1898

Compiled by Daintry Gerrand, ‘Johns River Stewarts River and Hannam Vale – Chronicles of the Early Days’ (Gow, 2007)

Dateline: Manning River Times, 19 November, 1898

A picnic party at Ivers Falls, Johns River around 1901. Seated in the centre of the foreground is legendary schoolmaster at Mitchells Island, T.H.A. Chapman partly obscured by one of this daughters, also seated. The remainder pictured consist of Little's, Latham's, Booth's, and Burgess'.

John's River Waterfalls—A picnic party paid a visit to the very beautiful waterfalls near John's River, on Prince of Wales' Birthday. The party drove to Mr. Little's residence—this gentleman very kindly entertaining the visitors to breakfast. Then being reinforced by some members of Mr. Little's family, Mr. Rootes, and Mr. John Walters, who ated as a guide, the party made a move to the falls, which were reached after a walk of about two and a half miles along a fairly level bush road.

The walk through the bush was exceedingly pleasant, surrounded as it was on every hand by ferns in great variety, burrawongs, and the tall and graceful bangalows.

At the foot of the falls, a halt was made for refreshments, and admiration of the beautiful scene was freely expressed. At the main fall the stream tumbles over a perpendicular rock about 80 feet to 90 feet high, into a stone basin, forming a veritable "Naiad's pool". The water then trickles over the edge of the basin into another, and then onward over the rocks to the valley beneath. The western side is also enclosed by a perpendicular rock—the whole being surrounded with the various brush timbers, ferns, etc.

Just as the party were leaving the lower falls, Mr. George Cause put in an appearance with his camera, and secured some very pretty views of the spot. The upper falls were then explored. Here there were quite a number of cascades of varying heights and continuing still higher up the mountain. The falls and scenery are well worth a visit, and are quite easy to access. Although the day was very hot, in the brush and at the falls it was beautifully cool. Mr. John Walters proved an able and entertaining guide, and was well posted up in bush lore.

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1909

The Johns River School:  1870 - 2010

Educating the Victorian Youth

Photo from Ken Tiedman and Bill Buckler collection

Times were very different indeed at the Johns River School, which was founded in 1870.  The class of 1909 is shown in the photo on the left.   We’ve put together as much as we know — please feel free to give us more information if you have it!

Boys at Rear:  Arthur ‘Artie’ Kidd, George Kidd, Bob Kidd, Oz Kidd.

Girls in Front:  Margaret Metcalfe, Mary ‘Mollie’ Metcalfe, ?, ?, Ua Kidd, ?, Margaret Kidd, Alice Mary Kidd.  Seated ?, Imelda Metcalfe, ?,?