Henry Truelove and family in NSW. 1876 - 1915.

The following is an extract from a history of Henry by Joan Truelove of "Elmavale" Illabo NSW. Joan is the youngest daughter of Harry Truelove, Henry's eldest son.

As the gold boom [In Victoria] began to fade Henry and Annie sold the store [in Bendigo] and together with their young family, in 1876 came overland by buggy and waggon to Cunjigong Creek (now known as Frampton) where the main southern railway was under construction. Here they kept a store and bakery, supplying goods and bread to the workers on the line. There were some 5,000 men working on the construction, many of them irish immigrants. They were paid £1 ($2) per week for a 12 hour day, 6 day week.
Will Owen, an uncle, was engaged as an engineer on the line under construction and could have influenced the decision to move to Cunjigong.

Note: Henry's brother, James Truelove had moved to Bowning in 1874 and died at Gundagai in 1876. Henry was given Jame's probate. Both were listed as publicans.

As the construction moved further west (opened for traffic between Cootamundra and Junee in 1878), so did Henry, Annie and family to build the "Billabong Hotel" and store near the site of a stone quarry and brick kiln about 1 mile (2klms) west of the present site of the Village of Illabo. By 1883 they had acquired 136 acres of land (now part of "clearview" nearest to Illabo) and worked it in conjunction with the "Billabong Hotel". It appears to have been an almost self contained operation with stables, dairy, poultry, fruit trees and probably vegetables. A long row of mulberry trees were planted along the roadway towards Junee.

Note. Henry's second surviving child, Sarah Anne, born 1860, married Warren Smith in Wagga Wagga in 1882. Henry and Annie's youngest child, Anne (Nell) was born at Illabo.

By 1882 - 1883 there were several families in the locality with children of school age and no school closer than Bethungra or Boree. Henry Truelove and Mr Osborne, the station manager on "Geralgambeth", began negotiations by letter with the Department of Education to have a provisional school established at Illabo. At a cost of £60 ($120) Henry had the first school built in 1884 and opened that same year. He offered to board a male teacher for 16 shillings ($1.60) per week. Four Truelove children, John, Fred, Nell and another were amongst the first enrolments.

Note. Henry's elder surviving child, Catherine born 1858, married Donald McDonald in Junee in 1886.

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