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Rumbelow Town
Rumbelow Town
As the Rumbelow family expanded and lived close to each other, their group of homes became known locally as 'Rumbelow Town'. In 1918 Rumbelow Town consisted of six or seven Rumbelow homes.
Interview with Jeff Battye
Interview with Jeff Battye
VICTOR HARBOR ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, ‘Beside the Seaside’
Interview with Jeff Battye on 1st March 2016
Interviewer: Heather Watkins
Was there a big difference during summertime at Encounter Bay? Were there a lot of holiday-makers?
JB: Yes, people used to come down regularly for holidays to Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay. The Bolger family, that was Rita Adey’s mother and father, they had a house called Nantu-warra guest house half way between Yilki and the Inman River, right on the seafront with a board ladder going down over the sandhills to the beach.
At that time there was no made road along there, just open sandy track and at other places some of the Rumbelow family had fair-sized houses and also a small dwelling at the back. I remember Cain Rumbelow’s house had two rooms, separate rooms, at the back of the house and during the holiday times they’d rent the house out to people for the holidays, school holidays, and they’d move into the back part. That was extra income for them. The Aunt Sis she was a Rumbelow, Malen’s family, she had the same sort of thing.
There was also at that time, camping around the foreshore from The Bluff back around. There are pictures of the line of tents around there on the beachfront. In those days not many caravans; people had tents.
At that time, pre-war and for a short time after the war there were horse drags which were just like a large wagon with comfortable seats. I think a man called Stephens in Oval Road had the last one. The tourists could go for a trip to various places out The Bluff at a leisurely pace. One of the Tugwells had the strawberry farm on top, just in by, underneath the trig point of Newland Hill. He had a few cows as well and the horse drags used to take people up there and they’d sit down on benches and there were strawberries and cream and look at the view at the same time; view right out over the Bay, Victor Harbor and beyond. Same sort of view that you get now from the Lookout out on the top of Waitpinga Road. They also used to go out to the Hindmarsh Waterfall.
Did these people drive vehicles down or did they come in a train?
JB: Some came down in cars, others caught the train. The guest houses, and there were a number of them in Victor, one called The Clifton was right alongside the old school. They used to have people come down for holidays on the train and they’d wander round the town and go over to the Island for a walk; go swimming, fishing.
JB: When we were young at Yilki there were a number of Rumbelows’ children and it just seemed that all of the Rumbelow parents were always ‘aunt’ and ‘uncle’ to us. There was a fairly tight community of the regulars and by that time there were getting to be a few holiday places. Some were regulars, holiday-makers there that had houses and others started building small holiday places.
(A) Maud Street - Malen (1st ) and Alice must have prospered after their arrival, for the council assessments for 1855-6 show that Malen owned part section 82 of 3 acres, with a house and garden. This would be his residence and land in what is now Maud Street. (Map)
Malen also owned;
(B) Section 11 at 4A acres on the Eastern side of Tabernacle Road which is now part of the Encounter Lakes development. (Map)
(C) Part section 173 and 174 of 50 acres which appears to be in the angle formed by the Inman Valley Road and Swains Crossing Road near the Golf Course. (Map)
(D) Lot 33 in section 17 of half an acre which is on the Eastern side of Seaview Road. (Map)
(E) Crystal Palace - Malen (2nd) and Mary owned 63 Franklin Parade but was relocated to Whaler's Inn near the Bluff. It has been demolished. (Map)
(F) Yeltanna - Malen (2nd) and Mary owned a house at 63a Franklin Parade but was demolished in 1997. (Map)
(G) Bachelors Hall - 61 Franklin Parade was situated where the licensed Cafe and Takeaway now trades. It was on important part of the early fishing industry and provided accommodation for fishers (who were single men). (Map)
(H) Ocean View - Malen (3rd) and Susan owned the Guest House at 1 Giles Street. (Map)
(I) The Haven - Cain Rumbelow and Annie owned substantial house 71 Franklin Parade. (Map)
(J) Maryville - William Henry and Mary Jane owned the house at 9 Russell Street. (Map)
They also owned a house on the corner of Tabernacle Road and Franklin Parade that was let during the holiday season. They also lived on a farm for some time at section 440, Hundred of Barker, Narrung.
(K) 13 Russell Street was owned by Lionel and lvy. (Map)
(L) 15 Russell Street was owned by David and Mabel. (Map)
(M) 58 Franklin Parade was owned by Charles and Ruby and later Geoffrey and Shirley. It is now occupied by a block of units. (Map)
(N) Ruby operated the Post Office from the front room of the house until small building was placed in her front yard. It was operated by Lawrie and Ken Rumbelow before closing. The building was relocated to the rear of Fountain Inn and part of an BnB. Map. (Map)
(O) 39 Searge Street owned by Jack and Rose Strawbridge.
(P) 70 Franklin Parade was owned Josh and Caroline Shannon. It became a holiday house used by James Rumbelow and family. It has since been demolished. (Map)
(Q) 68 Franklin Parade was owned Josh and Caroline Shannon also owned "Lallawa" which was let holiday accommodation. (Map)
(R) 3 Tabernacle Road - Fred Bartel was a builder and owned the block next door where he made cement bricks. (Map)
(S) The Tabernacle Cemetery stands on the site of the first church in the region on Tabernacle Road, Encounter Bay. (Map)
(T) 28 Giles St, Encounter Bay - Yilki Uniting Church. (Map)
(U) Foreshore, 62 Franklin Parade - Rumbelow's Fishing Shed was certainly still existence around 1908. (Map)
(V) 62 Franklin Parade - Rumbelows Fish Shop & Gallery - no longer trading. (Map)
(W) 155a Hindmarsh Rd - Rumbelows Deli / Rumbelows Restaurant. (Map)
(X) Rumbelow Street, Encounter Bay (Map)
(Y) Rumbelow Hut, Coorong
(Z) The Memorial Cairn, Foreshore, 62 Franklin Parade. (Map)
CHURCH SERVICE
TO VICTOR
STORM VICTIMS
CHURCH SERVICE
TO VICTOR
STORM VICTIMS
Saturday. At Yelki Church tomorrow the Rev. Charles Watts, president of the Congregational Union of South Australia, will conduct an in memoriam service to the late David Rumbelow, who, with his cousin Walter, was drowned when their cutter, the Ferret, was wrecked on Waitpinga Beach on December 23.
Mr. Watts said today that his service would be one of condolence and hope based upon Whittier's 'Immortality of the Soul.' The address would be chiefly for the relatives.
The cricketers of local clubs will attend the service, testifying to the esteem in which their late comrade and team-mate was held.
Yelki Church is built near the site of the old tabernacle. Yelki is more familiarly known as 'Rumbelow Town.'
Rumbelow families have occupied this village since their forbears of the whaling days attended services conducted by the late Rev. Ridgway Newland. Cricketers of the Hindmarsh Valley and Encounter Bay teams stood in silence for a minute today on the Bay Oval when they resumed the match in which the late David Rumbelow captained the Bays.
James Lee was elected captain in place of David Rumbelow, and Charles Johns vice-captain. S. Malin Rumbelow, a brother of David, reluctantly played. It was Mrs. David Rumbelow's wish that the game be played instead of being abandoned, as was previously suggested.
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