Lutana has been nick-named the Aquarium by some of the wits on account of the recent rains having induced some mud in the locality. It is the Derwent Park Flat which should properly be given the title, for there is no mistake that an inch of rain make you put on your web feet.
Thanks goodness Hobart doesn't get much rain, and although we know how good rain is for the farmer, it is difficult for residents of the "Aquarium," who don't own farms, and who are not good waders, to sympathise with the "with the backbone of the country."
Went for a walk along the Derwent Park Road the other night---a dark night too---after the rain. Was just like a frog jumping from hummock to hummock trying to avoid the pools. It was a dark night, I said as the Glenorchy Municipality only supplies one light every 400 yards or so, well, it was a very dark night on Derwent Park Road. Of course, the inevitable happened. Something I thought was a hummock turned out to be a pool. The washing bill went up that week and my chances of reaching Heaven went down. Still Hobart is a wonderful place. Full of possibilities. Also full of impossibilities, Derwent Park Road is one. The Glenorchy Council is---perhaps I better not.
But to get back to Lutana---the villagers are making things move. The plough has been put into the orchard and the pruning has commenced. Every tenant who wanted a bit of ground and a dozen trees has been given same, and later on they will reap the harvest of the toil they put into them.
"Tommy" Crabtree, not Jack, as reported last issue, imported six dozen trees into the village, and they have all been planted out. We think he has designs on some more, and some day Lutana will look a lot better than it does now if Stumpy's heifers don't misbehave too much. A water color depicting the up river view from the village, the work of a local aspirant to art, was raffled to find the money to finance the tree purchase.
Mr. Gepp planted the first tree---a horse chestnut---after a few remarks by Mr. Hack, who made his first public appearance after his recent illness, looking fitter than we have seen him for a long time.
It is rather remarkable how many people wander out Lutana way on Sunday afternoons to have a look round. Mr. Geo. Cooper and Mr. Frank Leahy were among last Sunday's lot. This public interest is an incentive to well kept gardens, and it also discourages wood chopping on the Sabbath. Usually at least half a dozen car loads of people run round the place each week, and we are vain enough to think that they are pleased with what they see.
The residents will be glad when they are able to have a hall for social purposes, and there is no doubt it would be a boom. It could be used recreation during week nights. Already there is a request for Sunday School facilities to save the kiddies a long walk on Sunday afternoon.
At last the rain! Fine thing for the country, and all that. Not too pleasant for the Moonal ladies, though. There is a movement on foot to get the Warden of Glenorchy to live in Lutana with idea of convincing him either that Derwent Park Road should be rendered walkable or a motor launch service should be established between Lutana and the tram. Its bad enough for the women and kiddies of Moonah to have to slush about ankle deep in the mud as soon as there is a drop of rain, but it is a crying shame the that the trotters should have to endure it when taking their morning stroll.
Jo Johns is now living in the village, an has recently caught the path making and gardening bug. He won't get much time on the old trombone for a bit. Perhaps the neighbours will be pleased. Saw one of them the other day leaning over the fence urging Jo to go on with the good work. Cunning fellow!
The children’s playground is developing at an even pace. Every Saturday afternoon sees some improvement made. Up to the present there are two swings, a see-saw, parallel bars, skipping ropes, two sets of Roman rings, and a shelter shed. Seating has been provided for grown-ups. Future plans contemplate the erection of a giant’s stride, and a simple form of roundabout.
The children have shown their appreciation of the work done in no doubtful fashion. Those swings seem never to be still, and in that the attractions are keeping the children off the streets, their former playground, the results are good.
Later on, when the apparatus is-all installed it might be possible to fence the playground in and lay out a few flower beds, etc., which the children might be trained to look after. Then they will feel a sense of ownership, and the influence upon them cannot fail to be good.
Now that the shift service of trains is running, Lutana does not seem so cut off the from the shops and shows of the city as it used to. Perhaps before long, if development around Prince of Wales' Bay goes on as it promises to, even more trains will be justified. Apart from its distance from the tram, Lutana is a very fine residential site, and for zincworkers, proximity to the works is probably of as much, if not more, importance than being close to the tram. The zincworker goes to the works every day. He only wants to go to town about once a week.
One of the chief advantages we possess there is being in an elevated position, free from the dust and unpalatable drains which characterise the Moonah and Derwent Park flats, and this must help our general health.
Everybody, even the cricketers, would be glad to see some rain. There had been a lot of work put into the gardens in the village and the crops would look even more prosperous with a couple of days steady rain to help them.
Two members of the staff, in the persons of Messrs. Chesterman and Bruce, have recently joined us, and Messrs. Allen and Robinson have cut out. We were very sorry to lose friend Allen. He was a good citizen. We understand he has gone farming down at Richmond.
The horse chestnuts are looking well, but a bucket of water a couple of times a week would make them look better. We have noticed quite a number of tree guards waiting for trees, which will be available in March. Tom Crabtree tells us that he has booked 20 trees at 1/, and they will be the same size as those already planted. He says the nurseryman is sorry now he sold them for 1/, as he could now get 2/6 each for them. I suppose he thought there was going to be a slump in the tree market.
The youngsters weren't long in wearing the iron rings of the swings through. Nobody objects, however, as it is a sign of their popularity, and as long as the youngsters want to use them, the fathers won't mind seeing that they are fit for use.
The Electrode – Vol. 2. April, 1923 No. 10. – page 192
There is quite a chronicle of happy happenings to mention in this issue. There has been quite a flock of storks in the village lately, and Tom Crabtree, Les King, Bob Brown are richer for their advent.
Mr. Lee has made a beginning on his new contract for the erection eight additional homes and a village hall, and when this job is put through the village will look considerably different. As the sketch plan published herein will show, it is intended to develop a small park area around the hall, and this should form a very pleasing break in the mass of houses, especially in a few years’ time, when the trees are grown. The grounds are being prepared now for tree planting.
One of the villagers has suggested that a steady programme of tree planting should be gone on with in order to protect the place from the high winds which are so prevalent. We have not seen an area with a more beautiful outlook than Lutana. It is a constant joy to those living there; but the winds are a nuisance. It is therefore up to us to keep them in check by a profusion of trees. Again, as trees do much to purify the atmosphere, there are strong health reasons for putting in plenty of them. Those that have already been planted are doing very well, where they have been looked after. Arthur Farley and Jack Nordin have been particuarly successful, and Tom Crabtree has a yoiung forest in his yard, of which he would like to give a few trees away. Any villager who would like to take a well-grown young tree should look Tom up.
Certain storekeepers have been asking permission to build a store in the village, but the pitch has so far been kept for the Co-op. council. The Council has marked down the spot where the store should go, and have been busy nutting out a design for it. We understand the Council will be putting up definite proposals shortly, and it will not be very long before the Co-op. will be offering a general range of goods in the village at prices which are exercising such a pull at the Crib Time Store.
Arrangements have been recently been made with the Railway Department to run two special trains per week from the village – Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. This will enable the womenfolk to go into town without having to tackle the long walk. They will be able to get back by the afternoon shift train, and will thus get three or four hours in town for visiting or marketing.
The subdivision of Orpwood’s block has been put in to the Glenorchy Council for approval, and the area will soon be pegged out. These blocks will be available for any zincworker who desires to have one under the home building scheme, and as they are close to work, and will put in at about half the figure of the land agent, they should prove attractive to thrifty folk.
If building development goes on as rapidly during the next two years as during the last, it will not be very long before the electric tram will come along Bowen road and send values up.
The Electrode – Vol. 2. April, 1923 No. 10. – page 193
During the building of Lutana Hall was the development of a plan for Lutana Park – a garden space for the Lutana Village.
While the Lutana Village enjoyed great views there was a problem with the prevailing winds. The plan was to plant trees to provide a much needed wind break.
The Electrode – Vol. 2. April, 1923 No. 10. – page 192
(To the Editor of "The Electrode.")
Sir,---Recently I had a stroll round the little village of Lutana, and I was very pleased to see the interest taken in their gardens by many of the residents. And in this connection I would like to make a suggestion. At Macquarie Plains there is an annual competition among the farm hands and other workers for the best flower and vegetable gardens, and prizes are awarded according to merit. Could bit a similar competition be inaugurated among E.Z. employees? Of course, they would not have the advantage that the Macquarie Plain residents enjoy ---unlimited water for irrigation---but I am satisfied, from what I have seen, that they are capable of making a most creditable show. The most appropriate time for judging the gardens would be in December. So, if this idea were adopted, plenty of notice could be given. I commend this suggestion to the Co-op. Council ---I am. etc.
The kids Xmas tree at Lutana Hall was a real winner. What a sight to see 150 little Zincs’ all in the pink having the time of their lives! The gramophone “also ran” – but a bad last.
Set right in the heart of Lutana, the village hall is something of which Lutana villagers, can be justly proud. It is surrounded by fine grounds, where the younger members of the village can enjoy themselves. The interior of the hall is compact, yet allows a maximum of floor space, and a substantial stage at one end of the building gives to the inside a completeness of purpose-that of providing varied recreation.
The official opening of the hall took place last night. Major A. W. Hutchin, chairman of the village committee, stated that he had the honour and privilege of voicing the feelings of the people at Lutana on this occasion. It gave them pleasure to find that people from such a wide area had been sufficiently interested to come along. It was some two years ago, he said, since they had asked Mr Gepp to come and plant the first tree. During the two years the village had progressed very considerably; more homes had been built by the company and rented to the colleagues at the works, and in the village they had the first community institution. They had been accused of living a long way out of town, and a hall like this was really a necessity to the communal life. The village people had watched this hall grow, and in its finished state regarded it with unmeasured pride. Incidentally, in regard to the educational aspect of the community life, he mentioned that the committee, who had been discussing ways and means in connection with the conduct of the hall, had been in touch with the education authorities with regard to having a kindergarten, and this had now been concluded. On Monday morning the kindergarten teacher and the furniture would be at the hall. With regard to the conduct of the kindergarten, the teacher would need the sympathetic co-operation of the parents themselves. They must assist the teacher if they were going to make the kindergarten a success. (Hear, hear.) The second community institution was well on the way. The builders had promised by March 1 the completion of the co-operative store and in that store they would endeavour to provide the necessaries of life. When the store commenced active operations he wanted to say, let them all get behind it and support it. He was sure they would all agree that the building was not only a useful but a beautiful building, both the exterior and interior, and he wanted to convoy to the architects and builders hearty congratulations on the result achieved, as they had entered into the spirit of the building, and had done everything they could to forward the aims the villagers had in view. Those who had lived in these parts would recollect that 10 years ago all the country-side was farm land. Since that time a wonderful transformation had taken place. He believed that in duecourse this locality would be the centre of a big zinc working community. Some would be living in the village, some would be building round the village, and the hall had been put there by the company for them. It was not the private property of the people in the village. It was in no small measure due to the personality and ability of the general manager that the transformation had taken place. He, the speaker, did not know the full story, but he knew sufficient to satisfy him that had there been no Mr. Gepp there would have been no zinc industry, or it would not have been anything like they knew it to-day. It was also, he hoped, due to them who had worked alongside Mr. Gepp, to feel that they also had played a useful part in the development of this enterprise. He then presented Mr. Gepp with a framed photograph of the hall, and, on behalf of the Risdon Band, two photographs of the band.
Mr. Quinn, chairman of the Co-operative Council, supported the remarks of Major Hutchin.
Mr. Gepp, in reply, opened his remarks by relating an experience when he was enabled to listen to the wireless station at Auckland speaking to a receiver a great distance away. He stated it occurred to him that, provided Australia, with all its wonderful natural advantages, took care of the health of the population and the wonderful raw material, then probably even the wireless wonders to which he had been listening would be very small compared with what would be achieved in the future. It was only the people who had lived in hard and difficult countries who had come out on top. They must realise that without hard work they were sure to lose their strength, grit, and ability. It was a nice thought for them to have put up the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes. Without the help of their friends from the U.S.A. they could not have built the zinc works. He wanted to say how much he appreciated the kind things they had said. The greatest thing he thought they had done here was not to make zinc, but they were illustrating in a very definite way to Australia that they could build a big industry and yet be friends. The hall was an indication of what co-operation could do, and he hoped it would be the beginning of much greater results. He wished to congratulate the architects and builders for the fine job they had made. He thought the village was destined to be the centre of a very large area, for the people interested in the new industry would congregate, and as the children grew up in such a magnificent area they must appreciate the opportunities they had compared with many children in other parts of the world. He wished to thank the band for their kindly thought. On behalf of the company and staff he had the greatest pleasure in declaring the hall open, and wished them God-speed in all the work that would be done there.
Professor Sir David Orme Masson, of the Melbourne University, in a short speech, stated that many of his pupils had made successes of their lives, but there were none to whom he could point who had done as Mr. Gepp. He was gratified to find the two essentials of good organisation and sound co-operation in regard, to the building of the magnificent zinc industry.
An enjoyable musical programme was rendered by the orchestra, Zinc WorksBand, and Messrs. Martin and Cook.
The Australian Labor Party has a long connection with the Hall - from running meeting, social and fundrasing events and operating a branch from the Hall.
