This is a photocopy of the original diary which was donated to ANZAC house by John Howden, F.W. Mawson's nephew. Copied using Surrey Hills Historical Society funds with permission of Anzac House librarian, Fred Pratt. Copied and later transcribed as a result of the loan of the original for the exhibition mounted as part of the 'Gallipoli and Beyond 2015' raft of events coordinated by City of Boroondara and the historical societies of Boroondara. Details re Fred Mawson (source AIF Project): Regimental number: 3073; Place of birth: Carlton, Victoria; School: Surrey Hills State School, Victoria; Religion: Presbyterian; Occupation: Carpenter; Address: Bona Vista Avenue, Surrey Hills; Marital status: Single; Age at embarkation: 22; Next of kin: Father, Frederick Mawson, Bona Vista Avenue, Surrey Hills; Enlistment date: 12 July 1915; Rank on enlistment: Sapper; Unit name: 5th Field Company Engineers; AWM Embarkation Roll number: 14/24/1; Embarkation details: Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 24 November 1915; Rank from Nominal Roll: Lance Corporal; Fate Killed in Action 9 November 1917; Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll): *second given name is William; Place of death or wounding: Ypres, Belgium; Age at death: 24; Place of burial: Ramparts Cemetery (Row J, Grave No. 24), Ypres, Belgium; Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial: 24. Also listed on the honour roll of The Shrine in the Surrey Gardens. A photocopy of a diary written in 1916 in F.W. Mawson during part of his period of service during WW1.(mrs) f w mawson, holmsdale, house names, bona vista avenue, surrey hills, world war 1, 1914 - 1918, diaries and journals, (mr) frederick william mawson, (mr) fred mawson,, (mr) frederick mawson (snr), surrey gardens memorial

Includes: Plan of Subdivision, Detailed plan, map of garden, Auctioneer's plan for 1854 sale, Botanical plan of Medlow & Landscape history notes. Full title : Medlow Garden survey and landscape capability survey. A report for the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) A report detailing the landscape survey of Medlow Garden estate. Includes landscape history, cultural significance, particulars about vegetarian, garden, rehabilitation and plans.A report detailing the landscape survey of Medlow Garden estate. Includes landscape history, cultural significance, particulars about vegetarian, garden, rehabilitation and plans. 38 p illland surveys, medlow garden, bismark estate, rosalie estate, warrigal road, surrey hills, bismarck avenue, warwick avenue, t p payne, (mr) hugh glass, boroondara, (maj.) (mr) - cairncross, (mrs) mary jane cairncross, (dr)(mr) richard joseph bull, (mrs) catherine grace bull, (miss) norma bull, (mr) ronald richard bull, medlow, house names, (mr) rex swanson, landform australia

Agnes (b 1894, Linton; died 1977, Box Hill) had been a masseur before entering medical school at Melbourne University. She transferred to Edinburgh and graduated from there. She joined her sister Amelia Roberta, known as Roberta, at ‘Luxmee’, 4 Windsor Crescent. She was born in 1891 and died at Surrey Hills on 1 May 1972. She had a long illness before her death. Agnes is seated left foreground; Roberta is standing at the right. Their father James Blair Donaldson had been a doctor at Linton, near Skipton and a brother, James Blair Donaldson Jnr (1888-1971) was a doctor in Skipton. A second brother Alexander Somerville Donaldson (1887-1963) also lived in Surrey Hills. He had a number of addresses and occupations including: 1927 - 44 Albany Crescent (Chauffeur); 1949 - 5 Beatrice Avenue (mechanic) and 1963 - 28 Albert Crescent (gardener). Their mother was Amelia Jane Emerson. Transcription of grave in Section C, Baptist in Melbourne General Cemetery gives further family details: “In affectionate remembrance of Jane Duff the beloved wife of Robt. DONALDSON who died at Carlton, Victoria, 8 Aug 1889, age 56 years and of their children David Russell and Mary McIntosh who died in infancy. Until the Easter glory lights the skies; until the dead in Jesus shall arise and He shall come, but not in lowly guise Good night. East also Agnes SHEPHERD mother of Jane D. DONALDSON born at Dundee Scotland 30 Apr 1800, died at Carlton 8 Apr 1891. West also Robt. DONALDSTON teacher died 13 Jul 1910, age 80 years Emily Mary DONALDSON died 24 Jan 1923, age 64 years Alexander Somerville DONALDSON beloved husband of Mary died 26 Oct 1963 Dr. James Blair DONALDSON of Linton, Scotland born 11 Mar 1859, died 7 Sep 1944 also Amelia Jane beloved wife of the above born 11 Nov 1859, died 13 Jul 1946 beloved parents of Somerville, Blair, Roberta and Agnes.” A black and white photograph of seven ladies on the porch of a building.miss agnes donaldson, miss roberta donaldson, dr roberta donaldson, dr agnes donaldson, miss amelia roberta donaldson, dr amelia roberta donaldson

Nancy (Margaret Dillon) Steele born 1906 and Hattie ( Harriette Vevers) Steele were daughters of Charles Henri Dillon Steele (1869-1935) and Sarah Margaret Russell (1873-1944),he was a pioneer of dentistry in Victoria who was in practice in 1890 and later in Collins Street for 40 years. The family lived at ‘Dalriada’ (dem.) on the corner of Bona Vista Avenue and Union Road. Sarah Margaret Steele was President of the local Patriotic League during WW1 and is credited with starting the move to raise funds for the WW1 memorial in the Surrey Gardens. Nancy and Hattie were graduates at Melbourne University in Dentistry and Agricultural Science respectively. They continued their studies in Toronto and obtained their Doctorates. In 1923 Nancy and Hattie started the first girl guide group in Surrey Hills at Holy Trinity Church. Both married and had families. Nancy married Dr William Brayshaw Woodhouse and, while he took up army duties during World War II, Nancy continued his practice. Their son Anthony became a dentist, while Peter was known locally when he became a councillor and Mayor of Camberwell. Their daughter Margaret married Herbert Andrewartha and lived in NSW.A black and white photograph of two portraits of two young ladies. Their dress and hair styles are suggestive of a 1920's date..(miss) nancy (margaret) steele, (miss) hattie vevers steele, dalriada, house names, bona vista avenue, union road, surrey hills, dentists, first girl guide group, 1923, holy trinity church, world war, 1939-1945, mayors, councillors, (miss) margaret brayshaw-woodhouse, dr william brayshaw woodhouse, peter brayshaw woohdhouse, dr charles henri dillon steele, dr anthony brayshaw woodhouse, (miss) nancy steele, (mrs) nancy andrewartha, (miss) hattie steele, (miss) harriette vevers steele, (mrs) margaret brayshaw woodhouse, (miss) margaret dillon steele, (miss) sarah margaet russell, (mes) sarah margaret steele

The photo was taken in the garden of of 'Cliburn', 14 Suffolk Avenue, Surrey Hills, the home of William and Mary (nee Bird) Sneddon. It was named after Cliburn, Westmorland (later Cumbria) where Mary's mother was born and the name was given to all their homes. Mary Bird, daughter of John Bird and Mary Coulston, b 1878 Bethanga, Victoria; died 1948, Surrey Hills. They were married on 12/11/1903 in Surrey Hills at the home of James Sneddon. William Sneddon was a postman in Surrey Hills for many years. His father James had an estate agency in Surrey Hills from the 1880s. Born in1875, Sandhurst (Bendigo); died in 1957, Deepdene. Buried Box Hill Cemetery: P-061-0033. They had the following children: Jim (James 3rd) b 1905, Balwyn Jack (John William) b. 1908, Camberwell Norman Alexander b 1910, Camberwell Alan Coulson b 1914 Surrey Hills Jean Isabel b 1916, Surrey Hills Douglas Haig b 1918, Surrey Hills. Additional information from Robin da Costa-Adams, who is related to the Sneddon family through her first marriage. Sepia photo of Mary Sneddon with daughter Jean wearing hats and taken in a garden. Mary is seated and Jean stands beside her. Part of the house next door can be seen in the background. It is an Edwardian timber home"Jean Sneddon / Mary Sneddon/ (in grey lead pencil by Robin da Costa-Adams. 1050 in blue biro crossed out in top RH corner. KODAK PRINT - black stamp in centre. "Jean dau of Mary - / Will. Sneddon" in black ink in Jocelyn Hall's hand. cliburn, suffolk road, (miss) jean sneddon, william sneddon, (mrs) mary sneddon, (miss) mary bird

John DERMER (1949- ) Born Melbourne, Victoria John Dermer studied Ceramics at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Hawthorne State College (Diploma of Education), before working in potteries in England. Upon his return to Australia he established "Kirby's Flat Pottery" studio at Yackandandah, Victoria in 1974. John is proudly a product of the Leach/Hamada movement in ceramics. He sees this as a tradition that for him represents the essence of working with clay. The lines are pure and balanced while the forms are honest, proud and passionate. Yars of research and experience in salt glazing were rewarded in 2006 when John Dermerwon the highly prestigious Saltzbrand Keramik International Award in Koblenz, Germany. Another avenue of ceramics for which John is renowned is in the field of terra sigillata. This passion had its foundation back in 1987 when he received a major commission from Romaldo Giurgola and Pamille Berg for the new Parliament House in Canberra. During the completion of these massive pieces for the Prime Minister’s suite and Cabinet entry he had to invent and develop methods for decorating and firing the pots successfully. The completed pieces are still regarded by John as some of his finest works. John Dermer was a visiting lecturer to the Gippsland Centre of Art and Design (GCAD). This work is part of the Jan Feder Memorial Ceramics Collection. Jan Feder was an alumna of the Gippsland Campus who studied ceramics on the campus. She passed away in the mid 1980s. Her student peers raised funds to buy ceramic works in her memory. They bought works from visiting lecturers who became leading ceramic artists around the world, as well as from many of the staff who taught there.Salt glazed stoneware pot This work is part of the Jan Feder Memorial Ceramics Collection. Jan Feder was an alumna of the Gippsland Campus who studied ceramics on the campus. She passed away in the mid 1980s. Her student peers raised funds to buy ceramic works in her memory. They bought works from visiting lecturers who became leading ceramic artists around the world, as well as from many of the staff who taught there.Signed on base 'John Dermer'john dermer, ceramics, artwork, artists, gippsland campus, jan feder memorial ceramics collection, salt glaze, kirby's flat pottery, stoneware

One of the large cannons located in Port Fairy in reply to the threat from foreign invaders. Originally located in the fort on Battery Hill they migrated to various destinations around the town. One of the two originally located at King George Square found its way to the gardens where it occupied several locations before resting at the car entrance to the Gardens - possibly when the Avenue of Honour was planted in Bourne Avenue. A great favorite with the kids of the town, both have now been returned to their original location where they are currently having their carriages refurbished. The Port Fairy Botanical Gardens were formed in 1856 making it one of the earliest gardens in Victoria. The first curator was James Prior, he was paid fifty-two pounds per annum. He was an outstanding curator having been apprenticed to the trade in England at the age of 12, his brother Edward in later years was the Curator of the Koroit Gardens. Prior retired in 1903. During the years of his curatorship Port Fairy was said to have the best gardens outside the city of Melbourne, he was constantly in touch with Baron Von Mueller and later Guilfoyle of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne. In the early years plants from all over the world were planted here with varying rates of success many of them sent by Baron Von Mueller. In the 1930’ and 40’s the gardens were still very beautiful, and the curator was Roy Manuell. The beautiful iron gates at the entrance were destroyed in the 1946 floods and were replaced in 1989 using some of the material from the original gates. From the 1950’s on the gardens went into a state of decline, much being taken up by the caravan park until in 1986, after a public meeting ‘Friends of the Gardens’ was founded when the entrance section was restored. Black & white photograph of the Large cannon situated in the Botanical GardensBotanical Gardens Port Fairybotanical, garden, cannon

As tourism and touring grew in the early and mid 20th century, sending letters and postcards was one of the main forms of communications friends and family would use to share their travels and remind loved ones that they were thinking of them while away. Bendigo's geographic location in central Victoria and relatively closeness to Melbourne has meant that capturing the tourist dollar has been an important focus for promotional activities of the City. Businesses such as Nucolorvue Productions serviced the need for high quality printed souvenirs such as these.Mass produced souvenir foldout 'views' of Bendigo packaged in an envelope. Inside contains six double sided postcard sized, hand tinted photographs highlighting local popular sites. Includes text describing Bendigo's geographic location and main industries and attractions. Envelope is addressed. Nucolorvue Productions produced this style of souvenir with a generic country scene on the envelope and site specific information and images inside for such places as Adelaide Hills, Murray Valley, Shepparton and Warrnambool.Front; A Souvenir / of Beautiful / BENDIGO / 12 Specially Selected Views in Full Colour /Mrs B. S. Mc Namara / 93 Chaffey Avenue / Mildura. Verso; Have a look of (sic) Bendigo / Love / From / Your Loving / Son in Law Bill / Published by Nucolorvue Productions. Elwood. Victoriacity of greater bendigo tourism

This pamphlet provides comprehensive information on Memorials around Ballarat dating from May, 1917.Avenues of Honour are unique to Australia and found particularly Victoria. The Ballarat Avenue of Honour is of national importance as the longest and earliest known memorial tree planting of its type.This is an information pamphlet printed on both sides and folded into 3 sections. The headings are written in green and there is a black and white photograph of the Arch of Victory and the Avenue of Honour on the first fold. Over the page, there is a large diagram down the middle of the page, 2 black and white pictures of the righthand side and 2 sketches on the lefthand side of the page.None.john garner, doctor john garner, arch of victory, avenue of honour, heritage information guide, matilda l. thompson, tilly thompson, e.lucas &co pty.ltd, memorial wall project, memorial rotunda and roll of honour, memorial cairn and cross of remembrance, avenue trees and memorial plaques, ballarat city council., john garner collection, gardens, ballarat

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868.The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.Kodachrome slide depicting the gardens during the installation of the pedestals and busts of the first six prime ministers.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, lawns, pathways, sculptures, busts, governors, prime ministers avenue, richard armstrong couch, federation, 1940, chestnut trees, horse chestnuts, bronze, granite, pedestals, alfred deakin, sir winston dugan, wallace anderson

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868.The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.Kodachrome slide depicting a pathway and lawns where pedestals and busts of the first six prime ministers are lying on the ground to be installed. A man with hat, long winter coat is standing on the pathway.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, men, pathways, lawns, sculptures, busts, prime ministers avenue, chestnut trees, granite, alfred deakin, federation, horse chestnuts, richard armstrong crouch, pedestals, governor, sir winston dugan, wallace anderson

On March 2, 1940, Sir Winston Dugan, Governor of Victoria unveiled the busts of the six first prime ministers of Australia at a ceremony on the long avenue of Horse Chestnuts. The donor, Richard Armstrong Couch, was born in Ballarat in 1868. Edmund Barton (1849 –1920) was an Australian politician and judge who served as the first Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1901 to 1903. He was appointed prime minister on 1 January 1901, the day on which the new federal constitution came into effect. The Prime Ministers Avenue is a feature of national significance, set in the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue of the Gardens. The 28 Prime Ministers of Australia are displayed as bronze portraits mounted on polished granite pedestals. The collection includes a portrait of one of the founding fathers of Federation, Alfred Deakin, who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister.3/4 view using flash of the bronze bust and granite pedestal of Prime Minister, Edmund Barton in the Prime Ministers Avenue. A vertical scratch line is visible on the right side.Kodachromeballarat botanical gardens, trees, lawns, pathways, sculptures, busts, governors, prime ministers avenue, richard armstrong couch, federation, 1940, chestnut trees, horse chestnuts, bronze, granite, pedestals, alfred deakin, edmund barton, wallace anderson, sir winston dugan

Doctor Garner interviewed Ian Smith on behalf of the Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens oral history programme.According to Doctor Garner, Ian Smith played a significant role in the history of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and as a member of the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.8 pages with bold type for names all in font 12 and one page with a coloured photograph of Mr Ian Smith. 1 copy without photograph.Some underlining of text in blue biro, pp.2,4,5, &6.john garner, doctor, john garner collection, ballarat botanical gardens, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, oral history programme, mr ian smith, town clerk, ballarat city council, local government, frank rogers, tom beaumont, peter hetherington, bob whitehead, jessie scott, prime ministers' avenue, queen victoria statue, roy mosman, jack chisholm, fernery, lindsay gordon cottage, gardens, ballarat

An A4 sized printed book published in paperback edition. 228 pages, with black white photographs and portraits and illustrations. Includes a\subject and name indexes. BMDHS Location: AR/SU4non-fictionThis book explores the lives of 274 pioneer women of Bacchus Marsh and district. In this work the pioneer period is defined as women who were either born in the Bacchus Marsh area before 1869 or arrived there prior to 1869. The women's stories in the book are derived from the list of women pioneers of the district compiled in 1936 to commemorate the centenary of European settlement in Bacchus Marsh.Importantly this 2015 publication identifies a number of First Nations women known to have lived in the district prior to 1869 and acknowledges the fact that many thousands of women have lived in the district prior to the European colonial era. Citation: Pioneer Women of Bacchus Marsh: An Introduction to the Women of the Bacchus Marsh Pioneer Women's Avenue. [Written and compiled by the Country Women's Association Branch, Bacchus Marsh]. Published by Country Women's Association of Victoria Inc., Bacchus Marsh Branch, 2015.bacchus marsh vic. history, pioneers biographies, women pioneers bacchus marsh

The Highett Gas Works were a landmark along the Nepean Highway for many years. With the cessation of the gasification of coal and the introduction of natural gas to Victoria, the gas holders were demolished and the Sir William Fry Reserve was developed on the southern end of the site. The Gas and Fuel redeveloped the northern end of the site with modern offices and laboratories for the organisation's scientific services. At this time, the chimney and retort house were retained.The Highett Gasworks had its beginning in 1939 operated by the Central Brighton and Moorabbin Gas Co Ltd. The company had expanded its gas production facilities to Highett where it had purchased 45 acres of land adjacent to the Melbourne-Frankston railway line. The first gasholder was erected on the Highett site in 1927 and connected with high pressure mains to the Brighton Gas Works. In 1939 the building program including gasometers, the vertical retort house and coal store was completed and gas making commenced. Its area of supply covered approximately 70 square miles and included the municipalities of Brighton, Sandringham, Moorabbin, Mordialloc, Chelsea and part of Dandenong. The Gas and Fuel Corporation eventually took over operations and with the disaggregation and privatisation of the organisation, the site was eventually closed c. 2002.Black and white aerial photograph featuring the Highett Gas Works with gasholders and retort house. In the top right-hand corner, a former Highett Primary School on Graham Road can be viewed. Photograph includes Bay Road, Royal Avenue, Princess Avenue and Jackson Road (Highett) and Alfred, Turner and Sandford Streets (Moorabbin).Handwritten in black ink: [indecipherable] in a circle Handwritten in red ink: 70% Four velcro display adhesivesgasification of coal, gas and fuel corporation of victoria, gasholders, highett, moorabbin, utilities

Ink drawing for newspaper cartoonTitled u.l

Three sheets of paper which contain sketch plans of the Avenue of Honour at Bendigo East State School. The first page shows numbered location of trees and tree species. Page two is a coloured diagram showing where trees are on the site as compared to where the trees have been described by Heritage Victoria. Page three shows a plan of where actual trees and stumps are on site at Bendigo East State School.gemma starr collection, bendigo schools, bendigo east state school, school avenue of honour

Sepia toned photograph of a man carrying a woman through flood water surrounding Rosemont House, Barkes Avenue. On the veranda of boarding house are Alice Fraser nee Falk, her daughter Joan and husband George leaning on stick, beside house is a soft topped sedan car with sign Telsons on back, Lakes Entrance Victoria.genealogy, guesthouses, floods

This house was once the residence of Jules Lake, inaugural member of the Lakes Entrance RSL. A boat builder, he lost a leg on WW1 service.Colour photograph of timber house in Barkes Avenue. Corrugated iron roof, gablet ventilator on ridge. Window has metal window shade. White picket fence. Lakes Entrance Victoriahouses, heritage study

John B Carpenter left 100 pounds in his Will to enable the Tambo Shire Council to plant this avenue in memory of John Carpenter, see Item 18 in Tambo Shire Council Minutes, 15 August 1967.Colour photograph of the avenue of Queensland Box trees, Tristiana conferta, in Roadknight Street, planted as a memorial to John Carpenter, early settler of Gippsland and main contractor of the building of the man made entrance through to the sea. Lakes Entrance Victoriamemorials, local history

Carved by chainsaw artist John Brady.Colour photograph of cypress tree being cut down on WW1 Memorial Avenue Lakes Entrance Victoriaworld war 1914-1918, memorials

Three driver licences issued to Mr Walter W Watson of 12 Austin Avenue, Elwood. Each was valid for 12 months and they covered the period 7 July 1952 to 7 July 1955.Three forms on white paper (discoloured with age), printed on the front in black and red and on the back in black or blue and red. Cash register stamp certifying payment of licence fee. Typewritten name and address of the driver. Signed by the driver.driver licence

Date April 1985Colour photograph of the boat harbour carpark on Esplanade. It shows boat in background, cars parked in designated area and beside highway, three large cypress trees, part of the Great War Memorial Avenue. Lakes Entrance Victoriaworld war 1914-1918, waterfront, memorials

Collection of Subdivision Plans, Land Sale flyers, Auction notices, and Real Estate Agent's notes for Coolooli Estate, Ringwood East, Victoria. Subdivision includes Coolooli Court, Isabel Avenue, Walhalla Drive, Cleland Street, Landell Court, Byways Drive, Heathwood Street and Hume Street, released over four stages - First Stage auction 16 August 1969, Second Release private sales from July 1970, Third Release Auction 11 September 1971, Final Release auction June 21st 1975. Agents - C.E. Carter & Son, 126 Whitehorse Road, Ringwood until moving to 122 Whitehorse Road in 1973 - Tel. 870 6024, 870 6830, 870 2519, A.H. 723 3298, 870 6960. Digitised copy of photograph - A.B. Carter and Andy McLean at Coolooli Estate auction, 11 September, 1971.

Manilla folder containing two undated maps of Beale's Estate subdivision 20559 showing allotments on Evelyn Road, Burlock Road (later Burlock Avenue), Adolphson Avenue, and Felix Crescent, North Ringwood.

Refer also to Reg. No. 5183 for Ringwood Railway Estate (September 1923) and Reg. No. 5184 for Ringwood Heights Estate previous release (March 1924)Folded double-sided brochure advertising public auction of Final Sections of Ringwood Railway Estate and Ringwood Heights Estate on Saturday, 30 August, 1924, with town photographs, location map, terms of sale, and summary of local features and services.Subdivision includes Whitehorse Road, Sherbrooke Avenue, Burwood Avenue, Bon View Avenue, Grant Crescent, Hillcrest Avenue, Heatherbrae Avenue, Margaret Street, and Mary Street. (Agents) Knight & Harwood, 315 Collins Street, Melbourne, Phones Central 10615, 10616, in conjunction with J.B. McAlpin, Opposite Railway Station, Ringwood, Phone Ringwood 7. Footnote - "Will sell as above under instructions from the Owner, Mr. Thomas Grant, J.P.".

Great Hall at Montsalvat built 1938-52, designed by Justus Jorgensen Covered under National Estate, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) State Significance, Victorian Heritage and Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p129 At first glance, Montsalvat, the artists’ community at Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham, could belong to another time and place. The French provincial Gothic-style buildings blend picturesquely with the introduced and native trees and farm animals on the five hectare property. But Montsalvat belongs very much to today’s Eltham, having inspired much of its creative activity and style. The use of mud-brick and recycled building materials, for which Eltham is so well-known, was largely popularised by Montsalvat. Montsalvat – unique in Victoria and probably in Australia – is registered by the National Trust and National Estate.1 Montsalvat, named after the castle of the Knights of the Holy Grail, has attracted artists and intellectuals since it was founded in 1934. For years at weekends, artists, lawyers, philosophers, politicians and others, who shared a love for what Montsalvat stood for, gathered for a meal and stimulating discussion. The focus for this gathering of talent was Justus Jörgensen, an eccentric man with vision and charisma. It was Jörgensen’s foresight that saw the creation of Montsalvat, which in 1975 was formed into a trust to benefit the Victorian people. The property was then valued at about three million dollars. It is now visited by thousands of people annually. Born in 1894 and brought up a Catholic, Jörgensen had trained as an architect. He later studied painting at the National Gallery School under artist, Frederick McCubbin, then joined the studio of artist Max Meldrum. In 1924, Jörgensen married medical student Lillian Smith, and with artist friends they travelled to Europe to study the great masters. In London Jörgensen exhibited in several major galleries. One of his still life paintings was included in the book The Art of Still Life by Herbert Furst, which featured 100 of the greatest ever still life paintings.2 In 1929, Jörgensen returned to Melbourne where Lil, now qualified, worked as an anaesthetist at St Vincent’s Hospital. They bought a small house in Brighton and Jörgensen rented a large building in Queen Street for his studio until the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria bought it in 1955. While designing and overseeing the building of a studio for his friend the famous cartoonist Percy Leason, in Lavender Park Road, Jörgensen decided to buy land for a country retreat in Eltham. So the building of Montsalvat began. Jörgensen gathered around a dozen of his friends and students from his Queen Street studio. They set to work, first at weekends then some decided to live permanently on the site. Jörgensen had seen mud-brick buildings in Spain and recognised that Eltham’s clay soil was ideal for mud-bricks and although labour intensive, it was a very cheap way of building. Jörgensen’s students and friends worked under his direction with the help of local tradesmen, including carpenter, Len Jarrold and later stone mason, Horrie Judd. In return Jörgensen would give the students a painting lesson or two. It was the Great Depression when many were out of work. Jörgensen also inspired people to give generously of money and materials. With their help Jörgensen found second-hand materials for building. Friends donated slate for roofing, discarded firebricks were used for flooring and windows and doors and a cast-iron circular staircase came from a wrecker. The students’ day started at 7am with building and domestic chores, shared equally between the sexes. The first building was used by his friends at weekends and then became a home for his wife Lil. It consisted of three rooms and an attic under a high-pitched roof. Jörgensen then built a similar structure with the same high-pitched roof as a more permanent home for his students. The two buildings were joined together with a tower and a studio for Jörgensen. While excavating for the studio a reef of yellow mud-stone was found and then used in construction. The next building was the Great Hall, to be used for dining, exhibitions and meetings and completed in 1958, after a halt during the war. Whelan the Wrecker donated the stone-framed windows from the building that housed the Victorian Insurance Co. in Collins Street, which had been demolished in the 1930s. The swimming pool was donated and cubicles were built for the students with their initials marked in tiles on each doorstep.1 One of Jörgensen’s great abilities was to recognise how to use material which harmonised. He would comb through wreckers’ yards for what he needed. Regarding his buildings as sculptural pieces, his first consideration was for the aesthetic quality of a building and only then for its functionality.2 At Montsalvat, Jörgensen found he was able to put his ideas into practice without compromise and those who worked with him had to conform to his ideas. With the Jörgensens, the colony’s original nucleus consisted of the Skipper family – Mervyn and wife Lena, daughters Helen and Sonia and son Matcham,who was to become an eminent jeweller and sculptor represented in National Gallery collections throughout Australia and in European museums.3 Other members were Arthur Munday, Lesley Sinclair, Helen Lempriere, Ian Robertson, John Smith, George Chalmers, John Busst and Sue Van der Kellan; also Jörgensen’s three sons – Max, Sebastian and Sigmund – and Saskia, Sonia Skipper and Arthur Munday’s daughter. Montsalvat went through some hard times when local gossips spread rumours of sexual shenanigans at Montsalvat. However Montsalvat also had many local supporters – especially amongst the local tradespeople. The colony was certainly unconventional – with Jörgensen’s wife Lil (and son Max) and life-time partner Helen Skipper, (mother of Sebastian and Sigmund) living at Montsalvat. Sonia Skipper says in her biography that the group were ‘very conscious of their responsibilities to each other and a desire to make their relationships work’.4 By World War Two many buildings around the Great Hall were completed. Jörgensen was a pacifist, as were most of his students. Some of the Montsalvat community enlisted while others engaged in essential services like dairy farming and market gardening for the war effort. It was then that Jörgensen constructed farm buildings. After the war many well-known personalities such as Clifton Pugh, landscape gardener Gordon Ford, and builder Alistair Knox, were drawn to Montsalvat. They learnt that building was not a ‘sacred cow’ only for professionals, but that anyone who was willing to get their hands dirty could do it. The post-war shortage of materials also encouraged builders to follow Montsalvat’s lead in reusing materials. When Jörgensen died in 1975, his influence did not – thanks largely to the vigilance of his son, Sigmund, who became its administrator. The weekend dinners have gone, but in 2008 about 14 artists still work at Montsalvat – some living there – including a couple who have been there since its early days. Under Sigmund’s direction Montsalvat further expanded its activities which included festivals, art exhibitions, concerts and weddings. Sigmund completed the Chapel, then the Long Gallery next to the pool, After the barn burnt down, he replaced it in 1999 (the builder was Hamish Knox, Alistair’s son) with a new gallery and entrance and added a restaurant. Sigmund has been careful that any new building blends in with the character of Montsalvat. In 2006 Montsalvat was restructured for its continued financial viability and with the help of Arts Victoria a new executive officer was appointed. A representative board from the wider community was established, which includes members from the former Montsalvat Trust including Sigmund Jörgensen – who is now the heritage and arts adviser to the new company Montsalvat Ltd.5 Today, visiting Montsalvat one still sees artists, students and visitors enjoying the unique and beautiful surroundings.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, eltham, great hall, montsalvat

The inscription on the back of the photo incorrectly states the garage is at Anglesea. It is in fact at Research, Victoria. Kenneth Douglas Ingram moved from Research to his holiday home at 9 Minifie Avenue, Anglesea between 1943-1949. He established a new garage at Anglesea which was a concrete block design building, not a tin shed as this at Research. This garage was located between the family home and the public hall at Research on the original line of Main Road. The public hall site is now the site of the Eltham Little Theatre. The family home, a red brick building still stands today (2023) at 1591 Main Road, ResearchOn reverse "Garage, Anglesea"k.d. ingram shell garage, kenneth douglas ingram, main road, pam thoonen (nee ingram) collection, research (vic.), research garage