1879 - The Argus, Friday 11 July 1879, page 4. The Kew Borough Council having decided to initiate a fire brigade, invited volunteers to send in their names. About 40 complied with the invitation and met at the Town-hall to choose 12 of their number to form the brigade. The 12 elected then chose their officers as follows :— Councillor Gray, captain ; Mr. Thomas Greenhill, foreman ; and Mr. H. Loxton, secretary. The brigade decided to apply to the council for uniforms and a bell; and after adopting rules for their guidance the meeting separated. The brigade now possesses a reel and 500ft. of hose, and a shed is being erected in Little Walpole-street for a station. The council have applied for six additional fireplugs in the Main-road, so that the brigade may now be considered fairly established. 1886 - Globe (Sydney), Tuesday 16 March 1886, page 8 The Kew Fire Brigade, which obtained the pride of place at the recent fire brigades' demonstration, at Sandhurst, was met on their return at Spencer-street Railway Station by the Mayor and Councillors of that suburb, and were subsequently entertained at the Greyhound Hotel. 1886 - South Bourke and Mornington Journal, Wednesday 17 March 1886, page 2 It may be, deemed remarkable, but nevertheless a fact, 'that the Kew Fire Brigade, comparatively a new one, has gained premier place at the recent contest of brigades held at Ballarat, winning two first prizes and two second. On returning they were met at the station and escorted to Kew, preceded by the Borough banner. Certificate awarded to the Kew Volunteer Fire Brigade as an award for winning 'the best average time' in competition at Sandhurst. Surrounding the team's photo are a series of individual oval named portraits of the team. This framed version of the certificate, (there are two in the collection) is less faded than the framed version.The photograph without the mount (2016.0097a) has been digitally enhanced. Inscription: "Kew Fire Brigade U.F.B.D. Sandhurst. Kew 1886: Best Average Time, 16 points"kew volunteer fire brigade

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of BiographyAn original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Albumen silver photograph mounted on boardprinted in ink on support l.c.: SCENE ON THE YARRA, NEAR ROURKE'S BRIDGE. / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED. printed in ink on support reverse c.: VIEWS OF VICTORIA. / (GENERAL SERIES.) / No. 16. / SCENE ON THE YARRA, NEAR ROURKE'S BRIDGE. / The subject of the present illustration represents the New Bridge crossing the River Yarra on the road from / St. Huberts to the Native Station at Corranderrk, and to the township at Healesville. The river at this place abounds / with fish of a large description, which are caught by the Natives, frequently in considerable quantitities. printed in ink on support reverse l.c.l.: J.W. FORBES, Agent, printed in ink on support reverse l.c.: ANGLO-AUSTRALASIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, MELBOURNE. printed in ink on support reverse l.c.r.: 10 Temple Court, Collins Street West.nicholas caire (1837-1918), landscape photography - victoria

1879 - The Argus, Friday 11 July 1879, page 4. The Kew Borough Council having decided to initiate a fire brigade, invited volunteers to send in their names. About 40 complied with the invitation and met at the Town-hall to choose 12 of their number to form the brigade. The 12 elected then chose their officers as follows :— Councillor Gray, captain ; Mr. Thomas Greenhill, foreman ; and Mr. H. Loxton, secretary. The brigade decided to apply to the council for uniforms and a bell; and after adopting rules for their guidance the meeting separated. The brigade now possesses a reel and 500ft. of hose, and a shed is being erected in Little Walpole-street for a station. The council have applied for six additional fireplugs in the Main-road, so that the brigade may now be considered fairly established. 1886 - Globe (Sydney), Tuesday 16 March 1886, page 8 The Kew Fire Brigade, which obtained the pride of place at the recent fire brigades' demonstration, at Sandhurst, was met on their return at Spencer-street Railway Station by the Mayor and Councillors of that suburb, and were subsequently entertained at the Greyhound Hotel. 1886 - South Bourke and Mornington Journal, Wednesday 17 March 1886, page 2 It may be, deemed remarkable, but nevertheless a fact, 'that the Kew Fire Brigade, comparatively a new one, has gained premier place at the recent contest of brigades held at Ballarat, winning two first prizes and two second. On returning they were met at the station and escorted to Kew, preceded by the Borough banner. Certificate awarded to the Kew Volunteer Fire Brigade as an award for winning 'the best average time' in competition at Sandhurst. Surrounding the team's photo are a series of individual oval named portraits of the team. This version of the certificate, (there is two in the collection) is unframed and has a badly torn mount. It is also more faded than the framed version.The photograph without the mount (2016.0097a) has been digitally enhanced. Inscription: "Kew Fire Brigade U.F.B.D. Sandhurst. Kew 1886: Best Average Time, 16 points"kew volunteer fire brigade

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.A Calendar bookmark for 1955 and 1956 published by the Department of Health and the City of Kew. The rear of the bookmark lists the locations of the x-rays (Kew Recreation Hall; St Hilary's Church Hall; North Kew Willsmere Service Station) and the dates when they will take place.health, x-ray, chest xray, bookmark

Kew looking east towards Deepdene. Before 1909. The reverse of the photograph includes an analysis of the photo and the places that can be seen within it (eg Deepdene Station, first Deepdene School, Burke Road etc)deepdene, farming (kew)

Kew looking east towards Deepdene. Before 1909. The reverse of the photograph includes an analysis of the photo and the places that can be seen within it (eg Deepdene Station, first Deepdene School, Burke Road etc)farming (kew), deepdene

Eva Grant was a member of the Kew Historical Society. Three albums in the collection were created by her, this one, the third created between 1964 and 1966. They were donated to the Society by her daughter in 2010. Each of the albums includes photographs and newspaper cuttings collected on her travels to historic places in South East Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. Particular structures photographed in this album include: Barnawatha (Vic.) - The Hermitage | Beveridge (Vic.) - Stone cottage where Ned Kelly was born. | Brighton - St Andrew’s Church graveyard. | Chiltern (Vic.) - lake view [missing] | Cowes (Vic.) - ‘Broadwater’ [originally home of Henty-Wilson family], demolished 1965; Bell of the Speke wreck; Edward’s tree. | Euroa (Vic.) - Habbies Howe | Fairfield (Vic.) - Dight’s Falls; John Dight. | Fernshawe (Vic.) - Queen Mary tree. | Jolimont (Vic.) - Old railway tunnel linking the first Government House (1964); Sign identifying location of first Government House. | Kew (Vic.) - Cairn at Dight’s Falls; Canoe tree, Bowyer Avenue. | Kyneton - De Grave’s Flour Mill - “C”. | Maldon (Vic.) - Chinese oven; Macarthur’s House; Maldon’s oldest resident; Chinese graves x 2; [Beehive Chimney]. | Marysville (Vic.) - Centenary cairn | Mitcham (Vic.), Mud brick house x 2, Deep Creek Road. | Melbourne (Vic.) - St Paul’s Cathedral [renovation] (1964); Wreckers at Damman’s Corner, cnr Bourke and Collins Streets (1964); Princess Gate project x 2 (1964); Colonial Storekeeper’s building on cnr King and Bourke Streets (1966); Early observatory 1861-3; the Honey Memorial. | Mt Oberon (Vic.) - [obsolete] radio telephone dish. | Seymour (Vic.) - Habres (sic) House x 3.| Swan Hill (Vic.) - Major Mitchell’s Cairn (12/1964); Headstone of Andrew Beverage AM (12/1964). | Templestowe (Vic.) - Finn’s Hotel. | Thornton (Vic.) - Eildon Station. | Werribee (Vic.) - Chirnside Memorial [Presbyterian] Church; gaslight beside church | Location unknown, but possibly Swan Hill - Brick house; Wooden bullock dray. | Location unknown - Headstone of John Furlonge 1835.Important record of significant heritage properties in Victoria, many of which have since been demolished.30 page spirex bound drawing book including photographs and newspaper articles of historic buildings in Victoria. The front cover has a picture of a steam boat. The cover is encased in plastic. A number items in the album are annotated with written commentary by Eva Grant who compiled the album. Annotations and transcriptions by Eva Grant on most imageseva grant, photograph albums, heritage places - victoria

Colour transparency (slide) created in June 1976 during a tour by the Junior National Trust, which was led by members of Kew Historical Society. The collection of 21 slides reveals that the tour covered all parts of Kew, but focused understandably on heritage buildings and sites.Image of an historic place in Kew that can be dated to an exact time and place. The images, albeit amateurish in composition, frequently reveal aspects of important buildings and sites that have changed over time.35mm colour transparency of the former Kew Police Station (closed 2002) in High Street, Kew. The original structure was built as a house for the resident police sergeant and his family. Offices and a cell block were located at the rear of this building. The Queen Anne revival style employed by the Department of Public Works architects, favoured the use of red brick highlighted by stucco. The painted white stucco is not the original colour. The building is part of a suite of public offices opened in 1888.public offices -- kew (vic.), police stations -- kew (vic.)

in 1882 Thomas Maidment paid the Society of Jesus £5,750 for nine allotments along Barkly Road (now Glenferrie Road). Maidment, who had arrived in Australia from the Glastonbury district in England in 1858, owned and managed a number of sheep stations in Victoria and subsequently became an '... eminently respectable ...' member of District society. In 1883 the Rate Books list Maidment's land in Barkly Road as the 'Buxton Hill Estate' and it was given an N.A.V. of £90, while in the following year his property attracted an N.A.V. of £160, suggesting that substantial improvements were taking place. Maidment's two-storey mansion, named 'Butleigh Wooton' after his birth-place in England, was completed in 1885 and was given an initial N.A.V. of £420. While Maidrnent is recorded as the owner of the building until at least 1896, Jane Maidment, his wife, continued the family ownership of the twenty-six roomed house with its extensive grounds until at least 1910. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Butleigh Wooton is a substantial two storeyed house built in the Italianate style common in the 1880s. Its walls are rendered and it has limited applied decoration that includes brackets to the eaves line and engaged ionic columns under a broken pediment over the front entrance. The bowed window unit is of particular distinction and is not at all typical of this type of building. This interior by John T Collins is a view of the staircase from the first floor landing. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 27A / Kew / Butleigh Wooton / Looking down on stairs / 8-4-79thomas maidment, butleigh wooton, 867 glenferrie road -- kew (vic.)

in 1882 Thomas Maidment paid the Society of Jesus £5,750 for nine allotments along Barkly Road (now Glenferrie Road). Maidment, who had arrived in Australia from the Glastonbury district in England in 1858, owned and managed a number of sheep stations in Victoria and subsequently became an '... eminently respectable ...' member of District society. In 1883 the Rate Books list Maidment's land in Barkly Road as the 'Buxton Hill Estate' and it was given an N.A.V. of £90, while in the following year his property attracted an N.A.V. of £160, suggesting that substantial improvements were taking place. Maidment's two-storey mansion, named 'Butleigh Wooton' after his birth-place in England, was completed in 1885 and was given an initial N.A.V. of £420. While Maidrnent is recorded as the owner of the building until at least 1896, Jane Maidment, his wife, continued the family ownership of the twenty-six roomed house with its extensive grounds until at least 1910. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Butleigh Wooton is a substantial two storeyed house built in the Italianate style common in the 1880s. Its walls are rendered and it has limited applied decoration that includes brackets to the eaves line and engaged ionic columns under a broken pediment over the front entrance. The bowed window unit is of particular distinction and is not at all typical of this type of building. This interior by John T Collins is a view of the staircase from the first floor landing. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 21A / Kew / Butleigh Wooton / Staircase / 8-4-79thomas maidment, butleigh wooton, 867 glenferrie road -- kew (vic.), john t collins

in 1882 Thomas Maidment paid the Society of Jesus £5,750 for nine allotments along Barkly Road (now Glenferrie Road). Maidment, who had arrived in Australia from the Glastonbury district in England in 1858, owned and managed a number of sheep stations in Victoria and subsequently became an '... eminently respectable ...' member of District society. In 1883 the Rate Books list Maidment's land in Barkly Road as the 'Buxton Hill Estate' and it was given an N.A.V. of £90, while in the following year his property attracted an N.A.V. of £160, suggesting that substantial improvements were taking place. Maidment's two-storey mansion, named 'Butleigh Wooton' after his birth-place in England, was completed in 1885 and was given an initial N.A.V. of £420. While Maidrnent is recorded as the owner of the building until at least 1896, Jane Maidment, his wife, continued the family ownership of the twenty-six roomed house with its extensive grounds until at least 1910. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Butleigh Wooton is a substantial two storeyed house built in the Italianate style common in the 1880s. Its walls are rendered and it has limited applied decoration that includes brackets to the eaves line and engaged ionic columns under a broken pediment over the front entrance. The bowed window unit is of particular distinction and is not at all typical of this type of building. This interior by John T Collins is a view of the staircase from the first floor landing. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 21A / Kew / Butleigh Wooton / Staircase looking up to dome / 8-4-79thomas maidment, butleigh wooton, 867 glenferrie road -- kew (vic.), john t collins

in 1882 Thomas Maidment paid the Society of Jesus £5,750 for nine allotments along Barkly Road (now Glenferrie Road). Maidment, who had arrived in Australia from the Glastonbury district in England in 1858, owned and managed a number of sheep stations in Victoria and subsequently became an '... eminently respectable ...' member of District society. In 1883 the Rate Books list Maidment's land in Barkly Road as the 'Buxton Hill Estate' and it was given an N.A.V. of £90, while in the following year his property attracted an N.A.V. of £160, suggesting that substantial improvements were taking place. Maidment's two-storey mansion, named 'Butleigh Wooton' after his birth-place in England, was completed in 1885 and was given an initial N.A.V. of £420. While Maidrnent is recorded as the owner of the building until at least 1896, Jane Maidment, his wife, continued the family ownership of the twenty-six roomed house with its extensive grounds until at least 1910. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Butleigh Wooton is a substantial two storeyed house built in the Italianate style common in the 1880s. Its walls are rendered and it has limited applied decoration that includes brackets to the eaves line and engaged ionic columns under a broken pediment over the front entrance. The bowed window unit is of particular distinction and is not at all typical of this type of building. This interior by John T Collins is a view of the staircase from the first floor landing. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 21A / Kew / Butleigh Wooton / Railing at head of stairs / 8-4-79thomas maidment, butleigh wooton, 867 glenferrie road -- kew (vic.), john t collins

in 1882 Thomas Maidment paid the Society of Jesus £5,750 for nine allotments along Barkly Road (now Glenferrie Road). Maidment, who had arrived in Australia from the Glastonbury district in England in 1858, owned and managed a number of sheep stations in Victoria and subsequently became an '... eminently respectable ...' member of District society. In 1883 the Rate Books list Maidment's land in Barkly Road as the 'Buxton Hill Estate' and it was given an N.A.V. of £90, while in the following year his property attracted an N.A.V. of £160, suggesting that substantial improvements were taking place. Maidment's two-storey mansion, named 'Butleigh Wooton' after his birth-place in England, was completed in 1885 and was given an initial N.A.V. of £420. While Maidrnent is recorded as the owner of the building until at least 1896, Jane Maidment, his wife, continued the family ownership of the twenty-six roomed house with its extensive grounds until at least 1910. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Butleigh Wooton is a substantial two storeyed house built in the Italianate style common in the 1880s. Its walls are rendered and it has limited applied decoration that includes brackets to the eaves line and engaged ionic columns under a broken pediment over the front entrance. The bowed window unit is of particular distinction and is not at all typical of this type of building. This interior by John T Collins is a view of the staircase from the first floor landing. (Sanderson P. City of Kew Urban Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 21A / Kew / Butleigh Wooton / Entrance / 8-4-79thomas maidment, butleigh wooton, 867 glenferrie road -- kew (vic.), john t collins

The building is the Sunbury Post and Telegraph Office and residence, which was built on the corner of Brook and Evans Street in 1892. Prior to that time the postal service ion Sunbury was conducted at the railway station. Over the years changes and extensions have taken place to the building to accommodate it for modern postal delivery practices although it still operates from the same site.The Sunbury Post Office has operated in a building on the same site since 1892 despite many changes and extensions made to the building, which included the demolition of the residence attached to the original building.A black and white photograph of Victorian style brick building with a slate roof with 3 chimneys and surrounded by a white picket fence. Two men are standing by a ladder on the LHS of the image. sunbury, sunbury post office, post and telegraph offices

The post card is one of a set that were produced by Chris Christainsen, who had a pharmacy in Sunbury and was also a photographer. The four photos featured on the card are the Rupertswood Mansion, St Mary's Church of England, Jacksons Creek in floods ands Sunbury Railway station.The buildings and places featured on the card are of historical significance in the Sunbury town precinct. A post card with four sepia photographs of interesting sites which can be seen in the Sunbury township. IN AND AROUND SUNBURY WITH GREETING. christainsen, chris., rupertswood mansion, st. mary's church of england., jacksons creek, sunbury railway station

The open are in the foreground was part of railway land on the west side of Sunbury Station along Horne Street. The initial preparations to develop the area into a commercial and entertainment precinct were just commencing. The development that took place on this site was indicative of the growth that was taking place in Sunbury in the early 2000sA coloured photograph of an open area feed off with temporary netting in preparation for construction work. A set of traffic lights are on the RHS of the photograph and a station is in the middle distance.sunbury railway station

The photograph of Sunbury Station was taken from the pedestrian bridge and is looking north to take in the Sunbury Square shopping centre buildings and the bus terminal which are on the Platform 1 or east side of the station.During the 1990s much development took place in Sunbury and the station precinct became a commercial hub.A coloured photograph of a railway station and a Coles Supermarket in the middle distance as well as a bus terminal.

This view of Sunbury Railway Station was taken from the corner of Brook and Evans Streets two years after the station underwent refurbishment and extensions and a carpark was constructed adjacent to the station. The Sunbury & District Heritage Association Inc. has a photograph P0663 of the station taken a century ago from the same place, when Sunbury was a small country town. The contrast between the two images is interesting. A coloured photograph of a streetscape with a weatherboard building in the middle distance,sunbury railway station, brook street

Kees HOS In 1956 Kees and his wife Tina made a new life with their two children in the arts community of New Zealand. In Australia Kees established the art school at Gippsland College of Advanced Education in 1971 with a radical multidisciplinary approach to art education. He generously delivered encouragement and opportunities to many people including lecturers, visiting artists and students. His small team literally built an art school from zero. Temporary accommodation in an old factory and service station in Morwell moved to three student-built studios on the Gippsland Campus. His highest recognition was 1997 when the names of Kees and Albertine Hos were added to the Wall of Honour in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vasheem in Jerusalem along with many others who put their lives on the line against the biggest killing machine the world had known. The ‘hiding-place’ in Kees and Tina’s home was discovered but Tina managed to rescue a baby as her own while the Jewish parents were transported to Auschwitz and Dachau. Kees was on the run using his printmaking skills to forge passports but was eventually captured and jailed, the war’s end saving his life. Gippsland Director's Collection, Acquired 1973.Signed and dated lower right in pencil "Kees Hos '64"artist, artwork, kees hos, gippsland campus, gippsland director's collection, printmaking, wall of honour in the garden of the righteous

368 pages, unnumbered and folded leaves of plates : illustrations (some colour), maps, portraits, plans ; 19 cmnon-fictionThe history of Warrnambool, capital of the western ports of Victoria, from 1847 (when the first government land sales took place) up to the end of 1886 / by Richard Osburne Other Authors, Fraser, Malcolm, 1930-2015, (author of introduction, etc.) Tylee Memorial Collectionvictoria. warrnambool, 1847-1886. facsimiles, government policy - initial period and protectionism., settlement and contacts - 19th century., mining industry - gold., race relations - violent - massacres, religions - christianity - missions., warrnambool (vic.) -- history., framlingham / purnim (w vic sj54-11), demography - census data, book

This telegram was sent from the Royal Netherlands Airways, Sydney, to the manager of ABC Radio Station 2CO, Corowa, New South Wales. This telegram relates to the 1934 London to Melbourne Air Race. The telegram records the Royal Netherlands Airways' thanks to ABC Radio 2CO radio staff for their efforts in broadcasting an emergency message to the residents of Albury after the Dutch airliner ‘Uiver’ became lost at night in bad weather. As requested local radio listeners drove their cars to the Albury racecourse and illuminated an emergency landing ground using their vehicle headlights. This allowed the lost airliner to land safely.This item relates to the London to Melbourne Air Race of 1934, a significant event that shaped Australia's history as it proved travelling to and from Australia could be done within a reasonable time by air, thereby making the country less isolated. Up to that time Australia was three weeks away from Europe by steam ship. The Air Race was dreamt up by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Harold Smith, to commemorate the centenary of Victoria's statehood and was sponsored by the Melbourne chocolate manufacturer Sir MacPherson Robertson. The Royal Netherlands Airways entered a Douglas DC2 plane 'Uiver' - the largest aircraft in the race, and the only one to carry passengers as well as crew, to show that a commercial passenger service to Australia was possible. But in the last leg of the race, the Uiver lost its way in an electrical storm over the Riverina town of Albury. Several communication methods were used to land the plane safely, including the signalling of the word "Albury" in Morse code using the town's street lights. Local ABC Radio station 2CO also made a call for locals to light up a makeshift landing strip for the plane at the town's racecourse. The plane landed safely and the next morning with the help of the townspeople who pulled it out of the mud, took off and finished the race in second place. The story of the Uiver points to the importance of communication in its various forms: two-way and broadcast radio, Morse, and light signals. The survival of the Uiver is a reflection of the ingenuity of Australian communications and the solutions that can be found through the sharing of ideas of information. The landing of the Uiver was an important moment in Albury's social history, as residents participated in the rescue of the plane and its passengers, helping the Uiver to continue on its journey and finish second in the Race. When the Uiver crashed in the Syrian Desert in December 1934, Albury residents contributed to a memorial which honoured those who were killed. Beige paper telegram printed with black ink and overwritten with typewriter. Telegram split into sections designating details of the telegram, details of the recipient and a space for the transmitted message. A small section of paper is missing from bottom left corner."Extend to you my warmest appreciation for your most valuable / assistance rendered to Netherlands machine by continuously keeping your / wireless organisation available during a period of extremely difficult / air navigation stop I assure you that in Holland and in Java your action / is most deeply appreciated Bakker chief representative in Australia for / Royal Netherlands airways. / 6 18pm"telegrams, telegraphic messages, communications, radio, uiver, royal netherlands airways, albury, london to melbourne air race, morse code

Ski-Horizon is the official journal of the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs which began publication in 1949. The were 26 original member clubs which included Albury Ski Club, Bogong Ski Club, Myrtleford Ski Club, Tallangatta and District Ski Club and Wangaratta Ski Club. Two pioneers of Falls Creek, Tom Mitchell, M.L.A., and Martin Romuld were Vice-Presidents of the Federation.This Journal is significant because it documents the early development of skiing in Victoria.The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. Items related to the Falls Creek Area in this issue include:- Page 2 - Fred Griffith, Albury Ski Club's dynamic President should be pleased with the article about his property "Toollanook" in the Leader newspaper and Tom Mitchell celebrated 40 years of skiing with a day spent on the Dargals in the Kosciuszko area. Page 4 - Albury Ski Club appointed a new supervisor, Mr Les Orton formerly catering officer with a British migrant hostel in Sydney. The SEC has also allowed Falls Creek clubs to use timber from the stack at Rocky Valley for firewood. Page 5 - Broadcasting Station 2AY Albury has interviewed some N.E.D.S.A. skiers - Tom Dunlop, Toni St. Elmo, Fred Griffith and Neil Newton. This is a sign of the tremendous interest in skiing in the North East and the publicity it is given. Nissen Ski Tow charges had been set for the season at 8/- per day and 6/- per half day. The novice tow is also ready for a good season. Page 17 - A page of suggested places to ski in Victoria included Bob Hymans' Lodge which was the only commercial concern in the area and the Bogong Ski Club Lodge was available for booking by members of other ski clubs by arrangement with the Secretary. Inside Cover - an advertisement for Fred Griffith's "Toonallook" Romney Stud.fred griffith, bob hymans, tom mitchell, les orton, tom dunlop, toni st. elmo

MELTON’S STREETS Heritage Week 2014 What’s in a Name? Alphabetical List Aboriginal place names, Early Family Names and landowners, Agricultural, Shop and Commercial premises, Places and Events Melton & District Historical Society Street Naming Project 1972 – c 1998 Suburb Name – KURUNJANG - Kirkton, 1972, Brookfield, West, 1988 Melton and Town Centre - A joint collaboration with the Shire of Melton and Subdivision Developers ARNOLD Court – Family house - Arnolds Creek ALKEMADE Drive Family – Lime kilns Coimadia ALEXANDRA Street 1902 – Corination of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra AVIATOR Place Event, location of plane crash – Jimmy Melrose 1936 Adina ?Annibee - Anniba? Agricultural Avon court .. .. BAKERY Square - Location of Jongebloed shop, bakehouse and stables BALUK Place Aboriginal BARLEYCORN Place Agricultural BILLING Place Name of Jimmy Melrose Uncle Noel Pemberton Billing BLACKWOOD Drive - Alexander Blackwood 1860c Registrar BARRIES Road C. E. Barrie “Darlingsford” farmer 1911, chaff mill owner BROOKLYN Road Staughton family residence. 1875 – Dismantled c 193? CAHILL Drive Family - Glenville Dairy CAMERON Court Family Canopus Place ? CANALLAN Drive Early Surveyor CAMPBELL Court Aviation – Melrose passenger 6th July 1936 CARBERRY Drive Michael, early landowner family CAREW Court Edward and Michael. Royal Hotel. Vera (Carew) Forran Singer - Opera CASEY Court Family CASHIN Court Family CHEVIOT Court Agriculture, breed of sheep CHESNEY Road was re named ( Minns Road being duplicated c 1973) CHRISTINA Crescent Christina McPherson, daughter of James and Mary Mary McPherson. Died 1955 aged 85 years COLLYER Close a deleted street (parallel to Yuille) re-used CORRIEDALE Road Breed of sheep CORR Court Teacher at first school, landowner CROXTON Court Name of the Hornbuckle and Knox family home DALEY Court - William Daley and family 1865 Bootmaker High Street DARLINGSFORD Boulevard - Name of early homestead Thomas B Darling 1853 DJERRIWARRH Court - Parish County of Bourke - very early map. DODEMAIDE Place Early land owners - Melton Football Team had 6 brothers playing c 1924 DONALD Court McPherson family 6 generations in Melton in 1936 DOUGAL Court DUNCAN Court .. .. DUNVEGAN Circuit Home of the McPherson family, castle Isle of Skye Name of bluestone house Smith Street (now at Willows) EMIL Court Jongebloed family EXELL Avenue Farming family Melton Sth- Closer Settlement 1907 EXFORD Road Exe former name of the Werribee river FARMER Court Name of early postmistress FERRIS Road John Ferris Farmer HANNAH Close First name of Hannah Watts – midwife HAYBALE Place Agricultural HELDER Court Early surveyor J Helder Wedge map HEWSON Street Winston Hewson Shire Engineer – check title c 1960 HENRY Street Township map c 1860 HESTON Street Heston Phoenix – C.J. Melrose plane HILDEGARDE Court Jimmy Melrose’s mothers name HOMESTEAD Close HORNBUCKLE Cres Farmers. Three members of family - Shire Presidents HURLEY Street Farmers IAIN Court Descendent of James and Mary McPherson JAMES MELROSE Drive Name appears on 2013 Melton information map JANG Place KURUN – jang KIRKTON Drive Name of the McPherson family home Toolern Vale Road KIRWIN Street Michael early landowners (deleted for freeway construction) KILPATRICKS Road Deleted when Barries Road was extended across Station Rd KOROROIT Court Early map, Parish of Kororoit. Creek name KNOX Circuit Family – Hornbuckle “Croxton Park” KURRUNJANG Drive Aboriginal name for people of the red earth – Suburb name Lara Place ? LLOYD Court Garage owners High Street. Laura lived to 100 years D 1955 LUBY Court John Luby – Crown Grant Land Title LITTLE Court MANNING Avenue Richard, hotel owner 1891 MARGARET Drive McPherson family McDONALD Street Melton South family name McKENZIE Street Township c1860 MORROW Street Early name MOWBRAY Crescent Name of English Melton, popularly believed origin of Melton MYERS Court Early setters c 1866 Crown Grant Land Title NIMMO Street Early name NIXON Street Name submitted by Mary nee Nixon Collins c1985 OLDERSHAW Road Early builder PALMERSTON Street Early township map c 1860 PEART Court Early name PENNYROYAL Avenue Plant growing by the creek. Early name used for the Toolern Toolam Creek PINKERTON Street Family name and early street map PINNACLE Crescent Agricultural - type of wheat PHOENIX Circuit C.J. Melrose Phoenix Heston Plane 2013 map PRATT Family PRIOR Court PYKE Place Brothers – early settlement 1838 RADFORD Court Land owners and business operators. Former Royal Hotel Grocer High Street demolished 1970 RAGLAN Court Hotel 19th century Lord Raglan RALEIGHS Road Oliver Reierson family (Norweigen) Shopkeeper – Dressmakers RIDDELL Drive (misspelt Riddle) Resident and land owner RODERICK Road McPherson family – a re occurring name ROLLAND Court Jones family ROSS Court Daniel. Landowner. Agnes Ross music teacher RUSSELL Court Robert. Early land surveyor of Melton 1853 RYAN Court Family early landowner. Member of the 1862 Road Board SHEBLER Place Augustus early Melton resident – Golden Fleece Hotel SHEEPFOLD Court Farming SHERWIN Court Sherwin Street earliest Township map– became Golf course SMITH Street Early township map. STRATHULLOH Circuit Strathtulloh Homestead. STAUGHTON Street Family – LARGE land owners Strachan ? SWANEY Court Marie Swaney earlier resident of Strathtulloh. SUTHERLAND Family name TOOLERN Street TOOLAM – TOOLERN Creek TULLIDGE St Road marked on 1861 map UNITT Street Early Township c 1860 WALLACE Square Cr Jack Wallace 5 terms as President 46 years unopposed WATTS Court Hannah Watts – midwife, cottage hospital WALSINGHAM Name of house of Minns family. From Walsingham Norfolk England WESTLEY Place Name of Jimmy Melrose Percival Gull Plane WESTLAKE Drive Early resident WHICKHAM Street Family Name Melton South WILSON Road Albert, Melton South YUILLE Street William Cross, early landowner, Rockbank run Zoomed in section of Melton Streets including Church and High Streetlandscapes of significance

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

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] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups