THE VOYAGE

The ‘Glen Huntly’ descendents mark 160 years

On 16th April 2000, descendents of the ‘Glen Huntly’ pioneers met at Point Ormond, Elwood to remember their forebears who suffered and died there 160 years ago. They watched a re-enactment of the quarantine camp and shared a meal before visiting the memorial and grave at St Kilda Cemetery.

In 1840 the barque, the ‘Glen Huntly’ glided into Port Phillip Bay. She was on her maiden voyage from Greenock in Scotland, carrying immigrants who would provide much needed labour for the new colony. Carpenters, housemaids, shoemakers, labourers and tailors were among the people with highly sought after skills.

But by the time the ship moored off Elwood’s shore, only 52 of the original 190 passengers had survived the journey. The others had died en route. Instead of being welcomed and cheered, the ship’s appearance was regarded by the fledgling colony with fear, for it was flying a yellow flag - a sign that there was ‘fever’ on board, very probably typhoid. Port Phillip’s superintendent

Charles La Trobe, ordered that a quarantine camp be set up on Little Red Bluff, as Point Ormond was then known. Soldiers were appointed to ensure there was no escape. So these poor souls, through no fault of their own, became the inhabitants of Victoria’s first quarantine station. Many were desperately ill and weak and in May three more died there - George Armstrong, James Mathers and John Craig. They were buried on the cliff top overlooking the sea.

The camp was divided into two parts and strictly policed, one group of tents allocated for the sick or infectious, and the others for the healthy. As the sick recovered they were transferred to the ‘healthy’ section. Provisions were trundled down the rough track (that would become Glenhuntly Road) to cater for the needs of the internees. And the last emigrant wouldn’t leave quarantine until June 13, 1840.

So chilling was the story of the ‘Glen Huntly’ that Olive Moore, [a descendent by marriage of Alexander McKenzie (Red Sandy)], published a book about the horrific journey in 1990. ‘Flying the Yellow Flag’ provides accurate historical detail of the events that led to an overcrowded barque, smaller than the Polly Woodside, setting out without a clean bill of health for the long voyage to Australia. The story is integral to the history and development of Elwood and Victoria.

A cairn set in the lee at Point Ormond gives an account of the historical events and lists the names of the immigrants who landed there. The bodies of the three men who died after landing are now contained in an elaborate grave in the St Kilda Cemetery (South West corner). Another testament to the pioneers, in the form of a ceramic tile designed by artist Hedley Potts, lies set in the recently restored Elwood Pier.

The Book ‘Flying the Yellow Flag’ can be obtained from author Olive Moore for $A12 (includes P&H) , PO Box 6006, RINGWOOD EAST 3135.

Sunday 18 April 1999 saw a gathering of descendants of John Craig in St Kilda Cemetery. The gathering was almost one hundred years to the very day since the unveiling of the monument in St Kilda Cemetery to the Glen Huntly pioneers. To quote the inscription on the monument:

On December 13th 1839 the emigrant ship ‘Glen Huntly’ left Greenock, Scotland and arrived at Hobsons’ Bay on 17th April 1840. Many of the passengers suffering from fever were landed at the Red Bluff, St Kilda on 24 April 1840. That being the first Quarantine Station in Victoria. A few days later JOHN CRAIG, JAMES MATHERS, GEORGE ARMSTRONG succumbed to the disease and were interred at the Bluff. Owing to the encroachment of the sea their remains were exhumed and removed to the St Kilda Cemetery on 27th August 1898 by the Board of Public Health

The photograph above shows the graveside service at St Kilda in August 1898 following the removal of the remains of the Glen Huntly pioneers from Point Ormond (as Red Bluff is now known). The existing monument at St Kilda was unveiled on 16 April 1899. The Glen Huntly story is described on our general tour of the cemetery.

Information courtesy of Friends of St Kilda Cemetery

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