Purchased by Douglas Brennan, who loved "new stuff".- "Micro" television in leather case - C 1960'sVariouselectronics, television, 1960's, margaret graham

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of No. 39 inbound along Sturt St. West. with many cars on the road. Bus stop on a pole on the other side of the road. The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "Even more dangerous that the lakeside track, for motorists, was the Sturt St West (Western Highway) section of roadside trackage. Car No. 39 faces oncoming traffic on the regular through works to "Mt PLEASANT". - Sept. '71 (Graham Evans)" See image btm2573p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11783" and written in ink on top edge "No. 39 Sturt St West Ballarat"tramways, trams, are, film strip, sturt st west, western highway, tram 39

White cardboard mount, 35mm slide, from the Association of Railway Enthusiast's film strip titled "Provincial Tramway Film Strip" of a Bogie car at Long Gully Loop, in the far distance, with a Hotel and the ESSO service station in between. Has Fosters Lager and Carlton signs on hotel. Note sign on the closet pole - "No standing between Notices". The film strip notes (Reg. Item 2560), provided the following caption details: "Meandering roadway and centre road track were a feature of the long "EAGLEHAWK" line. Here an inbound car negotiates the Long Gully Loop. - April '72 (Graham Evans)" See image btm2593p.tif for high level scan of image. Stamped on base of slide "11803" and written in ink on top edge "Eaglehawk line"tramways, trams, are, film strip, long gully, eaglehawk

Yields information about the work the BTPS was undertaking on tram 28 and activities at the depot.Set of 5 selected negatives from a group of about 22 negatives showing the activities at the BTPS depot c1975/1976. Photographed by Campbell Duncan or Paul Nicholson. .1 No. 26 on No. 2 road, signed as the "museum display tram" .2 - No. 28 on No. 1 road with the No. 2 end removed - Andrew Cook and Graham Jordan working on the tram. .3 - Depot cat sitting on top of No. 38's motor. .4 - view of the depot from Wendouree Parade with the trolley. .5 - Graham Jordan on No. 28, shows the lean or distortion on the tram following its accident just before closure. trams, tramways, btps, accidents, depot, tram 26 tram 28

Private Edward Connor (Service No: 2597) embarked 27/10/1915 from ??? He threw the bottle overboard (containing the message) from the Transport ship HMAT A38 enroute to ??? The bottle was found at ??? and returned to his mother, Mrs Martha Connor, Bromfield Street, Colac. Message reads ................?significant historical itemGlass bottle with metal screw top. This item forms part of the Connor Family Collection Schweppes brand bottle. Green in colourww1 service man sent a message to his mother in a glass bottle

Documents, Bert Graham Collection, Bendigo East Progress Association, correspondence from Sandhurst Trustees, Vic Roads, Bendigo City Council, Corporate Affairs Victoria, Michael John, M.P. John Brumby, M.P.- Central Goldfields- World Heritage Recognition, in town of Maldon.bendigo, clubs, bendigo east progress association

Documents, Bert Graham Collection, (a) Plan for Kennedy Street Reconstruction, Lansell Street, Charleston Road. Plan drawn by City of Bendigo, City Engineer on 18 May 1976.(b) Plan for Brick dressing pavilion at Eastern Park, Bendigo, by City of Bendigo Engineer, R. Anderson, date 2/12/1957. ( c ) Plan for Swimming Pool. Parts (a) and (b) have not been scanned because of their size.bendigo, clubs, bendigo east swimming club

Document, Bert Graham Collection, Bendigo East Progress Association, two (2) quotes for the hall floor.J.W Trahair, 27 Poulston Street, Bendigo for $2476.00, and Arthur Wilson, Lot 7, Chaikley's Road, Goornong, for $1674.45.bendigo, clubs, bendigo east swimming club

Set of 8 digital images of BTPS Operations on 7-9-1975 of BTPS activities. .1 - 27 on the 3 road extensions or service pit .2 - 27 and 28 on the depot fan - Gavin Young and Graham Jordan .3 - 26 on depot fan .4 - 28 with a side saloon panel removed and 38 behind .5 - 40 and 26 on the depot fan .6 - 27 at depot junction .7 - 40 on the access track .8 - 40 on the depot fan.trams, tramways, btps, wendouree parade, depot, gardens loop, depot junction, tram 26, tram 27, tram 40, tram 28

Door locking mechanism with separate knob. Lock is steel, handle brass. Large keyhole to right of handle, three small round holes on face for attaching to door.John Graham & Son' embossed on quatrefoil plaquebuildings, fittings, lock, door, john graham, steel, brass, handle

Purchased in memory of Sue Slonek, Secretary of Surrey Hills Historical Society, volunteer with the Surrey Hills Neighborhood Centre Heritage Collection (Surrey Hills historical Society Collection). A history of Canterbury Primary School written to celebrate the school's 100 year anniversary - 1908-2008A history of Canterbury Primary School written to celebrate the school's 100 year anniversary - 1908-2008canterbury primary school, primary schools, (ms) judy stewart, (mr) ian phillips, (miss) gabriela aloisio, (mrs) marjorie pitt, (miss) joan eltham, (mr) - shannon, (mr) - besant, (mrs) anne bialecki, (ms) diane western, (ms) margaret mason, (miss) hilary barr, (mrs) hilary praetz, (ms) vicki eddison, (miss) margaret kidd, (mr) don kerr, (miss) sarah pitman, (miss) linda summers, (mr) jack tanner, (miss) kate dale, (mr) strapper tanner, (ms) neva rossi, (miss) margot harris, (miss) lauren eddison, (mr) eric alway, (miss) jean alway, (miss) betty alway, (mr) thomas rule, (miss) diane fuller, (ms) barbara chapman, (ms) judy bridges, (ms) julie vango, (ms) judy pitman, (ms) joan le grand, (ms) anne lamborn, (mr) warren walsh, (ms) margaret lee, (ms) barbara gunn, (ms) christine hallman, (mr) murray haby, chris roth, (ms) sue de araugo, (ms) leslie brewer, (ms) judy jordan, sam paterson, (ms) debbie-jane andrews, (mrs) hazel young, (ms) ilse murrihy, (ms) linda summers, (mrs) georgia karatzas, (mrs) sylvia clarke, (mr) eddie clarke, (mrs) - willoughby, (mr) - hopkins, (mrs) - hopkins, (mr) graham salter, (ms) andrea thompson, (miss) - stent, (miss) - mcdonald, (mr) neville daynes, (mr) bruce margetts, (miss) doris thomas, (miss) hazel macdonald, (miss) annette mccoy, (mrs) - feldt, (miss) arwen summers, (miss) grace cameron-muller, manon merakis, terry poulton, (mr) david tolstrup, (ms) sue broadbent, (miss) florence rayment, (miss) yvonne wray, (miss) hazel jarvis, (mr) graham scott, (miss) june smith, (mrs) margaret anderson, (miss) margaret ginn, (miss) kelly jane, (mrs) patricia wion, (miss) patricia lewis, (miss) - edgoose, (mr) john merton, (ms) pauline flynn, (ms) lynne timms, (ms) marilyn taylor, (mrs) anne tonkin, (mrs) flo wilkinson, (miss) flo davies, (mr) jack hardy, (mr) john a bayford, (miss) marion greenwood-smith, (miss) - mcevitt, (miss) - ballantyne, (miss) - riseborough, (ms) (dr) kim dray, (miss) dorothy ambrose, (mrs) - lethbridge, (mrs) - le couteur, (mrs) margaret senior, (miss) margaret macgibbon, (mrs) - briggs, (mr) (major) - moloney, (mr) - poulton, (mr) adrian penniston-bird, prospect hill road, surrey hills, canterbury, canterbury road, molesworth street, highfield road, leeds street, salisbury street, (mr) patrick moloney, (mr) thomas rule, (mr) richard armitage, (mr) frank l oswell, (mr) walter g w webb, (mr) edward bright, (mr) george a allison, (mr) albert r coppin, (mr) william a lucas, (mr) alan g legg, (mr) ralph holden, (mr) dorothy ambrose, (mr) robert storey, (mr) tom neal-williams, (mr) effie miniati, (mr) geoffrey swift, (mr) - baddeley, (mrs) helen mcmillan, (miss) helen mcgibbon, (mr) don walker, (mr) howard hallo, (miss) jean cowen, (miss) felicity coleman, (miss) amanda colahan, (miss) caitlin sum, (miss) brooke webster, (miss) bridget hall, (miss) alison thompson, (mr) andrew lovitt, (mrs) barbara mihan, (miss) barbara prest, (mr) john webster, (mrs) lorna whalley, (mr) stuart margetts, (miss) elaine robinson, (mrs) nonie holman, (miss) nonie lovitt, (mr) brian webster, (mrs) alison cutter, (miss) alison horwell, (mrs) jaqueline lublin, (miss) jacqueline levy, (mrs) gilliam bell, (miss) gillian craig, pinus radiata, the secret garden, lych gate, (mr) geoff swan, talbet oaks, bedford oaks, significant trees, burgundy ash, allepo pine, golden ash, southey oaks, poulton oaks, (mr) (sgt) keith mcdowell, wattle park, (ms) caroline habgood, (mr) henry rotherham, j b cohen, (mr) (major) patrick moloney, (miss) dorothy ambrose, architects, wurundjeri william territory, (mr) - sachse, d kinnaird, builders, danks foundation, (dr) desmond gibbs, 1908, sue slonek, catherine cato, catherine charles, june smith, jenny flynn

This volume provides a record of Wesleyan, Methodist, Congregational and Uniting Church history since these churches had their origins in Surrey Hills in th 1880s.This volume provides a record of Wesleyan, Methodist, Congregational and Uniting Church history since these churches had their origins in Surrey Hills in the 1880s. 134pwyclif congregational church (surrey hills vic), centenary methodist church (surrey hills), congregational churches - victoria- surrey hills, surrey hills (vic) - church history, (mr) graham beanland

This has been a home/surgery for a number of general practitioners. Dr Hedley Francis Summons is listed on the 1931 and 1936 electoral roll as resident / practising here. He was born in Kew in 1899 (died in 1967) and married Elsie Florence Finlayson in 1925. They had a son and daughter. In 1937 the family returned to Melbourne from Edinburgh. He became Lt Colonel of the 2nd 9th Field Ambulance, 2nd AIF in WW2. He was taken POW on the fall of Singapore and there is a portrait of him by Murray Griffin done in Changi. Dr Lorimer Grant Morton (1904-1989) graduated in 1931 and was registered at 627 Whitehorse Road in that year until c1937. Dr Alan Herbert McNaughton graduated in 1932 and was the general practitioner during the WW2. He is listed at the address in the 1942 and 1943 electoral roll. He married Nancy Winifred Bottomley in 1940. Dr Jack Ramsay Collie (1914-1990) was a general practitioner at 627 Whitehorse Road from c1954-1980. He served in RAN in WW2; married Mary Sewell Graham in 1945 and had a son and a daughter. 627 Whitehorse Road probably ceased as a medical practice after his retirement. Sale history: Sold in November 2007 by Marshall White Real Estate for $1.455M Sold in September 2011 by Jellis Craig real Estate for $1.75MThe house is significant as an example of past practice of general practitioners having their surgeries as part of their home. This example is from a later date than the Surrey Hills Medical Centre (SHMC) at 174 Union Road, which was purpose-built for Dr James Landells Blakie in c1911. In this case the building has reverted to domestic use, whereas in the case of SHMC its use became solely medical.A coloured photograph of a house with an established garden and a wire fence along the front. A tall gum tree stands in front of the house.surrey hills, whitehorse road, doctors, dr hedley francis summons, dr jack ramsay collie, (miss) mary sewell graham, (mrs) mary sewell collie, dr donald malcolm collie, (miss) elsie florence finlayson, (mrs) elsie florence summons, dr alan herbert mcnaughton, (mrs) nancy winifred mcnaughton, dr lorimer grant morton

This dress belonged to Ellen Davis, nee McLaughlin (1870-1956), great-grandmother of Margaret Lake. Ellen was born in County Donegal, Ireland. She married George Washington Davis in 1890 and the couple moved to South Africa, where George owned a bicycle store. During this time, Margaret says, Ellen "had a life of luxury, having servants at her beck and call and even sleeping at the foot of her bed to protect her from any harm". She was a "tiny lady of 5 foot tall" and George "could put his hands around her waist of 18 inches". On coming to Australia they opened a garage and taxi service in Graham Street, Port Melbourne. They lived here until Ellen's death in a road accident in 1956. Ellen gave the dress to her great-granddaughter when Margaret was ten years old. Aged 62, Margaret told BHS, "I have worn it on several occasions, mostly to costume parties and fancy-dress balls when I was younger. I have loved it all this time and displayed it on a dress model in my last home". As she had no granddaughter of her own to leave it to, she decided to donate the dress so that it would continue to be cared for.Sleeveless black silk crepe dress with V-neck and scalloped hem. Covered with black beaded designs, with white bead and iridescent pink sequin accents.margaret lake, ellen davis, ellen mclaughlin, beading, 1920s

Group photos of the Association for the Blind 1994-95 Board members, taken for the annual report. The board comprised of: Norma Crook, Don Draffin, Henry Malycon, Terry Cocks, Marjorie West, Robin Pleydell (Vice President), John Moule (President), Malcolm Daubney, Eve Lustig (Vice President), Graham Upton (Treasurer), Jeremy Wurm, Michael Gorton, Elizabeth Judd, Claire Proctor, John Cook (CEO) and Elaine Leahy (who was absent from the shoot)10 x Col. transparencies of AFB Board membersassociation for the blind, norma crook, don draffin, henry malycon, terry cocks, marjorie west, robin pleydell, john moule, malcolm daubney, eve lustig, graham upton, jeremy wurm, michael gorton, elizabeth judd, claire proctor, john cook

The Board of the Association for the Blind. Backrow: Graham Upton, ?, Malcolm Daubney, Henry Malycon, Terry Cocks, Marjorie West, Norma Crook (?), Michael Gorton, John Cook (CEO) and Jeremy Wurm. Front row: Don Draffin, Eve Lustig, John Moule, Claire Proctor, ?Col. transparencies of AFB Boardassociation for the blind, graeme upton, malcolm daubney, henry malycon, terry cocks, marjorie west, norma crook, michael gorton, john cook, jeremy wurm, don draffin, eve lustig, john moule, claire proctor

Musician Graeham Goble performs at an unknown event, possibly supplied for the Carols by Candlelight program when the Little River Band played in 1982.B/W photograph of Graham Goble.carols by candlelight, graeham goble

Vision QLD strategic planning seminar 1997. Images included participants in workshops and the views from the centre.16 colour photographs of seminar attendeesListing at front with participants names for first group photograph. L-R: Ian Barclay, Pauline McLaughlin, Terry Boyle, Graham, Glenys Jay, Des Knight, Prof. Ron McCallum, Paul Evan, Kevin O'Mahoney, Peter Lynam, Anne Mibus, Bob Marshman, John Mitchell, John Puttick.vision qld, pauline mclaughlin, glenys jay, professor ron mccallum, paul evan, anne milbus, bob marshman, john mitchell, john puttick, ian barclay, terry boyle, des knight, peter lynam, kevin o'mahoney

William Jackson Thomas is credited with making the first ever telephone call in Victoria. Thomas was a customs inspector at the Geelong Customs House and a keen amateur scientist, astronomer and woodworker. He experimented with electricity and induction to develop his own telephone soon after its invention by Alexander Graham Bell. He built most of the experimental telephone equipment himself – right down to the screws. According to the Geelong Advertiser, on 27 December 1877, Thomas held a telephone conversation with friends in a summer house 40 metres away.This instrument is of great historic significance as the instrument which made Australia's first telephone call in 1877, between two houses in Geelong. Although predated by Alexander Graham Bell's invention, this instrument is an example of Australian innovation and design; characteristic of Australian communications history. The instrument has excellent provenance, carrying a descriptive plaque about the use of the item. As an early prototype of a telephone, it is an incredibly rare example of communications technology.Stained wooden rectangular box containing mechanism with circular turned section at one end being the receiver and transmitter. There are 3 metal screws at the rear and a leather strap running from one of these to the transmitter/receiver. A label is on the base.On label: "First telephone made in / Victoria 1878 / Used experimentally between / Geelong and Ballarat and Geelong Queenscliff. / Maker WJ Thomas Esq. / Late H.M. Customs Geelong / Certified by A.C. Thomas For the above W.J.T."telephone, inventions

This was probably part of a real estate promotion for the sale of the Riversdale Heights Estate. This was subdivided by Messrs. Duncan and Weller. Of the allotments offered, 30 were sold and realised £4600. Date of this sale was c December 1923. This suggests that the date This are was one of the last pieces of former rural land to be sub-divided for housing in Surrey Hills.The land between it and South Surrey Park was sub-divided post WW1, hence the naming of the streets after sites of WW1 battles.A black and white reproduction of an aerial photo of the area near the corner of Warragul and Riversdale Roads looking west towards the city. Some features have been identified by name including the Riversdale Heights Estate, which was being sub-divided. North and South Courts are shown. Other roads (unmarked) in the foreground are Graham Street, Allie Street, Thistle Street, Lille Street, Amiens Street, and Marne Street. Beyond these is the area marked 'PARK' (South Surrey Park), which is devoid of vegetation. Areas of Camberwell and Canterbury are also shown. The area covered extends to beyond St Dominic's Church. The original is mounted on a cream deckle-edged paper.Beneath the original on the mount: "SOUTH SURREY HILLS LOOKING WEST c. 1936" [The reference to the sale in the Box Hill Reporter of December 1923 found on Trove suggests that this date is not accurate.] Rear top LH corner of original in Jocelyn Hall's handwriting: "For Centre / from Mr James Long"riversdale heights estate, riversdale road, allie street, south surrey park, lille street, thistle street, amiens street, marne street, south court, north court, duncan and weller, real estate sales, graham street, st dominics church, highfield park, canterbury primary school, aerial photo

Articles in the annual report include: retirement of Graham Lawrence and appointment of Jon Isaacs, death of Dr Sandy Robertson, pilot Traineeship Access Course for school leavers was developed, library involved in organising IFLA Specialist section meeting, introduction of face to face proofreading for talking books, Dr Max Lang donated his personal collection of optometry books, Maths Braille Code revised with input from Betty Smith and RBS staffers, increase of braille produced through microbraille program, Paul Cullen Centre opened on October 28, 1987 with two levels of care via Burgess Hostel and Roselands Nursing Home, closure of Lighthouse Hostel in Burwood and small cottage style hostels in Enfield and Strathfield, introduction of new lines in manufacturing (skirthanger, Miyata bicycle), Variety Club of Australia continue their support for a national children book collection, 3M Australia sponsored upgrade of studios and Talking Book of the Year award, Jillian Hallam won Sports Girl - for all Women in Sport award and Inge King's 'Awakening' won the Bicentennial RBS Sculpture award.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Newspaper articles about blindness, visually impaired or blind people and activities.Scanned copies of newspaper articles collected by Lady Nelllady nell seeing eye dog school, royal victorian institute for the blind, association for the blind, royal institute for the blind (sa), villa maria society, queensland industrial institute for the blind, guide dogs for the blind association of victoria, australian national council of and for the blind, phyllis gration, max medlyn, christopher finnen, dawn goebel, arthur mackey, walter jacobs, kevin o'mahoney, jean smith, pam marks, white cane, assistive devices, garry stinchcombe, matey fisher, robert gordon, ruth keoden, winsome mclean, arthur wilkins, len childs, bob elliott, graham miller, jack birkett, norman pressey, don westaway, norman salmon, mark houran, yvonne simpson, irmo guglielamana, jenny ziviani, shaun oliver, peter goss, albert poelstra, ewan gouldon, uncle ben's of australia, dr henry nowik, mary martin, kathleen wenzer, donna hayes, ken campbell, barry murphy, michael riley, jack dowdle, harold gration, leah francis (nee wilson), john dingle, alex mcnish, peter richards, irene mye, jim finn, cec mcillwraith, terry carlson, keith smith, gordon stent, frank taylor, don verlander, olive moody, roslyn sackley, ross johnson, jako mikulic, jewel blanche, william mckennariey, vicki barclay, grantley dee, ray hannah

Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: the addition of the Royal Blind Foundation of Queensland, opening of an office in Darwin, achieving the highest ever ratings for Carols by Candlelight and winning the National Employer of the Year award.1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementscorporation records, vision australia, kevin murfitt, gerard menses, katerina skilros, robin sands, helen robbins, nastasia campanella, david eveleigh, ted thorburn, nick carter, brenda murray, chris edwards, joe hockey, delta goodrem, janine cullen, cathy pepper, graham dawson, stephen jolley, arthur chawner, caitlin mcmorrow, maureen davenport, jean weaver, shirley meyers, joshua green, ryan green, matthew green, carolyn moncrief, camille fong lim, dianne spalding, ron mccallum, deborah randich, michael simpson, christine harding, trish egan, greg hempenstall, tim evans, paul bunker, jennifer gibbons, owen van der wall, keith barton, paul gleeson, timothy griffiths, tony hanmer, renae johnston, jan lovie-kitchin, ross mccol, theresa smith-ruig, tony clarke

Pupils of Orford school 1947 all namedBlack and white photograph of a group of school children outside weatherboard building with names added underneathOrford School 1947. Back Row.- L to R.- George Riordan, Don Fry, Judy Roberts, Wally Tieman, Lindsay Roberts, Alan Ryan, John Bruin, Centre Row.- Reg Cameron, Doug Jacobsen, Vonnie Tieman, Barbara Ryan, Lorna Cameron, Myra Gleeson, Edna Gapes, Val Gleeson, Muriel Fry, Betty Ryan, Alan Gapes, Phyllis Gleeson. Front Row.- Doug Bruin, Margaret Porter, Helen Roberts, Jim Gleeson, Alan Cameron, George Jacobsen, Cliff Ryan, Graham Fry, Georgina (Beadie) Youngorford, school, pupils, students

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

TOM COLLINS–from the reel to reel tape recording at Melton 1969 In the years between 1890 and to about 1913 Melton was a quiet little hamlet alongside the Toolern Creek, once called the Pennyroyal Creek, 24 miles from Melbourne on the Ballarat Road. There was a fair amount of woodland left around it, mostly grey and yellow box with sheoak, and golden wattle, which in spring time made a rather attractive setting. Most of the premises were in the main or High Street, with its line of elm and pepper trees on each side. Unitt, McKenzie and Henry streets each contained only a few dwellings. Hotels were four in number, Minns’s, Mrs Hay licencee, now Mac’s, Golden Fleece – Sheblers. The Royal or Ryan’s as it was then called, later Graham had the licence, and the Raglan - Kilpatricks had the licence and afterwards Tom Manning. This was situated about where Mr K. Young had his residence. There was a store attached to the hotel until about 1900. Both the Royal and the Raglan were delicensed, later on the Royal being converted to a green grocery and a boarding house, the Raglan was demolished. The Royal green grocery and boarding house was kept by E Carew and after he retired, E Radford. The Post and Telegraph Office was on the opposite side of the street to the Raglan Hotel about two doors west of the Shire Hall and was kept by Mrs Ferris and Lady Farmer until her retirement, when it was carried on by Miss Lottie Ross. A store was attached to the Post Office and was sometimes used as a store and at one time housed the National Bank. There were two full time banks at Melton, the other being the Commercial which built premises about 1904 and on the corner of High and Smith Streets, which it still occupies. Mr G Egan was the manager of the Commercial and Mr Stradling and later Mr Lee of the National. However as business was not thought good enough they reverted to a part time branch operated from Bacchus Marsh. Grocer shops were Chalmers, with a news agency and drapery now Arnolds, Jongebloeds had the bakery. Mr Fox also a produce merchant, was where Melton Real Estate is now, it was later occupied by Buchanans, Atleys, and Mrs Ross. Not long after the War Mrs Ross built the Post Office, since demolished where Miss Lottie Ross was the Post Mistress and later built the store which she conducted. It was later turned into a factory and in now the barbers shop. McNichols was just west of the Minns Hotel. He travelled as far a Ballan weekly, buying calves and dairy produce for sale in Melbourne. Afterwards he sold the business and bought Minns Hotel and changing the name to Macs. Blacksmiths were three in number. Blackwoods – later James Byrnes next door to Jongebloeds. Alex Cameron who learnt his trade with Blackwoods had his shop about the rear of where Ken Youngs Garage is now he later moved to the north west corner of High and Alexander Street. He was also the Registrar of Birth and Deaths and Electoral Registrar. After his retirement he was weighbridge keeper at Melton South. Two of his sons were engaged in the carpentry trade, but both died at an early age. Whittingtons shop was a few doors east of the Mechanics Hall and it was later occupied by Gordon Macdonald who did business there until about eight years ago. The butchers of the period were George Graham, that is where Mandy Lees hairdressing establishment is now. Euan MacDonald had premises later occupied by Whittingtons blacksmith shop. Later shifting next door. He left here about 1901, he slaughtererd animals at a slaughter house right where Chas Jones now resides, it had previously been a slaughter house and butcher shop of that site. George Spring also operated as a butcher for two or three years about the 1900 or so. Ted Simpsons shop was where John Kontek now has his Estate Agency, he used it as an branch shop from Bacchus Marsh bringing meat from there by a two horse lorry. Jimmy Butler the manager was well known and loved, his son was later a steeplechase jockey. The Court House and Police Station would be built sometime before 1900. The Constables at the time were McGuire, later Wade, Riely and McKenzie after that Robert Wilson and Seinfort were here, they were a bit later on. The Mechanics Hall was first opened by Ryan of the Royal Hotel who sold it to the Hall Committee. It was on Unitt Street and it was moved by McLellans the house shifters from Unitt Street to its present site. Bluestone premises formerly occupied by the bootmaker Carew, were later demolished and replaced by the brick frontage to the Hall. Keith Orensini [?] the local bricklayer built brick portion to the Hall. In the cottage adjoining the Hall a Frenchman named Baudin, had a boot repairing business.This cottage was the later residence of J Hill, a local carpenter and builder from whom I learnt my trade. Granny Watts was the well known local nurse and operated the Mid-Wifery Hospital in Yuille Street on the Sherwin Street corner. Mrs Nissen was on the opposite side of Yuille Street a short distance nearer the township. She conducted the laundry. Carew had a greengrocers shop next door to the Post Office in the High Street for some time before transferring to the Royal Hotel site. He also bought [?] calves for killing. W Cecil was a tank maker and also had a produce round, he lived on Pyke and Sherwin Street. Later Gus Shebler, builder and carpenter engaged in tank making being well known for good workmanship. Shebler was very energetic in forming the Gun Club which met for a good number of years where the golf course now has its headquarters. Of the four churches only three are in use, Christ Church, Scots and St Dominics. The Methodist closed down but later transferred to Melton South. Monthly stock sales were held at the yards in Unitt Street at Minns Hotel by McPhail Auctioneers, later held by McCarthur and McLeod. After the Council built the pound and sale yards they transferred sales to these premises, but lack of patronage caused them to be abandoned. A familiar sight in the district was blind Bob Nixon, who lived in a tumbled down cottage in Centenary Road near W Coburns, being led by his dog down the road to Melton, that is Palmerston street, to the Post Office, butcher and baker for his supplies and then back home. He was able to do his own cooking and other chores. Sundays he would come down Raleighs Road to the back of the church and tie his dog to a tree. Someone, mostly one of the boys would guide him into the church and out again after the service, when the dog would lead him home again. State School 430, a two roomed bluestone building it was the only school in the district, none at Melton South. The nearest would be Rockbank and Toolern Vale. Scholars had a fair distance to walk in most cases. The teachers were Mr T Lang Headmaster. I put a query here, Miss Winters, I’m not certain of the name, Mrs Skinner and Miss Silke as Assistant Teachers. Miss Augusta Cecil and Miss Maud Lang were Junior teachers. One boy who attended the school about the turn of the century was Hector Fraser who resided with his parents in Keilor Road, where Jim Gillespie now lives. He was an excellent gun shot and at the age of about 17 years his father took him to France or Monaco where he won the Gran Prix for pigeon shooting and became the champion boy shot of the world. However he died there from pneumonia. He shot under the name of “Parvo”. The Melbourne Hunt Club used to meet in Keilor Road north side just east of the Toolern Creek on what was originally Pykes Run. This was also the place where the races were held and the Sports Meetings. Dave Murphy, employed at Clarke’s Rockbank Station usually provided the fox which he liberated for the Club. Greyhound coursing was usually held on Moylans property Mt Kororoit, or Mt Misery as it was known then. Later it was held at Melton Park, Mr Matt Carberry was the judge and Percy Cook the slipper. Early in the 1900’s the Recreation Park was created and the Caledonian and the ANA sports meetings were held there, they were annual events. L Paterson from Melton South was a successful competitor in all the cycling events as a young man. He later in life became the Deputy Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The present Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade is John Paterson, nephew of his, and spent his early life in Exford where his father was manager of the Exford Estate. Notes Tom Collins was born c 1895. He lived on the south side of the Ballarat Road near the intersection of Keilor Road.Historical image of Palmerston Street in Meltonlocal architecture, landscapes of significance