Beryl Knox speaking about early life in Melton. Page 1 1949 – 64 years ago. We began our married life at Melton Sth. The house on the corner of the Exford Rd and Staughton St-- dusty gravel roads, box thorns and noxious weeds everywhere and a sprinkling of houses and vacant land. It was a friendly community consisting of old family names. McDonalds, Blacks, Dodemaide, Cahill, Coopers, Minns, Tinklers, Nesbitts, Cochranes, Wickhams, Exells. Mavis Butler. The home owned by Mr. Robinson and Miss Robinson had been shifted in two parts transported from Diggers Rest and it is still standing 2013. Bruce’s father purchased the house and two adjoining blocks, the Conways built on one and the Rawlinson family on the other block. Eileen still resides there, she was only a baby in a pram and the family had not long arrived from England. The railway line was close to the house and the contents would rattle when heavy steams trains went through, and on a clear frosty night the 1am paper train would echo roar through very loudly when labouring towards the Exford Bridge. Then the two carriage motor train was introduced, this was great for the workers and schoolies who travelled to Melbourne. The train pulled up at the crossing or riding to pick up or drop off. Melva Gillespie (nee Hirt) Bill Cahill delivered the milk by the billy and then in bottles. Len Kennedy (Paul Kennedy’s father, Norma Murrays son) delivered Jongebloeds bread, he always had a sweep going for the Melbourne Cup and raffles for the footy club. Mr. Woodgate owned an old bus and pick up point was the Post Office when there was a Saturday film on a Melton. There were no doctors or dentists in the district. If we need a Doctor we had to travel to Bacchus Marsh or discuss problems over the phone. In later years a Bacchus Marsh Doctor rented the Bluestone building in McKenzie St a couple of days a week. If we needed the Dentist we had to travel to West Footscray or Footscray. We did our banking at “State Savings” then the Miss Minns had the agency and then Bardsleys Store. We travelled to Bacchus Marsh to the National and Commercial banks. Station Rd to Western Highway, now (High Street) was a narrow stretch of bitumen and gravel farmland either side and a couple of farm houses and large gum trees on the properties. Page 2 North of the Railway line Mrs Bessie Jones, mother of Chas and Betty Jones managed the Post Office, next door to her Chas and Betty had the Shell Centre, and later moved the business to Melton. Hughie Nesbitt and mother owned the grocery and hardware store, and I bought my first set of saucepans there. On the opposite side of Station road Mr Coombe owned the fruit shop, and also provided soft drinks and lollies for children. The Chaff Mill was on the corner of Station Rd and Brooklyn Rd. Mr Lumsden was manager and later years Bernie Trethowan and Jack Butler were partners. It finally burnt down and is a Service Station now. Along Brooklyn Rd there were a few houses and Victoria Hall, not a very big hall, but catered for lots of functions, Balls, Fancy Dress, Bazaars, Square Dancing and meetings. The Bacchus Marsh Baptists held Sunday School in the hall. A group of shops were built south of the railway line Molly and Len Skinner managed the Post Office and handled a few essential groceries. Tom McDonald and Ron Lunsberg were the butchers. Mary and Syd Cooper lived next door to us and often in turn would run out of something when we had a baking spree we would borrow or exchange, sugar flour etc over the fence. Mavis and Jack Butler lived there before the Coopers. Bernie and Iris Trethowan lived two doors up. Neighbours were invited into their home to view the first black and white television in Melton Sth. Bill Exell was one of the first Melton Sth farmers to sell his land to developers, the land was idle for years before housing developed. I joined the Melton Valley Golf Club in 1960. The Gun Club as our Club House, an old tin shed consisting a water tank, trestle table and forms and dirt floor. It was a 9 hole course with sand scraps and landscape putting before greens. The Common or parkland was part of the Golf Course. It was open for every ones recreation. Roy Norton an old identity trained his trotters on the Common and wouldn’t clear the track for the golfers. The golfers had to avoid him to continue to play. We had to keep clear when the young youths came in their paddock cars and motorbikes. Over the years the Toolern Creek flooded its banks, water and debri covered the course on one year our first Club house was flooded out. It took several working bees to clean it up. We lived at Melton Sth for 15 years and moved to Melton on the farm “Croxton Park.” The Nixon family farm “Mowbray” adjoined the farm. Bruce worked the land cropping the farm when Mrs Nixon died. Page 3 (page 4 on the handwritten script) Bruce had the first offer to buy, in those days it wasn’t easy to get good bank loans. Part of the land is the Golf Course now and Mr O’Shea purchased the bulk. Moving to Melton was totally different – I became involved with Committees, Scouts, Guides, Mothers Clubs, CWA, Church Op shop (8 years). Melton Amateurs players produced and tutored by Mabel Rogers exerts from Pyjama Game, South Pacific, Carousel - later years a group of ladies did gentle water exercise at Essendon and Station Road swimming pool. I was 20 or so years in Probus. The local followed the football, there was always a Gymkhana on the long weekend in June. The tennis always created a lot of interest during the finals. It didn’t matter which team played the supporters were treated to a cup of tea and leftovers from their afternoon tea. In 1978 were the first residents to move into the Jennings Estate Kurunjang and lived there 31 years and retired 4 years ago into Unit. The amazing changes I have experienced. Merrimu supplied our water, after depending on tanks. The landscape changed completely when developers came in, no more dusty plains \ typed web Sept 2013 McFarlane, Mrs Knox and Beryl Gillespie at the First Hundred Years Celebration of Melton State School 430. The event was held at Mechanics Hall, Melton.local identities, local significant events, education

Written on back of photograph, "19/6/81. Oban Road looking west from State School."

Written on back of photograph, "19/6/81. Oban Road looking east from State School".

Typed below photograph, "Ringwood North State School. Presenting children's art show with Albert Aird".

Black and white photograph "Written on back of photograph" Ringwood State School- Class photograph, Grade 2C and 3C, 1968. (No names)

Black and white photograph "Written on back of photograph" Ringwood State School- Class photograph, Grade 3/4, 1969. (No names)

Copy of Education Department standard form for Merit Certificate.Ringwood State School- Merit Certificate for Isabella Jane Sorenson, 8th Grade, 14th November, 1941.

Written on back of photograph, "North Ringwood State School 50 years 'Do' - 20/10/73".

Newly planted eucalyptus tree in protective wooden framework with notice - "Commemoration Tree - This tree was planted on Remembrance Day 11th November 1955 by Maj. Gen. LE.E.Beavis, C.B. C.B.E. D.S.O., In memory of all Servicemen who took part in the wars of 1914-18 AND 1939-45. Lest We Forget." (See also Reg. no. 1593 for later images of this tree with a permanent plaque dated 1965.)Typed below photograph, "Commemoration Tree at North Ringwood State School. ... Planted in sand from Gallipoli."

Enlarged black and white copy of an original photograph which shows pupils at Linton State School, most likely in the early 1920s. The exact date of the photograph is uncertain, however the mounted photograph is inscribed "Linton State School c.1923" and a copy donated by Claire Flowers is dated "approx 1922-1923".linton state school no. 880, annie meredith brown, annie meredith bailey, noelene margaret brown, noelene margaret netherway, ida hyatt

Springvale State School, No. 1544, opened in May 1875 and closed in 1906. Land for the school was donated by the O'Meara family. The name Springvale was changed to Pittong around 1916 when the railway went through to Skipton, to avoid confusion with Springvale in Melbourne.Black and white copy of original photograph, shows weatherboard school building with shingle roof, with pupils, dog and teacher? standing in a row outside.springvale state school no. 1544

Bacchus Marsh State School No. 28. The number of pupils in 1883 was 172. The school has undergone a number of name changes over the years. It began as the Bacchus Marsh National School in 1850 and at the time this photo was taken it was known as Bacchus Marsh State School. Since the 1970s it has been known as Bacchus Marsh Primary. It is officially recognised as the oldest government school in Victoria.This image is important as an early depiction of the first state school in Victoria, and is one of the two earliest images of this school. Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. Photograph of a six-gabled school building with a large assembly of pupils and teachers in an outdoor setting. There are four adults, probably the teaching staff.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE. stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, schools, bacchus marsh state school. no. 28.

Class photograph from Greensborough State School in 1954, Grade 6.Black and white photograph of school class. Hard copy with names filed in FileCab: Greensborough Primary School.greensborough state school, greensborough primary school

Blackburn State School was opened in 1889. They held their centenary celebration on Saturday 29th April 1989. Recent extensive development (2012) of the buildings has provided excellent classrooms, computer work stations and a large resource centre.Coloured photograph of the front aspect of Blackburn Primary School situated on the north side of Whitehorse Road.blackburn state school no 2923

Classic school photography took Ballarat Junior Technical School photographs for over a decadeyellow rectangle envelope with red and green printing for payment of school photograph13 Edward Street Huntingdale 3168 Telephone 56 6718 Classic School Photoghraphy Dear Parent, Please find enclosed- "THE ANNUAL SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH" This photograph will be cherished by your child in later life to look back on and remember old classmates. This will be your only opportunity to purchase such a memento. Returns should be made in this envelope, sealed, to the School on the following day. THE PRICE OF THE PHOTOGRAPH IS 55c Do not return photograph for which you have paid. Name of Studentenvelope, school photograph, classic school photography, ballarat junior technical school

ticketDemonstrates a range of tickets used by the Provincial Tramways of Victoria.Assorted State Electricity Commission Victoria tramway tickets 1930 - 1972. The tickets, known as "flimsies", have a value of 1 1/2, 2, 3, 4 and 5 pence. The tickets have not been nipped. Some have an Alphabet identification followed by a printed number. Others have a 1 digit number, while others are completely blank. The tickets in Row 1 are labelled STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA - PROVINCIAL TRAMWAYS" . The tickets in Rows 2 and 3 have the additional wording "ELECTRICITY SUPPLY DEPARTMENT"Row 1, ticket 3 and 4 have the hand written dates 16-9-49 - 30-6-51 in pencil. Row 3, ticket 1 has a stamped date 18 APR 1941, with 18/4/41 being hand written in pencil on the front. There is a label with the tickets of row 2 and 3 which reads "BALLARAT?"tickets, tramways, state electricity commission of victoria, esco

historic buildingColour photograph, Clarendon State School, last day 10 December 1993. Boy in photo is Head Boy Julian Sunter.school, classroom, clarendon

Black and white copy of Grades 1C and 2C Mitcham State School in 1960. Chris Hudson extreme right 2nd row.mitcham state school no.2904, hudson, chris

Murray Comrie Collection. Monochrome photograph with caption depicting Tarnagulla State School in 1924. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made in the 1960s. tarnagulla, school, education

Used by Robin Da Costa in 'Blackburn - A Picturesque History'Black and white photo of Grades 6,7, and 8 of Blackburn state School in 1924. See page 76 of Da Costa book.blackburn state school, no. 2923

This is one of several copies of the photograph of Miss Barry's cantata group in the LDHS collection. This copy of the photograph was in Mag Gorman's collection. None of the children are identified on this copy of the photograph.Black and white photograph of large group of children in costume outside Linton State School. Photo is mounted on dark grey card.linton state school, school concert, miss barry's cantata group

Class photograph from Greensborough State School, 1973 Grade 1BColour photograph of school classgreensborough state school, greensborough primary school

Class photograph from Greensborough State School, 1977 Grade 1MColour photograph of school classgreensborough state school, greensborough primary school

Class photograph from Greensborough State School, 1982 Prep CColour photograph of school classgreensborough state school, greensborough primary school

The Ballarat Technical Art School made many honour boards for schools and organisation in Victoria and interstate. Their own was made, but the names were not listed. The Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report for 1921 states: 'It has been decided, for the present, to record the names of our students who served in the warm, in an Honor Book, and to defer the erection of an Honor Board until we can feel assured that the Roll is complete. the wide spread occupations of our students has rendered it very difficult for us to secure detailed information of their service. A handsome Honor Book and Case has been designed and executed by the staff and students of the Technical Art School, and the engrossing of the names and military records will be proceeded with as soon as possible. The Technical Art School was quite busy with commissions. The SMB Annual Report of 1918 states: 'under the direction of the Art principal (Mr H.H. Smith), the work of the Art School continues to receive wide public recognition. Handsome Honor Boars have been designed and executed for the Sydney Sports' Club, the St Arnaud High School, the Birregurra State School, the Wendouree State School and the Ballarat Old Colonists' Club. The School also designed the certificates for the Young Workers' Patriotic Guild, the 'Herald" Shield for perpetual competition at the technical Schools' athletic meetings, the "Hansen" Shield for competition among the Northern District High Schools, two metal tablets for the Castlemaine high School, and a certificate for the Grampians Secondary Schools' Association. Numerous Honor Books and Mural cases have also been designed for State Schools.' Over 400 former students and staff of the Ballarat School of Mines served during World War One. The 1920 SMb Students' Magazine said' 'Many students left Australia with the first Contingent, and since then, the School has been represented on every field where Australians have fought, from the first landing at Gallipoli to the decisive victory on the 8 August 1918.' The influence of the school was appropriately shown in the fact that at least 13 of its students were officers in the Australian Mining Corps. The title page has the initials 'D.J.' which most probably stands for Donald I. Johnston, a teacher with the Ballarat Technical Art school from 1920 to 1949. The Ballarat School of Mines World War 1 Honor Book remained uncompleted for more than 90 years. The names of over 400 SMB staff and students who served their country were not inscribed until 2012, despite names, ranks and service records being compiled. A restoration project was instigated as part of the 140th anniversary of the Ballarat School of Mines in 2010. Names were inscribed into the book by Calligrapher Lyn Forrester. The University of Ballarat believed this project is important not only to SMB's history, but the families and descendants of those who served while studying or teaching at SMB. The restoration project involved names being hand written in calligraphy into the Honor Book and was funded with the assistance of the 'Restoring Community War Memorial Grant'. The memorial was designed and made by the staff and students of the Ballarat School of Mines Technical Art School under the direction of Principal Herbert H. Smith. In 1921 the Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report recorded: "It has been decided, for the present, to record the names of our students who served in the war, in an Honor Book, and to defer the erection of an Honor Board until we can feel assured that the roll is complete. The wide spread occupations of our students has rended it very difficult for us to secure detailed information of their service. A handsome Honor Book and case has been designed and executed by the staff and students of the Technical Art School, and the engrossing of the names and miliatary records will proceed with as soon as possible. The Ballarat Technical Art School and was involved with the design and manufacture of numerous WW1 memorials. When it came time to complete their own memorial, the Principal died, and the Honor Roll must have been overlooked in the confusion that ensued. There have been numerous theories about why the Honor Roll was never completed, one being that it was because the SMB Principal, Maurice Copland, literally worked himself to death organising repatriation classes for ex-soldiers who attended SMB. The Courier of 18 November 1922 said of Maurice Copland: “He put his very best into the work for the welfare of the soldiers; in fact, he did too much for the good of his physique, for he wore himself out in the services of the returned men. If ever there was a war victim the late Mr Copland was one. But for the stress of work entailed by those repatriation classes and the amount of general war work which he performed Mr Copland would probably have been with them today." Understandably, SMB was thrown into some disarray by their Principal's death and the Honor Book was not completed. The University of Ballarat would like to finally honor its SMB war veterans by completing the Honor Book and as a further mark of respect, dedicate the project to Maurice Copland. The Ballarat Technical Art School undertook many honor boards. The Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report 1918 states: "Under the direction of the Art Principal (Mr H.H. Smith), the work of the Art School continues to receive a wide public recognition. handsome Honor Boards have been designed and executed for the Sydney Sports' Club, the St Arnaud High School, the Birregurra State School, the wendouree State School and the Ballarat Old Colonists' Club. The School also designed certificates for the Young Workers' patriotic Guild, the "Herald" Shield for perpetual Competition at the Technical schools athletics meetings, the "Hansen" Shield for competition in the northern District High Schools, two metal tablets for the Castlemaine High School, and a certificate for the Grampians Secondary Schools' Association. Numerous Honor Gooks and mural cases have also been designed for State Schools." The 1920 Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report stated: Public appreciation of the High standard of design and artistic craft work produced by the students of the Art School, under the direction of the Principal (Mr Herbert H. Smith), continues to be demonstrated by the lage number of important commissions entrusted to the school, not only by the public bodies and business firms by the Education Department and public bodies all over the State." "Amongst the important local commissions received during the year was the designing and supplying of the Municipal Council's Address of Welcome Casket for presentation to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the designing and supervising of a large four-light stained glass window for the Lydiard Street Methodist Church, ... and supply numerous honor books, honor boards, etc., for public institutions and school." "The School has been honored by, and has acceded to the request of the Education Department to supply designs for the title page, chapter headings and initial letters for the War Service Book which it is about to publish, Mr F. Tate, director of Education, recognising the students' work in this direction by an appreciative letter of thanks. The Education Department has also been instrumental in directing to the School applications from all parts of the State, including Melbourne, for the School to supply competitive sports shields, honor boards, books and designs for certificates, and various decorative objects. The School has therefor been responsible for much work coming to local Ballarat firms which would otherwise have found its way to Melbourne or other centres. In 2011, as the result of a 'Restoring Community War Memorials Grant' calligrapher Lynton Forrester was commissioned to record over 400 names into the honor book. A Victorian Blackwood World War I Honor Board holds a red leatherbound Ballarat School of Mines Honor Book. The book includes a title page relating to the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries. The Ballarat School of Mines Honor Book and case was not finally inscribed with names until 2012. world war one, ww1, ballarat school of mines, world war 1, world war i, honour roll, calligraphy, don johnston, honor book, honor roll, copeland, maurice copeland, honour book, roll of honour, percy coltman, arthur e. tandy, leslie coulter

The Bulla Primary School was a semi-rural school in the Bulla township which was established in 1872. It was one of the first government schools to open in the district and continued to function for the following 124 years until December 1996 when the State Government closed the school. After that date, Bulla children were bused to schools in either Sunbury or Greenvale. The school property is now privately owned.Along with Bulla Primary School there were a number of Victorian Government schools closed down and sold to private enterprise in the 1990s.A coloured photograph of the school notice board erected at the main gate of the school. Two of the buildings are partially visible in the background. Four girls are standing on the main pathway.bulla primary school