Notes for Ivor Henry Griffiths: MEREDITH VIC. 1904 27 May: Ivor born at the Bush Nursing Hospital at Meredith soon after his father Isaac and mother Esther had bought the Chestervale property at Meredith. Mrs McKenzie was the nurse. Ivor grew up on the farming property. Ivor and Tom, his older brother (and older sister Gwladys) all had a bedroom to themselves in the Chestervale home (somewhat unusual in these times).
1910 (6yo onwards) Ivor attended Meredith Primary School - a 3 mile walk each way, across paddocks and a creek. His first teacher was Frank Pilkington known as "Old Pilly." Here were 80 students in the composite grades 1-8. He learned to box at the Church of England boxing club in Meredith.
1918 (14yo) Ivor was keen on sports and was a particularly good short distance, He won a medal for the 100 year sprint at the Schools Combined Empire Day Sports when in the 8th grade. He completed Grade 8 and was to go to Geelong College, however there was a serious flu epidemic in this year, so he left school to work on the family property with his brother Tom. They both went shearing and cropping and share-farming with other local graziers. Ivor proudly bought his first horse from the proceeds of selling possum skins (with the Government taking 20% tax out of sale proceeds).
1919 (15yo) Ivor was recommended by Strachans representative as "Best Farm Advisor" - no mean feat for a boy so young and an indication of his aptitude for farming. Shearing Contractors asked him to go with them as a Shearing Machine Mechanic but his father would not allow him to go. Ivor bought his first car - the first of many he was to own in his lifetime. This was a double seater Rover which could do 40 mph in top gear.
1922 (18yo) Ivor played football for Meredith Football Club then for Elaine Football Club at the weekends while continuing to work on the family property honing his skills at running the farm and raising Merino fine wool sheep.
1923 (19yo) Ivor was asked to work on the Wiseman family property at Meredith (Elliott and Sam - father of Don Wiseman who was later to become friendly with Gwenda) but Ivor did not take up their offer, instead, he went shearing with brother Tom around the Meredith neighbourhood (Ned Ryan and Martin Sharkey in particular). Ivor displayed a caring attitude for his livestock, displayed throughout is farming life. He was very particular and an excellent shearer.
1925 (21yo) Isaac gave Ivor a car for his 21st birthday which he kept for 3 years, selling it to Meredith school teacher in 1928.
1927 (23 yo) The Griffiths family was very friendly with Ben and Maude Boreham. Ben had been moved to Meredith as the Station Master. It was here that Ivor met Berta (Maude's sister) while Berta was visiting to help out with the Boreham children who had chicken pox. The romance blossomed and Ivor would drive to Purnim to see Berta, often taking the Boreham girls with him.
1928 (24yo) Ivor bought a Rugby red seal engine, having sold the car he was given for his 21st. (Bought from Pascoe's Ballarat agent). He later sold this to buy a Rockne Studebaker.
1931 Electoral roll includes Ivor at Meredith, labourer, living with Tom and his wife Mary and brother Wilf as his father had now retired and he and Esther were living at 61 The Esplanade West Geelong/Drumcondra.
1934: (30yo) Ivor took on a new role in driving an 8 horse team wagon from Steiglitz Waterworks to Meredith station, carting oats for share farmers while Tom looked after the milking at Chestervale.
1935: (31yo) 26 January - Ivor and Berta married at Auburn Road Methodist Church, Melbourne where they welcomed their wedding guests at the School Hall . They told the story of leaving the gathering/reception and driving around to block and waiting in the car until all the guests had left Hilda & Andy Hogg's Hawthorn home , where they were to spend their honeymoon while Hilda and Andy went away on a holiday.
Following their wedding, Ivor's uncle Ivor wanted Ivor Jr and Berta to go to his 3,000 acre dairy farming property at Mirboo North - 7 miles out of Sale, but again, Ivor's father would not allow it.
NATTE YALLOCK south of St Arnaud near Avoca. 1935 (31yo) They relocated to the Natte Yallock property (near Maryborough) late in this year, property owned by his Uncle Ivor.
Between 1936 and 1937 (32-42yo) Ivor H built his first house here at the Natte Yallock property, beside the Avoca River (built by Feary Bros of Ballarat). Ivor Snr who had not married, had indicated that he would leave the Natte Yallock property to Ivor and Berta, (but this was not to be.)
1936 Elections list Ivor H - grazier, Alberta - Home Duties and Wilfred John as labourer, at Natte Yallock. Ivor became a member of the Natte Yallock Hall Committee and helped construct the community hall as part of the volunteer team. With possums at near pest levels, much of the hall was financed by possum drives and sale of possum skins.
1936 Ivor (32yo) and Berta's 1st child, Elaine was born in Melbourne where Berta had gone to stay with her sister Hilda. To advise Ivor of the baby's arrival and that he had a daughter, but to keep the information from the telephone party line, she sent a telegram advising 'bike arriving 9am at station, pump and tool bag missing.'
1937 Uncle John (81yo) died, leaving his share of the Yawong property to brother Ivor, resulting in joint ownership by Ivor Snr and Isaac.
COONOOER BRIDGE - YAWONG VIC. 1937 at the request of his farther, Ivor (33yo), Berta and Elaine moved to Yawong/Coonooer taking up part of the 4,000 acre property and part of the 3-4,000 sheep. Here Ivor and then later with Wilf moving to the district, was faced with having to replace and upgrade all the fencing and improve the health of the stock as his Uncle John had not maintained the stock and property in good condition over the preceding years.
During their 13 years at Yawong/Coonooer they joined community and church activities. Ivor built galvanised iron sheds, barn, machinery shed, car garage, truck garage and fowl house, making continual improvements to the house and property.
Such was Ivor's dedication and concern for his animals that he would get out of bed at 3am in the freezing cold winter months to run the sheep around the paddock to ensure their kidneys did not freeze.
1937 In October of this year, Ivor's (33yo) brother David (28yo), Isaac and Esther's 5th child, who was not married, was killed in a shooting accident involving David's City friend visiting Ivor Snr's Mirboo North Gippsland 3,000 acre dairying property for the weekend. David had been working as a labourer on the property for over 6 years.
1937 Brother Wilfred married Margaret Gordon and they moved to the Yawong District to assist with improvements to the Griffiths holdings. Between Wilf and Ivor, they raised merino sheep and fat lambs and grew wheat and oats. In general, their farming practice consisted of 1/3 sheep, 1/3 wheat or oats and 1/3 fallow. Thomas Bowen Griffiths had Willed the Coonooer property to H Isaac, who transferred this ownership to Tom and Ivor, his two eldest sons. On Wilf's marriage, Tom's share was changed to Chestervale, Meredith, with Wilf taking over his share.
1938 March, Ivor (34yo) and Berta's 2nd child Gwenda arrived, born at St Arnaud.
1939 Floods destroyed all older fences at Yawong and Ivor (35yo) with Wilf's help, replaced these by hand, with shovel and crowbar. Good strong fences became a hallmark of Ivor's together with strong strainer posats at the corners and excellent balanced gates.
1939 Ivor Snr. died without a Will and John's estranged daughter Sophia (now Sorinsen) contested the Will claiming a share of the property owned by her father (and willed to Ivor Snr). Isaac paid out Sophia Sorinsen and now owning the entire acerage, transferred ownership of Yawong to Tom and Ivor. Wilf was then allocated Tom's initial land allocation, while Tom took control of the Meredith 'Chestervale' property. Wilf with new wife Margaret, set about building a brick house, replacing an older house on the property.
1939 Ivor Snr's Mirboo North property was sold.
1940 The Natte Yallock property was sold. This must have been a difficult time for Ivor as he and Berta had originally planned to spend many years on this property, living in the new home which they had built just after their marriage, and which Ivor Snr had given them to understand, would be Willed to them on Ivor Snr's passing.
1941 Jeanette, (Ivor 37yo) the 3rd daughter was born in St Arnaud.
1941 Ivor built a new 3,000 sq feet (70' x 40') woolshed on the Charlton Road with yards and a sheep dip to hold 30 sheep. As luck would have it, perhaps this was not the year to build such a large facility as just 3 years later the severe drought started, lasting 4 years.
1941 Berta's sister Hilda and her children went to Yawong to stay with Berta, Ivor, Elaine and Gwenda as a Japanese attack was feared and Hilda was in poor health.
1942 Oct (Ivor 38yo) Brother Mervyn signed up for the army.
1944 (Ivor 40yo) saw the commencement of 4 years of severe drought in the area. Conditions were so dreadful that neighbours Ray Scollari, Jim Bennett, Clive Watts, and cousins Tom and Les Parry assisted the Griffiths brothers on a share farming basis while Mick and Jo Cadzow, the nearest neighbours to the north, fed the sheep.
Sept 1944 2,000 sheep were on the property. 1,000 acres of wheat yielded 30 bags which was divided between the share farmers, leaving Ivor with 410 sheep which yielded 10 bales of wool.
For 10 months, Ivor carted water daily from the Avoca River by hand for his 600 ewes - carting water by truck with a 400 gallon tank and 3 months pumped through 1 1/2" centrifugal pump to water troughs throughout the property.
As a result of this prolonged drought, Ivor constructed a huge dam near to Wilf's property, shifting 3,000 yards of dirt by tractor and horse drawn cart and in total removing 16,607 yards of soil, digging the dam 18 feet deep which then took 6 weeks to fill from the nearby channel. The dam cost 2,300 pounds. 400 fish stocked the dam. Jo Cadzow was conditionally excused from the Army to help build the dam. He was required to be employed for 6 months. Local farmers carted water from the dam to their stock during dry periods
1944 (Ivor 40yo) Ronald the last of the children was born at Charlton - at last a son and potential heir for the Griffiths property, but yet again, this was not to be.
Berta and Ivor remained at Yawong/Coonooer for 13 years, spending many happy times and hard work making farm improvements and renovating the house, replacing the old detached kitchen and later constructing a new laundry and installing a septic toilet built of Besser bricks. They survived regular flooding, rabbit plagues, dust storms and droughts.
He was a leader in the district experimenting with ways to improve productivity. Ivor's property was easily recognisable by strategic tree planting, tightly strung fences hung off stable corner posts and the neatness of his properties. Ivor was President of the Coonooer Bridge School Committee and Hall Committee and helped out at working bees at the Coonooer Methodist Church where his father had earlier been an organist. He coordinated rabbit drives to sell the skins to raise money for the Hall. He was an active member of the St Arnaud Gun Club, President and Lieutenant of the Charlton Rural Fire Brigade for a number of years.
1945 - 1951 Ivor (41yo) was as a elected a Local Government Councilor and was much respected in this role. His retirement from the Council was due only to his selling and moving to Geelong.
1948 Henry Isaac - Ivor's father died (88yo) at 61 The Esplanade after a lengthy illness.
1949 Ivor (45yo) won a medal for shooting a bulls-eye at St Arnaud - 300-500 yards and 1,000 yards (approx 1 mile.) He was an avid shooter and took great pride in his guns and their careful use. It was also in this year that he won a Victorian Rife Association Medal along with his father Isaac and Mervyn his younger brother.
1950 Coonooer Bridge News: "Annual Hall Committee Meeting" Cr Ivor Griffiths chairing. "Rabbit Drive." "In view of the high prices prevailing for rabbits, it was decided to hold a rabbit drive in aid of hall funds - took place on 30 August on the roprty of property R Hodgson, owner of the Yawong Station. Although there were a good number of rabbits among the rocks, they refused to be driven out into the netting corners - at end totaled only 220. In addition to the proceeds from the sales, Mr Hodgson most generously donated six-pence per rabbit to the hall funds."
1951-1953 Ivor leased Yawong to Don Pritchard for 3 years and sold in 1954 for pounds 33/acre, auctioned by Postlewhaite, Jim Bennett and Ian McGilvray and bought by the Watts boys (most southerly neighbours)
GEELONG - PURCHASE OF 5 STRACHAN AVENUE MANIFOLD HEIGHTS VIC 1951 3rd August: Ivor (47yo) and Berta signed the purchase contract for their new home at 5 Strachan Avenue Manifold Heights Geelong. Ivor 47yo, Berta 40yo, Elaine 15yo, Gwenda 13yo, Jeanette 10yo & Ron 7yo. The house, of course, had a good sized workshop, a double garage and a good area for growing a vegetable patch which Ivor loved. He spent may hours in his shed with everything possible painted red, where he practiced his wood turning skills and made strong gates for many friends. He later gave as his reasons for leaving Yawong as rabbit plagues, floods, droughts, work too hard, mother ill and ailing and need to be nearer her and children needing good secondary education.
1951 "May 15, at 10.30am punctually: Dispersal Sale at Yawong on the main St Arnaud to Charlton all weather road - 14 miles from St Arnaud and 12 miles from Charlton. 1,140 superior merino sheep, major and wonderfully superior minor plant, new truck, livestock, hay, grain, new iron, wonderful range of new tools, sundries and superior household furniture and effects. Auctioneers instructed by I H Griffiths Esq who has leased the major part of his Property at Yawong and is going to Geelong to reside, will conduct the above important Dispersal Sale of a truly magnificent Catalogue of which every lot is in practically new order." The glowing terms used by the Auctioneers is evidence of Ivor's highly regarded care in maintaining his stock and land, his machinery and tools. The Auction leaflet also includes "Splendid luncheon provided by Ladies of Coonooer Bridge Cricket Club and available from 11.38am"
GEELONG & PURCHASE OF CONNEWARRE PROPERTY VIC 1951 (47 yo) Living in Geelong, Ivor bought a 160 acre property at Charlemont, Connewarre outside Geelong on the Barwon Heads Road. Then bought an adjoining 146 acre property and in Ivor's usual style, added large storage sheds and upgraded fences and gates and increased the productivity of these properties.
1952 Issue of Nuffield Exports Oxford England News Exchange Journal featured an article with photograph of 8 of the 10 Nuffield cars and tractors owned by Wilf and Ivor. (Supplied by Lanes Motors PL through authorised Nuffield dealer GM Smith PL)
GEELONG & PURCHASE OF TORQUAY, BEACH HOLIDAY PROPERTY 1953 Ivor (50yo) and Berta purchased a block of land at 55 Beach Road Torquay which they later had an old home transported to be erected on stumps. They subsequently renovated the house which was then used by themselves and family members staying at the popular beach town of Torquay - just a 10 minute drive from Geelong.
1954 Jan 28 at 3pm - Important Land Auction, Valuable Yawong Property, 1,076 acres in two lots. AF & WL Cleary under instruction from Ivor H Griffiths Esquire will sell by Auction at the St Arnaud Town Hall, as above, his valuable and highly improved Agricultural and Grazing Property in Two Lots. Lot 1: 756 acres including homestead block, woolshed paddock and paddock separated by road and immediately to the north of woolshed paddock/ - subdivided into 9 paddocks being well fenced and watered. The homestead portion has a double frontage to the Avoca River, two particularly good dams, one with a capacity of 16,607 yards with 100 yards of silt catchment. The land is in great heart having been very sparingly cropped and the soil is a rich red loam varying to a portion of black. IMPROVEMENTS good WB home of 4 bedrooms, sleepout, lounge, dining room, bathroom and kitchen, with detached brick washhouse and woolshed, plaster lined throughout. Facilities include phone (continuous), sewerage, hot water service, electric light, built in cupboards etc. The Outbuildings, erected recently, are in 1st class condition. They include barn, car garage, truck garage, stable, workshop, machinery shed, storeroom and fowl sheds. Numerous tanks with capacity supply of 18,000 gallons. The shearing shed on the woolshed block is modern, has 3,000 sq feet of floor space and the sheep yard and sheep dip are in excellent condition. A particularly new 'Cooper' shearing plant with O.H. friction drive and 'Lister' engine pass with the property. Lot 2: 320 acres known as "McGregor's" is a 1st class agricultural and grazing property watered by channel and dam (4,000 yards). This portion is also in particularly good heart for cropping and adjoins Lot 1."
1959 -1963 Ivor (55yo), ever used to quiet, sensible leadership, was elected the President of the Connewarre Rural Fire Brigade, retiring from this position on selling his Connewarre property.
1961 21 February, (Ivor 57yo) Wilf died in St Arnaud. Ivor believed that Wilf had inadvertently inhaled fumes from '[Chloropicran"] rabbit poison which got to the arteries of his heart.
GEELONG & PURCHASE OF ELAINE PROPERTY VIC. 1962 (58 yo) He then bought a 600 acre underdeveloped property at Elaine towards Ballarat and set about planting trees, fence building, shed building plus building a small living area to expand his habitable space from the caravan he had now parked on site. He spent his time between Strachan Avenue and this property. He started this venture with 700 sheep which he built up to 2,500 when at age 68 in 1972, he sold the property. Ivor topped the wool sales in 1996, 1970 and 1971 with fleeces produced at his Elaine property.
SALE OF CONNEWARRE 1963, 23 May: (59yo) Mystic Park at Mt Dundeed/Connewarre - 7 miles from Geelong, sold at auction, realising pounds 99 per acre. Geelong and District Stock and Station Journal carried an article "Dennys Lascelles Ltd report having submitted to Auction on the 23rd May 1963, at the Geelong Wool Exchange, the well known property "Mystic Park" situated 7 miles from Geelong in the Mt Duneed District. The sale of this property in two lots 160 and 146 acres created a great deal of interest. There was a large attendance at the sale and competition was keen. Mystic Park 160 acres together with small brick home, woolshed, barn, machinery shed and good improvements, realised pounds 99 per acre and was purchased by JV & MA Cameron of Connewarre (neighbours & friends) The portion known as Clery's 146 acres of high class agricultural land , improvements consist of a large hayshed and small barn after good competition realised pounds 90 acre and was purchased by ELB Sprague."
Public Auction notice - description of property:- Lot 1, 160 acres:- 7 paddocks, beautifully fenced (as all Ivor's properties were!) Strong land suitable for intense cultivation, fat lambs or dairying. Watered by one bore, 3 dams and a mill which supplies stock water for troughs throughout the property. IMPROVEMENTS: brick veneer homestead comprising 3 bedrooms, sleepout, lounge room, bathroom and laundry, modern type kitchen. Gardens and lawns. Outbuildings are substantial and consist of steel framed and galv. wool shed 40ft x 30ft, SEC powered, good sheep yards, dip and loading ramp. Machinery shed with sliding doors 48ft x 28ft. Vermin proof barn. Homestead surrounded by good plantations (again, a signature of Ivor's on all his properties!) ""Mystic Park" is an outstanding property, ideally suited for mixed farming. Situation is ideal and the improvements very substantial." Lot 2, 146 acres:- 'Clerys' on the southern side of the Barwon Heads/Mt Duneed Road and opposite Mystic Park - land suitable for intense cultivation. 8 paddocks , watered by one 4000 yard dam and mill plus 2 other dams. IMPROVEMENTS: hay shed 60ft x 60ft, calf shed and cattle yards, bull paddock, stock yards, loading ramp and crush, small barn, pig sties and yards in excellent condition. Good plantations. Large underground tank. This is a unique opportunity to secure a property in this favoured area. The owner has purchased a larger property and Mystic Park is for genuine sale. It is on this latter property that Jeanette remembers several church youth group woolshed dances in the rock and roll era.
SALE OF THE LAST OF THE COONOOER/YAWONG ESTATE 1965 3/2 Wilf's property comprising 1,278 acres was sold at auction, marking the end of 70 or so years of Griffiths ownership of Yawong
SALE OF ELAINE PROPERTY 1972 (68yo) Ivor sold the Elaine property with a clearing sale on August 9. 1,700 top quality fine wool merino sheep, plant and sundries.
1991 Ivor (87yo) was a Member of the Geelong Woodworkers Guild, Elder of Ashby Methodist Church and member of Herne Hill Uniting Church Board. Member of Drumcondra Bowling Club.
GEELONG ONLY 1993 17 May, (Ivor 89yo) Daughter Gwen at age 55 died of a rare lung cancer. Gwenda, while alive, had been a great comfort to Berta and Ivor with her mother's onset of Alzheimers. Gwenda, living with her son Neville, both became the major care givers and after Gwen's death. Noel, Gwenda's eldest son and his wife Jill moved into Strachan Avenue to care for Noel's ageing grandparents. Grandson Noel had spent a number of years living with Berta and Ivor at Strachan Avenue Manifold Heights while completing his secondary school education at the Geelong West Tech., relieving the financial stress on his mother who was experiencing marital difficulties, and finally filed for divorce from her husband Ron. Berta and Ivor had intended to bequeath the Torquay property to Gwen (as she was living in a State provided home) but as her death preceded her parents, this was then not possible and in light of Noel and Jill providing care for both Berta and Ivor over such a long period and Berta's subsequent death in 1997, Ivor changed his Will to make Noel and Jill the beneficiaries of the Torquay property.
1994 Ivor celebrated his 90th birthday with many friends and relatives gathering as well wishers. The Griffith family always had enjoyable social gatherings with friends and opportunities to reunite with relatives. (Albums of photos available)
1997 23 Jan (Ivor 93yo) Berta died after a long battle with worsening Alzhemiers. Ivor despite his own increasing frailty had taken special care of Berta for a number of years as the Alzheimer's disease took over Berta's life and mental functioning.
1998 7 Oct, Ivor (94yo) died at home in Strachan Avenue after steadily failing health over the proceeding few years. Berta and Ivor, together with Gwen are buried side by side at the Western Cemetery, Geelong. It must have been very disappointing for Ivor, after generations of Griffiths farmers and his obvious excellence in a host of farming techniques, not to have his son, or one of his children, pursue farming the land. Ivor was never heard to lament this fact, accepting his lot in life and enjoying recounting oh so many tales about his years on his various properties, all of which were certainly the better for his having had a hand in them. He was often heard to say that "no one owns a piece of land, We are only here as care-takers." Ron, his only son, went on to be a highly qualified Chartered Accountant, working out of Melbourne With strong Methodist up-bringing, the Griffiths boys were never heard to swear. Ivor's favourite expletive was "the bally messer" or "the messin' thing."
SALE OF 5 STRACHAN AVENUE MANIFOLD HEIGHTS 1998 19 Dec Sale of 5 Strachan Avenue, Manifold Heights - "Fantastic location plus the added value of a very good size block of land, this 3 BR property is well suited to the renovator or to a developer (STCA) Close to schools and public transport." With Elaine being the only family member living in Geelong (Ron in Melbourne and Jeanette in Western Australia) it was decided to sell the Manifold Heights home.
SALE OF 61 THE ESPLANADE, DRUMCONDRA 2001 20 Jan 61 The Esplanade - the much loved, waterfront stately Griffiths home was sold for $850,000, closing yet another Griffiths chapter.
More About Ivor Henry Griffiths: Burial: 10 Oct 1998, West Geelong Cemetery Vic. Elected: Bet. 1945 - 1951, Charlton Shire Councillor.30 Electoral Roll 1: 1931, C'w Corio, State Grant, SubDiv Meredith, Labourer (Ref 236). Electoral Roll 2: 1936, C'w Wimmera, State Kara Kara & Burung, SubDiv St Arnaud, Grazier (Ref 1365). Property 1: 24 Mar 1953, Purchase of block at 55 Beach Road, Torquay.31 Property 2: 03 Aug 1951, Purchase 5 Strachan Avenue, Manifold Heights, Geelong.31 Property Sale 1: 05 May 1951, Dispersal Sale of Merinos, plant, stock, tools & sundries at Yawong, (Coonooer).32 Property Sale 2: 28 Jan 1954, Yawong sale of land and buildings -1076 Acres in two lots (756 & 320 acres).32 Property Sale 3: 23 May 1963, 'Mystic Park' Connewarre property auctioned 306 acres in two lots (160 & 146 acres).33 Property Sale 4: 09 Aug 1972, Elaine District clearing sale of stock, plant and sundries.34 Property Sale 5: 19 Dec 1998, Sale of 5 Strachan Avenue, Manifold Heights, Geelong..35 Property Sale 6: 1999, Transfer of 55 Beach Road to Noel Moss (Grandson) by Will (I H Griffiths).36 Residence 1: 1931, 'Chestervale' Meredith Vic. Residence 2: 1936, Natte Yallock with Uncle Ivor Griffiths, brother Wilfred & wife Alberta.37
More About Ivor Henry Griffiths and Alberta (Berta) Mabel Ware: Marriage: 26 Jan 1935, Barkers Road, Kew Methodist Victoria.
Children of Ivor Henry Griffiths and Alberta (Berta) Mabel Ware are:
Ivor Henry Griffiths (b. 27 May 1904, d. 07 Oct 1998)
Notes for Ivor Henry Griffiths: