Alfred Buckhurst (1842 - 1928)

At first the southern mail went from Adelaide through Willunga to Port Elliot, and Yankalilla with passengers and mails getting off at Willunga.

Later the mail cart stopped at Noarlunga where it picked up Yankalilla passengers. It is reported that a Mrs. Cook once walked from Delamere to Noarlunga, carrying an infant, to catch the mail-cart there.

In later days still. Hill & Co.’s coaches started from Normanville. Alfred Buckhurst at the age of 18 was one of these drivers.

Alfred described as “a tall, fair young man” would need to have the coach and horses ready for a 2.30 a.m. departure every morning so would have had to have been out of bed long before, feed and water the horses, harness them, and get his own breakfast. Then onto Myponga where ”Hales would take the horses without a word, and put fresh horses in as silently” while the passengers would breakfast - “Mrs. Rutland's fine catering was a thing to be remembered.”

And then onto Noarlunga where the Passengers changed coaches for Adelaide at the Shoo (Noarlunga) Here Alfred would have time for a sleep before the return journey to Normanville.

This journey was not an easy one, the horses were “given a breather half-way up Sellick’s Hill”, and “such of the passengers as were charitably disposed walked to the top”.

After a stop at Myponga for tea, Alfred would reach Normanville at half-past nine. The day not being over yet, there was still the stabling and horses to feed before it all started again in a few short hours. And so on, days, Weeks, and months on end.

The drivers generally didn’t live long, winter night travelling with exposure affected their health (the long drive in the pitiless winter weather to Noariunga) causing asthma and bronchitis. came, which was readied about 7-16 o'clock.

“I have pleasant memories of these really good fellows, and when journeying with them during, the winter weather was Impressed with their powers of endurance and invariable good temper; There was a good deal of the characteristics of seamen about them.”

Guy Dunstall was also “on the road for many years, a skilful driver and of bright, cheerful disposition. His brother John would marry Catherine Stockwell who would become his brother in law when he marries Elizabeth Stockwell. When Alfred's mother dies young Catherine appears to have become a stand in mother. She appears in a 4 generation photo with Eva Charlotte Buckhurst's daughter and grandson.

I wonder whether many have seen a driver achieve this almost impossible performance— that of cutting up tobacco, filling, and lighting pipe, while driving a team of five horses “going full tilt ahead!” ' I have seen this performed time and again.

In July, 1865, a student returning home for the the mid-winter vacation, reports the trip as an experience he has never forgotten. “rain was pouring down when early in the morning we left King William street.- There was a south-west" gale blowing almost dead ahead, roads in a shocking condition, and the horses not. equal to their task.

Time after time the coach got bogged, all passengers got off and put their shoulders and others pertiooe ot their bodies to the wheels, to help to get the coach going again. On coming to Pedlar's Creek, between Noarlunga and Aldinga, we found it in flood. All on board had to get off the coach and wade through the creek. Here came the crowning catastrophe! We pair of gallants, with- a desire to "show off," were wearing our inotrar boards; both went flying down stream, and -we had the -dickens of a fob to salvage them. - A nice mess they were in; the corners stove in, tamela anywhere.

Serve us right! We walked every step up Schick's Hill, and got bogged time after time going through Myponga Plat. My Ponga, indeed! Any one was heartily welcome to "Pohgg," and everything belonging to it. "Finally, lastly,' and in conclusion," as I remember hearing a Methodist preacher finish his discourse, we arrived at Yankalilla shortly after midnight. The whole journey was a nightmare.

At the finish our condition was deplorable. Covered with mud from head to foot, reminding you of the plight of Mr. Michael Doolan on his return home after a day at the fair, when he bad to submit to the reproaches of Mrs. Doolan. "Shure. Mick, the darlint, did I not sihd you. away in' the mdrnih' clane an decent, the. best Sunday top hat on the head of yez, an' the time of the day in yere poket, and ye eopre hone spuikli ficated an' sky-welted, yer top bat like a .con certina, the two eyes in yer as black aa me torn cat, an* a gumboil on the nose av yer." Surely a heavy indictment! [to be edited]

“Mr. Buckhurst, of Normanville. also met with a misfortune on Tuesday (26th) 1867. While riding along Cockatoo Flat, near the Cemetery, he stopped to avoid a leafy branch which overhung the road.

Rising too soon, however, he was brought heavily to the ground by a limb that was partly hidden. Ha was very much injured.”