BOX
NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE RANGE

1

PHOTOGRAPHS

1925 – 1940s

1. Cottage at Duntroon near Woolshed Creek

Alf, Nessie and baby Alf rented a little cottage near Woolshed Creek in Duntroon close to the Royal Military College. Alf prepared the sports grounds nearby for the RMC cadets and is reported to have laid the first turf pitch in 1925. His old horse, Molly, pulled the mower to cut the grass. Alf then pulled or pushed the roller over the turf wicket until the pitch was in good shape. The cricket oval was used for other sports too as the cadets were sprinters, hockey and Rugby players. Around this time, the Indian hockey team, led by Diand Chand played on the oval against the RMC captained by Geoff Player. The Indian team camped near the Redpath cottage and cooked their own food. Sergeant Major Chumley drilled his cadets in the paddock just beyond the back fence of the little cottage.

1920s

2. Alf Redpath as umpire

Alf became an umpire for the cadets and was a first grade umpire for many years.

1920s

3. Shop at The Lawns, Manuka has maintained shop front

Sometime after 1925, Alf and Nessie were joined by Alf’s brothers Alexander (Alec) and George and their uncle George Henry Redpath, a veteran of the South African War and World War I. Alec, who was a bootmaker by trade, became the first A. Redpath in Canberra and mended the cadets’ boots. He later established the shop at The Lawns Manuka

Early 1930s

4. Glasses from Royal Military College, engraved with FCC (Federal Capital Commission)

In the 1930s, during the depression years, the Royal Military College closed and the staff were relocated to Melbourne [sic]. Many of the goods at the college were sold off and Nessie bought a number of items including some sherry glasses. These are engraved with FCC – Federal Capital Commission, responsible for much of the building in early Canberra.

Ca 1930

5. Inside A. Redpath’s Shoe Repair Shop at The Lawns, Manuka; Bert McGrath, second from right, and Arthur Ongley, far right

In January 1935 Alfred Redpath senior bought out Hugh McCarthy’s share of the [Manuka] business but continued to employ him as a shoe repairer. Alec left a handwritten note saying he was leaving the country for a shor time and left instructions for George, Alf’s brother, to “do all the counter work and keep the shop clean”, oil the machinery and dispose of all the stock he could. Alec never returned to Australia and the business of A. Redpath continued over many years at Manuka and eventually at Garema Place, Civic. Alf continued to be the owner but employed a manager, Arthur Ongley and many other employees as the business expanded.

1930s

6. St John’s churchyard

George Henry Redpath had married Myrtle Agnes Tindale and they rented a house in Duntroon. Myrtle became pregnant with twins but Myrtle and the twins died in childbirth on Feb 7^th, 1935. Martle and the twins are buried together in St John’s churchyard although the babies’ names are not inscribed on the tombstone. George was devastated and eventually moved back in with Alf and Nessie and their two children.

1935

7. Redpath house in Macarthur Avenue, Ainslie

In 1936 the Redpath family moved to Macarthur Avenue, Ainslie. The family kept a cow at the cow paddock in Cowper St and Alf milked it. Hector Hamilton supplied the milch cows. Alf became an air raid warden and Nessie worked in the shop because of manpower shortage during the war.

Ca 1940

8. CS&IR Dickson Experiment Station – planned layout

In the late 1930s the CSIRO Dickson Experiment Station was founded. This was named after Dr Dickson and Alf Redpath assisted Les Sharp and later Peter Hutchings manage the station.

Late 1930s

9 and 10. Buildings at Dickson Experiment Station under construction

Sheds were built to house the equipment, and two houses. The Redpath family lived in one (see photo 13)

Late 1930s

11. Dr Dickson, left, Alf Redpath, second from right, Ron Rochford, far right

Ca 1940

12. A very rare event – triplet calves

Experiments at the Station included the growing of tobacco and discovery of blue mould in the seedlings; breeding of sheep and some cattle. Early experiments with DDT were also carried out at Dickson. Sheep were frequently attacked by family dogs from nearby Ainslie or be wedge tailed eagles and foxes. Alf frequently had to patrol the paddocks with a rifle. Some sheep were badly mauled.

Ca 1940

13. Redpath house at Dickson Experiment Station

Ca 1940

14. Opium poppy

Heroin poppies were grown because of the fear that overseas supply for medicines would be cut with World War II. This industry subsequently moved to Tasmania.

1940s

15. Alf Redpath and Land Army girl with experimental plot

Land Army girls were assigned to the station during the war years and they assisted in many of the jobs previously done by the men who had been called up to the Armed Services. After the war amny immigrants, displaced from overseas countries, joined the work force on the station.

1940s

16. A. Redpath’s shop at Garema Place, Civic

On 23 October 1981 the “Redpath” name for the shops was transferred to Heather and Ossie Meade. Other owners have chosen to carry the name in Garema Place as a symbol of quality.

1940s

1

DOCUMENTS

Family history and photograph descriptions as recorded by Alf Redpath junior and Ella Keesing nee Redpath

Alf Redpath’s memories: “The earliest years 1925-1936”

Photocopy of the Deed of Partnership between Alexander Redpath and Hugh Frederick McCarthy

22 November 1932

Photocopy of Alec Redpath’s handwritten letter before leaving for England

20 January 1935

Photocopy of letter from Hugh McCarthy to Alexander and Alfred Redpath acknowledging their promissory note in settlement of the partnership

24 January 1935