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Greensborough Historical Society
Book, Country Women's Association of Victoria, Years of adventure: fifty years of service by the Country Women's Association of Victoria, 1928-1978, 1928-1978
A short history of the Country Women's Association of Victoria 1928-1978. 76 pages, black and white photographs. Soft cover.country womens association of victoria -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Grave of Christopher Watson, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 1 Aug 2007
George Bird was born in England in 1845 and arrived in Australia in 1856 as a child of assisted migrants. Soon afterwards he came out to Eltham to live with his uncle George Stebbings, working for him as bricklayer's assistant in building, amongst others, Shillinglaw Cottage and the Anglican and Methodist Churches in Eltham. He later purchased 72 acres at the eastern end of Pitt Street (bounded by Eucalyptus Road, Mount Pleasant Road and present-day Rockliffe Street) and established the property ‘View Hill’, which was worked as a mixed farm and orchard (including berries). In 1878 he married Janet Kilpatrick, who had emigrated from Scotland. They had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The wedding in 1904 of their eldest surviving daughter Sarah (‘Sis’) to Edward Pepper appears to have been quite a society event. George was a staunch Methodist and was a Church Steward and a Sunday School Superintendent in about 1890. Janet died in 1915 and George died in 1920 (though his gravestone says 1921). George's will stated that his property was to be divided between all his children in equal shares. This necessitated subdivision of the View Hill property, which took place progressively between 1922 and 1926. One son, George Hugh Bird, operated a drapery store in Main Road (near Bridge Street) in around 1915. Later, in the 1920s, he ran a greengrocer's shop (also selling confectionery) in Main Road opposite Eltham Station. It was the first shop in Eltham to have plate glass windows. At the same time, his brother Reg had a grocery store on the station side of Main Road. George and Janet are buried together in a family plot in Eltham Cemetery. Several descendants are also buried in the cemetery. In Loving Memory Of George Bird Died 5 December 1921 aged 76 years And his beloved wife Janet Bird Died 5 Sept 1915 aged 57 years Also their children William James Bird Died 25 Feb 1888 aged 8 years Mary Jane Bird Died 8 Oct 1891 aged 7 years Pte Edwin John Bird Killed in action in the Great War 11 Aug 1918 aged 30 years Buried in France And on the base stone George Hugh Bird Died 26 Feb. 1965. Aged 79 years Arthur Andrew Bird Died 25 Mar. 1970 Aged 75 years To the left In Loving Memory of Dr. J. R. (Roger) Bird 1927 2001 Son of Arthur & Helen (nee Lyon) Bird Husband of Betty Father of Janet & Alison Grandpa of Evan & Helen Scientist & Gentleman To the right In Loving Memory of Harold Edwin Bird OAM 1922 - 2015 Son of Arthur & Helen (nee Lyon) Bird Husband of Yvonne Father of Estell & Russell In our hearts Forever moreeltham cemetery, gravestones, memorials, arthur andrew bird, arthur bird, edwin john bird, george bird, george hugh bird, harold edwin bird, helen bird (nee lyon), j. r. (roger) bird, j.r. (roger) bird, janet bird, janet bird (nee kilpatrick), william james bird, yvonne bird -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Grave of Sarah and Phillip Shillinglaw, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, Sep 2009
Philip Shillinglaw and his wife Sarah came to Eltham in 1882. Their property "Wattle Brae" originally encompassed present-day Eltham Central Park and part of Eltham Library, extending north to include Andrew Park and the site of the railway station. An early photo shows that much of it was planted for crops. They also had cows; in 1913 Philip wrote to the local paper complaining about an earlier report that one of them had been killed on the railway line. "I give an emphatic denial to the report. It is not true." Their house Shillinglaw Cottage (built by George Stebbings) still exists, though it was moved with funding from local residents in 1963-64 when faced with demolition to make room for new Council Offices. Philip was actively involved with the Methodist Church as preacher, Church Steward and Sunday School teacher. A Sunday School picnic and a sports carnival were held on his paddock. Eight of his children attended Eltham Primary School. In 1908 he ploughed part of the schoolyard (possibly for use as a garden) free of charge. When Philip died in 1914, his funeral was described as one of the largest ever seen in Eltham. He and Sarah are buried in Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Shillinglaw Died 10th Dec. 1891 Also Phillip Loved husband of above Died 18th Aug. 1914 Sweet BestRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak GC 400-9eltham cemetery, gravestones, phillip shillinglaw, sarah ann shillinglaw -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, James Bonwick, Discovery and settlement of Port Phillip : being a history of the country now called Victoria, up to the arrival of Mr. Superintendent Latrobe, in October, 1839, 1999
Contains a general history of the early Port Phillip district, including many references to Aboriginal peoples. Edited version of original 19th century notes by James Bonwick.Maps, b&w illustrationswilliam buckley, john batman, joseph gellibrand, john pascoe fawkner, victorian history, melbourne history, port phillip, religion, merri creek, james bonwick -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Postcard, Unknown, Kew Cemetery, 1905
This view of the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery is dated to 1905 by the inscription and postmark on the reverse. It provides an important visual record of this part of the Cemetery. The postcard can be used to identify the original configuration of the roads and vegetation, some of which was subsequently removed (eg the bunya pine at right). On the Victorian Heritage Database, the construction period given for the Springthorpe Memorial is given as 1897-1907, yet this view of the Memorial in 1905 would suggest that it was virtually completed at an earlier date. (It should be noted that additions such as the wheel of life sculpture were not completed until 1910).This dated photograph is historically important as its inscription confirms it to be one of the earliest postcard representations of the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery. It also provides visual evidence of the size and extent of the landscaping by 1905, particularly the layout of the roads (now altered), plantings of the period, and the extent of the land occupied by the Springthorpe Memorial and its gardens, which was subsequently reduced by the trustees of the cemetery in the 1930s. Panoramic view of the entrance driveway in Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery. At left can be seen the Springthorpe Memorial, and further down on the left the entrance gate, or one of the gates, to the Memorial. Inscribed on reverse: "Miss Brown / Shuan [sic] / Grosvenor Street / M. Brighton. Love from Mother Oct 28th 1905" Postmark: "Melbourne 8 / 2 PM, 28/10/05".springthorpe memorial, boroondara general (kew) cemetery, postcards -- cemeteries -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Book, Maddern I T, A Short History of State Education in Victoria, 1969
A general background of state education in Victoria, with information on the schools of the Traralgon Inspectorate produced for the centenary of state education.schools -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, Grave of Anne Hunniford (nee Hamilton Burgoyne) and Anne Jane Hunniford, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 5 April 2021
On February 1, 1854, the first Eltham Post Office was established. At that time, the number of permanent residents would have been fairly small, probably less than 200. In 1855 Thomas Hunniford was appointed as Eltham's postmaster (replacing Frederick Falkiner). He operated the post office from his general store in Maria Street (now Main Road) near Bridge Street (originally facing Bridge Street but later altered to face Main Road). His daughter, Miss Anne Hunniford, was a teacher at Eltham Primary School in her early adult years. Sometime between 1864 and 1868 the management of the post office passed from Thomas Hunniford to his daughter, Anne who managed the Eltham Post Office until illness forced her to retire in 1928. A big improvement in communication was provided for Eltham residents when a telegraph office was established at the post office in 1877. During 1923 a manual telephone exchange was provided at Eltham, the first two subscribers being J.J. O’Connor and Eltham Police Station. Anne was succeeded by her nephew Neville Burgoyne whose family were then running the store, which had been rebuilt and modernised in 1926 to accommodate an expanded post and telegraph office. Anne knew everyone and was respected for her kindly actions in her official and private capacities. In her time there was no official letter delivery to houses; residents were expected to collect their mail at the post office. But if an important letter or telegram arrived, Anne would try to find someone willing to deliver it. Jock Read recalled he started his own private "mail run"; he would charge people 1/- per week to take their letters to the post office for mailing and would return with their mail. Anne died in 1928, aged 73. She is buried in Eltham Cemetery with her mother and with a Burgoyne child born much later. Burgoyne's store was further extended in 1940 and still stands though has undergone several modifications and businesses. In 1954 the post office moved to a shop in the main Eltham shopping centre, then in 1958 a purpose-built post office was opened near the entrance to the railway station. In Loving Memory of Anne Hunniford Nee Hamilton Burgoyne Born Ireland 1813 Died Eltham 1899 Also her daughter Anne Jane Hunniford Born Eltham 1855 Died Eltham 1928 Brenda May Burgoyne Born 16. 8. 1956 Died 18. 6. 1958 Rest In PeaceBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, anne hunniford (nee hamilton burgoyne), anne jane hunniford, brenda mary burgoyne -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, Grave of Sarah Jane Procter, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 5 April 2021
Nurse Sarah Procter stretched the limits by enlisted on 12 August, 1915 at 45 years of age, the maximum acceptable age. A sister, Mrs J H Treloar (Amelia) in Hamilton was given as next of kin. Her Attestation shows she had 13 years nursing experience, having earned her Certificate at Stawell Hospital, served for one year with the Women's Hospital with the balance with private amenities. The Embarkation Roll lists her residential address simply as Brunswick - there is no Attestation or other material surviving to suggest a more specific address. She embarked from Melbourne on board RMS Morea on 24 August, 1915 and like many the served in Egypt in 1915, her record is a little hazy, but it appears at in January, 1916 after serving with No. 2 AGH, she was promoted to Nursing Sister and returned on HMAT Ulysses transporting wounded back to Australia. Nurse Procter embarked again on 4 April, 1916 to re-join her unit. She arrived in England 30 December after further service at Alexandria and was initially assigned to No. 2 A.A.H, then at Southall, She was transferred just a few weeks later to No. 1 AAH at Barefield where she remained until February, 1918. She proceeded to join No.5 AGH at Rouen, France in May, 1918; she returned to England on 23 November, 1918 after spending a month off duty with general debility and on return was admitted to South Kensington hospital with rheumatism. She was released around a fortnight later and at the same time promoted to the rank of Sister. Perhaps because of her age, she embarked for Australia soon afterwards and was assigned to No. 11 AGH at Caulfield from 9 February, 1919 until her appointment was terminated on 3 May. Born Stawell, Protestant, Sarah Jane Procter died at 75 years of age in a private hospital in St. Kilda, on 6 July, 1945 as the result of an accident and was interred in Eltham Cemetery. Her National Archives are held as Procter, AWM files as Proctor, the former is correct. (Brian Membery for Wikinorthia) Sarah Jane Procter never married and served in WW1. She enlisted at 45, but said she was only 40 on the enlistment papers. Sarah is buried in CE Monumental Section Grave 182. She was born in Stawell in 1869 and died accidentally in Heidelberg 1945. She lays next to an older brother, George Charles Alfred Procter, born 1865. died 1935 in grave CE 181. In Loving Memory of Sarah Jane Proctor Late Sister A.I.F. Died 6th July 1945 aged 76 years Blessed are they that die in the Lord For their works do follow them.Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, proctor, george charles alfred procter, sarah jane procter -
The 5th/6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment Historical Collection
Book, Pictorial History of Australia at War 1939 - 1945 5 Volumes, 1958
Set of 5 volumes bound with green material covers title "Pictorial History - 1939 - 1945 " gold lettering on spine. "Pictorial History - 1939 - 1945 "regimental property, ww2, pictorial history -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Book, Semmens Palma and Maffra Historical Society, An Index of Names of burials in Maffra Public Cemetery, 1996
An index to names of burials in the Maffra Public cemetery compiled from the cemetery journal 1869-1983 the cemetery register 1869-1993 and memorial headstones excluding the lawn section.cemeteries -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Envelope, Packet: Proposed Ringwood Cemetery (Club Hotel on site). Cuttings, Correspondence 1927-28, 1871
Cemetery. Club Hotel on site. First laid out 1871 Cemetery. Eastern Suburbs. Ringwood. -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Dorothy Brumby, Mokepilly Cemetery 2017
Located at Illawarra near the Homestead. Taken in 2017. Two Colour photographs.Mokepilly Cemetery 2017 -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Currency - Banknote Belfast, Bank of Victoria, 1853
The promissory note issued at Belfast, now Port Fairy, Victoria by the “Bank of Victoria” is an early example of currency issued by a private bank. This note was issued in 1853 the same year that the bank commenced business in Belfast. Details of the first production of a banknote backed by the Australian Government occurred on 1 May 1913 following the "Australian Notes Act of 1910" (Australian National Museum). The first building the Bank of Victoria purchased in Belfast was of timber and later sold. Smith & Watts Architects advertised for tenders in the Melbourne Argus on Thursday 29/4/1869 for the erection of a substantial building that is now occupied by Moyne Shire Council in Cox Street. A meeting of the Directors of the Bank of Victoria elected on 1 October 1852. A ballot took place for four directors resulting in Wm. Highett Esq. Wm F. Splatt, Esq. M.L.C., Alex. Wilson, Esq. and W.H. Tuckett” elected as Directors. It was reported from a later meeting in “The Argus” Melbourne on 3 August 1853 that a branch had opened in Swanston Street, Melbourne on 3rd January 1852 with Henry Miller as Chairman of the Board and J. Matheson as the Manager; followed by Geelong on 12 August 1852. Then at the request of “influential inhabitants”, the Belfast branch commenced on 11 May 1853, which had “already met with very general support and encouragement”. This was a colonial bank at the time of vast pastoral runs and gold speculation – how "Mr Thomas [....ton?]" came by his fortune of One Hundred and Twenty-Seven Pound and five shillings can only be wondered at until further research reveals the story. This promissory note records the early colonial system of banking and reflects the economic growth and entrepreneurship of the South West Region of Victoria.Banknote of fine paper. There is a fold multi-crease down the centre top to bottom, lighter creasing across the top and angular creasing to the bottom left and right-hand corners. Yellow spotting is visible across the object breaking through the grey blue colour of the paper. A dark ink blot appears near the top right-hand corner. The left-hand side of the banknote is uneven. The back of the document has darker spotting, a used dirty look patina and some insect spotting. Horizontal crease markings can be seen creating quarter marks. The front of the banknote reads: "No.41/ Exch.ge for £127.57- Bank of Victoria/Issued at 1% prem/Thirty days after Sight of this Third of Exchange/First and Second of the same tenor and date being unpaid pay to the order of/Mr. Thomas [Raliston?]/One hundred and twenty seven pounds five shillings Sterling silver received/To the Manager of the London Westminister Bank London/for the Bank of Victoria [signed?] Manager/Ent.d [?] Robertson Account.t. The blue printed Bank of Victoria logo features a world globe, sailing ships, wool bails, sheep, colonial building and mining tools. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, promissory notes, bank notes, bank of victoria, smith & watts, smith & watts architects, 1853, william highett, william f. splatt, alex wilson, w.h. tuckett, henry miller, money miller, belfast (now port fairy) -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Book, Colleen Hammat (nee Hateley), Hateley Family History - A History of James Samuel Hateley, Mary Lane Drew and their descendants, 1994
Family History of those descended from James Samuel Hateley and Mary Lane Drew.Deep red hard cover with grey rectangle enclosing an oval b/w photograph Hateley Family History A History of James Samuel Hateley, Mary Lane Drew and Their Descendantsstawell, hateley -
Greensborough Historical Society
Article - Newspaper Clipping, St Helena Cemetery, 1997
The history and significance of St Helena Cemetery is covered in this National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Classification Report.10 pages, text only. st katherines church, st helena, anthony beale, st helena cemetery, national trust of australia (victoria) -
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Book, Tom Griffiths, Koori history : sources for Aboriginal studies in the State Library of Victoria, 1989
A collection of articles on sources of information held in the State Library of Victoria.koori history, aboriginal studies, oral history -
Greensborough Historical Society
Article, Marilyn Warren, Early history of the Victorian legal system, 28/04/2011
Early history of the Victorian legal system is a presentation by Marilyn Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. Of particular interest is the section on Plenty Valley bushrangers, pp26-28.30p. text.victoria law, legal system victoria, plenty valley bushrangers, marilyn warren, rhsv -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Colour, Grave in Vaughan Cemetery, 2017, 16/07/2017
Sign in Vaughan Cemetery.vaughan, vaughan cemetery, forged ironwork, cemetery art -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Colour, Grave of Elizabeth Spencer in Vaughan Cemetery, 2017, 16/07/2017
Grave in Vaughan Cemetery.vaughan, vaughan cemetery, forged ironwork, cemetery art -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph, Clare Gervasoni, Sandon Cemetery, 2017, 16/07/2017
Gravestones in the Sandon Cemeterysandon, sandon cemetery -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Book, Adams John, The Tambo Shire Centenary History, 1981
A history of the Shire of Tambo, East Gippsland, Victoria, including many aspects of settlement, development, industries, transport, and the hardy people who tamed this varied and often inhospitable region.A history of the Shire of Tambo, East Gippsland, Victoria, including many aspects of settlement, development, industries, transport, and the hardy people who tamed this varied and often inhospitable region.land settlement, transport -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Entrance to Boroondara General Cemetery
Boroondara Cemetery, established in 1858, is within an unusual triangular reserve bounded by High Street, Park Hill Road and Victoria Park, Kew. The caretaker's lodge and administrative office (1860 designed by Charles Vickers, additions, 1866-1899 by Albert Purchas) form a picturesque two-storey brick structure with a slate roof and clock tower. A rotunda or shelter (1890, Albert Purchas) is located in the centre of the cemetery: this has an octagonal hipped roof with fish scale slates and a decorative brick base with a tessellated floor and timber seating. The cemetery is surrounded by a 2.7 metre high ornamental red brick wall (1895-96, Albert Purchas) with some sections of vertical iron palisades between brick pillars. Albert Purchas was a prominent Melbourne architect who was the Secretary of the Melbourne General Cemetery from 1852 to 1907 and Chairman of the Boroondara Cemetery Board of Trustees from 1867 to 1909. He made a significant contribution to the design of the Boroondara Cemetery. (Source: Heritage Victoria)This photograph is one of the earliest known photographs of the cemetery, showing the early plantings and fences.Later print copy of an undated original photographic positive of the entrance to the Boroondara General (Kew) Cemetery. The Cemetery had been opened in 1855. This view is from Bulleen Road (now High Street) showing a group of 12 or 13 men standing in a line outside the entrance. At this time, the clocktower and high brick fence had not been constructed, but the trees have reached a substantial heightPencil inscription on reverse - "Boroondara Cemetery Entrance 1862"boroondara general (kew) cemetery, cemeteries -- melbourne (vic.) -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Goal History
Colour Photograph of a notice , the heading of which is Goal HistoryGoal History , (The remaining text is indistinct due to quality of photograph) -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Grave of Janet and William Morris, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, Sep 2009
William Morris was born in Little Eltham in 1851. He was married three times; his second wife had the same surname as his first so they may have been sisters. He was described as "jolly and hearty" and ran a publican's booth at the Eltham Races in 1903, reportedly doing a good trade. He was an Eltham Shire Councillor between 1897 and 1918 and was Shire President in 1911. The Evelyn Hotel was situated in Main Road Eltham, immediately opposite its competitor the Eltham Hotel. It had opened as the Fountain of Friendship Hotel by 1854, when it was described as having "twelve spacious apartments all canvassed and papered", but had changed its name by 1878. The proprietor from about 1889 until 1919 was William Morris; he was also the licensee for most of that time. (The William Morris who was a butcher at Eltham in the early 1900s was no relation.) It advertised that it had "good stables", located behind the hotel in Pitt Street, a necessity for hotels at the time. Mail coaches en route from Heidelberg to Queenstown (now St Andrews), Panton Hill and Kangaroo Ground changed horses there. It was de-licensed as a hotel in 1919 but continued to operate as a boarding house until it was destroyed by fire in 1931. William died in 1922 and is buried in Eltham Cemetery with several other family members. Janet The Beloved Wife of William Morris Who died 5th October 1880 Aged 24 years Also Alfred George Morris Died 11th September 1880, aged 1 year Also William Morris Died 8th December 1922 Aged 74 years At RestRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak GC 400-9eltham cemetery, gravestones, alfred george morris, janet morris, william morris, evelyn hotel -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Grave of Richard George, Emily Ann (nee Davis) and Edith Jane Kaylock, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, Sep 2009
In his early adult life, Richard Kaylock worked as a whaler (visiting California and New Zealand) and later as a drover on a large cattle station in New South Wales. In 1848 he came to Melbourne, working as a slaughterman, then settled in Eltham in 1854, his occupation thereafter being variously recorded as butcher or orchardist. He also had some experiences at Ballarat during the Eureka Rebellion. He died in 1910 at the age of 84. His obituary described him as a "striking personality" who was "brusque to a fault" and "strictly upright, expecting others to be the same". It seems from his will that he was illiterate. He is buried in Eltham Cemetery with his wife Emily. His property was in Wellington Street (now Brougham Street) and apparently extended across the Diamond Creek. The land on the western side of the creek was farmed, the house being on the eastern side. For many years the Brougham Street bridge was generally known as "Kaylock's Bridge". It formed part of the original coach road to Eltham and in 1922 was described as an "old rustic bridge". Its low level and insubstantial construction made it susceptible to flood damage, necessitating frequent closures until repairs could be carried out. The original bridge was demolished in 1923 and replaced by a "new up-to-date" one. When a lack of finances delayed repairs to the Bridge Street bridge in 1931, traffic had to detour via Brougham Street for some time. Local residents feared that the Bridge Street bridge might never reopen. In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Father & Mother R.G. and E.A. Kaylock Also E.J. Kaylock Died 21st Jan. 1927 The Eternal God Is My PledgeRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak GC 400-9eltham cemetery, gravestones, edith jane kaylock, emily ann kaylock (nee davis), richard george kaylock, brougham street bridge, kaylocks bridge -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Document - Speech, Gerry Robinson, Heathmont History Group, The Histories of Heathmont by Gerry Robinson, August 2023
A talk on the "Histories of Heathmont" given by Gerry Robinson of the Heathmont History Group at the 2023 AGM of the Whitehorse Historical Society, Mitcham.A talk on the "Histories of Heathmont" given by Gerry Robinson of the Heathmont History Group at the 2023 AGM of the Whitehorse Historical Society, Mitcham.non-fictionA talk on the "Histories of Heathmont" given by Gerry Robinson of the Heathmont History Group at the 2023 AGM of the Whitehorse Historical Society, Mitcham.heathmont, gerry robinson, urbanisation -
Greensborough Historical Society
Journal, State Library of Victoria, Victoria and the Great War: Special issue of the La Trobe Journal No. 96 September 2015, 2015_09
Contributions on the history of World War 1 on previously unresearched areas, most relevant to Melbourne and Victoria.Paperback. 224 p., black and white and colour illustrationsworld war 1 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, Graves of Mary Josephine Swallow, John Swallow (unmarked) and Patricia Catherine Hill, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 5 April 2021
On the 29th of May 1954, a local Eltham carpenter by the name of John Swallow, committed a double murder at his home on New Street. This happened on the same day as the federal election of that year. John 48, his wife Mary 47, and stepdaughter Patricia 25, all went to the Eltham Courthouse on Main Road to cast their vote in the election that Saturday. After voting they returned home to their New Street house around midday. Patricia would later recall to ambulance officers, that she was feeling unwell, and so went to lay down when she heard an argument erupt over voting between her mother Mary and stepfather John. A concerned neighbour heard loud thudding noises and yelling coming from John and Mary’s house, he went to investigate. When he arrived at the house he was met by John at the front door. He would later describe John as “having a frantic look upon his face, and manic eyes”. John must have been a sight, bleeding and clutching a cut throat razor by his side. He then announced to the neighbour, “they voted commie!” before turning and going back inside. The distressed neighbour immediately raced home to call the Police. When the police arrived, they found Mary dead on the kitchen floor from catastrophic head injuries; her daughter, Patricia, clinging to life, slumped on her bed. Both women had been attacked by the same weapon, a large hammer, or sledge hammer as reported by the newspapers. John was also discovered in the house, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds from the razor, and had attempted to ingest caustic soda. Patricia was taken to St Vincent’s hospital, but died the following day, the 30th of May. John was also taken to St Vincent’s, where he remained under constant police guard for several months while he recovered from his injuries, at least the physical. He was eventually well enough to be taken to the City Watch House and then Pentridge Prison before his trial in October of the same year. When it came time for John to face the courts, the Judge called a mistrial, the Crown would not prosecute on the grounds of insanity. John was led away from the dock of The Magistrates Court and taken directly to Willsmere, the Kew Mental Asylum. On the 9th of August 1962, John Mervyn Swallow died of heart failure, he was 57. He had been a resident of Kew for four years. John’s body was returned to Eltham Cemetery and buried in the same grave as Mary. There is no mention of his name on the head stone. Patricia’s grave is next to Mary and John. A sad irony has an angel upon her grave, “its head missing”, possibly vandals or just an accident of time and events. What became of the home where all of this took place on New Street shall remain a mystery but within six months of this horrific event, the street had been re-named to Lavender Park Road after the original property near the end of the road, Lavender Park. In Memory Of Mary Josephine Swallow Died 29th May 1954 aged 47 Also Patricia Cathryn Hill Dearly beloved wife of Kel Called home 30th May 1954 Aged 25 yearsBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, mary josephine swallow, patricia catherine hill, john swallow -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Balaclava Open Cut Mine near Whroo Historic Reserve; 9 Oct 1994, 09/10/1994
Colour photograph and newsclippingactivities, 1994, balaclava hill, balaclava mine, gold mining, whroo historic reserve -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Document (Item), Trustees of the Melbourne General Cemetery, Certificate of Right of Burial for James Renton WATTERS, 1902
The Certificate of Right of Burial was issued to Captain James Renton WATTERS (mis-spelled as WATERS) gave him he right, for the sum of One pound, to be buried in an 8 x 3 at Melbourne General Cemetery. James died in 1919 and was buried in his purchased plot/As well as the handwritten information, there are 2 date stamps ( Jun 25 1907 and Jun 22 1908) and an undertaker's stamp.james renton watters, death and funerals