home, the round trip covering nearly 200 miles. The guide said that no water flows into the great lake and nobody knows where it comes from.
Sunday March 21st.
Went for a long walk today, went up the road from where we are staying past the town water supply and followed the watercourse that supplies it up over a place they call Gentle Annie. It is a very stiff climb round two waterfalls and follows a pipe line for about two miles or more to a place called Fern Tree, where there is a very pretty place called the Bower we called in there last Saturday when we went to Mount Wellington. We caught the bus home, had tea and then to bed.
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Monday March 22nd -- Port Arthur.
Another good day today, rather a dear one again costing £1.11.0 (one Pound 11 Shillings) each for the trip. We went to Port Arthur. The first place of interest on the road is a concrete pontoon bridge which crosses the river Derwent at Hobart. The driver told us the concrete for it was £500,000 but the contractors went broke and the government had to finish it and nobody seems to know what it realy did cost. It is composed of a steen structure which opens to let boats through and the rest is composed of steel and concrete pontoons. There are 24 of them each weighing 1,000 tons, the whole bridge being 7/10ths of a mile long (1.13 Kilometres). From there we went on to Port Arthur ans saw all the relics of theold convict days of which we have bought photos and so not necessary to describe it all here.
Tuesday March 23rd -- Cadburys Chocolates.
Another good day. Today we visited Cadburys chocolate factory, it was 6/- (six Shillings) each on the bus through the Tourist Bureau. It is a lovely place everythng beautifully clean, the process of course was much the same as we saw in Nestles in Sydney. THey gave us all refreshments in a nice room and gave everyone two 1/8th pound blocks of chocolate, a packet of soda mints and a souvenir booklet but we couldn't buy any chocolates. Tomorrow we are going to try to go to the paper mills hat wil be our last day on Thursday we go back to Launceston. Forgot to say we went shopping this morning to get things to bring home and that was the worst job of the trip. Lots of things we would like to bring back but everything so awefully dear.
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Wednesday March 24th -- Boyer Paper Mills.
Went to Boyer today to see if we could go through the paper mills but had bad luck as most of the machinery was undergoing repair and we didn't see very much. However we had a very nice day, we started to walk to New Norfolk which was three miles further up the line but we got a ride and that was alright. It is a very nice place and like everywhere else surrounded bay hills. It was a beautiful day and all told we had a very good day. Leave Hobart tomorrow for home.
Thursday March 25th.
Did nothing today except go back to Launceston ready for home tomorrow.
Friday March 26th -- Melbourne.
Everything set now, am sitting in the city park with mum waiting for time to go and catch the plane for Melbourne. Caught the plane alright and had a lovely ride over to Melbourne. Neither mum or I was sick in fact it rode smoother than a motor car all the way.
Saturday March 27th.
Fitzroy Gardens in the morning, in the afternoon went out to see Ern and Ethel but they were out so left a note to say we would go out next day. Caught the car in front of Erns place and it took us right down to St Kilda and it was very cold and windy in fact cold all the time we were in Melbourne.
Sunday March 28th 1948 -- Home to Bridgewater
Went for a walk in the morning to the Alexandra Gardens over Princes Bridge and round the Soldiers Memorial. Had dinner then walked out to Errns, stayed the afternoon with them and Ethel drove us to the station to catch the train. Landed home in the morning of the 29th, Easter Monday and had a lovely welcome home, Mary Reg and the kiddies, Gwen Ferg and their little lot on the Bridgewater station to meet us.
Monday March 29th 1948.
Home.
Tuesday March 30th 1948.
I went to town and to see Bettty and Horrace.
Wednesday March 31st 1948.
Went and got my tickets to start to the West on April 14th. Mum home washing.
Home.
April 14th.
Started for the West, met Olive and Edna at Port Pirie and had a good trip all the way to Kalgoorlie and had good travelling companions all the way. It was pretty warm when we arrived at Kalgoorlie, we went for a walk up Hannan Street, had dinner at the station then went over to Jim McConnell's place for a chat and back to the train, had 3 hours in Kalgoorlie. Bought a walking stick off the blacks coming over.
Thursday April 15th -- Perth.
Arrived in Perth, went straight and booked seats for return journey, am leaving for home on May 3rd. Also booked accomodation for our stay in Perth, then caught the train to Albany. Had a good ride down and arrived in Albany on the 16th and lucky again in getting accomodation woth out much trouble. It was raining like the devil when we arrived.
Saturday April 17th
Have been walking all day, we started out for a walk and finished up by walking right around Mount Clarence, about 5 miles a lovely walk we got afternoon tea at Middleton beach, that's about half way round and have just had tea and now to bed.
Sunday April 18th.
Had a very nice day today. The weather as good except for a couple of showers which we were fortunate enough to miss. After breakfast we went for a walk to the top of Mount Clarence and had a lovely view of Albany and surrounding country. After dinner caught the bus to Emu Point and walked back around a lovely beach to Middleton beach, 3 miles then caught the bus home, had tea then finished the day by going to church, now to bed.
Monday April 19th -- Frenchmans bay.
Had a good trip today, we went to Frenchmans bay. It was a pretty cheap too, only 6/- each. Went to a place they call the natural bridge and to get to it you had to crawl through some rocks almost on your tummy. Needless to say mum didn't take it on. The spray was corker , Port Victor is nothing to it, now to bed.
Tuesday April 20th -- Woollen mills.
Started the day by making arrangements to take a party through the Albany woollen mills. We met at the gate at 11.30 and went through, it was very interesting but similar to what we saw in Geelong. In the afternoon went for a nice walk. After tea went to the town hall to community singing and concert but wasn't enough people turned up so they gave us our money back and we went home.
Wednesday April 21st.
Another nice day today, went for a ride down to Emu point again and walked back aong the beach to Middleton beach just strolled along and enjoyed it very much. We found a dead seal that had been washed up on the beach, looked as if it had ot been dead for very long. Went to the pictures with a couple of ladies staying with us and a very good show.
Thursday April 22nd.
Just another quiet day, have been walking just about all day and are really enjoying it. We went down to the new jetty today to see a naval boat that came in, it was a landing craft and a queer looking affair. Our lady friends went home tonight and we had to dine by ourselves. It seems quiet without them, they have been having breakfast and dinner with us ever since we have been here. Going to bed early and have a rest.
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Monday April 26th.
Arrived in Perth, weather lovely, got settled down in our digs then crossed the Swann river to South Perth and went to the Zoo and now pretty tired and going to bed. Mum has already gone.
Tuesday April 27th.
Went for a walk to Queens Gardens. There were hundreds of Teal ducks there, for the rest of the day just walked around Perth.
Wednesday April 28th -- Serpentine Falls.
Spent the morning round the shops, in the afternoon went to the Serpentine falls, not a bad ride but the falls disappointing not as good as those in Adelaide, in the night went to the pictures.
Thursday April 29th.
Went for a walk and found the fruit and vegetable markets, not a bad place just getting ready for the market the next day.
Friday April 30th -- Perth markets.
Went to the markets again and saw them selling the fruit and vegetables ot a bad show, in the evening George Gordon called for us and took us home to tea, spent a nice evening with them and am now going to bed. Got to meet Harriet Sedgley tomorrow.
Saturday May 1st -- Gloucester Park.
Went for a walk this morning and was the Gloucester Park trotting park anda vey nice place it is. Went and had dinner and then Harriett Sedgley called and we went over to South Perth on the ferry and home to tea with Harriett and met her brother and sisters there. Spent a good evening with them and am meeting Harriett to go to Scarborough beach tomorrow.
Sunday May 2nd -- Scarborough beach.
Raining when we woke up but not too bad so had breakfast and went for a walk in the botanic gardens and it came on to rain hard so had to make to the streets for shelter. Had dinner then went home and changed, met Harriett again and went down to Scarborough beach. The weather cleared and had a very good afternoon, came home and after tea had a bath and to bed.
Monday May 3rd.
It is Labor day today, everything packed up and taken down to the station ready for home tonight. It is a beautiful day, we got a good place to watch the procession, plenty of trade displays but not too many men marching. After dinner we went over to South Perth on the ferry and had a nice walk, now we are back again and have a couple of hours to kill to wait for the train at 5pm for home. Harriet Sedgley and Mrs Sedgley came to see us off which was very nice of them. Had a good trip down to Kalgoorlie. Mum was unfortunate in getting a top bunk. It was laughable getting her up in it and she wasn't too 'comfy' up there. However it was only one night so that wasn't so bad. The train was late as usual, about 2 hours so it cut our time short in Kalgoorlie.
Tuesday May 4th -- Home.
Lucky in both of us getting bottom bunks on the East West train, the ride over was same as usual, bought a Kangaroo and Emu from the blacks for souveniers but gave them a good wash for a start as the blacks are very dirty. Had good travelling companions again and arrived home on the 6th May after a real good holiday. Mary, Gwen, Bett and Jeanette were at the station to meet us which made a very happy ending to a very pleasant holiday.
Thursday April 24th 1952.
Left Aldgate with the intention of going to Port Lincoln all being well. It was drizzling rain when we left home and continued till we got past Dublin, after that it was fine and cloudy. Arived at Port Pirie about 4 o'clock after 2 stops on the road for refreshments, the last at Port Broughton rather a nice little place. Clem took us for a nice drive up through Port Germein Gorge on Friday and we got plenty of mushrooms and had a good feed for tea.
Saturday April 26th -- Whyalla.
Left Port Pirie for Whyalla about 1 o'clock, stopping at Port Germein just to have litle look but was disappointed in the place. Clem drove auntie Ethel and his family as far as Port Augusta with us where we had dinner. Left Port Augusta for Whyalla about half past 2 and arrived at Whyalla at 4 o'clock, pitched camp in nice cool location and now for bed.
We had a good run round Whyalla besides going through the shipyards and the dairy, rather disappointed with the shipyards. It was very nice and something we had not seen before but the guide didn't explain very much. We were rather interested in the dairy, wverything was very modern and clean. The cows were mostly Fresian with a few Ayreshires and Shorthorns, the bulls were all pedigree fresians, 6 in all and a lot of young stock. The cows were all mud fat as they should be with the lovely greenfeed they have. They make the rain there just when they want it with hundreds of sprinklers. We left Whyalla for Cowel on,---
Friday May 2nd.
Camped in Cowel that night and had a nice Whiting for tea, leaving the next morning the 3rd for Port Lincoln, arriving there about 1.30 o'clock.
The log recorded in the diary stops at this point. the only remaining notes were on fuel usage.
Notes on Mileage
Sam made a note on the mileage and petrol put into the vehicle During the trip to Port Lincoln. Both Sam and Olive were living at Bridgewater at the time.
Mileage on leaving home 52913 miles
Aldgate, put in petrol to top up tank, 17/-
At Port Pirie, 16/3
At Whyalla, 14/-
Mileage at Port Lincoln 52270, =457 miles to Port Lincoln
At Port Lincoln, 16/2
At Port Lincoln, 15/2, (4 gallons of petrol at 4 Shillings and a half penny per gallon)
At Whyalla, 5 gallons, £1/0/0
At Port Augusta, petrol, 12/2 and oil 5/6
At Clare, 15/6
Mileage on arriving home 53991, =1078 miles travelled.
Couple of bob
Australian colloquial slang for two Shillings in the old currency where 12 pence made one shilling, 20 Shillings made one Pound. £1 was equivalent to A$2 of the present decimal currency and therefore 2 Shillings also known as a florin was equivalent to 20 cents. Considering that six pence, (half a Shilling), could buy a loaf of bread the tip was a reasonable amount for Sam to pay.
14 feet
A foot is a measure of distance in the pre-decimal system of distance measurement. One foot was denoted by the use of the letters ft. and was equal to .305 metres, therefore 14ft. was equal to a distance of 4.267 metres.
200 Pounds
This is a measure of weight in the pre-decimal system of weights and measures. One pound was denoted by the use of the letters lb. and is equivalent to .454 kilograms, therefore 200lbs is equal to 90.72 kilograms.
8 Hours Day
An Australia wide public holiday (celebrated in different States on different days of the year at that time) to celebrate the attainment by unions representing labour of a working day fixed at 8 hours. The catch phrase of the time when the award was granted was, 8 hours sleep, 8 hours work and 8 hours play.
Nose Bag
Slang for having something to eat. An expression from the horse and buggy days when on a days trip the travellers would put in the back of the cart a nose bag for the horse. It was a bag designed to hang over a horses head and into which the driver had put some chaff and some hammer milled grain for the horse to eat. Chaff was fine cut hay or straw.
£2.3.0
Two Pounds, 3 Shillings equivalent to A$4.30 in todays decimal currency.
Five Miles
In the old measurement, Inches, Feet, Yards, Chains and lastly Miles, where five miles is now equal to 8.047 kilometres. One mile was equal to 80 chain, with one chain equal to 22 yards or 66 feet. One yard was made of 3 feet with each foot being 12 inches. So one mile was equal to 1760 yards or 5280 feet. The chain was a measure used by surveyors in measuring distances, more appropriately called a Gunther's chain which had 100 links of equal length.
6/-.
This is the pre-decimal shorthand method of recording 6 Shilllings in the old currency and is equivalent to 60 cents in decimal currency.
Port Victor.
Here Sam is referring to the sea-side town in South Australia known as Victor Harbor. This town has a small island, known as Granite Island which is reached by a wooden causeway across the bay. On the seaward side of that island waves from the Southern Ocean break. The island is noted for the fairy penguins that nest in burrows among the boulders.
Digs.
Australian slang out of the first world war meaning "where you are living", coined when soldiers would dig in to avoid bombardment and to provide some protection. They were in some cases roofed over and referred to as our digs or your digs.
Corker.
Australian slang of the early 1900 to 1930's meaning "a remarkable thing", or you could think I was telling "a preposterous lie".
Whiting
The Australian name for a round, long, fish renown for its good eating quality, caught in coastal waters, comes in a couple of varieties, the "Weedy Whiting", the smaller of the two and "King George Whiting" the larger and most prized.
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