The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens. Interviewer is Lindy WallaceA primary source of information on memories of the Gardens. Iris was born in Williamstown in 1943, has lived in Williamstown all her life and has been witness to changes in the Gardens over those years. CD and transcript of interview with Iris Whitehurst and her memories of the Gardens from her childhood through to adulthood. Iris was born in Williamstown and has memories of the Gardens from an early age. In the interview she talks of playing on the cannons, memories of the Gardens appearance over the years and the contribution of the Friends of the Gardens.iris whitehurst, fish pond, ornamental lake, gates, curator, horse, cannons, williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens Cyril Curtain was born in Williamstown in 1928. He attended North Williamstown Primary School and Williamstown High School. Shortly after marrying he purchased a house on the Esplanade, where he still lives and in which this interview took place. Cyril’s work in conservation of the natural and built heritage is highly regarded. The recently developed Cyril Curtain Reserve in Williamstown is named in his honour. In this interview Cyril discusses the Gardens and the foreshore area including the beach and L A Parker Reserve A primary source of information on memories of the Gardens.CD and transcript of interview with Cyril Curtain and his memories of the Gardens and surrounding environs.fish pond, curator, cannons, williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, aviary, pinetum, centennial reserve, midsummers night dream, cable tram car seats, infrared photography, , rotunda, gloucester reserve, 1934 storm, national trust, bateman house, clarke statue

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens Loris was born and grew up in Williamstown. She lived across the street from the Gardens at 122 Osborne Street with her parents and siblings. A primary source of information on memories of the Gardens from the 1950s until the time of the interview.CD and transcript of interview with Loris Wood about her memories of Williamstown Botanic Gardenswilliamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, fish pond, cannons, aviary, adam lindsay gordon, pinetum, fearon reserve, band platform, clarke statue, ernie anderson, osborne street, weddings, horses, gardeners cottage, curators lodge

The photos provide a snapshot into the way the Gardens have been used over the years for play by children. They are evidence that the cannons were in the Gardens in the early 1960s. Black and white images of small boy playing in the Gardens. He is wearing a knitted jumper with three light coloured buttons on the front. He is kneeling on the base of a cannon, looking at the camera. The image is taken from the front of the cannon and there appears to be a large artillery shell in the barrel. A wire and barbed wire fence that at one time divided the formal part of the Gardens from the Pinetum can be seen in the background. On reverse: Aidrian White / (formerly The Esplanade) / (1961/2?) / Photo donated by / Mrs White Sept 2012 / Williamstown Botanic Gardenswilliamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, 1961, aidrian white, cannons, fence, pinetum

The photos provide a snapshot into the way the Gardens have been used over the years for play by children. They are evidence that the cannons were in the Gardens in the early 1960s. Black and white images of small boy playing in the Gardens. He is wearing a knitted jumper with three light coloured buttons on the front. The boy is on the grass border of the main palm avenue looking into the camera. His hand is blurred by movement. Aidrian White / (formerly The Esplanade) / (1961/2?) / Photo donated by / Mrs White Sept 2012 / Williamstown Botanic Gardenswilliamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, 1961, aidrian white, cannons, fence, pinetum

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic GardensA primary source of information on memories of the Gardens and witness to changes in the Gardens over those years.CD and transcript of interview with Patti Gerkens and Eileen Gleeson and their memories of the Gardens from their childhood through to adulthood. Pattie and Eileen are the daughters of Jack and Millie Gerkens who lived in Power Street, Williamstown before moving to 25 Gellibrand Street, Williamstown. Jack worked at the Newport Railway Workshops. Patti lived overseas for many years and Eileen has lived in Williamstown all her life. Patti and Eileen recall memories of the Gardens during their childhood and of taking their own children there during the 1960s and 1970s. pattie-gerkens, eileen-gleeson, jack-gerkens, millie-gerkens, newport-railway-workshops, fish-pond, fountain, yoga, father-cassidy, con-gleeson, palms, williamstown-botanic-gardens, hobsons-bay-city-council

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic GardensA primary source of information on memories of the Gardens. Anne moved to Williamstown as a small child in 1952, lived in Williamstown until her marriage and has been witness to changes in the Gardens over those years. CD and transcript of interview with Anne Cocks and her memories of the Gardens from her childhood through to adulthood. Anne’s family migrated from Holland in 1952 when she was three years old. The family lived in Lyons Street for a short while before moving to Altona. Her parents, Kees and Betts Huisman bought the Old Royal Hotel in Nelson Place, which was a boarding house for men in 1958. They stayed there until 1971 when they sold it.anne-cocks, old-royal-hotel, nelson-place, boarding-house, holland, dutch-migrants, huisman, nellie-street, civic-parade, alma-cocks, eddie-cocks, 34-schutt-street, newport, 27-schutt-street, palms, williamstown-botanic-gardens, hobsons-bay-city-council, nordini

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic GardensA primary source of information on the lobbying that led to master planning for rejuvenation of the Gardens and the formation of the Friends of Williamstown Botanic Gardens. CD and transcript of interview with Helen Page and her memories and experiences in lobbying for the rejuvenation and long-term viability of the Gardens. Helen was a resident of Williamstown when she contacted local Councillor, Angela Altair, in May 1999 to express her concerns about the destruction of trees in Melbourne Road and the condition of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens. The result of her communications with Councillor Altair and the Council was the formation of the Landscape Advisory Group and the Williamstown Botanic Gardens Advisory Group. Still an active member of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens Advisory Group, Helen talks of these experiences, how they led to the formation of the Friends Group and her hopes for the future of the Gardens.helen-page, angela altair, mary klestadt, mike hirst, shelley wood, andrew shannon, williamstown botanic gardens advisory group, master plan, sue murray, kim sawyer, anja lee, golden elm, advisory group, gates, pinetum, victorian heritage register

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic Gardens, surrounding areas and Fearon ReserveA primary source of information on memories of the Gardens and witness to changes in the Gardens over those years. CD and transcript of interview with Ken Speakman. Also present was his daughter, Nola Wilson. His son visited part of the way through the interview. Ken’s family moved to Williamstown in 1918 when he was a baby and he has lived in Williamstown, close to the Gardens since that time. He was a keen lacrosse player, playing on Fearon Reserve. Ken was interviewed for his memories of the Gardens and its relationship to Fearon Reserve. ken speakman, nola wilson, fearon reserve, lacrosse, 1918, bill crowe, william crowe, bird cage, bandstand, ramsay’s café, horses, harry stitt, cannons, aci glassworks, woollen mills, oil refinery, sims cooper, abattoir, mobil, palms, williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council

The interview is one of a series recorded in 2013-2014 to document memories and experiences of the Williamstown Botanic GardensA primary source of information on memories of the Gardens and witness to changes in the Gardens over those years. CD and transcript of interview with Shelley Wood. Shelley was born in Williamstown, as was her mother Margaret McLean. Shelley recalls her mother telling her about spending many hours in the Gardens when she was young with her friend Chic, who was the daughter of the Curator Ernie Anderson. Shelley, who was the first female gardener appointed in the western region, served her apprenticeship at Gardens and is currently the Curator. shelley wood, margaret mclean, tom wood, chic anderson, ernie anderson, 1979, apprentice, fish pond, pinetum, barry heath, golden elm, palms, brian turner, dean splatt, robert anderson, 1988, bicentennial funding, 1987, angela altair, helen page, mary klestadt, mike hirst, john hawker, landscape advisory group, williamstown technical school, gates, buffalo lawn, ian brown, storytime, adam lindsay gordon, statue, archie matthews, aviary, williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Doug and Noel Grant’s Grandfather, Don Grant, was officer in charge of Truganina Explosives Reserve from 1910-1930. On his retirement, his son, William (known as Bill) took over the position until 1956. Along with their two older brothers and younger sister, Doug and Noel Grant grew up, first in the assistant manager’s weatherboard cottage and then in the brick house which was set aside for the officer in charge, until they married and moved into their own homes in their early 1920s. On returning from the second world war, Noel Grant worked as a magazine assistant of explosives on the site from 1946, When the site had closed down in 1962 he worked as an inspector of explosives at the Explosives Branch in Melbourne until he retired in 1985. During that time Noel was asked to move back on site, meaning that three generations of Grants have lived on the site during the twentieth century. Doug Grant worked for ICI/Nobel in head office in 1940 and their older brother Alan worked at the Nobel Explosive Company in Deer Park from 1937. After returning from the Second World War, Alan bought a transport business that had once had the licence to cart explosives in and around the state. They discuss their memories of the living at Truganina Explosives Reserve and the workings of the Reserve, including the names of men who worked there, ships which carried the explosives and life in and around Altona. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,VictoriaDigital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018hobsons bay, altona, galvanised iron fence, picket fence, golf course, altona school, margaret grant, bill grant, explosives magazine, lighters, joe hyde, alex grant, pines scout camp, maribynong river, 1896, inspector of explosives, pier, point wilson, werribee sewerage farm, george grant, lighterman, huia, argonaut, pirie, alma doepel, merton street altona, horse, jessie grant, jean grant, sandal, kilmartin, lewis, currie, todd, robinson, balwyn

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Owen and Clive Hyde are the sons of Joe and Joyce Hyde. Joe was the last Officer in charge of the Truganina Explosives Reserve. The family moved to the reserve on 11 December 1952 and continued to live there after the Reserve closed in 1962. Owen lived at the house until his early twenties. He discusses growing up at the Reserve. The voice of Joyce Hyde can also be heard during the interview. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,VictoriaDigital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018hobsons bay, draught horses, explosives reserve pier, myxomatosis, pine trees, queen street altona, edwardian garden, government superintendent houses, mcdonald, commonwealth bank, dr john lewin, altona, summer of the seventeenth doll, leslie george hyde, joe hyde, george grant, clive hyde, williamstown technical, mrs cronin, angus and robertson, pier fire, dutch migrants, communist party, laboratory, brass nails

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). John Gates began working at the Truganina Explosives Reserve handling explosives at the magazines in 1946. He was appointed assistant manager in 1956. When the site closed in 1962 he was retrained and worked at the Births, Deaths and Marriages offices. In this interview he and his step-daughter, Sue King, talk of life in Altona, life on the Explosives Reserve and some of the people who worked there. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,VictoriaDigital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018hobsons bay city council, pier street altona, alma doepel, explosives, lighters, gates court altona meadows, christmas picnic

The interviews were recorded in 2000 by Bronwen Gray and Alan Young for the production of Unreserved, Stories from Truganina Explosives Reserve, animated stories from past residents, workers and interested people of the Reserve (subject to copyright 2004). Edgar James (Jim) Melmoth began work at the Truganina Explosives Reserve at age 19 (1952) as part of the maintenance crew – painting, tram line maintenance, storm damage clearance. He helped build the pier extension and the water tower. In this interview he describes some incidents and some amusing stories of the clysdale horses. A primary source of information on memories of the Truganina Explosives Reserve and Altona,VictoriaDigital copy of original cassette recorded in 2000 and digitised in 2018hobsons bay city council, explosives, air raid shelters, altona pier, brown coal, camouflaged fences, world war two, gelignite, horse drawn wagons, clysdale horses, lighters, williamstown, upton street altona, water tower, adze, john gates, public works department, explosives pier, cherry lake, altona, altona meadows, lennie finley

A volume of 342 pages, including photos and maps. The cover includes images of the town of Whenby, maps and the grave of Matthew Parnaby who died in Wodonga on 7 October 1903.This book documents the story of the Parnaby Brothers who migrated to Australia from Whenby in North Yorkshire, England via Natal in South Africa. They settled in the Wodonga district of Victoria. The dedication on page 3 of the book says "To George, William and Matthew Parnaby. We can only wonder at the adventurous spirit, courage and fortitude of the three brothers who arrived in this country with an ambition to better themselves and provide for their families." George arrived at Port Melbourne from Port Natal on 11 January 1864. On the same voyage was his brother William and a nephew Charles. George and his wife Rachel settled at Howlong on the Victoria/NSW border where he worked as a farmer and labourer. George died at Howlong on 26 JUne 1887. William and his son Charles settled in Albury. In 1869/70 he was listed as a property owner at Wooragee, including a house, farm and vineyard. William died in Albury on 20 February 1894. Matthew originally arrived in Hobsons Bay, Victoria in 1854. After 6 years on the goldfields he returned to South Africa and then to England to marry. They eventually returned to Australia in 1863. After some time in Melbourne, Matthew moved to Belvoir (Wodonga). By August 1877 he owned 104 acres of grazing land at House Creek. He steadily became one of the most successful farmers in the district and increased his landholdings. He spent the remainder of his life in Wodonga where he served as a member of the Shire Council for some years. Matthew never forgot his birthplace and called his property "Whenby Grange". He died in Wodonga on 7 October 1903.parnaby family, whenby england, whenby grange wodonga

The cast iron gates (manufactured in Glasgow) introduced at the North West entrance in 1907. The gates were purchased from ‘Fairlie” corner of Acland and Anderson Streets, South Yarra at the cost of 72 pounds and cost 60 pounds to install. They had originally cost the owners of ‘Fairlie’ 1200 pounds. Lee Heap Furniture Warehouse of Williamstown used the postcards to advertise. The postcards are evidence of the interest the gardens held as a subject for postcard publishers. The text and images provide a snapshot into fashions, social interests and concerns of the time. The professionally produced images provide a pictorial history of Gardens including changing planting styles, various structures and features of the Gardens eg the aviary, cannons, the fountain, the second Curator’s Lodge and gates. The images offer an opportunity to compare garden vistas with the present day. The image in this postcard shows the gates intact and as installed in 1907. The current layout of this area still reflects the change of design, which followed the 1907 removal of the first gardener's residence and the subsequent re-organisation of this quarter of the gardens. This postcard is evidence of the placement of one of the cannons relocated from Fort Gellibrand in 1906. They were removed from the Gardens in the 1960s. These same cannons remain a feature on the Williamstown waterfront in 2013. Black and white image of main entrance gates which are open. Through the gates can be seen a man in waistcoat standing in front of a cannon. The gates are cast iron, double carriage gates with single pedestrian gates on either side and supported by four cast iron posts with ornamental finials. Front: ‘The Entrance Gates, Williamstown Gardens. Vic.’ ‘0457/2’ ‘THE CROWN STUDIOS, SYDNEY’. Reverse: Centre top ‘POST CARD’ with a logo in the middle of the words. Left top corner a drawing of an artist’s board and brushes with a camera in the centre. Left side ‘MESSAGE ONLY.’ Right side ‘ADDRESS ONLY.’ Top right corner inside a dotted rectangle ‘STAMP HERE’. Bottom on card ‘BY THE CROWN STUDIOS, SYNDEY.’ Under the vertical line down the middle line ‘Neither the Address not the Message must cross this line’. In ink ‘With Compliments / from’. An oval stamp with scalloped rim ‘LEE HEAP FURNITURE MANUFACTURER’ inside inner oval ‘FURNITURE WAREHOUSE, / WILLIAMSTOWN’.postcard, gardens, post-card, williamstown-botanic-gardens, hobsons-bay-city-council, entrance gates, entrance-gates, cast iron, finials, cannon, crown studios, lee heap furniture warehouse

This hat was part of the ceremonial dress of Williamstown Mayors. It is evident in early photographs of Williamstown Mayors from circa 1880 to the 1920's. The hat is designed to be folded as is often shown carried under the arm in Mayoral portraits.The hat is significant as an example of Mayoral ceremonial dress and is documented in Mayoral portraits associated with Williamstown Council.Black beaver fur bicorn ceremonial hat with silk brocade and ostrich feather trim. Silk lined.

Williamstown was first incorporated as a borough on 14 March 1856. It became a town on 2 April 1886, subdivided into four wards in 28 October 1887 and was proclaimed a city on 17 May 1919. The city was proclaimed by His Excellency the State Governor, the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley on 17 May 1919. At the same time he unveiled a photographic honour board in memory of local soldiers killed during World War One and officially opened the Town Hall/Council Chambers building at 104 Ferguson Street. The Governor was presented with this proclamation and asked to sign the parchment. The official birth of the city was celebrated by 2000 residents. Commemorates the movement of Williamstown to the status of a city and also marks the occasion of the opening of the new municipal buildings, Council Chamber and unveiling of a collective photo of local soldiers who had died during WW1.Bound Proclamation of City of Williamstown signed by Governor of State Victoria. 3rd April 1919, black tooled leather with gilt embossing, two fold with ribbon from date of visit - 17th May 1919Arnall & Jackson, Melb Proclamation City of Williamstowncouncil chambers, williamstown,

The card for the Civic Reception at Williamstown Town Hall for the ‘Back to Williamstown’ celebrations – the centenary from date of first settlement in 1834. It belonged to James and Kate Tyrrell, the paternal grandparents of the Donor. The donor is the third generation of her family to live in Williamstown. Having a photo of the Gardens in the reception card is evidence of the community pride of the Gardens. The photo is evidence of plantings in 1934 A folded sepia look card. The front has an embossed border, the City of Williamstown Shield, date in the right bottom corner and an inscription as described. The left fold inside demonstrates the reverse of the embossed border and details of the City of Williamstown and Councillors. The right side fold inside is a photo of people walking along ‘The Main Walk, Williamstown Gardens’. The back has space for ‘Autographs.’williamstown botanic gardens, hobsons bay city council, city of williamstown, williamstown gardens, 1934, councillors, james taylor gray, henry johnston harvey, william gordon gray, walter stuart menzies, james adolphus nelson, evan charles owens, john robert bell, john anthony dennis, allan john deacon, oliver prettie chanter, william roberts, george alexander paine, james hocking, harold rose, norman hodgson