Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
Flicking through the typed sections of newspapers which have been used in recent history notes, I have found a shortened obituary for Mrs Elizabeth Rabe, widow of Otto Rabe. She died in Chatswood, Sydney, in July, 1949, at the age of 79 years. As we know she was a daughter of Mr and Mrs James Booth and she had been living in Sydney for the last five years with her sister, Emily Booth.
Mrs Rabe was an ardent church worker and a notable personality in the charitable affairs in Barraba. She conducted the Barraba Commercial Hotel for many years with her husband, Otto Rabe. After her husband's death she conducted a hotel in Bingara for some years before returning to live in Barraba for about fifteen years. She spent the last five years of her life in Sydney.
Thus we have found further information about the Rabe family but still do not know when the Rabe house was actually built.
Former Secretary of the Nandewar Historical Society, Mrs Betty Crowley, researched much early information on this area which has been invaluable even up to the present day. There are records of changes of ownership to various Gwydir River properties. For example, there is a transfer of part of Gineroi (Singapore) to a Mr Gilman in 1846/47 some years before it was acquired by Mr A.A. Adams.
There is also a letter re a problem with aborigines around the McIntyre River where the commissioner of lands warns the settlers to not take the matter into their own hands. Another letter refers to a boundary dispute in 1850 concerning Lethdridge and Lamach - probably in the Horton Valley.
Last but not least in this selection of information from the Mitchell Library is a return of livestock for Piedmont on 1st January, 1857. <r Capel had control of 50,000 acres and there were 75 horses branded DC and 2000 cattle branded CFL with a number branded on the neck. At that stage there were no sheep on Piedmont.
Mrs Rabe was an ardent church worker and a notable personality in the charitable affairs in Barraba. She conducted the Barraba Commercial Hotel for many years with her husband, Otto Rabe. After her husband's death she conducted a hotel in Bingara for some years before returning to live in Barraba for about fifteen years. She spent the last five years of her life in Sydney.
Thus we have found further information about the Rabe family but still do not know when the Rabe house was actually built.
Former Secretary of the Nandewar Historical Society, Mrs Betty Crowley, researched much early information on this area which has been invaluable even up to the present day. There are records of changes of ownership to various Gwydir River properties. For example, there is a transfer of part of Gineroi (Singapore) to a Mr Gilman in 1846/47 some years before it was acquired by Mr A.A. Adams.
There is also a letter re a problem with aborigines around the McIntyre River where the commissioner of lands warns the settlers to not take the matter into their own hands. Another letter refers to a boundary dispute in 1850 concerning Lethdridge and Lamach - probably in the Horton Valley.
Last but not least in this selection of information from the Mitchell Library is a return of livestock for Piedmont on 1st January, 1857. <r Capel had control of 50,000 acres and there were 75 horses branded DC and 2000 cattle branded CFL with a number branded on the neck. At that stage there were no sheep on Piedmont.
Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
Last Friday we saw the donation of Mo Witten's medals to the museum collection and we were glad to welcome three of his family to the museum considering that they are now scattered through three Australian states and USA.
Spencer Alston Witten (Mo) was born in Barraba and lived all of his life here. He grew up on the banks of Millie Creek, just a kilometre or two upstream from town and Barraba Station. When he was about ten years old the family moved to new Te Whare on the western side of Barraba.
Mo's early education was at the Barraba Central School where he was the first School Captain. Later he attended TAS in Armidale. After leaving school Mo returned to the land helping his father, uncle and cousins run Barraba Station.
Apart from his work on the land Mo took great interest in what was going on around him, joining lots of organisations and helping to run events. He was a member of Rotary, was on the Hospital Board where he became President, was on the Shire for many years just to name a few.
Mo was one of four children born to Frank and Elsie Witten and outlived two of his siblings, reaching the grand age of 103 years. His surviving sister is living in Gunnedah aged 99 years.
The family have gone to a lot of trouble producing the board in memory of their father and we hope that Barraba residents will make the effort to visit the museum and view it.
Spencer Alston Witten (Mo) was born in Barraba and lived all of his life here. He grew up on the banks of Millie Creek, just a kilometre or two upstream from town and Barraba Station. When he was about ten years old the family moved to new Te Whare on the western side of Barraba.
Mo's early education was at the Barraba Central School where he was the first School Captain. Later he attended TAS in Armidale. After leaving school Mo returned to the land helping his father, uncle and cousins run Barraba Station.
Apart from his work on the land Mo took great interest in what was going on around him, joining lots of organisations and helping to run events. He was a member of Rotary, was on the Hospital Board where he became President, was on the Shire for many years just to name a few.
Mo was one of four children born to Frank and Elsie Witten and outlived two of his siblings, reaching the grand age of 103 years. His surviving sister is living in Gunnedah aged 99 years.
The family have gone to a lot of trouble producing the board in memory of their father and we hope that Barraba residents will make the effort to visit the museum and view it.
