Nassagaweya West End Original

 

Nassagaweya was built in c.1885 by architect Arthur Morry as his own residence. He was later to become mayor of South Brisbane and the local member of parliament.

After Morry left the house in 1895 the property was probably rented until 1915 when it was purchased by a Scottish-Canadian, John Gillies. He named the house Nassagaweya after his birth place in Ontario, a Delaware Indian word meaning 'home by the maple forests'. Gillies died in 1946 and the house remains in the family. Today it occupies a corner site, the adjoining streets of which are named after two previous owners of the property, Gray and Morry.

The Life of Arthur Morry

https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/architects/arthur-morry

Arthur Morry was the son of John Morry, blacksmith and Emma Mytton, his birth being registered Jan-March 1854 at Oswestry. In 1871 he was an architect’s articled pupil. Given that he was still recorded at his parents’ home at Morton, the architect was probably W H Spaull of Oswestry. Certainly, he was employed by Spaull as clerk of works at Aberdovey in 1874-1876.

Arthur Morry moved to Manchester and set up in practice on his own account about 1876. Here he took a deep interest in political, municipal and social matters, and became well-known amongst the Primitive Methodists and temperance reformers. In correspondence, Morry stated that he had “a residence of ten years in that city (Manchester) prior to 1884, engaged in the practice of architecture, and in carrying out various sanitary reforms.” [Brisbane Courier 18 June 1885 page 6 - letter to editor]. His wife’s health forced him to abandon a fast-increasing and lucrative practice in his profession and seek a milder climate. They sailed from Plymouth to Cooktown Australia, on the “Duke of Buckingham,” arriving on 27 January 1884. Within four years of his landing in the colony he was elected an alderman of the Town Council, when in January 1888, the Borough of South Brisbane was proclaimed and a few weeks later the first Council was elected. In 1890 Arthur Morry became the mayor of South Brisbane for a term and later represented South Brisbane in the Legislative Assembly.

With his brother-in-law Edward Wells Russell (1863-1887), he initially found work in the office of FDG Stanley, in Brisbane. About 1886 he entered into a brief and unsuccessful partnership with Dart as building contractors.  He was practicing on his own account by 1888. As from 1 July 1899 he was appointed Inspector of Works, in the Public Works Department and he joined the Department of Agriculture as architect and surveyor. After his retirement in 1919 he was elected a member of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board. Previously he had designed and constructed the water filters at the Enoggera reservoir. He took a keen interest in the search for oil in Queensland, particularly in the Wacol area.

In 1935, he was a member of a a syndicate which applied for a gold mining lease in Daisy Hill Forest. Morry’s method of searching for gold was by divining, holding a forked stick which is supposed to bend when it passes over underground deposits. Divining is usually associated with looking for water, but Morry believed it would help him find gold at Daisy Hill.  A lease was granted near the forest s southern boundary. Work started in July 1934 and the first shaft was dug to 200 feet, reputedly lined with timber cut from the forest. From this depth, the shaft was drilled down to a depth of 425 feet. A second exploration hole was then dug to 626 feet.

Arthur Morry was married three times. On 22 October 1874 at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Ludlow, he married Mary, the second daughter of William Russell, builder and contractor, Ludlow. She died on 7 February 1879 at Moss Side, Manchester. In October 1879 he married her sister, Emma Russell (1861-1899) at Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. On 30 April 1900 he married Mina Maurer at Brisbane. Seemingly no gold was found.

Arthur Morry died on 25 May 1938. The funeral was held at West End Methodist Church, prior to burial at the South Brisbane Cemetery. He had been a lay reader of the Methodist Church for 65 years.

Address

1878-1880 : Arthur Murry St Peter’s Chambers 3 St Peter's Square, Manchester

1881-1883 : Arthur Morry, architect & surveyor, 43 Meadow Street Moss Side (Census)

1883: Arthur Morry, architect & surveyor, 43 Meadow Street Moss Side (Slater Trades)

1890: Arthur Morry, Stanley Street Brisbane

1892: Arthur Morry Melbourne Street Brisbane

Residence

1874-1876 : Aberystwyth

1877-1883 : Arthur Morry, architect & surveyor, 43 Meadow Street Moss Side

1885 : Nassagaweya, 37 Gray Road, West End, Brisbane

1899-1928 : Brereton Street, West End, Brisbane

Reference: Aberystwyth Observer 31 October 1874 page 4].

Reference: Manchester Guardian 19 March 1890 page 8

Reference: Brisbane Courier 13 January 1900

Reference: Jubilee History of Queensland, 1910

Obituary: Courier Mail Brisbane Thursday 26 May 1938 page 2

The Death of Arthur Morry 1938

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Wednesday 25 May 1938, page 6

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Mr. Arthur Morry, Former Alderman And M.L.A., Dies At Age of 84

Mr. Arthur Morry, who for many years was well-known in the public life of Brisbane, died at his residence, Euroa Brereton Street, West End, early this morning. He had been ill for about a fortnight and the end was not unex-pected, for he had passed the 84th mile-stone of life.

Mr. Morry was an alderman of South Brisbane for some years, and he occupied the mayoral chair for a term. He also represented South Brisbane in the Legislative Assembly in the days of double representation of the principal electorates. 

PUBLIC OFFICER. For a lengthy period he was associated with the Public Works Department and the Department of Agriculture, retiring from the Public Service some 20 years ago. Later he was elected a member of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board. He previously had designed, and carried out the construction of the water filters at Enoggera reservoir, which were the first of their kind in the State. Of late years he was deeply interested in the search for oil in Queensland, pinning his faith to the Wolston area, now known as Wacol, near Goodna. He was an expert with the divining rod. 

VETERAN METHODIST PREACHER. The late Mr. Morry was an ardent Methodist all his life and rejoiced to know that he had lived to hear of the world-wide celebrations of the Wesley bicentenary. He was a local preacher of that church, his services covering 68 years. All through his public life, pressing as those duties were, he never neglected his work as an honorary preacher: And he was a preacher of no mean order. His reminiscences of his lay-preaching experiences were read at a service at the West End church by Rev. T. Dent last evening. Mr. Morry was born in England and after receiving his general education in Manchester, was trained there as an architect. Mrs. Morry survives her husband, also three sons and three daughters.

Late Mr. A. Morry.

The Gillies Family Occupy Nassagaweya 1915 onwards

When John D Gillies was born in 1866 in Ontario, Canada, his father, Duncan, was 31 and his mother, Mary, was 24. He married Adelaide (Adela) Isabel Brandes on 9 February 1892 in Sydney, New South Wales. They had four children in 11 years. He died in 1946 in Brisbane, Queensland, at the age of 80.

Clyde went on to complete his studies in Melbourne and practiced medicine in Northgate, Brisbane for many years. His three sisters who never married, continued their passion for music and art. Merna and Acie lived and worked in Sydney for many years, Merna later became coach and accompanist at the Opera Workshop, NSW Conservatorium.

Merna Inez Gilles A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Merna Gilles would have been a seneation in her day. A woman who spoke her mind, publically commented upon the role of women in society, well educated, articulate and with inherit leadership capabilities. A very talented and with exceptional training in piano she was a well known person in Brisbane in the first part of the 20th. century. What was different about her was that she did not conform to the mould of the role women were expected to play within society at that time. She joined the newly formed Town and Country Women's Club and served as the president for a number of years. In this role she was prominent in promoting her views on teh role women should play within their own lives. She commented upon the role of women within the Anglican Church, women in the work place and other topics that would draw a headline for the newspapers.

In 1944 she made sensational headlines when she was preselected to contest a Brisbane seat for teh Queensland People's Party in the State election. She and her mother were interviewed by detectives as to eligibility for candidture as she lived in Sydney. Her canditure was withdrawn but at the time it was a sensational political story. Merna applied her musical abilities and talents with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music as she lived a large part of her later adult life in Sydney. 

The following newspaper reports are just a small sample of published articles that provide a brief sysnopsis of the highlights of her life. 

Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954), Monday 1 August 1949, page 12

DEATH OF MISS ACIE GILLIES

THE death took place on saturday of Miss Acie Gillies, well known Brisbane violinist. Miss Gillies had given recitals over 4QG and 2UW Sydney and had also appeared with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She had been ill for some months. The late Miss Gillies was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. J D. Gillies and of Mrs. Gillies, Hill End. The funeral took place this morning at Mt. Thompson Crematorium.

Merna Gillies and Friend Photograph taken from the SLQ Bog Letters to Merna

The Gillies Incident

Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Tuesday 29 February 1944, page 3

REASON GIVEN FOR GILLIES QUESTIONING

While the Attorney-General (Mr. Gledson) claimed yesterday that the inquiries about Miss Merna Gillies were perfectly legitimate, the Queensland people's Party Leader (Ald. Chandler, M.L.A.) said that the whole thing reeks with suspicion. It will leave many people with the feeling that their private lives are in no way free from prying where the present Government is concerned, said Ald. Chandler. Miss Gillies, who recently withdrew as Q.P.P. candidate for Brisbane at the State general election, was questioned by two detectives in Sydney on Thursday. Mrs. J. D. Gillies, her mother, was similarly questioned by a Brisbane detective on Friday. Mr. Gledson said that he had no hesitation in taking full responsibility for the inquiries made about Miss Gillies' movements. She applied for enrolment on a metropolitan electoral roll, but at the same time it was stated in the Press that 'she had been working in Sydney for some time.'

Provisions Of Act The Elections Act provided that a person claiming enrolment must have lived in a Queensland electoral district for a continuous period of a month immediately preceding the day on which the claim was made. The claimant had to make a declaration to that effect. In view of the Press statement that Miss Gillies had been working in Sydney it was incumbent upon the chief electoral officer to have proper inquiries made. When that officer drew his attention to the matter he authorised him to do so. On February 24 the Q.P.P. announced 'the reluctant withdrawal of Miss Merna Gillies as the party's endorsed candidate because of her inability to fulfil the residential qualifications of the Elections Act,' Mr. Gledson continued. There was nothing 'shocking or scandalous' or almost like Gestapo tactics!' in the manner in which the inquiries were made as alleged by Ald. Chandler. Mrs. Gillies said that the person who saw her was a gentleman, and did not harass me at all. But Ald. Chandler had attempted to vamp up feeling against the Government by representing as something sinister a perfectly legitimate inquiry following reasonable doubt as to the truth of a declaration made under the Elections Act. 'Most 'Most Unconvincing' Ald. Chandler said that Mr. Gledson's explanation was most unconvincing. It would appear that Mr. Gledson was now stepping in and taking the responsibility, or otherwise being made the scapegoat for the action of someone else. If the inquiry was merely directed towards the reason for Miss Gillies lodging an application for enrolment, why should detectives have questioned her aged mother, who obviously had nothing bo do with it and who could only be frightened and disturbed in consequence also, if that were the true purpose of the questioning, why should they inquire as to the method of travel. Surely the question whether Miss Gillies travelled first or second class by train, or by plane, had nothing to do with her enrolment as an elector. Mr. Gledson might also further explain why it should be necessary to inquire as to who were the women interested in her nomination. A much more convincing argument than that put forward would be required to satisfy the public as to this and many other questions which the detectives asked. ?

Merna Gillies and The Town and Country Club

Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Thursday 9 March 1939, page 1

COSMETICS & SHORTS ARE NO BAR TO ROMANCE

Says Club President MISS GILLIES 

DEFENDS MODERN GIRL 'What Men Have Made Them'

'We have been told that the modern girl with her shorts and her cosmetics has killed romance. Judging by what I have seen in Brisbane and Sydney, if that is so, romance, like a cat, must have nine lives.

Miss Merna Gillies (president of the Town and ' Country Women's Club) in her; presidential address at the first meeting of the year of the club last evening. Because of Miss Gillies' absence in the South, the address was read by Mrs. Henry Robertson (president of the National Council of Women) and one of the vice-presidents of the club. Cleopatra used more cosmetics than the modern girl, declared Miss Gillies, and the much-discussed shorts are the height of Victorian propriety compared with the apparel worn by that lady, and yet nobody can say that romance passed her by.

Miss Gillies said that if they were to believe the films, let alone modern novels, a great deal of romance centred round tropic isles, and generally had a dusky figure, clad in little else but hibiscus blossoms, for its main attraction. After all, women are more or less what men have made them, continued Miss Gillies. If men did not like cosmetics women would not use them. I have never yet seen a girl who did

not use cosmetics who was not highly respected and left alone with her mother. We are told that gentlemen prefer blondes hence the number of synthetic blondes one may see dining tete-a-tete with presumably eligible bachelors. In more serious vein, Miss Gillies expressed appreciation of the Federal Government's decision to form a national register of women who would be available for service in the event of war. Women. had at last been called on, she said, and they would not be found wanting. Woman, not despite her sex, but because of her sex, could and must play her part in the defence of the country as much as man.

MISS MERNA GILLIES.

Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Saturday 25 June 1938, page 2

WOMEN'S PART IN CHURCH

Direct Action Urged To Gain Rights

Direct action by women to gain recognition of their right to hold lay office in the Anglican Church was urged yesterday by the president of

The Twon and Country Women's Club (Miss Merna Gillies). The decision of the Anglican Synod against a proposal to allow such a right, she said, boiled down to sex antagonism. 'The churches would not be able to exist but for the women, who have the remedy in their own hands,' she continued. 'All the women have to do is to refuse to have anything further to do with the Church until they are admitted to lay office. Such definite action would make the powers that exist more amenable to reason than any verbal protest.' The president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (Mrs. J. Tait) said there could be no valid objection to women holding lay office in any church. 'The day has passed when women may be used to bolster up the Church is hewers of wood and drawers of water.' said Mrs. M. E. de Mattos, who was the only woman candidate in the recent State elections. 'Christianity would have more real meaning if women were given a definite and more widely recognised place in the Church. Our church leaders should remember that at the trial of Christ women were the only ones who stood up to defend Him. In the Salvation Army women are leading to-day one of the strongest Christian bodies in existence.'

Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Wednesday 27 March 1929, page 23

PROPOSED NEW WOMEN'S CLUB.

To discuss the project of forming a new club for town and country women, a public meeting was held in C.W.A. rest room, Griffiths House, last evening, when the Mayoress of Bris-bane (Mrs. W. A. Jolly) presided. At the request of the Mayoress, the con-vener of the meeting, Mrs. Harry Cameron, explained that the executive of the metropolitan branch of the Country Women's Association had been asked to arrange the gathering, as there was a general feeling that a club of this kind should be formed. At the instance of Mrs. Felix Mackay and Mrs. R. Cameron it was decided that the club be formed, and after some discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Mrs. Cameron and Miss Mollie Leahy, that the club be composed of town and country women, not necessarily members of the Country Women's Association. In speaking to this, Mrs. R. Cameron pointed out that, by making the club independent of and quite distinct from the Country Women's Association, a number of women who were not members of that association might be drawn in, and might become interested in the country women and subsequently join the association. Mrs. J. C. Trotter and Mrs. C. E. W. Kennedy supported in these remarks. The title of "Town and Country Women's Club" was adopted after some discussion, and Miss Dimmock moved, and Mrs. Marshall seconded, that the drafting of the con-stitution sliT>uId be left to the com-mittee, which would be appointed from among the members at a future meet-ing. At the suggestion of Mrs. Nicholson and Mrs. J. S. Hutcheon a recommendation was recorded to be made to the future committee to the effect that the entrance fee should be 5/, the membership fee for the remainder of the current year 10/6, and for each succeeding year one guinea. Mrs. Harry Cameron read a list of suggestions which had been put forward as suitable for the objects of the club. They were as follows:-(1) To establish intercourse among members leading to mutual help and mental improvement. (2) To help in all matters connected with women and children, in social and civic relations. (3) That the club shall set aside a small proportion of its meetings for lectures or talks upon literature, music, art, or some branch of science closely connected with domestic, civic, or social life. (4) That the club shall meet in the rest room of the metropolitan branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association. It was arranged that the convener should call a further meeting, at which the committee will be appointed.