Photos of Legatee Grat Grattan being presented with a 50 years of service certificate from President Chas Wilks in 1989. L/ Grattan was a long serving legatee, an article written when he turned 100 says that as a Legatee he was widely respected, he was 'something of a father figure - many of the girls were given away at their weddings by this kindly Legatee'. The article says Oriel John Grattan was born in WA and enlisted in the First AIF in 1916. He served in France and Belgium before he was wounded near Menin Gate. It continues with an interesting piece on the acquisition of Legacy house. It says: 'Perhaps his most lasting monument is Melbourne Legacy House. Through his friendship with one of the principals of the firm, Brown and Dureau, Legacy was given a donation of 30,000 pounds in 1944 (amount was 27,059 pounds according to Dureau Act).' A condition of the donation was that Legacy had only eight days in which to buy a building. A building in Swanston St was purchased for 18,000 pounds and the balance invested. But vacant possession was not possible and the building was sold in the early '50s and became part of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The proceeds plus the invested money enabled Legacy to buy its headquarters, Dureau House, in Swanston Street in 1955.A record of a Legatee Grattan's long service at Legacy being commemorated with a 50 years service certificate in 1989.Colour photo x 2 of Legatee Grat Grattan receiving a 50 year service certificate and a yellow paper label.legatee, recognition, grat grattan

A photo of the first property owned by Legacy, at 342 Swanston Street. After receiving money in memory of David H Dureau to purchase premises, Legacy purchased the old Hibernian Hall. However there were many issues with the property, including its suitability and the inability to gain vacant possession from the existing tenants. So eventually the property was sold and the money used to buy the current Legacy House, still formally known as the David H Dureau Memorial Building as per the bequest instructions. The notes on the back of the photo say it was sold to Sir Bernard Evans and then to RMIT and it was renamed Storey Hall. The full story of the donation has been pieced together from several sources. Part of the story of the donation towards Dureau House. BG Corporation in New York used 'Brown and Dureau' as agents in Melbourne for their spark plug manufacturing (for the American aircraft based in Australia during the war). A royalty of two shillings and sixpence was agreed. The entrepreneur President of BG Corporation was Richard Goldsmith. L/ Grat Grattan had a friend Mr Edwards who was managing director at Brown and Dureau and heard of the desire by Mr Goldsmith to leave a permanent memorial to ex-servicemen in Australia (Children's Hospital was considered). L/ Grattan took Mr Edwards to Market St (where Legacy was situated at the time) and showed him the inadequacy of the building. It was agreed if Melbourne Legacy could come up with a purchased building in 10 days they would get the money needed and the building was to be named in memory of David H Dureau, who had died at sea during the war. The donation was £27,059. The property purchased was 'Hibernian Hall' in Swanston St (later called Storey Hall when it was acquired by RMIT). After the war it turned out not to be suitable and a new building was required. An act of parliament was required to enable the sale (01262) and consent from the donor was also sought before the sale (document still to be catalogued). Money raised from the sale was used to purchase 293 Swanston St.A photo of the first property purchased by Legacy as a result of a generous donation.Black and white photo of the old Hibernian Hall in Swanston Street.Handwritten on back 'The old Hibernian Hall purchased by Melbourne Legacy and later sold because of inability to secure vacant possession from tenants. Sold to Sir Bernard Evans then to RMIT and named 'Storey House', in pencil. Stamped '30 Jun 1947' in purple inkproperties, dureau house, swanston st

The Presbyterian church at the corner of Rathdowne and Grattan streets Carlton was built in the 1870s by the Erskine Brothers of the Scottish seceder tradition. The church was demolished in 1972.Photograph printed on a calendar: Erskine Presbyterian ChurchErskine Presbyterian Church Rathdowne St. Carlton.presbyterian church carlton, erskine street, grattan street, scottish seceder