McGill, Lily

DESCRIPTION

NameMcGill, LilyOccupationFarmerPlace of ResidenceYellow RockBiographyArchibald McGill was born 1842 at Albion Park, to Andrew and Jean McGill (nee McNiven). He married Margaret Bovard in 1873, and the couple lived on a farm under the mountain cliffs in between Yellow Rock and Tongarra.

In 1883, their family was struck with tragedy when four of their ten children lost their lives to diphtheria – they were aged from three to eight years and died within nine days of each other.

Lily Beatrice McGill b.1885, was one of their surviving daughters.

After the death of their father in 1915, Lily and her brother Harold b.1889, carried on the farm for a number of years.

When Lily’s mother Margaret died in 1935, Lily took over the farm. She lived by herself in the home, and only went into town at Albion Park when she had to do business or buy supplies.

During the 1930s, Lily relied on the State Boys to help her on the farm. Farmers could apply to the Welfare Office and be allotted a boy to assist with the farm work.

On the farm, Lily would hand milk the cows by herself, catch her old draught mare, harness the horse, hook her to the slide, and lift one or two cans of heavy milk onto the slide before driving down the mountain to meet the lorry at Yellow Rock, which would take the milk to the factory.

During the Second World War, Lily was the only person living at Yellow Rock Mountain on the western side.

According to local farmer Jack Martin, Lily was a strange figure – very tall, thin, and wiry in her old clothes, and she always carried a stock whip. One never knew when she would suddenly come out of the bush, say a few words, and then she would be gone. Isolation never seemed to affect her.

In the 1950s, as she got older, she left the farm and moved to Albion Park in a house opposite Centenary Hall called 'The Pines'. It was formerly the home of her sister Edith and husband Leicester Snodgrass.

Lily could germinate an Illawarra Flame Tree, and used to grow them in old jam tins for her friends.

Information – Martin, Jack 2005. Tongarra Tales, Tongarra Heritage Society.

External LinkLate Mrs McGillObituary Mrs Margaret McGill

Lily McGill riding with the Foran Family at Green Mountain, Yellow Rock, c.1935.

Lily McGill holding Margaret Foran (front), Thora Foran (nee:Snodgrass) holding Brian Foran. The photo was taken at Archibald McGill's farm on Green Mountain at Yellow Rock.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPeopleFamilyMcGillSnodgrassLocalityYellow RockAlbion ParkTongarraRelated ItemLily McGill's home in Albion ParkLily McGill riding with the Foran Family at Green Mountain, Yellow RockLily McGill's home, 'The Pines', Albion Park

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McGill, Lily