Ross House, formerly called Charleville, was built as a two-storey mansion in 1889 for Charles Donaldson. It was designed in the Italianate style by the architect H. Shallers and built by G. Ginham. Dr Tom King, surgeon purchased Charleville from Donaldson in 1939 and renamed it Ross House. 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.Facade of Ross House (formerly Charleville) in Cotham Road, Kew. The image was selected by Dorothy Rogers for inclusion in 'A History of Kew' (1973), facing page 80.Ross House. Built 1889 by Donaldson. Known then as Charleville. Not published.ross house, charleville, cotham road, kew, dorothy rogers, charles donaldson, tom king, g. ginham, h. shallers

The Downing family lived in Linton for two periods - the first, from about 1902 to 1907, and the second from about 1908 to 1910. Thomas Frederick Downing, born 1865, worked from 1890 as a fireman with the Victorian Railways. Five of the seven Downing children became teachers. The house in the photograph, in Grant Street, Linton, was afterwards lived in by Linton doctor and local identity Dr James Blair Donaldson Snr.Sepia photograph of three young girls and a boy standing in the gateway at front of a house."Downing family house on hill behind Dr Donaldson's Mr Downing engine driver".downing family, thomas frederick downing, frederick (fred) downing, gladys downing, lillian downing, doris downing, house in grant street

The girls are Elizabeth Lock and Nanette Hunt. The photograph was taken in the garden at the former Donaldson family home in Sussex Street, Linton. Unfortunately, the house is not shown - the view is across Sussex Street to a cottage on the other side of the road. Elizabeth Lock's aunt and uncle, Vera and James Johnson, bought the house from the Donaldson family in the mid 1930s. Elizabeth Lock, b.1934, often stayed for extended periods with her aunt and uncle and briefly attended school at Linton in 1941. Nanette Hunt, b.1931, was the daughter of William George Hunt, Postmaster at Linton in the 1930s.Black and white copy of original photograph which shows two small girls dressed in fairy or butterfly costumes. They are standing underneath trees in a garden. A cottage with a verandah can be seen in the background.On reverse: "L - Beth Watson, age 3 / R - Nanette Hunt / (Post Master's daughter) / Front garden, / Dr. Donaldson's / circa 1937".elizabeth lock, nanette hunt

The pay books relate to : John Donaldson Gardiner. Enlisted in the AIF on 26.6.1915 Regt No 2832 age 29 years 7 months in the 9th Reinforcements to the 5th BN. Embark for Eygpt 10.9.1915, embark for France 25.3.1916, hospital 10.5.1916 injury to Rib and Knee, rejoin unit 21.5.1916, hospital 18.1.1917 with Septic Throat, rejoin unit 2.2.1917, hospital 5.4.1917 with Influenza, rejoin unit 10.5.1917, hospital 8.10.1917 with Scabies then while on leave Sprained left ankle serious, rejoin unit possibly 11.2.1918, hospital 26.10.1918 with Influenza, embark for Australia 25.1.1919, discharged from the AIF 15.5.1919 medically unfit..1) Pay book Serial number 126092 brown colour covers 16 pages, front has space for details (all blurred), entries are in blue pen or pencil, stamped in purple “Discharged”. .2) Pay book Serial number 126092 dark brown covers with black tape on edges 10 pages with a single slip pasted in the back, entries are in blue pen or pencil, stamped “Cancelled” Entries relate to pay and deductions also inoculations.On Both. “ Pay book No 5025, Gardiner, John Donaldson, Regt No 2832, Pres, Pte"pay books, administrative, records

Vera Johnson, the wife of James Eccles Johnson, lived in Linton from about 1935 until the 1950s. The Johnsons lived in the house in Sussex Street formerly owned by the Donaldson family. Vera Johnson was an active member of the Linton community - her name is mentioned in records of the Presbyterian Church, and also in records of the CWA Linton Branch. She was an enthusiastic gardener and regularly supplied flowers for the church. She had two children of her own (Eric and Betty), and often provided care for her nieces, Shirley and Elizabeth (Beth) Lock, who lived with her for extended periods when their mother was ill. Vera and James Johnson were connected through marriage to the Rankin family.Black and white copy of original photograph of Vera Johnson. The photograph is a head and shoulders portrait of a woman with wavy hair worn mid-length. She is wearing a knitted cardigan over a dark dress which has floral decorations/trim near the neckline.On reverse: "Vera Johnson / lived in / Dr. Donaldson Jnr's / house in Sussex St, / early 1930s."vera johnson

John (Jack ) Donaldson was born in Raywood in 1886 but he was raised in Inglewood. A natural runner he held 6 world records in sprint events from 100 yards to 400 yards. He came second in his first appearance at the Stawell Gift in 1906. He was nicknamed "The Blue Streak" and raced all over the world in official professional races, exhibitions and challenge events. He moved to New York in 1919 where he married Ethel Auer in 1925. He ran a gymnasium in NY but committed suicide in 1933. He is remembered each year with the running of the "Jack Donaldson 200m. handicap " race at the Stawell Gift meeting.Bendigo Advertiser ''the way we were'' from Friday, January 2, 2004. World champion: Inglewood's John Donaldson, better known as Jack, was born in 1886. Although he lacked professional training, Jack skyrocketed to fame as a sprinter. Starting at the Stawell gift, his stride of eight feet, four inches, soon earned him world records for the 150 and 300 yard races; records which stood for nearly 100 years. He died in 1933 at the age of 49. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were