The Kent family played a prominent part in early life around the Narre Warren area and was left shattered by the terrible toll inflicted by World War I, as NEIL LUCAS explains in his latest look at the significance of street and place names in the region.
Anthony Burdon Kent, born in Dover, England, was the son of a Minister Rev. Anthony Kent and his wife Fanny.
The Kent family in England was reasonably well-off and young Anthony came to Australia in 1867.
Following his travels to all states of Australia, Anthony had sufficient capital to acquire the 80 hectare property Granite Park in Narre Warren which he re-named Oatlands.
This farm was located on the east side of Narre Warren North Road adjacent to the Sweeney property, which fronted the Gippsland Road.
Anthony then purchased the property to his north, known as Ryelands and so had quite a substantial holding on which to farm.
Just over the fence to the east, was the farm of Johann and Maria Hillbrich. Anthony subsequently met and fell in love with the Hillbrich’s daughter Maria Ann (known as Mary) and they married on 9 October 1872 at Narre Warren.
Mary already had a two year old daughter Matilda, whose father died in a mining accident.
Anthony and Mary produced seven children -Frank was born in 1873, Alfred 1875, Ada (later Mrs H L Webb) 1876, Charles 1880, Norman 1882, Florence (Dollie) 1883 (later Mrs Lanyon) and Robert 1886. Frank died when just one year old.
The boys attended Mr Vieusseux’s Berwick Grammar School. Alfred is listed in the 1883 report of the first prize night at the school as having been awarded a prize for writing.
In 1893 young Alfred was recorded as finishing in second place in the novelty event Handicap Hurdle Race at the community Sports and Races Event which included horse races and other novelty events including – catching the greasy pig, cigar race, throwing the cricket ball, drop-kick football, old buffers race and cricketers race between wickets.
The Kent boys were keen cricketers and played in the local Narre Warren team.
In April 1898 second son Alf married the girl from the farm across the road Alice Webb, daughter of Sydney and Ann Webb. The wedding was conducted at the Webb’s residence Holly Green.
Alf and his brother Charles established a general store on the corner of the Gippsland Road and Webb Street known as Kents & Co General Store.
The signs on the store read “Grocer and Draper – Mount Lyell manures- saddles, harness – seeds & plants – machinery, produce & ironmongery.” They also sold crockery, building material, tanks, troughs, galvanized iron, spouting, ridging, boots, shoes, paint, oil, wheat, chaff, bran, and pollard.
In 1904 Alfred funded a cinematography evening at the Mechanics Hall in aid of the Hall Building Fund, described “a grand exhibition of moving pictures given by Mr. Watson of Swanston Street, Melbourne, and was very much enjoyed by the audience“.
Interestingly, Alfred’s sister Ada and his wife’s brother Harry Webb taught Sunday School at Narre Warren.
Harry and Ada were engaged to be married. Prior to their marriage, a social evening was held at the Mechanics Institute Hall at which a presentation was made to the couple comprising a silver cake basket and a silver toast rack.
The cake basket was inscribed “Mr H Webb and Miss Kent, from teacher and scholars of Narre Warren Sunday School, November 1903”.
The local newspaper reported – “The evening commenced with a hymn by the children, after which the longings of the inner man were satisfied by a nice little tea provided by the ladies.”
The couple was married at Oatlands on 2 December 1903 by Pastor Herlitz a Lutheran Minister. The local newspaper recorded the “handsome and numerous presents” in detail including “Mr. A. B. Kent, father of bride, silver-mounted cold water-jug, handsome lamp, beautiful dinner set, set of handsome vases; Mrs. Kent, mother of bride, household linen; Miss F. and Mr. R. Kent, novel travelling clock; Mr. and Mrs. Alf. Kent, silver breakfast and egg cruet; Mr. Webb, father of bride-groom, cutlery; Mr. Webb, silver teapot; Miss F. Webb, silver hot water kettle; Miss B. Webb, silver and cut-glass cruet; P. Webb, silver teaspoons, sugar tongs, butter knife and jam spoon in case; Mr. and Mrs. S. Webb, writing desk; Mr. and Mrs. James Bailey, silver jam dish; Mr. and Miss Hart, silver butter dish; Misses N. and B. Hart, handsome vase; Mr. and Mrs. Moore, silver sugar scuttle; Mr. and Mrs. Ninnes, silver jam spoon in case; Miss Ninnes, silver bread fork; Miss G. Ninnes, handsome table cover; Mr. G. W. Cattanch, jardinières; Mr. Harvey, set of jardinières; Mr. and Mrs. Scott, dessert service; Mr. and Mrs. Clark, tea set; Pastor and Mrs. Herlitz, handsome clock; Mr. and Mrs.Hilke, set of jugs; Miss Lanyon, painted panel; Miss Searle, painting; Miss Funston, traycloth; Dr. and Mrs Bennie, mirror; Griffiths Bros., chest of tea; Miss Hearn, lamp shade; Miss Jessie Webb, photo frames; Master Keith Webb, mirror.
In 1910 Anthony and Mary went on a voyage to England and returned via America. This was just one of their many visits to England. (In an announcement of their golden wedding anniversary in 1922 it was noted that they had visited England on 17 occasions!)
The First World War had a significant and very sad effect on the Kent family.
Norman, Alfred, and Charles each enlisted in the Army, Norman in 1914, Alfred at the age of 40 years in 1915, and Charles in 1916.
Their parents did what they could in supporting the war effort, leading a project to collect suitable clothing to send overseas to the troops and participating in various social events to raise funds.
Sadly Alfred died whilst fighting in France in May 1916 and in April 1917 his brother Norman died of wounds sustained in the conflict.
Second Lieutenant Norman was awarded the military medal and mentioned in dispatches for his bravery at Pozieres in France.
Charles survived and returned to Narre Warren in April 1918 but lost his life in an accident at the age of 44 years.
Charles took an interest in local affairs and was a sometime correspondent to the local paper – in 1919 aggressively writing regarding a proposal by the local Shire to construct a road – “In face of the strong opposition of the majority of the ratepayers, is Cr J.W. Bailey still going to insist on the road going through? Are the other councilors of the Berwick Riding of the shire going to back him up? And are the ratepayers going to stand for it and the additional heavy expense on their shoulders, from which very few will derive any benefit?- Yours truly C. E. KENT.”
Anthony Kent died at Oatlands on 11 December 1924 and his wife Mary died on 12 January 1933.
Robert continued to farm the Oatlands property. He was also active in the community as a member of the committee of management of the Narre Warren Mechanics Institute and providing musical items at the various social occasions in the local area.
At the annual Christmas tree gathering at Narre Warren in 1926 Robert made an ideal Father Christmas and 15 school children performed a minuet and may-pole dance.
Robert’s wife took on the presidency of the 70 member Narre Warren branch of the Women’s National League (a conservative political lobby group which merged with the Liberal Party in 1945) and was a keen participant in supporting the local primary school.
When the store on the Gippsland Road was destroyed by fire in 1928, Mrs Alf Kent built a new shop and residence on the adjoining land described as “excellently fitted and finished. The shop front is plate glass, framed with tiled fronts and returns. The dwelling is weatherboard, with lath and plaster walls, and the ceilings are fibro plaster sheets with plaster heads and mouldings”.
After the Second World War the flat areas below the homestead were made use of for motor bike races.
In the 1970’s Sir Ian McLennan (Chairman of BHP and the ANZ Bank) purchased Oatlands for his country residence.
During Sir Ian’s ownership VicRoads acquired a diagonal strip of land through the property on which was constructed the Monash Freeway.
