Colour photograph of construction on a cool storage shed at the Montague orchard, Narre Warren North. A crane can be seen behind the wall. Trees surround the area.

Colour photo showing two children (or possibly more) playing in an open-sided shed. A girl about 6 years old stands looking at the camera, her hands clasped above her head. She is wearing a light blue patterned sleeveless dress. Behind her, a younger boy is climbing up a wooden frame. He is wearing dark trousers, a reddish jacket and a pale check shirt. There are wooden crates stacked to one side. An adult may be standing on the left.

Colour photograph of various vehicles in corrugated iron shedding at Narre Warren orchard. A barrel drum can be seen in the extreme left side of frame. The driveway heading to the sheds has a plough-like device resting there. The section to the left is the first coolstore built on the property.

'Wimba' is of significance as one of the key nineteenth century houses of Kew and for remaining in a substantially intact state. Although probably built some time earlier, the first mention in the Rate Books of the property later known as 'Wimba Lodge' appears in the entry for 1870 when the property, owned by John Sharpe Denbigh, a civil servant, was given an N.A.V. of £72 2. Denbigh did however occupy a house in Cotham Road in 1863, and it is possible that was the same premises'. The house was occupied by Denbigh until at least May 1876 when the 'family residence...' \ 'as auctioned to Carlington George Edmund Marston 5, a chemist of Smith Street, Collingwood. At the time of the auction the house was described thus: The residence and grounds of the late J.S. Dendigh, situate in the most elevated part of Cotham Road Kew. The grounds comprise an area of 4a Or29p or thereabouts, and have a frontage to Cotham-road of 4 chains. The house has two large rooms in front, with 6ft hall built of brick, bay and side windows (plate glass), four rooms of wood behind with slate roofs, bathroom and closets, detached kitchen and servant's room, large shed with washing boiler, pantry and cellar under, brick and cement tank, and the Yan Yean laid onto house and grounds, cowshed, pigstye, &c, the whole securely fenced. First class orchard and flower garden. The paddocks laid with English grasses and drained... .' (Sanderson P, City of Kew Urban Conservation Study, Volume 2, 1988)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.The front entrance of Wimba in Cotham Road, Kew. The entrance is flanked by two polygonal bay windows, and a verandah with a concave corrugated iron roof returns around three facades, and accentuates the projections of the windows. The solid render parapet is very ornate and tall for the date of construction. It has panels of decoration along it and is surmounted by a number of render urns. The image was used by Dorothy Rogers in 'A History of Kew' (1973), facing page 144.Wimba ca. 1860 built by J.S. Denbigh (has been altered).wimba, kew, dorothy rogers

Although probably built some time earlier, the first mention in the Rate Books of the property later known as 'Wimba Lodge' appears in the entry for 1870 when the property, owned by John Sharpe Denbigh, a civil servant, was given an N.A.V. of £72. Denbigh did however occupy a house in Cotham Road in 1863, and it is possible that was the same premises'. The house was occupied by Sharp until at least May 1876 when the 'family residence ... was auctioned' to Carlington George Edmund Marston, a chemist of Smith Street, Collingwood. At the time of the auction the house was described thus: The residence and grounds of the late J.S. Dendigh, situate in the most elevated part of Cotham Road Kew. The grounds comprise an area of 4a Or 29p or thereabouts, and have a frontage to Cotham-road of 4 chains. The house has two large rooms in front, with 6ft hall built of brick, bay and side windows (plate glass), four rooms of wood behind with slate roofs, bathroom and closets, detached kitchen and servant's room, large shed with washing boiler, pantry and cellar under, brick and cement tank, and the Yan Yean laid onto house and grounds, cowshed, pigstye, &c, the whole securely fenced. First class orchard and flower garden. The paddocks laid with English grasses and drained... .' (Sanderson P. Kew Conservation Study Vol 2)'Wimba' is a single storeyed rendered house. The front entrance is flanked by two polygonal bay windows, and a verandah with a concave corrugated iron roof returns around three facades, and accentuates the projections of the windows. The solid render parapet is very ornate and tall for the date of construction. It has panels of decoration along it and is surmounted by a number of render urns. (Sanderson P. Kew Conservation Study Vol 2)Reverse: "JOHN COLLINS / 11 Anderson Road / Hawthorn East, 3123 / Film 395 Exposure 15A / Kew / Wimba / Front verandah from east / 7-4-79wimba lodge, 235 cotham road -- kew (vic.), john s denbigh, carlington george edmund marston

The property is identified as 'Strathmore', the home of Joseph Sutton Crow and his wife Winifred (Jessie) Temby, whom he married in 1910. Joseph Sutton Crow: (1881-1969) - Joseph Sutton Crow gained his Diploma of Music from the Marshall Hall Conservatorium, the forerunner to the Melbourne University Conservatorium, in 1907. He taught both piano and organ and was organist and choirmaster in several churches. However it was as a fine administrator that Sutton Crow made a significant contribution to music in Melbourne. From 1910-1920 he was Secretary and Librarian of the Music Department at the University of Melbourne and from 1920 was the Secretary and Assistant Director of the Conservatorium of Music. From 1919 he was also Secretary of the Australian Music Examinations Board. He married lyric soprano, Jessie Temby and moved to ‘Strathmore’, 75 Victoria Crescent, Mont Albert in 1924 and lived there until 1952. In c1926 he was one of those behind establishing the public appeal to raise a million shillings to go towards the establishment of a permanent Symphony Orchestra. The appeal successfully raised both £4000 and the profile of orchestral music in Melbourne. The result was the Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra, which later became the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and from 1926-1939 he was its manager. Close local musical contemporaries were violinist Stanislau de Tarczynski and pianist Edward Goll, both of whom lived in Mont Albert. Winifred Jessie Temby (1883 - 1968) - soprano A black and white photograph of three sheep lying in the grounds of a house. There is a house and some sheds in the background behind a picket fence.'strathmore', house names, victoria crescent, mont albert, surrey hills, joseph sutton crow (mr), winifred jessie crow (mrs), jessie crow (mrs), jessie temby (miss), winifred jessie temby (miss), orchards, music

Used as an illustration in, "Green Grows Our Garden," A.P. Winzenried p 70. "Young orchard supervisor in Department of Agriculture - came from Tasmania." T.H. Kneen.Black and white photograph. Vic Lawry, Staff member, standing in front of a shed containing terracotta drainage pipes and sacks.On reverse, "Mr. Laurey (sic) "Vic" B.H.C. 1926."sheds, drainage pipes, mr. laurey (sic), green grows our garden, a.p. winzenried, orchard supervisor, vic lawry, ella chalmers (nee fry), ella fry

Alan L. Mitchell graduated in 1935. Some of the pictures were taken while he was a student in 1934 and others in 1956 and 1965. He gathered the collection for a presentation he made about Burnley in 1967. And donated it to the Archives in 1990 for the 1991 Centenary.Box of slides in colour and black and white. Handwritten short history of the Gardens and College and a typed transcript with extra information. Also an extra slide donated in 1997 with accompanying letter and description. Also DVD and printed photograhs added later. Handwritten description of each slide.alan l. mitchell, burnley gardens, entrance sign, early uniforms, plant research institute/laboratory, administration building, canteen, hilda kirkhope rockery, garden views, students working outside, t h kneen, luffmann ponds, old nursery, potting sheds, orchard border, rubbish tip, e e pescott

2 pages of a photograph album with small photographs pasted on both sides of the page, some labelled. Includes roll of negatives. Page 1: 1-36A "Burnley - Feb-Apr 1942", 37-55A "June '42", 56-62A "Sept '42." Page 2: "Sept '42 (cont)." These photographs are identical with many of those in B09.0005, but smaller. Therefore probably this is also J.L. Provan's album. See B09.0005 also for slides of these photos.negatives labelled, "Burnley Sept. '42 Positive," "2," and "140."burnley, 1942, j.l. provan, orchard, garden views, nursery, students working outside, hilda kirkhope rockery, vegetables, pavilion, luffmann ponds, entrance, lagoon paddock, poultry, cows, dairy, principals residence, old nursery, horses, milking shed, silo, swan street entrance

Donated by Noelle Kendall (née Vaughan) for the 1991 Centenary. She graduated in 1919.45 photographs. Cardboard pages tied with ribbon to make an album. Most photographs labelled. Some loose photographs. Burnley scenes, mainly students working outside, garden views, visit to Rippon Lea. Some photographs appear in other collections. Also 2 pages of proofs. Many of these photographs were included in A. P. Winzenried, "Green Grows Our Garden."noelle kendall (née vaughan), centenary, 1919, 1991, students working outside, pavilion, luffmann ponds, orchard, horses, bees, potting shed, vegetables, poultry, summer house, orchard border, oak lawn, pruning demonstration, garden scene, luffman ponds, ripponlea excursion, ponds, planting out annuals, garden views, lily pond, steps, beehives, draught horses, vegetable rows, plum block, cherry block, planting plums, bird proof cage, pruning, pruning pear tree, winter, plant frames, maize, vegetable garden, single testing pens, public day, p j carmody, rock garden, principal's residence, pruning apple tree, noelle kendall, noelle vaughan, shelter shed

History and reminiscences with photocopied photographs and a newspaper article about the family and life at Burnley as children. John Macauley and son, Bill, lived at Burnley 1914-1972. History and reminiscences with photocopied photographs and a newspaper article about the family and life at Burnley as children. John Macauley and son, Bill, lived at Burnley 1914-1972. Egg Curators. (1) p.3(b) "Weigh-in at start of new Egg Laying Competition, c. 1940 with Bill and father John T. Macauley." (2) p.5(c) "P.R.L. 1960." Plant Research Laboratory. (3) p.5(d) "Path leading to Plant Breeding Plots. 1960." (4) p.7(a) 1959." (5) p.7(b) "Drive-Burnley Gardens 1949." (6) p.7(c) "Seed Testing Laboratory built 1966." (7) p.9 "1990's." Probably a bit earlier. (8) p.9 "2013." Actually pre 1991. (9) p.9 "Averil and Esmerelda 1959." (10) p.11(b) "1960 view showing 6 hen pens of Random Sample Laying Test. Residence (built 1960) at rear." (11) p.12(a) "1959 view of potting-shed/glasshouse on way to orchard." Note cactus collection. (12) p.12(b) "1960 view of 'Hydrangea Walk'-orchard fence on left." (13) p.12(c) "2013 view of path leading to the above pathway." (Hydrangea Walk.) (14) p.14 "Burnley Gardens Kneens house at rear 'Jack' 1960's." (16) p.14 "Horticultural College c.1967." (17) "The 'family' tree re-visited by Janice & Alison Downman Dec 1995." (18) Newspaper article, "Bill Macauley leaves the birds," from "The Egg and Poultry Producer" August 1972.family life, burnley, children, john macauley, bill macauley, egg curators, egg laying competition, plant research laboratory, janice downman (née macauley)

Frank and Esma Barr had an orchard on the south (uphill) side of Gatters Road and the Colellas had an orchard on the other side of Gatters Road

"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

State school children in the famous orchard district of Harcourt were expected to learn apple packing to a high standard, with instruction given by Dept of Agriculture specialist teachers, Classes were conducted at Harcourt Cooperative Coolstores during school hours.The pupils were expected to (and did) travel between school and packing shed by their own means without supervision..Pupils participated in state wide competitions .Shows the extent to which vocational training in a specialized subject could be taken to support the Apple Industry of Harcourt. The decoration/artwork of the shield is to a very high standard A wooden shield with metal adornments. A banner is at the top with "Gerrard Challenge Shield", a central metal shield shaped plaque shows a box of apples surrounded by trees and many boxed apples in the background. Below that is a banner with " District Championship for Schools Apple Packing Classes. Below that (at the bottom) is a smaller plaque with "Competitors to be pupils & attending school children's Apple Packing Classes." "Conducted by the Department of Agriculture." On the left side are three smaller shields for the years 1934 to 1936 awarded to Castlemaine the three shields on the right are blank.