White net veil is gathered to a net rose on the head to a plastic comb. it is of two lengths: one short length not decorated and a double thickness full length which is decorated on the upper layer with 3.5 cm net roses attached through the net to a clear sequin. Short length is 66 cm. Long length is 1 metre 90 cm. See also items NA4579 -Wedding dress NA5076 - Garter NA5077 - Good luck Charm NA5078 - Bible NA5090 - Stocking costume, female ceremonial

Belonged to Mrs Estelle Bannister.Belonged to Infant Welfare Sister working at Vermont Infant Welfare Centre 1963. Later lived in Nunawading 1990-2020.Green plastic torch fan with clear plastic blades, battery operated.'Pilot Star' molded into base.torch fan c 1950

Made by Isobel on her marriage to John McNamara on 04/04/1953, as a going away outfit.Lilac crepe dress, beaded top with clear buttons: pleated skirt with beltwedding, dresses, mcnamara isobel & john

Glass used at Blackburn Hotel, Whitehorse Road Blackburn Vic.10 ounce clear beer glass with "Blackburn Hotel" and "10" etched on glassBlackburn Hotel 10blackburn hotel

The Old Orchard Shopping Centre was completed by October 1965Coloured photograph of land on the eastern side of Springfield Road being cleared for the building of the Old Orchard Shopping Centre. Station wagon on left. Pole in centre.old orchard shopping centre, blackburn shopping centres

founded in 1885, 'The Tess' as it was known was the key to Nunawading's early development, 'but it was no favourite on Monday mornings when the kilns were fired up and vast quantities of black smoke hung over the area.'Black and white photograph of the Australian Brick and Tile Company buildings, previously situated in Nunawading on the south side of the railway line between Simla and Calcutta Streets. The photograph is mounted on board. There is a smaller, clearer photograph at NP216australian brick and tesselated tile co., tile manufacturers

Roger de Stoop had the land cleared in 1952 and building started in 1953. He and his family moved in in 1954. The house has now been demolished but it was about 35 squares, was made of timber with blue slate roof, the slates having come from Belgium. Roger de Stoop had his outside timber walls painted in a dark colour.Black and white photocopy of house built by Roger de Stoop on land in Blackburn North (Henry Street - later 35 Middlefield Road). The house was called Middlefield House by local people.de stoop. roger. middlefield house

This shed was on part of the orchard property of Mr Henry Ireland of 12 Quarry Road Mitcham. He has cleared the property and planted an apple orchard by about 1910. When he died in 1947 the orchard was cut up. Mrs Ireland lived in the house until she died. Her daughter married and rebuilt the house, but the outbuildings remained the same, at least until 1998.Coloured photograph of a path leading across a lawn to an old shed with white doors.ireland, henry, quarry road, mitcham, orchardists

Two black and white photographs (a & b)of the Vermont Volunteers Roll of Honour for World War 1. Photograph taken out of doors.Names not clear.world war 1914 - 1918, vermont volunteers roll of honour

By1880 most railway crossings were identified by a sign, although at very busy crossings a watchman was posted. Eventually most stations were manned and gates were installed. The watchman was generally housed in a small wooden or brick building with a clear view of the single line. The next stage was mechanical closing of the gates, using a lever situated in a shed behind the gatehouse. By 1956 automatic barriers had been installed. A working model of the gate style crossing can be seen at New Street Brighton.A collection of 12 black and white photographs of the Windsor family who lived in the gatehouse next to the Tunstall station. The stationmaster Ernest Windsor was also responsible for track maintenance between Ringwood and Middleborough Road Box Hill. His wife Betty Jean Windsor was gatekeeper for 2 years. On the back of each photograph are the names of the family members in the photo.Catherine Ann Windsor (born 1897), John Ernest (Ern) WIndsor, Catherine (Kitty) Windsor (born 1919), Patricia Janette WIndsor (born 1935) Tunstall Railway Gatesstationmasters, tunstall station, windsor ernest, windsor catherine, windsor patricia, windsor betty, windsor catherine (kitty)

Item related to history of Australian Primary School & the School Milk Program operating in the 1950s until 1973 to provide milk to school children.Clear glass 1/2 imperial pint bottle. - 1950 - 1973 Australian school milk container. - originally had silver foil top.Imperial half pintschool, milk

Robert O'Hara Burke and Thomas Pope Besnard were childhood friends. As sexton of the local Back Creek Cemetery Thomas Besnard organised a subscription to raise the money for a monument to Burke, Wills and Gray. A subscription of one shilling, no more and not less, was asked so all subscribers were equal. The Bendigo monument was designed by Adam Duncan and features a Corinthian column mounted on a foundation stone, topped with a Grecian urn draped with the Union Jack. The stone for the monument was quarried from New Chum Mine. The site in the Bendigo Cemetery was selected by Besnard so the monument was on a grass knoll well clear of any other graves. The design included landscaping with a path and garden beds that provided dignified access. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo has been entered on the Register of the National Estate as being important for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo. The foundation block was laid on 20 August 1862 by Chairman of the Bendigo Municipality, Charles Burrows – exactly two years after the Expedition left Melbourne. A half day holiday was declared by Bendigo Council, and a procession left the Bendigo Town Hall and marched to the cemetery where 8000 people were gathered and another 4000 lined the route. John King was unable to attend due to ill health. Chairman of the Municipality of Bendigo, Charles Burrows, gave a long address, and diaries of members of the expedition, the Sandhurst Almanac, the Bendigo Advertiser, the Bendigo Independent Evening News, photographs of the deceased, photographs of Public Buildings in Bendigo, a Sydney half sovereign and all the silver coins of the Realm were wrapped in a Union Jack and placed in a niche in the foundation stone. Fifteen months later a column was erected on the foundation stone after Besnard openly criticised the Memorial Committee for their lack of action. The Bendigo Advertiser was disappointed at the location of the monument preferring a more central location and in 1893 an attempt was made to move the monument to Rosalind Park. On 19 May 1893, Mr Minto, the City Surveyor of the Bendigo MunicIpality reported it would cost £25, and no other action occurred. In 1940 the land around the memorial was sold off as grave sites and the paths and garden beds disappeared with graves now surrounding the base of the monument. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo Cemetery was entered on the Register of the National Estate for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo.Burke and Wills Memorial at Bendigo Cemetery, 2018Erected by the people of Bendigo in honor of the Victorian Explorers, Burke, Wills, Gray and King who first crossed the continent of Australia. King alone surviving the privation and suffering under which his three brave ill-fated companions sank. A.D. 1862. Robert O'Hara Burke, leader of the Victorian Expedition, left Melbounre 24th August 1860. Reached Carpentaria 12th Feby 1861. Died on his return at Coopers Creek, 30th June 1861. Charles Gray, died also on his return at Polygorum Swamp. 17th April 1861. William John Wills, second in command, died also near Coopers Creek, 29th June 1861. bendigo cemetery, burke and wills, burke and wills memorial, william john wills, john o'hara burke, charles gray, polygonum swamp, coopers creek, victorian expedition, carpentaria, bendigo public cemetery, bendigo remembrance park, thomas pope besnard

Rose Series Postcard number 2783Copy of Rose Series postcard #2783 showing view from Point Clear. This is taken from Ridge Road. The following indicators have been marked on the photograph L-R Dulce Domun Hotel, White's, Rev. Davies, Dr. Cox, Olinda Creek, Dickens Road, Church of England, Buggy Wheels Corner, Monash Ave. Corner.mount dandenong, ridge road, rose series, point clear

View of the settlement of Harmony Vale taken in 1913 with the guest house Kia Ora, built by George Barber in 1909, in the foreground. This photograph has a detailed inscription on the back handwritten by John Lundy-Clarke.The settlement of Harmony Vale 1913. The large home in foreground is the Guest House “Kia Ora” owned by George Barber on Lot 25 of the Village Settlement. The house above it to the left was Richardson’s house. The home of Jeanie who had left it when the picture was taken.The buildings furthest to the right of “Kia Ora” were the homestead of Isaac Jeeves of 1863 – 1871 the building furthest right with the black opening in it was the house with the tree fern floor. The flat ground above and left of Isaac’s pointed roof barn is where the creek changed its course in the 1934 flood and destroyed £4000 worth of the Rowse family’s tulip bulbs. Above the flat is Francis Matthew Child’s homestead, in the creek to the right of which can be seen the horizontal structure of the swing bridge to the sawmill of the Childs Bros which cannot be seen but in the forest to the right of the mill (bridge) can be seen a number of logs in the mill yard. The two cleared strips immediately behind Childs home were the Richardson’s original holdings and the house in the gully at the far side of the great clearing is that of the guest house “Glenrivers” belonging to W Lucas and his wife Catherine nee Child. The Richardson homestead “Harmony Vale” is behind the forest trees in the right centre. The picture gives a full view of how the settlement was cut into the centre of the great forest. george barber, kia ora, harmony vale, barber, jeanie richardson, richardson, child, matthew child, kia-ora guest house, guest house, glenrivers

Photos 051/267 and 051/268 are 2 copies (one named) of a black and white photograph showing a Working Bee at the Menzies Creek Hall site. Photos 051/269 is a close up of the left side of the photo, showing Carol King, Grace Martin, Barbara Haig and Mrs Haig, along with Lyn Hermon (baby) and Jay Hermon (toddler). Photo 051/270 is a close-up of Rodney Haig, with Mr Martin in the background wearing a hat. Other men can be seen in the background. The photo shows the land being cleared in preparation for the building of the Mnezies Creek Hall in 1953. Tall trees are in the middle and background. The hall is situated on the south-east corner of Belgrave-Gembrook Road and School Road.

B&W team photo of the Menzies Creek Cricket Club. Back row: Mr Horrie Willis (umpire) wearing a broad brimmed hat and waistcoat over a collarless shirt, Bill Hermon,Fred Beauchamp, Doug McLean, Wally Appleby. Middle row: Jim Norton, Gordon Willis, Bill Condon, Harold Dunham. Front row: Ernie Dunham, Jack Worrell, Edna Simmons (scorer) holding a book, Stan Hermon, Vic Bennett.The two Hermon boys are named on the photo. The team members are dressed in an assortment of cricket whites and everyday clothes. They are lined up in low scrub. Further behind is a cleared playing area, with trees beyond that. To their left are two hats on the ground. Five team members are wearing peaked caps or cricket caps.

Black and white photo showing three adults and two children with a horse and cart. Mr Archibald William Muirhead, of 7 Colby Drive, Belgrave Heights (then called Glen Rd) stands to the left of the cart with his left hand resting on the wheel and his right hand on his hip. His left leg is crossed in front of his right leg. He is wearing a light-coloured suit. Sitting in the cart are two women and a boy and a girl. The girl is Pam Harris. They are on a dirt road with trees on either side. Behind them is a cleared area with more trees in the background. The photo was taken on Glen Road close to Monbulk Creek. On the back of the photo is printed '1627'. It probably dates to the 1940s and is part of a collection of family photos donated by Pam Harris, Shire of Sherbrooke President, 1982-1983 & 1987-1988.

A Bush Fire Control map is a valuable tool used by emergency services and communities to respond to respond to bushfires.Cream coloured parchment map showing roads, railway lines, telephone lines, rivers, creeks and water courses. Also marked are houses, Post Offices, Police stations, bush fire brigades, water channels, swamps, marshes, dense, medium and scattered timber, aqueducts and reservoirs. Villages, districts and Towns are clearly marked. Printed in red, green, black and blue. Very clear and easy to read. Undated.bush fires, bendigo area map

The History of the Bulgana and Salt Creek State SchoolsCream paper cover under a clear plastic cover with black plastic binding. paper cover has double line border inside which is the Title.Bulgana School History 1873 To 1932 We would like to thank WP Computers Barkley St Ararat stawell education

Extract of Victoria As I Found It. "Brown on Pleasant Creek" By Henry Brown. Photocopied at the Public Library MelbourneLight Blue Plastic Cover with clear cutout and white paper insert with Black Print"Brown on Pleasant Creek" from "Victoria as I Found It" By Henry Brown Published London 1862stawell gold

Covers some pioneer women in the Wimmera District of Victoria, featuring "Glywylln' Stationm F=Green's Creek & Kirkella. Written by MRs Gilbert as a history option for HSC. Pink Card cover under clear plastic Woman in Australian History with particular reference to Gkywyllan near Stawell, Victoria in the 1850s and 1860s By Mrs E.M. Gilbertstawell

Thomas William Cavey was born in 1871, he was the youngest of his family and the only child that was born in Australia. He was first employed at the lime kilns in Geelong, before moving to Queensland for 4 years where he worked as a Boundary Rider. Thomas returned to the Lilydale area to be the driver of a buggy and pair for David Mitchell of David Mitchell Quarry in Lilydale. He selected land in Seamer Road in Monbulk in about 1898, but was working for the railways in Melbourne at the time and would come up to Monbulk at weekends to clear and cultivate the land. He met Lillian Eager, probably through relatives of hers, the Wingates, who lived in Monbulk. He and LIllian were married in 1910. They bought a 22 acre property in what is now called Cavey Road. They had two sons Thomas Charles, born in 1918 and George William Born in 1923. Initially the property in Cavey Road was farmed for vegetables, fruit and berries. The land used for this was over a creek on steep land away from the house. Once the produce was harvested it was taken by flying fox, back across the creek to where it could be prepared for sale. It was then taken to the Emerald and Belgrave markets each week. Later 10 cows were purchased, and the main income from the property was the dairy which produced approximately 25 quarts of milk a day, they produced Cream and Butter and together with the milk they were delivered fresh daily in the horse and cart. Deliveries were made to Monbulk, The Patch and to the canvas town at Silvan Dam, where the workers building the Silvan Dam lived. Thomas William Cavey died in 1959 aged 89. Lillian Blanche Cavey died in 1949 aged 68.

Ski-Horizon is the official journal of the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs which began publication in 1949. The were 26 original member clubs which included Albury Ski Club, Bogong Ski Club, Myrtleford Ski Club, Tallangatta and District Ski Club and Wangaratta Ski Club. Two pioneers of Falls Creek, Tom Mitchell, M.L.A., and Martin Romuld were Vice-Presidents of the Federation.This Journal is significant because it documents the early development of skiing in Victoria.The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. Items related to the Falls Creek Area in this publication include:- Page 3 Beechworth and Dawn Ski Clubs are making good progress with their lodges. Dawn is next to Toni St. Elmo Page 4 Albury Ski Club has increased its membership from 140 to 180. It now has its own transport bus known as "Jackson" Page 17 A letter from H. H. C. Williams stating the the Commission proposes to keep the Upper Kiewa Valley Road clear of snow as far as the Howman Dam Hostel only.albury ski club, beechworth ski club, dawn lodge, h. h. c. williams

Ski-Horizon is the official journal of the Federation of Victorian Ski Clubs which began publication in 1949. The were 26 original member clubs which included Albury Ski Club, Bogong Ski Club, Myrtleford Ski Club, Tallangatta and District Ski Club and Wangaratta Ski Club. Two pioneers of Falls Creek, Tom Mitchell, M.L.A., and Martin Romuld were Vice-Presidents of the Federation.This Journal is significant because it documents the early development of skiing in Victoria.The journal features stories and events chronicling developments in Victoria and internationally. Items related to the Falls Creek Area in this issue include:- Cover - Rudi Wurth, winner of the National Slalom and Downhill titles at Kosciusko, 1954. Page 2 - Dawn Ski Club is a great place for families as it was designed specifically to cater for children. Toni St. Elmo is writing a book about skiing to be illustrated by Mollie Hill. The introduction will be by a well known Australian skier. Page 3 - A new standard downhill course is to be cleared on the Frying Pan Spur by Myrtleford Ski Club. In honor of the work he has done for the Falls Creek Village and for skiing in that area, it is to be named the "Tom Mitchell Course." Falls Creek Alpine Village is to be enlarged. Three new club lodges have been started, including Snowden and Nissen. Holbrook Ski Club will also be building at Falls Creek this summer.tom mitchell m.l.a., toni st. elmo, downhill courses, falls creek alpine village

Two Pictures of 1972 Premiership Player John O'ConnellCareer : 1970 - 1976 Debut : Round 3, 1970 vs Richmond, aged 18 years, 361 days Carlton Player No. 818 Games : 111 Goals : 0 Guernsey Nos. 50 (1970-71) and No. 19 (1972-76) Last Game : Preliminary Final, 1976 vs North Melbourne, aged 25 years, 149 days Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.) Weight : 82 kg (12 stone, 13 lbs.) DOB : April 22, 1951 Premiership Player 1972 After starting his career at Carlton as a centreman or ruck-rover at Under-19 and Reserves level, John Michael “Jack” O’Connell found his niche in defence for the Blues and was a creative back pocket in Carlton’s record-breaking 1972 Grand Final victory over Richmond. A dasher who loved to take off on bouncing runs, Jack spent much of his career alongside champion full-back Geoff Southby, with either Vin Waite or David McKay in the opposite pocket. Together, they created a full-back line regarded as among the best in club history. O’Connell’s journey to Premiership glory began during his school days at St Mark’s in Melbourne’s outer north, then at Glenroy YCW and Fawkner. In 1967, aged 17, he joined Carlton’s Under-19s, and by midway through 1969 he was playing Reserves football in guernsey number 50. Early in the following year, a couple of strong showings saw him banging on the door of senior selection, and he was duly rewarded by being named on the bench for his senior debut against Richmond at the MCG in round 3, 1970. For the Blues and their supporters, the game was a forgettable one, because Carlton surrendered a big half-time lead to be beaten by 13 points, and O’Connell wasn’t called on until the dying minutes. Sent back to the Reserves after that one brief taste if the big time, Jack honed his skills and bided his time - for more than a year – while Carlton went on to win the 1970 Premiership. Eventually, he earned a recall midway through 1971, but with a bevy of stars standing in his way, he was a regular reserve until late in the year, when coach John Nicholls – aware that incumbent Ian Collins intended to retire – offered O’Connell a chance in the back pocket. Jack grasped his opportunity with both hands. At 183 cm and 82 kg he was bigger than the average specialist back-pocket of that era, but he gave nothing away in agility. An excellent mark and an accurate kick off either foot, he had settled in beside Southby by the end of that season, playing the last ten games straight. As season 1972 dawned and Collins retired, O'Connell inherited the Blues’ number 19 guernsey and began marking his mark in the Carlton defence. Inspired by Southby’s creativity and Waite’s aggression, Jack was soon a headache for every opposition club. An ankle injury sustained in round 5, 1972 against Collingwood cost him five matches, but he was back to top form by finals time, when Carlton finished the regular season on top of the ladder. In their first final together – the Second Semi Final - O’Connell, Southby and Waite were resolute in a thrilling draw. Richmond won the replay, then Carlton conquered St Kilda in the Preliminary Final to earn another crack at the Tigers in the Grand Final. Opting for a strategy of all-out attack in the flag decider, the Blues blasted off the blocks to kick 8 goals in the first quarter, 10 in the second and 7 in the third to put the game right out of Richmond’s grasp with a full quarter remaining. After coasting to the final siren, the Blues collected their eleventh VFL Premiership by 27 points. Waite was missing from the match, having been injured in the Preliminary Final, but David McKay was a more than adequate replacement, and all three defenders on the last line completed an excellent final series. On the way to another consistent season in 1973, O’Connell strained a thigh in Carlton’s surprise loss to Fitzroy at the Junction Oval in round 16, and wasn’t recalled to the senior side until the Grand Final, when Carlton and Richmond met once more in the 48th match of Jack’s career. A few days beforehand, Barry Armstrong had been ruled out when he was hit by appendicitis, so O’Connell took over Armstrong’s assigned role of negating the Tigers’ star centreman Ian Stewart. Jack stuck to his task all match, but neither he nor his team could hold back a ferocious Richmond side that crashed and bashed its way to victory. O’Connell went on to play in two more finals campaigns in 1975 and ’76 but was denied the joy of another September victory. He brought up game number 100 at Princes Park in June 1976, when Carlton ended a five-game losing sequence to beat Essendon, before calling time on his VFL career after the Blues suffered a heart-breaking 1-point loss to North Melbourne in that season’s Preliminary Final. In 1977 O'Connell was cleared to WAFL club Subiaco. Later he came back to Victoria and coached Diamond Creek to a Premiership in the Diamond Valley League. Then in 1987, the football world was rocked by the news that Jack had been diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer. He fought hard for 18 months, but tragically passed away on the 5th November, 1989 aged just 38. Career Highlights 1971 - 3rd Reserves Best & Fairest 1971 - Reserves Most Improved Player 1972 - Premiership Player Milestones 50 Games : Round 2, 1974 vs Geelong 100 Games :Round 13, 1976 vs Essendon Footnotes Off the field, O’Connell was a quiet, reserved character who, by 1973 had struck a warm friendship with another man of few words in his champion team-mate Bruce Doull. The pair could often be seen together sharing a beer after Sunday morning recovery sessions, and club folklore has it that the only regular conversation to be heard between them was, “it’s your shout.” In 1997, John's son Luke O'Connell joined Carlton, playing eight Reserves games and kicking three goals.2 x Black & White PhotosThe Sun Articles pasted on back of each photo

The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events. The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. It was a 21km race with about 80 participants organised by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club of Mount Beauty. The course started and finished at Falls Creek Alpine Resort and took participants out into the Bogong High Plains. After running the event for 10 years, it was decided they should become part of the Worldloppet series of marathon ski races. Representatives from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and the Australian Ski Federation attended the Worldloppet Annual Meeting in Finland in June 1990 to put the case for the acceptance of an Australian event into the Worldloppet series. Before being admitted, they had to demonstrate that the Birkebeiner Club could run a world class event, so three months later in August 1990 a 42km event named the Australian International Ski Marathon was held at Falls Creek together with a 21km Birkebeiner race and a 7km event called the Birkebeiner Lite. The event was approved by delegates from USA, Norway and Austria, in 1991 Australia became the 12th member of Worldloppet, with the condition that there had to be a name change. After some late night discussion allegedly involving red wine from North East Victoria the main event became the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, with the minor events being the 21km Australian Birkebeiner, and 7km Joey Hoppet. In the winter of 1991, the first Kangaroo Hoppet was held. It was a great success and has been a regular fixture on the international ski calendar ever since. It features the main 42km event as well as a 21km event and a 7km event. The Hoppet brings the Australian snowfields to an international audience. In 2002 the Men's Winner was Stanislav Rezac from the Czech Republic in a time of 2:10:40. The winner of the Women's event was Belinda Phillips of Australia in a time of 2:30:53.This poster is significant because it documents an event which brings international attention to Falls Creek and the surrounding region.A coloured poster featuring group of Hoppet competitors on a clear day. The heading is in gold text and the logos of Worldloppet, Falls Creek and Tourism Victoria are included towards the bottom.In gold text at the top: KANGAROO HOPPET 12 FALLS CREEK AUSTRALIA Beneath the image: 31st August 2002 Tel: (03) 5754 3103 - Fax: (03) 5754 4475 - P.O. Box 400 Mount Beauty 3699 Website: http://www.netc.net.au/-hoppet/ Email: [email protected] kangaroo hoppet, worldloppet events, falls creek, mt. beauty

This hammer was used by workers on the ski lifts to clear them of ice. The hammer was turned by the Ski Lift Company and had a long reach. It was mainly used on the Summit T-Bar and the International Poma before they had catwalks to enable easier access for maintenance. This item was donated by Douglas Zolla. He has worked in Falls Creek for over 30 years. From 1987 until 2002. Doug worked as a De-icer with the Falls Creek Ski Lifts Company. For many years he has been a guide with Falls Creek Snowmobile Tours.This equipment is significant as it was created by the Falls Creek Ski Lift Company to ensure safe operation of their ski lifts.A metal hammer with orange tape on the handle and a rope attached.ski lift maintenance, falls creek ski lifts, de-icing ski lifts

Beryl Knox speaking about early life in Melton. Page 1 1949 – 64 years ago. We began our married life at Melton Sth. The house on the corner of the Exford Rd and Staughton St-- dusty gravel roads, box thorns and noxious weeds everywhere and a sprinkling of houses and vacant land. It was a friendly community consisting of old family names. McDonalds, Blacks, Dodemaide, Cahill, Coopers, Minns, Tinklers, Nesbitts, Cochranes, Wickhams, Exells. Mavis Butler. The home owned by Mr. Robinson and Miss Robinson had been shifted in two parts transported from Diggers Rest and it is still standing 2013. Bruce’s father purchased the house and two adjoining blocks, the Conways built on one and the Rawlinson family on the other block. Eileen still resides there, she was only a baby in a pram and the family had not long arrived from England. The railway line was close to the house and the contents would rattle when heavy steams trains went through, and on a clear frosty night the 1am paper train would echo roar through very loudly when labouring towards the Exford Bridge. Then the two carriage motor train was introduced, this was great for the workers and schoolies who travelled to Melbourne. The train pulled up at the crossing or riding to pick up or drop off. Melva Gillespie (nee Hirt) Bill Cahill delivered the milk by the billy and then in bottles. Len Kennedy (Paul Kennedy’s father, Norma Murrays son) delivered Jongebloeds bread, he always had a sweep going for the Melbourne Cup and raffles for the footy club. Mr. Woodgate owned an old bus and pick up point was the Post Office when there was a Saturday film on a Melton. There were no doctors or dentists in the district. If we need a Doctor we had to travel to Bacchus Marsh or discuss problems over the phone. In later years a Bacchus Marsh Doctor rented the Bluestone building in McKenzie St a couple of days a week. If we needed the Dentist we had to travel to West Footscray or Footscray. We did our banking at “State Savings” then the Miss Minns had the agency and then Bardsleys Store. We travelled to Bacchus Marsh to the National and Commercial banks. Station Rd to Western Highway, now (High Street) was a narrow stretch of bitumen and gravel farmland either side and a couple of farm houses and large gum trees on the properties. Page 2 North of the Railway line Mrs Bessie Jones, mother of Chas and Betty Jones managed the Post Office, next door to her Chas and Betty had the Shell Centre, and later moved the business to Melton. Hughie Nesbitt and mother owned the grocery and hardware store, and I bought my first set of saucepans there. On the opposite side of Station road Mr Coombe owned the fruit shop, and also provided soft drinks and lollies for children. The Chaff Mill was on the corner of Station Rd and Brooklyn Rd. Mr Lumsden was manager and later years Bernie Trethowan and Jack Butler were partners. It finally burnt down and is a Service Station now. Along Brooklyn Rd there were a few houses and Victoria Hall, not a very big hall, but catered for lots of functions, Balls, Fancy Dress, Bazaars, Square Dancing and meetings. The Bacchus Marsh Baptists held Sunday School in the hall. A group of shops were built south of the railway line Molly and Len Skinner managed the Post Office and handled a few essential groceries. Tom McDonald and Ron Lunsberg were the butchers. Mary and Syd Cooper lived next door to us and often in turn would run out of something when we had a baking spree we would borrow or exchange, sugar flour etc over the fence. Mavis and Jack Butler lived there before the Coopers. Bernie and Iris Trethowan lived two doors up. Neighbours were invited into their home to view the first black and white television in Melton Sth. Bill Exell was one of the first Melton Sth farmers to sell his land to developers, the land was idle for years before housing developed. I joined the Melton Valley Golf Club in 1960. The Gun Club as our Club House, an old tin shed consisting a water tank, trestle table and forms and dirt floor. It was a 9 hole course with sand scraps and landscape putting before greens. The Common or parkland was part of the Golf Course. It was open for every ones recreation. Roy Norton an old identity trained his trotters on the Common and wouldn’t clear the track for the golfers. The golfers had to avoid him to continue to play. We had to keep clear when the young youths came in their paddock cars and motorbikes. Over the years the Toolern Creek flooded its banks, water and debri covered the course on one year our first Club house was flooded out. It took several working bees to clean it up. We lived at Melton Sth for 15 years and moved to Melton on the farm “Croxton Park.” The Nixon family farm “Mowbray” adjoined the farm. Bruce worked the land cropping the farm when Mrs Nixon died. Page 3 (page 4 on the handwritten script) Bruce had the first offer to buy, in those days it wasn’t easy to get good bank loans. Part of the land is the Golf Course now and Mr O’Shea purchased the bulk. Moving to Melton was totally different – I became involved with Committees, Scouts, Guides, Mothers Clubs, CWA, Church Op shop (8 years). Melton Amateurs players produced and tutored by Mabel Rogers exerts from Pyjama Game, South Pacific, Carousel - later years a group of ladies did gentle water exercise at Essendon and Station Road swimming pool. I was 20 or so years in Probus. The local followed the football, there was always a Gymkhana on the long weekend in June. The tennis always created a lot of interest during the finals. It didn’t matter which team played the supporters were treated to a cup of tea and leftovers from their afternoon tea. In 1978 were the first residents to move into the Jennings Estate Kurunjang and lived there 31 years and retired 4 years ago into Unit. The amazing changes I have experienced. Merrimu supplied our water, after depending on tanks. The landscape changed completely when developers came in, no more dusty plains \ typed web Sept 2013 McFarlane, Mrs Knox and Beryl Gillespie at the First Hundred Years Celebration of Melton State School 430. The event was held at Mechanics Hall, Melton.local identities, local significant events, education