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Federation University Historical Collection
Photograph, "Herbig Family Tree", South Australia, c1980s
Friedrich Herbig left Germany in 1855 and later that year arrived in South Australia. He went to work on a farm and made his home in a large hollowed-out base of a river redgum tree. In 1858 Friedrich married Caroline Rattey and they lived together in the tree. They had sixteen children. After the second child was born they moved to a two-roomed pine and pug hut that Friedrich builtMembers of the Chatham family visit the "Herbig Family Tree" in South Australiachatham-holmes collection, friedrich herbig, south australia, river redgum, caroline rattey, hollowed-out base of tree, elizabeth chatham, philip chatham, architecture, housing, caroline herbig, family history, genealogy -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Document - Documents - Misc, Maggs Family Reunion
Maggs Family Reunion Ringwood dated 6 November 1994. Folio contains family history documents showing Maggs Family Trees"Cover of folio shows photograph of James Maggs" -
Greensborough Historical Society
Folder, Iredale Family, 1878o
Contents: My story of the Iredales and old Greensborough by George Iredale; Family tree of George Iredale and Sarah Hurst; James Iredale and descendants; 1878 news article 'Shooting case at Greensborough'; funeral notice for James Iredale 1885; advertisement for staff Iredale & Co, Para Road Greensborough.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Iredale family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.iredale family, george arthur iredale, sarah hurst, james iredale, george gilding -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, David Miller and Lily Vipond Mair and family, c1921
David Miller (Dave) Mair (1879-1938) married Lily Vipond Deakin (1890-1945) in 1910. They had 5 children: Geoffrey David (1913-1970), Beryl (1916-1976), Gwynneth (1917-1997), Isabel Lillian (1921-1997) and Shirley Inez (1928-1968). Personal communication from Laurie Newton, Beryl's daughter: Dave and Lily initially lived in East Melbourne after they married. Dave walked across the gardens to work at the MCG. He never drove or owned a car. Geoffrey, Beryl and Gwynneth were born in East Melbourne. They subsequently moved to Louise Avenue, Mont Albert and Isabel may have been born while they were there. Later they purchased 20 Barton Street, Mont Albert. Electoral roll details: 1919 68 Park Street, Hawthorn 1922 24 Louise Avenue, Mont Albert 1924 20 Barton Street, Mont Albert So, Shirley would have been born while they were at Barton Street. On the basis of these dates, this may have been taken in Hawthorn. Identification of 'Grannie': If this is Lily's mother her name is Janet Deakin (nee Longmore - 1851-1939). If it is Dave's mother her name is Isabel Brown (1855-1944). The other woman is identified as May Little, who helped in the house. Dave Mair was a very keen sportsman. A sepia photo of a well-dressed family in and beside a buggy. The group is comprised of a man, 3 women and 3 children. The chimneys of Victorian or perhaps Edwardian houses are in the background.On rear: "Grannie Dad Mum / Beryl Geoff Isabel" (in hand 1 and blue biro) "on left Isabel on knee" (in a different hand in black biro) "May Little (Helped in / House" (in hand 1 in blue biro). On the basis of inscriptions in family autograph books, the first and third inscriptions look to have been written by Beryl Mair.david miller mair, dave mair, lily vipond mair, lily vipond deakin, geoffrey david mair, beryl mair, gwynneth mair, isabel lillian mair, janet deakin, janet longmore, isabel brown, isabel mair, horse-drawn vehicles, children, may little -
Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society (operating as Lakes Entrance History Centre & Museum)
Photograph, 1940
After 1934 flood damage to second bridge, centre pile was replaced by a truss girder, this survived until 1971 floodBlack and white photograph showing second Orbost Bridge over the Snowy River, wooden planks, railing and overhead support. Motor bike leaning on railing at near end of bridge. Orbost, Victoria.bridges, waterways -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Archive, The Liardet family, c. 1989
These records were kept by A J Stephen of Ringwood and the "Port Phillip Pioneers" and donated by Bernie McPhee. a member of both PPP and PMHPSBlue presentation folder with black plastic binding. Containing photocopies and notes of the history of the Liardet family, family notes, clippings, family record back to Edward the 3rd, 1312-1377. Also contains a loose packet of further family notes. red strip on binding "The Liardet family"Some notations on itemsliardet family, genealogy, wilbraham frederick evelyn liardet, wfe liardet, port phillip pioneers -
Learmonth and District Historical Society Inc.
Photo, Quinlivan family photo, circ 1922
This is a photo of the Quinlivan family from Ballarat, Mary Ann Quinlivan nee Sheahan (born Cghills Creek and died 1932) was the daughter of Patrick Sheahan and Ellen Maher. She married Thomas Quinlivan in 1896 and they had the following children, Eileen (Eily) Teresa, 1898, John Francis, 1904 - 1906, Mary (Mae) Kathleen 1907 and Agnes Josephine 1909. Thomas and Mary ann ran the Royal Exchange Hotel on the corner of Peel and Mair streets in Ballarat, Victoria. Thomas died at an early age leaving Mary Ann to run the hotel on her own.Tell about some of the people who lived and ran the Royal Exchange Hotel in Ballarat and who the Quinlivan family were.An oval shaped sepia photo made from photo paperQuinlivan family. Joe's cousins. Aunty Maryabbe, Eily, May & Agnes. Hotel in Ballarat.royal exchange hotel, ballarat, quinlivan, sheahan, maher -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Disk, Family photos of Chapman and Stock families, identified, 1860o
A collection of photos of the Chapman and Stock families of Greensborough and Lower Plenty. Photograph in this CD have been labelled by Peter Blackbourn.Photos collected by Peter Blackbourn as part of his family history research.Compact Disk. Contains 95 images of Chapman, Stock, Blackbourn and Barnett families dating from late 19th century through the 20th century. Chapman-Stock photos identified by Peter Blackbourn.chapman stock family, greensborough, lower plenty -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Photograph of Kiewa Valley Pioneer Family, Three Generations of Kiewa Valley Pioneer Family (Coopers), late 1900s'
This historical family photograph spans three generations of the Cooper Family, a pioneer family, still residing in the Kiewa Valley. The large axe held by Pat was a handy tool for pioneer families to chop down trees for land clearing, building sheds and fences, outhouses and fire wood. This photograph was taken during a time where both male and females did some heavy lifting and processing. The rural sector at this point in time was physically a hard location for both sexes. The segregation of the sexes into specific job categories was some times non existent although household "chores" was in the main a woman's domain. The rural sector was in this point of time one which women were highly respected and the unwritten law of providing "assistance" and "reverence" by men in such actions as, socially opening doors, tipping the cap, offering a sturdy arm for support and refraining from doing or saying anything "uncouth" in a woman's presence. It was in a time when women's liberation was just starting to grow strength. Rural areas, on the hole, took longer to interfuse "city" hatched norms of behaviour. This photograph of a pioneer family still residing in the Kiewa Valley demonstrates not only the close protective environment that the valley has on all its inhabitants but also the close bonding that neighbors have towards each other. The term "God's gifted country" fits warmly with all the settlements in the valley. The relatively isolated (physically, visually and communications wise) has since post World War II been whittled away by faster and vastly improved communications with "the outside" world. The strength of commitment to the rural life can be seen in the faces of the family members in this photograph. The proud heritage is displayed without any external pressure. This large black and white family photograph is a reproduction on Fujicolor Crystal Archive Paper manufactured by Fujifilm. It is 200gsm matt finished paper with no borders. On the reverse side, written in pencil "Ted Cooper sitting aged 24-25, Pat Amery (Ted's youngest sister) holding Ted's eldest son Doug and Ted's father John Franklin Cooper(22-8-1892)"john cooper, ted cooper, pat amery, doug cooper, pioneer family kiewa valley -
Orbost & District Historical Society
account, 30th June 1891
The first Presbyterian Church service was conducted at the Orbost Station Homestead in 1885, during a visit by Sir William Clarke, who was accompanied by two ministers. The organist was resident Grace Jennings Carmichael. Services were later held in Mr J. W. Borland’s shop and the Mechanics Hall. In 1887 the land on which the church now stands was purchased from Mr James Hossack snr, for £50 ($100). The trustees were Mr John, Peter and Hugh Cameron, Mr John A Watt and Mr James Hossack Jnr. Timber from Richardson’s Tabbara Mill was used by builder Mr R. P Cameron and at a cost of £ 311.3.7 ($622) the church was opened January 9th 1898. This item is from the estate of Elsie Cooke. Elsie Cooke was a librarian in Orbost for many years. She was the daughter of John Cooke early Brodribb settler. Elsie Cooke lived all her life in Gippsland,. She was born at Brodribb in 1895 and died in 1970, Elsie Cooke lived at Bruthen for a short time and, in 1937, moved to live with her aunt, Miss Jean Munro. Miss Cooke was Librarian at the Mechanics Institute for many years. Kindness and consideration for other were Miss Cooke’s attributes and she endeared herself to all who knew her. She was a loyal member of the Presbyterian Church and a stalwart of the Ladies’ Guild, an energetic worker for the Municipal Auxiliary and a member of the Red Cross. (ref. Mary Gilbert This item is associated with the Presbyterian Church in Orbost. It is an example of early book-keeping and is also associated with Elsie Cooke.Two white paper accounts. They are typed in black and are statements of receipts and expenditure for the Presbyterian Church in Orbost. On one sheet is an alhabetical list of subscribers for the year ending June 30, 1891. On the other is a general account of receipts and expenditure.presbyterian-church-orbost account-book-keeping -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Wilkins Family 1901
Black and white photograph of family group. Wilkins Family 1901. Grainy picture.Back row: Olive, Violet, Jay. Centre left: Roy Gladstone. Front row: Heath, Mrs Wilkins (Minnie), Myrtle. -
Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society (operating as Lakes Entrance History Centre & Museum)
Photograph, M Holding, 1989
Also a second colour photograph of Slab Hut taken from a different angle 05111.1Colour photograph of the Slab Hut Tourist Information Centre Orbost Victoriaarts, people -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Document, A Family of Potters, the Dee Family, 1/10/2011 12:00:00 AM
The Dee family were employed to operate a pottery that had been established by the White brothersThe Dee family were employed to operate a pottery that had been established by the White brothersThe Dee family were employed to operate a pottery that had been established by the White brothersdee family, potteries, white brothers, vitclay -
Greensborough Historical Society
Folder, Ely Family, 1878o
Contents: Ely family tree Frederick Ely was born in Cowlinge Suffolk, in 1838. (His parents were George Ely b1793 and Sarah Poulter b1792, both born in Cowlinge. Frederick came to Australia on the ship 'Ocean Monarch' in 1856 with (most likely) his brother George, aged 34, his wife Elizabeth Piper, aged 22, and daughters Elizabeth, aged 2, and Harriet, aged 1. George and his family settled in the Harcourt area of Victoria, as did his brothers William and Henry. In 1857, Henry, his wife Mary Anne (Parker) and a daughter came to Australia, and settled in Greensborough for a short time, then moved to Harcourt, taking a large amount of apple tree cuttings and plants from Greensborough, where he, brother William, William Eagle, a childhood friend from Cowlinge, and a Nathan Vick, planted and stated apple orchids.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Ely family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.ely family, splatt family -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Herry Family (no names or date)
Written on backing sheet, "Herry Family" -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Chart - Family, Lockwood Family History, 1972
Chart in a cylinderLockwood Family Tree 1872 - 1972lockwood family tree, forster j, chart in a cylinder, tatura, family history, lockwood family, documents, charts -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Dalziel Family early 1900's -- Studio Portrait
John Dalziel was a Blacksmith in Lower main StreetThe Dalziel family - Early 1900'sblacksmith -
Linton and District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Bird Family Home, Scarsdale
Black and white copy of original photograph showing two men and two women standing outside a house with a shingled roof and two stone chimneys. In front of the house are garden beds and a picket fence. Out building is in the background."Bird family - first home in Scarsdale."bird family, scarsdale, family home -
Orbost & District Historical Society
poster, 1898
This poster was made for the sale of the 1,440 acres of Orbost Station after the death of Sir William Clarke. It was sold by Edward Trenchard & Co. which was the oldest Stock and Station agent in Victoria assisted by Desailly, Macarthur & Co were livestock experts. Sir William Clarke had taken over the Orbost run from the McLeods in 1870. When Sir William died the property was owned by his son, Rupert who offered the land for sale at 4 pounds per acre. No sale resulted and the property was leased for a few years until in 1898 it was subdivided and sold to many of Orbost's first families. (info. from In Times Gone By- Deborah Hall)This is an important reminder of the very early history of the settlement of Orbost.A rectangular paper poster for the sale of the Orbost Estate on Forest Road, Orbost. It is dated "Thursday Dec 1898" and was made for the sale of the 1,440 acres of Orbost Station after the death of Sir William Clarke. The poster gives written details of the sale and a plan of the property.orbost-station clarke-sir-william orbost-estate -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Book - The Dickson Family, The Dickson Family Ringwood 1861-1966
Moses and Francis Dickson were orchardists in Ringwood in the early 1900s and were connected to other early families such as the Knee, Hardidge and Sargeant families.Photographic history of Moses and Frances Dickson. Booklet with white front cover with framed black and white photo and the Dickson Family printed on it. Picture of street on back - North Ringwood Shopping Strip c.1960s. -
Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society (operating as Lakes Entrance History Centre & Museum)
Photograph, Snowy River Mail, 1/04/2013 12:00:00 AM
Colour photograph of East Gippsland Heritage Network members Ian Hollingsworth, Marie Fish, Judy Gray, Judy Davies, Marie Tanner, Janet Palmer at Orbost Historical Society exhibition Orbost Victoriafishing industry, maritime history -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Hone family on verandah 1905
Black and white photograph. Duplicate of item no. 103 showing a family group of a man, woman and child standing on veranda of weatherboard home with a boy seated on a draught horse at one end of the house.Written on backing sheet, "Hone family, 138 Warrandyte Rd. 1905" The Hone Residence 138 Warrandyte Rd., opp. Unsworth Rd. - 1903 or 1905. The boy on the horse, William, was born in 1894 and worked in Bentley's timber yard for many years. The house was still in use in 1965 but has since been demolished. -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, first half 20th century
The men in this photograph are harvesting dry bean plants. They have been threshed with flails and raked. the dry straw is tossed off and the dry beans are collected to be hand sorted.This item is associated with the seed bean industry which was a major industry in the Orbost district for the first half of the 20th century.A black / white photograph / postcard of five men raking hay in a paddock with two horses and carts in the background.on back - "Orbost, M. Gilbert"agriculture-beans orbost-bean-seeds -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, mid 1930s?
The front row appear to be Brownies (wearing berets) and the others Guides. Established in 1910, Girl Guiding is now one of the largest all female organisations in the world. It is designed for girls, young and not-so-young women to join and enjoy a program of informal learning, opportunities, fun, personal development and friendship. (ref. Girl Guides Victoria). This photograph reflects the history of this group which still operates in Orbost.A black / white photograph of three rows of girls in uniform. The front row of younger girls is sitting on the ground, the middle row is kneeling and the back row standing. There are three older women with the group. The photograph has been taken outside and on the left middle is a car.on back - "Orbost Guides & Brownies"girl-guides-orbost recreation-girls brownies-orbost -
Orbost & District Historical Society
trowel, 1915
This trowel was presented to John Russell, director of Orbost Butter Factory for fiftyyears and Chairman for nine years. John Russell was an early Orbost blacksmith in Orbost, and director of the Orbost Butter Factory for 50 years. He came to Orbost in c. 1890 at the invitation of another early settler, James Nixon, became a blacksmith, and later a farmer and landholder. Many of his descendants still live in the Orbost area.This item is significant because of its association with the Orbost Butter Factory as well as the connection with the Russell family, Orbost pioneers.A silver (plated?) trowel ornately decorated with engravings. It is attached to a bone(?) handle with a silver metal ferule. the trowel is triangular with a scalloped lower edge.Presented to John Russel Esq.; Chairmen of Directors ;To Commemorate the Laying of; Foundation Stone; of the Orbost Butter and Produce; Coy's New Factory; 22.9.15 on right hand side : silver marks - crown, lion H.G.H.russell-john orbost-butter-factory -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, Howard D. Bulmer, early 20th century 1920s?
This is a photograph of An Orbost Agricultural Show Committe. The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall) This photographs is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century. Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history. A large Black / white photograph on grey card. It shows two rows of men. The back row is standing and the front sitting. They are posed in front of a wooden building with an open door. On the left is a water tankon front - Howard D. Bulmer Photographer on right - hand-written < Jack Gilbert X on back - hand-written - L_R Arthur Rodwell, Mat Lynch, Rupert Mosely, S. Lynn, A. Pardew, John Gilbert, John Bird on sticker - "Take off man marked X Mr Matthew Lynch of Orbost"photograph-orbost-agricultural-society -
Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society (operating as Lakes Entrance History Centre & Museum)
Book, L.E.R.H.S, History of the Roadknight Family
A folder containing information about local families. Documents and newspaper cuttings. Roadnight Familygenealogy -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Document - Family Tree, Wicking Family, 16/12/1985
Family tree of the Wicking Family, fruit grower. George Wicking migrated to Australia in 1850.wicking family, prosser family -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photographs, 15th February 1971
The 1971 flood was the the worst flood on record. At Jarrahmond it was at least 11 metres and up to one and a half kilometres wide on the flats causing enormous damage to the flood plain. Records say that "The brown floodwater stain in Bass Strait could be seen from passing airliners." Considerable damage was done to railway infrastructure, roads and farms. More information from the APRIL, 2008 newsletter by John Phillips. (see orbosthistory.com.au) The railway line was destroyed and was not expected to be opened for a fortnight. Orbost was cut off by 50 square miles of Snowy River floodwater. These photographs are pictorial records of the 1971 floods which was a significant event in the history of Orbost. They are also associated with the East Gippsland Railway.Three black / white photographs of flood debris and flood waters near a railway line. 3102.l has a pile driver 3102.2 shows a gap in the viaduct and 3102.3 shows men with a tractor cleaning up the debris,3102.1 - on back - "1971 FLOOD REPAIRS TO ORBOST RAILWAY VIADUCT - 15th February 1971. Donated by Audrey Van Den Berg VRH 3693" 3102.2 - on back - " DAMAGE TO RAILWAY VIADUCT ACCUMULATED DEBRIS" 3102.3 - on back - "DAMAGE TO RAILWAY VIADUCT AT ORBOST. CLEAN UP BEGINS"orbost-flood-1971 orbost-viaduct-flood-damage orbost-railway -
Melton City Libraries
Document, Minns Family Reunion, 2004
"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