For 67 pages of original observations from early Glencoe, click the PDF at right. For example:
BUSH FIRES. Border Watch, Wed., Jan. 23rd., 1901. On Thursday last a fire originated in the rough country between Mt. MacIntyre and Glencoe Homestead ...
Ploughing in the Glencoe district, H.S.Holloway, T.F.Gratwick. 1918.
With the breaking up of the station in 1897 for closer settlement, ploughing scenes like this were to become common in the Glencoe district. Farmers quickly began to realise the potential of the excellent soil, lending itself to growing many types of crops, particularly potatoes and cereals.
Potatoes became the principal income earner in the beginning, producing record crops exceeding some of the more developed areas, and capturing the attention and admiration of many people, including politicians, describing them as equal to anything ever seen in any part of the south east.
However the problems with transporting them from the district soon became apparent, with roads being covered in water and becoming impassible quagmires in winter, resulting in many bags of potatoes being left in flooded paddocks and in stacks on the sides of roads, unable to reach the market place. This was overcome to some extent with the building of the railway line to Mount Gambier, enabling the farmers to load their produce more quickly, spending less time in carting.
The gradual introduction of horse drawn potato digging machinery also improved their ability to handle cops more quickly, getting them out of the ground before the onset of the wettest part of winter.
In the early years of the railway, opened in 1904, it was a common sight to see long stacks of potatoes in the railway yards awaiting transport to Mount Gambier, either for marketing in Adelaide or shipment overseas through Beachport.
Crops producing to 7 tons per acre were common in the district from the earliest days, and by 1903 it was estimated 12,000 tons were produced from 2,000 acres. With good prices being received, within a couple of years the area sown had increased to 3,000 acres, the estimated production over 20,000 tons, and it appears every farmer was growing some potatoes.
Digging the potato crops generally began by the end of February, conveniently following on from the completion of harvesting of the grain crops, and finished before the onset of the very wet winter months.
Early horse drawn potato digging in Glencoe district, 1906. John Riddoch, Joe Riddoch, Jim Riddoch
Six horse team carting potatoes from Glencoe to Mount Gambier, 1903. In photo include Mick Auld, Arch Menzies, Feather Hughes, Albert Widdison, Ted Widdison, Owner/driver Eric Cameron.
This was the only means of transporting produce from the district before the introduction of the railway to Mount Gambier in 1904, causing a great loss in time for many farmers with a 30 plus mile round trip, over roads constantly described as virtual wrecks.
The railway was thankfully accepted by the settlers, saving them many hundreds of pounds from damage to waggons, harness and horse flesh, and enabling them to do in one day that which took at least three days previously.
Grain growing
Wheat was extensively grown for many years, being the principal grain crop, but after years of frustration of rust from the continual damp weather, and heavy infestations of grubs, was found not to be entirely suited to the area. Although excellent crops were grown, often averaging 40 bushels, after a good many years was gradually replaced by the hardier and heavier producing barley and oat crops.
By 1903 it was reported that the old method of hand sowing was almost universally replaced by the seed drill, and by the next year a couple of harvesters made their first appearance in the district, putting wheat into bags much quicker and cheaper than the old method of cutting and threshing. The method, however, of cutting into sheaves, stacking and later threshing out the grain, was still carried on in the district as the main form of harvesting for many years, as the new harvesters, in much demand, could not cope with the entire crop. Three threshers were reported to be working the Glencoe district, with all threshing completed by end of February.
Binder at work
- making sheaved oaten hay, ready for standing for drying and carting to a stack.
Sheaves were later put through a thresher to separate the grain from the stalk.
Threshers were continued to be used in the district in preference to the new harvesters owing to
the dampness of the climate, the heavy atmosphere creating concerns in getting the crop off quickly,
the harvesters not being able to operate when binders could.
Carting sheaved oaten hay from paddock to stack. Byrne property Glencoe 1925
Threshing Ern Case’s farm Glencoe
Steam engine and thresher operating in the Glencoe district in 1914
Owned by Mr Thomas Kennedy, was one of three threshers reportedly working in the district in the early 1900’s. After sheaves were stacked, and at a suitable time for the farmer, the thresher would separate the grain from the stalk, to be bagged and retained on farm for future use, or sold. The left over stalk was generally chaffed and stored in lined mouse proof sheds for stock feed for working horses.
Suppliers line up at the milk receival area at the Glencoe Co-operative Cheese and Butter factory at Glencoe East, 1920’s.
Built by Mr Davidson in 1906, and called the Edendale Cheese and Butter factory, it was taken over by the farmers in 1911 and run on co-operative lines.
It was called the Glencoe Co-operative Cheese and Butter Company, and run as such until amalgamation with the Gambier West and Yahl factories in 1972.
Dairy farming
From the very beginning of closer settlement of the district it was expected the country would be conducive to dairying, and this was obviously foremost in the mind of Mr S.J.Norris when, in 1901, he opened his newly built Glencoe Cheese and Butter factory in the western end of the district, nearest to the earliest settlers in the area.
Although slow to begin, by 1903 there were 16 suppliers, with the uncertainty of prices of potatoes, and the problems experienced with grain crops, it seemed certain that the farmers would lean toward the stower but surer dairying industry. And this they did. By 1904 production had doubled and it was reported that dairying was showing signs of coming to the front. It appeared most farms were milking a few cows to supplement their income in periods of no returns between harvesting and potato digging.
By 1906 a new factory, called the Edendale Cheese and Butter Factory opened for business near the Homestead end of the district, and it was reported Mr Norris’s factory was working full time to cope with the increase in milk.
By the 1920’s dairyfarming had become the principal agricultural industry in Glencoe, replacing grain cropping, and was to remain so for the next 60 years. Both factories were to be eventually taken over by the farmers to be run on co-operative lines.
The factory at the homestead end, or Glencoe East, became the larger of the two, and before amalgamating with other district factories in 1972, was to become the largest cheese factory in the South East, claiming much noted success with their cheeses. Their area of milk receival was such that, with the introduction of bulk milk pick-up, tankers visiting dairies for this purpose during the night could view the lights of Bordertown in the upper South East.
Cutting hay on the Byrne property, 1950’s As dairying became more popular, so the necessity to cut pastures for hay making was
essential as a means of storing fodder for the winter period.
Milking cows on Ron Mullan’s dairy farm, 1950’s. Typical of the era, before Ron Mullan built the first herringbone dairy in the
Glencoe district in the late 1950’s, soon to be followed by many more.
The first milking machines were introduced in Glencoe in 1906 by Mr B.H.Pearson.
Digging potatoes South East district, 1910. Typical scene in Glencoe district before mechanical diggers were introduced, potatoes were dug by means of a fork. In 1912 seven potato digging machines arrived in Glencoe by train imported from America. (Large photo: Albert Easton)
Potato crop South East district, 1911. In 1907 the largest crop of potatoes was grown in the
Glencoe district, with 4000 tons railed for the year, 946 tons for the month of July alone.
Planting potatoes Bonney farm, Glencoe. 1926-28
Sid Burston, Sylvester Bonney, Roma and Nigel Bonney.
Photo courtesy Les Hill
Cutting Chaff Gratwick property, 1915. Back: Tom Gratwick.
L to R: W.Noolan, A.E.Gratwick, S.W.McRostie, W.Holloway, G.Bennett, J.Burston, A.McIntosh.
Photo courtesy Les Hill
Picking strawberries, Glencoe, 1920. Strawberries were grown on both Gratwick and Sims properties.
Photo courtesy Ian Ferguson
Cutting sheaved hay near Bluff Range. Gilbert Ferguson, 1930’s
Photo courtesy Robert Dow
Pushing hay to a stack using a bean truck. Don Dow’s farm, Glencoe, 1940’s.
Photo courtesy Robert Dow
Stacking loose hay with the use of an elevator, Don Dow’s farm, Glencoe, 1940’s.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Tea break carting loose hay by horse and trolley and push rake. Agars farm, 1940’s.
Jim Agars, Brian Agars, Yvonne Agars, Reg Mullan, Ron Mullan, Darrell Morrish.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Horse drawn push rake for bringing hay for stacking, Agars farm, Glencoe,1940’s.
Stack: Ron Mullan, Darrell Morrish, Rake Brian Agars, Ground, Jim Agars,Peter Agars, Yvonne Agars.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Stationary hay press, Agars farm, Glencoe, 1940’s.
Ron Mullan, Reg Mullan, Jim Agars, Yvonne Agars, Brian Agars, Peter Agars.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Stacking loose hay with push rake and horse activated loose hay stacker, Agars farm, 1950.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Loose hay stacker, Agars farm, Glencoe, 1950.
Photo courtesy Margaret Laslett
Carting flax during seasons of 1941-42, J.A.Dow truck, Glencoe.
Photo courtesy Geoff Sims
George Matheson returning from milk factory. Corner Burston and Woolshed Roads, Glencoe, 1947.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Early form of transport, Agars farm, Glencoe, 1940’s
Photo courtesy Val Hunter
Carting milk to the cheese factory, Ron Mullan, Glencoe, 1952
Photo courtesy Val Hunter
Austin truck, replacement vehicle to horse and trolley, Ron Mullan farm, Glencoe, 1950’s.
Photo courtesy Val Hunter
Car conversion to a buckboard, Glencoe, 1940’s. Ron Mullan, Barry Mullan, Valmai Mullan.
Photo courtesy Geoff Sims
Lost wheel, trolley belonging to Stan Medhurst, Woolshed Road, Glencoe. 1940’s.
Photo courtesy Val Hunter
Can wash area, Glencoe Co-op Cheese Factory, 1950’s. Barry Mullan.
Photo courtesy Robert Dow
John Dow’s farm “Delamere”, Glencoe, 1940’s.
Photo courtesy Lorraine Burford.
Planting potatoes , Bonney Farm, Glencoe 1940’s.
Syd Burston, Sylvestor Bonney, Roma Bonney.
Photo courtesy Robert Dow
Elevator used in hay stacking, Dow farm, Glencoe. 1940’s.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Unloading sawdust from Clement’s Sawmill at Agars farm, Glencoe, 1950’s.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Sawdust truck from Clements Sawmill, Glencoe West. Agars farm 1950’s.
Photo courtesy Brian Agars
Carting baled hay. Agars farm, Glencoe West. 1960.
Photo courtesy Lorraine Burford
John William Burston and Allan Ploenges on Sylvestor Bonney’s farm, Glencoe
Original house on John Byrne’s property, Glencoe. John Byrne died Glencoe 1933.
Sheds on John Byrne’s property, Glencoe, 1930’s.
Byrne’s Brothers, clearing contractors, Glencoe. Grandchildren of John Byrne.
Photo courtesy Jean Vogan
Victor Vogan carting milk to Glencoe Co-op Cheese Factory. 1950’s
Photo courtesy Jean Vogan
Carting loose hay on the Vogan Farm, Glencoe. Vic Vogan, Eric Childs. 1950’s
Photo courtesy Jean Vogan
Completed hay stacks, Vic Vogan’s farm, Glencoe. 1950’s
Photos courtesy Brian Agars
Maize, Agars farm, Glencoe, 1970’s
Photos courtesy Brian Agars
Cutting oat crop, Agars farm, 1970’s
Photos courtesy Brian Agars
Raking grass hay, Agars farm, Glencoe. 1970’s
Photos courtesy Brian Agars
Baling grass hay, Agars farm, Glencoe. 1970’s
Photos courtesy Brian Agars
Hay season, Agars farm, Glencoe. 1970’s
Photos courtesy Brian Agars
Silage making Agars farm, Glencoe. 1970’s