Edna Barrie's invitation to the eventeducation, local identities

"A perpetual spring in the adjacent creek provided a steady supply of fresh water to the site on which the homestead is built. Although we can not be certain of the identity of the builder, the first stage of ‘The Willows’ homestead appears to have been constructed in the mid 1850s. The house is situated on Crown Allotment No.1 (No Section), Parish of Kororoit, an allotment of 5 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Although it had surveyed the land, the Crown did not offer it for sale until 22nd November 1861, at which time it was purchased by Charles March Williams. (Although the property is directly opposite and immediately adjacent to the Township of Melton, and was sold as ‘Suburban Allotment 33’, it was situated within the Shire of Braybrook rather than the Shire of Melton until 1917.) Considerable improvements had taken place on the land prior to the Crown sale. When CM Williams purchased the allotment in November 1861 he paid £23.5.0 for the land itself, and valued the improvements at £400. Even allowing for some exaggeration by Williams, this is an extremely high valuation for improvements, and must have included a house. Some local research has claimed that in 1858 Williams had taken over the interest of a Mr Parkinson in the property, and that Parkinson built the house upon taking possession of the land c.1855. It was definitely built by 1861, when a map shows a square building on the site marked as ‘House’. The property is important in the district for its association with the establishment of the pound. The district pound had been established in 1854, when George Scarborough of Mount Cottrell (Mt Cottrell Road, south of Greigs Road) was appointed pound-keeper. Scarborough resigned in 1857. The pound was moved to Melton following agitation from local farmers and Charles March Williams appointed pound-keeper on 26th April 1858. Williams, the son of a doctor, had been born in London. Reminiscences of local residents of the time, as recorded in the Express newspaper, note Williams’ success in breeding horses on the property. Sales of up to 60 guineas were noted. Whether this was from Williams’s own stock or from unclaimed pound stock is not made clear. Williams appeared before a government inquiry in 1860 and advocated registration of all stock brands in the State. Williams died in 1862 leaving a widow, Catherine, and five living children aged 15 years to five months. At the time of his death Williams had entered negotiations with one Matthew Devenish and had a mortgage of £100 on allotments 1 and 2, Parish of Kororoit. Catherine Williams was appointed pound-keeper on 2 September 1863, with her eldest son Charles as her assistant. Her tenure was short for on 22nd March 1864 George Minns senior paid Matthew Devenish £135 for allotments 1 and 2 Parish of Kororoit (considerably less than Williams had claimed the property was worth in 1861) and on the same day paid William Tullidge £45 for the adjoining allotments 3 and 4. In April 1867, James Ebden Minns, the newly married son of George senior became the owner of The Willows property having entered into a mortgage arrangement with his father to the extent of £200. At the time George Minns was residing in Kaarimba having left Melton in 1867 for a short trip to England and upon his return having taken up a selection in the Kaarimba district with his son Frederick who had a hotel licence there. James paid out the mortgage on 2-1-1873. James Minns was appointed pound-keeper in 1872; in 1885 the pound was moved elsewhere and Minns purchased the old pound site and added it to his farm. The Willows residence underwent a major change about this time. A two room extension, similar in style but with a lower elevation was added to the original rear of the house with a chimney matching the distinctive originals. Window arrangements did not match the original but became a feature of the façade when the new addition became the front of the building. Six buttresses were attached to the east and west walls of the old building, two to the south wall and the whole rendered with mortar to give the appearance of dressed stonework around the windows. Galvanized iron was placed over the shingles and a verandah added on three sides. By 1876 The Willows was the homestead for a thriving mixed farm of 340 acres of which 156 was rented from a H. Ruck. In October of that year the Australasian travelling reporter visited and reported on the property. In common with the nearly every other property in the district the farm had ‘recently’ (generally within the last two years) abandoned cultivation of crops, and turned over completely to cattle pasture. Butter making was the principal occupation of the farm, which had about 50 head of cattle, a large proportion of which were milking cows. The reporter also noted that a ‘large number of pigs are kept upon this farm and are found to be very profitable stock’. Their manure was used in an orchard and garden in which ‘large quantities of lucerne and prairie grass are grown for the use of stock when ordinary feed is scarce’. Two bores attached to deep brick lined wells supplied water for the house in addition to the farm. A commodious timber barn and necessary sheds had also been constructed. Access to the property was improved following the construction of the bluestone ford across the creek c.1887, when the recreation ground came into use. Prior to this date it may have been that the crossing referred to as ‘Mr Minns bridge’ was used. This appears to have been a flimsy structure and has but two references in Council reports in the Melton Express in the 1880’s. It is believed that in the late 1890’s a timber building was added near the rear of the building to house a kitchen, ablutions and laundry rooms and rooms for seasonal workers. This was attached to the house by means of a trellised walkway using the original front entry to the house (long since the back door). A photograph of this building appears in a local history of Melton. This was demolished in recent decades during the period when the house was tenanted (after the Minns family had left). James Minns son, George, took over the property following his marriage to Alice Walsh in 1903. James and Caroline moved into a house on the former JH Games property at the eastern end of Henry Street. George held the position of Shire Secretary for Melton for 40 years. He was a most prominent member of the community being Secretary to, among others, the Melton Coursing Club, the Shooting Club and the Cemetery Trust. He also rode with the hunting parties who sported across the Plains and were entertained at Mount Kororoit. George and Alice had one son, Norman who followed his father into local government and became Secretary of the Shire of Werribee completing a record term in this position. George retired to Werribee in 1951, where he died in 1965. The National Trust records note that James Ebden Minns and his sons were ‘leading men of the district, Justices of the Peace, and Shire Councillors’. It claims that Sir Thomas Bent was a frequent visitor. The Willows passed into the hands of George’s grandson, Bruce Minns and the property was let for a number of years. In the 1960s it became vacant and was subject to vandalism. Major structural problems arose with the part demolition of the roof, the loss of windows and doors and holes dug into and under the floorboards. The outbuildings were particularly targeted. Following widespread public support, the Shire of Melton purchased the house, with 3.75 acres of land, in 1972. In 1975 the Shire of Melton and the Melton and District Historical Society were successful in nominating the building for National Trust classification, and then the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. The AHC particularly noted its ‘townscape importance’. It was envisaged that the farmhouse would form ‘a picturesque centrepiece to Melton’s planned … historical park, along with Dunvegan bluestone cottage … and similar structures as they become available.’ In a time of great Melton’s ‘satellite city’ development the Council spelt out its broader vision in its submission to the AHC: ‘Melton is destined to become, by the end of the present century, a city of between 75,000 and 100,000 people. Significant relics of the past, such as ‘The Willows’, regrettably will be rare in that situation. It is essential that sufficient tangible links with Melton’s pioneering days remain to promote in the new community a sense of history and continuity’. Under the direction of ‘The Willows’ Restoration Committee and consultant architect John Hitch, all outbuildings, with the exception of the garage and toilet, were demolished and the dwelling house restored. Finances were provided by the Shire of Melton and the National Estate Grants Program, and considerable amount of voluntary labour was provided by the local community. The orchard was removed, and remaining wooden buildings were relocated to provide an open vista for visitors to the Park. The property was furnished with donations from district families keen to preserve this example of pioneer life in the area. The Willows became the headquarters of the Melton and District Historical Society". Invitation to the family reunion at the Willowslocal identities, pioneer families

Two invitation cards featuring the artwork 'Mount Warrenheip and Eureka Stockade' by Marlene Gilson. .1) Invitation to Eureka 160 Commemorative Events .2) Invitation to the Peter Tobin Oration presented by Ron Knowles. eureka stockade, eureka 160, kaaran koomen, marlene gilson, peter tobin oration

Off white invitation from the Mayor of Bendigo and Mrs J. H. Curnow to a Ball held in the Town Hall on Friday June 4th, 1920. No name on the invitation. City Coat of Arms at the top of invitation.document, invitations, mayoral ball, invitation, mayoral ball, the mayor of bendigo, mrs j h curnow

The document details the experiences of Rosie Bray as an adult student at Watsonia High School.Rosie Bray is a member of Greensborough Historical Society. Watsonia High School is a former school in the district, now amalgamated to form Greensborough College.A 5 page document with a number of coloured photographs.Nilwatsonia high school, rosie bray, aduilt learning, greensborough college

Offer to formalise the leasing of land in Greensborough. Flintoff and Partington families are pioneers of the area. Charles Partington purchased this land in 1878. Partington family descendants still live in GreensboroughThis establishes the Partington family in GreensboroughYellowed paper, handwritten in ink. Major damage (tearing) on horizontal folds.Personal letter or invitation to lease a garden and small paddock in Greensboroughpartington family, frederick nevins flintoff, charles partington, greensborough history

School of Mines Ballarat was a predecessor of Federation University.Correspondence from SMB Girls' Ex students association including letters from the secretary, invitations to attend meetings, apologies and acceptances, minutes, inaugral dinner menus and members lists. All documents vary in size.school of mines and industry ballarat, girls' ex student association, b. dulfer, g. kingsley sutton, dorothy richards, phyllis mcgregor, s. shillington, mrs a.l. arkinstall, mrs s. francis, miss ouida worthington, mrs k hale, mrs jones, mrs m mckenzie, mary green, lorna yates, denise kidd, peg wells, eileen hayes, barbara paddle, lynette atkinson, francis dowler, janet wells, rita lewis, joy mills, bonnie cody, elizabeth kinnane, beverley jennings, fay cosgrove, miss m chamberlain, gwen williams, maureen mann, nonie robertson, margaret lyttle, kathleen button, marilyn jones, rosemary paddick, nancy rimmington, mrs mary osborne, mary nolan, r. anglin, janet steele, margaret maun, mrs clare attwood, mrs d. ditchfield, heather mccallum, evelyn ditchfield, joan shearer, glenis sleeth, mrs m. mctaggart, betty hearn, mrs k. campbell, d. clemence, m. clemence, beth dalton, florence shurs, claudia mason, gwen murdoch, june murdoch, m. bailey, j. baker, j. banes, i. barr, w. beckwith, j. bilston, f. blake, v. boddinar, a. bosher, b. brookman, j. cameron, h. chasey, d. coad, r. cockburn, b. coombs, e. coombs, p. coombs, m. connell, l. cooper, m. coulter, p. crosbie, e. curnow, h. darby, d.j. davis, n. dunstan, b. elliott, o. elliott, n. eltringham, h. everleigh, m. everleigh, e. fitzgerald, m. gallie, g. gough, e. greenwood, b. guy, d. hambly, p. halse, g. harrison, h. hearn, o. hellings, d. henderson, n. henderson, m. hewitt, g. hoffman, v. hoffman, c. king, h. knox, b. lancaster, b. law, d. lawrie, g. lawry, m. lochhead, p. maloney, m. malpass, m. martin, j. matthews, morgan, g. murdock, j. murdock, b. murfett, i. murfett, c. mcilvena, e. norris, m. norris, b. patterson, h. patterson, e. prowse, l. rollan, b. ross, f. saunders, f. sheers, e. stevens, g. stevens, l. strick, v. taylor, j. trescowthick, b. veitch, j. waller, j. wallis, ms, d. williams, s.e. williams, b. william, b. willian, k. windsor, s. wyres, t. yeoman, margaret steele, r.w. richards

Document. Apex Club of Bendigo (Inc). A cordial invitation to John and Sue to attend the 57 th Handover Dinner, which will be held at the Horseshoe Room at the Bendigo Jockey Club on Saturday 13 th August 1988.document, memo, bendigo apex club

Document. Invitation for Mr L. Batger to the wedding of Maggie Watson to Mr W S Gentle, September 11, 1901 at the Forest St Wesleyan Church. Envelope addressed to L Batger ESq, Quarry Hill.performing arts, elocution, wedding invitation and envelope

Bundle of documents regarding affairs and property of Henry O'Beirne.Bundle of documents regarding affairs and property of Henry O'Beirne.dennys, lascelles limited, o'beirne, sgt henry

Heidelberg Golf Club Bowling Club. Integration 2016. A collection of documents relating to the merge (integration) of Bowling Club into the management of Heidelberg Golf Club. The Bowling Club was formed in 1958 to enable members no longer able to walk the hills of the golf course to have a sporting involvement with the club. A collection of documentsheidelberg golf club bowling club, integration, heidelberg golf club

This is an invitation to the Orbost Football Club's Grand Final Dinner, held at the Mechanics' Institute Hall on Monday 12th October, 1953. The Orbost football club players were known as the Busters and wore green and gold guernseys. An Orbost football team has participated in the East Gippsland League since the early 20th century. In 2003 in response to a dwindling population, the Snowy Rovers and Orbost Football Clubs were driven to merge into the Orbost Snowy RoversFootball clubs, through their many changes, have always been an important social fabric of the community. Sport is often regarded as an important part of life in rural Australia, contributing to community identity, sense of place, social interaction and good health. A cardboard invitation in the shape of an oval football. On a pale blue background in brown print is "Premiership and Grand Final Dinner". It was held in the Mechanics Hall on Monday 12th October 1953. at 7.30 p.m. At the bottom is "W.G.Weston President" and "Lee Allen Secretary"football sport orbost-football-club

Folder of documents relates to ownership of Crown Portion 13, Parish of Nillimbuk, County of Evelyn, purchased by John Alison in 1840 and sold to various people including Charles Partington Snr in 1878. It includes Certificates of Title recording transfers to Charles' children, and details of the land retained by Charles Jnr and Joseph Partington until their deaths in 1932 and 1943 respectively. A list of sales of allotments in the "Greenhills Estate" is also included.Folder of documents including Certificates of Title and other land documentsjohn alison, charles partington, charles partington junior, joseph partington, greenhills, partington family, greensborough, willis vale

This publication and accompanying papers marks the 1985 Grand Opening season of The Australian Opera in the State Theatre in the nw Arts Centre in Melbourne. Inside are documents including a five page Guest List (acceptances) for the Cocktail party to announce the 185 season. Mr and Mrs J Davies are listed. Pages with biographies of singers are included. This looks to be part of 1984 Board Papers. Patricia Davies was a member of board of The Australian Opera.The Australian Opera document holder with many documents. Foolscap size.walsh st library

The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966.This card is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.CITY OF KEW / HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR (CR W J HAMBLY JP) AND THE COUNCILLORS OF THE CITY OF KEW EXTEND A CORDIAL INVITATION TO / ______ / TO BE PRESENT AT A / SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL / ON MONDAY EVENING, 22ND AUGUST, 1949, AT 8 O'CLOCK AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL, KEW / WHEN HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA / SIR EDMUND HERRING, KCMG, KBE, DSO, MC, ED / WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO FORMALLY PRESENT A / GOLD MAYORAL CHAIN TO THE CITY ON BEHALF OF THE DONORS, / INCLUDING AND REPRESENTING FORMER MAYORS OF THE MUNICIPALITY / RSVP TOWN CLERK, 19TH AUGUST / DINNER DRESScivic ephemera - city of kew, civic invitations -- kew (vic), gold mayoral chain -- city of kew

Donald Clark Collection.An invitation addressed to Mr & Mrs Donald Clark for the Invitation to opening of the new Tarnagulla Fire Station on 31 July 1988.

The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966. A large part of this collection of civic ephemera was assembled by W. D. Birrell. This is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.ephemera, civic ephemera, mayoral balls, civic invitations, city of box hill, box hill (vic.) -- mayoresses, mrs r h l sparks

A binder of documents that is passed from an outgoing President to the incoming President. It is primarily from the 1967 to 1995. There is a summary of the year written by the President. Also documents about the President's Fund and the nomination process for electing the President. Most documents are being catalogued separately.A record of the events that happened in Legacy over several decades from the point of view of the President.Black foolscap binder of documents passed from outgoing President to the new President.presidents, past presidents, presidents fund

Document undated, most likely SECV, sets out the methods for the resealing of tram tracks in Geelong for either grooved rail or T rail. Demonstrates a document that sets out the procedure for the repair of the road surface in Geelong.Document - typed quarto sheet original.tramways, procedures, track maintenance, geelong, trackwork

Report book with results from all 3 terms of the 1920 school year, achieved by Archibald Fowler at Williamstown High School.Report booklet of white sheets covered in buff coloured card, 8 pages.See pdf above for complete document.school reports, williamstown high school, 1920, archibald fowler