Photographs of the construction of the dam wall for Melton's water supplylocal significant events, council, local architecture, local identities

Edna attended Melton State School 430 from 1924 – 1933. Her father Fred had also attended the same school. Edna was also the co-author with Mabel Rogers “The First 100 Years, 1870 – 1970”, and assembled a collection of School Class Photograph and identified and compiled lists of names for future school history. George Tinkler, Edna Barrie and Pearl Walker at First Hundred Years Celebration Melton State School 430. This event was held at Mechanics Hall, Melton.education, local identities, local significant events

Beryl Knox speaking about early life in Melton. Page 1 1949 – 64 years ago. We began our married life at Melton Sth. The house on the corner of the Exford Rd and Staughton St-- dusty gravel roads, box thorns and noxious weeds everywhere and a sprinkling of houses and vacant land. It was a friendly community consisting of old family names. McDonalds, Blacks, Dodemaide, Cahill, Coopers, Minns, Tinklers, Nesbitts, Cochranes, Wickhams, Exells. Mavis Butler. The home owned by Mr. Robinson and Miss Robinson had been shifted in two parts transported from Diggers Rest and it is still standing 2013. Bruce’s father purchased the house and two adjoining blocks, the Conways built on one and the Rawlinson family on the other block. Eileen still resides there, she was only a baby in a pram and the family had not long arrived from England. The railway line was close to the house and the contents would rattle when heavy steams trains went through, and on a clear frosty night the 1am paper train would echo roar through very loudly when labouring towards the Exford Bridge. Then the two carriage motor train was introduced, this was great for the workers and schoolies who travelled to Melbourne. The train pulled up at the crossing or riding to pick up or drop off. Melva Gillespie (nee Hirt) Bill Cahill delivered the milk by the billy and then in bottles. Len Kennedy (Paul Kennedy’s father, Norma Murrays son) delivered Jongebloeds bread, he always had a sweep going for the Melbourne Cup and raffles for the footy club. Mr. Woodgate owned an old bus and pick up point was the Post Office when there was a Saturday film on a Melton. There were no doctors or dentists in the district. If we need a Doctor we had to travel to Bacchus Marsh or discuss problems over the phone. In later years a Bacchus Marsh Doctor rented the Bluestone building in McKenzie St a couple of days a week. If we needed the Dentist we had to travel to West Footscray or Footscray. We did our banking at “State Savings” then the Miss Minns had the agency and then Bardsleys Store. We travelled to Bacchus Marsh to the National and Commercial banks. Station Rd to Western Highway, now (High Street) was a narrow stretch of bitumen and gravel farmland either side and a couple of farm houses and large gum trees on the properties. Page 2 North of the Railway line Mrs Bessie Jones, mother of Chas and Betty Jones managed the Post Office, next door to her Chas and Betty had the Shell Centre, and later moved the business to Melton. Hughie Nesbitt and mother owned the grocery and hardware store, and I bought my first set of saucepans there. On the opposite side of Station road Mr Coombe owned the fruit shop, and also provided soft drinks and lollies for children. The Chaff Mill was on the corner of Station Rd and Brooklyn Rd. Mr Lumsden was manager and later years Bernie Trethowan and Jack Butler were partners. It finally burnt down and is a Service Station now. Along Brooklyn Rd there were a few houses and Victoria Hall, not a very big hall, but catered for lots of functions, Balls, Fancy Dress, Bazaars, Square Dancing and meetings. The Bacchus Marsh Baptists held Sunday School in the hall. A group of shops were built south of the railway line Molly and Len Skinner managed the Post Office and handled a few essential groceries. Tom McDonald and Ron Lunsberg were the butchers. Mary and Syd Cooper lived next door to us and often in turn would run out of something when we had a baking spree we would borrow or exchange, sugar flour etc over the fence. Mavis and Jack Butler lived there before the Coopers. Bernie and Iris Trethowan lived two doors up. Neighbours were invited into their home to view the first black and white television in Melton Sth. Bill Exell was one of the first Melton Sth farmers to sell his land to developers, the land was idle for years before housing developed. I joined the Melton Valley Golf Club in 1960. The Gun Club as our Club House, an old tin shed consisting a water tank, trestle table and forms and dirt floor. It was a 9 hole course with sand scraps and landscape putting before greens. The Common or parkland was part of the Golf Course. It was open for every ones recreation. Roy Norton an old identity trained his trotters on the Common and wouldn’t clear the track for the golfers. The golfers had to avoid him to continue to play. We had to keep clear when the young youths came in their paddock cars and motorbikes. Over the years the Toolern Creek flooded its banks, water and debri covered the course on one year our first Club house was flooded out. It took several working bees to clean it up. We lived at Melton Sth for 15 years and moved to Melton on the farm “Croxton Park.” The Nixon family farm “Mowbray” adjoined the farm. Bruce worked the land cropping the farm when Mrs Nixon died. Page 3 (page 4 on the handwritten script) Bruce had the first offer to buy, in those days it wasn’t easy to get good bank loans. Part of the land is the Golf Course now and Mr O’Shea purchased the bulk. Moving to Melton was totally different – I became involved with Committees, Scouts, Guides, Mothers Clubs, CWA, Church Op shop (8 years). Melton Amateurs players produced and tutored by Mabel Rogers exerts from Pyjama Game, South Pacific, Carousel - later years a group of ladies did gentle water exercise at Essendon and Station Road swimming pool. I was 20 or so years in Probus. The local followed the football, there was always a Gymkhana on the long weekend in June. The tennis always created a lot of interest during the finals. It didn’t matter which team played the supporters were treated to a cup of tea and leftovers from their afternoon tea. In 1978 were the first residents to move into the Jennings Estate Kurunjang and lived there 31 years and retired 4 years ago into Unit. The amazing changes I have experienced. Merrimu supplied our water, after depending on tanks. The landscape changed completely when developers came in, no more dusty plains \ typed web Sept 2013 McFarlane, Mrs Knox and Beryl Gillespie at the First Hundred Years Celebration of Melton State School 430. The event was held at Mechanics Hall, Melton.local identities, local significant events, education

Bill Collins talking to guests at the First Hundred Years Celebration . local identities, local significant events, education

Fred Myers, David Wilkie and Effie Wilkie are siblings. George Tinker married Pearl Wilkie and had a daughter called PamelaFred Myers, David Wilkie, Effie Wilkie and George Tinker at Melton State School's First Hundred Years Celebration, the event was held at Mechanic's Hall, Melton. local identities, local significant events, education

Dorothy Beaty (Knox): married to John Beaty. Passed away in 1981.She was a member of Melton's Country Women Association from 1938-1985. Mary Robinson nee Barrie: Born in 1907 and was the first child of Charles Ernest and Jessie May nee Lang of Melton South and Darlingsford Melton. She eventually married Keith John Robinson and they had three children, Ian, Ena May and Mary Elizabeth 'Beth". Mary died in 1999. Dorothy Beaty, Pearl Wilkie and Mary Robinson at the Melton State School 430 First Hundred Years Celebration. This was held at Mechanics Hall, Melton. local identities, local significant events, education

Edgar Barrie and guest at the First Hundred Years Celebration of Melton State School 430.local identities, local significant events, education

Coburns Road - 19th c family descendents living in Melton. Coburn Primary School Cr George Coburn. 1930’s. December 1935 Shire President Cr Geo Coburn convened meeting to form the Bush Fire Brigade. Road construction of Service road and beginnings of West Melton subdivision. West Melton-Early Division View of Coburns Road. council, local significant events

Bunnings and Melton Fresh replaced Magnet Store in Bakery Square.Members of the Melton Fire Brigade at the opening of the 'Magnet Store' in Bakery Squarelocal identities, emergency services, local significant events

Unveiling of the Melton Fire Brigade memorial wall eventemergency services, local significant events

Governor of Victoria Sir Rohan Delacombe opened the Djerriwarrh Reservoir and pipeline in 1963. Governor of Victoria Sir Rohan Delacombe and Lady Delacombe visiting Melton.council, local significant events

Councillor Jack Wallace of Rockbank, served 5 terms as President and was in the council for 46 years. Alex Knight and Jack Wallace at the opening of Melton private hospitallocal identities, local significant events, emergency services, council

The plaque of Oppy reads: Hubert Opperman was born in Rochester, his early job as a Telegraph Boy encouraged his love of cycling. Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s “Oppy” was the dominant figure in Australian cycling. He first won the Australian Road Cycling Championship in 1924. He won it again in 1926, 1927 and 1929. At the same time he was becoming and international star. This statue is modelled on his on his stunning victory at the Bol D’Or in Paris in the same year that he was highly placed in the prestigious Tour de France. His first place in the 1265 kms Paris - Brest- Paris road race was the highlight of his sporting career. That year he was voted Sportsman of the Year by a French newspaper. In 1991 Sir Hubert attended the Centenary Celebrations of the race and was honoured with Gold Medal of the City of Paris “Oppy” retired from cycling in 1940. Typically he celebrated his retirement with a 24 hour marathon at the Sydney Velodrome breaking one hundred and one records in the process. After war service with the RAAF he entered Federal politics holding the Victoria seat of Corio for the Liberal Party from 1949 until 1967. During this period he served as Minister for Shipping and Transport and Minister for Immigration. In 1967 he was appointed Australian High Commissioner for Malta, receiving the OBE in 1952 and was knighted in 1968. This Statue was officially unveiled by SIR HUBERT OPPERMAN On his 90th birthday, 29th May 1994Oppy signing Edna Barrie's leatherbound copy of 'Melton-Plains of Promise'. . The Inscription reads - To Edna with my Melton remembrances as the place I first rode a bicycle Hubert Opperman ‘Oppy’ [ 29/5/1904 – April 1996]. Edna Barrie contacted and organised for Hubert Opperman to launch the book. (She was also present at his last bike ride at Rochester in 1995.)local identities, local significant events

Born in 1904, Opperman attended Melton School 430 1913/14. Achieved fame in bicycle racing, later was a well known Member of Parliament, held ministerial positions both in Australia and overseas. On October 27th he launched Melton’s History – Plains of Promise 1985 The famous bicycle was left at its permanent “home” at the rooms of the Rochester Historical Society formerly Rochester Railway Station 1994.local identities, local significant events

Edna Barrie at the cairn, photo received from Graeme Minns in 1988. The cairn marks the site of Jimmy Melrose's plane crash in Melton South. The accident which happened on July 5th 1936. In 1934 Melrose made headlines with a series of spectacular flights. In July of that year, he set around Australia record and in that year established a new solo Australia England record when he flew to England to compete in the MacRoberston race with a De Havilland Puss Moth VH- YQO. The only Australian and the only solo pilot to complete the course within the time limit. He was seventh in finishing order and third in the handicap section making news again during the race with a dramatic landing in Darwin with empty fuel tanks. Late in 1935 Melrose imported the Phoenix for his “Adelaide to Anywhere” Charter Service. The previous year the Heston Aircraft Company had taken over the interests of the well known Comper Aircraft Company, and the first production of the new firm was the Phoenix, a single-engined all wooden five seater machine of sesquiplane configuration. The forward half of the fuselage was a streamlined rectangular section and the rear portion was a monocogue shell; the whole was of plywood fabric covered. The wing was built up of spruce box spars and lattice ribs, ply covered from the leading edge to the front spar and the fabric covered over the remainder. The tail surfaces were of similar construction. The most notable feature of the design was the lower stub wing which ran right across the fuselage embodying two box spars, plywood covered it housed the main undercarriage wheels when retracted and provided a substantial anchorage for the Nu form wing struts. The Dowty undercarriage retracted inwards, operated manually by hydraulic packs, Dual control fitted, with side by side seating for the pilots and three passenger seats behind. Power was a 200 h.p. De Havilland Gipsy VI 6 cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engine. Six Phoenix were built; five of them registered in Great Britain and one of those was later sold abroad the remaining four were impressed into the R.A.F. in 1940. Specifications were: 40 feet 4 inches length 30 ft 2 ins height, 9ft 7ins, wing area 270 sq ft, Tare weight 2,600lbs loaded weight 3,300lbs; cruising speed 360 m.p.h. landing 50mph ceiling 14,000 ft range 700 miles. Melrose’s machine the first production aircraft was built early in 1936 and test flown of the 24th March. Painted green it carries the words “South Australian Centenary 1936” in silver of the fuselage and the name “Billing on the engine cowling in honor of Melrose’s uncle Noel Pemberton Billing, pioneer designer and founder of the Supermarine Aviation Company. The delivery flight was planned as a goodwill mission to publicise the forthcoming South Australian Centenary celebrations. Melrose left Dympne on the 9th April 1936, and flying via Marseilles, Naples, Athens, Baghdad, Basra, Karachi, Jodphur, Calcutta, Akyab, Penang, Singapore, Lombok, Darwin, Newcastle Waters and Alice Springs reached Adelaide on the 25th of April. Continuing the goodwill flight to other States, he visited Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Grafton, Brisbane, Coff’s Harbour, Sydney again, Launceston, Hobart and Mount Gambier before returning to Adelaide on the 13th May. During June Jimmy made some charter flights and early in July was engaged by Mr. A.J. Campbell a director of several mining companies from Melbourne to Darwin to commence at Essendon on the4th July. However on that day low cloud and steady rain caused the postponement. There was little improvement and Melrose was advised to delay the departure again. However he wished to reach Oodnadatta that night, and when he observed the break in the clouds decided to leave. He planned to climb above the cloud and fly to Adelaide at 3,000 feet. The aircraft was airborne about 8.10 a.m. and was last seen from Essendon climbing above the clouds. At 8.45 people at Melton (30 miles West of Melbourne) heard an approaching aircraft. The engine noise increased abnormally and eye witnesses saw the machine fall out of control from the cloud base about 800 feet and then disintegrate, fragments were scattered for 1½ miles and both occupants were killed. Hand written carbon copy by Edna Barrie.Typed by Wendy Barrie March 2014 Last Flight of Jimmy Melrose by John Burke Parade Magazine July 1972 Page 2 –4 This article gives the take off time of 7.50 am from Essendon Airport Eyewitness account at the time Maisie Arthur’s description. Newspaper article. Edna Barrie at the site of the 'Cairn'local identities, local significant events

Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council

Opening of the shopping centre, in front of the butcher shoplocal identities, local significant events, council

Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council

Opening of the shopping centrelocal identities, local significant events, council

Standing L- R : George Ford, Jack Ferris, Dick Arthur ?, Albert Paulet, Chas Woodley, Mrs Ford, Geo Coburn, Mrs Arthur, Fred Minns?, Charlie Palmer, Mrs Ferris, Mr Alf Minns, Mrs George Coburn, Judge Front row - seated 6 women and 4 men. C.E. Barrie 2nd from the left. Identified by Wendy Barrie, granddaughter. This photograph is part of a scrap book which was photographed by Wendy Barrie c1971. It possibly came via Elizabeth and Ruth King of Alexander Street. Photograph of the group standing beside the Melton Mechanics Institute council, local identities, local significant events

Speedboat Carnival and Canadian Hell Drivers event at the weirmisc., local significant events

Melton State School float was part of the Shire centenarycouncil, education, local significant events

Bon Barrie, Graeme Cooper, N. Gillespie, Peter Barrie, Ken Robinson, Ray Allen, Tom Barrie, John Roaers and Graeme Gilliland, members of the Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group In the background of the photo is the pavilion during construction, Melton Recreation Park on Reserve Road.Melton South Trailer tank, pump and Syd Coopers Car at the Shire centenarycouncil, local significant events, emergency services

Crowd of people at the Shire Centenary council, local significant events

A large crowd in front of the portable classroomscouncil, local significant events, education

Students assembled in school grounds with portable classroomscouncil, local significant events, education

A float which was part of the Shire centenary council, local significant events

Float part of the Shire Centenarycouncil, local significant events

CROWD SCENE AT BACK TO CLUNES NOVEMBER 13 th 1920.1 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH ON GREY CARDBOARD MOUNTNG WITH COMMEMORATION BADGE ATTATCHED ON TOP OF THE CARDBOARD MOUNTING BACK TO CLUNES NOVEMBER 13TH TO 25TH 1920 .2 BLACK AND WHITE COPY OF SAME PHOTOGRAPH MOUNTED ON BEIGE CARDBOARD .3 BLACK AND WHITE COPY OF SAME PHOTOGRAPH, MOUNTED ON GRAY CARDBOARD.1 HANDWRITTEN ON BOTTOM ON CARDBOARD IN INK: BACK TO CLUNES NOV 13TH 1920 .2 HANDWRITTEN IN INK ON BOTTOM ON CARDBOARD: J. FLOWER C VITLE MRS POTTER PROWE G WILLIAMSON (ILLEGIBLE) V GRANDHARD BACK TO CLUNES 1920 .3 WHITE STICKER ON BACK: BACK TO CLUNES NOV 13TH TO 20TH local history, events and celebrations, back to clunes, back to clunes 1920