TRACTION  ACTION

The Risstrom Fowler Steam Traction Engine was built in Leeds, England,in 1907.

George Risstrom purchased it 7 years later from the Dwyer family in Murchison. George  used it mainly to for hauling firewood out of  the forest to the Rushworth Railway yard. During the off season it was used for chaff cutting, threshing and house removals. The Lloyd brothers house on the corner of Old Tatura Road and A”Beckett St and Floss Collard’s Home in Stanhope Road were amongst some of those moved. During the mid 30’s the Risstrom Engine was used as motive power for milling fence droppers in the forest. This was continued until the late 1930’swhen a permanent Sawmill was established at the rear of the property in Murchison Road from where the mill still operates.On leaving school, Ron and his brothers Doug, Jack, and Roy all worked with their father George on the wood with the Fowler Steam Traction Engine

This engine was one of about 9 traction Engines working in the area in the early part of the century until the 1930’s. These all had to be registered with the Country Road Board to allow them to be used on the roads When the Engine’s were going between Rushworth and Whroo they would blow their whistles at the Whistle Post on the Whroo Rushworth Road to warn horse teams of their approach, as the Engines had right of way. Only 2 whistle posts remain and the Whroo Rd one is classified by the National Trust.

In those days there were no weight restrictions signs and the Risstrom Steam Traction Engine often accidently crashed through small bridges on local roads, causing many nervous and anxious moments. Particularly nerve racking was crossing the Waranga Western Channel! Ron knows of at least seven bridges the traction Engine broke through.

From the 1930’s and for many years later, a great joy for school children each year was to be taken by Traction Engine out to the Waranga Basin for their annual Sunday School Picnic.

In recent times the Engine was a popular exhibit at the “Moora Muster” puffing away and giving rides to the endless queues of excited passengers.Ron would fire the engine up for the Kindergarten Children who would be taken around the mill riding in the wood grate. The last social function for the traction engine was the Rushworth Remembers Festival in April 1998 where it delighted children and adults alike as it trundled up and down High Street with its whistle blowing.

Ron Risstrom has been offered many thousands more for this engine from overseas buyers. But because of his love of the Engine and his desire to keep it in the town Rushworth, he is willing to sell it to the Museum for only $30,000 which we believe is an extremely generous donation to the town and its Citizens.Keeping this wonderful Engine, which is such a great part of Rushworth’s unique history, in the town, depends on your generosity and desire for your children’s children to view this part of your history.Today there is 3 Rushworth men who have certificates to enable them to operate the Rushworth Wizard , it can be seen taking a part in the Annual Rushworth Easter Parade.

Mr Ron Risstrom interviewed by Lorraine Rule for and on behalf of the Rushworth and District Historical and Preservation Society.  Inc No A 6401 v

Rushworth & District Historical Society Book Sales

Rushworth & District Historical Society Book Sales

 

 

For those in our community interested in our region’s history, the Rushworth  & District Historical Society have the following books for sale.  Both books have been difficult to obtain for some years but are now once more available:

 

‘Walls of Wire’   by Joyce Hammond at $30.00 Plus Postage

 

This book covers in considerable detail the arrival in the Rushworth, Tatura and Murchison districts thousands of Axis prisoners of war and civilian detainees during the early years of World War 2.  Joyce Hammond also describes in detail and with considerable sympathy the personal problems undergone by both military and civilian detainees, their interaction with both their indifferently trained Australian military guards and their generally good relationship with the local people of Rushworth, Murchison and Tatura.  Many real friendships with local people were forged during these years involving German and Italian prisoners – both military and civilian – which in many cases have lasted to this day.

 

In 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War 2, the Vienna Mozart Boys’ Choir was just completing a tour of America, New Zealand and Australia.  The performances of these talented youngsters dressed in their white naval uniforms and aged between nine and fourteen years had charmed Australians.  But their ship due to return them to Germany was eventually interned in Fremantle in West Australia.  The boys were tragically separated from their families in Austria – which became part of the ‘Greater German Reich’.  Following five to six years internment in Australia, and the destruction of their homes by allied bombing and Soviet army occupation  in Austria and Germany, many of these boys would never see their parents or their homes again.

 

As a side-note, whilst stationed in Penang, Malaysia, in the early seventies, Heather and I enjoyed a performance of the Vienna Boy’s Choir then touring the Far East, little realizing that perhaps thirty years later we would be living in an area where a significant part of their history was played out.

 

 

 

History of The Waranga Basin   by Joyce Hammond at $18.00 Plus postage

 

This is an early history of the development of the Waranga Goldfields region which would later incorporate the Rushworth and Whroo townships.  Although the township of Waranga and many of the houses and properties which were once thriving family homes within the bounds of  land are now submerged beneath the waters of ‘Waranga Basin’,  many of the family names are still prominent in this area. 

 

Joyce Hammond’s book is rich in photographs of the old homesteads and the prominent personalities who shaped the history of Rushworth and its environs.  Although this is not a large book, nor is it particularly ‘thick’ at only 48 pages, it’s well bound and for me at least, an historical ‘must have’.

 

 

Mike Wellington

President

Rushworth & District Historical Society

 

Steam Traction Engine

The Rushworh Wizard recently made a trip to Echuca to take part in the Annual Echuca Steam Rally.

Where it was a very popular display and was the subject for many photos taken at the rally.

The Wizard was once owned by Ron Ristrom and was used to haul many heavy loads about in the Rushworth district.

 

Steam Traction Engine

The Rushworth Wizard Steam Traction Engine is one of the many high lights of the Easter Street parade.

The author is seeking more details and they will be published soon.

 

 

 

Rushworth Museum Open Times

The Rushworth Historical Society Museum has  on display a large number of items which pertain to local districts history, old newspapers, relating to Gold Mining, wood cutting, early settlement.

On display are horse drawn wagons, an operational steam traction engine, { which is driven in Street Parades}

Early Railways ,Rushworth band, Fire Brigade, other  items to numerous to mention.

 

The museum also has published a book called, Rushworth and District 1853 _2006 copies of which are available from the Museum,

 

and the Moto Cafe in High Street ,the Ice cream Shoppe in Moora Road

The Book  is full of photo’s and stories about the Old Rushworth area and is a well sort after book.

Cost $15.00 plus postage.

 

The Museum is staffed by an willing band of  volunteers and opening hours are

Saturday 10.00 am to 12.00

Sunday 11.00 am to 3.00 pm.

 

Rushworth Museum Post Office Box 102 Rushworth 3612.

 

 The Museum can also be opened by special arrangements.

Coach tours are welcome and can be booked by contacting the listed Phone numbers

President Mike Wellington 03 58561454

Secretary Lorraine Rule at 03 58561951.

V President George Gemmill 03 58572352.

 

 

 

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Season Greetings

Rushworth and District Historical Society and Museum would like to wish all its loyal supporters and visitors,.

A Very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Prosperous New Year.

 

Thanks to everyone who entered into the Christmas competition, this is the major annual fund raising effort for the Museum.

The winner First prize a  Sound System was won by Wendy Moylan of Rushworth .

Second Prize a Sports Bag was won by Colleen Draper of Rushworth .

Third Prize a clock radio was won by Cheryl Hoppner  of Rushworth.  

 

Photo of the very well preserved  Penny-farthing bicycle which was donated to the Museum by the Locke family.

Embossed  on the Frame are the  Letters BSA which stands for the Birmingham Small Arms a company who manufactured these bicycles in 1880.

The bicycle was once owned by Bert Locke a favorite Rushworth character who rode this  bike for many years at Carnivals and  wood days in Rushworth.

The bicycle  is placed on display [Weather Permitting } on the footpath in front of the Museum when the Museum is open,

and it is a wonderful exhibit and a interesting draw card  in attracting  visitors into the Museum.

 

So the next time you are  in Rushworth stop for a while and visit the Museum and view all the other exhibits which are on display.

  Looking forward to many visitors in 2010.

Museum Gardens

Situated beside the Museum building and the secure shed which houses a very well restored Coxan Wagon.

is the Museum,s Garden garden,This garden which has been designed and maintained by our curator Cheryl Macansh.

It comprises bush shrubs and other hardy plants,native to our locality,

Visitors alway pause while passing to admire the garden and view the historic bottle and crockery franments which form part of the garden and all having been artfully arranged by Cheryl.

 

Adding additional colour to the garden is a circular concrete table featuring a mosaic designed and applied by local artist Angie Russi.

 

The Coxan wagon is a one of many which were manfactured by the Coxan Company of Numurkah,this wagon was donated to the Museum by the Brown family. They used it for many years on their farm to cart farm produce to the railway.

The wagon was restored by the Shed program and now takes pride and place at the museum it is  a reminder of the way goods were transported before the event of the motor vehicle.

Next time you are passing by please pause for a while and view the Wagon and Garden.