A Land Fit for Heroes?

Sidney George Spencer’s block was in the Land District of Gosford, Parish of Narara, County of Northumberland.  His block of 40 acres was freehold. [1]  It was a Settlement Purchase No. 1919.12. He took up residence on 16 August 1919 intending using the property for fruit growing.  He wished a quick settlement of the advance because his mother who was to live with him was in poor health.[2]  He required his advance for the building of a cottage, clearing land, pump, a cultivator, car, tools and shed.[3] Spencer was judged to be ‘a very good type of settler, being very attentive to details and observant – he takes a great interest in any hints given him in reference to his orchard’[4]

Spencer was killed on 10 December 1926 not far from home on Mangrove Road, when a vehicle he and James O’Connell were travelling in overturned.[5] His wife Evelyn Mary Spencer and their children, continued living for a short time on the property, growing citrus – ‘the property (was) in very good order’.[6] 

Even though in 1928, the orchard was still looking good ‘like all the orchards this year, (it) had a quantity of summer grass and abnormal growth round the trees. The citrus are showing a fair crop for the coming harvest’.[7]  Around May 1929, Evelyn Spencer was living in Sydney and had employed a manager to work the holding.[8]  On 6 December 1930, she applied for a suspension of payments of instalments for twelve months.  She stated ‘this is the first time that this (suspension) has ever been asked for’.[9]  Her request was approved until 31 December 1931.[10]  She was again residing on the property at this date ‘with (it being) in very good order’.[11]  She was again in arrears to the amount of £15.0.6 by 1933.[12]  Again in August 1934 all arrears were deferred to 1 March 1935.[13]  No payment had been received by May 1934.[14]

Evelyn  married again in 1933 to a man named Davidson.

Footnotes

[1] SRNSW:  Lands Department;  NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6845 No. 1387] Sidney George Washington Spencer, Application for Loan 30 April 1919.

[2] Ibid, S.G. Spencer to R.D. Gardner,  5 May 1919.

[3] Ibid, G.R. Bryant to Hon.Secretary Repatriation Committee, Gosford 19 May 1919.

[4] Ibid, Inspection Department of Lands 30 November 1925.

[5] SRNSW: NRS 343;  Register to Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, [Reel 2766 No.76/1927], 12 January 1927.

[6]Op.cit., Inspection of Returned Soldier’s Holding 17 May 1927.

[7] Ibid, Inspector’s Report Department of Lands 16 April 1928.

[8] Ibid, Inspection of RSS Holding 7 May 1929.

[9] Ibid, Evelyn Spencer to the Under Secretary, Department of Lands 6 December 1930.

[10] Ibid, RSS Branch Report 9 February 1931.

[11] Ibid, Inspection Report2 March 1933.

[12] Ibid, Under Secretary to Evelyn Davidson 3 August 1934.

[13] Ibid, E.M. Davidson 16 August 1934.

[14] Ibid, Under Secretary to E.M. Davidson May 1935.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files;  [12/6845 No. 1387] Sidney George Washington Spencer.

State Records NSW: NRS 343; Register of Coroner’s Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, 1834-1942, [Reel 2766 No.76/1927], 12 January 1927.

National Archives of Australia:  B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Sidney George Washington Spencer) online:  http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=8086970