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National Wool Museum
Functional object - Typewriter, Remington Typewriter Company, c.1925
This Remington No.12 typewriter is of the typebar, front-strike class. It was made by the Remington Typewriter Company of Ilion, New York, U.S.A. in about 1925. The Model No. 12 was introduced in 1922 and was one of the first 'visible writer' machines, in which the typed characters were visible to the operator. Previous models were of the upstrike class in which the characters were typed on the underside of the platen. To see what had been typed the operator had to raise the platen, meaning the typist was typing blind much of the time. This machine was used by Margaret Ganly née Burn in the 1930s. It was purchased for her by one of the sons of William Pride, a famous saddle maker in Geelong, William was Margaret’s grandfather. The typewriter was donated with original sales receipt and servicing tools. Margaret worked at Dennys for 7 years during the 1930s. The typewriter is accompanied with a story written by Margaret about her time working at the company. Margret married Jack Ganly, a fellow employee of Dennys. The Ganly name was well known within Dennys, with three generations of the Ganly family working at the company. WORKING CONDITIONS & OFFICE WORK DUTIES. Written by Margaret Burn in 2021. Worked at Dennys Lascelles in the 1930s. In the 1930s coming out of the Depression, jobs were hard to come by and had to be clung to by efficiency and subserviency. There was no union to protect workers – bosses could be tough and rough. Dennys Lascelles revolved around fortnightly wool sales in the “season” – September to May. Sale day was always a day of suppressed excitement. Preparation from a clerical point of view was complete and we now awaited the aftermath of the actual wool auction. The building teemed with people. There were country people down to see their wool sold, buyers of many nationalities, or from the big cities, who were coming in and out of the building all day. Their role was to inspect the acres of wool bales displayed on the show floors; however, caterers were present to feed clients, and there was plenty of social interactions on top of business. The office staff did not go home but waited until the first figures came back from the wool sales and the machines went in to action, both human and mechanical, preparing the invoices for the buyers’ firms. This comprised of lists of lot numbers, weights, prices per lb., and the total prices paid. A lot of this was done by old-school typewriters, making this work a big, heavy, tiring job. Before the finished lists could be dispatched, they were collated on an “abstract”. The lists had to balance with the catalogue from which the invoices had been prepared. This never happened automatically. All the paperwork had to be split up amongst pairs of workers and checked until discrepancies were found. This would happen until midnight but occasionally went until 2 or 3 am. Once complete, the invoices could then be rushed off to the buyers’ firms usually in Melbourne, and hire cars took the staff home. It was back on the job the next morning, usually around 8.30. The office hours varied according to the size of the sale and work involved. Some days started as early as 8 and could finish around 5.30. The second phase of work began with the account sales to be prepared for the sellers of the wool. These detailed all the weights, descriptions of wool, brands, and prices. One Sales account could have multitudes of lot numbers, all needing to be individually described. Various charges needed to be deducted such as finance for woolpacks, extra stock, or farmers who were given a loan to live on during the season. Details of how payment was to be made was also noted, whether the seller was to be paid by cheque, to a bank, or credited to their account with the company (which often left the seller still in debt). For a couple of months in the winter, things were quieter when staff took holidays and were sometimes given afternoons off. But there were still weekly skin sales and stock sales around the state. The annual end of June figures to be prepared for a big company like Dennys with branches all around the state also kept the staff busy. In good years there was sometimes a bonus. On sale days there was a bar open for the clients and wool buyers. This added to the excitement for the young girls, who were strictly barred from using it, but somehow managed to sneak a gin and tonic. This is how I had my first ever, before the evening meal. There was also the romantic notion in some minds, with all the influx of males, that some of us might end up on a wealthy station, or be noticed by an exotic buyer. To my knowledge, this never happened at Dennys Lascelles Limited. Group staff photo at Dennys Lascelles Limited. Margaret Burn. Age 18 or 19. Jack Ganly (Margaret’s future husband). 22.The typewriter has a black painted metal frame. The top section of the typewriter consists of a cylindrical platen on a carriage featuring plated metal fittings. A curved folding paper guide sits behind the platen and moves on the horizontal axis when the user types on the keyboard. A horizontal semicircular type basket with typebar links the top section to the lower keyboard. The ink ribbon is carried between two spools on a horizontal axis, one on each side of the type-basket. At the rear, a paper tray features gold lettering which reads ‘Remington’. At the front, a four-row QWERTY keyboard is found with 42-character keys total. 'SHIFT LOCK' and 'SHIFT KEY' are to the left of the keyboard, 'BACK SPACER' and 'SHIFT KEY' to the right. All keys are circular, white with black lettering. At the top of the keyboard are five circular red keys with the numbers 1-5 displayed behind their respective keys. A Spacebar is found along the front of the keyboard. The typewriter is accompanied by a cardboard box. This box contains the original sales receipt, on blue paper with grey lead handwriting. It also contains spare parts, a spare ribbon stretched between two spools, and cleaning tools such as brushes of differing sizes. Serial Number. Engraved. "LX45395" Gold lettering. Paper tray. “Remington” Gold Lettering. Behind keyboard. “Made in Ilion, New York, U.S.A. Gold Lettering. Mirrored both sides of type-basket. “12”remington, dennys lascelles ltd, worker conditions 1930s -
National Wool Museum
Letter - Letter of reference for Margaret Burn, 03/11/1939
Letter of Reference for Miss Margaret Burn detailing her work as a bookkeeper, machine operator, typist, and stenographer over seven years at Dennys Lascelles Limited. The letter details her leaving the company as she married in 1939. In the same year, Ms Burn returned to the office owing to the shortage of staff caused by various employees being called away for Military Training. Included in the staff called away for military training was her newlywed husband, Mr Jack Ganly. A fellow employee of Dennys, the Ganly name was well known within the company, with three generations of the Ganly family working at Dennys. Margaret worked at Dennys for 7 years during the 1930s. The Letter of Reference is accompanied with a story written by Margaret about her time working at the company. WORKING CONDITIONS & OFFICE WORK DUTIES. Written by Margaret Burn in 2021. Worked at Dennys Lascelles in the 1930s. In the 1930s coming out of the Depression, jobs were hard to come by and had to be clung to by efficiency and subserviency. There was no union to protect workers – bosses could be tough and rough. Dennys Lascelles revolved around fortnightly wool sales in the “season” – September to May. Sale day was always a day of suppressed excitement. Preparation from a clerical point of view was complete and we now awaited the aftermath of the actual wool auction. The building teemed with people. There were country people down to see their wool sold, buyers of many nationalities, or from the big cities, who were coming in and out of the building all day. Their role was to inspect the acres of wool bales displayed on the show floors; however, caterers were present to feed clients, and there was plenty of social interactions on top of business. The office staff did not go home but waited until the first figures came back from the wool sales and the machines went in to action, both human and mechanical, preparing the invoices for the buyers’ firms. This comprised of lists of lot numbers, weights, prices per lb., and the total prices paid. A lot of this was done by old-school typewriters, making this work a big, heavy, tiring job. Before the finished lists could be dispatched, they were collated on an “abstract”. The lists had to balance with the catalogue from which the invoices had been prepared. This never happened automatically. All the paperwork had to be split up amongst pairs of workers and checked until discrepancies were found. This would happen until midnight but occasionally went until 2 or 3 am. Once complete, the invoices could then be rushed off to the buyers’ firms usually in Melbourne, and hire cars took the staff home. It was back on the job the next morning, usually around 8.30. The office hours varied according to the size of the sale and work involved. Some days started as early as 8 and could finish around 5.30. The second phase of work began with the account sales to be prepared for the sellers of the wool. These detailed all the weights, descriptions of wool, brands, and prices. One Sales account could have multitudes of lot numbers, all needing to be individually described. Various charges needed to be deducted such as finance for woolpacks, extra stock, or farmers who were given a loan to live on during the season. Details of how payment was to be made was also noted, whether the seller was to be paid by cheque, to a bank, or credited to their account with the company (which often left the seller still in debt). For a couple of months in the winter, things were quieter when staff took holidays and were sometimes given afternoons off. But there were still weekly skin sales and stock sales around the state. The annual end of June figures to be prepared for a big company like Dennys with branches all around the state also kept the staff busy. In good years there was sometimes a bonus. On sale days there was a bar open for the clients and wool buyers. This added to the excitement for the young girls, who were strictly barred from using it, but somehow managed to sneak a gin and tonic. This is how I had my first ever, before the evening meal. There was also the romantic notion in some minds, with all the influx of males, that some of us might end up on a wealthy station, or be noticed by an exotic buyer. To my knowledge, this never happened at Dennys Lascelles Limited. Group staff photo at Dennys Lascelles Limited. Margaret Burn. Age 18 or 19. Jack Ganly (Margaret’s future husband). 22. Sheet of paper shorter in length than A4 size, creamed with age. Paper has a header for Dennys, Lascelles Limited’s Head Office at 32 Moorabool Street, Geelong. Body of paper is made up of 3 paragraphs in a typewritten message of black ink with subheadings highlighted with a red underline. The text is finished with a signature at the bottom of the paper. Paper is accompanied by its original envelope. Envelope has typewritten text in black ink with a red underline located at the centre. It also has return to sender instructions to Dennys, Lascelles Limited in the lower left-hand corner.Typewritten text, black and red ink. Multiple. See multimediadennys lascelles ltd, worker conditions 1930s, letter of reference -
National Wool Museum
Program, Southern Districts 1989 Victorian Merino Field Days
"Southern Districts 1989 Victorian Merino Field Days". Program for a field day held in 1989 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, australian association of stud merino breeders limited, merino sheep, sheep stations -
National Wool Museum
Program, Southern Districts 1988 Victorian Merino Field Days
"Southern Districts 1988 Victorian Merino Field Days". Program for a field day held in 1988 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, australian association of stud merino breeders limited, merino sheep, sheep stations -
National Wool Museum
Program, Southern Districts 1990 Victorian Merino Field Days
"Southern Districts 1990 Victorian Merino Field Days". Program for a field day held in 1990 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, australian association of stud merino breeders limited, merino sheep, sheep stations -
National Wool Museum
Program, Southern Districts 1991 Victorian Merino Field Days
"Southern Districts 1991 Victorian Merino Field Days". Program for a field day held in 1991 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, australian association of stud merino breeders limited, merino sheep, sheep stations -
National Wool Museum
Program, Southern Districts 1992 Victorian Merino Field Days
"Southern Districts 1992 Victorian Merino Field Days". Program for a field day held in 1992 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, australian association of stud merino breeders limited, merino sheep, sheep stations -
National Wool Museum
Program, South Australian Stud Merino Field Days 1994
"South Australian Stud Merino Field Days", 1994. Program for a field day held in March 1994 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, south australian stud merino sheepbreeders association, merino sheep, sheep stations -
National Wool Museum
Program, South Australian Stud Merino Field Days 1995
"South Australian Stud Merino Field Days", mid north, 1995. Program for a field day held in March 1995 whereby various merino stud owners opened their properties for visits.merino sheep sheep stations, south australian stud merino sheepbreeders association, merino sheep, sheep stations -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Article, History of the Mitcham Memorial Hall, n.d
Article re 1. Gordon Riches who had a hairdressing and tobacco business in Whitehorse Road, Mitcham.Article re 1. Gordon Riches who had a hairdressing and tobacco business in Whitehorse Road, Mitcham. He remembers the old days of Mitcham Memorial Hall - opened 1923. When Mitcham R.S.L. moved from the hall to premises in McDowall Street it was decided to return the hall to the local community by selling it to the Nunawading Council. The hall and property was sold for 7000 pounds. 2. Steve Raskovy, a sportsman of Mitcham awarded the Order of Australia. 3. Patricia Hamanen of East Burwood who graduated as a teacher.Article re 1. Gordon Riches who had a hairdressing and tobacco business in Whitehorse Road, Mitcham. riches, gordon, mitcham memorial hall, raskovy, steve, hamamen, patricia -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Newspaper - Article, Mail Centre opens, 24/09/1992
Article in Nunawading Gazette. Opening of new Eastern Mail Centre in Rooks Road, Nunawading. The centre is equipped with the latest in mail sorting technology and can process more than one million articles daily. Project Manager was Bob Beer. The centre is open 24 hours a day for 6 days a week and employs nearly 400 staff. The centre includes a post office and private mail boxes.post offices, eastern mail centre, rooks road, nunawading, beer, bob, rivers, miranda, goumas, dennis, batden, wain, guina, paul, guina, cari -
Parks Victoria - Days Mill and Farm
Container - Lid
Lid from tin which contained cheddar cheese.Round shaped tin lid with yellow background and red detail. Rim faces downwards."KEEP TIN CAREFULLY CLOSED. TO OPEN INSERT A../ WALKER'S/ RED FEATHER BRAND/ PUREST RICHEST/ SPECIAL/ CHEDDAR CHEESE" -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Eastern Mail Centre, 1994
When the Eastern Mail Centre opened in 1992, it was the biggest suburban mail centre in the country. Work on the $5.6 million centre began in February 1992 and was completed in late October of the same year.The centre was able to sort more that one million articles daily, and in 1992 operated 24 hours a day, six days a week, employing 400 staff.Black and white photograph of the interior of the Eastern Mail Centre, Rooks Road, Nunawading. Sorters at desks. Also see ND949.postal services, eastern mail centre, rooks road, nunawading -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Morack Golf Course, C1970
In 1970, the area now known as the Morack Golf Course was rezoned from 'Rural' to 'Public Open Space'. This allowed planning to go ahead and by 1973 sufficient land had been acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. The course was first open on 8 May 1976 as a nine-hole course. This was extended to 15 holes by January 1980, and to eighteen holes by 1981.Two coloured photographs a-b of the early days in the development of the Morack Golf Course. Overview of a hole plus white patches indicating where trees have been planted. Some people practicing.morack golf course -
Hume City Civic Collection
Booklet, Friends of the Old Sunbury Court House 10th Birthday Celebration, 1993
This booklet was put together by members of the committee of the Friends of the Old Sunbury Court House for the 10th anniversary of the former Court of Petty Sessions becoming the Sunbury Visitor Information Centre. The Sunbury Court of Petty Sessions situated in Macedon Street, Sunbury closed at the end of 1989. The community formed a committee to retain the premises to be used by the community and officially opened by the Shire of Bulla Mayor Cr. Phillip McMahon as the Sunbury Visitor Information Centre on 21st February 1993. The Visitor Information Centre operated seven days a week from 9.00am to 5.00pm.A small cream covered booklet of 27 pages including cover with black printing and a black drawing of the Old Sunbury Court House on the front cover.Friends of the Old Sunbury Court House 10th Birthday Celebration 21st February 1993 - 21st February 2003sunbury visitor information centre, visitor information centre, friends of the old sunbury court house, old sunbury courthouse, sunbury court of petty sessions, court of petty sessions -
Hume City Civic Collection
Booklet, Emu Bottom 1836
This booklet was produced for the benefit of tourists or anyone visiting Emu Bottom homestead when it was open for tourists to look around the property. On special days a blacksmith would also be operating. It gives information about the house, the original owner and builder George Evans and his wife Anne Evans. It also tells of the arrival of George Evans on board the 'Enterprise' in 1835. Emu Bottom has had several owners since the Evan's family owned the property and was at one stage known as Holly Green before reverting back to its original name. Emu Bottom at present is a commercial venue for hire.A cream and brown small printed booklet showing a early photo of Emu Bottom with men and horses attending to the property on the front and back cover. It has 16 pages including the covers. Various drawings and photos are in the booklet as well as printed information of the property.EMU BOTTOM 1836emu bottom homestead, emu bottom, holly green, george evans, anne evans -
Numurkah & District Historical Society
Legal Document - Articles of Apprenticeship
Henry Pearson was a dentist in Numurkah between 1911 and 1929 (referenced in Bossence book) This document is an agreement between Pearson and Leonard Bennett (son of Ernest Bennett, Hairdresser, who was the witness to this document). the agreement was that Pearson would take on Leonard as an apprentice in profession of Mechanical Dentist. The documents then goes on to outline what was involved in the apprenticeship: days, hours, bord, Yellowed legal document outlining Articles of Apprenticeship, dated 16th January, 1915. Names of people involved on the front. When opened up, the document outlines the what's involved in the apprenticeship, and includes signatures of the people involved. Solicitors were Morrissy & Deane, Numurkahsee photos abovesolicitors, morrissy & deane, apprenticeship, legal documents, indenture -
Ambulance Victoria Museum
Humidicrib, CIG, Port-O-Cot, The Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited
Humidicribs are used to transport sick babies from small hospitals to major hospitals for specialist care. They work by maintaining normal body temperature and provide oxygen if needed during ambulance transit. Known by a variety of commercial names, earlier humidicribs were ones heated with water bottles. Not part of an ambulances standard equipment, humidicribs are kept in ambulance stations and carried if babies needed to be transported. In the early days before humidicribs came into use and when air ambulances did not exist, many more babies died during emergency transits than do today Manufactured by the Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited (better known as CIG), Australian-made Port-O-Cot brand humidicribs came replaced timber home-made humidicribs. They had electrical heating and easy to control oxygen flow and humidity control equipment. CIG also noted that noted that: Once the baby has been placed inside, the cot need not be opened, all nursing operations being carried out through the iris armholes. Even though the baby is in complete isolation nursing is a straight forward matter… The iris armholes allow nurses to feed, weigh, take temperatures, change napkins or, in fact, carry out any procedures without changing or disturbing the atmosphere within the cot. Happily for ambulance officers and nurses, the new Port-O-Cots were also much lighter and easy to carry than their old timber ones! metal box with carry handles and Perspex opening top. Carry handles at each end.PORT-O-COTinfant -
Mt Dandenong & District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Warwick Farm On Olinda Road
Information supplied by Stephen Trembath. Warwick Farm was established by my late grand parents Polly (nee Mary Ann Cole) and George Barratt and their 5 children George Jnr, William, James, John (my maternal Grand Father) and Teddy. Their story is told in a book "The wine of Courage" written in 1977 by N.M. Roberts ISBN 0 7223 1003. Their story started when their bank closed their doors on 13 April 1893 and they lost their cafe business in South Melbourne. Two days later, they were ready to head for a new start in Queensland when they saw in the morning paper that the Dandenong Ranges had been thrown open to land release to people. A few days later, having been granted land they headed to Ferntree Gully. From there they walked to the new holding in what would become Olinda. Then George with his sons help had to build a shelter for the family for the night. They chose to name the property "Warwick Farm". Work on the house started a few days later with help from neighbours Mr. Dodd, Mr Beattie, the O'Sheas and others. Come November, Ruby was born. Then bushfire burnt down the newly built house. Back to a bark hut until another house could be built. The new house became a guest house at the suggestion of a neighbour, when George couldn't sell timber and was waiting for crops. The first guests visited in 1898 and another baby, Percival, was born. ....................................................... It was George's son Jim, who was a skilled carpenter and axeman who extended the home to take from 12 to 30 guests. In 1950 Warwick Farm became the home of distinguished writer and journalist C.E.Sayers for a number of years.Photo Series Pictorial Postcard # 981 showing the property Warwick Farm on Olinda Road.Printed on back: PHOTO SERIES Pictorial Postcards. Published by S. Jamieson Bros. Alphington Vic. Phone Northcote 60warwick farm, olinda, postcard, photo series, olinda road, george barratt, barratt, guest house, guest house -
Mt Dandenong & District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Mount Dandenong Primary School 1997, 1997
The first Mt Dandenong State School opened in a shed on the property of William Ferguson on the corner of Blythe and Old Coach Roads. The first teacher was Miss Ethel Gruber who opened the school on May 11th, 1897. It wasn’t until 1901 that the school shifted over the road into an old school building that was moved up to the new site from Ringwood. All the old buildings were demolished to make way for a new school that opened in 1991. There are many old, European trees that were planted in the grounds during Arbor Days. Students standing at base of large Sequoia Tree in grounds of school in 1997, centenary year.mount dandenong, mt dandenong school, sequoia, centenary, trees -
Mt Dandenong & District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Mt Dandenong Primary School in Snow 1995, 1995
The first Mt Dandenong State School opened in a shed on the property of William Ferguson on the corner of Blythe and Old Coach Roads. The first teacher was Miss Ethel Gruber who opened the school on May 11th, 1897. It wasn’t until 1901 that the school shifted over the road into an old school building that was moved up to the new site from Ringwood. All the buildings were demolished to make way for a new school that opened in 1991. Up until the later 2000s snow fell at the school several times a year. Three children playing in snow at the front of Mt Dandenong Primary School 5th September 1995. The snow lasted three days.mt dandenong school, snow, mt dandenong -
Wangaratta High School
Rats of Tobruk Association Shield, 1945
The Rats of Tobruk Association, Inc, Victoria was formed in September, 1945. The Association was open for those Servicemen who had Served at, and during, the Longest Siege in British Military History - the Siege of Tobruk - 240 Days, between April10th and December 10th 1941 in WW2 and who were fortunate enough to return to Australia at the end of hostilities. Of approximately 14,000 Australians involved in the Siege of Tobruk, 559 were KIA, 2450 were WIA and 941 became a POW. Brown wooden lacquered shield with the Rats of Tobruk Association symbol (brown rat on gold circle with white ad gold scrolls surrounding with the name of the association printed upon) overlaying a yellow T below a crown. Below the symbol is the motto 'no surrender'.THE RATS OF TOBRUK ASSOCIATION NO SURRENDER -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, c1975
Yields information about the appearance of 27 in the early days of the operation of the BTPS at depot junction and has a strong association with Barry McCandlish.Black and white print of Ballarat No. 27 at possibly at Depot Junction, with the Australian Paper Mill Ballarat roof sign. Has a person in the front of the tram, with the door opened on the wrong side. Location to be confirmed. Has Barry McCandlish in the front cabin. Tram has the destination of Gardens via Sturt St West.trams, tramways, btps, wendouree parade, tram 27 -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, c1975
Yields information about the appearance of 27 in the early days of the operation of the BTPS at depot junction.Black and white print of Ballarat No. 27 at possibly at Depot Junction, with the Australian Paper Mill Ballarat roof sign. Has a person in the front of the tram, with the door opened on the wrong side. Location to be confirmed. Has Barry McCandlish turning the trolley pole. Tram has the destination of Gardens via Sturt St West.trams, tramways, btps, wendouree parade, trolley poles, tram 27 -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Photograph - Black & White Photograph/s, B. Prentice, Dec. 1972
... the construction of the depot fan and how it was used on open days etc ...Yields information the construction of the depot fan and how it was used on open days etc.Black and white print of the laying out of the rails that the start of the depot crossover between No. 2 and 3 roads, Dec 1972. Photo by Bob Prentice. No. 40 looks on. See BTPS Annual Report - 1972 - 73 list of dates.trams, tramways, depot construction, btps, trackwork, tram 40 -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - THEATRES COLLECTION: THEATRICAL TRADITIONS - STAGE AND SCREEN IN BENDIGO
Twelve pages document titled: ''Theatrical traditions - stage and screen in Bendigo. The document details the history of theatres in Bendigo from the early days. Paragraphs titles are: The Shamrock Hotel, The Criterion Theatre, Abbott's Lyceum, St. James Hall, The Royal Princess Theatre, The Masonic Theatre, Open air picture Theatres, The Lyric Theatre, Plaza Theatre, Eaglehawk pictures. The Golden drive-in Picture Theatres in decline, Contemporary cinemas, Community traditions, Bendigo Regional Arts Centre, Ulumbarra Theatre. The document was prepared for the Post Office Gallery exhibition and is marked Confidential.entertainment, theatre, post office gallery -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Banner - BTPS open for inspection, c1972
Painted on white linen, banner used during early days of BTPS at new depot site. Has words "Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society" in red paint, "OPEN" in red paint & "For inspection" in black paint. Also has yellow paint areas, has cloth loops in corners.tramways, trams, btps, banner, depot -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Plaque, Kew City Hall : Opened by The Hon H.E. Bolte M.L.A. Premier of Victoria 23rd April 1960 : Cr H.H. Ferguson J.P. Mayor, 1960
The Municipality of Kew was proclaimed on 19 December 1860, then upgraded to a Borough (1863), a Town (1910) and finally a City (1921). From 1865, its offices were based in the former Athenaeum Hall in Walpole Street, which, although extended in 1883, inevitably became inadequate. Plans for a new purpose-built Town Hall were first mooted in the late 1880s, but fell prey to six subsequent decades of debate. During that time, many sites were considered and rejected, and several schemes prepared. Finally, in 1945, it was resolved to build a new civic centre as a war memorial. The council acquired Southesk, a mansion on the south-west corner of Cotham Road and Charles Street – first mooted as a possible Town Hall site two decades earlier – and plans for a civic precinct were drawn up by John Scarborough. The project stalled until 1957, when a Town Hall Committee was formed and a new architect appointed: Harold Bartlett of Leith & Bartlett. He also proposed an entire civic precinct, of which a large public hall would constitute Stage One. Designed to accommodate almost any public or official function, the space had had a small stage at one end for intimate theatrical productions, a larger stage at the other (with operable sunken orchestra pit) for musical performances, plus the most up-to-date equipment for live TV transmission. The building, befitting its original intent as a war memorial, was also to include a sculpted monument, for which a separate design competition was held. First prize went to George H Allen (1900-1972), long-time head of the Sculpture Department at RMIT and a former war artist himself (the only one, in fact, to have worked in the medium of sculpture). At the time of the Kew project, Allen was best known for his Cenotaph at the Shrine of Remembrance (1955) and a controversial abstract sculpture at Hume House in William Street (1957). Tenders for the new hall were called and the contract (worth £104,986) was awarded to H F Yuncken. The foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, Cr F C O'Brien, on 1 June 1959. Completion (initially scheduled for October) was delayed by the unavailability of certain materials; it was barely finished in time for the official opening (by Premier Henry Bolte) on 23 April 1960. The war memorial was unveiled two days later (Anzac Day) by Bolte's deputy, the Hon A G Rylah. Fittingly, that year also marked Kew's municipal centenary, and many celebratory events were held in and around the new civic centre in December, including a special council meeting (attended by the Prime Minister), a tree planting ceremony and a youth ball. Source: Survey of Built Heritage in Victoria: Stage Two (Built Heritage Pty Ltd., 2010)Plaque commemorating the opening of a new town hall in KewMetal plaque recording the official opening of the Kew City Hall, 23rd April 1960. This plaque was given to the Kew Historical Society in 1991 by the former City of Kew.Kew City Hall / Opened by / The Hon. H.E. Bolte M.L.A. / Premier of Victoria / 23rd April 1960 / Cr. H.G. Ferguson J.P. - Mayor.kew city hall, foundation stones - kew (vic), sir henry bolte, local government -- kew (vic.) -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Programme, Kew Arts Festival Committee, Kew Arts Festival, 1945
The Herald on 10 August described the Festival offerings as: "Varied 10-Day Programme For Kew Arts Festival Opened last night, the Kew Arts Festival in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, provides an interesting and varied programme for the next 10 days. Today at 8.15 p.m. Mr George Bell and Mr Colin Badger will have a public discussion on "What Is Modern Art?" The Vice-chancellor of the Melbourne University of Melbourne (Mr JDG Medley) will preside. Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. Junior students of the Methodist Ladies College, directed by Dorothy Dwyer. will show how they learn to speak and move on the stage, and will present three short plays. Tomorrow night Elise Steele and Violet Ewart (violin and piano) Beryl Batten (songs) and Edith Parnell (accompanist) will give a concert. Paintings and other works of art will be on show from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. On Monday night. Mr Colin Badger will speak on "Dead Wood and Green Shoot: Australian Literature Today" and on Tuesday night there will be "Ballet in Story and Action"— the story told by Norman Macgeorge, with Joan Burnett as ballerina and Fred Manners-Sutton at the piano. Wednesday night will have an illustrated lecture "Contemporary Art Education." by John Bechervaise. Remaining nights will be taken up with a performance of Somerset Maugham's "The Circle" presented by the Little Theatre, a youth concert, and another concert with songs and piano. On Saturday morning, August 18, there will be a special concert for young people. The festival will end on Sunday week with a chamber music programme in the afternoon."Important local arts festival initiated during the Second World War and continuing till the early 1950s. The souvenir programmes produced for successive festivals are historically and artistically significant records of visual and performing arts practice in Melbourne during this period.11 page souvenir program for the Kew Arts Festival, held in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, Kew from the 9th to the 19th August 1945. The content of the program can be viewed through the image carousel.kew arts festival - 1945, visual arts - kew (vic), performing arts - kew (vic) -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Functional object, Presentation Wallet : G Thake, Founder E.K.W.C, 1946
On Saturday 17 May 1947, an article on page 25 of the Australian Women’s Weekly reported on the formation of a new women's club: the East Kew Women’s Community Club. The article reads: "Wives and mothers in a Melbourne suburb, East Kew, have formed the East Kew Women's Community Club. While babies and young children are under the supervision of a play leader, wives and mothers follow up their own interests. The club caters for varying tastes, has musical appreciation, drama, and "Keep Fit" classes. President Mrs. Grace Thake says that the club hopes soon to have tennis, debating, and discussion groups. The club originated from a debate, "Should women take an active part in social and civic affairs?" Two days later their interest in these matters was proved by the forming of the club, which took for its motto: "To help others, improve ourselves, and foster the community spirit." Membership is open to all women, regardless of age, politics, and religion, and aims to co-operate with all societies working for the improvement of health and cultural standards." The East Kew Women's Community Club, also called the East Kew Women's Community Club functioned from 1946 to the end of the 1960s (to be verified). The records of the Club were placed with Kew Historical Society to preserve them for posterity. The records and objects belonging to the East Kew Women's Community Club have significance socially for their capacity to illuminate women's associations in the post war period in Australia.Brown leather wallet, dated 1946, embossed with the owner's name and information about the club of which she was the founding president."G Thake | Founder EKWC | 1946 To help others | Improve ourselves | Foster the community spirit"community clubs - kew (vic), women's clubs - kew (vic), east kew women's club, grace thake, presentation wallets