Showing 66 items
matching iron huts
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Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Photos - King Family Collection
The King family lived in Tawonga South where my older brother and sister went to school. We lived over the road from Wally Madison's farm. Later when a house became available, we moved into Valley Avenue, Mt Beauty. This is when I turned 5 and started my schooling. It was a long walk for a 5 year old as I remember. Then later we moved to 50 Lakeside Ave. I remember we loved living there as it was close to the school, footy ground and kindergarten. My father, Ted King, wad a carpenter and was involved in the building of many houses in Mt Beauty which was the home for the workers on the Kiewa Electric Scheme. So as they are part of the history of Mt Beauty I thought they may be useful to you as part of the history. The tennis photos, I vaguely remember Lou Hoad and Ken Rosewell giving exhibition matches in Mt Beauty. I may stand corrected on this, but I do remember my parents who were keen tennis players themselves were most excited at seeing these famous tennis players. As I was only 9 when we left Mt Beauty to live in Dimboola I still remember the shock of leaving a beautiful mountainous county side and arriving in a flat farming land next to a desert and seeing windmills One thing I do remember from school is, once a week (or fortnight) the teacher used to come around with a jar of little white pills, of which we were all to take. I really don't know what they were?? or for?? I also remember being taught to swim in the freezing cold river by a Mrs Smith who wore black bathers and wore her hair in a bun...... ...I am now in my 70s My father used to also carve intricate trays and jewellery boxes in his spare time. I think they were used for tennis trophies. by Diane Werner.x33 photos of small black and white photos of the Tawonga, Tawonga South and Mt Beauty - Photos not labelled but described as follows. See each photo for a possible label. A. Tawonga? B. Mt Beauty taken on the road to Bogong ? C. SEC Works D. Industrial buildings with mountains in the background E. Building site with wooden frame and 3 men F. Buildings with power poles G. Building site with lots of huts H. Buildings under construction I. Group of houses in the distance J. Group of houses in the distance K. Group of people in front of a building L. Group of 8 men sitting on timber planks, corrugated iron at back. M.& N. Building site with floor and upright timbers O. Mountain view with camp site in foreground P.& Q. Buiding site, several houses R.5 men at a building site S. portable building on trailer T & U. Mountain view V. Building site W. Group of men, car and mountains in background X. Cows Y. Pigs Z. 2 men standing next to cars. AA. Football players BB. Man painting a corrugated iron building CC. Football DD. Men in front of a building EE Buildings with mountains in background FF & GG Tennis payersHH & II. Electricity infrastructure -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Old Nissan Huts, Madden Lane Ringwood 1982
Catalogue card reads, "Seymour St. Ringwood. 1982. Old corrugated iron sheds." - this is incorrect. These Nissan huts were in Madden Lane -
Orbost & District Historical Society
poker
Was a Slab Hut display item.Iron poker/ash scraper. Circular loop at top for hanging. End is flattened and curved.poker ash-scraper iron-work -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - MINING LANDSCAPE, 1861
black and white photograph: view of mining area. From left to right, portion of cart, hut, houses and huts, whims, small houses, houses on skyline. Tall brick chimney at right with wood and corrugated iron roof buildings. 2 carts at front right. 2 males front right. Small houses at background right. Location unknown.batchelderplace, landscape view, mining -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - BURNT GULLY PHOTOS, 1924
Burnt Gully - possibly near Woodvale. a. Black and white photo: men standing behind, alongside bagged grain. Steam farm engine on RH side. Written on rear of photo: threshing team at lunch engine Ruston Procter steam. 8 horse power, single cylinder, working pressure 75 lbs per square inch. 80 revs per minte. Fly wheel 6 feet in diameter. b. Pilcher's thresher on Robert Riley's farm, Burnt Gully. Bullock drivers Bill Pilcher, Paddy Mulcair. Bullock drawn threshing machine, large group of men standing alongside and to rear of machine. Two men standing on top of thresher. Steam traction engine on far left of photo. c. Pioneer log cabin Burnt Gully, the home of the Grafton family, demolished about 1930. Hut of slab construction, with corruated iron roof over timber slats. Chimney of logs and slabs topped with bricks on LH side of house. Steam farm machine in background on LH side.unknownagriculture, farm, grafton familyh, robert riley, bill pilcher, paddy mulcair, burnt gully. -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Slide - PETER ELLIS COLLECTION: SLIDE, May 1970 - Jan 1972
... . The hut is of iron sheet construction, with a brick oven.... The hut is of iron sheet construction, with a brick oven ...Coloured slide transparency. Image is of a hut in the bush. The hut is of iron sheet construction, with a brick oven at the front. A sign with the words Red Box Hut is attached to a tree at the front and a dam is on the left hand side of the hut. The words Red Box Hut are handwritten on the top border.Kodachrome Transparencyslide, bendigo, bendigo institute of technology -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Painting, Camp 2
Camp 2 waterclour. Donated Lieut Frederick Ferdinando Hardy b 1881. Served in Boer War, migrated to australia in 1909, enlisted WW!, with number VX7. Re-enlisted in 1940 for WW2 and served as Paymaster in camp 2Framed watercolour of Camp 2. Four huts, two in foreground and two behind. Two large gum trees and the end of the row infron t of a barbed wire fence. Corragated iron ssurrounds a small garden. Other gardens have frame work constructed from tree branches for climbing vines. Some washing hangs from another branch. Two gentlemen sit on a bench at a table appear to be studying. Tatura 1941, Theodore Engelcamp 2 tatura, theodore engel, watercolour painting, camp huts, 1941, hardy -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph - copy, German Eagle on stone, 1989 copy
Copy of original black and white photograph of memorial to German POW's erected in grounds of Camp 13.Copy of black and white photograph. German eagle surmounting iron cross set in stone work. Garden beds on both sides. Tree and hut in background.camp 13, murchison victoria, internment camps, german pow's, interment camp memorials -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Model - Army hut, Bill Doller
... Model of a hut. Timber frame, galvanised iron roof... Bill Doller Model of a hut. Timber frame, galvanised iron roof ...Living quarters for internees. Very hot in summer, cold in winter. Any improvements were largely carried out by the occupants.Model of a hut. Timber frame, galvanised iron roof and walls. Wire mesh under the eaves, instead of windows. Painted olive green outside and white inside.living accommodation in camps, internment camps tatura, bill doller -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph
Black and white photograph of 6 men standing, one on right Ludwig Gerndth in Luftwaffe uniform and iron cross. Others from left: Gerhard Zirkler, Kurt Zimmermann, Adolf Wilkie, Helmut Hempel, Siegfried Scheffzcyk, Ludwig Gerndth. Front row l - r: Manfred Mueller. Herbert Morr, Wolfgang Nuegebauer, Gustav Pohlig. In front of hut on ground centre front is the number 171171camp 13, ludwig gerndth, gerhard zirkler, kurt zimmermann, adolf wilkie, helmut hempel, siegfried scheffzcyk, manfred mueller, herbert morr, wolfgang neugebauer -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph, German POW's
Photographer Hans Sznyta. Group photograph of German POW's in front of their hut in Camp 13.Black and white photograph of 10 Germans standing and 10 seated in front of hut which is behind a gum tree. Superimposed somehow is an Iron Cross. The photo was sent to their parents in Germany.camp 13, hans sznyta, german pow's -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mr Fred Howard & Mrs Laura Howard nee Unknown at their Dadswell Bridge Home
Home of Fred & Laura Howard married 1902. Standing in front of Slab hut home are four people. Jack Howard, Alan (Ike) Howard. Rene Howard, Sorrie Howard and the twins in the crib Rodger and Andrew Howard. Little Wimmera River Dadswell's Bridge.Black and white photograph of a family group in front of a timber slab home with a corrugated iron roof. The family group consists of two standing and two closer to a crib with two young babies. Two of the females look to be holding animals and a cat can be seen nearby. Jack Howard, Alan (Ike) Howard, Rene Howard, Dorrie Howard and the twins in the crib, Rodger Howard and Andrew Howard. house -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Hut on Daisy Campbell's property, 1/11/1971
Black and white photograph of three black and white views Daisy Campbell's ti tree and mud hut showing - 1. Hut of Ti-Tree and Mud - hut originally had a bull rush thatched roof, which was later covered with corrugated iron.. 2. Further view. 3. Interior view showing wall construction and remaining thatched roof.campbell, daisy, campbells croft -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Slide - DIGGERS & MINING. DIGGERS AND MINERS, c1852
Diggers & Mining. Diggers and miners. S.T.G. Iron Bark Gully, Bendigo, 1852. Businesses on the diggings, too, were conducted in huts and tents. Slide depicts the huts and tents at the diggings in which business was conducted. This view you can see there are still quiet a number of trees in the surrounding area, there is also a fence. Miners can be seen walking amongst the tents and huts as well as on the hillside. Markings: 36 994:LIF I. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Plan - SANDHURST BOYS CENTRE COLLECTION: PART DETAIL SURVEY
Prepared by the Public Works Department for the Government of Victoria. Client is the Mental Health Department, Municipality is City of Bendigo. Site plan of area bounded by O'Dwyer St and Finn St, North Bendigo. Handwritten note on back - Update of whole centre 10/4/91. Details include: oval, tennis court, grandstand, area is bounded by an un-named watercourse. Also indicated are 14 nissen huts, 2 toilet blocks, 3 weatherboard buildings, 1 galvanised iron building,2 galvanised iron sheds (one new), residence, garage, fowl shed, and a carpark. Location unknown 16.02.2023.bendigo, institutions, sandhurst boys centre, sandhurst boys centre site plan; -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Workmen's Hut and Toilet, Stevenson Street, 1972
One of a series of photographs donated by the City Engineer of the former City of Kew, relating to road works. The photos variably include council workers, signage and equipment.One of a series of photographs of core local government services as practised by the City of Kew. The photographs are an accurate record of street works of the period.Original black and white photographic positive of a portable workmen's hut and toilet in Stevenson Street, Kew in September 1972. The hut is made of wooden boards with a corrugate iron roof. The four-sided portable toilet has a metal frame. Th exact location has not been identified. "WORKMEN'S HUT & TOILET / STEVENSON ST 8/9/72 / (THESE ARE THE UNITS WHICH WERE IN SWINTON AV. 30/8/72)"city of kew, local government -- city of kew, road works, street works, stevenson street -- kew (vic.) -
Falls Creek Historical Society
Photograph - At Wallace' s Hut
Wallace's Hut is the oldest surviving cattlemen's hut on the High Plains, built in 1889 by the three Wallace brothers - Arthur, William and Stewart. Their father David bought land at Kergunyah as well as grazing land on the banks of the Kiewa River, North East Victoria. Once the boys were old enough, the family followed the local squatters’ custom of taking their cattle up to the mountains for the spring and summer to fatten the mob, at the same time resting their home pastures. They decided to build a hut where they could shelter from the extreme mountain weather. The timber was cut from the forest about four hundred metres east of the hut, and the hearth stone was dragged in from Pretty Valley. The chimney had a base of rubble and above this iron sheeting on a timber frame. The slab walls were lined with hessian and later with tar-paper, and inside there was a bush table, sleeping platform and a rustic fire-side settle. The hut nestled among snow gums sheltered by a rocky outcrop. The names of the Wallace brothers were burnt into the tie-beams of the roof and at the back of the mantelpiece. The Wallace family’s lease expired in the late 1930s and the hut was bought by the State Electricity Commission to house staff on the High Plains and it became the first home of Toni and Skippy St. Elmo. The SEC covered the old shingles with iron, and later on the walls and chimney as well, and they added a lean-to. Wallace’s Hut is now owned by the Crown and maintained by Parks Victoria. It is on the Historic Buildings Register and is classified by the National Trust.This image is significant because it depicts an important heritage-listed structure and refuge for cattlemen and other travellers in Victoria's High Country.A black and white photograph of a skier outside of Wallace's Hut. Several sets of skis and poles are standing around and other skiers are in the background.wallace's hut, toni and skippy st. elmo, high country huts -
The Beechworth Burke Museum Research Collection
Card (Series) - Index Card, George Tibbits, Ford Street, Beechworth, 1976
George Tibbits, University of Melbourne. Faculty of Architecture, Building and Town & Regional PlanningIndex system that support the research for Beechworth : historical reconstruction / [by] George Tibbits ... [et al]Arranged by street names of BeechworthEach index card includes: street name and number of property, image of property, allotment and section number, property owners and dates of ownership, description of the property according to rate records, property floor plan with dimensions.beechworth, george tibbitsbeechworth, george tibbits -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Domestic object - Electric Toaster, Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, c1940s
Hecla produced a wide range of appliances for domestic use, beginning with heaters and later branching out to a wider range of kitchen appliances Hecla was established by Clarence William Marriott, a young Melbourne metal worker. He began manufacturing Australia's first carbon filament electric radiators in 1899. He originally worked for his father James Marriott who commenced business in Melbourne as an art metal worker in 1872 and was, in 1907, appointed as the official art metal worker to the Victorian Government producing items including the ornate iron gates and gas lamp standards outside Melbourne's Parliament House. With the invention of nickel chromium wire after 1900, C.W. Marriott began making more efficient heating elements using this new material in 1916. After being influenced by the eruption of Mount Hekla in Iceland, on 19 December 1918, Clarence registered the brand name "HECLA" with an erupting volcano as its logo. The company Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd was officially registered in 1922. In 1928 the company adopted the advertising slogan, 'By Hecla, it's Good'. The Hecla range rapidly expanded to include electric heaters and radiators, electric foot warmers, electric kettles, ceramic & metal electric jugs, immersion hot water elements, electric fans, electric coffee percolators, electric toasters, electric grillers and stoves, electric irons and electric frypans, clocks and curling wands. Electric blankets were introduced shortly after WWII.In 1930, a controlling interest in Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd was acquired by General Electric Corporation. Clarence William Marriott died in June 1967 in Melbourne, Victoria.This item is representative of a common domestic appliance used throughout Australia. It was manufactured by a pioneering Australian company.A small chrome steel toaster manufactured by Hecla Australia. It has a door on either side which flips down to insert or remove a slice of bread on each side, Each door has two black Bakelite knobs. The electric element is placed down the centre of the cavity. A detachable electric cord is included.240 Volts, 600 Watts. Cat. No. T4 Submitted to Electrical Approval Board Ref Application A1/AD01 SECV 240 Volt 600 Watt MANFED. IN AUSTRALIA SOLID BRASSelectrical appliances, hecla corporation australia, clarence william marriott, domestic appliances -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Tool - Hand forged iron alloy wedge belonging to railway carpenter Lachlan McEachern, c. late 1800s - early 1900s
The hand forged iron alloy wedge belonged to the railways carpenter, Lachlan McEachern, who became the President of the Wodonga Sub-Branch of the Victorian branch of the Australian Railways Union. He was presented with a framed Past Officers Certificate by the Australian Railways Union in recognition of services rendered in 1926. The certificate is also in the collection of the Wodonga Historical Society. The Wodonga train station opened in November 1873 when the section of the train line from Wangaratta to Wodonga was completed. The expansion of the railways to the northeast of Victoria occurred after the Victorian Government took over the railways in 1867 and the trains serviced large towns such as Seymour, Wangaratta and Wodonga, as well as smaller towns along the way. The hand forged iron alloy wedge has local and state significance due to its use by a Victorian Railways carpenter, Lachlan McEachern, in Wodonga. The local significance is also strong due to the prominence of the McEachern family in the Albury-Wodonga area.Hand forged iron wedge with a cracked flange/rim at the top, red-brown rust and some dirt on the surface.hand forged wedge, hand made tools, victorian railways, v.r., railways carpenter, wodonga, lachlan mceachern, iron alloy tools, mceachern family -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - CARRON brand Tailor's "Goose" Iron With Twist Handle, Carron Iron Company, c1850s - 1900
THE CARRON COMPANY The Carron Company established its ironworks on the banks of the River Carron in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1759, and became an incorporated company in 1773. The company was the largest ironworks in Europe during the 19th century. It supplied ammunition and armaments, steamboat engines, pig iron, cast iron goods such as flat irons, balustrades, fire grates and bath tubs, pillar boxes and telephone boxes, and even cast iron rings for underground tunnels. In 1982 it became insolvent and was taken over by the Franke Corporation, using the brand Carron Phoenix.This iron is representative of the domestic appliances used throughout Australia up until electricity became widely available for domestic use.An antique Carron iron made of solid cast iron. These types of iron were nicknamed "sad irons" from the Old English where "sad" was originally a word which meant "heavy and solid". Typically, there would be two irons simultaneously in use: one to iron with and one being heated up on the stove or in the fire. This iron has a flat bottom and back and it curves to a point at the front. It has a goose neck handle which has a twist. Irons such as this were often given the name "goose" irons. Near the front of the iron on its top '11' is marked. These irons were used from the late 18th to mid 20th centuries before electricity was widely available in all areas, particularly in rural environments.On top of iron "CARRON"flat irons, domestic appliances -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Flat or sad iron, c1900
Sad irons, also called flat irons or smoothing irons, are shaped pieces of metal that are flat and polished on one side and have a handle attached to the other, created for the purpose of de-wrinkling fabric. “Sad” is an Old English word for “solid,” and the term “sad iron” is often used to distinguish the largest and heaviest of flat irons.This iron is representative of the domestic appliances used throughout Australia up until electricity became widely available for domestic use.A small cast iron flat iron. The triangular shape of the iron made it easier to iron around buttonsdomestic appliances, flat irons, sad irons -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Hotpoint Electric Iron, Hotpoint under Licence to Edison Elelectric Appliance Co. Inc, c1930s
Hotpoint Irons were first developed in 1903 in California. The invention was named Hotpoint, after the heating elements that converged in the iron's tip, allowing it to be used to press around buttonholes and in and around ruffles and pleats on clothing and curtains. 'Hotpoint' electric irons were first sold in Australia around 1914 and remained a popular product for many decades. From the late 1920s they were manufactured in Australia by the Australian General Electric Co. Ltd.This iron is representative of early electrical appliances manufactured under licence in Australia from the late 1920s onwards.Early electric iron manufactured under license by Hotpoint Australia. The iron has a metal base into which a power cord is plugged. The iron has a wooden handle.Label: " Hotpoint. Made in Australia. Licensed by Edison Elelectric Appliance Co. Inc. Chicago, U.S.A. Cat.915 F61. W.575, W200."domestic appliances, early electric appliances, hotpoint australia -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Light 'N Easy Electric Iron, General Electric Housewares Pty Ltd, c1950s
From the late 1920s several brands of irons, including Hotpoint and Light' N Easy were manufactured in Australia by the Australian General Electric Co. Ltd. Light' N Easy irons were marketed as a versatile iron, small and light enough to be taken with you if you needed to travel away from home.This iron is representative of electrical appliances developed under licence in Australia from the late 1920s onwards.Small yellow steam iron. There are controls and a water level indicator on the side of the iron. There are 25 steam vents in the base. Steam and dry iron with surge of steam. A 3 metre electrical cord is attached.Label: " General Electric Housewares Pty Ltd. Vic/ Nottinghill Melbourne 3166/ 700 Watts/ APP NO. V79008 Cat 04/06 240 Voltsdomestic appliances, light 'easy irons -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Domestic object - Charcoal Iron, c1850 - 1930s
This iron was used by women to press the clothes from the mid 19th century. Coal embers were put inside, heating the base of the iron. Small bellows could be used to fire up the embers in order to keep the iron hot. This item is significant as it represents the appliances used by women from the mid 19th century until the advent of electricity.This charcoal iron is made of cast iron. It has a hinged lid so that embers can be put inside as the source of heat. The lid has a curved funnel and a wooden handle. The funnel kept the smoke away from the clothing. Bellows would be used to blow air into the iron and keep the coals burning. It has a wooden handle and the lever used to open the lid is also made from wood. There is a hole with a swivel cover at the back of the iron to check the coals. "S" on the swivel cover.domestic appliances, household items, women's work -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Pair of Flat Irons, c1890s - 1910
Sad irons, also called flat irons or smoothing irons, are shaped pieces of metal that are flat and polished on one side and have a handle attached to the other, created for the purpose of ironing fabric. “Sad” is an Old English word for “solid,” and the term “sad iron” is often used to distinguish the largest and heaviest of flat irons. They often had a trivet on which to rest the hot iron. These irons are representative of domestic appliances used prior to the advent of electricity in the home.A pair of triangular flat irons. They are made of solid cast iron with hollow iron handles. Flat irons were commonly heated on trivets in front of open fires, or on the tops of closed ranges. They were made in numbered series which related to their size, but there did not appear to be any standardisation in the series between manufacturers.domestic appliances, flat irons, sad irons -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Functional object - Set of Mrs Potts Sad Irons and trivet, c1890s -1940s
Mrs Potts Sad Iron Set . This double point design with detachable handle was patented in the United States of America by Mary Potts in 1871. It was sold in sets of three bodies with one handle and a stand or trivet. The detachable insulated handle was designed to always remain cool for ironing. The handle was detachable, so that several irons could be on the stove at one time and the handle swapped between several bodies. This item is an example of an invention that was universally adopted to make the task of ironing safer and more efficient.A set of double pointed flat irons which detachable handle. This set includes a trivet to rest the unused iron on. All components are made from cast irondomestic appliances, flat irons, sad irons, mrs potts irons -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Stonleigh, Wodonga
Stonleigh is one of Wodonga’s earliest buildings and stands on land granted to Daniel Rhodes in 1854, in one of the first land sales conducted in Wodonga. The building commenced soon after with the stone walls being 18 inches (46cm) thick. It was a four-room granite rubble stone building with central door and a window on either side, with a separate kitchen, as was typical of the worker's cottage of the day. The original roof would have been shingles but it was replaced with corrugated iron. It passed through several owners including Paul Huon in 1858. Peter Tenner, a farmer and vigneron took over in 1866 when it was described as “built of stone and having a cellar and a detached kitchen plus outside toilet, and a shed or two.” In the late 1880’s it was owned by William Smith who had come to Wodonga as a missionary for the Presbyterian Church and who, together with John Whan, storekeeper, was instrumental in building the Presbyterian Church nearby. Between 1890 and 1910 further buildings were added, consisting of double brick walls, two bedrooms, kitchen, laundry with brick and copper, bathroom and side verandah. William Smith established Wodonga Cordage Works in the Stonleigh buildings. The front room of the house was the display room for the business which manufactured and sold fishing lines, various types of cordage and water bags, the latter being of hand-sewn canvas. After 1954 Stonleigh became a bottle depot and bottle museum under ownership of Ramon Porta. At one stage he had over 50,000 bottles on display. In 1991 it was purchased by Mark Fraser, a cabinet maker, who made extensive renovations at the rear of the premises and internally, but left the façade untouched. Over recent times, Stonleigh was the home of several business including a florist, a patchwork maker and a café. Stonleigh was sold in 2021 and is now a private residence.These images capture one of Wodonga's oldest buildings.A series of photos, both colour and black and white, showing the building "Stonleigh' at different periodsstonleigh wodonga, old buildings wodonga, wodonga businesses, wodonga pioneers -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Photograph - Log Cabin, 1999
As story goes - An Italian migrant ? Ianuzzi built the cabin as a home for himself and prospective bride, she declined the offer, he made a living growing vegetables, which he sold, but a generous man who gave away just as much.Colour photograph of a log cabin bush hut situated at Harrisons Track, Colquhoun, showing rustic dwelling, rusting corrugated iron roof without guttering, small door and window on side, top of brick chimney through roof. Lakes Entrance Victoriacabin, buildings -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Pigeon Bank, Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road, Kangaroo Ground, 6 February 2008
In 1848, Francis Rogerson form Dumfriesshire, Scotland purchased 80 acres of land at Kangaroo Ground on which he built a two-roomed bark hut. He named the property afterr the many Bronzewings and Wonga Pigeons in the area. Ewen Hugh Cameron moved to Pigeon Bank the same year he was elected to Parliament as the Member for Evelyn. At the time he moved in, Pigeon Bank had six rooms and the present water well. He made further extensive additions and lived there until his death in 1915. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p27 Pigeon Bank, on the Kangaroo Ground – Warrandyte Road, Kangaroo Ground, is one of the Shire’s oldest farm dwellings, and has been home to some of the district’s earliest and most distinguished families. Although close to the road, the white weatherboard Victorian farmhouse is ensured privacy by the trees and hedges around it. On 4.8 hectares of farmland, Pigeon Bank is surrounded by rolling hills, farmland and bush, the peace of which is punctuated by an occasional birdcall. Pigeon Bank’s first owner was Francis Rogerson, from Dumfriesshire, Scotland, who bought 80 acres (32.4ha) of land in 1848 on which he built a two-roomed bark hut. Today this is the centre piece of the 14-room home.1 Rogerson lined the rooms with tongue-and-groove boards and roofed them with wooden shingles and sapling frames, which remain under the present green corrugated iron roof. He named Pigeon Bank after the many forest bronzewing and Wonga Pigeons in the area at the time, and the name Bank was commonly used in Scotland. Rogerson was united with one of the oldest families in the area when his sister Janet married John Bell, son of William, the original Bell settler. When Ewen Cameron moved to Pigeon Bank in 1874 it had six rooms and the present water well. He made extensive additions to the house and farm buildings and lived at Pigeon Bank until his death in 1915. Cameron, who had arrived in Melbourne from Scotland in 1853, contributed an enormous amount to the community. He worked as a builder, as a miner at Andersons Creek, a storekeeper at Queenstown2 and as the first postmaster at Warrandyte. In 1867 he married Agnes Bell, daughter of local farmer, John Bell. Cameron was a member of the Eltham Road Board (which preceded the Shire Council) and for more than 50 years, from 1863, he was an Eltham Shire Councillor, being President three times. Cameron was the Member for Evelyn for 40 years from 1874. In the 1880s he became the Government Whip, in 1902 the Minister for Mines and Water Supply, and in 1904, the Minister for Health, Cameron was also an outstanding farmer, whose farm won the Agricultural Department prize for the finest in the district, three consecutive times. Not surprisingly Pigeon Bank became the centre of district life. Every New Year’s Eve, Cameron hired a highland piper, who marched from the Kangaroo Ground school house to Pigeon Bank playing his pipes.3 Distinguished visitors included opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba, Victorian Premier, Thomas Bent, Governor, Lord Hopetoun and artist, Longstaff. Following Cameron’s death, the property changed hands several times, then returned to the family in 1919 when bought by Gordon Cameron. As the car took over from the horse, Pigeon Bank entered difficult times because the farm had produced chaff and oats and bred Clydesdales and harness ponies. In 1926 Mr Matthews bought the property and made many alterations including pulling down the kitchen, which had been separate from the main house. The property again changed hands several times. One owner was Senator James F Guthrie, who added a sunroom. In 1968 the house again returned to the Cameron family, when Vera Jackson, a grand-daughter of Ewen Cameron, and her husband, bought the property. The Bishop family, who were sixth and seventh generation Bells and also descended from the Camerons, restored the house in the 1980s. Today tongue-and-groove boards still line part of the hall (which retains two fine arches), the breakfast room, and Ewen Cameron’s former room. Five original fireplaces in the bed and living rooms are still in working order. The wide veranda with a curved iron roof and ornate iron lace work bounds three sides of the house, and nearby a windmill stands beside the water well. Sue and Ron James, who bought the property in 2001, made extensive improvements to the homestead and meticulously restored the grounds to their original state.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, ewen hugh cameron, francis rogerson, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground-warrandyte road, pigeon bank