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Notes from Bundaberg & District Pioneers – a Biographical Index 1901 ISBN 95588096 1 5
Noakes, George – Residence, Woongarra Scrub; subscribed for Church of England and National School Bundaberg, April, 1875.
June 1876, application for Certificate Fulfilment of conditions 150 acres Co. Cook.
May, 1883 Certificate granted 1290 acres, Kolan
Sept. 1899 Disposed of his interest in Springhill Plantation and mill (sugar) (operated since 1873) to A.P. Barton.
1901: of the Albion Sawmills ‘has opened a timber yard in George Street, Bundaberg, 8th April, 1901.
From “Bundaberg History & People” by Janet Nolan. (This came from Robin)
James Noakes, a shopkeeper in Maryborough, left to join his brother, George in a farming venture in 1873. The first crop was crushed in 1882. The scrub was exceedingly heavy and cost 10 pounds per acre to clear. By 1888, they had 223 ha freehold and 259 ha leasehold under the name Spring Hill Plantation. 202 ha was under cane. A sugar processing plant was installed at a cost of 20,000 pounds in 1888.
George died at Albionfarm, Goondoon of 1. septic absorption, and 2. epilthelioma of floor of the mouth. James died 16.12.1905

Excerpts from ‘Memories and Faces and Stories – A short history of Albionville, Bucca and Kolan North State Schools’ by Kaye Williamson et al

George Noakes arrived in Bundaberg in the 1870s with his brother James Noakes from Maitland, New South Wales. He was married to Margaret Clark in 1873. They grew maize until the development of the local sugar industry, and he then joined forces with his brother James to form Noakes Brothers. They took up cane cultivation on a large scale and subsequently founded Springhill Plantation and Mill. The Springhill house can now be found at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery.
With this challenge behind him, George moved to Albionville in 1900 and took over Albion Farm, which was in the possession of Union State Bank, from Mr. Scott and Mr. Walters. When George took over the farm, he decided that the sugar mill was not a profitable venture, so it was closed. He did, however, pursue the running of the sawmill as it could supply a lot of timber to the locals and the Bundaberg region. The sawmill was in such demand that he opened a timber yard in Bundaberg on 8th April, 1901. So as to recognise the locality of the timber yard, the Council named the street George Street, after Mr. George Noakes. While the sawmill was in progress, he also pursued a successful dairy farm, milking 80 head a day by hand.
George and Margaret had 12 children, 11 at Springhill, and 1 at Albionville. Mary Ann, James Ephraim, Charles Frederick, George Tanner, Florence Margaret, Mabel Thornhill, Oliver Richard, Thomas Norman, William Thornhill, Laurence Walter, Hilda Eveline and Elsie Phyllis. The four youngest children attended Albionville School.
1917 was a year the family suffered the loss of both George Noakes as well as his son William who was killed in France during World War 1. The property was subdivided into 90-100 acre blocks and the sugar mill, sawmill and the barracks were all sold for removal.
George Tanner Noakes also went to War at the age of 21, and was lucky to return ‘unscathed’. He married Martha Workman in 1906 and they had four children, George, Mona Isobel, James Workman, and Martha Helen. All of the children went to the Bullyard School. His wife died in 1919 and he remarried in 1920 to Bessie Evelyn Trevor and together had another four children, Dorothy, Cedric William, Ivan Keith, and Beryl who also went to Bullyard School. George owned a property called ‘Table Top’ at Bullyard and subsequently sold it to Mr. F.E. Stehbens.
Oliver Richard Noakes married Rosina Mason, daughter of David and Sarah Mason, on their 151 acre property at Albionville. It is rumoured that the dogs outnumbered the people! They had 7 children, Stanley Oliver, Arthur Lesley, Rose, Linda, Esme, George Raymond and Ruby Vivienne, who all attended Albionville School. They worked their land growing sugar cane and their own vegetables. Corn was especially productive with 4 cobs of corn growing on one stalk. White corn was grown for porridge and sweet potatoes would be fed to the pigs. The farm life kept the children entertained.

In 1917, after the death of his father, Dick removed the barn from his father’s property and rebuilt it on his land. The barn had many uses in its lifetime, including a home for Messrs Parkes and Havers whilst building their homes, and more prominently remembered as the schoolroom for the Albionville children whilst their school was being relocated.

Dick was renowned for his horse handling skills and when the railway line went through in 1920, the railway department used many of his horses. He was also extremely talented (as were many local farmers) at making rawhide whips and ropes. After a beast was killed and the meat placed in wooden casks, the hide was pegged out over a log, dried and then sprinkled with coarse salt. The using a pocket-knife, and starting from the centre, he would cut it out in a circular motion. It was then hung and weighted to straighten the circle, then cut into lengths. It was then plaited for whips and ropes. The fat from the beast was boiled down to make soap. Not much went to waste.
Not to be outdone, Rosina made her mark with the children of the district, by bringing out dry ice from Bundaberg so that her and the children could churn it into icecream. This was done at the school picnics and Christmas days.

Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited – The Visitor Centre “Spring Hill” handout – dated 12.09.02

‘Spring Hill’, the recently renovated visitor centre for Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited, takes its name from the sugar cane plantation where it was previously a manager’s residence. House and plantation have had only three owners, all with close assocations with Bundaberg Distilling Company.

The builders, Noakes Bros, were pioneers of Bundaberg and its sugar industry. They were inaugural shareholders in the Distilling Company, and initial suppliers of molasses, the raw material for rum manufacture, which is a residual product of sugar manufacture. The next owner, A.P. Barton, another district pioneer, was also an inaugural Distilling Company shareholder and a Company director and chairman. The third owner was Fairymead Sugar Company Limited, now Bundaberg Sugar Company Limited, half owner with United Distillers (Aust.) Limited of Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited.

Following is a brief history of Spring Hill plantation and house, and the people who have lived in it and been closely associated with it.

George Noakes, the builder and occupier of Spring Hill until 1898, was born in Maitland, New South Wales, in 1848 to Ann Noakes, wife of James, a sergeant in the 58th Regiment of Foot, who came to Australia in 1844. George was one of the earliest settlers in the Bundaberg district, arriving in 1871. He was joined in 1873 by his brother, James Equestrian Noakes. Initially they cleared the dense timber and grew maize.

Sugar cane was first grown in 1881 and a juice mill installed in 1883, the juice being pumped eight kilometers to the Millaquin refinery through underground pipes. In 1888, a full sugar processing mill was installed. The molasses by-product was sold to the new Bundaberg Distilling Company Limited in which Noakes Bros. were inaugural shareholders.

George married Margaret Clark in 1873, and they subsequently had twelve children, all but one being born at Spring Hill. The present Spring Hill house was built in 1883.

J E Noakes did not live at Spring Hill and pursued other interests. He is recorded as representing Noakes Bros. at Distilling Company meetings up to 31 December, 1912.

In 1898, Spring Hill was leased to Philip Llewellyn Elliot, son-in-law of Augustus Purling Barton. Barton was a pioneering landholder, establishing among other things, large sugar and cattle properties , the adjoining Mon Repos plantation and mill, later renamed Qunaba. Barton had no married sons. A.P. Barton purchased Spring Hill in 1899, but it was occupied and managed by P.L. Elliot. Elliot was responsible for expanding the mill and for initiating large scale irrigation, using steam operated pumps for accessing the underground water basin.

Bert Hinkler, pioneer aviator, conducted his first glider experiments on the beach behind Mon Repos plantation, still called by that name. Hinkler names his English house ‘Mon Repos’. It has subsequently been relocated to North Bundaberg botanical gardens where it has become a notable tourist attraction.

Spring Hill processing mill closed in 1907, and the cane was supplied to the Qunaba mill from 1908. In 1913, Spring Hill plantation was sold to Fairymead Sugar Company Limited, just a few months after its incorporation. Since that time, Spring Hill house has been occupied almost continuously by plantation managers and overseers, with some overlap.

Albert John (Jack) Axam managed and lived at Spring Hill from 1913 to 1926. He married Charlotte (Lottie) Perske there in 1918.

Chris Lerch was overseer from 1920 – 1945 and lived in the house from 1926 – 1929.

Charles Hill was manager from 1928 – 1951 and lived in Spring Hill all that time.

CEC (Chris) Young was manager from 1951 – 1958 and lived in Spring Hill from 1952 – 1960.

Ken Kirchner was assistant manager froom 1953 – 1958, and manager from 1958 – 1976, living in the house 1960 – 1976.

Manager from 1976 to present, CR (Robin) Wood, lived in Spring Hill 1976 – 1987.

From 1987 till its relocation and restoration at Bundaberg Distillery in 1991, the house was unoccupied.

Spring Hill owners and managers have been closely involved in local government. George Noakes was an inaugural member of the Woongarra Divisional Board, forerunner of the Shire Council.

PL Elliot and AP Barton were both members and chairmen of Woongarra Shire Council CEC Young is a member of the Gooburrum Shire Council.

Odd notes

J.E. Noakes (brother to George) listed as owning Earthenware and Glass Warehouses, Adelaide Street, Maryborough.

James Ephraim Noakes – son of George Noakes of Springhill Plantation. August 1877, 62 a. Barolin; Oct.1899 sale of 40 allotments at Childers; Feb.1898 gold prospecting at Oberon, Glen Innes NSW. (Excerpt from Bundaberg and District Pioneers – A Bibliographical Index to 1901)

GT Noakes (son of George) res. Bundaberg district; Apr. 1900 joined 4th contingent for Transvaal, South Africa.

See also George and Margaret Noakes and Noakes and the Sugar Industry

Notes from Bundaberg & District Pioneers – a Biographical Index 1901 ISBN 95588096 1 5 Noakes, George – Residence, Woongarra Scrub; subscribed for Church of England and National School Bundaberg, April, 1875. June 1876, application for Certificate Fulfilment of conditions 150 acres Co. Cook. May, 1883 Certificate granted 1290 acres, Kolan Sept. 1899 Disposed of his interest in Springhill Plantation and mill (sugar) (operated since 1873) to A.P. Barton. 1901: of the Albion Sawmills ‘has opened a timber yard in George Street, Bundaberg, 8th April, 1901. From “Bundaberg History & People” by Janet Nolan. (This came from Robin) James Noakes, a shopkeeper in Maryborough, left to join his brother, George in a farming venture in 1873. The first crop was crushed in 1882. The scrub was exceedingly heavy and cost 10 pounds per acre to clear. By 1888, they had 223 ha freehold and 259 ha leasehold under the name Spring Hill Plantation. 202 ha was under cane. A sugar processing plant was installed at a cost of 20,000 pounds in 1888. George died at Albionfarm, Goondoon of 1. septic absorption, and 2. epilthelioma of floor of the mouth. James died 16.12.1905 Excerpts from ‘Memories and Faces and Stories – A short history of Albionville, Bucca and Kolan North State Schools’ by Kaye Williamson et al George Noakes arrived in Bundaberg in the 1870s with his brother James Noakes from Maitland, New South Wales. He was married to Margaret Clark in 1873. They grew maize until the development of the local sugar industry, and he then joined forces with his brother James to form Noakes Brothers. They took up cane cultivation on a large scale and subsequently founded Springhill Plantation and Mill. The Springhill house can now be found at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. With this challenge behind him, George moved to Albionville in 1900 and took over Albion Farm, which was in the possession of Union State Bank, from Mr. Scott and Mr. Walters. When George took over the farm, he decided that the sugar mill was not a profitable venture, so it was closed. He did, however, pursue the running of the sawmill as it could supply a lot of timber to the locals and the Bundaberg region. The sawmill was in such demand that he opened a timber yard in Bundaberg on 8th April, 1901. So as to recognise the locality of the timber yard, the Council named the street George Street, after Mr. George Noakes. While the sawmill was in progress, he also pursued a successful dairy farm, milking 80 head a day by hand. George and Margaret had 12 children, 11 at Springhill, and 1 at Albionville. Mary Ann, James Ephraim, Charles Frederick, George Tanner, Florence Margaret, Mabel Thornhill, Oliver Richard, Thomas Norman, William Thornhill, Laurence Walter, Hilda Eveline and Elsie Phyllis. The four youngest children attended Albionville School. 1917 was a year the family suffered the loss of both George Noakes as well as his son William who was killed in France during World War 1. The property was subdivided into 90-100 acre blocks and the sugar mill, sawmill and the barracks were all sold for removal. George Tanner Noakes also went to War at the age of 21, and was lucky to return ‘unscathed’. He married Martha Workman in 1906 and they had four children, George, Mona Isobel, James Workman, and Martha Helen. All of the children went to the Bullyard School. His wife died in 1919 and he remarried in 1920 to Bessie Evelyn Trevor and together had another four children, Dorothy, Cedric William, Ivan Keith, and Beryl who also went to Bullyard School. George owned a property called ‘Table Top’ at Bullyard and subsequently sold it to Mr. F.E. Stehbens. Oliver Richard Noakes married Rosina Mason, daughter of David and Sarah Mason, on their 151 acre property at Albionville. It is rumoured that the dogs outnumbered the people! They had 7 children, Stanley Oliver, Arthur Lesley, Rose, Linda, Esme, George Raymond and Ruby Vivienne, who all attended Albionville School. They worked their land growing sugar cane and their own vegetables. Corn was especially productive with 4 cobs of corn growing on one stalk. White corn was grown for porridge and sweet potatoes would be fed to the pigs. The farm life kept the children entertained. In 1917, after the death of his father, Dick removed the barn from his father’s property and rebuilt it on his land. The barn had many uses in its lifetime, including a home for Messrs Parkes and Havers whilst building their homes, and more prominently remembered as the schoolroom for the Albionville children whilst their school was being relocated. Dick was renowned for his horse handling skills and when the railway line went through in 1920, the railway department used many of his horses. He was also extremely talented (as were many local farmers) at making rawhide whips and ropes. After a beast was killed and the meat placed in wooden casks, the hide was pegged out over a log, dried and then sprinkled with coarse salt. The using a pocket-knife, and starting from the centre, he would cut it out in a circular motion. It was then hung and weighted to straighten the circle, then cut into lengths. It was then plaited for whips and ropes. The fat from the beast was boiled down to make soap. Not much went to waste. Not to be outdone, Rosina made her mark with the children of the district, by bringing out dry ice from Bundaberg so that her and the children could churn it into icecream. This was done at the school picnics and Christmas days. Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited – The Visitor Centre “Spring Hill” handout – dated 12.09.02 ‘Spring Hill’, the recently renovated visitor centre for Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited, takes its name from the sugar cane plantation where it was previously a manager’s residence. House and plantation have had only three owners, all with close assocations with Bundaberg Distilling Company. The builders, Noakes Bros, were pioneers of Bundaberg and its sugar industry. They were inaugural shareholders in the Distilling Company, and initial suppliers of molasses, the raw material for rum manufacture, which is a residual product of sugar manufacture. The next owner, A.P. Barton, another district pioneer, was also an inaugural Distilling Company shareholder and a Company director and chairman. The third owner was Fairymead Sugar Company Limited, now Bundaberg Sugar Company Limited, half owner with United Distillers (Aust.) Limited of Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Limited. Following is a brief history of Spring Hill plantation and house, and the people who have lived in it and been closely associated with it. George Noakes, the builder and occupier of Spring Hill until 1898, was born in Maitland, New South Wales, in 1848 to Ann Noakes, wife of James, a sergeant in the 58th Regiment of Foot, who came to Australia in 1844. George was one of the earliest settlers in the Bundaberg district, arriving in 1871. He was joined in 1873 by his brother, James Equestrian Noakes. Initially they cleared the dense timber and grew maize. Sugar cane was first grown in 1881 and a juice mill installed in 1883, the juice being pumped eight kilometers to the Millaquin refinery through underground pipes. In 1888, a full sugar processing mill was installed. The molasses by-product was sold to the new Bundaberg Distilling Company Limited in which Noakes Bros. were inaugural shareholders. George married Margaret Clark in 1873, and they subsequently had twelve children, all but one being born at Spring Hill. The present Spring Hill house was built in 1883. J E Noakes did not live at Spring Hill and pursued other interests. He is recorded as representing Noakes Bros. at Distilling Company meetings up to 31 December, 1912. In 1898, Spring Hill was leased to Philip Llewellyn Elliot, son-in-law of Augustus Purling Barton. Barton was a pioneering landholder, establishing among other things, large sugar and cattle properties , the adjoining Mon Repos plantation and mill, later renamed Qunaba. Barton had no married sons. A.P. Barton purchased Spring Hill in 1899, but it was occupied and managed by P.L. Elliot. Elliot was responsible for expanding the mill and for initiating large scale irrigation, using steam operated pumps for accessing the underground water basin. Bert Hinkler, pioneer aviator, conducted his first glider experiments on the beach behind Mon Repos plantation, still called by that name. Hinkler names his English house ‘Mon Repos’. It has subsequently been relocated to North Bundaberg botanical gardens where it has become a notable tourist attraction. Spring Hill processing mill closed in 1907, and the cane was supplied to the Qunaba mill from 1908. In 1913, Spring Hill plantation was sold to Fairymead Sugar Company Limited, just a few months after its incorporation. Since that time, Spring Hill house has been occupied almost continuously by plantation managers and overseers, with some overlap. Albert John (Jack) Axam managed and lived at Spring Hill from 1913 to 1926. He married Charlotte (Lottie) Perske there in 1918. Chris Lerch was overseer from 1920 – 1945 and lived in the house from 1926 – 1929. Charles Hill was manager from 1928 – 1951 and lived in Spring Hill all that time. CEC (Chris) Young was manager from 1951 – 1958 and lived in Spring Hill from 1952 – 1960. Ken Kirchner was assistant manager froom 1953 – 1958, and manager from 1958 – 1976, living in the house 1960 – 1976. Manager from 1976 to present, CR (Robin) Wood, lived in Spring Hill 1976 – 1987. From 1987 till its relocation and restoration at Bundaberg Distillery in 1991, the house was unoccupied. Spring Hill owners and managers have been closely involved in local government. George Noakes was an inaugural member of the Woongarra Divisional Board, forerunner of the Shire Council. PL Elliot and AP Barton were both members and chairmen of Woongarra Shire Council CEC Young is a member of the Gooburrum Shire Council. Odd notes J.E. Noakes (brother to George) listed as owning Earthenware and Glass Warehouses, Adelaide Street, Maryborough. James Ephraim Noakes – son of George Noakes of Springhill Plantation. August 1877, 62 a. Barolin; Oct.1899 sale of 40 allotments at Childers; Feb.1898 gold prospecting at Oberon, Glen Innes NSW. (Excerpt from Bundaberg and District Pioneers – A Bibliographical Index to 1901) GT Noakes (son of George) res. Bundaberg district; Apr. 1900 joined 4th contingent for Transvaal, South Africa.