Gordon Gow and the talking clock

Gordon Gow was born in Windsor in December 1919, the son of Arthur Gow and Kathleen nee Gordon. A clever boy, he entered the faculty of Arts and Law of Sydney University when he was just seventeen. 

In 1937 he was invited to the Henry George League of NSW to deliver a lecture at its weekly meeting. The topic was Shakespeare and it was reported in the media at the time that the seventeen year old, was very talented, had an “outstanding memory” and was mature for his age.  

With an attractive speaking voice Gordon established himself in broadcasting, making his debut with 2UE, working as a film critic and later as an announcer. He had constant work on radio working both with the ABC and commercial radio in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. He built himself a reputation not only in radio but also in the Sydney theatrical circles, with a number of creditable stage performances. In 1941, he travelled to Brisbane and took up a position with radio 4BC as an actor-announcer.

In 1949 he travelled with his wife Joyce to England for a holiday but the couple eventually stayed on. By the 1950s they were living in London and Gordon was working as a radio and film reporter for the Associated British Film Corporation. He was also recording interviews with many distinguished stars including Bette Davis, Burt Lancaster, Douglas Fairbanks and Michael Wilding, Elizabeth Taylor’s second husband.

He was known for his contribution to various newspapers and magazines, about the theatre, performers and movies. Gordon also authored several books in the 1970s focusing on the cinema. The couple remained in the UK for about 50 years before returning to Australia in the 1990s. Gordon Gow died in 2000 at the age of 81.

Although readers may not recognise his name, Gordon Gow’s voice is quite recognisable to those born in the 20th century, and used to phone up to confirm the time. Gordon was the voice for the talking clock, commonly referred to as ‘George the talking clock’ for nearly thirty years. He recorded the service in London in 1954 and the pre-recording was used to announce the time throughout Australia for the Postmaster-General's (PMG) Department, later known as Telecom.

In 1954 George the speaking clock was installed which provided an automatic, accurate time service. It was very modern piece of engineering which “synthetised the time from three different optical discs.” Gordon originally recorded the sound for the discs, including the well-known “At the third stroke …” For a period of time, the identity of the voice was kept a secret but then revealed to the media several months later. Gordon Gow passed away, aged 80 on 16 August 2000. 

Gow's obituary from the Australian 18 September 2000 

The voice of Richard Peach, brother to Bill Peach and ABC broadcaster, was recorded in the 1980s, and replaced Gow’s recording in the 1990s. Richard died in 2008 aged 58. Richard’s voice could still be heard when ringing 1194 for the time, until the service was last heard on 30 September 2019 and you can listen to a sample here. The clock was originally housed in the GPO in Martin Place but is now housed in the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. You can check this out on this Youtube clip.

Happy 145th birthday Windsor Bridge

145 years ago (20 August 1874) Windsor Bridge over the Hawkesbury River was officially opened. The Hawkesbury district celebrated in great style with about 7000 attendees and the day was observed as a holiday.

Opening of Windsor Bridge taken by Thomas Boston
Courtesy State Library of NSW

Some officials arrived on the 11am train from Sydney with many local visitors and representatives, congregating near the Council offices ready for the procession.  These included the local clergy, politicians, plus Mayor John McQuade and the aldermen of Windsor Council. The Windsor Volunteer Band led the procession and the Volunteers, Fire Brigade, the local masonic lodges with their banners “proceeded along Macquarie Street to Dight Street, and thence through George Street to the bridge.”  The Richmond Volunteer Band led the students from the local Public and Catholic schools also participated in the parade which numbered about 600. The procession marched “across the bridge and doubling back” and the official ceremony then began with the Hon. John Sutherland, Minister for Works giving a speech where “he complimented the people upon having such a fine structure, and on the importance of the work.” He particularly mentioned, “why a low-level bridge was erected in place of a high-level structure” and named the structure Windsor Bridge. The crowd applauded and the band played the National Anthem. The children then headed to Miller’s paddock in Macquarie Street where they were given refreshments of cakes and lollies and entertained with a Punch and Judy show and other entertainment.

It was reported that “Windsor was gaily decorated with flags flying from nearly all the houses in the principal streets; and on the bridge were festoons, floral arches, and the flags of all nations.”

Detail of official ceremony and flags on Windsor Bridge by Thomas Boston Courtesy State Library of NSW

Above the bridge hundreds assembled and a bullock roasted, a time-honoured Hawkesbury tradition. There was also a formal lunch for the officials in the Windsor School of Arts where good food was eaten and lots of speeches and toasts were given.  John Sutherland proposed "Success to the Windsor Bridge” and added that “he hoped that it would last longer than the youngest child who had passed over it that day.” To end the festivities, a ball was held in the evening in the old military barracks. 

A bridge over the Hawkesbury River at Windsor was suggested for many years and became a reality when in 1864 a public meeting was held and a decision made to approach the Government. It took many more years for funding to be approved and the construction more than 2 years. The total cost was £10,283.

Courtesy Illustrated Sydney News 19 September 1874  

All of the technical details about the construction of Windsor Bridge are available in this post

One tragedy that took place during construction when 10 year old, Humphrey Albert Douglass, who was working on the bridge, lost his footing and fell into the river and drowned.

Happy 145th birthday Windsor Bridge - still standing proudly crossing the majestic Hawkesbury River, but for how much longer?

140th celebrations in 2014 by Michelle Nichols

Many accounts appeared in the newspapers of the day, including:

• OPENING OF THE WINDSOR BRIDGE. (1874, August 21). Evening News p. 2 from 
• OPENING OE THE BRIDGE AT WINDSOR. (1874, September 19). Illustrated Sydney News & NSW Agriculturalist & Grazier 
• OPENING OF WINDSOR BRIDGE (1874, August 22). Australian Town & Country Journal, p. 9. 
• OPENING OF THE WINDSOR BRIDGE. (1874, August 22).  The Empire p. 4. 
• OPENING OF THE BRIDGE AT WINDSOR. (1874, August 22). The Sydney Morning Herald p. 7.  
• NEW BRIDGE OVER THE HAWKESBURY AT WINDSOR. (1874, August 22). Australian Town & Country Journal p. 20. 

Relocation of Logan headstones to Ebenezer Cemetery

Logan headstones at Ebenezer Cemetery ~ Photo: Michelle Nichols 2012

One of Sydney’s earliest cemeteries was called Devonshire Street Cemetery and was situated in Sydney between Eddy Avenue, Elizabeth Street, Chalmers, and Devonshire Streets. The cemetery was opened in 1820 however the site was resumed so that the railway station at Central could be constructed. Arrangements were made with the family and friends of those buried. Bodies were exhumed and relocated at the Government’s expense. The remains that were not claimed were buried at Bunnerong Cemetery alongside Botany Cemetery. These two cemeteries are now known as the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.

John LOGAN (c.1821-1867) who was born in Scotland, married his first wife Ann in the 1840s. The couple had several children including James born circa 1847, George born circa 1849 and Ann born circa 1853. George was a baker and the family lived in Sydney. Tragedy struck the family when around 5pm on 16 July 1851; two and half-year-old George Logan was struck with a cartwheel. Despite being “promptly attended by Dr. Rutter and Dr. Neilson, he expired two hours.”   

The bakery was recorded at Sussex Street, Sydney. According to the Inquest held a few days later, the young boy’s death was “caused by coming in contact with the wheel of a cart.” The driver of the cart, George Burnett, was charged with manslaughter.

Empire 17 July 1851 p. 3

Ann, wife of John Logan, died aged thirty-two, on 25 September 1853. She was followed by Ann, their twelve week old daughter, who died 10 December 1853. It is quite possible that Ann died from complications, giving birth to Ann, who was born in late September.

The following year after the death of his first wife, John, remarried at Sydney’s Scots Church, Matilda Isabella, who was at the time, aged in her mid-twenties. Matilda was the daughter of Alexander Books and Margaret nee Grono of Bear’s Hip Farm on the Hawkesbury River. 

John’s son James, died on 21 June 1866 aged nineteen years, cause of death is not known at this stage. The following year, John Logan died 5 November 1867 aged forty-six years. It is transcribed on his headstone that John was originally from Dunkeld Scotland and died at his residence, Woodland Cottage in Ryde but formerly of Bathurst Street in Sydney. His headstone states he was from Dunkeld although his Death notice states he was a native of Kinross, Scotland, aged forty-six years. There is about 50km difference between the locations.  

Matilda Logan was living at ‘Melrose’ in Duke Place, Balmain when she passed away on 7 March 1901, aged seventy-four. Her obituary notes that her casket was taken from Balmain to Mulgrave by train and then transported by Mr Primrose, the local undertakers to the residence of Mr A. Books at Pitt Town. The “casket was then taken by boat to Ebenezer burial ground and interred in the family vault alongside the deceased mother and father.” Mr Edgar of Pitt Town read the service.  Her death notice also records that she was interred at Ebenezer however there is no marker recording Matilda’s final resting place in the cemetery other than the above mention in the Books vault.

By early 1904, the Windsor & Richmond Gazette records that that the two Logan headstones (with the remains) had been exhumed and relocated from the Devonshire Street Cemetery to the historic Ebenezer Cemetery in the Hawkesbury. The exhumation permit was issued to John Carmichael, from Duke Street in Balmain. Carmichael was, in fact, the brother-in-law of Matilda Logan, as he was married to her younger sister, Jane nee Books.  

Sources:

Empire 17 July 1851 p. 3

Empire 21 July 1851, p. 3

Windsor & Richmond Gazette 23 January 1901 p. 7

Family Notices. Empire 7 November 1867, p. 1

Windsor & Richmond Gazette 30 January 1901 p. 7

Family Notices. Sydney Morning Herald 16 March 1901 p. 1 

Family Notices. Sydney Morning Herald 9 March 1901 p. 1