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Brighton Historical Society
Dress, Evening dress, 1963
This gown was the winning entry in the Mannequins and Models Guild's Gown of the Year competition, held at the Chevron Hilton Hotel, Melbourne in November 1963 in aid of the Torch Bearers for Legacy. Designed by Lorna White for Hartnell of Melbourne and modelled by Marien Brindley, the dress’s construction is reputed to have consumed 300 hours, with the finished dress weighing 6 kilograms and costing around 3000 pounds. Evening gown made of cream ribbon lace and a rich latte-colured satin; applied beading. Cut with a high waist, short sleeves and deep V at centre back. Boned interior bodice. Centre back zip and train. gown of the year, hartnell of melbourne, lace, beading, ralph samuel, lorna white, marien brindley -
Brighton Historical Society
Dress, Day dress, circa early 1900s
This dress belonged to Mary Grace Medbury (nee Matthews, 1885-1967). Mary was born in Kansas, USA, and as a teenager travelled to Devon, England, before she came to Australia with her family and married Walter Ambrose Medbury (1887-1947). They lived together in Cheel Street, East Oakleigh. Walter, a building contractor, worked on numerous construction projects in the Melbourne area, including the Oakleigh Methodist Church, the HMAS Cerberus naval base and - closer to home - the former Brighton Courthouse, which was built in 1936 and still stands at 15 Boxshall Street. Mary gave the dress to her granddaughter, Fiona Nissen, when Fiona was a teenager. A Brighton local, Fiona donated it to the Society in 2013.White cotton muslin day dress with three-quarter length sleeves and square neckline, both edged with lace. The dress features white floral embroidery on the sleeves, skirt and front of bodice. Hook and eye fastenings at back.mary grace medbury, mary grace matthews, fiona nissen, migration, 1900s -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph
Door is signed by the town builders Thomas Southcombe & Alex Ingram1859 Named Wooden DoorsColoured photograph of a wooden door with penciled names of Thomas Southcombe and Alex IngramThe door is thought to be signed by the builders Thomas Southcombe and Alex Ingramcarpentry, house construction -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, 1859 Named Wooden Doors
Signed by the town builders Thomas Southcombe & Alex IngramColoured photographThe door is signed by the builders Thomas Southcombe and Alex Ingramcarpentry, hoses construction -
City of Greater Geelong
Decorative object - Stain Glass Window, Arthur S. Pittock, Geelong Crest Stained Glass Window, 1916
This stained glass was originally installed at Geelong Town Hall following its expansion in 1917. The Geelong Council involved the staff and former students of the Gordon Technical College in designing the artwork and aesthetic of the building. Arthur S. Pittock, former student and local glazier, was responsible for the design and construction of the large stained glass window in the stair hall. The window was described as “a special feature” in the new building with the leaded glass work using “the motif throughout in Greek form, of admirable colour”. The window showcases the City of Geelong’s original coat of arms, featuring images of Geelong’s early industries: sailing, wool, wine and wheat production, and a kangaroo as an inescutcheon. During the redevelopment of City Hall in the late 1960s the stained glass window was removed from the building. The surviving City Hall window is the most elaborate, known surviving stained glass window by PittockGeelong Crest fashioned in glassBy the right use of God's gifts 1894stain glass window, arthur s. pittock, city hall geelong -
Beechworth RSL Sub-Branch
Poster - Beechworth Sub Branch RSS & AILA - Mixed Sports Meeting
Poster details a fund raising event to raise funds for the construction of the Beechworth Servicemen's Memorial Hall in 1956; The Beechworth RSL Women's Auxiliary raised 20,000.00 to build the Memorial Hal which was constructed in 1957l It advertises an event that is significant in the effort to build a Memorial Hall in the townWooden framed advertising poster, glass front, gold inlay front inner frame, backing board is Masonite, held in by picture frame tacks and cover by adhesive paper. hanging wire and metal screw-in eyelets Program of events for the mixed sports held over the Easter Weekend 31 March - Monday 2 April 1956, in aid of Servicemens' Memorial Hall Fundfund raising event -
Melton City Libraries
Card, Scottish Debutante Ball invite, 1973
"The Mechanics’ Institute hall (demolished) and the library played a central role in the story of Melton social life, and in the development of its learning, culture, entertainment, celebration, commemoration and many community groups. The building on the site today - with the Court House the only remaining early community or public building remaining in High Street - is a tribute to the energy and talents of the very small Melton community over many years. Its substantial size, brick materials, and the evident use of an architect in its design, sets it apart from most other simple weatherboard Mechanics’ Institutes that were built in smaller country towns in Victoria. The financing and upkeep of this building, which was community-owned until 1982, and built on land purchased by the community rather than granted by Government, itself contributed to the coming together of the Melton community in decision making and fundraising. Although the original hall is demolished, the 1983 Melton Community Hall adjacent is partly its successor, demolition of the Institute hall having been predicated on its construction. The surviving brick front portion of the Institute was opened by the Hon. J Murray, Premier of Victoria in 1910". Scottish Debutante Ball hosted by Scots Church Melton at the Mechanics Hallchurches -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Melton Railway Bridge, c.1884
"The Melton Viaduct, opened in 1886, is of State heritage significance as a very large and visually distinctive wrought iron, lattice girder trestle bridge over the Werribee River (now Melton Reservoir). It comprises 18.3 and 9.1 metre spans, in a generally alternate arrangement, of total length 375 metres, and standing 38 metres over the Werribee River. Wrought iron small section iron was used to build tension trussed trestle legs, which supported four lines of rivetted wrought-iron deck-type double lattice trusses. It has bluestone abutments and pier bases of coursed rock-faced bluestone with drafted margins. The larger half-piers, now usually submerged in the Melton Reservoir have sharp tapered cutwaters and curved coping at the tops. While designed to carry two rail tracks it has only ever been used as a single track line. Despite several alterations to its deck structure, it remains an outstanding example of a lighter structural design employing open metal trestle supports and metal truss girders. The direct Melbourne to Ballarat railway link of which the Melton viaduct was the major engineering work contributed significantly to the history and development of Victoria. This new link reflected Ballarat’s diversifying economy as well as the commercial and political influence of the metropolis. Construction of the bridge, and the associated large workers camp, were extensively photographed, documenting an important episode in local history. The railway enabled the development of new industries in the Melton area, notably the timber industry and a chaff industry of national importance, greatly facilitated the later transition of the Shire from a pastoral to a farming economy, and struck a major blow to Melton township’s era as a wayside town servicing Ballarat road (especially coach) traffic". Melton Railway Bridge being built across the Werribee Rivertransport -
Kilmore Historical Society
Photograph, Sydney Street 180 South, 05/2015
30cm x 20cm colour photograph from the top of the Old Town Hall looking south. You can spot the Hey Dey Arcade and Bramford Funerals. Many cars on the road and two people crossing the road.Written on the back: May 2015 From the top of Old Town Hall Looking South Photo Simon Marshall Photo by Simon Marshal Construction + Building Design -
Kilmore Historical Society
Photograph, Sydney Street 180 North, 05/2015
30cm x 20cm coloured photograph from the top of the Old Town Hall looking North. It shows the Royal Oak and many cars parked on the street.Written on the back: May 2015 From top of Old Town Hall looking north Photo Simon Marshall Photo by Simon Marshall Construction + Building Design -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Booklet - The Vanished Village - Ebden Weir / Mitta Junction, Lyn Larkin, 2004
... construction site. The town was built to house workers ...This publication tells the story of the village of Mitta Junction which was established in about 1920 on the Victorian side of the Hume Dam construction site. The town was built to house workers and their families during the construction of the Hume Weir. It included houses, a shop, hall and school as well as tennis courts. After the completion of the weir the village and all its contents was sold at auction in June 1936 for £7000. The Mitta Junction school continued to operate until the mid 1980s. The book also documents aspects of the history of the Clark family of Bonegilla.A small publication by a local author. A4 size including photographs and a map.This publication tells the story of the village of Mitta Junction which was established in about 1920 on the Victorian side of the Hume Dam construction site. The town was built to house workers and their families during the construction of the Hume Weir. It included houses, a shop, hall and school as well as tennis courts. After the completion of the weir the village and all its contents was sold at auction in June 1936 for £7000. The Mitta Junction school continued to operate until the mid 1980s. The book also documents aspects of the history of the Clark family of Bonegilla.mitta junction township, hume weir construction, clark family bonegilla -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Book - Rural Australia and the Great War - From Tarrawingee to Tangambalanga, John McQuilton, 2001
This publication covers common issues of life in Australia during World War 1, such as recruitment, fundraising, conscription, homecomings and the construction of memorials. However it is unique in that these aspects of war are examined through a focus on rural communities in North Eastern Victoria. The first chapter describes the region and its towns at the outbreak of war, then discusses the fracturing impact of war on different groups within these communities. It paints an interesting social history at a critical time in Australia's development. John Quilton is a native of North Eastern Victoria, having been born in Yackandandah and educated in Tangambalanga and Wodonga. He was a senior member of the Bicentennial History Project at the University of New South Wales, and head of the History and Politics Program at the University of Wollongong.This book consists of 275 pages including photos and a map, as well as an extensive bibliography. The cover depicts a soldier and his family and a country town streetscape on the back.This publication covers common issues of life in Australia during World War 1, such as recruitment, fundraising, conscription, homecomings and the construction of memorials. However it is unique in that these aspects of war are examined through a focus on rural communities in North Eastern Victoria. The first chapter describes the region and its towns at the outbreak of war, then discusses the fracturing impact of war on different groups within these communities. It paints an interesting social history at a critical time in Australia's development. John Quilton is a native of North Eastern Victoria, having been born in Yackandandah and educated in Tangambalanga and Wodonga. He was a senior member of the Bicentennial History Project at the University of New South Wales, and head of the History and Politics Program at the University of Wollongong.world war 1, rural conditions australia 1914, world war 1 social conditions australia, tangambalanga world war 1 -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Booklet - Victoria's Upper Kiewa Valley, State Electricity Commission, C. 1984
This booklet is one of several publications from the State Electricity Commission during the period it was responsible for the running of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. It promotes tourism and depicts key features of the region in the 1980s.non-fictionThis booklet is one of several publications from the State Electricity Commission during the period it was responsible for the running of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. It promotes tourism and depicts key features of the region in the 1980s.victoria. kiewa valley, kiewa river valley (vic.) -- description and travel., kiewa hydro -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Fred Rochow Railways Collection - First standard gauge passenger train from Sydney to Melbourne, 13 April 1962
The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community. S Class Locomotives - The eighteen members of the S Class were ordered in two batches by the Victorian Railways from Clyde Engineering for express passenger and freight workings, with the final eight locomotives ordered specifically to work the North-East standard gauge line. Many were named after prominent Victorians.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.The first standard gauge passenger train from Sydney to Melbourne pulled by Locomotive S314. This was made possible when part of Australia's gauge problem was solved with the construction of a new standard gauge line. The new line was a 317 km long line running from Albury, NSW, parallel to the existing broad gauge line to Melbourne, connecting Australia's two largest cities by standard gauge. S314 entered service on 24 April 1961 and was named after Sir John O'Shannassy who was the second Premier of Victoria. The S314 pulled the first passenger train to travel straight through from Sydney to Melbourne on 13 April 1962. On the morning of 7th February 1969, the southbound Southern Aurora collided head-on with a northbound goods train near Violet Town, Victoria. The Locomotive S314 was hauling the goods train and was destroyed by the impact of the collision. On front of locomotive "S314" On banner below Coat of Arms "FIRST STANDARD GAUGE PASSENGER TRAIN / SYDNEY - MELBOURNE/ APRIL 13 - 1962"railways wodonga, fred rochow, walker rail motor vehicles, wodonga to tallangatta rail service -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Mitta Junction Township
Mitta Junction which was established about 1920 on the Victorian side of the Hume Dam construction site (originally called the Mitta Junction Reservoir). The town was built to house workers and their families. It included houses, private and government boarding houses, a shop, hall and school as well as tennis courts and a cricket pitch. Mitta Junction was a thriving community with many activities, including Balls and Euchre Nights, held at the Hall which opened in February 1922. The community also fielded a very successful football team in the local competition. After the completion of the Dam, the village and all its contents were sold at auction in June 1936 for £7,000. Individual houses sold at about £40 for removal to nearby towns. The Mitta Junction School which opened in 1922 continued to operate with very small numbers after the village was moved. Its numbers were boosted in the early 1980s by the children of Army staff at the nearby Latchford Barracks Army Apprenticeship School. It finally closed in December 1985.These images are significant because they capture the history of an important vanished town whose residents played a vital role in the construction of the Hume Dam.A collection of black and white images and a sketch map featuring the village of Mitta Junction, built to house workers on the construction of the Hume Dam. Some of the photographs have been mounted on heavy card.mitta junction township, hume dam construction, hume dam history -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Book - Let's Have Water - A history of the Fish River Water Supply, Robin McLachlan, Denis Barrett, Jack Domis, Nick Welling, 1997
A history of the development of the management of the Fish River Water Supply Scheme in Central NSW. The scheme extends across the local government areas of the Shire of Oberon, the City of Lithgow and the City of the Blue Mountains.non-fictionA history of the development of the management of the Fish River Water Supply Scheme in Central NSW. The scheme extends across the local government areas of the Shire of Oberon, the City of Lithgow and the City of the Blue Mountains.water nsw, fish river region nsw, oberon dam, water resources development nsw australia -
Melbourne Legacy
Newspaper - Article, Sir Alfred Kemsley dies, aged 90
An article from The Age about the death of Sir Alfred (Kem) Kemsley in 1987. It mentions that is was a loss of one of Melbourne's 'great characters'. Between the wars he served as secretary to the Melbourne Metropolitan Town Planning Commission and as secretary to the Liquor Trades Defence Union. In 1934 he became general manager of 3UZ. In world war 2 he was appointed director of the organsation of The Australian Army with the rank of Colonel. After the war he was one of those who founded the advertising agency United Service Publicity (later USP-Needham). He served as chairman and long remained director. Sir Kemsley was one of the earliest supporters of the Shrine and was instrumental in its construction. He was a shrine trustee and governor of the Corps of Commissionaires. An early and long serving member of Legacy. His many honours included KBE (1980), CMG (1973), CBE (1960), and ED. He was survived by a wife, son Liston, and daughter Jean by a previous marriage. The article was part of an album of past presidents from 1965 to 1989. The folder included biographical details and obituaries, eulogies and death notices of prominent Legatees. The items have been catalogued separately.A record that the death of Legatee Kem Kemsley a past president of Legacy, was reported in the press. The information was collected to record the lives of prominent legatees in a folder.Newspaper article about the death of Legatee Kem Kemsley in 1987.Handwritten 'The Age, 25/2/87 Wendy F.' in blue ink.past presidents, kem kemsley, obituary -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Photograph - Footbridge, Jemmeson Edie, 1936
Also second copyBlack and white photograph of the incomplete footbridge over Cunninghame Arm. It shows the incomplete bridge almost at the south shore, and a view of town waterfront from Eastern Wharf to Myer Street corner. Man in rowboat almost on beach in foreground. Lakes Entrance Victoriawaterfront, bridges, room display, construction -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Peterborough's 75th Anniversary Celebrations, 1961
A souvenir booklet commemorating the 75th anniversary of the town of Peterborough South Australia & the railway line through Peterborough from Port Pirie to Cockburn. It marked celebrations from the 21st to the 29th of October 1961.ill, p.74.non-fictionA souvenir booklet commemorating the 75th anniversary of the town of Peterborough South Australia & the railway line through Peterborough from Port Pirie to Cockburn. It marked celebrations from the 21st to the 29th of October 1961.railroad construction - south australia - history, peterborough - south australia - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Australian Railway Historical Society (S.A. Division Inc.) et al, Centenary of a Railway Town, 1977
A pictorial history of the railway at Peterborough South Australia to celebrate the centenary of the town.ill, p.56.non-fictionA pictorial history of the railway at Peterborough South Australia to celebrate the centenary of the town.railroad construction - south australia - history, steam locomotives - south australia - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Ferry, John et al, Glenreagh The Railway Heritage: Glenreagh Mountain Railway 2004, 2004
A history of the railway from Glenreagh and the North Coast railway in northern New South Wales, including the railway, the town, it's railway station and its locomotive depot.ill, maps, p.98.non-fictionA history of the railway from Glenreagh and the North Coast railway in northern New South Wales, including the railway, the town, it's railway station and its locomotive depot.railroad construction - new south wales - history, railroad operations - new south wales - history -
Victorian Railway History Library
Book, Catlins Historical Society Inc, The End of a Line - Catlins River Branch Railway, 1971
The history of the Catlins River branch railway from Balclutha on the South Island Main Trunk railway New Zealand, to the town of Tahakopa.ill, maps, p.61.non-fictionThe history of the Catlins River branch railway from Balclutha on the South Island Main Trunk railway New Zealand, to the town of Tahakopa.railroads - new zealand - south island - history, railroad construction - new zealand -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - First Methodist Church, Wodonga
Land for the Methodist Church in Wodonga was reserved in 1864. By 1865 the Reverend Francis Neale, a Wesleyan minister was appointed to Albury from where he supervised the congregation at Wodonga Creek until a church was built in 1873. By 1885 Wodonga and the other preaching places on the Victorian side of the Murray had become a separate circuit under the Reverend L. J Rowlands. This circuit included Bethanga. Kiewa. Leneva, Kergunyah and Bonegilla. In the 1960s the Methodist congregation built a new chapel in Hovell Street, Wodonga. The creation of the Uniting Church during the 1970s meant that the services were held in the former Presbyterian Church and joint Sunday School classes were conducted in the Methodist Hall. In 1961 the Church building and land was purchased by the Ukrainian Community for £2,000. Ukrainian Catholic families in Wodonga donated £100 each towards the purchase. Additional fund raising such as carol singing in nearby towns (Benalla, Wangaratta, Albury and Wodonga) assisted with the purchase of the Church. The former Methodist Church was in poor condition and the members of its new congregation undertook the replacement of the floor, the footings, replastering of the walls and the construction of an altar. The renovations cost a further £400. Once a month a priest came up from Melbourne to conduct services in the Church. On completion it was blessed by Bishop Ivan Prasko to become St Olga's Catholic Church (Ukrainian). In 1965 the Church was dedicated to its patron St Volodymir, with Bishop Varlamm (Sydney) and Bishop Donat (Melbourne) taking part in the ceremony. The members of the Ukrainian Catholic community also built a hall and smaller chapel in Hunt Street, Wodonga. With a declining congregation, this property became more manageable to maintain than the original brick building and the decision was made to close the building in 2010. In 2022 the building and extensive block of land in Church Street was sold commercially for potential redevelopment.These images are significant because they depict an early Wodonga Church building.A collection of coloured photographs depicting the first Methodist Church in Wodonga, Victoria It was a red brick church with a steeply pitched gable roof and parapeted gable walls. There was a small front porch with matching roof and gable treatment to the front. Simple timber Gothic windows were along the sides, with a tri-partite window above the porch. Two sections of this window featured stained glass, the other was opaque glass. Red brick buttresses were topped with white-painted render, as were the parapets, and the windows were also outlined with white painted render. Timber joinery was painted white. A front path led directly to the porch and the Church was flanked by mature oak trees. A small, relatively modern red brick skillion extension was added to the rear of the building.wodonga churches, methodist church wodonga, ukrainian catholic church wodonga -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Photograph - Yarra River from Flinders St Station clock tower, Town and Country Journal, 1909
Photos show the Yarra river and the shipping turning basin that was used prior to the construction of the Spencer St bridge. In the view are are steam hauled suburban trains, Flinders St A signal box, Queensbridge, and the wharves on either side of the river. The viaduct was expanded to four tracks in 1915. Yields information about Yarra River, Flinders St railway station yards and shipping,Set of two photographs looking west from the Flinders St Station clocktower. over the Yarra River and station yards.On rear of both prints in ink: 1 – Melbourne - West from clock tower on Flinders St station - “Town and Country Journal 21/7/1909” Copy neg Mark Plummer collections ex late John Alfred collection. .2 - Melbourne, Looking west along Flinders St from clocktower of Flinders St station. Copy neg Mark Plummer collections ex late John Alfred collection. Has “T&C 20/12/09” in pencil on rear. bridges, flinders st station, yarra river, wharves, railways, signal boxes, queens bridge, shipping -
St Kilda Historical Society
Ephemera - Flyer, Celebration marking the signing of a contract between the City of St Kilda and John Holland Construction, 1992
Invitation from St Kilda Mayor John Spierings to a celebration on 28 February 1992, including entertainment, children's activities, displays, tours and food, to mark the signing of a contract for works on the St Kilda Town Hall and Public Library. The extension to the St Kilda Public Library was officially opened on 19 December 1993. The redevelopment of St Kilda Town Hall was officially opened on 26 June 1994.Single sheet of cream coloured paper printed in black, with St Kilda logo. Illustration of a jester.st kilda town hall, st kilda library, st kilda mayor john spierings -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - HARRY BIGGS COLLECTION: EAGLEHAWK LOGS APPEAL
Documents. Harry Biggs Collection. Item 1 - Three letter pro-formas with the letter head 'Eaglehawk Logs Appeal' Town Hall, Eaglehawk, Ph. 8122. R. Manning. Chairman. Dear Sir. . . Includes photo of log cabin in left hand corner. Item 2 - Three banners - Support Eaglehawk Lock-up Appeal. Item 3 - Black & white photo of the log lock-up in Eaglehawk. Item 4 - Newspaper photo of the log lock-up in Eaglehawk with some information about it. Paper & date unknown. Item 5 - An orange card a photo of the Logs at rear of police station Eaglehawk. A written account of the Logs history & construction description. Item 6 - Jotting regarding Eaglehawk lock-up.place, building, site, harry biggs collection, log lock-up, eaglehawk -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Maroondah Highway Central, Ringwood. Ringwood Town Hall under construction - Taken in Melbourne St- 1936
... Maroondah Highway Central, Ringwood. Ringwood Town Hall...Written on rear of backing sheet: "Town Hall under.... Ringwood Town Hall under construction - Taken in Melbourne St- 1936 ...Black and white photograph (2 copies- 1 large, 1 small).Written on rear of backing sheet: "Town Hall under construction - Taken in Melbourne St." Image shows Harry Tortice- wood carter on horse drawn dray. -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Maroondah Highway Central, Ringwood. Town Hall under construction- c1920's
... Maroondah Highway Central, Ringwood. Town Hall under...Written under photograph: Ringwood Town Hall under... Central, Ringwood. Town Hall under construction- c1920's ...Black and white photographWritten under photograph: Ringwood Town Hall under construction- c1920's. -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Alan King, Alistair Knox Park, Eltham, 2008
Alistair Knox Park, an oasis of peace and beauty. Covered under National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Landscape Significance and Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p173 It is hard to imagine that the Alistair Knox Park, an oasis of peace and beauty beside busy Main Road, Eltham, was once the township’s rubbish dump. It was only in the 1970s that the tip was transformed into this beautiful six hectare space, which later earned it a National Trust Landscape classification. Before its life as a dump, the area was used for small farms. Thanks largely to the foresight and efforts of local environmental builder Alistair Knox, the park was designed sympathetically with the character of the wider Eltham landscape. Then, appropriately, the park was named after Knox, who was an Eltham Shire Councillor from 1971 to 1975 and Shire President in 1975. The park designers were four major forces in the urban bush landscape garden –Knox, landscape designer Gordon Ford, artist Peter Glass and landscaper Ivan Stranger. The National Trust citation for the park, originally called Eltham Town Park, includes the Eltham railway trestle bridge and the Shillinglaw Cottage. The citation states ‘the semi-natural setting of the parkland provides a landscape which is evocative of the history of the area’. Manna Gums (Eucalyptus viminalis) and Candlebarks (Eucalyptus rubida) are significant features. Most of the park’s construction was directed by Bob Grant, Superintendent of the Parks and Gardens Department for the Eltham Shire Council. First plantings occurred in Arbour Week in 1973, then the lake and botanic area were completed in 1975, with Federal Government funding, and the toilet block in 1978. Bounded by the Eltham railway line, Panther Place, Main Road, Bridge and Susan Streets, the park is in a valley about a kilometre wide overlooked by steep hills at the east and west. The Diamond Creek flows through it and the picturesque historic timber trestle railway bridge edges the north. Informal plantings of Australian indigenous and native species in open and undulating grassed settings blend with the natural landscape of the Diamond Creek to the west. The bush-style plants, particularly around the creek, balance with open lawns, paths and a cascade flowing from a small lake to another below. A footbridge over the creek leads to the park’s west. The park includes an adventure playground and barbecue areas. The park stands on part of the land bought from the Crown in 1851 by Josiah Holloway, who subdivided it into allotments and which he called Little Eltham. Most of the land was subdivided into residential lots, but the creek valley, on which the park stands, was subdivided into farm-size lots, used mainly for orchards and grazing. One of the earliest owners was John Hicks Petty, who in 1874 bought a plot from Holloway. Other families who owned properties in that area, included Rees, Clark, Waterfall, Graham, Hill and Morant. In 1901 the railway was built through the area. Jock Read, an Eltham resident since around 1920, remembers several farms in the 1920s and ’30s that occupied the site of today’s park. A poultry farm, which extended from present day Panther Place, was owned by the Gahan family. Next to that farm was another for grazing cattle owned by Jack Carrucan. Beside this was land owned by John Lyon. A doctor lived beside this, and at the north-west corner of Bridge Street and Main Road stood a memorial to the soldiers who died in World War One, which was later moved to the RSL site. Mr Read also remembers other farms and orchards west of the creek In the early 1960s the Eltham Council began buying these farms and in the late 1960s turned the areas east of the Diamond Creek into a garbage tip. When this was filled above the creek’s flood plain, the tip was moved to the west of the creek.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, alistair knox park, eltham -
Port Fairy Historical Society Museum and Archives
Photograph, Mason, John
Captain John Mason came from Stirling in Scotland, arriving at Port Fairy in 1844. One year after James Atkinson obtained his Special Survey of the area. Thus his life covers all the history of Port Fairy when it was known as Belfast. He married Jane Murray in Portland in 1846 and they had 5 children, Jane died in 1855 and ten years later he married Ann Brown widow of Abijah Brown. They had no children and she died in 1887. In due course he became known as Captain Mason, he was not a sea captain, but captain of the Belfast Volunteers, a Rifle Corps formed in 1859 as a consequence of the Crimean War, and later reconstituted as the Belfast Volunteer Corps. For 40 years he displayed a remarkable versatility in his various occupations. Starting as an Innkeeper - he took over the Stag Inn from Captain Saunders in 1852, for 3 years. He then became a carpenter, stonemason, architect, estate agent honorary technical advisor to the Borough and treasurer to the Shire, and Savings Bank Secretary. They thought so well of John mason in Belfast that they elected him to the first Roads Board in 1853 and to the first Municipal Council in 1856. He was Chairman four times and with Councillors David Talbot and Joseph Whitehead designed the Council's Common Seal and the Motto "Commune Bonum".He was the first Mayor of the Borough in 1863 for a period of 7 weeks. He was responsible for the design, supervision or construction of many of the buildings in the town; most still standing today. He built the Rosebrook Bridge in 1855 and the first official Post Office ( a timber structure in Bank Street) in 1857, replacing it with a stone office in 1865. he built the Court house in 1859 and completed the breakwater between Rabbit Island and Griffith Island started by James Atkinson and John Griffith in 1849, also the first bridge over the Moyne river which connected with Battery Lane and the Bay. Among the many buildings associated with John Mason are Gobles Mill, Tynemouth Villa, 10-12 Princes Street, the Mechanics Institute, the Commercial Hotel, Yambuk and Mickey Bourke's Pub in Koroit. However, he did not build "Riverdale" in Gipps Street as is thought. He had a store and workshop on this site but sold the property in 1872 before the house was built. After an almost uninterrupted term as Councillor starting with the Municipality in 1856, John resigned from the Council in 1873. He well deserved the illuminated address they gave to him and the toast that they drank in the Bank Hotel champagne. Within the year he was working for the Borough as its engineer., surveyor, general supervisor and advisor of public works, simply as the man to whom all difficult problems were referred and at very little expense. John Mason was a great worker for his town and devoted himself unsparingly to the community. That his work was appreciated was shown by the way in which people rallied to his aid when, in the end, he found himself in financial difficulties and his reputation was challenge; arrested for embezzling from the Savings Bank of which he was the actuary in 1882. The money was repaid and the charges found not proven at his trial. He was an early member of the Loyal Prince Albert Lodge, and a founding member of the smaller Loyal Belfast Lodge in 1863. He was also a member of the Horticultural Society. Captain John Mason Died on the 14th of October 1891 (see also 62-04-046 photo)Sepia photograph on heavy cardStevenson & McNicoll photo. 108 Elizabeth Street Melbourne copies can be obtained at anytimedefence, captain, mason, carpenter, councillor, mayor