Walter George Hiscock ⁸⁵⁸

  General Notes:

Electoral Roll: -
1909 - Burke Road, Kew, Vic - accountant
1914 - Burke Road, Kew, Vic - manager
1919, 1924, 1931 - 102 Burke Road, Kew, Vic - manager
1936 - 1231 Burke Road, Kew, Vic - accountant

Argus (Melbourne, Vic) Thursday 27 April 1922
Councillor and Mrs. Walter G. Hiscock, of Heroncourt, Kew, accompanied by their two youngest children, Marjorie and Dick, are passengers by the Naldera for London, leaving on May 6.

Who's Who in Australia - 1929
Hiscock, Walter G.
A.C.P.A., JP (Vic). Royal Bank Chambers, 70 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Victoria. Chairman of Directors Argus Permanent Building Society; Chairman of Directors and Founder National Building Society; Chairman of Directors Melbourne Motor Services Ltd.; City Motor Services Pty. Ltd.; Melbourne Motor Engineering Works Pty. Ltd.; Underwood Side Car Pty. Ltd.; Elsmead, Long Island and Mt Dandenong Estates Pty. Ltd.; Kaustine Coy. of Victoria Pty. Ltd.; Vice-Chairman of Directors Australian Power Gas Pty. Ltd.; Ammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Pty. Ltd,; Director Australian Alliance Assurance Coy.; Commonwealth Board Mills, Cobram Irrigation Coy., and Fowlers Pty. Ltd. (Vacuum Fruits). As an accountant and sworn valuer, Mr. Hiscock valued and investigated the expenditure at Canberra and Duntroon for the Federal Government, and was sent by the Federal Government to Port Augustus to negotiate for a settlement of a threatened general strike on the East West line; negotiations were successful and the strike averted. Was also asked to investigate the expenditure on the East West line, but declined owing to the high cost involved to the Commonwealth. Has been closely associated with several established industries in this State. Born Kew, Victoria, March, 1872. Son of William (British Foreign Office) and Ann Hiscock (nee Nicholson), of Fareham, Hampshire, England. Educated Kew State, and finally, Kew Grammar School for Bridge-building and Architecture. Commenced business career on the staff of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society (Loan Dept.) 1888-1892. Joined Argus Building Society and Australian Mutual Insurance Society as accountant, subsequently appointed chairman of directors and General Manager respectively. Councillor Town of Kew for 19 years. Mayor for two years; represented Kew as member on the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust for a period of 8 years, when the new Board came into operation; President National Federation, Kew. As a Nationalist contested the seat for Boroondara 1917, when Mr. E. W. Greenwood won. Married Florence Kate Isabel Ball, daughter of E. A. Ball, Metallurgist, of Kew, February 16, 1898. One son, five daughters. Clubs: Sorrento and Portsea Golf, Athenaeum, Royal Automobile, Rotarian and M.C.C. Society: Masonic Recreations: Agriculture, golf, motoring, fishing, shooting, cricket and football. Politics; Nationalist, Creed: Anglican. Home address: "Heroncourt" cr. Burke and Cotham Roads, Kew, Victoria.


Who's Who in Australia - 1950.
Hiscock, Walter George, Chartered Accountant Aust., Chrmn. City Motor Service Ltd.; son of Wm. Hiscock, of Brit. Foreign Office, Lond., and Hants, Eng.; b. Mar. 5, 1872, Kew, Vic.; ed. Kew St. Sch. and Gram. Sch,; chrmn. of dirs. Argus Permanent Building & Investment Socy., City Motors Service Ltd., Melb. Motor Eng. Works, Aust. Alliance Assce. Co., Long Island Estates Pty. Ltd., dir. York Motors Ltd., Tootgarook Estate; was memb. Kew Cl. for 19 yrs., twice mayor; now memb Flinders Shire Cl., pres. twice; for 8 yrs. memb. Prahran Malvern Tramways Trust; investigated and valued Canberra and Duntroon expenditure for Fedl. Govt., etc.; m. Feb, 16, 1898, Florence K. I., d. E. A. Ball, metallurgist, Leamington, Eng., 1 s, 5 d; recreations, golf, fishing etc.; clubs, Athenaeum, V.R.C., R.A.C.; address, Nee Morna, Sorrento, Vic.

Walter was the Shire President in 1934 and 1946 in The Shire of Flinders (now Mornington Peninsula Shire). Walter served as a councillor from 1926-27 and 1929-50.

Woyna House, 9-11 Terry St, Rosebud West, VIC
Photographs: None
List: Register of the National Estate
Class: Historic
Legal Status: Indicative Place
Place ID: 103022
Place File No: 2/18/021/0093
Nominator
s Statement of Significance:
Of regional architectural significance as a fine example of an elaborate Edwardian house, built as a farm house and remaining substantially intact. Of interest also for its associations with Walter George Hiscock and his companies, the longest owner, who played a large role in developing West Rosebud and, as is demonstrated on this property, in transforming farm land into suburbia.

Further research into Dr Zicky-Wornarski, the designer or builder, and W. G. Hiscock
s ownership would be valuable.
Official Values: Not Available
Description:
This locality was part of a Crown Grant to W. A. Blair in 1873. Dr Zicky-Wornarski purchased the whole title of 419 acres from the National Bank (W. A. Blair a major figure in the lime industry became insolvent in the late 1890s, so presumably the bank owned the land as mortgagees) in 1911; there was no building recorded on the property at that date. Dr Zicky-Wornarski came from
Vasougkev
in Camperdown.(1) In the 1912 telephone directory Dr Zicky-Wornarski at Woyna House was the sole listing.

Dr Zicky-Wornarski ran the property as a dairy farm for a few years, selling to Walter George Hiscock
s Tootgarook Land Co. in 1915/16.(1) The rate books later list the property as owned by the Australian Power Gas Co., the Ammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Co. and then directly by Hiscock from 1937 until 1953.(1)

An auction notice (26 December 1916) shows the subdivision of the Woyna Estate, creating 113 lots along Point Nepean Road and Woyna Avenue and retaining Woyna House (then shown as
Woyna
) on a 10 acre allotment (which has since been subdivided). The auction notice describes Woyna House, which was being offered for sale, as
a faithfully-built rough-cast seaside home containing 10 rooms
with a motor garage and a bathing box on the beach. The entry drive to the house was accessible from Point Nepean Road. Presumably the subdivision was carried out by the Tootgarook Land Co., but the rate books suggest that the land sold slowly.(1) At a later date the 10 acre allotment was further subdivided allotments on Terry and Pearson Streets.

The association with Hiscock and his companies is of interest, as they played an important role in the development of what is now West Rosebud. He also served as a Councillor from 1926-27, and 1929-50.(2) It is not known if he occupied the property at any stage.
Woyna House is an elaborate Edwardian house with return verandah, several bay windows and using an external finish of rough-cast render and weatherboards. Internally most of the original rooms are substantially intact, with a recent extension to the rear. One room has a separate entry, suggesting it may have served as an office or surgery. The original allotment has been subdivided on at least two occasions resulting in the loss of the entry drive, motor garage and setting.
History: Not Available
Condition and Integrity: Not Available
Location:
9-11 Terry Street, Rosebud West.
Bibliography:
[1] Shire of Flinders Rate Books.
[2] Hollinshed, C.,
Lime, land & leisure
, 1982, p.203.

Long Island Country Club History
Racecourse to the fairways.
Towards the end of World War 1, James Grice began looking for a buyer for his
'Racetrack Property'. According to Fr. Rowlands, Grice offered to sell his land to one of
Melbourne's best known sports entrepreneurs of that time. This was John Wren, who
already owned a number of pony tracks around Melbourne. Wren considered Mr. Grice's
track was far from the city to be commercially viable, and declined the offer.
So the land was eventually purchased in 1917, by two businessmen with an interest in
land development '96 William Bevan and Robert Bethell. It came a step closer to
becoming a golf course on January 2nd 1925, when Messrs Bethell and Bevan joined
forces with Mr. Walter George Hiscock to form a real estate holding company which
listed a number of properties in its portfolio. By far the most significant of these was the
one referred to as 'Frankston Racecourse', and the partners in this venture decided to
name their new company after the nearby beachside area which had become known as
Long Island.
Perhaps we should remind ourselves that in those days there was hardly any development
between their property and Kananook Creek. Perhaps they considered that the name
carried overtones of a holiday beach resort, and of the Long Island Tennis Club. They
may even have felt an association of ideas with the famous Long Island in New York.
Be that as it may, 'Long Island Estates Pty. Ltd.' was their choice and on 15th November
1924, the Deputy Registrar General issued a certificate of incorporation for the new
company, which has its registered office at 70 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. The directors
were Walter George Hiscock (Chairman), Robert Bethell and William Bevan.
Thus was born the company which, some ten years later would plan and build a golf club,
a Club which, in its turn, would take its name from its parent company and become the
Long Island Country Club.
The directors of Long Island Estates Pty Ltd met monthly at Hiscock's office. While
most of their business discussions focused on their other properties, from time to time
they considered the possible uses of the old racecourse. Although none of the three were
regular golfers, they were aware of the rapid growth of golf in Victoria in the 1920's.
The number of courses could not cater for the dramatic increase in numbers of aspiring
golfers, so new ones were created, generally by city councils. The best known of these
was 'Yarra Bend' '96 built by the State Government '96 which became an immediate success
with tees crowded every weekend. A variation from the normal scheme was a bold
experiment by a Mr. Priestly, who bought an area at Carrum, made it into a golf course,
built a residential club house on it and had a resounding success as Patterson River
Country Club.
The design of the golf course at Patterson River was the work of an expatriate Scotsman
named Gordon Bernard Oliver, who was a naval architect by profession, but a golf course
architect by preference. In his native Scotland, Oliver had been one of those privileged
golfers '96 a member of St Andrews. In 1922, his address was 'Cricklewood' Frankston
and he was one of the five subscribers to the articles of the 'Tower Golf House Company
Limited' which had been formed to purchase a property in Frankston which was destined
to become the Peninsula Country Golf Club.
The real force behind the 'Tower Golf House Company' was William Alfred Towler.
Towler had the land and the financial resources, while Oliver had the skill and knowledge
and they shared an enthusiastic and life long love of golf. Spurred on by Oliver, Towler
purchased an additional five hundred acres and Oliver set about designing and pegging
out the new course. By 1925, the dream had become reality, to the extent that a group of
regular guests at the Tower Golf House took the necessary steps to take over the facilities
and establish a private club. Thus did Peninsula C.G.C. come into being on New Year's
Day, 1925.
Oliver's knowledge of golf, of the way to plan an ideal course and of the facilities
required to meet the needs of dedicated golfers were obviously beyond question. But he
was a very persuasive salesman and not easily held within the bounds of a budget.
Mr. Priestly's success at Patterson River did not go unnoticed by Walter Hiscock and his
co-directors, the then owners of the Long Island Estate land. They had sometimes
wondered about the golfing potential of their Frankston land, without any serious
commitment to the idea. Now they began to warm to the possibility. After all, as the
southern boundary of their property was adjacent to the Peninsula Country Golf Club, it
seemed logical to assume that they had a piece of suitable golfing country. Having been
involved in the Peninsula and Patterson River developments already referred to, as well
as another similarly successful residential project at Emerald, Gordon Bernard Oliver
waited quietly in the wings, excited by the real possibility that he might be involved in
the planning and development of yet another Country Club.
But any hopes Oliver may have entertained about a fourth major golf course venture, and
his third on the old 'Balleymarong' run, were well and truly dashed when the world was
engulfed in the waves of economic chaos in September of 1929. The Great Depression
meant the postponement or complete abandonment of many ambitious plans, including
the embryonic ideas the board of Long Island Estates had of turning their race track into a
golf course.
Three years were to pass before the economic tide began to turn, and the world started to
return to more normal times. Plans that had been folded up and stored away at the onset
of the Depression could now be dusted off and unrolled once again.
CHAPTER THREE
Planning the Golf Course
"There is a tide in the affairs of man which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.'
Shakespeare '96 Julius Caesar
Such a tide presented itself again to Mr. Hiscock and his fellow shareholders in the year
of 1932. Gordon Oliver had formed his own company, 'Modern Golf Constructions Pty
Ltd' in 1928 and had written a very detailed prospectus on golf course development,
which he presented to the Hiscock group early in 1932 and succeeded in renewing their
interest in a golf course scheme. Presumably they did not doubt Oliver's technical
ability, but nonetheless seemed unwilling to commit the project to him.
Instead, they turned to one of Melbourne's best known golfers of the 1920's '96 Alex
Russell of Royal Melbourne.
Russell had a well known merino stud called 'Mawallolc' near Beaufort, where the week
of his annual ram sales was a legendary business and social event. He had a private golf
course on the estate. Some years later, one of his employees applied for the position of
'Foreman '97 Greenkeeper' at Long Island Country Club. His letter dated April 27th,
1939, is still on file at the Club, and says in part:
'I am at present senior green keeper to the private golf links of Major Alex Russell on his
Mawallock Estate. Major Russell is considered a foremost authority on greens
preparation and maintenance in the State having planned and advised on such layouts as
Royal Melbourne Golf Club etc. Our greens, fair ways etc., are second to none in
Victoria at the present time.'
Regrettably a second page of this letter is missing, so the writer's name remains
unknown. Russell won the Australian Open in 1924 before gaining greater renown as a
brilliant golf course designer. In 1926, when captain of Royal Melbourne, he was chosen
by the famed Scottish golf course designer Dr. Alistair Mackenzie as his Australian
partner. Russell's work in designing Royal Melbourne's east course, Yarra Yarra, and
Paraparaumu Beach in New Zealand shows unmistakable signs of genius.
The skill and prestige Major Alex Russell would bring to a new golf course development
would obviously be invaluable. It is not difficult to share the enthusiasm and hope with
which the directors of Long Island approached Alex Russell in October of 1933, with the
request that he inspect their Frankston property and assess its potential for development
'97 not only as a golf course '97 but as a full scale country club. Their hopes were partly
fulfilled when he made a detailed inspection of the estate and they rose even higher when
his report was received.
Russell wrote two letters to Walter Hiscock on November 15th, 1933. He was plainly in
no doubt that the Frankston property would be ideally suited for a golf course, but
conversely, he had reservations about the commercial viability of the venture. This is
what he wrote:
Mawallok Estate
Beaufort.
15th November 1933
Dear Mr. Hiscock,
I enclose brief report of your Frankston area at the same time I feel I must call your
attention to the financial side of the question. About 40 acres will be absorbed in
fairways and I think that 50 pounds per acre will be a moderate allowance to bring
cleared country into good fairway.
Then there is green construction and water mains to greens. Water is essential for greens
in that class of soil. Lastly, there is bunker construction. This can be tackled gradually
but some bunkers must be constructed at once the course is to be sufficiently attractive.
Finally there is the Peninsula Club competing next door and so far as I know in some
financial difficulty & I do not want to be pessimistic but my advice is to consider
carefully the possible revenue before spending too much on construction work.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Russell
In the brief report he enclosed with the above, he wrote:'97
Re; The area which I inspected recently near Frankston known as the Racecourse
Paddock. There is no doubt, that you have there, a piece of first rate golfing country.
The area '97 119 acres '97 should be sufficient for a full eighteen hole course, the contour
of the country would make an interesting layout assured, and couch grass should do well
on this type of soil. The area is nicely timbered and is conveniently situated to both road
and rail I can confidently recommend that a first class eighteen hole course could be
constructed on this area.
I am yours sincerely,
Alex Russell.
Despite Russell's reservations regarding the economic viability of the development, the
directors of Long Island Estates apparently thought the time was right to launch their
project. If Alex Russell did not accept their invitation, the Long Island directors would
still need Oliver. To provide for this possibility they asked him to submit a quote for
laying out the course.
In a letter dated 5th December 1933, Oliver replied;
For the fee of 27 guineas; I am prepared to strike out the outlines of fair ways, tees and
greens of an 18 hole golf course to my rough sketches to scale by means of plough
furrows; so that the said fairways, greens and tees may be cleared, ploughed and
cultivated immediately. If however; you require a plan similar to the one submitted
herewith, showing mute of an 18 hole course (it outline of fairways, greens and tees), I
am prepared to supply same for a total fee of 35 guineas.
Hiscock must have been greatly disappointed to receive the following brief note from
Alex Russell on December 9th:
Dear Mr. Hiscock,
I regret that lam unable to undertake the layout of your course as I cannot spare the time.
I am, yours truly,
Alex Russell
And how elated Oliver would have been when he then received this letter from the
company, two weeks before Christmas.
G. B Oliver, Esq.,
C/a I W Dwyer; Esq.,
440 Little Collins Street,
MELBOURNE; CL
Dear Sir,
Re: "Frankston Racecourse Estate" Frankston and proposed Golf Links
Noted
We are in receipt of your letter of the 5th inst., contents of which have been duly. The
Company has decided to accept your fee of 35 guineas for laying out the above links, as
set out in your letter, including bunkers. And I beg to confirm the arrangement to this
effect made with you this morning.
Enclosed please find cheque for the sum of 5 pounds 5 shillings on a/c of the fees as
provided in the last clause of your letter; for which please sign and return the enclosed
voucher.
Yours faithfully,
W Bevan,
Secretary, Long Island Estates P/L
So Oliver's persistence was rewarded with an early Christmas present, and he set about
his task with alacrity. On 22nd December he was able to write the following report to
Hiscock:
Dear Mr. Hiscock
Report on '97Old Racecourse Property, Frankston
Subsequent to my inspection on 15th inst, of your property adjacent to the Peninsula
Country Club situated between the Skye and Dandenong Roads; I have much pleasure in
certifying that the same is of a very high order as the proposed site of a golf course.
Golf at its best requires sandy undulating territory in a pleasant locality amid pleasing
surroundings. Not only do these characteristics abound but the questions of cultivation,
drainage, etc., from the turf production point of view, are distinctly favourable.

In my opinion it is merely a matter of effective design and construction to very
successfully rival other very popular links. Wishing your enterprise the full measure of its
possibilities and with the compliments of the season.
I am, Sir, Yours faithfully,
G. R Oliver
During the next two weeks Oliver wrote at length about his plans, and made detailed
submissions about the future development and administration of the proposed course. He
included a wealth of figures on the cost of establishing the 'Proposed North Frankston
Golf Links' as he now called it.
His suggestions included a residential clubhouse along the lines of 'The Chalet' operated
by Mr. Phillip Mayer at Warburton. He wrote a four page submission to Hiscock to
support his proposal, but Oliver's ambitious 'Chalet' plans were put aside for the time
being by the Long Island board. They concentrated their resources on developing a top
class golf course.
Thus by the end of 1933 the decision to construct a golf course had been taken. Gordon
Bernard Oliver was to be the course architect and Walter G. Hiscock and his company
were about to launch a venture in which they knew they would be investing in excess of
ten thousand pounds. They had carefully adjudged the tide that had flowed in on their
affairs, had taken it at what they believed was the flood, and hoped it would lead on to
fortune.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Course is Built
Today's golf course designers can literally move mountains and level volleys. The
deafening roar of bulldozers and dump trucks precedes the air of peace and tranquility
that should be part of the charm of golf. Long Island Country Club was peaceful from its
very beginning, except for the moments when nature resisted more than usual, causing
Mick Harley and his son, Pat, to urge on their straining beasts as bullockies traditionally
did. For it was with their bullock teams that the Hurley's, throughout 1934, cleared off
the scrub and ploughed the fairways of the future course. All this was done to the
specifications of Oliver's plans and under his supervision, while Mr. Hiscock paid the
bills.
The Hurleys lived at 'Bresna' in the Bittern area, about 30 km. southwest from Frankston,
near the shores of Westernport. Apparently they had previously carried out work for
Hiscock on the 'Racecourse Estate'.
By February, 1934, Hurley had submitted an account for clearing 38¼ acres at 6 pounds
per acre. In the meantime, the company had also contracted him to fence the boundaries
along Dandenong Road, Walbundry Ave., and Skye Road. The company secretary, Wm.
Bevan, presented a schedule of costs and estimates to the directors on 17th January 1934,
which included: Clearing '97 370 pounds; being '97 129 pounds; G.B. Oliver '97 42
pounds; Sundries '97 3 pounds. Total: 344 pounds.
The Government required that an application for the purchase of wire netting be
submitted for its approval. Wm. Bevan did this on 12th January 1934, applying for 1½
miles of netting which was to be delivered to 'Miss K. Harrison, Old Frankston
Racecourse Estate, Frankston'.
By August of 1934, Hurley had completed the clearing and ploughing of 66¼ acres of the
estate, as well as the fencing, and all accounts due to him had been paid. He was then
retained on a new contract to re-plough 50 acres and sow a variety of crops.
The pattern of events in early 1935 is not entirely clear. Gordon Oliver now seems to
have faded from the scene and the directors of Long Island Estates Ply. Ltd., made an
important appointment at a meeting on 13th August 1935. As stated in the minutes of that
meeting, 'Mr. George Lowe (appointed) as green keeper at a salary of 5 pounds per week
and house rent free. Mr. Lowe to take up his duties on Monday, the 12th August 1935'
George Lowe was to play an integral part in the estate for the next three years. His son,
Alan, is at present the course superintendent at Warragul Golf Club and still has the
diaries kept by his father in those early years. There is frequent mention in the diaries of
the wild life on the estate, such as quail, bandicoot, ducks, snakes and rabbits. The rabbits
in particular were apparently a real nuisance and difficult to control, because of the
almost impenetrable scrub. Several methods of extermination were tried before a
combination of fumigation and trapping was successful.
Another major problem in the winter was the extent of the wet, low-lying land. The
fourth and fifth fairways in particular, were too swampy to work on during the wetter
months, according to Lowe's records. A selection of quotes from the minutes of the
directors' monthly meetings might best describe the sequence of events over the next two
years. All these meetings were held at 70 Elizabeth Street, with the exception of the one
on 23rd March, 1937.
5th September, 1935
'Agreed to accept G.W. How's tender of 85 pounds for stable Feed Room and Tool Shed'
'The purchase of Ford Tractor for 123 pounds from Malcolm Moore Ltd., was
confirmed'
'Purchase of Yellow Cab Motor truck for 70 pounds was confirmed.'
19th November, 1935
'M. Hurley and D. Sullivan to clear up Fairways, Greens etc., in rotation.'
'Lee to clear out rabbits'
1st June, 1936
'Resolved that D. Sullivan and Mr. Burley be put on to clearing only. Two youths be
taken on by Mr. Lowe for planting of grass and that G. Taylor plant trees.'
During 1935 the number of directors was increased from three to five by the appointment
of Mr. Harold Fitzjohn Pearson and Mr. F Russell Lucas. The advent of Lucas is of
particular importance. He was the Shire Engineer at Ringwood and his professional
knowledge and experience were going to be relied on very heavily in the next few years
by his fellow directors. He was to be responsible for the efficient organisation of the work
force on the estate. He also made all key decisions around the course, especially those
related to drainage problems George Lowe often recorded in his diary.
Here again, the company minutes tell their story.
7th December, 1936
'Decided that Mr. Lucas draws up form of weekly report to be made by Mr. Lowe?
'A rain gauge to be forwarded to Mr. Lowe.'
18th January, 1937
'Mr. Lucas to give Mr. Lowe instructions as to clearing of drains, especially on fifth
fairway near eastern boundary.'
8th February, 1937
'Next meeting of Directors to be called for Tuesday, 23rd March, at The Links,
Frankston?
Third March, 1937 (At 'The Links, Frankston')
'Resolved to purchase a Ransome English Triple Gauge mower fitted with the necessary
shaft equipment for horse traction?
The real value of the major part Russell Lucas played in the making of he course may
also be judged by reading the detailed report on each hole Individually '97 and on the total
course '97 which he submitted to the directors on l3th January, 1936. Those who know the
course fifty years later will be able to relate readily to most of Lucas' description. The
only major surprise will be the short par-3 7th, and the long par-S on No. 9. The 7th, 8th
and 12th holes were altered completely in 1946. The other fifteen fairways are still pinch
as Gordon Oliver and Russell Lucas made them.
Here is Lucas' report in a greatly abridged form. 18th December, 1935
Hole No. 1
The hole as pegged is 355 yards long. The tee is situated 270 yards from the cross drain
and 200 feet from the corner of the house block. For this the opening hole I would
suggest a wide expanse of fairway suitably trapped, so as to give only the accurate shot
the full advantage of perfect visibility for the second or chip shot to the pin.
Hole No. 2
The second hole as pegged is 390 yards long, with the option of extending to 410 if
considered necessary or advisable. The green is set on the far side of the present swamp
co the right of a small clump of trees with a slight slope towards the player.
Hole No 3
This hole has been laid out as a one shot hole 225 yards long. The position of lie green is
on rising land at the North corner of the estate. Good visibility from the tee over a stretch
of about 50 yards of low lying country, make it an ideal one-shot hole. The suggested
layout of fairway by extending same diagonally and off-the-centre-line from the green,
will give the long hitter full scope lo try his ability and at the same time allow the safe
player to reach the green by two good golfing shots.
Hole No. 4
The fourth hole along the eastern boundary fence is a long hole running almost due south.
The length is about 530 yards with the option of extension to 550. I feel quite sure that I
am voicing the opinion of the big majority of golfers, that long holes are both
uninteresting and tedious. I feel it is a mistake to pander too much o the very long hitter at
the expense of the average player. The green itself is well situated on rising ground which
will be sufficiently bunkered to add interest, without causing serious trouble for the
player who gets anywhere near the green with his second shot.
Hole No. 5
The fifth hole drive and chip is only 310 yards long with a slight dogleg. Main feature of
this hole is that the tee shot must be accurately placed to get full advantage of good
visibility for the chip in. A clump of trees in direct line from tee to green is a deterrent to
the long hitter unless he has sufficient control to bring the ball round the trees. The main
drain runs at right angles in front of the tee about 120 yards out.
Hole No. 6
This hole along the Southern boundary is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and
attractive holes on the course Pegged as 465 yards long, with the option of shortening or
lengthening by at least 20 yards, this fairway, on beautiful undulating country, is a
difficult two-shotter, giving full scope for the long hitter and accurate player alike. The
green gives immense scope to the architect to develop on true golfing lines.
Hole No. 7 (deleted in 1948)
This hole is a. short shot of 125 yards. The shot is played across the swamp and a good
deal of earthwork will be necessary to form a tongue from both tee and green to run back
into the swamp. The attraction of this hole will largely depend on the ability to keep the
water in the swamp at a fairly low level.
Hole No. 8
The eighth hole of 420 yards is perhaps the most popular of all golfing holes, accuracy
being the dominant feature. The country is undulating, the well placed drive again giving
a big advantage for the second or iron shot.
Hole No. 9
This hole pegged length 490 yards, is one that has called for adverse criticism on account
of the second shot being blind. I do not suggest that this criticism is not to some extent
justified. On the other hand there are many competent judges who argue that partial
blindness is by no means a bad fault.
Hole No. 10
The tenth hole 380 yards has the tee in a convenient position not far from the Club House
situated in a grove of Ti tree close to the creek. This hole is a good sample of a dog leg
where the well placed shot from the tee will have every advantage.
Hole No. 11(330 yards)
This hole's drive and chip, has the tee about 100 yards from low swampy country which
can be easily drained, but which may always be used as a feature for water hazard.
Hole No. 12
170 yards is a perfect sample of a one-shot iron hole. The tee commands a good view of
the green, which is set in a nest of trees on the far side of the main drain which forms an
ideal bunker.
Hole No. 13 (465 yards)
The carry from the tee to clear the water hole (which may be either kept as a feature or
drained out) is 150 yards. The 4th and 13th fairways will merge into one and be defined
by clumps of trees dotted about in suitable places.
Hole No. 14
The next hole, 395 yards, is a good two-shot hole back towards the creek. The fairway is
slightly dog-legged and the distance, 395 yards, will help to make this hole very
attractive.
Hole No. 15 (410 yards)
The green for this hole is nicely situated with a good background of ti tree and ileac
distance of 410 yards puts the hole in the popular class.
Hole No. 16 (360 yards)
The sixteenth or "Plateau Green" as it will probably be called, although only 360 yards
long will, I think be a particularly testing hole. The natural setting for this hole is I think
perfect, and the skilful architect can make a green which, for true golf testing duality,
should be second to none.
Hole No. 17
390 yards is another of the popular variety, the setting for both tee and green being
particularly good.
Hole No. 18
The last hole 420 yards is played back across the creek which will vary in distance from
110 yards to 210, so that even the shortest hitter can select his crossing. The fairway for
this hole is good country and the dog leg nature of the hole should not only provide a
good two shotter to finish with, but should give a very nice appearance from the club
house.
By the middle of 1937 the course CLUB was ready for use, and it was time to implement
the next stage of the plan '97 the establishment of a new golf club; LONG ISLAND
COUNTRY CLUB.
Lay-out, yardage of holes, position of club house, balance of holes and boundaries of
country used for the new Long Island Golf Club links on Dandenong Road, one mile
from Frankston railway station, and adjoining the Peninsula Country Golf Club. This
diagram of the course also shows where ills believed the Frankston Racecourse was
located on L.LCC land.
CHAPTER FIVE
Towards a Country Club
The directors of Long Island Estates Pty Ltd. had good reason to feel satisfied by the
beginning of 1937. In three years, they had established a golf course of championship
proportions, which showed all the signs of being able to live up to the early opinions of
Gordon Oliver and Alex Russell. Whether it could support a residential Country Club of
the proportions Oliver had proposed in 1932, was another question.
By now it could be fairly accurately estimated that the company faced a total outlay in
excess of 20,000 pounds before the course and Clubhouse were fully established. Oliver
had confidently predicted that residential accommodation for a hundred and fifty guests
each paying five guineas per week would return an income of 10,000 pounds per annum.
But the board of directors was inclined to be more conservative about this than their
ambitious course architect.
Here again, a few extracts from the company minutes tell their own story.
12th April, 1937
'Probable expenditure to finish and fit course and clubhouse was deferred.'
10th May, 1937
'Mr. Jon. Pearson to draw up plans for Clubhouse.'
'Consideration was given to the plans and tenders for the clubhouse: Moved by Pearson,
seconded by Lucas that acceptance of a tender he left in the hands of W. G. Hiscock'
4th October, 1937
'Plans and specifications for Golf House, and acceptance of Mr. How's tender for 4,155
pounds confirmed'
'It was decided to purchase 11 acres and 8½ acres of adjoining land at 100 pounds and
125 pounds respectively'
'Purchase 2 x 16" Enfield motor mowers at 50 pounds each.'
BUILDING THE CLUBHOUSE
The eventual decision on the clubhouse favoured a non-resident facility. The directors
were anxious to have a building of distinctive architectural style that would be a focal
point in their publicity campaign. To achieve this, Mr. Hiscock relied on Mr. John
Pearson of the firm of Reid and Pearson.
As we read in the minutes, Pearson was entrusted with this task in May of 1937, and his
plans were submitted to the board in August that year. He proposed a two-storey building
which would incorporate an Australian adaptation of two traditional English styles '97
Tudor and Elizabethan.
The task of constructing this unique home for the new Club was entrusted In George
How, whose tender of 4,155 pounds was accepted on 4th October. Work commenced
immediately and by January 17th 1938, the roof supports were in place.
In February, Russell Lucas discussed the plans for an entrance road to the Golf House
with Mr. T. Muntz, Frankston Shire Engineer. In July the directors recorded letting
contracts for the laying of carpets and linoleum, so presumably the building was
completed by that time.
With the clubhouse at last a reality, the challenge now was to establish the 'Club'. A top
class course and a unique clubhouse may be vital ingredients for a good club, but a far
more important ingredient is a loyal and congenial group of members. We might
reasonably assume that there were many keen golfers who became aware of the Long
Island plans while the course was under construction, and that a small band of enthusiasts
would have formed the nucleus of the future club in 1935-37. This does indeed seem to
have been the case, and among those who played a significant part in the early affairs of
the embryo club were Archie Muntz, 'Dick' Rilbot and Ernest Johns.
Especially prominent among these was Archie T R Muntz Born in 1896, he saw four
years War service in 1914-18 as an Intelligence Officer and on his return took up a
soldier settler's block at Mildura. A war service disability later forced him to seek less
physical employment, so he came to Melbourne in 1933 and lived with his brother who
was Frankston Shire Engineer, and gained employment as a commercial traveller.
A good businessman, capable golfer, and genial personality, Muntz was recommended by
his brother to Walter Hiscock as a valuable member for the new club. He is typical of a
group of people whose knowledge of golf and enthusiasm for the game helped lay the
foundations of the future club during the years 1935-37.
Another in this group was Arnold H. Talbot. 'Dick' Talbot, as he was more commonly
known, was proprietor of Frankston's picture theatre of those days. The theatre was in
Playne Street, on the site today occupied by Guyatt's Discount City. On his death, Dick
Talbot left a sizeable bequest to the City of Frankston for the welfare of its senior
citizens. The "A. H. Talbot Community Bus" and the Seaford Senior Citizens Centre are
just two examples today of his generosity. Dick continued his L.I.C.C. membership post-
war until his death in 1966.
Ernest W Johns was a master Tailor, whose residence was in East Malvern. He became
involved a little later than Muntz and Talbot, but was a key figure in the foundation of the
club. Early in 1938 he agreed to take on the duties of Honorary Secretary. Most golf
clubs at that time used the services of a committee member as hon. sec., either as well as
or instead of having a paid manager. Until poor health led to his resignation on 18th April
1939 as Hon. Secretary, Johns played a vital role in the early administration of L.I.C.C.
These three gentlemen were typical of a number of similarly minded foundation members
of the future.
Once the clubhouse began to take shape, the directors of Long Island Estates turned their
attention to the task of attracting suitable members, as we read in the minutes:
6th December, 1937
'It was agreed that Mr. Lowe be appointed Acting Manager at a remuneration of 6
pounds per week!'
'The appointment of Mt Cohn Camp be//as professional at 1 pound per week as from 1st
December, 1937 was confirmed.'
'It was resolved to limit the number of foundation members to 100 to be elected on the
formation of the club.'
'The committee wanted to have control of all matters in connection with membership!'
The directors sought publicity in the Melbourne newspapers, and were delighted with the
coverage they received in the Melbourne "Herald'. For nearly twenty years before and
after the war, 'The Herald's' feature golfing articles were the work of Jack Dillon. On
November 23rd 1937, he wrote at length under the headline: 'Long Island Ready for
Opening.' The following extracts are taken from Dillon's article.
'NEW LINKS IN SAND BELT'
'Long Island Course Ready for Opening '97 adjoins Peninsula Club'
'Walter, G. Hiscock, his son, W. R. G. Hiscock, and his son-in-law H. F. Pearson,
owners of the property used, and F R. Lucas, engineer for the shire of Ringwood, and
course architect and engineer, have been associated in the development of the course.
They have laid out about 20,000 pounds, including 6,000 pounds for a clubhouse now
nearing completion.'
'Now that the course, although still immature in turf, is ready for play, they intend
to form a club immediately, and apply for registration to the Victorian Golf Association.
The club will be given a lease of the course. Those elected to membership in the first year
will be accepted without entrance fee for a subscription of eight guineas. In following
years there will be an entrance fee, but members will not be asked to take up debentures.'
History of L.I.C.C. Long Island Country Club
'As clubs in the sandy area that extends from Oakleigh to Frankston have full
membership lists and long waiting lists, this new club should fill almost immediately.
'George Lowe, turf expert who has been associated with Barwon Heads,
Warnambool, Heidelberg and Colac clubs, was engaged to supervise construction work,
develop the turf and make the 18 holes.'
'Five pounds of certified Agrostis Canina seed, imported from America for the
greens, was sown in the course nurseries in 1935, and set out in stolons on the greens in
April of last year. For the fairways, Cocoos Bent, New Zealand Drylands Bent and
Couch were sown. The greens have developed fine textured mats and the fairways have
come on well.'
Bunkers Not Finished
'The bunkering scheme is not yet completed, but the traps in position provide
sound golfing point. Those responsible for the setting of traps should closely study the
technique of the more modern bunkering work carried out on our leading championship
courses.'
Cohn Campbell has been appointed club professional.
'Following the informal gathering next Saturday, the club will probably begin its
career without official opening on December 1. When the English style clubhouse is
completed, there will be a more formal opening about March of next year.'
The essential club staff at the beginning of 1938 was George Lowe and Cohn Campbell
The versatility of these two Long Island pioneers is truly extraordinary. Lowe had
supervised the construction and maintenance of the course since August of 1935 and had
combined the duties of Course Supervisor and Club Manager since 6th December, 1937.
Towards the end of 1938, he relinquished his position, having decided to move his family
to Warragul and exchange fairway grass for farmland pasture, but soon found he could
not divorce himself entirely from the world of golf. For a while he did some private
coaching, and eventually accepted an invitation from the Warragul Golf Club to become
the club professional '97 a position he occupied for the next 25 years.
George Lowe passed away in 1974, aged 84. His long involvement in golf has become a
family tradition as his son, Alan, is now Course Superintendent at Warragul, as noted
earlier.
Cohn Campbell added Lowe's duties to his own work as Club Professional. His
knowledge of turf management is obvious from a report on the state of the course which
he wrote on 21st January 1939 and from the proposals he recommended to the directors to
overcome problems on the fairways. He was to become well known in golfing circles not
only for his success as a teaching professional, but as a radio commentator on the A.B.C.,
plus his golf segment on TVs 'World of Sport.'
Cohn's best known venture of recent years of course was his pioneering work in the
development of the Cape Schanck golf course.
The annals of Australian sport for 1938 record many memorable performances,
particularly in the world of golf. Whilst the Australian cricket team was toiling away in
an historic Test match in which England scored 7/903 (dec.), a new King was beginning
his reign in Australian golf. Jim Ferrier won both the Australian Open and Amateur titles
in 1938 and retained both titles in 1939, before beginning his successful assault on the
American circuit.
It was also the year in which the most colourful major personality in Australian golf won
the first of his more than 100 tournaments. Norman von Nida set out for the Philippines
with empty pockets and high hopes and succeeded in winning the Philippines Open. He
repeated the performance in 1939.
So the season of 1938/39 was the one in which two great new stars appeared on the
horizons of Australian Golf. It was also the season in which the Long Island Country
Club was eventually established on the undulating, ti tree covered sand plan of North
Frankston.
The name of the new Club had evolved without formality from the title of the proprietary
company. It became fully official on 4th day of October in 1938, when the Deputy
Registrar-General issued a Certificate of Incorporation to certify that:
'Long Island Country Club' is this day incorporated under the Companies Act 1928 and
that the company is limited by guarantee. The number on the Register is 21913.
It was the wish of the directors that the running of the Club's affairs be taken over by a
properly constituted Committee as soon as possible. It was agreed that while Walter C
Hiscock would be the foundation President, and his fellow directors would be ex-officio
Vice-Presidents, they would play a minor role in the day-to-day operation. We should
note here that Walter Richard Grenville Hiscock, son of Walter had been appointed a
director of Long Island Estates in August of 1935. A solicitor by profession, he is usually
referred to in the company minutes as W. R. Grenville Hiscock, presumably to avoid
confusion with Waiter Hiscock senior.
Long Island Estates Pty. Ltd., entered into an agreement with the club as stated in the
Board minutes of 16th January, 1939 '97 'A lease of the golf links and all building
improvements and fittings to the Long Island Country Club for 5 years from 1st
November, 1938 on the following terms, was confirmed:'97
1. Rent 1st year 1,300 pounds
2nd year 1,500 pounds
3rd year 1,700 pounds
4th year 1,900 pounds
5th year 2,100 pounds
Subject to rebate of 100 pounds per annum for privileges of club to present Share holders
of L.1. Estates Pty. Ltd.
2. Rent to be paid quarterly on 1st March, June, September and December each year. The
first payment was to be due on the 1st June 1939. The Club to pay rates and 3.12 tons of
manure to be applied to links each year.
At this meeting the directors also decided to erect a cottage at Lot 15 on Dandenong
Road. The contract was let to Mr. G. W. How for only 455 pounds.
LIE original Committee
Walter R. Hiscock Hawthorn Company Director
W. R. Grenville Hiscock Croydon Solicitor
F. Russell Lucas Croydon Engineer
Harold F. Pearson Caulfield Architect
Ernest W. Johns Elsternwick Master Tailor
Fritz I-I. Vorrath Hastings Master Upholsterer
F. Donald McKenzie Frankston Shopkeeper
Arnold H. Talbot Frankston Picture Show Prop.
Archie T. B. Muntz Frankston Traveller
Kingsley C. Bowes Elec. Contractor
The first four committee members in the above list were the directors of the company, as
noted earlier on, while the other seven were elected by the members. The work of E. W.
Johns as honorary secretary was pointed out earlier. Special mention must also be made
of William Gilbert, on whom the club bestowed the honour of being its first captain.
Another name should be recorded here although he was not a member of the elected
Committee. The work of a club treasurer is as vital and as demanding as any of the
honorary positions that keep the club going. From its inception until his transfer to the
Glenferrie branch of his bank in late 1941, the club's treasurer was Mr. Al Stevenson of
the Frankston branch of the Bank of New South Wales.
Financial membership at 28th September 1938, totalled one hundred and seventeen, of
whom seventy-four were men and forty-three women. About half of these members came
from the Frankston district, while the others were mainly from the Elsternwick, Caulfield
and South Yarra areas.
The honour of winning the first club championship went to I E. Davies in 1939. None of
our present members were members in 1938/39, although three of the juniors of 1940 are
still with us today. But several well-known Long Islanders of 1988 were active around
the club fifty years ago. Alf Morriss was a regular caddy in the early days and remembers
caddying for Evan Davies, the inaugural Club champion, as well as for James Flood who
was the president in 1940 and 1941.
Four generations of the Morriss family lived in Dandenong Road just down from the
second tee. Alf's father Les was the subject of an article in the Club's newsletter in 1977
by Mike Galley. Alf has written some of his own recollections of the early days:'97
'My sister Nancy worked part time for Mrs. Crozier in the kitchen, as well as
waiting-on-tables in 1938. Her main memory is of Babe Didrikson playing an exhibition.
Jean, my other sister, did similar work for Mrs. Atkins in the Christmas holidays of 1939-
40 and full time in 1941 for 15 shillings per week. She remembers the monthly dances as
the social event of that era.
Mr. Atkins was on ground staff and started to caddie 1939 for 1/6d per round and
was fortunate to have Mr. James Flood (the 1940 President) '97 as my regular Saturday
job. He paid 4/6 for a little practice in the morning and 18 holes afternoon. Mr. Evan
Davies (Champion 1939) was another I caddied for. I also split wood and hauled it up in
a lift just inside the back door for the kitchen stove for a Mrs. Outrim, who ran the
kitchen for a time and also lived in the clubhouse'.
George Lowe's departure at the end of 1938 left a big gap in the Club's administration.
While Cohn Campbell kept an eye on all aspects of the Club for a few weeks, the
committee looked for a new manager. They were more than happy when they obtained
the services of Mr. E. C. Murphy. Murphy had been a foundation member of the old
Elsternwick Club and of Kingston Heath. He took up his duties at Long Island in early
January of 1939, bringing The Argus Week-end Magazine November 25. 1939.
LONG ISLAND GOLF CLUB
Round the corner from the bridge which crosses the creek just before you come
into Frankston is the delightful Long Island Golf Club which is quickly making a place
for itself among the leading metropolitan clubs. Actually it is situated in Dandenong
Road, a little less than a mile from the Frankston station, and portion of the links adjoin
Peninsula Country Gall Clubs course. When one turns off the rood into the club property
a most pleasant surprise awaits in the form of a picturesque Tudor style clubhouse, which
gives on old English air to the surroundings.
Far these splendid links the members are Indebted to Mr. Walter C. Hiscock, well
known in golfing circles, who, about five years ago evolved the scheme for turning the
property which he owned into a golf course. Assisted by his son, Mr. W. R. C. Hiscock,
and his son-in'97low, Mr. H. F. Pearson, he put a tremendous amount of hard effort into
establishing the course and club. The best possible advice concerning lay-out was sought,
thousands of trees were planted, and about a year ago the attractive clubhouse, was
opened.
Having achieved such wonderful results in so short a time, Mr. Hiscock, at the
most generous terms, had handed this great golfing asset over to the Long Island Golf
Club.
Also handed over was good deal of business experience as well as a life long involvement
in playing golf. But there were teething troubles with the maintenance of the course. The
spring and summer of 1938/39 were drier than usual and the fairways and greens suffered
accordingly.
In December of 1938 the Secretary of the Melbourne Women's Hospital wrote to the new
Club, requesting a date for a Charity Day. Club secretary, E. 1-V Johns replied on 18th January 1939 that:
'I am pleased to say your request for a Charity Day was granted unanimously. However,
our course at present, owing to the continued dry weather would not give any pleasure to
people playing matches. Our Club has only been in existence about a year and the
Committee and I have more work than we can manage, organising our Club. Johns went
on to write that 'after 31st March ... our Members, Associates, Committee and I will do
all we can to help you.'
They obviously expected the fairways to consolidate with the coming of cooler weather
and winter rain.
As manager, Ted Murphy turned his attention to the need for more water over the dry
season. On 11th January 1939, he submitted samples of water from a 12 ft. deep bore for
analysis by the State Laboratories. In his reply W. R. Jewell, Agricultural Research
Chemist, remarked that 'the water cannot be recommended as suitable for use either
temporarily or permanently on the golf course.' Murphy pursued the issue further by
contacting Mr. Bert Taylor, Hon. Secretary of Portsea Golf Club, as it appeared the Long
Island water was less salty than Portsea's. They also discussed the specifications of the
water tower at Portsea, with a view to installing a similar structure at Long Island.
Unfortunately for the new Club, Ted Murphy was offered the position of Manager of the
large and successful residential country club at Emerald and found it an offer he could not
refuse Archie Muntz filled in on Murphy's departure until Mr. P. Collinson's
appointment in early April.
The difficulty experienced in establishing stable management for the young Club was
exacerbated by the resignation, through ill-health, of Ernest Johns as Secretary, which we
noted earlier. But all this followed an earlier and even greater disappointment, as Cohn
Campbell had resigned in March when he wrote:
Committee
Long Island Country Club Frankston.
I hereby tender my resignation as Professional to the Long Island Country Club.
I have been offered the position of Junior Professional to Mr. Arthur le Fevre at Royal
Melbourne Golf Club, and as this is a definite advancement in my profession I must
accept it. I regret greatly leaving this Club and trust that my efforts for its advancement
have not been unavailing.
Yours faithfully,
Cohn Campbell.
This bitter blow was somewhat softened however by a second letter, in which Cohn
informed the Club he would be able to continue to serve them a part-time basis. On 26th
April 1939, the club advertised for a Foreman Green keeper. Applications were received
from about thirty men of varying backgrounds from over Victoria, including the one we
noted earlier from 'Mawallok'. The successful applicant was Alexander Orr, general
manager and green keeper at Sandringham Municipal Golf Links. He was appointed on
4th May 1939.
In May of 1939 the club was safely afloat with a growing membership, an established
Committee and staff. Hiscock and his fellow directors had seen their project successfully
launched, and everything should now have been plain sailing. But as the months passed,
the whole world gradually embarked on a voyage to disaster, and L.I.C.C. would
inevitably be engulfed by the stormy seas that lay ahead.
CHAPTER SIX
War years at Long Island
A weekly round or two of golf, there were constant reminders that the war was a reality,
even though it was still only on the other side of the world. Familiar faces began to
disappear as more and more of the younger members joined the armed services. Families
of older members felt the impact as their sons and daughters enlisted. Staff for the club
house and the course became difficult to replace as they left to work in more essential
services. More and more volunteer labour was needed to keep the course playable. The
slowly declining membership put a severe strain on finances and the committee suggested
to the directors of Long Island Estates Pty. Ltd., that their quarterly payments be
postponed. The Treasurer's statement of receipts and expenditure for 1940 makes no
reference to such payment, so presumably it was waived for that year. Mr. Hiscock also
made available a loan of 250 pounds, and at least 100 pounds of this was used.
Archie Muntz resigned from the Hon. secretary's position on 12th November 1939 and
Kingsley Bowes succeeded him. There were further changes in the club's administration
early in 1940. Walter Hiscock joined his fellow directors as a Vice-President, and Mr.
James Flood became the club's second president. Flood was a resident of Windsor, and
was a master coachbuilder. The Captain's chair, left vacant when William Gilbert
resigned, was filled by the election of Mr. Herbert Stahle.
Another new face on the 1940 committee was Mr. Patrick J. Sheehan of Plummer Ave.,
Frankston. Pat Sheehan apparently joined the club in 1939, although his wife had been
one of the foundation members in 1938, and was the inaugural secretary of the associates.
Sheehan was a member of the legal profession and specialised in industrial affairs.
Committeeman Donald McKenzie, a shopkeeper from Hastings, was to resign a few
months later when he joined the A.I.F. Mr. Hiscock's son is missing from the permanent
Vice-Presidents as he too had enlisted. One of W.R. Grenville Hiscock's companions
when his unit sailed for the war zones of the Mediterranean was one of Long Island's
future members, Tom McCaw, who was destined to be one of the club's outstanding
presidents. Tom remembers W.R.G. well, and recalls that in their service days he was
always known as Dick. The list of war campaigns in which Dick Hiscock and Tom
McCaw were involved reads like an atlas of Europe.
During 1940, Dick Talbot proved he could handle a golf club as well as he could operate
the projectors in his picture theatre. Playing from a four handicap he won five
competitions during the year, thus winning the President's Trophy. This capped off a
great season for him, as he had already won the club championship earlier in the year.
At the end of the 1940/41 season, Kingsley Bowes wrote the following in his annual
report:
'During this year, two very promising junior members, namely P. Holding and W
Higgins. P Holding being the holder of our club record with a 73. This is also a joint
amateur record with that champion golfer, W Higgins, who won our amateur open
championship of last year. Landman joined our club, and already have made their
presence felt in competition play.'
Mark Landman is now a senior member of L.I.C.C. In recent years eyesight problems
have prevented him from playing golf and he transferred to senior membership on 7th
July 1987. Forty seven years earlier he received this letter from the club:
Mr. M. Landman,
4 McAlister Street Frankston
11th November 1940
Dear Sir,
I have been instructed by my Committee to inform you that your application for Junior
Membership has been accepted and on receipt of your cheque for 1 pound ii shillings and
six pence your membership will be complete.
Yours faithfully,
K. C Bowes, Hon. Sec
Mark Landman has many happy memories of those times, especially of days on the golf
course with Phil and Dick Holding and George Pentland. He also remembers summer
days on the bay, and the fun they had with an old dinghy which they rowed out from
Frankston beach. Phil Holding would hit golf balls off the sand with an eight iron and
land them near the boat while the others dived to retrieve them. Landman's most vivid
memories of Phil Holding's golf are of his drives from the tenth tee. The gum tree on the
left of the fairway bunker was not quite as tall then and the tee further forward fifty years
ago.
Time and again Holding would play a draw shot over the tree and land on or near the
front edge of the green. There seems little doubt that Holding had the talent and the
temperament to have been a truly great golfer, had the war not intervened.
Soon after turning 18, Holding joined the Royal Australian Navy. In place of those
carefree summer days hitting golf balls at a dinghy in Pt. Phillip Bay, he endured the
freezing winters of the North Sea escorting the merchant ships carrying vital supplies to
the Russian port of Murmansk inside the Arctic Circle.
Despite the successful season just completed, a growing feeling of concern for the future
of the club weighed heavily on the members when they met on 20th April 1941, for their
third Annual General Meeting. James Flood was re-elected as President. Herbert Stahle
resigned from the captaincy due to illness in his family, and Mr. Edward McBain was
elected to fill the vacancy. Newcomers to the committee were Frederick Boulter and
Douglas Farndon.
Mr. L. B. Wallace, Chartered Accountant and Licensed Auditor of Fleet House, 60
Collins Street Melbourne, had been elected as auditor and an honorary member of the
Long Island Country Club on 26th January 1939. In accepting his appointment he wrote,
'I thank you for your kind wish regarding my membership, and whilst my time on the
course will be very limited, I am sure it will give me great pleasure to play there.'
In the aftermath of their A.G.M. in April 1941, President Jim Flood and Captain Ted
McBain led their struggling club into the winter months ahead, a winter whose icy blasts
and overcast skies were fitting symbols of the tragic war which was threatening to engulf
the whole world. The club survived that winter, but would not live to see another.
Springtime brought signs of warmer days ahead, but no break in the clouds of
international strife. One Melbourne institution, however, could still lift the spirits of its
citizens when November came around. Those members of L.I.C.C. who could still get to
the Club in 1941 took part in their usual Melbourne Cup Calcutta, though most were out
on the course when the race was run.
Junior member Mark Landman was not in the club's Calcutta, but he had drawn a horse
called Skipton in the shilling sweep at work. He remembers particularly that, as he stood
on the old seventh tee, the news swept around the course that Skipton had won the cup '97
so Mark was a quid richer!
It was a day to remember for Mark, but soon afterwards he added his name to the role of
Long Islanders in the Services. The next few years were to see dramatic changes in his
life, and in the life of Long Island Country Club. Nearly a month after Skipton won the
Melbourne Cup, the War erupted on new front.
On 7th December, 1941, Japan launched a sudden air assault on the giant American naval
base at Pearl Harbour, and the reality of war was brought home to Australia as never
before. Prime Minister Curtin insisted that Australian troops return from Europe to
defend the Pacific region and the Government introduced drastic measures to prepare the
country against a possible Japanese invasion.
Staff became difficult to obtain after the Government introduced conscription and
manpower regulations in 1942. Self help became the only way to carry on, and the
members did their best to keep the course playable, but it became a losing battle.
Golfing equipment was soon in short supply. Balls in particular, were difficult to obtain
and coming across an old discarded one was like finding a gold nugget. The introduction
of even tighter petrol rationing in 1942 virtually meant the end of golf for those who lived
beyond a few miles from the course.
With fewer people playing on the course, bar receipts also dropped, and as bar profits
were usually an important part of club revenue, the books were even harder to balance.
Most long established Clubs were able to call on financial reserves '97 meagre as these
may have been '97 or on the less tangible assets of their strong traditions. A three year old
club like Long Island was soon battling to stay on its feet.
The club was slowly but surely fading away, when a further blow fell and hastened its
demise. Finding accommodation to house Australia's rapidly expanding military forces,
as well as for the large number of incoming American Servicemen had become an urgent
problem for the Federal Government. The Defence Department took over a wide variety
of facilities to meet the needs of the moment. Even the Melbourne Cricket Ground was
lost to cricket and football for three years, and the V.F.L. Grand Final had to be played
elsewhere, at Princes Park and the Junction Oval.
The Clubhouse which Mr. Pearson designed for Long Island Country Club was taken
over by the Defence Forces. John Floulihan's recollections of the Army occupation of
L.I.C.C. were printed in Newsletter in June 1967. He wrote
'When War broke out in 1939, the Club carried on for a while until the grounds and
clubhouse was used for accommodation and administration. Peninsula clubhouse also
housed office-staff. Our manager, Tom Harrigan, supervised the property and later
joined the Services in an administrative capacity.
Later, the A.WA.S. Driving School took over the clubhouse and the members used the
pro-shop. When they were ejected from even this confined space to make way for a
hospital, the last remains of the Club were extinguished.'
Suddenly the wheel of destiny had turned full circle. When the directors of Long Island
Estates Pty. Ltd., met early in 1942, they found themselves back where they were in
1937. Once again they had a golf course, but no happy band of club members. The tides
of fortune that had carried them towards success, now slowly and inexorably engulfed
them. Like the legendary King Canute of old, they were powerless to turn back these
disjointed waves in the affairs of men.
And as the months became a year and then another year, nature began to reclaim their
course and they might well have wondered whether their plans were gone forever. Long
Island Country Club seemed to be well and truly dead, though perhaps not quite buried.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Company is taken over
The demise of a fledgling golf club near the shores of Port Phillip Bay hardly bears
comparison with the widespread tragedy and destruction wrought the World by the War
of 1939-45. Nevertheless, one of the many lesser consequences of that disastrous period
of history was that Long Island Country Club ceased to exist and the future of the course
and the club house was an issue confronting the directors of Long Island Estates when the
Army Authorities handed the property back to them during 1944.
The tees and greens were already being reclaimed by nature, shrubs and saplings were
sprouting on the fairways and the clubhouse was deserted. For the directors of Long
Island Estates to resurrect the course and the Club would require money and time, and
above all the rekindling of an enthusiasm that had slowly ebbed away as the War dragged
on. Perhaps the best option for the owners was to sell Long Island Estates, or at least the
course and clubhouse. But who would want to buy a run-down golf course in those days
of post-war austerity?
The catalyst in what was to follow was Mr. Kingsley Bowes, who had been one of the
more active original members of the club. He was a committee man from 1938 to 1941,
and carried out the duties of honorary secretary in 1940-41. Bowes was associated with
Frankston Estate Agency and from his close involvement with the original L.I.C.C., was
well aware of the directors' dilemma. As a Frankston resident and businessman, he was
also aware that the proprietor of Frankston's 'Grand Hotel' might be interested in
forming a syndicate to purchase the club.
Alfred William Lester had extensive business interests in the Frankston district, and in
other parts of Melbourne. He was a keen golfer, though not a member of a Club. In pre-
war years, the majority of traditional golf clubs were reluctant to admit publicans and
bookmakers, whose gambling instincts often led them to wager more on a round of golf
or a putt than the R & A would approve. Furthermore, their business commitments rarely
allowed them to play golf on Saturdays. While these may have been two of the factors
that helped create a barrier to their acceptance, perhaps the anti-gambling and anti-
alcohol attitudes of an era that had led to prohibition in the United States were also not
without their effect.
The Company is taken over
With all this in mind, Kingsley Bowes advised Alf Lester in late 1944 that the Long
Island Golf Club might be for sale. Forty years later we can only conjecture how this
suggestion gradually took hold of Lester's imagination, but we can assume with
reasonable confidence that three people with whom he readily shared the idea were
Leonard Lindsay Jewson, Thomas R. Douglas and Douglas Collier Whillans.
The notice above the main entrance of Lester's 'Grand Hotel' in 1944 proclaimed to
customers and passers-by that the licensee of the hotel was Captain Thomas R. Douglas.
Known to all his friends as 'Cappy', T. R. Douglas was a truly memorable character who
might quite easily have stepped straight from a Charles Dickens novel.
Of Scottish ancestry, he was closely related to the Earls of Douglas and Queensberry, and
his mother was lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary, the Queen Mother. After graduating from
a U.K. military academy, he served as a captain in the British Army in 1914. One of his
fellow graduates and life-long friends pursued a career in the army and became Field
Marshall Lord Alexander.
'Cappy' chose to return to civilian life and eventually settled in Frankston. Although of
aristocratic ancestry, 'Cappy' belonged to that unique group of characters in Australia's
history best described as impecunious English gentlemen. Despite their limited financial
resources, such men brought an obvious and tangible touch of class to any occasion by
their mere presence. It was said of 'Cappy' that if he had two sixpences in his pocket, he
could make them jingle to sound like fourteen sovereigns.
The Lester-Douglas friendship was a happy alliance. They enjoyed each other's
company, shared many common interests and while Lester was a successful and wealthy
businessman, Douglas was a genuinely cultured English gentleman who radiated
friendship and bonhomie in any company.
Those older members who knew 'Cappy' Douglas recall that he was a very capable
golfer, particularly when a monetary consideration was involved. Alf Lester looked
forward to the occasions when he could pit his golfing skills against his good friend Len
Jewson, and 'Cappy' was invariably called on to help make up a four. In the war years
these matches often found a venue at Woodlands where the acting-manager was another
ex-British army veteran, Major 'Jock' Whillans.
Major D. C. Whillans, alias 'Jock', was already a well-known and respected name in
Victorian golfing circles when he became acting-manager of Woodlands during the war
years. In a long golf career he was at various times a teaching professional, course
supervisor, club manager and golf administrator.
So here was a foursome that was well able to weigh up the pros and cons: i.e. takeover of
a golf club. On the one hand we have a bookmaker and a publican who were willing to
invest the capital. On the other, a Captain and a Major willing to provide encouragement
and administrative experience.
However, as the estimated outlay was almost 20,000 pounds, it seemed logical to invite
one or two other investors to join the syndicate, before sounding out Long Island Estates
Pty. Ltd. about the possibility of placing a deposit on the property and paying the balance
on terms over a period of years.
Alf Lester approached a friend and fellow publican, Christopher J. Abbott, proprietor of
the Beaumaris Hotel. Lester and Abbott in turn broached the subject with another close
friend, William Alexander Todd, a bookmaker whose home address was Dickens Street,
St. Kilda. And so the scene was set, with Lester, Jewson, Todd and Abbott as a syndicate
of purchasers, and Walter Hiscock and the directors of Long Island Estates the vendors.
Kingsley Bowes wrote to Hiscock in October of 1944:
Dear Sir,
Frankston Estate Agency.
553 Bay Street Frankston,
6th October 1944.
Would you please prepare Contract of Sale of Long Island Golf Club immediately?
Names of purchasers to be left in abeyance for 7 days, when I will lodge completed
contract with you.
Yours faithfully,
K. BOWES.
It was not to be that simple. Lester and Co. were willing to buy. Hiscock and Co. were
willing to sell. Mutually acceptable terms were eventually negotiated, and both parties
wanted the transaction completed before the end 1944, but they were to be thwarted by
the bureaucratic red tape of a country still at war. The 'National Security (Capital Issues)
Regulations Act' and the 'National Security (Land Transfer) Regulations Act' continued
to frustrate them well into 1946.
The group of intending purchasers retained the legal firm of N.E. Wanliss and Miller to
unravel the intricacies of the Federal Treasurer's security regulations.
Like the phoenix of ancient mythology, Long Island Country Club was about to rise again
from the ashes of its previous existence. Alf Lester, Len Jewson, Chris Abbot and Bill
Todd arranged to share the initial cost of renting the property, and to purchase it when the
legal obstacles were overcome. Jock Whillans accepted an invitation to join them as
manager of the venture, and 'Cappy' Douglas was appointed treasurer. Knowing, as we
do, that financial management was not 'Cappy's' greatest talent, we can only assume that
this arrangement was done with tongue in cheek.
In fact, over the next six years 'Cappy' Douglas was nominally treasurer, but the
financial affairs of the new L.I.C.C. were in reality managed by a professional
accountant. Alf Lester had decided at this time to retain the services of Mr. Sidney L.
Williams to assist him in managing his expending business interests. In addition to
Frankston's Grand Hotel, Lester had a hotel in Yarraville and a specialist printing works
in Richmond as well as a laundry, a pig farm and an abattoir in Frankston.
Sid Williams was not only entrusted with all the normal accounting responsibilities
involved in these enterprises, but also acted on Lester's behalf whenever he was away
from home. All this was part of an official business relationship, but in addition Sid was
to become a member of the new club, and as so often happens, became involved in the
financial management of the club in a purely honorary capacity. Little did he realise then
that this labour of love would involve him in two periods of major legal and economic
crises of the club in the years ahead, as well as all the normal routine financial
management of the club's affairs for nearly thirty years.
Although the War ended in Europe on May 7th 1945, and in the Pacific on August 14th
1945, the return of more normal times was to be a slow process. Nevertheless the
syndicate pressed ahead with their takeover, and while Accountant, Sid Williams and
Solicitor, Neil Wanliss fought the bureaucratic battle over the transfer of the title, the
others directed their energies to recreating the course.
Two somewhat tattered sheets of paper dated 4th May 1945, have survived in the Club's
archives. On them, in Jock Whillans' handwriting, we read that:
'All fairways are overgrown with Tea Tree and Coastal Wattle, and a start has been
made to clear each fairway in turn.'
'Greens were in bad condition but a start was made with watering and this was
proceeded with for some time but finally it was decided to plough up all greens and re-
sew them.'
The names of eleven casual employees are then listed including one J. J. Houlihan, later
to become a well-known member of the reborn club, Jock then continued:
'Early in July it was decided that alterations to the existing layout comprising the making
of a new 7th hole; 8th hole; 9th hole and new green for the 16th hole be undertaken.'
This entailed cutting through thick scrub on the 7th hole, making four men credited with
setting Long Island Golf Club on its way back in the 1940s run an entirely new green for
the 8th hole; building a new tee and completely bunkering the 9th hole and scooping and
levelling a new site for the 16th green. The 12 H.P. rotary hoe belonging to the Council
was employed from 19th to 24th July in ploughing up all greens and on site for new 8th
green and new 9th tee.
If we turn our thoughts back to the course description penned by Russell Lucas in 1936,
and quoted in Chapter Four, these changes can be clearly visualised. They were made
with the assistance of golf course authority, Mr. V. Morcom. On the back nine, the plan
involved only one major change '97 the 16th green. The site of the original 'Plateau' was
the high ground above and to the left of the present left-hand bunker.
The first six holes were virtually unchanged, but the new planners were not happy with
the extent of the swampy area between tee and green on the original short seventh. One
wonders how many pre-war players managed an ace across the marsh. We have no
records in that department. On the other hand Morcom was attracted by the potential site
of an elevated tee for a short final hole on the front nine, and so 'The Lookout' was born.
Meanwhile, on the legal front the correspondence continued to flow between the club, its
solicitors, the Federal treasury and the vendors, and still permission to purchase or lease
could not be obtained. 'Jock' Whillans enlisted the help of the federal parliamentary
member for Mentone, Hon. C. W. Frost, who was Minister for Repatriation and War
Service Homes, and whom he had met through a mutual friend.
In anticipation of a clearance from the Treasury, the terms of a mortgage arrangement
were negotiated in October/November of 1945 as follows:
Amount of Loan 22,400 pounds
Period- 5 years
Deposit 5,000 pounds
Instalment of 1000 pounds pa.
Interest 4¼ per cent
For this the syndicate would acquire the title not only to the L.I.C.C. property and all
improvements thereon, but also to other property then held by Long Island Estates Pty.
Ltd. and referred to in the documents as the O.T. Land. It was also agreed that 25 pounds
be paid for the use of the name of Long Island Country Club, and that Long Island
Estates Pty. Ltd. would then be de-registered.
But legal frustration was further prolonged when the Treasury rejected this arrangement
on the basis of various technicalities. Solicitor Neil Wanliss appealed against this
decision but to no avail. Wanliss and Hiscock then agreed to follow a different course of
action. Their proposal was that the O.T. Land be transferred from L.I. Estates to another
Hiscock company known as Parkdale Estates and as Wanliss wrote, 'leaving only the golf
links land in the company... The shares in Long Island Estates Pty. Ltd. could then be
sold to Messrs. Lester, Jewson and Co. In this way, the whole transaction can be
completed without further delay.'
The Hiscock board met on 31st March 1946 to transfer the O.T. Land and reduce the
purchase price of the golf course accordingly to 17,450 pounds on the same terms as
before. Those present at the meeting were W. G. Hiscock (Chairman), W. R. G. Hiscock,
Mrs. M. F. G. Pearson and C. E. Grant (Secretary).
The minutes of the meeting state 'That the resignation of Mrs. M. F. G. Pearson and Mr.
W. R. G. Hiscock as directors of the company be accepted and that Mr. A. W. Lester and
Mr. C. C. J. Abbott be appointed in their places.'
Mr. Grant resigned as Secretary and Public Officer of the Company and David Collier
Whillans was appointed in his place. At a subsequent meeting Alf Lester was elected
chairman, Len Jewson and Bill Todd were appointed as directors and Walter Hiscock
resigned. On 1st April 1947 the four new directors met with Lester in the Chair, and 6000
shares in Long Island Estates Pty. Ltd. were divided equally among them. The route had
become long and circuitous, but at long last the syndicate had achieved their objective.
However, instead of simply buying the golf course they had taken over the company that
owned the golf course and had purchased the name Long Island Country Club.
At long last, in the summer of 1946/47, the sun was able to shine through the clouds of
frustration that had hung over the syndicate's purchase plans for nearly two years. It was
also able to spread its warmth and light over the regenerated fairways and greens, and
bring to fruition all the hard work put in on the course during the previous two years.
Now indeed they could rejoice that their phoenix had risen again, and that the golf club of
their dream was at last a reality.

Bettyanne Foster notes:
Walter owned some property here and was very entrepreneurial with a few ventures - notably developing a fertilizer plant on the Tootgarook Swamp in the 1920s, and he owned an historic property "Woyna House", but we don't know if he ever lived there. He was also a Flinders Shire Councillor and Mayor for many years. ⁸⁷¹

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Accountant: 99 Queen St. Melbourne, Victoria Australia.

• Birth Certificate: (3190).

• Death Certificate Number: (23728).

• connection. ⁸⁵⁸

Walter married Florence Kate Isabel Ball, daughter of Edward Abraham Ball and Elizabeth Caroline Hatfield, on 16 Feb 1898 in Victoria Australia. (Florence Kate Isabel Ball was born on 1 Mar 1875 in Richmond, Victoria Australia, died on 15 Jun 1954 in Melbourne, Victoria Australia and was buried on 21 Jun 1954 in Cremated at Springvale Crematorium, Victoria Australia Ashes Buried - Melaleuca - Individual Tree, Tree 14.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Certificate.