Historical information
Holmsdale Convalescent and Rest Home was built by John Mawson for his sisters Muriel, Beatrice and Harriet (and ? Ethel or Dorothy), all nurses. It was named after the sailing ship that their parents, Frederick W and Mary Mawson and baby Beatrice migrated on from England in 1882.
John was a partner in the Box Hill building firm Garre tt and Mawson. The sketch of the nursing home used in the brochure was his work. It was opened on Saturday 14 March 1936 by Mr M J Boyland, MLA.
The home was closed in the mid-1950s and converted into 4 self-contained flats, one of which was occupied by the sisters in their retirement; the others provided them with an income.
Initial photocopies of this brochure, an invitation to the official opening of Holmsdale, photos of the ship Holmsdale, passengers' ticket for Fred W Mawson, Mary Mawson & Beatrice Mawson and notes compiled by John Howden about his late aunts (Bea, Hadge & Mouse) were donated to the collection by Randy Johnson, a tenant of John Howden's in late 2004.
Subsequent research papers and photocopies of other family ephemera from John Howden are also filed in the Mawson vertical file.
Physical description
A brown bi-fold leaflet advertising the Holmsdale Convalescent and Rest Home located at 257 Union Road, Surrey Hills under the direction of the Misses Mawson (late Australian Army Nursing Service A I F). Inside is an artist's sketch of the exterior of Holmsdale.
