After the extension of the Railway line from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1880's the shopping centre moved from the Tucker Rd end to around the East Brighton (Bentleigh) Station area of Centre Road. A variety of shops, forges, estate agents, Coles' and Fossey's variety stores, a Hoyts picture theatre, butchers, traded in Centre Rd. Crofts was one many grocery stores along the strip. Crofts Stores was established by Archibald Crofts (1875-1942) as a single grocery store in South Melbourne. It eventually expanded to include 137 branches throughout Victoria, trading as Crofts Stores. The Lees family had established a Seedling Nursery in Thomas St that has continued until the land sold 2018 for housing development.Crofts Grocery Store was one of the shops in the Centre Road Bentleigh shopping strip that were established after the arrival of the train line 1881Black & White photograph of 3 men outside Crofts Grocery Store 395 Centre Rd Bentleigh c 1937 Mr Jack Lees is centre.Handwritten informationcrofts grocery store bentleigh, lees jack, mordialloc railway line, centre road bentleigh, 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 stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards

McKinnon was a small community in East Brighton settled mainly by market gardeners but it had a State School, Churches, a hotel opened by Thomas Bent's father, Post Office and some shops. After WW1 land close to the railway line began to be sold and new homes and various shops were built. A Progress League was well supported and new hall built. McKinnon Rd Shopping precinct did not prosper as expected and some attribute this to the failure to secure the Hoyts picture theatre c 1925. Hoyts instead built the theatre in Centre Rd Bentleigh and this took a lot of trade away from the shops in McKinnon Rd.McKinnon was settled by market gardeners and after the train line arrived more houses and shops were built so that the small community developed through the 20thCBlack & White photograph showing the crowd of local residents celebrating the opening of the McKinnon Progress hall c1925mckinnon progress league, mckinnon railway station, ormond state school, hoyts picture theatres, centre road bentleigh, wyles jim, mckinnon hotel, gardeners arms hotel, bent james, smith j l; smith , chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, 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

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin area residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interestHelen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. A4 paper printed both sides x1 This is the second of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in June 2007. Members are notified of the donation of household items and clothing by Judy and Alan Clark and Mrs Nancy Maggs . Mrs Maggs will give an oral history of her family. Mr Len Allnutt has provided a short history of his early settler family with a photocopied photograph of their original home in Cheltenham c 1860. Reminder for next CMHS meeting June 30th 2007.CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTERcity of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin shire, allnutt len, clark alan. clark judy, maggs nancy, sharpe valma, allnutt joseph, allnutt matilda, alnutt annie, caulfield railway station, sewing, dressmaking, craftwork, herbalist, medicines, pharmacy, indigenous australian, aborigines, alnutt george

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interest.Helen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. Tom Sheehy, past President of CMHS, was an Historian and Author of ‘Battlers Tamed the Sandbelt’. A4 paper printed both sides x1. Issue 6 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in April 2008. Notice of Dr G Whitehead talk , titled ‘Murder” on April 27th and Subscription fees due. Another excerpt from the CMHS August 1963,, by Tom Sheehy, President, ‘This is the News of the early twentieth century…’.The ‘Moorabbin News “ began in April 1900. Tommy Bent was elected to State Parliament, horse races at Epsom Course Cheltenham, and the development of Cheltenham as many businesses set up ‘opposite the Station’. ‘The Mechanics Institute and Temperance Hall and the Exchange Hotel faced one another in defiance’ CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / APRIL 2008 NEWSLETTERcity of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, brighton, chelsea, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin shire, sheehy tom, whitehead dr graham, box cottage museum, highett, bent thomas, moorabbin news cheltenham, epsom race course cheltenham, victoria, fletcher n, fiander mrs., puttick george, moorabbin co-operative society ltd., hay h., freeman j.w., montanjees m., royal oak hotel, rose m.a., matthews j.t., hewett h., cope and dow builders, market gardeners and fruit-growers association, proudman e.w., benjamin m.e., edwards t.a., solicitors, pharmacy, butchers, bootmakers, bakers, hairdressers, barbers, house painters, grocers, publicans, drapers, craftsmen, members of parliament, valuers, moule w.h., argus newspaper, coachbuilders, cheltenham railway station victoria, thompson w., post office

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interest.Helen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. Tom Sheehy, past President of CMHS, was an Historian and Author of ‘Battlers Tamed the Sandbelt’. A4 paper printed both sides x1. Issue 7 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in June 2008. Notice for meeting June 29th and August 31st at which Ms Dorothy Booth’s topic will be ‘The Historical Mentone Railway Gardens’. Another excerpt from the CMHS Newsletter November 1965, by Tom Sheehy, President, called ‘Memories of Old Cheltenham’ This is the story ‘as told’ to Tom Sheehy by Jack McCarthy b 1890, a member of CMHS, and includes a photocopied photograph of passengers on SS Hygeia c 1900 on a trip across the Bay to the Geelong area. CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / JUNE 2008 NEWSLETTERcity of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, brighton, chelsea, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin shire, sheehy tom, box cottage museum, highett, cheltenham railway station victoria, mccarthy jack, power maurice j., charman road state school, standard certificate education, cheltenham post office, point nepean road, sports, moorabbin show, processions, parades, mentone ice skating rink, sheperd’s café, bourke street, horse tram, sandringham, beach road, ss hygeia, ss courier, ss edina, mechanics hall, memorial hall, magic lantern shows, crooks mr., engine drivers strike 1903, park road cheltenham, booth dorothy, mentone railway station gardens

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts which are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum . Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interest. Helen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS. The Blackman family were early settlers in Moorabbin Shire A4 paper printed both sides x1. Issue 8 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in August 2008. Notices of a talk by Dorothy Booth, “ The Historic Mentone Railway Gardens’ on August 31st and a request for volunteers to begin an Inventory of the Box Cottage artefacts and to assist at upcoming Open Days. An excerpt from the CMHS Newsletter March 1965 ‘ Three Pieces of Paper’, by Mrs Nance Blackman, a member, describing items from “The Moorabbin News” ‘ 1907 that included The Cheltenham Butter Factory, and advertisements aimed at the local people and their occupations. Note is made of 3 businesses run by Women – butcher, milk delivery and a ‘delicatessen’ - and an ‘Oriental Laundry’ in Cheltenham, as well as the trading hours for shops and weekly wages. Gas light and candles were in common use because Electricity did not come to Bentleigh until 1916 and several Fire Brigades were formed in the Shire. A photocopied photograph of an Electric Power pole c1930.CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / AUGUST 2008 NEWSLETTER city of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, mentone, mordialloc, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, farmers, dairymen, confectioner, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin shire, blackman nance, box cottage museum, highett, booth dorothy, mentone railway station gardens, cheltenham butter factory, beazley hannah, redstron mrs., bickerton mrs., oriental laundry cheltenham, biehl mr., matthews mr., gas-light, electric light, smith j.l., journeaux james, king george, grommann’s hotel mordialloc, telephones, fire brigades

One of the first sales in the district since the land boom which began in 1881when the train line to Mordialloc was built. The land boom came to a halt in the 1890's due to the depression. This sale was also successful as the electrification of the train line from the city to Frankston had been announced.Example of the progress of the Municipality of Moorabbin.Advertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for sale - pictures of local area50 Choice Building Blocks adjoining Bentleigh Railway Stationcentre road, mavho street, loranne street, burgess street, bentleigh, bentleigh railway station, real estate, auctions

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for shops for saleNorth Road, Ormond - 8 shop sitesnorth road, ormond, real estate, auctions

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleEthel Estate, Centre Road Bentleigh 10 shop sites in Centre Roadcentre road, bentleigh, real estate, moorabbin, auction, shop sites

Land sales in the Municipality of Moorabbin increased when the train line from the City to Frankston was electrified.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinThe train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Golden Square Estate, Bentleigh - J. D. Graham, Stott & Burke - 25 business sites and 112 home sitescentre road, brewers road, jasper road, robert street, mitchell street, daley street, bendigo avenue, auction, real estate, moorabbin, bentleigh

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleGregg's Electric Station Estate, Moorabbin 26 business site and 46 home sites - Knight & Harwood pictures of local sites and buildingssouth road, barry street, south avenue, plym street, moorabbin, moorabbin station, gregg, real estate, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleGrewar Estate Bentleigh - 86 Home Sites - H.C. Costello & W. H. Woodpatterson road, jasper road, bentleigh, real estate, auction, grewar

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleGrewar Estate Bentleigh - 73 Home Sites - H.C. Costello & W. H. Woodbentleigh, real estate, auction, grewar, mitchell street, daley street, brewer road

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for sale with pictures of local housesHillcrest Estate, Ormond - Auction Saturday 11August 1928arker street, holloway street, wild cherry road, ormond, real estate

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleJones' Estate, Brewer Road Bentleigh - 63 home sites & 19 business sites - H. C. Costello & Co - A. N. Moorepatterson road, brewer road, phillip street, north avenue, real estate, auction, bentleigh, moorabbin

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleKillearnan Estate - 70 Homes Sites - Auction Saturday 10 May 1930thomas street, yawla street, huntley road, whitmuir road, bentleigh, whitmuir, killearnan, robert gray ford, mrs betsy armstrong, arthur crozier, real estate, auction, a. f. always & son, wilson bros., moorabbin, bentleigh club

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleMarriott Estate, Moorabbin Auction Saturday 8 December - 95 Splendid home sites - H. C. Costello & Comarriott, bentleigh, moorabbin, jasper road, mortimore street, fromer street, mckittrick street, real estate, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleMoorabbin Electric Station Estate, Moorabbin - Auction Saturday 30 May 1925 - 65 Residential allotments Auctioneer Knight & Harwoodmoorabbin station, south road, station street, jasper street (now redholme street), central avenue, moorabbin, real estate, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleMoorabbin Heights Estate, Moorabbin - 48 residential allotments - Auction Saturday 24 November 1928moorabbin, bentleigh, east bentleigh, south road, tucker road, hinkler avenue, real estate, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleMoorabbin Heights Estate, Moorabbin 48 Villa sties, 21 Shop sites Sale on Saturday 13 April 1929 - H. C. Costello & CO.point nepean road (nepean highway), harding street, howell street, north avenue, coates street

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleNorwood and Woodnor Estate, McKinnon 31 Villa Site & 11 Shop sites - Auction Saturday 1 May - Auctioner Elliott Cairnesmckinnon, norwood, wheatley road, jean street, anne street, lysbeth street, mckinnon road, jasper road, real estate, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for salenorth road, moulden street, george street, garden road, bruce street (now bethwyn street), boundary road (now east boundary road), murrong avenue, bay view street, rochford street, mitchell street, lancaster street, east bentleigh, real estate

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleOrmond Park Extension - 32 Allotment for Private Sale - Alway & Sonmanchester road (now mckinnon road), lindsay street, hall street, ormond, real estate

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleOrmond Park Estate - 66 Home Sites and 20 shop and business sites - Coghill and Haughtonormond, real estate, koornang road, wallen grove, florence street, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinThe train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Patterson Station Estate, Bentleigh - 51 home sites - Auction Saturday 26 May 1927 - H. C. Costello & Co.patterson road, purton avenue (now bendigo street), brewer road, real estate, bentleigh, patterson, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleThe Pinnacle Estate, Bentleigh - 53 Home sites & 15 Shop Sites - Auction Saturday March 5, 1927 - Norman D. MacKay and W. Ansteepatterson road, pt. nepean road (now nepean highway), vunabere ave, galtum ave, tovan-akas ave, patterson, bentleigh, auction, real estate

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleRose Hill Estate, Bentleigh - 37 home sites - Auction Saturday 12 March 1927 - H. C. Costello & Cocentre road, rose street, real esate, auction, bentleigh

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleRussell Estate, McKinnon - 24 home sites - Auction 5 November 1927 - W.E. Wells and Sons, Gray and Riversmckinnon road, thomas street, hopkins street, mckinnon, real estate, auction

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for sale of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleWarwick Estate Highett, 23 housing blocks - Frank J. Harriswickham road, herbert street, highett, real estate

The train line from the city to Frankston was electrified in 1922 which intensified the sale in the municipality of Moorabbin, particularly land which was in the vicinity of the railway stations. York Investments Pty Ltd purchased the land in 1927.Example of the progress of the Municipality of MoorabbinAdvertising flyer for auction of real estate sales - plan of building blocks for saleGun Club Estate, Bentleigh 76 housing blocks - York Investments Pty Ltdthomas street, erica avenue, brewer road, grace street, victor road, melbourne gun club, benteligh, real estate