The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

Illuminated Address from the First World War period and the wording on this address makes particular mention of our boys "doing their bit". The artist was J. Hennessy of Carlton.hennessy, camperdown convent of mercy, bishop foley, first world war.

A team photo of the 1990 Bert Deacon Squad, that defeated Richmond football club. Coached by Trevor Keogh, and captained by Darren Sharp, the final scores read 17-16-118, to 3-5-23, in favor of the boys in Navy Blue. Reasonable condition, colour image. Donated by Rodger Skien.

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

TOM COLLINS–from the reel to reel tape recording at Melton 1969 In the years between 1890 and to about 1913 Melton was a quiet little hamlet alongside the Toolern Creek, once called the Pennyroyal Creek, 24 miles from Melbourne on the Ballarat Road. There was a fair amount of woodland left around it, mostly grey and yellow box with sheoak, and golden wattle, which in spring time made a rather attractive setting. Most of the premises were in the main or High Street, with its line of elm and pepper trees on each side. Unitt, McKenzie and Henry streets each contained only a few dwellings. Hotels were four in number, Minns’s, Mrs Hay licencee, now Mac’s, Golden Fleece – Sheblers. The Royal or Ryan’s as it was then called, later Graham had the licence, and the Raglan - Kilpatricks had the licence and afterwards Tom Manning. This was situated about where Mr K. Young had his residence. There was a store attached to the hotel until about 1900. Both the Royal and the Raglan were delicensed, later on the Royal being converted to a green grocery and a boarding house, the Raglan was demolished. The Royal green grocery and boarding house was kept by E Carew and after he retired, E Radford. The Post and Telegraph Office was on the opposite side of the street to the Raglan Hotel about two doors west of the Shire Hall and was kept by Mrs Ferris and Lady Farmer until her retirement, when it was carried on by Miss Lottie Ross. A store was attached to the Post Office and was sometimes used as a store and at one time housed the National Bank. There were two full time banks at Melton, the other being the Commercial which built premises about 1904 and on the corner of High and Smith Streets, which it still occupies. Mr G Egan was the manager of the Commercial and Mr Stradling and later Mr Lee of the National. However as business was not thought good enough they reverted to a part time branch operated from Bacchus Marsh. Grocer shops were Chalmers, with a news agency and drapery now Arnolds, Jongebloeds had the bakery. Mr Fox also a produce merchant, was where Melton Real Estate is now, it was later occupied by Buchanans, Atleys, and Mrs Ross. Not long after the War Mrs Ross built the Post Office, since demolished where Miss Lottie Ross was the Post Mistress and later built the store which she conducted. It was later turned into a factory and in now the barbers shop. McNichols was just west of the Minns Hotel. He travelled as far a Ballan weekly, buying calves and dairy produce for sale in Melbourne. Afterwards he sold the business and bought Minns Hotel and changing the name to Macs. Blacksmiths were three in number. Blackwoods – later James Byrnes next door to Jongebloeds. Alex Cameron who learnt his trade with Blackwoods had his shop about the rear of where Ken Youngs Garage is now he later moved to the north west corner of High and Alexander Street. He was also the Registrar of Birth and Deaths and Electoral Registrar. After his retirement he was weighbridge keeper at Melton South. Two of his sons were engaged in the carpentry trade, but both died at an early age. Whittingtons shop was a few doors east of the Mechanics Hall and it was later occupied by Gordon Macdonald who did business there until about eight years ago. The butchers of the period were George Graham, that is where Mandy Lees hairdressing establishment is now. Euan MacDonald had premises later occupied by Whittingtons blacksmith shop. Later shifting next door. He left here about 1901, he slaughtererd animals at a slaughter house right where Chas Jones now resides, it had previously been a slaughter house and butcher shop of that site. George Spring also operated as a butcher for two or three years about the 1900 or so. Ted Simpsons shop was where John Kontek now has his Estate Agency, he used it as an branch shop from Bacchus Marsh bringing meat from there by a two horse lorry. Jimmy Butler the manager was well known and loved, his son was later a steeplechase jockey. The Court House and Police Station would be built sometime before 1900. The Constables at the time were McGuire, later Wade, Riely and McKenzie after that Robert Wilson and Seinfort were here, they were a bit later on. The Mechanics Hall was first opened by Ryan of the Royal Hotel who sold it to the Hall Committee. It was on Unitt Street and it was moved by McLellans the house shifters from Unitt Street to its present site. Bluestone premises formerly occupied by the bootmaker Carew, were later demolished and replaced by the brick frontage to the Hall. Keith Orensini [?] the local bricklayer built brick portion to the Hall. In the cottage adjoining the Hall a Frenchman named Baudin, had a boot repairing business.This cottage was the later residence of J Hill, a local carpenter and builder from whom I learnt my trade. Granny Watts was the well known local nurse and operated the Mid-Wifery Hospital in Yuille Street on the Sherwin Street corner. Mrs Nissen was on the opposite side of Yuille Street a short distance nearer the township. She conducted the laundry. Carew had a greengrocers shop next door to the Post Office in the High Street for some time before transferring to the Royal Hotel site. He also bought [?] calves for killing. W Cecil was a tank maker and also had a produce round, he lived on Pyke and Sherwin Street. Later Gus Shebler, builder and carpenter engaged in tank making being well known for good workmanship. Shebler was very energetic in forming the Gun Club which met for a good number of years where the golf course now has its headquarters. Of the four churches only three are in use, Christ Church, Scots and St Dominics. The Methodist closed down but later transferred to Melton South. Monthly stock sales were held at the yards in Unitt Street at Minns Hotel by McPhail Auctioneers, later held by McCarthur and McLeod. After the Council built the pound and sale yards they transferred sales to these premises, but lack of patronage caused them to be abandoned. A familiar sight in the district was blind Bob Nixon, who lived in a tumbled down cottage in Centenary Road near W Coburns, being led by his dog down the road to Melton, that is Palmerston street, to the Post Office, butcher and baker for his supplies and then back home. He was able to do his own cooking and other chores. Sundays he would come down Raleighs Road to the back of the church and tie his dog to a tree. Someone, mostly one of the boys would guide him into the church and out again after the service, when the dog would lead him home again. State School 430, a two roomed bluestone building it was the only school in the district, none at Melton South. The nearest would be Rockbank and Toolern Vale. Scholars had a fair distance to walk in most cases. The teachers were Mr T Lang Headmaster. I put a query here, Miss Winters, I’m not certain of the name, Mrs Skinner and Miss Silke as Assistant Teachers. Miss Augusta Cecil and Miss Maud Lang were Junior teachers. One boy who attended the school about the turn of the century was Hector Fraser who resided with his parents in Keilor Road, where Jim Gillespie now lives. He was an excellent gun shot and at the age of about 17 years his father took him to France or Monaco where he won the Gran Prix for pigeon shooting and became the champion boy shot of the world. However he died there from pneumonia. He shot under the name of “Parvo”. The Melbourne Hunt Club used to meet in Keilor Road north side just east of the Toolern Creek on what was originally Pykes Run. This was also the place where the races were held and the Sports Meetings. Dave Murphy, employed at Clarke’s Rockbank Station usually provided the fox which he liberated for the Club. Greyhound coursing was usually held on Moylans property Mt Kororoit, or Mt Misery as it was known then. Later it was held at Melton Park, Mr Matt Carberry was the judge and Percy Cook the slipper. Early in the 1900’s the Recreation Park was created and the Caledonian and the ANA sports meetings were held there, they were annual events. L Paterson from Melton South was a successful competitor in all the cycling events as a young man. He later in life became the Deputy Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The present Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade is John Paterson, nephew of his, and spent his early life in Exford where his father was manager of the Exford Estate. Notes Tom Collins was born c 1895. He lived on the south side of the Ballarat Road near the intersection of Keilor Road.Historical image of Palmerston Street in Meltonlocal architecture, landscapes of significance

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups

Legacy have many programs to send young junior legatees on activities, camps and outings. The photo shows a group of junior legatees during a seaside camp. Three boys are in other photos that appear to be the same camp (03146 and 03147). The date is not known though it is thought to be from early 2000s, and it was stored with other photos of Junior Legatees. A record of a Legacy providing experiences for the junior legatees.Colour photo of a group of junior legatees at a camp.Printed on the back 'No.9' which is the image number.junior legatee outing, camp

A copy of a flyer that explains what Legacy does, printed in the 1960s. Photos include firewood delivery, legatee visiting a home, girls classes and boys classes and widows. It is an example of Melbourne Legacy promotional material that was issued to inform the public on the work of Legacy. It includes the story of Legacy and what Legacy does. Headings include: Care of families ; Welfare ; Education and Training ; Boys' and Girls' classes ; Holidays and camps ; Homes; Widows' Club. Was compiled in a folio of proforma stationery. A similar set of proformas are at 00338.A record of forms and items used in Legacy's business practices in the 1960s.White brochure with black and white photos and a reply paid envelope pasted on brown paper from a folio of forms and brochures from the 1960s.proformas, stationery, legacy promotion

A copy of a flyer that explains what Legacy does, printed in the 1960s. Photos include legatee advising a family, girls classes and boys classes, a hike and widows. It is an example of Melbourne Legacy promotional material that was issued to inform the public on the work of Legacy. It includes the story of Legacy and what Legacy does. Headings include: Care of families ; Welfare ; Education and Training ; Boys' and Girls' classes ; Holidays and camps ; homes ; Widows' Club. Legacy's phone number had changed again to 663 3564. Was compiled in a folio of proforma stationery. A similar set of proformas are at 00338.A record of forms and items used in Legacy's business practices in the 1960s.White brochure with black and white photos pasted on brown paper from a folio of forms and brochures from the 1960s.proformas, stationery, legacy promotion

The Northern Branch of Melbourne Legacy was formed in 1984 with a amalgamation of the Heidelberg Branch and Northcote/Preston/Whittlesea Branch. This document outlines the history of both branches. Heidelberg Branch was established 16th October, 1957. The Northcote/Preston/Whittlesea was established 3rd May, 1958. The history was compiled in 1988 by Legatee John N Roscholler and updated by Legatee Ian Harrison and Legatee Derithe Harrison in an addendum. It covers the formation of Widows Clubs. Preston/Reservoir was July 1985. Northcote began in May 1986, Heidelberg was November 1983. The Heidelberg Boys Club was established in 1958 and lasted until December 1979. Also information about the Legacy Support Group and Legacy Leadership Groups.The work of Legacy is worthy of recording and this covers the Northern Branch history.A4 document x 14 pages on the history of Northern Branch of Melbourne Legacy dated September 2023.heidelberg branch, northcote/preston/whittlesea branch, amalgamation, northern branch

Child's orange painted wooden wheelbarrow, with a part frame of wicker, two pram wheels, and blue wooden handles.toy vehicles, toys, toy wheelbarrows, mobile toys

Valmae GaudionA white skipping rope with brown turned wooden handles which have a narrow pionty end a knobbly thicker base near the section where the rope joins on. It has a few loose knots in it.skipping-ropes, ropes, leisure object, toys

Modern porcelain or ceramic doll, belonging to 6th generation of Henry and Martha Sebire. Emma & Karlee Jennings.Porcelain or ceramic doll with blue eyes and red lips. Wearing a long sleeved white lace and embroidered christening style dress with a matching bonnet, a ribbon bow is on the bodice of the dress, and two white buttons on the back of the dress. Towelling type cotton body with panties.dolls, baby dolls, toys, leisure objects

Russell SebireA black toy piano in the shape of a baby grand, with 20 white and black keys, a hinged lid that lifts up from the keys and three legs. It has paint peeling off in some areas."Pixiano Major"pianos, toys

A celluloid female baby doll, wearing a pink babies knitted dress with buttons on the back and a pink ribbon around the waist. It has knitted underpants and white knitted booties. leisure object, toys, dolls

A brown painted wooden hand made toy truck with four wheels and a tray for loads.toys, toy trucks, leisure objects

A wooden table game known as "Bobs". It has a wooden cue stick and nine entry holes at the base of the game and two hinged sides.Bobsgames, leisure objects, toys

Handmade five piece wooden doll's bedroom furniture - carved and highly decorated. Consists of: 1. Bed 2. Wash stand 3. Chest of Drawers 4. Wardrobe with mirror 5. Towel railtoys, doll's furniture, leisure objects

A small sleeping doll, with blue eyes and moveable eyelids, arms that move and rigid legs. It is wearing a yellow dress and hat with lace borders. Has a blonde wig.dolls, leisure object, toys

A stuffed white fabric doll, with a hand painted face, blue knitted cap, brown knitted top and pants. It has three plastic buttons at back.dolls, leisure objects, toys

A copy of a speech given by President Bill Rogers to the students at Kambrya College. He mentions the hardships of war, the high number of casualties, and troops in peace keeping operations. He mentions a poem called 'Pittance of Time' - it was written and sung by a Canadian, Terry Kelly. The first verses were: "They fought and some died for their homeland They fought and some died now it's our land Look at his little child there's no fear in her eyes Could he not show respect for other dads that have died Take two minutes would you mind It's a pittance of time For the boys and the girls who went over In peace may they rest may we never forget why they died It's a pittance of time" Document was from a folder of documents donated to the archive by Legatee Bill Rogers that related to his time as President (March 2006 - March 2008). The date is not mentioned but was likely to be 11 November 2006 or 2007.A record of a speech given to students.Print out x 3 pages of a speech given by President Bill Rogers to students at Kambrya College on Remembrance Day.remembrance day, schools, speeches

Colour slide of a boy sitting on a rocking horse at Government House. Melbourne Legacy held an annual Christmas Party for Junior Legatees and Widows at Government House for many years. Junior Legatees were given gifts. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of a Legacy Christmas party held at Government House.Colour slide of a boy on a rocking horse at a Legacy Christmas Party at Government House, in a cardboard mount.Imprinted '16 in red ink. Handwritten 'Junior at Legacy Party 14.12.1957' in black ink.christmas party, government house party, toys

Colour slide of legatees and children at Government House during a Legacy Christmas party in the 1960s. Melbourne Legacy held an annual Christmas Party for Junior Legatees and Widows at Government House for many years. Junior Legatees were given gifts. The exact date is not known but there are 15 slides in the same white mount which appear to be the same event (02913 - 02924). Governor Delacombe is in some the photos so they are post 1963 when he became Governor. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image is the best available.A record of a Legacy Christmas party held at Government House.Colour slide of legatees at a table talking to children and a widow at a Government House Christmas party in an Agfacolor plastic mount which is white on one side and blue on the other.Imprint of "Agfacolor Service' on the blue side of the mount.christmas party, government house party, toys

Two colour slides of girls in a swimming pool at a camp in 1958. The pool could be at the house of a legatee and is also used by boys camps in other slides. Was with many other slides taken in the 1950s and 1960s. The slides have been photographed to make digital images and moved to archive quality sleeves. In many cases the original images were not well focussed and the digital image the best available.A record of camps being organised for children.Colour slide photo of a group of girls in a swimming pool in a cardboard Kodachrome mount.Handwritten on front 'Girls cool off after arrival' and 1958 in blue pen. Handwritten 'Camps and Hol' in black ink. Imprinted '11' in black ink on one and '10' on another. Printed on reverse 'Kodachrome Transparency / Processed by Kodak' with a red outline on edge of slide.camps, pool