Ordsall, renamed Southesk in the 20th century was built for John Halfey in or before 1865. The house was rebuilt in the 1870s to designs by architect Michael Hennessy. In 1882 the house was redecorated by the firm of Culls Hill & Co., who hired the artists 'Mr Vandenbrandt' and 'Signor Rizzi" to paint the ceilings of the ballroom and the drawingroom. The artistic triumph was described in detail in The Argus, 30 October, 1882. In 1947, Southesk was purchased by the Kew City Council. For 23 years it was used as a meeting place for community groups. The house was then demolished in 1970 to make way for a new Town Hall.The interiors of the two main reception rooms at Ordsall included some of the most outstanding domestic frescos painted in Australia in the late Victorian period. These frescos were executed by artists hired by the firm of Cullis Hill & Co. While a number of photographs were taken of the interiors prior to the house's demolition in 1970, this small fragment of the fresco is one of only three extant. The fresco allows conservators to examine and evaluate fresco techniques of the period.One of only two fragments of the painted domed ceiling of the ballroom of Ordsall (later renamed Southesk) which once stood at the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, Kew. This triangular piece of the fresco is of a cherub's face.Label: 'This is from the "Southesk" ballroom 14-7-70'ordsall, southesk, cullis hill & co.

Ordsall, renamed Southesk in the 20th century was built for John Halfey in or before 1865. The house was rebuilt in the 1870s to designs by architect Michael Hennessy. In 1882 the house was redecorated by the firm of Culls Hill & Co., who hired the artists 'Mr Vandenbrandt' and 'Signor Rizzi" to paint the ceilings of the ballroom and the drawingroom. The artistic triumph was described in detail in The Argus, 30 October, 1882. In 1947, Southesk was purchased by the Kew City Council. For 23 years it was used as a meeting place for community groups. The house was then demolished in 1970 to make way for a new Town Hall.The interiors of the two main reception rooms at Ordsall included some of the most outstanding domestic frescos painted in Australia in the late Victorian period. These frescos were executed by artists hired by the firm of Cullis Hill & Co. While a number of photographs were taken of the interiors prior to the house's demolition in 1970, this small fragment of the fresco is one of only three extant. The fresco allows conservators to examine and evaluate fresco techniques of the period.One of only two fragments of the painted domed ceiling of the ballroom of Ordsall (later renamed Southesk) which once stood at the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, Kew. This roughly square piece of the plasterwork shows a woman's head. Given the size of the face, it is believed that this section of the fresco represents one of the four 'geographic depictions of the earth including the seasons, night and morning'.Label: 'This is from the Southesk Ballroom 14-7-70'cullis hill & co., fresco, ordsall, southesk

Ordsall, renamed Southesk in the 20th century was built for John Halfey in or before 1865. The house was rebuilt in the 1870s to designs by architect Michael Hennessy. In 1882 the house was redecorated by the firm of Cullis Hill & Co., who hired the artists 'Mr Vandenbrandt' and 'Signor Rizzi" to paint the ceilings of the ballroom and the drawingroom. The artistic triumph was described in detail in The Argus, 30 October, 1882. In 1947, Southesk was purchased by the Kew City Council. For 23 years it was used as a meeting place for community groups. The house was then demolished in 1970 to make way for a new Town Hall.The interiors of the two main reception rooms at Ordsall included some of the most outstanding domestic frescos painted in Australia in the late Victorian period. These frescos were executed by artists hired by the firm of Cullis Hill & Co. While a number of photographs were taken of the interiors prior to the house's demolition in 1970, this small fragment of the fresco is one of only three extant. The fresco allows conservators to examine and evaluate fresco techniques of the period.A fragment of the painted domed ceiling of the drawingroom of Ordsall (later renamed Southesk) which once stood at the corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street, Kew. This rectangular fragment of painted plaster is a small section of the rectangular frieze of neo-gothic scenes that were a feature of the drawingroom ceiling. The fragment differs from those remaining from the ballroom in that it includes a section of gold leaf.Label: 'This is from "Southesk" drawing room'ordsall, southesk, cullis hill & co., halfey, john

Formal photograph taken on the occasion of the official opening. Wilson's private Cool Stores at Hurstbridge comprised six cooling chambers with a refrigeration plant to be used by local growers to store their produce. This photo was found in the Savage family home, formerly the home of Rev. Chase believed to be formerly of Panton Hill or Hurstbridge. (House may have been shifted from Panton Hill - now demolished.) Rev. Chase probably in picture, although not reported as attending in any of the newspaper reports of the day.This photo represents the significance of the orcharding industry in the Hurstbridge and surrounding area at the beginning of the twenteith century. The state of the art facility was built by private enterprise.Sepia photograph mounted on cardboard mount with printed title. Mount 55.9 x 76.0 cm. Photo 38.2 x 60.5 cm. Mount significantly damaged/broken on lower corners and slightly broken off at top left hand corner. Various other damage and chips around perimeter. Digital scan cropped from full size of mounthurstbridge, opening, celebration, orcharding