Showing 212 items
matching house demolitions
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Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Site of demolished house, 286 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne, 22 Nov 1997
One of a set of 8 colour photographs showing various views of site of demoished house at 286 Rouse Street, Port Melbournedemolitions -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Site of demolished house, 286 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne, 22 Nov 1997
One of a set of 8 colour photographs showing various views of site of demoished house at 286 Rouse Street, Port Melbournedemolitions -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Site of demolished house, 286 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne, 22 Nov 1997
One of a set of 8 colour photographs showing various views of site of demoished house at 286 Rouse Street, Port Melbournedemolitions -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Negative - Photograph, Harry Gilham, Grave of Sarah and Phillip Shillinglaw, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, Sep 2009
Philip Shillinglaw and his wife Sarah came to Eltham in 1882. Their property "Wattle Brae" originally encompassed present-day Eltham Central Park and part of Eltham Library, extending north to include Andrew Park and the site of the railway station. An early photo shows that much of it was planted for crops. They also had cows; in 1913 Philip wrote to the local paper complaining about an earlier report that one of them had been killed on the railway line. "I give an emphatic denial to the report. It is not true." Their house Shillinglaw Cottage (built by George Stebbings) still exists, though it was moved with funding from local residents in 1963-64 when faced with demolition to make room for new Council Offices. Philip was actively involved with the Methodist Church as preacher, Church Steward and Sunday School teacher. A Sunday School picnic and a sports carnival were held on his paddock. Eight of his children attended Eltham Primary School. In 1908 he ploughed part of the schoolyard (possibly for use as a garden) free of charge. When Philip died in 1914, his funeral was described as one of the largest ever seen in Eltham. He and Sarah are buried in Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Shillinglaw Died 10th Dec. 1891 Also Phillip Loved husband of above Died 18th Aug. 1914 Sweet BestRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsKodak GC 400-9eltham cemetery, gravestones, phillip shillinglaw, sarah ann shillinglaw -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Peter Pidgeon, Grave of Sarah and Phillip Shillinglaw, Eltham Cemetery, Victoria, 5 April 2021
Philip Shillinglaw and his wife Sarah came to Eltham in 1882. Their property "Wattle Brae" originally encompassed present-day Eltham Central Park and part of Eltham Library, extending north to include Andrew Park and the site of the railway station. An early photo shows that much of it was planted for crops. They also had cows; in 1913 Philip wrote to the local paper complaining about an earlier report that one of them had been killed on the railway line. "I give an emphatic denial to the report. It is not true." Their house Shillinglaw Cottage (built by George Stebbings) still exists, though it was moved with funding from local residents in 1963-64 when faced with demolition to make room for new Council Offices. Philip was actively involved with the Methodist Church as preacher, Church Steward and Sunday School teacher. A Sunday School picnic and a sports carnival were held on his paddock. Eight of his children attended Eltham Primary School. In 1908 he ploughed part of the schoolyard (possibly for use as a garden) free of charge. When Philip died in 1914, his funeral was described as one of the largest ever seen in Eltham. He and Sarah are buried in Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Shillinglaw Died 10th Dec. 1891 Also Phillip Loved husband of above Died 18th Aug. 1914 Sweet BestBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, phillip shillinglaw, sara ann shillinglaw -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Film - Video (VHS), Nillumbik Shire Council, The Nillumbik Story, 1996
PART 1 – NILLUMBIK (00:00-07:17) Opening features various scenes around Nillumbik Shire. For 40,000 years Nillumbik was the home of the Wurundjeri people. Robert Hoddle gave the district its name. Jock Ryan, then president of Nillumbik Historical Society discusses the names Nillumbik and Diamond Creek. In the late 1830s white occupation began with gold found in Warrandyte in 1851 and 12 years later at Diamond Creek -the Diamond Reef which led to the Caledonian gold rush. Jock Ryan discusses the Diamond Creek mine, which was thriving until it burnt out in 1915. Large numbers of workmen moved into area in late 1870s to construct the Maroondah Aqueduct. With growing population of Melbourne, the nearby Yan Yean system had severely disrupted the flow of the Plenty River, forcing the closure of three flour mills there. The aqueduct came to the rescue carrying water 66km from Healesville to Preston. When the Diamond Creek gold mine burnt down the local economy suffered but fruit growing industry had already been established and Diamond Creek became a thriving fruit growing centre. Interview with Jack Powell, a long-time fruiterer at St Andrews market, his family had lived in the area for a hundred years, 3 to 4 generations, “a lot of hard work”. By the time the railway arrived fruit growing was no longer competitive. The railway brought the city closer and day trippers. The Green Wedge separates the shire from the more densely developed neighbours such as Whittlesea, Doncaster, Templestowe, Bulleen and Greensborough. Population at the time (1996) was 19,000 but links to the past remain strong. Mudbrick houses along the Heritage Trail The saving of Shillinglaw Cottage from demolition in 1963 and relocation brick by brick. PART 2 – ENVIRONMENT (07:18-14:44) Peter Brock (with Bev Brock in background) at St Andrews market discusses his childhood growing up in the district and the environment and the values it instilled upon him and his own family. The Brocks have been in the district since the 1860s. Nillumbik Shire responsible for managing three catchment areas; Diamond Creek, Arthurs Creek and Watsons Creek. Follows the course of the Diamond Creek commencing in Kinglake through the district to its confluence with the Yarra River at Eltham at Eltham Lower Park. Highlights Eltham Lower Park community revegetation program and the newly constructed (1996) viewing platform built of new and recycled timbers at the confluence of the Diamond Creek and Yarra River. Also featured are outdoor recreation on the river and at Eltham Lower Park including the Diamond Valley miniature railway. Sugarloaf reservoir and recreational activities and fishing. Aerial view of Memorial Park and Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower at Garden Hill, Kangaroo Ground. Significant tourism opportunities for the shire with 3 million potential day-trippers in metropolitan Melbourne. Council and community working together to find a way to promote the shires natural and artistic assets. At Arthurs Creek, the Brock family and neighbours working together to take care of their waterway. Peter Brock’s uncle, Sandy Brock talks about environmental management and the Arthurs Creek Landcare group and actions to eradicate blackberry problem. Having previously planted Cypress rows they are replacing them with indigenous species to improve the water supply, keeping cattle out of the creek bed to improve the quality downstream flowing into the Yarra. Eltham East Primary School Band playing “All things bright and beautiful” merges into scenes of the bushland sanctuary set aside by the school in 1980 with unidentified teacher discusses the sanctuary and their education program and school children’s comments. Plight of a family of Wedgetail eagles nesting in the path of a developer’s bulldozer at North Warrandyte and actions to save their nesting areas. PART 3 – ARTS (14:45-22:00) Arts and Jazz festival at Montsalvat featuring interviews with Sigmund Jorgensen discussing Montsalvat and its principles. Also Matcham Skipper. Clifton Pugh’s funeral at Montsalvat and his legacy at Dunmoochin near Cottlesbridge with artists in residence, at the time, Chicago artist Charles Reddington who discusses the benefits of the experience. An unidentified female artist also talks about the program and why people are drawn to the area. Unidentified man on street talking about the amount of talent in the area, artists, poets, musicians, authors. Artist Ming Mackay (1918-2009) interviewed talking about the people she mixes with on “the Hill”. Works of local artists are displayed Eltham Library Community Gallery and Wiregrass gallery with a new coffee shop at the Wiregrass making it an even more popular destination. Music at St Andrews Hotel (may be a little bit country) and the Saturday market where likely to hear anything. Sellers and patrons at the market asked about what attracts them to the market and where they came from. Scenes of poets/authors giving readings. CREDITS Music by John Greenfield from the CD Sweet Rain “The Snow Tree”, Uncle Music UNC 2001 Cameras - David Mirabella and Peter Farragher Editor – Olwyn Jones Written and Produced by Jason Cameron A Jason Cameron Proction for Nillumbik ShireProvides a record of the relatively newly created Shire of Nillumbik at the time and the features and attactions of the shire in its people arts, culture and environmentVHS Cassette (two copies) Converted to MP4 file format 0:22:00, 1.60GBvideo recording, arthurs creek, arthurs creek landcare group, artists, artists in residence, arts, arts festival, authors, blackberry, brock family, bulldozer, bulleen, bushland sanctuary, caledonian gold rush, charles reddington, clifton pugh, cottlesbridge, cypress rows, developer, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, diamond reef, diamond valley miniature railway, doncaster, dunmoochin, education program, eeps, eltham, eltham east primary school, eltham east primary school band, eltham library community gallery, eltham lower park, environment, fishing, flour mill, fruit growing, fruiterer, garden hill, gold mining, green wedge, greensborough, heritage trail, hurstbridge railway line, jazz festival, jock ryan, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground tower, kinglake, maroondah aqueduct, matcham skipper, memorial park, ming mackay (1918-2009), montsalvat, mudbrick houses, music, musicians, nesting area, nillumbik historical society, nillumbik shire, north warrandyte, old timer, orchards, peter brock, plenty river, poets, population, recreation, recreational activities, revegetation, robert hoddle, sandy brock, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham war memorial, sigmund jorgensen, st andrews hotel, st andrews market, sugarloaf reservoir, templestowe, the hill, tourism, viewing platform, warrandyte, water catchment area, watsons creek, wedgetail eagle, whittlesea, wiregrass gallery, wurundjeri, yarra river, jack powell -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - 124 Ross Street, Port Melbourne, Jack Bolt, 23 Dec 2012
Ten photos of 124 Ross St, formerly the home of "Mary the Cat Lady" (Mary Jones) The property is boarded up and fenced off prior to sale and demoltion. Mary was the subject of a one page entry (page 39) in "Women of Port Melbourne : Guide to the Exhibition" which included a photo of the houses and a sketch of Mary. Pictures of the site post demolition are Catalogue number 3467.01-.03built environment - domestic, domestic life, mary the cat lady, mary jones, jack bolt, women of port melbourne -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Exterior views, J Kitchen & Sons, Port Melbourne, 2011 - 2014
External views of the J Kitchen & Sons site. Some taken October 2011 when manufacturing still occurred on site and some in May 2014 after demoltion work had begun to clear the site for future development; (.01) The Australian Academy of design building at 220 Ingles St (October 2011) (.02) The building which housed the factory outlet shop. Admin building in background. (October 2011) (.03) Part of the Iindustrial complex surrounded by fence in preparation for demolition. (May 2014) (.04) View of the art-deco admin building taken from Ingles St (May 2014) (.05) Corner of the complex already cleared (former shop outlet) (May 2014)built environment - industrial, business and traders - soaps/candles, j kitchen & sons pty ltd, australian academy of design, ingles street -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Mandalay',163 Bridge Street, Port Melbourne, Pat Grainger, Mar 1998
Proposal to demolish and develop two 2 storey houses on the site were taken to Administrative Appeals Tribunal by neighbours and PMH&PS members, December 1997. Appeal was lost.Small colour photo of 163 Bridge Street ('Mandalay') Feb 1998 after it had been approved for demolition for the building of two town housesbuilt environment - domestic, mandalay, bridge street -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Domestic object - Wallpaper, Gainsborough House, Station Street, Port Melbourne, 1880s - 1890s
Some wallpaper removed from 184 Station Street (lately known as Gainsborough House and originally the home of Stevedore Jules Comman) prior to its demolitionPiece of original wallpaper taken from Gainsborough House, 184 Station Street, on demolitionbuilt environment - domestic, stan gravias, jules comman, gainsborough house -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Demolitions in Port Melbourne, Ron Laing, 1986 - 1999
Part of Ron Laing's collection of photographs recording Port Melbourne over a thirteen year period. Donated to the PMH&PS by the photographer.A set of 61 colour photographs of demolitions in Port Melbourne, including Doc's house in Byrne Street, Milk bar/paper shop/sub PO cnr Graham and Albert Streets, Gainsborough House 184 Station Street plus new buldings on the site, Earl's site and replacement in Bay and Nott Streetsbuilt environment, demolitions, ron laing -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Demolition, 50 Station Street, Port Melbourne, Pat Grainger, 2003
... Two colour photographs of the cleared site after demolition... site after demolition of the house at 50 Station Street, Port ...Two colour photographs of the cleared site after demolition of the house at 50 Station Street, Port Melbournedemolitions -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - 51 Esplanade West Port Melbourne, Janet BOLITHO, c.2006
House built in the inter-war period. Council approved a four 3 storey development with 8 on-site car parks in 2008. It was appealed to VCAT but unsuccessfully and the house was demolished in December 2010. Fire destroyed much of the building prior to ademolition.Colour photograph of Ron in porch at 51 Esplande West, Port Melbourne.built environment - domestic, built environment - demolition, esplanade west -
Melbourne Legacy
Document - Document, minutes, Minutes of meeting of Steering Committee (Residences) held at "Legacy House" on Wednesday, 30th January, at 12.30 p.m
... with Blamey House, Stanhope and Harelands in light of the issues... (Residences) held at "Legacy House" on Wednesday, 30th January ...Draft Minutes of a meeting held on 30/01/1974. The Steering Committee (Legatees Quale, Chair, Berg, Rodgers and Trebilcock) had been formed to look into the issue of what to do with Blamey House, Stanhope and Harelands in light of the issues raised in a report by the Residences Review Sub-Committee (Cat.No.01674) in 1972. The Steering Committee favoured the demolition of Blamey House to build units to accommodate senior students and ultimately widows, and the eventual sale of Harelands with a transfer of residents to Stanhope. Further investigations were to be made and the next meeting was set for 14 February 1974.Part of the history of Melbourne Legacy's involvement with residential care for children.3 foolscap sheets, black type on white carbon copy. Two holes punched for filing. 'L/H.C.G.Rodgers' in blue biro on the back.residences, review, blamey house, stanhope, harelands -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Colour Photograph/s, Alan Bradley, Nov. 1993
Set of three colour photographs of buildings and demolition of the former ESCo / SECV Wendouree Parade Power station sent to the Editor of Trolley Wire - used in the November 1997 issue of Trolley Wire. All photos by Alan Bradley. Photos taken during November 1993 or March 1994. All photos on AGFA paper. 1140.1 - The gate house building in Wendouree Parade - Nov. 1993 - used on page 21 of Nov. 1997 Trolley Wire. 1140.2 - Foundation stone - 23/8/1904 - of the ESCo power house. Gives names of people involved and contractors etc. - used on page 20 of Trolley Wire. Taken during November 1993. 1140.3 - Demolition work well advanced showing foundations and basement areas of power station - taken during March 1994. Used on page 25 of Trolley Wire. Hi res image of i2 added 16-12-2015. All have yellow stickers with photo number for magazine printer, and white sticky labels with photo number and words "same size" written on black ink. 1140.1 and 1140.2 have pencil cropping marks.trolley wire, esco, power station, demolition -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph, Fernleigh Flats, Ballarat, 12/02/2022
Residents of the Fernleigh Flats Retirement village are understood to be well and strong enough to care for themselves and need to be over the age of 55 years. Fernleigh Flats is owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. "TO LET, a Brick House, corner of Urquhart and Ripon Streets. Apply Owen Cazaly, Mining Exchange."(Ballarat Star, 16 Aug 1867) "SALE BY AUCTION, Corner of Urquhart and Ripon streets, 07 COMFORTABLE COTTAGE PROPERTY. M'GREGOR BROTHERS, instructed by the owner, Mr Bradbury, who has bought another property, will sell by public auction, on Monday, 16th May, at half-past 12, His six-roomed substantially-built RESIDENCE. The owner has, under his own supervision, spared no expense in making this a most comfortable and convenient dwelling, situated on a quarter of an acre allotment, at the corner of Urqhuart and Ripon streets, high and dry. Garden laid out with choice young fruit trees; ground capable of growing anything. Fowl yard fenced off. making It a most desirable residence. For a family residence or as An investment this is a good opportunity. Inspection invited. Auctioneer, R. M'GREGOR. (Ballarat Star, 12 May 1893.)A retirement village on the corner of Urquhart Street and Ripon Street, Ballarat. The street trees surrounding this property include a number of trees (blue cedar?) and suggest the demolition of an older stately home on this site. fernleigh flats, residences, architecture -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Colour, Neglected House in Armstrong Street South, Ballarat, 2019, 19/01/2019
Colour photograph of a house in Armstrong Street South, Ballarat (400 block) which has been 'under repair for a number of years.ballarat, armstrong street south, demolition by neglect -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Ann [Dowling] Myers, c.1918
Western Highway – north side Burnbank 1 – Cottage of Henri and Ann nee Dowling Myers side of road east of Myers Gully the junction of Reserve Rd. now known as Ryans Creek. Built c 1870. it remained in the family until a demolition order was placed on it in 1969 when vacated by Martha wife of Frederick 4th son of Ann and Henry. Her new house was built in McKenzie St on the south side near the corner of Smith St. Portrait photo of Annlocal identities, pioneer families -
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 -
Melton City Libraries
Letter, Letter to Martha Myers, Unknown
Letter was sent to Burnbank, former Ann Dowling (Miers) 1866 Crown Grant. In 1867 she married Henri Miers and their house was located on the site near the Myers Gully part of Ryans Creek. Built in 1867 and later named “Burnbank” by Martha Myers after the Street in Ballarat were she lived before arriving in Melton in 1907. “Burnbank” was vacated by Martha to her new house built on the family land in McKenzie Street. A demolition order imposed by the Housing Commission and it was pulled down by the family in 1969. It was the home of the family and stood for over 100 year.Letter from Edna Barrie and Bruce Myers, children of Martha Myerslocal identities