.1 Original publication pages 13-16 dated 6 Jul 1951 .2 .3 Photocopies of originalthe argus magazine, gold rush, 1951

In October 1901, Mr B. Cleal wrote to the Chief Commissioner of Police complaining about the large number of effeminate young men using ‘various conveniences’ for ‘an evil of the most terrible description’. Mr Cleal’s letter is part of a remarkable collection of documents held by Public Record Office Victoria that are valuable to LGBTIQ+ history and heritage in providing unparalleled insight into where and how beats operated in and around the city at that time. By ‘conveniences’ Cleal meant public toilets, and he listed the busiest of them: the corner of Rathdowne and Victoria streets; Lansdowne Street, East Melbourne; under the viaduct opposite the Customs House in Flinders Street; at the rear of the old City Court in Little Collins Street; and under the viaduct at the foot of King Street. Cleal described in detail how these beats worked: ‘One cannot enter but two or three of the above fellows rush in and on pretence of using same will pass some disgusting remark concerning one’s person etc’. The Chief Commissioner despatched one of his officers, Sergeant Canty, to investigate. Canty’s report provides further detail and description of who he encountered at the public toilets. He reported that men ‘known by the term “Pufters” [sic], are generally well dressed, sober, quiet in their manner and some of them very well connected’. Canty further noted about these men: 'it is often very difficult for the police to catch them offending, and if they do at any time make filthy or indecent overtures to any man, they believe him to be similarly inclined, but should they make a mistake the man insulted never thinks of giving any of them in charge [complaining to the police], but sometimes gives the offender a well-deserved blow or kick instead, of which the recipient never complains.' Sergeant Canty admitted that the problem had existed for some time. But, he added, ‘I don’t think the evil complained of is as great as said in attached [Cleal’s letter]’. In reviewing the file, Canty’s supervisor noted that Cleal, ‘appears to have given these resorts considerable attention’. Much of the evidence for same-sex activity in Melbourne in the early twentieth century comes from court cases and sensationalist news reports. With their eyewitness accounts of the use of local beats, these documents in the collection of Public Record Office Victoria provide a more detailed, understated account, making them some of the more unusual and historically significant records in Melbourne’s queer history. Quoted from "A History of LGBTIQ+ Victoria in 100 Places and Objects" by Graham Willett, Angela Bailey, Timothy W. Jones and Sarah Rood.

This page (3) of the May Report Book, 1890, covers 9 topics of news and matters of concern relating to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, the Lake and Victoria Park.This Report gives a clear idea of the condition, progress made and plans for the Gardens and the Lake in 1890 and therefore is historically significant.1 sheet of paper, printed closely in font 14, with a photocopy line of the page (3) down the lefthand side of the page. The last line of the page is partially cut off but readable. Written at the top of the page in blue biro, "May Rep. Book, 1890 and beneath Win Little" (?) "Pavilion" is asterisked in black biro halfway down the 2nd paragraph and "Memorial to late Cr. Claxton" is marked in green. john garner, doctor, john garner collection, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat city council., pavilion, lake wendouree, rush cutting, improvements to foreshore, pisciculture, park and arbor day, swans., new green house, 1890, ballarat city council report books, ballarat botanical gardens, gardens, ballarat

The Black Swamp in western Ballarat frequently ca to be called Yuille's Swamp and in time, Lake Wendouree.William Yuille had a station, south of the Swamp, which became part of the gold rush settlement of Ballarat in 1838.2 pages of printNonejohn garner, doctor john garner, lake wendouree, yuille's swamp, black swamp, ballarat botanic gardens, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, william cross yuille, grazier, explorer, pioneer, scot, horse trainer, victoria racing club, squatter, gardens, ballarat, john garner collection

David Gordon Collection. Compiled by David Gordon. Red display folder with pages of compiled text information.

David Gordon Collection. Compiled by David Gordon