THE Publican Blampied is murdered

STORIES FROM BLAMPIED and MOUNT PROSPECT

You can find Blampied by taking the the Midland Highway from Daylesford. It's a place with a fascinating history. The names Blampied and Mount Prospect have been used alternatively to describe the place. During and after the goldrushes of the 1850s immigrants from all over the world settled in the area. Below is a photograph of the local football team taken, probably, in the 1890s.

Many of these men appeared in a succession of photos that found their way to me via Molly Campbell (nee Cleary), daughter of Michael Cleary of Blampied, and from the Clearys of Kangaroo Hills. I'm indebted to the late Michael Cleary (son on Michael Cleary and Mary Dwyer from Kangaroo Hills).

On 29 July 1883, AUGUSTE BLAMPIED, publican of the Mount Prospect Hotel, was killed after a fight involving George and John Poole. Charles Poole (their father) died in 1909 aged 82 years and is buried in the Mount Prospect cemetery. The Inquest suggests the boys called him a 'Fucking French c---' during the altercation. They weren't exactly too considerate as they stuck the boots in. As luck would have it the boys were found not guilty. Charles Poole's wife, Maria, died in 1870, aged 40 years. Charles Poole arrived in Victoria in December 1861 aged 33, on the Commodore Perry. He'd have been 56 years of age at the time of the killing.

The jurors included James Barke, William Boyd, Robert Fish, Robert Blain, George Watson, Newton Graves, Silas Styles, Caesar Quine, John Morris, Patrick Barke, Thomas Rash, Thomas McMurtry and Miles Burns. Representing the accused men was W L Martyr of Daylesford. Assisting the Coroner Mr Nicholson was Detective Hyland.

It appeared that George Arnold and Richard Tankard (Alexander Tankard sat on the inquest into John Heagney's death in 1863) were in the pub with Blampied when George Poole came in for a nobbler of whiskey. Subsequent to this, John Poole had to be restrained by Tom Trestrail from attacking Blampied. 'You're two faced' he was heard to say. What followed was the usual drunken farce and a claim by Blampied to his daughter Josephine that George Poole had kicked him. 'I don't expect to live' Blampied had told his son Victor around 11 pm. They were prophetic words. The Poole's lived about 150 metres from the pub.

Although they were committed to stand trial, the boys were found not guilty at Sandhurst on 25 October 1883. It would be better for youths to go hunting in the bush rather than drinking in public houses, said the judge.

Mount Prospect boys, circa 1895. Mick 'Punga' Cleary of Blampied is on the far right of the middle row.

Among those in the back row is 'Banker Blain' (2nd from left with the towel), who married Brigid Cleary - Mick and Ned's sister. Three to his left is Blain's brother-in-law, Ned Cleary. My grandfather, John Cleary - their brother - (see John Cleary page) - was away on the high seas at this time.

In the middle row, six from the left, with the football is ? McMahon, and two up from him is John Clohesy, and on the far right is his cousin Mick 'punga' Cleary.

In the bottom row on the far right is Mick Tinga' Walsh.

Blampied team - circa 1900. Back row -(1) Mick Cleary (KHills)-(2) Ted Boyd, (3)? Hartigan, (4) Banker Blain, (5) X, (6) X, (7) McMahon, (8) X, (9) Alf Lafranchi, (10) X Front Row (1) Jack Rousch, (2) X, (3) Harry Morganti, (4) John Clohesy, (5) Mick 'Punga' Cleary, (6) Harry Rousch, (7) McMahon, (8) Mick 'Tinga' Walsh, (9) X, (10) X

The SWISS MOUNTAIN HOTEL is diagonally across from the Mount Prospect Store, shown in the photo above. John Clohesy married the publican's daughter, Giglia Lafranchi. There were pubs on every corner. Andre and Margherita Lafranchi were Swiss Italian Immigrants.

Swiss Mount circa 1975

In 1891 there was no shortage of watering holes. The Post Office directory lists the following:

Emile Blampied - Mount Prospect Hotel

Andre Lafranchi - Swiss Mountain Hotel

Patrick Clohesy - Shamrock Hotel

Ceasar Quine - Telegraph Hotel
Died 22/12/1899. Aged 69.

W Parker - Forresters Arms Hotel

WHAT THE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY AND OTHER RECORDS TELL

1870

Hesketh T - Mount Prospect Hotel

Jones W S - Post Office Store, Mount Prospect
He died 15/10 1874, aged 46 and is buried in the Mount Prospect Cemetery.
Agnes died May 4 1872 aged 36 years.

George Roche was the local doctor. He certified John Heagney in 1863 and the baby, Mary Cleary in 1875. He died in 1881.

Doctor Tremearne was also working in the 1870s. He certified John Cleary in 1881. Doctor Liddle of Daylesford certified Johanna Cleary in 1904. Doctor Frankauser certified Ned Clohesy (Clohessy) in 1908 and Dinny Cleary in 1912.

 

Dr Tremearne

Lennon - Publican

Durose, James - Draper, Creswick. Durose registered the death of John Cleary in 1881, by which time he was a Mount Prospect publican and Post Master. James Durose -aged 28 - arrived in Victoria on the Great Britain in August 1862.

NOTE William Shadrick Jones was publican of the Telegraph Hotel in 1863. Listed in inquest into death of John Heagney by drowning.

1875

Blampied, A - Mount Prospect Hotel. Mary Cleary Inquest held here.

Durose, J - Post Office Store, Mount Prospect. Probably bought this after William Jones died in 1874.

Poole, Charles - Publican (probably the Manchester, later Swiss Mount)

Cleary J/Clohesy P (Clohessy) Not listed. But according to the Inquest into his daughter's death, John Cleary was publican of the Shamrock Hotel. This was probably on the corner of the Cleary paddock opposite the Swiss Mountain. Across the road was the building that currently stands there and carries the words Store Mount in the football photograph.

1880

Blampied, A - Although not listed in the Directory he was probably running the Mount Prospect Hotel

Poole, C - Publican (probably the Manchester)

Clohesy, P - Publican (probably Shamrock) (Clohessy)

Durose, J - Publican (probably Telegraph)

Hansen, B - Forresters Arms

Note
1883 Auguste Blampied - Mount Prospect Hotel - is killed after fight involving the Poole brothers, George and John.

1884/5

Poole, Miss Publican (probably the Manchester).

Clohesy, P - Although not listed, probably the Shamrock. Mentioned in Auguste Blampied Inquest as publican of Shamrock Hotel. (Clohessy)

Durose, J - Publican (probably the Telegraph)

Hansen, B - Publican (probably the Forresters Arms)

1888/9

Dolphin, W - Publican, Mount Prospect Hotel. Jonah Dolphin is listed as Htlk of Vincent Street, Daylesford in 1880.

Lafranchi, A - Publican, Swiss Mountain Hotel. Victoria and Its Metropolis lists Andre as buying the Swiss Mountain in (see map) 1866.

Clohesy, P - Publican, Shamrock Clohessy

Durose, J - Publican, Telegraph

Hansen, Mrs - Publican, Forresters Arms

1891

Blampied, Emile - Mount Prospect Hotel

Lafranchi, Andre - Swiss Mountain Hotel

Clohesy, Patrick - Shamrock Hotel Clohessy

Quine, Ceasar - Telegraph Hotel
Died 22/12/1899. Aged 69.

Parker, W - Forresters Arms Hotel

1899

Clohesy, P - Mount Prospect Hotel Clohessy

Lafranchi, A - Swiss Mountain Hotel

Newton, Henry - Telegraph Hotel

Parker, Mrs Mary - Forresters Arms Hotel

1905

Clohesy, P - Mount Prospect Hotel Clohessy

Newton, H Telegraph Hotel

By 1925 Margharita Lafranchi is listed as Licensee of the Swiss Mountain, Charles Powell has the Telegraph, and Pat Clohesy is the Blampied Postmaster. (Clohessy)