52 John Street | Gun Alley Stories Lilydale Historical SocietyMax Sheldrake2023-10-25T13:48:21+11:00
52 John St Stories
Gun Alley Stories
Introduction
Lot 6 block 6, 52 John Street remained vacant until the 1980s and highlighted the problems with buying and selling land under General Law. It was expensive to transfer the property to Torrens titles so many owners just put it in the too hard basket. It was also a case of generally these transactions had to be handled by firms specialising in General Law. The leasee until 1961 were the Smith family who were butchers in Main Street. Perhaps the property was used to keep their horses or perhaps hold cattle.
This was one of two lots in Gun Alley claimed by Adverse Possession. The other was the Davies lot 3 facing Hutchinson Street on the south side of John Street.
Audio introduction
Throughout the Gun Alley pages you will see references in old articles to £ (pounds). £1 = $2; 10/- (10 shillings) = $1; 5/- (5 shillings) = 50 cents. Please note: this does not reflect the value of the money but serves as an indication only.
Using the map:
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Timelines
John Hutchinson
William Hutchinson & Louis Deschamps ( – 21/1/1881)
Patrick Hughes (21/1/1881 –
In Possession of land
Henry Hughes (1944 – 1961) Listed as owner
Leased by
Isabella Smith (1916 – 1937)
Arthur John Hill (1937 -1957)
Isabel Catherine Hill (1957 -25/8/1961) – Contract of Sale
Concezio & Verna Mosca (25/8/1961 – 1984) Claimed by Adverse Possession June 1, 1984
Vericon Pty Ltd (3/3/1987 -)
Lot 6 Block 6 remained a vacant block and was the subject of an Adverse Possession claim which was successful in 1984.
Patrick and Henry Hughes
Patrick Hughes acquired the property from John Hutchinson’s executors – Louis Deschmap and William Hutchinson on January 24, 1881. Hughes was a farmer at Yering where he owned 100 acres and leased a further 316 acres. At the time of his death in 1886 aged 57 years, Lot 6 was one of two lots in Block 6 he still owned. Hughes also owned a third was in Block 1.
Patrick Hughes was an early Lilydale settler. He was born in Ireland in 1829 and at Country Atrim on November 1, 1852 he married Catherine McNally, daughter of James and Anne (Lavender) McNally. They had six children:
Anne J. b 1854; Sarah L. b 1856, Henry T. b 1858; Samuel b 1860, Elizabeth M b. 1863 and Edward M b 1868 at Mooroolbark.
Patrick arrived in Melbourne in 1863 travelling from Liverpool on board the SS Great Britain. His wife Catherine and children did not arrive until 1867 at which time they settled in Lilydale.
Patrick died and was buried at Lilydale Cemetery on September 11, 1886. He was aged 57 years old.
Sadly, his life as an early settler of the district received little mention.
He died intestate so his eldest son Henry was appointed administrator of his estate which listed his properties as being 100 acres valued at £800 and Lot 7 Block 6 John Street valued at £15. Livestock, farm machinery and furniture were valued at £376.
Patrick’s wife Catherine died April 24, 1905 aged 81 years.
Henry Hughes
After Patrick’s death, the family decided not to distribute the estate at that time and appointed Henry (or Harry as he was known) his eldest son, to administer it. There was no transfer of the property into Henry’s name which later led to the Adverse Possession claim many years later.
According to the Shire of Lillydale ratebooks, Henry Hughes held the property in his own name until 1917 when he leased it out to Isabella Smith, butcher.
Henry was born in