In 1912-13, a Seaford farmer was the last to occupy the 57 acre Hindhope Estate at Rosebud, bounded by First Avenue, Pt Nepean Rd and Boneo Rd and extending south to Hindhope Villa (50 First Avenue) and all Hope St house blocks. When section A was subdivided shortly afterwards the developer (Thomas)obviously wanted to honour John McComb*, but unfortunately the surveyor called the first street on the estate McCombe St.

*The Shire of Flinders rates until 1919-20 are available on microfiche in the local history room at the Rosebud Library. Gregory Rigg and his wife Eleanor had 29 acres each in 1911-12,having purchased one block from the Randalls (who gave Hindhope its name)some years earlier and the other later from an unestablished vendor. Names of ratepayers were listed alphabetically and there was no Rigg entry in 1912-13. A search of every entry in the West Riding established that John McComb, Carrum, (assessment number 1152)who was assessed on part crown allotment 14, Wannaeue (nett annual value 25 pounds)was occupying Hindhope. From memory,I'm sure Ramsay and Nora Couper still had "The Thicket", the other 54 acres of crown allotment 14 between the present Hope St houses and Raper's Lane (Eastbourne Rd.) Also, newspaper articles make it clear that the Riggs owned Hindhope and I have titles documents recording change of ownership of Hindhope from the Riggs to Arthur A.Thomas of 19 Queen St Melbourne.In 1913-14 John McComb's name had been entered (and that's probably where I got the description of "Seaford farmer") in its appropriate place under M, but it was crossed out and replaced by that of Thomas. The above makes it clear that John McComb leased Hindhope from the Riggs for a year. It is possible that the lease was cancelled by agreement between the Riggs and John McComb and that it had been a condition of the sale to Thomas that the first street was to be named in honour of John and his pioneering family. The Riggs and McCombs could well have been friends. Arthur A.Thomas probably didn't know John McComb, otherwise he might have detected the incorrect E at the end of the street name on the subdivision plan for Block A. Many street names honour longtime owners of land in the area but there would be few that recall people who LEASED the land FOR A SINGLE YEAR. Therefore the people who decided the name (probably the Riggs)must have had a special reason. Was it to honour a family which was among the earliest pioneers of the Mornington Peninsula? What would even a young child make of the logic of a statement such as: McCOMBE ST IN ROSEBUD IS NAMED AFTER JOHN McCOMB, A DECENDANT OF A PIONEERING FAMILY OF FRANKSTON. Perhaps we could have Wedgee,Daveye and Wellse streets too, to honour other Frankston pioneers! The big hill south of Frankston could be renamed Olivere's Hill to continue the joke!

Lovers of historical accuracy, especially Frankston residents who are proud of their town's history, should contact the Mornington Peninsula Shire in great numbers to demand that the spelling of this street name be corrected. Read about this pioneering family. There are several photos.
N.B. South Melbourne was known as Canvas Town,the Governor having had the area surveyed for a tent city to cope with the incredible influx of new chums who had been lured by the prospect of striking it rich at the diggings; permanent dwellings were fully occupied despite outrageous rents. Emerald Hill was South Melbourne's second name.

Grace McComb Was Frankston's Florence Nightingale
Tribute to Oldest Family of District Pioneers
An inscription on the stone wall of the main entrance to the Frankston Cemetery reads: "This entrance was erected in August, 1926, by grateful friends, to the Memory of the late Mrs. Grace McComb for her goodness," while on a grave just inside the entrance appears the words: "Erected to the Memory of Thomas and Grace McComb, Pioneers of Frankston, 1852."

Only a period of a few months separated the arrival of the first settler in Frankston, Mr. James Davey (Oliver's Hill), and the McComb family, whose first home was a tent on the beach, near the Fernery, held under a Miner's Right, at payment of ?10 per year to the Crown. The noble deeds of Mrs. Grace McComb, as maternity nurse, and only "doctor" for 40 years in Frankston district, establish the everlasting glory of her name as the greatest woman in all Frankston's history

Frankston's Florence Nightingale.
"Lives of Great Men."
Her husband, Thomas, and all members of the pioneer McComb family, have likewise left their mark of fame on the scroll of district history, progress, and achievement, to be admired by a grateful public and generations
to come.

An Adventurous Scotswoman.
Far back in 1833, a young Mate on a windjammer, Thomas McComb, sailed in his ship to Tasmania from Greenoch (Scotland). Thomas liked Tasmania so much that he did not return to Scotland with his ship, but transferred to a Government boat at Port Arthur. Here he married his wife, Grace, a Tasmanian girl, on August 20, 1844.
At the outbreak of the gold rush at Forest Hill (Castlemaine), Thomas McComb came to the mainland to prospect for gold, but finding it too expensive, he returned to Tasmania, and came back, with his wife and family, in 1851, to Melbourne, where their fourth child was born.
MR. HARRY McCOMB (photo.)

Dear Rents Then, Too.
Evidently rents were dear, long before the present 1949 era, as the McComb family paid ?1 per week for one room in Bourke Street, Melbourne, in 1851. Ejected from the room by a "tough" landlord, they were forced to pitch a tent on the banks of the Yarra. Thomas McComb got a job in charge of a lighter on the River Yarra, and the family moved to Emerald Hill (now South Melbourne). When Grace McComb developed "Colonial fever" a doctor advised residence at the seaside, her husband bought in with a company of fishermen, and came to live at Frankston, in a tent near the Fernery, by permission of Mr. Wedge, who rented the ground from the Crown.

Three Great Veterans.
For the wonderful story written here, "The Standard" is grateful to the three surviving members of the McComb family (there were originally 11 children). They are Mr. Harry McComb, 87 years, and Miss Agnes McComb, 84 (both of 26 NolanStreet, and Mrs. Martha Grace Pitchford, 82 (William Street).Despite their great ages, all are hale and hearty veterans, who have worthily upheld the tradition, of their famous parents. And so we continue their fascinating story:

Nursed Frankston's First Baby.
Only the day after the arrival of the McCombs in Frankston, a baby arrived to the Davey family,and Mr. Davey made an urgent call on Mrs. Grace McComb, who safely delivered the "new citizen" to Frankston. The nurse had a
hurried walk up the steep and rough Oliver's Hill of those days,(then known as "Old man Davey's Hill"-itellya)
but she was to be richly rewarded, for the strenuous exertions of the night journey to the top cured the "Colonial fever." The first McComb baby born in Frankston was Helen (deceased). Frankston in those early days
was a great place for visitors, who used to journey up from the Heads on foot, or per horseback, and some by boat. Mrs.McComb had a busy time serving them with meals.

First Land Sale.
The first Frankston land sale was a wonderful affair, with a big crowd. Many of them had walked all the way to Melbourne where the sales were held. Thomas McComb found the land too dear at the sale,but later bought five acres in William Street, on which he built his home.

Grand Fishing Tradition.
Fishing and wood-cutting comprised the only employment in Frankston in those early days, and the fishing industry, pioneered by Thomas, has continued down the ages to the present day in the McComb family, with
popular "Old Ted" McComb (grandson of Thomas McComb Senr., and son of Thomas McComb Junr.) and his sons ably
carrying on the great sea tradition of Frankston. In his retiring years, Thomas McComb, who died in 1889, at the age of 81, performed the duty of lighting the lamp on the Frankston Pier. Grace McComb died in 1915, at
the grand old age of 88, and with the noble record of Australian womanhood referred to above.

Only Two Shops.
For many years there was not a formed road or a fence in Frankston district, only sand tracks. For a very long time, there were only two shops in Frankston -Yockins in Davey Street, and Patterson's in High Street. Mr. James Davey had the first hotel - the old "Bay View" (now the Grand).

The First School.
The first school was a Common School, at the rear of the present St. Paul's Church of England. Carrying a baby in her arms, Mrs Grace McComb trudged round the sand tracks till she obtained the 20 signatures required for the first State School, on its present site. The three surviving McCombs were amongst the first children at the first school. The first teacher was a former tutor employed by the late Mr. Frank Stevens (Oliver's Hill), now
Grimwade's property.

Blacks' Camp at Mechanics'.
Tribes of blacks came to Frankston whenever the eels came down the Kananook Creek. They camped in mia mias, under a big honeysuckle tree, on the ridge in front of the Mechanics' Institute, and always had a large
pack of dogs. One son, the late Jim McComb, was one of the founders of the Mechanics' Institute in Frankston, when "penny entertainments". were a feature of its early revenue activities. Jim was later Shire Engineer at Lilydale. Brother Joe was a great student of politics, and a keen member of the Taxpayers' Association, with Mr. Charles Gray. John had a successful career on the railways, retiring as a roadmaster. His death occurred
at 84 years.

Each of the three surviving veterans were loath to speak about their own achievements, but from here and there we pieced together a series of wonderful facts.

Founder of Housewives' and Baby Welfare.
Miss Agnes McComb, whose house and effects were totally destroyed by fire two years ago, was treasurer of the Housewives' Association (which she founded) for over 20 years, and retired from the position only last year.
Miss McComb was also the prime mover for a Baby Health Centre in Frankston, and went round, as first secretary, for 12 months, till the Centre was established.

Her sister, Mrs. Pitchford, is known as a great Red Cross worker. All three, like the McCombs before them, and other relatives, are keen members and workers for the local Methodist Church, and have always helped to their utmost in all movements for the benefit of the district, and its community.

Where Were "Those Good Old Days?"
Mr. Harry McComb told "The Standard" representative, wistfully, that he wished the present time had been his hey-day, as in his time men never got very much, either in work or wages. He spent 16 years as Shire foreman, but prior to that had to leave the town in search of work.

A Fine Cricketer.
In his day, Harry McComb was a noted cricketer; cricket being always his hobby. He played for many years with the Frankston team, since its inception (from
approximately 80 years ago), when the present Cranbourne (Cranbourne Rd? Possibly Samuel Sherlock Reserve,where the new Peninsula Aquatic Centre now stands-itellya) Oval was cleared. His best year was at the age of 19, when he won the batting average trophy (a bat given by Mr. Lawrence, a MR. TED McCOMB. (photo)Mordialloc banker) with an average of 54 runs for five matches (prior to leaving the district). His brother Joe, with an average of 51 for seven matches, won the trophy given the same year by the Fishing Company. Harry was an opening batsman, for Frankston, with the late famous Jack Sadlier (first bank manager).
Harry generally tossed with Sadlier as to who would go in first. Harry was also a good left-hand bowler.
Harry McComb played later with the Contemplar Lodge team, Prahran, for three years. On the wall of the McComb home is a large framed group of cricketers, with Harry's photo in the centre. The inscription reads: "Victorian
Lodge Cricket Club, 1889. presented to H. McComb, (Captain) as a token of esteem for past services rendered.

Best Footballer and Cricketer.
Asked for his opinion of the best footballer and cricketer in Frankston's history, Mr. Harry McComb declared enthusiastically and unhesitatingly for "Joker" Cameron (football), and Ben Baxter (cricket).

A Symbol.
The tides will wash away many things from Frankston beaches for generations to come, but the great honored name of McComb is indelibly written in our sands for all time, and as a symbol for all who will follow them as
citizens of Frankston. (P.43, Frankston Standard, 5-10-1949.)

Let's hope that one day the Rosebud street named after this pioneering family will bear the correct name!