See below for an article by Jim Evans of the Bendigo Historical Society: From the Bendigo Miner Number 9 - 1 March 2007 Cock-eyed Curnow - James Henry Curnow Cornishman and famous Bendigonian By Jim Evans Five-time Mayor of Bendigo, James Henry Curnow of Eumana , was for fifty years associated with almost every progressive movement in the life of the city. He was born in Ludgvan, Cornwall, in 1861, the son of Sampson Curnow, tin-miner and later mine-manager. His parents brought him to Bendigo when he was two years old and settled at Long Gully. He was educated at the state school and St Andrew s College. In 1883, he married Jane Corbel in the Congregational Church. Curnow joined the Post-Master-General s Department in 1881. Taking leave in 1887, he acted as secretary of the Australian Natives Association (ANA) exhibition at Geelong. He became a clerk with Connelly and Tatchell's, Bendigo solicitors, leaving in 1894 to establish an accountancy and real estate business. Considered shrewd and hard-working, Curnow prospered; he later added an auctioneering section and formed the company J.H. Curnow & Son (now Curnow & Dyett). The ANA provided the grounding for Curnow s public life. He joined the Sandhurst branch in 1881 and was secretary in 1883-1891. He helped form new branches in northern Victoria. With (Sir) John Quick, he set up the first Federation League in the colony in 1893. Curnow was secretary of the League in that year and again in 1898-99. He was elected to the Bendigo City Council in 1901 and, apart from 1906-09 remained a very energetic councillor. He was Mayor in 1902-03, 1903-04, 1912-13, 1919-20 and 1927-28. It was during his second term as Mayor in 1904, that he had William Beebe design a home - Eumana in Flora Hill. (Local historian Betty Jackman informs me that Curnow s house at 75 Wills Street where he lived before moving to Flora Hill, was also called Eumana ). He took a leading role in the installation of sewerage and was later Chairman of the city s Sewerage authority when that body was being subjected to a great deal of criticism. He was an executive member of The Municipal Association of Victoria and president in 1919. Curnow was very interested in politics, but his four attempts to enter parliament failed. He was Justice of the Peace for the states of New South Wales and Victoria, deputy coroner for the city of Bendigo, a guardian of minors and registrar of marriages. Curnow was managing director of the Bendigo Pottery, director of the Bendigo Gas Co. and the Bendigo and Eaglehawk Star Building Society and chairman of directors of the Bendigo Boot and Shoe factory. He was a life member of both the Bendigo Base Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum (Anne Caudle Centre). Curnow s family affairs were marred by tragedy. His father was killed in a mining accident in 1881; his first wife and three of their five children died in the measles epidemic of 1893. His second wife Mary Jordan died in 1909 after spilling carbolic acid on her hip, leaving three young children. He married Amy McLean in 1911and they had one daughter. When the Prince Edward visited Bendigo in 1920, Curnow made a speech, telling his audience: I will now merely ask you to drink his health as the Prince of Wales and also as the Duke of Cornwall. In this district there are a tremendous number of Cornishmen and I need not tell His Royal Highness that it was the Cousin Jacks who made Bendigo, who found the gold and developed the mines. They have added more to the riches of the Commonwealth than any other class of people. When he visits the mines today, he will find that ninety per cent of the miners are Cornishmen and descendants of Cornishmen. His remarks were greeted by loud applause. J.H. Curnow was known locally as Cock-eyed because of an eye defect. He died on Anzac Day 1932 at his then home, The Knoll in Wattle Street. He was 71. He was cremated at the new Fawkner Cemetery and his ashes were buried in the Bendigo Cemetery. His grave is close to that of another famous Cornishman and Bendigonian, Sir John Quick, who died in the same year. The Curnow memorial drinking fountain in Rosalind Park was unveiled in 1938 by Mayor Taylor. The distinguished Bendigo born sculptress Ola Cohn designed the memorial and made the bust and other plaques of terracotta. The plaques were damaged in the 1950s and a restoration program was undertaken, with bronze plaques replacing the original terracotta ones.10934.33a: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 21 March 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 52 pounds 1 shillings. Receipt number 1881. There is also a Victorian 3 pence stamp duty stamp printed in green ink. 10934.33b: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 25 May 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. Receipt number 14291. The Receipt is crossed out in blye pencil. The top left corner is folded and slightly torn. 10934.33c: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 27 June 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 2 pounds. Receipt number 1466. The receipt is crossed out in blue pencil and indicates and credit. 10934.33d: A small, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details: Bought of J.H. Curnow & Son Wholesale Merchants. The address: Mitchell & Queen Sts. Bendigo and branches. Phones: Bendigo 103. The receipt is handwritten in grey lead pencil. Dated 7 March 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 34 pounds 14 shillings. Receipt number 1627. There is also a Victorian 3 pence stamp duty stamp printed in green ink.ac morton, jh curnow & son

The Mining & Geological Journal was produced by the Department of Mines, Victoria twice a year, during the period 1937 to 1972. It was an official publication of the Department of Mines devoted to issues and events surrounding mining and metallurgical engineering in Victoria along with education, research and innovations in mining. The journal also included advertisements and references to business interests. Sixty eight page journal, green and white cover. On front cover: image of poppet head and tramway, mining chimney on right hand side. Printed on cover: 'Mining & Geological Journal', Wattle Gully Mines, First Aid in Mines, Dromana Granite, New Uses For Old Minerals. March 1941, Price 1/- published half yearly. Vol 2, No. 4. Pages numbered 200 to 256. wattle gully mines, first aid in mines, dromana granite, mining, geology, cement, diamond drilling, jh. curnow & son, deborah line of reef, monument hill, bendigo, goldfield

Sepia photograph, stained yellow. Large group of adult males seated in auditorium. Five figures in balcony (three males, two females). In foreground, part of table covered with documents. Inscriptions: On board - 'Silver Art Studio, Vincent Street, Daylesford'. On back - 'ANA Convention, Daylesford. Cr. JH Curnow second left in front row? Convention. History: Previous Acc. No. GP79, James Lerk, 19/11/1999 'ANA Convention at Daylesford including Bendigo Delegation. JH Curnow, second left in front row.Silver Art Studio, Vincent St, Daylesfordperson, group

Black and white photograph on grey board. Twenty adult males, outside. Large trees in background. All wearing 3-piece suits. Inscriptions: on board - 'Elite Studio, Ryrie Street, Geelong'. On back - 'ANA Convention at Geelong, Councillor JH Curnow of Bendigo, third from the left in front row'. History: Prev. Acc. No. GP76.Elite Studio, Ryrie Street, Geelongperson, group

Sepia toned photograph of mixed group of ANA Christmas house party, A.N.A. Movement early 1920's. (Santa Claus near right front). Approximately 130 in group. Two storey weatherboard building, single storey weatherboard buildings at left. Large trees at back at R. Some children and adults in fancy dress. Inscriptions: on Front - TRH corner 'GP80'. Also on front - in BR margin written in ballpoint pen 'JH Curnow (white hair)'. History: Previous Acc. No. 'GP 80'.person, group, ana picnic

Black and white photograph with large red stain (faded). Photograph of men and small boys at laying of a foundation stone (elevations of building barely visible in framed print at back centre of building). Mounted on grey board. Inscriptions 'GP10' top LH corner. 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch' Circular stamp on rear of photo. Inscription on stone in image 'This stone was laid on 9th day of January 1903 by His Worship the Mayor JH Curnow Esq'. History: Previous Acc. No. GP10. Helen Mainka 20.7.2001 from Annals of Bendigo 1903 'Laying of Foundation Stone at the Market Buildings:. See photo p 13 Bendigo Fire Brigade 100 years by George A Ellis at building in background. Building in R background is very similar to the building in Market Square occupied by the Sandhurst City Brigade.person, group

Black and white reproduction of photo from 'Back to Eaglehawk' back Oct. 1928. Large group of children, four adults in background. Outside. Banisters in background, brick wall at side. Approximately ninety children, youngest ones seated on ground at front, cross-legged. Inscriptions: on front - 'California Hill State School, 1928', 'JH Biggs, Health Inspector'. RHSV stamp (under photo). California Hill State School. 'The California Gully State School (or the Bell topper Hill, as the old Cornish miners names it) is one of the oldest in the district. Some of the prominent men of Bendigo today who attended that school include Cr. JH Curnow, Mr Jtn Smalley, and Mr EE Heitman. Mr. George Evans, a native of the district, is now in charge of the school. Miss FE Darvall is the head of the infant division. Other teachers are Miss RE Nicholas and Mr WR McClelland. Scholars on the roll at present number 105.person, group, students of cal. hill state.school

exercise book in poor condition Australian Natives Association, Sandhurst Branch, Picnic Art Union 1890 Book lists 100 prize winners: columns for Prize (sequenced 1 - 100), Winning Number, Name, "Received prize as set down opposite name" book in poor and damaged condition a exercise book cover (marbled coloured cover) b first page, prize names - 16 c next pages, prize names 17 -62 g next page, prize names 63 - 85 d last prize page, certified Town Hall Sandhurst, 14th day of January 1981, by three names, prize names 86 -100 e last page in book. notes 484 tickets in Art Union from no. 95571 to 96054, signed Mr. Curnow, Sec ANA Sandhurst f paper attachment pasted into book acknowledging "from Mr. M Curnow one dinner set being 11th prize in ANA Art Union , signed JH Harrisaustralian natives association, sandhurst branch