Jutland Soldier Settler Scheme

Jutland Soldier Settlement Scheme

There were many Soldier Settlement Schemes throughout Australia.

Jutland Soldier Settlement Scheme was just one and is situated on land once owned by Joseph Gilbert to the east of Eden Valley and Springton.

The Soldier Settlement Scheme was available to all members of the Australian Imperial Forces or any other forces which had been formed within Australia, and for those who served overseas and were honorably discharge. The Scheme was administered by the Department of Agriculture until 1919, when the Lands and Survey Department took over responsibility.

Prior to June 1922 a large tract of land was purchased by the Federal Government from Mr. W. Gilbert, Hundred of Jutland, consisting of 5811 acres, for a price of £31,965; just one of several sections planned for a Soldier Settlement Scheme for the returned soldiers after World War 1.

The blocks ranged in size from 321 acres to 780 acres, with no fences and only survey pegs in each corner. It has been said that some families took weeks to find the pegs indicating their blocks. Gilbert's advice that at least one thousand acres in this rocky country should be the size of the blocks was ignored.

Jutland Water Reserve was the water supply for household and stock use of the Jutland Soldier Settler Scheme settlers.

As with any new development, even today, there is always discussion regarding the necessary infrastructure for roads and the like and there was much wrangling between the Springton Distict Council and the Federal and State Governments over funding. Today's Jutland Road was the main access road and there was little understanding from the far-away bureaucracies of the damage that could be done by flood waters in the Rhine and Salt Creeks, or the man-power needed to construct a road in such country.

The settlers were financially supported by the Repatriation Department and bank loans and moved into the region filled with hope. The new settlers were officially welcomed in October 1922...

Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1954), Friday 13 October 1922, page 3

SOLDIER SETTLERS WELCOMED AT EDEN VALLEY.

The residents of this district have wished for a long time to express some welcome to the soldier settlers in this district. As they have had to pitch their tents on the new blocks before homes can be established, an invitation was sent to each returned soldier and his friends and relatives to visit Eden Valley on Saturday evening. October 17. The President of the Institute, Mr. J. L. Murray, and the President of the Ladies' Guild, Mrs. John Murray, also the Chairman of the Council and Mrs. Lillecrapp, received the guests at the door of the Institute, and when their names were read out, after the Chairman had explained the object of the meeting, the audience rose and bid their quests welcome. A program of songs and recitations was submitted, and those who took part were Miss J. Lander and Mrs I Bayes (pianists) the Misses Loechel and Messrs. Bartholomeus and Lillecrapp. Recitations were contributed by Mr. A. E. Hannaford and the school children. The Chairman of the Council (Mr. A. W. Lillecrapp) extended a hearty welcome to the new settlers, most of them being settled on that portion of Mr. W. Gilbert's estate which has been allocated for soldier settlement. Lieutenant J. E. Murray extended a welcome to his fellow Diggers and wished them success as grand as their past achievements. Mr. W. H. Woolford and L. Harding responding on behalf of the soldiers. A dainty supper was provided on daintily decorated tables, and the project was voted a great success by the large number who attended.

The Department neglected to give best information and at least two of the men arrived via Cambrai, on the train, with the expectation of a comfortable twenty kilometre journey from there to the settlement... quite a difference to the reality. With little experience of farming or living in remoteness and little cash to spare it was not an easy life, but Spot Simounds, from Mount Pleasant, tendered a bi-weekly run for mail delivery by car, and also delivered bread, meat and newspapers.

With previous clearing of the hills the remaining vegetation was sparse and the rocky ground was almost too difficult to dig for fence posts and certainly was not suitable for the excavation of cellars. Families lived as they could with canvas walls, under waggons with sheets of iron and the like before their stone buildings could be constructed. Men worked at night carting stone and sand up steep hillsides from the river, ready for mixing mortar. Kerosene cases were used for cupboards with curtains as doors, whilst kerosene tins made do for washing up and draining boards. Hessian water bags hanging under verandahs provided fresh cool water. Water was carted from water holes. The lifestyle was not an easy one, and money was always an issue.

Long standing citizens George Lillecrapp and Elliott Murray, both with experience of war service in their families, assisted where they could but there was often discent between the other pioneer families and the blockers.

Teachers at the school were

Marion Louise Morrison - first teacher in 1930, Miss M. W. Fogarty (1930), Miss H. G. Frost (1931), Miss A. E. Lands (1931), Miss M. I. Tapscott (1932), Miss Catteral, Miss G. E. Gosling (1934), Mr Ralph Trenery (1935-1936), Mr H. G. Luestner (1937), Mr A. A. Tregenza (1938), Miss Gale, Miss D. J. Saunders (1940), Mrs M. E. Morton - last teacher in 1941

An interschool picnic was conducted in 1937 and 1938, with Eden Valley and the Jutland School, giving an opportunity for competitions in races, high jump, sack race, cotton race, needle race and the like, as well as adult races.

Allan Tregenza attended the dedication of the Memorial Plaque to the settlers, in 1997. He is pictured in the centre of the bottom photograph, with students who attended the school.

Leader (Angaston, SA : 1918 - 1954), Thursday 2 January 1936, page 4

HD. OF JUTLAND SCHOOL'S CONCERT

The Hundred of Jutland School Break-up Concert on December 18 proved highly successful. Items given by the children including an interesting playlet which was well received by the representative gathering of parents and friends. Mr. Ralph Trenerry, the popular head teacher, had charge of the programme and delivered an interesting address with comments on work at the school and a tribute to the help received from scholars and parents. Messrs. C. O. Royal and A. W. Lillecrapp also spoke. Christmas gift books, donated by the School Committee, were distributed together with special prizes provided by Mr. and Mrs V. W. Lillecrapp, Mr. and Mrs. Moss Smith. Mr. and Mrs. J. Tremlett, Mr. and Mrs Max Jones and the Head Teacher. Mary Reardon and Doris Mueller, successful Q.C. Candidates, gained 559 and 555 marks respectively.

In 1997 a Memorial Plaque was unveiled by the then Member for Wakefield, Mr Neil Andrews, to commemorate the settlement. Over the years settlers planted almond, apples, prunes, apricots and grapes to supplement their income and milked cows, separated milk and sold the cream to B. H. Graetz who ran a cream factory at Springton.

As former soldiers the men joined the Mount Pleasant Sub-branch meetings of the Returned Sailor's & Soldier's Imperial League (RSSILA) and enjoyed this relaxation with others who had similar experiences. Further detail regarding this organisation can be found here

Memories of Jutland School, by Gwen Turner nee Verrall

World War 1 returned soldiers, including my father, Angley Verrall, settled in the Gilbert Estate of Hundred of Jutland from 1922. The Jutland school was opened in 1930. A swing bridge was erected across the Rhine (Marne) "river", for students to use when the river was in flood, most winters.

My brothers Ron, Keith and me used to walk 3 miles to school. I can remember my first teacher Ralph Trenery nursing me for my first reading lessons. We used to salute the flag recite the creed & march around our school garden each morning.

In approximately 1940 our teacher Alan Tregenza left to serve in the 2nd War. We planted a gum tree in the centre of the big area in memory of him. Only 2 original soldiers survived in Jutland, Mr Woolford and my father Angley Verrall, in opposite ends of the estate. My nephew - Bruce Verrall still lives there.