More than 40,000 people attending a WWI anti-conscription rally on the banks of the Yarra in Melbourne on 21 October 1916. The anti-conscription movement was also active in our Shire. An anti-conscription rally was organised in Panton Hill by Kangaroo Ground wheelwright Mr Fryer. A correspondent writing in the Evelyn Observer in 1916 accused Mr […]
Tag: Panton Hill
Fly Specks on the Universe
By Paul Howard “Places like Panton Hill had been referred to by Mr Clement Wragge as fly-specks on the universe, and yet, from this little fly-speck, over 32 boys had volunteered and been accepted for active service.” 1916 ‘ RETURNED WOUNDED. SOLDIERS AT PANTON HILL.’, Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 – […]
William O’Day
First Published on Facebook Nillumbik Shire Council – Nillumbik Chronicles #17, 7 November 2014 In the lead up to Remembrance Day, let’s take time to remember a young man from Panton Hill, a labourer who enlisted in February 1916. Private William John O’ Day stood only 5’4” tall, had blue eyes and had a scar […]
To War and Back
George John Smith was born at home in Panton Hill on the 23rd May 1884, and his birth was registered at Queenstown, Victoria. He was the 6th child of Edwin and Louisa Smith. George went to school at Panton Hill, as did his ten brothers and sisters. When George left school, after completing the 8th […]
Called from the Shadows
The news that the United Kingdom had been at war with Germany in 1914 had stirred a rather similar response here in Victoria to that in England in 1852 with the arrival of news that gold had been discovered here in Victoria awaiting those prepared to set sail and dig for it; those responding to […]
Samuel Cracknell (1847 – 1933) World famous light weight jockey
“Sam Cracknell was an outstanding personality in Australian Racing; a shrewd witty little man who had a racing record extending for a quarter of a century dating from 1865 – a record which was never approached by any other lightweight jockey of his day”. Source: Unknown newspaper cutting Early Life Sam was the 7th of […]
Cracknell family of Panton Hill
The following article was submitted by Lois Kennett, family historian of the Cracknell family of Panton Hill June 2008. Samuel Cracknell The family connection with Panton Hill starts with Sam and Carolline Cracknell, and their children William, Samuel, Alfred, Ruby and Beatrice. Sam, Ruby and Beatrice have the longest associations with the area. Sam and […]
Joseph Anderson Panton 1831 – 1913
Panton Hill is named for Jospeh Anderson Panton who in the 1860’s became the Assistant Commissioner of goldfields in Bendigo. He came to Kingstown with troopers to quell trouble between Chinese and European miners, : restored good relations – Goldrush town renamed Panton Hill in 1859 by grateful people. Joseph was born in Knockiemil Aberdeenshire Scotland […]
Panton Hill Primary School Honour Board
Information for the following article from local historian Danielle Clode with permission. In 2008 the World War 1 Honour Board located at Panton Hill Primary School was refurbished. (From grant funding received under the Restoring Community War Memorials Grants Program 2006-7). Part of this project was a research project into the names on the board. Some […]