Thomas Wilson (1838-1923) was a local councillor in Brighton (in its three phases as Borough, Town and City) representing the central ward over a 57-year period, firstly in 1866-79 and again in 1894-1923. He was elected as mayor seven times, as Borough of Brighton in 1869, Town of Brighton in 1895-96, 1905 and 1912-13, and was the second Mayor of the City of Brighton in 1919. He was also a land speculator and both Wilson and his father William Wilson owned considerable land in the area. William Wilson sold land on the corner of Wilson and Carpenter Streets to the Council for its Town Hall. Wilson also represented the council on the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, of which he had been a member for 22 years.portrait, councillor, mayor, brighton, metropolitan board of works, borough of brighton, town of brighton, city of brighton, central ward, municipality, land speculator, william wilson, thomas wilson, cr. t wilson

This album records the counting of votes for the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Electoral District of Brighton at the Brighton Town Hall on 28 April 1928. The byelection took place to fill the seat caused by the death of Mr. Snowball. The candidates were Henry Armitage Abbott, William Fyfe Finlayson, Henry Earnest Hall, Martin Hannah, Daniel James Hoban, Alured Kelly, Ian MacFarlan, James Morrison Ramsay, Thomas Ryan. Due to there being no absolute majority, the counting of preferential votes to eliminate defeated candidates took place. Ian MacFarlan was elected as Member for the district. byelection, election, district of brighton, legislative assembly, henry armitage abbott, william fyfe finlayson, henry earnest hall, martin hannah, daniel james hoban, alured kelly, ian macfarlan, james morrison ramsay, thomas ryan, j.a. taylor, j.a. grant, town clerk, brighton town hall

In 1904, at the initiative of Premier Thomas Bent, Victorian Railways was authorised to build an electric street railway from St Kilda to Brighton. The line opened in early 1906 and was one of Melbourne's first electric tram services. On Saturday 5 May, 1906, Premier Thomas Bent performed the opening ceremony of the St Kilda to Brighton electric tramway at the Brighton Terminus, presided over by Cr. Thomas Wilson, Mayor of Brighton, with refreshments following at the Brighton Yacht Club. About 60 representatives were in attendance including the Railway Commissioners and the mayor and councillors of St Kilda, Brighton and Caulfield. The newspapers of the day commented that the cars were the best yet seen in Australia, possessing a great advantage over the Sydney trams, in that they are easily entered, and the glass windbreak was another improvement in design. The tramway from St Kilda to Brighton terminus took 18 minutes, including stops. thomas bent, premier, cr. thomas wilson, mayor, electric railway, electric tram, st kilda, brighton, official opening, public transport

politician, mayor, premier, bust, sculpture, margaret baskerville, speaker, member of parliament, member of lower house, local government, councillor, brighton, public art, bayside, thomas bent, unveiling, ceremony, mayoress, sculptor, councillor wilson, crowd, 1913, nepean highway, mrs bent, elizabeth bleazby, fountain, memorial, john madden, lieutenant governor

This framed compilation was presented to Councillor Thomas Wilson J.P., President and Trustee, by the Members & Committee of the Brighton District Brass Band as a token of esteem on 23 September 1915.brighton district brass band, band, brass band, councillor, committee, members, w.a. adamson, d.e. mcbryde, cr. g.h. alford, cr. j.j. hanby, cr. t. wilson, cr. w.p. frances, cr. j.r. burrows, j.h. taylor, d. bridgen, h.l. glenn, g. sheppard, d. mcpherson, w. octagon, h.r. wonnacott, w. booker, j. grundy, e. sangwell, h. teeson, c. dunham, w. lawrence, l. blight, h. leftley, g. rumney, f. monk, j.j. passe, a.e. brown, h.j. thorns, n.l. orford, a. grant, j. monk, w. graham, g. nickells, c. temme, h.f. northe, e. harding, g. reed, w. mason, w. lott, h. cooper, j. eldred, h. holmes, a. brame, sepia photograph, portrait, gainsborough studios

This work is a plaster maquette of a large bronze statue of politician and land speculator Sir Thomas Bent by Margaret Baskerville that is located on the corner of Bay Street and Nepean Highway, Brighton.Margaret Baskerville, Sir Thomas Bent c.1911, patinated plaster, 55 x 49 x 49 cm. Bayside City Council Art and Heritage Collection. Donated by Charles Douglas Richardson, 1931.patinated plaster thomas bent, politician, mayor, premier, bust, sculpture, margaret baskerville, land speculator, speaker, local government, councillor, member of lower house, portrait

Public Art Commission located at Corner of Hampton Street and Thomas Street, Hampton, Victoria 3188.bronze Public Art Commission located at Corner of Hampton Street and Thomas Street, Hampton, Victoria 3188.sculpture, public art, newspaper, hampton, bayside, william eicholtz, bronze

When Thomas Bent, politician and land speculator, was appointed Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1892, a number of local Brighton constituents and supporters raised money to present him with an oil portrait. Bent had been a member for Brighton for 21 years, and the painting was seen as a way of showing their appreciation of his services to the Brighton constituency, as well as congratulating him to his new position as Speaker. In June 1892, British/Australian landscape and portrait artist Charles E. Gordon-Frazer was given the commission to paint the portrait. Thomas Bent is depicted as standing in his Speaker's robe on the dais beneath the canopy in the Legislative Assembly Chamber in the act of addressing the House. He wears the traditional Speaker’s dress of a black silk and gold laced robe over a three-piece black suit, lace jabot and cuffs, buckled shoes and a ceremonial long wig. The top of the gold parliamentary mace sits on the right of the work near the frame's edge.sir thomas bent, thomas bent, speaker, mayor, premier, brighton, moorabbin, land speculator, local government, councillor, official, member of lower house, portrait, parliament, ceremonial robes, legislative assembly, jabot, wig, mace

Arguably Margaret Baskerville’s most famous work, the bronze statue of politician and land speculator Sir Thomas Bent was Baskerville’s first public commission and a significant turning point in her career. Originally located in the centre of the Nepean Highway, in Brighton, it became somewhat of signpost for many Melbournians until it was relocated to the corner of Bay Street in 1980.The statue of Sir Thomas Bent is of historic and social significance to the State of Victoria. The statue is historically significant for commemorating Bent's long, active and infamous political career in Victoria. He was responsible for many important speculative ventures both within his electorate and in the wider context of Victoria. Although not without thought for personal gain, Bent was a committed advocate of public utilities, railways, roads, tramways and gasworks. The statue is historically significant as the first large public commission given to a woman sculptor in Victoria. This work helped the sculptor, Margaret Baskerville, preserve her name as Victoria's first professional woman sculptor. The statue is socially significant as testimony to the late nineteenth century land boom and the financial and political corruption and scandals that accompanied it. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/12614bronze 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

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

politician, mayor, premier, bust, sculpture, margaret baskerville, speaker, member of parliament, member of lower house, local government, councillor, brighton, public art, bayside, thomas bent, unveiling, ceremony, mayoress, sculptor, councillor wilson, crowd, 1913, nepean highway, mrs bent, elizabeth bleazby, fountain, memorial

sir thomas bent, mayor, politician, brighton, speaker, premier, land speculator, local government, councillor, member of lower house, portrait, wig, jabot, government, photograph

sir thomas bent, thomas bent, speaker, mayor, premier, brighton, moorabbin, land speculator, local government, councillor, official, member of lower house, portrait, parliament

Artist unknown, Sir Thomas Bent 1909, oil on canvas, 29.5 x 24.5 cm. Bayside City Council Art and Heritage Collection.sir thomas bent, mayor, policitian, portrait, brighton, speaker, premier, councillor, land speculator, local government, member of lower house, mayor of brighton, premier of victoria

thomas bent, politician, mayor, premier, land speculator, speaker, local government, councillor, member of lower house, portrait, brighton, moorabbin, mayoral robes, mayor of brighton, premier of victoria

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

electric street railway, public transport, st kilda, brighton, mayor, councillors, thomas bent, premier, opening, celebration, cr. t. wilson, cr. h.b. gibbs, hon. d.e. mcbryde, mr goddard, mr j.n. browne, town clerk, mr bradford, electrical engineer, mr tait, railways commissioner, hon. j.c. campbell, mr rees, mr r.g. mccutcheon, sepia, photograph, tram

John Thomas Douglas Beck (1869-1942) was a member of the Sandringham council for 17.5 years and was Mayor in 1922-23. Sandringham was proclaimed a city in 1923.councillor, sandringham, local government, municipality, mayor, mayoral robes, portrait, cr. j.t.d. beck, john thomas douglas beck, city of sandringham, mayor of sandringham

In 1936, a plate commemorating Adam Lindsay Gordon's service as a soldier of the Queen was installed in the Wilson Memorial Hall— formerly known as the Brighton Drill Hall— recording that the poet was sworn in there as a member of the Brighton Artillery Corps in 1869. Gordon lived in Brighton for only 14 months, but took an active interest in the Artillery Corps. In addition to the memorial plate, two photographs of the Brighton Artillery corps, were unveiled by Mr A. C. Wilson, a son of the Councillor Thomas Wilson before whom the poet took the oath of allegiance to the Queen. This photograph shows a group of the corps, with Gordon in uniform.brighton artillery corps, soldier, adam lindsay gordon, a.c. wilson, cr. t. wilson, poet

In 1936, a plate commemorating Adam Lindsay Gordon's service as a soldier of the Queen was installed in the Wilson Memorial Hall— formerly known as the Brighton Drill Hall— recording that the poet was sworn in there as a member of the Brighton Artillery Corps in 1869. Gordon lived in Brighton for only 14 months, but took an active interest in the Artillery Corps. In addition to the memorial plate, two photographs of the Brighton Artillery corps, were unveiled by Mr A. C. Wilson, a son of the Councillor Thomas Wilson before whom the poet took the oath of allegiance to the Queen. This photograph shows a group of the corps.brighton artillery corps, soldier, adam lindsay gordon, a.c. wilson, cr. t. wilson, poet

bayside city council, borough of brighton, illuminated, certificate, population, rates, public buildings, mayor, town clerk, surveyor, councillors, council, borough, county of bourke, thomas crisp, cr t. crisp, census, parish of moorabbin, hamel & ferguson, coat of arms

Facsimile of Thomas McPherson & Son - Catalogue No. 10 T., Woodworkers' Tools: Woodworkers tools for Joiners, Splitters, Sawyers, Carpenters, Cabinetmakers, Pattern makers also Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers. Spiral bound reprint, soft cover, 90p plus original index. non-fictionReprint of 1909 hand tool cataloguetools, woodworkers' tools, thomas mcpherson, hand tool preservation association of australia inc.

A dress belonging to the family of George Ward Cole in the late 1800s; possibly his wife Thomas Anne Ward Cole or one of his daughters, Margaret or Agnes. George Ward Cole was an early member of the Victorian Parliament and the family featured prominently in Melbourne Society in their time. They established a substantial home known as “St Ninians” at 10 Miller Street in 1841. The family reportedly entertained Melbourne’s first Royal visitor the Duke Of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son at St Ninians in 1867. In later years St Ninians was subsequently subdivided and later demolished. A hand sewn, brown silk, evening dress, circa 1860, consisting of a bodice and skirt. The bodice features an off the shoulder neckline edged with cream lace. A chevron design of black velvet trim, passes from the shoulders to the centre front waist, then hangs loosely to the hip line. The black velvet trim on the sleeves and the skirt is edged with a black fringe. The bodice (.1) base is finished in a v-shaped front at the natural waistline. There are short puffed sleeves also feature the black velvet fringed trim and lace at the edge along with three epaulette style strips, which pass from the shoulder seam to the edge of the sleeve. Each strip finishes with a decorative bobble. The bodice lining is cream glazed silk with steel boning, cotton tabs sewn into both sides have four eyelets for lacing. The dress has a full, floor length unlined skirt (.2) which is slightly longer at the back creating a modest train. The skirt has horizontal bands of the velvet trim and finishes with a box pleated trim of the dress fabric. The dress is fastened at the back using two connecting rows of black velvet covered buttons.brighton, st ninian's, 1860s, evening dress, george ward cole, thomas anne ward cole, margaret morison ward cole, agnes bruce ward cole

This nightgown is believed to have belonged to Mrs Thomas Anne Ward Cole, an early Brighton resident and wife of George Ward Cole. The item appears to have been made or altered to accommodate a pregnant belly, however purpose made maternity clothing was not common at this time. Mrs Ward-Cole’s six pregnancies took place in 1843, 1844, 1845, 1847, 1849 and 1851. The style of this garment in particular the shape of the sleeves would indicate that it is most likely to have been constructed in circa 1860, so whilst it appears to be a maternity item, and historically has been referred to as thus, this purpose cannot be confirmed. George Ward Cole was an early member of the Victorian Parliament and the family featured prominently in Melbourne Society in their time. They established a substantial home known as “St Ninians” at 10 Miller Street in 1841. The family reportedly entertained Melbourne’s first Royal visitor The Duke Of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son, at St Ninians in 1867. In later years St Ninians was subsequently subdivided and later demolishedA hand sewn ivory cotton muslin nightgown, c. 1842–1850. The bodice is made of delicately embroidered muslin in a floral design. The open flat collar features a scalloped lace frill underneath. The bodice fastens with thirteen mother of pearl buttons down the centre front. After the fourth button, the remaining buttons are concealed beneath a full gathered modesty skirt, which falls from just below the bust line. The modesty panel is secured horizontally across the bodice by six mother of pearl buttons. The sleeves finish over the back and palm of the hand in two flattened peaks. The front of the gown consisting of the modesty front is full length. The modesty gown at both sides joins two panels that are an integrated part of the bodice. At the centre back there is a very full gathered panel with lace trim that falls to create a train. It is semi-attached to the bodice with a top section secured with mother of pearl buttons and small ties. The purpose of this design feature is unknown. st ninians, george ward cole, brighton, night gown, thomas anne ward cole

This peignoir or morning gown is believed to have belonged to Mrs Thomas Anne Ward Cole, an early Brighton resident and wife of George Ward Cole. George Ward Cole was an early member of the Victorian Parliament and the family featured prominently in Melbourne Society in their time. They established a substantial home known as “St Ninians” at 10 Miller Street in 1841. The family reportedly entertained Melbourne’s first Royal visitor the Duke Of Edinburgh, Queen Victoria’s second son, at St Ninians in 1867. In later years St Ninians was subsequently subdivided and later demolished.A mid blue-green cotton and lace peignoir or morning gown, c.1860. The bodice starts at the neck with a clavicle height, rounded neckline with a turn down flat collar, and is finished with a cream lace frill next to the face. The sleeve starts at the natural shoulder line and its overall silhouette is reminiscent of a soft three quarter length imbecile sleeve constructed of four layers of alternating fabrics. At the shoulder, there is a blue-green flap, which crosses across the top and back of the shoulders towards the centre upper back in a 'v' shape. Here it finishes where it meets with the gathered top of the fabric that creates the train. Underneath this shoulder flap is a gathered, long cream frill that finishes just above the elbow. Underneath this frill is the full gathered blue-green sleeve. Finally falling from this a second gathered long cream frill finishes at the three quarter arm. The bodice buttons with five metal buttons from the neckline to just above the bust. Here it meets a heavily gathered front in two pieces, which falls with fullness to the floor. This full section is secured closed at the centre front with four hooks and eyes over the bust and then continues with shell buttons through the remainder of the garment.st ninians, george ward cole, morning gown, peignoir, brighton, thomas anne ward cole, margaret morrison ward cole, agnes bruce ward cole