Built around 1841, St Ninian’s, located at 10 Miller Street, was one of Brighton’s earliest buildings. It is best known as being the home of merchant shipping agent, politician and former British naval officer, George Ward Cole between the 1840s and 1902. Following the death of George Ward Cole in 1879 and his wife in 1898, their only surviving child, Margaret, sold the property to Sir Thomas Bent, who subdivided the land in the early 1900s. The property was demolished in 1974. John C. Paul, St. Ninian's eastern courtyard c.1841 1971, watercolour, 28.5 x 40.8 cm. Bayside City Council Art and Heritage Collection. Purchased 1974.st ninian's, brighton, historic house, george ward cole, thomas bent, courtyard

This capelet belonged to Ellen Grace Snowball, nee Anketell, (1866-1945), who lived with husband Oswald Robinson Snowball (1859-1928) at 'Wolsingham', 11 Boxshall Street, Brighton. Oswald Snowball was a solicitor and politician who was active in the Freemasons and the Orange Order. Active in Protestant moral crusades during the 1990s, he was a vocal opponent of liquor and gambling and advocated Bible reading in public schools. In 1909 he succeeded Sir Thomas Bent as Brighton's representative in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, a seat he held for close to twenty years until his death in 1928. During his last year of life, despite serious illness, he served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly under the Hogan government.White ostrich feather capelet. Feathers sewn onto crescent-shaped cream cotton fabric, with an elaborate silk tassel at either end.ellen grace snowball, ellen grace anketell, oswald snowball, capelet, ostrich feather, 1920s

council, meeting, brighton, town clerk, councillor, reporters, press table, elizabeth bleazby, city engineer, g. woodward, hallkeeper, c.e. tuxen, j.h. taylor, mayor, portrait, thomas bent, local government, brighton town hall, cr. j.a. grant, cr. f.e. rogers, cr. a.r. horton, cr. a. giles, cr. e. bleazby, cr. j.v. satchwell, cr. j.a. kennedy, cr. h.e. hall, cr. e.m. young, cr. r. eustace tracey, cr. j. redapple

Although the Railway line had been planned for some time Sir Thomas Bent MP was responsible for making it happen in order to revitalize the fortunes of the Moorabbin Shire that he had represented for so long. The train line opened in 1881with 8 Stations between Caulfield and Mordialloc.The first Steam engine carried dignitaries and local residents. Bent also ensured that the Station houses in his constituency were built in a distinctive decorative cottage style. Bent faced severe criticism for diverting the rail line through his local area and for the expenditure on the Stations. Local residents established and cared for Gardens at the Stations and Cheltenham was awarded Best Garden c1910. The arrival of the Railway Line saw the traders move from Point Nepean Rd to Charman Rd and by 1910 various shops and business were present. 2016 - current has seen large protest rallies against the destruction of Mentone Station and Cheltenham Station as the Victorian State Government proceeds to remove Railway Level Crossings. A compromise to retain the Station buildings whilst placing the Rail Line underground is desired.Cheltenham Railway Station is one of the original cottage style stations ordered by Sir Thomas Bent when the rail line was extended from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1881Photograph Black & White Postcard showing the entrance to Cheltenham Railway Station c1920Valentine &Sons Pub Co Ltd Melb railways, cheltenham station, mentone station, south brighton station, railway level crossing removal 2016 -19, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman s, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

A Letter of condolence sent to Lily (Elizabeth Ann Jones) for the death of her Mother, Mary Ann Jones, who died on 18 January 1903, from her school friend Jane Clark. Following Queen Victoria’s example, it became customary for families to go through elaborate rituals to commemorate their dead. This included wearing mourning clothes, having a lavish (and expensive) funeral, curtailing social behaviour for a set period of time, and erecting an ornate monument on the grave. . Relatives and friends were expected to give handwritten Condolence Cards and Letters, preferably by hand when visiting the bereaved. The different periods of mourning dictated by society were expected to reflect the natural period of grief. In recent years some traditions have given way to less strict practices, though many customs and traditions continue to be followed. Condolence Cards and Letters are still expected for relatives and close friends. These can be individually composed and handwritten or purchased from a Greeting Card Manufacturer. The letter shows Tucker Road as being in East Brighton. Due to the confusion caused by so many 'Brightons' in the area of Henry Dendy's Special Survey of 1841 this area was renamed Bentleigh after Sir Thomas Bent. The Clark family and the Jones family were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireWhite paper with a black border used for a hand written condolence letter sent by Mrs Jane Clark in 1903 during the mourning period for the mother of her school-friend Lily, (Elizabeth Ann Jones).market gardners, pioneers, early settlers, mooorabbin, brighton, east brighton, bentleigh, correspondence, writing equipment, pen and ink, clarke jane, clarke janet, mourning customs, bereavement, condolence letters,

Henry Dendy , a farmer from Sussex England, purchased 5,120 acres of land in the area of a 'Special Survey 1841' that extended from Brighton bayside North Road, East Boundary Rd to South Road. This area became known as Dendy's Brighton and as part of the sale 139 emigrant workers arrived in 1842 however Dendy was unable to find work and lodgings for these people. J.B.Were, financier took over the management of the 'Special Survey 1841' area and began to sell and lease allotments. 1850 the Squatter King brothers sold land south of Dendy's 'Special Survey 1841' to Josiah Holloway who sectioned it into 2 acre lots @ £10 each for market gardens - 'Two Acre Village' and Charles Whorral opened a small hotel - 'The Cheltenham Inn' on the main Road - Arthur's Seat Rd, later Point Nepean Rd, now Nepean Highway. Notable settlers who moved into the area were Keys, Charman, Bruton, Le Page, Fairlam, Meeres and 1862 saw the separation from Brighton and the formation of the Mooorabbin Roads Board District. .By 1879 1000settlers were living in 'Cheltenham' serviced by a Post Office with Bank, Mechanics Institute, State School No 84,Keys Hotel, Meeres Store, Sir Thomas Bent ensured the new Railway Line from Caulfield to Mordialloc went through his constituency of Cheltenham 1881 and this changed the development to the bayside area of Cheltenham away from the 'Two Acre Village ' side causing some dissention, However Cheltenham as whole prospered and this house in Pine St is typical of the cottages built c 1890- 1900 in the area. This weatherboard house c 1890-1900 in Pine St Cheltenham is typical of those built for early settler families. Photo taken 1981 by CMHS member 3 x Colour photographs of an early c 1900 weatherboard house in Pine St Cheltenham taken by CMHS member 1981Kodak Aug. 81 / Handwritten Pine St Cheltenhamkeys robert, holloway josiah, king brothers, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

"A perpetual spring in the adjacent creek provided a steady supply of fresh water to the site on which the homestead is built. Although we can not be certain of the identity of the builder, the first stage of ‘The Willows’ homestead appears to have been constructed in the mid 1850s. The house is situated on Crown Allotment No.1 (No Section), Parish of Kororoit, an allotment of 5 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Although it had surveyed the land, the Crown did not offer it for sale until 22nd November 1861, at which time it was purchased by Charles March Williams. (Although the property is directly opposite and immediately adjacent to the Township of Melton, and was sold as ‘Suburban Allotment 33’, it was situated within the Shire of Braybrook rather than the Shire of Melton until 1917.) Considerable improvements had taken place on the land prior to the Crown sale. When CM Williams purchased the allotment in November 1861 he paid £23.5.0 for the land itself, and valued the improvements at £400. Even allowing for some exaggeration by Williams, this is an extremely high valuation for improvements, and must have included a house. Some local research has claimed that in 1858 Williams had taken over the interest of a Mr Parkinson in the property, and that Parkinson built the house upon taking possession of the land c.1855. It was definitely built by 1861, when a map shows a square building on the site marked as ‘House’. The property is important in the district for its association with the establishment of the pound. The district pound had been established in 1854, when George Scarborough of Mount Cottrell (Mt Cottrell Road, south of Greigs Road) was appointed pound-keeper. Scarborough resigned in 1857. The pound was moved to Melton following agitation from local farmers and Charles March Williams appointed pound-keeper on 26th April 1858. Williams, the son of a doctor, had been born in London. Reminiscences of local residents of the time, as recorded in the Express newspaper, note Williams’ success in breeding horses on the property. Sales of up to 60 guineas were noted. Whether this was from Williams’s own stock or from unclaimed pound stock is not made clear. Williams appeared before a government inquiry in 1860 and advocated registration of all stock brands in the State. Williams died in 1862 leaving a widow, Catherine, and five living children aged 15 years to five months. At the time of his death Williams had entered negotiations with one Matthew Devenish and had a mortgage of £100 on allotments 1 and 2, Parish of Kororoit. Catherine Williams was appointed pound-keeper on 2 September 1863, with her eldest son Charles as her assistant. Her tenure was short for on 22nd March 1864 George Minns senior paid Matthew Devenish £135 for allotments 1 and 2 Parish of Kororoit (considerably less than Williams had claimed the property was worth in 1861) and on the same day paid William Tullidge £45 for the adjoining allotments 3 and 4. In April 1867, James Ebden Minns, the newly married son of George senior became the owner of The Willows property having entered into a mortgage arrangement with his father to the extent of £200. At the time George Minns was residing in Kaarimba having left Melton in 1867 for a short trip to England and upon his return having taken up a selection in the Kaarimba district with his son Frederick who had a hotel licence there. James paid out the mortgage on 2-1-1873. James Minns was appointed pound-keeper in 1872; in 1885 the pound was moved elsewhere and Minns purchased the old pound site and added it to his farm. The Willows residence underwent a major change about this time. A two room extension, similar in style but with a lower elevation was added to the original rear of the house with a chimney matching the distinctive originals. Window arrangements did not match the original but became a feature of the façade when the new addition became the front of the building. Six buttresses were attached to the east and west walls of the old building, two to the south wall and the whole rendered with mortar to give the appearance of dressed stonework around the windows. Galvanized iron was placed over the shingles and a verandah added on three sides. By 1876 The Willows was the homestead for a thriving mixed farm of 340 acres of which 156 was rented from a H. Ruck. In October of that year the Australasian travelling reporter visited and reported on the property. In common with the nearly every other property in the district the farm had ‘recently’ (generally within the last two years) abandoned cultivation of crops, and turned over completely to cattle pasture. Butter making was the principal occupation of the farm, which had about 50 head of cattle, a large proportion of which were milking cows. The reporter also noted that a ‘large number of pigs are kept upon this farm and are found to be very profitable stock’. Their manure was used in an orchard and garden in which ‘large quantities of lucerne and prairie grass are grown for the use of stock when ordinary feed is scarce’. Two bores attached to deep brick lined wells supplied water for the house in addition to the farm. A commodious timber barn and necessary sheds had also been constructed. Access to the property was improved following the construction of the bluestone ford across the creek c.1887, when the recreation ground came into use. Prior to this date it may have been that the crossing referred to as ‘Mr Minns bridge’ was used. This appears to have been a flimsy structure and has but two references in Council reports in the Melton Express in the 1880’s. It is believed that in the late 1890’s a timber building was added near the rear of the building to house a kitchen, ablutions and laundry rooms and rooms for seasonal workers. This was attached to the house by means of a trellised walkway using the original front entry to the house (long since the back door). A photograph of this building appears in a local history of Melton. This was demolished in recent decades during the period when the house was tenanted (after the Minns family had left). James Minns son, George, took over the property following his marriage to Alice Walsh in 1903. James and Caroline moved into a house on the former JH Games property at the eastern end of Henry Street. George held the position of Shire Secretary for Melton for 40 years. He was a most prominent member of the community being Secretary to, among others, the Melton Coursing Club, the Shooting Club and the Cemetery Trust. He also rode with the hunting parties who sported across the Plains and were entertained at Mount Kororoit. George and Alice had one son, Norman who followed his father into local government and became Secretary of the Shire of Werribee completing a record term in this position. George retired to Werribee in 1951, where he died in 1965. The National Trust records note that James Ebden Minns and his sons were ‘leading men of the district, Justices of the Peace, and Shire Councillors’. It claims that Sir Thomas Bent was a frequent visitor. The Willows passed into the hands of George’s grandson, Bruce Minns and the property was let for a number of years. In the 1960s it became vacant and was subject to vandalism. Major structural problems arose with the part demolition of the roof, the loss of windows and doors and holes dug into and under the floorboards. The outbuildings were particularly targeted. Following widespread public support, the Shire of Melton purchased the house, with 3.75 acres of land, in 1972. In 1975 the Shire of Melton and the Melton and District Historical Society were successful in nominating the building for National Trust classification, and then the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. The AHC particularly noted its ‘townscape importance’. It was envisaged that the farmhouse would form ‘a picturesque centrepiece to Melton’s planned … historical park, along with Dunvegan bluestone cottage … and similar structures as they become available.’ In a time of great Melton’s ‘satellite city’ development the Council spelt out its broader vision in its submission to the AHC: ‘Melton is destined to become, by the end of the present century, a city of between 75,000 and 100,000 people. Significant relics of the past, such as ‘The Willows’, regrettably will be rare in that situation. It is essential that sufficient tangible links with Melton’s pioneering days remain to promote in the new community a sense of history and continuity’. Under the direction of ‘The Willows’ Restoration Committee and consultant architect John Hitch, all outbuildings, with the exception of the garage and toilet, were demolished and the dwelling house restored. Finances were provided by the Shire of Melton and the National Estate Grants Program, and considerable amount of voluntary labour was provided by the local community. The orchard was removed, and remaining wooden buildings were relocated to provide an open vista for visitors to the Park. The property was furnished with donations from district families keen to preserve this example of pioneer life in the area. The Willows became the headquarters of the Melton and District Historical Society". Invitation to the family reunion at the Willowslocal identities, pioneer families

George Meudell was born in Bendigo in 1860, the son of a bank manager. He became a public accountant. He worked for B J Fink. He took up a seat on the Stock Exchange. He later wrote a book, 'The Pleasant Career of a Spendthrift'. The book caused a stir and was withdrawn from sale. There was a later edition where a lot of names were withdrawn from the book.document, names of bendigo pioneers, the meudell mystery, the land boomers, michael cannon, maurice brodzky, george meudell, table talk, bendigo high school, money miller's bank of victoria, grant meudell, hnry miller, isaac pitman, john alsop, melbourne savings bank, andrew lyell, mercantile finance co ltd, b j fink, g w taylor, thomas bent, w l baillieu, stock exchange melbourne, william knox, broken hill proprietary, f m dickenson, historical society of victoria, the pleasant career of a spendthrift, george routledge & sons ltd, routledge & kegan paul ltd, frank campbell, robertson & mullens ltd, j m gillespie, sir matthew davies's mercantile bank, unofficial history of victoria, booksellers' association, the pleasant career, theodore fink, the herald, wilke & co pty ltd, the pleasant career of a spendthrift and his later reflections, lionel robinson, william clark, s m bruce, premier building society, j kitchen & sons ltd

Typed history of the Newport Railway Workshops. Mentions the men who worked at the workshop, the locomotives that were built there, the different classes of locomotives, the equipment they used, and some of the work they did. Written by G. Donneau (who worked there) and dated 19-3-79.document, victorian railways, the newport story, g donneau, melbourne and geelong railway co, melbourne & hobson's bay united railway co, mr william meikle, solomon mirls, richard speight, sir james allport, midland railway, mr allison dalrymple, phoenix foundry, north melbourne loco depot, beyer peacock & co, mr a e smith, roger barnes, thomas tait, bhp, f j shea, commonwealth ordnance department, james rooks, london times, mr merz, mr mclellan, bendigo north railway workshops, ballarat shops, james taylor, donald mcgregor, julius aurelian sylvester barber, victor lethlean, melbourne institute of technology, prince of wales, queen victoria, w m shannon, sir thomas bent, puffing billy, harold winthrop clapp, francis boardman clapp, melbourne tramway & omnibus co, austral otis engineering co, melbourne university, franklin supply co, e h brownbill, heavy harry, locomotive mausoleum north melbourne, north british locomotive co, walter stinton, thomas smith, peter alexander, peter alexander, robert ferguson, king george v, english railway gazette, harry nunn may, merz & maclellan, arthur lowe, r h roach, w h chapman, l c rolls, g a swift, john mcrae, caledonian society, thistle club, bristol hotel, james taylor, george allibon, walter grimshaw, robert maybin, roy hodge, walter biddle, john ramsbottom, robert hewitt, james green, thomas waldhuter, giles dobney, mr richardson, mr arthur, sydney express, the age, mr speight, david syme, father gapon

Small booklet titled 'Bendigo's Riches'. Reprint of a Special Series of Articles which appeared in 'The Argus' on the Potential Wealth of the Water Supply, Soil, and Sunshine of The Bendigo District. Printed by Wilson and Mackinnon, Printers, Collins Street. Booklet mentions the potential wealth of Bendigo's Water, Soil and Sunshine; Orchards, Dairying, Tomato Growing, Fruitgrowing, Land, and Water Supply. Also discussed are Antiquated Mining Regulations, City Trust suggested, and its Advantages, Opportunities, 'The Argus' suggestions endorsed, Mine-owner's Opinion, The Mayor of Bendigo's Opinion, Statement by Strathfieldsaye Shire Secretary, Locked-up Area Useless for Timber, Shire Appeals for Unlocking the Land, 'The Argus' Thanked, Bendigo Chamber of Commerce, Bendigo City Council and Preserving Factory at Bendigo. Photos include: Irrigated pastures, rye-grass and clovers on Mr James Cumming's Farm; Irrigating Tomatoes on Mr Elliot Borley's Farm, White Hills; Junction of Huntly and White Hills Irrigation Channels; Packing Tomatoes at Mr B. Puig Y. Ventura's Garden, White Hills; and Tomato Patch on the Holding of Mr T. L. Sweeny, Jun. Back of the booklet has subscription rates and price of The Argus. Missing 8/07/2021place, land, agricultural, book - bendigo's riches, the argus, wilson and mackinnon, councillor carolin, james cumming, dairying, mr elwood mead, tomato growing, mr b puig y ventura, mr elliot borley, fruitgrowers, bendigo fruitgrowers' co-operative society, mr w a hamilton ex-mla, upper coliban, coliban system, antiquated mining regulations, lands department, chaffey bros, mr g h crawford, mine-owners' association, councillor andrew, mr baillieu, miners' association, agricultural society, sir thomas bent, strathfieldsaye shire, mr r b brennan, mr t l sweeny jun, bendigo sewerage farm, councillor osborne, councillor lowndes, councillor t r long, bendigo chamber of commerce, bendigo city council, councillor andrew, councillor h a ross, councillor wilkie, h m leggo and co

The fountain was commissioned by Elizabeth Beazby, daughter of Sir Thomas and Mrs Bent, and unveiled 27 October 1913 by Mrs Wilson, Mayoress of Brighton.The fountain is of historical interest and aesthetic significance. The memorial is a good example of the smaller commemorative work of sculptor Margaret Baskerville. The memorial commemorates the wife of notable local resident, Sir Thomas Bent, who was a long-standing parliamentary representative, Mayor of Brighton and Premier of Victoria from 1904-1909.bronze and granite thomas bent, politician, mayor, premier, bust, sculpture, margaret baskerville, speaker, member of parliament, member of lower house, local government, councillor, brighton, public art, bayside, mrs bent, memorial, fountain, drinking fountain, cherubs, elizabeth bleazby

Photographic portrait of Francis (Frank) Thomas Le Page. Frank is the oldest child of Nicholas and Rachel (nee Addy), who arrived in Melbourne in 1852 from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Nicholas was a tailor and Rachel was a dressmaker. They originally made their home in Prahran and set up a business but about two years later decided to take up market gardening. The Le Page family bought property in the Two Acre Village, Cheltenham. They had nine other children. At 14 years of age Frank was driving his father’s horse and dray to Melbourne with the vegetables they grew - standing backed in to the footpath in Little Collins Street, at the old Eastern Market. At 18 years of age, and the other members of the family growing up, Francis decided to seek work outside, and was employed as a gardener by Mr Budd, who conducted the Brighton Grammar School. It was whilst employed there that the late Sir Thomas Bent and he became friends, a friendship which lasted throughout their lives. Sir Thomas was then on the land also. Frank was an active member of social and sporting groups in the region. In 1876 Frank married Mary Geraghty and they made Cheltenham their home. He became a councillor for the then Shire of Moorabbin, a position he held for 25 years, and in 1902 was elected President of the Shire of Moorabbin. He was also a Justice of the Peace and occupied the bench at the Cheltenham Court. The next generation of Le Pages continued to be heavily involved in the civic life of the region with Frank and Mary's son Everest being elected mayor twice.Black and white image of Francis (Frank) Thomas Le Page.