Bon Barrie, Graeme Cooper, N. Gillespie, Peter Barrie, Ken Robinson, Ray Allen, Tom Barrie, John Roaers and Graeme Gilliland, members of the Mt Cottrell Fire Brigades Group In the background of the photo is the pavilion during construction, Melton Recreation Park on Reserve Road.Melton South Trailer tank, pump and Syd Coopers Car at the Shire centenarycouncil, local significant events, emergency services

Group of people at the centenarycouncil, local significant events, local identities

Crowd of people at the Shire Centenary council, local significant events

A large crowd in front of the portable classroomscouncil, local significant events, education

Students assembled in school grounds with portable classroomscouncil, local significant events, education

Float was part of the Shire centenarycouncil, local significant events, local identities

A float which was part of the Shire centenary council, local significant events

Float part of the Shire Centenarycouncil, local significant events

Charles Ernest Barrie b. Ballarat 1871 d. 1931 In May 1911 he purchased the property known as ‘Darlingsford.’ The name of the property is derived from Thomas Bell Darling the purchaser of 176 acres of Crown Grant land on the 29-3-1853 which formed part of the Barrie farm acreage. His three sons continued in the family farming tradition in Melton for the rest of their lives. By 1982 the last remaining connection with the ‘Darlingsford’ property and the Barries. Sons, Ernest (Bon) finally ceased. Edgar died in 1975, Ernest in 1985 and Tom in 1990. Bridge built in 1915. Geoff Collins, Debbie, Coralie and Kim Barrie entering Darlingsford property over bridge built in 1915local identities, landscapes of significance

Property of Lot 1 Thomas Bell Darling 1853 1863 Ralph Parkinson 1887 Sold to Richard Manning (Cr and Hotelier) leased by John Walsh Minns family lived at the house in the time of Welsh. C Parkinson died in Jan 1887 Ralph Parkinson was a prominent citizen of Melton and was known for his generosity, and his involvement in the community and the Church of England. He had one daughter, his wife and other daughter died earlier. He died in Jan 1887Photo was taken during the October floodslocal identities, landscapes of significance

Family at the spillway in floodmisc.

Family at the spillway in floodmisc.

Photos of The Exford Weir looking drymisc.

Spillway, bridge and river in flood.misc.

Formerly Royal Hoyel, Marcie and her husband George Masterson had a shop on the corner of High and Smith Street.There was a boarding house behind the shop. Elaine Radford supplied this image and her family took over the business and was known as Radford’s Grocery.Marcie Masterson with her two daughters, Sheila and Margery(McComb) in their store.local architecture, local identities

Mary, Eliza and Ann Dowling arrived in Melbourne in June 1855 on the ship “Hotspur” as assisted immigrants. Mary married in Melton in 1857 to John Luby.The couple lived in Reserve Road Melton. Eliza married in Williamstown 1862 to William Daley a Bootmaker of Ann St, Williamstown. In 1865, Eliza and William lived in High Street Melton. Ann was a domestic servant in Williamstown and married Henri Miers in Melbourne in 1867.They built their house in Melton on the Ballarat road near the intersection of Reserveroad in 1867–Ryans Creek, referred to as Myers GullyMyers Gully at the junction of Reserve Road, now known as Ryans Creeklandscapes of significance, local identities, pioneer families

Photos of a flood at Toolern Creeklandscapes of significance

In 1853, Thomas Bell Darling purchased 176 acres from the Toolern Creek to Ferris Road. A house and bluestone barn/stables were built. The property was owned by Ralph Parkinson, followed by Richard Manning. “Darlingsford” was the name given to the Homestead. In 1911, Charles Ernest Barrie purchased the property known as“Darlingsford”. Barn before restorationlocal identities, local architecture, council

The barn is now used as a community function space.Signage for the sale of Darlingsford propertylocal identities, local architecture, council

Darlingsford Estatelocal identities, local architecture, council

Darlingsford propertylocal identities, local architecture, council

Side view of the barnlocal identities, local architecture, council

In 1963, along with Betty Jones and Isabel Snell, Edna Barrie was instrumental in forming the 1st Melton Cub Pack and later supported the formation of the 1st Melton Scouts Djerriwarrh Scout Troop in front of the Former Melton Wesleyan Church on Palmerston Street local special interest groups, local identities

Brownies club in front of a houselocal special interest groups

Melton girls guides walking out of Scot's Churchlocal special interest groups, churches

Many of the brigade and group base radios were situated in private residences and operated primarily by fire fighters wives who held the position of Communications Officer, either registered as a brigade member or informally. Edna Barrie was never registered as an operational brigade member but operated informally as an assistant to her husband Bon. She was however a member of the Melton Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary from its inception in 1968, a non-operational position. Edna kept up to date with radio procedure following the 1967 handbook; preparing maps, plotting compass points and taking notes on weather forecasts from the SA Border and Western District. Daily notes were taken in anticipation of fire warnings. These log books and daily radio traffic were incidental to the regular radio schedules. Emergency turnouts noted, burning off times and predicted location of smoke. In the summer fire season all TBF (total fire ban days were recorded.)CFA burning off dry grassemergency services

Region 14 Mount Cotterill Fire Brigades Group. In the back row is Bon Barrie, Keith Gillespie, Ross Backhouse, Peter Barrie, Edgar Barrie, Rob Radford, David Rintoul, Jim Patterson. Front Row: Les Gillespie, Graeme Gilliland, Ray Allen, Vic Allen and Steve Hirt.Melton CFA group wearing the new maroon and white practice gearemergency services, local identities

State and Regional demonstrations in Sunburyemergency services, local identities

Wal Lidgette, Bon Barrie, Harry Rothsay and Col Busse at the exercise in Seymouremergency services, local identities

As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Bon at his house on Ferris Road, Meltonlocal identities, emergency services