Gilbert Family of Ellinbank

Lionel Gilbert, or "Grandpa" as he was known to the Telford and Gilbert children is shown at right feeding the chooks, probably at son Hal's place.

Lionel died in 1948 aged 79 and Ellis a few weeks later. He is buried with his wife Clara at Hamilton cemetery, western Victoria.

At the time Lionel and Clara moved to Ellinbank it was some 30 years since the first settlers in the district. Prior to that the whole area was covered in tall timber - Blackwood, Messmate, Blackbutt and Swamp Gum - and it is likely parts of their property would have still needed clearing. One of the local sawmills had recently closed down but one was still operating. (information from "A History of Ellinbank and District 1874 - 1974" principally written by Mrs Noel Cropley).

The state primary school ( no. 2189) had opened in 1879 and the original building was replaced in 1906. Next door to the school the Warragul South Church was built in 1881 and became the centre of district functions, with church services ( multidenominational) , weddings, Sunday School, tea-meetings, school concerts, debates and socials being held there. This became the Methodist Church when St George’s Church of England was built in 1915.

Interior of St George's Church Weddings of Barbara (top) and June Telford at St George's

In 1968 St Georges was targeted by an arsonist and was totally destroyed. The new brick building now on the site has once again became an ecumenical venture being known as St Lukes Anglican-Methodist Co-operating church, later Anglican - Uniting.

The original St George’s building was a typical Australian small country church with weatherboard (timber) walls as can be seen in these two photos of wedding parties of two of Lionel Gilbert’s granddaughters - June Telford to Tom Wallace in 1961 and Barbara Telford to Lindsay White in 1963.

In September 2015 a service was held at St Luke's to celebrate the centennial of Christian worship on the site of St George’s / St Luke’s - photo above shows some of the long term members of the church - Lionel’s grandson Barrie Gilbert is on the right.

The Gilbert family had traditionally been strong supporters of their local Church of England wherever they lived. Lionel continued this tradition and his descendants in the Ellinbank district continued to attend St Lukes until its closure in December 2017 - it is now used by the Presbyterian Church of Warragul.

A number of newspaper reports in the West Gippsland Gazette mention the loan of a piano by Mr L. Gilbert for various district events but in particular the annual concerts of both St Georges church and the local state school. Also mentioned is the contribution of Grace Gilbert from an early age. The first such report of the school concert in April 1907 when Grace was 6 and a half years old, quotes: A. E. Allan's cantata "The White Garland" was nicely staged. The position of Queen was well filled by Miss Lily Wallace with Dorothy Topp and Grace Gilbert as train bearers.

At the Sunday School concert of 1909 Grace was part of a group both singing and reciting. A few years later she was working as the "Sewing Mistress" at the school and was thanked at the school concert: "Mr Slattery ... thanked all who had assisted, especially the assistant teacher Miss G. Gilbert who in addition to accompanying the items, spent a tremendous amount of time and trouble in the training of the pupils as well as making the fancy costumes, some of which were very elaborate, and was undoubtedly an important factor in the success of the entertainment."

Grace continued to be closely involved in school events after her marriage to Ray Telford and as a mother of four. Her musical talents were used throughout her life as the church organist. This musical gift was passed on to her children and grandchildren.

Also recorded in the "Leader" (Melbourne) of Saturday 2nd May 1914, is a story sent into the "Cinderella" column "written for Reynard by Grace Gilbert, "Thornhill", Ellinbank, age 13 years and 4 months - partly reproduced above.

The name “Thornhill” was incidentally, given to the property prior to the Gilberts’ arrival - there is an advert in the West Gippsland Gazette from 1900 signed by William McFarland of “Thornhill”, South Warragul. ( standing for council )

Alfred Henry Gilbert ( “Hal” ) married Doris Topp and had 3 children - Bernice b. 1937, Barrie b. 1940 and Glenda b. 1949. Hal took over the farm from his uncle Ellis until his death in 1974 when his son Barrie carried on the farm after a period of working in banking. Hal is recorded as vice president of the Ellinbank tennis club and was for many years secretary of the church congregation.

Bernice worked at the Ellinbank Dairy Research Station for some years after its establishment in the 1950s and was very active at State level in the Girl Guides in Victoria. She died in 2017 aged 80.

Barrie married Gwen Nicholas with children - Graeme, Phillip and Stephen - all married with children.

Glenda married (1) Peter Davis - 1 child, (2) Gordon Warren.

Photos below of Hal, Doris, Bernice and Barrie with their Plymouth sedan. (Glenda was not yet on the way)

and Bernice Gilbert in the year 2000 recognised for 40 years service to the Guiding movement.