Mary, Bon, Tom, Jessie, Joyce and Jim and their familiesFamily reunion at Willows Park, Meltonlocal identities, local architecture, local special interest groups

Date of birth 27th April 1893 Born at Spring Hill – Kyneton Parents – Thomas and Mary Elizabeth nee Coates Lang. The family lived in High Street Melton 1896. He started his schooling at Melton State School in Nov 1897. Mr Lang was the Head Teacher from 1896 – 1917. Horace enlisted on the 29th March 1915 24th Battalion D Company and sailed on the Euripides on the 8th May to Egypt. They landed on Gallipoli in early September returning to Egypt at the end of the year. In April on 1916 Horace and his brother Thomas had an opportunity to meet for a few hours before he moved onto France. He received the military medal in 1916 “For conspicuous gallantry in constructing and holding an advanced bombing post near Flers on 18/19 November within close range of the enemy. The garrison had to remain motionless throughout the day but Corpl. Lang refused to be relieved until his company left the trenches, setting a most encouraging example of endurance.” In May 1917 the Battalion was near Arras – Bullecourt. On 3rd May he was last seen alive carrying a Lewis Gun, and wounded making his way to the casualty station according to witnesses reporting to the court of enquiry. The family, in Melton had a first heard that he had been wounded, or was a prisoner. My grandmother Jessie Barrie and the Lang family went to Port Melbourne as the troop ships arrived hoping they would find someone who might know of his fate. AWM records and Red Cross files reveal the extent of the efforts that family and friends made enquiring about his fate. In December 1917 he was declared Killed in Action on May 3rd at Bullecourt where he is commemorated. Horace Lang postcardRear: Dear Jessie & All, I am in the pink not doing to bad. Haven't had any letters from you for some time. Hope you haven't forgotte me. Don't be so long nest time. Letter later from your loving bro Horace. (PS) Photo is very crook. (Front: Yours Horace, France 28/2/17)local identities

William Horace Barrie was born on 11 October 1915. William H Barrie was also known as Horace.Photographs of William Barrie local identities

Tom Barrie married Marion Ferris at Christ Church Melton on 11th of May 1939. They lived on the family farm at Ferris Road Melton. They had one son, Ian who has continued in farming in MeltonPhotographs taken at Darlingsford, Melton and Melton Mechanic's Institutelocal identities

In 1939 when World War 11 erupted Jim and Horace enlisted in the RAAF Jim to become a pilot and Horace a navigator. James Edward Barrie enlisted in the RAAF on 21st June 1941, aged 19 years. He was sent to Canada and then later to England to become a Spitfire Pilot. Half way through the War he returned to Australia to be sent north to fight the Japanese. At one stage he had to bail out over the Pacific after his engine had failed. Fortunately, he had time to radio his position before he abandoned his Spitfire. He dropped his boot out to determine how far below the water was, parachuted down inflated his dinghy and waited to be rescued. He was picked up very quickly by a rescue crew just as a heavy fog descended, or he may never have been found. He lost many of his mates in that Squadron in the Pacific, it was a particularly vital time for the Allies and these boys played a major part in turning the tide against the Japanese. This information has been taken from the writings of Mary Robinson, sister of Jim. My parents Bon and Edna Barrie spoke about this incident leaving a vivid impression in my mind as a young child. Jim is mentioned in the book Two Steps to Tokyo. A Story of the RAAF in the Trobriand and Admiralty Islands by Gordon Powell Chaplain, RAAF. After the war Jim returned to Darlingsford. In 1953 he married Wilma Ryan of Yarram. He continued in the family farming tradition obtaining a Soldier Settlement Block at Shelford. Jim regularly attended the ANZAC day march to the Shrine. He died in August 2004 This account has been compiled by his niece Wendy Barrie Sons of Charles (Ernie) and Jessie Barrie of Darlingsford Meltonlocal identities

James Edward BARRIE was born on 17 January 1922 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. He died on 23 August 2004.He married Wilma Agnes RYAN on 06 June 1953 in Yarram, Victoria, AustraliaBlack and white photographs of Jim Barrielocal 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

Family at the Melton School no 430 Celebrations local identities, education

Tom and May at Ferris Road, Meltonlocal identities, council

Jennifer Coral Scott [Barrie] & Peter Barrie, Wendy Barrie, Edna Myers [Barrie], Vivienne Developments representative, Wilma Ryan [Barrie] & Jim Barrielocal identities, council

Bruce Barrie, James Edward (Jim), Peter Ernest Barrie, Wendy Elizabeth Barrie and Jessie May Lang [Barrie] Jim with Anne and Robert, Peter, Wendy & Heather rear, Ma (Jessie) Barrie with Bruce local identities

Mary Elizabeth (Beth) Robinson [Owies] is one of the children in the 'Robinson children In front of the well, barn in background' photo The children of the Robinson family visiting Darlingsfordlocal identities

Charles Ernest BARRIE and Jessie May LANG daughters Jessie Maude and Dorothy Joyce Barrie were born on the 6th November 1920, in Bacchus Marsh . Jessie Maud BARRIE was born on 06 November 1920 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, she married Colin Leslie RICHARDSON on12 September 1942 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. Jessie and Colin had four children, Pamela, Barre, Helen and Graeme. She died on 26 February 1994. Dorothy Joyce BARRIE married Thomas Charles COLLINS on 07 June 1951 in Yarram, Victoria, Australia (or Strathmore Presbyterian Church. Thomas and Dorothy had three children Geoffrey, Julie and Neil. She died on 18 March 2003. Jessie and Joyce Barrie at Darlingsford, Meltonlocal identities

Jessie May Lang [Barrie] local identities

Tom Barrie served the community in the following Shire of Melton Councilor Member for 32 years 1941–1970 Elected as Councilor for Melton South 1970–1973 Councilor for Rockbank 1943–1944 Shire President for three terms 1958–1959 ditto 1964–1965 ditto Council Representative: Bacchus Marsh High School and Western Suburbs Municipalities. Representative on delegation to prevent Melton post primary students being sent to Deer Park prior to the establishment of Melton High SchoolPossibly being presented with Shire of Melton illuminated address at the Melton Shire Officeslocal identities, council

Charles Edgar BARRIE and Margaret Clare HODGKINSON's children Vivian and David David Ross Barrie, Robert Wesley Barrie and Vivian Barrie at the back gate of Ferris Rdlocal identities

Ian Robinson (front), Keith Robinson, Edgar Barrie (rear). Possibly at Williamstown.local identies

Minn's Hotel established by George Minns. In 1911 the late Mrs. Hay’s estate was in the preliminary stages of dispersal and the hotel known as Minns was sold to a Mr McDowell of South Melbourne. Mr. McDowell lived in Melton for five and a half years, and it was during this time that the cottage was erected in High Street and the hotel became Macs.Mac’s Hotel under demolition (Minns)local architecture

The Staughton Memorial Lamp 1903, memorial to Captain S.T Staughton, who died at an early age. The Staughton Memorial Lamp was removed from the High Street when the plantation trees removed and the road was rebuilt. 1970. The Lamp was taken to the Shire Council yard. The M&DHS investigated the location and state of the lamp, finding the base with its plaques and the column only. A photograph was taken while at the Council yard. An initiative of the M&DHS was set in motion to restore to monument and return it to the High Street. Peter Staughton a descendent of the family was approached and produced a design for the missing lamp section. After considerable deliberation it was agreed a capping would be appropriate for the top of the column. Architectural drawings were produced by Peter Staughton and students from RMIT were engaged to make the capping. The original lamp section as seen only in early newspaper photographs was not adopted due to the elaborate shape and the cost of production. The ongoing cost of replacing curved glass panes was a contributing factor in the choice of a capping. In 1973 Peter Staughton officially opened the newly located Lamp The Lamp has since been altered with the addition of an oval shaped lamp being placed above the capping. The development of McEwan Bakery Square. Magnet discount can be seen in the background.landscapes of significance

The Minns’ Hotel was originally a butcher shop, before owner George Minns transformed it into a hotel.Mac’s Hotel (formerly Minns Hotel until 1911), High Street Meltonlocal architecture

The Melton Court House constructed in 1892 and operated for nearly 100 years. It is one of only two early buildings remaining in Melton's main shopping street, and the only nineteenth century building in the street. It has been converted into the visitor centre and cafe.Melton Court House, High Street Meltonlocal architecture

Augustus Shebler born in Berlin, Prussia in 1827 was a Melton resident started a store on the Flat at Bryan and Sherwin street in 1855. He built the Golden Fleece Hotel in 1865. He died at the Golden Fleece Hotel in 1908. The building, was demolished during the 1970s due to development in the area and was rebuilt in another location. The Watts and Jongebloed famlies are descendants of Shebler.Event took place on High Street Meltonlocal identities, local architecture

Raglan Cottage built in the late 1850s and the Mechanics Institute are the only two buildings on High Street built before the late twentieth centuryRaglan Cottage located on High Street, Meltonlocal architecture

Lord Raglan Hotel (‘The Raglan’) built by Strachan 1855 in Unitt Street, was moved to High street. The owners of the hotel included Kilpatricks and Richard Manning. The hotel was a major coach staging point, with large stables to accommodate the teams. Demolished in 1927. Mr and Mrs Kilpatrick with their children outside the front of the hotel.local architecture

Bakery Square–Site of 19th Century Jongebloed family bakery, grocery shops and residence demolished 1970 and later hardware shop erected c 1960. Gorrfried Jongebloed was born in 1857 and came to Melton in 1887 as a Captain in the Mercantile Marine. In 1888 he married Marie Antionette, second daughter of Mr Shebler, and took over the bakery and green grocers business. Ten children were born to the family- Gerhard, Annette, Gorrfried (dec 1937), Emil, (dec 1947), Nicholas, Julius, Theckla, Augustus, Marie and Margarethe, - who settled in various parts of Victoria and are, in the bakery businesses. Mr and Mrs Jongebloed senior carried on the businesses in Melton until 1926, when one of their sons Emil, took over. Mr Jongebloed, senior, died in 1930 at the age of 73 years; and his wife living until 8th October 1946, when she died at the age of 80 years. After the sudden death of Emil, in Jan., at the age of 49 years, the business had been conducted by two sons “Pat” and Bryan. Store closed down in 1970 and was demolished in 1976/1977. In the photo left to right isBryan, sister-in-law Shirley. Her children Meryl, Daryl and Debra. Mrs Martha Myers mother of Edna was the photographer. local identities

Alexander Blackwood original allotment owner. Other occupants include Chalmer, Wraith 1920, McDonald, Bardsley 1948. 1970 became Arnolds News Agent. It also operated as a State Savings Bank Agent. Demolished in 1974.Jean and George Arnold, and Martha Myers at the front of the news agency local identities, local architecture

Demolition of the old and rebuilding the new hotel.local architecture

The shops pictured in the photographs include Andrews Real Estate–site of early bank, Riddell, Ross house “Iona”, Shelley Saddlery and Residence, Simpsons Butcher Shop, Backhouse Butcher, Carew and Miss Raleighs Shop. House of Parker, and K Masterson. Shops on the north side of High Street, Meltonlandscapes of significance

Shops on High Street, Meltonlandscapes of significance

Built in 1897, "it is one of the best-known of the Melton farm properties established in the historic break-up of the large pastoral estates at the turn of the twentieth century". Melton Heritage Study Stage 2 Volume 3Farm house located at 2389-2485, Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road, Diggers Rest. local architecture, local identities