Source: BHS Newsletter 124, Autumn 2003

After the Summer 2002 issue of the B.H.S. Newsletter, we were visited by Peg Peterson née Westwood, daughter of Robert Westwood, and granddaughter of Henry Westwood. Peg came down to the Society rooms from Macedon, and provided us with more photographs, information and memories of the Merry Go Round world of the Westwood family. Peg, a long term member of the Society, now joins us as a volunteer on Thursday afternoons.

This 1875 advertisement in the Southern Cross shows Henry Westwood's original business next to the Devonshire Hotel in New Street; the business was later sold to a Mr. Giles. Henry Westwood married Ann Schofield (Tasmania) in 1877 at Alma Street, St. Kilda and had eight children; they also adopted a Henry Hay, who later became a blacksmith in Brighton.

Robert Westwood, Peg's father, born 1881, trained as a blacksmith and went to the Boer War, caring for the horses. His brother Douglas, born 1892, managed Stanley Quarry.

The Merry Go Round business seems to have commenced before 1900 and initially the Merry Go Rounds were transported on a horse drawn lorry as per the front cover, there were three Merry Go Rounds. A truck was purchased by the late 1920s; it was a covered truck with a bull nose front, and fabric sides and a vertical windscreen. The big wooden wheels had solid tyres and fourteen spoked wheels.

The big Merry Go Rounds had fabric tops, flags, horses and double ended seats with back rods, and one of them would often stay at Elwood Beach for the whole holiday period. They also took part in Charity Carnivals and the Red Cross Festival at the Wilson Recreation Reserve. In the 1920's, Peg would take lunch down to her father at the beach. They were also involved in Manchester Unity picnic parties, and Duke and Billy took them to country fairs and lodge meetings. Peg's mother constantly washed the white linen covers bound in red which covered the seats.

In 1928, Peg's father Robert, built the small Merry Go Round for her, and gradually got rid of the big Merry Go Rounds, and sold off the wooden horses to other Merry Go Round operators. The small Merry Go Round was very convenient to be hired out for private childrens' parties and school events. Some names taken from the old account book are Logan, Danish Club, Lady Murdoch, Myer, Healing, Syme, Carnegie, as well as fetes at Mandeville Hall, Star of the Sea, Brighton Grammar, Brighton Technical School, Cato, Haileybury, Forest Hill Kindergarten and the City Mission.

We are fortunate to have a photograph of Cocky Westwood who was mentioned in the Summer newsletter, and who came to a sticky end. Cocky did not like having his photo taken and dropped his head when it was taken. Another trick of his was to imitate Mrs. Westwood's voice and ask the workmen around the place if they would like a cup of tea; they used to come running!

Anne Bailey

 

 

These photographs are reproduced by courtesy of Peg Peterson and most of these photographs and others will appear on the B.H.S. website with her agreement.