Raheen was constructed as a two-storey house in the Italianate style with a four-storey tower over the entrance and single-storey extension. It was designed in an asymmetric and arcaded form, and is built of red brick with cement render. The property retains its garden layout, including an Italianate garden, outbuildings, fence and gates, and internal features including the original stairwell, library, ballroom and cast iron tower stairs. (source VHD)View of the upper and lower eastern loggias of 'Raheen' at 96 Studley Park Road, Kew from the eastern garden. The colour photo shows the pedestals and urns above the steps and the plantings in the garden c.1980. raheen -- 96 studley park road -- kew (vic.), historic houses -- studley park, mansions -- kew (vic.)

The first section of Raheen was commenced in 1870 with an extension added in 1884. It was designed by William Salway and built for Edward Latham of the Carlton Brewery. Sir Henry Wrixon, prominent Melbourne barrister and solicitor, later owned and resided at the property. In 1917 Raheen was purchased by the Catholic Church and became the official residence of Archbishop Mannix, as well as four other Catholic archbishops of Melbourne. In 1981 the Church sold the property and it again reverted to a private residence. (Source: VHD)Photographic positive showing the gates to the mansion 'Raheen' in Studley Park Road. Notable are the three Himalayan Cedars inside and outside the high brick fence.Verso: "Gates to Raheen 1981"raheen -- studley park road -- kew (vic.), mansions -- studley park -- kew (vic.), historic houses -- studley park -- kew (vic.), raheen

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 23 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a range of real estate agents in Melbourne between c.1983 and c.2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Single fronted Edwardian weatherboard house, with a later first floor extension. The pen and ink drawing on drafting film of 180 Brougham Street by Margaret Picken dates from 1990 and predates the extension.180 BROUGHAM ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN '90 / WOODARDS ~ KEWartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 180 brougham street -- kew (vic.)

After training as a Cartographic Draftsman within the mining industry, I worked as a property illustrator for real estate firms in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 23 years from 1983. I initially photographed houses with a Polaroid camera and made a 'thumbnail' sketch while there. The photos were used to scale off a sketch in pencil and then that sketch was overlaid with drafting film and the 'pen and ink' completed. The pens I used were the Rotring ‘Rapidigraph’ drafting pens. The ink was also made by Rotring (German).The film was ‘Rapidraw’, polyester drafting film, double matte. It takes a very fine line and doesn’t bleed. As well as house sketches, there were often floor plans and site plans ordered. Aerial sketches were ordered when the property needed an overall view. (Margaret Picken, 2020)This drawing is one of a series created by Margaret Picken for a number of real estate agents in Melbourne between 1983 and 2005. Each work is signed and dated by the artist.Gift of Margaret Picken, 2020Single storey, block-fronted Victorian villa. Built c.1890s. Pen and ink architectural drawing on drafting film by Margaret Picken in 1997. By 2020 the house had acquired a large rear and two storey extension. The single garage in the illustration was subsequently removed and a double garage created at the rear of the property68 MARY ST., KEW / MARGARET PICKEN ~97 / WOODARDS ~ HAWartist -- margaret picken 1950-, architectural drawings -- houses -- kew (vic.), 68 mary street - kew (vic)

7-9 Russell Street has had 2 house names: ‘Vavau’ and ‘Handsworth’. Early occupants were: 1887–1892: George Legge, builder. 1892-1902: Arthur Greenwood – storeman and missionary in Tonga, hence the house name ‘Vavau.’ 1902–1950s: Mr and Mrs George Jackson and family of 10 children. Alice Jackson was a specialist manufacturing jeweller and set up a jewellery business with her husband. He and the family continued it until late 1950s. 1978–1986: Sold in late 1950s; Ruth Theodoris and her husband Peter bought it; sold 1986. The house is extant in 2020 and was last sold in May 2009 for $1,315,000. Real estate agent photos from the time reveal it has had a large extension at the rear. A black and white photograph of a late Victorian Boom Style house with ornate filigree lacework on the verandah. There is a picket fence along the front. Scalloped lace curtains adorn the front windows.surrey hills, russell street, (mr) george jackson, (mr) arthur greenwood, (mrs) alice jackson, jeweller, (mrs) ruth theodoris, (mr) peter theodoris, victorian boom style, vavau, handsworth, house names, (mr) george legge

Date is the one given by descendant Julia Thornton. William and May Palstra were married in 1920; this was their first and only home. They had 3 children, Margaret, Jocelyn and William. Margaret Thornton was a daughter of William and May Palstra; one of her daughters, Julia Thornton still lives in the house in 2023. For a time 3 generations of the family lived in the house - Margaret Thornton, Julia Thornton, her then-husband and their 2 children. The house remains in 2023 with extensions to the rear and side. Donation form signed by Julia Thornton. This is one of very few homes in the area which has been held continuously by the same family. It is typical of the Californian bungalow style built after World War 1 but modified for expanded family needs. This was achieved in a reasonably sympathetic manner before a heritage overlay was approved for a large part of Guildford Road and without a 2-storey extension.Black and white photo of William and May Palstra standing in the gateway of their Californian bungalow home in 1921. It is painted or stained in a dark colour and has 3 chimneys and a brick verandah. The fence is of wire-mesh construction. There is a house nameplate over the verandah.palstra, californian bungalows, guildford road, william palstra, may palstra, julia thornton

Date is approximate. In 1920 this became the home of Mr and Mrs Robert Moore, whose daughter Mabel Annie married Norman Brodley Carter of Mont Albert. The house was named after 'Glenisla', a western District grazing property located between Hamilton and Horsham on the Henty Highway and on the edge of the Grampians National Park. This was established as a super-fine wool stud in 1860 and was passed down the family until it was sold in 1922. The family transferred from this property to Melbourne. Robert is listed as a grazier in the 1924 electoral roll at Chestnut Street. With him are Victor Cecil listed as a carpenter; Isabella, Mabel Annie and Edgar Gilbert listed as an orchardist. In 2003 the house was extant minus the verandas. This photo may have been taken from the rear of the property. Ref: History of original property - Age newspaper article: 'The Best - Glenisla: historic Grampians property', 7 January 1994. Moore family details: Robert Moore born 1857 on Isle of Man; died Surrey Hills 1940 Isabella Bateson born 1869; died Surrey Hills 1938 Married in 1894 in Miram, 10 km north-east of Kaniva in the northern Wimmera. All the children were born in Kaniva. Children: Lena Florence (1895-1980) Victor Cecil (1896-1984) - a builder Edgar Gilbert (1897-1976); died Surrey Hills; married Myrtle Emary, daughter of Henry John Emary of Surrey Hills Ernest Alan (1900-1900) Mabel Annie (1901-1957); died Surrey Hills married Norman Brodley Carter (1899-1984) Clarence Arthur (1904-2004). Norman Carter took many photos in the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert are from the 1920s; many is connection with Church of England events and activities. Robert and Isabella Moore are buried in Box Hill Cemetery. Black and white photo of a Victorian home with a veranda with a corrugated iron roof and lacework on 2 sides. It appears to have a later extension at the rear. It is surrounded by mature gardens with ornamental trees (cypresses) and an area with plants in rows, which may be a vegetable garden. There appears to be significant areas of open space around the house.glenisla, homes, victorian style, gardens, norman carter, robert moore, miss isabella bateson, mrs isabella moore, victor cecil moore, edgar gilbert moore, miss mabel annie moore, box hill cemetery

This annual report covers both the AGM of 1962 and a special AGM held in 1961. Articles include: celebration of Alice McClelland's 40 years of service, resignation of A. Brahe and L. Dextor as Trustees and appointment of R Bigwood and E Webb to replace them, extension of membership so that blind readers could become voting members, overview of the decisions and affects of the decision to become an incorporated entity and the name from Victorian Association of Braille Writers to Braille Library of Victoria, the use of subcommittees to handle entertainments, building, publicity, library and braille textbooks, property owned at 4 Margaret Street, South Yarra was subdivided into 2 lots and sold, Braille Boat House has been redecorated and renovate and available for hire, appointment of Alan Woods to assist as a Reviser for music transcription and Ivan Molloy in the Home Teaching Service, resignation of Joyce Bolger, appointment of Doreen Ross, Mr and Mrs Hinchcliffe left as honorary caretakers and death of Mrs J Rowe, past Mayoress of Ballarat, who was a keen subscriber of the Ballarat branch.32 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles in annual report include: branch committees, President's report, finance report, balance sheet, hospital homes, community centre, welfare, volunteer service group, auxiliaries, life governors, guiding light appeal, Isadore Smith's bravery, Prime Minister Hon. J.G. Gorton opening the Ballarat section of the Guiding Light Appeal, Victorian Governor General Sir Rohan Delacombe the Bendigo section and Victorian Premier Sir Henry Bolte the Metropolitan section, Hubert Opperman being knighted in the Queen's Birthday honours, waiting list time for admission is 18 months - two years and are almost exclusively nursing cases as the peak for active aged recedes, erection of the two storey wing at Brighton thanks to grant from estate of the late Herbert Engelbert, the demolishing of the 100 year house at Brighton required for the extension, Mrs Laura Clarke - a resident of Mirridong - celebrated turning 102, and the need for additional room and accommodation for a resident caretaker has necessitated the purchase of a block of flats facing Glenferrie Road, with the assistance of the William Buckland Trust.16 pages of text and photographsassociation for the blind, isadore smith, e.a. soderstrom, miss tobias, annual reports

The AFB were aware that accommodation options for blind people were limited and sought to open a hostel to assist with this.The first hostel opened in Lara Street, South Yarra but could not meet demand. In 1926, a suitable property 'Egremont' at 54 The Avenue, Windsor, came on the market. The price was £2650. Lack of funds to purchase seemed an insurmountable barrier. With assistance from the Trustees of the Edward Wilson Estate and the Felton Bequest a deposit of £650 was raised. In a huge step of faith the Committee took out a mortgage of £2000. The interest on the mortgage and its repayments weighed heavily on the Committee. The Avenue, as 'Egremont' was commonly termed, was also a seven roomed house. Mr Paterson and the Architect, Mr Parkes of Oakley and Parkes, immediately began planning an extension, fourteen single bedrooms were added. They were filled from the Waiting List. A Windsor Auxiliary was formed and worked to reduce the mortgage of £2000. An active programme of dances, card evenings, theatre nights and the like took place under the leadership of Mrs. Robertson. The Auxiliary also took an interest in the boarders, arranging entertainment and social activity. £1500. was still owed in 1930. Living side by side is no easy task for a group of people, and the Hostel meeting minute books are filled with stories of disputes over wireless sets, telephones, hot water bottles and wardrobes. In 1958, with rising costs and the growth of aged care centres, the Hostel was closed and the house sold to a succession of private buyers. In 2016 it still stands and has been refurbished as a guest house.B/W copy of newspaper photographThe hostel for blind women at 54 The Avenue, Windsor was established in 1926 to provide a place where sightless women may live together to their mutual advantage under proper and sympathetic supervision. The Windsor Hostel was sold in 1958. This building still stands today and has been refurbished.egremont, blind womens hostel, tilly aston

Department of Public Works, Melbourne, Victoria plan No. 51/66 of extension of grounds. Area bounded by Yarra River to north and south. Additional areas coloured. Position of new buildings and new house shown.burnley school of horticulture

Marjorie Evelyn GARNER Although not a fully enrolled student, Majorie Garner attended Pottery classes at the School of Mines) run by Neville Bunning. She also took advantage of other classes offer to 'non-students' such as oil painting classes for women run by Geoff Mainwaring. These popular extension programmes promoted the Ballarat School of Mines and their Technical Art School, especially among middle-class women who would otherwise have had little connection with the institution. Majorie was married to Leslie Garner, the Principal of the Ballarat Junior Technical School, a division of the Ballarat School of Mines. Two hand thrown ceramics 'sherry glasses' with the Ballarat School of Mines shield in oxide. The glasses are houses in a small blue and white lidded box. marjorie garner, leslie garner, geoff mainwaring, neville bunning, alumni, ceramics, ballarat school of mines, ballarat junior technical school

Schuss was advertised as Victoria’s Official Ski Journal It was issued monthly from 1935 to 1961 except during the war when summer issues covered two months. This continued after the war, but it averaged 10 issues annually over its 25 year life. Schuss was published by the Ski Club of Victoria which had a membership of 38 Ski Clubs and demanded to be recognised as the prime authority on skiing in the state. The other 30 ski clubs with 85% of the members disagreed and the politics of skiing became heated. These clubs formed the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs with their own journal, Ski Horizon. With the establishment of the Victorian Ski Association, Ski-Horizon published its last issue in Nov - Dec. 1955 and the role of the official journal was fully taken over by “Schuss”. This item is significant because it contains stories, images and information documenting the development of the ski industry in Victoria.The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. Page 234 - 235 featured an extensive report on developments at Falls Creek, Victoria. FALLS CREEK SKI CENTRE CONTINUES ITS STEADY ADVANCE Falls Creek skiing has continued to show markedly improved standards over this past season. Better facilities in and around the ski village itself have been accompanied by better skiing on the abundant snow covering all adjacent slopes. Just to mention a few of those facilities in the village: There have been extensions and big improvements at the Hymans Ski School, a number of excellent new club lodges have come into being, Nissen Lodge is in operation at the foot of the tow and adjacent slopes all setting new standards of ski-living that must make other resorts watch their step. While the advent of Cecil Dobson's General Store and Ski Centre, added to the service already available at the Nissen tow house, has removed all the old problems of food supply. Nissen ski-tow, the enticing face of the Frying Pan has given good service for a number of seasons now. To it has been added this year Bob Hyman's small portable tow which has worked for most of the season on the slope just in front of Skyline Lodge. The racing programme carried out at Falls Creek through this season has maintained the high standard shown in all other affairs. The main events started with the N.E.D.S.A. Championships early in August, then followed the Victorian and S.C.V. Nordic titles, and the Intermediate events.schuss journal, the ski club of victoria, developments in falls creek

"A court was established in Melton by 1864, when the first recorded case was heard before Mr BA Porter JP, with Mr A Carroll as the Clerk of Courts. John James was convicted of being drunk, for which he was fined five shillings or 24 hours imprisonment. The court was held in the ‘long room’ of the old Melton Hotel, before moving to rented accommodation at the Raglan Hotel, and finally to the Roads Board office. Tenders for construction of the present building were called for by the Public Works Department on 13th February 1892. The architect Samuel Edward Brindley was born in Birmingham, England, in 1842. He was articled to the local architect, J.R. Botham, FRIBA, before emigrating to Victoria where he was employed as an architect in the Education Department from 18 August 1873. With the amalgamation of the architectural branch of the Education Department with the Public Works Department in 1884, Bindley was placed in charge of Victorian government building design for the North-Western District. In 1975, the Melton and District Historical Society became concerned at hearsay that the court house was to be demolished to make way for carparking space. Melton had been declared a ‘satellite city’ and was developing rapidly. A new shopping centre had recently been built at a setback of 60 feet (c.18 metre) from 323-329 High Street, and the court house, together with the adjacent weatherboard police station, had been left standing alone. A new police station was planned, and the weatherboard police station was subsequently demolished. In its nomination of the building for National Trust classification the Society argued that the Court House was ‘the best of two early buildings left in the main street’ (the other being a bluestone hotel) and that its loss would be ‘tragic’. However the nomination was unsuccessful, the National Trust at the time judging that it was of no particular ‘distinction’ or ‘antiquity’. The building continued to be used as a court house at least until 1991 when the Department of Housing and Construction (formerly the PWD) conducted a heritage study of court houses. By this time Federation-era architecture had achieved acceptance within the heritage movement. The building was recognised as being ‘the only surviving example in brick of the Federation Queen Anne style which was used for court houses only twice.’ Twenty years later when it was proposed to modify the eastern façade of the building to accommodate a café, the M&DHS was again concerned. This time the National Trust objected that the proposed extension would be an over-development of the site, and questioned the changes to the interior court room furnishings and fittings. The site never appears to have been nominated to the Victorian Heritage Register. It has since been converted into the Shire of Melton Tourist Information Centre". Opening of the Visitor Centre in Meltoncouncil, local architecture

Colour slide of a working bee digging in a yard. It is possibly at Blamey House in Burke Road from the driveway visible in one slide. It may have been to remodel the garden or to build an extension. There are 4 slides of the work. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of Legatees doing physical labour to help out at Blamey House.Colour slide of legatees digging in the yard of Blamey House near a driveway, in a white plastic mount and grey mount on the reverse.legatees, garden, blamey house

Colour slide of a working bee digging in a yard. It is possibly at Blamey House in Burke Road from the driveway visible in one slide. It may have been to remodel the garden or to build an extension. There are 4 slides of the work. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of Legatees doing physical labour to help out at Blamey House.Colour slide of legatees digging in the yard of Blamey House clearing a large area, in a white plastic mount and grey mount on the reverse.legatees, garden, blamey house

Colour slide of a working bee digging in a yard. It is possibly at Blamey House in Burke Road from the driveway visible in one slide. It may have been to remodel the garden or to build an extension. There are 4 slides of the work. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of Legatees doing physical labour to help out at Blamey House.Colour slide of legatees digging in the yard of Blamey House clearing a large area, in a white plastic mount and grey mount on the reverse.legatees, garden, blamey house

Colour slide of a working bee digging in a yard. It is possibly at Blamey House in Burke Road from the driveway visible in one slide. It may have been to remodel the garden or to build an extension. There are 4 slides of the work. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of Legatees doing physical labour to help out at Blamey House.Colour slide of legatees moving large stones in the yard of Blamey House clearing a large area, in a white plastic mount and grey mount on the reverse.legatees, garden, blamey house

First curator's cottage, was built in the gardens early 1860's, later moved to 1414 Gregory St, now relocated back to the Northern Gardens and used by the "Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens" for meetings and Botanikids activities.The Cottage is important as an early structure in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. It is one of the early works of the Ballarat pioneer architect, Cassini. Its removal from Gregory Street back to the Gardens is testament to the generosity and enthusiasm of the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Its renovation was funded by the Ballarat City Council and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens as an important landmark from the past. It is now visited, used and enjoyed by the community. Many original features of the Cottage are intact with a modern extension.Blurred photograph in parts especially lower half of the photograph.Back of black and white photograph in biro, longhand print, "North Lodge - Geo.Longley First Curator- Residence. From 1863 to 1867 Gardens Cottage Built." Now located at 1414 Gregory Street. In faint print, THORNTON RICHARDjohn garner collection, garner, dr, george longley, longley, curator, curator house, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, north lodge, cassini, architect, northern gardens, longley family

"A perpetual spring in the adjacent creek provided a steady supply of fresh water to the site on which the homestead is built. Although we can not be certain of the identity of the builder, the first stage of ‘The Willows’ homestead appears to have been constructed in the mid 1850s. The house is situated on Crown Allotment No.1 (No Section), Parish of Kororoit, an allotment of 5 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Although it had surveyed the land, the Crown did not offer it for sale until 22nd November 1861, at which time it was purchased by Charles March Williams. (Although the property is directly opposite and immediately adjacent to the Township of Melton, and was sold as ‘Suburban Allotment 33’, it was situated within the Shire of Braybrook rather than the Shire of Melton until 1917.) Considerable improvements had taken place on the land prior to the Crown sale. When CM Williams purchased the allotment in November 1861 he paid £23.5.0 for the land itself, and valued the improvements at £400. Even allowing for some exaggeration by Williams, this is an extremely high valuation for improvements, and must have included a house. Some local research has claimed that in 1858 Williams had taken over the interest of a Mr Parkinson in the property, and that Parkinson built the house upon taking possession of the land c.1855. It was definitely built by 1861, when a map shows a square building on the site marked as ‘House’. The property is important in the district for its association with the establishment of the pound. The district pound had been established in 1854, when George Scarborough of Mount Cottrell (Mt Cottrell Road, south of Greigs Road) was appointed pound-keeper. Scarborough resigned in 1857. The pound was moved to Melton following agitation from local farmers and Charles March Williams appointed pound-keeper on 26th April 1858. Williams, the son of a doctor, had been born in London. Reminiscences of local residents of the time, as recorded in the Express newspaper, note Williams’ success in breeding horses on the property. Sales of up to 60 guineas were noted. Whether this was from Williams’s own stock or from unclaimed pound stock is not made clear. Williams appeared before a government inquiry in 1860 and advocated registration of all stock brands in the State. Williams died in 1862 leaving a widow, Catherine, and five living children aged 15 years to five months. At the time of his death Williams had entered negotiations with one Matthew Devenish and had a mortgage of £100 on allotments 1 and 2, Parish of Kororoit. Catherine Williams was appointed pound-keeper on 2 September 1863, with her eldest son Charles as her assistant. Her tenure was short for on 22nd March 1864 George Minns senior paid Matthew Devenish £135 for allotments 1 and 2 Parish of Kororoit (considerably less than Williams had claimed the property was worth in 1861) and on the same day paid William Tullidge £45 for the adjoining allotments 3 and 4. In April 1867, James Ebden Minns, the newly married son of George senior became the owner of The Willows property having entered into a mortgage arrangement with his father to the extent of £200. At the time George Minns was residing in Kaarimba having left Melton in 1867 for a short trip to England and upon his return having taken up a selection in the Kaarimba district with his son Frederick who had a hotel licence there. James paid out the mortgage on 2-1-1873. James Minns was appointed pound-keeper in 1872; in 1885 the pound was moved elsewhere and Minns purchased the old pound site and added it to his farm. The Willows residence underwent a major change about this time. A two room extension, similar in style but with a lower elevation was added to the original rear of the house with a chimney matching the distinctive originals. Window arrangements did not match the original but became a feature of the façade when the new addition became the front of the building. Six buttresses were attached to the east and west walls of the old building, two to the south wall and the whole rendered with mortar to give the appearance of dressed stonework around the windows. Galvanized iron was placed over the shingles and a verandah added on three sides. By 1876 The Willows was the homestead for a thriving mixed farm of 340 acres of which 156 was rented from a H. Ruck. In October of that year the Australasian travelling reporter visited and reported on the property. In common with the nearly every other property in the district the farm had ‘recently’ (generally within the last two years) abandoned cultivation of crops, and turned over completely to cattle pasture. Butter making was the principal occupation of the farm, which had about 50 head of cattle, a large proportion of which were milking cows. The reporter also noted that a ‘large number of pigs are kept upon this farm and are found to be very profitable stock’. Their manure was used in an orchard and garden in which ‘large quantities of lucerne and prairie grass are grown for the use of stock when ordinary feed is scarce’. Two bores attached to deep brick lined wells supplied water for the house in addition to the farm. A commodious timber barn and necessary sheds had also been constructed. Access to the property was improved following the construction of the bluestone ford across the creek c.1887, when the recreation ground came into use. Prior to this date it may have been that the crossing referred to as ‘Mr Minns bridge’ was used. This appears to have been a flimsy structure and has but two references in Council reports in the Melton Express in the 1880’s. It is believed that in the late 1890’s a timber building was added near the rear of the building to house a kitchen, ablutions and laundry rooms and rooms for seasonal workers. This was attached to the house by means of a trellised walkway using the original front entry to the house (long since the back door). A photograph of this building appears in a local history of Melton. This was demolished in recent decades during the period when the house was tenanted (after the Minns family had left). James Minns son, George, took over the property following his marriage to Alice Walsh in 1903. James and Caroline moved into a house on the former JH Games property at the eastern end of Henry Street. George held the position of Shire Secretary for Melton for 40 years. He was a most prominent member of the community being Secretary to, among others, the Melton Coursing Club, the Shooting Club and the Cemetery Trust. He also rode with the hunting parties who sported across the Plains and were entertained at Mount Kororoit. George and Alice had one son, Norman who followed his father into local government and became Secretary of the Shire of Werribee completing a record term in this position. George retired to Werribee in 1951, where he died in 1965. The National Trust records note that James Ebden Minns and his sons were ‘leading men of the district, Justices of the Peace, and Shire Councillors’. It claims that Sir Thomas Bent was a frequent visitor. The Willows passed into the hands of George’s grandson, Bruce Minns and the property was let for a number of years. In the 1960s it became vacant and was subject to vandalism. Major structural problems arose with the part demolition of the roof, the loss of windows and doors and holes dug into and under the floorboards. The outbuildings were particularly targeted. Following widespread public support, the Shire of Melton purchased the house, with 3.75 acres of land, in 1972. In 1975 the Shire of Melton and the Melton and District Historical Society were successful in nominating the building for National Trust classification, and then the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. The AHC particularly noted its ‘townscape importance’. It was envisaged that the farmhouse would form ‘a picturesque centrepiece to Melton’s planned … historical park, along with Dunvegan bluestone cottage … and similar structures as they become available.’ In a time of great Melton’s ‘satellite city’ development the Council spelt out its broader vision in its submission to the AHC: ‘Melton is destined to become, by the end of the present century, a city of between 75,000 and 100,000 people. Significant relics of the past, such as ‘The Willows’, regrettably will be rare in that situation. It is essential that sufficient tangible links with Melton’s pioneering days remain to promote in the new community a sense of history and continuity’. Under the direction of ‘The Willows’ Restoration Committee and consultant architect John Hitch, all outbuildings, with the exception of the garage and toilet, were demolished and the dwelling house restored. Finances were provided by the Shire of Melton and the National Estate Grants Program, and considerable amount of voluntary labour was provided by the local community. The orchard was removed, and remaining wooden buildings were relocated to provide an open vista for visitors to the Park. The property was furnished with donations from district families keen to preserve this example of pioneer life in the area. The Willows became the headquarters of the Melton and District Historical Society". Invitation to the family reunion at the Willowslocal identities, pioneer families

Hon Neil Brown, Lord Mayor W Larkin

Park Orchards Community Centre extensions and official opening

Park Orchards Community Centre extensions and official opening

Park Orchards Community Centre extensions and official opening

Park Orchards Community Centre extensions and official opening