Born in London in 1835, William Bowie was the sixth child of Dr. Robert Bowie and Margaret Symington. He is a grandson of William Symington 1764-1831, the engineer and steamboat inventor.  In 1851 he emigrated with his family in the Athenian and is mentioned in the diary of a young fellow-passenger, Mark Daniel:

“The Athenian was one of the Emmigration (sic) Loan Society’s ships; but our family and the ship’s surgeon, Dr Robt. Bowie, with his family, shared the poop cabin.”

Sunday 5th October “The Doctor is Dr Robt. Bowie and he has a married son with a baby, three daughters and three younger sons, named Wm., Walter, and Thomas” 

Friday 7th November “William Bowie caught a dolphin, a beautiful light blue colour.”

Tuesday 11th November “Wm Bowie caught another dolphin”

For several decades, he managed the Eighnane vineyard at Sunbury, Victoria.  Established in 1864, Eighnane produced superior wines. For a time he collaborated in wine making with his brother Walter. The 1875 Bailliere’s Victorian Directory lists: Bowie, Walter and William, Vignerons, Sunbury. A brief biography states that Walter Bowie was engaged in vine growing for eleven years and that he introduced the cultivation of opium into the colony. [1] Walter Bowie managed the Echuca Vineyard Company for two years before being appointed  Gisborne Shire secretary and engineer in 1883.

Eighnane vineyard was situated on a small promontory on the western aspect of Jackson’s creek, downstream from the Craiglee vineyard, which continues to produce quality wine to this day. The Eighnane Hermitage won a gold medal for "Vin Rouge" at the Bordeaux Exhibition of 1882. Other varieties produced were Verdelho, Riesling and Pedro. Other awards included a bronze medal at the Sydney International Exhibition and several third orders of merit at the Melbourne International.  An extensive commercial orange orchard was also established at Eighnane. 

The vineyard was set up by Travers Adamson, a lawyer and politician, who took out a thirty-year lease on the property from July 1, 1863 under the Novel Industries Act, Section 47 of the Land Act of 1862.

Bowie’s children were tutored by his friend and neighbour, Isaac Batey, whose property was on the opposite side of Jackson’s creek. His wife Amelia Ann died in 1884 at the age of 32 years after bearing seven children. [2] William Bowie remained associated with the vineyard until 1897, [3] when it was sold to John Charles Johnston, son of the founder of Craiglee vineyard. Bowie later managed a vineyard in Yarra Glen, perhaps Killara, where his sons Robert and Thomas were employed. Ultimately he went to Dookie in Northern Victoria. 

In 1895 he was granted a licence to distil spirits for sale: Cognac Distillery, Dookie

He spent his last years living with his daughter Elizabeth Dryden in Shepparton, where he died in 1928 at the age of 98 years. He was cremated after a funeral service was conducted at the Shepparton Cemetery.  

From the Australian Electoral Roll:

1914 Thorpdale

William Symington Josef Bowie vinegrower

Walter Edward Bowie butter factory manager

Ellen Julia Bowie

1915-1917 Moe, 1919 Morwell, 1921-1925 The Sisters Mortlake

William Symington Josef Bowie vigneron

Walter Edward Bowie butter factory manager

Ellen Julia Bowie

[1] Biographies from Victoria and its Metropolis: Past and Present, volume 2, 1880

[2] Interred in Sunbury Cemetery, Church of England, Section C, Grave 6

[3] Wise’s P O Directory 1895-1896 and 1897-1898, William Bowie listed as “Vigneron, Digger’s Rest”

EIGHNANE VINEYARD SUNBURY: NEWSPAPER REPORTS

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 15 July 1882, page 23

OUR VINTAGE.

THE SUNBURY VINEYARDS (CONTINUED).

Eighnane Vineyard, the property of Mr. Travers Adamson, occupies one of the most suitable sites in the district, being a sloping bank of the creek in a pretty bend, sheltered by high ground on every side. The vineyard is 20 acres in extent, and the soil is of the rich character already described, while the slope of the ground is toward the east. Two or three acres of orange trees are planted in a sheltered position near the creek, which add much to the natural beauty of the place. The oranges bear well in favourable years, but very often the seasons are too dry to bring the fruit to perfection. Irrigation would, no doubt, enable oranges to be grown successfully, but Mr. W. Bowie, the manager of Eighnane, believes that the water of Jackson's Creek contains mineral properties in summer which would be injurious to the trees.

The vines were originally planted 6ft. apart with 8ft. between the rows, but afterwards extra rows were put in, so that the 6ft. by 4ft. system is now adopted. Mr. Bowie is quite sure that heavier crops are obtained from the closer system of planting, while horse husbandry can be carried on between the rows.

There is no doubt that higher yields can be obtained by close planting for the first few years of bearing; so that for quick returns the system could be recommended in some districts as a preliminary step to the introduction of wide planting. But the northern vignerons prefer to plant the vines wide apart in the first instance. Here, however, we have a vineyard first planted wide and afterwards brought under the close system, with results that have been so far satisfactory. If the vignerons of the district were unanimously in favour of close planting it might be considered that the richness of the volcanic soil rendered the locality an exceptional one. But as some of the Sunbury vignerons agree with those in the northern districts in favouring wide planting, the matter must still remain an open question. It will be observed that Mr. Bowie's system, although closer than formerly, is still a medium, the vines being planted 6ft. by 4ft., while the strong volcanic soil, and the fact that the I district is a windy one, may naturally affect the question.

Mr. Adamson's cellar is designed upon the same extensive scale as several others in the district, but only a portion of the design has been carried out. An excavation in the side of the hill and a small stone building constitute the present cellar, and it was intended to further excavate the hill, and erect a two-story building above ground. Operations, however, were stopped during the dull times, and have not yet been resumed. Should the present encouraging prospects of the industry continue the cellar will be completed, but, in the meantime, the requirements of the vineyard are very fairly supplied. The wines are meeting with an increasing demand, and a considerable bottling business is carried on. It is customary to keep the wines until they are four years old, and this course has had much to do with the success that has been attained. The principal kinds are Hermitage, Reisling, and Pedro, and a fine Verdeilho is also produced. The Eighnane wines obtained a bronze medal at the Sydney International Exhibition, and a number of third orders of merit were awarded to them at the Melbourne International.

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 9 June 1883, page 25

THE VINTAGE. THE SUNBURY VINEYARDS (CONCLUDED.)

by Our TRAVELLING REPORTER

Farther down the creek, but still on the same bank, is situated Eighnane, the property of Mr. Travers Adamson, but at present under the management of Mr. W. J. Bowie. The area of the vineyard is 29 acres and it occupies a very fertile bend in the stream, being faced on the opposite bank by a great limestone cliff, so that the scenery inclines to the picturesque. Notwithstanding the favourable position of the vineyard, the season's yield is much below the average, the return from the 20 acres being only 2,000 gal, or an average of 100 gal. to the acre. The cost of establishing the vineyard was slight, when estimated on the ordinary Sunbury model, subsoiling being found quite sufficient for the loamy ground. The wide and close systems of planting, the respective merits of which are advocated by so many practical vignerons, have here merged into a happy mean, although there is a tendency to revert to the close system as the one best suited for this particular locality. Mr. Adamson's cellars were commenced on the substantial model adopted for the erection of the Sunbury cellars, but during the dull times the owner's enthusiasm very naturally abated slightly, and no progress was made with them. The improved prospects for the industry will, however, be marked by the completion of the cellar. Mr. Adamson's wines held a very creditable position in the lists at the Melbourne show, and the general excellence of the wines has secured a large bottling trade. This vineyard, together with the others described up to the present, form what may be called the Jackson's Creek group of the Sunbury vineyards.

Leader (Melbourne), Saturday 26 April 1884, page 10

THE VINTAGE AT SUNBURY. 

Amongst the older established vineyards in the colony are those situated in the Sunbury district, within about 20 miles of the metropolis. They are not of very extensive acreage, most of them having been taken up originally some 20 years ago in 30 acre blocks, under the novel industries clause of the Land Act.

In all there are about 220 acres of vines, Hermitage, Reisling, Chassclas and Verdeilho being the lands mostly grown. The soil of the district is generally good, and varies from a black friable volcanic to a strong chocolate. The great drawback to the locality is the want of an adequate winter rainfall, without which a good crop is never gathered, no matter how favorable the weather may be later on. The vintage just over has been a very poor one as regards the number of gallons yielded per acre, the average all round being very low. The causes are the want of sufficient winter rainfall, just alluded to, and the fact that a heavy hailstorm in February did a great deal of damage in destroying the grapes. In some of the vineyards the grasshopper plague also was severely felt. 

Crossing the railway line from Mr. Kurrle's vineyard, and going in an easterly direction past the melancholy looking hill, with its pile of barrack-like buildings, which comprise Sunbury Lunatic Asylum, we reach, on the banks of Jackson's Creek, the snugly situated Eighnane vineyard, belonging to Mr. Travers Adamson. There is only 20 acres of vines, and here again the vintage has been very low indeed, not more than about 600 gallons of must having been obtained this year, Mr. W. S. J. Bowie, Mr. Adamson's manager, states that not only had he to contend with a bad season from a climatic point of view, but was almost eaten out by a visitation of grasshoppers, which appeared about Christmas time, when the vines, despite the rather unfavorable season, presented a very promising appearance. Last year Eighnane suffered severely from the depredations of rabbits, and the manager, determined to circumvent them, had wire netting, which he gets at the moderate price of 7d. per yard, placed round the vineyard. He therefore regards it as showing something of the irony of fate, when, having effectually kept out the rabbits, a new enemy, hitherto unthought of, should turn up in such numbers. Mr. Bowie says that they cleared leaves and berries right before them for some time, until he began to think that he would have no grapes left to gather; and, as it was, the yield is the poorest he ever knew during a lengthy experience as a vigneron. The saccharine register of the must is taken by a Baume instrument, which indicated -Ver-deilho, 19 ; Reisling, 18 ; and Hermitage, 17. 

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 20 June 1885, page 1

AMONG THE VINEYARDS. (By OUR AGRICULTURAL REPORTER.)

No. XIV.-THE SUNBURY DISTRICT.

Sunbury as a vinegrowing district has not progressed so rapidly as might have been expected from the favourableness of its soil and climate. The soil is generally of a fertile character, being for the most part a strong volcanic loam derived from the basaltic rocks, which are found in all parts of the district. There are also alluvial flats of limited extent along the course of Jackson's Creek, and as the country is undulating, there is a variety of aspect provided for the planting of vineyards. The climate is a dry one, but the variety of soil and aspect enables wines of different kinds to be produced. Although the district is upon the coast division of the colony, the strong volcanic soil and the limited rainfall produce a full-bodied wine. The lightest wines produced at Sunbury are stronger than those of Lilydale, and the more generous wines are nearly equal in strength to those of Bendigo. The high quality of the Sunbury wines has been well established at the various exhibitions which have been held throughout the world, and so well are its vintages appreciated that it is surprising greater progress has not been made. The drawbacks have been those peculiar to the vinegrowing industry throughout the colony, intensified by local circumstances. Most of the vineyards were established over 20 years ago, upon land taken up under the industrial clause of the Duffy Land Act. The vineyards were not taken up by working vignerons, but generally by Melbourne gentlemen, who employed managers, and who were not unwilling to expend capital. Hence the system of planting and the equipment of the vineyards were upon an expensive scale, with unsatisfactory financial results. During the last few years the district began to revive, as the result of the improved prospects of the vine-growing interest throughout the colony, but the vineyards have been further kept back by a very severe drought which has prevailed for two seasons. The crops obtained in ordinary seasons, and the excellent quality of the wine, inspire confidence in the future vine growing interest of the district, but the circumstances have been very discouraging to those who have been carrying on the vineyards. The fine rains which fell in April, and again within the last week or two, may be taken as giving promise of future prosperity.

Mr. Travers Adamson's Eighnane Vineyard is prettily situated on the banks of the creek still lower down. Mr. Adamson's vineyard is 20 acres in extent, and the cellar possesses good underground accommodation. The Eighnane wines, which are kept in the cellar four years before being put upon the market, are of excellent quality, and meet with a ready sale.

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 26 June 1886, page 10

AMONG THE VINEYARDS. THE SUNBURY DISTRICT.

Although vine-growing has become firmly established at Sunbury, it has not made so much progress as might have been expected. With a soil and climate capable of producing wine of excellent quality it might have been expected that the district would have become covered by vineyards, but there has been no extension of the industry for many years, while one vineyard has been uprooted. It may be that the want of progress has resulted from the circumstances under which the industry was commenced. The first mistake made in all parts of the colony was in adopting an expensive system of production, and at Sunbury this error was more than ordinarily fallen into. The vineyards were not planted by men with small capital, working themselves, and economising their expenditure, but by Melbourne gentlemen possessed of considerable capital, which they spent freely upon their fancy vineyards. The result was that the vines were planted close together, involving expensive working, the land was prepared thoroughly regardless of cost, large stone cellars were built, and the owners soon found themselves in possession of a very costly hobby. When the dull times came with no market for Australian wine, and vineyards worth no more than the material value of the land, the Sunbury amateur vignerons suffered more discouragement than poorer men who had been more economical in the expenditure. The result was a check to the planting of vines, and a series of very dry years, which culminated last season in a very severe drought, caused Mr. Eadie to abandon the industry, uprooting nearly the whole of his vines. The vine-growing industry of the district, however, has a good future, for a wine of excellent quality can be produced where a large area of suitable soil is available. Cheaper methods of working are being adopted, the present vintage has been a good one, and it may be expected that so many advantages will bring about a revival in the wine-producing industry along the course of Jackson's Creek.

Mr. Travers Adamson's Eighnane Vineyard is situated on Jackson's Creek, about three miles below Sunbury. The soil is a rich volcanic loam, and the vineyard is pleasantly situated with an eastern aspect Immediately opposite the vineyard there is a high rocky bluff, which irradiates sufficient heat to keep off the frosts, or to disperse them before the vines are shone upon by the morning sun. The vineyard is 20 acres in extent, and an excavated cellar has been provided, which enables Mr. Bowie, the manager, to keep his wines for four years. A bottling trade is carried on, and the merits of the wine are securing an increasing demand. The varieties of grapes are Hermitage, Verdeilho, and Reisling, and the wines are admirable. At the Bordeaux Exhibition the Eighnane Hermitage was awarded a gold medal. Ad joining the vineyard there is an orangery containing about 600 trees, which are about 20 years old. The trees are clean and well grown, but during the recent dry seasons have suffered much from a want of moisture. One tree, which had been watered, is loaded with beautiful thin-skinned fruit, and it would, no doubt, pay to irrigate the orangery from the creek. The water would only have to be raised 25ft, and Mr. Adamson is now considering a scheme for raising a supply to irrigate the orange trees.

TRAVERS ADAMSON

Argus (Melbourne), Wednesday 7 April 1897, page 5

DEATH OF MR. TRAVERS ADAMSON.

LONDON, April 6.

The death is announced of Mr. Travers Adamson, formerly Solicitor-General of Victoria, and for many years Crown prosecutor in that colony. Mr Adamson was called to the Irish bar in April 1850, and was admitted to the Victorian bar on November 24, 1852. He represented the Murray district in the first Legislative Assembly of Victoria, which met in November, 1856, and was Solicitor-General in the Nicholson ministry in 1859-60. He was for many years a Crown prosecutor, and retired some years ago.

Age (Melbourne), Wednesday 7 April 1897, page 5

DEATH OF A COLONIST. MR. TRAVERS ADAMSON.

LONDON, 6th April.

The death is announced of Mr. Travers Adamson, who was Solicitor-General in Victoria in 1859-60, and was afterwards a Crown Prosecutor in the colony. Mr. Adamson had been residing in Great Britain for some years. Mr. Travers Adamson was called to the Irish bar in 1850, and was admitted to practise at the Victorian bar in November, 1852. He represented the Murray district in the first Victorian Legislative Assembly, which assembled in 1856, and was Solicitor-General in the Nicholson Administration from October, 1859, to March, I860.

Evening News (Sydney), Wednesday 7 April 1897, page 6

DEATH OF MR. TRAVERS ADAMSON.

LONDON, April 6. — The death is announced, at an advanced age, of Mr. Travers Adamson, formerly Solicitor-General of Victoria, and for many years Crown Prosecutor of that colony. [Mr. Adamson was called to the Bar at the King's Inn, Dublin, in April, 1850, and afterwards came to Australia, settling in Melbourne. He was admitted to practice at the Victorian Bar November 24, 1852. Early taking an interest in politics the deceased gentleman was elected as representative of the Murray district to the first Legislative Assembly of Victoria, which met in November, 1855. Mr. Adamson was Solicitor General in the Nicholson Administration from October 27, 1859, to March 5, I860, and was afterwards for a number of years a Crown Prosecutor.]

Argus (Melbourne), Monday 23 October 1882, page 7

THE BORDEAUX EXHIBITION. THE AUSTRALIAN AWARDS.

[BY CABLE.]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, OCT. 21.

VICTORIAN AWARDS

GOLD MEDALS

1. Mr Travers Adamson, Eighnane vineyard, Sunbury-Red hermitage, vintage 1876, and hermitage, 1882.

Adamson died on 4th April 1897

Eighnane was sold to John Charles Johnson of Sunbury

THE RUINS OF THE EIGHNANE WINERY

The ruin of the Eighnane winery has been subject to a local government heritage study and is considered to be of regional importance. [1] The remnant of the bluestone structure is to be found with some difficulty, situated on a slope down to a bend in the creek, hidden under a dense cover of boxthorn and sheltered under some old peppercorn trees. When the heritage study of the Eighnane ruin and remnant orchard was carried out as recently as 1998, “a dozen or so” very old orange trees were recorded on the river flats. At its peak the orange grove numbered 500 trees. In 2003 the remnant orchard is all but extinct. Only two trees struggle on in very poor condition, suffering from die-back and competing in drought conditions with Bursaria and Boxthorn. These trees are situated 35 paces apart, 100 paces from the Winery ruin. Lately the site of the orchard has been replanted with indigenous species, some of which survive. By a strange coincidence, the only two orange trees which survive co-exist with Bursaria, a common indigenous species and these particular Bursaria “specimens” had been marked to ensure preservation. The orange trees are well camouflaged within the structure of the Bursaria. It is ironic that these ancient orange trees have survived drought conditions and the ravages of time yet appear less likely to survive the attempts to “restore” the landscape. These moribund specimens are the last remnant of a planting which was considered to be an integral component of the Jackson’s Creek cultural landscape and of national heritage significance. 

Access to the Eighnane site is difficult. It is best approached via Watson road, south of Sunbury, towards Digger’s Rest. Enter the Holden Flora and Fauna Reserve, at the eastern termination of Watson Road, beyond Crinnion Road. First walk north, then west, following the fence line all the way. Pass the heads of two steep treed gullies. Continue north over a fairly steep hill then the vista of the Jackson’s creek valley will unfold. In the far distance, to the north, is seen the rock face on the eastern aspect of the creek which overlooks Eighnane. In 2005 a new road was under construction, running north from Watson Road, 1.3 km to the east of the railway line. This road provides access to Eighnane which is more direct but through private property.  

[1] Moloney, David and Johnson, Vicki, 1998, City of Hume: Heritage Study of the Former Shire of Bulla District, Volume 1, page 44, Parish of Holden Place Number H/11 and Volume 5, H/11-1 to 5.

THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON JOSEF BOWIE 

William Symington Josef Bowie Vigneron, Orchardist, born London 19 April 1835; died 16 March 1928 at Shepparton, Victoria. Married Amelia Ann Fell (born 18 April 1852;  died 1 December 1884) in June 1870. Amelia Ann Bowie died at Eighnane vineyard and is interred in the Sunbury Cemetery, C of E, Section C, grave 6

THE CHILDREN OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON JOSEF BOWIE AND AMELIA ANN FELL

 (Please note that not all dates have been confirmed from primary sources)

MARGARET AMELIA ANNE BOWIE born 1871; died 16 July 1937 at Maroopna. 

Married 1906 Lancelot Errington Sim (1863-1934). Children: William Errington Sim born 1906, Lancelot Symington Sim (1909-1984), Mary Anna Sim born 1911.

HELEN "NELLIE" BOWIE born 1873; died 1959

ROBERT WILLIAM BOWIE [1] born 10 October1874 at Eighnane Vineyard; died in 1953 at Parkville. Married (1) in 1906 Lucy Eveline Thompson; children Evelyn Elizabeth 1906-1906, Jessie Evelyn 1908 at Euroa, Lucy May 1909 at Euroa

Married (2) at Coburg on 26 September1925 Florence "Daphne" Borrie. The daughter of Alexander Charles Borrie and Florence Mary Josephine Goldsborough, she died in 1964.

THOMAS JAMES CHARLES BOWIE born 1876; died 19 September 1949 at Woori Yallock.  Married (1) in 1905 Florence Mary Josephine Borrie (Goldsborough c.1866-1945), daughter of George Goldsborough and Ann Teresa Haynes. She was the widow of Alexander Charles Borrie, and the mother of Daphne, the second wife of Robert William Bowie.

Married (2) in 1945, Jane Russell Stevenson. No Issue 

ELIZABETH MARIE BOWIE [2] born 1878; died in 1964 at Mooroopna; Married 28 August 1926 Daniel James Dryden at Cosgrove. No children.

CATHERINE BOWIE Nurse late of Lister House, Collins Street, born in Sunbury in 1880; died suddenly at East Melbourne on 30 June 1936; Single

WALTER EDWARD BOWIE born 3rd August 1882 at Eighnane vineyard; died 4 January 1927 at "The Sisters" Terang; married 1905 Ellen Julia Riordan; children William John 1906-1953 (46 years at Mildura), Kathleen Ann 1907, Thomas Walter "Wally" 1916-1972.

An unnamed still born son was born on 27th November 1884.

[1] Of Killara, the Syme property near Lilydale, presumably employed as farm and perhaps vineyard manager

[2] Of Lisbon Street, Shepparton

MISS HELEN "NELLIE" BOWIE 1873-1959

The second child of William Symington Josef Bowie and Amelia Ann Fell, Helen was born in 1873 at the Eighnane vineyard on Jackson's Creek at Sunbury (BDM Victoria Ref. No. 6087)

She was educated at the local State School at Digger's Rest. [1]

Helen Bowie trained in nursing at the Royal Women’s Hospital. She served in France in the Great War. With her uncle, Dr. George Horne, she was involved in setting up the First Australian Field Hospital. She was a charity worker and a member of the Royal Empire Society. She was a keen and accomplished golfer and in 1934 became the first woman president of the Flinders Golf Club. [2] She lived at Lister House at 63 Collins Street, where she had rooms as a bacteriologist. [3] She donated a painting to the Shepparton Art Gallery. 

She collaborated with Dr. George Horne in forming the Horne-Bowie collection of aboriginal artifacts which was donated to the National Museum in Canberra.

[1] Gisborne Gazette (Vic.), Friday 31 December 1915, page 3

[2] The Age, Thursday 9 April, 1981

[3] Obituary, The Age, Wednesday, June 3, 1959 page 2; Funeral notice, The Herald, Tuesday June 2, 1959

Helen Bowie bequeathed £14,550 to the University of Melbourne. (Annual Report of the University of Melbourne, 1960, page 611)

 NOTES, PRIMARILY FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Helen Bowie attended Mr Budd’s Educational Institute for Ladies at Rooding, Brighton:

1888 Rooding, Brighton Argus (Melbourne), Friday 21 December 1888, page 10

1889 Rooding, Brighton Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 28 December 1889, page 30

1890 Rooding, Brighton Argus (Melbourne), Saturday 20 December 1890, page 5

Church of England Messenger for Victoria and Ecclesiastical Gazette for the Diocese of Melbourne Friday 7 July 1893, page 114

Confirmations: 

March 27th, St. Mary’s, Sunbury. —Females: …H. Bowie, …M. Bowie, M. E. Bowie,

Sunbury News and Bulla and Melton Advertiser (Vic.), Saturday 22 February 1896, page 2

A LOCAL PRIZE-TAKER FOR MODELLING. -At the meeting of the council of the Working Men’s College last Monday evening, in connection with the Verdon prize, Mr P. Ball’s award was confirmed, and the prize was adjudged to Miss H. Bowie, of Sunbury, in the modelling class. We are informed that Lady Clarke is taking an interest in this promising pupil and it is through her kindness that Miss Bowie is able to pursue her tuition so far.

1897 Awarded the prize in modelling at the Working Men’s College (The Age Tuesday 8 June 1897 page 6)

ORNITHOLOGY

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 30 May 1903, page 14

NORTHCOTE POULTRY SHOW.

The first annual show of poultry, pigeons, canaries, other caged birds, Australian and other parrots, was inaugurated at the Northcote Town-hall on Thursday, the 21st inst., and was continued successfully until the 23rd. 

In the foreign class Miss Helen Bowie was awarded a first prize for golden pheasants.

TRAVEL

1921 she spent a fortnight in Tasmania with Dr and Mrs Horne. (Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 18 June 1921, page 32)

Sailed for England 11 May 1935 (The Argus Friday 3 May 1935)

1931 Holiday at St. Andrews, Flinders (The Argus Friday 20 November 1931 page 3)

GOLF

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 5 January 1935, page 12

SUMMER AT FLINDERS

Flinders has awakened from its winter sleep. Many golfers have come to take part in the tournament arranged by St. Andrew’s Golf House, which is to go on until the end of the week. This year Miss Helen Bowie has been elected president of the club. She is the first woman to have held the office, and probably the first woman to be president of any golf club in Victoria.

She was first woman to hold the office of president of the St Andrew’s Golf House Club, Flinders, Victoria. (Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 5 January 1935, page 12)

Sporting Globe (Melbourne), Saturday 9 February 1935, page 4

…Metropolitan, which was an off-shoot of Royal Melbourne, due to many members desiring to play nearer their homes over the paddocks which then surrounded the Central Park kiosk in Wattle Tree Road.. 

Miss H. Bowie originally played at Kew, which before the war was located at Willesmere Road, not far from its present site…

Miss Bowie and Miss Trixie Henty (now Mrs Blandy, of Sydney), also Mrs Merritt were the Kew club's best players.

PRESIDENT OF THE COLLINGWOOD CRÈCHE FROM 1936-1943

Age (Melbourne), Monday 27 July 1936, page 13

Creche’s Golden Jubilee.

Fifty Years’ Work in Collingwood.

Fifty years’ work among thousands of babies in a crowded suburb! That is the story of Australia’s first creche which will be told when, at the annual meeting on 11th August next, Collingwood creche will celebrate its golden jubilee. Collingwood creche — or day nursery, as it was called then — was opened in 1836 in Liverpool House, Cambridge-street, Collingwood, as a branch of the Social improvement Society associated with the Australian Church. Two years later the Collingwood Creche Society was formed to take over the management, with the idea of extending the work in other districts eventually...

In the following year a kindergarten class was commenced for little ones of three and four years old, and this was the beginning of Victoria’s kindergartens, it was conducted by two members of the society, Misses Henderson and Joyce, and in the year 1889 about 1400 children attended the class… 

Fourteen years later some land adjoining the creche was purchased for £235, and in the following year a kindergarten room was built at a cost of £335. Then in 1925 more land was purchased and the present kindergarten erected, and later handed over to the Free Kindergarten Union. 

The incoming president is Miss Helen Bowie, a niece of the late Mrs. G. Horne, who was a member of the creche committee for many years, having Joined In 1893.

1938 (The Argus Friday 21 October 1938 page 4)

Re-elected 1943 (The Argus Wednesday 18 August 1943 page 8)

Handed over the presidency in 1946 (The Argus Wednesday 14 August 1946 page 4)

Punch (Melbourne), Thursday 14 April 1904, page 23

The St. John Ambulance Association announces the following results of the special examination held on the 26th March, 1904: —The first prize of £5 5s. has been awarded to Flora Munro, and the Second prize of £3 3s. to Julia Pottenger, and half of the third prize of £1 1s. to Nellie Bowie, all of the Carlton sub-centre,

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), Saturday 16 September 1911, page 14

(George Horne in Sydney for a Medical Conference)

Gossip for Women.

SYDNEY, September 13.

Many medical men and women have already arrived to be in time for the opening of the congress on Saturday, which will be signalised by a reception at the University. Among the visitors are Dr. and Mrs. Horne and their niece, Miss Nellie Bowie, who have been here some little time in order to try the local golf links, the doctor and his wife being keen on the game. Miss Bowie is a most interesting young person, and is quite celebrated in her native State of Victoria as a bird fancier. In a large aviary, which wanders round three sides of a goodish sized back yard, transforming it into a thing of beauty, Miss Bowie keeps a collection of Australian birds. The caged things have plenty of room to fly about it; there is no sensation of their being close prisoners. Naturalists often go to see this bird community, and I am told, Miss Bowie has some specimens of bird life which are of great value. Then, as a practical side to her hobby, Miss Bowie keeps an incubator and breeds rare kinds of duck, waterfowl, and so forth, and disposes of them for sale. A yard room, used as an office, has its walls completely papered with prize certificates, won by their owner at various bird shows.

SERVICE IN THE GREAT WAR

The Prahran Telegraph Saturday 8 August 1914 page 1

Dr. George Horne, Mrs. Horne, and Miss H. Bowie, Melbourne, arrived in London, from Egypt, Italy, and Switzerland in May, and are staying at the Ivanhoe Hotel, Bloomsbury. They go to Norway shortly, and later will tour Scotland by motor, returning to Australia by the P. and O.  …  address is c/o London Bank of Australia, 71 Old Broad-street.

The Argus Thursday 14 October 1915 page 6

Lieut.- Colonel and Mrs. Horne and Miss Bowie are returning to Melbourne from England by the R. M. S. Mooltan, which is due on November 24. Lieut.-Colonel Horne was second in command at the Australian Voluntary Hospital, at Wimereux, France. Miss Bowie, a niece of Dr. Horne, has been nursing at the same hospital.

The Australasian Saturday 4 December 1915 page 22

Miss Bowie, Mrs. G. Horne, and Major G. Horne arrived in Melbourne last week. They were enjoying a well-earned holiday in England when the Great War broke out. The major and Miss Bowie immediately volunteered for active service, and were attached to the Australian Voluntary Hospital, Wimereux, in France; where they put in an exceptionally hard and strenuous twelve months’ useful work.

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 18 December 1915, page 47

Mrs. Taylor Downie and Mrs. H. Stokes gave an afternoon tea-party in the upstairs dining-room of the Vienna Cafe on Monday, the occasion being a welcome home to Mrs. George Horne and Miss Nellie Bowie. There were about 40 of their friends present, and great pleasure was taken in hearing some of their experiences in England during the progress of the war.

Age (Melbourne), Tuesday 21 December 1915, page 7

AUSTRALIAN NURSE'S EXPERIENCES. 

WITH LADY DUDLEY'S HOSPITAL. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.

Miss Helen Bowie, who was one of the first women to join the staff of Lady Dudley's First Australian Field Hospital, has just returned to Melbourne. Miss Bowe is a bacteriologist, a golfer of repute, and a surgical nurse. She left Australia two years ago with her relatives, Dr. and Mrs. George Horne on a visit to Europe. When Miss Bowie sailed from these shores she hoped to have the opportunity of increasing her bacteriological knowledge, and of trying her golfing ability against that of golfers of other lands. During her two years' absence she has had unique opportunities in both directions, and under conditions totally different from anything she had ever anticipated. Miss Bowie had just returned to London after a trip to Norway and Southern Germany when war was declared. If her return had been delayed a few days she would have been in Hamburg. She doubtless would have had an entirely different story to relate. Dr. George Horne was one of the first Australian medical men in London to offer his services to the Empire at the beginning of the war, and almost simultaneously Miss Bowie offered her bacteriological and nursing knowledge, which were speedily accepted. She was included in the staff which was sent to France with Lady Dudley's First Australian Field Hospital. She spent thirteen eventful months working at this hospital, and has many interesting experiences to relate. "As soon as I decided to go to France," she said, when relating these experiences recently, "a friend collected £50 for me to purchase the materials to equip a bacteriological laboratory. Before we left I had the necessary microscope, incubator and other essentials.'" It was some little time before Miss Bowie found the opportunity to use these articles. She crossed From England to France, and landed at Havre with 50 nurses, at a time when it was thought that the Germans were approaching that town. The possibility of a German descent upon the town was so real that the entire body of nurses was placed for safety upon Lord Dunraven's yacht, which had just brought Lady Dudley to France. They remained there for four days with everything in readiness to sail at a moment's notice. At the end of that time it was decided that they should proceed to St. Nazaire and open a hospital. "We arrived at St. Nazaire," said Miss Bowie, "just at the time of the retreat from Mons. We were able to begin work at once in a French doctor's private hospital, and it was no time before it was filled with English soldiers and German prisoners. After spending two months in this hospital we were ordered to move northwards to Boulogne, where the base had been established. Instead of remaining at Boulogne we went to Wimereux, some miles distant, by train, and proceeded to convert the local golf hotel into a hospital." An almost Herculean feat was accomplished in the first thirty-six hours which the staff of the Lady Dudley hospital spent at Wimereux, and at the end of that time, a fully equipped hospital in readiness to receive patients, had taken the place of the hotel. "As you can imagine," explained Miss Bowie, "we all worked at top pressure. We scrubbed, swept, washed and polished without any thought of rest or food, and we had just finished when the patients began to arrive after the first battle of Ypres." The first week's work done in Lady Dudley's hospital was certainly a record as far as war or peace were concerned, and Miss Bowie did a large share of this work. She did not even have time to begin her bacteriological work, as she was called upon to take the place of the theatre sister, who had fallen ill. "We did over 70 major operations in the hospital during the first week," she said. "We began work at 8 o'clock in the morning, and worked on until one o'clock the next morning. There was no time to leave the theatre to have a meal, so we had to be content with cocoa and sandwiches, which were hastily eaten at the door of the operating theatre." Most of the patients who received attention at this hospital were English "Tommies" and German prisoners. In discussing her impressions of the latter, Miss Bowie said: — "The men were very grateful for all we did for them. Most of them could speak English, and told us repeatedly that they were thankful to be in the hospital, and that they had not wanted to fight, but had been forced to defend their country. The officers were quite different in their attitude. They showed their hatred of the English and the autocracy of their natures in the way in which they demanded attention. They could not or would not speak English, so it was not always easy to know what they wanted." After spending the three weeks in the operating theatre at the Wimereux Hospital, Miss Bowie was able to begin bacteriological work. The laboratory was un-der the charge of Major Dick, of New South Wales, but Miss Bowie was practically responsible for the bulk of the work done in it during the thirteen months she was at the hospital. In addition to this she spent her spare time in attending lectures given by Professor Dryer, the well-known Oxford pathologist, at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Boulogne. "Professor Dryer used to give demonstrations of his methods of dealing with typhoid germs and para-typhoid germs," said Miss Bowie, "and he was also doing some interesting experimental work in blood." Sir Almroth Wright, the famous English pathologist, from St. Mary's Hospital, London, was also at work at the First General Hospital at Boulogne. Before the war he had done a tremendous amount of research work in connection with the blood of human beings, and he was practically the originator of the vaccine treatment which has been of such tremendous value since the outbreak of the war. Miss Bowie had the opportunity of seeing Sir Almroth Wright working in his laboratory, and this, despite the fact that he is a notorious woman hater. She did not have time to do any research work in the laboratory at the Wimereux Hospital, as the routine work in connection with the hospital patients required all her attention; but one of the most interesting things which came under her notice was the fact that many Englishmen who had never been out of England before became infected with malaria. "The Indian soldiers must have brought it to France, and the mosquitoes in the trenches must have carried it to the English soldiers," she said. As the Wimereux Hospital was situated on a golf links, Miss Bowie had splendid opportunities of playing golf, and she occupied the position of instructress to many of the officers of the hospital, who used to seek an hour's relaxation after strenuous and harrowing work within the hospital. 

Weekly Times Saturday 24 December 1915 page 13 

RETURNED FROM FRANCE

SOLDIERS’ HELPMATE

For some reason bacteriology is not a popular subject with women University students here. Art, medicine, and law seem to appeal to them more than germ cultures and bacteria diagnosis.

Among the limited number who have done research work of this class at the Melbourne University laboratory is Miss H. Bowie, who recently returned after thirteen months’ duty at military hospitals in the South of France. She has the distinction of being a member of the first overseas medical and nursing unit to render assistance to Britain on European soil.

MISS H. BOWIE (photograph)

When the members of this party landed at Havre, the Germans took a hand in the game, and for a time they did not know what was to become of them. Miss Bowie was with her uncle, Surgeon Colonel George Horne, with whom she has been associated in surgical work for some years. It was all the valuable experience she had gained in the operating theatre with him and her research work at the University that stood her in good stead when the call for help sounded.

At first the unit established a kind of field hospital at St. Nazaire, but in a very little while it received marching orders to take up a nearer position to the firing line and aid the wounded retreating from Mons. They settled on the golf links at Wimmereux, calling their centre the Australian Voluntary Hospital. In Australia it has often been designated Lady Dudley’s Hospital, because the wife of Australia’s former Governor- General held the formal position of Lady Superintendent there.

In those early days of the war nurses and doctors had to cope with tremendous rushes, lasting often for about two weeks at a time. Then it was not unusual to be on duty from 8 a.m. one day until 1 a.m. the next. If the rush had been continuous all would have broken down under the strain, but every now and then there would be a lull in the fighting, and consequent casualties, and only a small number of patients would have to be taken in and treated.  

The Wimmereux hospital is right on the coast line, and from her laboratory windows Miss Bowie had a fine view of the English Channel and the boats that carried significant messages from England to France. She did some helpful diagnostic work there for men in official positions, who were specialising on bacteriology.

Weekly Times Saturday 25 December 1915 page 23

Interesting experiences fell to the share of Lieut.-Col. G. Horne, of the Yarra Yarra Club, who was second in command of the Australian Voluntary Hospital in France, and his niece, Miss Bowie. The hospital quarters at Wimereux, being right on the links, the officers messed in the club house, and golf was possible in leisure hours. The course, on the seashore, is described as excellent, though the activities of the moles often led to the greens being dotted with little mounds. Eighty is the Bogey of the course. Both girls and boys are employed as caddies in France. Juliet was the girl caddie who became so attached to Miss Bowie that she was very sad when time came to say farewell. Juliet expressed a wish to come to Australia, herself. Some day, perchance, it will be realised.    

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 19 July 1919, page 34

PERSONAL.

Members of the Royal Ornithological Union met in Melbourne on July 9, and welcomed at a dinner comrades home from the war. The returned members were: General Sir Charles Ryan, Majors William Macgillivray and H. W. Wilson, Colonel George Horne, Captains T. Anderson and G. Findlay, Messrs. W. Maclennan, A. N. Sullivan, L. C. Chandler, Charles Barrett, H. Slaney, and Sister Helen Bowie. Colonel H. W. Bryant was unavoidably absent.

Australasian (Melbourne), Saturday 16 September 1922, page 51

SOCIAL NOTES

Years ago the late Mr. H. Budd and his daughters conducted one of the leading girls’ schools in Melbourne, and many of the mothers, and some of the grandmothers, of today are proud of the distinction of being included among “Mr. Budd’s girls,” as his students were always called. A year or two ago, Miss Emma Budd passed away, and now Miss Budd survives. She still lives at the old home, “Rooding,” but the school ceased to exist many years ago. However the affection which existed between Mr. and the Misses Budd and their pupils still remains with Miss Budd, and once a year there is a reunion of “the girls” at Rooding. This took place again on Tuesday afternoon, September 12, when Miss Budd held a reception, which was thoroughly enjoyed by a large number of guests, many of whom renewed the friendship of their school days. The house was filled with quantities of beautiful flowers, the greater number of which were sent by old girls. Among those who were present were Mrs. Joseph Hay, Mrs. Hickford, Mrs. Neil McCormack, Mrs. Aitchison, Mrs. Kimpton, Mrs. Alexander Gardiner, Mrs. Symonds, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. J. Purves and daughter, Mrs. Turnbull, Mrs. H. Inge, Mrs. Frank Short, Mrs. Chadwick, Misses Sewell and Bryant, Purse (two), Nellie Bowie, Amess. The Misses Somners, who were teachers at the school, helped Miss Budd to entertain the guests.

The Advertiser Thursday 19 December 1935 page 6

Miss Helen Bowie, a Director of Lister House, and a scientist who knows more about aboriginal stones and bones than most of us know about anything, has just come back from introducing the kookaburra to England.  She introduced it on a phonograph record. She went into phonograph shops in London and asked to have the record tried. In two seconds everyone in the shop would be standing round wondering what it was all about. Finally the kookaburra record was left with friends in Edinburgh, laughing at Scotland, she confessed.

AER

1905, 1909, 1912, 1913 59 Queen's Parade, Clifton Hill, independent means, h.d.

1921 Tasma, Parliament Place, East Melbourne, Bacteriologist

1927 78 Collins Street, Bacteriologist with Catherine Bowie, Nurse

1934, 1943, 1954 63 Collins Street, Bacteriologist

[1] Gisborne Gazette (Vic.), Friday 31 December 1915, page 3

FURTHER NOTES ON THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM SYMINGTON JOSEF BOWIE

ROBERT WILLIAM BOWIE 1874-1953

Healesville Guardian (Lilydale, Vic.), Friday 5 June 1953, page 3

Obituary Mr. BOB BOWIE. Friends of the Bowie family of Seville heard recently with deep regret of the passing of Mr. Bob Bowie, at the age of 79 years. Mr. Bowie and his family first came to Lilydale district way back in 1894, when he took over as manager of “Chateau Yering,” one of the Yarra Valley’s best known properties. The late Mr. Bowie was a great horticulturist, having gained more than 300 first prizes in local and district shows. He was also a keen follower of cricket, having officiated as an umpire in the Yarra Valley competition for years, and later following the activities of the clubs, particularly Seville, with unbounded enthusiasm. Mr. Bowie held an important post at Syme’s property, “Killara,” Woori Yallock, for more than thirty years, during which time he made many friends and earned the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His passing in a Melbourne hospital followed a long bout of ill health. The burial took place in Melbourne General Cemetery on Wednesday, May 27, the graveside service being conducted by Bishop Carver. Among the mourners were a number of his Seville friends, with whom we join in sympathy to his bereaved wife and daughter.

WALTER EDWARD BOWIE 1882-1927

Camperdown Chronicle (Vic.), Saturday 8 January 1927, page 2

Sudden Death at the Sisters. The very sudden death of Mr. W. Bowie, manager of The Sisters Butter Factory, which occurred on Tuesday, has occasioned deep regret in The Sisters district. The late Mr. Bowie who was 44 years of age, had been employed by Messrs. Wood and Co. Pty. Ltd., the owners of The Sisters' factory, for a period of 28 years. He was held in very high esteem by his employers, by The Sisters' dairymen and the members of the public generally. Much sympathy is expressed for the widow and son in their particularly sad bereavement.