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The Rumbelows and descendants have lived, fished, and farmed around the Coorong and Lower Lakes since the beginning of the 1900s, settling in places such as Goolwa, Meningie, and Narrung.
The name "Goolwa" means "elbow" in the Ngarrindjeri language, and the area was known as "The Elbow" to the early settlers.
Before 1837 the area was briefly considered for the site of the colony's capital; a "special survey" was undertaken in 1839–40, with a sizeable township laid out at Currency Creek and land for a port with substantial warehousing on the river where Goolwa now stands.
A wharf was constructed in 1852 and government buildings soon followed, including a post office in 1853. However, the treacherous waters of the Murray Mouth made it difficult for shipping and made the town unsuitable as a major port.
Goolwa nevertheless developed as Australia's first inland port (1853). Australia's first railway was opened in 1854 to connect Goolwa to Port Elliot. It was later extended to Victor Harbor, allowing goods to move from river boats to ships, so that neither had to negotiate the Murray Mouth. Goolwa was officially established in 1857.
Surveys around Lake Alexandrina and Wellington were completed by July 1857, and the land released for sale three months later. Farming was labourintensive and managed by families who frequently lacked the reserves to cope with poor seasons. Settlers of British and German stock had no experience of the drier Mediterranean climate of South Australia. Many were also inexperienced as farmers and either were slow to adapt their methods or failed to do so at all. For a time, wheat farming thrived and flour mills operated at Port Elliot, Goolwa, Hindmarsh Island and Milang, but without fertiliser the land became ‘wheat sick’. While superphosphate became available from the 1880s, there was an initial slow uptake because of difficulties in spreading it. New seed drills finally resolved this problem. Many farmers moved to mixed farming.
Fishermen were recorded at the Murray Mouth in 1846. F.W. Cleland and Co. established a fishprocessing plant at the Murray Mouth in 1870 which provided stability for about 30 fishers at Goolwa and Milang. The number of fishers increased during periods of low water in the River as the steamers could not operate, and again during the 1930s Depression, but generally hovered around 40. Milang fishers were more constant at around 11. Licensing was introduced in 1906.
Commercial fishing did not flourish, however, until the transport infrastructure improved with the railway from Goolwa and Milang in the 1880s and road transport from the late 1930s, although getting the fish fresh to the Adelaide market remained a problem before refrigeration, particularly in the summer. The fishery peaked in 1939 with 1 000 tonnes. Mulloway and yellow-eyed mullet were the main species harvested and they remain so, but quantities are greatly reduced.
With the decline of the river trade Goolwa became dependent on local farming and fishing, as well as becoming a popular destination for holidaymakers from Adelaide.
Despite protests from fishers, barrages were erected across the Mouth of the Murray, varying Lake Alexandrina from a partially, or at times totally, marine environment to a freshwater system. Fish stocks changed, with numbers of callop and congollis increasing and Murray cod moving further out into the Lake. The barrages are generally believed to have severely impacted the nursery grounds for mulloway
In 1935 a permanent barrage (called the Goolwa Barrage) was constructed between Hindmarsh Island and Sir Richard Peninsula on the south eastern outskirts of Goolwa. The barrage separates the fresh water of the River Murray from the salt water coming up from the River Murray mouth. The barrage was constructed to prevent the salt water traversing further up the River Murray and polluting much needed fresh water.
Rumbelow Rd, Narrung, SA 5259
Narrung is a very small settlement west of Meningie. It is situated at the northern extent of the Narrung Peninsula, which separates The Coorong from Lake Albert adjacent to The Narrows which separates Lake Albert from the larger Lake Alexandrina.
In June 1881, 140 years ago, Prince Albert aged sixteen and Prince George aged fifteen, who later became King George V (and father of Queen Elizabeth), grandsons of Queen Victoria visited Meningie and district.
The Royal Princes travelled on the PS Dispatch from Milang via Point McLeay (now Raukkan).
While the name appears to have been in use since the 19th century and by all levels of government in South Australia, the name was not listed in the state government's official list of placenames until January 2020.
The Narrung Ferry takes only a couple of minutes to cross between Point Malcolm Lighthouse and the Narrung Lakeside Reserve, offering vehicles the opportunity to explore Australia's only inland lighthouse at Point Malcolm and drive past the back of the historic Poltalloch Station.
OPENING OF LOVEDAY BAY SCHOOL
OPENING OF LOVEDAY BAY SCHOOL
NARRUNG, August 23.-A considerable time ago the residents of Loveday Bay formed a committee for the purpose of erecting a suitable building for school and other purposes.
A site was chosen about four and a half miles from Narrung landing, near to the main road. Mr. S. Bot trill gave the committee a piece of land for the purpose. The following were chosen as trustees:-Messrs. H. Bowyer, W. J. Richards, C. F. Barker, S. Bottrill, and J. McNicol, with Mr. Bowyer as treasurer.
The actual expense of erecting the building was £100 but residents of the district gave to the extent of £100, and the debt on the building at present is £60. The building was in the hands of Mr. A. McNicol (G.A.) and the bulk of the carpentering was done by Mr. C. F. Barker. Mr. A. P. Bowman, at Campbell House, was among the contributors. Mr. H. Bowyer displayed conspicuous interest in connection with the school. He was the mainstay of the committee.
On August 18 the building was opened by Mrs. G. G. Hacket, who was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Miss Hilda Bowyer. The silver scissors that cut the ribbon across the door were given by Mr. C. B. Powell, and presented to Mr. Hacket by Master Willie Barker. Mr. Hacket responded for Mrs. Hacket, and said it was a great contrast to see the new building erected on ground which about 20 years ago was a forest of sheaoak and tree.
For the afternoon sports were arranged by a committee, of which Mr. L. Mann was secretary and Mr. G. G. Hacket judge. Tea was provided by the ladies in the new building, which was artistically decorated. In the evening a concert was given by Mrs. Barret, Misses Redman and Goode, and Messrs. Smith, Daintie, Minc ham, Goode and Barret. The concert was followed by a supper and dance, which concluded early in the morning.
Loveday Bay School (Narrung)
Students of Loveday Bay School, Melville and Lester Rumbelow, end of front row. Dulcie Rumbelow back row.
SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY - LOVEDAY BAY NARRUNG
SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY - LOVEDAY BAY NARRUNG
A considerable time ago the residents formed a committee for the purpose of erecting a building for school and other purposes. A site was chosen about 4½ miles from Narrung Landing, being near the main road and in a central position. Mr. S. Bottrill kindly gave the land.
The following were trustees: Mesrs. H. Bowyer, W. J. Richards, C. F. Barker, S. Bottrill, and J. McNicol, Mr. Bowyer holding the position of treasurer. The actual expense of erecting the building was £160. Residents gave in cash and labor £100, and the pretent debt is £60. The building was erected by Mr. G. A. McNicol, and the bulk of the carpentering was done by Mr. C. F. Barker. Mr. A. P. Bowman of Campbell House was amongst the contributors. Mr. Hy. Bowyer took a prominent part from the commencement, and was the main-stay of the committee.
On August 18 the building was opened by Mr. G. G. Hackett, who was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Miss Hilda Bowyer. The silver scissors that cut the ribbon across the door were given by Mr. C. B. Powell, and presented to Mrs. Hackett by Master Barker.
Mr. Hackett responded for Mrs. Hacket. He said it seemed a great contrast to see the new building on ground which 20 years ago was a forrest of sheaoak and tea tree. The residents had erected a building that would be standing when many of them were in their graves. Other speeches were made, and the people were con-gratulated on having such a splendid building, as Narrung was a station only three years ago.
In the afternoon there were sports arranged by a committee, with Mr. L.H. Mann as secretary and Mr. G. G. Hackett as judge. Tilting-P. Hiscock and H. Hunter tied for first place. Horse over hurdles - Won by Mr. James Marles' Schnapper; second by the same owner's Splash. Sham LIoyd-Lindsey-Mr. Hy. Bowyer's team won from Mr. F. Baker's team by 5 sec. Gretna Green- Messrs. J. Mc-Nicol and R. Robinson, first; Messrs.Hunt and I. Rigby, second. Best Ladies' Get-up for Gretna Green-Won by Mr. Fred McNicol. Mounted obstacle race-J. W. Bottrill, F. Baker. Handi-cap foot race-J.. Rigby and R. Robinson. Stepping the distance-L. Thacker. Boys' race-V. Moyle, O. Francis, and J. Parker. Girls' race The Misses Braunstall. Old buffers' race-C. F. Barker. Ladies' naildriving - Miss L. McNicol.
After the sports tea was provided in tbe new building. A concert programme consisted of songs and recitations by Mr. Smith, Mr. Daintree, Miss Redman, Mr. Mincham, Miss B. Goode, Mr. R. Goode, Mr. and Mrs. Borret.
A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to all who had helped to make the gathering a success. The concert was followed by a supper and dance.
Henry Rumbelow
In 1907 Henry Rumbelow left Encounter Bay due to ill health and commenced farming at Narrung
“On Saturday Mr. Henry Rumbelow sent away by train his well-known fishing cutter The Ferret, and he himself leaves Victor Harbor on Monday for Narrung, where he has taken up land and intends to settle with his family. These are the closing scenes of a long partnership of fishing and boating life with which the Rumbelow family have been connected through three generations, a partnership which had become one of the chief institutions of Encounter Bay.”
Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 15 June 1907, page 30
After 17 years farming, Henry returned home to Yilki in the 1924 with his son Herbert taking over the farm.
Although he was not directly engaged in fishing, he was never so happy as when busy mending nets or looking after other parts of the tackle. Henry was renowned as a raconteur telling tales of hazardous fishing trips across Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island.
Henry and Mary had ten children, and some 23 grand children:
Jane Caroline (Shannon)
Mary Jane (Bird)
Henry Rumbelow Jnr
Thora Blanche (Langeluddecke)
Laurel Phyllis (King)
Lester Malen Rumbelow
Ruby Alice Rumbelow (Bottrill) was born at Victor Harbor on 1st May 1892 and had her first child Dulcie Helena Rumbelow.
Dulcie Helena Rumbelow married Thomas Keith Watson was (born 28th March 1908) on 21st December 1940. Thomas was a sheet metal worker. Thomas and Dulcie had a son Lindsay.
Lindsay Keith Watson
Lindsay Keith Watson who was born on 5th February 1942. Lindsay, a sheet metal worker and farmer, lived at Narrung but also owned a home in Russell St Victor Harbor. He contributed a lot of the information on the Rumbelow and descendant history.
In 1911, Ruby married John Willis Bottrill, a farmer at Narrung in South Australia. She had a further four daughters; Madge, Stella, Thelma and Lillian.
Herbert married Hilda Blance Heading in 1924 and had three children.
Marjorie
Janet
Norman John Rumbelow lived in at Narrung for 64 years before moving to Meningie. He was born on 8th September 1927 to parents Herbert Victor Rumbelow and Hilda Blanche Heading . With no local hospitals in the district his mother came to Adelaide for the birth.
Lawrence
Thelma (Boult / Crosby / Montgomerie)
Freda (McKeon)
Dulcie (Watson)
Minnie Pearl Watson
Minnie Pearl Watson
Minnie Pearl Watson was born at Goolwa on 31st January 1914 and married Selby Young Loftes on 11th April 1931. Selby enlisted in the Australian Army on 13th June 1940 and when discharged on 14th December 1943 was attached to 2/25 Battalion.
They had four children;
Margaret
Rhonda
Elsie
Barbara
Ken Rumbelow was born in the family home at Encounter Bay, on July 30, 1902, one of six children of Godfrey and Ada Rumbelow.
He was sent to Narrung to work on dairy farms owned by his uncle William Henry Rumbelow for 18 months and Jack Bottrills for about 12 months.
"My principal job there was to keep out of the bosses' way. I went to Narrung because I was thin and pale and my family thought I needed building up.”
He then had a series of selling/delivery jobs including bread, carting, groceries, milk, tea and coffee, fish, furniture on the West Coast, haberdashery at Narrung, almonds, door to door with Telsons and AMP Insurance. During the 1930s depression when work was hard to get, Ken did anything he could, including hawking material around Narrung and Point McLeay, selling furniture around Wudina and fish door to door around Victor Harbor.
Walter Malen Rumbelow
Walter Malen Rumbelow was born at Yilki on 7th October 1894, and married Ethel Isabell Herraman on 15th October 1913 at Narrung SA. Walter grew up at Narrung.
In 1924, at the age of 30, he left Narrung with his father and went to Encounter Bay where he purchased The Ferret and continued as a professional fisherman. On December 23rd 1932, Walter, aged 38, was tragically drowned when “The Ferrett” was wrecked off Waitpinga Beach, SA. His body was not recovered.
Douglas
Beth
Zaphne Grace Rumbelow was born at Goolwa on 6th May 1920 and married Joseph William Cooper on 3rd January 1942. Joseph enlisted in the RAAF in 1941, and was a corporal attached to 5 Central Reserve when discharged in 1946. Joseph was a farmer and orchardist who bred Jersey cows and Berkshire pigs that won a number of prizes at shows.
Zaphne and Joseph had four children.
Aileen
Robert
Dorothy
William
Arthur
Carlene Isabel
Yvette Joy
Valerie June
Doris
Lynette
Lester Malen Rumbelow
Lester Malen Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 9th October 1914, one of nine children to Walter Malen and Ethel Rumbelow. Lester attended school at the Loveday Base School, then at Victor Harbor and, after his father’s death, returned to live at Narrung and fish the lake.
He lived in the Narrung district until 1923 when his father returned to Victor Harbor to fish commercially. Lester left school in 1928 and fished with his father for rock lobster at Victor Harbor and as far away as Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island. All fishing was under sail and all thirty pots were lifted by hand. Prices varied with most selling for six pence to a shilling per pound.
Lester spent the last twenty seven years camped on the shores of the Coorong at Pelican Point. Lester spent all his time on The Coorong which inspired him to erect the hut in the 1930s - just four posts with some cladding on the walls, a corrugated roof and hessian rugs on a dirt floor. This 3.5 by 4 metre space, with a kerosene fridge, gas stove, table, chairs, bed and small rainwater tank as the only creature comforts, was Lester's home for his last 30 years. The hut was never meant to be anything but a shack. Lester had no requirements other than a break from the elements.
From 1946 to 1992, Lester worked in partnership with W H (Bill) Ayres of Meningie. His day began at 4 am, seven days a week during the season, when he would row up to eight miles a day to set and later retrieve his nets before the pelicans got to his catch of mulloway, bream and mullet.
Carlene Isabel
Yvette Joy
Valerie June
Doris
Lynette
Carlene Isabel Oliver
Garry Ian Hera-Singh
Garry Ian Hera-Singh was born 16 January 1956 at Meningie, SA. Gary is a commercial fisherman of the lakes and Coorong like his Grandfather Lester Rumbelow. Garry is a proud 5th generation fisherman on his mother’s side.
Garry first started fishing during the mid 1970’s working as a deckhand with his grandfathers. In 1984 he became a full-time fisherman when he invested into the industry. He continues the tradition of static net fishing but has deferred to a boat with an outboard.
Garry has served as the President of the Southern Fishermen’s Association (SFA), representing the interests of commercial licence holders in the South Australian Lakes and Coorong Fishery.
Garry inherited the hut through his aunt on Lester's death in 1992. Garry has fished the lakes and Coorong for the past 22 years. During the fishing season (spring and summer), Garry's young family in Meningie will only see him for a few hours a day.
Rumbelows Hut originally erected in the 1930s.
Leonard Bolger
Leonard Bolger
Leonard Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 11th November 1871 to parents Edward Robert Bolger and Mahalia Weymouth (nee Rumbelow). At 12 years of age Len’s first job was to deliver meat on horseback from Encounter Bay to Yankalilla.
Leonard married Fanny Howe on 21st August 1895.
In the early 1900’s, Len was allocated a farm at Narrung when a large property owned by Sir Sidney Kidman was subdivided. He left his family whilst he built a house, and subsequently a school, on the property.
Len retired to Goolwa but was always busy; cockling on the beach, yabbying, fishing and, at 76 years of age built a six metre open boat and a 4 metre dinghy in 12 months, hand sawing all the timber.
Lenoard fathered 2 children.
James Leonard Franklin (1890 - 1915). Illegitimate son of Leonard Bolger & Sarah Ann Franklin. Was in care of the State Children's Department SA.
Alice Selina Voce (1894 - 1952). Illegitimate Daughter of Leonard Bolger & Emily Higgins. Was in care of the State Children's Department SA.
The Bolger home at Narrung.
1919 - 2011
Descendant of Sophia Rumbelow
Keith Neighbour was born on 13 June 1919 at Goolwa, South Australia, the son of Arthur Neighbour and Ivy (nee Doddridge).
Keith was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Neighbour, who ran a store in Goolwa. Educated at Victor Harbor High School, Neighbour then studied sculpting and painting at the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts.
In 1940 Keith joined the RAAF air crew at aged 20 and trained at Point Cook as a gunner on a bomber. On 5 February 1941 Keith married Lorna Pauline, daughter of Ernest and Florence (Florrie) Crafter, with whom he would later raise two girls.
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