'Box Cottage' is so named after the first recorded family to establish a house and market garden on the site in 1865. William and Elizabeth Box. After the death of Elizabeth Box in 1914 the house was leased to August Reitman a potter / sculptor who raised his family there 1917 - 1953. Stefanie Rennick nee Reitmann lived at the house until she left to study teaching. The Lewis Timber Company Ltd acquired the land with The Cottage c1970. The CMHS together with City of Moorabbin Council, a 150 Year Celebration Grant and assistance from Lewis Timber Merchants Pty Ltd reconstructed the original 'Box Cottage' on its present site May 1984. August Reitman 1877-1951 and his wife Frieda 1878- 1942 raised 2 children Stefanie 1918-2006 and William 1920-1997 whilst living at the Box Cottage site. .August was a monumental mason and sculptor and was employed to carve war memorials in Victoria after WW1. He moved his business to Highett in 1953 but continued to use the cottage as a workshop until he sold the property to Lewis Timber P/L c 1970. . William and his descendants have continued the family business to the present day. August Reitman 1877-1951 and his wife Frieda 1878- 1942 raised 2 children Stefanie 1918-2006 and William 1920-1997 whilst living at the Box Cottage site. .August was a monumental mason and sculptor and was employed to carve war memorials in Victoria after WW1. He moved his business to Highett in 1953 but continued to use the cottage as a workshop until he sold the property to Lewis Timber P/L c 1970. . William and his descendants have continued the family business to the present day. Stefanie Rennick , a daughter of August and Frieda Reitman resided in Box Cottage 1918 - 1953.A colour photograph of Stefanie Rennick , nee Reitman 1918 - 2001, who spent her childhood living in Box Cottage.box william, box elisabeth, reitman august, reitman stefanie, reitman frieda, city of moorabbin council, lewis timber merchants pty ltd, pottery, sculpture, market gardens, pioneers, early settlers, dendy henry, box cottage museum, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, mckinnon, ormond, reitman william, rietmann

In 1852 Stephen Charman purchased 160 acres bounded by Charman Rd and Balcombe Road in an area called Spring Grove , later Cheltenham. A spring ran through the land providing a good source of water. Stephen aged 21 years had arrived in Melbourne 1842 as one of Henry Dendy’s emigrants . His Ship passage was paid by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission and in return he was required to work on the land of the Henry Dendy Special Survey Brighton 1841. However Henry Dendy could not provide enough work for all the emigrants that arrived and Stephen had to obtain other work. Then sadly his young wife Harriett and their infant died. 1850 Stephen married widow Mary Gettens, a Publican in Little Collins Street, with 5 children. Stephen & Mary built a wattle and daub hut and established a market garden producing marigolds for Martin & Pleasance Pharmacists, Melbourne. They had 7 more children and built a weatherboard cottage that was used for early Methodist Church services. Stephen donated 1 acre to the Methodist Church in 1855 for Chapel , School and Cemetery. This is the weatherboard cottage in the painting, The road between Cheltenham and Mentone bears their name. Mary died in 1870 and Stephen remarried 1878 and died in Gippsland 1906. Stephen and Mary Charman were pioneer settlers in the area of Spring Grove later known as Cheltenham . Charman Road Cheltenham commemorates their contribution to the development of the area A painting of 'Spring Grove' the home of Stephen Charman and Mary Charman formerly Gettens nee Rees, This cottage was the first house in Charman Road Cheltenham c1852signed L Schumerspring grove cottage 1852, schumer l, cheltenham, charman stephen, early settlers, jones a l , gettens mary, rees mary, charman mary, moorabbin, brighton,

In 1852 Stephen Charman purchased 160 acres bounded by Charman Rd and Balcombe Road in an area called Spring Grove , later Cheltenham. A spring ran through the land providing a good source of water. Stephen aged 21 years had arrived in Melbourne 1842 as one of Henry Dendy’s emigrants . His Ship passage was paid by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission and in return he was required to work on the land of the Henry Dendy Special Survey Brighton 1841. However Henry Dendy could not provide enough work for all the emigrants that arrived and Stephen had to obtain other work. Then sadly his young wife Harriett and their infant died. 1850 Stephen married widow Mary Gettens, a Publican in Little Collins Street, with 5 children. Stephen & Mary built a wattle and daub hut and established a market garden producing marigolds for Martin & Pleasance Pharmacists, Melbourne. They had 7 more children and built a weatherboard cottage that was used for early Methodist Church services. Stephen donated 1 acre to the Methodist Church in 1855 for Chapel , School and Cemetery. This is the weatherboard cottage in the photocopy showing the building extension, The road between Cheltenham and Mentone bears their name. Mary died in 1870 and Stephen remarried 1878 and died in Gippsland 1906. The original Photograph is endorsed by Francis Marie Ward , formerly Hopkins nee Charman who was the grandmother of Mr A.L Jones A photocopy of a black and white photograph of ‘Spring Grove’ , that was the first house in Charman Road , Cheltenham c1852 , showing later extensions. spring grove cottage 1852, schumer l, cheltenham, charman stephen, early settlers, jones a l, gettens mary, rees mary, charman mary, moorabbin, brighton, henry dendy special survey 1841, ward frances marie, charman frances marie

In 1840 Henry Dendy, a farmer in Surrey, England acquired a "Special Survey" from the Commissioners for Land and Emigration which gave Dendy the right to choose land in Port Phillip for the "bargain basement" price of only £1 per acre for 5120 acres, (an area of 8 square miles). The Special Survey also included the right to "the shipment of a worker for every £20 spent on land, whose free passage was paid by the Crown, equalling a total of 100 workers ". Accordingly Dendy sold his English holdings and paid the required £5120 and arrived in Melbourne in February 1841. However by this time land in the new colony was selling for £5 - £40 per acre. Because Henry Dendy possessed the order from the Colonial Office in London he was able to successfully oppose Super-intendant LaTrobe's attempts to alter the price of the land. Dendy appointed Jonathan Were, (an entrepreneur, who had arrived in 1839), as his Manager and who later became a partner. Together, Dendy and Were decided on an area 5 miles south from Melbourne, bounded by North Road, East Boundary Road, South Road and to the west by Port Phillip Bay. Were and Dendy pitched their tents in the area now known as ' Park St, Brighton' and sank a well near the corner of 'St Andrew's St and Wells St'. By 1845 J.B Were and Company had bought almost half of Dendy's land and Were built himself "Moorabbin House" in Were St Brighton made from stone, quarried from local cliffs. It was still standing in 1924. Legend records Moorabbin is named after the Aboriginal word for ' Mother's Milk ' The soil is very fertile and well supplied with water especially in the area called 'East Brighton' - now known as Bentleigh and East Bentleigh - By 1850 the area had developed with numerous market gardens, dairy farms, fruit gardens and vineyards supplying food for the growing population of Melbourne.In 1840 Henry Dendy, a farmer in Surrey, England acquired a "Special Survey" from the Commissioners for Land and Emigration which gave Dendy the right to choose land in Port Phillip for the price of only £1 per acre for 5120 acres. This land was called Brighton in the Parish of Moorabbin, County of Bourke and emigrants developed the land establishing market gardens , dairy and poultry farms that provided the food for the growing population of Melbourne. A photocopy of the Genealogy Chart of the Dendy Family that Henry Dendy brought with him when he emigrated to Melbourne 1841Genealogy signs and descriptionsdendy henry, dendy's special survey brighton 1841, governor gipps, captain lonsdale, super-intendant latrobe, port phillip, melbourne, new south wales, squatters, emmigrants, county of bourke, parish of moorabbin, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, dairy farmers, fruit farms, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, were jonathan binn,

This is a copy of the document brought by Henry Dendy to the Colony in 1841. In 1840 Henry Dendy, a farmer in Surrey, England acquired a "Special Survey" from the Commissioners for Land and Emigration which gave Dendy the right to choose land in Port Phillip for the "bargain basement" price of only £1 per acre for 5120 acres, (an area of 8 square miles). The Special Survey also included the right to "the shipment of a worker for every £20 spent on land, whose free passage was paid by the Crown, equalling a total of 100 workers ". Accordingly Dendy sold his English holdings and paid the required £5120 and arrived in Melbourne in February 1841. However by this time land in the new colony was selling for £5 - £40 per acre. Because Henry Dendy possessed the order from the Colonial Office in London he was able to successfully oppose Super-intendant LaTrobe's attempts to alter the price of the land. Dendy appointed Jonathan Were, (an entrepreneur, who had arrived in 1839), as his Manager and who later became a partner. Together, Dendy and Were decided on an area 5 miles south from Melbourne, bounded by North Road, East Boundary Road, South Road and to the west by Port Phillip Bay. Were and Dendy pitched their tents in the area now known as ' Park St, Brighton' and sank a well near the corner of 'St Andrew's St and Wells St'. By 1845 J.B Were and Company had bought almost half of Dendy's land and Were built himself "Moorabbin House" in Were St Brighton made from stone, quarried from local cliffs. It was still standing in 1924. Legend records Moorabbin is named after the Aboriginal word for ' Mother's Milk ' The soil is very fertile and well supplied with water especially in the area called 'East Brighton' - now known as Bentleigh and East Bentleigh - By 1850 the area had developed with numerous market gardens, dairy farms, fruit gardens and vineyards supplying food for the growing population of Melbourne. A copy of a paper chart of the Pedigree of Henry Dendy in a wooden frame with glassPedigree / of the branch of the family / DENDY moorabbin, brighton, henry dend special survey 1841 y, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners

'The Grange ' was a 2 storey home built 1857 by Mr Charles Tuck, originally named 'Baydon Hill' , at 1011 Nepean Highway, Moorabbin ( South Brighton). Mr Charles Tuck was Veterinary Surgeon from Baydon Hill, Wiltshire, England, who migrated to Australia c1850. He married his cousin Miss Jan Chaudler in Melbourne in1853. He was at the Ballarat gold-fields at the time of the riots and then they settled in South Brighton ( later Moorabbin) and built a large Georgian Styled home called 'Baydon Hill'. The Tucks had a large family - 9 children. Charles enjoyed a prosperous Veterinary Practice as his advice was needed for stock purchases by the farmers / settlers. Charles died in 1893 and Jane left the property c 1903 and died at Blackburn in 1928. The House had 5 owners, the last being the Healey family c1920 and at some stage the name was changed to 'The Grange' and the gates shown were installed. The Healey Family were also prosperous in developing vegetables and flower seeds and seedlings. 'The Grange' was sold to Moorabbin City Council 1972 and then used by the City of Moorabbin Historical Society for meetings and storage of historical material. It was demolished amidst considerable controversy 1983 and the District Police Offices were built on the site. ( S.T.Mulvany, Grand-daughter of Charles Tuck 26/7/1974)The Grange was a significant property 1853 -1983 in Moorabbin. It was built by Mr Charles Tuck 1857and in1900 extended from Point Nepean Road to South Road - 10acres. Mr Harold James Healey purchased the property in c1920 and leased a portion to a Chinese market gardener. Later with his sons he established a profitable Plant Nursery that they managed for 42years.. Keith Healey, a son, remodelled the house extensively mid 20thC .The Moorabbin City Council purchased it in 1972 for $255,000 and it was demolished amid controversy 1983. The District Police Offices are now on the site.3x black and white photographs of the property at 1011 Nepean Highway Moorabbin built by Mr Charles Tuck c1853 known as 'The Grange'. Originally it was named 'Baydon Hill' because he migrated from Baydon Hill, Wiltshire, England c1850. These photographs are c 1880, 1920 and 1950 showing the original and later additions made to the property by some of the 5 owners.Written in pencil on back a) " This Photo donated by Mr Neil Follett - at the time it came into his possession he had a photography studio in Cheltenham. Photographer unknown"; Folio 6 b) The Grange c 1950 Folio 6/10 c) 'Baydon Hill' ( alias "The Grange" ) / Donated by Mrs Elsa Jones, daughter of Leslie Stephen Tuck, youngest son of Charles Tuck Folio 6 /18tuck charles, tuck jane, veterinary surgeons, livestock, market gardeners, early settlers, dendy's special survey, brighton, moorabbin, ballarat, gold diggings, horses, chickens, cattle, bullocks, flower shows, fruit garden, mulvaney s. t., healey haold james, healey keith, moorabbin city council, chinese market gardeners, plant nursery, tuck leslie stephen, jones elsa

Joseph Fowler (1888-1972), was born 28 February 1888 at Bagworth, Leicestershire, England, With his brother Sydney, in the early 1900s Joseph worked in a fruit-preserving business run by an uncle at Maidstone, Kent, and continued with the firm after 1908 when it was relocated at Reading. He married in 1910 and emigrated in 1913 settling at Camberwell, Melbourne.The jars were first manufactured in 1915 in Melbourne, for a fruit-bottling business started at the rear of his small house and the company of J. Fowler & Co. had begun producing home-bottling kits containing a sterilizer, bottles, lids, rings and a thermometer. Initially Fowler travelled the district, selling his kits door-to-door from the back of a cart. In 1920 he bought a shop in Hawthorn, and registered his business as a private company.During the Depression Fowlers Kits became a household name. In 1934 Fowlers Vacola Manufacturing Co. Ltd was registered as a public company. Fowler retired in 1961, but remained chairman of directors; his son Ronald succeeded him as managing director. Joseph died 1972 and when Ronald died in 1978, the company was bought out by the Sydney firm, Hooper Baillie Industries Ltd; it in turn sold to Sabco Ltd of South Australia; in 1994, when Sabco went into receivership, Australian Resource Recovery Technologies re-established Fowlers Vacola Australia Pty Ltd's headquarters in Melbourne.The early settlers of Moorabbin Shire had to be self sufficient and grew their own fruit and vegetables even if not market gardeners They preserved their produce for use all year.A 1 pint, clear, glass, narrow neck bottle with original 'Fowlers Vacola' stopper.Top FOWLERS VACOLA Shoulder of bottle FOWLERS VACOLA ONE PINT FRUIT JUICE BOTTLE Base F452 / M / R trade mark Amarket gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, fowler james, fowler ronald, fowler's vacola, food preservation

Used by William Learmonth Esq., Chairman, Portland Municipal Council, to lay the foundation stone for the Portland Town Hall, 21st September 1863Silver Towel, engraved with decoration and inscription. Bone handle. In leather case, lined on the inner base with blue velvet, and inside the lid with cream silk. The leather case has two brass hinges and a small brass clasp.Engraved on face of trowel "PRESENTED / by the / MUNICIPAL COUNCIL / of / PORTLAND/ To / William Learmonth, Esq / their Chairman / on the occasion of his laying / the FOUNDATION STONE of / the / COUNCIL CHAMBER / 21st September, 1863". On reverse - 4 hallmarks, letter "BJ", number "551" and "(indeciperable maker's name) & Co / MELBOURNE"foundation stone, trowel, ceremonial, william learmonth, portland, town hall, municipal council