What’s in a name?

The local landcare group have been exploring names for the bushland patches we care for on the West Ridge and off Stansfield Close. Names provide for a connection to the history of the area and a sense of place and most of our reserves have aboriginal names.

Research by Robyn Gill resulted in naming Puntei (a narrow neck of land) Creek in 2005, which never had a name, and last year Killibinbin (shining water) Reserve the spacious grassy foreshore reserve, overlooking Kilaben Bay at the southern end of Laycock Street and Puntei Park, the grassy leash free area bordered by Hampton Street and Excelsior Parade, received their monikers.

We’d been tossing about a few names for our unnamed reserves; Kollai (timber, trees, wood), Keelkeelba (Grass tree place- they are spectacular at the moment on the West Ridge) and Weemilah (a good view) when Lisa McKendry did some extensive research and discovered the original name for what is now Coal Point.

Tirabeenbah Mountain

In 1841 it seems Coal Point may have been known as Tirabeenbah Mountain.

Recently I was looking at an 1841 map of ‘Awaba or Lake Macquarie’, which can be found on the Hunter Living Histories website. It has local geological notes and Aboriginal place names marked. The Coal Point peninsula is clearly marked in ink ‘Tirabeenba’. (‘Ebenezer Colliery’ and ‘wharf’ are printed on the map). The article suggests that the written notes on the map may have been made by the Reverend W. B. Clarke, a geologist who visited our area in 1842.

(Image: Excerpt from 1841 Awaaba Map overlay in Google Earth )

Curious about this, I did a search and found another early reference to ‘Tirabeenbah Mountain’. In 1842 W. B. Clarke wrote an article for the Geological Society of London about the fossil pine forest in the area now called Fennell Bay. In describing ‘Awaaba’ and the peninsula, he says “very recently coal works have been opened about 4 feet above the level of the water in Tirabeenbah Mountain”. Also, a small map marks the peninsula as ‘Tirabeenba’. This document and others are available on the University of Wollongong website.

The Ebenezer Colliery mentioned above in the 1841 map was the source of the name Coal Point. This coal mine was owned by the Scottish Reverend Lancelot Edward Threlkeld. In those early days, Reverend Threlkeld documented the local Awabakal language with his Aboriginal friend Biraban (his name means Eaglehawk). Threlkeld, in his book, ‘An Australian Grammar’ (1834) writes the names of places are generally descriptive, for example Tirabinba means the toothed place. In the ‘Common Places’ section of the book he writes “Ti-ra-bé-en-ba - A long point of land tooth like; from Ti-ra, a tooth.”

There is also good evidence that early names for the Toronto/Coal Point Ebenezer Estate, belonging to Threlkeld, were Derahbambah, which means rising ground, and Punte which means a narrow piece of land, as outlined in the book “Reid’s Mistake”(1967) by K.R. Clouten.

Perhaps, others may be able to enlighten the Punte/Tirabeenbah/Coal Point Chronicle with some naming suggestions?

More interesting local history

Fossil Pine Forest, Lake Macquarie: Michael Organ with assistance from John Byrnes, 14 April 2009

Heritage Map of Lake Macquarie or Awaba with geological locations (Courtesy of NSW Dept. of Trade and Investment)

"Kurrur Kurran - Seeking all aspects connected with a Fossil Forest at Fennell Bay (NW corner of Lake Macquarie)" by John Byrnes

Colonel Granville John Burnage, CB VD.

Research by Dulcie Hartley

Granville John Burnage was born in Dungog, NSW on 14 December 1858.

His parents, Thomas and Kezia had arrived from England in 1853, having been encouraged to migrate by Thomas' old friend Bishop Tyrrell.

About 1870 the Burnage family moved to Newcastle, where Thomas established himself as a Wine Merchant. Later Granville assisted in the business which became known as T. Burnage & Son, of 3 Market Street, Newcastle.

In 1878 Burnage was one of the first recruits to join the Newcastle Infantry Company, New South Wales militia. He was commissioned lieutenant in 1883, promoted captain in 1885, and honorary major in 1896.

During 1901-2 Burnage saw action in the Boer War commanding IT Squadron, 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles Regiment. After the war Burnage resumed working in the family business and continued in the Militia. He was confirmed major and second-in-command of the 4th Australian Infantry Regiment. He became officer in charge of Newcastle port defences from 1909-13. He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in 1909.

Although now 56 years of age, Burnage joined the Australian Imperial Force on 28 September 1914. He was in charge of Rosehill A.I.F. depot until 6th October 1914 when he was appointed to raise and command the 13th Battalion. Burnage was a strict disciplinarian, and in choosing his officers and other ranks he set an exceptionally high standard. During the training period of the battalion he made himself unpopular by the strictness of his command.

The battalion reached Egypt in February 1915 and soon became known as "Bill Burnage’s Circus", because its transport always carried streamers in battalion colours, the two blues, for identification during manoeuvres. They landed on Gallipoli during the night of 25 April 1915 and made their way to Monash Valley. Burnage had orders to reinforce Quinn's Post and Pope's Hill, and to help clear the enemy from Russell's Top.

In the first week of fighting his troops suffered heavy casualties and the battalion became known as "The Fighting Thirteenth". Burnage was continuously in the front line moving from post to post across the open ground. His fearlessness in action, and his concern for his men rapidly won him extraordinary esteem and affection.

During the 2nd May attack on Baby 700, a key enemy position, the men of the 13th reached their objective and held their ground, but were cut off without support. Burnage made his way back alone across an area swept by Turkish fire to report to brigade headquarters. He was ordered to withdraw his men under the cover of darkness. "The Colonel" wrote his 2nd in command, "was the last man out of that deadly fight in which we lost 300 men".

Such leadership from a man of 57 years won the highest regard from his men who now referred to him as "The Gamest Old Man". On 29th May 1915 his left elbow was shattered during a fierce Turkish attack on Quinn's Post. 

Burnage was invalided home, but first went to London where, on 25th November 1915, he married Helen Haslewood at St Peter's Anglican Church.

By August of 1916 Burnage had recovered sufficiently from his wounds to take command of Australian reinforcements on a transport. For the remainder of the war, Burnage was commanding officer on various troopships between Australia and England. He won commendation for his leadership when the 'Barunga' carrying over 800 troops, was torpedoed in July 1918. 

In 1916 Burnage had purchased land on the waterfront at Excelsior Parade, Carey Bay, and built his home Worilla' (extant), where he resided with his wife. There were no children from the marriage. Burnage's sister, Mrs Squirrell, lived nearby on the waterfront. Burnage commanded the 2nd Battalion, 13th Regiment, Australian Military Forces until March 1921, when he retired with the honorary rank of Colonel. Toronto was justly proud of Col. Burnage and for formal occasions in Toronto, particularly with visiting dignitaries, Colonel Burnage always officiated. Mrs Burnage also played a prominent role in the social events of the district.

A staunch churchman, Burnage donated a block of land in Excelsior Parade on which St Saviour's Church of England was erected. He predeceased his wife, dying at Carey Bay on 12th July 1945. A service at Christ Church Cathedral was followed by a private cremation at Beresfield.

Colonel Granville Burnage is commemorated locally by Burnage Reserve, situated adjacent to Excelsior Parade and Skye Point Road.

This article is an abridged version of the article by Lake Macquarie City Library which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

A Little Local History

Landcaring around Coal Point provides a unique perspective on the vegetation and often a window into the past. Local Landcarer Robyn Gill caught up with long term resident John Wilson and gained an insight into Gurranba Reserve and the local history. 

John Wilson grew up on the shores of Lake Macquarie, during World War II at the home of a relative where his mother also cared for 4 children of the extended family so they would be safer than at their home near the BHP. 

From 1955 he lived adjacent to Gurranba Reserve at the home which was built after his father died (at BHP in 1954) on land bought just before his death. This was close to the lake so John learned to swim well and has been swimming long distances there ever since.
John remembers walking to Burden’s dairy farm in Rofe St (where the home still stands) and to Moss’s farm (where Carey Bay Wetlands and  the “Pony Club” area are now) to collect milk which was available once a week from each farm as rationing was in place during the war.  

John’s mother, Hilda, established a shop and Tearoom next to their home as there were many visitors at the reserve often to see the beautiful garden above the foreshore next to Gurranba reserve.

This garden which was a matter of pride to the community was established by Miss Dawkins and Miss Tannah who came from England to live there after WWII first buying an old shack then building a new brick home which is still there. The two women had a shop in Newcastle in Hunter St. near Pacific Park which may have been a jewellers but opinion suggests featured craft materials especially for embroidery (John thinks they had similar businesses in England).

John still refers to some places on the foreshore by the names of early residents such as Skillen’s Point between Skye Point and Rofe St. 

He also remembers most of the local residents such as the Guy family who had the Coal Point Post Office and store were well known residents and their daughter, Joy, with her daughters continued the pedestrian postal delivery as a contractor until quite recently when it became a standard Australia Post service.