Alfred James Rowlinson Smith (6 April 1917 - 15 April 2012) THE TRUCK DRIVER
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| Alfred in 1959 (self portrait) |
Alfred James Rowlinson Smith was born on the 6 April 1917 at a Private Hospital at Pier Street, Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia to parents Leonard Rowlinson Smith and Jessie Louisa Smith (nee Whitrow). It happened to be Good Friday. At birth his arms were folded across his chest and his mother declared that he would become a priest!
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| The first known photo of Alfred James Rowlinson Smith |
They lived in three different houses on Rose Street in Glenelg and then shifted around to Brighton Road.
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| Alfred in 1920 |
Doris, his sister was born on 27 December 1921.
Alf attended St Leonard's Primary School and enjoyed playing on the beach and around the sand dunes at the Bay with his mates, clambering up trees and finding bird nests. This set him up for a lifetime interest in keeping birds.
The family was closely associated with Parkside Baptist Church and life revolved around activities with many families there. Not a very keen sportsman, he did play some tennis, but enjoyed beach camps and social nights. Alf's father had access to cheap rail-fares due to his work, and so the family would visit friends and cousins at places like Port Noarlunga and Mannum using the train where possible.
The below photo is taken in about 1924 at Mannum, South Australia at Aunty Ruby Doubtfire and Uncle Bill Doubtfire's house.
The family was closely associated with Parkside Baptist Church and life revolved around activities with many families there. Not a very keen sportsman, he did play some tennis, but enjoyed beach camps and social nights. Alf's father had access to cheap rail-fares due to his work, and so the family would visit friends and cousins at places like Port Noarlunga and Mannum using the train where possible.
The below photo is taken in about 1924 at Mannum, South Australia at Aunty Ruby Doubtfire and Uncle Bill Doubtfire's house.
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| Around 1924 - From left - Alf, Alf's mum Jessie and his sister Doris, Aunty Ruby Doubtfire, we think Ruby's sister and Uncle Bill Doubtfire with a child |
1929-1932 - The Great Depression Years
At age 12 in 1929, his parents moved to 12 Matilda Street, Eastwood to live with his Grandparents Whitrow's. Also Alfred's father, Len had to move closer to Adelaide for his employment in the railways so they moved from Brighton Road, Glenelg.
Alf then went to Adelaide High School.
The below photo is of Alfred at Adelaide High School, aged 12 in 1929. He is in the second row, first on the left.
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| Alfred, aged 12 in 1929 at Adelaide High School. 1st on second row. |
At age 15 in 1932, he left school after being top of his 3rd year High and went to work at the Co-op Store (like a supermarket) in the city as a grocer. The Co-op Store were one of the biggest general stores in Adelaide at that time and were based in the city in Angas Street next to today's Police headquarters. They had every department and Alf worked in the grocery packing department under Mr Wurley, his boss.
He had wanted to be an accountant, but the Depression was in progress and he saw the food business as something that people needed. He learnt how to mix self-raising flour, blend tea, pack things in paper bags and serve customers. He was also on the baker's cart delivering bread to Fullarton and Glen Osmond areas. His clock-on number was 13. "Lucky 13" he called it because others around him were losing their jobs but he was consistently retained. While delivering groceries at Linden Park he learnt to drive across the empty paddocks there.
Alf still enjoyed his motor bike, and occasionally he'd even go to Sellick's Beach. He owned one bike only, but would occasionally ride the Coop Stores Bike home. Its number plate was SA 51 564. His own bike was a 2 and 3/4 James motor bike, the only one of its kind around. He did it up. When asking after parts for it, the mechanics told him to go to the bike museum to get parts for it. His cousin Ren Ashmeade helped him fix it.
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| Alf on his BSA motorbike for the Co-op. |
After the Depression
When about 16, he went with his parents on one occasion to the church gymnasium concert where sister Doris was performing. Gymnasium is known today at calisthenics. Alf had been going out with a girl called Betty Dawe who worked at the Coop with him. As the gymnasts marched out, Doss Moule was the leader, pigtails and carrying her gym clubs. His mother, seated next to Alf, dug him in the ribs when young Dorothy Moule led the march out with the performers and mother said to him "That's the sort of girl you want, strong and able". Alf recalls "And when Mum poked you, you were bruised, no gentle tap on the shoulder!"
When 17 in 1934 he began dating Dorothy whom we all knew as Doss and they enjoyed wonderful times with friends and family. Alf would "donk" her on his bike to places as they had no cars then. She started work at the Co-op too as a parttime waitress working daily from 11am to 2pm there. Alf was number 498. Doss had shares as well. Doss had another job at Cash "N" Carry on Unley Road. She would push her bike there to work.
On 26 January 1936 Alf's grandmother Jessie dies. She was loved by all in the community. "Gran" to everyone. Biggest funeral ever held till then in the district according to Alf. She's been to Worth's circus and finished up with pneumonia. Len and Lou continued to care for Grandfather Alfred.
The below photo is taken in 1936 at Victor Harbour, South Australia. From Left to Right - Dorothy Clare Moule, Elm (friend), Jack (friend) and Alf.
The below photo is taken of Alfred at Morialta Falls in Adelaide in August 1937. He was 20.
Below is a photo taken in 1939 of the Parkside Baptist Church Easter Camp. Alf is bottom right squatting. Dorothy is also in the photo. Directly behind Alf and next left (partly obscured).
1939-1945 - World War II
In 1939 on the electoral roll he is living at his grandparent's house (Alfred James Whitrow)at 12 Matilda Street, Eastwood and is listed as a Grocer's Assistant.
Alfred James Whitrow's occupation is a Broommaker.
Leonard Rowlinson Smith's occupation is a Railway Employee
Jessie Louisa Whitrow's occupation is Home Duties.
In December 1939 he is listed as passing Grocery II and Grocery III at the School of Mines and Industries Exam Results.
On 10 August 1940, Alfred enlisted in the 121st General Transport Company and 121st General Transport Company at Plympton, South Australia. His service numbers were S29536 and SX21038. (Infantry Army Service Corps, Transport Division, 8th Battalion).
After training he was posted to Alice Springs and for four years he drove these Army transports between the Alice and Larrimah nearer to Darwin where he delivered soldiers, food, ammunition and any other necessary items going overseas for our troops. The track was rough, often flooded, temperatures were so hot that they removed doors from their vehicles and they could only travel at slow speeds in convoy - 25 miles an hour. He made 63 such trips, occasionally to Darwin and missed being bombed by one hour. Alf was made Corporal and had particular extra tasks to perform such as delivering the mail to the Newcastle Waters Station off the track, and drawing up the rosters. He looked after the stores at Gorrie where he later helped close down the WWII Airfield. He always claimed that Corporal meant "Workhorse"!
He had always been a keen photographer and was able to capture numerous snaps of holidays, then places and people up the track during the War. Many are copied in the book "Conveys Up The Track".
He had volunteered to go to the Nullabor for the building of the roads during his training time, but didn't stay there long as he managed to injure himself when he rode a motor bike through a barbed wire fence, the wire wrapping around his neck and causing near fatal damage.
Alf had few leaves of absence.
He was in the 108, but then in the 121st General Transport till January 1946, rising the rank of Corporal.
The below photo is taken in 1936 at Victor Harbour, South Australia. From Left to Right - Dorothy Clare Moule, Elm (friend), Jack (friend) and Alf.
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| Dorothy and Alf at Victor Harbour in 1936 |
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| Alf at Morialta Falls, Adelaide in 1937 |
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| Parkside Baptist Church Easter Camp - Alf bottom left. |
1939-1945 - World War II
In 1939 on the electoral roll he is living at his grandparent's house (Alfred James Whitrow)at 12 Matilda Street, Eastwood and is listed as a Grocer's Assistant.
Alfred James Whitrow's occupation is a Broommaker.
Leonard Rowlinson Smith's occupation is a Railway Employee
Jessie Louisa Whitrow's occupation is Home Duties.
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| Alf's Grocers Certificate |
On 10 August 1940, Alfred enlisted in the 121st General Transport Company and 121st General Transport Company at Plympton, South Australia. His service numbers were S29536 and SX21038. (Infantry Army Service Corps, Transport Division, 8th Battalion).
In 1940 at age 23 and prior to marriage, to avoid conscription, Alf had finished up volunteering, and might have been sent to Burma before the rail fell there, but fortunately their train was held up at Terowie and he was therefore enlisted in the Army's 121st Transport Co, having to learn first how to drive 3 ton trucks, how to double declutch, change tyres and became a mechanic, then on to semi-trailers, and finally to huge diesels with 8 metre trailers.
Alf didn't want to go overseas to the war. He and Doss were engaged and they wanted to get some money together to get married. He knew that if he waited he would be "called up" to join and then be sent out of Australia, so he jumped in and volunteered, thus joining the group nearer to home in Warradale,
He was first based at Warradale training camp and early in the piece the question was asked "Does anyone do paper work?". Someone behind Alf poked him in the back of the knees and he stumbled forward and was given the job with one other man, Ken Roberts, who was put in the orderly room.
Alf didn't want to go overseas to the war. He and Doss were engaged and they wanted to get some money together to get married. He knew that if he waited he would be "called up" to join and then be sent out of Australia, so he jumped in and volunteered, thus joining the group nearer to home in Warradale,
He was first based at Warradale training camp and early in the piece the question was asked "Does anyone do paper work?". Someone behind Alf poked him in the back of the knees and he stumbled forward and was given the job with one other man, Ken Roberts, who was put in the orderly room.
After training he was posted to Alice Springs and for four years he drove these Army transports between the Alice and Larrimah nearer to Darwin where he delivered soldiers, food, ammunition and any other necessary items going overseas for our troops. The track was rough, often flooded, temperatures were so hot that they removed doors from their vehicles and they could only travel at slow speeds in convoy - 25 miles an hour. He made 63 such trips, occasionally to Darwin and missed being bombed by one hour. Alf was made Corporal and had particular extra tasks to perform such as delivering the mail to the Newcastle Waters Station off the track, and drawing up the rosters. He looked after the stores at Gorrie where he later helped close down the WWII Airfield. He always claimed that Corporal meant "Workhorse"!
He had always been a keen photographer and was able to capture numerous snaps of holidays, then places and people up the track during the War. Many are copied in the book "Conveys Up The Track".
He had volunteered to go to the Nullabor for the building of the roads during his training time, but didn't stay there long as he managed to injure himself when he rode a motor bike through a barbed wire fence, the wire wrapping around his neck and causing near fatal damage.
Alf had few leaves of absence.
He was in the 108, but then in the 121st General Transport till January 1946, rising the rank of Corporal.
In 1941 on the electoral roll he is living at 12 Matilda Street, Eastwood and is listed as a Grocer's Assistant. His father's occupation is listed as a Railway Employee and his mother's as Home Duties. His grandfather Alfred James Whitrow is also living at the house and his occupation is Broommaker.
On 11 October 1941, Dorothy Clare Moule and him married in the Parkside Baptist Church, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. They rented a house in Garland Street, at Glandore in 1941 and Doss had the good support of family and new neighbours as well as new friends at Black Forest Church.
They honeymooned on Kangaroo Island, travelling on the old "Cheopsis" milk and cream boat which was half submarine vessel.
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| Cake and Flowers at Dorothy and Alf's wedding |
They honeymooned on Kangaroo Island, travelling on the old "Cheopsis" milk and cream boat which was half submarine vessel.
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| Rhyberg House on Kangaroo Island where they honeymooned. |
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| Postcard home. |
Life had become difficult. The War was in progress, money and food were short and people were depressed.
In 1942, Alf's grandfather Alfred James Whitrow dies.
In 1943 on the electoral roll he is living at 1 Garland Street, Glandore and is listed as an Assistant. His father's occupation is listed as a Railway Employee and his mother's as Home Duties. They are living at 12 Matilda Street, Eastwood.
In 1942, Alf's grandfather Alfred James Whitrow dies.
In 1943 on the electoral roll he is living at 1 Garland Street, Glandore and is listed as an Assistant. His father's occupation is listed as a Railway Employee and his mother's as Home Duties. They are living at 12 Matilda Street, Eastwood.
Graham Rowlinson was born in February 1945.
OUT OF THE ARMY
Alfred was discharged from the army on the 8 January 1946. Alfred told the story of coming home from Alice Springs after being discharged and changing Graham's nappy because Dorothy was washing out the back. He put him up on the double bed and he wouldn't keep still. He turned around to get the nappy and Graham fell on the floor and got a green stick fracture.
Alf's first car was a Singer. He bought it for 98 pounds when he got out of the Army.
Philip Rowlinson was born in 1947.
Both the boys carried on the Rowlinson name.
In 1947, Alf advertises to sell his:
He had three different trucks during his working life.
In 1951, Alf advertises to sell his:
Both the boys carried on the Rowlinson name.
In 1947, Alf advertises to sell his:
- Phillips radio, 4 valve, dual wave, console mode, vibrator operated with battery and
- 12 x 7 truck tray, 18 inch side
He had three different trucks during his working life.
In 1951, Alf advertises to sell his:
- K6 International semi-trailer, first class condition and
- two 9.00 x 20 retreads, tyres and tubes
Heather was born in 1951.
They bought 1 Garland Street, Glandore at auction the day Heather was born.
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| Purchase of 1 Garland Street, Glandore |
In about 1953, Alf bought a pianola from North Melbourne and the family enjoyed happy times with much music in the home and with Church friends from Black Forest Baptist where Alf served as a Deacon. Caravan and camping trips were a favourite with the family. He followed keenly the sporting pursuits of his children, particularly the athletics where he served as a steward.
After the death of his mother Alf bought a 1957 blue Chevie from York Motors in Pulteney Street. This vehicle became a popular limousine around Black Forest! He kept it till very recent times, then was forced to buy a small vehicle which he referred to as his shopping trolley!
When he gave away the trucking business in 1974, he worked for a couple of years as a gardener-handyman at the Church of Christ Homes near the tram line and in his mate Glen Forrest's factory, then tried to get an early pension. Eventually he was awarded an invalid pension till soon after, the full Age Pension at age 60.
His interest in plants and birds was very strong and many Show awards were presented to him for superb orchids and ferns. One miniature orchid he exhibited had 800 flowers. The Orchid, Camelia, Fern and Aviculture Clubs kept him busy. He grew many beautiful roses, some varieties that were extremely difficult and rare at the time. Other flowers that he dabbled in as a study were iris, clematis and cyclamen. This floral hobby led him to becoming a steward at the Royal Adelaide Show, a position he held for 20 years. He was passionate about the parrots he kept for years and was instrumental in the group protection and breeding of Princess and Scarlet Parrots which were both threatened by possible extinction.
The children married Doreen, Jan and Robert respectively and then these grandchildren arrived - Warren, Natalie, Kylie, Belinda and Tamara.
Sadly in 1981, he lost wife Doss after almost 40 years of marriage. He was 64.
He struggled for a time, then began a long happy courtship with Ella-laine who has been his companion and partner ever since. They had many commonly shared aquaintances and have enjoyed some similar interests, particularly in plants. Each have supported the other well.
In 2005, Alf was inducted into the Australian Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
Alf has also been blessed with great grandchildren - Rachael, Callum, Lilla, Charlotte, Felicity, Koby, Darcy and Sophie.
The great grandchildren would come visiting and say "How're ya popping Pop?". He loved it. And as we all left, he would call out "Ooroo".
In recent times his mobility, eyesight and hearing decreased markedly, and the outdoors man became confined. He admitted being a loner, he was deeply affected by the passing of his daughter, Heather, then more recently, sister Doris, and he became more and more dependent on loved ones helping him to remain in his home.
On Good Friday, his 95th birthday, Graham and wife Doreen took him out for a drive and a picnic. Ella brought a lovely cake and he enjoyed watching his great grandchildren on their bikes. He couldn't get over the size of Colonnades.
The next day, in his attempts to remain independent, he tried watering camellia plants at the side of his house, fell from his electric chair and so landed himself in traction in RAH with a fractured pelvis.
His interest in plants and birds was very strong and many Show awards were presented to him for superb orchids and ferns. One miniature orchid he exhibited had 800 flowers. The Orchid, Camelia, Fern and Aviculture Clubs kept him busy. He grew many beautiful roses, some varieties that were extremely difficult and rare at the time. Other flowers that he dabbled in as a study were iris, clematis and cyclamen. This floral hobby led him to becoming a steward at the Royal Adelaide Show, a position he held for 20 years. He was passionate about the parrots he kept for years and was instrumental in the group protection and breeding of Princess and Scarlet Parrots which were both threatened by possible extinction.
The children married Doreen, Jan and Robert respectively and then these grandchildren arrived - Warren, Natalie, Kylie, Belinda and Tamara.
Sadly in 1981, he lost wife Doss after almost 40 years of marriage. He was 64.
He struggled for a time, then began a long happy courtship with Ella-laine who has been his companion and partner ever since. They had many commonly shared aquaintances and have enjoyed some similar interests, particularly in plants. Each have supported the other well.
In 2005, Alf was inducted into the Australian Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
Alf has also been blessed with great grandchildren - Rachael, Callum, Lilla, Charlotte, Felicity, Koby, Darcy and Sophie.
The great grandchildren would come visiting and say "How're ya popping Pop?". He loved it. And as we all left, he would call out "Ooroo".
In recent times his mobility, eyesight and hearing decreased markedly, and the outdoors man became confined. He admitted being a loner, he was deeply affected by the passing of his daughter, Heather, then more recently, sister Doris, and he became more and more dependent on loved ones helping him to remain in his home.
On Good Friday, his 95th birthday, Graham and wife Doreen took him out for a drive and a picnic. Ella brought a lovely cake and he enjoyed watching his great grandchildren on their bikes. He couldn't get over the size of Colonnades.
The next day, in his attempts to remain independent, he tried watering camellia plants at the side of his house, fell from his electric chair and so landed himself in traction in RAH with a fractured pelvis.
Aged 95 he passed away on Sunday at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Graham: Now I've talked to Aunty Doris and she was telling me she recalls some of the times when Grandpa (Leonard Rowlinson Smith) was on the tram run, and you used to go down and join him for a meal, down at Colley Reserve [Glenelg]?
Alf: Yes, we'd take his tea down there.
Graham: You just walked through?
Alf: Yes. In the very hot weather, he used to knock off at different times and we'd sleep on the beach at night time. If it was stinkin' hot weather, we'd all go down the beach and as soon as the day light came the flies started, we'd come home and Dad [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] had to go to work again.
Graham: Where did the train line run? Where the tram line is now or up Anzac Highway?
Alf: That's South Terrace line. And the North Terrace line is still there, you can still come right down although I think they've got a new bike track down there. Comes down through Camden, that's the old train line.
Graham: And where was the terminus for that?
Alf: At Colley Reserve.
Graham: And Grandpa's [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] job at Colley Reserve was what?
Alf: He was the Assistant station master. See, South Terrace finished first, so he went over the North Terrace and they closed that one up when the trams started in 1927.
Graham: Right, and that's always been on the line that still is?
Alf: Yes, that's still open. I think that there is a 1000 year lease or something on it. You can see a few factories on there but they're only tin sheds, they can be pulled down.
Graham: But the current tram line, how long has that been in use, it goes down through Jetty Road?
Alf: Well, that was there before Grandpa [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] started on it, because that used to be the private bay. The General Manager of that lived here at Black Forest, just half way up (to the city) on the right hand side... big place ... they've built around it now. The big home is still in the middle somewhere. Opposite the old folks home.
Graham: Those early days at Glenelg, I remember you used to tell us about the sand dunes?
Alf: Oh yes, they were all sand dunes along. We'd cook chips over there. A few death adders they found but we didn't tell Mum and Dad about that.
Graham: And you used to go back bird nesting with Frank Laverty through that area or through Morphettville.
Alf: No, past the old gum tree, right out onto the Sturt Creek was all sand hills out there. Used to bird nest out there and behind the Glenelg oval was all dairies out there and box thorn bushes. Get up to the Sturt Creek and the gum trees and also bird nesting out to the Old Diagonal Road, there was farms along the Old Diagonal Road. And big gum trees, we used to chase the magpies along there.
Graham: There were dairies?
Alf: Most were dairies, yes. Then we got up to Warradale where there were army campers, First World War blokes were in that camp. And they cut those gum trees down, the gum trees right around the boundary and they had a lot of hollows, we got a fair numbers of nests out of there but we gave up after Frank (it was his turn to get up and put his hand down the hollow), he screamed his head off, and jumped out with a possum hanging on his fingers! So we gave up bird nesting!
Graham: Was there a distinctive line of sand hills along the coast in those days? Like Moana, sought of thing?
Alf: Yes, they went back to Military Road. See, Military Road was where the First War blokes left Warradale and marched through Outer Harbor. That's what they call the Military Road. And there were aboriginals still there. I remember aboriginals when I was in about Grade Two, I think. All the kids said "They'll kill you, they'll eat you, they'll spear you". They were up near the boundary fence, just past the old gum tree and I remember going up there and seeing them. They frightened me. They used to live in the sandhills all the way along there.
Graham: This would have been in the 20's?
Alf: Yes, about 1922, 1923.
Graham: When you were about 5?
Alf: Yes. I started school when I was 5.
Graham: And you went to St. Leonard's primary?
Alf: Yes, and Doris [Alf's wife] went to Glenelg. The house was half way between us.
Graham: What about the Australian Terriers? Grandpa used to keep Australian Terriers.
Alf: Yes, that was the Glen Kennels.
Graham: Was that at Rose Street?
Alf: Yes, in Rose Street. When we moved out of that, we got rid of them. We used to breed a lot of them and show them, I think .. before I was born, probably, I don't know. But I remember they used to dock their tails and put Vaseline on the pups. I also kept homing pigeons there, I don't know how old I was, I was pretty young. And they had a little trap with a swing and a door on it and Doris had a little black cat. Not a real one, a doll thing and I think the seagulls used to worry them a lot, so I used to stand the black cat up on the trap so it would keep the seagulls away. I remember that. They used to sling off at me a lot about that, pinching Doris' black cat.
Graham: The area, that is now extending through to the airport, what would that be?
Alf: All red sand, sand hills. Here and there there were glass houses, but they were more over the back of Henley Beach somewhere.
Graham: So, if you took a tram or a train from Glenelg to the city, you would start out down near the sand hills?
Alf: Yes, there was a settlement at Camden. There was a big... poultry farm. I remember going there with Dad, there was chickens.
Graham: Was swampy land through Morphettville there somewhere?
Alf: Yes, all swampy and Camden too was swampy. Dandy Morphis. We used to go bird nesting there but we got kicked out of there a few times. In fact we got caught once. We got out of it, some of the lads were up the big pine tree, or something and they had to stay there until dark because the gardens had dogs out there and they couldn't get down.
Graham: Where did the housing start to build up as you came closer to Adelaide? Was it around Black Forest?
Alf: Little bits here and there. Just townside of Marion Road was all swampy, a lot of vegetables grown there. But I can remember going to Adelaide High School on the tram and seeing that south side all under water for miles. A lot of houses there now, where Cross Road is.
Graham: And as you got closer to town, the housing thickened up?
Alf: Oh yes, there was a batch around South Road, Black Forest. These are old homes around here. Just a few along the line. And there was Hayhurst Dairies. There was big diaries along the line. Some of the names of the streets are now the old names of the dairymen.
Graham: Where was the terminus for the train that is now the train station near the Adelaide Casino? That still remains the terminus for the train?
Alf: That was the North Terrace line.
Graham: And where was the South Terrace line?
Alf: First of all, and I can just remember, it was the Children's Law Courts. And it used to come up to where the Police Barracks are on Angus Street. Then they took it back to South Terrace. We'd walk in from South Terrace then. For the St. Leonard's school picnic we used to have trains to Hawthorndene. And we used to have a special train that left from down at Glenelg and came up and got nearly into town, then branch off and come around the line against the hills line, and we'd get out at Blackwood and walk down to Hawthorndene. That's where we used to get all the blackbird's eggs. And also the Church of Christ Sunday School we used to have a special train for them too. All the families and everything. Because nobody had cars in those days. You could almost hire a train.
Graham: I can remember in those early days we used to take a train up to the Sunday School Picnic at Belair. We'd walk through to Goodwood station and go up into the National Park.
Alf: Well, Glenelg was a posh place in the early days, all the station people and heads lived down there. But that was right of town, we were out in the country.
Graham: Where did you go on holidays when you were living at Glenelg?
Alf: Well, Grandpa used to get his holiday pass from the Railways. We'd always go up and see his brother Horry [Horace Joseph Smith 1887-1976] at Gawler.
And then another time we'd catch the train to Port Noarlunga, you'd get out at Emu Winery (that used to be the Willunga train). Used to get off there and there used to be a big sharabang (stuff on the back of a flattop). They used to take all the mail and all the passengers through to Port Noarlunga. Used to have the day down there. Used to get periwinkles and get a bucket of sea water and Grandpa used to light a fire on the beach and boil the periwinkles and get a hairpin and pick them out, one at a time.
Graham: Now I've talked to Aunty Doris and she was telling me she recalls some of the times when Grandpa (Leonard Rowlinson Smith) was on the tram run, and you used to go down and join him for a meal, down at Colley Reserve [Glenelg]?
Alf: Yes, we'd take his tea down there.
Graham: You just walked through?
Alf: Yes. In the very hot weather, he used to knock off at different times and we'd sleep on the beach at night time. If it was stinkin' hot weather, we'd all go down the beach and as soon as the day light came the flies started, we'd come home and Dad [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] had to go to work again.
Graham: Where did the train line run? Where the tram line is now or up Anzac Highway?
Alf: That's South Terrace line. And the North Terrace line is still there, you can still come right down although I think they've got a new bike track down there. Comes down through Camden, that's the old train line.
Graham: And where was the terminus for that?
Alf: At Colley Reserve.
Graham: And Grandpa's [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] job at Colley Reserve was what?
Alf: He was the Assistant station master. See, South Terrace finished first, so he went over the North Terrace and they closed that one up when the trams started in 1927.
Graham: Right, and that's always been on the line that still is?
Alf: Yes, that's still open. I think that there is a 1000 year lease or something on it. You can see a few factories on there but they're only tin sheds, they can be pulled down.
Graham: But the current tram line, how long has that been in use, it goes down through Jetty Road?
Alf: Well, that was there before Grandpa [Leonard Rowlinson Smith] started on it, because that used to be the private bay. The General Manager of that lived here at Black Forest, just half way up (to the city) on the right hand side... big place ... they've built around it now. The big home is still in the middle somewhere. Opposite the old folks home.
Graham: Those early days at Glenelg, I remember you used to tell us about the sand dunes?
Alf: Oh yes, they were all sand dunes along. We'd cook chips over there. A few death adders they found but we didn't tell Mum and Dad about that.
Graham: And you used to go back bird nesting with Frank Laverty through that area or through Morphettville.
Alf: No, past the old gum tree, right out onto the Sturt Creek was all sand hills out there. Used to bird nest out there and behind the Glenelg oval was all dairies out there and box thorn bushes. Get up to the Sturt Creek and the gum trees and also bird nesting out to the Old Diagonal Road, there was farms along the Old Diagonal Road. And big gum trees, we used to chase the magpies along there.
Graham: There were dairies?
Alf: Most were dairies, yes. Then we got up to Warradale where there were army campers, First World War blokes were in that camp. And they cut those gum trees down, the gum trees right around the boundary and they had a lot of hollows, we got a fair numbers of nests out of there but we gave up after Frank (it was his turn to get up and put his hand down the hollow), he screamed his head off, and jumped out with a possum hanging on his fingers! So we gave up bird nesting!
Graham: Was there a distinctive line of sand hills along the coast in those days? Like Moana, sought of thing?
Alf: Yes, they went back to Military Road. See, Military Road was where the First War blokes left Warradale and marched through Outer Harbor. That's what they call the Military Road. And there were aboriginals still there. I remember aboriginals when I was in about Grade Two, I think. All the kids said "They'll kill you, they'll eat you, they'll spear you". They were up near the boundary fence, just past the old gum tree and I remember going up there and seeing them. They frightened me. They used to live in the sandhills all the way along there.
Graham: This would have been in the 20's?
Alf: Yes, about 1922, 1923.
Graham: When you were about 5?
Alf: Yes. I started school when I was 5.
Graham: And you went to St. Leonard's primary?
Alf: Yes, and Doris [Alf's wife] went to Glenelg. The house was half way between us.
Graham: What about the Australian Terriers? Grandpa used to keep Australian Terriers.
Alf: Yes, that was the Glen Kennels.
Graham: Was that at Rose Street?
Alf: Yes, in Rose Street. When we moved out of that, we got rid of them. We used to breed a lot of them and show them, I think .. before I was born, probably, I don't know. But I remember they used to dock their tails and put Vaseline on the pups. I also kept homing pigeons there, I don't know how old I was, I was pretty young. And they had a little trap with a swing and a door on it and Doris had a little black cat. Not a real one, a doll thing and I think the seagulls used to worry them a lot, so I used to stand the black cat up on the trap so it would keep the seagulls away. I remember that. They used to sling off at me a lot about that, pinching Doris' black cat.
Graham: The area, that is now extending through to the airport, what would that be?
Alf: All red sand, sand hills. Here and there there were glass houses, but they were more over the back of Henley Beach somewhere.
Graham: So, if you took a tram or a train from Glenelg to the city, you would start out down near the sand hills?
Alf: Yes, there was a settlement at Camden. There was a big... poultry farm. I remember going there with Dad, there was chickens.
Graham: Was swampy land through Morphettville there somewhere?
Alf: Yes, all swampy and Camden too was swampy. Dandy Morphis. We used to go bird nesting there but we got kicked out of there a few times. In fact we got caught once. We got out of it, some of the lads were up the big pine tree, or something and they had to stay there until dark because the gardens had dogs out there and they couldn't get down.
Graham: Where did the housing start to build up as you came closer to Adelaide? Was it around Black Forest?
Alf: Little bits here and there. Just townside of Marion Road was all swampy, a lot of vegetables grown there. But I can remember going to Adelaide High School on the tram and seeing that south side all under water for miles. A lot of houses there now, where Cross Road is.
Graham: And as you got closer to town, the housing thickened up?
Alf: Oh yes, there was a batch around South Road, Black Forest. These are old homes around here. Just a few along the line. And there was Hayhurst Dairies. There was big diaries along the line. Some of the names of the streets are now the old names of the dairymen.
Graham: Where was the terminus for the train that is now the train station near the Adelaide Casino? That still remains the terminus for the train?
Alf: That was the North Terrace line.
Graham: And where was the South Terrace line?
Alf: First of all, and I can just remember, it was the Children's Law Courts. And it used to come up to where the Police Barracks are on Angus Street. Then they took it back to South Terrace. We'd walk in from South Terrace then. For the St. Leonard's school picnic we used to have trains to Hawthorndene. And we used to have a special train that left from down at Glenelg and came up and got nearly into town, then branch off and come around the line against the hills line, and we'd get out at Blackwood and walk down to Hawthorndene. That's where we used to get all the blackbird's eggs. And also the Church of Christ Sunday School we used to have a special train for them too. All the families and everything. Because nobody had cars in those days. You could almost hire a train.
Graham: I can remember in those early days we used to take a train up to the Sunday School Picnic at Belair. We'd walk through to Goodwood station and go up into the National Park.
Alf: Well, Glenelg was a posh place in the early days, all the station people and heads lived down there. But that was right of town, we were out in the country.
Graham: Where did you go on holidays when you were living at Glenelg?
Alf: Well, Grandpa used to get his holiday pass from the Railways. We'd always go up and see his brother Horry [Horace Joseph Smith 1887-1976] at Gawler.
And then another time we'd catch the train to Port Noarlunga, you'd get out at Emu Winery (that used to be the Willunga train). Used to get off there and there used to be a big sharabang (stuff on the back of a flattop). They used to take all the mail and all the passengers through to Port Noarlunga. Used to have the day down there. Used to get periwinkles and get a bucket of sea water and Grandpa used to light a fire on the beach and boil the periwinkles and get a hairpin and pick them out, one at a time.
Natalie: What was Victor Harbour like?
Alf: Victor. Didn't get there much. Too far away.
Graham: Did you ever get down to Sellicks?
Alf: Not until I had my motorbike. We used to go to Mannum mainly. Aunty Ruby lived at Mannum. We always had a fortnight up there.
Graham: How did you get to Mannum?
Alf: Catch the train to Murray Bridge, catch the paddle steamer (Murrundi) to Mannum. In the finish they didn't run and we went on the big milk boats that used to zig zag across the Murray picking up all the cream cans. Used to smell like stale cream.
Graham: So you used to catch a tram from Glenelg, ultimately through to Murray Bridge?
Alf: Yes. Leave in the dark and get to Mannum in the dark. All day.
Graham: Those days at Mannum would have been interesting.
Alf: Oh yes. We had a lot of fun up there.
Graham: I remember vaguely as a little kid, you taking me out netting rabbits, down along the edge of Mannum. It had something to do with Auntie Ruby, out in the limestone country there.
Alf: Well where she lived up on the top of the hill, he was a welder of something, a shearer's uncle and they lived at the big water tank, the tank that supplied Mannum in those days. It's gone now but the house is still there, I saw it recently. But every now and then, you'd hear a "Beeeeep", you know up at the river and I used to dive up to the top of the tank and I could see each side of the river. The big paddlesteamers with big trailers behind them, loaded with wool. A couple of times, I remember at night time, they really lit up the river (they worked all day and all night).
Graham: Because that was the heady day of the river trade. Although it was starting to fade a little bit, at that point even. Because, as I understand the coming of the train to Morgan, killed the bottom end, and ultimately it was killed up the top end by the Echuca train to Melbourne.
Alf: Yes, I remember one Easter we were up there and Uncle Bill had a 16 foot boat with the landing rights opposite Schutze's house. That's were Jenkin's live now. But Dad and I went down there and everybody was packing up and going home, they couldn't get anymore fish and they were using witchetty-grubs. So Dad said we'd go out and get some witchetty-grubs, they told us where to go out the back of Mannum, over the other side of some shearers and you get a bit of wire and see a hole in the tree and pull them out, you see. But everytime you went to lean over a tree, a rabbit would shoot out from under your feet. Grandpa said this is no good, we'll go back and get the gun. So, the next day we go out with the gun and blimey we nearly broke my shoulder! All the flamin' rabbits we'd put on a stick over my shoulder and I had to lug the flamin' rabbits home.
And then Uncle Bill had a licence for cross-line too and I can't remember, Dad used to always sling off, I was pretty young evidently, but they did the cross-line and it looked pretty rough and on the way back a storm broke, there were big waves and Dad always used to sling off about me. They put me laying down in the bottom of the boat and they put their feet on me! One each side rowing back to get back to the shore on the proper side!
But I caught my 15 pound catfish there. That was the first fish I ever caught. I reckon Dad (Grandpa) had it on his line first, because he said "Here, I can't catch anything, you have a try". And I only held it for a couple of seconds and pulled this great big thing in. I thought it was a cat with I looked up and sighted it.
Graham: They caught lot of fish in those days? They were the days before carp and cod? You were talking about Uncle Bill Doubtfire, Ruby's husband? It sounds like he might have had a fishing licence or a reach of some sort?
Alf: Yes. No, I don't think he had a reach. He just had a licence with the cross-line. But I remember going over the side. I wasn't happy about that, you're turning over rocks along the edge picking up little frogs for bait. And you had to put them on the hook. I didn't put them on but they put them on the hook, so they'd keep swimming, you see. You evidently put the hook in their tail end or something and they paddled away.
I don't think we went fishing anywhere else. I know I got in trouble at Gawler, because I used to go out with my cousins and catch goldfish in the Gawler river. That was always the thing and anyway on the way up Mum said "Don't go out there today". Of course, they said "Come on" so out the back we go and shot down there and we were sprinting along the river and I trod on a piece of tin or something, ripped my foot open, blood everywhere. Back I went, of course, screaming me head off. I screamed all the more when Mum said it because she belted the life out of me for not doing what I was told!
But they used to catch budgies on the Gawler racecourse. They'd crawl along in the deep grass, use hats to put over the budgies. There used to be budgies thick down there.
Then we went up to Eastwood. Adelaide High School, they used to rid their bike to Adelaide High School from Eastwood. Well, I never got to Grote Street High School. We were down at Currie Street.
Graham: Yes, I was going to ask you about that, because where the Adelaide High School is now on West Terrace was not were you went?
Alf: No, I didn't go there.
Graham: That would be built in later years but the one building in Grote Street became Adelaide Girl's High, now its a remand centre or something.
Alf: No, that's the old one in Currie Street that's now the remand centre.
Graham: But that's where the Adelaide Boy's High School was, in Currie Street. Which side, north or south side of Currie Street?
Alf: Big two or three story place, on the right side. We didn't have it all, there was also the public school there too. They had the top floor. Adrian Crisp went to high school there, the tennis player. But we used to take our kit bag, walk across to the Glenelg tram and come home.
Graham: Talking about trams, I can vaguely remember as a kid, the trams that used to go up to Mitcham and the Kingswood trams and so on. Adelaide was well served by trams.
Alf: Yes, it was all trams. Glen Osmond trams had those little bib and bubs things that bounced up It wasn't bad going up but coming down they used to go like a baton and they used to bounce everywhere.
Graham: They'd go up the big road?
Alf: Yes, big drop centres always went as far as the Cross Roads on the Fullarton line.
Graham: Where was the terminus on that line?
Alf: Glen Osmond?
Graham: Yes.
Alf: Up the top by Cross Road. The old gum tree we used to call it but they pulled it down because it had white ants, because they wanted to widen the road.
Graham: That was just down from the toll gate? In front of the Catholic place?
Alf: Yes.
Graham: Yes, I remember that... it was just a stump.
Alf: We used to go for walks up there Sundays, all the boys and see if the girls needed a pick up because the girls went walking up there too. Made a lot of friends up there, only for one weekend, changed them over the next weekend!
Graham: Those days around the foothills, of course where I work now... when we were playing with old Joseph Smith's history, he delivered groceries out through that area from his shop in Leicester Street. Who lived in Robstart Street?
Alf: Alan Edwards.
Graham: Is that right. He had a shop in Leicester Street and he used to keep groceries. What sought of groceries were they? Like Hopley's grocery shop?
Alf: Hericon. Bottle of kerosene in it, anything you like, anything to eat.
Graham: And he used to deliver them out on his bike, didn't he?
Alf: Yes, well early in the piece, Grandpa (my Dad) had a horse and cart and he used to deliver up there. He used to go across all the paddocks to get to those plains.
Graham: He'd go to Urrbrae House and Melrose House and all those through that area?
Alf: Yes and Waites.
Graham: Yes, Waites had Urrbrae House. Melrose House according to what I can see is where the school is now. We've got a big picture in the front office. It was knocked down in the early 1900s. It was derelict and they knocked it down. Actually, where we've got a couple of temporary buildings there you can see the footings, underneath them. The temporary buildings are just on blocks but you can see the old concrete or stone there.
Alf: Thomas Elder live up there.
Graham: Well he lived over at Scotch's college.
Alf: That's right.
Graham: I've only just finished reading the history about that area. Elder, the Barr-Smiths, there were all Scotch.
Alf: Not until I had my motorbike. We used to go to Mannum mainly. Aunty Ruby lived at Mannum. We always had a fortnight up there.
 |
| Alf on his bike in 1937 |
Graham: How did you get to Mannum?
Alf: Catch the train to Murray Bridge, catch the paddle steamer (Murrundi) to Mannum. In the finish they didn't run and we went on the big milk boats that used to zig zag across the Murray picking up all the cream cans. Used to smell like stale cream.
Graham: So you used to catch a tram from Glenelg, ultimately through to Murray Bridge?
Alf: Yes. Leave in the dark and get to Mannum in the dark. All day.
Graham: Those days at Mannum would have been interesting.
Alf: Oh yes. We had a lot of fun up there.
Graham: I remember vaguely as a little kid, you taking me out netting rabbits, down along the edge of Mannum. It had something to do with Auntie Ruby, out in the limestone country there.
Alf: Well where she lived up on the top of the hill, he was a welder of something, a shearer's uncle and they lived at the big water tank, the tank that supplied Mannum in those days. It's gone now but the house is still there, I saw it recently. But every now and then, you'd hear a "Beeeeep", you know up at the river and I used to dive up to the top of the tank and I could see each side of the river. The big paddlesteamers with big trailers behind them, loaded with wool. A couple of times, I remember at night time, they really lit up the river (they worked all day and all night).
 |
| 1924 - Alf, his mother Jess and sister Doris, Aunty Ruby, we think Ruby's sister and Ruby's husband Bill |
Graham: Because that was the heady day of the river trade. Although it was starting to fade a little bit, at that point even. Because, as I understand the coming of the train to Morgan, killed the bottom end, and ultimately it was killed up the top end by the Echuca train to Melbourne.
Alf: Yes, I remember one Easter we were up there and Uncle Bill had a 16 foot boat with the landing rights opposite Schutze's house. That's were Jenkin's live now. But Dad and I went down there and everybody was packing up and going home, they couldn't get anymore fish and they were using witchetty-grubs. So Dad said we'd go out and get some witchetty-grubs, they told us where to go out the back of Mannum, over the other side of some shearers and you get a bit of wire and see a hole in the tree and pull them out, you see. But everytime you went to lean over a tree, a rabbit would shoot out from under your feet. Grandpa said this is no good, we'll go back and get the gun. So, the next day we go out with the gun and blimey we nearly broke my shoulder! All the flamin' rabbits we'd put on a stick over my shoulder and I had to lug the flamin' rabbits home.
And then Uncle Bill had a licence for cross-line too and I can't remember, Dad used to always sling off, I was pretty young evidently, but they did the cross-line and it looked pretty rough and on the way back a storm broke, there were big waves and Dad always used to sling off about me. They put me laying down in the bottom of the boat and they put their feet on me! One each side rowing back to get back to the shore on the proper side!
But I caught my 15 pound catfish there. That was the first fish I ever caught. I reckon Dad (Grandpa) had it on his line first, because he said "Here, I can't catch anything, you have a try". And I only held it for a couple of seconds and pulled this great big thing in. I thought it was a cat with I looked up and sighted it.
Graham: They caught lot of fish in those days? They were the days before carp and cod? You were talking about Uncle Bill Doubtfire, Ruby's husband? It sounds like he might have had a fishing licence or a reach of some sort?
Alf: Yes. No, I don't think he had a reach. He just had a licence with the cross-line. But I remember going over the side. I wasn't happy about that, you're turning over rocks along the edge picking up little frogs for bait. And you had to put them on the hook. I didn't put them on but they put them on the hook, so they'd keep swimming, you see. You evidently put the hook in their tail end or something and they paddled away.
I don't think we went fishing anywhere else. I know I got in trouble at Gawler, because I used to go out with my cousins and catch goldfish in the Gawler river. That was always the thing and anyway on the way up Mum said "Don't go out there today". Of course, they said "Come on" so out the back we go and shot down there and we were sprinting along the river and I trod on a piece of tin or something, ripped my foot open, blood everywhere. Back I went, of course, screaming me head off. I screamed all the more when Mum said it because she belted the life out of me for not doing what I was told!
But they used to catch budgies on the Gawler racecourse. They'd crawl along in the deep grass, use hats to put over the budgies. There used to be budgies thick down there.
Then we went up to Eastwood. Adelaide High School, they used to rid their bike to Adelaide High School from Eastwood. Well, I never got to Grote Street High School. We were down at Currie Street.
Graham: Yes, I was going to ask you about that, because where the Adelaide High School is now on West Terrace was not were you went?
Alf: No, I didn't go there.
Graham: That would be built in later years but the one building in Grote Street became Adelaide Girl's High, now its a remand centre or something.
Alf: No, that's the old one in Currie Street that's now the remand centre.
Graham: But that's where the Adelaide Boy's High School was, in Currie Street. Which side, north or south side of Currie Street?
Alf: Big two or three story place, on the right side. We didn't have it all, there was also the public school there too. They had the top floor. Adrian Crisp went to high school there, the tennis player. But we used to take our kit bag, walk across to the Glenelg tram and come home.
Graham: Talking about trams, I can vaguely remember as a kid, the trams that used to go up to Mitcham and the Kingswood trams and so on. Adelaide was well served by trams.
Alf: Yes, it was all trams. Glen Osmond trams had those little bib and bubs things that bounced up It wasn't bad going up but coming down they used to go like a baton and they used to bounce everywhere.
Graham: They'd go up the big road?
Alf: Yes, big drop centres always went as far as the Cross Roads on the Fullarton line.
Graham: Where was the terminus on that line?
Alf: Glen Osmond?
Graham: Yes.
Alf: Up the top by Cross Road. The old gum tree we used to call it but they pulled it down because it had white ants, because they wanted to widen the road.
Graham: That was just down from the toll gate? In front of the Catholic place?
Alf: Yes.
Graham: Yes, I remember that... it was just a stump.
Alf: We used to go for walks up there Sundays, all the boys and see if the girls needed a pick up because the girls went walking up there too. Made a lot of friends up there, only for one weekend, changed them over the next weekend!
Graham: Those days around the foothills, of course where I work now... when we were playing with old Joseph Smith's history, he delivered groceries out through that area from his shop in Leicester Street. Who lived in Robstart Street?
Alf: Alan Edwards.
Graham: Is that right. He had a shop in Leicester Street and he used to keep groceries. What sought of groceries were they? Like Hopley's grocery shop?
Alf: Hericon. Bottle of kerosene in it, anything you like, anything to eat.
Graham: And he used to deliver them out on his bike, didn't he?
Alf: Yes, well early in the piece, Grandpa (my Dad) had a horse and cart and he used to deliver up there. He used to go across all the paddocks to get to those plains.
Graham: He'd go to Urrbrae House and Melrose House and all those through that area?
Alf: Yes and Waites.
Graham: Yes, Waites had Urrbrae House. Melrose House according to what I can see is where the school is now. We've got a big picture in the front office. It was knocked down in the early 1900s. It was derelict and they knocked it down. Actually, where we've got a couple of temporary buildings there you can see the footings, underneath them. The temporary buildings are just on blocks but you can see the old concrete or stone there.
Alf: Thomas Elder live up there.
Graham: Well he lived over at Scotch's college.
Alf: That's right.
Graham: I've only just finished reading the history about that area. Elder, the Barr-Smiths, there were all Scotch.
Graham: Doreen wants to know about the car. I can tell you about the car. I was around. It was 1957 and I was 12 years of age. The Chev. I can tell that prior to that there was a Holden and prior to that there was a truck.
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