Showing 377 items
matching land lease
-
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Mixed media - John Kenneth Darnton Watson and de Kerilleau Homestead
de Kerilleau was built for William Huon, son of the early pastoralist Paul Huon, in 1870 and named after the family's ancestral estate in France. The original lease of the Wodonga Run was granted to Paul Huon as No. 202 on 7th February 1837, about a year after his cousin Charles Huon had squatted on the land. Kenneth Darnton Watson bought de Kerilleau homestead in 1922 where the Watson family lived for three generations, caring for the land and serving the Wodonga community. Kenneth, his son Ian Darnton Watson and his grandson John Kenneth Darnton Watson all served on the Wodonga Council. The magnificent two storey brick homestead is built on ground above Wodonga Creek. The home of Georgian style consists of eleven rooms and a spacious cellar. At the rear of the main house in a separate single storey building was a large kitchen, pantry and accommodation for a cook and a housemaid. A feature of the homestead is the cast iron lace on the veranda and upper balcony, both supported by caste - iron pillars. The granite foundations of the home were quarried from the hill above the homestead. The enormous Moreton Bay Fig tree which stands to the side of the home was planted when Sir Charles Bowen visited de Kerilleau to mark the opening of the rail line that connects Victoria with New South Wales. Planted in 1873, it is still standing today. This painting was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by George, Digby & Dugald Watson on behalf of the late John & Chris Watson. John Kenneth Darnton Watson was born on 28 August 1960 in Wodonga. After completing his primary schooling locally, he boarded at Geelong College from 1973. John joined the rowing crews, starting in the 8th VIII crew and reaching the 1st VIII crew in 1978. He received multiple House colours awards for cross country, athletics and rowing and received School colours for rowing. On completion of his schooling, John spent some time jackarooing before studying farm management at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong, Victoria. He then returned home to de Kerilleau, Wodonga to manage the family property. In 1984 John married Christine Honybun, daughter of David Lewis Honybun and Marian Josephine Edkins. John and Christine had three sons. John was community minded and involved in a number of local organisations such as Apex and agricultural societies. He was elected to Wodonga City Council in 1997, serving until 2004. Due to increased pressure on available land to cater for the growth of Wodonga, some of the property was sold and in 2003 John donated 200 ha of Huon Hill ‘s western slopes to the City of Wodonga. After this time, he moved away from farming to become a Hungry Jack's franchisee. In 2009, the hard decision was made to sell de Kerilleau and John and his family moved into Wodonga. After sadly losing Christine to cancer in 2017, John became a member and Deputy Chairperson of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund Board and Ambassador for the Sunshine Walk. Tragically after his own cancer battle, John Kenneth Darnton Watson passed away on 24 August 2023, aged 62 years following a life of service to the Wodonga community.This item is significant because it was owned by a prominent Wodonga family and came from a Historic Homestead in WodongaA coloured portrait of John Kenneth Darnton Watson and a painting of de Kerilleau Homestead, the Watson Family home for three generations. The portrait was taken by Peter Charlesworth. The painting is the work of D.K. Ross in 1991.watson family wodonga, de kerilleau homestead, john watson, peter charlesworth -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Decorative object - Silver Tray from John Kenneth Darnton Watson, Wodonga
This silver tray was donated by the family of John Watson and was used when they lived in de Kerilleau Homestead for three generations. de Kerilleau Homestead was built for William Huon, son of the early pastoralist Paul Huon, in 1870 and named after the family's ancestral estate in France. The original lease of the Wodonga Run was granted to Paul Huon as No. 202 on 7th February 1837, about a year after his cousin Charles Huon had squatted on the land. Kenneth Darnton Watson bought de Kerilleau homestead in 1922 where the Watson family lived for three generations, caring for the land and serving the Wodonga community. Kenneth, his son Ian Darnton Watson and his grandson John Kenneth Darnton Watson all served on the Wodonga Council. John Kenneth Darnton Watson was born on 28 August 1960 in Wodonga. After completing his primary schooling locally, he boarded at Geelong College from 1973. John joined the rowing crews, starting in the 8th VIII crew and reaching the 1st VIII crew in 1978. He received multiple House colours awards for cross country, athletics and rowing and received School colours for rowing. On completion of his schooling, John spent some time jackarooing before studying farm management at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong, Victoria. He then returned home to de Kerilleau, Wodonga to manage the family property. In 1984 John married Christine Honybun, daughter of David Lewis Honybun and Marian Josephine Edkins. John and Christine had three sons. John was community minded and involved in a number of local organisations such as Apex and agricultural societies. He was elected to Wodonga City Council in 1997, serving until 2004. Due to increased pressure on available land to cater for the growth of Wodonga, some of the property was sold and in 2003 John donated 200 ha of Huon Hill‘s western slopes to the City of Wodonga. After this time, he moved away from farming to become a Hungry Jack's franchisee. In 2009, the hard decision was made to sell de Kerilleau and John and his family moved into Wodonga. After sadly losing Christine to cancer in 2017, John became a member and Deputy Chairperson of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund Board and Ambassador for the Sunshine Walk. Tragically after his own cancer battle, John Kenneth Darnton Watson passed away on 24 August 2023, aged 62 years following a life of service to the Wodonga community.This item is significant because it was owned by a prominent Wodonga family and came from a Historic Homestead in WodongaA circular silver tray with an embossed design around the outer edge.watson family wodonga, de kerilleau homestead, john watson, peter charlesworth -
City of Kingston
Photograph - Digital image, July 1939
Kathleen Gartside with a cabbage grown by her father Jack Gartside on their property located on Centre Dandenong Road, Dingley. The Gartside family home was located opposite the Kingswood Golf Club in Dingley. The cabbage has a circumference of 12 feet, whilst the cabbage heart has a circumference of four feet. The Gartside family were a prominent local Dingley family, owning large market gardens and operating Gartside Bros Pty Ltd, a straight vegetable cannery employing large numbers of people. They were also keen golfers and around 1937, they leased 126 acres of their land to the Kingswood Golf Club. Jack Gartside moved his family home to the other side of Centre Dandenong Road, so that the Kingswood Clubhouse could be built. The first official games were played at Kingswood in March 1937. Black and white image of a young girl standing behind a large cabbagemarket garden, dingley, kingswood golf club -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Document - Advertisement, Coomete estate, Sale of stock and plant, 1894
Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. This flyer is advertising the sale of 12000 sheep, 30 cattle, 10 horses and station plant at the expiration of the lease of Coomete. It states that Coomete has been in the possession of Mr. Augustus Bostock for over 30 yearsThis is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life. This document contains a detailed view of the stock owned by Augustus Bostock at Coomete. From a social perspective the details provided show that it was an event of some importance in the farming area.Cream paper with heading and title in large font at the top with Coomete Estate in uppercase inside banner lines underneath with details of stock and numbers to be sold in smaller print below. Mercer printer Geelong. For further particulars apply to Armstrong, Howe & Co Geelong and Terang, James Jellie Warrnambool.coomete, warrnambool, augustus bostock, coomete lease, 1894 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - MISS G ALICE JONES COLLECTION: ACCOUNT
North Hustlers Gold Mining Co. N. L. to Miss G. Alice Jones. Pink paper dated Apl 2 to 13, Apl 2 to Sep 12, Apl 18 to Sep 12, 1940, and 26 September 1940. Re Highmore to you (R. B. Stanistreet nominee) Instructions for short sale agreement, transfer of residence area. Re East Moon Co. to you - Leases. Costs of transferring four Gold Mining Leases. Re Mrs. Jeffrey's Residence Area. Costs involved in providing for purchase of Mrs. Jeffrey's residence area, the purchase of Penberthy's land by Mrs. Jeffrey and the removal of Mrs. Jeffrey's house to that land. Total Cost £20.13.0. "R693 del 26/9/1940" written in the top left corner.miss g alice jones - solicitor - account, north hustlers gold mining co n l, mrs highmore, r b stanistreet, east moon co, mrs jeffrey, penberthy -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - MCCOLL, RANKIN AND STANISTREET COLLECTION: INDENTURE, GOLD MINING LEASE 11081 CROWN AND HERBERT JACKSON LEED OF BENDIGO, 21st September, 1940
6-page document plus map, dated 21st September 1940, between the Crown and Herbert Jackson Leed, for the land shown on the accompanying map 'indicated by yellow colour' Depths indicated on lease document. On map: Mining District of Bendigo, County of Bendigo, Parish of Sandhurst. No. 11081. Net Area 24 acres, 3 roods, 3 perches. Signed by Herbert Leed and ?Walsh, Warden Clerk, Bendigo. Map shows lease holding 11081 coloured yellow. Other leases: no's. 9882 11081, 11034, 11080. Streets: Fletcher Street, and Belle Vue Road. Gullies: Derwenters Mistake Bully and Pig Face Gully on lease 11081. Quarry Hill Recreation Reserve marked and some residential allotments. Water race indicated on map. On back of document: ; Deborah United Gold Mining Company No Liability of Charing Cross Bendigo is now the proprietor of the within described estate by transfer registered on 21st November 1940 and numbered 1795202.bendigo, mining, deborah united gold mine, herbert jackson leed, deborah united gold mining. major general sir winston joseph dugan -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - T C WATTS & SON COLLECTION: OLD VIOLET STREET, BENDIGO, 1927
BHS CollectionBlack and white photographs (2) mounted on rectangular grey board. House, rendered, tiled roof, porch with pillars, 1 chimney, small paned windows, woven crinkled wire fence, gates with cyclone wire and wrought iron. On back of photo: 'J. Nanniche's, Old Violet St., Geo Phillips. 15 Dec. 1927. Sewered. £1175 ( crossed out ) £1400, 32/6 wk. Lease is out about 2 months. 31/7/34' 22b shows plan of house, drawn on parchment coloured paper. On RH corner, Violet Street, property, as quoted 9.9.29. Land Freehold 78' x 220'building, residential, j. nanniche, old violet street, t.c. watts and son -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - MISS G ALICE JONES COLLECTION: ACCOUNT
Bendigo Amalgamated Gold Fields Ltd. To Miss G. Alice Jones. Re You V Geo Lakey - County court Summons £59.18.3. Scale C, Sale to Ennor. To Osgood, Land Tax, You V Brauman C. C. S. No. 27 (Special) Scale D £137.1.7, You V Brauman C.C.S. No. 38 (Ordinary), You V Brauman C.C.S. 1924 No. 43 (Special) £137.1.7., Clarence Freeholds-Sale to Bowden, Sea Co. Machinery & Freehold land, Land transferred from New Vic. Catherine Co., re Koch's Pioneer G.M. Co. N.L. transfer of G.M. Lease No 9791 Bendigo, re North Ulster G.M. Co. N.L. transfer of G.M Lease No. 9789 Bendigo. Details of costs and dates varying from June 28, 1923, to March 30, 1925.Also dated 3/6/25 and Pd 30/7/25.the miss g. alice jones collection - account, bendigo amalgamated goldfields ltd, geo lakey, mr stanfield, mr jn smalley, mr thomson, mr crow, mr ennor, osgood, mylon, mrs murdock, constable thomson, brauman, mr miller, melbourne sun, clarence freeholds, j h curnow & son, gazette, sea co, mr legge, mr skews, h m legge & co, new vic catherine co, koch's pioneer g m co nl, north ulster g m co nl, g m lease no 9789 bendigo -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Garden Hill, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, 3 February 2008
The original house was built around 1850 was one of Kangaroo Ground's earliest homes, part of which remains today. Built by Scottish farmer Andrew Harkness who acquired the property in 1849 at the top of the hill with magnificent panoramic views as far as Kinglake, the same year he married Sarah Oswin. The property was known as Garden Hill from at least 1865. Andrew and Sarah had four sons and five daughters. Harkness was a founder of the Kangaroo Ground School and one of the first to suggest establishing the Eltham District Road Board (1858-71) of which he was a member, the pre-cursor to the Shire of Eltham (1871-1994). He was also a Trustee of the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. His daughter Fanny married farmer Alexander White who purchased the property in 1893. Alexander White died in 1906 and ownership transferred to Fanny White. Son, Robert White was a Councillor of the Shire of Eltham at the time the Shire acquired two acres of land on the adjacent property from the Mess brothers for the creation of the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park (1921) in which the Shire of Eltham War Memoirial tower was erected (1926). Fanny White donated a small section of land from the Garden Hill property to facilitate entry access to the park. The White family sold the property to Sir Herbert Gepp in 1925. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p29 Garden Hill, on Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, near the War Memorial is well named. The old house and gardens overlook a magnificent panorama extending to Kinglake. The original house, built around 1850, was one of Kangaroo Ground’s earliest, and part of it remains in today’s timber house. The house was built by the early and prominent settler Andrew Harkness. Later it was occupied for a long time by Sir Herbert Gepp, renowned Australia wide.1 Harkness and Gepp are buried in the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. Scottish farmer Harkness, who was born in 1817, acquired this property in 18492 and he and his family occupied it until the early 1920s. Harkness cleared its 152 acres (61.4 ha), fenced it and grazed sheep and cattle. Harkness proved a valuable community member. When only ten families lived in the district, he and other settlers set up a school in 1852, with Andrew Ross as the first teacher. Harkness was also one of the first to suggest establishing the Eltham District Road Board, of which he was a member for around 15 years. He was also a trustee of the Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. Harkness married in 1854 and had four sons and five daughters. The first part of the timber house he built included a kitchen-living room and a parlor. The living room’s large fireplace was bricked-in and modernised in 1940. Beside it is the old baker’s oven with its original iron door replaced by a wooden one. It is thought two wattle-and-daub huts, used for a bedroom and bathroom, were built to the west. Harkness’ son-in-law, farmer Alexander White, who had seven sons, bought the property in 1893. Harkness’ grand-daughter Flora married Ewen Cameron who became Minister for Health and was later knighted; he was not related to Ewen Hugh Cameron, a Member of the Legislative Assembly. In 1923 the White family sold the property, called Kilby Park, to Sir Herbert Gepp, who renamed it Garden Hill. Gepp used the property, which was still on the original New South Wales title, as a hobby farm. Robert White stayed on to manage the farm for a while, living in a house on the property. Gepp was born in 1877 and at 16 years began working as a junior chemist with the Australian Explosives and Chemical Company at Deer Park near Melbourne. Gepp was a pioneer in applying enlightened labour policies in industry. He initiated the Broken Hill Progress Association, to improve living conditions. It laid the ground work for the welfare schemes pursued by companies after World War One. During the mid 20th century Gepp was the most prominent liberal thinker associated with conservative politics. As a friend of Prime Minister John Curtin, he contributed to post-war reconstruction. Gepp returned to private industry and retired in 1950. Gepp made significant contributions to the solution of the great metallurgical problems of the mining industry. He was an advocate of the role of science in industry, government and the economy and helped to establish several organizations including the CSIR and the Institute of Public Affairs.3 After Sir Herbert died in 1954 his son Orwell continued to farm the property part-time. When Lady Gepp died in 1963, the land was divided among the five children, although Orwell continued to farm it as a hobby. In 1966, a daughter, Mardi Gething, now married, settled in the house. Another daughter, Kathleen, built her house close by on the property. After the Board of Works designated the property as part of a reserve for a possible reservoir, the family sold all, except the minimum 20 acres allowed, to the Board in the 1970s. Orwell then leased what was the family property from the Board to continue grazing. The two sisters and brother continued to live on the property.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, kangaroo ground -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Marguerite Marshall, Strathewen Public Hall, 20 August 2008
Strathewen Public Hall, social and spiritual centre was later lost in the Black Saturday fires 2009. The Strathewen Community decided a community hall was needed in 1901. In 1902 locals built the hall with messmate trees. It was located on the Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road. The first function was a Grand concert and Balll attended by about 120 people. Several denominations held Church services and Sunday School services in the Hall. It survived several bushfires until after this photo was taken when it was destroyed in Black Saturday, 9 February 2009. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p89 Strathewen was settled late, largely because it was difficult to access.1 Early selectors found it a struggle to survive. They had to do everything themselves, from felling trees for buildings, to taking produce to market along bush tracks that they had helped cut. Small dairy farms were typical but fruit became the district’s prime produce. The first settlers east of Arthurs Creek were brothers John and Duncan Smith whose station Glen-Ard was probably operated as a sheep run. Other early settlers were the Mann family, who were to donate land for the hall, provide postal services and John Mann was an Eltham Shire councillor from 1916 to 1919.2 In 1873 James Mann, his wife Jane and their six children, settled on 207 acres (83.7) (Lang Fauld Farm) on both sides of Eagles Nest Road, from the foot of Mount Sugarloaf to the bank of the Arthurs Creek. In 1883 James took up another selection on Chads Creek. It was very hard work and at times he was well behind with his rent. However the family had a good social life, attending the Primitive Methodist Church at the Arthurs Creek Township and on New Year’s Eve throwing a party for all the locals. By 1874 James Mann’s younger brother, John, selected 311 acres (125.8ha) between Eagles Nest Road and upper Arthurs Creek. He called it Carseburn after his home parish in Scotland. Tragically in 1875 John drowned in the Yarra River, at Richmond.3 John Mann’s oldest son, also John, later purchased Duncan Smith’s land, which he named Violet Glen. He was to give one acre (0.4ha) of this land for the Strathewen Hall site. A Mann family diary written at Carseburn in 1897, tells how the district’s name was selected. Strathewen is derived from ‘strath’ meaning ‘broad mountain valley’ and from the name of Ewen H. Cameron, the local parliamentarian for almost 40 years. ‘George Brain came around to get a petition signed to get a post office up here and we had to vote for a name—Strathewen, Glen-Ard, or Headcorie’.4 It was at Carseburn that a public meeting in 1901, decided to build the Strathewen Hall on the Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road. In 1902 the locals built the hall with messmate trees. The first function was a Grand Concert and Ball attended by around 120 people and several Protestant denominations took turns to hold church services and Sunday School there. Fortunately the hall has survived bushfires to be the town’s spiritual and social centre.5 The area continued to develop and in 1909 a post office operated somewhere at Strathewen and from around 1916 at Carseburn.6 It was not until 1914 that land was bought to establish the Strathewen State School on School Ridge Road. The residents paid £100 to build it on two acres (0.8 ha) while the Education Department contributed £30 and leased the building annually for £1. When teacher Miss Mary Golding opened the school in 1917, it had no equipment.7 But in 1921 the Education Department provided desks and a hexagonal shelter shed (now a rare style in Victoria) and took control in 1925.8 By 1917 Strathewen was booming.9 George Apted had built a coolstore in 1916, and local orchardists bought storage space until the 1950s. This allowed the area to supply the market in and out of season. Guesthouses catered for growing tourism. In the mid 1920s Mrs Eleanor Sparkes built the guest-house Singing Waters, which operated through the 1930s. Her daughter Mrs Vera McKimmie, ran it until the 1950s and the house remains in Chads Creek Road. In the Great Depression land was cleared for timber to be sold as firewood and there was small scale sawmilling. However the orchard industry diminished for several reasons including the 1939 bushfires and rapid changes in production methods. Today the Apteds still operate an orchard and farm at Glen-Ard, which straddles the border between Strathewen and Arthurs Creek. It includes the southern part of Duncan Smith’s original Glen-Ard selection.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, strathewan public hall -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Administrative record - Bendigo Tailings Company N.L Double Ledger, 1912 - 1913
'A communication from Mr. A.T. Balaam asking that the Central Board of Health be communicated with on the subject of arsenical fumes from the furnaces of the Bendigo Tailings Company at Quarry Hill, where pyrites are to be treated, was also referred to the Mayor.' Bendigo Independent, City Council, p9. 31st May 1913. 'Tenders are invited by the Bendigo Tailings Company for the purchase of two complete cyanide plants, first class assay plants, stores and equipment. Full details may be obtained from the Manager, Mr. J.J. Stanistreet.' Bendigo Independent, p4, 3rd March. 1916.Dark green hard dover book, maroon binding on spine. One hundred and sixty six pages of which ninety three are used. On front cover, white label with 'Double Ledger' printed in black. On front page, a purple stamp: ' Bendigo Tailings Company, No Liability' Alphabetical index in front of book detailing names and pages of transactions. Example for 'L' entry: lease rents; Langdon S.J.; Lansell G.V., L.N. and E; land. Entries in book date from 1912 - 1913. Ledger forms part of the Margaret Roberts Collection of Mining records.bendigo, margaret roberts, , goldmining, bendigo tailings co. n.l., mccoll rankin and stanistreet, arsenic -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Rob Roy Hill Climb, 24 November 2007
The Rob Roy Hill Climb originated in 1935 on the property of former Heidelberg Mayor, William Clinton, where he reared the Rob Roy breed of miniature ponies. He established Pleasure Grounds on part of the property attracting groups of Sunday visitors from Melbourne's inner suburbs. Visitors enjoyed a picnic area, pony rides, a dance hall and a tap room. Young men would ride their BSA or Harley Davidson motorcycles to the property which led to regular club-organised hillclimb meetings between 1930 and 1936. In 1935 Clinton offered the use of his property to the Light Car Club of Australia for their hillclimbs. The track was sealed that same year and the hillclimb at Clintons Road was one of only three specially designed bitumen surface hillclimbs in the world, the others being Shelsey Walsh and Prescott Hillclimbs in the UK. The first Light Car Club of Australia hillclimb was held at Rob Roy in February 1937. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p133 About six times a year the unlikely sound of car engines emerges from deep in the heart of Christmas Hills.* Usually a quiet retreat, the Hills are home to one of the world’s oldest purpose-built motor sport venues - the Rob Roy Hillclimb. When sealed in 1939, the hillclimb at Clintons Road was one of only three specially designed bitumen surface hillclimbs in the world, the others being Shelsley Walsh and Prescott Hillclimbs in the UK.1 The Rob Roy Hillclimb originated in 1935 on the property of former Heidelberg mayor, William Clinton, where he reared the Rob Roy breed of miniature ponies. Rob Roy was the Scottish folk hero and outlaw. On part of his property Clinton established Pleasure Grounds, attracting Sunday parties from Melbourne’s inner suburbs. Visitors enjoyed a picnic area, pony rides, a dance hall and a tap room.2 Young men riding on their BSA or Harley Davidson bikes led to club-organised regular hillclimb meetings, between 1930 and 1936. In 1935 Clinton offered his property to the Light Car Club of Australia for their hillclimbs. In February 1937, the first Light Car Club of Australia hillclimb meeting was held at Rob Roy. Jack Day achieved the fastest time that day for the 760 yard (695m) track at 36 seconds in a Ford V8 engined Bugatti Special. At first the climb was just a dusty gravel track, but in 1939 it was up-graded and bituminised. Today the 695 metre track begins on a slight incline, proceeds through a sharp right turn, which formerly passed a rusty iron shed, now remembered by the name Tin Shed Corner. The track continues down a slight incline to a level stretch along the top of an embankment holding back a half-acre (0.2ha) dam, then up to a one-in-three gradient. The track then winds uphill through several left turns to the finish line. In 1939 Frank Kleinig reduced the record to 29.72 seconds in an MG Hudson. Throughout World War Two the Rob Roy Hillclimbs were suspended, but were resumed in 1947. The hillclimbs consistently attracted crowds averaging 500 to 600 people, peaking at 2000, until the hillclimb was destroyed by the 1962 bushfires. The meetings included nine Australian Hillclimb Championships, with the first in 1938 won by Peter Whitehead in his ERA. Eight of the Outright and Class record holders were Australian Grand Prix winners including Jack Brabham, who became a triple F1 World Champion. The Light Car Club of Australia held 61 meetings at Rob Roy. Events usually included Touring, Gran Turismo, Production, Sports, Racing and Vintage cars and in the latter years Go-carts. These meets suddenly stopped after the 1962 bushfire destroyed the access bridge on the property leading to the track area, although fortunately Clinton saved his home. The club then established the Lakeland Hillclimb venue close to Lilydale.3 From 1979 to 1987 the MG Car Club ran hill climbs at the Templestowe Hillclimb until the land was to be sub-divided. In 1991 the MGCC approached the Shire of Nillumbik about using the derelict Rob Roy venue. In 1992, after much lobbying, the club signed a ten-year lease from Melbourne Water, which has been renewed. The original track was faithfully reconstructed. Access roads were improved and guard rails were installed on the causeway. Permanent structures were rebuilt and tonnes of rubbish removed. This was made possible by an immense amount of voluntary work by MGCC members and financial support from the newly formed Friends of Rob Roy. In February 1993 the first Return to Rob Roy Historic Meeting was run with a huge spectator attendance of around 1000 enthusiasts. In September 2007, the Nillumbik Shire Council gave the hillclimb heritage protection. This acknowledged the property’s significant contribution to early Australian motor sport with its social connection to William Clinton and the local community.4 *Christmas Hills was named after emancipated convict and shepherd David Christmas, lost in these hills.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, rob roy hill climb, clintons road, light car club of australia, william clinton -
Merbein District Historical Society
Document, Papers regarding the Stephen Thompson Family, 1909+
conditional purchase lease- homestead allotment, stephen thompson, john coulter thompson, block, local land board - notes of evidence, application for property to local land board, map lot 52 (s. thompson) & lot 51 (j.c. thompson), house, eldora -
Darebin Parklands Association
Bluestone weir, Rockbeare Park, February 1975, 1975
This bluestone weir is one of two in the same section of Darebin Creek and is a remanent from early farming days. A vineyard was established by Thomas Bear and produced award wining table wines in the 1860-70s. Orange trees were later grown on the slopes below Rockbeare Grove and mixed market gardening was established in this area as the land was progressively sub-divided and leased. The weirs were used to dam the creek and pumps used to pump water to the vineyards and orange grove.B&W photograph showing remains of bluestone weir across Darebin Creek This item and all other Darebin Parklands Association archival material is now held by State Library Victoria (Accession No: YMS 13746). Please contact State Library Victoria if access is required. -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Beechworth FCV District office sign
This sign proudly hung outside the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) Beechworth office which is now site of the Forestry Heritage Museum. The granite building in the Beechworth's historic precinct was once the Gold Warden's Office and is one of the town's original buildings. The FCV was the main government authority responsible for management and protection of State forests in Victoria between 1918 and 1983. The Commission was responsible for ″forest policy, prevention and suppression of bushfires, issuing leases and licences, planting and thinning of forests, the development of plantations, reforestation, nurseries, forestry education, the development of commercial timber harvesting and marketing of produce, building and maintaining forest roads, provision of recreation facilities, protection of water, soils and wildlife, forest research and making recommendations on the acquisition or alienation of land for forest purposes″. The Forests Commission had a long and proud history of innovation and of managing Victoria's State forests but in September 1983 lost its discrete identity when it was merged into the newly formed Victorian Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (CFL) along with the Crown Lands and Survey Department, National Park Service, Soil Conservation Authority and Fisheries and Wildlife Service. After the amalgamation the management of State forests and the forestry profession continued but the tempo of change accelerated, with many more departmental restructures occurring over the subsequent four decades. Responsibilities are currently split between the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Forests Fire Management Victoria (FFMV), Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, Alpine Resorts Commission, the State Government-owned commercial entity VicForests and the privately owned Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP).Large office sign. Hand painted in traditional FCV mission brown and gold colour scheme.forests commission victoria (fcv), forest signs -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - LANDS OFFICE : TANDARRA ESTATE, COUNTY OF BENDIGO, 1906 - 1920
... Land leases tandarra Bendigo Sandhurst lands Office land ...Document: green bound hard cover journal with red spine binding and corners. On spine ' Tandarra' written in black. Journal contains details of allotments leased in the Tandarra Estate. Maps and letters relating to blocks are enclosed. LH page: details of lessee, improvements (year range 1906 - 1920) , RH page: residence, population, results of cultivation, stock etc., remarks re lessee's gains or losses each year.Land and Survey Officerland leases, tandarra, bendigo, sandhurst, lands office, land settlement -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - LANDS OFFICE: APPLICATION REGISTER, SECTION 29 GRAZING AREAS LAND ACT 1898
Document: hard cover indexed journal. On spine: red inset with 'Application Register' printed on gold, black inset with Section 29 Grazing Areas Land Act 1898' 'C' written in black ink. '35' and 1 - 1000' written above red inset. Journal has a loose slipcover of buff coloured linen-like material with cut-outs to allow information on spine to be viewed. Lh page: number of applications, date of registry, date of application, surname, Christian name and address, parish, allotment, section, area, local land board schedule. RH page: classification, lease, references and remarks. Details areas in central and northern Victoria. Dated from 22.12.1899 - 10.3.1906.land sales, victoria, lands office, bendigo, application register, applications for grazing land