2/21/07 Hi Peter, I received a letter yesterday from the Albury and District Historical Society, along with some information about Bowna, which was evidently settled in the 1830s. The woman writing the letter, Helen Livsey, Hon. Research Officer, states that, "The origin of the name of Bowna is not available, but it would be an aboriginal word." I don't know how she knows that, but of course she's the second person who has made this association. Above that, she comments that the village of Bowna was flooded in the 1930s by construction of the Hume Dan on the Murray and Mitta Mitta Rivers. So perhaps, if "Bowna" does mean "big water," as my first correspondent thought, it is not, after all, a reference to the Murumbigee River, but instead to the Murray River or Mitta Mitta River. Would either of them qualify as "big"? I suppose it would depend on one's perspective. I also see references to Mullengandra Creek and Twelve Mile Creek in the materials that Mrs. Livsey sent. Apparently there were many bodies of water in the area. The enclosure she sent about Bowna refers, among other things, to the establishment of a Catholic church in 1865, a National School in 1865, a Presbyterian church in 1866, a post office in 1868, and a police station "at an unknown date" (From H. Jones, 1989). In particular, I would love to know where the records of that Catholic church and that Presbyterian church, from the 1880s and the 1890s, have ended up. Do you have any idea?? Many thanks, Carren (Kaston) Washington, DC USA _____________ 2/19/07 Dear Peter, Thank you again for your encouraging reply to my Bonat/Bowna inquiry. I am happy to think there is some sort of connection between the names, if we can find it. The Bowna Army Division has been explained to me in this way: many local land-holdings (sheep stations, etc.) "raised" soldiers for the Army, both during WWI and during the Boer War period. Sometimes the men in these local divisions actually carried the local banner into battle, other times they were absorbed into the Colonial NSW army. Other times, they became part of the British Army. I shall await further word from you. Thanks again so much for your assistance. All best, Carren (Kaston) aus-vic-ne-request@rootsweb.com wrote: >Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 (Carren Kaston) > 2. Re: AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 (Peter Ross) > >Message: 2 >Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:33:33 +1100 >From: "Peter Ross" <rossof@ozemail.com.au> >Subject: Re: [AVNE] AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 >To: <aus-vic-ne@rootsweb.com> >Message-ID: <003001c7533f$dce44160$0401a8c0@acerb13d74b0ac> >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > >Hi Carren, > >There is at least 80 or 100 kms between the Murrumbidgee River and the >Murray River, so I don't think we have an identity crisis at all! The Bowna >area is part of the Murray River system, which was inundated by the Hume >Reservoir in the 1930s. This is a huge dam, by any world standards, and had >an enormous impact on the Murray Valley when completed. > >I'm sure that your country also has the usual ten different versions of the >native names of places? Where I live, the native name of the place is >Yackandandah, which means (depending on your heritage, or level of >gullibility!) "two rocks on top of one another", or "hilly country", or >anything else that the first settlers pretended they understood! > >What I'm saying is that "Bowna" could mean "Bonat", but coud equally have >been an approximation of the reply to a settler's question of a local >aborigine... "what name this place?". Aborigine replies "Bowna", meaning >"What the hell are you talking about?". > >Personally, I think the "coincidence" is far too strong to ignore, and that >there is a sensible connection between the names "Bonat" and "Bowna", if >only we can find it. > >Has anyone explained the "Bowna (Div) Army" to you in any way? > >One thing I've learned from this little exercise is that in fact apart from >knowing the general area & topography, I know almost nothing of its history >and I've grown up within 15 kms of the area. But I'm determined to find >out! Watch this space. > >Peter >

Hi Carren, Well, that saves me chasing up the Historical Society! There's no doubt that Bowna could be an aboriginal word or placename... you only have to see other aboriginal names to accept that. "Bowna" could easily have meant "big water", referring to the Murray River which is the longest river in Australia, running from the Snowy Mountains in eastern Australia westwards to the sea in South Australia. It forms the State border between Victoria and New South Wales, and while it is no Mississippi, it is usually fairly wide and much bigger than the Mitta Mitta River. It had a thriving paddlesteamer business in the late 1800s. The other creeks mentioned are not relevant really, and in the current drought are probably dry! In any case, you can discount any connection to the Murrumbidgee River, as it is much too far away. It should also be remembered that, as I've mentioned before, there is no guarantee that even accepting Bowna was an aboriginal word, that it meant anything like what the early settlers and their descendants said it meant! Unfortunately, the native languages of this area have been allowed to die out, indeed they were actively helped to die out. Thus there has been some "creative guesswork" in the translation of some aboriginal place names. However, from the enclosure sent by Helen Livesy it seems that the settlement and naming of Bowna was established at least in the 1860s. Doesn't that pre-date Mr Bonat's supposed time here? I'm beginning to have my doubts about Mr Bonat's presence here at all! It may be worth contacting the Catholic Church in Albury (St Patrick's, 515 Smollett St, Albury NSW 2640), and/or the Presbyterian Church at 402 Wagga Road, Albury NSW 2640. I think a direct written approach from you may be more productive in locating the old Bowna records, if there are any... Cheers, Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carren Kaston" <ckaston@starpower.net> To: <aus-vic-ne@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 10:01 PM Subject: [AVNE] Mr. Bonat - Bowna Division > 2/21/07 > Hi Peter, > > I received a letter yesterday from the Albury and District Historical > Society, along with some information about Bowna, which was evidently > settled in the 1830s. The woman writing the letter, Helen Livsey, Hon. > Research Officer, states that, "The origin of the name of Bowna is not > available, but it would be an aboriginal word." I don't know how she > knows that, but of course she's the second person who has made this > association. Above that, she comments that the village of Bowna was > flooded in the 1930s by construction of the Hume Dan on the Murray and > Mitta Mitta Rivers. So perhaps, if "Bowna" does mean "big water," as my > first correspondent thought, it is not, after all, a reference to the > Murumbigee River, but instead to the Murray River or Mitta Mitta River. > Would either of them qualify as "big"? I suppose it would depend on > one's perspective. I also see references to Mullengandra Creek and > Twelve Mile Creek in the materials that Mrs. Livsey sent. Apparently > there were many bodies of water in the area. > > The enclosure she sent about Bowna refers, among other things, to the > establishment of a Catholic church in 1865, a National School in 1865, a > Presbyterian church in 1866, a post office in 1868, and a police station > "at an unknown date" (From H. Jones, 1989). In particular, I would love > to know where the records of that Catholic church and that Presbyterian > church, from the 1880s and the 1890s, have ended up. Do you have any > idea?? > > Many thanks, > Carren (Kaston) > Washington, DC USA > _____________ > > 2/19/07 > Dear Peter, > > Thank you again for your encouraging reply to my Bonat/Bowna inquiry. I > am happy to think there is some sort of connection between the names, if > we can find it. > > The Bowna Army Division has been explained to me in this way: many local > land-holdings (sheep stations, etc.) "raised" soldiers for the Army, > both during WWI and during the Boer War period. Sometimes the men in > these local divisions actually carried the local banner into battle, > other times they were absorbed into the Colonial NSW army. Other times, > they became part of the British Army. > > I shall await further word from you. Thanks again so much for your > assistance. > > All best, > Carren (Kaston) > > > aus-vic-ne-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > >>Today's Topics: >> >> 1. Re: AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 (Carren Kaston) >> 2. Re: AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 (Peter Ross) >> >>Message: 2 >>Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:33:33 +1100 >>From: "Peter Ross" <rossof@ozemail.com.au> >>Subject: Re: [AVNE] AUS-VIC-NE Digest, Vol 2, Issue 32 >>To: <aus-vic-ne@rootsweb.com> >>Message-ID: <003001c7533f$dce44160$0401a8c0@acerb13d74b0ac> >>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; >> reply-type=original >> >>Hi Carren, >> >>There is at least 80 or 100 kms between the Murrumbidgee River and the >>Murray River, so I don't think we have an identity crisis at all! The >>Bowna >>area is part of the Murray River system, which was inundated by the Hume >>Reservoir in the 1930s. This is a huge dam, by any world standards, and >>had >>an enormous impact on the Murray Valley when completed. >> >>I'm sure that your country also has the usual ten different versions of >>the >>native names of places? Where I live, the native name of the place is >>Yackandandah, which means (depending on your heritage, or level of >>gullibility!) "two rocks on top of one another", or "hilly country", or >>anything else that the first settlers pretended they understood! >> >>What I'm saying is that "Bowna" could mean "Bonat", but coud equally have >>been an approximation of the reply to a settler's question of a local >>aborigine... "what name this place?". Aborigine replies "Bowna", meaning >>"What the hell are you talking about?". >> >>Personally, I think the "coincidence" is far too strong to ignore, and >>that >>there is a sensible connection between the names "Bonat" and "Bowna", if >>only we can find it. >> >>Has anyone explained the "Bowna (Div) Army" to you in any way? >> >>One thing I've learned from this little exercise is that in fact apart >>from >>knowing the general area & topography, I know almost nothing of its >>history >>and I've grown up within 15 kms of the area. But I'm determined to find >>out! Watch this space. >> >>Peter >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-VIC-NE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 12 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try SPAMfighter for free now!