Historical Notes on Charles and Thomas Brittlebank, Pioneer Naturalists in the Werribee Gorge District, West of Melbourne

2006·0.91 MB·English

by  Marilyn Hewish

Contributions
Historical notes on Charles and Thomas Brittlebank,
pioneer naturalists in the Werribee Gorge district,
west of Melbourne
Marilyn Hewish
97GreyStreet,BacchusMarsh,Victoria3340
Abstract
Early FNCVmembers,thebrothersCharlesandThomasBrittlebankpursuedtheirvaried interestsin
natural history in the Werribee Gorge district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They com-
piled one ofthe first comprehensive bird lists forthearea. Charles was a renowned artist and con-
tiibuted illustrations ot birds and their eggs, insects, fungi and mistletoes for pioneering works on
thoise subjects by AJCambpell, JA Leach, Charles French, Daniel McAlpineand himself. He pub-
lishedwidelyand wasconsideredan authorityon theevidenceforglacial action in WerribeeGorge.
Thomas was a skilled egg collector, birdobserver, landscape artist and contributorto his brother’s
and AJ (ampbell s studies. Together they helped to lay the foundations ofnatural history study in
Victoria.{TheVictorianNaturalist123(5),2006.314 317)
Thomas ( 1865[?]—1948) and Charles 1946; Anon 1948; Whittell 1954; Bacchus
Brittlebank (1863 1945) were pioneers in Marsh and District Historical Society
studying the natural history ofthe district 2003; MarionTaylor, pers. comm.).
immediately west of Melbourne. Victoria. While they were living near Werribee
They were brothers, born in the village of Gorge, the brothers became interested in
Winston in Derbyshire, England. In the the natural history ofthe area. They must
1870s, the family moved to the New have been inspired by the beautiful setting
Hebrides, and from there to Queensland, of Dunbar, overlooking the rugged
wheretheirfather Andrew and anotherson Werribee Rivervalley, andwith panoramic
Louis died, probably of typhoid. The two views of Melbourne, the Dandenong
younger sons and their mother Ellen later Ranges, the You Yangs and Mount
moved to Tasmania and then to Spring Blackwood. Charles leaned more towards
Vale (location unknown). Ellen bought a geology and Thomas towards ornithology,
house and property, Dunbar, at Myrniong but they both had wide interests. Charles
near Bacchus Marsh, on the northern side became the better known of the two,
of Werribee Gorge. EE Pescott (1946) because ofhis work as Plant Pathologist
gave the date of arrival at Myrniong as and Biolegist-in-charge ofScience at the
1893, but it was probably considerably Department of Agriculture, his scientific
earlier. A report in 1890 referred to an publications in geology, botany, mycolo-
FNCV excursion to Werribee Gorge and gy, entomology and ornithology, and his
stated that the Brittlebank brothers were illustrations in pioneering works in
present and the party started from Dunbar Australian natural history. However,
(Anon 1890). The previous owner ofthe Thomas wasalsoa talentedartistand natu-
property, William Dunbar, died in 1884 ralist(Pescott 1946; Anon 1948).
(Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Charles and Thomas were active and
Society 2003). When Charles married, he popular members ofthe Field Naturalists’
continued to liveat Dunbar, while Thomas Club of Victoria. Naturally, they became
and his wife built a new house, Bonsall. particularly associated with Werribee
The property was used for mixed farming Gorge, and many club excursions to the
until 1919 or 1920, when it was sold. area were led by one or both ofthe broth-
Charles then worked forthe Departmentof ers. Perhaps naturalists were also attracted
Agriculture. Thomasbecame the headmas- by the friendly welcome, the late break-
terofthe MigrantTraining Centreat Elcho fasts and the sumptuous evening meals
nearGeelong, wheremigrants were trained prepared by Mrs Brittlebank at Dunbar
in Australian agricultural methods, and (Campbell 1891; Barnard 1894). In early
was later involved in agricultural educa- excursions, members were attracted by the
tion at Warrnambool (Anon 1945; Pescott possibilities for bird-watching in the area.
314 The Victorian Naturalist
Contributions
A report published in The Victorian of £27 (McEvey 1966). Charles was
Naturalist in 1890 was devoted mainly to described as an exacting artist. His work
birds, and included a complete bird list became world-famous for its ‘beauty of
(Anon 1890). Thegorgewasfamous forits delineation and accuracy of detail’,
nesting Wedge-tailed Eagles. AJ achieved with the aid ofa large magnify-
Campbell’s book. Nests and Eggs of ing lens(Pescott 1946).
Australian Birds (1900), shows a photo- Charles Brittlebank's paintings ofbirds
graph (facing page 10) of an intrepid were not as successful as his renditions of
climber standing in a rather casual attitude insects and eggs. In Allan McEvey’s opin-
beside an eagle’s nest in Werribee Gorge. ion (1966), the posture and the birds’ legs
The tree appears to be projecting outwards were ‘often unconvincing’. However, the
from a mountainside with the nest sus- paintings are of considerable historical
pended over an alarming void. Later in the interest. Charles Brittlebank provided sev-
1890s, the focus gradually shifted to the eral illustrations of insectivorous birds
geology ofWerribee Gorge, whichbecame with explanatory notes for Charles
famous for its evidence ofglacial action French’swork on insects; birdsweredelin-
and a former ice-age, partly because of eated by him in eight plates in Volume III,
work by George Sweet, Charles 14 plates in Volume IV, and four plates in
Brittlebank and Professor Edgeworth Volume V. AJ Campbell’s book includes
David. However, there was some confu- one of his bird paintings, a pair of Rose
sion over priority for the observations of Robins at a lichen-covered nest containing
glacial rocks and a dispute over the inter- their pale-green spotted eggs (facing page
pretation ofthe geological studies (Officer 142); he provided five illustrations in JA
and Balfour 1893; Sweet and Brittlebank Leach’s An Australian Bird Book (1911);
1893; Hall 1894). and there are fouroriginal colour plates of
Few illustrators have contributed so birds (petrels, Red-capped Robin, Flame
much to so many fields ofnatural history Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin) in the col-
as Charles Brittlebank. He produced most lection of Museum Victoria. The plate of
ofthe plates ofinsects for five volumes of thepetrelswas used, citherasastudy oras
Charles French’s A Handbook ofthe the final plate, forthe illustrations ofthese
Destructive Insects of Victoria (1891- speciesin Leach’sbook(McEvey 1966).
1911); 14 plates for Volume I; 22 for The Brittlebank brothers are especially
Volume II; 20 for Volume 111; 17 for known for their work in Werribee Gorge.
Volume IV; and 10 for Volume V. He pre- However, they observed birds over a wide
pared the plates for Volume VI, but the area west ofMelbourne. In AJ Campbell’s
book was not issued. He painted six plates book, they contributed many records from
for his own paper on the Harlequin Bacchus Marsh, Lcrderderg Gorge,
Mistletoe (1908), and produced dozens of Yaloak, Mount Wallace, the Werribee
coloured plates and hundreds of micro- Plains, Mount Cottrell, Wyndham,
photographs for books on fungi by Daniel Werribee and the mouth ofthe Werribee
McAlpine (e.g. McAlpine 1899). Paintings River. But perhaps their greatest contribu-
of orchids by Charles Brittlebank were tion to local ornithological knowledge was
donated to Museum Victoria by his family. apaperon the birdsofMyrniongpublished
He is best known by bird-watchers for his in The Victorian Naturalist (Brittlebank
detailedandexquisite watercoloursofeggs 1899a). This paper, written by Charles,
in AJ Campbell’s Nests and Eggs of listed every bird species which he and
Australian Birds (1900), the first work to Thomas had recorded in the district
delineate the eggs of more than 200 between 1893 and 1899; 158 species in all.
Australian species (pure-white eggs were 108 ofthem with breedingrecords. Several
not illustrated). He used many eggs from rarities, vagrants, and birds now' declining
the collection ofhis brother Thomas as or locally extinct were on the list, includ-
models. There is a letter in the AJ ing Square-tailed Kite, Letter-winged Kite,
Campbell collection in Museum Victoria, Rainbow Lorikeet, Spangled Drongo,
in which Charles Brittlebank agrees to Cicadabird, Hooded Robin, Black-faced
paint 202 eggs for AJ Campbell for a fee Monarch, White-browed and Grey-
Vol. 123 (5) 2006 315
.
Contributions
crowned Babbler, Regent Honeyeater and described as ‘rather violent exercise’
Dollarbird. Lerderderg Gorge, Melton, (Anon 1890; Barnard 1894). This difficult
Mount Blackwood, the Moorabool River country was Charles’ patch, and he knew
and the northern Brisbane Ranges formed every inchofit.
the boundaries of the district covered in Because Thomas left little published
this paper. An area of woodland now work under his own name, he is a more
known as Long Forest fell within these shadowy historical figure than Charles.
limits. Itcontains an isolated occurrenceof Like his brother, he was a talented artist,
Bull Mallee Eucalyptus behriana, unique producing many landscape paintings
south of the Great Divide. The mallee (Marion Taylor, pers. comm.). His obser-
woodland is mentioned in the introductory vational skills were at least the equal of
paragraph of the paper, and Thomas Charles’. He was a partner, sometimes a
Brittlebank visitedthe area (then known as silentone, in someofhisbrother's endeav-
Melton) at least once. His discovery ofa ours. Many ofthe eggs delineated in AJ
nest ofa White-fronted Chat there was the Campbell's book and the records in
subject of a short note in The Victorian Charles' paper on the birds of Myrniong
Naturalist (C Brittlebank 1899). originated with Thomas (T Brittlebank
Unfortunately, however, no specitic loca- 1899; Campbell 1900). Like his brother,
tionsweregiven forany ofthe birds onthe Thomas was at home in rugged Werribee
Myrnionglist. Gorge, and took part in. and led, several
Charles Brittlebank’s versatility across FNCV excursions there (c.g. Hall 1894).
several disciplines in natural history, and He seemed to be the more adventurous of
his talent with both pen and brush, were the two, perhaps because Charles’ wife
astonishing, and yet his work was never suffered from poor health (Marion Taylor,
superficial. It was always supported by the pers. comm.). In those days, all serious
most careful observations and research, egg-collectors were daring tree-climbers
and demonstrated his patience and atten- and travellers. Thomas took part in egg-
tion to detail. We can picture him alone, collecting expeditions to remote parts of
quietly working on his papers and paint- Australia (Marion Taylor, pers. comm.),
ings over endless hours, and yet this pic- and he was the first to describe and mea-
ture appears to be incomplete. lie must sure the eggsofthe Little Kingfisher, from
have been a sociable person. He was well anest hefound in the Cape York districtof
liked in the FNCV. An affectionate and Queensland (Brittlebank 1901). His egg-
generous friend, his home was always collection is nowat Museum Victoria.
open and became the centre for Werrihec Thomas and Charles were buried side-by-
Gorge excursions over many years. He side in Bacchus Marsh (Maddingley)
always enjoyed sharing his knowledge Cemetery, with their mother and their
(Pescott 1946). For his friend, Charles wives. Fromthegrave-sites,the ridgeabove
French, he prepared as a gift a scries of WerribeeGorgeisvisibleinthedistance.
drawingsofbeetles, commemoratingevery
Acknowledgements
species that bore French’s name. These
covered seven large sheets of drawing MI awrosuhldanlidkeDitsotrtihcatnkHiBsotboriRceaild,SothceieBtay,ccahnuds
paper (Pescott 1946). To balance his Marion Taylor, grand-daughter ofThomas
quieter pursuits, Charles Brittlebank was Brittlebank, for information on the Brittlebank
very active and possessed great stamina. family and theirproperty. Dunbar. The librarian
EE Pescott, one of his obituarists, noted and assistant librarian ofthe FNCV.thestaffof
that he was an amateur boxer in his youth. the State Library ofVictoria, and Dean Hewish
assistedwiththeliteraturesearch.
Reports ofWcrribee Gorge excursions in
the 1890s spoke ofscrambling down the References
riverbed, scaling precipitous slopes, push- Anon. (1890) Report ofcontingent ofMr Keartland’s
ing through hilltop scrub, and negotiating Aneoxncu.rsi(o1n0.45T)heSVciicetnotriisant-Nfaatrumrealri-satrt7,is8t8:-9M1r Chas.
huge stones, fallen masses of rock and Brittlebank. Bacchus Marsh Express, 10 Nov. 1945
thorny thickets. To traverse 16 kilometres (obituaryofCharlesBrittlebank).
took up to 10 hours ofwalking over an AnSoenp.t.(11994488)(oMbyitrunairoyngof.TBhaocmcahsusBrMiattrlsehbanEkx)p.ress, 11
actual distance of40-45 km. This was all Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc.
316 The Victorian Naturalist
.
NaturalistNote
((h2i0s0t3o)ryBaocfcDhuusnbMaarrsHhomHeesrtietaadgeaGnudidites,o2cncduepdainttiso,n McoAfltpitilneepaDge().1899)FungusDis,easesofCitrusTreesin
pages 123-124). Australia and their Treatment (Victorian
BarnardFGA(1894)ExcursiontoBacchusMarsh, The DepartmentofAgriculture:Melbourne)
VictorianNaturalist11,54-55. MchveyA(1966)I.iterarynotesno.2:someBrittlebank
BrilllebankC'C(1899)BirdsofMyrniongandsurround- bird paintings. Emu66. 189-190 (paintingsandother
BriilnlgldeibsatnrikctCs.CT(h1e90V8ic)tOorniatnheNaltiufrea-lhiisstto1r6y,o5f9-L6o1r.aMhus OffmaitceerriaGlainndthLeMBaulsfeouurm(V1i8c9t3o)riParecollilmeicntaiorny).Accountof
exocarpiBelir.ProceedingsoftheLinneanSocietyof theGlacial DepositsofBacchus Marsh.Proceedings
BrNilelwleSboauntkhTHAal(e1s83939.)65h0'a-r6l5y6.nesting. The Victorian PeosfeotthteIRTo!ya(l19S4o6c)ieTthyeoflaVtiectCohrairaleVs(Cn.ewBrisetrtileesb)a,nk4.7-T68h.e
BrNiatttulreablainskt1T6.A55(.1901) The Little Kingfisher. The BVriictttolreibaannkN)a.turalist62, 189-191 (obituaryofCharles
VictorianNaturalist18,28. Sweet G and CC Brittlebank (1893) The glacial
CaOmcptboeblelr.A1J89(11.89Th1)eTVhiectoWreinanibNcatcurGaolirsgte8,ex9c9u-r1s0i0o,n,3"' dfenposyiites(*iojnfgthoefBtahcecAhuusstrMaalrassihandisAtsriscotc.iaRteipoonrtfoorftthhee
CampbellA.I(1900.reprinted 1974)NestsandEggsof Advancement ofScience. Sept. 1893, 376-389
FrAPeuunsbclthirsaChliiAnagn:(1BM8ie9rld1bs-.o1u9Vr1no1el))uHmaensdb1oaonkdo2f.tRheeprDiensttru(cWtrievne WhAi(tAtdeeHllilasiHdteoM)r.y(19a5n4d)ThBeibLlitieorgartuarpehoyfAousftrAaluisatnraBilridasn:
Insects of Victoria, Volumes 1-5. (Victorian Ornithology. (Paterson Brokensha: Perth, WA)
DepartmentofAgriculture:Melbourne) (biographiesandlistsofpublishedworks,pages390-
Hall TS (1894) F.xcursion to Werribee Gorge with a 392).
note on ils geological literature. The Victorian
Naturalist11, 125-127.
LeWahcihtJcAom(b1c91a1)ndAnToAmubstsr,alMiaenlbBoiurrdnBeoo(ka.ckIns1oewdlietidogn-. Received2February2006:acceptedIJune2006
ments for illustrations byCharles Brittlebank, verso
Arecord ofthe Common Dunnart Smintiiopsis muri/ia
using artificial habitat
The Common DunnartSminthopsismuri- In this district, the Watsons Creek Nature
na inhabits mallee scrub, dry heath, dry Conservation Link is made up ofremnant
forestandwoodland within Victoria, most- habitat areas along Watsons Creek and
ly in the north and west ofthe state (Atlas several Crown Conservation Reserves,
ofVictorian Wildlife). All areas where the which join the Kinglakc ranges to the
species is found have sparse shrub and north and the Yarra Valley to the south.
ground cover, but usually with a dense Within this link. One Tree Hill Reserve is
cover ofground litter (Menkhorst 1995). the largest area ofreserved crown landand
However, the species is no longercommon provides important habitat for several rare
and is now classed as vulnerable in and threatened species, including the
Victoria. Records ofthe Common Dunnart Powerful Owl Ninox strenua Brush-tailed
,
exist close to Melbourne, particularly to Phascogale Phascogalc tapoatafa and
the north east on dry slopes and ridges Common Dunnart.
south ofthe Kinglakc ranges, in the vicini- As part of a habitat enhancement pro-
tyofWatsons Creek. gram, RMIT University, in conjunction
with Parks Victoria, positioned forty con-
crete pavers on several slopes in Dry
Grassy Woodland at One Tree Hill, in
habitat that was considered typical for the
Common Dunnart. Each paver measured
380mm by 380 mm and had a thickness of
mm
45 (Fig. 1). The forty pavers were
layed between October 2003 and March
2004. Theywerepositioned in fourfinesof
ten, with aboutten metres between pavers.
A nestingcavitywasexcavated undereach
block and dry grass was provided for nest-
Fig. 1. Concrete paverused to produce nesting ingmaterial.
cavity.
Vol. 123 (5) 2006 317