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Marshall Mount Dance
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NameMarshall Mount DanceEvent LocationMarshall Mount HouseDescriptionThere are two large dining rooms at Marshall Mount House. One has a black mantle over the fireplace, and the other a white mantle.
In the 1930’s the room with the black mantle was the bedroom of young George McDonald who was booted out of his room and asked to find somewhere else to sleep for the night, each time a dance was held at the old homestead. (Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
In those days, a piano was brought up to the house on a horse and slide from the Pearson's place.
Alan and Viola Dawes played the piano and drums. The dances were held in the two big rooms beside the old cedar staircase and proceeded to the early hours of the morning.(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
In 1934 the dances were moved across the road to the local school.
‘I recall the desks being unscrewed from the floor which was then covered with sawdust and kerosene. Some of the children would then proceed to get on bags and then be pulled around by others to polish the floor’ (Arthur Bowley in ‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
Music for the dances was provided by members of the Bowley family along with Roy Hazelton, George Smith, Ollie Watt and Mrs Doyle.
In the 1950’s a progress association was formed to promote social gatherings for the farmers and local community at Marshall Mount. The president, Hughie Stevenson, donated a half acre lot for the building of a community hall.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
Arthur Bowley was secretary and George McDonald, who had been asked to vacate his bedroom 20 years before, was appointed treasurer.
The locals all contributed to the cause by donating a cow or other livestock to raise the £627 for the building of the hall.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
The hall and the band was established to serve a local need for social gatherings, but over the years the fun of dance nights has been shared with enthusiasts from miles around. (Stan Thomas, ‘Three Score Years and Ten’, 1981)
The first dance held 8 May 1953 was the talk of the town...‘The music supplied by Mr A Bowley and son Colin was much appreciated, and Mr K Chittick as MC kept the dancers happy. The ladies provided an excellent supper’(The South Coast Times 14 May 1953)
Strictly traditional dancing only; barn dance, Boston two step, polka, pride of Erin, gypsy tap and other dances of that genre.
Scones, fresh sandwiches, home made cakes (shop bought ones are banned) and a cup of tea are the order of the day.(Claude Harris in ‘Illawarra Mercury’ 10 May 2003)
No smoking or drinking is allowed at the dance; the focus is on good clean fun. A dance has been held at Marshall Mount Hall every fortnight since that night in 1953.
There's not much to Marshall Mount; a hall, an old one teacher school, Marshall Mount House and a few more houses and farms dotted around the landscape; but this small rural locality has left a big mark on the Illawarra community.
Many a young local lad or lass met their future wife or husband at the Marshall Mount Dance which has kept the community connected over so many years.
‘It's always a good night. I think about half the people in the community have met their partners over there’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
The weather has to be pretty hairy before a dance is cancelled. On one occasion a storm was so wild that it opened up a gap between the walls and the roof; so the dance had to finish early that night.
(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
Jokers attended the dances too. On several occasions, one culprit ran around outside the building dragging a stick along the iron sheeting. This would scare the pants off the people sitting around the walls inside the hall, and one after another would rise from their seats in a Mexican wave as he passed.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
One night a fight broke out outside the hall. The doorman, Tom Mitchell grabbed a fire extinguisher from inside and drenched the participants to cool them off.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
The local constabulary also used to keep a sharp eye on the dances, making sure all was above board. In a timely fashion, they would arrive just as supper was being served each dance night.‘But there was never any need to have them there…they just had their eye on the big spread’(Claude Harris in ‘Illawarra Mercury’ 10 May 2003)
Since 1934 the Bowley family has provided music for the dances. In 1938 Arthur Bowley purchased his first accordion and had one week to learn how to play it for a dance held the following Saturday.
Other members of the Bowley family played too, with roles being handed down through the generations; from Arthur's father Wilfred, to Arthur and his brother Jack, his cousin Vivian Wright, Arthur's children Colin, Betty, Kevin and Judy and his grandchildren David and Wendy Johnston.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
The famous Marshall Mount Merry Makers started in 1953; Arthur Bowley, Betty Bowley, Ivon Dare, Ben Draper, Har-ry Mildenhall, Cob Foye and Chick Draper. Many other locals have contributed to the music played at the dances over the years; Gordon McLeich, Snow Payne, Les Jordan, Jim Philips, Jack Abernethy, Eve Bennett and Kevin Reiman. Bev Brownlee has been the drummer with the band since 1978.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
‘The Marshall Mount Merry Makers headed by Arthur Bowley introduced new sounds of music with a rhythm that has captured the ears and feet of the dancing public for the past 26 years’(Stan Thomas, ‘Three Score Years and Ten’, 1981)
The band produced three recordings too, from 1958-1988; The Bowley Quartet, Sincerely Yours and Six Pink Carnations.
Arthur Edgar Woodfield Bowley was always going to be a musician. His grandfather Edgar Bowley was the band master of the Leicester Brass Band in England in the early 20th century, and his mother Elsie (nee Woodfield) was the pianist for the Leicester Symphonic Orchestra.(‘The Tunes of Arthur Bowley’ The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc's Pioneer Performers Series compiled by David De Santi 1992)
Arthur's parents taught him the correct tempo for traditional old time dancing and Arthur maintained it throughout his 68 years of playing for the dances at Marshall Mount.
The Bowley family had moved from Unanderra to Marshall Mount the same year the dances began in 1934. They performed in their own family band from 1929-1935 and played to audiences up and down the NSW Coast; Mrs Bowley on piano, Mr Bowley on violin and banjo and Arthur and his three brothers and sisters on the banjo-mandolins.(‘The Tunes of Arthur Bowley’ The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc's Pioneer Performers Series compiled by David De Santi 1992)
Arthur's first introduction to playing at Marshall Mount occurred one night when the chap who provided music for the dance failed to turn up. Arthur, who was attending the dance, was called upon to rush home and grab his mouth organ so the dance to could go on. ‘For the sake of preserving my jaws I then decided to take up the accordion; at first the button but then the piano accordion’(‘The Tunes of Arthur Bowley’ The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc's Pioneer Performers Series compiled by David De Santi 1992)
Arthur started playing seriously for the dances in 1938 with his dad on the drums. His brother Jack took over the drums from his father at the age of 10 and Mr Bowley then turned to the banjo.
The Marshall Mount Merry Makers formed in 1953; the band had a repertoire of around 475 tunes of which 32 were Arthur's own composition. The band played at 66 different halls from Sydney to Nowra, Queanbeyan and the Southern Highlands.
Different players have come and gone but Mr Arthur Bowley was there at the beginning in the 1930s and right up until 2002; wielding the piano accordion, pumping out the music for the dances.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
‘Arthur was the band’(Claude Harris in ‘Illawarra Mercury’ 10 May 2003) Arthur retired from the band in 2002 aged 89 years. ‘Mr Arthur Bowley has now retired; he decided to give it up - just because he turned 90!’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
Every second Saturday night for the past 60 years dozens of people from Nowra to Orange have shone their dancing shoes and travelled to Marshall Mount hall; a tiny wooden shack amongst the dairy farms.
In 2013 the Marshall Mount Old Time Dance celebrates its 60th year. Many patrons have kicked their heels off since the first dance at the hall in 1953.
In that year the dance would set you back two shillings. These days its still only $10 including supper.
In 2008, Claude Harris recalled...‘The dance hall is still going good. We run the old time dances and charge $8 admission and give about $9 worth of super I always tell them’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
Generations both young and old attend the dances.
‘A few real young ones come and when they get tired we've got a special place for them to lay down and have a sleep…they lie down on the carpet on the stage, right in front of Bev's drums and snore their heads off’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
It’s a place where the community connects - where people grow up and fall in love. Lyn Mitchell spotted her future husband, Peter, across the dance floor...‘I remember his nice shiny face and good looks’(‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003). The couple were just 16 when they met among the sashaying skirts and rhythms of the dance hall. They continued to go to the dances, walking though the cow paddocks to get there, and five years later they were married.
‘It was the biggest thing out, coming to the dances. It was the only thing around that young people could do at that time’(‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003).
It is the community they have found as much as any dance that keeps taking them, and dozens of others, back to the hard wooden floors of the Marshall Mount Progress Hall.(‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003)
‘A bloke I know was very depressed so I took him along to the dance and he reckons it changed his life. He made a lot of new friends and he says going there was the best thing he could have done’(Claude Harris in ’The Advertiser’ April 1998)
Bev Browlee has been attending the dances since she was 'a young one'.‘I love the place. I love the people’ (‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003).
Shellharbour City Museum 2008 Exhibition 'Marshall Mount, 60 Years and Still Dancing'.
In the 1930’s the room with the black mantle was the bedroom of young George McDonald who was booted out of his room and asked to find somewhere else to sleep for the night, each time a dance was held at the old homestead. (Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
In those days, a piano was brought up to the house on a horse and slide from the Pearson's place.
Alan and Viola Dawes played the piano and drums. The dances were held in the two big rooms beside the old cedar staircase and proceeded to the early hours of the morning.(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
In 1934 the dances were moved across the road to the local school.
‘I recall the desks being unscrewed from the floor which was then covered with sawdust and kerosene. Some of the children would then proceed to get on bags and then be pulled around by others to polish the floor’ (Arthur Bowley in ‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
Music for the dances was provided by members of the Bowley family along with Roy Hazelton, George Smith, Ollie Watt and Mrs Doyle.
In the 1950’s a progress association was formed to promote social gatherings for the farmers and local community at Marshall Mount. The president, Hughie Stevenson, donated a half acre lot for the building of a community hall.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
Arthur Bowley was secretary and George McDonald, who had been asked to vacate his bedroom 20 years before, was appointed treasurer.
The locals all contributed to the cause by donating a cow or other livestock to raise the £627 for the building of the hall.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
The hall and the band was established to serve a local need for social gatherings, but over the years the fun of dance nights has been shared with enthusiasts from miles around. (Stan Thomas, ‘Three Score Years and Ten’, 1981)
The first dance held 8 May 1953 was the talk of the town...‘The music supplied by Mr A Bowley and son Colin was much appreciated, and Mr K Chittick as MC kept the dancers happy. The ladies provided an excellent supper’(The South Coast Times 14 May 1953)
Strictly traditional dancing only; barn dance, Boston two step, polka, pride of Erin, gypsy tap and other dances of that genre.
Scones, fresh sandwiches, home made cakes (shop bought ones are banned) and a cup of tea are the order of the day.(Claude Harris in ‘Illawarra Mercury’ 10 May 2003)
No smoking or drinking is allowed at the dance; the focus is on good clean fun. A dance has been held at Marshall Mount Hall every fortnight since that night in 1953.
There's not much to Marshall Mount; a hall, an old one teacher school, Marshall Mount House and a few more houses and farms dotted around the landscape; but this small rural locality has left a big mark on the Illawarra community.
Many a young local lad or lass met their future wife or husband at the Marshall Mount Dance which has kept the community connected over so many years.
‘It's always a good night. I think about half the people in the community have met their partners over there’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
The weather has to be pretty hairy before a dance is cancelled. On one occasion a storm was so wild that it opened up a gap between the walls and the roof; so the dance had to finish early that night.
(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
Jokers attended the dances too. On several occasions, one culprit ran around outside the building dragging a stick along the iron sheeting. This would scare the pants off the people sitting around the walls inside the hall, and one after another would rise from their seats in a Mexican wave as he passed.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
One night a fight broke out outside the hall. The doorman, Tom Mitchell grabbed a fire extinguisher from inside and drenched the participants to cool them off.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
The local constabulary also used to keep a sharp eye on the dances, making sure all was above board. In a timely fashion, they would arrive just as supper was being served each dance night.‘But there was never any need to have them there…they just had their eye on the big spread’(Claude Harris in ‘Illawarra Mercury’ 10 May 2003)
Since 1934 the Bowley family has provided music for the dances. In 1938 Arthur Bowley purchased his first accordion and had one week to learn how to play it for a dance held the following Saturday.
Other members of the Bowley family played too, with roles being handed down through the generations; from Arthur's father Wilfred, to Arthur and his brother Jack, his cousin Vivian Wright, Arthur's children Colin, Betty, Kevin and Judy and his grandchildren David and Wendy Johnston.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
The famous Marshall Mount Merry Makers started in 1953; Arthur Bowley, Betty Bowley, Ivon Dare, Ben Draper, Har-ry Mildenhall, Cob Foye and Chick Draper. Many other locals have contributed to the music played at the dances over the years; Gordon McLeich, Snow Payne, Les Jordan, Jim Philips, Jack Abernethy, Eve Bennett and Kevin Reiman. Bev Brownlee has been the drummer with the band since 1978.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
‘The Marshall Mount Merry Makers headed by Arthur Bowley introduced new sounds of music with a rhythm that has captured the ears and feet of the dancing public for the past 26 years’(Stan Thomas, ‘Three Score Years and Ten’, 1981)
The band produced three recordings too, from 1958-1988; The Bowley Quartet, Sincerely Yours and Six Pink Carnations.
Arthur Edgar Woodfield Bowley was always going to be a musician. His grandfather Edgar Bowley was the band master of the Leicester Brass Band in England in the early 20th century, and his mother Elsie (nee Woodfield) was the pianist for the Leicester Symphonic Orchestra.(‘The Tunes of Arthur Bowley’ The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc's Pioneer Performers Series compiled by David De Santi 1992)
Arthur's parents taught him the correct tempo for traditional old time dancing and Arthur maintained it throughout his 68 years of playing for the dances at Marshall Mount.
The Bowley family had moved from Unanderra to Marshall Mount the same year the dances began in 1934. They performed in their own family band from 1929-1935 and played to audiences up and down the NSW Coast; Mrs Bowley on piano, Mr Bowley on violin and banjo and Arthur and his three brothers and sisters on the banjo-mandolins.(‘The Tunes of Arthur Bowley’ The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc's Pioneer Performers Series compiled by David De Santi 1992)
Arthur's first introduction to playing at Marshall Mount occurred one night when the chap who provided music for the dance failed to turn up. Arthur, who was attending the dance, was called upon to rush home and grab his mouth organ so the dance to could go on. ‘For the sake of preserving my jaws I then decided to take up the accordion; at first the button but then the piano accordion’(‘The Tunes of Arthur Bowley’ The Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc's Pioneer Performers Series compiled by David De Santi 1992)
Arthur started playing seriously for the dances in 1938 with his dad on the drums. His brother Jack took over the drums from his father at the age of 10 and Mr Bowley then turned to the banjo.
The Marshall Mount Merry Makers formed in 1953; the band had a repertoire of around 475 tunes of which 32 were Arthur's own composition. The band played at 66 different halls from Sydney to Nowra, Queanbeyan and the Southern Highlands.
Different players have come and gone but Mr Arthur Bowley was there at the beginning in the 1930s and right up until 2002; wielding the piano accordion, pumping out the music for the dances.(‘Marshall Mount Old Time Dance 1953 to 2003 - 50 Years and Still Dancing’, 2003)
‘Arthur was the band’(Claude Harris in ‘Illawarra Mercury’ 10 May 2003) Arthur retired from the band in 2002 aged 89 years. ‘Mr Arthur Bowley has now retired; he decided to give it up - just because he turned 90!’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
Every second Saturday night for the past 60 years dozens of people from Nowra to Orange have shone their dancing shoes and travelled to Marshall Mount hall; a tiny wooden shack amongst the dairy farms.
In 2013 the Marshall Mount Old Time Dance celebrates its 60th year. Many patrons have kicked their heels off since the first dance at the hall in 1953.
In that year the dance would set you back two shillings. These days its still only $10 including supper.
In 2008, Claude Harris recalled...‘The dance hall is still going good. We run the old time dances and charge $8 admission and give about $9 worth of super I always tell them’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
Generations both young and old attend the dances.
‘A few real young ones come and when they get tired we've got a special place for them to lay down and have a sleep…they lie down on the carpet on the stage, right in front of Bev's drums and snore their heads off’(Claude Harris in ‘Voices of a Lifetime’, 2008)
It’s a place where the community connects - where people grow up and fall in love. Lyn Mitchell spotted her future husband, Peter, across the dance floor...‘I remember his nice shiny face and good looks’(‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003). The couple were just 16 when they met among the sashaying skirts and rhythms of the dance hall. They continued to go to the dances, walking though the cow paddocks to get there, and five years later they were married.
‘It was the biggest thing out, coming to the dances. It was the only thing around that young people could do at that time’(‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003).
It is the community they have found as much as any dance that keeps taking them, and dozens of others, back to the hard wooden floors of the Marshall Mount Progress Hall.(‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003)
‘A bloke I know was very depressed so I took him along to the dance and he reckons it changed his life. He made a lot of new friends and he says going there was the best thing he could have done’(Claude Harris in ’The Advertiser’ April 1998)
Bev Browlee has been attending the dances since she was 'a young one'.‘I love the place. I love the people’ (‘Illawarra Mercury’, 10 May 2003).
Shellharbour City Museum 2008 Exhibition 'Marshall Mount, 60 Years and Still Dancing'.
compiled David De Santi, Marshall Mount Progress Association, 2003
CONNECTIONS
Marshall Mount Dance. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 05/08/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/485