1. Phillip Island residents at a working bee on the Esplanade in Cowes around 1920, including members of the McLardy, Forrest, Grayden, McFee, West and Smith families. Their descendants still live on Phillip Island today.
2. Conservationist Florence Oswin Roberts created a koala hospital in 1939 for koalas rescued from bushfires and raised orphan koala Edward, who held court at Broadwater guesthouse. Such was Edward’s fame that the koala’s death made headline news around Australia.
Phillip Island is renowned for its Grand Prix circuit, but back in the 1920s and 30s, the races used the island’s existing narrow and dusty roads, with a 6.5-mile circuit mapped out. After the first race in 1928, the island became the best-known motor racing venue in the southern hemisphere, hosting events such as the Auto Cycle Union of Victoria’s Grand Prix Series.
On New Year’s Eve 1978, the Eagle Star ferry, carrying 160 people sank off the Cowes Pier. It was a chaotic scene, with people jumping overboard and swimming for the beach or the jetty. Locals in small crafts and paddlers on boards raced to help rescue the passengers. All on board were safely brought to shore.
Have you ever wondered why the main street of Cowes is called Thompson Avenue, or just when motorsport became part of the local culture?
The answers to these questions and more can be found in “Once upon an island”, a collection of 39 stories that chart the history of Phillip Island from 1868.
The stories were originally conceived and published by the Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser in 2018 as part of the celebrations to mark 150 years of European settlement.
Many were based on articles and interviews in the paper over the years. Some were first person accounts of local events; others were put together from historical records and documented key events.
The Advertiser’s owner, Anne Oswin, said the response to the series at the time was overwhelming and so it was decided to compile the stories into a book.
“Rather than a traditional, chronological history book, “Once upon an island” is a collation of accounts told by others, highlighting some of the events, places and people that have shaped the island as we now know it,” Anne explained.
“It’s not a complete history, in fact it’s not even a complete collection of the stories run in the original series, because of the preclusion of space.
“But hopefully it goes some way to capturing the spirit of this very special place.”
She said selecting and fine tuning the stories for inclusion was a group effort.
“A book like this cannot be written without the help of a great many people. We are grateful to our readers who came forward in 2018 to share their photos and stories.
“And we are indebted to those many writers who came before us, and local historians Christine Grayden and John Jansson, for their guidance, fact checking and research assistance.”
From the land ballot in 1868, to chicory farming, the hardships of war, the start of motorsports, pet koalas, maritime disasters and the local shipbuilding industry, “Once upon an island” takes you on a journey through time.
“Those early settlers were hardy folks – there were no houses, no roads, no ferry, no jetty, no schools, no doctor nor a hospital,” said Anne.
“These are the stories of their perseverance, triumphs and tribulations, and of those that followed them.”
Stories in the book include:
- Keeping connected: the bridges of Phillip Island – which covers the islanders’ relentless campaign for a bridge, which saw a suspension bridge opened in 1940, and then replaced in 1969 by the current bridge.
- The Wreck of the Speke – the ship crashed into the rocks at Kitty Miller Bay in 1906 and parts of the “noble ship of graceful lines” are still visible today.
- A shark hunter’s tale – the controversial catch by shark hunter Vic Hislop, who hooked a six metre, 2.4 tonne great white off Seal Rocks in 1987.
- The origins of the Penguin Parade – how one man’s passion and obsession with the little penguins was the start of the world-famous tourist attraction.
“Once upon an island” is the second book produced by Chicory Publishing, the publishing arm of the Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser. It follows on from the sold-out success of “Over the Bridge” – a coffee table cookbook that celebrated the farmers and chefs of Phillip Island and Bass Coast, released in 2021.
“Once upon an island” is on sale now at the Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser, Turn the Page, and Bass Coast Visitor Information Centres, select local stores, and can be purchased online. RRP: $45.
