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Earl Sternbeck (1896-1984) - Shop proprietor, Cessnock. Recorded 14 April 1978. Part 1/3.

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SummaryEARL STERNBECK
Recorded 14 April 1978
Part 1 of 3

1:10
His parents first arrived in Cessnock in 1904 (possibly from Laguna). He was born in 1896. In 1903 his father built a house (near the location of Slack's Cordial Factory). Proposed original location of church

1:57
He had two sisters and Lee, his brother. Lee was born in 1908.

2:08
Sister Grace married Mr Tillman Sister Hazel married Mr Hansom

2:59
His father started the cycle works next door to the Slack's Cordial Factory. Arthur Green Ralph Scobie Location of early motor garage - the space was used for local shop keepers to view and order goods brought up by travellers in their wagons. It was later used for car repairs. Always known as Cessnock Cycle and Motor Works - E.A. Sternbeck & Son. His father's name was Ernest Alfred Sternbeck. His mother was Miss Fernance from St Albans. The great grandparents arrived in 1802 from Sweden. He was an engineer. His name was Christian Sternbeck. He lived in Parramatta. Then to Windsor in 1818 he married Miss Sarah Miller. George Sternbeck (son of Christian). William (Earl's grandfather). William and Matthew and George were brothers.

6:39
Harold Sternbeck and Matthew Sternbeck (Harold's grandfather) from Millfield were brothers.

7:09
James Sternbeck who lived at the top of Murray's Run - great cattle man. He was one of the early pioneering cattle men who would buy 40 to 50 head of cattle in Singleton. He knew them individually.

9:05
His grandfather died aged 96.

9:34
His mother's father was John Fernance.

10:19
Stan Parkes married Miss Fernance. He has the family tree. One of his mother's aunts married a Mr Sternbeck - she lived to 107.

12:27
Earl went to school at Nulkaba. Because his Dad was sick "I didn't get all the schooling that I wanted. I had to stay at home and do the work." He mended the bikes for men going to work and then he got into motorbikes. Lee did all the track riding.

14:00
Earl got into the motorcycle reliability trials. Lee and Billy Galloway and Frank Arthur - dirt track riding.

15:35
George Brown, the coroner lived opposite. The vineyard was to the left and the cycle track was built by his dad and Billy Glynn.

16:22
From the old butter factory to the bottom end of Charlton St up to the Motor Registry Office was all vineyard. It also stretched across to Extended Colliery until the pit took it over.

17:03
Earl describes the extent of vineyards in Cessnock. Bouvier and Frank Scanlon.

18:31
Stevenson Moore - Mt View Road. George Brown's brother John built a few houses along that road. Two of his daughters lived in them - one married Mr Hipwell from Pokolbin and the other, Garney Timson (killed in WW1).

20:29
George Brown's son was a school teacher. Arthur Bridge built a house on top of the hill (Bridge's Hill) next to the convent. Earl sold him his first car in 1914 - a 1914 Buick. The Buick was sold in 1910 to (the wine people) Edwards' in Sawyers Gully. Their vineyard was on the other side of the school. It was all brass, all paint and varnish. (The car, not the winery!)

23:17
In 1908 Dr Crook bought the first Buick. There was another doctor in Cessnock before him. Pring was the first undertaker.

24:04
There was a change station (for horse coaches) on the original road (where Anzac Avenue is today) from Maitland. It went behind the Cessnock Hotel.

25:32
The mail was picked up at Maitland at about 11pm and they drove through the night, arriving at Cessnock and changed horses at about 3am. They then went on to Millfield, Wollombi and back again to Cessnock. The route was changed because of flooding.

26:10
An area of government land, possibly called the police paddock.

26:32
Higgins' the blacksmith began business at about the time the Sternbecks had set up their cycle business.

27:42
Surveying Vincent Street using pegs and Torrens title - it went north and south. The confusion on the map of their shop and the hotel.

Tape duration: 30:06 Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectCessnock Cycle and Motor WorksE.A. Sternbeck & SonMotorcycles -- New South Wales -- CessnockMurray's Run (N.S.W.)St Albans (N.S.W.)Cessnock (N.S.W.)Nulkaba (N.S.W.)Motorcycle racingDirt bikesReliability trialsSternbeck, Earl Stanley, 1896-1984 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToStan Parkes Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorSternbeck, Earl Stanley, 1896-1984Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PlaceCessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created14th April 1978Location^[1]Cessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]Nulkaba, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[3]Murrays Run, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier274A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Job Identifier274A

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