BUILT BY THE LATE ROLF BALDWIN 1931.
THE MURDER OF HENRY WARD MERRIFIELD, at Mount Blackwood – April 30th 1858
The story of how the murder of Henry Ward Merrifield happened was given to Margot Hitchcock on a cassette tape as told by the late Mr. Rolf Baldwin who had a log cabin in Simmons Reef. Rolf Baldwin used to love to listen to the yarns told to him by a pioneer of Blackwood, the late Micky Nolan. Nolan’s’ name is preserved today on maps of the area as Nolan’s Creek and Nolan’s track.
Rolf Baldwin related the story as was told to him by Micky Nolan, in the same quaint Cornish accent as that of Micky Nolan and which Baldwin said he had a ‘bookish’ way of speaking.
Henry Merrifield was a Miner who had been walking out from Blackwood late at night with a parcel of gold which he was taking down to Bacchus Marsh. Henry was waylaid by two men a little on the Mount side of Drury’s pub close by a Hawthorn hedge. These two men had been drinking in Drury’s Pub otherwise known at the Mount Blackwood Hotel.
The two men (later identified as Michael Lavelle (Levelle) or Murphy and John Kelly, killed Henry Merrifield, stole his gold and then took his body some distance down into the Korkuperrimul Creek. There they constructed a pyre and burnt his body.
All this was observed by a man called James Allen, who had drunk himself almost into a stupor at Drury’s Hotel and had then started to walk back towards the Mount, but had lain down and fallen asleep underneath the Hawthorn hedge. Some while later he woke up and heard the men talking about their intention of slaying the miner from Blackwood. Too frightened to say anything or to show his presence, he saw the miner waylaid and murdered. Then when these two men had taken the body down to the creek, Allen made off. He did not tell anyone of his black secret, but it weighed on his mind.
Some while later his employer came out and found Allen sitting at the door of his hut weeping his heart out. The employer questioned Allen and finally found out the terrible story. He asked Allen why he had not told anyone about it and Allen Replied to him, “Oh how could I front a magistrate with a tale like that, the magistrate would only say – “Oh this is just a dream or a ‘hulluxination’ of a liquor fuddled brain”.
The word ‘hulluxination’ stayed with Rolf Baldwin for many a year of the quaint way Micky Nolan spoke. Rolf seemed to think that Micky got most of his education from reading books and this was his own version of the translation of this word.
| Rolf Baldwin’s log cabin on a track above the Garden of St. Erth. 2007. |
Margot Hitchcock outside Baldwins log cabin in Simmons Reef 10th November 1999.
Rolf Baldwin outside his cabin in Simmons Reef, Blackwood
Baldwins cabin under construction in May 1932.
Rolf Baldwin 1931 and his bike he used to ride to Blackwood.
Baldwins cabin in 1932.
Baldwins cabin C. 1940.
Baldwins cabin in the Simmons Reef bush. when up for sale some years ago.
Baldwin’s Log Cabin. https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/
For Sale $450,000 – $495,000 1.29 ha
Serene weekender or off-grid opportunity
Offered for the first time in more than 90 years, this unique holding of three acres of pristine bush is located just behind the renowned Garden of St Erth nursery and café. Enjoy uninterrupted views of the bush across Back Gully and explore the historic Depression-Era hand crafted hut, skilfully constructed utilising trees hand-felled onsite in the 1930’s.
Township zoned and comprising 4 parcels of land on two titles, the site is perfect for an off-grid weekender or lifestyle property. Delightful Blackwood township is only minutes away, and Trentham with its eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes and shops is just a short drive. With the Wombat and Lerderderg Forests’ walking and hiking trails right on your doorstep, this is the ideal place to escape to the country while knowing that Melbourne is only an hour away.
- Please note the site is best accessed via Simmons Reef Road behind the Garden of St Erth
Land size: 1.29 Hectares.
