William Dower brought his family to the Dandenongs in 1898, taking up 10 acres. His property was Cambridge Gardens located between the present Mt Dandenng Tourist Road and Yarrabee Road. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, may, Ada and Ruby). This photograph shows raspberry picking at Cambridge Gardens c1907. The Dower Homestead is visible. The boys in the floppy felt hats are from Burwood Boys Home. Ruby Dower is centre front. Will Dower right of picture and Walter Dower left of picture.Ada, Carrie, Elizabeth, May and Emmy are also in the photo.Black and white photograph showing raspberry pickers at the Dower property Cambridge Gardens at Mt Dandenong. Printed from an image supplied on a CD.dower, william dower, ruby dower, raspberry, raspberry crop, cambridge gardens, walter dower, mt dandenong

William Dower came with his family to the Mt Dandenong in 1898, taking up a 10 acre allotment. William and hs wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, May, Ada, Ruby). The property secured by William Dower was known as ‘Cambridge Gardens’ and had a two room slab hut. William and his sons added another five rooms using trees from the property. The family established extensive crops and worked hard for their success. The acreage extended to 30 when the family bought up neighbouring properties.Black and white photograph showing rows of berry crops. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.LOT 10 section 2 of the Village Settlement owned as registered by Dobson, then Bert Dower, then Edgar Dower. Property was named "Bonnie View" and photo was taken from near where the Channel O tower stands looking south east towards corner of Ridge Road and Selwyn Lane taken 1920.bert dower, edgar dower, bonnie view, channel o, dobson, selwyn lane

Iconic photograph taken by Edgar Dower on Ridge Road in 1913 from an area known as Point Clear that shows the buildings of early Mt Dandenong before the CRB road went through in the 1920s.Black and white photograph with tall, dead trees in foreground and a view of hills in the distance. Buildings can be seen across the centre of the photograph. There are handwritten annotations around the border with arrows referring to areas in the photograph. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.Front from top left: Namoora (Lumeah), Dower's Shop, First school, Talent's, Langford's house, School. Reverse: 1913 view from O'Halloran's LOT 4, Section 3 on Ridge Road. Showing Lumeah (Namoora) Farndons Road (fence) School, Lowes House?, Falls Road Shop (Dowers) Langford's Falls Road (LOT 9, Section 1) Shed on Colomb's LOT 19, Sect 2 Colomb's House (Fergusons) First school Campbell's Blythes Road Lil Badenhop's P.O. In middle distance - Talent's homestead and sheds.point clear, namoora, lumeah, langford, dower, talent, colomb, ferguson, campbell, farndons road, mt dandenong school

In 1913 Edgar Dower took a photograph from this spot on Ridge Road that became known as Point Clear showing the Mt Dandenong township behind a stand of tall, dead trees. John Lundy-Clarke took this photograph from a similar spot at the Mt Dandenong Arboretum in 1975.Black and white photograph showing a cleared area in the foreground with young tress in the centre and hills in the distance. Several rooftops can be seen mid photo on the right. Reverse of photograph has handwritten description by John Lundy-Clarke.1975 View from the Arboretum over Mt D'nong township at the spot where Edgar Dower took the 1913 photo. The Falls gully is in the middle distance. Peter Damman's fence running downhill right foreground.edgar dower, point clear, mt dandenong, john lundy-clarke, peter damman, arboretum

William Dower came with his family to the Mt Dandenong in 1898, taking up a 10 acre allotment. William and his wife Elizabeth had seven boys (Will, Harry, Bert, Walter, Joe, Edgar, Robert) and four girls (Emmy, May, Ada, Ruby). The property secured by William Dower was known as ‘Cambridge Gardens’ and had a two room slab hut. William and his sons added another five rooms using trees from the property. The family established extensive crops and worked hard for their success. The acreage extended to 30 when the family bought up neighbouring properties. Standing on William Dower's land this mighty tree was 286 feet high to its broken top with a 66 feet girth. It took Wally and Bert Dower a week to grub out the tree and then another week for the wind to blow it down.Black and white photograph with a very tall dead tree in the centre. A group of people visible in the foregrounddower, william dower, tree, wally dower, bert dower

SUMMARY - Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Profile Melton Mechanics Institute Member 1935 - 1982i Trustee 1952 - 1982 Life Member 1968 Years of service – 47 years He constructed and provided a public address system which was used at Melton and district halls and sports grounds for a wide variety of community events including school sports, gymkhanas, theatrical productions and processions. Fire Brigade Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade) Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953 Captain, 1951 - 1965 Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967. As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979 Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013 Melton State School, no 430 Committee – School Correspondent (secretarial and financial role) 34 years of Service Provided his Amplifier Equipment for events and the annual district School Sports from 1939-1973. Donated the House Athletic Shield Melton and District Historical Society 1968 – 1985 President and foundation member Willows Historical Park – supported the establishment of the park and contributed many volunteers hours in the construction and landscaping of the precinct Member, Western Metropolitan Groups of Historical Societies, 1980s Shire of Melton Councillor South Riding, 1969-1971 Member of the Water Trust Melton Uniting Church Melton Uniting Church (and its predecessors the Methodist, Methodist-Presbyterian churches). A lifetime association which extended from childhood when he attended Sunday school until his death in 1985. Member of the Presbyterian Board of Management for more than 25 years in which he held positions of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Board member of the Parish Council and Member of the Committee of Management. He was a Sunday school teacher 1933. Community development With Mr RC Butler met with Shire Council in 1937 to canvass residents to ascertain prospective Electric consumers in the district. Electricity was subsequently turned on at dusk on 20th December 1939. Melton Progress Association, including Melton Musical, Elocutionary and Vocal Competitions, Vice President 1939 1940 Melton Development Association, 1960s Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC)ii Carried out plane spotting at Shire Office and spotting tower in Melton and later from home until 1944/45. Agriculture and farming Progress and Better Farming Association, Melton. Honorary Secretary, 1935 Member, Agricultural Engineering Society Australia c1960-1985 A successful grower of wheat, oats and barley, he planted experiment plots and held Field Days on the “Darlingsford” property. He later diversified into other grains and sheep (wool and meat). He took a enthusiastic interest in agricultural engineering and was keen to introduce innovative ideas that improved the productivity of farms and farming practices. In the mid 1950 he conducted trials during harvest on the family property of the original mechanical hay fork built on a British Bedford truck by Bill Gillespie. This design was further refined in collaboration with the Gillespie brothers and resulted in the construction the hydraulically operated tractor mounted hay fork. The innovative design of the hay fork created interest from far and wide and was quickly taken up by farmers because it significantly reduced hand labouring of loading sheaves of hay with a pitch fork. His father established chaff mills in Melton, Rockbank, Parwan, Diggers Rest in the first decade of 1900 and in 1915 went into partnership with JR Schutt to establish the Schutt & Barrie Pty. Ltd. Chaff Cutting and Flour Mill in West Footscray. When it ceased trading in 1968 the directors were: Ernest W Barrie and Thomas L Barrie, R, A, and M Schutt. Awards Queens Medal, 1979 Rotary Award for Community Service, 1980 Victoria 150th Anniversary Celebrations contributions, 1985 Service held at Melton Uniting Church local identities

SUMMARY - Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Profile Melton Mechanics Institute Member 1935 - 1982i Trustee 1952 - 1982 Life Member 1968 Years of service – 47 years He constructed and provided a public address system which was used at Melton and district halls and sports grounds for a wide variety of community events including school sports, gymkhanas, theatrical productions and processions. Fire Brigade Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade) Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953 Captain, 1951 - 1965 Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967. As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979 Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013 Melton State School, no 430 Committee – School Correspondent (secretarial and financial role) 34 years of Service Provided his Amplifier Equipment for events and the annual district School Sports from 1939-1973. Donated the House Athletic Shield Melton and District Historical Society 1968 – 1985 President and foundation member Willows Historical Park – supported the establishment of the park and contributed many volunteers hours in the construction and landscaping of the precinct Member, Western Metropolitan Groups of Historical Societies, 1980s Shire of Melton Councillor South Riding, 1969-1971 Member of the Water Trust Melton Uniting Church Melton Uniting Church (and its predecessors the Methodist, Methodist-Presbyterian churches). A lifetime association which extended from childhood when he attended Sunday school until his death in 1985. Member of the Presbyterian Board of Management for more than 25 years in which he held positions of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Board member of the Parish Council and Member of the Committee of Management. He was a Sunday school teacher 1933. Community development With Mr RC Butler met with Shire Council in 1937 to canvass residents to ascertain prospective Electric consumers in the district. Electricity was subsequently turned on at dusk on 20th December 1939. Melton Progress Association, including Melton Musical, Elocutionary and Vocal Competitions, Vice President 1939 1940 Melton Development Association, 1960s Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC)ii Carried out plane spotting at Shire Office and spotting tower in Melton and later from home until 1944/45. Agriculture and farming Progress and Better Farming Association, Melton. Honorary Secretary, 1935 Member, Agricultural Engineering Society Australia c1960-1985 A successful grower of wheat, oats and barley, he planted experiment plots and held Field Days on the “Darlingsford” property. He later diversified into other grains and sheep (wool and meat). He took a enthusiastic interest in agricultural engineering and was keen to introduce innovative ideas that improved the productivity of farms and farming practices. In the mid 1950 he conducted trials during harvest on the family property of the original mechanical hay fork built on a British Bedford truck by Bill Gillespie. This design was further refined in collaboration with the Gillespie brothers and resulted in the construction the hydraulically operated tractor mounted hay fork. The innovative design of the hay fork created interest from far and wide and was quickly taken up by farmers because it significantly reduced hand labouring of loading sheaves of hay with a pitch fork. His father established chaff mills in Melton, Rockbank, Parwan, Diggers Rest in the first decade of 1900 and in 1915 went into partnership with JR Schutt to establish the Schutt & Barrie Pty. Ltd. Chaff Cutting and Flour Mill in West Footscray. When it ceased trading in 1968 the directors were: Ernest W Barrie and Thomas L Barrie, R, A, and M Schutt. Awards Queens Medal, 1979 Rotary Award for Community Service, 1980 Victoria 150th Anniversary Celebrations contributions, 1985 Photographs of Bon Barrielocal identities, pioneer families

C.E Barrie was the Urban brigade's first captain. November 19, 1975, Page 2 OBITUARY Ex-Captain C E BARRIE Over 50 firemen attended the funeral of Ex- Captain Edgar Barrie of Melton Fire Brigade who died at the age of 62 on Thursday 16th October, 1975. Edgar was a volunteer fireman for 33 years, all of this service with the Melton Rural and Urban Fire Brigades. He joined the rural brigade in February 1942 was Secretary 1942 until 1965 when he became Captain as position he held until 1973. He was the urban brigade’s first Captain when it was formed in 1970 and held this position until 1971. The fire service runs in the Barrie family, brother Bon was Captain of the rural brigade from 1953 to 1965 relinquishing the position to become Group Officer of the Mt Cottrell Group, a position he still holds. Another brother Tom has been a member since 1941, nephew Peter has been a member since 1962 and Edgar’s son Vivian has been a member since 1971. Firemen, led by Snr. A/C/O Max Taylor, A/C/O Harry Rothsay, R/O Arthur Haynes and retired R/O Jim Dinsdale formed a guard of honour at the church and cemetery. A/C/O Rothsay read the Fireman’s Funeral Ritual at the graveside. Edgar who was a farmer, leaves a wife and four children. Sympathy is extended to them in their loss. Six members from the Melton Urban Brigade including Captain C.E Barrie, Secretary Dale Blampied, Lieutenant Steve Hirt, Apparatus Officer Graham Quick and Foreman Barry Sherwell.local identities, emergency services

Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade) Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953 Captain, 1951 - 1965 Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967. As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979 Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013 Mt Cotterell Fire Brigades G H Q and aerial was erected at No 17 - 19 First Avenue in 1974 at the home of Edna and Bon Barrie. Previously the Mt Cotterell Group VL3LY communication headquarters occupied their h ome in Ferris road at its inception in 1967. The First Avenue headquarters and map room, with radio equipment was also housed at the residence. It was operated with an additional cable connection to Fireman Wayne Sullivan (Deputy C/O) who resided at the rear in Kurrajong Cr.Section of the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial wall with brigade members who have passed away while as members. emergency services, local identities