Dr James Moore Andrew commenced practice at Yallourn on 1 January 1926, as the town’s first doctor, and remained there until his death in 1972. He was accompanied by his new wife, Catherine Dorothy Andrew, known by all as Dorothy and affectionately by most as simply ‘Dot’, and they had three children – Judith, Margaret and David. They named their home “Burculey”, after his childhood home at Colbinabbin.
Dr and Mrs Andrew were involved in a wide range of activities in the town, and all former residents of Yallourn would have a memory of them. Mrs Andrew died in 1957, and after Dr Andrew’s death the family initially offered his desk and medical bag to Old Gippstown. During subsequent discussions more material was offered, with the collection growing to all items the family did not wish to keep. Therefore a rich and varied collection of medical material, family items and Yallourn material consequently passed to Old Gippstown.
Old Gippstown began in 1968, when land was reserved on the outskirts of Moe for a pioneer village of the same style as the successful one at Swan Hill. At the time the Andrew collection was offered, it was in the process of formally opening, although many of the buildings that make up what can be seen today were still to come. The committee looked around for a building in which to house the material in a representation of a doctor’s home surgery, and chose the “attic” house at 14 Fernhill, Yallourn.
The house was then dismantled (as were so many others at the time) and moved to Old Gippstown, although it was not without controversy, as many felt it did not fit in with the “Pioneer Village” theme. However the committee was emphatic they wanted a Yallourn house, and it is fortunate that they did, as it is thought to be the only one that is now publicly accessible.
The collection was installed in the house, and it was formally opened in 1976. Some medical items and books were donated from the Yallourn Medical Centre, and over the years other medical or allied items were added.
In 2006 a cataloguing team began working at Old Gippstown, building on work that took place in the 1990s. The Andrew Collection had never been formally catalogued, and work commenced on it in 2008. At the same time, the house was closed to allow interior painting, carpeting of the stairs and reworking of partitions that allow the collection to be viewed. At the time of writing, it is still closed, but it is hoped its reopening will not be far away. In the meantime, the cataloguing process has reminded us of the importance of the collection. So far 187 items have been catalogued in the house, and 153 books in Dr Andrew’s personal library. At a really rough estimate, this may be about a quarter of the collection.
Cataloguing is an exacting process. First a form is filled out for each item, describing it, recording measurements and other details. It is then photographed and numbered, and the details entered in the Old Gippstown catalogue database. This process applied to all items. At this stage particular attention has been paid to Doc Andrew’s personal library, as many of the books are early works on pacifism from the 1930s and 1940s. All are bookplated with his own personal bookplate, drawn for him by Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnett, a fellow student in residence at Ormond College and The Medical School at Melbourne University, in recognition of his academic achievements. The drawing is a copy of Rind’s statue “The Thinker”. His insect collection is also there – mainly beetles, another interest the two shared.
It is difficult to pick out only a few gems from the items so far examined. There is a collection of Scouting material, including signed skis from alpine expeditions in the 1930s. The books include one listing all known members of the Yallourn Youth Club. We hold the dining table and chairs, around which the family gathered on Sundays, often with guests. There is the family high chair, the large HMV cabinet SW radio, Doc Andrew’s hiking pack (an early Paddy Pallin), and the list goes on.
In particular, cataloguing the desk was one of the most complex pieces of work, as it was received in (and remained in) the state in which it was when he died. Did you know Doc Andrew
was a crossword fan? A bridge player and a cross-country runner? His brother, the Rev. Hugh Andrew, was a missionary in New Guinea? All are represented in his desk.
In the cataloguing process we have been immeasurably aided by David Andrew, who has made a number of visits to assist with the process, and give guidance. He has recognised items that we would have otherwise overlooked, such as a milk bottle carrier made by him for his mother, and a small globe of the world made by his father.
Old Gippstown hopes, when the cataloguing is sufficiently progressed to allow a fuller understanding of the scope of the collection, to nominate the house and the collection for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register. It will also examine options for having that house and collection accredited under the Museum Accreditation Program, which involves documenting processes and management.
In the meantime, if anyone feels they can assist, there are two ways this can occur. 1. We need supporting material for our nomination to the Victorian Heritage Register. This needs to be in writing, and should address the importance of the house to you, as a publicly accessible reminder of Yallourn, or address the importance of the Andrew family to the town of Yallourn. We would very much like to hear from any former residents of 14 Fernhill, or from anyone who has memories of who they were. Letters should be addressed to: The Cataloguing Team Old Gippstown Lloyd St MOE 3825
Copies will be attached to the nomination, but will also become part of our records on the family and Yallourn.
2. We have a small number of vacancies on the Cataloguing Team (we are all volunteers), for people who would like to be involved in cataloguing the collection in the house. The team works on a Wednesday, from 9am to 3pm, and work is available either completing catalogue sheets, photographing and numbering items or doing the computer input. As some on-the-job training is involved, we would be looking for people who are able to make a commitment to attend fairly regularly, although it may not need to be for the full day. If you would like further details, please ring me on 0418 573 828 – it is a wonderful way (and we are a friendly team) to be involved with preserving this important part of Yallourn history.
In closing, when Doc Andrew died, his ashes were scattered around the Rover Hut on Mount Erica. When Mrs Andrew died in 1957, her ashes were scattered in her garden, amongst the plants she loved. A portion of the soil from this garden was collected when the house was removed, and was scattered in the garden of the house at Old Gippstown. It is hoped in the near future to redevelop this garden with some of the plants from a plan of the “Burculey” garden of the Andrew family in Yallourn.