THE QUALTROUGH FAMILY

Descendants of Rev Joseph Qualtrough and Agnes McCullock - Henry Thomas (Jack) Qualtrough (Son of Alice)

By his Daughter Lila Qualtrough (Fuller) April 2001 - Updated by his Grandson Malcolm

For further info see:Chart 25andChart 27

Before Bendigo:

After the turn of the 20th century Jack worked and lived around Majors Line near Tooborac, Victoria. He is mentioned in many newspaper articles as competing in wood chopping events at local shows and sports days. Elsie Powell lived with her parents, George Thomas Powell and Mary Martha Campbell at or near Costerfield, North East of Heathcote and near Majors Line. George Powell eventually took over his father’s orchard at Grassy Flat on McIvor Road near the corner of Powells Road which is named after them in Bendigo. Mary Martha's father Archibald was a farmer and worked for the Powells as awood carterand he lived opposite them in Grassy Flat.

Elsie’s mother left home and took her and her sister Gertrude to Western Australia where Elsie attended a convent school. George Powell eventually took them back in. Between 1903 and 1909, Mary Martha left again or was divorced. She lived with one of her sons we think, Albert Charles Powell at No 7 Bridge Street, Bendigo. Mary died at the Bendigo hospital of acute rheumatism when she was 48 years old on the 7th April 1914. George Powell married Mrs Maud Alice Fitzpatrick who died in 1930. George died in 1945 and he is buried in the Bendigo Cemetery with Mrs Fitzpatricks daughter Alice. 

See Details and Map of their grave

Death certificate of Mary Martha Campbell

Jack (25) and Elsie (18) on their wedding day - 10th November 1913 at  St Pauls Cathedral, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

Left to Right: George T Powell (Elsie's Father), Jack Qualtrough, Elsie May Powell, and Arthur Powell? (Elsie's Brother)

Early Bendigo (Australia) Days

‍ Elsie and Henry in 1945 at 237 (now 44) Belle Vue Road Golden Square

Son Alan Qualtrough with Jack

By Lila: We lived in McIvor Road next door to Mum's father, George Thomas Powell, and his second wife Alice Fitzpatrick. (The early 1920s)

Their property was on the corner of McIvor Road and Powell Road, Grassy Flat. One or two blocks closer to the city lived George's older brother Tom Powell and his wife - their orchard property was bounded by high black-berry hedges - where women wearing old-fashioned sun-bonnets - and atop quite high ladders would be busily employed filling billies (made from 7 pound Golden Syrup Tins) - the luscious ripe fruit - in cream.

Another brother Jim Powell had an orchard several blocks East in Powell Road (I think the road name was changed later).

Grandad had a lovely orchard - growing apples, pears, peaches, etc. and fodder for the animals - several cows (Jerseys I think) and Tommy - a little old horse whose task it was to pull the buggy back and forth to the city.

Grandad cut the grass with a scythe and it was fascinating to watch him sharpening the long blade with a large honing stone, and then see the grass parting.

Grandma set the milk in large shallow bowl on the stove - then skimmed off the beautiful clotted cream. In season ripe peaches and small tins of ice-cream 1/- (one shilling) were sold at Gundry's store next door to the Lyric Theatre in High Street.

Tommy's pace to the shops was quite sedate; but once homeward bound and atop the McIvor Road Hill - he'd have been a contender for the Melbourne Cup!

Beside Grandad's there was a vacant paddock, probably where the animals were grazed - then came our home. Of my life there, my memories are - of Jack (my oldest brother) and perhaps my other brother Will too - crying with tooth-ache and perhaps ear-ache - in front of an open fire in the evening.

We were playing in the paddock one afternoon - probably Jack, Will and I, and perhaps my sister Molly as well - there was a horse and gig at the front gate and someone, a man, walking towards the house which was set back some way from the road. There was a new baby - must have been Alan (born 1924) - and still in my mind I remember thinking the doctor must have brought that baby in the large shallow china bowl that babies were always bathed in!

Elsie and Henry in 1947

Memories of "Cocky" (Cockatoo)

He would follow as Dad planted beans or pea seeds - picking each one out again along the rows - persistently ignoring dire warnings of trouble. Once Dad picked up a green tomato and threw it - breaking Cocky's leg - and forever after the bird walked with a limp. One day mum was greeted at the front door by two irate old ladies. Driving sedately along McIvor Road, beneath a large Ironbark tree near the front gate they were affronted to be treated to some rather unprintable remarks from "Those renegade two boys - Jack and Will!" Of course the culprit was the "Cocky" whose vocabulary was rather remarkable.

The boys were well known to the wood-cutters and they often arrived home atop a dray-load of logs being horse-drawn to the city - having spent all day wandering in the forest in preference to going to school!

Eldest Son Jack

William Arthur Qualtrough (1916-1922) and John Thomas (Jack) Qualtrough (1914-2004)

William Arthur Qualtrough (1916-1922) and John Thomas (Jack) Qualtrough (1914-2004)

Eldest Son Jack - During World War 2

Mologa

Photos of the Mologa State School were kindly provided by:https://www.pyramidhill.net.au/pyramid-hill-museum

I think the Forestry Commission probably already employed Dad. In about 1925 or 26 he was sent to Mologa to take charge of Terrick Terrick Forest. I think we started school at the old Central Mologa Site probably only a short while before the new school was built beside the railway line.

‍ The Forestry Commission had built a home where we lived quite comfortably in-or rather right beside that lovely Terrick Terrick pine forest until about 1933 when Dad was moved back to Bendigo.

‍ Lila Qualtrough on the Left, and sister Maude (Mollie Qualtrough, 4th from Right

Lila Qualtrough on the Left, and sister Maude (Mollie Qualtrough, 4th from RightJack Qualtrough in the Left of Photo at Mologa State School 1927

Mologa State School No 1836 Year 1929

Back Row: Lila Qualtrough, Neil Phillips, Marie Gavin, Ruth Johnson, Dorothy Fyffe, Dorothy Jones

Second Row: Bernie Fyffe, ? , Mollie Qualtrough, Jean Bausch, Nina Windridge, Eileen Jones, Moira Sherlock, Joyce Fyffe

Third Row: Lena Alford, Heather Johnson, ?,?,?

Front Row: Fred Bausch, Alan Qualtrough, Dave Williams, Roy Gamble, Bob Qualtrough

Molga State School No 1836 Year 1929

Back Row: Alan Qualtrough, Marie Gavin, Jim Sherlock, Ruth Johnson, Dorothy Fyffe

Second Row: Moira Sherlock, Eileen Jones, Mollie Qualtrough, Nina Stewart, ? , Dorthy Jones, Lila Qualtrough

Front: ????

Mologa State School 1929

Back: Jim Sherlock, Dave Williams, Jack Gavin, Alan Qualtrough, Eddie Sherlock, Bernie Fyffe

Front: fred Bausch, Roy Gamble, Bob Qualtrough

Mologa State School No 1836 in 1929

Back Row: Nell Phillips. Dorothy Fyffe, Ruth Johnson, Jean Bausch, Nina Windridge, Merle Williams, Dorothy Jones, Lila Qualtrough

Front: Mollie Qualtrough, ? , Lena Alford, Joyce Fyffe, Heather Johnson, Sheila Johnson, ? , Eileen Jones

Alan Qualtrough at the Mologa State School about 1929

The family moved to 237 Belle Vue Road in Golden Square; the house, a large red-brick residence, on about an acre was formally a mine-manager's residence. The house was re-numbered to 44 about 1960

Brother William died in 1922. He contracted blood-poisoning from a pulled tooth.

Lila and brother Alan Qualtrough in 1942

Lila with her mother Elsie May and her sister-in-law Betty Qualtrough in 1946

‍ I had only three months at Golden Square State School - gained a merit certificate then left school to be a 'help mate' to Mum whose health was not good. I nursed her for three winters when she succumbed to severe bouts of bronchitis.

‍ Dad became very ill with pneumonia in the early Bendigo years during a very bad flu epidemic - it was likened then to the 1919 epidemic known as the 'Bubonic Flu'. Poor Mum - we kids were all ill - Dad was admitted to the Bendigo Base Hospital with pneumonia and the doctors told her he wouldn't survive!

Lila Qualtrough (born 1920) was trained as a nurse at the Bendigo Base Hospital. 

She married George Fuller and they lived for many years in Leeton, NSW and then Melbourne and Adelaide.

God be praised - he did recover, and came home singing the praises of the "wonderful angels who looked after him in heaven." Yes those beautiful starched organized cap tails, we trained nurses were privileged to wear, were something to be proud of.

Early Years

See also the Victoia-Australia Section

In regards to Dad's childhood years I remember he would speak lovingly ofUncle Harry, Auntie Emily and "The Old Doctor" Perhaps the latter owned the orchard that was talked of. Dad certainly knew a lot about growing both fruit and vegetables.

See alsoLydia's (His Grandmother) Death

‍ He worked at cutting sleepers in along the Murray River - his much loved river where he lived in a tent - loved early morning swims, fishing and I think the company of other sleeper cutters. He'd say "A man would never starve so long as he had some potatoes, onions and a fishing line!"

Quite likely he was already employed at this time by the Forestry commission and left cutting sleepers to be placed in charge of some of the Forest Areas around Bendigo (Kimbolton Forest towards what is now Lake Eppalock). He certainly knew and loved the entire area - was keen on wood cutting competitions and was, I think well-known in that area. He certainly could "make the chips fly" with his specially sharpened axe.

Second youngest daughter Nina Qualtrough married Roy Furness and lived at Sutton Grange, where Roy was the water Bailiff. Later they owned and managed the Colibinabbin Hotel in central Victoria and then the Limerick Castle Hotel in Bendigo.

Four Qualtrough Sisters and their Mother:

Back Row: Margaret (Qualtrough) Mathers, Malcolm Qualtrough, Molly (Qualtrough) Burke, Elsie (Powell) Qualtrough, Lynette Burke, Lila (Qualtrough) Fuller; Front Row: Mick Burke (on ground), Roy Furness, Susan Furness, Joy Marie Fuller, Nina (Qualtrough) Furness at the Burke's house in Sunshine, Victoria in about 1958

Elsie May Powell (Qualtrough) with her grandson Malcolm and Jillian Martin (Qualtrough) on 30th March 1974 at Swan Hill, Victoria.