Photos taken by Victor Cycril Smith on his journey home after serving overseas in World War 1. Victor embarked on the HMAT Port Sydney in England on 22 September 1919. The vessel carried 1,307 men. The first home port was Fremantle where 170 disembarked before continuing the trip stopping at Adelaide where 101 soldiers disembarked. The next port was Melbourne and arrived in Melbourne On 12 November 1919, the ship arrived in Melbourne where 340 Victorians and 35 Tasmanians disembarked. They were motored through the city by the Royal Automobile Club and were greeted in the usual hearty fashion, crowds of men, women and children congregated at various points along the way to shout and cheer and wave flags in welcome. The soldiers from New South Wales, 430 and Queensland, 515 boarded special trains to take them home.Victor Cycril Smith was the son of a pioneering family in the Shire of Moorabbin. Six black and white photographs taken on board HMAT Port Sydneywwi, hmat port sydney, soldiers, victor cycril smith, moorabbin, world war one, bentleigh

At a public meeting in January 1917 the residents of the Shire of Moorabbin decided to appeal for funds for the purpose of erecting a memorial to the memory of the late Councillor William George Burgess, who died on 29 November 1916. The committee that was formed to oversee this project described Mr Burgess and his accomplishments: “Mr Burgess served the Shire of Moorabbin in the that capacity faithfully and will for upwards of 35 years. Mr Burgess was a resident of the shire since early boyhood and all through life either initiated or identified himself closely with every movement for the advancement of the district. The acquisition of the Bentleigh Reserve is evidence of his untiring energy and zeal, and it is now proposed to erect a brick pavilion thereon as a monument to the memory of one who had striven to leave the world, and the district in which he resided, a little better than he found it.” The “Burgess Memorial Pavilion” was opened on 13 October 1917. The pavilion was built of brick, with tiled roof, containing two rooms, one 12ft x17ft, the other 12ft x 9ft, a spacious verandah, supported by brick pillars was provided on two sides of the building. Unfortunately the Burgess Pavilion burnt down in June 1928. William Burgess was a Councillor for the Shire of Moorabbin for over 35 years, during which he was the President for five terms. William was a market gardener in Mackay Road, Bentleigh. His family settled in the district in 1855.Two paper documents: One a copy of a resolution re the opening of a bank account ; two a letter from the Southern Cross Press which accompanied a donation for the Burgess Memorial Fundwilliam burgess, the burgess pavilion, bentleigh recreational ground, fundraising, sport, shire of moorabbin

A letter sent to the Secretary of the trustees of the Bentleigh Recreation Reserve, from Lucy Wood, for the Bentleigh Soldier's Comfort League requesting the use of the Burgess Pavilion for the Leagues meetings. The Bentleigh Soldier’s Comforts League is but one example of many other organisations that made use of the pavilion. After the League’s inaugural meeting a letter was sent to the Trustees of the Recreation Preserve Bentleigh requesting the use of the pavilion to hold their meetings. The objects of the Bentleigh Soldier’s Comforts League were: 1. To provide comforts for Bentleigh boys on active duty 2. To ensure a suitable public welcome upon their return 3. To visit the sick and wounded ones at the Military hospitals A committee of local ladies formed a committee, An amount of 2s was allotted to each worker who endeavored by personal effort to increase that sum. A Gymkhana, in association with the Equestrienne Club, was held to raise funds to help the return soldiers and to send Xmas boxes to the soldiers on active duty abroad. Lucy Wood (1872 - 1956) was the wife of William Howard Wood (1868 - 1947). William and Lucy lived in Jasper Road opposite the recreational reserve. William was a poultry breeder and a local accountant, auditor, real estate, insurance and general commission agent.The efforts made by the citizens of the Shire of Morrabbin to send comforts to the troups overseas during WWI, and to welcome home the soldiers.A hand written letter wwi, city of moorabbin, lucy wood, burgess pavilion, bentleigh recretional reserve, william burgess, fundraising, xmas boxes, bentleigh soldier’s comforts league, bentleigh, moorabbin

This anvil is typical of the type used by Blacksmiths in Moorabbin Shire c1850 - 20thC Blacksmith were needed to make machinery, tools, farm and household equipment, wheels and wagons, horseshoes and saddle irons.This anvil is an example of the type used by blacksmiths in Moorabbin Shire 1840- 20thC as early settlers developed the land. built homes, shops and schoolsSolid steel single horn shaped block used by a Blacksmith to make tools, horseshoes, kitchenware, farm equipment, wagon wheelsmarket gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, dendy special survey 1841, bentleigh, moorabbin, cheltenham, tools, anvils, steel, horses, wagons, washing pots, cooking pots, blacksmiths, county of bourke

This wood traveling trunk was used by the LePage family when emigrating from Guernsey , Channel Isles, to Melbourne on SS Caliope 1852. Nicholas LePage , a tailor, and wife Elizabeth arrived in Melbourne in 1852 with their son Frank Thomas and daughter Elizabeth. Joshua Holloway released land in his 'Two Acre Village' in Cheltenham 1851. Nicholas bought a LOT for 10pounds and began a market garden that was managed by successive generations. The LePage family became involved with the Methodist Church , local friendly societies, sporting clubs and civic councils that endured. 'The LePages became one of the best known Moorabbin market gardening families, with a tradition of service to communal and civic affairs that is unmatched' John Cribbin, ' Moorabbin ,Pictorial History 1862-1994.' (City of Kingston)A handmade wood trunk with brass lock and hinges and Guernsey ( Channel Isles) Newspaper lining 1851Top of lid; White Stencil BETSEY LEPAGE / PASSENGER TO MELBOURNE Lining of box; Guernsey Newspaper 1851 henry dendy's special survey 1842, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, dendy henry, were jb, holloway josiah, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, pioneers, market gardeners, early settlers, methodist church, two acre village cheltenham, charman stephen, bent thomas, daphne cottage, sons of temperance friendly society, mayors moorabbin council, lepage nicholas, lepage frank thomas, lepage everest, lepage frank wilbur, cheltenham co-operative society, cheltenham cream and butter factory

A handmade wood travel trunk, with internal cupboard fastened by wing clips, side brass handles, brass hinges and a central brass lock with latch for padlock Early settlers used these handmade trunks to bring their worldly goods to the new Settlements in Australia c1850A typical travel trunk used by pioneer settlers as they traveled on sailing ships from Europe to Australia c 1852A Handmade wood Travel Trunk , with internal cupboard, brass handles, lock and hinges c 1860NILpioneers, moorabbin shire, dendy's special survey 1842 brighto, dendy henry, were j.b., moorabbin roads board, market gardeners, early settlers, bent thomas, sailing ships, emigration to melbourne 1850, methodist church, henry box, holloway josiah, box willian, poultry farmers, flower farms, orchards

School Papers were issued to the children going to school in the state of Victoria by the Education Department for a cost of 1 penny per issue. These copies were collected and saved by one of the pioneer families of City of Moorabbin.Issued by the Education Department of Victoria, printed J. J. Gourley, Government Printer, Melbourne The School Paper For Grades III and IV (1948)EDUCATION DEPARTMENT VICTORIA / SCHOOL PAPER / For Grades III and IV (1948)education, victoria, australian history, victorian education department, marriott william, marriott geoff, market gardeners, pioneers, moorabbin shire, henry dendy special survey brighto 1841, east bentleigh state school no. 2083

These School Papers were issued to the children going to school in the state of Victoria by the Education Department for a cost of 1 penny per issue. This copy was collected and saved by one of the pioneer families of City of Moorabbin.Issued by the Education Department of Victoria, printed J. J. Gourley, Government Printer, MelbourneThe School Paper For Grades III and IV (1949) 12 pagesEDUCATION DEPARTMENT VICTORIA / SCHOOL PAPER / For Grades III and IV (1949)education, victoria, australian history, victorian education department, marriott william, marriott geoff, market gardeners, pioneers, moorabbin shire, henry dendy special survey brighto 1841, east bentleigh state school no. 2083

These School Papers were issued to the children going to school in the state of Victoria by the Education Department for a cost of 1 penny per issue. This copy was collected and saved by one of the pioneer families of City of Moorabbin.Issued by the Education Department of Victoria, printed J. J. Gourley, Government Printer, MelbourneThe School Paper For Grades III and IV (1950) 12 pagesEDUCATION DEPARTMENT VICTORIA / SCHOOL PAPER / For Grades III and IV (1950)education, victoria, australian history, victorian education department, marriott william, marriott geoff, market gardeners, pioneers, moorabbin shire, henry dendy special survey brighto 1841, east bentleigh state school no. 2083

The bag was used by Nurse Emma Warburton (1863-1946), who provided assistance at the birth of a couples child, not only looking after the new mother but also the family and the house hold chores. Nurse Warburton lived in Bourke Street, Mentone. The contents of the bag were, five letters of recommendation, a sewing kit, a breast reliever, seven keys, Red Cross Emergency Service Badge and two notes re medication. Nurse Warburton was married to Joseph Warburton (1853-1947) who was a market gardener in the Shire of Moorabbin (City of Moorabbin).The bag belonged to one of the pioneers of Moorabbin. and gives an insight into the birth of children and family life.Brown leather Gladstone Bag and contentsnursing, midwife, emma warburton, cheltenham, moorabbin, city of moorabbin, mentone, child birth

These School Papers were issued to the children going to school in the state of Victoria by the Education Department for a cost of 1 cent per issue. These were the last edition of the School Paper to be printed. This copy was collected and saved by one of the pioneer families of City of Moorabbin.Issued by the Education Department of Victoria, printed J. J. Gourley, Government Printer, MelbourneThe School Paper For Grades 5 and 6 (1968) and For Grades 3 and 4 (1968)EDUCATION DEPARTMENT VICTORIA / SCHOOL PAPER / For Grades III and IV (1950)education, victoria, australian history, victorian education department, marriott william, marriott geoff, market gardeners, pioneers, moorabbin shire, henry dendy special survey brighto 1841, east bentleigh state school no. 2083

The Baptist Church was built in 1881 in Tucker Road, in 1916 on land donated by Henry Box, a local market gardener. The wooden Church was moved to the to Vickery Street Bentleigh, the current site of the Bentleigh Baptist Church . The removal was made on a horse drawn jinker.The Baptist Church was integral to the spiritual well being and social life of the early settlers.22 Page typed document which outlines the history of the Baptist Church, Bentleigh.early settlers, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, shire of moorabbin, market gardeners, baptist church bentleigh, vickery street, religion, bentleigh

Methodist Church, Centre Road. The first church building on the site was built of timber in 1850. In 1865, the wooden church building was sold and a new brick church was built, this building was expanded over the years to accomodate an ever increasing congregation. In 1928 the parish opened yet another new brick church - which still stands today (2022). The church is now the Greek Orthodox Parish of "Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene".The Methodist Church in Centre Road, Bentleigh was integral to the spiritual well being and social life of the early settlers.Photocopy of Booklet of 9 pages with text and pictures.early settlers, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, shire of moorabbin, market gardeners, centre road, methodist sunday school, bentleigh, religion