The History of Blackwood – Death of John Cann – By Margot Hitchcock, Historian for the Blackwood & District Historical Society.     January 2021. ©

Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic.), Saturday 16 February 1895. (article from TROVE -newspapers on-line.)

BLACKWOOD. The death of Cr. John Cann early on Monday morning last, at the comparatively early age of 51 years, is, perhaps, one of the severest losses amongst its prominent public men that Blackwood ever suffered. How general was the recognition of his exceptional business ability is well shown by the fact that, at the time of his death, quite apart from his position as coach proprietor and leading hotelkeeper in the district, he held the public elective offices of Shire councillor, member of Ballarat Mining Board, and of the district School Board, and his services on local commit-tees was always availed of whenever possible. As Mr. Cann occupied for so long a time a leading position in the public affairs of the district, the following brief sketch of his career may not be with-out some interest. His parents, with their family, came to Blackwood at the time of the first rush in the “fifties,” (1855) and opened a butchering establishment “down the creek” at Kangaroo Flat. The rapid developments peculiar to those times soon caused additions to be made and within a very few months, besides general stores and hotel business was added, and the place became known as the Kangaroo Inn. I have a faint recollection of the sign board being graced with the picture of a gigantic kangaroo, painted in the highest art of the times. Although at this time the subject of our sketch, then a lad of about 14, filled in portion of his time with fossicking round with pick, tin-dish and shovel, yet it was the horse work connected with bringing in supplies of cattle for the butchering business that inculcated in him such a love of horses as to much influence him in his after career. I may incident-ally mention one of his cattle driving experiences in which he and another lad were driving a particularly wild specimen to the yards at Kangaroo when it broke away, and when going full tilt down Jackson’s Gully the beast, immediately after jumping a big log, suddenly disappeared. On coming up to the spot the riders found that the animal had dropped into a hole about 14 feet deep, and a shot gun and dray had to be brought into requisition to finish up the delivery. Like most rushes, this one “down the creek” soon subsided, and the Cann family removed to the Southern Cross hotel at Red Hill; the father, however, in conjunction with W. Vigor, still keeping up a connection in the butchering business. The Southern Cross was a large two-storied building with theatre attached, and good business was done for a time. In those days practical joking was wonderfully rife, and I may be forgiven for mentioning one in which our subject was concerned. The stage of the theatre before mentioned had a canvas ceiling lightly tacked to the rafters, and in the angle of the roof a large tub was kept full of water for use in case of fire. (The building did get burned down several years later). One night, in the midst of a performance, our Johnny, with a friend, perhaps with the idea of adding to the realism of the “Storm in a kitchen” scene that was being acted, tipped the tub of water over on to the ceiling, which, of course gave way, and the unrehearsed efforts of the actors to get out of the way of the deluge of water, and the effect such an event would have upon the audience, I leave to the imagination of my readers. At about this time “Johnny” Cann first entered into the coaching business, and for several years drove for Mr. James Millyard on the coach that ran daily to and from Kyneton. Anyone acquainted with the roads in those days will well understand the difficulties of the task, particularly as the worst part of the stage (the Blackwood end) had to be done in the darkness, and there is some doubt as to whether an injury received in one of the almost inevitable accidents on such roads was not the ultimate cause of his death. When the coach between Myrniong (then known as Blow’s Flat) and Blackwood was started on Cobb & Co. lines Mr. Cann was driver, and by steadiness and application was able to save sufficient money to enable him to become proprietor of the Royal Mail hotel at Golden Point; and whilst still keeping to the coach driving was able, with the valuable assistance of his wife, to carry on the business successfully. The usual goldfield changes were taking place, and Cobb & Co having removed their local terminus to Buckley’s hotel at Red Hill, and as business at the Royal Mail naturally declined, Mr. Cann, when a favourable opportunity occurred, became the landlord of the hotel at Red Hill, and by his business tact soon made it the leading hotel in the district -a reputation which it still retains. As regards Mr. Cann’s illness I need say little more than that he made a marvellous recovery from a serious dropsical attack a year or so ago and that the attack of hepatitis (or liver complaint) which carried him off after a three or four week’s illness appeared to be beyond the power of medical skill.  The arrangements for the funeral, which was one of the largest that has ever assembled on the like sad errand in Blackwood, were carried out by Mr. P. Duncan in his usual efficient manner, with the members of the Board of Advice as coffin bearers, assisted by the Shire Councillors and school teachers. The Rev.’s R. Buchanan and E. C. Knox officiated at the grave, the latter clergyman giving a feeling address suited to the occasion. The burial would have been attended with Masonic ceremonies but that the time was too short to complete the necessary arrangements; although I under-stand that a large number of the brotherhood were present in their unofficial capacity. ©

Researched by Margot Hitchcock from her forthcoming book ‘The History and Pioneers of Blackwood’, hopefully to be published soon.  Other books published by Margot Hitchcock – “Aspects of Early Blackwood”, Some History of Simmons Reef, Blackwood” and “The Billy Pincombe Tragedy”. See – www.blackwoodpublishing.com

For help with information on Blackwood ancestors contact Margot Hitchcock – email – margothitchcock@bigpond.com