TOM COLLINS–from the reel to reel tape recording at Melton 1969 In the years between 1890 and to about 1913 Melton was a quiet little hamlet alongside the Toolern Creek, once called the Pennyroyal Creek, 24 miles from Melbourne on the Ballarat Road. There was a fair amount of woodland left around it, mostly grey and yellow box with sheoak, and golden wattle, which in spring time made a rather attractive setting. Most of the premises were in the main or High Street, with its line of elm and pepper trees on each side. Unitt, McKenzie and Henry streets each contained only a few dwellings. Hotels were four in number, Minns’s, Mrs Hay licencee, now Mac’s, Golden Fleece – Sheblers. The Royal or Ryan’s as it was then called, later Graham had the licence, and the Raglan - Kilpatricks had the licence and afterwards Tom Manning. This was situated about where Mr K. Young had his residence. There was a store attached to the hotel until about 1900. Both the Royal and the Raglan were delicensed, later on the Royal being converted to a green grocery and a boarding house, the Raglan was demolished. The Royal green grocery and boarding house was kept by E Carew and after he retired, E Radford. The Post and Telegraph Office was on the opposite side of the street to the Raglan Hotel about two doors west of the Shire Hall and was kept by Mrs Ferris and Lady Farmer until her retirement, when it was carried on by Miss Lottie Ross. A store was attached to the Post Office and was sometimes used as a store and at one time housed the National Bank. There were two full time banks at Melton, the other being the Commercial which built premises about 1904 and on the corner of High and Smith Streets, which it still occupies. Mr G Egan was the manager of the Commercial and Mr Stradling and later Mr Lee of the National. However as business was not thought good enough they reverted to a part time branch operated from Bacchus Marsh. Grocer shops were Chalmers, with a news agency and drapery now Arnolds, Jongebloeds had the bakery. Mr Fox also a produce merchant, was where Melton Real Estate is now, it was later occupied by Buchanans, Atleys, and Mrs Ross. Not long after the War Mrs Ross built the Post Office, since demolished where Miss Lottie Ross was the Post Mistress and later built the store which she conducted. It was later turned into a factory and in now the barbers shop. McNichols was just west of the Minns Hotel. He travelled as far a Ballan weekly, buying calves and dairy produce for sale in Melbourne. Afterwards he sold the business and bought Minns Hotel and changing the name to Macs. Blacksmiths were three in number. Blackwoods – later James Byrnes next door to Jongebloeds. Alex Cameron who learnt his trade with Blackwoods had his shop about the rear of where Ken Youngs Garage is now he later moved to the north west corner of High and Alexander Street. He was also the Registrar of Birth and Deaths and Electoral Registrar. After his retirement he was weighbridge keeper at Melton South. Two of his sons were engaged in the carpentry trade, but both died at an early age. Whittingtons shop was a few doors east of the Mechanics Hall and it was later occupied by Gordon Macdonald who did business there until about eight years ago. The butchers of the period were George Graham, that is where Mandy Lees hairdressing establishment is now. Euan MacDonald had premises later occupied by Whittingtons blacksmith shop. Later shifting next door. He left here about 1901, he slaughtererd animals at a slaughter house right where Chas Jones now resides, it had previously been a slaughter house and butcher shop of that site. George Spring also operated as a butcher for two or three years about the 1900 or so. Ted Simpsons shop was where John Kontek now has his Estate Agency, he used it as an branch shop from Bacchus Marsh bringing meat from there by a two horse lorry. Jimmy Butler the manager was well known and loved, his son was later a steeplechase jockey. The Court House and Police Station would be built sometime before 1900. The Constables at the time were McGuire, later Wade, Riely and McKenzie after that Robert Wilson and Seinfort were here, they were a bit later on. The Mechanics Hall was first opened by Ryan of the Royal Hotel who sold it to the Hall Committee. It was on Unitt Street and it was moved by McLellans the house shifters from Unitt Street to its present site. Bluestone premises formerly occupied by the bootmaker Carew, were later demolished and replaced by the brick frontage to the Hall. Keith Orensini [?] the local bricklayer built brick portion to the Hall. In the cottage adjoining the Hall a Frenchman named Baudin, had a boot repairing business.This cottage was the later residence of J Hill, a local carpenter and builder from whom I learnt my trade. Granny Watts was the well known local nurse and operated the Mid-Wifery Hospital in Yuille Street on the Sherwin Street corner. Mrs Nissen was on the opposite side of Yuille Street a short distance nearer the township. She conducted the laundry. Carew had a greengrocers shop next door to the Post Office in the High Street for some time before transferring to the Royal Hotel site. He also bought [?] calves for killing. W Cecil was a tank maker and also had a produce round, he lived on Pyke and Sherwin Street. Later Gus Shebler, builder and carpenter engaged in tank making being well known for good workmanship. Shebler was very energetic in forming the Gun Club which met for a good number of years where the golf course now has its headquarters. Of the four churches only three are in use, Christ Church, Scots and St Dominics. The Methodist closed down but later transferred to Melton South. Monthly stock sales were held at the yards in Unitt Street at Minns Hotel by McPhail Auctioneers, later held by McCarthur and McLeod. After the Council built the pound and sale yards they transferred sales to these premises, but lack of patronage caused them to be abandoned. A familiar sight in the district was blind Bob Nixon, who lived in a tumbled down cottage in Centenary Road near W Coburns, being led by his dog down the road to Melton, that is Palmerston street, to the Post Office, butcher and baker for his supplies and then back home. He was able to do his own cooking and other chores. Sundays he would come down Raleighs Road to the back of the church and tie his dog to a tree. Someone, mostly one of the boys would guide him into the church and out again after the service, when the dog would lead him home again. State School 430, a two roomed bluestone building it was the only school in the district, none at Melton South. The nearest would be Rockbank and Toolern Vale. Scholars had a fair distance to walk in most cases. The teachers were Mr T Lang Headmaster. I put a query here, Miss Winters, I’m not certain of the name, Mrs Skinner and Miss Silke as Assistant Teachers. Miss Augusta Cecil and Miss Maud Lang were Junior teachers. One boy who attended the school about the turn of the century was Hector Fraser who resided with his parents in Keilor Road, where Jim Gillespie now lives. He was an excellent gun shot and at the age of about 17 years his father took him to France or Monaco where he won the Gran Prix for pigeon shooting and became the champion boy shot of the world. However he died there from pneumonia. He shot under the name of “Parvo”. The Melbourne Hunt Club used to meet in Keilor Road north side just east of the Toolern Creek on what was originally Pykes Run. This was also the place where the races were held and the Sports Meetings. Dave Murphy, employed at Clarke’s Rockbank Station usually provided the fox which he liberated for the Club. Greyhound coursing was usually held on Moylans property Mt Kororoit, or Mt Misery as it was known then. Later it was held at Melton Park, Mr Matt Carberry was the judge and Percy Cook the slipper. Early in the 1900’s the Recreation Park was created and the Caledonian and the ANA sports meetings were held there, they were annual events. L Paterson from Melton South was a successful competitor in all the cycling events as a young man. He later in life became the Deputy Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The present Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade is John Paterson, nephew of his, and spent his early life in Exford where his father was manager of the Exford Estate. Notes Tom Collins was born c 1895. He lived on the south side of the Ballarat Road near the intersection of Keilor Road.Historical image of Palmerston Street in Meltonlocal architecture, landscapes of significance

The Practice of Divine Love; Being an exposition upon the Church Catechism: to which are added directions for prayer.Green cloth-bound hardcover book, embossed decoration to front and back covers. Cover totally detached from body, tear to spine. Foxing throughout. 140 pp. Fair condition.On 2nd flyleaf, 'Mrs. Hanniford/With Walter's, Best and/Kindest Wishes/May 25, 1859'.religion, mrs. hanniford

Murray Comrie Collection.Monochrome photograph of a group of children assembled in rows for a school photograph. Accompanied by two sets of handwritten notes (catalogued separately as a Research Notes) with children's names. Names of children combined from both set of notes are believed to be: Left to Right Back/4th row: Maurice Chambers, Alf Gedling, Bill Riordan, Les Williams, Wally Harwood, Len Smith, Les Caldwell, (at rear, Headmaster/teacher W.Carroll), Angus Comrie, Keith Comrie, Ken McKenzie, Bert Caldwell, Maurice Power. 3rd row: George Banks, Bruce Calder, J. Austin, Les Hutchins, Bill Gedling, Gilbert Ramm, Sydney Goltz, Murray Comrie, Tom Comrie, Bill Whimpey, Jim Duggan, Reuben Ampfer. 2nd row: Theo Riordan, N. Carroll, Andy Heraud, K.Calder, Keith Chambers, Harry James, Ron Heraud, Mal Ampfer, Stan McNamee, Bert Stevens (or Stephens). Front/1st row: _______ Calder, Rob Banks, L. Carroll, George Riordan, Bill Stevens (or Stephens), Len McKenna, A. Whimpey.tarnagulla, school, education, children, ampfer, banks, calder, caldwell, carroll, chambers, comrie, duggan, gedling, harwood, heraud, james, mckenna, mcnamee, riordan, smith, stephens, stevens, whimpey, williams

Currently the headquarters of the Melton Historical Society, the Willows was built in 1855 by a farmer called Ralph Parkinson. In 1867, it was purchased and extended by James Ebden Minns. His son, George Minns, was given the property by his father in 1903, George was a council member of Melton Shire for 37 years and after he eft the area in 1951, the property became derelict. Although due to the support of the community, Melton Shire Council purchased the property in 1972 and to assist with the restoration, a group was established called the Willows Restoration Committee. The members included Chairman Cr Ed Gillespie, Lorraine Gillespie, Mr & Mrs Alan Reed, Ken Young, Bill Amor, Edna Barrie, Max Watson, Cr Jeff Robinson and Wendy Barrie.Restoration was completed in 1982.The Willows before restoration in 1973. This is the view of the front of the house and part of side wire fencing.council, local special interest groups, pioneer families, local architecture, local identities

Edna Barrie handwritten notes – copied 18th October 2013 web The early story of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Victoria At Melton between Bal [Ballarat] and Melb [Melbourne] was introduced by the Revd Wlm Blamires in 1862 ably seconded by the late Mrs Westlake (afterwards Mrs Spargo). Mr J James, the active and indefatigable Revd Eb Taylor and such workers as Atkinson Corr and Ferris. Mawson and John Dare 1867 the foundation stone of the present church was laid. Revd D Waugh 1867. Melton and Toolern Vale have benefited by the generous help of Mr J Browne esquire of White Hills Station Diggers Rest and are now comprised in the Sunshine Circuit. Written at a later date – Wesleyan 16-4-1867 then Methodist 3-10-1867. Bluestone building cost Lsd 350-13-6. Seating 40 pounds Rev Ken Moore Methodist opened at Brooklyn Rd Melton South c1940 closed c 1972. Timber Church shifted from Staughton Vale, prior to this Services held in Victoria Hall Melton South. The source of the information – ? and date notes were made On the Chart outlining Melton Churches the following additional notes- At opening (nil Plaster, nil ceiling) Slate roof. Closed 1910-1911- most likely from 1867 Express My research - Melton Express noted 15th Aug 1939 porch added to Church at Melton South making the date earlier than 1940. Photographs taken when the building was being used as the UC Opp Shop and demolition of the building showing the porch. Charles Ernest Barrie was prominent in the life of the Methodist Church and established a thriving Sunday School. He built the Chaff Mills at Melton South in 1900. In 1910 he sold the Mill to Glover Onians and moved to a farm at Trundle NSW, where he lived for about a year. In May 1911 he purchased “Darlingsford” in Melton when it came on the market. The address Elizabeth St Moonee Ponds appears in the family records during this period and during WW 1 they also lived at Ascot Vale where the Lang parents lived. On returning after the war to Melton to occupy the Darlingsford house, which had been occupied by a caretaker. The family joined the Presbyterian Church. Evidenced in the Church Minute Book. 1920 What happened to the Methodist Church between 1910 – 1920? How long did it exist while in the Bluestone building in Palmerston St (Heritage listed 2008) When did the church commence in Victoria Hall? Built 1910 on land donated by C E Barrie. I attended the Methodist Church Melton Sth when monthly services were held in the afternoons. We were members of the Presbyterian Church and also supported the Melton Sth Church during the 1950’s Signboard from Melton South Methodist Churchchurches

List of Full Course Students' 1947, Magazine Committee, Editorial, Editor's Notes, News and Notes, Our New Principal, Obituary, Farewell Dinner to Mr and Mrs A. F. Heseltine, S.M. B. Sports Committee. Principal's Page, The Literary Society, Science Section, A Trip to Whyalla, Art Section, Senior Sport, Commercial Notes, Dressmaking and Girls' Preparatory Section, Junior Technical School Section .2) Yellow cover with blue, white and green lettering, soft covered magazine of 54 pages.ballarat school of mines, magazine, n. whitaker, e. stevens, d. spence, r. gladman, d. munroe, f. g. procter, p. wilson, dr. j. r. pound, j. swain, r. w. richards, h. j. edwards, r. p. flower, ken palmer, john leslie burt, r. s. ewins, w. r. burrow, david maxwell, c. a. hoadley, mr and mrs a. f. heseltine, james rogers, dorothy spence, tom hobill, a. e. lambert, w. b. hirt, p. maloney, j. blainey, n. hornbuckle, k. bremner, o. whitworth, r. pullen, r. eason, j. a. mckenzie, j. mckenzie, w. brown, d. harbour, k. whiter, m. sewell, r. kibby, b. sherritt, mr hillman, miss fogarty, mr richards, miss darby, d. brayshaw, d. judd, b. tippett, neville m. bunning, w. ross, r. u'ren, g. bligh, s. baird, j. parker, m. grace, j. mccoy, f. savage, j. veale, d. jelbart, b. hewitt, j. willis, a. temby, b. tantau, n. rees, j. rogers, h. fumberger, l. veale, m. heatherington, r. rosser, b. davis, b. murrel, c. edmonds, r. cairns, j. morrish, j. wilson, g. coward, j. scala, w. ludbrook, g. searle, j. dunstan, m. murray, b. u'ren, r. loft, m. kennedy, a. mccallum, c. mcdonald, t. sawyer, f. mcwilliam, r. spence, b. llewellyn, t. lannen, m. robot, n. pitcher, j. cartledge, m. court, p. hay, t. halstead, n. bawden, d. stevenson, e. lloyd, b. jones, m. pitcher, olive whitworth, rhonda cockburn, k. roberts, w. clarke, j. james, n. silvey, t. shaw, s. vinegrad, j. watts, a. young, k. ward, p. hewitt, g. murrowood, i. lepp, g. hindson, k. belsar, d. gilbert, d. tozer, t. hewitt, m. collinson, w. coad, f. tolliday, w. quayle, r. wilson, r. cochrane, r. norman, c. sanos, j. daly, j. blackburn, r. kennedy, william arthur prowse, l. george, c. beaston, r. ward, g. stimson, r. plover, w. congress, s. hoffman, m. rundell, j. skilbeck, f. atkinson, r. rickard, t. wren, d. mcdonald, j. bethune, r. lavery, g. allen, b. feaver, c. jones, w. coles, k. spalding, m. tweedale, m. horwood, r. eyres, m. bailey, m. coleman, i. hicks, f. atchison, i. mcconchie, o. v. o'neull, l. l. sedgwick, william prowse, bill prowse, neville bunning

The newspaper was produced to celebrate the 100th year of the Ballarat Courier.96 page newspaper celebrating 100 years of publishing the Ballarat Courier Newspaper. Stories and images include: Robert Clark, Ballarat history, Sturt Street, Selkirk Bricks, Ballarat Industry, Thomas Bath, Royal Hotel, hotels, Begonia Festival, James Smith, Hollways, Myers, Ballarat Orphanage, Nazareth House, Lake Elsworth, Batches, libraries, Timken, Sunshine Biscuits, M.B. John, AMCAST, reservoirs, Ballarat Council,, Morsheads, Civic Hall, Alfred Hall, Art Gallery, Christies, 3BA, Paddle Bros, South Street, BTV 6, Memorial Theatre, Her Majesty's, Whitelaw-Monier, Coltman, costume, Messer and opie, politics, Dudley Erwin, Bill Stephen, Vance Dickie, Tom Evans, Murray Byrne, McKay - Macleod, Crockers, Ballarat Shire, Sovereign Hill. St Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Ballarat School of Mines, Mt Helen Campus, Ballarat Girls School. Ballarat North Technical School , Burke and Wills Memorial, Joe White Maltings, Ballarat Airport, Sunicrust, architecture, women, trams, transport, Faulls, Franklin Caravans, Olympics, football, history of Sunshine Biscuits robert clark, clark, ballarat, sturt street, selkirk bricks, industry, thomas bath, royal hotel, hotels, begonia festival, james smith, hollways, myers, ballarat orphanage, nazareth house, lake elsworth, batches, libraries, timken, sunshine biscuits, m.b. john, amcast, reservoirs, ballarat council, morsheads, civic hall, alfred hall, art gallery, christies, 3ba, paddle bros, south street, btv 6, memorial theatre, her majesty's, whitelaw-monier, coltman, costume, messer and opie, politics, dudley erwin, bill stephen, vance dickie, tom evans, murray byrne, mckay - macleod, crockers, ballarat shire, sovereign hill. st patrick's cathedral, christ church cathedral, ballarat school of mines, churches, mt helen campus, ballarat girls school. ballarat north technical school, burke and wills memorial, joe white maltings, ballarat airport, sunicrust, architecture, women, trams, transport, faulls, franklin caravans, olympics, football, bray raceway, coliseum motors, schoools, education, craig bros, dayelsford, clunes, beaufort, linton, skipton, heinz bors, villiers, flecnoe, jones, robertson, cowles, bulless, cronn, matthews, ballarat library, cowley's eureka iron works, john hollway and sons, ken webb, mayoral chain, ken flecknoe, a.e. flecknoe, bath's hotel, eureka stockade memorial park

In 1878, J H Abbott bought the Edinburgh tannery from Mr Lambert and Mr Sibley in 1878 and set about expanding and modernising it. Soon it consisted of the necessary sheds surrounded by cottages built for the workers. The tannery buidings and processes consisted of :- 1. Hide shed that held 400-500 salted hides 2. Salt pots where the salted hides were soaked to remove all salt 3. Lime water pits where the hides were soaked to remove hair and all adherent flesh. 4.Beam shed where hides were hung so they could be scraped clean with double handled knives 5. Water baths that soaked the hides to remove the lime 6. Tan yard where there were 10 pits containing tanning liquid made from ground wattle bark. The entire process could take up to 9 months depending on the type of leather required. A forward thinking initiative of this tannery was the lack of waste. The left over flesh was boiled down to make tallow, trimmings from the hides was used to make glue, hair was washed and used by saddlers and upholsterers and the lime was mixed with tanning liquid to produce fertilizer. The tannery was producing about 240 sides of leather a week, with about two thirds of this being sent to England where it was in great demand because of its quality. In December 1894 the plant was destroyed by a fire believed to have started in the engine room. The plant was quickly rebuilt at an estimated cost of ten thousand pounds. The plant at 145 Tannery Lane operated until 1906.Sepia photograph: 13 workmen, shed at rear. Brick, timber, corrugated iron buildings in back ground. Interesting industrial site of the time. Photo of workmen taken in front of open sheds. Brick chimney and pile on L.H.S. Suggests Edinburgh Tannery, Sheepwash. J.H Abbott & Co. On back on small piece of paper 1127 Bgo. New registration No. rather indistinct. James Lerk 26.11.1999, ' Edinburgh Tannery - Sheepwash?' Ken Arnold Book 'Bendigo A History in Bottles & Stoneware 1852-1930 p10. This photograph labelled 'Workers at Sheepwash Tannery,' C. 1880-1890 with section about J.H. Abbott & Co. See book 'Bendigo A History in Bottles & Stoneware 1852-1930 by Ken Arnold, p.10RHSV 1127, Bgoorganization, business, edinburgh tannery, sheepwash creek.

BHS CollectionBendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from Tuesday, January 13, 2004. Class of '46: Violet Street State School grade IV. Back row: Stan Thomas, Keith Gibbs, Don Hicks, Ken Stringer, Bill Allen, Dave Campbell, Bryan Roberts. Fourth row: Brian Grise, Leigh Derricott, ??, Mark Eddybone, Max Heritage, George Riley. Third row: Barry Rogers, Geoff Edlin, Toby Martin, Colin James, Robert Hartley, Kelvin Braumen. Second row: Marge Martin, Dawn Sims, Joan Jobe, Denise Plim, Audrey Fletcher, Joyce ?, Jennifer Comte. Front row: Shirley Trimble, Shirley Thomas, Joy Adamson, Rita Featherstone. Teacher: Mr Crabb. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were