Coloured booklet of various scenes and buildings in and around Bendigo, titled Bendigo Victoria's Golden City. The front cover has a scene of Charing Cross looking towards Pall Mall. Inside the front cover is a very brief history and some Historical Buildings are mentioned. They are: Fortuna, Shamrock Hotel, Gold Mines Hotel, City Hall, Post Office, Law Courts, the Home for the Aged, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Paul's, Specimen Cottage, Log Lock-up and the Chinese Joss House. The coloured pictures inside are: The Central Deborah Gold Mine, Fortuna, Miner's Cottage, The Gold Mines Hotel, Victoria Hill, Bendigo Law Courts, Eaglehawk Log Lock-up, Look-out Tower Rosalind Park, Alexandra Fountain - Charing Cross, Conservatory Gardens with Law Courts in background, Inside the Conservatory, Bendigo Home & Hospital for the Aged - Victoria's 'White House', Sacred Heart Cathedral, Chinese Joss House, Chinese Joss House - Interior of the Main Temple, Bendigo Pottery - Potter at work, Bendigo Municipal Offices, Bendigo Institute of Technology at Flora Hill, Mt. Alvernia Hospital, Cobb & Co Coach, R Class Locomotive, Bendigo Tramcar, Lake Weeroona and Lake Eppalock Pumping Station. Some more attractions are mentioned inside the back cover. On the back cover is the Cenotaph - the only scale replica of the Whitehall Cenotaph - and Alexandra Fountain by night.Nucolorvue Productions Pty Ltdbendigo, tourism, photographs of bendigo icons, bendigo - victoria's golden city, fortuna, shamrock hotel, gold mines hotel, city hall, post office, law courts, home for the aged, victoria's 'white house', sacred heart cathedral, st paul's, specimen cottage, log lock-up, chinese joss house, charing cross, cenotaph, alexandra fountain, centra deborah gold mine, army cartographic unit, miner's cottage, harvey town, victoria hill, look-out tower rosalind park, conservatory gardens, conservatory, bendigo pottery, bendigo municipal offices, bendigo institute of technology, mt alvernia hospital, cobb & co coach, r class locomotive, bendigo railway station, bendigo tramcar, lake weeroona, lake eppalock pumping station, art gallery, historical museum eaglehawk, melville's caves, whitehall cenotaph, nucolorvue productins pty ltd, national library of australia

Leslie John Bagust Collection. Black and white photo of the Queen Victoria Gardens. In the foreground is the baby health centre, (since removed), Queen Victoria statue in white, centre background shows the RSL Hall and part of the roof and the clock tower of the Old Bendigo post Office. Background right the tower of the Shamrock Hotel and centre background is the town of the Bendigo School of mines. The right shows vehicles parked along Pall Mall. To the right of the health centre there is a small white statue, of unknown representation. At the bottom of the photo in white Queen Victoria Gardens, Bendigo and to the right is No.10.bendigo, parks and gardens, queen victoria gardens

Hargreaves Street Bendigo - Slide - 1950s - Taken from near the corner of Hargreaves Mall and Mitchell Street, looking North; Shamrock Hotel and post post office in the background over the shopping centre.history, bendigo, hargreaves street bendigo

Photocopies and original of 'Back to Mandurang' Souvenir. Celebration 1938. Contains the history of Mandurang and many of the local residents, the industries and agricultural pursuits. Names mentioned are: Mrs Thomas, Les Nankervis, Geo McGuire, Pinche, Mr Coghill, Mr Fenton, Atkinson's Station, John T Deravin, Wine Hall, Church, Kerr's Hotel, Tannery, Mr Panton, John Billman, Sheepwash Creek, Emu Creek, Port Phillip District (Victoria), Mr Charlesworth, Sam Snowden, Mr Grant, Grant's Land Act, Mr Montgomery, Mr McEncroe, Mr Wyeland, John Smith, Mr Adams, Geo Kofoed, Monti, Mr Ewing, Wm Ewing, Geo Green, Jim Green, Green Bros, Wm Keating, Mandurang Hotel, J B Loridan, Mr Lansell, 'General Grant', August Heine, Mr Myers, Mr Barth, Phylloxeria, Mr Jones, Mr McGuire, James Hargreaves, Mr Bounty, E Huillier, Sam Martin, Mr Oldworth, Dr Backhaus, Andrew Monti, W Wenwright, Mr Munroe, Mr Eldridge, Wm Wright, W Thomas Lowe, Taylor, Sam Lowe, George Lowe, Wm Hargreaves, Albert E Pearce, Piccaninny Creek, G Sherriff, Mr Stein, Albert Stein, John Theodore Deravin, Robins, Phylloxera vastrix, Mr Grosse, Board of Health, Chateau Dore, House of Assembly, Dr Hugh Deravin, Mrs Deravin, John Adolphus Deravin, Education Department, Bendigo High School, St Andrew's College, Stock Exchange, Relief Funds, L Dungey, Mr Crawford, A W McCauley, Schillerio, Cleghorn, Goudge and Sibley, Sibley and Lambert, R H S Abbott, Protestant Church, Miss E Wright, W Stephenson, Geo Lowe, J Hargreaves, Theo Deravin, Wm Pearce, Mrs A Deravin, St John's Roman Catholic Church, Father O'Connell, Father McKnab, Post Office, I Witworth, W Casey, Franz Steilow, Geo Billman, R Brennan, F Osborne, Mr Webster, Wm Hughes, Mr Raymond, One Tree Hill, Jerry Ryan, Bendigo City, Shire of Strathfieldsaye. Original copies are very dilapidated and pages 6, 7, and 8 are missing. (In 5 pockets).ephemera, mementoes, back to mandurang, john jones collection - back to mandurang souvenir 1938, mrs thomas, les nankervis, geo mcguire, pinche, mr coghill, mr fenton, atkinson's station, john t deravin, wine hall, church, kerr's hotel, tannery, mr panton, john billman, sheepwash creek, emu creek, port phillip district (victoria), mr charlesworth, sam snowden, mr grant, grant's land act, mr montgomery, mr mcencroe, mr wyeland, john smith, mr adams, geo kofoed, monti, mr ewing, wm ewing, geo green, jim green, green bros, wm keating, mandurang hotel, j b loridan, mr lansell, 'general grant', august heine, mr myers, mr barth, phylloxeria, mr jones, mr mcguire, james hargreaves, mr bounty, e huillier, sam martin, mr oldworth, dr backhaus, andrew monti, w wenwright, mr munroe, mr eldridge, wm wright, w thomas lowe, taylor, sam lowe, george lowe, wm hargreaves, albert e pearce, piccaninny creek, g sherriff, mr stein, albert stein, john theodore deravin, robins, phtlloxera vastrix, mr grosse, board of health, chateau dore, house of assembly, dr hugh deravin, mrs deravin, john adolphus deravin, education department, bendigo high school, st andrew's college, stock exchange, relief funds, l dungey, mr crawford, a w mccauley, schillerio, cleghorn, goudge and sibley, sibley and lambert, r h s abbott, protestant church, miss e wright, w stephenson, geo lowe, j hargreaves, theo deravin, wm peatce, mrs a deravin, st john's roman catholic church, father o'connell, father mcknab, post office, i witworth, w casey, franz steilow, geo billman, r brennan, f osborne, mr webster, wm hughes, mr raymond, one tree hill, jerry ryan, bendigo city, shire of strathfieldsaye

Leslie John Bagust Collection. Black & White Photo Charing Cross and Pall Mall Bendigo 1940. Alexandra Fountain in the foreground and behind that the Queen Victoria Gardens. Image taken looking west towards the Shamrock Hotel and the Old Post Office. Beside the R.S.L. Soldiers Memorial Hall is the Military Museum. The law Courts are then beside the Old Post Office Gallery.bendigo, tourism, charing cross and pall mall bendigo

Small booklet titled Mandurang School Centenary September 1977. It has a black and white picture of the school on the front cover. Mentioned in the book is the History of Mandurang State School and District, Industries, Wine, Milk, Gold, Tannery, The Look-Out, Timber, Hotels, Water Race, Floods, Post Office, Sports, Churches, Fire Brigade, List of Head Teachers 1861 - 1975, The School opens 1877 and Mothers' Club. Photos include Mr & Mrs J T Deravin Pioneer settlers of Mandurang, Deravin's Barn & Wine Cellars, Bernado Togno's Vineyard, Hargreave's Milk Cart, J Pearce & Sons Milk Delivery Bike, The Tannery, Wooden Poppet Head Tower, Kerr's Hotel, The Wine Hall (Previously Junction Hotel), Harry & Len Kofoed's Wood Trucks, Mandurang Recreation Reserve 1977, Mandurang Cricket Club (1889 or thereabouts), Methodist Church, School Pupils 1894, Early School Group, School Pupils 1960 and 1962, Working Bee before shifting School Building to it's Present Site, School Pupils 1922 and School Pupils 1977.Edwin J. Watts. Express Print, Bendigoeducation, primary, mandurang primary school no 1952, john jones collection - mandurang school centenary september 1977, edwin j watts, kevin o'brien, g pearce, j sloan, v togno, r pearce, j french, i adams, b adams, g grose, i kofoed, j pearce, f pentland, g shaw, n todd, i grose, h koefoed, m macdonald, k pearce, t french

BHS CollectionA4 copy of original photograph. Pall Mall shops viewed from Government Camp, prior to 1870 (when Post Office and Court House were erected). View shows the Shamrock Hotel and the Royal Exchange Hotel with linked verandahs, the bell tower of St Paul's Anglican Church; and band stand (on the site of Post Office) beyond the creek. In the foreground part of the Government Offices with eight men shown on fence line.bendigo buildings, early buildings in bendigo late 1800s

Twelve pages document titled: ''Theatrical traditions - stage and screen in Bendigo. The document details the history of theatres in Bendigo from the early days. Paragraphs titles are: The Shamrock Hotel, The Criterion Theatre, Abbott's Lyceum, St. James Hall, The Royal Princess Theatre, The Masonic Theatre, Open air picture Theatres, The Lyric Theatre, Plaza Theatre, Eaglehawk pictures. The Golden drive-in Picture Theatres in decline, Contemporary cinemas, Community traditions, Bendigo Regional Arts Centre, Ulumbarra Theatre. The document was prepared for the Post Office Gallery exhibition and is marked Confidential.entertainment, theatre, post office gallery

Building historyB/W photo of original photo of Corduroy Bridge Hotel, High St. Clarendon, circa 1906, shows Clarendon Post Office and members of Brown family.corduroy bridge hotel, clarendon, high street, clarendon post office

DEATH OF MR. H. NEWMAN. Widespread regret will be felt at the announcement of the death of Mr Henry Newman, an old colonist and a member of firm of Newman and Sons Proprietary Limited, jewellers, which occurred at his residence, "Sadova," William street, on Saturday, at the age of 89 years. Mr Newman who was born at Riga, in Russia, went to England when a lad, became naturalised, and emigrated to Victoria 61 years ago. He tried his fortune at Ballarat but soon afterwards returned to Melbourne, and began business as a jeweller, on a site in Collins street that is now occupied by Scott's Hotel. A few years later Mr Newman went back to England, where he was married. On his return to Victoria again he resumed his jewellery business in Elizabeth street opposite the General Post-office. An interesting fact in connection with his business is that his first journeyman watchmaker was Mr. Thomas Gaunt, the founder of the firm of Messrs. T. Gaunt & Co. Five years ago Mr. Newman retired from the business, which has since been carried on by his two elder sons. Although he took no active part in public affairs, Mr Newman was held in high regard on account of his business integrity, sterling personal worth. and the unostentatious way in which he did good. His vitality, even in his later years, was wonderful. On four occasions he met with accidents, having been twice knocked down by motorcars and twice by trams, without having sustained injury. A widow and grown up family of four sons and four daughters survive him. The Age Monday 27 October 1913, page 9. Roy Cronin 156 High Street Kew Jeweller and watchmaker. East side between Denmark Street and Cotham Road. Wood, enamel, brass and glass wall clock, the movement made by H Newman of Collins Street, Melbourne. A small label on the interior records the name R. Cronin, 156 High St, Kew, 1/7/20. It is unclear whether Cronin, a watchmaker and jeweller may have repaired or sold the clock. The clock (broken) is housed in a steel box.roy cronin - watchmaker - jeweller - kew (vic), h newman - melbourne (vic) - collins street - jeweller - clockmaker

Image copied from older postcard (c.1890-1900) showing horse drawn vehicles and a horse tram. Since then, the southern side of the street has been widened. Businesses identified in the photograph include the Ryan's Council Family Hotel, the Greyhound Hotel, the Clifton Hotel, the ES&A Bank and Jellis' Bakery. Black & white photograph of a postcard showing Main [High] Street, Kew looking south west showing horse drawn tram centre.Reverse - "High St Kew looking down from Post Office to Kew Junction"horse tram kew, clifton hotel - kew junction, ryan's council family hotel kew, horse tram - kew (vic), kew junction

At the beginning of the 1890s, the Kew businessman and Town Councillor, Henry Kellett, commissioned J.F.C. Farquhar to photograph scenes of Kew. These scenes included panoramas as well as pastoral scenes. The resulting set of twelve photographs was assembled in an album, Kew Where We Live, from which customers could select images for purchase.The preamble to the album describes that the photographs used the ‘argentic bromide’ process, now more commonly known as the gelatine silver process. This form of dry plate photography allowed for the negatives to be kept for weeks before processing, hence its value in landscape photography. The resulting images were considered to be finely grained and everlasting. Evidence of the success of Henry Kellett’s venture can be seen today, in that some of the photographs are held in national collections.It is believed that the Kew Historical Society’s copy of the Kellett album is unique and that the photographs in the book were the first copies taken from the original plates. It is the first and most important series of images produced about Kew. The individual images have proved essential in identifying buildings and places of heritage value in the district.In 1891, High Street was the centre of commercial activity in the Borough of Kew. It was unpaved and edged with deep bluestone gutters, which were designed to channel the significant flow of storm water down the hill to and beyond the Junction. On either side of the entrance to the shopping strip are two cast iron gas lamps that provided the only public street lighting before the Post Office was reached. Most shops, including the Nicholas Brothers’ Junction Store featured cast iron verandas. Further up the hill, Dougherty’s Greyhound Hotel was by this stage a local institution. Apart from the horse-drawn tram, the main form of personal and commercial transport in this period remained the horse, horse and cart, or buggy.The panoramic view predates the widening of High Street in the 20th century, and thus includes the original alignment of buildings on the south side. These included Henry Kellett’s shop.High Street, Kewkew illustrated, kew where we live, photographic books, henry kellett, high street - kew (vic)

First floor view from corner of Main & Patrick Streets looking East down Patrick Street. Weatherboard Foresters Hotel in Main Street on left corner. Businesses visible down Patrick street, Foresters Hotel, J.H. Wallis Royal Exchange Hotel on Big Hillside of Street. With St Patrick's church tower visible in distance. Melbourne Cash Store Wines and Spirits on corner of Patrick and Sloane Street near centre of photo. Ferns Hotel / Times office on right of photo, corner of Patrick and Main Street. Post Box on Corner at right of photo. 1878First floor view from Main Street Patrick Street intersection looking down Patrick Street. Foresters Hotel on left. Victorian Views. C. Herbert, Photo. Stawell 1878stawell businesses streetscape

Main St. looking West from Doyle Lane. Playford on corner, Whiteside & Co Taylors, Carters Boot Shop. Railway train carriages in distance, Coffee Palace formerly Castlemaine Hotel in distance about centre of photo. Taken c. 1878. , From right of photo T. Brown & Co Timber & Iron Yard, T Brown's Furniture Warehouse, Cambrian Hall, Herbert,s Photographic Studio and Stawell Post Office.Victorian Views. C. Herbert, Photo. Stawell 1878stawell business streetscape

Corner of Main & Wimmera Streets looking West. 1878. Union Hotel or Coffee Palace formerly Castlemaine Hotel , Stawell Town Hall, Grocer, A. Brown Wholesale Retail, McAlpine Tinsmith Plumber, J. Porch Draper, Chemist, Methodist Church roofline. Stawell Post Office, Akins Seedsman and Stationer.Victorian Views. C. Herbert, Photo. Stawell 1878stawell business streetscape

Main Street Stawell looking east across Wimmera Street to Post Office. Horse Drawn cart at left of Photo. Star Hotel on right in the distance.B/W Photo Main Street looking east with the Post Office on the left. It is interesting to note that the Star Hotel is way out of line it seems to block the street. It was shifted back and is now the Stawell Club.stawell businesses streetscape

B/W Main Street looking West. Taken from in front of Dane Bros Spirits Bull and Mouth Hotel verandah. Vehicles angle parked in street. Town Hall clock tower Post Office visible. 1940'sstawell businesses

Stawell from top of Town Hall looking at upper Main Street. Gold Reef Mall on left. Post Office Arcade in centre of photo. Stawell Technical School prominent in photo. Town Hall Hotel at right of photo. 1980-1984stawell business streetscape

The date is approximate. Bill Willaton was a driver for C E Gray & Son, bakers of Canterbury during the 1930s. Tacey's butcher shop (dem) was located at 629 Canterbury Road. Black and white photo of a young boy on a light-coloured horse in vacant land adjacent to Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. In the background a girl is standing in front of a new-looking paling fence behind which can be seen local landmarks. On the right is Hansen's Terrace; on the far left part of the Surrey Hall can be seen and in the middle ground the rear of McNeill's Family Hotel (Surrey Lodge), Dartnell's corner and the side of the post office.tacey's butchers, horse-driven vehicles, hansen's terrace, surrey hills post office, surrey lodge, mcneill's family hotel, surrey hall, william willaton, bill willaton, surrey hills, canterbury road

The post office opened at this location in 1912. It was demolished in 2000. Post office history in the area: Until 1883 when the railway came through to Surrey Hills, this was essentially a rural community of scattered farms. Land subdivisions soon occurred along the railway line and limited postal services followed soon after, although a ‘permanent’ home for the post office was two decades away. George Sim Junior is acknowledged as our first postmaster; he opened a post office on 1 October 1884 in his father’s general store at 619-621 Canterbury Road, a few doors down from the Surrey Hills Hotel on the corner of Union Road. Over the next 20 years, the Surrey Hills Post Office moved several times into temporary, shared accommodation – in 1889 into Woodhead’s Corner Store at 364 Canterbury Road; then in 1895 to No 376, Hansen’s Exchange Building, part of Hansen’s Terrace (demolished) and in 1901 to 109 Union Road, on the corner of Windsor Crescent. Following Federation in 1901, the new Commonwealth Government established the Postmaster-General's Department to provide postal services to the nation. Many of the post offices constructed in the following years reflected a growing sense of Australian pride and nationalism. It was 1914 when building commenced on the ‘purpose-built’ post office at 609 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. Described as “a polychromatic Federation Freestyle building”, it served as the local post office for nearly 85 years until sold by the Commonwealth Government in c1999, after which the post office moved to the current, less prominent site at 100 Union Road. For nearly 10 years under private ownership, the building was successfully adapted for use as the base for two businesses, Gargoyles and Dragons and later the Surrey Sculpture Studio, and fortuitously the historic integrity of the building was maintained. However although renovated in the 1990's, structurally sound and of historic significance, it was not protected under local or commonwealth heritage legislation and was demolished soon after sale. This is an early image of a demolished building which should have been protected. In 1991, when the City of Camberwell conducted a heritage study, (which still informs the basis of the City of Boroondara’s heritage guidelines for this part of the municipality,) the post office was owned by the Commonwealth Government. As such, it could not be considered for heritage listing by the local authorities. Some years later, the Commonwealth and Australia Post rather belatedly recognized not only that post offices have heritage and social value, but also that the architecture of post offices as community buildings is important. A heritage management scheme was developed for the buildings they own or control under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. Unfortunately, the Surrey Hills Post Office had been sold and demolished before this was finally enacted in 2004. Black and white image, perhaps from a post card, of Surrey Hills post office at 609 Canterbury Road. The building is flanked by a picket fence. There is a woman, a dog and a man in front of the entrance. The man is in uniform - possibly a postal employee.post offices, canterbury road, businesses, surrey hills post office, surrey sculture studio, gargoyles and dragons

This book focuses on the area's history and traces the development through settlement, adaptation and consolidation to the present. It discusses the history of early families, the railway, land boomers, churches and school. Robin da Costa, later Mrs Robin da Costa- Adams, came to live in Balwyn Road, Canterbury and joined the Canterbury History Group.Hardback book of 144 pages, indexed with multiple black and white photos.In Jocelyn Hall's writing: "Donated to Surrey Hills Neighbourhood Centre".(mr) james blackburn, meader's travellers' rest hotel, blackburn hotel, blackburn post office, blackburn railway station, blackburn pioneers, blackburn company, (mr) george augustus goodwin, (mr) thomas r b morton, blackburn brick works, st john's anglican church, blackburn methodist church, blackburn church of christ, blackburn presbyterian church, st thomas the apostle peace memorial church, seagoe common school, the courier blackburn, blackburn library, blackburn primary school, blackburn open-air school, blackburn creek hotel, blackburn college, blackburn kindergarten, newark grammar, blackburn hall, morton park, blackburn lake sanctuary, backhouse's dairy, blackburn lake, wandinong sanctuary, barelli bakehouse, blackburn cool store, blue moon fruit co-operative ltd, 1st blackburn scouts troop, blackburn and district tree preservation society, hotels, (ms) robin da costa

The first Bendigo Easter Fair was held on April 10th and 11th 1871 and remains one of Australia’s longest running annual community events taking place over the Easter long weekend. The Bendigo Easter Fair features events throughout the City of Greater Bendigo and celebrations culminate in a parade through the streets on Easter Sunday. The parade features a variety of commercial and community groups. In 1892, large processional dragons became an integral part of the annual parade. The three principal golden dragons are Loong (1892–1970), Sun Loong (1970–2019) and Dai Gum Loong (2019–present), housed at the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo. The Bendigo Easter Fair Society is custodian of the Bendigo Easter Fair and continues to support the City of Greater Bendigo’s largest festival. Series of 16 colour 35mm Ektachrome slide transparency of parade floats and community groups as they pass along Mitchel Street. Images have been taken from a second story vantage point, diagonally opposite the Terminus Hotel which stood at 126 Mitchell Street Bendigo. Floats include S.E.C., Post Master Generals Office, Greyhound Racing, YMCA, the wool industry and Bendigo ALP Women's Association. sandner collection, mayor sandner, city of greater bendigo easter fair, city of greater bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo events

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