The Cottage:
Palm Beach. — — TIMES CHANGES.
Over twenty years ago my mate and I spent a pleasant summer holiday at Pittwater, near to Scotland Island and Kuringai Chase and we thought it was a lovely place. I said it was one of the finest places I had ever seen during my wanderings over the world; but people only smiled sympathetically and said it was nice of me to say so, but now, over twenty years later, we are here again, at Palm Beach, on Pittwater, near to Broken Bay, and it seems lovelier than ever. I wonder if It is because I can see more clearly, or is it because I love this world' and its miracles more deeply than ever of old?
It is not easy to say, but I feel that Pittwater is one of the most picturesque places I ever saw — one of the most wonderful and the most delightful for a summer holiday. But I had better tell you how we came here!
PALM BEACH.
We are living in a friend's 'week-end' cottage, and our friend came down with us, some 20 or so miles from Sydney, to show us 'the ropes.' And we found the cottage on a hill, forming the backbone of a peninsula that runs from Newport to Barrenjoey Lighthouse — say six or eight miles long (I'm only guessing at that). And our friend’s cottage is, say, a hundred feet above sea-level, with the broad, blue, mystical Pacific Ocean on one side and the smooth, shining, passionless blue Pitt Water on the other side; and the peninsula is not over half-a-mile wide where we are. As I sit writing I can hear the boom of the Pacific rollers on Palm Beach, and, at intervals, I hear the soft, swish of Pittwater on the long white beach; and the name of the cottage is Wai-ata-rua, which is Maori for 'the voice of two waters' and I can hear them both as I sit here!
Palm Beach is quite a modern settlement of well-to-do Sydney folk, who come here for week-ends, though a good many of them seem to live here all the time. As the crow flies, it is, say, twenty-five miles from Sydney, but apart from the crow it seems at least a thousand miles away, away from its dirt, and rush and worry and politics and selfishness and self-absorption. Sydney seems very far away indeed from Palm Beach. It is a sweetly, restful place with one of the best and safest surf beaches in the world.
THE BOOMING SEA.
My first experience of a heavy ocean surf was at midnight on the coastal Ecuador (equator!) when seven of us were running away from a whaling schooner. Were ignorant of every-thing, including ocean rollers; and when we came near to the beach we were lifted up skywards, and shot like an arrow from a bow towards the beach. Then we were dropped and drawn back-wards, and again shot forward, to be dashed down on the sand broadside on to the breakers. Uh ! the horror of it, and the black- darkness only lightened by the white foam of the booming sea, and the struggle to reach dry land with our bags and belongings! That was my first experience of the strength of the ocean and rollers: and when I sit here in this luxurious cottage, with my sweet mate, far from the world and its barking cares, and hear the booming of the surf on Palm Beach, the grisly horror of that night on the Ecuadorian Beach comes back to me, and I snuggle closer to the log fire and feel thankful that I'm here. Do you wonder that the place is full of charm to me? And through the day in the warm sunshine, I sit by the edge of the blue sea and wonder! This same sea is making the same roar on all the ocean beaches of the round world. You sit in the Galle Oace Hotel at Ceylon and listen to its never-ceasing roar. At Madras it never ceases; and Cocos Island and Fanning Island it rolls forever, the same passionless, eternal, restless ocean which was singing the same old song before man existed on the earth, and will continue to sing it when man and all his works have passed away forever.
PITTWATER.
Should that be one word, or two? Pitt Water, or Pittwater. What does it matter? Words are not things. They are but the counters we use to conceal our thoughts. But Pittwater — how ever you call it — is real. Is it? Is anything real; I remember the Lines I learned as a little boy, which show that even as a child I was metaphysical: —
I have a fancy that life's fitful gleam
Where hopes are battled and where hearts are breaking
Is nothing but an unsubstantial dream And death will be the waking.'
I don't think that now, but, no matter. Pittwater is very real to me! From the far side of the mouth of the Hawkesbury River (Broken Bay), and away up Pittwater to beyond Newport and up the Hawkesbury River there are islands and highlands and silver beaches, headlands and lowlands, and wooded hills and green gullies, flower-strewn beaches without end, nearly all silent and lonely. And all the sand on all the beaches has been made out of the 'Hawkesbury sandstone' by the washing of the restless sea, by the rushing of the everlasting tides; and those 'Hawkesbury' rocks were once deposited as sand in a vast lagoon. Then came iron oxides from the vegetation, and heat and time and pressure, and the inchoate sand became solid- rock and was hove up into mighty hills, which in turn were eroded and carved into gullies and headlands, and the sand was made into beaches, and there you have the glory of Pittwater, when man came to name it. And the 'Three Capes' across the Bay look like some antedeluvian monsters crawling out to sea, and you wonder if the world has a soul, as Plato said, it had! And at the ''Three Capes' the 'Maitland' was wrecked in 1898. And a bit further north, a steamer coming out of Sydney, crashed on the Seal Rocks and a young friend of mine, full of hope and promise, perished, along with many of his shipmates.
Yes, this blue, lovely, restful coast has its tragedies, and the beauty — as glorious as Capri, or the Blue Mediterranean — is deceitful. It can be deadly. But in the summer time Pittwater calls, and the time will come when all these beaches will be dotted with villas, and boathouses and gardens.
THE WOODED HILLS.
Our cottage is surrounded by gum trees. My mate declares that we are living in the tree tops. It does seem so! And all the hills, as far as we can see, for miles and miles, are clad in everlasting green. Not the light, emerald green of Ireland, or Europe, but a dark Australian screen, born of drought and heat, of glaring sun and waterless seasons; and if you stop to, think you wonder how all the millions of square miles of Australia came to be dressed in living green, and decorated with lovely flowers. Why, down on the beach line, amongst the sand, you come across lovely flowers of pink and yellow and blue, and you know they were never planted by the hand of man. How came they here ? Old Omar said —
'I sometimes think that never blows the Rose so red
As where some buried Caesar bled;
And every Hyacinth the garden wears;
Dropped in its lap from some once Lovely Head.'
But we have had no buried Caesars to bleed here. We have no records of marching armies, no tales of blood, no tragic castles, or storied towers. Ail our vegetation has come lo us by simple, natural processes, and- — then-'s the miracle! How came this grass, these trees and flowers to bloom and blossom on these unfriendly Hawkesbury sandstone' rocks? How did Nature manage the trick, and How long it take? 'How Long. 0 Lord, how long-' Only the other day I saw the prickly pear growing luxuriantly on the Pittwater coasts, and I wonder how that came here? Surely nobody brought it here? But how did the grass get here? Did you ever think of the miracle of a blade of grass? I know a house where the weak soil, tender grasses shooting no through the ashphalt path, and the asltphat feels hard as iron. How does the grass do it? The miracle of the trees and the grass and (lowers is too much for me: but at Palm Reach there seems to be time to face all these problems.
THE SUN.
The sun comes up out of the ocean, lies to the east of us, but 1 never see it rise. The old adage always appeals to me—
'Early to bed and early to rise
Makes you sick and gives you sore eyes.'
I fancy that very few journalists ever see the sun rise, unless they have been out extra late, but I see the sun set! When it sinks over the Hawkesbury hills ii- seems lo plunge into a blazing furnace of molten gold, and it paints all the sky in fairy colors, green and blue and pink and amethyst, and golden green, and crimson and orange, all the colors of the spectrum and all sorts of combinations of colors. I have watched the sun set over the Egyptian desert, over the Cordilleras of S. America, in many lands on this fair earth, but never have 1 seen more beautiful sunsets than in Pittwater. It is a land of charm and miracle and beauty, and all so close to Sydney and so lonesome and peaceful and restful! And less than 150 years ago Captain Cook sailed past here in the ''Endeavour' on his wonderful voyage of discovery and a few years later came the messengers of Governor Phillip, and then the story of the Hawkesbury farmers. Yes, we've got a little history of our own, after all, and some day it will be told. We are only awaking now to the glory of Australia, and the men who come after us will wonder why we were so blind and foolish. And Time will deal with them as it has dealt with the Caesars and the Captain Cooks, and the end will come, for—
'It is the little rift within the lute,
That by and bye will make the music mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all.
In the far south of the peninsula and at the far north end, fishing had been attracting visitors for decades prior tot his little item. James Booth is the gentleman to whom has been credited the building of the Palm Beach Jetty (
Gow's Jetty and Wharf), which gave access to those who came to Palm Beach via a launch that ran from Newport to Snapperman beach and offloaded people at the jetty.
The Verrills family were the builders who constructed many of the early holiday homes at Palm Beach. Palm Beach House, the first boarding premises on the corner of Florida and Palm Beach roads. This building is reported to have been built for the Barrenjoey Land Company.
Section from Panorama of Palm Beach, New South Wales, 7, nla.obj-162484891, PIC P865 Enemark collection of panoramic photographs [picture] courtesy of the National Library of Australia
Two subdivisions at Palm Beach by the Barrenjoey Land Co. in 1912, one in January and one in December, sold all blocks placed on the market. Then came Palm Beach Road:
Description of Road opened:—Road from Pittwater to Palm Beach at Barrenjoey, parish of Narrabeen, county of Cumberland, Warringah Shire.
[Registration No. of Papers—Roads 1912-1,091-19; Catalogue No. of Plan—B. II,872-1,603.J
Description of land now returned for the road specified above, and dedicated as a public road.
A proposal to resume the land referred to for the road in question, was published in the Government Gazette of 10th June, 1914, folio 3185.
Reputed Owner. James Naper (grantee);1 The Barreojoey Co., Ltd. (owner).
Occupier. The Barreojoey Co.,, Ltd.
Character of Holding. Freehold Width of Land Freehold and Part Used. 100 links...
Area Retained and Dedicated.
Remarks. Part of this resumption (5 perches)is covered by part of private subdivision road in use. NOTIFICATION, UNDER THE PUBLIC ROADS ACT, 1902, OF RESUMPTION OR WITHDRAWAL AND DEDICATION OF LANDS FOR ROADS. (
1915, January 20).
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), p. 334. Retrieved from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227053700
FISHING
ABOUT TREVALLY
(By C. Thackeray)
Contrary to- all the anticipations of Como authorities, tho rain of last week did not bring down enough' mud to effectually cloud tho water, but evidently the fish made the same mistake as tho men who sought them, as they cleared away ahead of the threatened discoloration, and from the Moon ground to Solly Bottom Point no good hauls of black-bream were taken on Sunday. This is rather surprising, in view of tho fact that on the Friday a catch of two and a halt ddzen was recorded at Salt Pan, which Is still higher up", .and an all-night party landed back at a Como shed early on Sunday morning with 10 dozen. Bream are certainly going out of the estuaries now. The fact that a great haul of trevally, probably a record one, was secured by the Sly brothers in nets at Shelly Beach, Manly, last Tuesday evening draws the attention of sportsmen to these excellent sporting fish, The trevally is not valued enough in this country. In Tasmania It is thought much more of than bream. Last year nothing approaching the Slys' haul was recorded, but at Port Hacking specimens of great weight were caught by line fishermen on tho bream grounds, and a good many broke away with tackle hanging to their jaws. Manly visitors should bo on the look-out for trevally In tho vicinity of tho near shore grounds from about the Flagstaff to the Drip. Lang's Point is also an old favorite haunt of trevally, but it often happens that tho fish will be on one side of the harbor and not on the other. Practical experience alone will settle the question. . .
The Berowra Progress Association is drawing the attention of the Chief Secretary to the excessive use of sunken nets at Berowra Creek. The association will have to produce definite evidence of harm done, and that will be hard to get. The only evidence fishermen can' give is what they personally secure, and as the conditions: of fish life are hidden, they will be rather stuck for what a court would accept as definite proof. Against that the records of net-fishers are always available, also inspectors' .reports.
Dynamiting has been going on at Cowan Creek. It would be interesting to find out who owned the dynamite used. People one would not suspect of descending to the practice of dynamiting have been reported as engaging in it at Cowan.
A specimen of the red sea-perch (Lutianus macleayana), 23%. Inches long, was caught recently at the Gap, Ballina— a break between…
Mr. J. Booth reports that Milton brothers, fishing off Little Head, Palm Beach, last Sunday secured seven nice snapper — four about 6lb and three smaller ones, and lost two larger. He also says that black bream are biting In the corner of Palm Beach.
FISHING (1916, August 13). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223378240
GENERAL NOTES.
In the office of Messrs. H. A. Wilshire and Day, architects, the following tenders have been accepted:-Mr. Charles Schultz, of Longueville, for a villa residence at Wollstonecraft, Mr. S. Walsh, for a villa In Vaucluse-road Vaucluse, Mr. Forbes for repairs to shop at North Sydney, Mr. J. Verrills for a concrete bungalow at Palm Beach, and that of Mr. Bourke for painting and repairs to two shops in Walker-street.
In the same office tenders are being called for a bungalow at Lindfield, and additions to a factory at Surry Hills. GENERAL NOTES. (
1916, June 27).
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15654897
Excursion to Palm Beach and Newport in Mr. Jack Murphy's new launch, 'Victory,' on Sunday next, leaving Gosford wharf at 9.30 a.m. Return fare 2s. PARAGRAPHS. (
1916, August 18).
The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate (NSW : 1906 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166847347
The road to Barranjoey is still in a state unpleasing to motorists. In several places the water ruts are deep and dangerous, making night-travelling somewhat hazardous. Now that Palm Beach has been added to the popular resorts for anglers and other holiday-makers many motorists make the place their destination.
During last week, among the visitors staying at Palm Beach House, Palm Beach, was a University party, which included Mr. and Mrs. Charles Badham, of "Beroe," Ryde; Dr. S. J. Johnston, of Cremorne; Mr. G. H. Clark and Mr. F. Whitehouse, of the University; Dr. Hilton Smith, of Gladesville; Mr. Erhard, of Strathfield; Mr. W. Graham, of Glebe; Mr. T. C. Cotton, of Mortlake; Misses F. E Witts and W. R. Flynn, of the "Women's College; Nurse Friedman, Misses A. Hutton, B. Summerville, W. I. Smith, of Woolwich. SOCIAL CHAT (1916, October 4). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 2 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223381706
Among the visitors holiday-making at Palm Beach House, Palm Beach, last week were included: — Mr. Hall, Mr. Robert Steward, of New Zealand; Mr. William Clark, of Burrawa; Mrs. Smith, of Neutral Bay.; Miss C. Shaw, of Mosman; Miss L. C. Smith, of Neutral Bay; and Miss Harwood. Social Gossip (1916, October 8). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 15. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223377420
Mr. Lister's numerous contributions to the water-colour division are also a source of strength. "The Sunlit Haven, Terrigal,'' with its distant green coastline, threatening horizon, and the sparkling sea in peaceful ripples on a foreground of white sand, is in the artist's best manner; and he sends in various lovely glimpses of Palm Beach, near Barrenjoey. ROYAL ART SOCIETY. (1916, September 2). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15675782
FAIRCLOUGH.-The Friends of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. MEGGITT of Palm Beach, Barrenjoey, are invited to attend the Funeral of their DAUGHTER Kate Phyllis Fairclough to leave our Parlours, Corso, Manly, THIS DAY, Thursday at 11 a.m., for Manly Cemetery. T. WAUGH. Tel., 42. Family Notices (1916, August 24). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15681595
AT THE HOTELS
PALM BEACH HOUSE.
Messrs. W. F. and H. H. Bradstiaw (Reuter's Telegraph, England) Mr. and Mrs. Sherbourne Le Souef, Mr. and Mrs. Burrell, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. J. S. Abbott, Miss Macdonald, Miss A. Browne, Miss Lees, Mr. J. Roche, Mr. J. W. Alford, Mr. and Mrs. James D. Oswald and Miss C. O. Oswald, Mr. William King, R.S., Mr. and Mrs. Louis Burnett, Mr. and Mrs. Barten, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Acocks, Mrs. Arthur Muggridge. Miss Enid Muggridge, Mr. R. S. Walker, Mr. James Paton, Mr. Gordon Parsons, Miss Marjorie Miller, Miss Berthe Kerry, and Miss M. E. Willis. PALM BEACH HOUSE. (
1916, December 10).
Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), p. 3. Retrieved from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121351711
SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICERS.
FIRST AUSTRALASIAN CONFERENCE.
At 9.15 this morning Mr. James (Minister for Education) will formally open the first Australasian Conference on School Medical Services. School medical officers have arrived from the Australian States and from New Zealand. The visitors will be officially welcomed by Mr. Board (Director of Education). The conference, which is being held in the Assembly Room at the Education Department, will extend throughout the week. A comprehensive business paper has been prepared for each morning while during the afternoon the visitors will be suitably entertained. They will attend the official opening of the clinic for the general treatment of school children this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Government will entertain them at a harbor excursion and a visit to the new zoo to-morrow afternoon, the launch Premier leaving Fort Macquarie at 1.30 sharp. On Wednesday afternoon the medical officers will b entertained at a garden party at House, and they will by entertained at dinner In the evening by Dr. and Mrs. Willis at Wentworth Hotel. On Thursday afternoon the visitors will be taken for a motor-car trip to Palm Beach. SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICERS. (
1916, December 18). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1923), p. 4. Retrieved from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239423682
HAWKESBURY RIVER EXCURSIONS. The s.s. Hawkesbury will run regular Excursion River Trips from Hawkesbury River to Wiseman's Ferry every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY, and return tame day ; also every FRIDAY to Mangrove and Cowan. Combined rail and steamer tickets issued at Sydney Station only. Trains leave Sydney O.'JO a.m. 'FARES Wednesday ... Saturdays 10/s, FRIDAYS, 8/s First. 0/ Second; .Meals L1'. Special Cheap' Trip to Palm Beach and Newport EVERY SUNDAY. Round Trips ran are taken via Manly either way. FARES, 1/ and 1/0 Return. No combined tickets on Sunday.. Connect with the C.13 train from Sydney. Meals, 1/0. Hot Water on board. Free. Advertising (1916, June 11). Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121340701
Advertising (1916, September 16). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1923), p. 20. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239219337
In the office of Messrs. H. A. Wilshire and Day, architects, the following tenders have been accepted:-Extensive sewage, and septic tank installation to station property, Quirindi. Mr. Montgomerlo Neilson, contractor; villa residence, Palm Beach, Messrs. Platt and Halsted, builders. BUILDINGS AND WORKS. (1915, March 2).The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15552964
The following tenders have been accepted in the office of Messrs. H. A. Wiltshire and Day, architects: — …bungalow residence, Palm Bench, Mr. B. Verrills, Palm Beach; stone retaining wall, Palm Beach; Mr. G. Gallager, Palm Beach; Interior decoration, painting, etc., at Villa, Mossrs James Sandy and Co., contractors. VARIOUS WORKS. (1915, May 11). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1923), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239039382
The boarding house, "Palm Beach House' built by the Barrenjoey Land Company (owned by the Palm Beach Land vendors is described in these articles - clearly it was a substantial place if 22 people could be housed there, plus workers and would be owners. It was built on the corner of Florida and Palm Beach roads and was quite expensive and difficult to get into, apparently - before disappearing under strange circumstances:
SYDNEY WEEK BY WEEK
(By Fanella)
Town is empty, except for those who can't get away. All our best families have hied to the fastnesses of the mountains, or are taking their pleasures madly, gladly, or sadly, as the case may be, at fashionable watering places. The ultra correct resort is Palm Beach. Palm Beach, merely a term, a vague sort of haphazard mention a year or so ago, but now — Palm Beach is being spelt in capitals all the way through, and for exclusiveness has got every other swank rendezvous groaning with envy. It's the prize find in resorts, of a few medicos, who set out to keep It from being overrun by the common or garden person. Hence the row of bungalows built in which is known as Harley-street. Also -just one boarding-house— exclusive house, with exclusive board, and an exclusive tariff, and if your name is in the Australian peerage, you are privileged to book your room quite 12 months ahead of when you'll need it. -Still, Palm Beach is "some" place. It is almost tropical — giant palms, turquoise seas, burnished copper sands, azure skies, and a climate like unto the Garden of Eden. And the paddling gowns, and the nymphs of assorted brands, well, they belong to another story. SYDNEY WEEK BY WEEK (
1918, January 13).
The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221944952
Mrs. Eva Wunderlich accompanied by her son Theo, is staying at Palm Beach House, Palm Beach. SOCIAL GOSSIP (1918, January 13). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221944957
Mrs. Eva Wunderlich and her, little son, Theo, are staying at Palm Beach House. Mrs. Wundeilich was acting as voluntary cook at Rose Hall Convalescent Home prior to her holiday. HOME BEAUTIFUL (1918, January 13).Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1930), p. 13. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123138768
'£20 TO FIRE HOUSE'
Kitchenman's Allegation of Offer Denied by Employer INQUIRY INTO PALM BEACH FIRE
SENSATIONAL allegations of a conspiracy to burn down Palm Beach House, the well-known seaside boarding-house, were contained in a statement read at the City Coroner's Court last week when Mr; E. A. May enquired into the cause of two fires which occurred at Palm Beach - one on April 1, and the other on May 24.
THE statement is alleged to have been made by Eric Woodger, and implicated Sydney Keys, owner of Palm Beach House. The two men who were present in court had previously been charged with conspiracy and arson. The first witness was Constable Fleming, of Manly, who said that on May31 he and Constable Newton interviewed Sydney Keys at the Manly Police Station. Keys said to him: 'I want to give a man named Woodger in charge for blackmail. He came to me at Palm Beach and said he would 'split unless I gave him £50.''I asked him what Woodger was going to 'split' about,' said Constable Fleming, 'and he replied, 'About the fires at Palm Beach on April 1 and May 24.''Woodger later said to me: 'Keys Is a liar. I saw him at Palm Beach and asked him for nine days' wages I considered he owed me. He said to me: 'I will give you £50 If you keep your mouth shut about the fires.' ''At the station,' continued Constable Fleming, 'Woodger said, I set fire to the house at Keys' suggestion. He wanted the insurance and, offered me £20 to set fire to the place— -£10 before the fire and £10 afterwards, but he gave me only 50s.'Woodger's alleged statement was as follows: 'I was In Keys' employ as a kitchenman at Palm Beach House, Palm Beach, for about three months up to Easter last. He told me the house and furniture were Insured for a couple of thousand pounds. He hinted to me shortly after I went there about burning down the house for the insurance.' A few -days after that he said to me, 'I will give you £20 to burn the place down for me; I will give you £10 before and £10 after you do the Job.' I more or less agreed to this in order to keep my Job.' He said three or four days before the fire, 'We will set her going on Monday night when everybody is out of the house.' On Easter Monday morning he showed me a bottle of petrol and gave me a piece of old towel to saturate with petrol and place over the hole under the bed.' About 6.30 that night he came tome In the' pantry, and producing a bottle of whisky said, 'We will have a few stiff ones cut of this before we send her up.' We had- several whiskies each.' I then went into the garage under the house and applied a match to the hole over which the petrol-soaked towel was. It caught fire, and I cleared. 'I just went on to the road outside. I could see smoke issuing', from No. 7.Shortly after that a crowd came on the scene, and the fire was 'extinguished.' Keys returned about 10 .o'clock that night, and came down to my, room with two bottles of wine. He said, 'You are a fool; you made a Wiess of It on purpose. You did not try to fire It.'' Keys did not give me any portion of the £20 which he had promised me for setting; fire to the place. About a week later I left Keys' employment. When he was paying me I said, 'You haven't played the game?' He said, 'You did not try to set fire to It.' All he gave me was 50/-,and he said, 'There, that's for your trouble.' ..'On Wednesday, 29th Inst., Keys came to me at my boarding house about 6 p.m., and I said- 'It looks like as If we are going to get into trouble over this. What are you going to do about it?' He said, I know nothing about It.''
He then handed me 30/-, and said, 'You had better keep quiet and know nothing.' He then left I consider Keys owed me nine days' wages.'I went to him at Palm Beach yesterday and asked him for it. He said, 'I can see what you are doing. This is-a case .of blackmail, -I will give you nothing.'
'I then saw -Keys,' added Constable Fleming, 'and told Mr. Woodger had denied the allegation of blackmail, and had stated that Keys had offered him £30 to keep his mouth shut. Keys, according to Constable Fleming, replied, 'Dear, oh dear, what a fool a man is.' 'He appeared to be ill,' added the constable. 'I read the statement to him, and Woodger looked at Keys and said: 'Every word of that is true!' Keys was silent, and appeared to be ill. A little later he remarked: 'I'm admitting nothing; I'm denying it all'.' Mrs. Eileen James, of Darlington-road, Darlington, said she had been employed
SAID TO HAVE TOLD THE POLICE that Keys offered him money to burn down - the house. — Eric Woodger.
as a Housemaid-waitress at Palm Beach House for about 12 weeks prior to last Easter, and also for four days during Easter. She was In charge of room No. 7,which was occupied by a lady guest who smoked. 'All the ladles smoked while I was there,' said the witness, who added, that she washed out No.7 on April 1, and saw no hole in the floor. . 'Waltent Hubert Rayner, of Independent means, said he had known Keys for six or seven years. He had been a hall porter at Ushers Hotel before he went to Palm Beach. The furnishings of his house there were above the average;, and he (Rayner) estimated them to be worth between £1200 and £1400.'I have always looked upon Keys as a straight-going, decent fellow,' he added. 'I once recommended him for an hotel and would do so again now.'
Mr. Moors: Did Keys see you shortly after the fire?— Yes. He said something about a man who had been in his employ. I don't think he mentioned any name. He said he was trying to blackmail him. ' He told me the man said to him that the Insurance Company had offered him £200 if he would tell them anything about the fire on May 24.'I told him,' continued Rayner, 'that I would have punched the man on the nose and kicked him out of the place. I also said his best plan was to see his solicitor the next day.' At this stage the Inquiry was adjourned to June 28. . - .
Mr. Rogers (Crown Law Department)appeared to assist the police; Mr. Moors(Instructed by Messrs. Turner, Nolan and Bender) for Sydney Keys; Mr. J. Yeldham for Eric Woodger, Mr. Aspinall for the Palm Beach Land Syndicate, unpaid vendors, and Mr. Rainbow for various insurance companies. "£20 TO FIRE HOUSE". (1929, June 23). Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), p. 20. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169319074
'ONLY MEANT TO MAKE SMOKE'
Kitchenman Denies Intention to Fire Palm Beach House
STARTLING EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY
STARTLING developments occurred at the City Coroner's Court last week when the inquiry was continued into the fires at Palm Beach House on April 1 and May 24. ERIC WOODGER, who, with Sydney Keys, has been charged with conspiracy and arson, entered the witness box and corroborated the statement he had previously made alleging that Keys bribed him to set the house on fire.
WALTER HUBERT RAYNER, who gave evidence at the previous hearing, was recalled last week and stated, amongst other things, that Keys told him on one occasion that Woodger had said to him (Keys) that the Insurance Company had offered him (Woodger) £200 and police protection. Dudley Sanderson, law clerk, said Keys told him that Woodger had called on Mrs. Keys and stated he had a proposition for her husband. Asked what it was he is alleged have said that he had been offered £200 and police protection if he would give certain evidence. 'Why do you come to us, then?' Mrs. Keys said she asked him. 'Oh,' Keys is alleged to have replied, 'if Sid. Will give me £50 1 will say nothing about it.'
Christina Smith, of Burrangong Station, Young, said that early in 1929 she was employed at Palm Beach House. Early in June, she said, a man named Simpson visited her at Young, and told her that Eric Woodger had said he had warned her to pack her bag ... that the place(Palm Beach House) was going to be set on fire. 'I told him that was not true, and that I was willing to swear so,' said Miss Smith. Mr. Rogers: Do you know what terms Woodger was on with the rest of the staff? — They didn't like him. What about yourself? — I was like the rest — I didn't like him.
Mr. Yeldham: If you were not friendly with Woodger why did you smoke cigarettes with him in your room? — I did not do so. Did you ever smoke with him?— I may have done so in the kitchen.
George Moodie, laborer, of 'Florida House,' Palm Beach, said that on May 24 he and a pal named Petersen passed Palm Beach House about 8.30 p.m. They saw a sky-rocket land on the roof of the house. About 45 minutes later he saw the fire break out.
Stood by Story
Woodger then entered the box and said he stood by the statements he had given the police..
Mr. Yeldham: What about Chrissy Smith's statement that she was unfriendly with you?— It is a deliberate lie. She was in my room nearly every night smoking cigarettes.
Continuing, Woodger said that following the suggestion about burning down the house he suggested to Chrissy that he should write a letter regarding it and place it in safe keeping. However, he did not do so.' On the night of April 1,' he continued, 'I went into the garage and put a lighted match through a hole Keys had bored.' I had previously poured water on one end of the mattress, and also had three buckets of water ready. It was not my intention to set fire to the house, but to make a smoke. Afterwards, I went out on to the road and then assisted to put out the fire. I know nothing of the fire on May 24—I was not in the district.' For some reason or other Eileen James did not like me. I think her friendship with Simpson had something to do with it. Later I detected her cheating at cards.'
Mr. Rainbow: Was any property removed from Palm Beach House prior to Easter? — Chrissy Smith informed me that the Keys' were taking all their effects out of the rooms. Chrissy and I went into the Keys' rooms and found the drawers empty. Did Keys ever tell you about his financial position?— Yes; he said he was dead up against it. He said he had to meet a cheque at Easter, but would have to transfer £100 from his wife's account to do It.
Mr. Dovey: Are you giving evidence against yourself in this case out of a sense of decency? — I am giving evidence out of a sense of truthfulness. You also realise you are giving evidence against Keys? — Yes. Didn't you ever boast to Keys about your conquests with women?— I'm not here to call him a liar.
Were the girls at Palm Beach House forward with you?— No. Chrissy used to come to my room at times and smoke a cigarette. She also told me once that Keys was making her life unbearable over a certain matter.’ Continuing his cross-examination, Mr. Dovey asked Woodger if Keys had ever given him any money for the fire. Woodger: About four days after Easter, when he was paying my wages, he gave me 50s.
'Suspected It'
Mr. Dovey: If you did not propose to burn down the house, as you have stated, why did you think it necessary to warn Miss Smith? — I thought the house might go at any time. What did she say when you told her?—She said she suspected it. What was your opinion of Keys when you left him?— I thought he was a man in desperate circumstances.
‘Weren't you under notice of dismissal when the first fire took place? — Woodger(striking the Bible dramatically): On that Bible, no. Did Keys give you a week's notice on March 12? — Yes. Did you tell Keys in Manly that the police were enquiring about your movements on the night of May 24?— Probably I did.! Did you say you thought they suspected you for something?— No. I Did you tell the police you had been in the company of three girls on the night of the fire?— No, I said I had been with three ladies. Have the insurance people been to see you? — No. Did you tell Keys they had offered you £200? — Rubbish.
Mr. Yeldham: Did -you ask Keys for anything but your wages?— of I told him that as he hadn't played the game with me I knew of no reason why I should shield him from the police.
Helen Keys, wife of Sydney Keys, said there were about 22 guests at Palm Beach House for tea on Easter Monday. About 7 p.m. her husband left by car for Manly with four passengers. Woodger was in the pantry all the time. About 8.15 news of the fire was spread by a guest. It was extinguished when Woodger appeared.
His evidence that he had several buckets of water in readiness was totally untrue. At this stage, the inquiry was adjourned until July 2. Mr. Dovey intimated that in view of developments, he would put Keys in the box. Mr. Rogers (Crown Law Department)appeared to assist the police; Mr. Moors and Mr. W. R. Dovey (instructed by Messrs. Turner, Nolan and Bender) for Sydney Keys; Mr. J. Yeldham for Eric Woodger; Mr. Aspinall for the Palm Beach Land Syndicate, unpaid vendors; and Mr. Rainbow for various insurance companies. "ONLY MEANT TO MAKE SMOKE". (1929, June 30).Truth(Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954), p. 16. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169323786
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Stephen.) Senior Crown Prosecutor, Mr. McKean, K.O.
CHARGE OF ARSON. ACCUSED ACQUITTED.
Eric Geal Woodger, 35, labourer, was charged with having maliciously set fire to a dwelling-house in the possession of Sydney Keyes, at Palm Beach, on April 1, with intent to injure. Mr. Robert M. Kidston (Instructed by Mr. John Yeldham) appeared for the accused.
The accused, so the Crown stated, was employed as a kitchenman at Palm Beach House, a guest house, and on April 1 a fire broke out in one of the bedrooms. It was soon extinguished, and only a mattress was burned.
Constable Fleming stated that accused had admitted having set fire to the house, and in a statement said that Keyes had offered him £20 to do so. Keyes, who had been charged with the offence, denied the whole of the accused's statement.
The accused gave evidence, and said that Keyes had tried to get him to set fire to the house, so he "bluffed" him by setting fire to the mattress, which he had first thrown water on. He had done it to please Keyes, as he wanted to keep his job.
After the accused had given his evidence the jury intimated that it did not wish to hear anything further, as it had come to the conclusion that no attempt had been made to set fire to the whole house. The accused was acquitted by the jury without leaving the box, and he was discharged. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (1929, September 13). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16583694
The other places where you could stay were Florida House and Barrenjoey House, among the many cottages that could be rented for 'the Season' or during off-season times too - including the Customs Station buildings at the foot of Barrenjoey from at least 1919 on.
