Our History - 1908 to 2008
1st Mosman 1908 was the first Australian Scout Troop. Our heritage is a very important part of what we are.
The following is a brief history of the Group that is currently being re-written for the centenary celebrations.
THE BARN, BOY SCOUTS AND THE BICENTENNIAL
In Australia's Bicentennial year it is opportune to briefly review the origins of Boy Scouting in Australia and the venue which has become associated with Australia's founding Troop. This venue, known locally as "The Barn" has its origins in the early history of Mosman and the colony of NSW. It is probably now the earliest extant maritime industrial building in Australia. This link from early colonial days, through the origins of Boy Scouting in Australia to today is what we, the current custodians of The Barn, would like to celebrate.
The Barn's Early Life
The Barn is all that remains of Archibald Mosman's whaling establishment in Great Sirius Cove, or Mosman Bay as it is known today. The bay provided safe, deep, sheltered anchorage for sailing vessels. There was abundant fresh water for providoring and easily quarried sandstone for building. Since it lay a considerable distance from Sydney, it was well suited to the noisy, smelly activities associated with whaling.
The bay first played a part in the Colony's early days when it was chosen as the site to heave down and careen Governor Phillip's flagship "Sirius" from June to November 1789 after an arduous provisioning voyage from Cape Town. It was not then disturbed for another forty years.
Great Sirius Cove then came to official attention as a suitable site in which to establish a whaling shore station away from Sydney Cove, in which the burgeoning "sperm fishery" industry of the 1820's had become uncomfortably established. Two individuals, John Bell and Archibald Mosman, sought grants from the Colonial Secretary in 1830 to set up whaling establishments in an area set aside between Great and Little Sirius Coves.
From 1831 Archibald Mosman set about constructing the wharves and buildings required for a whaling station in Great Sirius Cove. He also built his private residence, known after his time as "The Nest", overlooking the whaling station in what is now Badham Avenue. By 1833 the whaling station was operational so that The Barn would have been built between 1831 and 1833. As time went by he extended his land holding through progressive purchases, including John Bell's grant in 1836. He finally sold up, including the whaling establishment, "The Nest" and his two whaling ships and their cargoes in 1843.
As far as can be determined, the Mosman establishment was for deep sea whaling. In these operations, ships would go to sea for many months and return with a mixture of blubber and oil as cargo and with whale carcasses in tow. His station thus catered for the repair and provisioning of his ships, the boiling down and casking of oil and the storage and transhipment of cargoes for export.
The complex boasted at least five buildings as well as a wharf. There was a small cottage near the water, two large two-storey buildings set back under the cliff and two single-storey barrack-like buildings to the north of the two-storey buildings. The Barn was the more northerly of the two-storey buildings. Although it has been suggested that The Barn was used to accommodate ships' crews, its utilitarian form suggests it was more likely a ground floor equipment store with a first floor sail loft. Early photographs show a first floor door in its southern face and a possible hoist.
Whaling was not an enduring industry. By the mid 1840's and not long after Archibald Mosman sold up, whaling ceased. However the improvements wrought around Mosman Bay, as Great Sirius Cove was now known, suited the establishment to the heaving-down of ships and their general repairs. Nevertheless this activity only lasted to 1850.
There was one last attempt to use the deep sheltered waters of Mosman Bay for maritime industry. In the mid 1850's the Sydney Dry Dock Company sought to construct a dry dock and slipway in the head of Mosman Bay, Unfortunately official disfavour put paid to Mosman Bay as a ship repair establishment because of the construction of the Government Dry Docks at Cockatoo Island and the development of Mort's Dock in Balmain.
From the 1860's Mosman Bay gradually became populated. Firstly it was sought out for weekend excursions, but later people settled there as ferry services to Sydney Cove became viable. Gradually the buildings of Archibald Mosman's whaling station were used for other purposes or were demolished. As white settlement grew around Mosman Bay, so Aboriginal settlements diminished until in the 1880's only the last member of the Cammergal Tribe, known locally as Tar-Pot, was still alive living in a cave above The Barn.
The Barn, however, was used as a tallow candle factory in the 1860's and as an erstwhile tannery in the early 1870's. By the 1880's it had become a skating rink, while the small waterfront cottage in front of it was a tearoom. The Barn's companion two-storey building had much earlier become derelict. Certainly by the time the electric tramway was opened from Spit Road Junction, in March 1893, it had been demolished.
The Barn then existed as a nondescript building, hidden from the public gaze by large billboards. Periodically it was used for Church bazaars, dances, parties, meetings and Sunday School classes. However by the ealy 1920's it was dilapidated with little of the joinery intact. It had lost its internal first floor and its roof and stonework were in poor repair.
The Origins of Scouting in Australia
We now need to return in time to 1908. There had been in existence many youth groups in Great Britain and America and in Australia since the late nineteenth century. However the retired Lieutenant General Lord Robert Baden-Powell was one of the first individuals to popularise a coherent philosophy for an outdoor youth group, originally based on his soldiering experiences in Southern Africa.
From the encouragement he received once he published "Aids to Scouting" in 1903 he further developed his ideas about "boy scouting" until he put them to the test by running a fortnight's camp for some 20 boys on Brownsea Island in July-August 1907. This camp was so successful that Baden-Powell published the first Boy Scout Manual, "Scouting for Boys" in March 1908. Scout troops rapidly formed throughout Great Britain as people read the manual and put it into practice.
So it was in Australia. An office boy, Charles Hope, bought a copy from Swain's Bookshop in Pitt Street when it went on sale in Sydney in May 1908. He was so enthralled by it as he read it on the Mosman ferry that he set to and organised the first Scout Troop in Australia from amongst his friends. Thus Kangaroo Patrol of what was to become 1st Mosman Scout Troop first met formally early in May 1908. Its members were Charles Hope (Patrol Leader), Archie Jacobs (Corporal, nowadays Seconder), Harry Titchen, Clive Cox, Bert Shearer, Fred Rolls, Noel Hope and Roy Middlecoat. We owe this knowledge to Archie Jacobs who recounted the early days for "The Daily" on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Scouting in Australia in 1958.
Mosman in 1908 was not closely settled. There was virgin scrub on George's Heights and Balmoral where Charles Hope and his friends played "Bobbies and Bushies" which is reminiscent of the Scouts' own "Wide Game". Kangaroo Patrol first met in some stables in Muston Street, In these surroundings they worked out their name, their call signs, their Scout training and their uniform. To them we owe 1st Mosman's distinctive black scarves, since it was an easy colour to procure. They also wore white sweaters which proved to be impractical in Sydney's climate. However 1st Mosman later wore white sock tops as a reminder of those white sweaters,
After the publicity given to Scouting, thought only to be active in Great Britain, by the then "Sunday Times", Charles Hope sought an interview with T. R. Roydhouse and R. C. Packer, Editor-in-Chief and Editor respectively of the "Sunday Times", to appraise them of Kangaroo Patrol's existence. The "Sunday Times" was impressed and lent their support to the furtherance of Boy Scouting through publicity and material assistance. In the meantime Kangaroo Patrol grew into 1st Mosman Troop as it gained more members, while new Patrols spread across Sydney, into the country and interstate.
1st Mosman Troop cemented its premier position when it gained Vice-Regal patronage, of sorts, in 1909. In March-April 1909 1st Mosman was selected by the then Governor-General, Lord Dudley, for his son, the Hon. Roderick Ward, to attend. Charles Hope was duly interviewed by the Governor-General. Roddie Ward then joined 1st Mosman at its Muston Street quarters, but he was invested before the whole troop at Government House. Later when the Governor-General moved to Melbourne, he wrote to the troop thanking them for their good company.
After the first flush of its pioneering efforts first-hand accounts of 1st Mosman's activity drop off. About 1910 it was briefly de-registered by a now-functioning headquarters over a dispute about its non-standard white sock-tops! It weathered the introduction of the Universal Training System, an early form of National Service, in 1912, which drew away a lot of older Scouts into citizen military training. particularly distinguished itself in raising 17,865 pounds for the 7th War Loan. By 1918 1st Mosman Troop was styled as "S William Cullen's Own", apparently in recognition of this distinguished patron. Sir William Cullen was a resident of Raglan Street, Mosman. He was an academic lawyer and politician who became Vice-Chancellor and subsequently Chancellor of Sydney University, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW and Lieutenant-Governor of NSW. He was also president of the Boy Scouts Association of NSW. His house is now owned by Sir Tristan Antico.
The Barn Becomes a Scout Hall
By all accounts 1st Mosman was a large and active Troop in the 1920's. It has won sporting and scouting trophies. However it lacked adequate meeting room and storage space. A public meeting was called in mid 1924 to canvass more suitable venues than the army drill hail it was then using at George's Heights.
As it happened, Mosman Municipal Council was seeking to sell off The Barn in lieu of back rates in 1925. So here was the new venue, albeit in an uninhabitable state. In December 1925 Council accepted a Boy Scout Association proposal to purchase The Barn for 443 pounds, subject to renovations starting within one year of the purchase. Peddle Thorpe & Walker were appointed as architects. 1st Mosman started fund raising with the slogan "Save the Oldest Building for the Oldest Troop". In the end, some 1700 pounds were spent on renovations to create what was regarded as an excellent Scout Hall for 1st Mosman's full complement of Cubs, Scouts and Rovers.
A gala opening was thus planned for the new Scout Hall on Saturday 14 April, 1928. It was arranged for the Governor of NSW, Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair, as Chief Scout, to preside over the proceedings. Troops from all over the Middle Harbour District (ie from Neutral Bay to North Steyne) attended, as did civic and community groups from throughout Mosman. The formal ceremonies took place at The Barn and scouting displays were held in nearby Reid Park with the Council's generous permission.
Financially 1st Mosman was still not out of the woods! The then Scoutmaster, J .H. Filcher, advised that there were still 600 pounds to be raised to pay for the renovations. Meanwhile in 1928, 1st Mosman won the Fairfax Banner for scouting activities and the Adderton Cup for swimming. It is ironic that in the 1970's Mr Justice Filcher was to the fore in fund-raising for the urgent renovation of The Barn after it had been damaged by rockfalls from the cliff beneath which it has sheltered for 140 years.
The Jubilee of Scouting in Australia
There were some developments in the 1930's. 1st Mosman embraced a number of distinct sections within it, Most importantly it had a Sea Scout Troop which was the first to be registered in NSW (in August 1920). In July 1933 it broke away to become 1st Port Jackson Sea Scout Group, with its headquarters at Clifton Gardens. This Group had the same enthusiasm that drove 1st Mosman because in its early years it won the Fairfax Challenge Flag, attended the first Australian Jamboree and won the Endeavour Flag.
Otherwise from collections of Group correspondence it seems that the 1930's presented the usual problems of a Scout Group. That is, fund raising to provide equipment and amenities for the boys and for maintaining The Barn and searching for new recruits and Scouters. They also give some insight to the times. Scout Groups played a perhaps greater part in their local community then than now. They often had an auxiliary "younger set" and they regularly held dances and other entertainments. The Barn was the usual regular venue, but church halls and even Mosman Town Hall were used on occasions.
The Second World War intervened, drawing off Scouters, but Scouting continued, as did the Group's community involvement. The Barn continued to be used as a Scout Hall and a community hall. The Group's correspondence reflects the familiar concern of The Barn's upkeep.
Come the end of hostilities, old acquaintances were renewed. 1st Mosman's first Scoutmaster, Charles Hope, after leaving the Scouting movement in the 1920's and 1930's rejoined in the 1940's as Scoutmaster of 1st Baulkham Hills. More importantly, as an accomplished amateur actor, he played in the Boy Scouts Association's 1946 Gang Show which toured NSW and played at Mosman Town Hall.
In the late 1940's the whale bones were mounted outside over the front door.
The next occasion of note to involve 1st Mosman and The Barn was the Boy Scouts Association's Jubilee celebrations in 1958. An Old Scouts Guild was formed, bringing together three of the original 1st Mosman Troop, Charles Hope, Archie Jacobs and Roy Middlecoat, at a Jubilee Dinner at the Imperial Services Club. It was because of these Jubilee celebrations that Archie Jacobs wrote his early scouting reminiscences for "The Daily". Furthermore, Mosman District held a Jubilee Scout Rally in Reid Park on Saturday 19 April 1958. The rally celebrated 50 years of scouting and was attended by the NSW Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir Eric Woodward, who unveiled a commemorative plaque over The Barn's front door.
The 1950's moved over for the 1960's. Mosman changed its form. Trams to Mosman Wharf had been replaced by buses in 1955. The old houses overlooking Mosman Bay were gradually replaced by blocks of home units and building spread down to the water's edge. 1st Mosman continued to host its share of celebrities-to-be. For example, Australia's current cricket captain, Alan Border, was a 1st Mosman Cub from 1963 to 1965. In 1969, 1st Mosman Scout Group asked Charles Hope to become its Patron, an honour he graciously accepted.
Sadly in August 1973 1st Mosman's first Scoutmaster, Charles' Hope, died just prior to being offered the British Empire Medal for services to Scouting and the community.
Reconstruction of The Barn
In the mid 1970's, 1st Mosman went through its own traumas most likely as a result of Mosman's continued residential development. Firstly in May 1975 and then again in June 1977 The Barn was badly damaged by rock falls from the cliff above. After the first rockfall the Mosman Historical Society, under Don Maclaren's presidency, quickly organised and generously donated to a public appeal for restoration works. Mr Justice Pilcher, one-time 1st Mosman Scoutmaster, was prominent amongst the donors. The "Daily News and Pictorial" ran a story announcing a working bee to clear up the debris of the rock fall and the now-demolished rear wall of the lean-to built onto the back of The Barn proper.
After the second, more serious, rock fall the geotechnical consultants, Coffey & Partners felt that the construction of home units on top of the cliff adversely affected the natural drainage, thereby destabilising part of the cliff face. In the course of their investigation, Coffey & Partners rediscovered Tar-Pots's cave whence part of the rock fall was thought to have started.
There then followed a long period during which 1st Mosman was unable to occupy The Barn. Firstly, there was a hiatus while investigations were carried out on the best way to stabilise the cliff face to prevent any more rock falls and to seek reparations for the damage so caused. During this time a public appeal had been launched throughout Mosman to raise money for essential building repairs and renovations by the Save The Barn Committee. Secondly there was the time actually spent in carrying out this reconstruction. All-in-all 1st Mosman Cubs and Scouts had to meet elsewhere for over four years until The Barn was theirs again. It was first billeted with 3rd Mosman, beside Mosman Rowing Club, and later with 4th Mosman, beside Balmoral Park. Such are the tribulations of occupying an historical building!
The actual repairs and restoration of The Barn was a major undertaking which went beyond the resources of a mere Group committee. When this was realised committeemen, such as John Gibson and Brian Beaumont, enlisted wider community support. Firstly the National Trust was approached in 1979. Under consulting architect David Sheedy's guidance the National Trust gave The Barn a Classified Listing in its Register of historically significant buildings. While this listing does not have any force in law to prevent unsightly or inappropriate reconstruction or even demolition, it is an important community recognition of The Barn's worth as an historically significant building.
Local architect Peter Thorp was appointed to prepare restoration plans. He was assisted by David Sheedy in their preparation. The full scope of the work entailed the repair of the damage caused by the rockfall (ie to the rear wall and the roof), rehabilitation of the cliffside drainage, containment of The Barn's rising damp, and primarily, external restoration of the stonework and joinery to a semblence of its original form. Some interior work was also undertaken on the upstairs ceiling and partitions and to the downstairs flooring. The whale bones, long an outside feature over the front door, were brought inside and now flank The Barn's fireplace.
During the course of this restoration work, the Mosman Historical Society also formally paid tribute to The Barn by erecting a plaque beside it. Accompanying a bas relief of Archibald Mosman's whaling station is the following commentary:
THE BARN
In 1831 Governor Darling made a land grant of four acres to John Bell and Archibald Mosman at the head of Great Sirius Cove for the purpose of erecting a wharf and various premises to cater for the local whaling industry. By 1833 Bell and Mosman had prepared the whaling station, consisting of a stone wharf 600 feet long and five stone buildings, including The Barn. The Barn is thought to be the oldest surviving building on the lower North Shore and is probably the last maritime industrial structure left in Sydney dating from the early colonial period.
it was unveiled during Heritage Week on 28 March 1981.
In January 1982 there was a formal ceremony at Mosman Council Chambers to mark the successful completion of The Barn's repair and restoration. The NSW Government, through the Heritage Council of NSW, had contributed over $46,000 towards construction and professional fees for the project. Mosman Municipal Council had contributed over $15,000, primarily covering drainage and paving, while 1st Mosman Group and District and Area had contributed the balance. To cap this effort, the then Minister for the Environment, Eric Bedford, placed a Permanent Conservation Order on The Barn, thereby giving it official protection.
The Bicentennial
The Barn is now much more than a Scout Hall. It is an important community asset in Mosman. It is thus fitting to celebrate in 1988, 200 years of European settlement in Australia, 145 years of colonial development, 80 years of Scouting in Australia and 60 years as a Scout Hall embodied in the small two-storey stone building sheltered behind two large Brown Plne (Podocarpus Elatus) trees two minutes stroll from Mosman Wharf.
1st Mosman Scouts "Group Annual Reports and Balance Sheets" 1935 - 1960
1st Mosman Scouts "Group Scrapbook"
1908 - 1973 (broken series)
1st Port Jackson Sea Scouts' "Group Log"
January 1933 - June 1935
Keenan D. R. "The North Sydney Lines of the Sydney
Tramway System"
Transit Press, Sydney, 1987
Mosman District Scouts "Copies of Correspondence re 'The Barn"
April 1977 - February 1979
Pascoe F. "Conservation Plan for The Barn"
Interior Design, Sydney University? Sydney, 1984?
Peterson R .W. "The Boy Scouts - An American Adventure"
American Heritage, New York, 1984
Win2or C. E. "A Developmental History and Site Analysis of an
Industrial Complex within the County of Cumberland
Archibald Mosman's Whaling Establishment, Great Sirius
Cove" Historical Archaeology II/III Sydney University, Sydney,
1984
"The Daily"/"Daily News and Pictoria"/"Mosman Daily"
back issues 1925-1982