Albert Holyoak

Albert Charles Holyoak was a young boy who drowned in the Redan quarries in 1905.

History
Albert Holyoak was born in Victoria in 1898, the son of William Holyoak and Mary Ann Shrubsole.

Holyoak was drowned in the Redan quarries on 15 November 1905: "DROWNED WHILE CATCHING FROGS. Albert Charles Hollyoake, aged seven years, son of a teacher employed at Derwent Jacks, was this evening drowned in a quarry hole in Pleasant-street South, near Redan. The deceased, with a number of other boys, was catching frogs, when he slipped off the bank, and his companions, seeing him floundering in the water, ran away." "A magisterial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of the boy, Albert Holyoak, who, as reported in yesterday's “Star,” was accidentally drowned, in one of the Redan quarry holes on Wednesday afternoon, was held yesterday at the Redan Police Station by Mr R. Pearse, J.P. Very little evidence was called, the principal witnesses being two little boys named Dial, who said that they saw the deceased sitting on the edge of the quarry, hole, about 5 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. They called out to him that it was time for him to go home to tea, but young Hollyoak replied that he was going to stop and catch some crayfish before he left. The other boys then went away, but before they had gone far they heard a splash, and returning to the spot saw the deceased rising to the surface for the last time. Constable Serpell gave formal evidence with regard to the finding of the body of the unfortunate boy. Mr Pearse found that the cause of death was asphyxia, due to accidental drowning, and he added that he would urge the City Council to have the quarry hole drained and fenced off."

"HOLYOAK, ALBERT CHARLES.- At 114½ Windermere Street; age 7½ years."