AnneYoungAu

Eliza Crowhurst (1844-1919), a devoted mother Eliza Hale, daughter of Jasper Hale and Mary Nelson, was born in 1844 in Brighton, Victoria. In 1865 she married a miner named George Crowhurst. They had nine children, three born in the Avoca dist…

Eliza Crowhurst (1844-1919), a devoted mother avocahistory.net.au/2026/03/01/e...

Celebrating Avoca’s Chinese heritage This month, February 2026, I have been blogging about the Chinese diggers of the Avoca district. Tens of thousands of Chinese joined in the mid-nineteenth century rush for gold, but when it ran out…

Last month I enjoyed researching the Chinese heritage of the Avoca district avocahistory.net.au/2026/02/28/c...

Betting on the sea horses By Rafe de Crespigny Orient Line postcard of the Oronsay On 7 July 1954, at the age of eighteen, I boarded the Oronsay at Adelaide for passage to Europe with my mother. I had left school at the end of the previous year and had been accepted by Clare College at Cambridge University for the academic year beginning in October. There were entrance examinations, but I suspect that I owed my acceptance more to the references my headmaster gave to colleagues in England than to those results; it would be a great deal more difficult now.

Betting on the sea horses

By Rafe de Crespigny Orient Line postcard of the Oronsay On 7 July 1954, at the age of eighteen, I boarded the Oronsay at Adelaide for passage to Europe with my mother. I had left school at the end of the previous year and had been accepted by Clare College at Cambridge…

The Phipps family during the reign of terror On 21 January 1793, 133 years ago, Louis XVI  of France was executed. The anniversary reminded me of a terrifying experience for some of my ancestors during the period that followed. After France became a republic, fear and uncertainty led to waves of violence and public executions. This period was known as the Reign of Terror . The revolutionary government was under pressure from internal uprisings, strong anti-church feeling, and constant anxiety about betrayal from within.

The Phipps family during the reign of terror

On 21 January 1793, 133 years ago, Louis XVI  of France was executed. The anniversary reminded me of a terrifying experience for some of my ancestors during the period that followed. After France became a republic, fear and uncertainty led to waves of…

Avoca and District Historical Society The Avoca and District Historical Society is dedicated to preserving, collecting and researching the history of Avoca, Victoria, and the surrounding district

I am webmaster for the Avoca and District Historical Society whichovers the area around Avoca in the Central Highlands of Victoia. do you have family history links to the area? avocahistory.net.au

Accentuate the Positive 2025 Blogger Jill Ball has again invited us to look back at the last year of our family history journey. Here is my response to her prompts. 1. I treasured the pleasure of researching and writing I continued to add to my material on Wikitree. I see it as a public repository of my research.

Accentuate the Positive 2025

Blogger Jill Ball has again invited us to look back at the last year of our family history journey. Here is my response to her prompts. 1. I treasured the pleasure of researching and writing I continued to add to my material on Wikitree. I see it as a public repository…

The Seize Quartiers of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, 4th baronet Seize Quartiers means "sixteen quarters". In heraldry this indicates that someone's sixteen great-great-grandparents all held coats of arms. To prove Seize Quartiers you must show that this existed for yourself, for all sixteen great great grandparents, and for all generations between. The notable writer on heraldry, Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, notes that Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, 4th baronet…

The Seize Quartiers of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, 4th baronet

Seize Quartiers means "sixteen quarters". In heraldry this indicates that someone's sixteen great-great-grandparents all held coats of arms. To prove Seize Quartiers you must show that this existed for yourself, for all sixteen…

A Family Coat of Arms : some applied heraldry

Rafe de Crespigny Introduction: The traditional coat of arms comprises a shield, a crest, a motto and possibly supporters, though supporters are generally used only by members of the nobility: dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts and barons – and of…

Christmas at Eurambeen East 1902 My great great aunt Ada Champion Crespigny (1848-1927) saved family letters. Her collection was passed on to her nephew, my great grandfather, Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny (1882-1952). One of these letters written in 1902 is to Ada from her mother, Charlotte Champion de Crespigny nee Dana (1820-1904), my 3rd great grandmother, who wrote from Eurambeen East near Beaufort, Victoria…

Christmas at Eurambeen East 1902

My great great aunt Ada Champion Crespigny (1848-1927) saved family letters. Her collection was passed on to her nephew, my great grandfather, Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny (1882-1952). One of these letters written in 1902 is to Ada from her mother,…

Avoca River in flood 1870 AVOCA RIVER, BELOW THE TOWNSHIP. Contributor Cooke, A. C. (Albert Charles), 1836-1902, artist. Publisher Melbourne : Ebenezer and David SymeDate Oct. 10, 1870.Description print : wood engraving. On…

Floods across Victoria in 1870. An image from the State Library of the Avoca River in flood. avocahistory.net.au/2025/12/30/a...

Avoca and District Historical Society The Avoca and District Historical Society is dedicated to preserving, collecting and researching the history of Avoca, Victoria, and the surrounding district

For many years the Avoca and District Historical Society's website was hosted by the State Library of Victoria. This month they discontinued their free web hosting services.
The new website is at avocahistory.net.au

Silence, the presence of absence In December 1915, one hundred and ten years ago, all British forces, including Australians and New Zealanders, were silently evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula, on which they had landed in April. Their withdrawal brought to an end a costly and controversial campaign of the First World War. The Dardanelles, also known as the Strait of Gallipoli, connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, providing access to the Black Sea through the Bosporus.

Silence, the presence of absence

In December 1915, one hundred and ten years ago, all British forces, including Australians and New Zealanders, were silently evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula, on which they had landed in April. Their withdrawal brought to an end a costly and controversial…

Parrot Pie for Christmas dinner 1890 My great great aunt Ada Champion Crespigny (1848-1927) saved family letters. Her collection was passed on to her nephew, my great grandfather, Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny (1882-1952). Among them is a letter he wrote as a boy from Eurambeen East near Beaufort, Victoria, where he was staying with his Aunt Rose for Christmas: My dear Grannie, Papa, Auntie Ada and Auntie Vi Thank you so much for all the beautiful presents you sent me yesterday. 

Parrot Pie for Christmas dinner 1890

My great great aunt Ada Champion Crespigny (1848-1927) saved family letters. Her collection was passed on to her nephew, my great grandfather, Constantine Trent Champion de Crespigny (1882-1952). Among them is a letter he wrote as a boy from Eurambeen East near…

Cherry Stones updated Family history is an engrossing hobby, a fascinating challenge to trace relationships, and an opportunity to discover how a family has experienced historical events. I am fortunate that quite a few of my forebears and their relatives were also interested in family history, sufficiently interested to write it down. Several of them published books including  Helen Hudson née  Hughes (1915 – 2005) …

Cherry Stones updated

Family history is an engrossing hobby, a fascinating challenge to trace relationships, and an opportunity to discover how a family has experienced historical events. I am fortunate that quite a few of my forebears and their relatives were also interested in family history,…

Eurambeen cemetery visit I have a family connection with a Victorian sheep station, Eurambeen, sixty kilometers from my home town, Ballarat, and 9 kilometers west of Beaufort. Its first owners were George Beggs (1817 - 1879) and his partner Humphrey Grattan, who bought the property about 1855. In 1859 George's older brother Francis Beggs (1812-1880) bought Grattan’s share of the property, and went into partnership with his younger brother.

Eurambeen cemetery visit

I have a family connection with a Victorian sheep station, Eurambeen, sixty kilometers from my home town, Ballarat, and 9 kilometers west of Beaufort. Its first owners were George Beggs (1817 - 1879) and his partner Humphrey Grattan, who bought the property about 1855. In…

Beggs papers at Sovereign Hill The Sovereign Hill Museums Association in Ballarat has more than 150 000 objects, most concerned, directly or indirectly, with the history of the discovery and exploitation of the region's gold. Yesterday I visited the museum to view a sample of what are known as the Beggs Papers, donated to it in 1978. The archive, which fills 30 boxes, is composed of documents, letters, commercial correspondence, invoices, receipts, and ledgers of the Beggs estate and sheep-grazing business at Beaufort, thirty miles to the west of Ballarat.

Beggs papers at Sovereign Hill

The Sovereign Hill Museums Association in Ballarat has more than 150 000 objects, most concerned, directly or indirectly, with the history of the discovery and exploitation of the region's gold. Yesterday I visited the museum to view a sample of what are known as the…

A quiet wedding

My grandparents Kathleen Cudmore (1908-2013) and Geoff de Crespigny (1907-1966) were married in 1933. They had one son, my father Rafe. On Christmas Day 1965 Geoff became ill with a brain tumour. He died in February 1966 at the age of 58. On 30 March 1967, at a quiet ceremony in…

Ancestors at Agincourt 25 October 1415 Six hundred and ten years ago an English army under King Henry V defeated a French army at the famous Battle of Agincourt. In November 1414 an expedition to invade France was announced in the English parliament, and although negotiations for peace were being held, parliament agreed that the king could continue to prepare his expedition. Peace negotiations failed and an English army of some 10,000 men was assembled at Southampton.

Ancestors at Agincourt 25 October 1415

Six hundred and ten years ago an English army under King Henry V defeated a French army at the famous Battle of Agincourt. In November 1414 an expedition to invade France was announced in the English parliament, and although negotiations for peace were being…

Battle of Trafalgar Prizes During the Napoleonic Wars, the French and Spanish Naval fleets combined forces. On 21 October 1805, the Royal Navy under the command of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson intercepted the enemy fleet off Cape Trafalgar, on the south-west coast of Spain. The allied fleet lost 22 of its 33 ships, while the smaller British fleet of 27 ships lost none. Nelson…

Battle of Trafalgar Prizes

During the Napoleonic Wars, the French and Spanish Naval fleets combined forces. On 21 October 1805, the Royal Navy under the command of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson intercepted the enemy fleet off Cape Trafalgar, on the south-west coast of Spain. The allied fleet lost 22…

A troop-ship letter World War 1 Australian troopships, often designated 'HMAT', 'His Majesty's Australian Transport' were requisitioned merchant navy vessels put into service carrying troops to and from Europe. One of these was SS Themistocles, a British passenger and refrigerated cargo ship, built for the Aberdeen Line and launched in Ireland in 1910. In 1914 the Royal Navy chartered Themistocles as the troop ship HMT…

A troop-ship letter

World War 1 Australian troopships, often designated 'HMAT', 'His Majesty's Australian Transport' were requisitioned merchant navy vessels put into service carrying troops to and from Europe. One of these was SS Themistocles, a British passenger and refrigerated cargo ship,…

Oh, What a Lovely War! On 28 July 1916 His Majesty's Australian Transport 'Themistocles' departed Port Melbourne for England with 1500 troops. Most were reinforcements: the nineteenth reinforcements for each of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth battalions, the fourteenth reinforcements of the 21st and 22nd battalions, the thirteenth reinforcements for the 24th battalion, and reinforcements for the 2nd and 3rd Pioneers and the 4th Light Horse.

Oh, What a Lovely War!

On 28 July 1916 His Majesty's Australian Transport 'Themistocles' departed Port Melbourne for England with 1500 troops. Most were reinforcements: the nineteenth reinforcements for each of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth battalions, the fourteenth reinforcements of the…

Signing on; saying goodbye In Melbourne on 13 December 1915 my husband Greg’s grandfather, Cecil Young (1898-1975) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Just seventeen years five months old, he gave his age to the recruitment officer as eighteen years five months.  Cecil had tried to enlist five months earlier on 13 July 1915 claiming he was eighteen years old. He was rejected. The…

Signing on; saying goodbye

In Melbourne on 13 December 1915 my husband Greg’s grandfather, Cecil Young (1898-1975) enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Just seventeen years five months old, he gave his age to the recruitment officer as eighteen years five months.  Cecil had tried to enlist…

Homebush in World War 1 A year ago as part of the series All About That Place 2024, Pacific Edition, I gave a presentation about how a small Australian town remembered the First World War. When on 4 August 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany, Joseph Cook, the Australian Prime Minister, proclaimed that 'If the Old Country is at war, so are we’.  

Homebush in World War 1

A year ago as part of the series All About That Place 2024, Pacific Edition, I gave a presentation about how a small Australian town remembered the First World War. When on 4 August 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany, Joseph Cook, the Australian Prime Minister,…

Nellie 1877-1918 Helen Maud (known as Nellie), the daughter of Wentworth Cavenagh and Ellen Jane Mainwaring, was born on 9 August 1877 in Kensington, South Australia, the eighth of their ten children. She was my great great aunt. At the time of her birth Nellie's father was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly. He owned a farm near Adelaide and was a partner in a wheat and land agency business.

Nellie 1877-1918

Helen Maud (known as Nellie), the daughter of Wentworth Cavenagh and Ellen Jane Mainwaring, was born on 9 August 1877 in Kensington, South Australia, the eighth of their ten children. She was my great great aunt. At the time of her birth Nellie's father was a member of the South…

Captain John Orfeur, 1696 – 1751

Captain John Orfeur portrait from about 1730 now in the possession of a 4th great grandson A guest post by my cousin Diana Beckett Captain Orfeur’s youngest daughter Catherine married Mathew Cavenagh in 1761. The information below is based on the extensive research…

When was Catherine Orfeur born? My fourth great grandmother was an Irishwoman, Catherine Hyde (Orfeur) Cavenagh (abt.1747-1814), the youngest of the three daughters of John Orfeur and Juliana Hyde (Palliser) Orfeur.  John Orfeur was an English army captain. John Orfeur married Julianna Hyde Palliser on April 12, 1732 in Kilmokea, County Wexford, the daughter of an English army officer who had settled in Wexford. Around 1740 John Orfeur settled on land he had bought at at Drillingstown, between Wexford and Waterford, County Wexford.

When was Catherine Orfeur born?

My fourth great grandmother was an Irishwoman, Catherine Hyde (Orfeur) Cavenagh (abt.1747-1814), the youngest of the three daughters of John Orfeur and Juliana Hyde (Palliser) Orfeur.  John Orfeur was an English army captain. John Orfeur married Julianna Hyde…

James Gordon Cavenagh 1766-1844 James Gordon Cavenagh, my third great grandfather, was born about 1766 in Inishannon, County Cork, Ireland, son of Matthew Cavenagh (1738 - 1819) and Catherine Hyde (Orfeur) Cavenagh (~1746 - 1814). He was the third and oldest surviving son of their fifteen children. He was apprenticed to an apothecary in Wexford named Wigram. On completing his studies Cavenagh obtained his diploma from the…

James Gordon Cavenagh 1766-1844

James Gordon Cavenagh, my third great grandfather, was born about 1766 in Inishannon, County Cork, Ireland, son of Matthew Cavenagh (1738 - 1819) and Catherine Hyde (Orfeur) Cavenagh (~1746 - 1814). He was the third and oldest surviving son of their fifteen…

Eating elephants August is Family History Month in Australia and New Zealand. Every year, to celebrate it, the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO) organises lectures and events and other activities. This year I was invited to talk, in the final session, on the subject of 'blogging for family history'. The theme for this year's Month was "Family History: a lasting legacy"; I talked about blogging as a way of creating an integrated body of knowledge and handing it on to succeeding generations.

Eating elephants

August is Family History Month in Australia and New Zealand. Every year, to celebrate it, the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO) organises lectures and events and other activities. This year I was invited to talk, in the final session, on the subject…

Sepia Saturday 781: a picnic in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens

This week's Sepia Saturday prompt is a photo of a picnic. I though I would repost A picnic in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, photos from an outing of my father-in-law's family about 1924. My father-in-law, Peter Young

Our ancestors living 250 years ago Recently I have been writing about those of my forebears and relatives who were caught up in the American Revolutionary War. This started me thinking about my other ancestors living at the same time, 250 years ago. I have identified 170 ancestors of my husband Greg and myself who were alive in 1775. Thirty-four were children under 14 years old; 136 were adults.

Our ancestors living 250 years ago

Recently I have been writing about those of my forebears and relatives who were caught up in the American Revolutionary War. This started me thinking about my other ancestors living at the same time, 250 years ago. I have identified 170 ancestors of my husband…