‘Strathmore’ Victoria Crescent (dem.) Joseph Sutton Crow and his wife Jessie (nee Temby) bought this property which had belonged to the Purbrick family in 1924. Sutton was an amateur ‘planner and landscape designer’ and had much pleasure in planning the use of their garden of 100 feet by 400 feet. While part remained rural with sheep, an orchard and vegetable garden, he laid out sweeping designs for the front garden which Jessie enjoyed converting into a garden worthy of display and which did gain prizes in the Herald Garden competitions of the 1930s. They entertained friends and often had as guests University Conservatorium staff and visiting musical personnel. They also opened the garden for local church fund-raising functions. Children, Jean and Ray, had areas set out for their recreation with pets and activities areas. The donor was their daughter. A black and white photograph of a Californian Style weatherboard house, painted in a dark colour. There is a well established garden in front. There is a bay window at one side of the house.house names, californian bungalow style, weatherboard, victoria crescent, surrey hills, (mr) joseph sutton crow, (mrs) jessie sutton crow, purbrick family, 1924, herald garden competitions, 1930-1939, (miss) jean sutton crow, (mr) ray sutton crow, 'strathmore'

The property is identified as 'Strathmore', the home of Joseph Sutton Crow and his wife Winifred (Jessie) Temby, whom he married in 1910. Joseph Sutton Crow: (1881-1969) - Joseph Sutton Crow gained his Diploma of Music from the Marshall Hall Conservatorium, the forerunner to the Melbourne University Conservatorium, in 1907. He taught both piano and organ and was organist and choirmaster in several churches. However it was as a fine administrator that Sutton Crow made a significant contribution to music in Melbourne. From 1910-1920 he was Secretary and Librarian of the Music Department at the University of Melbourne and from 1920 was the Secretary and Assistant Director of the Conservatorium of Music. From 1919 he was also Secretary of the Australian Music Examinations Board. He married lyric soprano, Jessie Temby and moved to ‘Strathmore’, 75 Victoria Crescent, Mont Albert in 1924 and lived there until 1952. In c1926 he was one of those behind establishing the public appeal to raise a million shillings to go towards the establishment of a permanent Symphony Orchestra. The appeal successfully raised both £4000 and the profile of orchestral music in Melbourne. The result was the Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra, which later became the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and from 1926-1939 he was its manager. Close local musical contemporaries were violinist Stanislau de Tarczynski and pianist Edward Goll, both of whom lived in Mont Albert. Winifred Jessie Temby (1883 - 1968) - soprano The donor was their daughter.A black and white photograph of a lady holding a sauce pan in her left hand and ladling out food to the fowls in front of her. Behind her there is a fenced off area with trees behind it.'strathmore', house names, victoria crescent, mont albert, surrey hills, joseph sutton crow (mr), winifred jessie temby (miss), jessie tremby (miss), winifred jessie crow (mrs), jessie crow (mrs), orchards, jean crow (miss)

Mr Joseph Sutton Crow and his wife Jessie (nee Temby) at their marriage in 1910. Sutton became Director of the University Conservatorium, was deeply involved in the musical life of Melbourne and managed concert parties travelling to country towns. Jessie was a soloist, singing, in the early days, at the concerts with visiting and local artists, such as flautist John Amadio. They made their home at ‘Strathmore’, 75 Victoria Crescent, Mont Albert. The donor was their daughter, Winifred Jean Crow.A black and white photograph of a couple dressed in their wedding attire. The bride (standing) is wearing a floor length dress and veil. She has flowers in her hair and is carrying a large bouquet of flowers. The groom (seated) is wearing a coat, with a waistcoat and tie and is carrying a top hat.(mr) joseph sutton crow, (mrs) jessie crow, (miss) jessie temby, conservatorium of music, house names, victoria crescent, mont albert, (mr) john amadio, 'strathmore', opera singer, (miss) winifred jessie temby, (mrs) winifred jessie crow

A few pages from the Crow family history that relate to life in Mont Albert.A few pages from the Crow family history that relate to life in Mont Albert.victoria crescent, mont albert, strathmore, house names, telephone exchange, 1930, (miss) winnie thompson, union road, surrey hills, mont albert central school, christian endeavour group, 1899, telephone services, (mr) edward lloyd, (mr) tom morris, grocer, tom morris's grocery, schools, teachers, (mr) - wenborn, ormiston girls' school, (miss) hazel schlesinger, 1916, trams, (miss) gwen littleton, (mr) alan wills, (miss) jean crow, (mr) ray crow, (miss) nancy barber, (mr) - harley, trafalgar street, wildlife sanctuary, greythorn road, balwyn, (mr) percy grainger