Showing 7158 items
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Moorabbin Air Museum
Letter - CAC Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, Correspondence Air Chief Marshall Sir Frederick Scherger File No.1
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The Adam Lindsay Gordon Commemorative Committee Inc.
Book, Bush Ballads and Galloping Rhymes- London, Simpkin, Marshall,Hamilton, Kent and Co Ltd
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Lilydale RSL Sub Branch
Book, The Marshall Cavendish Encyclopedia of World War 11-Vol 1
Book -
Lilydale RSL Sub Branch
Book, Collins, The Memoirs of Field Marshall Montgomery, 1958
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Wonga Park Community Cottage History Group
Photograph (sub-item) - Black and White, The Wonga Park Post Office and Telephone Exchange in 1962, owned by Mr. Marshall
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Park Orchards Community House
Photograph, Bridge classes at the Park Orchards Community House with Marshall Inham
Unknown year -
Melbourne Legacy
Document - Speech, Field Marshall Sir Thomas Blamey Commemorative Luncheon. Address by Legatee R T Eldridge
A copy of the text an address by Legatee R T Eldridge at a Legacy event on 24 January 1984 to honour Sir Thomas Blamey who had been a patron of Legacy. The speech summarises his life, including his war service in both world wars and inter war years as Chief Commissioner of Police, Victoria. In World War 2 the speech outlines he was in the middle east before returning to Australia and had some difficulties with US General McArthur and also the Press. The penultimate paragraph says "Nobody but Blamey could have been appointed Commander in Chief, held McArthur at bay and influenced the Australian Government through Curtin. On this 'national level he showed wisdom, fortitude, loyalty and a degree of tact. He was indifferent to public opinion, was abrupt, intolerant of little men, had poor opinion of the politicians and the press which created difficulties and detractors." The article was part of an album of past presidents from 1965 to 1989. The folder included biographical details and obituaries, eulogies and death notices of prominent Legatees. The items have been catalogued separately.A record of a speech made by Legatee Eldridge about Legacy Patron, Sir Thomas Blamey. The information was collected to record the lives of prominent legatees in a folder.Photocopy of 3 pages of an address by Legatee R T Eldridge in 1984.speech, thomas blamey, patron -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, Leon Marshall-Wood?, early 1950's
Yields information about the appearance of Geelong trams early 1950's with information about Ryrie St Geelong and its buildings.Black and white photograph of Geelong No. 36 in Ryrie St at Moorabool St, mid 1960's with T& G Mutual Life Building and Belchers Corner building, with No. 17 in background and safety zone signs. Tram showing 'West' as destination. No. 17 had the destination of Chilwell. Shows people boarding No. 17 and the crossover under No. 36, with the driver's window open. Photographer not shown, but based on the stamp and the writing on the rear of Reg Item 4194, which has the initials "L M-W" possibly "Leon Marshall Wood", but not his stamp as shown on Reg Item 4167.On rear in ink with in a red stamp "Traction" "5512 (1). Pencil cropping marks on rear.tramways, trams, geelong, ryrie st, west, tram 36, tram 17 -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Postcard, Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialities Inc, Melbourne W2 456
Colour postcard of Melbourne W2 456 inbound to the City on route 31 at the intersection of Brunswick St and Victoria Parade c1986. Tram has advertisements for the ABC News and another company. On rear of photograph are details of the postcard, photographer (Raymond J. Marsh), stamp location with two card numbers and a copyright note "Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialities, Inc." Not known when actual postcard was produced.trams, tramways, melbourne, victoria parade, tram 27, tram 38 -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital Image, Grave of William Haylock Poulter and Mary Alice Poulter, and their children Ruby O. Poulter and James W. Poulter, Greensborough Cemetery, 30/03/1934
Grave of William Haylock Poulter (died 1934), Mary Alice Poulter (died 28/06/1936), Ruby Olive Poulter (died 31/05/1917) and James William Poulter (killed in action France 04/10/1918) in Plot# A5/A6 Greensborough Cemetery. Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.william haylock poulter, mary alice poulter, ruby poulter, james william poulter, greensborough cemetery -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital Image, Restored grave of John Scotland, Mary Colquhoun, Catherine Sievwright and Jessie Scotland, Greensborough Cemetery, 21/11/1888
Grave of John Scotland (died 21/11/1888), Mary Colquhoun(died 15/02/1902), Catherine Sievwright (died 10/01/1910) and Janet Scotland (died 21/07/1924) in Plot# M8/M9 Greensborough Cemetery. Headstone has been restored.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.john scotland, mary colquhoun, catherine sievwright, janet scotland, greensborough cemetery -
Linton and District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Theo, Norman, James, Pearl and Mary Nelson
James and Priscilla Nelson's children were: James Nelson, b. 1891, Theo Nelson b. 1892, Pearl Nelson, b. 1895, Norman Nelson, b. 1898, and Mary Nelson, b. 1900. Their youngest child, Violet Victoria Nelson, b. 1915, died as an infant.Enlarged black and white copy of original photograph, which shows five young adults - the children of James and Priscilla Nelson.james nelson [b. 1891], theophilus nelson [b. 1892], pearl nelson [b. 1895], norman nelson [b. 1898], mary nelson [b. 1900] -
Orbost & District Historical Society
scrapbooks, Gilbert, Mary, 1960's
Belonged to Mary Gilbert who was a passionate local historian. She was awarded a British Empire medal in recognition of her work for education and the community. . Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905 in Orbost, Australia. She was born to John Gilbert and Annie Cameron Gilbert, and had seven sisters and one brother. Four siblings died at a young age. .She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community.Mary Gilbert was the first curator of the Orbost Museum, and a local teacher. These scrapbooks contain articles which reflect the social standards of the 1960's.Two scrapbooks containing pasted in cut-out magazine articles on manners, presentation and clothes for young women.Handwritten on the front cover of 1840.1 : Words of Wisdomgilbert-mary scrapbooks 1960's -
Orbost & District Historical Society
book, Gilbert, Mary, Personalities & Stories of the Early Orbost District, 1972
This is thefirst edition of "Personalities and Stories of Early Orbost which was collected and compiled by Mary Isabelle Gilbert. Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905 in Orbost, Australia. She was born to John Gilbert and Annie Cameron Gilbert, and had seven sisters and one brother. Four siblings died at a young age. .She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community. This book is a collection of stories as told and writtenabout Orbost in early times. This is a useful research and reference tool on the early history of the Orbost district.A 130 pp light grey covered book, titled "Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District." The title is in black print inside a black rectangular frame.gilbert-mary orbost-history recollections-orbost -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital Image, Grave of William Haylock Poulter and Mary Alice Poulter, and their children Ruby O. Poulter and James W. Poulter, Greensborough Cemetery, 20/03/1934
Grave of William Haylock Poulter (died 20/03/1934), Mary Alice Poulter (died 28/6/1936), Ruby Olive Poulter (died 31/5/1917) and James William Poulter (killed in action France 4/10/1918) in Plot# A5/A6 Greensborough Cemetery.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.william haylock poulter, mary alice poulter, ruby poulter, james poulter, greensborough cemetery -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital Image, Grave of John Scotland, Mary Colquhoun, Catherine Sievwright and Jessie Scotland, Greensborough Cemetery [damaged], 21/11/1888
Grave of John Scotland (died 21/11/1888), Mary Colquhoun (died 15/02/1902), Catherine Sievwright (died 10/01/1910) and Jessie Scotland (died 21/07/1924) in Plot# M8/M9 Greensborough Cemetery. Photograph shows this monument after vandals toppled it. Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone [damaged]john scotland, mary colquhoun, catherine sievwright, janet scotland, greensborough cemetery -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Book, Mary Mason, 'Linking us Together: A history of transport in the Port Phillip community', 11 Oct 2001
A Centenary of Federation-funded project of South Port Day Links, coordinated, directed and designed by Mary MASON, written by Pat GRAINGER on behalf of PMH&PS'Linking us Together: A history of transport in the Port Phillip community' Soft cover, 72pp teal blue cover with '2001'graphic, brown spine. A Centenary of Federation Project printed Oct 2001transport, transport - tramways, transport - shipping, transport - railways, transport - aviation and aerodrome, transport - horse, transport - motor vehicles, transport - ferries, workers, industry, royal visits and occasions, piers and wharves - station pier, piers and wharves - princes pier, immigration, flood, business and traders - dairies, south port day links, wilbraham frederick evelyn liardet, wfe liardet, frank liardet, caroline frederica liardet, hector liardet, frederick liardet, liana thompson, r graham carey, swallow & ariell ltd, melbourne and metropolitan tramways board, mmtb, general motors-holden, gmh, faram brothers hardware, bert turner, james mcnab, eli (dick) edwards, jacob edwards, vincent 'ben' edwards, claude butcher, leonard george 'dugga' beazley, bicycles, cable trams, mary mason, pat grainger, frederick william maskell, linking us together -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Folder, McLure, Mary
Mary McLure, Roger Green, Arthur Wilson, and Kevin Spiller were awarded Order of Australia Medals in the Queen's Birthday honours list. Mary McLure, Brian Hill, was honoured for her service to the community through volunteer rolls including The Old Colonists' Association of Victoria in St Helena, Rosanna Primary School, and Diamond Creek Craft Group. Roger Green, Lower Plenty, was honoured for his support of war veterans. Arthur Wilson, Greensborough, was honoured for his service to Australian Rules football. Kevin Spiller, Montmorency, was honoured for services to local government. Contents Newspaper article: "Our best get just rewards" Diamond Valley Leader, 19 June 2019, Lists local people who received an OAM in Queen's Birthday honours list. Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcmary mclure, roger green, arthur wilson, kevin spiller, the old colonists' association of victoria st helena, rosanna primary school, diamond creek craft group -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital image, Charles Marshall et al, Church at Mataria. Fresco 3, 1917_
This photograph shows a fresco from a Church in Mataria, near Cairo. This fresco depicts Joseph. Mary and infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod.Digital copy of black and white photograph. "Going out of Egypt"charles marshall, world war 1 -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Book, Mary Delahunty, Delahunty Family Reunion 1859 - 1991, 1991
Booklet put together for the Delahunty family reunion 1859-1991. Held at the Murtoa Race Course on March10 1991. Covers the history of the family from Ireland to Australia. Restroation of the grave in Clarendon Cemetary BallaratYellow card cover with black border design with a picture of elderly lady in centre.Donated to the Stawell Historical Society by L B Delahunty Delahunty family reunion 1859 - 1991 (under Photograph) Mary Delahunty Born 1814: Died 1902 Aged 88 years Murtoa Racecourse Sunday 10th March 1991stawell -
Federation University Historical Collection
Certificate, Form of Certificate of Right of Burial in the Clunes Public Cemetery: Mrs Mary Williams, 1899, 10/10/1899
Burial form for the Clunes Public Cemetery. Mrs Mary Williams completed the form to purchase a plot in the Methodist Section, Plot 3634. Paper outlines in detail the conditions and responsibilities of heirs with regard to the area. The Trustees of the Cemetery, Frederick John Matthews, Joseph Preston, M O'Toole and s. Allen signed this before a witness.Foolscap size with appropriate information written in by hand Signatures of Trustees Date: 10 October 1899 Red sealmary williams, clunes public cemetery, right of burial, methodist section, trustees, frederick john matthews, m o'toole, s allen, joseph preston -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Marguerite Marshall, 'Landscape', 60 Lavender Park Road, Eltham South, 24 June 2008
Built by artist and cartoonist Percy Leason in 1927 in what was then New Street but renamed Lavender Park Road in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p121 Said to be a genius, cartoonist Percy Leason’s career was at its peak when in 1925 to 1926 he built his home at New Street (now Lavender Park Road) Eltham. The Herald newspaper owner, Sir Keith Murdoch, had hired Leason for his newly acquired Melbourne Punch magazine at a salary of £1750, making him ‘one of the highest paid cartoonists in the world’.1 With this salary and financial help from Murdoch, Leason was able to build his lovely home in Eltham. At the crest of a sweeping drive, the home now two-storey in white brick with a gabled grey slate roof and dormer windows is flanked by an extension built by another owner in the 1980s. Leason lived in the home with his wife, Isabel and children, until 1937, when he left for the United States of America, where he lived until his death in 1959. The four-bedroom house and garden would have been well-suited to bringing up his family and to entertaining their friends in style. Large airy rooms have high ceilings with moulded plaster, timber floors and several are brightened with bay windows. Leason made friends with many of the artists and personalities who gravitated to Eltham. Around 1931 Justus Jörgensen, founder of the Montsalvat Artists’ Colony, helped Leason build his large studio at the back of the house. Another friend was journalist Mervyn Skipper, father of jeweller and sculptor Matcham, and artists Helen and Sonia. Leason’s teacher, artist Max Meldrum, also visited and rented accommodation in Eltham, opposite Wingrove Park. Punch folded in 1925, but Leason continued as cartoonist for Table Talk. In 1926 Leason began the cartoons of a mythical Australian town Wiregrass, which were inspired by Kaniva, his home town. The art gallery in Main Road Eltham was named Wiregrass in Leason’s honour. Leason completed 1000 drawings from 1919 to 1937, which author Garrie Hutchinson claimed, were technically unsurpassed and had regional and universal interest. Leason’s acute observations of country life stemmed from his childhood in Kaniva in Victoria’s western Wimmera, where he was born, the son of a selector, in 1889. Meldrum claimed that Leason could name every plant and the habits of every animal.2 Leason also painted 28 portraits of the last full-blooded aboriginals in Victoria at Lake Tyers in Gippsland, most of which are in a private collection. In Sydney Leason illustrated Henry Lawson’s Selected Poems and worked for The Bulletin. Leason had begun his career at 13 as an apprentice lithographic artist at Sands and MacDougall. He attended night classes at the National Gallery and the Victorian Artists Society. Leason first visited Eltham in 1910 to paint with fellow artist William ‘Jock’ Frater. They camped near Bible and Pitt Streets and along the Diamond Creek on the site of the present Eltham Retirement Centre. Despite his success as a cartoonist, Leason wanted to be recognised as a serious painter and for his anthropological work.3 He was also conservative and felt uncomfortable with the modern art scene in Melbourne.4 So he left for the United States of America to work as a painter. Ironically his time in New York saw the burgeoning of modern art, notably by artists such as Jackson Pollock. But Leason found his niche by running an art school, painting society portraits and illustrating books and magazines.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, landscape, lavender park road, percy leason, new street -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Digital Photograph, Marguerite Marshall, Diamond Valley Railway, Eltham Lower Park, 7 September 2008
Kids of all ages enjoy the Miniature Railway. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then / Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p163 On Sundays in Eltham thousands of children, mums, dads and grandparents can be seen travelling around Lower Eltham Park in tiny trains. They are among the two and half million passengers who have travelled on the Diamond Valley Railway since it officially began in 1961. The miniature railway originally operated from the 1940s at Chelsworth Park, Ivanhoe, until flooding caused it to be moved to the Eltham Lower Park in 1959. The railway is modelled on the 1920s era – the heyday of passenger rail travel – and the trains are built on a scale of two inches to the foot (1/6). Although not exact replicas, trains include models of the Spirit of Progress, Puffing Billy, The Overland, Dog Boxes, Vic Rail S class, G class and a NSW 81 Class. The three and a half kilometres of track is set amongst native plants and picnic areas. A friendly hoot or the clang of a bell occasionally punctuates the tranquillity as a train emerges from a treed bend with passengers excitedly waving to onlookers. For $3 the train takes you on a 13-minute two-kilometre ride. Passengers sit in single file in the narrow train, which clatters along tracks built to the scale of the Australian narrow gauge of three feet six inches (1.1m). These are used in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Safety standards are stringently kept. Even before you buy a ticket notices tell you that you must wear closed shoes. You can even borrow these, and you are given a pair of socks for the ride! Blue-overalled volunteers check tickets, see you aboard, and drive the train. They are mainly retired men who can at last devote their time to what little boys dream of – playing with trains. Passengers are instructed in safe behaviour, then the station master waves a white flag and off we go. The guard sits at the back with his whistle and green flag at the ready. The winding track, fringed by native trees and bushes planted by volunteers, stands on crown land managed by Nillumbik Council. The train clatters along the track and crosses a bridge over a drain elevated by name to The Blow Fly Creek. We pass by Meadmore Junction at a speed of three kilometres an hour. Then on through a tunnel, accompanied by squeals of delight, and after a few moments of blackness, light glimmers at the end. On we go, past the original platform, along another route past busy Main Road through Pine Creek Station, over a bridge and through another tunnel with more screams of delight.Then a signal stops us before the ‘all clear’ to return to our original point of departure. The railway services its passengers – the largest number of any miniature railway in Australia – with a fleet including: six diesel locomotives, three steam locomotives, eight sets of passenger cars and one battery electric Dog Box set. Members also privately own 20 locomotives and powered carriage sets as well as four carriage sets.1 All the trains are stored on-site in workshops, sheds and a tunnel. The railway is entirely run by volunteers, so that all ticket money is used for maintenance and extensions, and some goes to local charities. Since 1991, the entire railway has been rebuilt, including an upgraded signalling system. About half of the 120 volunteer members are active with about 35 working each Sunday, and a dozen or so working every Wednesday. Members are trained to positions of station assistant, booking officer, train guard, train driver or signalman. Members construct new carriages and locomotives as well as maintaining track, signalling and rolling stock.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, diamond valley railway, eltham lower park -
Nillumbik Shire Council
Ceramics (bowl): Mary-Lou Pittard, Mary-Lou Pittard, Decorative Bowl, 1983
Mary-Lou began exhibiting in the mid 1980s and over the years has been involved in producing unique pieces as well as developing a large range of domestic ware. In 1984, six months after graduating from a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Phillip Institute of Technology, Mary-Lou was invited to present a solo exhibition at Devise Gallery in South Melbourne. This objective, she says, compelled her to find a studio and was an incentive to focus on developing her ceramic practice independently.Mary-Lou Pittard holds close ties to the Shire of Nillumbik - living and working within Eltham. Her Eltham North Mudbrick Studio employed 5 assistants until recently when Mary-Lou and partner Chris Pittard have scaled down operations. They now produce everything themselves and find that this enables them to focus on producing unique, sculptural ceramic works. Mary-Lou is currently exploring the fine qualities of porcelain and combining these with her ongoing passion for decorative colour and form. 'Decorative Bowl' is a wheel-thrown/moulded bowl, oblong in shape and has been manipulated by hand. Narrow sections have been incised from the main body, perhaps a practical design feature for air circulation, and the rim has been altered to form a jagged edge. Bold colourful shapes decorate the interior of the bowl. They have been applied directly to the bisque surface and subsequently covered with a transparent glaze which protects them and enhances their permanency.mary-lou pittard, ceramic, chris pittard, eltham, nillumbik -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Book, Leon Marshall-Wood, "The Brighton Electric Line", 1966
Book - 40 pages including card covers - the history of the Brighton Electric Line by Leon Marshall-Wood, published 1966, 3rd edition revised and enlarged. Gives a brief history of the electric tramway operated by the Victorian Railways between St. Kilda Station and the Brighton Beach railway station, that commenced operation in 1905. Also a short history of the Sandringham - Black Rock - Beaumaris - Cheltenham tram electric and horse tram lines. Includes maps, rolling stock and ticket notes. Published by Traction Publications. Has details of the AETA on the back cover and listing of some publications. See Reg Item 1146 for 1956 edition.Has the stamp of the "Technical Book and Magazine Co" on front cover.trams, tramways, vr, melbourne, brighton, st kilda, sandringham, black rock, horse trams -
Beechworth Honey Archive
Publication, e-book, The practical bee guide: a manual of modern beekeeping (Digges, J. G.), London, 1910, 1910
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Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital Image, Grave of William Haylock Poulter and Mary Alice Poulter, and their children Ruby O. Poulter and James W. Poulter, Greensborough Cemetery, 20/03/1934
Grave of William Haylock Poulter (died 30/3/1934), Mary Alice Poulter (died 28/6/1936, Ruby Olive Poulter (died 31/5/1917) and James William Poulter (killed in action France 4/10/1918) in Plot# A5/A6 Greensborough Cemetery. Photograph taken by Noel Withers 2009.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district. The cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites with 350 people buried there. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.william haylock poulter, mary alice poulter, ruby poulter, james william poulter, greensborough cemetery -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph, Mary Jean Park, 2001
Mary Jean, born 1841, Letterkenny, Co. of Donegal, Ireland. Died 3 Bank Street, Ascot Vale 22.06.1935. Mother of the two Doctors Park. Selected land "Barwood", Nagambie.|Alexander Park, born Conray Co. Donegal 06.05.1832, died 23.04.1911.|Both pictures taken at a Sunday School Picnic, 1898, Nagambie.park, mary jean, alexander, photograph, people -
Nillumbik Shire Council
Ceramics (plate): Mary-Lou PITTARD, Mary-Lou Pittard, Serving platter
Mary-Lou began exhibiting in the mid 1980s and over the years has been known for producing unique pieces of domestic ware influenced by food and traditional ceramic ware of the past.Food and tradition have always played a big part in Mary Lou’s ceramic work. 'Serving Platter' is rich in colour. The decorative designs are inspired by her surroundings in a style reminiscent of the past. Mary-Lou and husband Chris have a studio and gallery attached to their residential property in Eltham North which is open to the public. They also participate in the Nillumbik Artists Open Studios program. Oval platter with bold, stylised flowers glazed in reds, blues and yellows.mary-lou pittard, eltham, nillumbik, ceramic -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, Graves of Mary Josephine Swallow, John Swallow (unmarked) and Patricia Catherine Hill, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 5 April 2021
On the 29th of May 1954, a local Eltham carpenter by the name of John Swallow, committed a double murder at his home on New Street. This happened on the same day as the federal election of that year. John 48, his wife Mary 47, and stepdaughter Patricia 25, all went to the Eltham Courthouse on Main Road to cast their vote in the election that Saturday. After voting they returned home to their New Street house around midday. Patricia would later recall to ambulance officers, that she was feeling unwell, and so went to lay down when she heard an argument erupt over voting between her mother Mary and stepfather John. A concerned neighbour heard loud thudding noises and yelling coming from John and Mary’s house, he went to investigate. When he arrived at the house he was met by John at the front door. He would later describe John as “having a frantic look upon his face, and manic eyes”. John must have been a sight, bleeding and clutching a cut throat razor by his side. He then announced to the neighbour, “they voted commie!” before turning and going back inside. The distressed neighbour immediately raced home to call the Police. When the police arrived, they found Mary dead on the kitchen floor from catastrophic head injuries; her daughter, Patricia, clinging to life, slumped on her bed. Both women had been attacked by the same weapon, a large hammer, or sledge hammer as reported by the newspapers. John was also discovered in the house, bleeding from self-inflicted wounds from the razor, and had attempted to ingest caustic soda. Patricia was taken to St Vincent’s hospital, but died the following day, the 30th of May. John was also taken to St Vincent’s, where he remained under constant police guard for several months while he recovered from his injuries, at least the physical. He was eventually well enough to be taken to the City Watch House and then Pentridge Prison before his trial in October of the same year. When it came time for John to face the courts, the Judge called a mistrial, the Crown would not prosecute on the grounds of insanity. John was led away from the dock of The Magistrates Court and taken directly to Willsmere, the Kew Mental Asylum. On the 9th of August 1962, John Mervyn Swallow died of heart failure, he was 57. He had been a resident of Kew for four years. John’s body was returned to Eltham Cemetery and buried in the same grave as Mary. There is no mention of his name on the head stone. Patricia’s grave is next to Mary and John. A sad irony has an angel upon her grave, “its head missing”, possibly vandals or just an accident of time and events. What became of the home where all of this took place on New Street shall remain a mystery but within six months of this horrific event, the street had been re-named to Lavender Park Road after the original property near the end of the road, Lavender Park. In Memory Of Mary Josephine Swallow Died 29th May 1954 aged 47 Also Patricia Cathryn Hill Dearly beloved wife of Kel Called home 30th May 1954 Aged 25 yearsBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, mary josephine swallow, patricia catherine hill, john swallow