Thomas Edward Tom Oldfield (1883 - 1966)

Born 2 Nov 1883 in Reedy Creek, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Adelaide Margaret Elizabeth Ada Cregan — married 31 Mar 1909 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1966 at age 82 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Roberta Muir [send private message]

Biography

Thomas "Tom" Edward Oldfield. Given Name: Thomas "Tom". Surname: Oldfield. SECG Edward. A Given name was found in addition to a first name in the NAME tag.

Born 02 Nov 1883. Agency: 30625/1884. "Reedy Creek",Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. Map: Longitude: E148.950000. Latitude: S35.666667. COR LAD 35. LAM 40. LAS LAN 1. LOD 148. LOM 57. LOS^[1][2] Note: #N34007182. @L2@

Died 07 Mar 1966. Agency: 1966/23070. Cause: broncho pneumonia and senility. Queanbeyan Hospital,Queanbeyan,NSW,Australia. ^[3][4] Note: #N14374202. Note: #N29974094.

Christening: 07 Jan 1884. St John the Baptist, Anglican church, 45 Constitution Ave,Reid,ACT,Australia. ^[5] Note: #N54193594. @L2@

Event: Member of committee for building Tharwa Church. 1906^[6] CRE 28 DEC 2010. Time: 11:12:53.

Residence 1909 "Naas",Namadgi National Park,NSW,Australia. ^[7] CRE 04 JUN 2017. Time: 13:39:16. From 1914 to 1940. "Gudgenby",Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. ^[8][9] Note: #N30379420. Note: #N15026511. CRE 27 DEC 2010. Time: 18:13:44. Temporary dwelling while cattle grazing on the Booth Range lease (Block 6). About 1928. The Bog Hut,Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. Note: #N6639601. CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 11:04:54. bought from Albert Cregan. From after AFTER AFTER AFTER 1934 to 1966. "Top Naas",Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. ^[10] CRE 28 DEC 2010. Time: 11:12:11.

Occupation: Homestead Manager (for the Bootes family). From 1914 to 1934. "Gudgenby",Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. ^[11] Note: #N85366975. Note: #N17935589. @L2@ Homestead Manager (for the Bootes family). Before 1925. "Orroral",Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. ^[12] Note: #N64504. CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 09:21:58. grazing lease in partnership with brother Ted. About 1925. Booths Range lease,Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. ^[13] Note: #N41938523. Note: #N18074765. CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 10:12:56. Grazier. 1939 "Waterhole Hut",Namadgi National Park,ACT,Australia. Note: #N64962956. CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 11:40:37.

Buried Anglican section - Section 3 - Row B - 4-3. 09 Mar 1966. Tharwa Rd Cemetery (now Queanbeyan Lawn Cemetery),Queanbeyan,NSW,Australia. ^[14][15][16] Note: #N49148148. Note: #N46072047. CRE 10 JAN 2011. Time: 11:10:49.

Note: #N12318222. #N58029406.

Marriage Marriage 31 Mar 1909. Christ Church Anglican church,Queanbeyan,NSW,Australia. ^[17] Note: #N57068992. Husband Thomas Edward Tom Oldfield. Wife Adelaide Margaret Elizabeth Ada Cregan. Child: Unknown Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Roma Magdalene Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Iris Isabel Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Mary Jane Jemima Jane Jean Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Vera Lillian Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Issac John Jack Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Edward Francis Lloyd Frank Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Sheila Merle Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Marie Elizabeth Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Albert Thomas Bert Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Kevin Joseph Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Norman Arnold Leslie Oldfield. Pedigree: birth.

Marriage 10 May 1875. St John the Baptist, Anglican church, 45 Constitution Ave,Reid,ACT,Australia. ^[18] Note: #N56775898. Note: #N80330861. Event: Golden Wedding Anniversary. 09 May 1925. "Naas Homestead", Boboyan Rd,Tharwa,ACT,Australia. Map: Longitude: E149.066944. Latitude: S35.516667. COR LAD 35. LAM 31. LAS LAN 1. LOD 149. LOM 4. LOS 1. Note: #N90087744. CRE 16 MAY 2013. Time: 21:20:13. Husband Joseph Matthew Oldfield. Wife Elizabeth Betsy Rawlings. Child: Henry Joseph Gundaroo Harry Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Ernest Matthew Joseph Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Esther Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Joseph James Joe Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Thomas Edward Tom Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Walter William Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Elizabeth Lil Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Edward John Ted Oldfield. Pedigree: birth. Child: Mary Jane Jane Daisy Oldfield. Pedigree: birth.

Notes

Note N12318222.

Seems to be living in multiple places simultaneously - but this may be becuase he owned/built huts on the leases where he grazed stock, but also had another (more permanent) home.

"Tom Oldfield earlier this century managed Orroral and Gudgenby for the Bootes family and then went on to own a string of local properties, becoming one of the biggest landowners in Namadgi. " From Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut Conservation Study prepared forthe Kosciusko Huts Association by Matthew Higgins and David Scott, December 1992.

CHAN 04 JUN 2017. Time: 13:48:06.

CRE 22 SEP 2013. Time: 22:59:29.

Note N14374202.

OBITUARY

Mr. T. E. Oldfield.

One of the oldest identities of the Tharwa district, Mr. Thomas Edward Oldfield, of Top Naas, passed away in the Queanbeyan District Hospital last night aged 82 years.

A son of the late Mr & Mrs Joseph Oldfield, pioneers of the area, he had lived in the Tharwa-Top Naas district all his life.

He married a member of another pioneer family, Adelaide Margaret Cregan and they reared eleven children, all of whom survive, the majority still living around Tharwa.

Mr. Oldfield is survived by his wife and their children are Roma (Mrs. W. E. Brayshaw, Tharwa), Iris (Mrs. H. Curtis, Rocky Crossing), Mary (Mrs. Vic Gregory, Rocky Crossing), Vera (Mrs. H. Scarlett, Berridale), John and Frank (Naas), Sheila (Mrs. L. Rowley, Queanbeyan), Marie and Albert (Top Naas), Kevin (Tarago) and Norman (Bungendore).

The funeral will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon, interment to take place in the Tharwa Road cemetery following a service in Christ Church at 2 p.m.

~ Queanbeyan Age, Tuesday 8 March 1966.

CHAN 28 SEP 2013. Time: 12:30:01.

CRE 28 SEP 2013. Time: 12:29:58.

Note N15026511.

REWARD

The Queanbeyan Association or the Prevention of Stock Stealing offers the a reward of an amount not exceeding £300 to be distributed amongst persons securing by private information or otherwise THE CONVICTION OF ANY PERSON OR PERSONS STEALING SHEEP, CATTLE OR HORSES the property of any of the undersigned in connection with the undermentioned Stations or Properties.

Also £50 REWARD will be paid to any person or persons laying information leading to the conviction of any person or persons maliciously starting fires endangering the property of members of the Association. £25 REWARD for information leading to the conviction of any person or persons wilfully injuring Members’ Wire-netted fences and £10 for person or persons convicted of leaving Rabbit Proof Gates open, or losing rabbits on lands, the property of the undersigned.

BOOTES, A.W., Bywong, Sutton. A.W., Gudgenby, A.C.T.

BOOROOMBA PASTORAL CO. PTY LTD, "Booroomba" ACT.

CAMERON, DUNCAN, "Dundee", Majura, ACT.

CAMPBELL, G.B. Yarraglen and Arrawang, via Canberra. A.D., Woden, ACT.

GORMAN, J.C., Googong, Queanbeyan.

GRADY, JOHN JAS, Anembo.

GARNOCK, K.K. Estate, Woolcarra, Bungendore.

HYLES, F.W. Murryong, ACT. W.G. Sharrow, Bungendore. W.R.Woodlands, Bungendore. J.R.E. Uriarra, ACT.

HIBBERSON, EST. J.V. Glenwood, Hall.

JOHNSON, J.N., Couranga and The Island, ACT.

LUCAS, C.R., Ingledene, Tharwa.

MacDIARMID, F.M. Burra and Yaouk.

MASTERS, E.C. Bellons, Bungendore.

OLDFIELD, T.E. Gudgenby, ACT.

OSBORNE, EST. J.B.N. Bowylie, Gundaroo.

RUTLEDGE, T.L.F. Gidleigh, Bungendore.

POWELL, A.A. Wanna Wanna, Queanbeyan.

RYRIE, EXORS. A. Micelago.

ROWLEY, F. Majura and Amungula, ACT.

SNOW, F.N., Cuppacumbalong, ACT.

STEWART, R.A., Hore park and Molonglo, ACT.

SCOTT, A.W., Carwoola, Bungendore.

TICKNER, J.

G.J. WEBB, Fairlight.

~ The Canberra Times, Saturday 5 October 1940. 1

CHAN 28 SEP 2013. Time: 13:12:20.

CRE 22 SEP 2013. Time: 22:59:01.

Note N17935589.

Need to confirm dates - as supposedly grazing with his brother Ted by mid 1920s.

Did men sometimes graze their own herds while also working for someone else?.

CHAN 24 SEP 2013. Time: 19:40:03.

CRE 24 SEP 2013. Time: 19:38:34.

Note N18074765.

MAX AND BERT OLDFIELD’S HUT.

Information from an interview with Max Oldfield.

By Matthew Higgins.

Kosciusko Huts Association Oral History Project 1990.

During the mid-1920s Ted and Tom Oldfield went partners in a 7000 acre lease on the Booth Range. Ted, Tom and George Gould built a hut at a site known as The Bog at grid ref 844415.

For many years George lived in that hut and had a vegetable garden.

The bog area was too cold and wet in winter and sheep generally preferred the warmer eastern part of the lease, and so, in 1961, this hut was built by Max and Bert Oldfield.

This hut is very special.

It is the only hut known by the KHA in the ACT, NSW and Victoria where the internal furnishings and items are substantially as they were when left by the stockmen when they moved out after the establishment of National Parks.

We urge visitors to treat this hut as a time capsule and historical statement.

Please do not move or remove any of the items inside, use it for shelter if necessary but camp outside in tents if you can. take care that those you tell about its location are people who will respect this hut and its contents.

~ flyer left in Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut by KHA.

CHAN 21 SEP 2013. Time: 17:42:46.

CRE 21 SEP 2013. Time: 17:42:44.

Note N29974094.

OLDFIELD, Thomas Edward.

March 7. Late of Top Naas, Tharwa. Beloved husband of Adelaide, loved father of Roma (Mrs E. Brayshaw), Iris (Mrs H. Curtis), Jean (Mrs Vic Gregory), Vera (Mrs H. Scarlett), Jack, Frank, Sheila (Mrs T. Rowley), Marie, Bert, Kevin and Norman. Aged 82 years. At rest.

~ The Canberra Times, Wednesday 9 March 1966.

CHAN 28 SEP 2013. Time: 12:15:46.

CRE 31 DEC 2010. Time: 16:14:31.

Note N30379420.

£100 REWARD.

The Queanbeyan Association or the Prevention of Stock Stealing offers the above reward of One Hundred Pounds (£100) to be distributed amongst persons securing by private information or otherwise THE CONVICTION OF ANY PERSON OR PERSONS STEALING SHEEP, CATTLE OR HORSES the property of any of the undersigned in connection with the undermentioned Stations or Properties.

Also £25 Reward for information leading to the conviction of any person or persons wilfully injuring Members’ Wire-netted fences or wilfully setting fire to any such property or to grass growing thereon and £10 for person or persons convicted of leaving Rabbit Proof Gates open, or losing rabbits on lands, the property of the undersigned, and £25 Reward for the conviction of any person or persons using Cyanide on any of the undermentioned properties.

A.W. BOOTES, Bywong and Gudgenby.

A.A. POWELL, Wanna Wanna.

H.S. GULLETT, The Hill.

P.J. DONNELLY, Ioan, Ginninderra.

T.F. RUTLEDGE, Gidleigh.

F.W. HYLES, Murryong and Old Bredbo.

G.J. WEBB, Fairlight.

F.M/ MacDIARMID, Burra and Yaouk.

J.C. GORMAN, Googong.

J.Y. HIBBERSON, Glenwood.

E. MURRAY, Kunimumbone F.C.T.

T.E. OLDFIELD, Gudgenby.

J.R.E. HYLES, Uriarra.

W.G. HYLES, Sharrow.

R.G. NESBITT, Hon. Secretary.

~ The Canberra Times, Saturday 20 September 1930.

CHAN 22 SEP 2013. Time: 22:58:47.

CRE 22 SEP 2013. Time: 22:58:45.

Note N34007182.

Biographical Register ACT says born 1884 as does BDM - HQ said Could be 27 October 1883.

Diane Snowden says 2 Nov 1883 in Naas - have requested a copy of Birth Cert.

CHAN 04 JUN 2017. Time: 13:36:35.

CRE 28 DEC 2010. Time: 11:00:15.

Note N41938523.

In the 1920s Ted Oldfield acquired the Booth Range lease, but he soon found it rather too big to handle on his own so he asked brother Tom (who then was managing Gudgenby for A.G.W. Bootes) to become a partner in the lease (this was Tom Oldfield's start as a landholder). Shortly after, in the late 1920s, the brothers built an iron hut high up on the lease, at a small swampy valley known as The Bog (grid reference 844415, Colinton 1:25 000). They were helped by George Gould who worked for Ted and who became the hut's main occupant. George spent much of his life, alone, on the lease, fencing and controlling dingoes and doing other tasks; he had a vegetable garden at the hut which was fenced to keep out the kangaroos. At mustering time Ted and Tom would join George, and some of the brothers' sons (e.g. Max and Bert) and other lads (e.g. Laurie Tong) would also help sometimes with the work. The sheep were run year-round on the lease at this time, but after the Oldfields got snow leases in the 1950s the stock spent the summer-autumn on the snow leases and the winter-spring on Booth Range. Shearing and dipping was done at The Old Place.

At the time that Ted obtained the lease an old hut (probably slab walled, with a shingle roof) stood a few metres away from the present Max and Bert's Hut. Known as The Banks Hut, Ted made some use of it (as he had whilst working in the area prior to thefirst world war) but decided to build a new hut at The Bog because that was closer to Gudgenby, and therefore in a more suitable location considering that he and Tom usually came onto the lease via Gudgenby. It is unknown when this hut was built. A site inspection revealed no definite remains of this hut, although some stones were observed identifying a possible site.

From Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut Conservation Study prepared for the Kosciusko Huts Association by Matthew Higgins and David Scott, December 1992.

CHAN 12 JUL 2013. Time: 10:13:26.

CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 10:13:24.

Note N46072047.

Granite desk, two granite ledgers. "Thomas Edward Oldfield died 7 March 1966 aged 82; Adelaide Margaret Elizabeth Oldfield died 27 December 1969 aged 80.".

Thomas E Oldfield, Top Naas. Died Hospital. Son of Joseph Oldfield. Married Adelaide Margaret Cregan.

(cemetery records).

CHAN 30 AUG 2014. Time: 18:10:16.

CRE 24 OCT 2013. Time: 19:53:30.

Note N49148148.

OLDFIELD. — The relatives and friends of the late Mr Thomas Edward Oldfield of Top Naas, Tharwa are respectfully notified that his funeral will leave Christ Church, Queanbeyan after service to commence at 2pm today, Wednesday for interment in the Tharwa Road, Cemetery, Queanbeyan. M. H. O'Rourke Funerals, Canberra-Queanbeyan Qbn 52. Canberra 42590.

~ The Canberra Times, Wednesday 9 March 1966.

CHAN 28 SEP 2013. Time: 12:17:26.

CRE 28 SEP 2013. Time: 12:16:15.

Note N54193594.

Maybe born 1883 - need to see birth vert and/or St Johns register entry.

CHAN 13 MAY 2013. Time: 08:33:28.

CRE 13 MAY 2013. Time: 08:33:13.

Note N58029406.

OLDFIELD Thomas Edward b c1884; par Joseph Matthew and Elizabeth (nee RAWLINGS); rel CofE; res “Top Naas” (bought from Albert Cregan); member of committee for building of Tharwa Church 1906; m sp Adelaide Margaret Elizabeth CREGAN qv; d 7 Mar 1966 Qbn; bur CofE Tharwa Rd.

CHAN 22 SEP 2013. Time: 18:34:12.

CRE 22 SEP 2013. Time: 18:34:10.

Note N64504.

"Tom Oldfield earlier this century managed Orroral and Gudgenby for the Bootes family and then went on to own a string of local properties, becoming one of the biggest landowners in Namadgi." Extract from Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut Conservation Study prepared for the Kosciusko Huts Association by Matthew Higgins and David Scott, December 1992.

From http:/khuts.orgindex.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=366:max-and-bert-oldfields-history&catid=47:huts&Itemid=81. 1

CHAN 28 SEP 2013. Time: 11:58:51.

CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 11:27:45.

Note N64962956.

Waterhole Hut was built by the then owner, Thomas Oldfield, his son Jack, and Henry Tyrie in 1939, to support grazing. Stones were used from the old homestead nearby, for the base to the chimney. The old homestead had been occupied by Thomas Westerman's mother with her second husband, Francis Dwyer. The stockyards nearby are of note, incorporating large granite boulders. (KHA entry and ACT Heritage Register).

CHAN 04 JUN 2017. Time: 13:46:47.

CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 11:41:28.

Note N6639601.

In the 1920s Ted Oldfield acquired the Booth Range lease, but he soon found it rather too big to handle on his own so he asked brother Tom (who then was managing Gudgenby for A.G.W. Bootes) to become a partner in the lease (this was Tom Oldfield's start as a landholder). Shortly after, in the late 1920s, the brothers built an iron hut high up on the lease, at a small swampy valley known as The Bog (grid reference 844415, Colinton 1:25 000). They were helped by George Gould who worked for Ted and who became the hut's main occupant. George spent much of his life, alone, on the lease, fencing and controlling dingoes and doing other tasks; he had a vegetable garden at the hut which was fenced to keep out the kangaroos. At mustering time Ted and Tom would join George, and some of the brothers' sons (e.g. Max and Bert) and other lads (e.g. Laurie Tong) would also help sometimes with the work. The sheep were run year-round on the lease at this time, but after the Oldfields got snow leases in the 1950s the stock spent the summer-autumn on the snow leases and the winter-spring on Booth Range. Shearing and dipping was done at The Old Place.

At the time that Ted obtained the lease an old hut (probably slab walled, with a shingle roof) stood a few metres away from the present Max and Bert's Hut. Known as The Banks Hut, Ted made some use of it (as he had whilst working in the area prior to thefirst world war) but decided to build a new hut at The Bog because that was closer to Gudgenby, and therefore in a more suitable location considering that he and Tom usually came onto the lease via Gudgenby. It is unknown when this hut was built. A site inspection revealed no definite remains of this hut, although some stones were observed identifying a possible site.

From Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut Conservation Study prepared for the Kosciusko Huts Association by Matthew Higgins and David Scott, December 1992.

CHAN 12 JUL 2013. Time: 11:08:37.

CRE 12 JUL 2013. Time: 11:08:35.

Note N85366975.

"Roma Brayshaw spent part of her childhood at Orroral, going to school in the small slab schoolhouse that once stood just behind the homestead, then moved with her family to Gudgenby (her father Tom Oldfield was manager for the Bootes family)." (‘The pastspeaks to rescue Namadgi life for the future’ ~ The Canberra Times, Wednesday 5 December 1990).

CHAN 24 SEP 2013. Time: 19:39:19.

CRE 24 SEP 2013. Time: 19:38:32.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S64437376 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
2. ↑ Source: #S74827594 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
3. ↑ Source: #S35432057 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
4. ↑ Source: #S41056129 Certainty: 3 QUAL P
5. ↑ Source: #S46285334
6. ↑ Source: #S50059474
7. ↑ Source: #S23421691 Certainty: 3 QUAL P
8. ↑ Source: #S29958281 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
9. ↑ Source: #S35432057 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
10. ↑ Source: #S50059474
11. ↑ Source: #S29958281 Certainty: 3 QUAL P
12. ↑ Source: #S1823102 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
13. ↑ Source: #S1823102 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
14. ↑ Source: #S7223876 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
15. ↑ Source: #S41056129 Certainty: 3 QUAL P
16. ↑ Source: #S35432057
17. ↑ Source: #S98607344 Certainty: 2 QUAL S
18. ↑ Source: #S96607893 Certainty: 2 QUAL S

• Source: S1823102 Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut Conservation Study Matthew Higgins and David Scott Publication: Prepared for the Kosciusko Huts Association December 1992 Max and Bert Oldfields History MAX & BERT OLDFIELD'S HUT Extract from Max & Bert Oldfield's Hut Conservation Study prepared for the Kosciusko Huts Association by Matthew Higgins and David Scott, December 1992. Special acknowledgment is made to the contributions of Max Oldfield, Jack and Bill Cotter, Laurie Tong, Rob Watchorn, Don Moore and Ron Jeffery who over the last three years have consented to interviews with the authors. The Oldfield family As the name implies, this hut was built by cousins Max and Bert Oldfield. The Oldfield family has played a very significant part in the history of wide areas of the region now known as Namadgi National Park, and in areas adjoining the Park. Joseph Matthew Oldfield arrived in New South Wales on the convict transport Hive in 1834. He worked for pastoralist James Wright who had the Lanyon and Cuppacumbalong properties, and in 1842 Mary Keegan arrived to also work for Wright. Joseph and Mary met and they had a family of eight children. The Oldfield family network grew and over time the Oldfields came to own, lease or manage a large number of properties in the region. At different times Oldfields had Reedy Creek, The Old Place, Naas Homestead, Top Naas, Glencoe, Glenferrie, Glendale and Cotter Hut among other holdings. Half of the extant stockman's huts in Namadgi were built by or for the Oldfields, and Oldfields also had huts and snow leases in neighbouring Kosciusko National Park, NSW. Two of Joseph and Mary's grandsons were Ted and Tom Oldfield. Ted, early this century, purchased Naas Homestead and he acquired many other holdings, including the River Paddock snow lease at the head of the Murrumbidgee River on Long Plain. Max Oldfield(born 1928) was one of two sons born to Ted and his wife Amy (nee Brooks). Tom Oldfield earlier this century managed Orroral and Gudgenby for the Bootes family and then went on to own a string of local properties, becoming one of the biggest landowners in Namadgi. Bert Oldfield (born with twin brother Kevin in 1927) was one of eleven children born to Tom and his wife Ada (nee Cregan). The Booth Range lease, and The Bog Hut The Booth Range, a most prominent timbered range in the eastern part of Namadgi, takes its name from James Booth of Gundaroo who was grazing stock in this area as early as the 1830s. Max and Bert's Hut stands on a former lease (officially known as Block 6, District of Booth) which occupied 7000 acres of the Range; this lease has a lengthy grazing history. It was held at one time last century by Leopold Fane De Salis of Cuppacumbalong, and later passed to a Mr Massy of Gundaroo who worked it with Jack Donnelly of Bungendore. In the 1920s Ted Oldfield acquired the Booth Range lease, but he soon found it rather too big to handle on his own so he asked brother Tom (who then was managing Gudgenby for A.G.W. Bootes) to become a partner in the lease (this was Tom Oldfield's start as a landholder). Shortly after, in the late 1920s, the brothers built an iron hut high up on the lease, at a small swampy valley known as The Bog (grid reference 844415, Colinton 1:25 000). They were helped by George Gould who worked for Ted and who became the hut's main occupant. George spent much of his life, alone, on the lease, fencing and controlling dingoes and doing other tasks; he had a vegetable garden at the hut which was fenced to keep out the kangaroos. At mustering time Ted and Tom would join George, and some of the brothers' sons (e.g. Max and Bert) and other lads (e.g. Laurie Tong) would also help sometimes with the work. The sheep were run year-round on the lease at this time, but after the Oldfields got snow leases in the 1950s the stock spent the summer-autumn on the snow leases and the winter-spring on Booth Range. Shearing and dipping was done at The Old Place. At the time that Ted obtained the lease an old hut (probably slab walled, with a shingle roof) stood a few metres away from the present Max and Bert's Hut. Known as The Banks Hut, Ted made some use of it (as he had whilst working in the area prior to thefirst world war) but decided to build a new hut at The Bog because that was closer to Gudgenby, and therefore in a more suitable location considering that he and Tom usually came onto the lease via Gudgenby. It is unknown when this hut was built. A site inspection revealed no definite remains of this hut, although some stones were observed identifying a possible site. Max and Bert's Hut In 1956 Ted Oldfield moved to a property near Young and Max acquired a number of his father's holdings, including Ted's share in the Booth Range lease. So for several years the lease was held jointly by Tom and Max, then when in the 1960s Tom's share went to son Bert. The Bog area was known as a wet, cold place in winter, and so it was decided to erect a new hut on the lease. The sheep generally came onto the eastern side of the lease anyway in winter because it was warmer there and so the site for thenew hut was thus determined. Additionally, this was the site of the Banks Hut. For a time Max and Bert camped in a tent on the new site before building the hut. Max carted the materials in to the site in his Land Rover; although it had been hoped to get assistance from a bulldozer in order to make the track to the spot, Max and Bert ended up having to make their own way with the aid of an axe and a crowbar. While The Bog Hut had a frame made entirely from bush timber, the new hut had bush timber uprights but sawn timber for the rest of the frame. In fact, the sawn timber, windows and iron were all part of a lot purchased by Max from Ron Jeffery of Tharwa for 100 pounds. These materials were from a house that Ron had demolished; the building, erected in the late 1930s or early 1940s, was one of several constructed in Tharwa by Ron's father Clarrie. Secondhand materials, obtained from various places around early Canberra, were used for this house, and while it has been suggested that the materials came originally from the Old Canberra Brickworks site, the exact source is now rather uncertain - in fact there is an equal chance that they may have come from buildings at the Causeway (near Kingston). It has been thought that the hut was built in about 1961, but the date of the transaction between Ron and Max is now known to have been in 1967. Thus the hut was built then. Among the furnishings brought to the hut were a very old iron bed which had belonged to Max's grandmother Elizabeth (nee Rawlings)(a notable feature of the bed is the use of hammered rivets). Stone from the site of the Banks Hut was used to line the fireplace. Following construction of the new hut, use of the hut at The Bog declined (The Bog Hut has since been damaged by fire and today it is a collapsed ruin). During the 1960s the Oldfields lost their snow leases and so the sheep were kept on Booth Range for the whole year. The new hut provided shelter during mustering for shearing, wigging and drenching, and during other jobs on the lease. Max noted that with the sheep being on the lease year-round, drenching had to become more frequent. Max was often joined on the lease by his wife Betty. The hut was known to the Oldfields as The Old Horse Paddock Hut. Since the end of grazing Land resumptions in the Naas area in the early 1970s saw Max and Betty Oldfield and their family leave their home property (where Caloola Farm is today) and move into Tharwa in 1972; a year later they took up a new property near Young. For several years Max continued to run cattle on the lease from Young and Bert also continued to use the lease. In 1978 or 1979 the Booth Range lease was terminated and grazing there curtailed. It is known that by this time the hut was without a door. In 1979 Max and Bert Oldfield's Hut became part of Gudgenby Nature Reserve and then five years later it was subsumed into Namadgi National Park. During the 1983 Gudgenby bushfire, rangers and others fought a fire burning adjacent to the hut, and no doubthelped to save the structure; it was probably at this time that the fire damage to one of the corner posts occurred. While these few Gudgenby Nature Reserve staff (and of course the area's former residents) knew of the hut, the hut's existence was not widely known of. Neither the KHA, the National Parks Association nor other groups were aware of the hut's existence. It was only during 1990 when Max Oldfield was interviewed as part of the KHA's Namadgi Oral History Project that the hut became known more widely. As a result, the hut has not been pillaged by visitors. At the time that it was located in October 1990, and during subsequent inspections in 1991 and 1992, the hut still retained a range of the former owners' possessions, including the kero fridge containing a large collection of reading matter, a number of hurricane lamps, tools, beds and small items like the shaving brush and aspirin found in the food safe hanging on one of the walls. In this respect the hut is distinct from many of the others in the park. The number of walkers known to visit the hut is very small. Cultural Significance Max and Bert Oldfield's Hut is one of eight intact stockman's huts in the Park, structures built to provide basic shelter for graziers doing stockwork on holdings located away from the home property. Max and Bert Oldfield's Hut has a direct association with the Oldfield family, a family that for a lengthy period played a very significant role throughout large parts of Namadgi and nearby areas. With its basic construction and materials, Max and Bert Oldfield's Hut is a good example of the simpler type of stockman's hut, reflecting the main characteristics of this rudimentary type of structure. The hut has retained a level of intactness (especially as far as its wide variety of internal items are concerned) that is higher than that of other Namadgi huts, and it thus is significant for providing insights into the lifestyle of people working on Namadgi's grazing leases. The use of second-hand materials in the construction enhances the historical value of the site and reflects the temporary nature of the building. Although used for only a relatively short period as a stockman's hut, Max and Bert's is significant for its association with pastoralism, grazing having been the area's main industry prior to the establishment of the Park. As part of a group of such huts in Namadgi, this structure illustrates the shelter needs of pastoralists working on holdings away from the home property. Further, the hut, built on the side of the rugged Booth Range, is important for helping to show that grazing was not confined to the large, cleared valley floors of the Namadgi area. The Hut, in being the third stockman's hut to be built on the lease, helps to show the progression of the grazing development of this part of the Booth Range. Access Access to the Site is via an ill-defined four wheel drive track from the Naas River Fire-trail. The fire trail is closed to public vehicle use at Caloola Farm, but forms the major pedestrian access route to the Site (permission must be sought to park at or cross Caloola Farm). Alternate walking access is via Higgin's Adventure Highway, involving a stiff climb and a combination of compass bearings over Booth Range & The Bog, from the carpark at the head of the Brandy Flat Fire-trail. The internal memorabilia is essential to the significance and interpretation of this site, and the items would be worthless junk outside the setting of the hut. Please examine the items but then leave them in the hut. From http://khuts.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=366:max-and-bert-oldfields-history&catid=47:huts&Itemid=81 File @O13659088@ 29 SEP 2013 Time: 10:53:31 CRE 12 JUL 2013 Time: 10:14:02
• Source: S23421691 Marriage Certificate/Registration 02 JAN 2017 Time: 09:51:27 CRE 28 DEC 2010 Time: 16:27:05
• Source: S29958281 Newspaper clipping 24 OCT 2013 Time: 18:38:58 CRE 02 JAN 2012 Time: 09:33:55
• Source: S35432057 Obituary 13 OCT 2013 Time: 22:04:56 CRE 10 JAN 2011 Time: 10:56:33
• Source: S41056129 Death/Funeral notice 19 OCT 2014 Time: 17:28:25 CRE 10 JAN 2011 Time: 11:15:23
• Source: S46285334 HQ - St John's Register 21 JAN 2013 Time: 18:22:18 CRE 03 JUL 2010 Time: 18:22:11
• Source: S50059474 Biographical Register of the ACT 1820-1911 (Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra) Note: #N9287832 File @O91756416@ 30 SEP 2013 Time: 05:54:04 CRE 27 DEC 2010 Time: 18:28:07 Certainty: 2 QUAL S

No NOTE record found with id N9287832.

• Source: S64437376 NSW Births Deaths & Marriages (BDM) 01 SEP 2016 Time: 17:59:32 CRE 11 MAY 2013 Time: 16:02:41
• Source: S7223876 Cemetery records 07 SEP 2014 Time: 15:24:45 CRE 05 AUG 2013 Time: 16:50:00
• Source: S74827594 Diane Snowden (copy of book sent by Bob Bann) 22 OCT 2013 Time: 06:18:31 CRE 11 MAY 2013 Time: 16:04:59