David McKenzie obituary, Romsey Examiner 1928 Another of Australia’s very old pioneers in the person of Mr McKenzie, passed away last weekend at his daughters residence At regent at the ripe old age of 92 years ( he would be 93 in November) Born at Berwick of Tweed Scotland, the late Mr McKenzie arrived in Australia with two of his uncles in 1855 by the ship “Red Jacket”. A stone- mason by trade he worked about Melbourne and at Geelong until attack by “gold fever” but met with no success at this venture so he returned to his trade, arriving at Melton about 1860. There he married and settles for about 20 years. In 1880 the Cherokee Heights with its subdivision was famous and Mr McKenzie moved there with his daughter. He continues in his trade, his work extending to Gisborne, Bacchus Marsh, Romsey, and Springfield and other places, where to this day, may be seen monuments of his skill and through tradesmanship as a mason. During his residence in the Mount, he took a keen interest in all the affairs of Kerrie and Cherokee, and he was a familiar figure at all the public gatherings at which he nearly always filled the position of Chairman, because of outstanding qualifications. He was a man of those sterling qualities possessed by those men who laid the foundation of this country so well and truly. Loyal, broad of vision, just in thought and deed, honourable to the extreme in all dealings, fearless in the cause of right, a lover of home and family, and ready to lend a hand to all progressive movements. To the memory of those grand men the youth of today should lift their hats in reverence. Mr McKenzie was a prolific reader of educational works, and the wonderful knowledge he retained upon a variety of subjects was a source joy to those who associated with him. His wife predeceased him by 43 years ago soon after arrival in Cherokee. A Pioneer of Melton There are probably some residents left at Melton and Bacchus Marsh who will remember the late Mr McKenzie, one of them has written as follows:- I knew the late Mr. McKenzie since I was a little boy – over 50 years ago- and no better man ever lived than he, he was a good man from every point of view. The late Mr McKenzie was born on the November 25th, 1835 at Montrose, Scotland. He came to Australia in 1853 and resided for a time with his uncle the late Mr. Gibson on the Kororoit Creek near Melton. A few years later he settled in Melton. In 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Buchanan, the eldest daughter of the late Mr. George Buchanan, one of the early settlers of Melton. Deceased resided on the main road to Bacchus Marsh one mile from Melton. He was a stone- mason by trade, and some fine buildings in Melton and surrounding districts to this day, stand to his credit. He built the Presbyterian Church Melton. The old school, the Shire Hall, many private dwellings and numerous bridges. He was highly respected, as he was well known for the good work he put into all he had to do with. He also took numerous contracts in the Melton Shire, and was also employed by the Shire as Clerk of Works. He was a most conscious man. In his day he took a prominent part in all public affairs, and was a leading spirit in the old school Board. He was one of the pioneers of the Melton Rechabite Tent. He was one of the earliest workers and supporters of the Melton Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder, and for a great number of years, its Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher. He also lead the singing for many years before the days of the organ, as he had a splendid voice, and could sing his old Scotch songs and hymns up to within six months of his death. For the past five years he has resided with one of his daughters at north Preston, where he died. He had good health up to within six months of his death and could well remember all the early happenings at Melton and surrounding districts. There are five daughters and one living son:- Margaret Mrs. Walter Wyatt Twose of Burnley Elizabeth Mrs George Shebler of Brunswick Georgina Mrs Jack Sinclair Isabel Mrs H Knight of North Preston Jane Mrs William Gibson of Warragul John W. of Fremantle - Western Australia Letter from Margaret to the Melton Presbyterian Churchchurches, local architecture

Corner view of front and east side showing telephone insulator connection, and small elevated water tank connected to windmill. This photo was taken before the restoration of the property. local identities, local special interest groups, council, local architecture

The Willows Restoration Committee members: Chairman Cr Ed Gillespie, Lorraine Gillespie, Mr & Mrs Alan Reed, Ken Young, Bill Amor, Edna Barrie, Max Watson, Cr Jeff Robinson and Wendy Barrie.Jeff Robinson, Bill Amor, Lorraine and Eddie Gillespie standing in front of the Willows, inspecting the house and surroundings from the front verandah. local identities, local architecture

Photograph of the Committee at the completion of the brick front Trustees and Committee: C Egan, Albert Lee, J F Minns,James Byrnes, Thomas Lang, William Whittington, J O McKenzie, William Sheahan, E Chalmers and Cr R Hornbuckle Photograph of the Committee at the completion of the brick front of the buildinglocal architecture

Edna Barrie received this photo from Margaret nee McCoy Robinson c 1980. In 2011 the original photograph was scanned and digitised and restored by Morrie Forte. Norma ( Mothers’ Club Representative 1970) and Morrie Forte of Melton have been associated and supported the Melton State School No 430 and contributed to the 100 years celebrations. In December 2011 when viewing the enlarged restored print Mary Tolhurst identified brothers Andrew and Edward Byrns.[Burns] she is a descendent of this family. The brothers were enrolled at the Melton Common School in 1864 aged about 8 ½ and 5 years and left in 1870 and 1871. Head Teacher J H Murphy 1869-71Students in front of the bluestone buildinglocal architecture, education

Black and white photograph of Scots Presbyterian Churchchurches, local architecture

One of the windows from the Melton Methodist Churchchurches, local architecture

This copy was received from Marlene WoodgateMelton State School, looking North. The photo shows the rear bluestone built in 1870. The brick addition was added in 1923.education, local architecture

Photo was donated by Mary Tolhurst. She was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Tarleton, long time residents of the district (or who settled in the district). Together with he late husband, Mr Jack Tolhurst has been active in many local groups, with a special interest in the Melton & District Historical Society. When the “The Willows” was opened in 1982 Mrs Tolhurst made generous gifts and loans of a large amount of furniture. She held office as Vice President several times and is an enthusiastic worker for the Society She was made a Life Member in 1982 One of the buildings of Melton State Schoollocal architecture, education

Archbishop Goold laid the foundation stone for the church in 1876. St Dominic's originally known as St John Chrytsostom's churches, local architecture

The Court House and Police Station would have be built between 1892-1900. The Constables in 1900 was McGuire, later Wade, Riely and McKenzie after that Robert Wilson and Seinfort were here, they were a bit later on. Information from reel to reel tape recording of Tom Collins in Melton 1969. Front and side views of the Court House, located near the corner of High street and Palmerston Street, Melton. emergency services, local architecture

Built in 1869 and opened in 1872 by Bishop Perry In 1988, it was dismantled and rebuilt in Wadonga. Efforts were made to save the building. The foundations needed significant work. Many of its adherents were deeply distressed by its loss. It was strongly linked with the Staughton family and therefore of important significance to MeltonChurch of England bluestone building.churches, local architecture

Dunvegan built in 1875, it was situated at rear of the Golden Fleece Hotel. Mary McCrimmon McPherson came from the family who were hereditary Pipers to the McLeods of Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye (also of Isle of Mull, Argyll) . At aged 70 years after the death of her husband, Mary and her family came to Australia in 1851. They took up residence in 1852 on the Toolern Road, Melton. Son James married Mary McInnes in 1859. They named another residence occupied by other family in Smith Street, Dunvegan. It was relocated to the Willows Park at the creation of Bakery Square. Edna Barrie participated in the restoration and reconstruction of Dunvegan.House on Smith Street, Meltonlocal architecture

In 1911 the late Mrs. Hay’s estate was in the preliminary stages of dispersal and the hotel known as Minns was sold to a Mr McDowell of South Melbourne. Mr. McDowell lived in Melton for five and a half years, and it was during this time that the cottage was erected in High Street and the hotel became Macs. Mr McDowell sold the property to the McNichol family, who did not live in the cottage. Mrs McNichol’s sister later married A. McDonald of Melton South and occupancy was continued from that time. At time of removal 1977 to the Willows Park was under licence of Reidy family, owners of Macs Hotel High street, Melton.Weatherboard cottage located next to Mac's Hotel.local architecture

View of High Street with the Police Station [House] and Court House in the background. Small house in McKenzie street on right in the distance. Land vacant prior to construction of Supermarket. Small house at the rear of Police Station. emergency services, local architecture

On the 16th April the foundation stone of the Wesleyan Church was laid and does not appear to have been marked. It was opened for public worship on Oct 13th 1867. Rev Ken Moore of Melbourne was the preacher, only 6 months after the commencement of building. It was constructed of bluestone with a slate roof. The interior had not been plastered, nor ceiling erected, but would be a funds permitted. Cost at opening was L350/13/6; seats and deskL40. A Tea meeting was held to celebrate the opening on the following night. Church closed in 1910. Has been used as a den for the Djerriwarrh Scout Troop.Formerly Melton Wesleyan Church on Palmerston Streetchurches, local architecture

Two photos of the harvest thanksgiving at Scots Churchchurches, local architecture

Mollie Mrshall, Elvie Mc, Dorothy (Beaty) Watt, Marj Newham, Peg Ibbotson, Necia Morton, Dorothy Barrie, Marilyn Doig and Janet Gratton standing in front of the church. local identities, local architecture, churches

In 1853, Thomas Bell Darling purchased 176 acres from the Toolern Creek to Ferris Road. A house and bluestone barn/stables were built. The property was owned by Ralph Parkinson, followed by Richard Manning. “Darlingsford” was the name given to the Homestead. In 1911, Charles Ernest Barrie purchased the property known as“Darlingsford”. Barn before restorationlocal identities, local architecture, council

The barn is now used as a community function space.Signage for the sale of Darlingsford propertylocal identities, local architecture, council

Darlingsford Estatelocal identities, local architecture, council

Darlingsford propertylocal identities, local architecture, council

Side view of the barnlocal identities, local architecture, council

The Melton South Railway Station, Brooklyn Road Originally built in the town of Leeor in 1898, the station building was relocated to Melton South in 1898. Black and white image of Melton Train Stationtransport, local architecture

Built by Water Browne c.1903 Greenhills was one of the first pastoral runs, and centres of European settlement, established in the Shire of Melton. Estate in Diggers Rest Coimadai Road, Toolern Valelocal architecture, pioneer families

'Deanside' estatelocal architecture

Photographs of the revealed former Sebastopol Town Hall revealed during renovations in 2018.sebastopol, sebastopol town hall, sebastopol civic centre, architecture, local government

The exceptional building clay of Hurstbridge and throughout the Shire of Eltham and present day Shire of Nillumbik has been a factor in the popularity of manufacture of and use of mud bricks in local architecture. This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, hurstbridge, brick making, adobe brick, bricks

The Kew Historical Society's map collection includes a substantial number of real estate subdivision plans, mainly of Kew but also of surrounding suburbs in Melbourne. Most of the subdivision plans date from the 1920s and 1930s when the districts old homes and local farmland were being split up to accommodate residential growth in the postwar period. These early plans were assembled by a local firm, Jas R Mather & McMillan, which had an office in Cotham Road. Many of the plans, and sometimes photos, were annotated by the agents.Subdivision plans are historically important documents used as evidence for the growth of suburbs in Australia. They frequently provide information about when the land was sold as well as evidence relating to surveyors and real estate and financial agents. The numerous subdivision plans in the Kew Historical Society's collection represent working documents, ranging from the initial sketches made in planning a subdivision to printed plans on which auctioneers or agents listed the prices for which individual lots were sold. In a number of cases, the reverse of a subdivision plan in the collection includes a photograph of a house that was also for sale by the agent. These photographs provide significant heritage information relating house design and decoration, fencing and household gardens.The photograph may also be aesthetically significant depending on the importance of the photographic atelier.Myrtle Hill, at 14 Vista Avenue, Kew, is of local historical and architectural significance as a good example of a large and imposing single-storey Italianate house of the early 1870s surviving in Kew. Originally sited on a large allotment overlooking Normanby Road, the setting of the house has been dramatically altered through extensive subdivision and development. The subdivision plan of the ‘Myrtle Hill Estate’ indicates that in one such subdivision, 11 allotments were created fronting Bowyer Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, and Normanby Road. The outline and building profile of Myrtle Hill is shown on the west side of Bowyer Avenue.The full (typed) title of this subdivision plan is :"Plan of SUBDIVISION of part of CROWN PORTION 83. / at KEW / PARISH OF BOROONDARA. / COUNTY OF BOURKE". / "MYRTLE HILL ESTATE / EAST KEW" In addition to the Title and subtitle, the plan also lists the advantages of the subdivision.