The J. R. Watkins Co. opened its first overseas branch in Australia in 1935. The J. R. Watkins built a large factory at Highett on a six acres on the east side of Nepean Highway (no. 1123) in 1954. The J. R. Watkins company was founded in 1868 in Plainview, Minnesota USA, moving to Winona in 1885, by J. R. Watkins.Example of industry in the City of Moorabbin.Amber glass bottle with a metal screw on lid. A paper label is on the front of the bottle 'Watkins Polish" printed in yellow, black and white.PRINTED ON LABEL: 11 Fluid ounces - WATKINS POLISH - Gives a hard dry lustre excellent for Dusting For cleaning, dusting and polishing furniture, pianos, woodwork, linoleum, hardwood floors and all polished surfaces. Directions: If the article to be polished is dirty or gummy, clean it by washing with mild soap and warm water. Apply Watkins Polish with a damp, soft cloth (Dampened with water and wrung almost dry). The Polish may be poured on the damp cloth or on the surface to be polished. In either case rub it all with a dry cloth to obtain a high polish. When dusting, dampen the cloth with Watkins Polish - it keeps down the dust and gives a lustre which is neither greasy not gummy. The J. R. Watkins Co. Melbourne - Sydney - Adelaide - Kogarah EMBOSED ON BOTTLE: "The J.R.Watkins co. Made in Australia" the j. r. watkins co, highett, polish

Arguably Margaret Baskerville’s most famous work, the bronze statue of politician and land speculator Sir Thomas Bent was Baskerville’s first public commission and a significant turning point in her career. Originally located in the centre of the Nepean Highway, in Brighton, it became somewhat of signpost for many Melbournians until it was relocated to the corner of Bay Street in 1980.The statue of Sir Thomas Bent is of historic and social significance to the State of Victoria. The statue is historically significant for commemorating Bent's long, active and infamous political career in Victoria. He was responsible for many important speculative ventures both within his electorate and in the wider context of Victoria. Although not without thought for personal gain, Bent was a committed advocate of public utilities, railways, roads, tramways and gasworks. The statue is historically significant as the first large public commission given to a woman sculptor in Victoria. This work helped the sculptor, Margaret Baskerville, preserve her name as Victoria's first professional woman sculptor. The statue is socially significant as testimony to the late nineteenth century land boom and the financial and political corruption and scandals that accompanied it. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/12614bronze and granite thomas bent, politician, mayor, premier, bust, sculpture, margaret baskerville, speaker, member of parliament, member of lower house, local government, councillor, brighton, public art, bayside

Black and white image featuring Mr Whalebone's bicycle shop, the post office and the Poultry Auction Centre along Nepean Highway, Moorabbin. In front of the shops is a telephone booth. There is a bike leaning against the front window of the post office and between the post office and the poulty auction shop is a picket fence with a gate, and two boys are coming through the gate, one of them wheeling a bike.Black printed ink on a round white sticker on reverse: 160

The Cheltenham parish was created in 1865 by excising a portion of the parish of St Andrews Brighton. A small brick church was completed in 1867 to serve a rural community stretching from Brighton South (Moorabbin) to Mordialloc. 1867 St Matthew's Church of England was erected in Cheltenham beside the Nepean Highway near Charman Road. The early settlers established a tennis club, cricket team and social groups.St Matthew's Church of England Cheltenham was erected in 1867 and was integral to the spiritual well being and social life of the early settlers.Black & White photograph of the St Matthews Church of England Cricket team Cheltenham c 1940Front ; Church of England Cricket Team 1940 Back ; Written - Ladies / Hilda Biehl, Bertha Schneeberber, Mrs Wootton, / We made afternoon tea from / a kerosene tin for 30 players / each Saturday they played at home !!smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman s, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards,

The Highett Gas Works were a landmark along the Nepean Highway for many years. With the cessation of the gasification of coal and the introduction of natural gas to Victoria, the gas holders were demolished and the Sir William Fry Reserve was developed on the southern end of the site. The Gas and Fuel redeveloped the northern end of the site with modern offices and laboratories for the organisation's scientific services. At this time, the chimney and retort house were retained.The Highett Gasworks had its beginning in 1939 operated by the Central Brighton and Moorabbin Gas Co Ltd. The company had expanded its gas production facilities to Highett where it had purchased 45 acres of land adjacent to the Melbourne-Frankston railway line. The first gasholder was erected on the Highett site in 1927 and connected with high pressure mains to the Brighton Gas Works. In 1939 the building program including gasometers, the vertical retort house and coal store was completed and gas making commenced. Its area of supply covered approximately 70 square miles and included the municipalities of Brighton, Sandringham, Moorabbin, Mordialloc, Chelsea and part of Dandenong. The Gas and Fuel Corporation eventually took over operations and with the disaggregation and privatisation of the organisation, the site was eventually closed c. 2002.Black and white aerial photograph featuring the Highett Gas Works with gasholders and retort house. In the top right-hand corner, a former Highett Primary School on Graham Road can be viewed. Photograph includes Bay Road, Royal Avenue, Princess Avenue and Jackson Road (Highett) and Alfred, Turner and Sandford Streets (Moorabbin).Handwritten in black ink: [indecipherable] in a circle Handwritten in red ink: 70% Four velcro display adhesivesgasification of coal, gas and fuel corporation of victoria, gasholders, highett, moorabbin, utilities

Black and white image depicting two men wearing aprons standing in front of Moorabbin Co-operative Stores, Nepean Highway Cheltenham. Exchange Hotel to the right. Three horse drawn wagons, on the left two white horses with a man holding the reins, one carrying a load with hessian sacks and another on the far right with a man in the seat of the wagon also wearing an apron, suggesting they are workers at the store.Black and white image of two men wearing aprons standing in front of Moorabbin Co-operative Store with three horse drawn wagons, on the left two white horses with a man holding the reins, one carrying a load with hessian sacks and another on the far right with a man in the seat of the wagon also wearing an apron. A sign on the left hand side of the building Havelock Tabacco.Printed in black text a round white sticker: 75 Hand written in red ink: 75%horse drawn wagon, workers, moorabbin, cheltenham, commerce, trade

This Adepsol Bottle is part of a Sanax First Aid Case which was used at the the former Carnegie Senior Citizens' Centre. The centre was located at 314 Neerim Road, Carnegie. When the Neerim Road facility closed, its activities were moved to the Carnegie Library and Community Centre. For Occupational Health and Safety reasons, Council no longer maintains first aid kits at senior citizens' centres. Brown glass bottle with red, green and white paper label with Sanax branding, and usage directions. Black plastic screw-top lid. Bottle has been decanted however some white powder residue remains. "Sanax" ADEPSOL/ A GERMICIDAL / SURGICAL / SOLVENT / THE SANAX CO. / 849-51 NEPEAN HIGHWAY / MOORABIN / TEL XU 2651 / Directions: Dilute 1 in 4 with warm water for bathing Wounds, dab dry with absorbent cotton, then apply Germicide and dressing. For removing Germs, Grease, and Dirt from Wounds and Burns before finally dressing Wounds.

The Anglican Cheltenham parish was created in 1865 by excising a portion of the parish of St Andrews Brighton. A small brick church was completed in 1867 to serve a rural community stretching from Brighton South (Moorabbin) to Mordialloc. 1867 St Matthew's Church of England was erected in Cheltenham beside the Nepean Highway near Charman Road. The early settlers established a tennis club, cricket team and social groups. A typical social event was the annual Sunday School Picnic held in 1907 at Dandenong Creek.Young members are mentioned Curly Owen,C,Burnett,A Manett St Matthew's Church of England Cheltenham was erected in 1867 and was integral to the spiritual well being and social life of the early settlers.Black & White photograph of the St Matthew's Church of England Sunday School Picnic 1907Handwritten Curly Owen, C, Burnett, A Manett st. matthew's church of england cheltenham, sunday school picnics, anglican church, st andrew's church brighton, owen curly, burnett c . manett a, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b., bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

The City of Moorabbin existed from 1934 until 1994. Henry Dendy's Special Survey in 1841 of 5,120 acres in the Parish of Moorabbin , extended from Port Phillip Bay , then East to Boundary Road, South to South Road and North to North Road and became known as Brighton. 1859 Brighton became a Borough with its boundary Thomas Street ,and Bluff Road. In 1862 The Moorabbin Roads Board was formed and the extended area now included Cheltenham, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock, Beaumaris, Mentone and Mordialloc .and Little Brighton became known as Bentleigh. In 1871 the area became known as The Shire of Moorabbin. Gradually the area was separated into The Borough of Sandringham 1917, ( Black Rock, Beaumaris , Sandringham and Hampton ) Borough of Mentone and Mordialloc 1920, ( Parkdale ). In 1934 The City of Moorabbin was established for the area from South East corner of Thomas Street and North Road , East to Warrigal Road, Clayton Road, Kingston Road , Lower Dandenong Road, then South along Nepean Highway to Balcombe Road and along Bluff Road, Cummins Road, Nepean Highway, Thomas Street to North Road In the 1994 Amalgamation of Councils the City of Moorabbin was divided between the new City of Kingston in the South ( from South Road) and the new City of Glen Eira to the North . It was the largest Municipality in Victoria with a population of 118,865 in 1974This tie c 1960 is a memento of the City of Moorabbin 1934 - 1994Maroon colour, polyester, man's tie with the crest of City of Moorabbin woven on front.around circle enclosing Coat of Arms ; CITY OF MOORABBIN city of moorabbin, moorabbin roads board, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841, early settlers, pioneers, market gardners, dendy henry, were jonathan b, cheltenham, bentleigh, mentone, sandringham, mair william, bent thomas

This robe was the last City of Moorabbin Mayoral Robe, and was worn by Mayor Ron Brownlees, (prior to the City of Moorabbin's amalgamation with City of Glen Eira and City of Kingston in 1994). It was donated to the City of Moorabbin Historical Society in February 2007 by the City of Kingston. 12/11/2018 Cr Steve Staikos MAYOR City of Kingston requests that CMHS loan the Mayoral Robes and Jabot with Cuffs for display at KCC Officess Nepean Highway Cheltenham on going 7 Years. The Moorabbin Mayoral Robe with Jabot is displayed along with those of former City of Chelsea Robes and former City of Mordialloc Robes at Kingston City Council Office . The KCC possesses the Mayoral Chains of each former Council and they are displayed on the Mayoral Robes for the Annual Opening meeting of KCC in February .The City of Moorabbin developed from the Moorabbin Roads Board of 1862, becoming The Shire of Moorabbin in 1871 and the City of Moorabbin in 1934. In the 1994 Amalgamation of Councils the City of Moorabbin was divided between the new City of Kingston in the South and the new City of Glen Eira to the North . This is the last Mayoral Robe for the City of Moorabbin 1934- 1994City of Moorabbin Mayoral Robe. Full length garment of royal blue material, 55% Polyester & 45% Wool, with gold braid on hem and sleeves. Full length Collar and the cuffs are brown mink and sleeves are lined with blue satin. Two brass clips on shoulders are for the attachment of the Mayoral Chain. Hook and eye fasteners join the front of the robe. This is the last City of Moorabbin Mayoral Robe and was worn by Mayor Ron Brownlees, (prior to amalgamation in 1994), and donated to the City of Moorabbin Historical Society in February 2007 by the City of Kingston. 2018 the Robe with jabot was moved to Kingston City Council Office Cheltenham for display with former City of Chelsea Robe and former City of Mordialloc Robe. Label " Raymond W. Bredin & Son / 17 Glenola Road / CHELSEA VIC. AUSTRALIA / Robe Makers "clothing, tailors, formal wear, moorabbin, kingston, mayor, city of moorabbin, robes civic, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, brownlees ron, city of glen eira, city of kingston

The City of Moorabbin Historical Society was formed c 1960 by a group of Moorabbin area residents who were concerned that the history of the area should be preserved. A good response to a call for items related to the historical area of Moorabbin Shire brought donations of a wide variety of artefacts that are now preserved by the current members of CMHS at Box Cottage Museum. Helen Stanley, Secretary of CMHS, began producing a Newsletter for members in April 2007 to provide current information and well researched items of historical interestHelen Stanley has produced a bi-monthly Newsletter, 2007 - 2013, for the members of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society that contains well researched interesting historical items, notification of upcoming events, current advice from Royal Australian Historical Society , Museums Australia Victoria and activities of Local Historical Societies. The Newsletter is an important record of the activities of the CMHS1 x A4 paper printed on 1 side Issue 28 of the bi-monthly, City of Moorabbin Historical Society Newsletter produced by Society member and Secretary, Mrs Helen Stanley in August 2012 with photographs of the Ceremony celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the formation of The Moorabbin Roads Board. The Mayors of Glen Eira, Kingston and Brighton unveiled a Plaque at the corner of Cummins Road and Nepean Highway near the original site of the 'Toll gate' . Members of each Historical Society were present including past president of CMHS, His Worship the Mayor of Glen Eira Jamie Hyams. Notes of life at Box Cottagec1918 - 1950 by Stefanie Rennick, nee Reitman, that she donated to CMHS. CITY of MOORABBIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY / AUGUST 2012 NEWSLETTER city of moorabbin historical society, stanley helen, melbourne, moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, ormond, bentleigh, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, the moorabbin roads board 1862, city of glen eira, city of kingston, moorabbin shire, parish of moorabbin, brighton east, south brighton, bent tommy, mair william, jessse morleys hotel, box henry, box william,

This Kuraburn Bottle is part of a Sanax First Aid Case which was used at the the former Carnegie Senior Citizens' Centre. The centre was located at 314 Neerim Road, Carnegie. When the Neerim Road facility closed, its activities were moved to the Carnegie Library and Community Centre. For Occupational Health and Safety reasons, Council no longer maintains first aid kits at senior citizens' centres. Clear glass bottle with two paper labels on narrow side. One red, green, white and black label with Sanax branding, one red and white label at base of bottle with address and contact details. Black plastic screw-top lid with a section missing. Bottle has been decanted however some residue remains. Small cork stopper contained within bottle."Sanax" KURABURN / FOR THE TREATMENT / OF BURNS / SCALDS AND / SUNBURN / THE SANAX CO. / 849-51 NEPEAN HIGHWAY / MOORABIN / TEL XU 2651 / Left side of label: Directions: Dab on lightly, and repeat in two hours if necessary. Applied early, it prevents blistering. Right side of label: Allow to dry on the skin before putting on wearing apparel, to avoid staining the clothes. 223-5 BAY ROAD, / SANDRINGHAM, S.8 / VICTORIA / Phone: 98-1604

.1 - Poster - printed - as a notice to passengers, titled "Increase in Fares", dated 21/9/1964, signed R C Drummond advising of new fares from 27/9/1964 on buses and trams. Advises of concession fares for the East Brighton - City via William St via either Glenhuntly Road and Nepean Highway. Question - was this poster depot specific, given the advice of the concession fares. .2 - similar document issues for 29/8/1071, but that Scholar's Concession tickets will apply form the 1st term 1972. .3 - similar document, but printed in red ink titled "Scholars' Concession Tickets", notes fare increase of August 1971 and gives prices. Dated November 1971. Addressed to the Parents.trams, tramways, fares, tickets, concession fares, scholar's tickets

At the time of manufacture, circa 1940's, the first aid treatment for snake bites, was to lance(cut) open the bite, wash it out and apply a ligature or tourniquet between the bite and the heart. This method was abandoned later after scientific evidence suggested that it was better to stop the blood system from carrying the poison to the heart (pressure immobilization). Australian snakes do not have long fangs therefore deep incisions into main arteries is rare. This research took many years to develop therefore the information supplied with the "Sanax" kits of this era is well outdated. Rural areas were more attuned to the possibilities of snake activity on farms, in sheds and in out houses and farm homesteads. This was not the case for mainly city and large townships environments. The mice plagues in wheat areas during the warmer month s has always been a high risk time for encountering snakesThese snake bite kits were issued to workers on the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme. Some of these snake bite kits were kept at doctor's surgeries e.g. Bogong Village, House 13. The kit was carried by bushwalkers, scouts, farmers and high plains cattlemen. This item is of significance because it demonstrates the main dangers faced by all rural industries and towns, especially remote areas, and the portable remedies that where required as a necessity of the Australian bush environment. This item was in use at a time when the air ambulance and rescue facilities were not in existence and remote locations were more isolated and the availability of anti venom was hard to obtain locally.This item is a red coloured cardboard box(250 - 300 g/m) with white writing and containing the following 12 items. 7 clear red coloured capsules, 2 opaque red plastic capsules, 2 wooden capsules and 1 brass screw on capsule. The capsules are divided into two sections (compartments) horizontally. Each compartment has a screw lid. One compartment contains a lancet (for piercing the snake bite) and the other compartment contains the "Condy's" crystals compete with tightly rolled instructions.On top of the pull up lid, and flanked by two coiled snakes (at the strike position) is printed: "Trade Sanax Mark" below this " SNAKE and SPIDER BITE OUTFIT" and below this with instructions for use". Front side: "Sanax snake and spider bite outfit" underneath "Nepean Highway Morabbin" The later printing has been severely scratched but decipherable. The back side of the box has "Note to the retailer" and due to wear no more of the writing can be read. Each side of the box is printed "SANAX" snake, spider, first aid, kiewa hydro scheme, portable medical supplies

Cheltenham is a suburb in the City of Kingston that was originally established as a rural market gardening community. The area is bordered by Highett, Mentone and Heatherton. The market gardens, farms and paddocks have gradually been sub-divided into housing and industrial estates. The Southland shopping centre is a major feature of the area.Cheltenham was established as a rural market gardening community. The Le Page family lived in Cheltenham since 1854 when Nicholas Le Page, a tailor from the Channel Island of Guernsey, bought two acres of land on Chesterville Road near Bernard Street to establish a market garden. Over the years the Le Pages purchased more land in the area. In 1875-76 Nicholas' son Frank and his wife Mary built 'Daphne Cottage' near the corner of Bernard and Wilson Streets. n the 1940s Frank's son, Everest Le Page, bought five more lots of land in Chesterville Road from the Tuck family. The Le Pages grazed horses, ponies and cows on this land, and grew pumpkins, carrots, parsnips, onions, potatoes and cabbages. Many buildings and locations within in Cheltenham commemorate the Le Page family's contribution to the Cheltenham community.Aerial photograph taken in 1945 of the Cheltenham district within the City of Kingston. The image includes Chesterville Road, the future site of Turner Road pool (now Waves) and Highett Reserve, (top left), Jellicoe Street, Argus Street, Bernard Street, Wilson Street, the Methodist Children Homes (now Southland), McIvor Street, Goulburn Street, Nepean Highway, Jamieson Street and Barker Street (bottom left), market gardens and paddocks. In the top centre of the image, "Daphne Cottage", the home of Frank T. Le Page is visible on the corner of Bernard and Wilson Streets. Much of the land depicted in this image was owned by the Le Page family. This image is possibly from the collection of aerial photographs commissioned by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey and taken by Adastra Airways.Black and white ink: 57250 White print: VIC-170 57250 20.12.45 Run 6 PROJ. No. 5 MELB. METROP AREA Black type 10200 FTS 30' LENS 20.12.45cheltenham, market gardens, industry, le page family

The Mordialloc-Cheltenham Community Hospital was a hospital in the suburb of Parkdale. Residents of Mordialloc and Chelsea worked towards a community hospital from the late 1930s. Having a community hospital meant residents who required routine surgery did not need to travel into Melbourne to the larger established hospitals. This was important at a time when few people had their own transport. For many years the Mordialloc Carnival Committee contributed to the cost of building the hospital, with one of its contributions to the ‘opening day’ appeal amounting to one thousand pounds, adding to the several thousand already committed. Construction work commenced on the Mordialloc-Cheltenham Community Hospital in 1950. on a site between Booth St and Carrier Ave on the Nepean Highway in Parkdale. The hospital opened in 1953 and serviced the community until 1996. On 1 August 1995, the hospital became a part of the Southern Health Care Network. The former hospital site is now the main location of Central Bayside Community Health Services.Black hard cover book with red spine. cheltenham, mordialloc, hospital, parkdale, health

6 sided brown glass bottle with paper label and black screw capLabel Front: Trade Mark SANAX. FIRST AID DRESSING. Forms an Antiseptic skin over cuts, wounds etc. Label Side: DIRECTIONS. A few drops on the part affected and spread over the injury with the cork. For knuckle joint wounds place on the wound a thin film of absorbent cotton and then pour dressing over freely. Label Side: This bottle must be kept ell corked and away from flames. CAUTION contains 60% ether. The Sanax Co 349-51 Nepean Highway Moorabin , Vic

Dust coat worn by Mr Frederick Alister Jennings when he managed a family grocery store circa 1948 at 510 Point Nepean Road, East Brighton. Frederick was born at Nagambie, Victoria in 1909 and died in Brighton in 1979. He was the son of Hugh Edwin Jennings and Alice Constance Warren. He married Margaret Jean Hughes in 1934 and served in the Second World War. He lived at 1 Valda Grove Brighton. Frederick was a commercial traveller as well as his time spent managing the store in Point Nepean Road. It is believed this coat dates from his time at the store c1948 - 1955. The store was owned for many years by his father-in-law W. G. Hughes and was one of a group of shops near the corner of Centre Road. In 1944-45 the group of shops included Fletcher’s fuel merchants, a haberdasher, butcher, fruiterer, grocer, Brighton East post office, a ladies’ hairdresser and Hughes’ grocer. In 1950 Hughes’ grocery store was between a service station and the Commercial Bank on what had been renamed Nepean Highway. The business was sold to G. S. Maynard, grocer, sometime before 1960.Unlined dustcoat of beige cotton. Fastens centre front with three brown plastic buttons. Two large patch pockets. Separate cloth belt with metal buckle. Signs of wear and mending. .1 - coat .2 -beltGarment label reads: APEX (RLG.) Dust Coat DEPT. MYER STORE for MEN. MELBOURNE & ADELAIDEdustcoat, occupational dress, grocer, hughes grocery store, brighton, frederick alister jennings

Mary Ann Charman was a pioneer settler in the Cheltenham area of the Parish of Moorabbin c1850 Stephen Charman , who emigrated in 1942 as a Henry Dendy employee aged 21 years, sadly lost his wife and child shortly after arriving in Brighton. When Dendy could not employ him he found other work. In 1850 he met Mary Gettens a widow with 5 children who supported her family by managing her late husband’s Inn in Collins St. Melbourne. Stephen purchased land in Spring Grove, now Cheltenham, in 1852 and the family moved to the wattle and daub hut after their marriage. Mary and Stephen worked very hard to establish a market garden, poultry and pork farm . They specialised in Marigolds which they sold to Martin & Pleasance Pharmacy , Melbourne for medicinal purposes. Mary and Stephen had 7 more children and Mary still managed to find time to sell the pork, poultry and vegetables from a horse drawn cart she drove around St Kilda. 1857 Stephen donated land to the Methodist Church for a School, burial ground and Chapel in Balcombe Road. Mary died 1870. Stephen remarried in 1878 and died aged 85 years 1906. Charman Road runs from Nepean Highway , Cheltenham through Beaumaris to the Beach Road at Mentone. Mr Les Jones was the Great Grandson of Mary Ann CharmanAn oval framed colour painting of the likeness of Mary Ann Charman, 1820 - 1870 pioneer settler in the Cheltenham area of the Parish of Moorabbinpioneers, early settlers, dendy henry, charman mary ann, jones les, cheltenham, moorabbin, brighton, market gardeners, dairy farmers, charman stephen, poultry farms, pork farms, charman road, balcombe road, mentone, beaumaris, st kilda, methodist church,

3 of 5 photographs of the Highett Gasworks c 1974 The Brighton Gas Company was established 1877 by local residents including Thomas Bent. Initially all went well for residents as gas light replaced kerosene lamps and street lights were installed. However disruption to supply, poor quality and failure to reach all house lead to dissatisfaction. Thomas Bent therefore began the Central Brighton and Moorabbin Gas Company 1885 and a price war ensued. This was unsustainable and the two companies amalgamated in 1877 supplying gas from the New Street Works site. 1930 this Company expanded to Highett where it had purchased 45 acres adjacent to the train line. 1927 a gas holder was built connected to the Brighton works 1936 construction began on a complete gas-making unit and the Highett Gasworks, Nepean Highway, began supply 1939. 1950 an extension program was completed. However by 1965 , with the discovery of Natural Gas offshore in Bass Strait, changes to Gas distribution were apparent. At first some of the facilities at Highett were used to distribute the gas piped from Sale, Gippsland. However after conversion of 450,000 homes to Natural Gas the Highett site was redundant. The gasometers were removed 1978. Moorabbin Council obtained part of the land for public recreation purposes. ( Dr. G Whitehead KCC Historian ) c2012 the Moorabbin Justice Centre / Magistrates Court of Victoria was built and further development of the area for apartments proceeds. The establishment of the Brighton Gas Company 1877 and the Highett Gasworks 1885 brought bright lighting to houses, businesses and streets in Moorabbin Shire and cooking ovens and heating improved the living conditions of residents. 3 x Colour photographs of the Highett Gasworks c1970bass strait gas, highett gasworks, brighton gasworks 1877, central brighton and moorabbin gas company 1885, whitehead dr. graham, magistrates court of victoria, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Henry Dendy , a farmer from Sussex England, purchased 5,120 acres of land in the area of a 'Special Survey 1841' that extended from Brighton bayside North Road, East Boundary Rd to South Road. This area became known as Dendy's Brighton and as part of the sale 139 emigrant workers arrived in 1842 however Dendy was unable to find work and lodgings for these people. J.B.Were, financier took over the management of the 'Special Survey 1841' area and began to sell and lease allotments. 1850 the Squatter King brothers sold land south of Dendy's 'Special Survey 1841' to Josiah Holloway who sectioned it into 2 acre lots @ £10 each for market gardens - 'Two Acre Village' and Charles Whorral opened a small hotel - 'The Cheltenham Inn' on the main Road - Arthur's Seat Rd, later Point Nepean Rd, now Nepean Highway. Notable settlers who moved into the area were Keys, Charman, Bruton, Le Page, Fairlam, Meeres and 1862 saw the separation from Brighton and the formation of the Mooorabbin Roads Board District. .By 1879 1000settlers were living in 'Cheltenham' serviced by a Post Office with Bank, Mechanics Institute, State School No 84,Keys Hotel, Meeres Store, Sir Thomas Bent ensured the new Railway Line from Caulfield to Mordialloc went through his constituency of Cheltenham 1881 and this changed the development to the bayside area of Cheltenham away from the 'Two Acre Village ' side causing some dissention, However Cheltenham as whole prospered and this house in Pine St is typical of the cottages built c 1890- 1900 in the area. This weatherboard house c 1890-1900 in Pine St Cheltenham is typical of those built for early settler families. Photo taken 1981 by CMHS member 3 x Colour photographs of an early c 1900 weatherboard house in Pine St Cheltenham taken by CMHS member 1981Kodak Aug. 81 / Handwritten Pine St Cheltenhamkeys robert, holloway josiah, king brothers, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

By the later 1800s the dirt roads in the then out-lying areas of the City of Moorabbin became dangerous, and almost impassable due to huge potholes and muddy swampy areas. The heavily laden market gardener’s carts regularly broke axles and wheels, and horses foundered on their way to the Melbourne markets. Even worse, the heavier “iron maidens”, carrying their malodorous loads of sewage from Melbourne’s inner suburbs for dumping in the outlying areas of the City of Moorabbin, also got bogged in the mire. It was decided that a practical solution to this problem was to install a metal plateway on the side of the problematic roads. In about 1887 the Moorabbin Shire Centre Road, in the Brighton East area, two parallel metal rails were installed so that the wheels of carts could run along smoothly, the horse travelled in the filled, middle area between the rails. Point Nepean Road plateway was removed in 1930 and Centre Dandenong Road plateway was removed in 1934-35. The worn plateway along Centre Road, East Brighton (now known as Bentleigh), was gradually taken up in several pieces, commencing in the the1920s, when its condition deteriorated and it caused a hazard to bikes, pedestrians, motor-cycles and the few early cars. The early steel plateway, constructed by David Munro, and opened on 23rd March 1885 by Thomas Bent, was built along Nepean Highway, between Asling St. and Bay St. The Point Nepean Track was subsequently extended into Moorabbin with branches along Centre, Cumins, South, Wickham, and Keys Roads, the total length was 13 miles. In 1908-1909 plates were laid along Centre Dandenong Road to Ross Street Bentleigh This innovative solution proved successful and was used until gradually the main roads were upgraded, and motorised vehicles started to appear. Two parallel metal rails were installed in the right hand side of a few main roads in the Shire of Moorabbin so that the wheels of heavily-loaded market gardener's carts on their way to markets in Melbourne could run along smoothly. The horse pulling the carts travelled in the filled, middle area between the rails. The Steel Plateway was constructed by David Munro, and opened on 23rd March 1885 by Thomas Bent. The wheelway first only ran along Nepean Highway, but it soon extended from Centre Dandenong Road, along Nepean road to its junction with Chapel Street, St Kilda. Later branch lines were built along Centre Road, Bentleigh as far as Warrigal Road and, according to early photographs, along Wickham Road Moorabbin as well. This innovative solution proved successful and was used until gradually the main roads were upgraded, and motorised vehicles started to appear. There was a problem with the wheelway : there was only a single set of rails and this was established on the right-hand side of the Nepean Road, travelling towards the city. Traffic FROM the city travelled on the correct or left-hand side of the road. The exception to this rule was the malodorous iron-clads, heavily riveted iron carts, generally travelling in convoy, carrying several tons of human effluent out of Melbourne to be trenched-in in the sandy soil of the Moorabbin district. Moorabbin City Council donated and installed a small section of Plateway at Box Cottage Museum in 1984melbourne, brighton, moorabbin, roads, plateway, wheelway, transport, st kilda, bent thomas, munro david, market gardens, steelway, carts horse-drawn, iron maidens, point nepean track

Souvenir Programme from the Councils of the Municipalities of the City of Caulfield and the Town of Brighton for a Public Demonstration to be held on Sat 3rd August 1918 at 3 o'clock for the proposed Avenues of Honour to be planted in memory of fallen WWI soldiers. From Honour Roll Display 2019 interpretation panel - Brighton-Caulfield Avenue of Honour It is hard to imagine but a grand arboreal Avenue of Honour once lined parts of North Road, McMillan Street and Point Nepean Road (now Nepean Highway). The Avenue of Honour was a distinctly Australian phenomenon with hundreds being constructed throughout Australia during and following World War One, most of these in Victoria. Consisting of tree lined streets with each tree representing a solider, the Avenue of Honour signalled a more egalitarian approach to commemoration where rank was not a consideration. Arguably the most famous Avenue of Honour in Victoria still exists at Ballarat. Stretching for nearly 22 kilometres, the entrance to the Avenue is marked by the imposing Arch of Victory. Smaller in scale, the Brighton-Caulfield Avenue of Honour was dedicated to the ‘memory of (Brighton and Caulfield’s) kith and kin who came from (the) district and who died in the Great War’. A joint project between the neighbouring Councils, the idea was first reported in The Argus on 1 July 1918. Plans moved along quickly and on 3 August 1918 the Governor of Victoria Arthur Stanley planted the first Australian flowering gum. The next of kin were then invited to plant trees for lost sons, brothers, uncles, nephews and husbands. In all, over 400 trees were planted. Intensely personal, the Avenue also acted as a focus of grief and remembrance for the wider community. For many years, the annual civic Anzac Day service was held at the Avenue on Point Nepean Road, near Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick. The service was moved to Caulfield Park upon the completion of the Cenotaph in 1930. Due to road widening and disease the last original tree was replaced in the 1980s, however a plaque in Caulfield Park records the Avenue’s plantation. Commemorative booklet, grey cover with text printed on the grey textured paper cover and an image of four trees and a wreath. Image of a kookaburra on the back. Inside, 28 numbered pages with b/w text and photographic images including a transparent paper representation of the proposed Avenues of Honour on Brighton Road and Point Nepean Road. Souvenir programme for a Public Demonstration for the Avenues of Honour as detailed on the front.city of caufield, world war one, first world war, anzac, remembrance, town of brighton, brighton, caulfield, avenue of honour

This dress was worn by Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, to a Mayoral Ball held at Brighton Technical School in 1977. Diane Margaret Lewis completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne, later marrying one of her classmates, criminal lawyer Ramon (Ray) Lopez. When she decided to run for the Brighton City Council in 1975, she was seen as an outside chance. Undeterred, she rallied a small group of friends and supporters and set out on an extensive door-knocking campaign that won voters to her side and successfully unseated former mayor Keith Devenport. She went on to serve two terms on council from 1975 to 1981. Di initiated many local projects, including the creation of a bike path along Nepean Highway and the first Brighton Festival, while balancing family life and a demanding ‘day job’ as personal assistant to Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Brian Dixon. She was a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby and a champion for women’s representation, encouraging both Sally Allmand and Kate Harman to run for council (both were successfully elected). She advocated forcefully for an open, transparent local government in which ratepayers had the chance to participate and be heard. In 1976 Di became the first woman to hold the title of Mayor of Brighton, and she made it clear from the outset that she was going to do it her way. For the annual mayoral ball in 1977, ordinarily a staid traditional function, she chose a discotheque theme based on the Rod Stewart album Night on the Town, with a broad dress code of ‘black tie or jeans’: ‘You’ve got to get with the times,’ she said. ‘We want people to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.’ Di herself chose to attend in this knee-length chamois dress embellished with strings, ribbons, beads and feathers. It was both a fashion statement, exemplifying her colourful, flamboyant and forthright style, and a political one: a declaration of her intention to lead a progressive council, embracing the new and refusing to be hemmed in by dated traditions. In 2020 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her service to local government and to the community of Brighton.This dress has local historical significance for its association with Brighton's first female mayor, Councillor Di Lopez, who wore it to a Mayoral Ball in 1976. The dress exemplifies her flamboyant reputation, modern outlook and willingness to break norms. At the time, the dress was a radical choice for a Mayoral Ball, where women typically wore formal evening gowns. With her choice of dress, Cr Lopez was making a public statement, breaking away from dated traditions and announcing her intention to bring the Mayor's office into the 1970s. In this way, the dress also points to the wider social and political changes taking place both in Brighton and across Australia during the mid-1970s.Three quarter length chamois dress circa 1974. Machine stitched with a v-neck and full length sleeves and an uneven raw hem, the dress is decorated with narrow thongs of chamois embellished with red beads and blue feathers. The open-fronted bodice is laced with red ribbon and the skirt is decorated with a large blue wool cross stitch and a combination of blue wool and purple ribbon cross stitch. Made in the style of an Indian 'Wild West Dress'.di lopez, chamois, brighton, brighton council, brighton technical school, mayoral ball, 1970s, feminism

This bed jacket was crocheted for Carmela Materia (1931-2018) by her mother, Giuseppa Auditore, around the time they emigrated from Italy to Melbourne. Both women were longtime Brighton locals, residing in the area from the 1950s until their deaths. Carmela Auditore was the first woman from her home village of Scaletta, Italy to emigrate to Australia. Setting sail alone in 1950 at the age of 19, she joined her brother John and uncle Frank in McCallum St, Brighton. Frank had arrived some years earlier and had spent the duration of the First World War in an internment camp. John worked at the Brighton Case Company, a box manufacturer on Nepean Highway, and paid for her passage. Carmela found a job sewing children's clothing at Drummonds, a small factory in Church St. Working eight hours a day, five days per week, netted her a weekly wage of three pounds. To earn a little extra, she washed dishes at a St Kilda Road restaurant for ten shillings a shift. Her parents, Salvatore and Giuseppa Auditore, joined her in Brighton in 1952. They rented a house behind an antique shop in Bay Street. Salvatore had been a fisherman in Scaletta, but quickly adapted to the job he found helping around the Garage at Brighton Motors in Male Street. On 14 February 1953, Carmela married her sweetheart, Salvatore Materia, at St James Catholic Church in Gardenvale. Salvatore had been living with his aunt in Well Street and worked on the wharves. Both Carmela and Salvatore were hard workers. They owned a fruit shop in Church Street where Woolworths now stands, and years later Carmela recalled the familiar 6am tap on her window each morning when her husband returned from the market. On dark winter mornings, she felt as if her hands would freeze as she helped Salvatore unload cold cabbages and cauliflowers from his truck. They later owned a shop in Ludstone Street in Hampton. After Salvatore died suddenly at the age of 48, Carmela returned to sewing, working at the Willow Fashions knitting mill in Gardenvale. She later went into partnership with her sister and brother-in-law, this time in the delicatessen business. Her parents, Giuseppa and Salvatore, spent the rest of their days with Brighton. Carmela recalled her father cheerfully walking the streets, greeting people by name. He knew everybody. He loved being in Australia and enjoyed life to the last, insisting on having bread and wine on the table at every meal.Cream crocheted wool bed jacket. Loose around bust with wide sleeves and open sides. Fastens at collar with thin braided ties, and at waist with two pearlescent plastic buttons.bed jacket, migration, 1950s, carmela auditore, carmela materia, giuseppa auditore