Walter, Alfred Ernest and Caroline Bunney (1903)

Rosewood History

Walter BUNNEY and Caroline BIGGS

Name: Walter BUNNEY
Occupation: Gardener (1861); Policeman; Gardener; Aviarist; Dairy Farmer
Birth: 22nd July 1838, North Stoneham, Hampshire, England
Baptism: 19th August 1838, North Stoneham, Hampshire, England
1841: Middle North Stoneham with his parents and older sister.
1851: Middle North Stoneham with his widowed Mother (Pauper), his 19 year old sister Elizabeth (Servant)
1861: Lodger at the home of John & Elizabeth Vail (Master Builder), Model Lodging House, 22 Queen Street, Tormoham, Devon
Immigration: 11th March 1865, the Arabian arrived Melbourne from Liverpool 8th December 1864
Land Purchase: 15th July 1869, 80 acres Homestead Selection Alfred (Portion 332 Walloon)
Residence: 1874 – Pioneer Farm, Rosewood Scrub
Residence: 1881 – Eden Moor Apiary, Lanefield
Death: 13th October 1909, Lanefield, Queensland aged 71 years
Burial: Toowong Cemetery – Portion 18, Section 57, Grave 43
Religion: Baptist
Father: Thomas BUNNEY (Agricultural Labourer)
Mother: Sarah COLLIS

Spouse: Caroline BIGGS
Birth: 8th June 1845, Woolston, Hampshire, England
1851: Commercial Road, South Stoneham with her widowed mother and three sibings, Dorcas, George, Ellen
Immigration: 11th March 1865, the Arabian arrived Melbourne from Liverpool 8th December 1864
Death: 11th June 1925, Lanefield, Queensland aged 80 years
Burial: Toowong Cemetery – Portion 18, Section 57, Grave 43
Religion: Baptist
Father: Thomas BIGGS (Labourer)
Mother: Sarah MOORMAN (Laundress)
Marriage: 13th December 1863, Holy Trinity, Southampton, Hampshire, England

Children:  12
Rose Ellen BUNNEY (1864-1940) = Charles ABRAHAMS
Flora Annie BUNNEY (1866-1950) =  Ezra HORNE
Mary Ellen BUNNEY (1868-1936)
Frederick Arthur William BUNNEY  (1871-1952) = Sarah MILLS
William Walter BUNNEY (1873-1943) = 1. Mary RICE  2. Ethel RICE
Wallace Arthur BUNNEY (1875-1876)
Arthur Edward BUNNEY (1877-1966) = Elizabeth May MUNT
Caroline Elizabeth BUNNEY (1880-1955) = William YARDLEY
Mary Ann BUNNEY (1882-1883)
Lillian Emma BUNNEY (1884-1884)
Francis Thomas BUNNEY (1885-1976)
Alfred Ernest BUNNEY (1890-1903)

As a young man approaching adulthood, Walter worked as a gardener, and after a few years found work as an engine-cleaner, and, for a while, he was a fireman on a locomotive running on the London and Southwestern line. He joined the Sussex Constabulary and was a policeman for a few years before returning to what he really loved doing. He was employed by a gentleman as gardener’s assistant and rapidly rose to the position of head gardener with three men working under him. He was very successful in exhibiting flowers, often taking all honours against professionally grown blooms.

After he married Caroline they decided follow up on the good reports they’d heard about Australia, and having a brother-in-law in Queensland and a nephew in New Zealand, they decided to immigrate. 

The White Star ship Arabian first left Holyhead on 25th November and after some days, encountered very rough weather and had to go back to Holyhead for three days before sailing again in early December. The ship crossed the Equator on 11th January with 203 Government immigrants on board. There were 8 married couples, 175 single women, 11 children and one infant. Amongst these were Walter aged 26, Caroline aged 19 and Rose Emma (sic) an infant. The ship was towed into Hobson’s Bay, Melbourne by the tug steamer Hercules, after a voyage of 92 days. The were transferred to the Sandridge Railway Pier by a steamer. After a couple of weeks the family boarded the Alexandra for Sydney then a few days later caught another steamer to Moreton Bay, arriving early in April, 1865. 

On arrival they went to live at Oxley Creek where Walter worked as a farm labourer for his brother-in-law George Biggs for about 12 months before George became insolvent. Walter and Caroline moved to the Basin Pocket area of Ipswich. (George Biggs later selected 80 cares at Bunya in 1872.)

For three years Walter was employed in turn by Mr. Benjamin Cribb, Hon. J. C. Foote M.L.C., and Mr. Thomas Given, watchmaker and jeweller at Given’s Corner (Brisbane and Nicholas Streets). Mr. Given’s clock was the town clock at this time, which was preceded by G. H. Wilson’s bell, which was the very first “town clock” in Ipswich. Given’s clock rang out punctually at 6 a.m., then at 8 a.m., and afterwards at various times during the day. All clocks and watches were set by the town clock.

In 1869 Walter decided to buy his own land and selected 80 acres in the Rosewood Scrub at Lanefield, for which he paid 2/6 an acre. He was the first selector at Brandy Gully and lived there for almost 12 months before others arrived.  See Land Purchase.

He later added another 270 acres in the parish of Alfred. (110 acres from Richard Gill & 160 acres from C. F. D. Parkinson).

Caroline Bunney was the first white woman to make a home at Lanefield. She must have endured many hardships and privations in those early days without the support of other women.

It is said that Charles Dutney could rightfully claim to have turned the first furrow in the Lanefield-Rosewood district. Walter Bunney employed him to plough a piece of land on his block at Brandy Gully. Charles was so pleased with the soil that he decided to take up his own selection. Charles, along with John Lane and William Perrem, acquired the nearby blocks of land. While they were building their first bush homes, Charles Dutney and John Lane lived with the Bunney family. 

At this time the township of Rosewood Gate only had about three or four houses, those of Vance, Matthews, Farrell and Perrem. After the opening of the railway line to Bigges’ Camp (Grandchester), other settlers began to arrive. It was reported that the Aboriginal people at that time were numerous and quite peaceable.

Walter took a great interest in all matters connected with the local Baptist Church at Lanefield and was a foundation member along with his son Fred, David Webster, Samuel Hodges and James Alfred Smith. Smith was Superintendent of the Sunday School for 40 years and donated an area of land on his property for the church to be built in 1873.

In March 1874 Walter took his neighbour John Lane to court, accusing him of shooting one of his pigs.
MALICIOUSLY KILLING A PIG             JUSTICE AS ADMINISTERED

In these early days there was a high rate of infant mortality. Walter and Caroline were to have more than their share of sorrow starting in 1876 when their son Wallace Arthur died the day before his first birthday. In all, four of their children would not survive.

Walter started farming with a crop of corn and cotton and sent the first consignment of maize from that district by rail to market. A little later he was very successful as an aviarist. At one time he had as many as 300 hives.At the same time he was farming about thirty acres of maize and growing poultry as well as dairying on a smaller scale, milking as many as twenty-five cows. In the years he exhibited at the local shows, he was very successful with all farm produce as well as with the products from the apiary. 

 A most noticeable exhibit was that of Mr. Bunney, who is a beekeeper, residing some two miles from Rosewood. He shows an enormous cake of wax, some 601b. in weight; a cask of honey too heavy to lift, and also some beautiful honey in the comb. What makes this exhibit of especial interest just now, in the face of the ravages of the bee-moth which has devastated so many apiaries, is that Mr. Bunney, who has 160 hives, has rejected the modern bar-frame hive, after a patient trial of it, in favor of the old-fashioned solid beehives. [1]

He won the best turnout for horse, harness and vehicle in 1883. Also the best collection of 20 cobs of yellow maize, the best collection of vegetables and he won first prize for his beeswax. In 1887 he won a prize for his maize and also the Queensland Times Special for his potatoes. Subsequently he expanded his dairying and was successful at that, like most things which he put his hands to.

When the Bunneys lost their infant daughter Mary Ann in 1883, they had to deal with a distressing predicament. My heart sank when I read Walter’s letter to the Editor of the Queensland Times. It brings to light just what sort of things our forebears had to deal with.

RAILWAY MISMANAGEMENT 
To the Editor of the Queensland Times.
SIR, Permit me, through the columns of your valuable paper, to call the attention of the authorities to the wretched mismanagement of the Railway Department at Ipswich. I am not aware whether it is so throughout the line. At any rate, it requires rectifying. Having a corpse in my house, I had occasion to get a coffin at Ipswich, which was taken to the railway station by half-past 7 o’clock on Monday morning, to be forwarded by the first up train. As it did not arrive, I had to make a second journey of twenty-four miles and to my surprise, when I arrived in Ipswich, the undertaker informed me that they would not take the coffin by the train because there were no passengers, but that it would go up by the next goods train. On arriving at the Rosewood station at 5 o’clock, I was astonished to find (although three trains had passed up) that no coffin had come. I waited at the station for the fourth train, but still no coffin arrived. Not knowing what to do I got ready to go down by the 8 o’clock train, and was then informed by the station-master that the coffin had gone up the line in mistake, but that probably it would come back by the next down train, which luckily it did, and I managed to get it home by 10 o’clock at night. I consider that such treatment should be exposed throughout the length of the land. Coffins, at any rate, should, in a hot country like this, he forwarded by any train. By inserting the above, you will confer a favour on one of the many who have reason to complain.
Yours faithfully,   WALTER BUNNEY.   Rosewood, April 20. [2]

They were to suffer further grief in November the next year when little Lillian Emma died aged almost 9 months.

In August 1886 a man who had been working for Walter, James Sullivan, forged Walter’s name on a cheque. Sullivan appeared before the court in September.

For five years Walter was the Treasurer of the Farmers’ Club before leaving to take a trip to his old country (England) in 1888. 

Oh to be a fly on the wall at times like these! In November 1890 Walter placed the advertisement below in the newspaper. I was able to ascertain that he didn’t sell his land or home but I don’t know about the other items he listed.

 In 1892 Walter bought a prize bull at the Brisbane Exhibition.
While in Rosewood on Saturday last, a representative of this office was shown by Mr. Walter Bunney, a long resident and enterprising farmer of that district, the promising young Ayrshire bull “Traveller”. This valuable animal was bred by the noted Boodalla Dairy Company, of New South Wales, and was brought by that company to the Brisbane Exhibition, where he gained the prize for the best bull between one and two years old from a large number of competitors. He has been favourably commented on by good judges of cattle, who pronounced him to be a splendid animal, his straight back and beautiful nose being spoken of as good points. As he is by that celebrated Southern sire Stanley, from Mayflower, his breeding is undeniable, and, although only one year and seven months old, he is already a good-sized and well-developed bull. 

With the view of improving his stock of dairy cattle, Mr. Bunney has purchased “Traveller” and it is the opinion of those competent to judge that the animal would do credit to any breeding establishment in the district. 

Besides Mr. Bunney, several other residents of Ipswich and West Moreton secured cattle at the sale held at the Exhibition grounds during last week. Mr. C. Horne, of Calvert, purchased the young bull, “Craigielea”, who was bred by the Boodalla Company, is by “White Prince” (imported) from “Jessie”, and is said to be a really good animal. Mr. F. T. L Cardew, of this town, also obtained a well-bred bull, and Mr. P. W. Cameron bought the cow “Sprite”, who is five years and four months old, and is by the “Duke of Barbiston” out of Sprightly; whilst Mr. M’Laughlin likewise purchased a valuable cow. It is pleasing to note the advent into this district of stock possessing the superior breeding of these above alluded to, and an improvement in the quality of the cattle hereabouts should ultimately be the result. [3]

At the Rosewood Police Court, on Monday 11th July 1898, before the Police Magistrate and Mr. W. E. Collett, Walter Bunney was charged with having carried firearms on a Sunday. He pleaded “guilty,” and was ordered to pay 3s. 6d. costs of Court. 

For a number of years, Walter served on the board of directors of the Lanefield Co-operative Dairy Company.

They say “a picture says it all”. If you look at the the main photo, that is indeed true. It depicts two parents with their very ill, youngest, teenage son whom they would loose shortly after at the photo was taken. The sad intelligence of the death of Master Alfred Bunney, though not unexpected, was received here with much regret, as the bright little fellow was a great favourite with his school companions, as well as all with whom he came in contect. He had been ailing for some time past, but bore his sufferings bravely. He had been taken to Brisbane for medical treatment, and an operation was performed. Everything that loving care and medical skill could do was done, but is availed nothing, as his demise took place on Sunday last. (22nd November 1903)

Walter Bunney died nine years later at his home at Lanefield after a long and painful illness. He had been confined to his bed for the greater part of three years. His funeral moved from his residence to the Rosewood railway station at 9a.m. and his remains were conveyed by train to the Toowong Cemetery. He was regarded highly by everyone who had made his aqauaintance.

 In October 1909 a Probate Notice was published in the newspaper. The claimants were Frederick Arthur William Bunney of Kin Kin and Henry McLaren Scott, Accountant, of Ipswich. 

Caroline lived on for another sixteen years. When she passed in 1925 Caroline Bunney had lived on their first selected farm for nearly 50 years. It became one of the richest agricultural farms in the district. She had reared a family of 12 children, eight of whom survived her, along with 32 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

In December 1925, an application for the Transmission of Title for the real estate of Walter Bunney was published. The claimants were Caroline Bunney (since deceased), Frederick Arthur William Bunney (Kin Kin) and Henry McLaren Scott (Ipswich). The land in question was described as Portion 332 parish of Walloon, free selection 180 parish of Alfred, and portions 67 and 68 parish of Grandchester, all in the county of Churchill. In September 1926 another Probate Notice appeared in the newspaper stating that Henry McLaren Scott was the sole executor named in Caroline Bunney’s will. 

The property remained in the family and passed to Francis Thomas aka Frank Bunney. Frank’s niece, Caroline Mabel Bunney (daughter of Frederick & Sarah) came to live there with him. 

There was a sandstone quarry on Portion 68 known as “Bunney’s Quarry” which the Shire Council utilised at a cost of 4d per yard in the early 1930’s. Frank subdivided the part with the quarry and put it in the hands of Pender and Pender to sell in 1934.

Frank himself, was famed for his gardening expertise, and he was frequently seen striding along the road to Rosewood with a bunch of beautiful flowers in his hand, (a favourite was Gladioli), where he owned considerable property. After Frank died Mabel moved to 4 Albert Street, Rosewood. Mabel passed in 1996.

Bunney home at Lanefield. L-R  Frederick, Walter, Caroline, Rose, Annie Ellen

© Jane Schy, 2024

References:
[1] Queenslander, Saturday 28 August 1880, page 2
[2] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 24 April 1883, page 3
[3] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 16 August 1892, page 4
[4] Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 – 1908), Tuesday 1 December 1903, page 10
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
Hampshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1921
Hampshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973
1841, 1851, 1861 Census England
Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923
Queensland Registry Births, Deaths, Marriages