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] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

Original image was published in the book "Kilmore on Sydney Road"8x10 black and white photograph of 1 Powlett street, former colonial bank of Australasia. corner of Powlett Street and Lancefield Road Copy printed on standard photographic paper Two story light coloured rendered building with blue stone street curbing. Two figures standing outside the door with a third to the right. Picket fence to left and right of building. Printed on the back REPRODUCTIONS RIGHTS RESERVED Copied by State Library of Victoria KOSR - 5 ("Kilmore on the Sydney Road", Chapter 1, Pg.5)powlett street, lancefield road, colonial bank of australasia, 1867, kilmore, bank, the court house hotel, hotel, kilmore on the sydney road

Donated by Dan Clancy. 1 Powlett Street, Kilmore, Mitchell Shire , Victoria, Australia10cm x 20cm black and white photograph of 1 Powlett street, former colonial bank of Australasia. Corner of Powlett Street and Lancefield Road, Kilmore. Reproduction on standard photographic paper, possibly because of damage seen in the reproduction. The image has a low contrast possibly from incorrect development or other damage. Two story light coloured rendered building with blue stone street curbing. Seven figures stand outside of the building, six men and one child. The photograph was take around 1883 and reproduced in 1986.Printed on the back: 104/2.6 200486/2 Colonial Bank of Australia - cnr Powlett & Lancefield Rd. Kilmore Historical Society "In front of this Hotel was a weigh-bridge there was big drain covered with a grating, with the tunnel going across the road diagonally, Kids used to walk under it. The window panes on the corner were curved, as was the door." 2.10/86 Colonial bank of Australia Cnr Lancefield Rd. & Powlett St. C. 1883 (bank oved to opposite Mill St. on that date.) Dan Clancy Collection.hotels, 19th century

The building was originally the Colonial Bank of Australasia and has a series of occupants, include a real estate firm in the 1970's20cm x 10cm black and white photograph of 1 Powlett street, former colonial bank of Australasia. corner of Powlett Street and Lancefield Road. Two story light coloured rendered building with signage for "Real Estate House" on top of the ground floor. Other signage painted on the Lancefield Road side of the building include: "Land specialists to Kilmore & district". The building also has an adjoining cottage on the Lancefield Road side of the property. There is also a figure crossing the road and five vehicles in the background of the photograph, three regular vehicles and two possible emergency service vehicles. A street sign can be seen pointing to: Lancefield, Kyneton, Foote Street, Melbourne and Seymour.PHO-00003banks and banking, real estate agents

2.5x1.5 inch black and white photograph of 1 Powlett street, the Court House Hotel, former colonial bank of Australasia. Corner of Powlett Street and Lancefield Road. Copy printed on card stock. Two story light coloured rendered building. The intersection of Lancefield Road, Powlett Street, Sydney Street and (modern day) Skehan Place. With a view straight down Sydney Street. One figure crossing the road.Writing on the back: PHO-00004hotels, historical towns

Is on the site of the Oriental Bank Corporation, but in a different building. 18cm x 12.5cm black and white photograph of the Senior Citizens Club Rooms at 7 Sydney Street Kilmore. Single story brick building with an access ramp on the south side of the building. Two cars are parked on the street, one on each side of the road. Printed on glossy standard photo stock. Possibly the same cite as the Oriental Bank Corporation. Stamped on the back of the item: John Squire Photography 633 Rathdowne Street N. Carlton - Phone 347 4922 NEG No. B4049-16banks

Donald Clark Collection. Two photographic copies of a postcard titled 'Commercial Road Showing Union Bank'. Depicts main street of Tarnagulla. Copy photograph. streets, buildings, bank

Dark green fabric covered novel, Mother's Little Girl by Ethel Turner (Mrs H.R. Curlewis) and illustrated by A.J. Johnson, with gold lettering on front cover for title and author with a gold illustration of two children sitting on a bank. Spine has gold title and author and floral pattern. Has black and white illustrations throughout.fictionAn Australian story of a family that has too many children and not enough money, so gave up for adoption their last baby, Sylvia to its aunt. young people's fiction, australian fiction, family life

Eldest daughter of Edna and Bon Barrie, born on 03 November 1943 in Melbourne, Victoria, Memoirs of Wendy Barrie, recalling the early formative years of life in Melton: In 1949 I started school at Melton State School no 430 and was driven the 2½ miles to there by my parents at first. Later we walked home in the afternoons or were picked up by car as we made our way home along the Western Highway. In 1956 I went to Bacchus Marsh High School. There were 4 students in grade 6 and 3 of us went to the High School. The students from Melton, Melton South and Toolern Vale State Schools went by bus to Bacchus Marsh High School as far a fifth form. My parents drove me to the pick up point and during the five years of travel to High School. The bus travelled via Toolern Vale and later went through Exford and through Parwan. On the return journey in the afternoon the bus went in the reverse direction. The bridge at Exford was an old narrow wooden one, and the students had to get off the bus and walk across, with the driver crossing in the empty bus for safety reasons. There was a travelling allowance paid to parents and it was estimated from the distance the crow flies, a straight line. We lived a Ferris Lane, just where the Harness Racing entrance is now situated about 2 ½ miles by road to school too close to qualify for the subsidy. While at State School Melton we would walk home in a group with the Nixon and Gillespie children, along the main road over the bridge near the Shire Offices and down a hill. I was being dinked on Joyce Gillespie’s bike while holding onto the seat, toppled off the bike striking my chin and teeth on the bitumen and cracking my jaw. I was about 9 years old and stayed a couple of days in the Quamby Hospital in Bacchus Marsh, it seemed like and eternity at the time and quite traumatic being separated from my family. I can remember contemplating how I could get out of the window and run away but realised it was too far to walk home. Often we would cut across the Common on our way home from school picking up stray golf balls and collecting them from the creek when it dried out. We were warned about not accepting lifts from strangers passing along the Melbourne/ Ballarat Road. The only danger we faced was being swooped by the magpies particularly on the open ground on the Common. We were also fairly cautious when the Gypsies camped on the Common in the area just about opposite the small reservoir. “Mum” grandma Myers loved to have us call in on our way home, and usually would cut a slice of Jongebloed’s bread and spread it with home made butter. Sometimes we waited there until we were collected by car, usually driven by our mother. Margaret Nixon and Joyce Gillespie were a few grades ahead of me and Barbara Nixon was born just two months earlier than me. Our mothers were great friends for over 6o years, born in the same month three years apart. They lived within a few days of the same age as each other at the time their deaths. Dad and George Nixon attended Melton school at the same time. Sarah nee Hornbuckle Nixon and my grandfather Frederick Myers Snr were at school together at the same in the 1880s. The Nixon family lived in Keilor Road just past the Toolern Creek near the turnoff. Tom and Ann Collins lived on the southern side of the Western highway and Keilor road intersection. Jim and Ruby Gillespie’s house was further long Keilor road on the right. They backed onto the Myers who lived on the north side of Western Highway east of Myers Gully (Ryans Creek). The Bridge over the Toolern Creek as very narrow and as truck traffic increased there were accidents. One truck took out the side railing and plunged upside down into the bank and into the shallow water. Another fatal accident happened between a car and a truck right in front of the Myers house. Grandfather Fred had been a bike rider all his life, as far as the Riverina in his younger years, wryly made the comment about the drivers the speeding along the Ballarat Road were setting out to kill themselves. The road was busy particularly after the Races at Ballarat when the crowds were hurrying home to Melbourne. Train travel had changed very little from the time my mothers generation to mine. The timetable meant the usual rush to Melton South by bike in her case and if she was running late the train pulled up on the crossing. I was driven to the Station from home past Keith and Mary Gillespie’s house near the Ferris Road rail crossing to Bridge road to Melton South for the 7.32 train. While attending Sunshine High School in 1961 I would meet up with three other students, two of whom I knew from Bacchus Marsh High School days. We usually got into the same compartment on the train, it was a typical country train with a corridor along the side and compartments with a door, roof racks and sometimes heated metal containers for the feet in the winter. Some of the trains came through from Horsham and Ballarat, and the Overland from Adelaide passed through in the evening, we could hear it in the distance from the Ferris Lane home. The carriages had 1st and economy class compartments showing photographs of county scenes and holiday destinations. The engine was the large A class diesel. They are still running to Bacchus Marsh 50 years later, due to the need for the greatly increased number of commuters travelling to work in the city. Sometimes the carriages were pull by a Steam engine, these were a problem in the summer time because the sparks caused fires along the train lines and then quickly spread into the dry grass, crops and stubble. The Motor Train left Spencer Street at 4.23 pm and was the best train for me to catch. Ferris Road was a designated stop and train pulled up on the road crossing. It had steps at the door and rungs to hold while alighting to the ground. The ballast along the tracks was rough and uneven and awkward to land on. The train was painted blue and yellow with the letters VR pained on the front. This saved may parents the afternoon trip to collect me from the Station. On the walk home on the gravel road I would pass Uncle Tom and Aunty May’s house before reaching home. Melva Gillespie was studying at Sunshine Technical School and we sometimes both got off the train at the same time. On other occasions the Motor Train was replaced with a diesel engine with carriages, it was also required to stop and the driver had to be notified in advance. This meant getting into the guards van a Rockbank. It was more difficult alighting from the carriage as the gap was greater and more precarious to swing out and land on the ground. A few times in my last year of study at Melbourne Teachers College in Grattan Street Carlton. I managed to catch the 2.30 pm train to Serviceton, it was express to Melton and was very quick trip. The last train, was the 5.25 pm diesel to Ballarat and I usually caught this train to Melton South Station. On one occasion after being held up on the tram in Bourke street I had to make a mad dash to the platform chasing the train as it was just moving off and yelling to the guard, fortunately I was noticed and the train ground to halt. I scrambled into the end door and took most of the journey home to recover. After the last year at High School I continued to travel on the train, 2 years to Prahran Technical School changing at North Melbourne. There were a lot school children travelling to private schools and some at the primary level and mainly from Bacchus Marsh. Rockbank children also travelled by train from the beginning of their high school years, quite a few went to Sunshine High School. During my third year of teacher training I travelled to Flinders Street to RMIT for ceramics classes and Grattan St Teachers College located in the grounds of Melbourne University. There were many teachers being trained at the Secondary Teachers College due to the baby bulge creating a great shortage of teachers. Sunshine High School was very well represented amongst the different courses in Primary, Secondary and Art and Crafts. I attended Melbourne University lectures, studying a Fine Art subject. Bernard Smith was the most notable of the lecturers. he replaced Professor Joseph Bourke who had taken leave for the years. In 1962 he published the art book “Australian Painting”. The secondary art and craft student teachers from the College were in the majority, taking this subject and were well regarded due to their practical art and craft methods and their teaching round experience. In December 1964 I graduated as a Trained Secondary Teacher – Art and Crafts. The graduating ceremony was held at Wilson Hall. I received my appointment to work at Maryborough High School. Uncle Max and Aunty Rosemary Myers arranged my accommodation. Uncle Max was a teacher at the Maryborough Technical School fat the time. The appointment was suddenly changed when just before the school year was about to start when I received notification that I was now required to move to Warracknabeal High School. I was subject to a bond for the three years of training and three years of teaching and was under an obligation to comply with the directive of the Education Department. My father stood as guarantor when I was accepted as student at the Melbourne Teachers’ College, thus enabling me to receive my teacher training, and a 5 pounds a week allowance for expenses. After teaching for two years at Warracknabeal High School I was fortunate enough the gain a transfer to Sunshine West High School, returning to live at home in Melton and travelling by car to work with a fellow colleague, Jock Smith who lived at Station road Melton. I completed bond obligation and resigned at the end of the year. The employment regulations at that time did not allow the option of leave of absence for, indefinite overseas travel. I returned to Australia in October 1969. Visiting Arthur Hart the Principal of Sunshine High School he arranged with the Education Department for my re-employment at Sunshine High School until the end of the year. In 1970 I was transferred, and returned to Sunshine West High School where I worked for the next three years. In January 1968 I sailed on the “Oriana” to South Hampton with two teaching friends from Warracknabeal High School on a travelling and working holiday. Doreen Kiely, a former Bacchus Marsh High student and fellow train traveller from Bacchus Marsh, was already working in London, had arranged our accommodation at the London Travellers Club Hotel, Braham Gardens, Earls Court SW5. We based our stay at this address in London and travelled around Scotland, Ireland and England. In the summer we took a four month trip around the Continent and the Mediterranean. I registered with The Royal Borough Of Kingston Upon Thames as a Supply teacher, and worked at Chessington School form autumn to spring the following year and living with Mrs Rose Gillies at Kinross Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey. In the spring of 1969 visiting Norway, Sweden and Finland joining an organised camping group to the Artic Circle, entered Russia at Leningrad (St Petersburg) Moscow, Minsk, to Poland and Czechoslovakia. In August returning to Worcester Park for the flight to Montreal to stay with cousin Lynette and husband Jurgen. A side trip was taken to Toronto, Niagara Falls and New York. The flight home from Montreal to Melbourne took 52 hours. A ½ day break in Vancouver before boarding the Qantas boeing 707 via San Francisco, Honolulu, Fiji, Sydney to Melbourne. Around the world in 21 months. Photographs of Wendy local identities

Jessie, known as Ma Barrie to her grandchildren, was the daughter of a school teacher. The family lived in various locations around Central Victoria, particularly Pastoria and Melton. When her father was Head Teacher at Melton State School no 430, she met her future husband, CE Barrie. Jessie May married Charles Ernest Barrie in the Methodist Church Melton on the 23rd August 1906. They lived in the newly built house beside the Chaff Mill on the corner of Station and Brooklyn road Melton South. In April 1910 the family moved to a farm in Trundle NSW. The Chaff Mill was sold to Glover Onians - HSK Ward. The family returned to Melton in 1911, buying the “Darlingsford” farm in May. In 1916 they lived in Elizabeth Street, Moonee Ponds where the children attend Bank Street School, Ascot Vale. The children developed diphtheria Mary and Bon were transferred to Fairfield Hospital. In March 1919 the family returned to live at Melton at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish influenza. Mary, Bon and Edgar returned to Melton School. Following the death of CEB in a car accident in 1931 she was left to bring up her children on her own; the youngest Jim, aged 9 and eldest Mary, aged 24. Jessie left ‘Darlingsford’ in 1946 when her sons had safely returned from WW II. She stayed at Yarram for a time where her married twin daughters lived when more grandchildren were born and spent the remainder of her life living with various family members. Jessie died in 1960 while living with Mary and Keith.Jessie Barrie with her grandchildren at Darlingsford, Meltonlocal identities

Almeida Cup Donor: Unknown Deed of Gift: No The trophy was presented in memory of William C. Almeida who was killed during a bank robbery. A memorial was erected in the park in Hampton opposite Linacre Road and Hampton Street. An inscription reads ‘Erected in memory of William C. Almeida of the Commercial Bank Hampton who gave his life in defence of his Trust 23.4.24. Aged 33 years.’ The trophy was originally used for B Division, now used for Combined Division on AMS handicap and raced on the same day as the Gullett Cup for PHD handicap and the Worcester Cup for IRC handicap. First Winner: Rita, C. W. Campbell 1925/26 almeida, cup, ams, combined division

Murray Comrie Collection. There were four banks in Tarnagulla at one stage, but two - the National Bank and the Bank of Australasia - were open for a short period only. The single-storey brick building at far left was built in 1859 and used by the Union Bank until 1888, and was later renamed 'Lochcarron' and used as premises by doctors and dentists. The two-storey building (right) was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The double-storey building in this image was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. Both buildings are now private residences. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting a section of Commercial Road in Tarnagulla with two brick buildings, one single-storey and one double-storey. A horse-drawn carriage is standing out side the larger building. A number of men, women and children are standing or walking alongside the buildings and in the street. Caption on original 'Union Bank'.tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, buildings, commercial road

Murray Comrie Collection. There were four banks in Tarnagulla at one stage, but two - the National Bank and the Bank of Australasia - were open for a short period only. The single-storey brick building at far left was built in 1859 and used by the Union Bank until 1888, and was later renamed 'Lochcarron' and used as premises by doctors and dentists. The two-storey building (right) was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The double-storey building in this image was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. Both buildings are now private residences. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting a section of Commercial Road in Tarnagulla with two brick buildings, one single-storey and one double-storey. Caption on original in right lower corner 'Union Bank Tarnagulla'. Handwritten on reverse: Orig showed building to left of Lochcarron H. Joyce Fruiterer' and 'Orig with Mr. A.M. Renshaw'.tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, buildings, commercial road

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts the stables at rear of a two-storey bank building in Tarnagulla. The bank building was used first by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and then by the Union Bank (from 1888 to 1942). The two-storey bank building was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is now a private residence. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting stables at rear of the double-storey bank building in Tarnagulla. Image depicts a brick building with white timber doors and corrugated metal roof. The site was originally built by and for the Colonial Bank and later used by the Union Bank. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, buildings, commercial road, horses, stables

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts stores in the main street of Tarnagulla, including the two-storey bank building being used as a licensed general store. The bank building was used first by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and then by the Union Bank (from 1888 to 1942). The two-storey bank building was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is a now private residence. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting a section of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla at the intersection with Poverty Street, including two stores - one a bakery/milk-bar and the other a general store operating in the former Bank building. The general store was operated at this time by James Buchanan. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, stores, shopping, shops, food, groceries, buildings, commercial road

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts stores in the main street of Tarnagulla, including the two-storey bank building being used as a licensed general store. The building on the left was also a bank, originally constructed by the Union Bank in 1859, and Is probably the first brick and stone building at Tarnagulla. It was used by the bank until 1888 at which time the Union and Colonial banks amalgamated. After this, the building was used for a variety of purposes. The milk bar section was constructed in the 1920s in an area at the front of what had once been the Bank’s manager’s residence. The Two-story bank building On the right was constructed and used by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and, following bank amalgamation, by the Union Bank (from 1888 until closure in 1942). The original site had been occupied by Joseph Foo's store, a large wooden building with attached theatre. While the bank was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from the former Company's Hotel (soon after to become the Borough of Tarnagulla Council Chambers, then the Mechanics’ Institute, and finally, prior to final demolition in 1980, Burstall Hall) The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is a now private residence. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting a section of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla near the intersection with Poverty Street, including two stores - one a bakery/milk-bar and the other a general store operating in the former Colonial/Union Bank building. Photograph taken from north of milk-bar. Two people walking away from photographer on footpath/curb between the two stores. The building on the left was the Union Bank premises, constructed in 1859 and Tarnagulla's oldest surviving brick building. The Union Bank absorbed the Colonial Bank in 1888, and the Union Bank moved operations next door into the much larger former Colonial Bank premises which had been constructed in 1865/66. After amalgamation, the old Union Bank premises was then used for a variety of purposes from visiting doctor's rooms to cafe, etc. The Union Bank continued to operate at Tarnagulla until closure in 1942, at which time business had fallen away and Tarnagulla Branch had already been downgraded to sub-branch status. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, stores, shopping, shops, food, groceries, buildings, commercial road

Murray Comrie Collection. Information collated by Murray Comrie: Photo after 1886 and before 1899. Shows bakers shop at corner of Commercial Rd and Poverty St, bakery stables and horse. Clouston's, Renshaw's Victoria House, Golden Age Hotel, Renshaw's Commerce House and Post Office. This is an original photographic postcard. Monochrome photographic postcard. View of part of Commercial Road and Poverty Streets, Tarnagulla, from a position on Poverty Street behind the Bank site. Premises on Commercial Road which are visible include the Golden Age Hotel and Renshaw's Drapers.Text near bottom edge: 'Johnsn & Co. Ararat' and 'Tarnagulla'.tarnagulla, commerce, shops, businesses, streetscapes, horses, stables, poverty street, commercial road, main street, golden age hotel, renshaw's, bakery, clouston's

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts stores in the main street of Tarnagulla, including the two-storey bank building being used as a licensed general store. The bank building was used first by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and then by the Union Bank (from 1888 to 1942). The two-storey bank building was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is a now private residence. Probably taken by Murray Comrie in the late 1960s. Monochrome photograph depicting a section of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla at the intersection with Poverty Street, including two stores - one a bakery/milk-bar and the other a general store operating in the former Bank building. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, stores, shopping, shops, food, groceries, buildings, commercial road

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts the stables at rear of a two-storey bank building in Tarnagulla. The bank building was used first by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and then by the Union Bank (from 1888 to 1942). The two-storey bank building was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is now a private residence. Monochrome photograph depicting stables at rear of the double-storey bank building in Tarnagulla. Image depicts a brick building with white timber doors and corrugated metal roof. The site was originally built by and for the Colonial Bank and later used by the Union Bank. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, buildings, commercial road, horses, stables

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts the stables at rear of a two-storey bank building in Tarnagulla. The bank building was used first by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and then by the Union Bank (from 1888 to 1942). The two-storey bank building was built in 1866 by the Colonial Bank of Australasia. Before this, the site had been occupied by Foo's shop. Whilst it was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from Company's Hotel (later known as Burstall Hall and the Council Chambers). The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is now a private residence. Monochrome photograph depicting stables at rear of the double-storey bank building in Tarnagulla. Image depicts a brick building with white timber doors and corrugated metal roof. The site was originally built by and for the Colonial Bank and later used by the Union Bank. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, buildings, commercial road, horses, stables