Letter to Max Hogg from Mr Everett Jelbart, 1/9/1985 — Part 2
The outer walls of the home were at that time covered with iron from the gallery walls but prior to my marriage renovations were carried out, the iron was taken off and expanded steel fixed to the studs over which plaster was applied (cement) and lined out as you will have noted. At the time of renovations the front gable alteration to the roof was an addition and all this carried out by a Henty builder named Jack Barry whom I still occasionally hear from.
The only other building on the property at the time of our purchasing it was the weatherboard hut, south of the woolshed. We built the machine shed blacksmith shop and garage were re-erected on the site I presume the now occupy. With regard to your question No.6 concerning the northern wing of the woolshed I cannot be precise as to the year of its dismantling but it would have been in the early 1930’s. Some 100’ to 150’ were taken out and recreated on “Rainbow" for my uncle (Dr Jelbart) who had no buildings at that time. “Rainbow” was purchased at exactly the same time as “Truro”, as was “Tavistock”.
The extreme northern end of the shed which we turned into a chaff shed and stable (in the days of the horse teams) may not still be standing. Or is it? If still there you may note that to seal the floor for chaff, we had pine strips cut to fit between the sheep gratings. These strips were easy to obtain as in the late 1920’s we had a pine saw mill set up near the dam down the hill from the house. This mill was run by Mr Jack Taylor who died while his mill was there. The reason for having the mill in was to use the timber while it had some value as most trees were getting past maturity.
I shall try to located a picture of the shed for you, Max, but am not very hopeful of success. Most of the dam sinking done in the early days of “Truro” and which you probably have enlarged was done by a contractor named Jack Allen with his men and horse teams. He also did some of the work on “Rainbow” during the early years until my uncle got some buildings up and Ellis’ father (Alan Jelbart) was ready to take over the management.
I trust that what I have said will at least give you some idea of the early history and establishment of “Truro”. It is possible that I shall be paying Ellis and his mother a visit in the near future in which case, if time permits, I shall say “hello” to you for a brief call. I must call your father and mother, too, as they are not far from here where I now live. All the best for your future.
Yours faithfully, Everett Jelbart
Gordon Hogg took over “Truro” in 1947, after his brothers stopped share-farming at “Wallandool”, Gordon’s father-in-law went guarantor. The first year of farming (1948) that he took over was a severe drought, with the banks wanting to take over. Gordon managed to convince the banks to let him keep going, and within 3 years “Truro” was paid for.
Transcribed and researched by Fiona Beckett.