Believed to be Mrs Jane Bailey (nee Matthews) (d. 1904) and her grand-daughter Ruby Jane Bertha Smart (1890-1903) in front of the Smart family cottage in Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1903 Located on the north side of Bridge Street at the intersection with Bolton Street, facing Bolton Street (now part of present day Brisbane Street and occupied by the Kitchen Design Centre). Ruby Jane Bertha Smart born abt 1890 died in 1903 in Eltham. Her brother Alfred Francis Smart was born abt 1887 and died 1966 in Mont Albert, Vic. (Accessed via Ancestry.com) Show's an original early settler's cottage in Bridge Street. The cottage was built by Mrs Mary Jane Smart's parents, Edwin Bailey and Jane (nee Matthews). Mary Jane Smart was born in the cottage. She married an Englishman, Alexander Wilson Smart who disappeared to Western Australia in the early 1900s in search of gold. He ultimately married again in W.A., committing bigamy and then committed murder and was hung in 1911. This photo was taken c.1903 not long before both Mrs Bailey and her grand daughter both passed away. Jane Bailey died 2 Dec. 1904 and Mary Jane Smart and Ruby Jane Bertha Smart died July 1903 are all buried in Eltham Cemetery. SMART'S HOME AT ELTHAM. HIS WIFE AND SONS. In a little bush cottage surrounded by tall gum trees, through which appear glimpses of a willow fringed creek, of road ways hedged by masses of snowy flowering hawthorn, of growing crops and vividly green grazing paddocks, lives Mrs. Smart, the lawful wife of the man who is now in the hands of the police of Western Australia on suspicion of having committed a dreadful crime. Here, about half a mile out of the picturesque village of Eltham, she was born, and has lived her whole life — about 50 years. Smart himself lived here till the time when many years ago, the "lure of gold" got into his blood and he cleared out to Western Australia, to follow the digging rushes, gradually becom ing more and more estranged, till at length all communication ceased and be became lost to his wife and children. "I did not want him to go away," said Mrs. Smart, "because I had heard of so many men who had forgotten their homes in the excite ment of gold seeking, and of many others who died unknown and uncared for. But he would go, and when I saw his mind was set on it I placed no obstacles in his way. My parents built and lived in this cottage, where I was born, and they died in it. When I grew up I met my husband, a young Englishman, and married him. His name is Alexander, not Alfred, and his age is 52. We were very happy here, and although we were not well off we were comfortable, for he was a steady, sober, industrious man and had constant employment. He was just a manual worker, but could turn his hand to anything. We had five children, but one died. Four sons grew up in this little cottage. Thus three generations lived in it, somewhat unusual in an Australian bush home, I think. My eldest son is married and has a family; one is in Western Australia— not with his father— another is away working for him self, and one (indicating a young man by her side) has always stuck to his mother. He is my sole support, and he is as good to me now as his father once was. Yes, his father was a good, home-loving man in our younger days. He was fond of his children and was highly respected in these parts.' "It is fifteen years since my husband went away first. He had then been work ing for the Metropolitan Board of Works, and was engaged in the tunnel under the Yarra near Queen's-bridge when it col-lapsed. After he went to the West he sent me money regularly and wrote constantly. He came home three times — twice for a week or two at a time, the third time, eight years ago, when the Eitham railway was nearing completion. I induced him to stay till the railway opened, and he re-mained with me several months. I tried to get him to leave the West and settle down in his home, but he would not; he seemed restless and anxious to be off. One day when we were in Collingwood together he left me, saying he wanted to see what boats were going West. I implored him not to go away, and he said he would see. However, he returned to me soon after wards and said he had taken his ticket and would go by the next boat, and he went. For a year he wrote at irregular intervals, and then his letters ceased and I heard no more of him. For seven years I have not known whether he was alive or dead. Before that time my two sons in Western Australian used to see him some times, though they did not live with him; they used to tell me in their letters that he was well. It was a hard blow to be forgotten by him, but as my sons grew up I became more reconciled, and now I seem to look back at my life with him as some thing that happened a long time ago and is only a memory. Of his life and doings in Western Australia I know nothing. The last time I heard of him he was working in a foundry at Midland Junction. He was at Cue working on the railway when it opened there, and he caught the fever, but all that time he sent me money. When he returned the first time he took our eldest son with him, and the other boy followed later. They did not stay with him, how ever, and as far as I know they did not know how he lived." 'Mrs. Smart is a quiet, toil worn woman who has the respect of everyone who knows her.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Original print 10.5 x 16.5 cmFor postcard print: Inscribed on envelope: "Return to Mrs H. Butherway, 22 Bridge St, Eltham." Also "Photo Mrs Clark Hampton (nee Smart), original Smart's house - Bridge Street, 95 years ago." Also "Right - Mrs Clark's grandmother Mrs J Smart Left - Her daughter Ruby dies soon after photo taken. Brother Alf Smart died about 6 years ago." Inscribed on back of photo "247 Vincent St, Leederville" It is believed that this inscription may be somewhat mixed up.sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bridge street, alexander wilson smart, bigamy, bush cottage, early settlers, houses, jane bailey (nee matthews), mary jane smart (nee bailey), murder, ruby jane bertha smart, smart family home, smart home

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

The woman in the light green top is Martina Neale, who was the driving force behind a group of volunteers who revegetated a part of Fergusons Paddock. On this occasion, most of the work was done by students from Hurstbridge Primary School, as part of a program promoting interaction with the wider community.Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock, martina neale

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

The newly-planted trees had to be watered, the nearby creek being the most convenient source.Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

The girl looking to camera is Adele Neale (daughter of Martina Neale, who was the driving force behind a group of volunteers who revegetated a part of Fergusons Paddock).Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock, adele neale

The newly-planted trees had to be watered, the nearby creek being the most convenient source.Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

Colour photographhurstbridge primary school, fergusons paddock

The woman in the reddish outfit in three of the photos is Martina Neale, who was the driving force behind a group of volunteers who revegetated a part of Fergusons Paddock. On this occasion, most of the work was done by a small group of secondary school students, who chose this activity from one of several options involving community groups. The man in the yellow shirt in two of the photos is Richard Pinn.Ten colour photographsfergusons paddock, martina neale

This item can be seen as a hand piece belonging to a logger or farmer spanning over one hundred or more years. The equipment was made to perfection as a hand tool and has not been improved upon since its introduction into the logging industry or farming fraternity. It can be used by one person or two (husband and wife or father and child). Its versatility is ageless. It can be used for domestic clearing of the paddocks, or for domestic fire places and stoves or commercial logging up until the 2000s (introduction of specific logging trucks that cut and treat the trees in one process).This item is very significant to the rural and logging regions within the Kiewa Valley. It has been used for domestic wood cutting and for industrial logging in the mid to late 1900s. It was used when clearing land for the SEC Hydro scheme and to allow for the introduction of the Mount Beauty construction workers' village (later developed into the town) The great advantage of this saw was that it uses only muscle power and can be located where ever a lumber "Jack" or property owner can venture. either by foot or by horse.This saw is a Warranted Superior One/Two Man Logging Saw. It has 68 teeth and is 42 inches long. At a position of one inch (2.5cm) from the end is a hole one inch down from the leading edge. There is another hole 45 cm in front of the handle. Both these holes are for a "helper handle" which when in use renders this logging saw fit for a two man operation. This is a cross cut saw for cutting down vertical trees (horizontal cut) The handle is made from wood and fastened to the blade by three heavy duty screws. The one helper handle stands 150mm high and has a 150mm wooden hand grip.The central screw has 25mm manufacturers' identification logo stamped "WARRANTED SUPERIOR".one or two man cross cut saws, forestry, timber industry