Ernest Walsh Reserve Traditional Cache

Ernest Walsh Reserve 

Driving past this location recently and seeing the little bench on the hill we decided to do some research on who the reserve was named after and hide a geocache. The reserve is on a hill opposite some houses. From the bench seat you can see some beautiful views of the Macarthur Area. There is also a rock behind the seat with a plaque. Please be aware there are houses all around so please make sure that you are not spotted getting or returning cache to its original location. Its a small sized cache with log book and room for small swaps or trackables but please bring a pen. 

The reserve was known as Parkhill Reserve until 1992 when it was re named after the late Ernest Walsh, a local identity and farmer who lived in nearby “Wal-Park” house.

Ernest James Walsh was a well-known radio identity from the 1930s who broadcast from several radio stations including 2CH and 2UE and did voice over work for Movietone. 

He married his first wife Kathleen in 1931, but married life did not suit Ernest. In 1936 he was put in charge of the evening radio session on 2UE and was a keen sailor on weekends, keeping him away from home for long periods.  The marriage was rocky, and eventually Kathleen took Ernest to court in 1938 on the grounds of desertion and a decree was given in 1939. Ernest was said to have claimed “he preferred the single life”. 

Ernest second wife was Trixeena. They became engaged in August 1941, and married in September the same year. Trixeena and Ernest had two daughters, Verdie in 1943 and Ernestine in 1946. Ernest gave up the radio business and went into sales, before starting his own pottery firm – “Rochefort Pottery”, which became highly successful. However, trouble was brewing on the home front again for Ernest, and he and his wife Trixeena divorced. She remarried in 1957 to Gerrit Stel. It would appear that Ernest stayed on in Campbelltown, whilst Trixeena lived the life of a socialite. She divorced Stel in 1962.

Meanwhile, Ernest married Mary Ridgeway in 1961 in Campbelltown, with whom he would remain until her death in 1987. They lived on a property called “Wal-Park” and the family home stands on the corner of Leumeah Road and Parkhill Avenue. Little Cream and green coloured house which we only actually took notice of after researching this reserve.

After his death in April 1992 his family requested that Parkhill Reserve, which had formed part of the Walsh property, was renamed  “Ernest James Walsh Reserve”.  This was granted by council in July 1992. 

Many thanks to Claire Lynch for her help in finding the above information. Below is a link for the blog she wrote after I requested some help finding out who Ernest Walsh was.

https://campbelltown-library.blogspot.com/2018/10/ernest-james-walsh-truth-is-often.html?m=1