A Volunteer Fire Brigade was established in Kew in 1879 and a fire station established in Walton Street, Kew. The Brigade was formally disbanded by the Fire Brigade Act of 1890 and the volunteers replaced by a unit of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade in 1891. The building shown in this rare photograph was constructed in 1893. In the background can be seen a house on the corner of Walton and Peel Streets, one of two, built in 1893 for firemen of the Brigade. An article in The Weekly Times (1 April 1911) records that: "Kew Troop - A,S.M. Williams reports:- The troop under S.M. Kellett. marched to the Kew Fire Brigade station, to receive instruction in fire drill from Mr Gross, the officer in charge, but as he was unexpectedly called away, the S.M. S and A.S.M had to instruct the Troop. Every boy was taught how to sink the hydrant, and how to couple and uncouple the hose. The hose reel was then brought into action, and the boys were divided into sets of six, each division taking its turn in pulling the reel up a hill to the water plug, where the hydrant was quickly sunk by one Scout, two more uncoupling the hose and coupling it on to the hydrant. We have gained four recruits during the last week, and are expecting two more next week."This is a fine, original photograph, probably taken by a commercial photographer, showing the 1st Kew Scouts in front of the old Kew Fire Brigade building in Walton Street in 1911. The building, constructed in 1893 was later demolished in 1941. This is a rare historic photograph of the Station. Unfortunately the name of the photographer is unrecorded.1st Kew Scouts undertaking a fire drill in front of the old Kew Fire Station in Walton Street, Kew. The reverse details the names and addresses of the Scouts featured in the photograph. An integral part of the Scout program is service to others and working with the fire brigade would have been just one of many such training activities enthusiastically undertaken by the Scouts. The Kew Fire Brigade had hand-drawn fire appliances up until 1919 when a motorised vehicle was purchased. The fire station was replaced by the Belford Road station in 1941 and subsequently demolished. Front: "First Kew Scouts - Fire Drill - In front of Kew Fire Station - Walton St. Kew" Reverse: "Walton St Kew / Kew Fire Station / Mr Gross o/c Fire Station / Bert Gundy Clark, part-time fireman / Allan Sewell Gellibrand St. / Clappy Williams Hawthorn ? / Allan Barrett Cobden St / Allan Woollard High St"kew fire brigade - walton street, scout groups --- kew (vic), 1st kew boy scouts

The 1st Kew Scouts was one of the first Scout Troops in Victoria, being formed in 1909. From 1927 they met in a magnificent Scout Hall in Disraeli Street, Kew until it was demolished in 1993. Still operating (in 2020) from their new Scout Hall on the corner of Kilby Road and Kellett Grove, Kew.A Scout Troop is divided into smaller teams called ‘patrols’. At this time the Scout in charge of a patrol was called a patrol leader (‘PL’) and his assistant a ‘second’ (‘Sec’). Each patrol of boys would chose a patrol name, often an Australian animal or bird. Other 1st Kew patrols called themselves the Kookaburra Patrol, the Kangaroo Patrol and so forth. The shield the Emu patrol is proudly displaying is possibly the trophy for being the ‘Champion Victorian Patrol’. Some of the Scouts pictured are identified on the mount of the photograph.Back row left and centre: "Pettinger, Evans" Front row left to right: "J. Edwards, R Craven [PL], R.T. Timms [Sec], P. Bennett scouts - kew, 1st kew scouts, kew fire brigade - walton street

The ‘Cubs’ was for younger boys and they wore a cap (whereas the older ‘Scouts’ wore a hat). The Disraeli Street Scout Hall was built in 1927 and remained the home of the Scout Group up until 1991. The Group now meets in a purpose-built Scout Hall (built 1993) at the corner of Willsmere Road and Kellett Grove, Kew. The new Scout Hall, currently being refurbished, proudly includes a series of solid, dark stained roof beams that came from the old hall in Disraeli Street.1st Kew Cub Pack, taken on the steps of the Disraeli Street Scout Hall. The photograph shows 24 Cubs, 3 adult leaders (who would have been 1st Kew Rovers). Nildisraeli street - kew (vic), scouts - kew (vic), 1st kew cubs

This belonged to Sue Slonek, who at the time was Secretary of the Surrey Hills Historical Society and an active volunteer working with the collection. She died unexpectedly and this and a book were formally donated to the collection by her son Alex. Wilfred Shipman Bishop was Sue's father. As a young man he grew up at 21 Grovedale Road, Surrey Hills. His father Frederick James Joseph Bishop was a bookbinder. Wilfred enlisted in the AIF in WW2 (V46365). He married Lucy Isobell Legge in 1943. They had 4 children - Sue and 3 boys. 1st Mont Albert Scouts meet in the scout hall at Surrey Park, where they share facilities with 9th Box Hill Scouts.A Black and white photo within a brown matt board of 25 boys and young men dressing in scout uniform. The setting is formal with a drape at the back and the troop arranged in 4 rows standing and sitting on carpet. This suggests that it was taken in a studio. Along the bottom edge are the words: 1ST MONT ALBERT TROOP. JULY 1932.On the rear of the photograph in grey lead "From R 2nd Bk Row / * / Wilfred Shipman Bishop"1st mont albert scout troop, scouts, wilfred shipman bishop, wilfred bishop, surrey park, grovedale road, 1932

The note on the back of the photograph, written on 11 August in 1920, was written by Sunbury resident Mrs. Gilchrist to a friend who was planning to go abroad.A black and white photograph with a cream border of a scout leader standing with a group of boys, which is made up of 8 boys in scout attire and the other younger boys 6 not in uniform. The group are standing in an open area in front of a railing fence. Handwritten on the back of the photo: GOODBYE DELAU & / GOOD LUCK. DON'T/FORGET TO LET ME KNOW /ABOUTR YOUR TRIP ABROAD/IF IT COMES OFF./MRS GILCHRIST/11/8/20scouts, gilchrist family

The Box Hill Reporter noted on 22 January 1926 that at the monthly meeting of the Surrey Hills Progress Association the Secretary reported that “the ground had been purchased for the Boy Scout Hall, that plans had been prepared, and accepted by the building committee. As soon as the timber was available the work would be proceeded with. The Boy Scout Hall movement has been taken up by the association to try to secure a permanent meeting place for the boys of the district. Up till now they have no fixed place, nor have they had a qualified scout master. Mr. Bert Chenu, one of the committee, has been appointed to that position, and is carrying out his duties energetically. Having raised enough money to purchase the land (situated in Robinson's road, Surrey-Hills near the Drill Hall) the association's committee is now about to erect the building by means of properly organised working bees.” The Association organised markets, card evenings and dances to raise necessary funds. The volunteer labour included the parents of boys who had become scouts, led by builder Robert Hayes of 186 Union Road and his son, who was also a builder. Early ownership is unclear as it is believed that it was not purchased by the scouting movement until 1955. The hall was used by other groups as well as the scouts. Benmont Kindergarten operated on the site from c1930. This is confirmed by oral testimony, Sands & McDougall entries and the Alan Hold property register (part of the SHNC Heritage Collection.) It was also used as a ballet school and for local dances. The hall was situated on a small block of land, just 410 sq m, and in late 2019 it was put up for sale by Scouts Victoria. Most recently home to 1st Boroondara Scout Group and previously 11th Camberwell Scouts, it was sold for something near $1.3M. During May 2020 the modest hall was demolished. Items of significance were removed before the sale by Scout Heritage. A black and white photograph of a building with a small sign identifying it as 11th Camberwell Central Scout Group.robinson road, surrey hills, scout halls, scouts, buildings, structures and establishments, (mr) robert hayes, union road, builders, surrey hills progress association, benmont kindergarten, dances, ballet schools

1st Surrey Hills Boy Scouts in c.1912.Identified as follows: From left, seated: Theodore Hendy who founded the Scouts in 1909, Bob Brown, Rev. Pratt (Wyclif Church), Mel Hill. Taken at "Kookaburra" 46-48 Albany Crescent, Surrey Hills (next to the Fire Station), the home of Theodore HendyRev. Pratt seated with 9 boy couts, 3 sitting and 6 standing on the grounds at "Kookaburrra" 46-48 Albany Crescent, Surrey Hills. Two boys standing holding flags and two boys sitting on the grass with a drum between them. See also SH0992boy scouts, children, clothing and dress, clergy, trees, "kookaburra", house names, surrey hills, albany crescent, insignia, uniforms, hats, flags, 1910-1919, wyclif congregational church, theodore hendy, bob brown, rev pratt, mel hill

1st Surrey Hills was the 3rd troop formed in Victoria. Harrison Buchanan was not old enough to join and for a time was the 'troop mascot' as the cubs had not been formed at this time. He later became the troop's 2nd Scoutmaster. Doug Jeffries lived at 12 Vincent Street. Alex Lucas was the son of the draper in Canterbury Road. Our documentation variously gives the date as 1901 or 1909.Six boys are pictured against a backdrop of scrub in the eroded creek bed, called 'The Alps', of Back Creek opposite Wattle Park. Three of them are identified as: Harrison Buchanan (with the stave), Doug Jeffries on the LHS and Alex Lucas next to him.Black and white photo measuring L 24.5 cm x H 17.4 cmback creek, 1st surrey hills scout troop, scouts, harrison buchanan, alex lucas, doug jeffries, childhood and youth, topography

This was part of a series. Inside on the front page is recorded that this was Vol 2, No 3. The newsletter is a mix of accounts of the activities of the group and more general hints and items of interest. A newsletter in the form of a booklet. The cover is printed on yellow paper and the other pages in cream. They are secured with one staple. It has been duplicated using the gestetner method. The front cover has a masthead with an inverted boomerang and indicates it is published monthly for the First Surrey Hills Scout Group. Cover illustration is of 2 boys in uniform reading the newsletter.Nilfirst surrey hills scout group, newsletters, alan rudd, r dillon, john white, rex thompson, graeme ellis, peter hoard, neil watson, b morgan, scouts

These items were regular elements of a Scout Master's equipment. The hat badge and the woggle were specifically part of the Leader's uniform and differed from similar uniform items of younger or more junior scouts. The first proposal to form a Scouts Corps in Wodonga was raised at a public meeting in Wodonga in November 1909. One of their earliest activities in January 1910 was a march from Wodonga to Bright and return with Scouts from Albury. This first Troop was probably called the 1st Belvoir Scouts. Several other attempts were made to form Scout Troops in Wodonga over the ensuing years. In 1929 the Boy Scout Movement was taken up seriously at Wodonga by approximately 40 boys, together with 30 Cubs (juniors). However this was short-lived. Over the following decade several Scout Troops were formed but lapsed and several Wodonga boys joined the Albury Scout Troop. In 1939 Mr Ray Foster, with eight members put the Scouts on a more enduring basis. Their meeting place was a room below the Water Tower. During the early 1940s the 1st Wodonga Scouts struggled for Leaders to run the activities because so many people were caught up in the Second World War (either overseas or domestically). Mr David Mann gathered together all the small scouting groups in the Wodonga area and turned them from disorganised and disconnected groups into one scouting unit. He led the Scouts in their formative years and went on to become the 1st Wodonga Scouts first King's Scout. He had a long association with the 1st Wodonga Scouts and all the district scouting troops over the following decades. David Mann was also instrumental in the late 1940s in working for a Scout Hall to be built in Reid Street, Wodonga to secure a permanent home. These items were donated by a former member of the 1st Wodonga Scout Group who shared positive memories of the leadership of David Mann and the lessons learned in the Scouting Movement.These items are significant because they are representative of an important local, national and international organisation.A set of Scout uniform equipment including a Scout Master's Hat Badge, a whistle and a knotted leather woggle.On badge" Scout Symbol above "BE PREPARED" Engraved on Whistle - Fleur de Lis symbolwodonga scouts, 1st wodonga scouts, scouting equipment, david mann

Lasercopy of Port Melbourne Settlement photo: three boys learning carpentry skills in back garden of Scout Settlement at 311 Nott Street, late 1930s?societies clubs unions and other organisations, ken turner, port melbourne settlement

Christ Church Warrnambool was one of the first hosts of the scouting movement in Warrnambool and in 1909 a bivouac was held in the church grounds under Scoutmaster Jones. It became a boys club in 1920 but the scouts were reformed in 1926, the date of this certificate. F Petterd is the name on the certificate.A record from one of the earliest times of the scout movement in Warrnambool. Rectangular light card certificate coloured in orange and blue. Scout motto “Be prepared” in top centre of certificate Depicts two boys, one holding Union Jack flag, the other offering a hand to person in water. Advertisement for Scout supplies in blue ink, on the reverse. Certificate register No 29058 on top left corner. F Petterd 1st Warrnamboolwarrnambool, f petterd, scouting in warrnambool

Brick Christ Church of England built on a site granted 1862 on Church Hill. Completed in 1863 and demolished in later years and replaced by housing. 4 photographs of brick church in bush settings.0001 Church of England Stawell West 0001-2 Thur. 29 Feb 1940 in Sun Paper of Fri.12 Jan 1940 page 21 Mr. & Mrs. Edward Stephens was married in the church of England Stawell on 11th Jan 1867 now used as a boys Scout Hall.stawell building religion

Richard Hartley Smith Abbott, company director, was born, probably in Bendigo, Victoria, around 1859, the son of Richard Hartley Abbott, also a company director, and Ann, née Smith. The young Richard was educated at Bendigo High School and then at St Andrews, Scotland. Returning to Australia, he became proprietor of the Abbott Supply Company, a director of the Sandhurst Building Society, the Bendigo Gas Company, and several local mining enterprises. He owned farms at Lyell, Mandurang and Eppalock, and was a pioneer of lucerne cultivation and tanning. In 1887, Abbott became a councillor for Strathfieldsaye Shire, a position he held for fifteen years. He was shire president (1901–02) and a Bendigo City councillor (1904–09; 1913–19), serving as Mayor of Bendigo between 1917 and 1918. Richard died in 1940. https://biography.senate.gov.au/richard-hartley-smith-abbott/ 'Preston Vale' was a property in Sedgewick. A sepia photo taken at Preston Vale of the Abbott family in 1895 including Richard Hartley Smith Abbott (Snr.) Mary Hannah (Gibbs) Abbott and their five oldest children, Richard Hartley Abbott born 1885, Inez Marie Abbott born 1886, William Norman Abbott born 1888, Harold Athelstone Abbott born 1889, and Kenneth Cyril Abbott born 1890. Two of the boys are wearing long sleeved striped collared shirts, one a scouting style coat and the youngest a collared shirt and all boys are in short pants with socks or stockings. Inez, is in a long sleeved dress with white smock with white bonnet. She is wearing boots. All others are wearing hats, Mrs Abbott's hat has a scrunched/folded ribbon on the brim. She is wearing a long sleeved light coloured blouse fastened at the neck The group is seated on an outcrop of granite rocks with parts of a buggy and horse tackle showing behind them. A lidded billy and scattered cups are on the ground in front. Mr Abbott, in shirt and long pants, is carrying a shot gun as is one of the boys. Both photos have 'Preston Vale Dec 26/95' written in ink on the reverse.abbott family, preston vale

Alexander Sutherland Bremner was born in Lyster, Scotland in about 1890. He migrated to South Australia and by 1914 was stationed in Mount Gambier as a missionary in connection with St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. At that stage he was a student of Divinity. He moved to Victoria and served in Beech Forest and Kyabram. After three years in Kyabram, Reverend Bremner transferred to Wodonga in April 1919. Although only in Wodonga for two years, Reverend Bremner quickly became highly regarded in the community for the compassion he brought to his calling. He was particularly concerned about the welfare of boys in Wodonga and became involved in the Scouts as well as establishing the Wodonga Boys’ Club. Although the Boys’ Club had been formed through the Church it was open to all local boys. Tragedy struck on 20th November 1920 when Reverend Bremner was accompanying a group of boys on an outing to the Wodonga Creek. In order to stop the boys from entering a deep water hole he positioned himself on a log between it and the shallower water. Unfortunately he slipped off the log himself and fell into the waterhole. He was unable to swim himself and despite the best efforts of one of the boys to rescue him, he drowned. To add further to the tragedy, his fiancé was on her way to Wodonga by train to visit Reverend Bremner for the weekend. She could not be advised of his death before arriving at the station where she expected him to be waiting. As a mark of respect, a hall was erected at the back of the Wodonga Presbyterian Church in High Street to serve as a kindergarten and Sunday School. It was officially opened on Sunday 6th November 1921 and named Bremner Hall.This album is significant because it documents the service and untimely death of a highly regarded Minister of the Presbyterian Church in Wodonga.A small brown photo album containing photos and newspaper articles chronicling the drowning of Reverend Alexander Sutherland Bremner in Wodonga.reverend a.s. bremner, presbyterian church, bremner hall