"The Mechanics’ Institute hall (demolished) and the library played a central role in the story of Melton social life, and in the development of its learning, culture, entertainment, celebration, commemoration and many community groups. The building on the site today - with the Court House the only remaining early community or public building remaining in High Street - is a tribute to the energy and talents of the very small Melton community over many years. Its substantial size, brick materials, and the evident use of an architect in its design, sets it apart from most other simple weatherboard Mechanics’ Institutes that were built in smaller country towns in Victoria. The financing and upkeep of this building, which was community-owned until 1982, and built on land purchased by the community rather than granted by Government, itself contributed to the coming together of the Melton community in decision making and fundraising. Although the original hall is demolished, the 1983 Melton Community Hall adjacent is partly its successor, demolition of the Institute hall having been predicated on its construction. The surviving brick front portion of the Institute was opened by the Hon. J Murray, Premier of Victoria in 1910". Scottish Debutante Ball hosted by Scots Church Melton at the Mechanics Hallchurches

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

Given by Church to the donor in around 1995. Church is now a private residence. A marble plaque originally made for and installed in the Tarnagulla Church of England. Dedicated to the Rev. W. J. Banks who died aged 31 years.

Donald Clark Collection. Two copies of a colour photograph of the Tarnagulla Hall Committee posed on the stage of the Victoria Theatre in 1987. Standing (L to R): F.J. Chapman, J. Heather, W. Goltz, A.R. (Bert) Hurford, Robert (Bob) Le Messurier. Seated (L to R): John Shay, Les G. Williams, Barry Condick (Pres), Donald W. Clark (Sec), Doug A. Calder.tarnagulla, public hall committee

Donald Clark Collection. A monochrome photograph of men posed in front of a building c.1890-1895. Caption stuck on front lists the following names of subjects: L to R Standing: __________ , Thomas Robert Davies, Mr. Whitaker, __________ , Jack Cousins, _________ , ___________ , William Clark, ____________ Seated: William Schofield, Daniel J. Duggan, H.C. Bristol, Thomas Ramsay, ___________ , Andrew Mitten. Good quality copy photograph. tarnagulla, people

Donald Clark Collection. A monochrome photograph of a meeting of Shire of Bet Bet Council in September 1948. Caption stuck on front lists the following names of subjects: L to R Seated: Crs W.K. Cameron, G. Bartlet, J.B. Reid, R.Stephens, R. Nielson, G. Fotheringham, W.Belcher, J.P. Mason, Pres. D.W. Clark, Allen Brownbill, J. Hickey, J.J.A. Freemantle, H. Proctor, A. Green. Standing at rear: St Arnaud Mercury Rep, Dunolly Express Rep, Shire Secretary K.A.G. Lowe, Engineer K.R. Culliton. Original photograph. Bendigo Advertiser copyright stamp on reverse.shire of bet bet, dunolly town hall, local government, governance

Donald Clark Collection. A monochrome photograph of members of Tarnagulla Fire Brigade in their uniforms, posed with hose reel outside Burstall Hall, Tarnagulla (demolished in 1980s). Back row: W. Radnell, J. Patterson, F. Cousins, H. Reilly, G.Nelson Centre row: A. Smith, Thomas Page Front row: J. Cousins, W.Smith, J. May, __________, J. Whimpey, ___________ , Joe Radnell, L. Radnell, Bob Abbot. Lady in background: Mrs Spencer. Copy photograph. fire brigade

Donald Clark Collection. A photographic copy of a Christmas card from The Hon. J. Drysdale MLC to Mr. William Wood. Copy photograph.

Donald Clark Collection. A note written on a paper business docket from J. & N.E. Buchanan's, Tarnagulla, addressed to the Public Hall, Llanelly.

A large lot of papers, including this and many other telegrams, were apparently found in the ceiling cavity of the Sandy Creek/Tarnagulla Post and Telegraph Office in the later 20th Century, during building works. Donald Clark Collection. Telegram sent from Sandy Creek/Tarnagulla Telegraph Office from J. Beynon to Mr Cook, Nags Head, Carisbrook. Text reads 'Enter Bray & Gamsley for handicap both ____ .

David Gordon Collection. Written on back 'Mrs J. Allen, nee Mary Bell Clark' (presumably appears in picture).

John James is standing on the staircase. He erected the poppet head and buildings on behalf of the syndicate. He was an experienced mine manager and highly regarded local engineer. The mine was located close to and on the western side of the Newbridge-Eddington Road, approximately one kilometer north of the Poseidon Road intersection. The remains of a once-prominent mullock head can be seen on the site. Paper label stuck onto image reads 'Plant erected by John James for Mr J. Jackson (seated - J. James, standing). Lower Hewett & Young. Nick O Time South of Newbridge ON LODDON 1905'.

David Gordon Collection. The monument was created and erected by Mr. Barber of Dunolly in October 1919. It was unveiled by Brigadier General Brand C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O. at 2:30pm on Saturday November 8th, 1919. The Welcome Home Committee, formed 2nd July 1917, was largely responsible for commissioning the monument. Foundation members were Mrs. B. Patterson, Mrs J. Bock and the Misses P. Lemin, Violet Radnell, D. Dyer and Doris and Phoebe Bock. The Committee arranged 'Welcome Home' functions for each local soldier returning home after service in the First World War. Tarnagulla had a very large number of enlistments for its population. Angus M. Comrie is standing to the right of the Memorial with his daughter Mavis Comrie, and Nell Alexander. Mavis Comrie presented a new Union Jack flag to the Tarnagulla School on 25th July 1919 to commemorate Peace. Peace Medals were also distributed to the school students. The men in uniform at ground level are making up a Guard of Honour consisting of returned soldiers drawn from around the Tarnagulla district. They formed up at the Victoria Hotel, and there is a good photograph of them elsewhere in this collection. Original sepia photograph, mounted on card, depicting the unveiling ceremony for the Soldiers' Memorial monument in Tarnagulla. A large crowd is looking on, some spilling off the curb and onto the street, whilst several officials stand on a temporary platform. The obelisk monument is left of centre in the image.