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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, Three Elephant Power
This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. About A. B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson Andrew Barton Paterson was born at Narrambla Station in New South Wales, Australia, on 17th February 1864 and died 5th February 1941. His first seven years were spent on his father’s station, where like so many Australian children he enjoyed a bush boyhood. This property was at Obley in the Orange district of New South Wales. The family moved to the Yass district and lived near the main route from Sydney to Melbourne where he saw a great many bullock teams, drovers with herds of stock, gold escorts and Cob & Co coaches. His lifelong love of horses and horsemen was forged from the riders and their horses he saw at the picnic races and polo matches the family attended. These horses and riders where from the Murrumbidgee River and Snowy Mountain areas of New South Wales. Patterson lived most of his life in Sydney. He became a journalist, army officer, novelist, poet, solicitor and a war correspondent. He enjoyed many different sports such as tennis, rowing and, most of all, he delighted in his horsemanship. His first poem ‘El Mahdi to the Australian Troop’ was published in the Bulletin in 1885 under the pen name of “The Banjo”, which was the name of his favourite horse. In 1895 his first book was published and was sold out in the week of publication; he sold 7000 copies in a few months. This book was “The Man From Snowy River, and other Verses” and it contained such ballads as ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, ‘The Geebung Polo Club’, ‘The Man from Ironbark’, and ‘Saltbush Bill’. The tittle poem was first published in 1890. In 1895 Patterson visited his fiancé (at that time), Sarah Riley, who was staying with her friends the Macphersons at Dagworth Station in Queensland. Sarah’s old school friend Christina McPherson. Christina replayed to them an old Scottish tune called “The Craigielee March” that she had heard played by the Garrison Artillery band at the Warrnambool picnic races in Victoria, 1894. Patterson wrote words to fit the tune and it became the now famous ‘Waltzing Matilda’. He was commissioned by the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age as they correspondent to report on the South African War. After being a roving reporter in China he went to England and spent time with Rudyard Kipling. In April 1903 Paterson married Alice Walker in Tenterfield, New South Wales, and they had two children, Grace and Hugh. At the outbreak of World War 1 Paterson sailed for England in the hope of covering the fighting in Flanders as a correspondent but finished up driving an ambulance for the Australian Voluntary Hospital, Wimereux, France. In 1915 as an honorary vet he made three voyages taking horse to Africa, China and Egypt. On 18th October 1915 he was commissioned in the 2nd Remount Unit in the Australian Imperial Force and was promoted to Captain serving in the Middle East. He was wounded in April 1916, when he re-joined his unit he was promoted to major and commanded the Australian Remount Squadron from October 1916 to his return to Australia in 1919. Once the War was over he resumed his work as a journalist until he retired in 1930 so that he could devote time to creative writing. He became a successful radio broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Commission using his travel experiences. He wrote the children’s book “The Animals Noah Forgot” in 1933 and then in 1934 “Happy Dispatches” in which he told of his meetings with people like Winston Churchill and Kipling. “The Shearer’s Colt was published in 1936 and in 1939 he wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald. After a short illness he passed away in Sydney on 5th February 1941. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. Three Elephant Power Author: A B Paterson Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1917Label on spine cover with typed text RA 823.91 PAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Fly paper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institutewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, three elephant power, a b paterson -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book, The Old Bus
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith is a famous Australian, well known in civil aviation history for his courageous endeavours in flight. He broken many flight records for long distance and time travelled and he was also a war hero in World War 1. He has been referred to as being “known to millions of Australians as “Smithy” … he was one of Australia’s true twentieth-century legends”. In honour of his place amongst the world’s famous pioneers his image is featured on Australia’s $20 note, Sydney airport is named after him, there is a memorial to Kingsford Smith, Taylor and Ulm at the Anderson Park, also in Sydney and his plane “Southern Cross” is on view at Brisbane Airport. Kingsford Smith wrote ‘The Old Bus’ (1932) and he and Ulm were co-authors of ‘Story of 'Southern Cross' Trans-Pacific Flight’ (1928). His also wrote a book about his own life ‘My Flying Life’ which was published after his death in 1937. and the story of his life was filmed in Australia in 1946. A BRIEF HISTORY OF SIR CHARLES EDWARD KINGSFORD SMITH (1897 – 1935) … Kingsford Smith was born 9th February 1897 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His parents were William Charles Smith and Catherine Mary, nee Kingsford. His mother’s maiden name of “Kingsford” was added to the family name when they spent time in Canada from around 1903 to 1907, after which they returned to Sydney, Australia. In 1915 Kingsford Smith enlisted in Australian Imperial Force. He served in 4th Signal Troop, 2nd Division Signal Company at Gallipoli Peninsular as a ‘sapper’ or combat engineer and later in Egypt and in France as a dispatch rider. In 1916 Kingsford Smith was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps as a sergeant. He was discharged after training in England and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. He was appointed fling officer and soon joined the 23rd Squadron in France. He brought down four machines in his first month there and also did invaluable work attacking enemy targets. He was wounded and shot down and later awarded the Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1918 and served as a Flying Instructor with the R.F.C. Kingsford Smith was not allowed to participate in the 1919 England to Australia air race because of assumed lack of navigational experience. He and his pilot friend Cyril Maddocks formed a business and flew joy-flights in both England and America. In America he did some stunt flying with a Flying Circus. Kingsford Smith returned to Australia in 1921 and found employment as a pilot. He soon realised the value of air transport in such a vast country. He formed a partnership with pilot Keith Anderson in 1924 and they purchased two Bristol Tourer biplanes. Their business broadened to include Charles Ulm and became the Interstate Flying services in Sydney. Together they performed important ‘demonstration’ flights including a flight around Australia in 10 days and 5 hours using very limited navigational equipment. Kingsford Smith immediately started to search for support to do a trans-Pacific flight. This support came from the New South Wales government, Sidney Myer and G. Allan Hancock, an American oil magnate. On 31st May 1928 Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm and two American crewmen, Harry Lyan and Jim Warner, took off from Oakland, California and flew to Brisbane via Hawaii and Suva. This historic flight took 83 hours and 38 minutes. Their Fokker plane had three engines and was named the “Southern Cross”. This amazing achievement resulted in huge financial subscriptions. Kingsford Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross and appointed as honorary squadron leader, Royal Australian Air Force. Kingsford Smith flew his Southern Cross plane from Point Cook in Victoria to Perth nonstop. Then in September – October 1928, with Charles Ulm and an Australian crew, he piloted the Southern Cross from Sidney to Christchurch New Zealand. This flight showed that was possible for regular passenger and mail services across the Tasman Sea. Kingsford Smith flew his plane to England to an order for four aircraft, planning to use them for an inter-capital air service in Australia. Sadly on 1st April 1929 he was forced to land, having lost radio contact with the ground and having run into bad weather over north – west Australia. Keith Anderson and Robert Hitchcock both perished before the search party reached them. Once official enquiries were completed the flight to England continued in June and was completed in record time of 12 days and 18 hours. In January 1930 Kingsford Smith piloted the “Southern Cloud”, one of the new Avro Ten planes, on the first flight of his airline, the Australian National Airways, from Sydney to Melbourne. The “Southern Cross” was overhauled in Holland by the Fokker Aircraft Co. and in June 1930 Kingsford Smith achieved an east-west crossing of the Atlantic from Ireland to Newfoundland in 31.5 hours. Kingsford Smith returned to England and took delivery of an Avro Avian biplane that he named the “Southern Cross Junior” and flew solo from England to Darwin, Australia. This record breaking flight took less than 10 days. He beat four other planes that had left England before him and he was 5.5 days faster than Hinkler. Sadly Kingsford Smith’s “Southern Cloud” was lost during a flight from Sydney to Melbourne in 1931 with no surviving crew or passengers; in 1958 the wreckage was discovered in the Snowy Mountains. Later that year Kingsford Smith flew his “Southern Cloud” from Australia to Timor, collecting mail from a damaged Imperial Airways plane in Timor. Other flights followed. Kingsford Smith was knighted in 1932 for his services in Aviation. He returned to selling joy flights then established the Kingsford Smith Air Service, a flying training school in Sydney. In 1933 Kingsford Smith flew the amazing record flight in “Miss Southern Cross” – a Percival Gull - from London to Wyndham in Western Australia in just over ten days. The Australian Commonwealth then gave Kingsford Smith a large grant and he was also appointed as aviation consultant to Vacuum Oil Co. Another flying record was made when Kingsford Smith and Sir P.G. Taylor flow “Lady Southern Cross” from Brisbane to San Francisco in order to sell her there; the west-east-trans-Pacific flight made aviation history. They returned to Australia to make an attempt at the trans-Tasman flight but their attempt failed due to engine failure; they managed to get back to Sydney safely, minus most of their cargo. Kingsford Smith had his unsold “Lady Southern Cross” shipped back to England, from where he and J. T. Pethybridge in the “Lady Southern Cross” attempted another record breaking flight from England The Old Bus Author: Charles Kingsford Smith Publisher: Distibuted by Herald Feature Service Date; 1932Label on spine cover with typed text RA 629.1309 KIN flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, the old bus, charles kingsford smith -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - CARWARDINE COLLECTION: INFORMATION RE COLLECTION
Handwritten note from Tim Gibson, a descendant of the original Cawardine family, has donated the items in the Carwardine Collection (Cat No. 3401). CARWARDINE, Walter Henry Walter Henry Carwardine Groom: Walter Henry CARWARDINE. Bride: Elizabeth Arnold THORPE. Year married: 1863. Place: Victoria, Australia. Walter died 1923 in Caulfield, Victoria. Age: 89 years. Parents named as John CARWARDINE and Charlotte WILCOX. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon G1. Grave number: 21110. Service date: 03 June 1923. Elizabeth Arnold Carwardine (Thorpe) Died 1911 in Bendigo, Victoria. Age: 70 years. Parents named as Joseph THORPE and Jane ARNOLD. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon G1. Grave number: 21110. Service date: 19 May 1911. Eleven children located Victorian records for Walter and Elizabeth. 1. Henry Thorpe CARWARDINE. Born: 1864 Dunolly, Victoria. Birth recorded under CAWARDINE. Died: 1916 Bendigo, Victoria. Age: 52 years. Married: Jessie Mary Jean BURNS. Year: 1891. Place: Victoria. See Post: CARWARDINE Henry married Jessie BURNS 1891 2. Hugh Wilcox CARWARDINE. Born: 1866 Dunolly, Victoria. Died: 1952 Bendigo, Victoria. Age: 86 years. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon G1. Grave number: 21110. Service date: 22 May 1952. 3 Guy CARWARDINE. Born: 1867 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1942 Cohuna, Victoria. Age: 74 years. Married: Minnie LANSELL. Year: 1892. Place: Victoria. Minnie was born 1863 in Sandhurst, Victoria. Parents named as William LANSELL and Jane Crouch ANDERSON. Minnie died 1954 in Cohuna, Victoria. Age: 91 years. Parents named as William LANSELL and Jane Crutch ANDERSON. 4. Mary Charlotte Arnold CARWARDINE. Born: 1869 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1942 Bendigo, Victoria. Age: 72 years. Married: Luther Edwin Goldsmith BRIGHT. Year: 1891. Place: Victoria. Luther was born 1865 in Ballarat, Victoria. Parents named as Alfred Goldsmith BRIGHT and Sophia JACOBSON. Luther died 1892 in Prahran, Victoria. Age: 26 years. Parents named as Alfred Goldsmith BRIGHT and Siphia Goldsmith JACOBSON. 5. John CARWARDINE. Born: 1871 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1871 Sandhurst, Victoria. Age: 02 days. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon C4. Grave number: 3881. Service date: 17 April 1871. 6. Thomas Brunsdon CARWARDINE. Born: 1872 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1876 Sandhurst, Victoria. Age: 03 years. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon C4. Grave number: 3881. Service date: 07 April 1876. 7. Rose Elizabeth CARWARDINE. Born: 1874 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 09 October 1963, Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. Age: 89 years. Buried: Karrakatta Cemetery, Western Australia. Area: Anglican. Section: ZU. Gravesite: 0356. Grantee: Muriel Carwardine ARCHER. Married: Arthur Sydney CHAMBERS. Year: 1905. Place: Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. Arthur died 1950, Williams district, Western Australia. 8. Walter Henry CARWARDINE. Born: 1876 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1937 Bendigo, Victoria. Age: 60 years. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon H6. Grave number: 30803. Service date: 11 February 1937. Married: Flora Constance HILL. Year: 1906. Place: Victoria. Flora was born 1876 in Bendigo, Victoria. Parents named as Frederick HILL and Mary Ann KERSHAW. Flora died 1959 in Bendigo, Victoria. Age: 84 years. Parents named as Frederick HILL and Mary Ann KERSHAW. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon H6. Grave number: 30803. Service date: 13 October 1959. 9. James Arnold CARWARDINE. Born: 1878 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1947 Heidelberg, Victoria. Age: 69 years. Cremated: Fawkner Memorial Park, Victoria. Service date: 06 September 1947. Cremated remains location: Not recorded. First World War Embarkation Roll. Name: James Arnold CARWARDINE. Service number: 4158. Rank: Private. Roll title: 6 Infantry Battalion - 13 to 18 Reineforcements. (Dec 1915 - July 1916) Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918. Date of embarkation: 29 December 1915. Place of embarkation: Melbourne. Ship embarked on: HMAT Demosthenes. Ship number: A64. Married: Frances Georgina TURNER. Year: 1919. Place: Victoria. Frances was born 1875 in Eaglehawk, Victoria. Parents named as James Perriman TURNEER and Caroline GORDEN. Frances died 1956 in Brighton, Victoria. Age: 76 years. Father named as James TURNER. Mother unknown. Cremated: Fawkner Memorial Park, Victoria. Service date: 29 November 1956. Cremated remains location: Rose Garden 02. 10. Albert Augustus Arnold CARWARDINE. Born: 1880 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 1885 Sandhurst, Victoria. Age: 05 years. Buried: Bendigo Cemetery, Victoria. Area: Mon C4. Grave number: 3881. Service date: 18 July 1885. 11. George Frederick Brunsdon CARWARDINE. Born: 1888 Sandhurst, Victoria. Died: 02 August 1916, France. First World War Embarkation Roll. Name: George Frederick CARWARDINE. Service number: 3794. Rank: Acting Sergeant. Roll title: 24 Infantry Battalion - 9 to 12 Reinforcements. (Feb-April 1916) Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918. Date of embarkation: 08 February 1916. Place of embarkation: Melbourne. Ship embarked on: HMAT Warilda. Ship number: A69. First World War Roll of Honour. Name: George Frederick Brunston CARWARDINE. Service number: 3794. Rank: Private. Unit: 24th Battalion. (Infantry) Service: Australian Army. Conflict: 1914-1918. Date of death: 02 August 1916. Place of death: France. Cause of death: Killed in action. Cemetery or memorial details: Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France. Sources: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria. Registry of Deaths and Marriages, Western Australia. Bendigo Cemetery Records, Victoria. Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery Records, Victoria. Karrakatta Cemetery Records, Western Australia. First World War Embarkation Rolls. AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army.bendigo, business, carwardine soap and candle -
Melton City Libraries
Newspaper, Melton Schools-150 years in Melton, 2005
Melton South "The establishment of a settlement of Melton South was induced by the opening of the railway in 1884. This subsequently prompted a number of industries, initially sawmills, and in the early twentieth century, chaff mills. This development coincided with the Exford ‘Closer Settlement’ estate at the beginning of the new century, boosting local population and produce, and the development of the chaff industry which employed many people in the Melton area. (Around 1912 the government had brought out English migrants to settle the Exford estate.) By c.1912 the small Melton Railway Station settlement had a boarding house (probably for chaff or sawmill employees), store, a small church and a hall. The Melton Valley Golf Club originated near the railway station in 1927 (in 1931 it moved to the present Melton links). In 1910 the community had built the large timber ‘Victoria Hall’, which became the focus of community life for several generations. In August of that same year AR Robertson MP and D McDonald applied for the establishment of a school on land set aside for that purpose by the Closer Settlement Board, near the Melton Railway Station settlement. District Inspector McRae recommended that a school for classes up to Grade 3 be established as an adjunct to the Melton State School. And so SS3717, ‘Melton Railway School’, was established in the leased Victoria Hall on 1st December 1911. Thomas Lang, head master at Melton since 1896, was in charge of both schools. As a ‘prep’ school only, it was necessary that the older Melton Railway Station settlement students travel to Melton SS430 at Unitt Street. Since 1912 local residents had been petitioning for the establishment of a separate school at Melton Railway Station on the grounds that it would be better if all children from the one home could attend the same school, and that the Victoria Hall was unsuitable as a school building. As a result an area of 2 acres - Allotment 8, Parish of Djerriwarrh, Exford Estate - was reserved for a State School on 4th March 1914. However the Department wrote that a school would not be established there in the near future, as ‘there is no likelihood in sight that the Railway Station settlement will increase in importance’. Parents persisted with their petitions to the Education Department, claiming that the Victoria Hall was too large, had no fireplace, that teachers were unable to use the wall for teaching aids, and that, being less than 20 metres away from a chaff mill employing 30 men, was too noisy. The turning point came when in 1920 the Hall Committee decided to increase its rent for the hall. In 1920 Head Teacher Lang advised the Education Department to discontinue SS3717 as an adjunct. The District Inspector supported this recommendation, and the schools separated in 1923. In April of that year 41 children, comprising Grades 1-8, moved into an almost completed brick building on the present site. On the 6th July 1923 the official opening of the school took place; after a ceremonial journey from the Hall to the school, speeches were given by the Hon AR Robertson and the Chief Inspector of Education. Everyone then journeyed back to Victoria Hall for a ‘bountiful repast’. (These dates are at odds with the date of 5th March 1925 given in Blake as the date the children occupied the new SS3717 brick school building. ) A teacher’s residence had been purchased for ₤500 in 1923, and the school’s name was changed to ‘Melton South’ in the same year. Even though the older Melton South pupils would no longer have to travel to the Unitt Street school, an additional brick room was still required at the Melton SS430 in that same year. In 1961 a new room was added to the school. In 1972, at the beginning of Melton’s boom as a satellite town, the number of enrolments was 224. The school has since shared in the exponential growth of the town of Melton, and at the time of its jubilee celebration (1983), 524 pupils were enrolled. Victoria Hall, neglected and vandalised, was demolished in 1992. It had been handed back to the Council on condition that it be replaced by a new hall, with the same name, and was commemorated by a plaque. Apart from the 1923 brick school building, and the railway station, none of the principal early Melton South public sites survive. Few early residential sites remain. (Further research will establish whether the house on the corner of Station Street and the railway line was the original teacher’s residence.)" Melton State School "On 17th May 1858 a State subsidised, combined Denominational School was opened by HT Stokes, with an attendance of about 30 children. This school was conducted in the wooden Melton Combined Protestant Church, situated on ‘a creek flat’ thought to be on the north side of Sherwin Street between Pyke and Byran Streets. It is likely that the Church had been established by 1855 and that the first minister was the Rev. Hampshire, who lived in Cambridge House on the Exford Estate. Ministers of the Protestant denominations were invited to hold services there. As there was only one resident Minister in the town (Presbyterian Mr J Lambie), laymen of the various denominations often spoke on Sundays. In 1863 this building was declared a Common School with the number 430. One of its first and most prominent headmasters was John Corr, who served from 1860 to 1864. Most of Mr Corr’s children also became teachers, including Joseph Corr, at the Rockbank school, and J Reford Corr and WS Corr, headmasters and teachers at numerous prestigious private secondary schools around Australia. John Corr purchased land alongside the school and elsewhere in and near Melton, became secretary and treasurer of the new Cemetery Trust, and by July 1861 was deputy registrar of births, deaths and marriages. He walked three miles every Sunday to teach at the Weslyan Sunday School he had established. Despite good reports from the Education Department Inspector, and burgeoning enrolments, the local school committee recommended the dismissal of, firstly, his wife (from the work mistress position), and then him from the headmaster position. Corr saw his dismissal as an attempt to redirect state aid for education from the Combined Protestant school to the support of the Free Presbyterian Minister Rev James Lambie (by one account the owner of the land on which the Common School was erected), whose son-in-law James Scott subsequently assumed responsibility for the school. Rev Lambie failed in his efforts to keep the existing school, which the Education Department Inspector and the majority of Melton citizens regarded as badly situated and badly built. Following a conditional promise of state aid, local contributors in 1868-69 raised ₤72.10.6 towards the cost of an iron-roofed bluestone rubble building 43 ft x 12 ft. This was erected on a new site of 1.5 acres (the present site). The State contributed ₤120 to the new school, which opened in 1870. A very early (c.1874) photograph of the school shows its headmaster and work mistress / assistant teacher (probably James Scott and his wife Jessie) and its (very young) scholars. Similar photos show pupils in front of the school in c.1903, and 1933. In 1877 a second bluestone room costing ₤297 was added and further land acquired from the Agricultural Society (who only needed it two days a year) to enlarge the schoolground to 3 acres. In the early 1880s an underground tank augmented the school water supply and in 1919 a five-roomed wooden residence was added. During this period the school correspondents often compained that the walls of the bluestone buildings were damp, affecting the plaster. In 1923 a brick room 26 ft 6 in by 24 ft with a fireplace and four rooms facing south, was added, and a corridor built to link the three buildings. This served adequately for the next 40 years. The school bell probably dates to 1883. The school also has a memorial gate (1951) to World War One ex-students, and an honour board to the 64 ex-students who served in the First World War. The school roll fell to 42 in the early post war-years, but was boosted by an influx of migrants, mainly from the UK, from the late 1960s. This presaged the boom in Melton’s development, and the corresponding growth of the school, with timber and temporary classrooms added to the previous masonry ones. An endowment pine plantation established in 1930 augmented the school’s fundraising activities when it was harvested in 1968. Part of the site was planted with eucalyptus trees in 1959. Famous ex-students of the early twentieth century included Hector Fraser (internationally successful shooter) and cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman". The Express Telegraph articles about the history of Melton South and Melton State Schoolseducation -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Charles Ernest and Jessie Barrie with family, Unknown
This document is has been compiled by Wendy Barrie daughter of Ernest (Bon) and Edna Barrie and granddaughter of Charles E and Jessie M Barrie. I was born in during WW 11 and the first child of my generation to live on the ‘ Darlingsford’ property at Melton. My grandfather was well known in the district and was mostly referred to as Ernie. He shared the same initials as his second son Edgar. His three eldest sons lived and farmed in Melton for their entire lives. His descendants are still associated with farming, engineering and earthmoving in Melton. Ernie Barrie operated a travelling Chaff Cutter in the St Arnaud area where his parents William and Mary Ann had taken up land at Coonooer West in 1873. Ernie commenced his working life with a team of bullocks and a chaff cutter. The earliest connection he had with Melton was in 1887. By the beginning of the 20th century Ernie and his father William and brothers, William, Samuel, James Edwin,[Ted] Robert, Arthur and Albert have been associated with farming and milling in the Melton district. In the early 1900’s Ernie and his brother Ted were in partnership in a Chaff cutting and Hay processing Mill on the corner of Station and Brooklyn road Melton South. The mill was managed by William for a time. By 1906 Charles Ernest and James Edwin were in partnership in the Station Road mill when a connecting rail line across Brooklyn Road for a siding was constructed to the Melton Railway Station. In 1911 the Mill’s letterhead shows C.E. BARRIE Hay Pressing and Chaff Cutting Mills. Melton Railway Station. Telephone No 1 Melton. This Mill as sold to H S K Ward in 1916 and stood until 1977 when it burnt down in a spectacular fire. Ernie built a house at Melton South beside the Chaff Mill at Station Road in 1906 and married Jessie May Lang in August at the Methodist Church. Jessie’s father was Thomas Lang. He came to Melton in 1896 and was the Head Teacher at Melton State School No 430 until he retired in 1917. They had 9 children with 8 surviving to adulthood. Jessie and Ernie had 6 sons and 3 daughters. All the children lived at Darlingsford. In April 1910 the family left Melton for a brief period and moved to a farm in Trundle in NSW. They returned to Melton and purchased Darlingsford in May 1911. For a time during WW1 they lived at Moonee Ponds near the Lang grandparents at Ascot Vale. Mary and Bon attended Bank St State School. The children developed diphtheria in 1916 and their youngest boy, Cecil died of complications. Mary and Bon were taken to Fairfield Hospital and both recovered. At the end of the war influenza broke out the family returned to Darlingsford and shared the home for a short while with the Pearcey family who had been working the farm. By 1922 the family had and grown and Edgar, Tom, Horace, Jessie, Joyce and Jim were living a Darlingsford. Ernie continued during the 1920’s working the farm and attend his many civic and community commitments. Two 8 clydesdale horse teams were used to work the land which meant early rising for the horses to be fed and harnessed to commence the days work. In 1916 Ernie also became involved in a Chaff Mill on the corner of Sunshine and Geelong Road West Footscray, which at the time was being run by John Ralph Schutt. It was known an Schutt Barrie. A flour mill was added at a later stage. Other Schutt and Barrie mills were situated at Parwan and Diggers Rest. Another mill was situated beside the railway line at Rockbank. The Footscray mill ceased operation in 1968 Ernie spent a lot of time and energy at the Parwan Mill and travelling around Parwan and Balliang farms, where he came to know many of the families in the district. Ernies commitment to the civic development to the Melton and district was extensive, he was involved with a number of large events during the 1920’s such as the Melton Exhibitions and the 1929 Back to Melton Celebrations. He was a member of the Australian Natives Association at the turn of the century. He was Chairman of the School Committee at Melton State School 430 and the Melton South State School in thw1920s. He donated the land for a Hall for Melton South in 1909, known as Exford Hall and later in 1919 renamed Victoria Hall. The Hall was demolished in 1992. He was a Councillor, JP, and Vice President and President of the Melton Mechanics Institute Hall Committee in 1915- 1916. He was a member of the Methodist Church and later the Scots Presbyterian Church. He was Superintendent of the Sunday School of the Methodist Church to 1910 and later Scots Presbyterian Church until 1931. This is reflected in the theme of children in the stained glass window which was dedicated in his memory by his wife Jessie as a gift to the Scots Church. Charles Ernest Barrie made many generous donations to many charities who supported young people and children. In 1918 Jessie and Ernie made the first donation to a very prominent Victorian charity whose work still continues. Yooralla. In July 1931 Ernie’s untimely death was a major blow to the family and the Melton community. To this day people still vividly recall the day they lined the streets for his funeral. The day of the funeral is recalled as the day Melton stood as two of their prominent citizens who tragically died on the same day. Their eldest daughter Mary had married Keith Robinson in 1930 and had just moved to Heatherdale Toolern Vale with their year old baby son. Bon the eldest son was 22, Edgar 18, Tom 16, Horace 15, Jessie and Joyce 10 and Jim 8 years old. A heavy burden of responsibility fell on the shoulders of the two eldest children, Mary particularly for her mother and Bon stepped in assuming head of the family for his mother, brothers and sisters living at the Darlingsford homestead. In the early 1930’s the three eldest sons took on many of the Civic and Church commitments which their father had held. This community involvement extended well into the 1980s. In 1941 Bon married Edna Myers and they moved into a house shifted from Harkness Lane to Harkness Lane on the eastern section of the Darlingford property. Edgar married Margaret Hodgkinson a Primary school teacher at Melton in 1949 and they lived in the Darlingsford house. Earlier Tom married May Ferris and lived on the eastern side of Ferris Lane in the Ferris home. Bon , Edgar and Tom often operated as a team effort, in particular at harvest time when a larger team of workers was needed. The three farms cultivated wheat, barley and oats and supplied the Mill with sheafed hay. They continued using horse teams until mechanisation in the 1940’s made the horses redundant. By the 1960s their five sons continued with farming. Many loads of hay were transported to the Mill in Footscray. Well into the 1960s hired harvest hands along with agricultural university students were involved in bringing in he harvest. Stacking was an art form in itself and Tom held the expertise for building and shaping the sides and roof. The stacks built in the district each had their own unique shape and could be recognized by their builders. The Barrie brothers developed a mechanical fork lift for picking up complete stooks and moving them to be loaded to the elevator to build the haystack. The prototype built by Bill Gillespie was attached to a Bedford truck. Later refinements in a collaborative effort with the Gillespie brothers a multi pronged fork was attached to the front of tractor which was hydraulically operated to raise each stook onto trucks to be transported to the site of the haystacks. This method of handling sheaves significantly reduced laborious pitchforking individual sheaves. This invention was soon taken up by farmers far and wide and was a common sight in the district at harvest time in the stacking season. I recall visiting farmers calling in at the house at Ferris Road farm to inspect this break through invention. The Clydesdale horse teams were used into the 1940s but by the 1950s the Barries’ farms were fully mechanised. When the demand for sheafed hay declined other crops were introduced these included barley, lucerne, wheat and peas. Sheep were added to the mix in the 1950s in an attempt to keep the farms more viable. In the 1970s part of the Barrie’s farms were facing a major disruption with the impending compulsorily acquisition of a strip of land for the construction the freeway bypass, which divided access between the Darlingsford homestead with those on Ferris Lane. Charles Ernest Barrie and Jessie May Lang's children: 1. Mary Ena BARRIE was born on 07 October 1907. She died on 29 April 1999. 2. Ernest Wesley BARRIE was born on 29 April 1909 in Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia.He died on 25 December 1985 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. 3. Cecil William BARRIE was born on 23 February 1911.He died on 25 May 1916. 4. Charles Edgar BARRIE was born on 01 June 1913.He died on 06 October 1975. 5. Thomas Lindsay BARRIE was born on 25 November 1914.He died on 14 September 1990 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. 6. William Horace BARRIE was born on 11 October 1915.He died on 19 December 1950. 7. Jessie Maud BARRIE was born on 06 November 1920 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia.She died on 26 February 1994. 8. Dorothy Joyce BARRIE was born on 06 November 1920 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia.She died on 18 March 2003.. 9. James Edward BARRIE was born on 17 January 1922 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia.He died on 23 August 2004Family Photo with Edgar, Tom, Mary, Ernest (Bon), Horace, Jim, Charles Ernest, Jessie and Joycelocal identities -
Creswick Museum
Honour Board, 1920 approx
Pupils who listed World War 1. Wooden Board with 80 small glass panels holding photographs. Four wooden panels listing 157 names of the pupils in gold lettering with red cross against the names of the soldiers who were killed. Top Creswick School Roll of Honour Botton: A tribute to the Students of this school who served the Empire. The Great War 1914-1919. Photos in LHS 1. JS Anderson 2 A Anderson 3 R Anderson 4 A Beckerleg, 5 R Bell 6 A Bernado 7 J Bernado 8 EG Booth 9 M Boradale 10 R Boradale 11 R Boradale 12 WJ Bowley 13 FA Canning 14 HGN Cassell 15 E Clarkson 16 A Clausen 17 V Crougey 18 HG Dean 19 W K Dean 20 CV Gardner 21 WG Gardner 22 RJ Gardner 23 EH Goats 24 R Gray 25 B Gray 26 AB Grose 27 CT Grose 28 BA Grose 29 JB Grose 30 W Hadler 31 W Hartley 32 GT Hewitson 33 CC Hewitson 34 W Howie 35 R Howie 36 C Howie 37 WH James 38 P Kennedy 39 WJ Lambert 40 A Lambert 41 F Lambert RHS 42 H Lambert 43 WH McFarlane 44 VH Malone 45 PJA Malone 46 J Maughan 47 J Mendham 48 AE Merriman* 49 AC New 50 T New 51 W Parkes* 52 R Pasco 53 FH Pavarno 54 EP Pavarno 55 AB Peters* 56 G Petrie* 57 T Porter 58 G Porter 59 F Porter 60 H Praetz 61 R Praetz 62 S Reeves 63 W Sherriff 64 P Short 65 J Skewes 66 N Slade 67 JC Smith 68 J Still 69 GW Tait 70 DG Toohey 71 A Tonkins 72 SH Townshend 73 E Townshend* 74 HE Townshend 75 H H Townshend 76 S Treloar 77 RJ Ward 78 WE Westcott* 79 FC Whitfield* 80 AC Wisby* Writen Names T Anderson, T Arnold, S,D,G & W Barclay, G Beaucort, B Bentwich, J Berry, E&C Blake, S&A Bush, AF, WJW & R, Bowley, J,F & HB Brady, Alex Bowley, L Brotherton, JC Caddy*, J Canning, SF Carlyon, R Chaulkey, F Clausen, F*,G & J Clifton,V Creati,B Crosbie, H* & V Clover, A Chandler, J&G Davidson, S Dean, W Denny, W Digby, C Douglas D,H* & J Drummond, G Donald*, JP Dooley, W*&A Edmends, Percy Ellis, P,SW & T Ellis, A Egglestone, W & R Fricker, A,C & Clive Falla, G Fricker, A* & W Gibson, H Gardner, EJA Gray, WEC, N & H Grose, H Green, M Glass, FP Grady, W Hadler, W Hartley, N&T Hammon, H & J Harris, W & L Hartland, R Hawkey, PA Hertford, T Hogo, R Forrestor, A,F & N James, J Jebb, Alex,A & FT Johnson, WE Jordan, P Jory, E Jane, HC,RJ & JW Kelly, A King, S knight* M Lang(Sister), Clint'n Lavas, Mat Lang, C&TJ Liddicoat, RG* & ED Lindsay, W Little, L Lucas(navy), W & C Mann, WHS Merriman, J Mitchell, S Northcott, S New, W Nicholas, V Northcott, L Orange, JT & HC Packham, E Pearce, E Pilling, J Praetz, R Williams, AM & F* Robertson, A Romeo, J Rowe, H Russell, H & C Woods, C Sandford, G Sherriff, W & F Smith, J & R Snell, A & J* Spence, W Stephenson, J A Still, W,WL & AJ Surredge, J Shaw, Jas Wisby, A Treeby, F Tregonning, FL & W Treloar, A Tremearne, R Tilt, H Vague, A Wade, H Wall, BT,IW & J Ward, J,M & O Whatman, D Wilson, H & A Wood, DG Wormald, A Wright, L Watt, A Whitfield*. -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Book, H.P. James, "In Other Days", late 1930's
ESCo Employee Hours Work Record book that has been used by an ESCo/SEC inspector, H. P. James as a record / note book for his personal collection or papers or journal titled "In Other Days". Book sewn with string in 36 page sections, blank end papers, board covers with stipple paper out sides and Rexene cloth binding. Comprising plain paper end papers and 104 printed pages (52 leaves), with each sheet printed in black on feint ruled paper for recording the hours worked and other details of drivers and conductors employed by ESCo. Printed for daily use, with Day and date page headings - made out for the 1930's. Text generically printed feint ruled paper. Images: Book - i1 Inside front cover - i2 Members Certificate - i3 Photo of H.P. James and index page - i4 Has been used to gather mementos such as photos, articles, newspaper clippings, letters and other miscellaneous documents on Ballarat local history. Newspaper cuttings etc often have side notes written by Mr. James. Inside front cover has certificate recording Mr. James membership to the Ballarat Historical Society (on Australasian Historical Record Society paper) for 1937 - 1938. A side note records Mr. James elected as Vice President in 1939. Receipt signed by Edward Crimmins (See Reg. Item 2486) Has a table of contents for pages 1 to 65. Opposite is a photograph of Mr. James dressed for the Ballarat Tramways Social Club function - See Reg. Item No. 506 Primary items are: 1 - Newspaper cutting "A stroll along Bridge St. 50 years ago" - Nathan F. Speilvogel. 3 - Newspaper cutting "What I Remember of Early Ballarat" - James Sainsberry. 4 - Newspaper cutting "Magnet that Made Ballarat - New Monument Marks Gold Discovery" 7 - Newspaper cutting "Romance of a Ballarat Street Block" - Speilvogel 9 - Newspaper cutting "Sixty years of Dana St. School"- Speilvogel 11 - Newspaper cutting "The White Flat - its Transitions of Service - Historical Review" - J. Hargreaves 15 - Newspaper cutting "Memories of Russell Square - Fireman's Carnivals" - James 16 - Notes on the Alfred Hall 17 - Newspaper cutting - "Alfred Hall" - James 21 - Letter re Russell Square dated 24/2/38, J. McLeish 23 - Newspaper cutting "The First Train to Ballarat" 25 - Newspaper cutting "Story of Ballarat's Horse Trams 1887 to 1913", James - see Reg. Item 2489. 27 - Photos and Newspaper cutting of items re horse trams, and photo of ESCo No. 18 - See Reg. Items 2490, 2491 and 2492. 28 - ESCo opening ticket (See other Reg. Items 608 for examples of this) ticket No. 1595. 29 - Newspaper cutting "Story of Ballarat's Electric Trams", James, See Reg. Item 2493. 30 - Poster - SEC - Ballarat "The New System of Fares and Sections" - 3/10/1997 - See Reg. Item 2494. SEC - Tourist Ticket - See Reg. Item 2495 ESCo - 3d check ticket - See Reg. Item 2496 31 - Tickets and handwritten notes - with reference to page 51 ESCo 1d - See Reg. Item 2497 (2 No.) ESCo/SEC? - lunch hour weekly ticket - See Reg. Item 2498 ESCo/SEC? - Morning and evening weekly ticket - See Reg. Item 2499 ESCo/SEC? - 3d Adult Transfer - See Reg. Item 2500 ESCo/SEC? - 2d child Transfer - See Reg. Item 2501 ESCo - 1.1/2 child ticket - See Reg. Item 2502 ESCo - 3d Adult ticket - See Reg. Item 2503 Extract of an item titled "History of Ballarat Tramways", SEC Magazine, Feb. 1939 - See Reg. Item 2504 2d ESCo token (See other reg items 1794 and 1943 for details of this object) - sewn into page. 33 - Handwritten notes "Alfred Hall" 35 - Handwritten notes "Russell Square" 36, 37 - miscellaneous cuttings from the Courier for 1939 and 1940 39 - Newspaper cutting "South Street Band Contests" - cutting dated 27/10/1932. (See images - i5 to 41, 43, - ditto - contest results 44 - Photo of the Tramway Shelter in Sturt Street being removed - Courier dated 18/12/1923 - see Reg Item 2523. 45 - Extract of April 1938 from SEC Magazine, photos of the launch of the illuminated Ballarat Centenary tram - see Reg Item 2524. 47 - Newspaper cutting "Peeps into the Past" 48 - Listing of "Members of Returned Soldiers Band", Ballarat, dated 18/11/1919. 49 - Newspaper cutting "Ballarat, The Home of the Band Contests", dated 27/10/1932. 51 - Handwritten notes - "Tram Fares methods of collection" - See Reg. Item 2505. 53 - Newspaper cutting "100 years ago", Port Phillip Herald for 1840. 54 - Black and white photo of a gathering of people (tramway?) at the Showgrounds - See Reg. Item 2506 55 - Six black and white photos with handwritten notes ESCo 19 or 20 - See Reg. Item 2507 Group of ESCo employees by ESCo tram - See Reg. Item 2508 Photo of ESCo employee, Si Barker - See Reg. Item 2509 Photo of ESCo company bus - See Reg. Item 2510 (See also Reg Item 3813) Photo of No. 25 - Barkly St - See Reg. Item 2511 Photo of two ESCo employees - See Reg. Item 2512 56 - Loose newspaper cutting "San Francisco Struggle Buggies" - cable trams - The Age 15/3/1947 57 - Letter from Mr. Pringle of ESCo to Inspector James and Handwritten notes on ESCo management - See Reg. Item 2513 Handwritten notes on the token systems - See Reg. Item 2514 59 - Page titled "Bundy clocks and meters" but no notes 61 - Hand drawn map of Ballarat tramways with notes on tracks - horse, SEC and ESCo and loops - See Reg. Item 2515. 63 - Miscellaneous newspaper cuttings and photo of the Arch of Victory 64 - Photo of W. J.K. Dunstan ??? (has notes written on back, but difficult to read)* - Notes on rear of photo p64. "49 years in service W.J.K. Dunstan Office Manager Ballarat Branch Retired 18/3/46" 65 - Newspaper cutting "Old Victorian Schooldays, letters and reminiscences by past scholars". 67 - Newspaper cuttings - photo of Ballarat Choral Union and Urquhart St. school 69 - Newspaper cutting "Saint with a top hat" 71, 73 - Newspaper cutting "District Mining Disasters of By-Gone Days" - John Hargreaves 75 - Newspaper cutting "The Ballarat Courier" banners for 2/9/1939 - outbreak of World War Two - normal and a special edition. 77, 79 - Newspaper cutting "My Youth in Ballarat" - T.P. Long. 81 - Two photos and handwritten notes showing trams in Sturt St and the line up of horse trams - See Reg Item 2516. 83 - Newspaper cutting "Theatrical History - The Charlie Napier" - Speilvogel 85, 87 - Newspaper cutting "Story of the Eureka Stockade Monument" - Speilvogel 89 - Newspaper cutting "The Beginning of Buninyong" - Speilvogel 91 - Newspaper cutting "St. David's Day" 93, 95 - Newspaper cutting "From 1856 to 1894, Ballarat's Foremost Citizen Major (William Collard) Smith Recalled - J. Hargreaves. 97 - Newspaper cutting "All Electrical Exhibition / Ballarat's Electric Supply, its development" - 1936, See Reg. Item 2517. 98 - Loose photo of the ESCo Power station chimney and steeplejacks - See Reg. Item 2518. 98 - Loose sheet of paper about the origin of the ESCo trams - See Reg. Item 2525. 99 - Newspaper cutting - about Electricity in Ballarat and tramway services, and handwritten notes on ESCo Inspectors - See Reg. Item 2519 100, 101 - Newspaper cuttings - "Mr. Melbourne Day by Day" cartoon series and the artist's death notice dated 22/8/1939. 102 - Poster - Dana Street School Jubilee Re-union, has N. Speilvogel and H. James as joint secretaries. 103 - Newspaper cutting of various photos and a scene of a gold train at Bendigo 104 - Newspaper cuttings - Bob Menzies and Adolph Hitler and backs of Melbourne tram tickets - "School Boy Howlers". 105 - Letter in an envelope to H.P. James dated 11/10/1937, by a person about the building of the tram sheds at Wendouree - See Reg. Item 2520. Newspaper cutting of the opening of the tramway to Lydiard St. North from Gregory St. - See Reg. Item 2521 Loose item - 1/- SEC Tourist Ticket No. A2676 - See Reg. Item 2522.Many in pencil and inktrams, tramways, h.p. james, esco, horse trams, ballarat, civic history -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Dec. 1945
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :5 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECT Run : 36 Frame : 60546 Date : 12/1945 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG4 Flying Height : 10200 Scale : 6000 Film Number : 195 GDA2020 : 37°42'47"S, 145°09'56"E MGA2020 : 338306, 5824438 (55) Melways : 22 C4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Nov. 1931
Centred over present day Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road, Eltham (including Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd) Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1931 Project : MALDON PRISON Run : 21 Frame : 3160 Date : 11/1931 Film Type : B/W Camera : F8 Flying Height : 11000 Scale : 18860 Film Number : 60 GDA2020 : 37°43'31"S, 145°10'20"E MGA2020 : 338912, 5823086 (55) Melways : 22 E8 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Jan. 1951
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :65 Project : MELBOURNE AND METROPOLITAN PROJECT NO. 2 Run : 8 Frame : 71 Date : 01/1951 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG9 Flying Height : 12200 Scale : 12000 Film Number : 1419 GDA2020 : 37°43'14"S, 145°09'46"E MGA2020 : 338081, 5823608 (55) Melways : 22 C6 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Feb. 1956
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :250 Project : MELBOURNE OUTER SUBURBS PROJECT Run : 18 Frame : 94 Date : 02/1956 Film Type : B/W Camera : EAG9 Flying Height : 10000 Scale : 12000 Film Number : 1176 GDA2020 : 37°42'30"S, 145°09'44"E MGA2020 : 338008, 5824963 (55) Melways : 22 C3 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Jan. 1962
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :539 Project : MELBOURNE-GEELONG PROJECT Run : 5 Frame : 14 Date : 01/1962 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC5 Flying Height : 6000 Scale : 15840 Film Number : 1524 GDA2020 : 37°42'42"S, 145°09'51"E MGA2020 : 338177, 5824603 (55) Melways : 22 C4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Apr, 1963
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :486 Project : MELBOURNE (1963) PROJECT Run : 6 Frame : 122 Date : 04/1963 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5100 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 1805 GDA2020 : 37°43'12"S, 145°09'32"E MGA2020 : 337723, 5823642 (55) Melways : 22 B6 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Oct. 1968
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :656 Project : MELBOURNE 1968 PROJECT Run : 13A Frame : 64 Date : 10/1968 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5100 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 2172 GDA2020 : 37°42'46"S, 145°10'01"E MGA2020 : 338430, 5824467 (55) Melways : 22 D4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Oct. 1970
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1148 Project : MELBOURNE 1970 PROJECT Run : 27 Frame : 192 Date : 10/1970 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5100 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 2366 GDA2020 : 37°42'45"S, 145°10'05"E MGA2020 : 338533, 5824496 (55) Melways : 22 D4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Apr. 1972
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :985 Project : MELBOURNE 1972 Run : 27 Frame : 45 Date : 04/1972 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC10 Flying Height : 5700 Scale : 9600 Film Number : 2636 GDA2020 : 37°42'53"S, 145°10'19"E MGA2020 : 338884, 5824261 (55) Melways : 22 E5 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Mar. 1975
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1148 Project : MELBOURNE 1974 Run : 27 Frame : 152 Date : 03/1975 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5200 Scale : 10000 Film Number : 2935 GDA2020 : 37°42'52"S, 145°10'06"E MGA2020 : 338553, 5824293 (55) Melways : 22 D5 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Nov. 1975
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1243 Project : (ALSO A.P. 1227) Run : 23 Frame : 86 Date : 11/1975 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5000 Scale : 10000 Film Number : 3058 GDA2020 : 37°42'46"S, 145°10'06"E MGA2020 : 338546, 5824486 (55) Melways : 22 D4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Apr. 1978
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1368 Project : DIAMOND CREEK Run : 5 Frame : 71 Date : 03/1975 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 2200 Scale : 4000 Film Number : 3279 GDA2020 : 37°42'50"S, 145°09'36"E MGA2020 : 337821, 5824325 (55) Melways : 22 B5 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Feb. 1979
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1716 Project : WESTERN PORT FORESHORES Run : 15 Frame : 91 Date : 02/1979 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5500 Scale : 10000 Film Number : 3286 GDA2020 : 37°42'47"S, 145°09'57"E MGA2020 : 338339, 5824447 (55) Melways : 22 C4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Jan. 1984
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1716 Project : WESTERN PORT FORESHORES Run : 15 Frame : 70 Date : 01/1984 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC8 Flying Height : 5300 Scale : 10000 Film Number : 3833 GDA2020 : 37°42'38"S, 145°10'09"E MGA2020 : 338612, 5824719 (55) Melways : 22 D4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Mar. 1987
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :1716 Project : WESTERN PORT FORESHORES Run : 15 Frame : 108 Date : 03/1987 Film Type : B/W Camera : RC10 Flying Height : 5600 Scale : 10000 Film Number : 4102 GDA2020 : 37°43'00"S, 145°10'13"E MGA2020 : 338725, 5824036 (55) Melways : 22 D5 (ed. 42)719 (55) Melways : 22 D4 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph - Aerial Photograph, Landata, Eltham; Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (Stokes Orchard Estate), Sep. 1991
Centred on present day Diosma Rd, Stokes Pl, Nyora Rd and Eucalyptus Rd Historic Aerial Imagery Source: Landata.vic.gov.au Aerial Photo Details: Project No :2072 Project : MELBOURNE PROJECT Run : 13 Frame : 119 Date : 09/1991 Film Type : COL Camera : RC10 Flying Height : 8300 Scale : 15000 Film Number : 4419 GDA2020 : 37°43'07"S, 145°09'35"E MGA2020 : 337812, 5823811 (55) Melways : 22 B6 (ed. 42) A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 aerial photo, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, peter & elizabeth pidgeon collection, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Certificate of Title, Landata, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900, Crown Portion 15 Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik, County of Evelyn, 1925
(Cancelled) Certificate of Title originally issued for Crown Portion 15, Section 5 to Robert David Taylor, of Eltham, County of Evelyn, Farmer, 13 March 1925. It is with this title that the land allotment was subdivided into 48 lots. The title shows the issuance to Robert David Taylor with encumbrance placed upon it by immediate former owner, Hugh Patrick Keogh, a former member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent. Following Taylor's death in 1934 the title passes to his Executors, sons Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Eltham and William McLelland Vance Taylor of Northcote. The property is then sold to Frank Stokes who develops the Stokes Orchard. Compulsory acquisitions by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works and State Electricity Commission show provisions of easemenst for town water supply and high voltage power transmission lines. Subsequent lots are then sold off with the development of the Stokes Orchard Estate residential development in the mid to late 1970s. A History of the Development of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik – Stokes Orchard Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) is a square allotment of 158 acres or approximately a quarter of a square mile. It lies just beyond the eastern end of Pitt Street, south of Nyora Road to the northern end of Eucalyptus Road and extends east from Eucalyptus Road to Reynolds Road. The topography of CA15 is generally steep, sloping up to a hill near the centre of the land, the ridgeline passing through the properties along the southern side of Diosma Road. Eucalyptus Road is a straight north-south road with its northern end at the north west corner of CA15. Until the end of the 1970s this road was an un-named Government Road and was largely not open to traffic. With residential development in the 1970s the road was constructed, and the council allocated the name obviously in recognition of the predominant species of the local bushland. CA15 was purchased from the Crown by George D’Arley Boursiquot, a prominent Melbourne printer, on 28th October 1852. On November 23, 1922, former Member for Gippsland and Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Hubert Patrick Keogh purchased the allotment then sold it March 13, 1925, to local farmer, Robert David Taylor, a former Shire of Eltham Councillor (1911-1920) and Shire President (1919). Taylor had extensive land holdings stretching west towards Bible Street and Main Road. The Taylor home was situated at the top of the hill in Bible Street at present day 82 Bible Street. At the time of Taylor’s purchase in 1925, CA15 was subdivided into 48 lots that could be described as small rural properties or large residential lots. A typical lot size was one hectare or 2.5 acres. The subdivision created two roads, Nyora Road, and Diosma Road, each following an irregular alignment between Eucalyptus and Reynolds Roads. However, the lots were not sold off separately nor were the roads constructed. The land effectively remained as one parcel for many further years. Robert David Taylor died November 30, 1934, and probate was granted to his son of the same name, Robert David Taylor of Bible Street, Salesman and William McLelland Vance Taylor of 73 Emmeline Street, Northcote, Clerk, with the transfer of the land into their names on July 8, 1935. Frank Stokes worked as a qualified accountant at Kennons leather factory in Burnley, while living at 1 Thomas Street, Mitcham. He suffered from migraines and wanted to return to working the land (he had previously worked on farms and orchards since coming to Australia from England in 1926, both in WA and Vic.). He first travelled to the district by train in July 1942 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road, and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, 158 acres- part of the Taylor Estate- £900, Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Stokes applied through the Riverina Agency to purchase the land who in turn applied for permission from Canberra to sell as there was a new government regulation introduced during the Second World War banning land sales except for immediate production. Stokes obtained a loan on his Mitcham house of £600 @ 5% and paid £450 deposit with quarterly payments of £15 spread over 5 years. Stokes was assisted and advised by Arthur Bird who farmed the neighbouring orchard. In early 1943 Stokes took possession and would catch the train out to Eltham on Fridays after work and began building a hut on the corner of Nyora Road and the Government Road (Eucalyptus Road) for shelter and to lock up tools. He established an orchard on the central western part of the land through the centre of which ran a natural waterway (part of the present-day linear park) and was able to pay a neighbour (Hawkins) to help with clearing and fencing 25 acres, and with a horse and single furrowed plough, planted approximately 2,500 fruit trees - cherries, peaches, plums, almonds, pears, apricots and lemons as well as a few apples and oranges; a massive task. Aerial photographs from the 1940s through to the 1990s clearly show the orchard with most of the larger CA15 site remaining as natural bushland. A huge problem was hares and rabbits eating all the new buds off the tiny trees. As well as laying poison he painted the trees with a mixture of cow manure and lime, often working by moonlight. Procurement of wire and wire netting was difficult because of the war but after much effort he obtained a permit from the Agricultural Department for supplies in March 1944. In February 1945 Stokes applied for a permit to build a “packing shed” as no house building was allowed. It was to be 33 feet x 21 feet and cost £312. It was constructed mostly from second-hand materials, which were hard to obtain, especially iron for roofing. Stokes finished work at Kennons on October 31, 1945, and in March 1946 he sold the family home at Mitcham for £1,230 plus £170 for furniture. On May 15, 1946, title to the CA15 property was issued to Frank Howard Alfred Stokes, Orchardist and Gladys Ethel Stokes, Married Woman, both of Pitt Street, Eltham. The family of five then moved into the very unfinished “packing shed” at Eltham, which was a struggle to weatherproof. Eventually rooms were divided off and lined with hessian bags and whitewashed. Their income was firewood (cut and sold), selling rockery stones and cut Sweet Bursaria. (It was discovered during the 1940s that Sweet Bursaria contained the sunscreen compound Aesculin. The RAAF utilised this compound from Sweet Bursaria during WW2 for pilots and gunners.) The orchard’s first fruit sale was a half-case of Le Vanq peaches in December 1947 for the price of 8 shillings. In 1956 plans for house were drawn and Glen Iris bricks purchased (1956 Olympic Rings variant). The building of the house commenced in 1957 - 12 feet of original packing shed was removed – and was completed in 1959. Water was connected from newly built pressure storage on the property at the end of 1959 and the electricity connection for the first time at 3pm on April 29, 1960. The house remains to present day (somewhat modified) at 1 Nyora Road, home to Nyora Studio Gallery. On occasions, spare remnants of the 1956 bricks have been known to be unearthed in gardens on the estate as they were utilised by Frank Stokes to fill in rabbit holes. On May 26, 1950, a parcel of land was compulsorily acquired by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works on the hilltop to establish an easement for a high-level service reservoir to augment Eltham’s water supply. The project also included pipe tracks for the necessary water mains. The reservoir has now been superseded by higher level water tanks east of Reynolds Road and its former site is now a public reserve. On November 27, 1964, the State Electricity Commission served notice to compulsorily acquire a further parcel through the eastern part of the land for a major electricity transmission line that augmented supply from the La Trobe Valley to Melbourne. The easement was registered February 11, 1966. The easement was widened July 18, 1969 for a second transmission line to be constructed. In 1971 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme amendments adopted Nyora Road as the boundary between a residential zone to the north and a rural zone to the south. This determined the future development of the land. In the mid-1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard into numerous rate-able parcel lots, the 48 lots having been established in 1925 and the subsequent rates assessment proved unsustainable for Stokes. He commenced selling lots outside the boundary of the orchard, north of Diosma and South of Nyora. However shortly later the land between Nyora and Diosma Roads and west of the electricity easement was sold and subdivided into residential lots, a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate. New streets were created, and most were named after trees, although one, Stokes Place, commemorates the former owners. The development was undertaken in two stages; Stage 1 (1975) encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads and Stage 2 (1978) encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads. The developer, Macquarie Builders went bankrupt shortly after the release of Stage 2 leaving many purchasers to fend for themselves and arrange for their own independent builders. There were also difficulties with sewerage for the land immediately south of Diosma Road and so the conventional residential lots were abandoned in favour of larger lots. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned and the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead. These included a low-density group housing development by the Graves family and the award winning Choong House (1983) with Gordon Ford developed garden immediately next door situated on the ridge of the hill nestled amongst the original bush, Eucalypt trees and Sweet Bursaria. In 1994, Nillumbik Shire Council applied Significant Environment and Significant Landscape overlays upon the properties on the south side of Diosma Road to ensure protection of this natural bush garden environment. With the arrival of the sewer along Diosma Road in the 1990s, most of these five-acre parcels have since been subdivided multiple times. The Choong house presently sits on a 2.7-acre property, which in 2022 Nillumbik Council nominated for Cultural Significance Heritage protection and is considered potentially significant at State level. The Stokes family were also associated with the Eltham Christian Church. In the 1970s this church had met in temporary premises in Eltham. Lots of the original 1925 subdivision remained south of Nyora Road and a number of these lots were utilized for the Eltham Christian School, which was established by the Eltham Christian Church in 1981. The school operated on this site until 2000. The premises are now used by The Vine Baptist Church. By the mid-1980s the whole of CA15 had been developed for residential and school purposes, except for the sections north of Diosma Road and between the transmission lines and Reynolds Road. Sewerage issues had been resolved for the section north of Diosma Road and in 1987 it was in the process of being subdivided into residential lots. The development coincided with the discovery of colonies of the rare and endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly on the site. This resulted in a community and political campaign to save the butterfly habitat. With the co-operation of the land developer the subdivision was altered to create two bushland reserves in the critical butterfly habitat areas. In the late 1980s the State Government was investigating options for establishing a metropolitan ring road link between Diamond Creek and Ringwood. The chosen route was adjacent to Reynolds Road and so this created a freeze on development of CA15 between Reynolds Road and the electricity easement. The ring road proposal was eventually abandoned, and this part of the land was subdivided into low density residential lots. Diosma Road has been discontinued at the electricity easement and the eastern part incorporated into View Mount Court with access from Reynolds Road. The whole of CA15 has now been developed for residential or associated purposes, ranging from conventional density to quite low density south of Nyora Road. Some remnants of the orchard remain, a few cherry trees on the Graves property and a lone apple tree in Stokes Place. The butterfly reserves comprise significant areas of remnant bushland. Linear reserves through the estate link with central Eltham via the Woodridge linear reserve and with Research along the electricity easement. CA15 as it exists today has a complicated history of rural use, Government acquisition, urban development, and community action. References: • “Stokes Orchard, an incomplete history”; Russell Yeoman with Doug Orford • Correspondence, Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes) • Aerial Photographs, 1931-1991, Landata (landata.vic.gov.au) • Certificate of Title, Vol. 4930 Fol. 985900 • Plan Number LP 10859 neil webster collection, diosma road, eltham copper butterfly, eucalyptus road, ironbark close, nyora road, peppermint grove, power transmission lines, reynolds road, scarlet ash court, stokes orchard estate, stokes place, woodridge estate, frank stokes, certificate of title -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Archive - Biographical material, Maggs Family of Ringwood and District (Parent Record)
Transcript of the Maggs Family History, given by Joan Walker, former member of RDHS:- Pioneer Family - Maggs • James Maggs and wife Harriet Banfield migrated to Melbourne on the “Ticondergoa” which sailed from Birkenhead on 4th August 1852 with 812 assisted immigrants. • In 1856 James purchased 7 acres of land, part of section 75, in the parish of Nunawading where he developed an orchard. • Three children died young – Emma (before 1862), Jemima at Ticonderoga Bay and Mary Jane aged 3 weeks at Konung Creek. Three sons and a daughter survived them. Harriet died in 1875, James in 1888 both buried in Box Hill cemetery. • Their sons Joseph, Samuel and James all established orchards in the Ringwood/Croydon district. Samuel Maggs • Born 11 May 1851, Somerset, England and grew up on his fathers property in Springfield Road, Blackburn, one block east of Surrey Road. • On 4 October 1876 Sam married Eliza Ann Barnes. • 1881 purchased a block, Allot. 39 Parish of Warrandyte and developed an apple and cherry orchard. The orchard occupied the area between White Horse Road and Mullum Mullum Creek from Oban Rd east to where White Horse Road takes a slight turn to the right, near Burnt Bridge. • Son George b.28 December 1876 Warrandyte married Annie Smith d.9 May 1947. • Daughter Eliza Jane b.27 July 1878 Ringwood married William Dobbin, d.31 May 1946 Camberwell. • Son James b.15 May 1880, Lilydale married Catherine Atkins d.28 July 1940 Ringwood buried Box Hill. • Daughter Jemima b.16 December 1881 Warrandyte married Edward Lindsay in 1905, d.2 November 1955 and buried in Box Hill. • Daughter Jane b.22 May 1884 Warrandyte married Thomas S Knee in 1912 d.31 January 1971, buried at Box Hill. • Son Samuel William b.1 Jan 1889 Ringwood married Mina Lillian Schuhkraft in 1911 d.15 Jan 1955 Ringwood. Joseph Maggs • Born 5 June 1845, Somerset England. • Married Mary Ann Reid in April 1867 at Templestowe. • Bought Sec. 26a, in Ringwood on the corner of Eastfield Road an Mt Dandenong Road in February 1870. Planted 4 acres with fruit treet. Was also a wood carter. During the 1880s white clay was mined here, which he carted for the Victorian Porcelain Clay Coy. • Daughter Emma b.8 Jan 1868 Templstowe d. 3 August 1939, Richmond married May 1890 Fredrick W. McGinnis. • Daughter Agnes b.16 June 1869 Templestowe married John D Miller c.1894. d.3 February 1912 Heathmont, buried Box Hill. • Son Albert b.1 May 1871 Nunawading d.15 Nov 1893. • Son Hubert b.10 May 1873 Nunawading married Isabella Atkins in 1898 Ringwood d.11 August Wagga Wagga and buried there. • Daughter Harriet Annis b.13 August 1875 Box Hill d.21 Sept 1875. • Son Joseph b.25 Septenber 1876 Box Hill d.3 Oct 1900 Mitcham. • Daughter Harriet Annis b.18 Aug 1879, Ringwood married James R Miller d.8 May 1945. • Son William b.3 Sep 1881 married Mary E Hardidge. D.6 April 1950 South Melbourne. • Daughter Dora Jane Dulcie b.13 December 1883 Ringwood d.1973. • Daughter Delia Rose b.20 February 1886, Ringwood married William J Sharkie d.30 October 1914 James Maggs • Youngest (born 28 April 1862, Blackburn) and only Australian born son was also an orchardist. • Married Marianne Hardidge in 1880 (divorced in 1906) purchased land in what is now Kalinda Road, adjoining Sam’s land. • James lived with Teresa Shanks in the Hawthorn and Prahran districts and became a taxi driver. Died in 1925, buried at Box Hill. Marianne became a widwife who delivered over 500 babies in the area – was known as Nurse Polly Maggs, died in 1941 aged 81. • Daughter Mary Ann Hase Polly b.5 July 1881 Ringwood married Thomas Lawford d.9 November 1961 buried at Box Hill. • Daughter Jane Emma b.9 May 1883 Ringwood married Frederick Bloom 1910 d.28 July 1954. • Daughter James John b.17 Jan 1885 Ringwood married Johanna Ida Edith Bloom in 1912 d.24 August 1962 buried at Box Hill. • Daughter David Joseph b.31 Jan 1887 Ringwood married Violet Lepp married 1916, d.11 July 1966. • Son Samuel Arthur b.11 March 1888 Ringwood married Bertha Anna Pump in 1913 d.7 August 1957. • Son John William b.16 April 1890 Ringwood married Lillian Mabel May Smith in 1909 d.18 February 1959 Cobram. • Daughter Eliza Anne b.6 March 1892 Ringwood d.April 18 1892. • Son Robert Thomas b.7 March 1893 Ringwood married Edith E Britnell in 1919 d.12 March 1981 buried Box Hill. • Son Albert Edward b.12 April 1895 Ringwood married Florence Sarah Pearce in 1918 d.30 January 1976 buried at Springvale. • Daughter Evaleen Victoria b.28 Aug 1897, Ringwood married Sydney Till married 1920 d.5 September 1989 buried at Box Hill. • Daughter Harriet Banfield Chrissy b.14 December 1899 Ringwood d.28 Dec 1979 buried Box Hill. Jane Maggs • Born 19 December 1858 in Blackburn. Died 5 July 1926 buried at Box Hill. Married William Cook and had one child, Harriet Amy Cook who never married and lived in Whitehorse Road, Mitcham until her death in 1962. Details, extract from Family Tree Maker family tree:- Descendants of James Maggs Generation No. 1 1. JAMES5 MAGGS (JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)1 died 24 Sep 18881. He married (1) HARRIET MARTHA BANFIELD1 23 Dec 1841 in Bristol, Somerset, England1. She was born 19 Jun 1817 in Clutton, Somerset, England1, and died 12 May 1875 in Nunawading, Victoria, Australia1. He married (2) ROSENA MAHON1 09 Dec 1875 in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia1. She was born in Deptford, London, England1. Notes for JAMES MAGGS: JAMES MAGGS, and his wife HARRIET BANFIELD, migrated to Melbourne on the "Ticonderoga", which sailed from Birkenhead 4th Aug 1852 with 812 assisted immigrants aboard. In the close confines of the ship fever broke out and by the time she arrived off Port Phillip Heads on or about 2nd Nov, 100 deaths had been recorded in the log and hundreds were too weak to help themselves. Captain Wylie of the coastal trader "Champion", informed Captain Ferguson, the harbourmaster at Williamstown, of the tragic plight of the passengers and crew, and he came with two doctors, in the "Empire", to their aid. They anchored just inside Port Phillip Heads on 5 Nov. at the "Sanatory Station", declared but not yet established by the local authorities. Those who were well enough were put ashore in tents made of spars and sails. The "Lysander" was despatched from Melbourne to act as a hospital ship, and 2 houses, built of the local limestone, were commandeered as a quarantine station. For six weeks the survivors were held near Point Nepean at a place still known as Ticonderoga Bay while the fever, propably typhus, a louse borne epidemic disease, ran its course and a further 68 passengers, 2 crew members and 4 newborn babes succumbed to the scourge. Among them was Jemima Maggs, 3 year old daughter of James and Harriet. The dead were buried at the waters edge, in a grove of titree, a site now marked by Heaton's monument. The remainder of the family, including Samuel, just one year old, lived through the ordeal to make a new life in Australia. James obtained work with Robert Wilson of Bulleen for a period of 3 months at a wage of 52 pounds per annum with rations. By 1856 he was able to purchase 7 acres of land, part of section 75, in the parish of Nunawading at 5 pounds per acre. Here he developed an orchard by means of various mortgages including one taken out 17 July 1872 for 50 pounds from the Victorian Permanent Property Investment & Building Society. Three of their seven children died young, Emma before 1862, Jemima at Ticonderoga Bay, and Mary Jane, the first of their three Australian born children, aged 3 weeks at Konung Creek.Three sons and a daughter survived them. Harriet died in 1875, James lived until 1888 and both are buried at the Box Hill Cemetery. Their sons, Joseph, Samuel, and James all established orchards in the Ringwood/Croydon district. Bur Reg 308 Box Hill Grave #64 Presbyterian More About JAMES MAGGS: Ancestral File Number: LN0V-G01 Burial: 26 Sep 1888, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Christening: 20 Oct 1816, Clutton, Somerset, England1 Record Change: 03 Oct 20041 More About HARRIET MARTHA BANFIELD: Ancestral File Number: LN0V-N11 Burial: 14 May 1875, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Christening: 31 Aug 18171 Record Change: 29 Nov 20041 More About ROSENA MAHON: Record Change: 01 Dec 20011 Children of JAMES MAGGS and HARRIET BANFIELD are: i. EMMA6 MAGGS1, b. 13 Nov 1843, Clutton, Somerset, England1. More About EMMA MAGGS: Record Change: 08 Jul 20031 2. ii. JOSEPH MAGGS, b. 05 Jun 1845, Clutton, Somerset, England; d. 24 Jun 1886, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia. iii. JEMIMA MAGGS1, b. 25 Oct 1848, Clutton, Somerset, England1; d. 1852, Ticonderoga Bay, Victoria, Australia1. More About JEMIMA MAGGS: Record Change: 24 Jan 20031 3. iv. SAMUEL MAGGS, b. 11 May 1851, Clutton, Somerset, England; d. 30 Aug 1942, Croydon, Victoria, Australia. v. MARY JANY MAGGS1, b. 03 Dec 1855, Konung Creek, Victoria, Australia1; d. 27 Dec 18551. More About MARY JANY MAGGS: Record Change: 23 Jan 20051 4. vi. JANE MAGGS, b. 19 Dec 1858, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia; d. 05 Jul 1926, , Victoria, Australia. 5. vii. JAMES MAGGS, b. 1862, Nunawading; d. 1925, Fitzroy. Generation No. 2 2. JOSEPH6 MAGGS (JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)1 was born 05 Jun 1845 in Clutton, Somerset, England1, and died 24 Jun 1886 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia1. He married MARY ANN READ1 01 Apr 1867 in Templestowe, Victoria, Australia1. She was born Abt. 1847 in of Templestowe, Victoria, Australia1, and died 1925 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia1. Notes for JOSEPH MAGGS: Joseph Maggs born 5 Jun 1845 at Clutton, Somerset, England, arrived in Australia age 7 years. He married Mary Ann Read, in Apr 1867 at Templestowe, selected land, Lot 26a,in Ringwood on the corner of Eastfield Road and Mt.Dandenong Road, approx 114 acres, at 11 o'clock 2 Feb 1870. He planted 4 acres with fruit trees valued at 80 pounds and by Sep 1874 his occupation was farmer and wood carter. A 4 room house of lathe and plaster with a paling roof, a kitchen, a slab and bark stable and a pigsty had been errected to a value of 71 pounds. A well, 3 dams, clearing and fencing valued at 96 pounds are also listed. He notes "from the nature of the land, being very poor and heavily timbered, I have not been quite able to clear the complement required, not having means sufficient to do so, neither will the land pay when cultivated." Traces of antimony were found on the land but not in commercial quantities, however during the 1880s white clay was mined here, which he carted for the Victoria Porcelain Clay Coy. In Mar 1880 he was granted freehold title at a price of one pound per acre. More About JOSEPH MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 More About MARY ANN READ: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 21 Jul 20021 Children of JOSEPH MAGGS and MARY READ are: 6. i. EMMA7 MAGGS, b. 08 Jan 1868, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia; d. 03 Aug 1939, Richmond, Victoria, Australia. ii. ALBERT MAGGS1, b. 01 May 1871, Nunawading, Victoria, Australia1; d. 15 Nov 1893, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia1. More About ALBERT MAGGS: Record Change: 12 Oct 19971 7. iii. HUBERT MAGGS, b. 10 May 1873, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 11 Aug 1956, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia. iv. HARRIET ANNIS MAGGS1, b. 13 Aug 1875, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1; d. Ringwood, Victoria, Australia1. More About HARRIET ANNIS MAGGS: Burial: 21 Sep 1875, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 v. JOSEPH MAGGS1, b. 25 Sep 1876, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1; d. 03 Oct 1900, Mitcham, Victoria, Australia1. More About JOSEPH MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 8. vi. HARRIET ANNIS MAGGS, b. 18 Aug 1879, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 08 May 1945. vii. WILLIAM MAGGS1, b. 03 Sep 18811; d. 06 Apr 1950, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia1; m. MARY ELIZA HARDIDGE1, 24 Dec 1912, Goulburn, N.S.W., Australia1; b. Abt. 1884, , of Victoria, Australia1; d. 1956, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia1. More About WILLIAM MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 More About MARY ELIZA HARDIDGE: Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 viii. DORA JANE DULCIE MAGGS1, b. 13 Dec 1883, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia1; d. 1973, Mitcham, Victoria, Australia1. More About DORA JANE DULCIE MAGGS: Record Change: 21 Jan 20021 9. ix. DELIA ROSE MAGGS, b. 20 Feb 1886, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 30 Oct 1914. 10. x. AGNES MAGGS, b. 16 Jun 1869, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia; d. 03 Feb 1912, Heathmont, Victoria, Australia. 3. SAMUEL6 MAGGS (JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)1 was born 11 May 1851 in Clutton, Somerset, England1, and died 30 Aug 1942 in Croydon, Victoria, Australia1. He married ELIZA ANN BARNES1 04 Oct 1876 in Nunawading, Victoria, Australia1. She was born 19 Sep 1848 in St Lukes, London, England1, and died 17 Feb 1923 in Croydon, Victoria, Australia1. Notes for SAMUEL MAGGS: SAMUEL MAGGS grew up on his father's property in Springfield Road, Blackburn, one block east of Surrey Road. West of Surrey Road and fronting to White Horse Road was James Barnes' property, so by walking through the Maggs land and crossing Surrey Road, one might enter the back of the Barnes land, an easy way to visit ELIZA ANN BARNES. On the 4 Oct 1876 Sam and Eliza were married at her father's house. Sam wrote to the Secretary for Lands on the 29 Sep 1880, requesting that Allot. 39 Parish of Warrandyte be made available for selection. This block had been refused for selection earlier on the objection of the Mines Department as it was believed that the area was auriferous. When told that the block was available, Sam marked it at 5 o'clock December 3rd and applied for a lease of 12 acres 3 rods and 34 perches on the 6th December. On the application it is noted that he already had leasehold of 104 acres. His license was approved 7 Mar 1881 at a rate of 6 shillings and 6 pence per halfyear. Previously paid fees and rental came to 3 pounds 18 shillings, and he paid another pound for a certificate fee, a pound lease fee, plus the first half years rental, then proceeded to develop the land into an apple and cherry orchard.In 7 Mar 1898 he had succeeded in securing the freehold grant of the area by paying 2 pounds 18 shillings 6 pence fees due,plus a 1 guinea grant fee and assurance fund contribution of 7 pence, a total of 4 pounds and 1 penny. The orchard occupied the area between White Horse Rd and Mullum Mullum Creek,from Oban Rd east to where White Horse Road, now the Maroondah Highway, takes a slight turn to the right, near the Burnt Bridge. Sam and Eliza built a house on Sec38 and planted Fivecrown apples grafted on a Maggs Seedling stock at 24 ft spacing. Trees put in about 1875 were yielding up to twenty bushells 30 years later. He didn't approve of regulations which required spraying for codlin moth and was reputed to have said when denied coolstorage space until he sprayed his trees, "No one is going to tell me how to grow apples and anyway a bit of codlin is good for you". More About SAMUEL MAGGS: Ancestral File Number: LN0V-8X1 Record Change: 20 Aug 19971 Notes for ELIZA ANN BARNES: ELIZA ANN BARNES married SAMUEL MAGGS, son of neighbouring land owner, James Maggs, 4 Oct 1876 and had 6 children. She had a stroke about 1921 but was able to attend her seventyfourth birthday party held at her daughter Jane Knee's home in Sep 1922 when over forty family members gathered for the celebration(see photo). She died 17 Feb 1923 at Croydon. More About ELIZA ANN BARNES: Ancestral File Number: LN0V-2W1 Record Change: 20 Aug 19971 Children of SAMUEL MAGGS and ELIZA BARNES are: 11. i. GEORGE7 MAGGS, b. 28 Dec 1876, Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia; d. 09 May 1947, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia. 12. ii. ELIZA JANE MAGGS, b. 27 Jul 1878, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 31 May 1946, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. 13. iii. JAMES MAGGS, b. 15 May 1880, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia; d. 28 Jul 1940, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia. iv. JANE MAGGS1, b. 22 May 1884, Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia1; d. 31 Jan 19711; m. THOMAS SAMUEL KNEE1, 1907, , Victoria, Australia1; b. 07 Aug 1881, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia1; d. 19 Apr 19601. More About JANE MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 More About THOMAS SAMUEL KNEE: Burial: 21 Apr 1960, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 22 Aug 20031 14. v. SAMUEL WILLIAM MAGGS, b. 01 Jan 1889, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 15 Jan 1955, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia. 15. vi. JEMIMA MAGGS, b. 16 Dec 1881, Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia; d. 02 Nov 1955. 4. JANE6 MAGGS (JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)1 was born 19 Dec 1858 in Blackburn, Victoria, Australia1, and died 05 Jul 1926 in , Victoria, Australia1. She married WILLIAM COOK1 1880 in , Victoria, Australia1. He was born Abt. 1859 in Wickliffe, Victoria, Australia1, and died 09 Aug 19391. Notes for JANE MAGGS: Jane Maggs, the only surviving daughter of James and Harriet, married William Cook and had one child, Harriet Amy Cook, known to her relatives as Cousin Amy. She never married and lived in the house inWhitehorse Road, Mitcham built by her parents, for many years until her death in 1962. She took a keen interest in family history and was a great source of information and memorabilia about the early days of the Ringwood area. More About JANE MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill1 Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 More About WILLIAM COOK: Burial: 10 Aug 1939, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 05 Nov 20011 Child of JANE MAGGS and WILLIAM COOK is: i. HARRIET AMEY7 COOK1, b. 1881, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1; d. 13 Sep 1962, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia1. More About HARRIET AMEY COOK: Burial: 17 Sep 1962, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia1 Record Change: 18 Feb 20011 5. JAMES6 MAGGS (JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)2,3 was born 1862 in Nunawading4, and died 1925 in Fitzroy4. He married (1) THERESA BROWN4 in Christchurch, New Zealand5. She was born 1869 in Clunes, Victoria, Australia5, and died 1930 in Prahran, Victoria, Australia5. He married (2) MARIANNE HARDIDGE6 1880 in Kew6. She was born 1860 in Doncaster6, and died 1941 in Mitcham6. He married (3) ADA JANE CROY7 19127. She was born 1883 in ,Victoria, Australia7. Notes for JAMES MAGGS: James Maggs, the youngest child and only Australian born son of James and Harriet, was an orchardist like his older brothers. He married Marianne Hardidge in 1880 and selected an area in what is now Kalinda Road, adjoining Sam's land. They constructed a four roomed house measuring 26 feet square valued at fifty pounds and stables valued at forty pounds. The buildings were made of palings with an iron roof. Here they raised ten children and lost a little girl, Eliza, aged three weeks. In 1900 James became seriously ill with a kidney disease and was visited during his illness by a wide section of his neighbours, including Mrs Theresa Shanks. He and Theresa became attracted to each other and broke up their marriages, with James and Marianne being divorced in 1906. James and Theresa lived in the Hawthorn and Prahran districts and he became a taxi driver. He contributed to the upkeep of his children although the divorce was a bitter affair. He died in 1925 in Fitzroy and Theresa only survived him by five years. They are buried in the same grave at Box Hill. Marianne became a midwife who delivered over 500 babies in the neighborhood. She was known as Nurse Polly Maggs and the people of Ringwood presented her with a wireless set in appreciation of her service to the community. She died at the age of 81 years in 1941. More About JAMES MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill Cemetery8 Record Change: 01 Sep 20018 Notes for THERESA BROWN: [Ringwood.ged] Theresa had a son Jim Shanks born1902 (father was James Maggs) Reg No 12243R More About THERESA BROWN: Burial: 05 Feb 1930, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia9 Record Change: 01 Sep 200110 More About MARIANNE HARDIDGE: Burial: Box Hill Cemetery10 Record Change: 01 Sep 200110 Marriage Notes for JAMES MAGGS and MARIANNE HARDIDGE: [Ringwood.ged] divorced in 1906 More About ADA JANE CROY: Burial: 15 Apr 1932, Geelong, Victoria, Australia11 Record Change: 10 Aug 200211 Child of JAMES MAGGS and THERESA BROWN is: i. JIM7 MAGGS12, b. 190212. More About JIM MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200112 Children of JAMES MAGGS and MARIANNE HARDIDGE are: ii. MARY ANN HASE7 MAGGS12, b. 188112. More About MARY ANN HASE MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200112 16. iii. JANE EMMA MAGGS, b. 1883; d. 28 Jul 1954. 17. iv. JAMES JOHN MAGGS, b. 1885; d. 24 Aug 1962, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. v. DAVID JOSEPH MAGGS12,13, b. 188714; d. 11 Jul 1966, Mt. Waverley, Victoria, Australia15; m. VIOLET ADELINE LEPP15, 1916, , Victoria, Australia15; b. 1888, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia15; d. 26 Mar 1966, ,Victoria, Australia15. More About DAVID JOSEPH MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200116 More About VIOLET ADELINE LEPP: Record Change: 21 Jan 200217 18. vi. SAMUEL ARTHUR MAGGS, b. 1888; d. 07 Aug 1957, Doncaster, Victoria, Australia. 19. vii. JOHN WILLIAM MAGGS, b. 1890; d. 18 Feb 1959, Cobram, Victoria, Australia. viii. ELIZA ANN MAGGS18, b. 189218; d. 189218. More About ELIZA ANN MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill Cemetery18 Record Change: 01 Sep 200118 20. ix. ROBERT THOMAS MAGGS, b. 1893; d. 12 Mar 1981. 21. x. ALBERT EDWARD MAGGS, b. 1895; d. 1976. 22. xi. EVALEEN VICTORIA MAGGS, b. 1897; d. 05 Sep 1989. xii. HARRIET BANFIELD MAGGS18, b. 189918. More About HARRIET BANFIELD MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200118 23. xiii. MARY ANN HASE POLLY MAGGS, b. 05 Jul 1881, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 09 Nov 1961. xiv. HARRIET BANFIELD CHRISSY MAGGS19, b. 14 Dec 1899, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia19; d. 28 Dec 1979, Blackburn, Victoria, Australia19. More About HARRIET BANFIELD CHRISSY MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill19 Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 Children of JAMES MAGGS and ADA CROY are: xv. CLENCIE JOAN7 MAGGS19, m. ARTHUR RODERICK PITTER19. xvi. CLYDE MAGGS19, b. 1917, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia19; d. 1917, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia19. More About CLYDE MAGGS: Record Change: 10 Aug 200219 Generation No. 3 6. EMMA7 MAGGS (JOSEPH6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)19 was born 08 Jan 1868 in Templestowe, Victoria, Australia19, and died 03 Aug 1939 in Richmond, Victoria, Australia19. She married FREDRICK WILLIAM MCGINNIS19 May 1890 in , Victoria, Australia19. He was born in , of Victoria, Australia19. More About EMMA MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 More About FREDRICK WILLIAM MCGINNIS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 Children of EMMA MAGGS and FREDRICK MCGINNIS are: i. RENIRA EDDA8 MCGINNIS19. ii. FREDRICK HENRY MCGINNIS19, b. 1894, , of Victoria, Australia19; d. 195819. More About FREDRICK HENRY MCGINNIS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 7. HUBERT7 MAGGS (JOSEPH6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)19 was born 10 May 1873 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia19, and died 11 Aug 1956 in Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia19. He married ISABELLA ATKINS19 09 Mar 1898 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia19. She was born Abt. 1875 in St Arnaud, Victoria, Australia19. More About HUBERT MAGGS: Burial: Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia19 Record Change: 23 Jan 200519 More About ISABELLA ATKINS: Record Change: 23 Jan 200519 Children of HUBERT MAGGS and ISABELLA ATKINS are: i. HUBERT CARLYLE8 MAGGS19. ii. ANNE THORA MAGGS19. iii. RAYMOND MAGGS19, b. 09 Jun 1905, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia19; d. 20 Jul 190519. More About RAYMOND MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 8. HARRIET ANNIS7 MAGGS (JOSEPH6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)19 was born 18 Aug 1879 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia19, and died 08 May 194519. She married JAMES RICHARD MILLER19 26 Sep 1910 in Ringwood East, Victoria, Australia19. He was born 1878 in Collingwood, Victoria, Australia19. More About HARRIET ANNIS MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 More About JAMES RICHARD MILLER: Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 Children of HARRIET MAGGS and JAMES MILLER are: i. DUDLEY8 MILLER19. ii. IRENE DOROTHY MILLER19, b. 10 Nov 1913, , of Victoria, Australia19; d. 29 Sep 199019. More About IRENE DOROTHY MILLER: Burial: Lilydale, Victoria, Australia19 Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 iii. CYRIL MILLER19, b. 26 Sep 1915, , of Victoria, Australia19; d. 05 Apr 197319. More About CYRIL MILLER: Burial: Springvale, Victoria, Australia19 Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 9. DELIA ROSE7 MAGGS (JOSEPH6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)19 was born 20 Feb 1886 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia19, and died 30 Oct 191419. She married WILLIAM JAMES SHARKIE19. More About DELIA ROSE MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia19 Record Change: 18 Feb 200119 Child of DELIA MAGGS and WILLIAM SHARKIE is: i. RONALD8 SHARKIE19, b. Abt. 1914, , of Victoria, Australia19; d. Abt. 1964, , N.S.W., Australia19. More About RONALD SHARKIE: Record Change: 15 Oct 200119 10. AGNES7 MAGGS (JOSEPH6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)20,21 was born 16 Jun 1869 in Templestowe, Victoria, Australia21, and died 03 Feb 1912 in Heathmont, Victoria, Australia21. She married (1) JOHN DOMONIC MILLER22 189423,24, son of FRANK MILLER and KATE MADDEN. He was born 187025,26, and died 194227,28. She married (2) JOHN DOMINIC MILLER29 1894 in , Victoria, Australia30,31. He was born 1870 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia31. More About AGNES MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia31 Record Change: 11 Sep 200132 More About JOHN DOMONIC MILLER: Record Change: 11 Sep 200132 More About JOHN DOMINIC MILLER: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 Children of AGNES MAGGS and JOHN MILLER are: i. ALBERT JOHN8 MILLER33, b. 1894, , of Victoria, Australia33. More About ALBERT JOHN MILLER: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 ii. LOUIS NICHOLAS MILLER33, b. 1901, , of Victoria, Australia33; d. 197433; m. LILA MERTON33. More About LOUIS NICHOLAS MILLER: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 iii. LESLIE DOMINIC MILLER33, b. 1904, , of Victoria, Australia33; d. 198933. More About LESLIE DOMINIC MILLER: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 11. GEORGE7 MAGGS (SAMUEL6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)33 was born 28 Dec 1876 in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia33, and died 09 May 1947 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33. He married ANNIE GRACE SMITH33 26 Mar 1902 in , Victoria, Australia33. She was born Abt. 1878 in of Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33, and died 1967 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia33. More About GEORGE MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 More About ANNIE GRACE SMITH: Record Change: 21 Jan 200233 Children of GEORGE MAGGS and ANNIE SMITH are: i. CLYDE8 MAGGS33, m. VIOLET OXENBURY33. 24. ii. GEORGE ALBERT MAGGS, b. 17 Jul 1902, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia; d. 1974, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. iii. HILDA GLADYS BILLIE MAGGS33, b. 05 Sep 1903, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33; d. 15 Oct 198733; m. LENARD DRYSDALE REID33. More About HILDA GLADYS BILLIE MAGGS: Burial: Springvale, Victoria, Australia33 Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 iv. MYRTLE OLIVE MAGGS33, b. 24 Dec 1905, Kew, Victoria, Australia33; d. 02 Jan 198333; m. ROBERT SAMUEL BOB HEAD33, 1924, , Victoria, Australia33; b. 1898, , of Victoria, Australia33; d. 15 Oct 1980, Mermaid Beach, Queensland, Australia33. More About MYRTLE OLIVE MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 More About ROBERT SAMUEL BOB HEAD: Burial: 17 Oct 1980, Nerang, Queensland, Australia33 Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 v. FREDERICK STANLEY MAGGS33, b. 10 Jul 1907, of, Victoria, Australia33; d. 26 Jan 1975, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia33; m. (1) RUBY EMILY BRIERLEY33; m. (2) SARAH MRS FREDERICK MAGGS33; m. (3) ISABEL WOOD33. More About FREDERICK STANLEY MAGGS: Record Change: 21 Jul 200233 vi. ALFRED FRANCIS MAGGS33, b. 19 Jun 1909, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33; d. 06 Feb 198733; m. FRANCES ESTELLE WILLOUGHBY33. More About ALFRED FRANCIS MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 vii. ERIC RAYMOND MAGGS33, b. 29 Nov 1910, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33; d. 29 Jan 198633; m. THELMA THOMPSON33. More About ERIC RAYMOND MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 viii. MARJORIE FLORENCE MAGGS33, b. 21 Jun 1912, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33; d. 20 Aug 197433; m. COLIN ADDISON33. More About MARJORIE FLORENCE MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 ix. CLARICE MAGGS33, b. 20 Dec 1913, , Victoria, Australia33; m. RONALD STONE33. More About CLARICE MAGGS: Burial: , Queensland, Australia33 Record Change: 18 Feb 200133 12. ELIZA JANE7 MAGGS (SAMUEL6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)33 was born 27 Jul 1878 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia33, and died 31 May 1946 in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia33. She married WILLIAM NEWCOMB DOBBIN33 14 Mar 1900 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia34,35. He was born 02 Aug 1878 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia35, and died 12 May 1960 in Brighton, Victoria, Australia35. More About ELIZA JANE MAGGS: Ancestral File Number: LN0T-NV35 Record Change: 20 Aug 199735 Notes for WILLIAM NEWCOMB DOBBIN: WILLIAM NEWCOMB DOBBIN, the second child of William Edward Jones Dobbin and Amelia Matilda Shoman, was born at Bendigo in the state of Victoria, on the 2 August 1878. He spent his early childhood years in the goldfields towns of Bendigo and Ballarat but by the time he was of age to start school his family had moved to Melbourne and he commenced his education at the Richmond State school. His first job as a baker's boy in Ringwood included delivering bread by bicycle to homes in that area, and that was how he met ELIZA JANE MAGGS. By the time he turned 17 he had decided to go to Western Australia so in 1895 he embarked on a ship named the "Inaminka" which carried a deck cargo of draught horses. While crossing the Great Australian Bight a severe storm was encountered and three of the fifteen horses on deck were killed. He found work in a timber camp in the south west,near Albany, and lived in a hut made of palings for a time with five other men. While he was there an itinerant Indian photographer named S.Bhan took a picture of the hut with its inhabitants standing outside. Approaching the turn of the century his mind turned to thoughts of marriage. He returned to Victoria and proposed to Eliza Jane. They were married on the 14 March 1900 at Lilydale Road Ringwood according to the rites of the Church of Christ by Thomas Hagger in the presence of George Maggs,the brother of the bride and Elizabeth Frances Bell. He and his bride returned to Western Australia on a ship called the "Oruba" and when their first child was born at Denmark, on the 18 January 1901 he named her VERA ORUBA DOBBIN. Eliza Jane found the living conditions very rough and because of poor health she returned to Victoria when Vera was three months old. William followed on a ship called the "Suvic". Their second child, Cyril William Dobbin was born at Ringwood in October 1902 where William worked an orchard owned by his father-in-law, Sam Maggs. He purchased from Sam an area in Wonga Park Rd, (now Kalinda Rd) north of the creek which had been planted as a cherry orchard and part of the area on the corner of Oban Road He also worked in a pottery and in the 1905 Sands and McDougall directory he is listed as a brick and tile maker. In 1917 he rented premises in Main Street (Whitehorse Road), Ringwood, then newly built by J.B.McAlpin, the estate agent, on the corner of Melbourne Street. The shop between A.C.Beilby's store and McAlpin's office on the corner was opened as "The Railway Fruit and Confectionary Palace" and a shop in Melbourne Street, which adjoined the Main Street shop at the rear, became "The Fernery Refreshment Rooms". Three more children were born at Ringwood, Leonard Suvic in 1905, Clarence Newcomb in 1907, and the youngest child, a daughter named Elvie Olive in 1909. A fruit shop in Melrose Street, Sandringham, "The Covent Garden Fruit Palace" was purchased in 1921 and later taken over by his son Cyril. During the early 1930's his marriage failed and he went to Williamstown and opened a florist shop in the name of Walter Dobson which did very well. He married again and settled down to a life of retirement in Prahran, but his second wife, Elsie Fritzlaff (formerly Mrs Wilson) died unexpectedly and he was left alone once more. His eyesight deteriorated badly in his later years and he eventually entered the Mair Street Home for the Blind in Brighton where he died on the 12 May 1960. More About WILLIAM NEWCOMB DOBBIN: Ancestral File Number: LN0S-PW35 Record Change: 31 Mar 200135 Children of ELIZA MAGGS and WILLIAM DOBBIN are: i. ELVIE OLIVE8 DOBBIN35, m. ROY STEWART35; b. 1904, Landsborough, Victoria, Australia35; d. 30 Jun 1992, , Victoria, Australia35. More About ROY STEWART: Record Change: 18 Feb 200135 ii. VERA ORUBA DOBBIN35, b. 18 Jan 1901, Denmark, W.A., Australia35; d. 16 May 1995, Warwick, W.A., Australia35; m. ALEXANDER FRANCIS LAIRD35, 16 May 1923, Hampton, Victoria, Australia35; b. 24 Sep 1898, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia35; d. 21 Jul 1981, Kallaroo, W.A., Australia35. More About VERA ORUBA DOBBIN: Record Change: 02 Sep 200435 More About ALEXANDER FRANCIS LAIRD: Ancestral File Number: LN0Q-QS35 Record Change: 02 Sep 200435 iii. CYRIL WILLIAM DOBBIN35, b. 22 Oct 1902, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia35; d. 10 Aug 1989, Frankston, Victoria, Australia35; m. FLORENCE CONSTANCE DAVIDSON35, 22 Mar 1925, Brighton, Victoria, Australia35; b. 08 Mar 1903, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia35; d. Jun 1987, Australia35. More About CYRIL WILLIAM DOBBIN: Record Change: 18 Feb 200135 Notes for FLORENCE CONSTANCE DAVIDSON: Notes: written by Carol Humphrey (daughter) 2001 Florence Constance Davidson, born in South Melbourne, was the second eldest child in her family. Her father worked for the Victorian railways and while stationed in Hamilton, Victoria, had met and married her mother. The family moved to the city from Hamilton, in 1903. They spent a brief period in South Melbourne before taking up residence in Ringwood. Throughout her life Florence answered to many different versions of her name. When she was small could never manage to say her full name, the best she could come up with was “Wonnie Connie Davie”. All of her life her immediate family called her “Won” (a shortened version of “Wonnie”). Her husband, Cyril, called her Florrie and her close friends called her Flo. She attended State School 2997, at the corner of Whitehorse Road and Ringwood Street, Ringwood. In the later stages of her schooling, each Wednesday, she travelled to Glenferrie Technical College (now Swinburne College) in Burwood Road, to attended cooking and laundry classes. She travelled by train to attend these classes and was given 1/- (one shilling) to cover the expenses for the day. A three course meal, which she helped to prepare, cost 3d. (three pence), her train fare cost 8d. (eight pence), leaving her one penny. Depending on the family finances for that week, sometimes she was allowed to spend the change. After leaving school she signed up as an apprentice tailoress. She began her apprenticeship on 9th May 1919, with Charles Lane & Co., whose workroom was in Flinders Lane Melbourne, between Elizabeth and Market Streets; the shop was on the corner of Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street. Her wages for the first six months were 7 shillings and 6 pence and they increased gradually over the four year period of the apprenticeship to 35 shillings. After completing her apprenticeship she worked at Jimmy Oliver’s workroom at the back of Melbourne Town Hall, in Little Collins Street. She left this position when she married Cyril Dobbin in 1925. During her married life Florence worked in the family business in Melrose Street, as well as raising a family of 6 children. She sewed and knitted for her children, was a great cook and she was very meticulous with her laundry, which was probably a reflection of her lessons in cooking and laundry taken years earlier. In later life, when she had more time to herself, she loved to read and was a wizard at crossword puzzles, cryptic crossword puzzles and Scrabble (a word game). More About FLORENCE CONSTANCE DAVIDSON: Record Change: 18 Feb 200135 iv. LEONARD SUVIC DOBBIN35, b. 04 Jan 1905, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia35; d. Jan 194435; m. ALMA WEBSTER35. More About LEONARD SUVIC DOBBIN: Record Change: 18 Feb 200135 v. CLARENCE NEWCOMB DOBBIN35, b. 17 Mar 1907, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia35; d. 22 Jun 1977, Prahan, Victoria, Australia35; m. ELLEN PEARL ISELIN35, 04 Jul 1936, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia35; b. 17 Nov 1910, Richmond, Victoria, Australia35; d. 24 Aug 1979, Burwood, Victoria, Australia35. More About CLARENCE NEWCOMB DOBBIN: Record Change: 18 Feb 200135 More About ELLEN PEARL ISELIN: Record Change: 18 Feb 200135 13. JAMES7 MAGGS (SAMUEL6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)35 was born 15 May 1880 in Lilydale, Victoria, Australia35, and died 28 Jul 1940 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia35. He married CATHERINE ATKINS35 24 Apr 1901 in , Victoria, Australia36,37. She was born 04 Nov 1882 in St Arnaud, Victoria, Australia37, and died 11 Oct 1960 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37. More About JAMES MAGGS: Burial: 30 Jul 1940, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia37 Record Change: 23 Jan 200537 More About CATHERINE ATKINS: Burial: 18 Oct 1960, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia37 Record Change: 18 Feb 200137 Children of JAMES MAGGS and CATHERINE ATKINS are: i. RUBY ISABEL GENIVEVE8 MAGGS37, m. (1) RODERICK CASSIDY37; m. (2) CHARLES BRUCE37. ii. BEULAH LEAH DRUCILLA DAPHNE MAGGS37, m. HERBERT BOPPEL37. iii. OLIVER SAMUEL JAMES MAGGS37, b. 10 Jan 1903, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37; d. 1974, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia37; m. RITA MARGUERITE PICKETT37; b. Abt. 1903, of, Victoria, Australia37; d. 1971, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37. More About OLIVER SAMUEL JAMES MAGGS: Record Change: 22 Jul 200237 More About RITA MARGUERITE PICKETT: Record Change: 21 Jan 200237 iv. DOUGLAS LINDSAY GORDON MAGGS37, b. 30 Dec 1904, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37; d. 1977, ,Victoria, Australia37; m. EDITH EMMA ANNE MEYLAND37, Abt. 1930, , Victoria, Australia37; b. 01 Oct 1905, of, Australia37; d. 1980, ,Victoria, Australia37. More About DOUGLAS LINDSAY GORDON MAGGS: Record Change: 21 Jul 200237 More About EDITH EMMA ANNE MEYLAND: Record Change: 21 Jul 200237 v. LAURENCE REGINALD VIVIAN MAGGS37, b. 26 Jun 1906, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37; d. 04 Jul 1955, Ashburton, Victoria, Australia37; m. DOROTHY CLAIRE SKURRIE37. More About LAURENCE REGINALD VIVIAN MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200137 vi. BASIL RODERICK SYLVESTER MAGGS37, b. 06 Sep 191037; d. 04 Oct 1969, Aspendale, Victoria, Australia37; m. DOROTHY BURLOCK37. More About BASIL RODERICK SYLVESTER MAGGS: Record Change: 21 Jan 200237 vii. LEWIS KEVIN MAXWELL MAGGS37, b. 30 May 1912, , of Victoria, Australia37; d. 11 Nov 1948, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37. More About LEWIS KEVIN MAXWELL MAGGS: Record Change: 13 Jul 200037 viii. RONALD ALBURY RUSSEL MAGGS37, b. 25 Sep 1914, , Victoria, Australia37; d. 20 Mar 1960, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia37; m. ELVIE MARY IRENE MAGGS37, Abt. 1946, , Australia37; b. 02 Jun 1920, , of Victoria, Australia37; d. 04 Feb 196837. More About RONALD ALBURY RUSSEL MAGGS: Burial: 23 Mar 1960, Springvale, Victoria, Australia37 Record Change: 18 Feb 200137 More About ELVIE MARY IRENE MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200137 ix. JAMES RALPH MCKENNA MAGGS37, b. 17 Nov 1921, , Victoria, Australia37; d. 18 Aug 1973, Ashwood, Victoria, Australia37; m. SYLVIA GRACE MAGGS37, Abt. 194237; b. 1925, of, Victoria, Australia37; d. 22 May 200237. More About JAMES RALPH MCKENNA MAGGS: Burial: 22 Aug 1973, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia37 Record Change: 18 Feb 200137 More About SYLVIA GRACE MAGGS: Record Change: 24 Mar 200337 14. SAMUEL WILLIAM7 MAGGS (SAMUEL6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)37 was born 01 Jan 1889 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37, and died 15 Jan 1955 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia37. He married MINA LILLIAN SCHUHKRAFT37 21 Jun 1911 in , Victoria, Australia37. She was born 21 Jun 189037, and died 1974 in Leongatha, Victoria, Australia37. More About SAMUEL WILLIAM MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200137 More About MINA LILLIAN SCHUHKRAFT: Record Change: 21 Jan 200237 Children of SAMUEL MAGGS and MINA SCHUHKRAFT are: i. BRIAN LESLIE8 MAGGS37, m. JEAN AIRD37. ii. CLIVE LIONEL MAGGS37, m. ALBERTA HARRIS37. iii. DONALD FREDERICK MAGGS37, m. PAULEEN HIGGS37. iv. RUSSELL IAN MAGGS37, m. VINA ANDERSON MILLAR37; b. 21 Jan 1928, Kew, Victoria, Australia37; d. 04 Nov 199437. More About VINA ANDERSON MILLAR: Record Change: 10 Jul 200237 v. MINA LYLA MAGGS37, m. WILLIAM ERNEST MATTHEWS37. vi. NANCY ELIN MAGGS37, m. ROBERT JOHN BRUCE37. vii. KEITH ALAN MAGGS37. 15. JEMIMA7 MAGGS (SAMUEL6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)38,39 was born 16 Dec 1881 in Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia39, and died 02 Nov 195539. She married EDWARD LINDSAY40,41 190542, son of JAMES LINDSAY and HELEN CORMLEY. He was born 188242, and died 194243,44. More About JEMIMA MAGGS: Burial: 04 Nov 1955, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia45 Record Change: 16 Jul 200146 Notes for EDWARD LINDSAY: [Ringwood.ged] See Borough Visitors Book 14 Borough Voters Roll 1924 Borough of Ringwood Voters List 12,13 More About EDWARD LINDSAY: Burial: Box Hill Cemetery46 Record Change: 15 Aug 200146 Children of JEMIMA MAGGS and EDWARD LINDSAY are: i. MYRTLE IVY8 LINDSAY46,47, b. 190648; d. 197948; m. BERT QUICK49. More About MYRTLE IVY LINDSAY: Record Change: 15 Aug 200150 ii. EUNICE EVELYN LINDSAY50,51, b. 190952; d. 197552; m. ROY LONG53. More About EUNICE EVELYN LINDSAY: Record Change: 15 Aug 200154 iii. CLUTHA BRUCE LINDSAY54,55, b. 191156; d. 198156. More About CLUTHA BRUCE LINDSAY: Record Change: 15 Aug 200156 16. JANE EMMA7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)56,57 was born 188358, and died 28 Jul 195459. She married FREDERICK ALFRED BLOOM59 14 Oct 1910 in , Victoria, Australia59. He was born 1882 in Doncaster, Victoria, Australia59. More About JANE EMMA MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200160 More About FREDERICK ALFRED BLOOM: Record Change: 18 Feb 200161 Child of JANE MAGGS and FREDERICK BLOOM is: i. HAROLD GRIFFITHS8 BLOOM61, b. 25 Nov 191161; d. 18 Jun 200061; m. MARJORIE HORSBURGH61. More About HAROLD GRIFFITHS BLOOM: Burial: 23 Jun 2000, Anderson's Creek, Victoria, Australia61 Record Change: 13 Jul 200061 17. JAMES JOHN7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)62,63 was born 188564, and died 24 Aug 1962 in Parkville, Victoria, Australia65. He married JOHANNA IDA EDITH BLOOM65 23 Oct 1912 in , Victoria, Australia65. She was born 1880 in Doncaster, Victoria, Australia65, and died 22 Sep 1964 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia65. More About JAMES JOHN MAGGS: Burial: Springvale, Victoria, Australia65 Record Change: 01 Sep 200166 More About JOHANNA IDA EDITH BLOOM: Record Change: 18 Feb 200167 Children of JAMES MAGGS and JOHANNA BLOOM are: i. MERLE ADRIENNE8 MAGGS67, m. EDWARD BARNFATHER67. ii. LINTON DAVID MAGGS67, b. 31 Jan 1915, , Victoria, Australia67; d. 28 Nov 198667; m. DOROTHY JEEVES67. More About LINTON DAVID MAGGS: Burial: , Queensland, Australia67 Record Change: 26 Feb 199967 iii. RALPH LINDSAY MAGGS67, b. 05 May 1921, , Victoria, Australia67; d. 1960, , N.S.W., Australia67; m. MAVIS HYLAND67. More About RALPH LINDSAY MAGGS: Record Change: 15 Oct 200167 iv. BETTINA MIRIAM MAGGS67, b. 30 Apr 1923, , Victoria, Australia67; d. 12 Feb 194967. More About BETTINA MIRIAM MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia67 Record Change: 05 Mar 199967 18. SAMUEL ARTHUR7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)68,69 was born 188870, and died 07 Aug 1957 in Doncaster, Victoria, Australia71. He married BERTHA ANNA PUMP71 01 Oct 1913 in , Victoria, Australia71. She was born 1887 in Doncaster, Victoria, Australia71, and died 13 Nov 1963 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia72,73. More About SAMUEL ARTHUR MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200174 More About BERTHA ANNA PUMP: Record Change: 18 Feb 200175 Children of SAMUEL MAGGS and BERTHA PUMP are: i. NELLIE8 MAGGS75, m. THOMAS WHITMORE75. ii. MARY MAGGS75, m. (1) HECTOR WHITMORE75; m. (2) THOMAS BAKER75. iii. LESLIE JOHN MAGGS75, m. PATRICIA BONNEY75. 19. JOHN WILLIAM7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)76,77 was born 189078, and died 18 Feb 1959 in Cobram, Victoria, Australia79. He married LILLIAN MABEL MAY SMITH79 20 Nov 1909 in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia79. She was born 1888 in Walhalla, Victoria, Australia79, and died 18 Jul 1969 in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia79. More About JOHN WILLIAM MAGGS: Record Change: 01 Sep 200180 More About LILLIAN MABEL MAY SMITH: Record Change: 21 Jan 200281 Children of JOHN MAGGS and LILLIAN SMITH are: i. BASIL ROBERT BOB8 MAGGS81, m. (1) FRANCES MAY CUNNINGHAM81; b. 05 May 1907, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia81; d. 21 Jan 1947, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia81; m. (2) MARGARET JESSIE PEG LINCOLN81. More About FRANCES MAY CUNNINGHAM: Record Change: 21 Jul 200281 ii. RONALD JNO. MAGGS81. iii. GLADYS ELLA MAGGS81, m. CHARLES KEATING81. iv. EDNA LILLIAN MAGGS81, m. ALBERT ROWE81. v. CLIFFORD HENRY MAGGS81, m. SHIRLEY SMITH81. vi. EVELYN CHRISTINA MAGGS81, m. (1) FREDERICK HENRY CROSS81; b. 18 Aug 1928, of, Australia81; d. 25 Aug 196881; m. (2) LEONARD LLEWELYN HUGHES81; m. (3) RONALD FRANK BOLLARD81. More About FREDERICK HENRY CROSS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200181 vii. IVOR CYRIL EDWARD MAGGS81, b. 03 Mar 1910, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia81; d. 09 Mar 1992, Lilydale, Victoria, Australia81; m. ISABELLA CUNNINGHAM81. More About IVOR CYRIL EDWARD MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200181 viii. LORNA AGNES MAGGS81, b. 31 Jul 1915, , Victoria, Australia81; d. 1981, Ararat, Victoria, Australia81; m. ALBERT HUNTER81. More About LORNA AGNES MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200181 ix. EDWARD WILLIAM TINY MAGGS81, b. 08 Feb 1918, , Victoria, Australia81; d. 24 Aug 198281; m. MURIEL EMILY MORELAND81, 23 Jan 194381; b. 07 Dec 1917, of, Australia81; d. 27 Dec 2001, Bega, N.S.W., Australia81. More About EDWARD WILLIAM TINY MAGGS: Record Change: 07 Jan 200281 More About MURIEL EMILY MORELAND: Record Change: 07 Jan 200281 x. JOHN DAVID JACK MAGGS81, b. 05 Jun 192281; d. 04 Feb 1942, Rabaul, New Guinea, Ww281. More About JOHN DAVID JACK MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200181 xi. MAUREEN LESLEY MAGGS81, b. 12 Jul 1929, , Victoria, Australia81; d. 05 Jul 1989, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia81; m. STEPHEN BELL81. More About MAUREEN LESLEY MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200181 20. ROBERT THOMAS7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)82,83 was born 189384, and died 12 Mar 198185. He married EDITH ELLEN BRITNELL85 30 Mar 1919 in , Victoria, Australia85. She was born 1893 in , of Victoria, Australia85, and died 07 Sep 1973 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia85. More About ROBERT THOMAS MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia85 Record Change: 01 Sep 200186 More About EDITH ELLEN BRITNELL: Record Change: 18 Feb 200187 Children of ROBERT MAGGS and EDITH BRITNELL are: i. GRACE ANNIE8 MAGGS87, m. JACOB BENNETT87. ii. BERYL ELLEN MAGGS87. iii. DOROTHY OLIVE PAT MAGGS87, m. ARTHUR BRYAN87; b. 08 May 1928, of, Australia87; d. 06 Jun 2004, ,Victoria, Australia87. More About ARTHUR BRYAN: Record Change: 08 Jun 200487 iv. GORDON ROBERT MAGGS87, m. MARY ELIZABETH BETTY GRAHAM87; b. , , of Victoria, Australia87; d. 28 Oct 1995, Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia87. More About MARY ELIZABETH BETTY GRAHAM: Record Change: 18 Feb 200187 v. WINIFRED FLORENCE MAGGS87, m. FRANK MCMILLAN87. vi. ELVIE MARY IRENE MAGGS87, b. 02 Jun 1920, , of Victoria, Australia87; d. 04 Feb 196887; m. (1) JAMES ANDERSON87; m. (2) RONALD ALBURY RUSSEL MAGGS87, Abt. 1946, , Australia87; b. 25 Sep 1914, , Victoria, Australia87; d. 20 Mar 1960, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia87. More About ELVIE MARY IRENE MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200187 More About RONALD ALBURY RUSSEL MAGGS: Burial: 23 Mar 1960, Springvale, Victoria, Australia87 Record Change: 18 Feb 200187 vii. ALEXANDER NORMAN MAGGS87, b. 19 Jan 192787; d. 199387. More About ALEXANDER NORMAN MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200187 viii. ARTHUR THOMAS MAGGS87, b. 22 Jun 1936, , Victoria, Australia87; d. 15 Apr 1945, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia87. More About ARTHUR THOMAS MAGGS: Record Change: 21 Jan 200287 21. ALBERT EDWARD7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)88,89 was born 189590, and died 197690. He married FLORENCE SARAH PEARCE91 06 Jul 1918 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia91. She was born Abt. 1898 in , of Victoria, Australia91, and died 1973 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia91. More About ALBERT EDWARD MAGGS: Burial: Springvale, Victoria, Australia91 Record Change: 01 Sep 200192 More About FLORENCE SARAH PEARCE: Record Change: 21 Jul 200293 Children of ALBERT MAGGS and FLORENCE PEARCE are: i. JEAN EVELYN8 MAGGS93, b. 31 Oct 1918, Mitcham, Victoria, Australia93; d. 31 Mar 199093; m. ALBERT ERNEST BENNETT93. More About JEAN EVELYN MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200193 ii. STANLEY EDWARD MAGGS93, b. 17 Mar 1920, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia93; d. 26 Mar 1980, Ringwood, Victoria, Australia93. More About STANLEY EDWARD MAGGS: Record Change: 22 Jul 200293 iii. RUTH FLORENCE MAGGS93, b. 20 Dec 1923, , Victoria, Australia93; d. 15 Aug 197193; m. THOMAS BOYCE93. More About RUTH FLORENCE MAGGS: Record Change: 18 Feb 200193 22. EVALEEN VICTORIA7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)94,95 was born 189796, and died 05 Sep 198997. She married SYDNEY NORMAN TILL97 12 Jun 1920 in , Australia97. He died 10 Mar 193197. More About EVALEEN VICTORIA MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia97 Record Change: 01 Sep 200198 More About SYDNEY NORMAN TILL: Record Change: 18 Feb 200199 Children of EVALEEN MAGGS and SYDNEY TILL are: i. ALISON8 TILL99. ii. ALWYN TILL99, b. 09 May 192199; d. 28 Aug 1944, , Ww299. More About ALWYN TILL: Record Change: 18 Feb 200199 23. MARY ANN HASE POLLY7 MAGGS (JAMES6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)99 was born 05 Jul 1881 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia99, and died 09 Nov 196199. She married THOMAS CAREY LAWFORD99 1906 in , Victoria, Australia99. He was born 1883 in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia99. More About MARY ANN HASE POLLY MAGGS: Burial: Box Hill, Victoria, Australia99 Record Change: 18 Feb 200199 More About THOMAS CAREY LAWFORD: Record Change: 18 Feb 200199 Children of MARY MAGGS and THOMAS LAWFORD are: i. LINDA ISOBEL8 LAWFORD99, b. 14 May 190799; d. 08 Mar 199699. More About LINDA ISOBEL LAWFORD: Record Change: 26 Feb 199999 ii. MELBA LAWFORD99, b. 08 May 190899; d. 199599. More About MELBA LAWFORD: Record Change: 26 Feb 199999 iii. OLIVE LAWFORD99, b. 30 Apr 190999; d. 24 Mar 198799; m. ERIC BLANCHFLOWER99. More About OLIVE LAWFORD: Record Change: 26 Feb 199999 Generation No. 4 24. GEORGE ALBERT8 MAGGS (GEORGE7, SAMUEL6, JAMES5, JOSEPH4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, SAMUEL1)99 was born 17 Jul 1902 in Ringwood, Victoria, Australia99, and died 1974 in Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia99. He married THELMA LILIAN SMITH99 17 Oct 1923 in , Australia99. She was born Abt. 1906 in of, Victoria, Australia99, and died 1974 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia99. More About GEORGE ALBERT MAGGS: Record Change: 21 Jan 200299 More About THELMA LILIAN SMITH: Record Change: 22 Jul 200299 Child of GEORGE MAGGS and THELMA SMITH is: i. SYLVIA GRACE9 MAGGS99, b. 1925, of, Victoria, Australia99; d. 22 May 200299; m. JAMES RALPH MCKENNA MAGGS99, Abt. 194299; b. 17 Nov 1921, , Victoria, Australia99; d. 18 Aug 1973, Ashwood, Victoria, Australia99. More About SYLVIA GRACE MAGGS: Record Change: 24 Mar 200399 More About JAMES RALPH MCKENNA MAGGS: Burial: 22 Aug 1973, Templestowe, Victoria, Australia99 Record Change: 18 Feb 200199 This is the parent record for the archives collection of the Maggs family in the Ringwood area. -
Unions Ballarat
General incoming correspondence of the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council, 1884-1923; 1925; 1931; 1937; 1938; 1949-1950; 1952-1955
Paper/letters stored in two boxes. Arranged in separate folders by year. The lists below are alphabetical. Located by year and number. 1884 - J.W. Graham, Secretary 18. Amalgamated Mining Engine Drivers' Association - regarding appointing a delegate to Council. 12 December 1884. 14. Bendigo Amalgamated Miners' Association, Mr Phillips, Secretary - regarding formation of a Bendigo Trades and Labor Council. 22 July 1884. 1. B? Secretary for Lands, Victoria - regarding deputation from Council to him. 8 January 1884. 15. A.R. Davie - regarding half holiday Union appointing delegates to Council. 77 July 1884. 8. D.M. Davies - regarding deputation to Minister for Lands, Victoria. 11 January 1884. 7. J.L. Dowe - regarding deputation to Minister for Lands, Victoria. 11 January 1884. 6. F.R. Fincham - regarding deputation to Minister for Lands, Victoria. 11 January 1884. 16. J.W. Grahame - regarding leave of absence. 10 October 1884. 17. W. Hosking - regarding alteration of rule 14. n.d. 2. J. Kline - regarding apologies for absence from Council meeting. 10 January 1884. A copy of a letter to The Courier is attached. 4. Painters' Union (Geoff Ludbrook) - regarding assisting at Eight Hour Anniversary. 11 January 1884. 13. J. Pearce - regarding apologies for absence from Council. 11 July 1884. 12. G. Rasy? - regarding apologies for absence from Council. 9 May 1884. 3. J.R. Richardson - regarding presence on deputation to Minister for Lands. 10 January 1884. 10. R.D. Reid - regarding apologies for absence from Council. 11 January 1884. 9. A. Sutherland - regarding presence on deputation to Minister for Lands. 10 January 1884. 11. Specifications for stamping marbles for Council. n.d. 5. A. Young - deputation to Minister for Lands. 10 January 1884. 1885 - J.L. Anderson, Secretary 8. Amalgamated Mining Engine Drivers' Association - regarding delegates to Council. 8 May 1885. 11. J. Anderson (Secretary of Council) to H. Uren MLA - regarding amalgamation of the Council with the City Free Library. 10 August 1885. 24. Ballarat Cricket Club - regarding using the oval for Eight Hour Anniversary. 9 December 1885. 7. Ballarat Woollen Mills Operative Union - regarding giving name of Union, list of Union members. 8 May 1885. 4. Ballarat Typographical Association - regarding printing of Council material. 8 May 1885. 2. J. Binner - regarding prizes given at Eight Hour Anniversary. 26 April 1885. 19. Cabmens Union, Ballarat - regarding delegate to Council. 8 October 1885. 12. Carpenters and Joiners Trade Society - regarding delegate to Council. 7 September 1885. 23. Carpenters and Joiners Trade Society - forwarding a copy of rules. 8 December 1885. 14. H. Clotz, et al - regarding Friday half holiday for hairdressers. 10 September 1885. 1. Eight Hours Anniversary Programme. 21 April 1885. 15. Friendly Society of Ironmoulders of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - new Secretary of same. 11 September 1885. 17. Friendly Society of Ironmoulders of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegate to Council. 7 October 1885. 21. Friendly Society of Ironmoulders of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegate to Council. 22 November 1885. 5. E. Ingram - regarding losses incurred at Eight Hour Anniversary. 8 May 1885. 20. L. Mills - regarding apologies for absence. 9 October 1885. 3. Painters' Union - regarding delegates to Council. 4 May 1885. 18. Painters' Union - regarding delegates to Council. 8 October 1885. 25. J. Pearce - regarding apologies for absence. 11 December 1885. 26. C. Salter - regarding donations to Eight Hours Anniversary. 14 December 1885. 6. A. Smith - regarding apologies for absence. 8 May 1885. 9. E.H. Swifte - regarding amalgamation of Council with Free City Library. 13 July 1885. 10. E.H. Swifte - regarding amalgamation of Council with Free City Library. 7 August 1885. 13. Tanners and Curriers of Ballarat - regarding forming a branch of the Union in Ballarat. 8 September 1885. 16. Trades and Labor Council, Brisbane - regarding formation of same. 8 November 1885. 7. J. Treloar - regarding apologies for absence. 8 May 1885. 1886 - J.L. Anderson, Secretary 7. Amalgamated Miners' Association of Australasia - regarding Delegates to Council. 8 May 1886. 3. Amalgamated Mining Engine Drivers Association, Ballarat Branch - regarding Delegates to Council. 7 May 1886. 5. Amalgamated Society of Engineers - regarding Delegates to Council. 11 May 1886. 1. Half Holiday Union, Ballarat - regarding Delegates to Council. 7 May 1886. 6. Operative Bakers' Society - regarding Delegates to Council. 11 May 1886. 4. Painters' Union - regarding Delegates to Council. 11 May 1886. 2. Victorian Operative Bootmakers Union, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegates to Council. 12 May 1886. 8. Ballarat United Friendly Societies' Dispensary - accepting an offer of a deputation to special meeting of General Committee. 1887 - T. Bayley, Secretary Nil. 1888 - T.S. Bayley, Secretary 24. Amalgamated Miners' Association of Australasia - regarding meeting to hear Dr Siscs on the Worn out Miners Sustentation Fund. 6 December 1888. 7. Australian Natives' Association, Ballarat Branch - regarding alienation of portion of public park. 21 June 1888. 19. Ballarat Trades and Labour Council (to various unions) - regarding support of direct labor representation in Parliament from Ballarat West. 20 October 1888. 11. Ballarat Typographical Society - regarding room for meeting. 6 July 1888. 22. A. Callaway (Chief Secretary for A. Deakin) - regarding names submitted for Commission of the Peace. 19 November 1888. 9. Eight Hours' Anniversary Committee - regarding money for tickets sold. 27 June 1888. 15. W.F. Emery - regarding apologies for absence. 14 September 1888. 6. Gillies (for the Victorian Premier) - regarding Chinese immigrants. 8 May 1888. 1. Grocers Association of Geelong - regarding joining Council. 14 April 1888. 5. Half Holiday Union - regarding delegates to Council. 3 May 1888. 18. Intercolonial Trades and Labor Union Congress, 6th, Hobart, 5-8 February 1888 (Hugh Kirk, Secretary of Hobart Trades and Labor Council) - regarding printed invitations to the Congress. 27 October 1888. 13. Ironworkers Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegates to Council. 8 August 1888. 14. Ironworkers Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegates to Council. 4 September 1888. 23. Ironworkers Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegates to Council. 14 December 1888. 8. H. Jones - regarding Major Dane's lectures. 25 June 1888. 2. Locomotive Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association - regarding delegates to Council. 17 April 1888. 17. A. McKenzie - regarding apologies for absence. n.d. 3. V.M. Pearson - regarding organisation of a trades union in Colac. 14 April 1888. 10. John Shiels - regarding overdraft of Council. 6 July 1888. 21. Tanners and Curriers Union, Ballarat Branch - regarding delegates to Council. 12 November 1888. 20. Trades Hall Council, Geelong - thanking for assistance from Council. 11 November 1888. 4. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. (David Bennett, Secretary) - regarding new regulations by-laws and standing orders. 17 April 1888. 16. Victorian Operative Bricklayers Society - regarding end of dispute. 14 September 1888. 12. John Wilson - regarding Report of Committee on opening of the new Trades Hall. 13 July 1888. 1889 - J. Wilson, Secretary 8. Ballarat Woollen and Worsted Company - regarding support of products by working class. 2 November 1889. 9. Butchers Employees' Association - regarding delegate to Council. 2 December 1889. 1A. Copy of an award of the arbitration in the dispute between Messrs Whitten and Cairns and the Ballarat Bootmakers' Union. 14 February 1889. 10. Half Holiday Union - regarding delegate to Council. 3 December 1889. 1-6. Ironworkers Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding Phoenix Foundry dispute. 20 March 1889-29 March 1889. 11. Painters' Union - regarding formation of a non-union society. 4 December 1889. 13. Painters' Union - regarding formation of a non-union society. 6 December 1889. 12. Messers Stansfield, Bush and Shepphard, Decorators - accuses Painters' Union of instigating a strike. 5 December 1889. 7. Working Men's College and Trades Hall Council, Melbourne - regarding memorial to the late Hon. Francis Ormond. n.d. 1890 - J. Wilson, Secretary 81. James Alexander - regarding request for financial assistance. 30 October 1890. 21. Amalgamated Millers, Engine Drivers and Mill Employees' Association of Australasia - regarding supplying list of firms employing union labour. 4 June 1890. 2. Amalgamated Miners of Australasia (W.C. Spence, Secretary) - thanking Council for their supportive letter. March 1890. 52. Amalgamated Miners of Australasia, Ballarat Branch - regarding suggestion to canvass Ballarat district for funds for strikers. 88. Amalgamated Miners of Australasia (W.G. Spence) - regarding donation from residents of Clementston for Ballarat men out of work and not receiving funds from Council. 15. Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Ballarat Branch - regarding supplying list of shops employing Union labour. 28 April 1890. 44. Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Ballarat Branch - regarding giving numbers of men out of work. 30 September 1890. 69. Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Ballarat Branch - regarding approving members of their union being placed on the relief list. 23 October 1890. 70. T. Bailey - regarding apology for being unable to canvas for strike fund. 23 October 1990. 102. Balance sheet of strike fund of the Council and bundle of receipts. 18. Ballarat Plumbers' Union - regarding supplying a list of firms employing union labour. 6 June 1890. 16. Ballarat Saddle Harness and Collar Makers' Society - regarding supplying a list of firms employing union labour. 5 May 1890. 42. Ballarat Tailoresses' Union - regarding donation to strike fund. 25 September 1890. 45. Ballarat Town Council Employees - regarding donation to strike fund. n.d. 12. Ballarat Typographical Society - regarding supplying name of Secretary and list of firms employing union labour. 19 April 1990. 5. Ballarat Woollen Mills Operative's Union - regarding seeking advice on how to get men to join the union. 22 April 1890. 26B. E. Batterly - regarding apology for being unable to come to mass meeting about strike. 11 September 1890. 46. E. Blayney (hotel owner) - regarding donation to strike fund. n.d. 56. G. Blyman - regarding donation to strike fund. 8 October 1890. 55. J. Brady - regarding donation to strike fund. 6 October 1890. 76. J. Braidie et al - querying reason for getting no strike pay. 27 October 1890. 22. M. Bregazzi - regarding donation to strike fund. 2 September 1890. 34. M. Bregazzi - regarding donation to strike fund. 12 September 1980. 40. M. Bregazzi - regarding donation to strike fund. 23 September 1890. 72. M. Bregazzi - regarding donation to strike fund. 24 October 1890. 57. J. Clement - regarding donations from residents of Clementston for use in Ballarat. 9 October 1890. 3A. D.M. Davies (Minister of Mines, Victoria) - regarding cannot come to mass meeting in Ballarat (telegram). 12 September 1890. 53. W Davies et al - regarding seeking financial from Council though not members of a union. 6 October 1890. 59. W. Davies - objecting to refusal of financial assistance. 10 October 1890. 94. Hugh Dunlop - regarding request for financial assistance. 28 November 1890. 32. John Dunn - regarding apologies for unable to attend mass meeting. 12 September 1890. 60. John Dunn - regarding donation to strike fund. 11 October 1890. 71. W. Evans - regarding resignation as Treasurer and member from strike committee. 24 October 1890. 48. Fitzgerald Bros (Drapers) - regarding donation to strike fund. 1 October 1890. 63. Friendly Society of Ironmoulders of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - recommending financial assistance for a member of their Union. 13 October 1890. 29. J. Hancock - regarding being able to attend mass meeting (telegram). 12 September 1890. 74. Horse Drivers' Union, Ballarat - regarding request for financial help for a union member. 25 October 1890. 64. W. Howat - regarding letting of Academy of Music Ballarat for a meeting. 14 October 1890. 50. Hughes and Opie (Drapers) - donation to strike fund. 3 October 1890. 66. J. Hurst (Bucks Head Hotel owner) - regarding donation to strike fund. 18 October 1890. 25. Iron Founders' Society - regarding a request for financial assistance for out of work members. 9 September 1890. 87. Iron Founders' Trade Union, Ballarat - regarding request for financial help for out of work members. 23 September 1890. 39. Ironworkers' Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch (Mr Sheldon, Secretary) - regarding request for financial help for out of work members. 23 September 1890. 79. Ironworkers' Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch (Mr Sheldon, Secretary) -regarding request for financial help. 30 October 1890. 84. Ironworkers' Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch (Mr Sheldon, Secretary) - regarding eligibility of a member to be placed on the strike relief list. 6 November 1890. 89. Ironworkers' Assistants' Society of Victoria, Ballarat Branch (Mr Sheldon, Secretary) -regarding payment to Council of levies on working members for strike fund. 20 November 1890. 98. W. Kean (tobacconist) - regarding suggesting a concert to be held to help the strike relief fund and his offer to help. n.d. 61. W. Kenna (Warrenheip Breweries) - regarding donation to strike fund. 13 October 1890. 38. Joseph Kirtin (Auctioneer) - regarding donation to strike fund. 22 September 1890. 17. Labourers' Protective and Building Society - regarding names of contractors who employ union men. 12 May 1890. 62. D. Lessels - regarding recommendation of J. David for relief. 13 October 1890. 65. List of machinists out of work at the Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat. 14 October 1890. 78. John Lynch - regarding request for financial help. 27 October 1890. 85. John McAuly - regarding dispute settled at Horsham. 10 November 1980. 9. Jas Martin - regarding list of shops employing union men. 14 April 1890. 49. Jas Martin - regarding declaration of being out of work and needing financial help. 2 October 1890. 10. Masons' Society - regarding name of Secretary and list of shops employing union men. 15 April 1890. 58. Master Tailors' Association, Ballarat - regarding donation to strike fund. 10 October 1890. 90. W. Meher - regarding expression of thanks for money given. 24 November 1890. 27. W.E. Murphy - regarding able to come to mass meeting (telegram). 11 September 1890. 30. W.E. Murphy - regarding missed the train (telegram). 12 September 1890. 77. W.E. Murphy - regarding arranging a meeting (telegram). 27 October 1890. 83. W.E. Murphy - regarding thanks for money given. 31 October 1890. 3. Officers of the Ballarat Gas Company - regarding non-union bricklayer working for same. 8 March 1890. 19. Operative Bakers' Society - regarding list of employers using union labour. n.d. 20. Painters' Union - list of shops employing union men. n.d. 23. Painters' Union - regarding suggestion to call a meeting in support of Melbourne strikers. 6 September 1890. 24. Painters' Union - regarding donation to maritime strike, Melbourne. 6 September 1890. 51. Painters' Union - regarding donation to maritime strike, Melbourne. 5 October 1890. 86. G. Philbrook - regarding request for financial assistance. 18 November 1890. 97. G. Philbrook - regarding request for financial assistance. 22 December 1980. 82. T. Porter - regarding apology for absence. n.d. 35. Resolutions (passed at meeting) and list of movers and seconders. 12 September 1890. 41. Saddle, Harness and Collar Makers Society, Ballarat - regarding donation to strike fund. 25 September 1890. 4. Sandhurst and District Trades and Labour Council - regarding thanks for helping them obtain a building for use of their Council. 10 March 1890. 36. John Sayers (hotel owner) - regarding donation to strike fund. 17 September 1890. 93. (?), Sheldon - regarding receipt for money received from emergency fund. 28 November 1890. 26. W. Smith - regarding thanks for invitation to mass meeting (telegram). 10 September 1890. 99. T. (?) Stephen - financial help for members of his union. n.d. 100. Subscription list in aid of the strikers for Unionism by the shareholders and 'employees' of the Jubilee Mine, Long Gully, Black Ball, Scarsdale. n.d. 6. Tanners and Curriers, Ballarat Branch - regarding list of employers using union labour. 3 April 1890. 101. D. Temple (Secretary, Amalgamated Shearers' Union) - regarding request for copy of newspapers publishing correspondence between sheep owners and the Union. n.d. 37. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. Committee of finance and control - regarding thanks to Ballarat Council for efforts to assist the cause of Labour. 18 September 1890. 43. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. Committee of finance and control - regarding advice to Ballarat Council to distribute its own funds and applications for financial help. 29 September 1890. 67. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. Committee of finance and control - regarding seeking continued financial aid from Council. 21 October 1890. 91. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. (Secretary, D. Bennett) - regarding thanks to Ballarat Council for donation. 24 November 1890. 92. Trades Hall Council Melbourne, Committee of finance and control - regarding acknowledging receipt of money from Ballarat Council. 27 November 1890. 95. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. (Secretary, D. Bennett) - regarding thanks to Ballarat Council for donation. 2 December 1890. 96. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. (Secretary, D. Bennett) - regarding thanks to Ballarat Council for donation and explaining why amounts received to not appear in the "Age". 20 December 1890. 68. W. Treloar - regarding public meeting at Buninyong. 21 October 1890. 11. United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding list of shops employing union men. 10 April 1890. 26c. W.H. Uren (MLA) - regarding inability to come to mass meeting (telegram). 11 September 1890. 75. United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of Victoria, Ballarat Branch - regarding request for funds for out of work members as own funds exhausted. 27 October 1890. 8. Victorian Operative Bootmakers' Union, Ballarat Branch - regarding giving name of union, list of shops using union men. 10 April 1890. 13. Victorian Operative Bricklayers' Society, Ballarat Branch - giving list of shops using union men. 24 April 1890. 14. Victorian Operative Bricklayers' Society, Ballarat Branch - giving name of Secretary. 24 April 1890. 33. N. Wanliss (Solicitor, Ballarat) - regarding donation to strike fund. 12 September 1890. 1. A.C. Whitten - regarding reply to charges of working a percentage system in his boot factory and men taking work home. 17 January 1890. 26a. A. Young (MLA) - regarding inability to attend mass meeting. 11 September 1890. 1891 - J. Wilson, Secretary 2. W.L. Anderson (Secretary, Ironmoulders Society) to W. Stokeld (Secretary, Ballarat Branch of Ironmoulders Society) - regarding conference with employers about wages and recognised public holidays. 18 May 1891. 3. W.L. Anderson (Secretary, Ironmoulders Society) to W. Stokeld (Secretary, Ballarat Branch of Ironmoulders Society) - regarding conference with employers about wages, striking and donation to shearers. 20 June 1890. 1. F. Meagher and E. Hobson - regarding The Industrial Labor League (newspaper cutting from the Ballarat Courier). 21 April 1891. 6. J. Verty - regarding asking J. Wilson (Secretary, Ballarat Trades and Labour Council) to come and speak at Allendale. 3 October 1891. 4. Victoria Reform League - regarding forwarding manifesto for Council's consideration. 21 September 1891. 5. P. (?) Wallis - regarding asking J. Wilson to come and speak at public meeting. Enclosed circular (not there). 21 September 1891. 7. J. Wilson - circular to Ironmoulders Society regarding money for Congress (7th Intercolonial) and refers to the Draft Scheme of Federation. n.d. 8. J. Wilson - circular to Ironmoulders Society regarding Eight Hour demonstration. n.d. 1892 – J. Wilson, Secretary Nil. 1893 - John Wilson, Secretary 9. W. Bannow - regarding seeking information about the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council constitution and affiliated unions. 11 April 1893. 1. Bendigo Miners' Association - regarding unemployment in Bendigo. 16 January 1893. 10. Bendigo and District Trades and Labour Council - suggesting a resolution to call Parliament together regarding unemployment and use of credit notes as legal tender. 16 May 1893. 3. Builders Labourers' Union - regarding stopping their meetings in the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council. 1 February 1893. 17.W.S. Curzon-Siggers - regarding Ballarat Relief Society Fund closed. 8 September 1893. 12. Doctor's certificate. 5 March 1893. 11. Henry Douglass - regarding difficulties of the Woollen Mills Union. 5 July 1893. 13. Federated Seamen's Union of Victoria - regarding visits to Ballarat, Creswick asking for financial help. 28 July 1893. 18. E. Hobson - regarding electoral support for H. Porter (Progressive Political League). n.d. 2. W.J. Lormer and S. Mauger - regarding inaugural meeting of the Protection Liberal and Federation Alliance. 30 January 1893. 6. Operative Bakers' Society, Ballarat - regarding non-union workers. 24 March 1893. 19. Operative Bootmakers' Union, Ballarat Branch - regarding employment of non-union foreman. 14 December 1893. 4. Painters' Union, Ballarat district - regarding its organisation. n.d. (missing) 5. Painters' Union, Ballarat district - regarding village settlements in Ballarat district. n.d. 14. Railway Department - regarding employment on lines. 4 August 1893. 15. Railway Department - regarding Ballarat men employed on railways. 16 August 1893. 8. John Wilson - regarding notice of motion to withdraw certificate of registration of the organisation from the Register. 8 April 1893. 16. John Wilson - regarding weavers’ strike and seeking donations from the Ironmoulders’ union. 22 August 1893. 7. Women's Christian Temperance Union of Victoria - regarding liquor consumption. 5 April 1893. 1894 - John Wilson, Secretary until his death in April 5. W. Anderson - regarding meeting about Parliament assembling. 26 February 1894. 8. H.J. Armytage - regarding meeting about Parliament assembling. 27 February 1894. 21. Balance sheet of the Council. 16 July 1894. 17. J. Barret, Secretary of Melbourne Trades Hall Council - regarding death of J. Wilson. 4 May 1894. 20. Joseph Barret (not the above) - regarding Chinese furniture. 11 August 1894. 31. Bendigo and District Cooperative Movement Society - regarding cooperative movement. 2 February 1894. 9. D.M. Davies – meeting regarding Parliament assembling. 27 February 1894. 15. John Dunn – meeting regarding Parliament assembling. 1 March 1894. 14. John Dunn – cannot come to meeting. n.d. 6. J.W. Kirton – meeting regarding Parliament assembling. 26 February 1894. 12. E. Murphy – meeting regarding Parliament assembling. 1 March 1894. 18. Operative Bootmakers’ Union, Ballarat Branch – regarding evening work. 28 June 1894. 16. To J.B. Patterson, Premier of Victoria, from Council – regarding resolutions passed at meeting about unemployment. 5 March 1894. 7. A.J. Peacock – meeting regarding Parliament assembling. 26 February 1894. 10. A.J. Peacock – telegram to advise non-attendance. 5 March 1894. 13. T. Porter – meeting regarding Parliament assembling. 5 March 1894. 1. Trades and Labor Council of Otago – regarding unionism in New Zealand. 23 January 1894. 19. United Labor and Liberal Party - regarding request for donations. 16 July 1894. 4. A.T. Vale - regarding meeting about Parliament assembling. 26 February 1894. 38. John Wilson - regarding request to Ironmoulders for donation to Eight Hour Sports Fund. 6 February 1894. 11. Alex Young - regarding meeting about Parliament assembling. 1 March 1894. 1895 – W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 1. J. Barret (Secretary of Melbourne Trades and Labor Council) - regarding pensioners working. 15 February 1895. 2. EP Date - regarding university extension lectures. 9 June 1895. 3. Agreement (unsigned) between the Trustees of the Ironmoulders' Society and the members thereof. n.d. 1896 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 10. Amalgamated Miners' Association - regarding dispute between BHP and miners. 9 October 1896. 4. Amalgamated Miners' Association, district - regarding aid for miners. 4 May 1896. 12. Ballarat Typographical Society - regarding request for Council to meet on Saturdays. 13 November 1896. 2. J. Barrett - regarding press for a Bill for Conciliation and Compulsory Arbitration. 22 July 1896. 7. J. Barrett - regarding cooperation, Labor-Liberal Party arbitration. 22 July 1896. 9. J. Barrett - regarding Employers' Law Liability Amendment Act. 26 August 1896. 9A. Bendigo Trades and Labor Council (A. Campbell, Secretary) - regarding opening of Hall. 31 August 1896. 11. Bendigo Trades and Labor Council (A. Campbell, Secretary) - Employers' Liability Amendment Act. 9 November 1896. 14. F.H. Bromly - regarding raising finance for W.A. Trenwith, M.P. n.d. 1. M. Campbell - regarding support for the People's Party. 5 February 1896. 3. H.M. Champion - regarding May Day Demonstration. March 1896. 6. Cigar Makers' Union - regarding employing non-union labor. 1 June 1896. 5. L. Corstorphan (Secretary, Woollen Mills' Union) - regarding new name of Union (Ballarat Operative Weavers' Union). 23 May 1896. 13. R. Surtees - impressions of W.A. 9 November 1896. 12. T. Young (Secretary, Ballarat Typographical Society) - regarding BHP and miners' dispute. 13 November 1896. 1897 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 1. S. Barker - regarding leaflet about International Labor Day. 2 May 1897. 4. J. Barrett - regarding Ben Tillet's visit to Victoria. 23 August 1897. 5. J. Barrett - regarding Ben Tillet's visit to Victoria. 23 August 1897. 6. J. Barrett - regarding subscription for Ben Tillet's visit. n.d. 2. Bendigo District Trades and Labor Council (H. Hanton, Secretary) - regarding corn and flour duties. 7 June 1897. 3. C. Harris - regarding Eight Hours' monies. 21 July 1897. 7. J.P. Jones - regarding finance for Tocsin. 30 August 1897. 1898 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 11. Adelaide Labor Conference 1898 - invitation. 8 August 1898. 1. J. Barrett - regarding conference of Labor bodies. 7 March 1898. 10. J. Barrett - private to Hurdsfield regarding resolutions of Melbourne Trades and Labor Council. 19 September 1898. 13. T. McCoates - regarding Ballarat Benevolent Asylum and Lying in Hospital and Ben Tillet. 22 November 1898. 3. Findley, E. - regarding finance of "Tocsin". 27 March 1898. 4. Findley, E. - regarding finance of "Tocsin". 24 March 1898. 2. P.J. Mullaney - regarding May Day, 1898. 27 March 1898. 6. A.C. Nichols - regarding Rating Reform League. 30 July 1898. 7. A.C. Nichols - regarding printed invitation to a public meeting to support R.R.L. 30 July 1898. 8. A.C. Nichols - printed leaflet from Single Tax League, Victoria. 8 July 1898. 8 July 1898. 9. A.C. Nichols - printed leaflet from Rating Reform League. n.d. 5. James Oldham - regarding portrait of James Stephens. 22 September 1898. 12. Wanliss and Gray (Solicitors) - regarding agreement. 22 September 1898. 1899 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 3. S. Barker and Dr Wm Moloney - regarding May Day, 1899. n.d. 8. J. Barrett - regarding Eight-Hours Bill. 29 August 1899. 9. J. Barrett - regarding draft scheme for Intercolonial Labor Federation. 30 May 1899. 7. T. Campbell - regarding resignation.18 August 1899. 6. Denmark - regarding printed material on lock out in Denmark; appeal for help. 2 May 1899. 1. H. Hanton - regarding People's Party, Bendigo. 13 February 1899. 2. H. Hanton - regarding People's Party, Bendigo. 16 February 1899. 5. M. Hirsch - regarding Committee of the Convention on unemployment. 25 April 1899. 4. J.B. Meier - regarding Victorian Tobacco Operatives Association and unemployment. 18 May 1899. 1900 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 9. Amalgamated Engine Drivers' Association, Bendigo Branch - regarding boycotting and dismissal of union men. 2 March 1900. 25. Amalgamated Miners' Association of Victoria, head office - regarding printed report of executive council meeting regarding Chiltern dispute. 25 September 1900. 26. Amalgamated Miners' Association of Victoria, head office - regarding covering letter for "25" (above). 15. Anti-Sweating League of Victoria - regarding list of office bearers. 26 July 1900. 1. John Barrett - regarding support for candidates of the United Labor Party. 17 January 1900. 2. John Barrett - regarding Australasian Labor Federation. 28 February 1900. 8. John Barrett - regarding fund for the family of late John Hancock, MLA. 13 February 1900. 19. John Barrett - regarding contesting seats in the coming State election and possibly in a Federal election. 18 July 1900. 21. Bootmakers' Union, Ballarat - regarding inspectors not using factories regarding infringements of Act. 31 July 1900. 17. J. Cairns - regarding late shopping. 3 July 1900. 10. Coach Makers Society - regarding branch of Union formed in Ballarat. 16 June 1900. 11. Coach Makers Society - regarding petition about wages. n.d. 12-13. Coach Makers Society - regarding petition about wages. 7 July 1900. (one document) 14. Coach Makers Society - regarding petition about wages. 17 July 1900. 22. J. Hume Cook, MLA - regarding old age pensions. 15 August 1900. 23. J. Hume Cook, MLA - regarding Herald newspaper cutting written by Cook on old age pensions. 13 August 1900. 18. J. Lemmon - regarding Woollen Mills Operatives' Union. 11 July 1900. 16. Master Butchers' Association, Ballarat and District - regarding printed notice regarding hours of business. 14 June 1900. 3-4. Melbourne Typographical Society - regarding subscriptions for the late J. Hancock's family. 15 January 1900. (one document) 20. O. Rees - regarding women's franchise. 19 July 1900. 24. United Council for Women's suffrage - women's franchise. 24 August 1900. 6. Victorian Amalgamated Butchers' Union - regarding photograph of John Hancock and about Mr Williams not being a delegate of the Union. 2 June 1900. 7. Victorian Amalgamated Butchers' Union - regarding photograph of John Hancock. 1 July 1900. 5. Tom Williams - regarding photograph of John Hancock. 5 May 1900. 1901 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 1. Ballarat Operative Bootmakers' Union - regarding resignation of Secretary, J. Eva. 2 April 1901. 2. Receipts, hiring agreement for a light generator. 2 August 1901. 1902 – W. Hurtsfield, Secretary Nil 1903 - W. Hurdsfield, Secretary 2. Amalgamated Miners' Association, Creswick Branch - regarding visit of Tom Mann to Creswick and Allendale. 8 May 1903. 3. Amalgamated Miners' Association, Creswick Branch - regarding visit of Tom Mann (telegram). 8 May 1903. 18. Ballarat Trades and Labour Council - Christmas card. 1903-1904. 11. Bendigo Trades and Labor Council - regarding request for Council's rules and standing orders. 24 October 1903. 1A. Andrew Christie - regarding visit of Tom Mann to Berringa. 5 April 1903. 9. Alfred Deakin - regarding thanks to Council for support. 28 September 1903. 12. Alfred Deakin - regarding meeting Council to discuss Arbitration Bill. 27 October 1903. 6. Eight Hour Demonstration Committee - regarding invitation to H. Brooks. 21 October 1903. 1B. Eight Hours Monument Fund - regarding unveiling of the monument. 3 April 1903. 14-16. Andrew Gray - regarding cooperative venture in mining coal at Outtrim. 9 November 1903. 10. Political Labour League (J. Eva, Secretary) - regarding deputation to Prime Minister for early introduction of an Arbitration and Conciliation Bill. 23 October 1903. 17. Protectionist Association of Victoria (S. Mauger, Secretary) - regarding distribution of their literature. 7 December 1903. 4. W.H. Rees - regarding visit of Tom Mann to Maryborough. 7 May 1903. 5C. Soldiers' Statue Fund, Ballarat - regarding meeting of Committee. 18 August 1903. 7. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne (Stephen Barker, Secretary) - regarding protesting dropping of Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. 16 September 1903. 8. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne (Stephen Barker, Secretary) - regarding petition regarding State Reform Bill. 19 September 1903. 5A. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne (Stephen Barker, Secretary) - regarding position occupied during late railway strike. ca 1 June 1903. 5B. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne (Stephen Barker, Secretary) - regarding petition about Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. 2 June 1903. 5D. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne (Stephen Barker, Secretary) - regarding helping Tinsmiths' Union. 7 July 1903. 13. Frank Tudor - regarding why there was a delay in answering a letter from the Council. 2 November 1903. 1904 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 4. Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Ballarat Branch - regarding iron trade and tariffs. 1 July 1904. 9-9A. P. Brandt - regarding Brandt's system of absolute majority vote. 30 July 1904. 12. Alfred Deakin - regarding details of imports and exports of iron and steel. 20 August 1904. 13, 13A, 13B. Alfred Deakin - regarding Arbitration Bill. 17 August 1904. 6. Eight Hours Celebration Union, Adelaide - invitation. July 1904. 14. Eureka Stockade Celebration - regarding celebration of the fiftieth anniversary. 1 September 1904. 11. Operative Bootmakers' Union - regarding delegates to Council. 12 August 1904. 7. Political Labor League - regarding raising funds for striking miners at Outtrim. 25 July 1904. 8. Political Labor League - regarding raising funds for striking miners at Outtrim. 29 July 1904. 15. Australian Workers Union - regarding raising funds for striking miners at Outtrim. n.d. 19. Preferential Trade with Great Britain - invitation to public meeting. 17 November 1904. 5. Robert Rogers (Secretary to the Premier of Victoria) - regarding acknowledgement of receiving letter. 22 July 1904. 21. Tom Mann Organisation Fund - printed balance sheet. 9 August 1904. 2. Edward Meagher - regarding high wages and their exploitation (printed pamphlet). 31 May 1904. 3. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne - regarding conference. 24 June 1904. 16. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne - regarding resolution submitted for consideration. 14 October 1904. 18. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne - regarding interstate Eight Hours Day. November 1904. 20, 20A. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne - regarding federal tariffs. 1904. 17. Victorian Agricultural Implement and Machine Makers' Society - regarding Sunshine Harvesting Works. 29 October 1904. 1. R. Williams (Town Clerk, Ballarat) - regarding Galloway monument as a drinking fountain. 28 April 1904. 1905 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 4. S.M. Bull - regarding gold saving machine. 3 August 1905. 1. Eight Hours Anniversary Union, Brisbane - regarding sympathy with fellow artisans in Russia. 26 January 1905. 10. Federal Labor Party - regarding Workers Trade Mark (union label). 18 December 1905. 2. National Progress Newspaper Society Ltd - establishment of new daily paper in Melbourne. 10 February 1905. 3. Secretary for Lands - regarding excising of part of common lands by Golf Club. 15 June 1905. 5. Secretary for Mines - regarding providing work for unemployed miners. 7 August 1905. 6. Secretary for Mines - regarding providing work for unemployed miners. 9 August 1905. 7. Secretary for Mines - regarding providing work for unemployed miners. 21 August 1905. 8. Trades Hall Council - regarding sweating in the tailoring trade. 16 August 1905. 9. Chas Vaughan and Co. - regarding whether trustees will comply with their request. 30 November 1905. 1906 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 1. Castlemaine Hibernian Sports Programme. 26 December 1906. 1907 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 1. Church of Christ - regarding renting the Council Hall. 7 August 1907. 2. R. McGregor - regarding interview with the Chief Secretary. 19 December 1907. 3. Timber Workers Relief Fund - regarding acknowledgement of donation. 21 May 1907. 1908 - W. Hurtsfield, Secretary 1. Federated Saw Mill, Timber Yard and General Woodworkers Employees' Association - regarding delegates to Council. 4 August 1908. 1909 – W. Hurtsfield, Secretary Nil. 1910 – W. Hurtsfield, Secretary Nil. 1911 – W. Keane, Secretary Nil. 1912 – W. Keane, Secretary Nil. 1913 – W. Keane, Secretary Nil. 1914 – W. Keane, Secretary Nil. 1915 – W. Keane, Secretary Nil. 1916 – W. Keane, Secretary 1. Interstate Trades Union Congress - regarding report of proceedings. 15-18 May 1916. 2. Resolutions of executive meeting. January 1916. 3. Australian Builders Laborers Federation, Victorian Branch - regarding establishing a Labor Daily for Victoria. 15 November 1916. 1917 - W.J. Kean, Secretary 1. Australian Boot Trade Employees' Association - regarding delegates to Council. 25 January 1917. 2. Ballarat Typographical Society - regarding delegates to Council. 22 January 1917. 3. W. Kean - to editor of The Courier regarding employees of Lucus and Co. not being allowed to join a union. 14 July 1917. 4. Newspaper cuttings from The Courier - Kean v. "contented" on class (n.d.); Kean v. Price Lucus and Co (see 3, above). 16 July 1917. 5. United Grocers, Tea and Dairy Produce Employees' Union - regarding applying for permission to hold annual conference of Victorian Branch at the Trades Hall. 24 January 1917. 6. Victorian Railways Union - circular regarding the strike ballot (printed). 14 March 1917. 7. From W. Kean to Mr. R. Rose - regarding W. Hughes' attempt at political party organisation in Ballarat. 12 March 1917. 1918 - W.J. Kean, Secretary 3. Agreement regarding Ballarat Trades and Labour Council building. 26 October 1918. 2. Citizens' Loyalist Committee - regarding meetings and fact the committee is not affiliated with any political party. 25 April 1918. 1. Newspaper cutting from Ballarat Courier - regarding Loyalist Meeting at Alfred Hall. 4 April 1918. 1919 - W. Kean, Secretary 1. E.J. Hogan, State Parliament House to W. Kean - regarding work at Ballarat North workshops. 10 January 1919. 1920 – W. Keane, Secretary Nil. 1921 – W. Keane, Secretary 1. Federated Moulders' (Metals) Union of Australia - regarding Report of the Federal Council Conference (printed). 17 January 1921. 2. Ironmoulders' Board - determination (printed). 6 April 1921. 1922 - W.J. McAdam, Secretary 1. Trades Hall Council, Melbourne. (E.J. Holloway, Secretary) - regarding report of Eight Hours Committee of Enquiry. 24 October 1922. 1923 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam 1. From FJ Jones, Secretary, Australian Timber Workers Union to Mr McAdam - Affiliation dues. 3 April 1923. 2. From Mr W. Powe to Mr McAdam – Union membership and request for Mr McAdam to visit Clunes and meet with him. 3 April 1923. 1924 – Secretary, W.J. McAdam Nil. 1925 – Secretary, W.J. McAdam Nil. 1926 – Secretary, S. Miller Nil. 1927 – Secretary, S. Miller Nil. 1928 – Secretary, S. Miller Nil. 1929 - Secretary, S. Miller Nil. 1930 - Secretary, S. Miller Nil. 1931 – Secretary, Mr S Miller 1. From John Jeanes, Assistant Registrar, Offices of the Registrar General and Registrar of Titles to Mr Miller. 8 October 1931. 1932 – Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1933– Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1934– Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1935– Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1936 – Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1937 – Secretary, Mr S Miller 1. From Mr Miller to Managing Director, Ballarat Brewing Company – Requesting donation for BTLC Picnic Sports Meeting. 2 March 1937. 1938 – Secretary, Mr S Miller 1. From C. Knight, Secretary, Law Department to no addressee – Advising that Mr William Henry Green is authorised to take declarations etc under the Evidence act. 7 June 1938. 1939 – Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1940 – Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1941 – Secretary, Mr S Miller Nil. 1942 – Secretary, Mr S Miller/Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1943 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1944 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1945 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1946 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1947 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1948 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam 1. From Mr/Ms Healy, Labour Council, Brisbane to Secretary Labour Council, Ballarat - telegram stamped 415 regarding current industrial action and unions being undermined by Premier Hanlon's Industrial Law Amendment Bill. 10 March 1948 2. From Accountant, Head Office, The Ballarat Brewing Co Ltd, to Mr WJ Mc Adam, Secretary, Ballarat Eight Hours Anniversary Committee - regarding donation of £2.2.0 to the Annual Eights Hours Celebrations. 23 April 1948 3. From Miss M Zacharin, Secretary, Jewish to Combat Fascism and Anti-Semitism to Secretary, Trades Hall, Ballarat - forwarding a copy of the pamphlet "Israel Reborn" (no longer attached, but can be viewed online at https://tinyurl.com/jccfas48) by Mrs. Evelyn Rothfield. Requests assistance with distribution of the pamphlet. 26 July, 1948 4. From Mrs A.W. Nicholson (signed Beryl Nicholson), Co-Secretary, Ballarat Baby Health Centres' Ladies Committee to Mr WJ McAdam, Secretary, Trades and Labor Council, Ballarat - Requesting partial rebate of rent paid for the Hall for a fundraising lecture/recital. 9 November 1948 1949 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam 1. From JS Toohey, Chairman and MB Duffy, Secretary, Industrial Printing and Publicity Co. Ltd., circular to Trade Union and ALP Branch Secretaries - Emphasising the need for "Labor Call" (previously Tocsin) to continue and encouraging subscriptions and/or bulk ordering. 2. From Thomas E. Carter, Ballarat ALP to Secretary, TLC, Ballarat - Regarding a deputation to the Premier about the Essential Services Act. 25 January 1949 3. From Russell Jones to "To Whom it May Concern", The Courier - Regarding Painters Union debate at BTLC on 25 August 1949; clarifying about severe censure of Mr TE Carter. 17 September 1949 4. Decisions of the ACTU Congress held Sydney, September 19 to 23, 1949 5. From William?, office of the Bishop of Ballarat to Mr WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC - Thanking WJ McAdam for his apology for an event at Craig's Hotel about slum conditions, offering to show films at BTLC and present a lecture. 6 October 1949 6. From William? office of the Bishop of Ballarat to Mr WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC - Thanking WJ McAdam for making the Hall available for an event the previous evening. 11 November 1949 1950 - Secretary Mr WJ McAdam 1. From H. Crutch, Property Officer, Department of the Interior to Mr McAdam – Lease of accommodation for Mr RT Pollard, MHR, no longer required. 20 January 1950. 2. From unnamed author to Mr D Aronson, Solicitor, Ballarat – Seeking legal opinion/interpretation of rules relating to provincial delegates on VTHC (with enclosures). 23 May 1950. 3. From Mr McAdam to Mr C Ellis, Secretary, Plasterer’s Union – Affiliation fees. 15 September 1950. 1951 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam Nil. 1952 – Secretary, Mr WJ McAdam 1. From Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Miss Wilkins, Philharmonic Singers - use of Trades Hall, insurance risk and care of the Hall piano. 10 September 1952. 1953 Secretary – Mr WJ McAdam 1. From AW Nicholson and RG Caddell, Greater Ballarat Association to Mr McAdam – Royal Tour decorations and lighting. 28 January 1953. 2. From Sunshine Biscuit Company to Mr McAdam – Supply of biscuits. 5 March 1953. 3. From L. Higgins, Secretary, Vehicle Builders Employees Federation to Mr McAdam – Donation to Ballarat Labor Day Appeal. 5 March 1953. 4. From Secretary, Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia to Mr McAdam – Donation to repair BTLC building (24 Camp Street, Ballarat). 5 March 1953. 5. From WJ Morrison, Manager, International Bookshop to “Dear Sir” – Complimentary copies of a pamphlet “Ballarat Riggers at Work” pamphlet (pamphlet copy not included). 5 March 1953. 6. From Mrs D Hughes to Mr McAdam – Regarding terms and entitlements relating to her dismissal. Letter From the Department of Labour about pay rights is attached. 7 March 1953. 7. From the State Secretary, The Victorian Potato, Onion and Vegetable Growers Association to Mr McAdam – Regarding an appointment for Mr Kinsella to address BTLC. 10 March 1953. 8. From Mr McAdam to JJ Sheehan, MLA – Workers Compensation Act – pressing for provision of compensation to parents of workers who die at work. 16 March 1953. 9. From Ballarat Brewing Company Ltd to Mr McAdam – Donation to Labor Day celebrations. 16 March 1953. 10. From Mr Arrowsmith, Campaign Director for Frank Hardy to Mr McAdam – Seeking permission for Frank Hardy, Communist Party candidate to address Council. 23 March 1953. 11. From ? to JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – ACTU delegates provincial councils – protesting the method of counting votes. 9 April 1953. 12. From Fibson to BTLC – Telegram requesting advice about how much notice a temporary teacher needs to provide to their employer. 14 April 1953. 13. From Mr McAdam to Mr JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – ACTU Delegates Provincial Council – nominations. 18 April 1953. 14. From the Town Clerk, Town Hall, Ballaarat to Mr McAdam – Requesting a list of executive officers at BTLC (list attached with reply). 23 April 1953. 15. From Mr McAdam to [blank] – Representation from the Society of Carpenters and Joiners and the Building Workers Industrial Union on BTLC. 2 May 1953. 16. From Mr McAdam to Mr G Hall, Secretary, ATMO Employees Association – Congratulating the Union of their successful campaign on behalf of tram conductors. 6 March 1953. (Back: General Board (Cake Ornament Section) pay determination.) 17. From Mr McAdam to Mr Maddern, City Clerk, City Hall, Ballarat – Seating needs in Ballarat Civic Hall. 6 May 1953. (Back: Victorian Government Gazette, 16 May 1951.) 18. From Mr McAdam to Mr Maddern, City Clerk, City Hall, Ballarat – Enforcement of the Weights and Measures Act by Ballarat Council. 6 May 1953. (Back: Wage rates Printing-Ink Grinders 1951.) 19. From Mr McAdam to Mr Bartrop, President Begonia Festival Committee – Enquiry about distribution of profits of Begonia Festival. 8 May 1953. (Back: Letterhead with beginning of a draft of this letter.) 20. From Mr McAdam to JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – Eureka Centenary celebrations. 15 May 1953. 21. From Mr McAdam to ? - Recommendation of Council Executive seeking meeting of the rank and file – towards reaching agreement within the industry. 20 May 1953. 22. From Mr McAdam to the Hon W Galvin, MLA, Acting Premier – Resolution regarding Ballarat North railway workshops. Concern about outsourcing to private enterprise. Seeking improvement of work and a public enquiry. 10 June 1953. (Back: Government Gazette, 25 November 1952.) 23. From Mr McAdam to the Hon PL Coleman, MLA, Minister for Transport – Forwarding a Council motion supporting workers’ right to strike and the Minister’s interference in that. 10 June 1953. 24. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Sheehan, MLA – Letter of resolution: thanking him for assistance to the railway unions and requesting further help in training of railway engineers in Ballarat Railway Workshops. 12 June 1953. (Back: Government Gazette, 13 November 1952.) 25. From Mr McAdam to Mr Linaker, State Electricity Commission – Request that the timetable should synchronise with the train timetable on Sundays. 19 June 1953. (Back: Tar and Bitumen Board, Pay Department, 30 January 1951.) 26. From Mr McAdam to Mr Dawson, State Accident Insurance Officer – Workers compensation payment criteria – how payment corresponds with incremental pay rises. 19 June 1953. (Back: General Board – Blue Print Section. Pay rate determinations.) 27. From Mr Mc Adam to Mr JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – Funding of provincial trades and labour council delegates to attend the ACTU congress in Sydney. 20 June 1953. 28. From LJ Buchanan, Honourable Secretary, Victorian Teachers Union to Mr McAdam – Typewritten and handwritten copies of same correspondence – reply to BTLC. Regarding children’s participation in the 1953 Begonia Festival. 23 June 1953. (Back: Extraordinary Government Gazette, 30 March 1953.) 29. From Mr McAdam to Mr Connell, Secretary, Fibrous Plasterers Union – Regarding overdue affiliation fees to BTLC. 25 June 1953. (Back: pay determinations sports grounds staff.) 30. From Mr JA Connell, Secretary, Fibrous Plasterers Union to Mr McAdam – Cheque for outstanding BTLC affiliation fees. 10 July 1953. 31. Circular from JT Long, Organising Secretary, Australian Convention on Peace and War to various recipients – Information on Peace and War Convention – pamphlet and A5 flyer attached. 14 July 1953. 32. From H Booley to Mr WJ McAdam – Resigning as BTLC delegate to VTHC. 19 July 1953. 33. No author or addressee – Election of Executive Committee, BTLC, financial position, delegates to Peace and War Convention, installation of new President. (Includes photocopies of the same document.) 34. No author or addressee – Peace Convention delegates’ expenses. August/September 1953. (Back: Government Gazette, 26 February 1953.) 35. From Mr McAdam to JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – Advising resignation of Mr Booley as BTLC to VTHC; Mr Booley to be replaced by Mr JJ Brown. 11 August 1953. 36. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Brown, Unity Hall – Advising that the addressee was successful in his nomination as BTLC delegate to VTHC. N.d. (Back: Ballot paper, 20 September 1953.) 37. From Mr McAdam to Dr Evatt, MHR, Leader ALP – Requesting support in stopping the Menzies government interference in Amalgamated Engineering Union elections. 12 August 1953. 37A. From Dr Evatt, MHR, Leader ALP – Reply from Dr Evatt expressing legal inability to assist the Amalgamated Engineering Union. 24 August 1953. 37B. Mr McAdam to Mr R Joshua, MHR – Seeking Mr Joshua’s assistance by raising the above matter in parliament. 7 September 1953. (Back: Ballot paper, Trades and Labour Council Elections, 21 September 1953.) 38. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Sheehan, MLA – Requesting a date for a deputation from the Metal Trades Unions about pay rates. 12 August 1953. (Back: Ballot paper, Trades and Labour Council Elections, 21 September 1953.) 39. From Mr McAdam to Mr Maddern, City Clerk, Ballaarat – Road quality and pedestrian access in Ballarat North. 12 August 1953. (Back: Ballot paper, Trades and Labour Council Elections, 21 September 1953.) 40. From Mr McAdam to Mr Broadby, Secretary of the ACTU – Seeking support of the ACTU to resist government interference in Amalgamated Engineering Union’s elections. 12 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 41. From Mr McAdam to Mr Buchanan, Secretary, Teachers Union – Regarding Teachers Union correspondence about children’s participation in the Begonia Festival. 13 August 1953. (Back: Regulations Weights and Measures Act.) 42. From Mr McAdam to Hon PL Coleman, MLC, Minister of Transport – Seeking clarification about abolition of penalty rates. 14 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 43. From Mr McAdam to JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – Requesting fifty copies of all ACTU reports in future. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 44. From Mr McAdam to Minister for Railways, Hobart. Regarding abolition of weekend penalty rates. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 45. From Mr McAdam to Minister for Railways, Adelaide. Regarding abolition of weekend penalty rates. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 46. From Mr McAdam to Minister for Railways, Sydney. Regarding abolition of weekend penalty rates. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 47. From Mr McAdam to Hon W Calvin, MLA, Chief Secretary, Melbourne – Seeking clarification of Workers’ Compensation Act; in particular, the clause regarding average weekly payments at the time of injury. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 48. From Mr McAdam to Cr JC Rowe, Chairman, By-laws Committee, City Hall, Ballarat – seeking a meeting of BTLC with the Town Hall by-laws committee about traffic hazards on Creswick Road and other parts. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 49. From Mr McAdam to Hon W Galvin, MLA, Chief Secretary, Melbourne - Seeking amendment of Workers Compensation Act so that workers may appeal decisions. Further, seeks that the government ensures payments are made once a fortnight as required in the regulations. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 50. From Mr McAdam to Hon J Cain, MLA, Premier of Victoria – Requesting government’s attention to dispensing of level crossings in Victoria. 24 August 1953. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 51. From Mr McAdam to JJ Sheehan, MLA – Seeking support to include craft unions/FEDFA members in the service agreement at Ballarat Base Hospital. 28 August 1953. 52. Council of Aboriginal Rights – Bulletin #2 (i) Sentence of hanging in WA (ii) Aboriginal Co-op Marble Bar (iii) Use of pidgin English (iv) Affiliation (v) Conditions at Dubbo NSW and Victoria. 8 September 1953. 53. From Mr McAdam to Mr GW Harris, Secretary, Convening Unions – Sending a copy of Council rules. 21 September 1953. (Back: Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees’ Association – New wage agreement, 30 June 1953.) 54. From FJ Riley, Secretary, The Manufacturing Grocers Employees’ Federation to unspecified addressee. Regarding Match Industry Report; excises on matches and cigarette lighters. 21 September 1953. 55. Circular – Peace or War Convention. N.d. (Back: Trades and Labour Council elections, 1952.) 56. From Austin McCallum, President, Ballarat Y’s Men’s Club to Secretary, BTLC – Support for a play centre for mentally ill children. 26 September 1953. 57. Meeting 1 October 1953 - Carriers delivering on weekends. - Erection of crematorium in Ballarat. - Resolution opposing wages’ freeze. - Protesting manner that railway shop matters are dealt with by the Minister for Transport. (Back: Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees’ Association – New wage agreement, 30 June 1953.) 58. From Mr McAdam to Hon J Cain, Premier of Victoria – Regarding action about service grants for Metal Trades Railwaymen. 2 October 1953. (Back: Financial statement 1/1/51-30/6/51.) 59. From Mr McAdam to Hon J Cain, Premier of Victoria – Protesting the Minister of Transport’s decision to have shop matters of Railwaymen dealt with by the ARU. 2 October 1953. (Back: Financial statement 1/1/51-30 June 1951.) 60. From Mr McAdam to Hon WP Barry, MLA – Urging that erection of the Ballarat New Cemetery proceeds as soon as possible. 2 October 1953. (Back: BWIU Investigation – conduct of election.) 61. From J Collins and W Vance to the President, BTLC – Apology regarding vandalism to BTLC building. N.d. 62. From JW Wilson, Association for Advancement of the Blind to Mr McAdam – Request for donation. 6 October 1953. 63. From Mr RJ Lightfoot, Secretary, Blind Workers Union to Mr McAdam – Melbourne Cup Sweep. 9 October 1953. 64. From Mr K Liversidge to BTLC – Sick leave entitlements. October 1953. 65. From Mrs Mary Haddow, Wonthaggi Old Age and Invalid Pensioners, to addressee not specified – Seeking assistance to improve income and other conditions for pensioners. 12 October 1953. 66. From Mr McAdam to Mr Maddern, City Clerk, Ballarat – Need for traffic lights (various sites) including safety issues and enforcement. 19 October 1953. (Back: flyer, “Are You A Trade Unionist?”) 67. From Mr McAdam to Hon J Cain, Premier of Victoria – Addressing dangerous level crossings. 19 October 1953. (Back: Ballot paper 21 September 1953.) 68. From Mr McAdam to Hon J Cain, Premier of Victoria – Thanking the Premier for the Long Service Leave Bill. 19 October 1953. (Back: flyer, “Are You A Trade Unionist?”) 69. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Sheehan, MLA – Crematorium in Ballarat New Cemetery. 20 October 1953. (Back: Ballot paper 21 September 1953.) 70. From F. Cutts, Mayor to no addressee. Public meeting regarding Centre for Mentally Retarded Children. 21 October 1953. 71. From Mr McAdam to Mr Swenson, Organiser, Begonia Festival - Regarding combined sports meeting on Labor Day 1953. 23 October 1953. (Back: Ballot paper 21 September 1953.) 72. From Doepal, Lilley and Taylor to Mr McAdam – Renewal workplace insurance (including yellow slip – explanation of Increased Bonus Distribution). 26 October 1953. 73. From Dick Diamond, Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia to Mr McAdam – Payment by “Ashton Varieties” to members who were stood down. 27 October 1953. 74. From Alexander, General Secretary, Actors Equity to Mr McAdam – Telegram urging BTLC to black ban Ashton’s follies show. 29 October 1953. 75. From A Wallace, Ministering Children’s League to Mr McAdam – A thank you for donation to the Ministering Children’s League. 29 October 1953. 76. From RA Hunt, State Electricity Commission to Mr EO Allan, c/- Mr McAdam – Inviting BTLC to purchase securities of 10-15 years. Prospectus attached. 29 October 1953. 77. From Mr RW Richards, Principal School of Mines and Industries, Ballarat – Seeking the continuing support of the School’s Prize Fund. 31 October 1953. 78. From Secretary, Kingsville Yarraville Citizens’ Band to Mr McAdam – Payment for use of Trades Hall space. 2 November 1953. 79. From Dick Diamond, Victorian Divisional Secretary, Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia to Mr McAdam – Thanking BTLC for support in relation to the dispute with Ashton’s Varieties. 4 November 1953. 80. From Mr Ritchie, Hon Secretary, Ballarat Fine Art Public Gallery Association to Mr McAdam – Declining BTLC’s offer to loan a portrait of Cardinal Manning. 4 November 1953. 81. Circular from Mrs N Stephens and Mrs B Ferguson, The Queen Elizabeth Benevolent Home – Seeking donation for Christmas gifts for elderly patients. 5 November 1953. 82. From Mr Maddern, Town Clerk, City of Ballarat to Mr McAdam- Declining request to install traffic lights at various sites. 10 November 1953. 83. From Mr Maddern, Town Clerk, City of Ballarat to Mr McAdam- Reply. Undertaking to inspect roads and footpaths in Ballarat North. 10 November 1953. 84. BTLC – Meeting 12 November 1953 - erection of crematorium - long service leave entitlements - workplace illnesses, including asbestosis - traffic control, Ballarat (Back: Ballot Paper, 21 September 1953.) 85. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Brown – Thanking him for report to Council regarding dust nuisance and health impacts. 16 November 1953. 86. From Mr McAdam to Mr W Gray, Secretary, Pensioners League Ballarat – Forwarding copy of letter from Wonthaggi Pensioners for opinion. 16 November 1953. (Back: Plastic Moulding Board Determination.) 87. From Mr W Gray, Secretary, Pensioners League Ballarat to Mr McAdam– Reply to BTLC regarding Wonthaggi Pensioners. 18 November 1953. 88. From Mrs N Stephens, President, Queen Elizabeth Benevolent Home Ladies’ Auxiliary – Christmas Tree Appeal – thanking BTLC for its donation. 19 November 1953. 89. From S Murray-Smith, Organising Secretary, Australian Peace Council to Mr McAdam – Thanking BTLC for its interest in the peace movement. Participation by ex-senator in a six-month fact finding mission abroad. 25 November 1953. 90. From Doepel, Lilley and Taylor to Mr McAdam – Request for BTLC to pay excess premium amount. 27 November 1953. 91. From CH Frampton, National Poultry Farmers Association to Mr McAdam – Wheat stabilisation – campaign for subsidy. 27 November 1953. 92. From WL Rowe, Secretary, Department of Health, to Mr McAdam – Deferred consideration of proposal to build crematorium until end of the financial year. 27 November 1953. 93. From WL Rowe, Secretary, Department of Health, to Hon J Jones, MLC – Deferred consideration of proposal to build crematorium until end of the financial year. 27 November 1953. 94. From Bruce Wallace, Hon Secretary, Ballaarat Begonia Festival to Mr McAdam - Reply. Ballarat Begonia Festival. Unable to combine with a sports meeting. 30 November 1953. 95. From RF Mayberry, Secretary, Mentally Retarded Children’s Welfare Association – no addressee – Confirmation that special school/playground has been trialled and will continue. Invitation to BTLC to become a member of the Association. 2 December 1953. 96. From Mr McAdam to Mr Styles, Secretary, Bendigo Trades Hall Council – Re-establishment of Provincial Councils Association and nominees from BTLC. 4 December 1953. (Back: Ballot Paper 21 September 1953.) 97. From RW Richards, School of Mines and Industries, Ballarat to Mr McAdam – Appreciation of money donated to the annual School of Mines prize. 14 December 1953. 98. From WK McMahon to Mr McAdam – Resignation as Trades and Labour Council representative on Ballarat Youth Council. 18 December 1953. 99. WJ McAdam – Secretary’s Report notes. N.d. 100. No author – Notes of BTLC meeting. n.d. 1954 Secretary – Mr WJ Mc Adam 1. BTLC - BTLC 1/7/53-31/12/53 Financial statement, Auditor’s Report. 21 January 1954. 2. WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to PJ Hill, Secretary, Sheet Metal Workers’ Union – Regarding poor attendance of SMWU delegates at Council. 8 January 1954. 3. LA Chung to President, BTLC – Consent by LA Chung to be nominated as BTLC auditor. 12 January 1954. 4. William K. Moore, Ballarat Youth Centre to WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Request for financial support for Ballarat Youth Centre. 14 January 1954. 5. From ? to Mr Leslie Ashton, Sydney – Regarding matter referred to Industrial Registry. 14 January 1954. 6. From WJ McAdam to Hon John Cain, Premier of Victoria – Requesting the Premier that wages boards include a “preference unionists” clause in their judgements. 18 January 1954. (Other side: Government Gazette Victoria, 31 July 1953.) 7. From WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Mr Fogarty, Secretary of Central Gippsland Trades and Labour Council – Requesting most recent rules of Central Gippsland Trades and Labour Council. 20 January 1954. 8. From WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Mr GG Styles, Secretary of Bendigo Trades Hall Council – Regarding possible breach of BTLC rules. Status of Mr Walsh as delegate for Bendigo. 24 January 1954. (Other side: Ballot Paper 1953 Provincial Trades Hall Council Delegates at ACTU Congress.) 9. From WJ McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Mr J Walsh, Ballarat - Seeking explanation about Mr Walsh’s nomination as a delegate for Bendigo Trades Hall. 25 January 1954. (Other side: Ballot Paper 1953 Provincial Trades Hall Council Delegates at ACTU Congress.) 10. From D. Diamond, Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia – Regarding whether there is a ban on Mr Ashton’s show in Ballarat. 28 January 1954. 11. From Mr McAdam, Secretary BTLC to Actors and Announcers Equity Association of Australia – Reply about black ban of Ashton’s show in Ballarat. 3 February 1954. 12. From JJ Browne, Armadale to Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Meetings of VTHC report. Concern about ALP’s sending in nominees for Clerks Union delegates to VTHC. 8 February 1954. 13. From K.E. Rash, Signwriter, Ballarat to Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Submission of design and quotation for window decoration for Queen’s visit to Ballarat. 17 February 1954. 14. From GV Stafford, Department of Health to Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Electrical defects at BTLC requiring attention. 18 February 1954. 15. From Mr McAdam, BTLC to GV Stafford, Department of Health – Advising that electrical defects at BTLC were rectified. 20 February 1954. (Other side: Ballot Paper 1953 Provincial Trades Hall Council Delegates at ACTU Congress.) 15A. From JW Wilson, Managing Secretary, Association for Advancement of the Blind to Mr McAdam – Request for donation. 22 February 1954. 16. From Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to JJ Sheehan, MLA – Regarding protest from the Australian Tramways and Motor Omnibus Employees’ Association about the Hon. P.L. Coleman’s (MLC) using private enterprise to undermine the Tramway’s Union. 26 February 1954. (Other side: Ballot Paper 1953 Provincial Trades Hall Council Delegates at ACTU Congress.) 17. From GV Stafford, Department of Health to Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Advising that the Health Inspector will visit when next in Ballarat. 2 March 1954. 17A. From Colin Williams, Secretary, May Day Committee to no addressee – Circular. Regarding meeting of May Day Committee and requesting names of BTLC delegates who will attend. 17 March 1954. 18. From Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Mr JV Stout, ACTU – Interstate Executive support of ACTU. 18 March 1954. (Other side: Ballot Paper 1953 Provincial Trades Hall Council Delegates at ACTU Congress.) 19. From Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Senator Cooper, Minister for Repatriation – Protesting closure of repatriation ward at Ballarat Hospital. 18 March 1954. 20. From MP Brown, Secretary of BWIU to Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Advising that Mr S King is the delegate to Council for the Building Workers’ Industrial Union. 24 March 1954. 21. From unknown author, Secretary, Local Branch, Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association of Australia to Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC – Request for BTLC’s support of legislative change ensuring safety of engineers and foremen operating machinery and engines. 24 March 1954. 22. From Mr McAdam, Secretary, BTLC to Mr VG Delmenico, Trades Hall, Castlemaine – Regarding Labor Day celebrations – RSVP. 26 March 1954. (Other side: Determinations by the Shops Board, Brushmakers Board and Saddlery and Harness Board.) 23. ? - Proposed process for election of officers to BTLC Executive Committee. 1954. (Back: Government Gazette, 23 November 1951.) 24. From Mr McAdam to the Hon John Cain, MLA Premier of Victoria – Intention of the State Government to remove the authority of the Mines Department to issue certificates to members of their Association. 29 March 1954. 25. From Mr McAdam to Mr McDonald, Secretary, Trades Hall Council, Geelong – Nominations and delegates to represent Geelong Trades Hall Council and Ballarat Trades Hall Council. 20 April 1954. (Back: BTLC Financial Statement 1 January-30 June 1951) 26. From Mr McAdam to JJ Healey, Secretary, Cold Storage and Meat Preserving Employee’s Union – Dairy employees in Ballarat – rectifying underpayment. 22 April (Back: Financial Statement 1 January-30 June 1951) 27. From Mr McAdam to Mr R. Joshua, MHR – Regarding the Postal Department’s hiring a detective to make enquiry into a member's sick leave. 4 April 1954. 28. From Mr McAdam to Mr WC Robertson, President, RSS and AILA – Regarding closure of the repatriation ward, Ballarat Hospital. 5 April 1954. (Back: Financial Statement 1 January-30 June 1951) 29. From Mr McAdam to Mr C. McDonald, Secretary, Trades Hall Council, Geelong – Offer to assist Geelong Trades Hall Council to campaign and elect Hon J Dedman for the seat of Corio. 22 April 1954. 30. From Mr McAdam to Mr Mac Sween, Secretary, Clothing Trades Union – Sending a newspaper clipping about TCU Congress in Ballarat, encouraging TCU to change the venue to BTLC. (Clipping not included.) (Back: Financial Statement 1 January-30 June 1951) 31. From Ballarat Trades and Labour Council - Policy of BTLC on stabilisation of wheat. N.d. 32. Mr McAdam to Mr TE Carter, Eureka Centenary Committee – Requesting BTLC representation on the Ballarat Centenary Celebrations’ Committee. 17 May 1954. 33. Ballarat Trades and Labour Council – Motion about the quality of bread. 20 May 1954. 34. Mr McAdam to the Hon John Cain, MLA, Premier – Advising the Premier of BTLC support for the Deputation by the Metal Trade Unions to the Minister of Transport requesting a 5/- per day payrise. 24 May 1954. (Back: Government Gazette, Victoria 27 July 1953) 35. Mr McAdam to the Hon John Cain, MLA, Premier – Advising a motion from BTLC regarding improved standard of bread. 24 May 1954. (Back: Determinations Nickelward Board, Agricultural Implements Board, Shops Board) 36. From Jack Wood to Mr McAdam – Resolution by the ALP Federal Executive in June 1952 declaring News Weekly an anti-Labour Party organ. 4 June 1954. 37. From JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC to Mr McAdam – Visit by JN Stephen, St Bernardo’s Homes. 16 June 1954. 38. From Mr McAdam to Mr. MB John, Ballarat Base Hospital – Equity of service grants between members of the Artisans’ Union and the Hospital Employee’s Union. 18 June 1954. 39. From Mr McAdam to The Chief Inspector, Commonwealth Arbitration Inspectors – Request for Arbitration Inspector to visit Ballarat more regularly after three months of non-attendance. 23 June 1954. (Back: Determinations of the Commercial Clerks Board and the Shops Board (Fish and Poultry).) 40. From Mr McAdam to the Hon Slater, MLA – Refusal of management committee of Hospitals and Benevolent Homes to meet deputations from BTLC. 5 July 1954. 41. From Mr McAdam to Mr TW Carter, Secretary, Eureka Centenary Celebrations – Eureka Centenary programme. Noted that it does not include a pilgrimage to the statue of Peter Lalor. 20 July 1954. (Back: Wage rates Storemen and Packer 1953.) 42. From Mr McAdam to JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – Union coverage and poaching of members by other unions. 20 July 1954. 43. From The Town Clerk, Ballarat Town Hall to BTLC – Letter including cutting (a description of BTLC) from the last Mayoral Annual Report. Requests current information about BTLC for the next report. 25 July 1954. 44. From Ministering Children’s League President to Mr McAdam – Requesting support for annual appeal. 28 July 1954. 45. From W. Carter to Mr McAdam – Meeting apology. 29 July 1954. 46. From Mr Brown, Secretary, Anti-Communist Union Movement to ??? (addressee name has been cut out) – Election of Theatrical Employees Union delegate to BTLC – ballot in progress. 3 August 1954. 47. From TE Carter, Eureka Centenary Committee to Mr McAdam – Pilgrimage to Peter Lalor’s Statue is now in the Centenary Program. 7 August 1954. 48. From Mr McAdam to TE Carter, Secretary, Eureka Centenary Committee – Requesting eight copies of the Centenary Program. 16 August 1954. 49. From JN Stephen, St Bernardo’s Homes to Mr McAdam – Regarding promulgation of leaflets about Dr Bernardo’s Homes. 17 August 1954. 50. From Mr McAdam to Mr Linaker, Manager, State Electricity Commission – Regarding income from Department of the Army. 23 August 1954. 51. From Mr Mc Adam to ? Regional Trades and Labour Councils – Eureka Centenary Celebrations. 31 August 1954. 51A. From VE Walmsley, Industrial Finance Department, Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Commonwealth Bank Industrial Travelling Scholarships- circular. N.d. 52. From Mr McAdam to Mr CJ O’Brien – Raising money for the widow of Jack Henry. 2 September 1954. 53. From Mr McAdam to the Hon S Merrifield, MLA, Minister of Public Works – Rate paying immigrants not granted a vote at the Wendouree election despite being on the roll. 14 September 1954. (Back: Nurserymen’s Board wage rates.) 54. From Mr McAdam to Mr Maddern, City Clerk, Ballarat – Improvement of traffic lights in Ballarat. 14 September 1954. 55. From Mr McAdam to Mr Dawson, Workers’ Compensation Board – Delay in workers’ compensation payment. 14 September 1954. 56. From Mr McAdam to Mr R Joshua, MHR – Closing of the Ballarat Telegraph Office at 5pm. 14 September 1954. (Back: Hairdressers’ Board pay rates 1953.) 57. From Mr McAdam to Mr Dawson, Workers’ Compensation Board – Eligibility for workers’ compensation. 14 September 1954. 58. From Mr McAdam to JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC – Exclusion of Dr Evatt at the Petrov Inquiry, preventing full disclosure of events. Seeking support. 16 September 1954. (Back: Opticians’ Board, pay rates 1953.) 59. From Town Clerk, Town Hall, Ballaarat to Mr McAdam – Unsatisfactory control of traffic in Ballarat (reply to correspondence). 21 September 1954. 60. From the Minister of Transport and Railway Administration Offices to Mr JJ Sheehan Esq, MLA – Train stops between Ballarat and Ballan. 27 September 1954. 60A. From JV Stout, Secretary, VTHC to all unions – Judgement by Privy Council regarding workers’ compensation award to Mrs D Sharpe; copy of determination and handwritten notes and a covering memo. 14 October 1954. 61. From the Secretary, the Ballarat Water Commissioners to Mr McAdam – Regarding loan of trucks to BTLC for the Eureka Celebrations Pageant. 18 October 1954. 62. From GE Davis, Licencing Department, Australasian Performing Rights Association Ltd to Mr McAdam – Overdue account (form of application for licence attached). 18 October 1954. 63. From LC Garner, Head Master, School of Mines to Mr McAdam – Talk to students by BTLC. 18 October 1954. 64. From TE Byrne, Barristers and Solicitors to Secretary, BTLC - Application for determination – JR Orchard. (Application not included.) 20 October 1954. (Back: Shops Board No. 9 (Drapers and Men’s Clothing pay rates.) 65A. Mr McAdam (Secretary) to the Victorian Secretary for Labor (Victoria) - seeking interpretation of clause 7 of the Factories and Shops (Long Service Leave Act) 65. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Sheehan, MLA - Resolution of appreciation for assistance given in securing service increments for craft unionists (FEDFA members). 10 November 1954. 66. From Mr McAdam to Mr JJ Sheehan, MLA – Protesting requirement to produce birth certificates as a prerequisite to a child’s commencing school. 19 November 1954. (Back: Federated Storemen and Packers Union, Metal Trades Award, pay rates 1953.) 67. From Mr McAdam to Mr O’Donoghue, Command Paymaster, Southern Command, Albert Park – Overpayment of £52 for Army rental of space at BTLC. 23 December 1954. (Back: Shops Board No. 19 (Confectionary, Pastry, Fruit and Vegetables, pay rates 1954.) 68. From Mr McAdam (?) to “The Editor” – Regarding long service leave entitlements. N.d. 69. From Mr McAdam (?) to Mr W Robertson, Secretary, Municipal Employees Union – Financial standing – CJ O’Brien. N.d. 70. Authors to “The Editor”: (a) John R. Steele (b) WJ McAdam (c) CT Collins (d) John R. Steele (e) WJ McAdam (f) WJ Mc Adam (g) WJ Mc Adam (h) no author – Productivity wages. N.d. (Back: Determinations Tanners Board, Jam Trade Board, Horsehair Board, Shops Board No. 15 (Grocers). 71. Motion negating decisions of the ACTU regarding non-productive workers, right to prosecute for unpaid union dues, union power at wages boards and National Service. N.d. 1955 Secretary – Mr W.J. Mc Adam 1. From Secretary of BTLC to JJ Sheehan, MLA - Seeking information about utilisation of funds allotted to the CRB. 25 March 1955. 2. From ? to The Honourable John Cain, MLA, Premier’s Office – Crematorium for Ballarat and funding to go with it. 6 April 1955 (Other side: Painters Board pay rates.) 3. From Secretary of BTLC to Dr HV Evatt – Labor Day dinner, Ballarat, 21 April 1955. 12 April 1955. 4. From JJ Sheehan, Minister for Housing to WJ McAdam, Secretary BTLC – Provisional acceptance to Eight Hours’ Anniversary 21 April 1955. From JJ Sheehan to WJ McAdam, Secretary BTLC. 19 April 1955. 5. From Secretary of BTLC to Mr Wishart, Chairman, Railway Commissioners - Request for attachment of a buffet car to the Melbourne: Horsham train. 20 May 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 6. From unknown to Mr W Robertson, Secretary, Municipal Employees’ Union – Regarding MEU tickets to Labor Day Dinner. 20 May 1955. (Other side: Shops Board No. 21: Booksellers and Newsagents pay rates.) 7. From H. Hatfield, Ballarat, to Mr McAdam, BTLC Secretary – Regarding union dues from Mr Krikmann. 21 May 1955. 8. From Secretary of BTLC to JV Stout – Regarding Secretary of BTLC’S sick leave provisions. 27 May 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 9. From Secretary of BTLC TO Mr Krikmann – Contributions to the union. 30 May 1955. 10. From ? to Mr Schellenberger, Hospital Employees Federation – Awards and conditions at Ballarat Orphanage. 2 June 1955. (Other side: Amendment to conditions – Cork Trade Board.) 11. Affiliation fees, BWIU – From Secretary of BTLC to Mr JC Chandler, Secretary, BWIU. 2 June 1955. (Other side: gardeners’ pay rates.) 12. Regarding Mr Robert Charles Morgan – clarification about workers’ compensation payment – from ? to Mr J Wilkinson, Workers’ Compensation Board, Melbourne. 4 June 1955. 13. Appointment of Commonwealth Arbitration Court Inspector for Ballarat – from Secretary of BTLC to Mr AE Urch, Secretary, Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Association. 15 July 1955. (Other side: Egg Packing Establishments pay rates.) 14. Regarding resolution recommending nationalisation of all transport systems – from Secretary of BTLC to Dr HV Evatt, MHR. 15 July 1955. 15. A. Regarding termination of lease at Trades Hall by the Army – from the Secretary of BTLC to Mr FJ Doolan, Department of the Interior. 15 July 1955. B. Final account for heating used by the Department of Army – from the Secretary of BTLC to FJ Doolan, Department of the Interior. 9 August 1955. (Other side: Hospitality workers’ pay rates.) 16. Appointment of inspector to police federal awards in Ballarat – Secretary of BTLC to Hon HE Holt, Minister for Labor. 15 July 1955. (Other side: Storemen and Packer’s pay rates.) 17. Requesting extension of Tradesmen’s Rights Act (due to expire) – Secretary of BTLC to Hon HE Holt, Minister for Labor. 18 July 1955. 18. Breach of the Musician’s Award, pay rates - ? to State Secretary of Labor, Melbourne. 19 July 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 19. Regarding fine to the Boilermakers Union for raising funds to assist striking Ironmakers Union members – requesting that it be quashed – from Secretary of BTLC to Hon HE Holt, Minister of Labor. 19 July 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 20. Regarding Workers Compensation claim by Mrs Tieman, St Patrick’s College – BTLC to the Principal of St Patrick’s College. 28 July 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 21. Regarding motions of Council supporting price and rent control. Requests that the state government lends its support – from Secretary of BTLC to Hon Rylah, MLA. 29 July 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 22. Regarding Long Service Leave Act – Secretary of BTLC to Mr Rylah, MLA. 29 July 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 23. Regarding visit to Ballarat by Mr Stephen of Dr Bernardo’s Homes and donations to this organisation – from Secretary of BTLC to ? 3 August 1955. (Other side: Meat Industry Employers’ Union – Work Vote for Workers’ Candidates flyer.) 24. Regarding increase in railway fares and freight costs – Council resolution – from Secretary of BTLC to Hon HE Bolte, Premier of Victoria. 15 August 1955. (Other side: Garden Employees Board, pay rates.) 25. Regarding excess profits by GMH Co and underpayment of workers – from Secretary of BTLC to Right Hon. RG Menzies (PM Australia). 15 August 1955. (Other side: BTLC letter head and partial first draft of the above letter.) 26. Regarding control of business monopolies and consideration of graduated tax on profits – from Secretary of BTLC to Right Hon. RG Menzies (PM Australia). 16 August 1955. 27. Request for Premier to lift wages freeze and about restoration of quarterly cost of living adjustments – Secretary of BTLC to Hon HE Bolte, MLA (Premier of Victoria). 16 August 1955. 28. Regarding assistance for Tramway Employers’ Union of Geelong Trades Hall Council. Establishing government authority to control transport in Geelong – from Secretary of BTLC to Mr Poyser, Secretary, Geelong Trades and Labour Council. 16 August 1955. (Other side: Storemen and Packers’ pay rates.) 1956-1976 – Secretary, A.C. Williams 1976-1982 – Secretary, J. Burns 1982-1984 – Secretary, F.S. Knight 1984 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1985 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1986 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1. From F.S. Knight (Frazza), BTLC to Mr RB Yates, Assistant Secretary, Wages and Employment Conditions Policy Branch - Regarding the wages Accord and need for review of wage structures. 14 February 1986 2. From F.S. Knight (Frazza) to Mr J.J. Brown, Federal Industrial Officer, Unity Hall - Regarding work value of car and wagon painters, train examiners and 1987 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1. Authored by FS Knight - Speech delivered in 1987(?) - unsure of the occasion/launch - at which Bob Hawke (Prime Minister) and (John Cain) were present. References to the ALP, unions and communism. 1987(?) 1988 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1989 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1990 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1991 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1. From Mr F.S. Knight to Mrs Joan Kirner, Premier of Victoria - Regarding a fair deal for working class people especially in Victoria. F.S. Knight was a member of the ARU, Secretary of Ballarat Trades and Labour Council, a member of the Ballarat North ALP and long-time party supporter. 4 December 1991 2. From Mr F.S. Knight to The Editor, Herald-Sun Newspaper - Regarding immigration, ineffective management of industry and community needs. 4 December 1991 3. From Mr F.S. Knight to Mr John Halfpenny, Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council - Regarding terms and conditions for transport drivers and traffic management/roads in Ballarat. 5 December 1991 4. From F.S. Knight (?) to Senator Gareth Evans - Regarding the federal Labor Government's policies on poverty, Beijing massacre, foreign policy, Indonesia and ALP's electoral fortunes. 17 December 1991 1992 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1. From John Halfpenny, Secretary, Victorian Trades Hall Council to Mr Francis S. Knight - In response to Mr Knight's letter in 1991 about road transport; Mr Knight's concerns referred to the Transport Workers Union. 14 January 1992 1993 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1994 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1995 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1996 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1997 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1998 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 1999 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2000 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2001 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2002 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2003 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2004 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2005 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2006 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2007 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2008 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2009 – Secretary, G.A. Shearer 2009-2014 – Secretary, P.R. Clempson 2014 - Secretary, B. Edgington The correspondence is a core historical source of information from the inception of BTLC, and represents the history of unionism in the Ballarat region. Correspondence relates to industrial campaigns, social justice and is of political significance to the region. Paper/letters stored in two boxes.correspondence, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, eight hours anniversary committee, unions, ballarat trades hall, amalgamated mining engine drivers' association, bendigo amalgamated miners' association, lands, victoria, a.r. davie, delegates, d.m. davies, j.l. dowe, f.r. fincham, j.w. grahame, w. hosking, council rules, rules, j. kline, painters union, eight hour anniversary, j. pearce, g. rasy?, r.d. reid, h. richardson, a. sutherland, a. young, specifications, stamping marbles, j.l. anderson, h. uren, ballarat cricket club, city free library, membership, ballarat woollen mills operative union, ballarat typographical association, j. binner, cabmen union, carpenters and joiners trade society, h. clotz, hairdressers, friendly society of ironmoulders of victoria, e. ingram, l. mills, painters' union, c. salter, a. smith, e.h. swifte, tanners and curriers of ballarat, trades and labor council, brisbane, j. treloar, donations, free city library, amalgamated miners' association of australasia, amalgamated society of engineers, half holiday union, operative bakers' society, victorian operative bookmakers union, ballarat branch, t.s. bailey, dr siscs, worn out miners sustentation fund, parks, australian natives association, major dane, colac, overdraft, tanners and curriers union, trades hall council, melbourne, david bennett, victorian operative bricklayers society, industrial disputes, john wilson, ballarat woollen and worsted company, butchers employees' association, awards, ballarat bootmakers' union, whitten, cairns, stansfield, bush, shepphard, working men's college, francis ormond, phoenix foundry dispute, john alexander, amalgamated millers, engine drivers, and mill employees' association of australasia, amalgamated miners of australasia, w.g. spence, w.l. anderson, friendly ironmoulders' society, w. stokeld, wages, clementston, strike funds, t. bailey, ballarat plumbers union, ballarat saddle harness and collar makers' society, ballarat tailoresses' union, ballarat town council employees, e. batterly, e. blayney, g. blyman, m. bregazzi, j. clement, minister for mines, victoria, w. davies, hugh dunlop, john dunn, w. evans, fitzgerald bros, j. hancock, horse drivers' union ballarat, hughes and opie, academy of music ballarat, j. hurst, w. kean, w. kenna, warrenheip breweries, joseph kirton, labourers' protective and building society, d. lessels, john lynch, john mcauly, jas martin, masons' society, master tailors' association, ballarat, w. meher, j. david, w.e. murphy, ballarat gas company, g. philbrook, t. porter, maritime strike, saddle, harness and collar makers society, sandhurst and district trades and labour council, john sayers, sheldon, w. smith, t (?) stephen, jubilee mine, long gully, black ball, scarsdale, amalgamated shearers' union, sheep owners, united society of boilermakers and iron shipbuilders of victoria, w.h. uren, n. wanliss, a.c. whitten, f. meagher, e. hobson, p. (?) wallis, the industrial labour league, w. bannow, bendigo miners' association, bendigo and district trades and labour council, builders labourers' union, w.s. curzon-sniggers, henry douglass, federated seamans' union of victoria, w.j. lormer, s. mauger, railway department, h. porter, non-union workers, women's christian temperance union of victoria, j. barret, joseph barret, bendigo and district cooperative movement society, united labor and liberal party, alex young, e.p. date, w. herdafield, amalgamated miners' association barrier branch, eight hour sports fund, pensioners, bhp, broken hill proprietary, amalgamated miners' association hunter district, j. barrett, a. campbell, f.h. bromly, m. campbell, h.m. champion, w.a. trenwith, people's party, may day demonstration, cigar makers' union, l. corstorphan, r. surtees, t. young, s. barker, w. hurdsfield, h. hanton, c. harris, j.p. jones, ballarat operative weavers' union, international labor day, ben tillet, tocsin, adelaide labor conference, t. mccoates, e. findley, p.j. mullaney, ballarat benevolent asylum and lying in hospital, rating reform league, r.r.l., single tax league, victoria, james oldham, wanliss and gray, dr wm moloney, t. campbell, denmark, m. hirsch, james stephens, intercolonial labor federation, denmark lock out, people's party bendigo, committee of the convention on unemployment, j.b. meier, amalgamated engine drivers' association, bendigo branch, anti-sweating league of victoria, victorian tobacco operations association, chiltern dispute, united labour party, australasian labor federaton, elections, j. cairns, coach makers' society, j. hume cook, j. lemmon, master butchers' association, ballarat and district, o. rees, united council for women's suffrace, women's franchise, old age pensions, tom williams, amalgamated miners' association, creswick branch, tom mann, j. eva, andrew christie, alfred deakin, eight hour demonstration committee, eigh hours monument fund, andrew gray, protectionist association of victoria, soldiers' statue fund, ballarat, arbitration bill, h. brooks, arbitration and conciliation bill, stephen barker, state reform bill, tinsmiths' union, p. brandt, tariffs, eight hours celebration union, adelaide, eureka stockade, eureka stockade celebration, preferential trade with great britain, robert rogers, tom mann organisation fund, edward tregear, outtrim, victorian agricultural implement and machine makers' society, r. williams, s.m. bull, eight hours anniversary union, brisbane, federal labor party, national progress newspaper society ltd., sunshine harvesting works, galloway monument, gold saving machine, workers trade mark, union label, secretary for mines, chas vaughan and co., castlemaine hibernian sports programme, church of christ, r. mcgregor, timber workers relief fund, federated saw mill timber yard and general woodworkers employees' association, interstate trades union congress, australian builders labourers federation, united grocers, tea and dairy produce employees' union, victorian railways union, the courier, ballots, r. rose, w. hughes, citizens loyalist committee, e.j. hogan, e.j. holloway, eight hours committee of enquiry, minister for lands, wilkins, miss, philharmonic singers, f.s. knight -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Badge, MN, circa 1940
Badge officially issued, from January 1940, to all Merchant Navy Officers and Men as a form of identity and to fulfil the role of a National Service Badge. This badge has been designated as a scarce example (AMSA) of a WW2 Merchant Navy Official issue MN War Service silver badge The term Merchant Navy was coined by King George V in 1919, as recognition of the sacrifice made by merchant seafarers during the First World War. Before the term "mercantile navy" was used.WW2 Merchant Navy official issue war service 'silver' badge. Initial ‘MN’ enclosed by oval rope motif with crown above. Retains original buttonhole fitting. badge, ww2, merchant navy, official issue war service, australia, mn -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Badge, Wallace Bishop, MN Australia, circa 1940
WW2 Merchant Navy Australia, issued by the Commonwealth Government 1940 MN War Service officially-numbered silver lapel badge. A company called Bishop also manufactured badges in Melbourne .Intended as a form of service badge for Australian Merchant Seafarers especially those perhaps serving on the newly armed civilian craft. The term Merchant Navy was coined by King George V in 1919, as recognition of the sacrifice made by merchant seafarers during the First World War.WW2 Merchant Navy war service solid (silver) badge. Initials ‘MN’ enclosed by oval rope motif with crown above. The word ‘Australia’ (UC) displayed beneath. Retains original two-loop lapel fixtures. Officially-numbered 10910 on the back. Inscribed "issued by the Commonwealth Government 1940". "Wallace-Bishop Brisbane".ww2, merchant navy, commonwealth government 1940, badge, war service, australia, mn