This home was built for the Bennett family in about 1928. It replaced the butcher's shop in Sussex which was run by George Garnsworthy Bennett from 1896. (The butcher's shop moved into premises next-door, and then to the other side of Sussex Street, into part of the shop previously owned by Joseph Shepherd.)Coloured photograph of a double fronted house with pitched roof and two brick chimneys set in garden surrounded by wooden rail and wire fence, trees at back."The Bennett home just after it was built".bennett family, buildings, houses, bennett butchers, george garnsworthy (g g ) bennett, gordon bennett

Part of S E Surman collection (album) page 12 top left. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bennett was the oldest daughter of butcher W. G. Bennett and his wife Susan, nee Williams. She married William Todd in 1881, and they had a large family. Throughout her life she was involved in the community and church life of Linton and district.Sepia photograph of Elizabeth Bennett as a young girl, wearing mid-calf-length dress showing pantaloons underneath, and short long sleeved open jacket, standing with left hand holding onto side of wing chair, right arm by her side."Mrs W Todd nee Bennett Elizabeth Ann Bennett".elizabeth ann bennett, elizabeth (lizzie) todd, mrs william todd, surman collection, lizzie bennett

The Orford family, a pioneer family remained continuously living and working in Eltham for 170 years from 1854 to 2024. James and Sarah Orford arrived in Sydney in 1839 aboard the ship “Orestes”; they had several children there before settling in Eltham in 1854. Three children, James Mathias, Sarah Amelia and Thomas Henry initially remained in the Eltham area. James eventually moved to Brunswick. Sarah married Arthur Butler Young and finally lived in Bunyip. Thomas who was six years old when the family arrived in 1854 remained in Eltham, married Helen Logan who died, leaving a large family. They lived in a slab hut by the Yarra at Laughing Waters and Thomas managed the Panton Park Estate, a selection owned by Magistrate Thomas Panton. Thomas’s son, Ernest Orford was born 1892 at Pitt Street, Eltham and also lived his entire life in Eltham working as a labourer, orchardist and later as a gardener and grounds keeper for Sir William Irvine, a former Chief Justice and Premier of Victoria. Ernest married Kate Thomas; their two sons Ron and Doug stayed in the area. Another of Thomas' sons, Arthur, also lived in Eltham. Four Orford generations attended Eltham schools. Doug Orford was born on the kitchen table (reference, son Ted Orford) of the family home at the corner of Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road. Doug married Gwen and they established a family however Gwen died at a young age from cancer. Doug eventually remarried another Gwen and they lived for several decades in Napoleon Street, Eltham. Doug was actively involved in EDHS over many years, including serving as a committee member and vice president. Contributions by Doug and Gwen (Treasurer/Membership Secretary), his wife, assisted EDHS to continue to develop as a not-for-profit group intent on promoting and preserving our local history. Both Doug and Gwen were made Life Members of EDHS. They also acted as EDHS delegates to the Eastern Region of Historical Societies. His significant work with assisting to establish our valued Local History Centre helped develop our home base and supported the continued growth of our society. Doug’s local knowledge, suggestions and family connections were highly valued, Until recent times, he continued to regularly attend our Collections Team workshops providing his insights and historical information about photographs and society records. Doug died peacefully July 8, 2024, and represents the last link in the Orford Eltham chain which spanned 170 years. His funeral was held Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Le Pine Funerals, 848 Main Road, Eltham. Contents: Typed notes, no date: Memories of Ernest Orford [taped 1979] about his school days. Handwritten notes, no date: History of Ernie Orford Typed notes, no date: History of Thomas Henry Orford and family. Photocopy: Shire of Eltham General Rate Receipts. Received from D Orford 7 June 1923 and Received from E F Orford, 4 August 1924. Letter, no date: Nillumbik Shire to Russell Yeoman, Gwen Orford to receive Volunteer Recognition Award. Newsletter article: "The Orford Family, Eltham", Shire of Eltham Historical Society, No.80 September 1991. History of Orford family. Handwritten notes: 21 March 2011, genealogy of George Orford. On reverse Melways map makred with Orford and other land ownerships. Newspaper advertisement, 21 March 2011: "264 Reynolds Road, South Eltham", property for sale [land in ownership of Orford family]. Letter: St Margaret's Anglican Church Eltham to Doug Orford, 17 November 2011, Extracts from church records relative to Orford family. Newspaper article: "Timely facelift at war memorials', Diamond Valley Leader, 30 April 2024, Nillumbik war memorial will have some work and a bronze plaque will be installed at the Eltham Avenue of Honour, Wingrove Park; photograph of Doug Orford Newsletter item: "Welcome home medal", Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no.216 May 2014, World War I two 'Welcome Home Medals' in ownership of local men, being Harry Gilham and Doug Orford. Order of Service, Le Pine Funerals (Eltham), In Loving Memory of Douglas Frederick Orford 22nd August 1929 - 8th July 2024 Doug Orford Reminiscences (2002) in conjunction with Jock Read and Peter Bassett Smith; 4 pages - 3 typed, 1 handwritten possibly transcribed from an audio tape recording (location unknown). New word file and associated pdf created [\Dropbox\EDHS DATA\DOCUMENTS\COLLECTION CATALOGUE DOCUMENTS AND PDFs\2-2 Family Folders\EDHS_06110-2 Doug Orford reminiscences 2002.docx - 1 April 2025]Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdoug orford, harry gilham, welcome home medal, eltham avenue of honour, nillumbik war memorial, wingrove park, henry dendy, alfred armstrong, james orford, 264 reynolds road south eltham, george orford, george joseph orford, maryanne george joseph, thomas henry orford, ernest orford, e f orford, eltham cemetery, helen orford, joseph panton, panton park, gordon lyon, banyule estate heidelberg, james matthias orford, wurundjeri, constable peter lawlor, george hill, franklin street eltham, ronald orford, eltham primary school, john brown, robert gamble school inspector, sarah orford, mary ann orford, james mathias orford, sarah amelia orford, james peet, arthur butler young, watsons creek victoria, kangaroo ground victoria, helen logan, william orford, jane orford, arthur orford, frederick orford, florrie orford, victor orford, chem orford, sunnymede eltham, panton hill estate, sir william irvine, gordon lyons, kate thomas, north eltham gospel church, harold clapp, eltham cricket club, research primary school, dalton street school eltham, keith banks, betty banks, benjamine boyd, laughing waters road eltham, freddie gilsinen, douglas frederick orford, eltham district historical society, funeral service, le pine funeral home, life member, order of service, 1934 flood, 1939 bushfires, alcock & pierce, ansell, associated schools sports, blacksmith shop, boakes, bridge street, bryce family, bullock track, butcher, catholic church, cliff lester, cliffy green, daisy smith, dave lyon, diamond creek, diana bassett smith, dick tooth, dr. frank may, eltham higher elementary school, ernie andrew, fire station, flower stall, fodder business, fruit shop, furniture store, gahan family, garni burges, greensborough, harold norman, harry hawker, hat factory, hawker & owen, hay and com store, henry hawker, henry street, j .harry butherway, jack burgoyne, jack ryan, jock read, john lyon, junk yard, kevin gahan, kilpatricks, len parsons, lyon family, machine factory, mc leans, memorial, metery road, miss reynolds, monteith 's bus, mr. gadd, mrs. bird, mrs. morrison, napoleon street, peter bassett smith, peter's gahan, plenty river, plumridge, produce store, public hall, rechabite hall, reynolds road, roger bird, rutter family, ryan family, shoe factory., staffs produce store, studley cairn gahan, sweeneys lane, swimming pool, taylor street, tennis court, warren family, wooden bridge, yarra brae road

Originally Joseph Shepherd's "Family Grocer & Ironmonger" store, run for a short time after Joseph Shepherd's death by his nephew Alf Darling. Part of the shop became Gordon Bennett butchery in 1930s, and was used as a butcher's shop until the 1980s. Last butcher was Frank Verdoorn. Photograph taken 1988.Colour photograph of two storey old style brick building with pitched roof and verandah over footpath.verdoorn family, verdoorn butchers, buildings, joseph shepherd, gordon bennett

By the close of the 19th century, colonial children in Australia (especially poorer ones) were expected to work by age 10 or 11. Boys could become apprentices or assistants to trades such as butchers, printers, carpenters, bakers, smiths or services such as delivering newspapers. Girls could work as domestic servants, seamstresses, or in large clothing factories or weaving mills. Girls as young as 6 could work in cities selling stationary or matches to passers-by. In the 1880s workers in matchstick factories, predominantly women and young girls (4-16 years old) from working-class families could work up to 14 hours a day and were exposed to deadly phosphorous vapours on a daily basis. This led to the devastating disease known as “phossy jaw” or “phosphorous necrosis of the jaw” which caused the jawbone to rot. This small rectangular tin matchbox with raised writing on top would once have been gold and brightly coloured. It has a metal striker on the inside as this type of match contains phosphorous which is volatile and can be lit by friction. Duncan's Waterproof Wax vestas

Around 1903-1905, the Todd family of Linton took over the butcher's shop previously owned and run by W. G. Bennett. The "Todd brothers" are understood to have been Paddy Todd and his brother Milton Todd. William John (Bill) Stratton was born in 1894, the son of Christopher Stratton and his wife Jane, nee Norris.Black and white copy of original photograph, showing a man wearing a butcher's apron, and a boy carrying a basket, standing outside a shop.todd bros. butcher, arthur (paddy) todd, william john (bill) stratton