Mary Ann Charman was a pioneer settler in the Cheltenham area of the Parish of Moorabbin c1850 Stephen Charman , who emigrated in 1942 as a Henry Dendy employee aged 21 years, sadly lost his wife and child shortly after arriving in Brighton. When Dendy could not employ him he found other work. In 1850 he met Mary Gettens a widow with 5 children who supported her family by managing her late husband’s Inn in Collins St. Melbourne. Stephen purchased land in Spring Grove, now Cheltenham, in 1852 and the family moved to the wattle and daub hut after their marriage. Mary and Stephen worked very hard to establish a market garden, poultry and pork farm . They specialised in Marigolds which they sold to Martin & Pleasance Pharmacy , Melbourne for medicinal purposes. Mary and Stephen had 7 more children and Mary still managed to find time to sell the pork, poultry and vegetables from a horse drawn cart she drove around St Kilda. 1857 Stephen donated land to the Methodist Church for a School, burial ground and Chapel in Balcombe Road. Mary died 1870. Stephen remarried in 1878 and died aged 85 years 1906. Charman Road runs from Nepean Highway , Cheltenham through Beaumaris to the Beach Road at Mentone. Mr Les Jones was the Great Grandson of Mary Ann CharmanAn oval framed colour painting of the likeness of Mary Ann Charman, 1820 - 1870 pioneer settler in the Cheltenham area of the Parish of Moorabbinpioneers, early settlers, dendy henry, charman mary ann, jones les, cheltenham, moorabbin, brighton, market gardeners, dairy farmers, charman stephen, poultry farms, pork farms, charman road, balcombe road, mentone, beaumaris, st kilda, methodist church,

Winners: Cheltenham Methodists 1950-51; Mentone Presbyterian 1951-52; Cheltenham Church of Christ 1952-52; St Matthews 1953-54; Cheltenham Church of Christ 1954-55; St Augustine's 1955-56"Dark wood stained shield with silver award plaques and winners shields. The centre shield bears an image of a male tennis player."CHELTENHAM DISTRICT CHURCHES TENNIS ASSOCIATION" "PRESENTED BY CLARK MATTING & RUBBER LTD"cheltenham district churches tennis association

Harry Hale 1861-1937, a silk spinner, builder, migrated from England c1890 and built his house using 2nd hand material from the old Mentone Baths, old Co-op Stores, and some windows from the old St Matthew's Church Cheltenham .Harry with wife Frances raised 9 children. Following an accident Harry lost his leg and dissatisfied with the artificial limb he found a 'peg- leg ' more comfortable. Harry built many houses in Cheltenham unhindered by his 'peg-leg' . Harry also worked as an Insurance Agent. \ The house was demolished 1962. ( T. Sheehy, Moorabbin News 1962 H. Stanley )Harry Hale was a typical resourceful early settler who courageously worked with disability as he established his family in Cheltenham c1900a) Black & White photograph of the Harry Hale's House c 1930 North Cheltenham b) Sepia photograph c1906 of Harry Hale 1861 - 1937, Builder, Insurance Agent Cheltenham a) Handwritten information b) Mount ; TALMA, PARIS PANEL , 119 Swanston Street Melbourne and at Sydney hale harry, st matthews church of england cheltenham, talma photographers melbourne, photography, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, mckinnon, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

The 'Moorabbin News' newspaper was published 1900 - 1975 covering events in the Moorabbin, Cheltenham, area.'Moorabbin News' newspaper 1900-c1975 was one of the local newspapers that provided Moorabbin citizens with social, sporting, market, crime, council, housing, information.Black & White photograph c1910 of 5 men standing outside the office of the 'Moorabbin News' newspaper moorabbin news 1900-1975, moorabbin standard newspaper, southern cross newspaper brighton 1858, printing, newspapers, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman s, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Australian rules football began being played on a regular basis in Cheltenham in 1890. Teams would not only play locally but travel by train fairly long distances, such as to Ballarat, for the day, play a game, turn around and come home. The Cheltenham home games were played on a paddock on the corner of Park and Charman roads in Cheltenham. In 1907 the Cheltenham progress committee made an application to the board of land works for land in Weatherall Road for recreational service to the public. That application was received and granted, then developed where Cheltenham Recreational Reserve now stands. The ground was opened in 1909 and the first Cheltenham side entered in the newly formed Federal Football League along with seven other foundation members, Mordialloc, Mentone, Moorabbin, Frankston, Glenhuntly, Elsternwick, and Ellindale. The grand final for that year, 1909 was a hard encounter between Cheltenham and Ellindale with Cheltenham coming out victors, thus becoming the inaugural Federal Football League premiers. The Federal Football League (FFL), also known simply as the Federal League, was an Australian rules football competition in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. The competition was in existence from 1909 to 1981 and was regarded as one of the strongest metropolitan leagues in Melbourne.Black and white image of the players and officials of the Cheltenham Football Club. Back (left to right) G Puttick, Franklyn (sic), Unkown, Unknown, C Corstorphine, D Arland, Dave Hughes, H Bryant, Centre: T Elliott, S Parsons, F Judd, H Foreman, N Corstorphine, J McCormack, S Chandler, H Orr. Front: H Clayton - no other names recorded. The players are wearing what appears to be a range of club jumpers, with some in street wear. Some players seated in the front row have mud visible on the soles of their shoes, indicating they may have already played a gam. The ball on the ground in front of the group is round.Round red sticker on reverse with handwritten text: X10 Handwritten in blue ink: A11, with a circle around it Handwritten in red ink: 50%sport, football, cheltenham, teams, federal football league

This aerial photograph depicts the changing landscape of Cheltenham and Highett since WWII. Photographed in 1945, there is a mix of urban dwellings and industrial development and precedes the major transformation of Cheltenham with the development of the Southland shopping centre in the 1960s and expansion in the 1990s.A large part of Cheltenham was originally established as a rural market gardening community. The railway line and station brought urban development to the area and in the north, the Highett area was dominated by the Highett Gas Works. Cheltenham became a major destination for shopping in the 1960s with the opening of Southland.Aerial photograph taken in 1945 of Cheltenham and Highett within the City of Kingston. The image includes the Highett Reserve, (top right), the Methodist Children Homes (now Southland), Nepean Highway and Jamieson Street. Highett Gas Works is visible in the top left and the land now named William Fry Reserve at the intersection of Bay Road and Nepean Highway. A visible large parcel of land on the corner of Bay Road and Nepean Highway was developed in the 1990s as the west side addition to Southland. The densely vegetated area in the upper right sector of the image is now dense with housing. Tulip Grove, Heather Grove and Gilford Street are visible bottom left. This image is possibly from the collection of aerial photographs commissioned by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey and taken by Adastra Airways.Black ink: 57252 White lettering: VIC-10 57252 20.12.45 [lens information indecipherable] PROJ. No.5 MELB. METROP AREA Black pencil: 80highett, cheltenham, highett gas works, urbanisation

This aerial photograph depicts the changing landscape of Cheltenham and Highett since WWII. Photographed in 1945, there is a mix of urban dwellings and industrial development and precedes the major transformation of Cheltenham with the development of the Southland shopping centre in the 1960s and expansion in the 1990s.A large part of Cheltenham was originally established as a rural market gardening community. The railway line and station brought urban development to the area and in the north, the Highett area was dominated by the Highett Gas Works. Cheltenham became a major destination for shopping in the 1960s with the opening of Southland.Aerial photograph taken in 1945 of Cheltenham and Highett within the City of Kingston. The image includes the Highett Reserve, (top right), the Methodist Children Homes (now Southland), Nepean Highway and Jamieson Street. Highett Gas Works is visible in the top left and the land now named William Fry Reserve at the intersection of Bay Road and Nepean Highway. A visible large parcel of land on the corner of Bay Road and Nepean Highway was developed in the 1990s as the west side addition to Southland. The densely vegetated area in the upper right sector of the image is now dense with housing. Tulip Grove, Heather Grove and Gilford Street are visible bottom left. This image is possibly from the collection of aerial photographs commissioned by the Department of Crown Lands and Survey and taken by Adastra Airways.Black type: Reverse lettering VIC-10 57252 20.12.45 [lens information indecipherable] PROJ. No.5 MELB. METROP AREA White lettering: Reverse writing 57252cheltenham, highett, highett gas works, urbanisation

School children were taught to print and write with lead pencil using this type of copy book. When proficient they were permitted to begin using dipping pen and ink. Rossiter Whelan was an early settler's child who attended Cheltenham State School c 1907This is a typical Copy Book used by school children learning to print and write with lead pencil and dipping pens and ink c 1907'Copy Book' for learning to write for 1st class Cheltenham State School 1907Rossiter Whelan / AUSTRALIAN COPY BOOK / LOWER FIRST CLASS / FOR TRACING WITH LEAD PENCIL OR PEN / INTRODUCTORY BOOK, PRICE ONE PENNY /MELBOURNE PUBLISHED FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BY ROBT. S, BAIN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER

Early settlers in Moorabbin Shire came together for social, religious, sporting and entertainment. This group is probably from the Cheltenham area, possibly a Church Group , and are preparing for a day of riding.Community Groups with Church or Sporting associations were integral to the spiritual well being and social life of the early settlers in Moorabbin Shire.Black & White photograph of a large group of male cyclists with their bicycles c1908, bicycles, moorabbin, cheltenham, dendy henry, dendy's special survey 1841, assisted emigrants early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, marigold flowers, pharmacy, charman stephen, gettens mary, charman harriet, methodist church cheltenham, primitive methodists, box william, box elizabeth, state schools, education, moorabbin shire, moorabbin roads board, city of moorabbin, kingston city council

1906: The Moorabbin Co-Operative Stores. Located on the Nepean Road, Cheltenham, (before 1st WW). . There are four men outside the Store and a 3 horse carriage. Two of the men are sitting on their carriages, one to the left and the other on the right of the photograph. The third horse and carriage is right beside the left of the store, carrying eight large sacks. Towards the side of the Moorabbin Stores there is a building located to right which is called The Exchange Hotel.1906: The Moorabbin Co-Operative Stores. Located on the Nepean Road, Cheltenham, (before 1st WW). The Leader Newspaper office occupied the site. The Exchange Hotel is to the right.Photograph is black and white. 1906: The Moorabbin Co-Operative Stores. Located on the Nepean Road, Cheltenham, (before 1st WW). The Leader Newspaper office occupied the site. The Exchange Hotel is to the right.Stamped on back :City of Moorabbin Historical Society Written on Front of mount : 1906moorabbin, stores, horses, men, ww1, world war 1, tobacco, nepean road, co-operative, cheltenham

Teacher Miss Reynolds is shown with her 'Upper Class' in 1906 and '2nd Class' in 1907. West Beaumaris School No 84 in Charman Road Stephen Charman, 1821-1906 a market gardener, donated land for the first Methodist Chapel, Cemetery and School in Charman Rd Cheltenham 1855. The enrolment was 36 pupils with Mr Frederick Meeres as Teacher. 1863 the school is called Beaumaris Common School No 84 with 70 pupils and Walter Meeres as Teacher. 1869 another 2 acres in Charman Road were granted by the Education Board and brick building built . 1872 State School 84 Beaumaris was increasing enrollments and 1878 a new brick school was built to accommodate 174 pupils and the name changed to Cheltenham State School No.84 1894 Mentone State School No.2950 amalgamated with Cheltenham SS No.84. 1910 the buildings were in disrepair, overcrowding was increasing and renovations were made 1912 with further additions in 1925 and 1937. Post WW11 extra prefabricated Classrooms were added as enrollment increased to 1038 in 1955.. Cheltenham East State School 4754 was opened as housing development spread over the City of Moorabbin . ( J Larson Sandringham HS)1855 Stephen Charman donated land to the Methodist Church so that a School could be established to educate the children of the early settler market gardeners and farmers in the Cheltenham area . Education was valued by the general community and as well as schools they established mechanics Institutes and Libraries in Moorabbin Shire. Cheltenham State School No. 84 was among the first schools in Melbourne.2 x Black & White Photographs of Beaumaris State School pupils with Miss Reynolds in 1906 and 1907Hand written ; Warburton, B. Wooff, R. Whelan, Miss Reynoldscity of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, cheltenham state school no.84, methodist chapel cheltenham, methodist school cheltenham, beaumaris west state school, meeres frederick, meeres walter, education, early settlers,

The Anglican Cheltenham parish was created in 1865 by excising a portion of the parish of St Andrews Brighton. A small brick church was completed in 1867 to serve a rural community stretching from Brighton South (Moorabbin) to Mordialloc. 1867 St Matthew's Church of England was erected in Cheltenham beside the Nepean Highway near Charman Road. The early settlers established a tennis club, cricket team and social groups. A typical social event was the annual Sunday School Picnic held in 1907 at Dandenong Creek.Young members are mentioned Curly Owen,C,Burnett,A Manett St Matthew's Church of England Cheltenham was erected in 1867 and was integral to the spiritual well being and social life of the early settlers.Black & White photograph of the St Matthew's Church of England Sunday School Picnic 1907Handwritten Curly Owen, C, Burnett, A Manett st. matthew's church of england cheltenham, sunday school picnics, anglican church, st andrew's church brighton, owen curly, burnett c . manett a, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b., bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Cheltenham Bowls Club, which was located to the rear of Cheltenham Railway station. This photograph was taken by Percy Fairlam, who opened a photographers shop in Charman Road. Percy took many of the best known photographs of Cheltenham at the turn of the century.This photograph was taken by Percy Fairlam, who opened a photographers shop in Charman Road. Percy took many of the best known photographs of Cheltenham at the turn of the century.Black and white photograph of people bowling at the Cheltenham Bowling Club, depicting a large area of lawn surrounded by trees and bushes, with buildings in the background. There are several groups of men and women standing on the lawn in front of a series of small balls.Printed in black ink on a round white sticker: 111 Handwritten in red ink: 90%. Handwritten in red ink: K000603leisure, bowls, games

The Methodist Children's Home was originally the home of Mr Gulliver a chemist. It became the centre of a farm at the Home. When the Home was sold to the Catholic Church 1953 it was renamed 'Marian Lodge'. The Methodist Children's Home in Cheltenham was founded c1880 to provide housing for neglected children from the inner city. The Founders aimed to provide regular nourishment, a stable environment and integrate the children into the local community thereby improving their education and lives. However new settlers to Cheltenham area who were seeking a healthier and more respectable lifestyle for their families were not happy to share Church and School with the Home's Children. ( see 00561) 1950's saw a new direction for the support of children and families in poor and difficult situations . The new Methodist Burwood Homes Facility opened in 1951 and children were transferred from Cheltenham in 1952. The land was sold to the St John of God, Catholic Order in1953 who maintained an orphanage until Myer Pty Ltd bought the site in 1967 and constructed the Southland Shopping Centre c1892-1953 The Methodist Children's Home Cheltenham was founded to provide safe accommodation and education for neglected children from the inner city slums. The St John of God Order purchased the Home 1953 and the land was sold to Myer Pty Ltd. who built Southland Shopping Centre 1967 Black & White photograph showing a farm house that was originally owned by Mr Gulliver, a chemist and then the Methodist Children's Home was established 1892. Named Marian Lodge after the St John of God Catholic Order purchased the property in 1953 Back Hand written information st john of god home cheltenham 1953-1967, marian lodge, mr gulliver, pharmacy, methodist childrens home cheltenham 1892-1953, myer southland 1967, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, cheltenham state school no.84, methodist chapel cheltenham, methodist school cheltenham, beaumaris west state school, meeres frederick, meeres walter, education, early settlers,

Although the Railway line had been planned for some time Sir Thomas Bent MP was responsible for making it happen in order to revitalize the fortunes of the Moorabbin Shire that he had represented for so long. The train line opened in 1881with 8 Stations between Caulfield and Mordialloc.The first Steam engine carried dignitaries and local residents. Bent also ensured that the Station houses in his constituency were built in a distinctive decorative cottage style. Bent faced severe criticism for diverting the rail line through his local area and for the expenditure on the Stations. Local residents established and cared for Gardens at the Stations and Cheltenham was awarded Best Garden c1910. The arrival of the Railway Line saw the traders move from Point Nepean Rd to Charman Rd and by 1910 various shops and business were present. 2016 - current has seen large protest rallies against the destruction of Mentone Station and Cheltenham Station as the Victorian State Government proceeds to remove Railway Level Crossings. A compromise to retain the Station buildings whilst placing the Rail Line underground is desired.Cheltenham Railway Station is one of the original cottage style stations ordered by Sir Thomas Bent when the rail line was extended from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1881Photograph Black & White Postcard showing the entrance to Cheltenham Railway Station c1920Valentine &Sons Pub Co Ltd Melb railways, cheltenham station, mentone station, south brighton station, railway level crossing removal 2016 -19, smith j l; smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman s, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards, orchards

Stephen Charman, aged 21 years arrived in Melbourne in 1842 as one of Henry Dendy's emigrants. He established purchased land in 1852 and established a market garden at Spring Grove Cheltenham with his 2nd wife Mary nee Gettens. Stephen died 1906 in Gippsland. He wrote letters to his brother Michael who had remained in England Stephen and Mary Charman were pioneer market gardeners in Moorabbin Shire 1842 and were involved in the development of Church, school and community in the area now called Cheltenham. Charman Road Cheltenham was a boundary of their land. Letter, handwritten from Stephen Charman to his brother Michael in UK 1853 x 3 pages Handwritten signed Stephen early settlers, pioneers, spring grove, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, charman mary, gettens mary, marigold flowers, pharmacy, methodist church, state schools, education, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardens,