Further to the right and closer to the quarry was a house lived in by Donald and Gladdie McKenzie (nee Harris). Their children were Amy, Kay, Don, Keith, Ian and Johnny Martin who was the youngest. Johnny Martin was the loveable rogue and the school teacher, Mrs Cameron, named him Johnny Martin as there were two Johnny McKenzie’s. The Martin name came from his second Christian name.
Donald died in an accident at the washing plant some years ago.
To side of the McKenzie house and near the quarry was a Christmas bush tree that for many years was very heavily pruned by the locals around the festive season time for its beautiful blooms. However each season saw it produce more of the same so the stripping of branches never hindered its production of Christmas flowers.
Mr Jack Davey was another occupant of this area with a shack further into the bush. Mr Robertson remembers: “On a number of occasions I visited the home of Mr Jack Davey with my father. Mr Davey lived alone in the house and bought a newspaper every day. He never destroyed these papers but placed them on a pile on the floor. When this pile got too high he started a new pile. These piles of papers were all over the floor and one had to wend their way around the piles to move in the room. Why he kept all the papers is a mystery” Don Robertson 1/2/2011
There were several houses accessed by a track which ran from Flowers Drive east up the hill above the other houses in Sawmill Camp.
The Spring family occupied the most northern house in Sawmill Camp.
When Mrs Spring arrived in Catherine Hill Bay from England with her children and the family belongings she was so horrified by the slab hut that was to be her new home that she told the driver not to unload, as she would be returning to England. The people who met her said that this was not possible as World War 1 had broken out and they might not make it back alive. Mr Spring had come to Australia in 1913 after serving in the Boer War. His brother in law James Rolfe had secured a job in the mine for him as an ostler and he wrote glowing letters to his wife back in England. The slab hut was under a coral tree on a common further up the hill towards Swansea on the same side of the road as Joey Warren’s house. Mr Spring changed jobs in the mine and worked on the screens, separating out rocks from the coal which miners had put into the skips to increase their earnings. The Spring family eventually secured a house in Middle Camp.
Coral trees are still to be seen in this area today.
Further up the hill towards Swansea was another house. The house was occupied by the Seddon family who had come out from England in 1927. Parents were named Harold and Mary Ellen and their daughters were Mildred and Betty. Betty later married Curly Boyd.
The Sneddon house was well built with a verandah across the front, weatherboard and a tin roof. Alongside this building was another smaller building which was used as a kitchen area. The house was used for sleeping only.
Mrs Seddon was always known as Mary Ellen and had a lovely Manchester accent.
She was a wonderful knitter and loved crochet work, producing many baby outfits for the towns newborns.
There is an existing house still in this area, which is just below the Sneddon house location.
The former occupants of this house were:
Sam and Rose Francis, Alf Ramsdale, Tully family, Bill Berwick
Cec and Margaret (Peg) Ham (nee Henderson from Slack Alley) purchased the house from Billy Berwick in about 1950/1. They lived in the house with their daughter Barbara. Ces died in 1962 and Peg continued to live in the house until she entered a nursing home. In 1965 Barbara Hancock (Ham) and her husband added two rooms to the front of the building and other renovations were carried out over the years.
The kitchen cupboards were hand made by a local man from tea tree and still remained in use up until the house was vacated. The fuel stove that cooked some amazing sponge cakes, jelly cakes, apple pies and many other delicacies with Pegs help was still in use until a few short years ago.
The location of this house was ideal for huge bonfires and many great cracker nights were had by the Henderson cousins and viewed by most of the Middle Camp locals.
Peg Ham lived in Catherine Hill Bay from 1917 and was enrolled in the Catherine Hill Bay Public School on 30-4-1917 aged 9 years and seven months.
Mrs Ham has died and the house was used as a holiday home by her daughter Barbara, her son in law Clarke Hancock and their family. They have sold to Coal & Allied who owned the land. Now all Coal & Allied lands have been purchased by Wallalong lands Pty Ltd.
About 50 metres up the track from Flowers drive on the left was a house lived in by Colin and Nell Woodbury and their children Brenda and Colin.
After the Woodbury family moved out a large family by the name of Haddow moved in. The children were Judith, Irene, Susan Cheryle, Gina, David and John. Mr. Dallas Haddow was a lorry driver at the mine.
One of the Haddow babies were born at home in the 60’s ably assisted by a very surprised neighbour Peg Ham. This baby was duly named Margaret in honour of the temporary midwife.
Another small 2 room house close to and facing the road on the right of the track was occupied by Tom, known to locals as“Donk” and Thelma Mc Dougal. The house burnt down in the 1950s and they moved eventually to Lindsey Street.
The night this building caught fire created a lot of excitement and panic for some.
Peg Ham was visiting her sister Kate Northwood for the usual mid week game of cards and when the fire was noticed. Peg and daughter Barbara both thought it was their house burning. Being on foot, no cars then, all they could do was stand and watch and imagine it was their home glowing in the night.