Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups

Brooklyn Park homestead built 1875 by Stephen George Staughton, son of Simon Staughton. In 1907 the residence was refurbished for Cr Stephen John Staughton who was returning from England with his bride. The building contained over 25 rooms some 25x20 feet. There were elaborately decorated rooms with friezes, embossed wall papers, massive curtains, marble and carved mantle pieces. A Ryder Erickson Hot air engine pumped water from underground tanks up to elevated tanks to circulate water through the house. Acetylene gas generator for 100 light and chandeliers. Prominent family with civic connection in Melton holding very large areas of land. 'Brooklyn' mansion built by Stephen Staughton, local identities, pioneer families

Hecla produced a wide range of appliances for domestic use, beginning with heaters and later branching out to a wider range of kitchen appliances Hecla was established by Clarence William Marriott, a young Melbourne metal worker. He began manufacturing Australia's first carbon filament electric radiators in 1899. He originally worked for his father James Marriott who commenced business in Melbourne as an art metal worker in 1872 and was, in 1907, appointed as the official art metal worker to the Victorian Government producing items including the ornate iron gates and gas lamp standards outside Melbourne's Parliament House. With the invention of nickel chromium wire after 1900, C.W. Marriott began making more efficient heating elements using this new material in 1916. After being influenced by the eruption of Mount Hekla in Iceland, on 19 December 1918, Clarence registered the brand name "HECLA" with an erupting volcano as its logo. The company Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd was officially registered in 1922. In 1928 the company adopted the advertising slogan, 'By Hecla, it's Good'. The Hecla range rapidly expanded to include electric heaters and radiators, electric foot warmers, electric kettles, ceramic & metal electric jugs, immersion hot water elements, electric fans, electric coffee percolators, electric toasters, electric grillers and stoves, electric irons and electric frypans, clocks and curling wands. Electric blankets were introduced shortly after WWII.In 1930, a controlling interest in Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd was acquired by General Electric Corporation. Clarence William Marriott died in June 1967 in Melbourne, Victoria.This item is representative of a common domestic appliance used throughout Australia. It was manufactured by a pioneering Australian company.A small chrome steel toaster manufactured by Hecla Australia. It has a door on either side which flips down to insert or remove a slice of bread on each side, Each door has two black Bakelite knobs. The electric element is placed down the centre of the cavity. A detachable electric cord is included.240 Volts, 600 Watts. Cat. No. T4 Submitted to Electrical Approval Board Ref Application A1/AD01 SECV 240 Volt 600 Watt MANFED. IN AUSTRALIA SOLID BRASSelectrical appliances, hecla corporation australia, clarence william marriott, domestic appliances

The fireplace was the main heating source for small houses before 1900, so a bellows to coax a flame from a dying fire was important. They would also be used to keep the fire going in a woodfire oven for cooking. In later cooking ranges, domestic water supply was also heated through the cooking range so bellows helped to maintaing a supply of hot water. These bellows were handcrafted by Mr James Ripper, a great uncle of Mrs. Jean Raper. An item of signifance throughout Australia, bellows were used in homes to coax a domestic fire into flame for heating and cooking purposes. It was probably used in late 19th to early 20th century homes.A set of hand carved wooden bellows. Each side of the bellows was crafted from one piece of timber. The bellows were joined with leather, brass studs and a metal nozzle.bellows, handcragted items, domestic items

The fireplace was the main heating source for small houses before 1900, so a bellows to coax a flame from a dying fire was important. They would also be used to keep the fire going in a woodfire oven for cooking. In later cooking ranges, domestic water supply was also heated through the cooking range so bellows helped to maintaing a supply of hot water.An item of local and social signifance throughout Australia, bellows were usedin homes to coax a domestic fire into flame for heating and cooking purposes. It was probably used in late 19th to early 20th century homes.A small set of wooden and canvas bellows with metal tip commonly used in households in the 19th and early 20th centuries.bellows, domestic tools

In the late 1800's and early 1900's kitchens were built separate from the main house for safety, as the open fire was used daily for all cooking, washing and heating of water. This very heavy strong fireplace crane could support several items such as cast iron kettles, pans and boilers which were hung on the hinged swing-arm, known as a “crane”. The metal arm was swung out from the fireplace to access the hot water in a kettle relatively safely. A black cast iron fireplace crane with a supporting pole bolted to the wall in the side of the brick open fireplace. It has a swinging handle with a rectangular hand grip at the end to move it over or away from the fire. The metal arm was swung out from the fireplace to access the hot water in a kettle relatively safely. There are holes in the bar for hanging hooks which kitchen cooking pots may be hung. Two small hooks are welded to the bar and there are two small removable hooks and two long ones. architectural elements, fireplaces, fireplace accessories, heating equipment, fireplace crane

The building in the photograph is the Boiler House which was part of the former Sunbury Asylum. It was built in the 1920s to replace an older boiler. Coal and/or briquettes were burned to produce hot water and steam which was used to heat and supply hot water for the Asylum buildings. Steam attendants monitored and maintained the furnace and boiler seven days a week. It ceased production in October 1992 and since then has served as an Arts and Cultural complex for the local community. A non-digital black and white photograph of a large brick building with a tall chimney overlooking open rural countryside with two women sitting on the grass in the foreground. The image has been photographed from an earlier photograph. sunbury asylum, boiler house, arts and cultural complex, performing arts

Edendale Farm is Nillumbik Shire Council's environment centre situated in Gastons Road, Eltham between the railway and the Diamond Creek. The homestead on the property was built in 1896 and is of historical significance, being the subject of a Heritage Overlay under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The Edendale property was originally part of an extensive land purchase in 1852 from the Crown by pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke. He initially purchased 51 acres and later expanded his holdings by purchasing another three adjacent Crown allotments extending northerly from Josiah Holloway's Little Eltham subdivision. Despite clearing the land, Stooke did not build on this property, choosing to live on his property "Rosehill" at Lower Plenty. In 1896 Thomas Cool, Club Manager of the Victoria Coffee Palace in Melbourne purchased 7 acres of the original Stooke land and built the house now known as Edendale. Cool did not farm the land, instead using it as a gentleman’s residence, retiring to Eltham at weekends. In 1918 he purchased an additional 7 acres but in 1919 he sold the property. Later owners included J.W. Cox, the Gaston family and D. Mummery. In the 1980s the Eltham Shire Council purchased the site for use as a Council depot, but this use did not proceed. Subsequently, it was used as the Council pound. The Edendale Farm Pet Education and Retention Centre was established in the summer of 1988/1989 and was set up to replace the existing dog kennels with a high standard pet retention centre. The design style of the building was established to compliment the features of the existing house. It was equipped with 10 retention pens, a veterinary room and a pet education area where school children and other interested parties learnt about pet care procedures. It was later developed into a community farm and was run by an advisory committee and in 2000 it became an Environment Centre. In early 2006 an advisory committee was established for the development of a master plan for future development at Edendale Farm. The committee included Russell Yeoman, a former long-time shire planner and founding member of the Eltham District Historical Society. At the time of filming the Master Plan and future for Edendale was about continuing to develop Edendale as a centre of environment learning and looking at expanding displays and school program, running a lot more of life-long learning and workshops around sustainable living. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p101 A sharp turn from busy Wattletree Road by the railway line, brings a surprise. Only 1.4 km from Eltham’s centre, sheep feed, blissfully unaware of the hectic suburban activity so close by. At the entrance to the 5.6ha Edendale Farm is another surprise. A work of art that looks like huge tree trunks transformed into bowler and top-hatted men. The Fences Act 1968 by Tony Trembath with Mark Cain and John Doyle, 1996, is classified by the National Trust of Australia as having Regional Significance. The title refers to a government act on disputes between neighbors over the placement of fences and boundaries. This takes a ‘wry swipe’ at a community divided by trivial squabbles. It also celebrates making do with limited resources.1 Further along on the left, the office wall is decorated with a massive Eltham Copper Butterfly, designed by Robert Tickner and made by school children with used plastic bottles and other waste material. Nillumbik Council runs Edendale as an Environmental Education Centre, to help preserve and enhance the local environment. As early as 1988 the former Eltham Shire Council realised Edendale’s importance in meeting people’s needs, particularly of children, to enjoy farmland. The centre, with the Eltham North Reserve to the north - including remnant bushland and open parkland - makes up the major part of the public open space for this area. The council considers this area will become increasingly important to the local community for recreational use.2 Educational programs aim to encourage community involvement to ensure the long-term rehabilitation and protection of natural bushland areas. Edendale is used by people of all ages - from school children to adults - for environmental programs and workshops, as well as for recreation, to enjoy the domestic animals and to picnic. Edendale is also home to the Environmental Works staff who manage reserves and roadsides and support Nillumbik Friends environmental groups. The Friends propagate plants at the nursery, which grows indigenous plants and sells these to the public.3 The centre demonstrates the sustainable living the farm teaches, with features like solar hot water and drive lighting and for the fireplace, logs of recycled cardboard. Edendale has had a varied history as a dog pound and even as a retreat for Thomas Cool, Club Manager of the Victoria Coffee Palace in Melbourne. His single-storey weatherboard house built in 1896, which still stands, was grander than most homes in Eltham. Although such buildings were common in many other parts of Melbourne, Eltham’s poverty and remoteness did not encourage such construction. The Victorian rectangular-shaped house, with a corrugated iron roof and veranda, has elegant large rooms, leadlight windows, ceiling roses, two bay windows and ornately carved wooden fireplace surrounds. Cool bought seven acres (2.8ha) from pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke’s 200 acre (81ha) farm, which he had bought from the Crown in 1852. In 1918 Cool bought an extra seven acres (2.8ha) but in 1919 sold the estate to farmer John Cox. In 1933 Cox sold Edendale to Mrs Elizabeth Gaston, after whom the road leading to the centre was named. The property was owned by several Gaston family members, who called it Edendale, then by a police constable, Douglas Mummery, until the Shire of Eltham bought it in 1970. Oddly Edendale was known as Mummery’s for almost 20 years, although Mummery owned it only for a short time.4 The shire used Edendale as a dog pound until amalgamation with other municipalities in 1996. The pound then moved to the Yan Yean Road, Plenty site, which had been used by the former Diamond Valley Shire Council. To the west and north the centre is bounded by Diamond Creek and on the east by the Melbourne-Hurstbridge railway line. Part of the Research creek forms the centre’s southern boundary.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, edendale farm

The Northern District School of Nursing opened in 1950 in to address the issues around nurse recruitment, training and education that had previously been hospital based. The residential school was to provide theoretical and in-house education and practical training over three years. The students would also receive practical hands-on training in the wards of associated hospitals. The Northern District School of Nursing operated from Lister House, Rowan Street, Bendigo. It was the first independent school of nursing in Victoria and continued until it closed in 1989. The book "The First of its Kind" was published in 2015. Printed in Bendigo by "Bendigo Modern Press". Four pages of memories of working as an unqualified tutor (1966 - 75) and later as a qualified teacher at the NDSN at Lister House Bendigo by Jo Pellisier. Three pages of memories of attending the first-year start-up of the NDSN at Lister House Bendigo by June Palfreyman from 1975 to 1989. PTS School 108 was the final school, when training was transferred to La Trobe University enabling trainees to embark on a University Degree course. Four pages of memories of working as an unqualified tutor (1966 - 75) and later as a qualified teacher at the NDSN at Lister House Bendigo by Jo Pellisier. Her duties covered basic lessons; such as how to fill a hot water bottle to 18-year-old nursing students.all documents were regarding the compilation of the ndsnga inc. book "the first of its kind"

Photo shows W1 class tram 475 in Collins St near Spencer Street, with a Mont Albert destination on a very hot day. All the sun louvers in saloons are drawn. The tram has been fitted with route number boxes which is painted the same colour as the roof. A gentlemen in a white suit is walking across to the tram carrying a Gladstone Bag. In the background are Victorian Producers, Sepplet House and a warehouse. The photo is dated January 1930. Yields information the use of W1 class trams.Black and white copy print on paper.tramways, trams, gladstone bag, w1 class, tram 475, collins st, mont albert, summer

BHS CollectionBlack and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. House, brick, porch, brick fence, small pane and lead light windows. 1 chimney. Decorative brickwork on verandah lintel and on brick fence. Stained glass windows. Written on back ' tapestry brick fireplace, dining room and kitchen, 117 Queen Street. Brick bungalow, built 1923, 5 rooms, vest, both 2 weatherboard sleep outs, toolshed, woodshed, workshop, garage, sewered. Through to King Street, 33'11 1/4' by 165'. Hot water service, electric copper, 22 points electricity, 8 power points, new gas , stainless ink, crockery cupboards, pedestal basin.t.c. watts & son, 117 queen street bendigo

This is a framed photograph of the men's pool at the Warrnambool Salt Water Baths. These Baths were originally built at the end of Gilles Street on the line of the present railway line in 1876 but were rebuilt in 1889 further north in Gilles Street when the railway line was opened. The water was pumped from the sea, initially by a windmill and later by a gas pump. The men's pool was 100 feet by 50 feet and the women's pool was 60 feet by 30 feet with bathing strictly segregated in the 19th century. A building nearby housed marble cubicles with hot spa baths with the water heated on the site and a caretaker's cottage completed the complex. Men's nude bathing was a feature of the early 20th century. Originally built by a local public company the Baths were taken over by the Warrnambool Council. These baths were superseded by the opening in 1961 of an Olympic Pool In Warrnambool. The site and the remaining buildings of the old sea water baths are now heritage-listed and today form part of the headquarters of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This photograph is of historical significance as a depiction of the Warrnambool Salt water Baths in the early 20th century. These Baths were the basis for promoting Warrnambool as a health and spa resort town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.This is a framed black and white photograph of the men's pool at the Warrnambool Salt Water Baths. It depicts men and boys swimming in the circular pool and one male on the diving board. All these men are naked. There are other clothed males and clothed attendants wearing hats and waistcoats. The change rooms are on the right side of the photograph and there is a fence with trees behind. The photograph is mounted on cardboard with a gilt edge and is held in a wooden ridged frame behind glass. warrnambool sea water baths, sea baths, warrnambool pool, gilles street

Plan of hot water heater, Fortuna Villa, drawn on heavy paper. On top of plan in red ink 'Plan of Hot Water Heater for G. Lansell Esq for Fortuna Villa Sandhurst' Drawings show front, transverse, longitudinal, back and side elevations of heater, also back, side and front elevation of individual water heaters, including one with ornate screen. On bottom of document: floor plans of ground plan and basement. Plan stamped on RH bottom: William C. Vahland, Architect, Sandhurst.bendigo, house, fortuna villa

Two handwritten and three typed copies of a Condensed Historical Record of Lansell's Big 180 Mine on the New Chum Line of Reef. Notes include location, shaft, first worked, size of lease, plant, engine house, boiler rooms, mullock heap, early history, Prominent, best gold, underground connections, pressurised hot water, diamond drill bores and a table with depths and the increase in temperature with the depth (in Fahr). Albert Richardson Collection. document, gold, lansell's big 180 mine, lansell's big 180 mine, condensed historical record of lansell's big 180 mine, wittscheibe, ballerstadt, ernst mueller, theodore ballerstadt, george lansell, north old chum, victoria quartz, mines dept special edition 'australian mining standard' 1/6/1899, mines dept booklet 'bendigo goldfield' 1936, quarterly reports, lansell's 180 mine 'transverse sections, annals of bendigo mining sections, a richardson's observations from old photographs and measurements of mining plans, measurements taked from caleb thomas' report mines dept 1875, 'report on observation of underground temperature at bendigo' james stirling government geologist 1899, a richardson

Copy of plan: plan shows floor plan and design plans for hot water heating system to be installed in Fortuna Villa. Plans of basement and first floor. Heating unit construction detailed on plan. As plan has been copied, the stamp of the architect is indecipherable.buildings, house, fortuna villa

Yields information about the views of various letter writers, views of the Courier, union views, rehabilitation costs Geelong, public meetings and meetings with SEC.Set of three Foolscap sheet of plain paper, with rounded corners, with newspaper cuttings, concerning the mooted closure of the Ballarat Tram system 20 Feb and 22 Feb 1962. All from The Courier, unless noted otherwise. 7940.1 1 - "Tram future rests with Government" - 22-2-62 - news report about the SEC being insistent on tabling the motion to close in Parliament, price of replacement trams. Attending Mr K L Murray, Mr Linaker, Mr A V Mawby of the SEC, Cr. A Pittard and Town Clerk Mr. H H Maddern. 2 - "Government "Bought itself out" - continuation from above, quoting Mr Mawby about the rehabilitation of the system in 1934 by the Government, discussions about fares, losses, time of travel from Sebastopol compared to buses. Also notes Cr Tuppen of Sebastopol. 3 - "A hot tram tip" - 22-2-62 - suggestion by Cr Cooper suggested the tram be retained around the lake for Historical reasons, Mr Murray of the SEC, sell/give to the Historical Society, Cr W E Roff replied about not wanting them and put them in a tip. 7940.2 1 - "SEC Not to sell this - 20-2-62 - photo of the power house in Ripon St, with the caption that the SEC did not propose to sell the property, but would be selling the tram depot site. 2 - "The talk was trams" - 22-2-62 - photo of Mr Mawby, Cr A D Mason, H Linaker and Mr K L Murray at the meeting with Council the previous day. 3 - "Save our Trams" - 21-2-62 - long letter - about the closing the trams and railway losses including building, new rail lines being built. 4 - "Tram fight" - letter by R Courtney Union Secretary, about the formation of a Committee to oppose closure. 7940.3 "Sound Shell Plan+ - 21-2-62 - Long editorial about the construction of a Sound Shell and council discussions and inability to make a decision.closure, letter to the editor, editorial, sec, rehabilitation, staff, buses, concession fares, museum, power station, ballarat a power station, botanical gardens