Who does the Ol' Girl think she is?

[RET]

Hi guys, looking for some local assistance if anyone can provide it.

My FE is originally from White Hills, near Launceston. It was sold new by the Launceston branch of Motors Pty Ltd to a Mr A.V.J. Kaye of White Hills on 19 September 1956. All this is known as I have the original receipt in my collection. Unfortunately that is all the detail on Mr Kaye that I have.

Since I'm bringing the old girl down to Tassie for the Nationals, I thought I would try and locate where she came from. I don't think the dealership should be too hard to find, and I believe it is still trading.

I thought finding Mr Kaye's home would be a little harder.

So imagine my surprise when my search led to this gem:



It turns out the Kayes owned a very large pile in White Hills - 438 acres! More research has shown that it belonged to the Chugg family back as far as 1908, and possibly longer. Surely a home of that age must still be there? I imagine it must be heritage listed. Strangely, although I found that article - and many more from stockyard sales and the like - locating "Lenna" geographically has proved far more elusive. There's a Lenna House at Battery Point in Hobart, but that's an entirely different Lenna.

So is there anyone from that area or able to suggest where I could find out more? It's ironic that it was referred to as "the well-known farming property" in 1952, and now it can't be found.

Thanks in advance,

RET

[hsv-001]

Eight miles from Launceston in 1952 it is definitely swallowed up by now . Haydn

[RET]

Oh, I don't imagine the farm is still there, but the homestead was   19th Century, I would have expected it to be heritage listed.

[DJ]

Interesting intro on the dealers web site. Business operating 100 years!
http://www.motors.com.au/ehub/

I did a similar hunt for info on my FC in Sydney. Hillsdons Holden had sold & the business was relocated by then. Any local knowledge & records (if they kept them that long) were gone. But, you may be lucky in a smaller town in Tas.

The NSW Vehicle Registration thought they could help with a date it was first registered, who to & where they lived - but I needed to provide the original rego number. If you have that the Launceston Vehicle Registration may have info.

Real Estate, Stock & Station agents, local council/museum & historic societies could be worth contacting.
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-tas-deloraine-7404246

There could still be local relatives of the original owner in the area.
May be some clues in the below, some could be in the phone book.

Good luck.

Examiner (Launceston, Tas) 2 Dec 1950
OBITUARY
Mr. H. R. Chugg
MR. Harry Richard
CHUGG, Lenna, White Hills,
who died suddenly last Sunday,
was widely known as a farmer
of great ability. He specialised
in horse breeding, and was most
successful with cobs and later
with Clydesdales.
Mr. Chugg, who was aged 73,
was very interested in local 
affairs and was often approached
by individuals and organisations
for advice and help.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Chugg, he was born at
Franklin Village. He married
Miss Ada M. Chugg, Corra Linn,
in 1906, and took up farming at
Everton Mount and later at
Lenna.
He is survived by his wife,
two daughters, Misses Eileen and
Gwen Chugg (White Hills), and
seven sons, Messrs. Rod,   
Geoffrey, Russell, Tom and Norman
(White Hills), Harry (Kimberley)
and Ronald (Evandale). 
The funeral took place at Carr
Villa Cemetery on Tuesday. The
Rev. K. A. Kay conducted the
service.
Chief mourners were Messrs.
Harry, Rod, Geoffrey, Ronald,
Russell, Tom and Norman Chugg
(sons), Jack and Colin Chugg
(brothers), A. and G. Chugg, B.
Maumill, P. Waddle, R. Chick, R.
McKinestry, C. Towns and A. Collins
(brothers-in-law). 
Pall-bearers: were Messrs. V.
and R. Chugg, R. Towns and L.
Cox.
Funeral arrangements were by
C. T. Finney and Sons.

[RET]

Thanks DJ.

I've actually read that obit, that's the previous owner of the farm, from 1908-1952.

Luckily for me I know the history of the car. I'm just trying to locate the farm or anything that's left of it.

I have found some contact details for Launceston Historical mobs. I just thought I'd try here, in case there were any fellow motoring enthusiasts who could assist. Genealogy types might (and probably will) think I'm mad.

cheers RET

[RET]

I do know what plates were on it when it was sold from the estate. You're right, that might help with the local DOT.

[DJ]

Some of the old articles make good reading, especially when you see the wedding announcement with bride & groom having the same surname (before the ceremony).
Chuggs were certainly a large and pioneering family in the region. Someone there will know.
Hope the old home site isn't a supermarket complex now.

[Paul In Ireland]

White ills still looks pretty rural and the farm may have survived. Put these into Google -41.5044,147.2522 and have a look. Maybe do a streetview drive by and you might catch a name. Farmers tend to keep the farm names so it may be still names thus. Another option is land titles office and tracing ownership that way. Possible family links here, farming family, lots of kids: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/24883603 might be his mother or grandam? Lots of ways if you have the time and patience.

[RET]

Tasmanian Family Historic Society have found it!

I've been given the street address and directions, although they believe the original homestead is now uninhabited. Presumably there are other dwellings on the property.

I'm going to write to the address I've been given, and see what transpires.



cheers
RET

[DJ]

That's good. They will probably know some of the Kaye family still in the region too.

[RET]

An update for anyone interested. The current owners have responded to my letter, and they're only too happy for me to call in. I'm a bit lucky, because the street number I was given was out by about 50, so either the postman delivered it to the right place, or the original recipient redirected it for me.

Hard to believe I'll be there a week tomorrow. Jeez it's coming up fast.

cheers
RET

[RET]

Chuggs were certainly a large and pioneering family in the region. Someone there will know.

Oh, and one other thing - the current owners are Chuggs.

[DJ]

Can't beat local knowledge for mail delivery in those small towns. My mother gets mail delivered without a street name or number sometimes, just the town as the address!

It'll be really interesting meeting the Chuggs. They have to be related. I'll bet they know everything about the property & the town dating back.

[Paul In Ireland]

So, how'd it go? Get any snaps?

[RET]

Hi,

Due to an unfortunate series of events, I didn't get to meet the current owners of the property. However, the father of the wife was able to come up and let me in and let me take all the photos I wanted. So I did get some good ones, but have had limited opportunities to post them, what with rather iffy internet access during the Nats.

I've posted a handful of them here: http://imgur.com/a/a6bQy/all



The one above is is my favourite, although the following one is actually in front of the house that the owner of my car built:



cheers
RET

[DJ]

Love the old slate roof shingles. Look fwd to seeing the rest.

[customFC]

Great pics Richard.
I fond of the house pic myself.
Regards
Alex