Coloured photograph of Bob Pratt being driven in a lap of honour around the Melbourne Cricket Ground.pratt bob snr., chapman jean

Official Programme - Hockey Final December 6th, 1956 Main Stadium Melbourne Cricket Ground Olympic Games XVIth Olympiad Booklet - purple and cream Olympic Games - Melbourne 1956 Hockey Final - Official Programme Main Stadium - M.C.G.international olympic committee, 56th olympiad melbourne 1956

“How’s the wicket, Bert?” During the 4-Day Victoria v South Australia Sheffield Shield match, held 13-17 November 1936 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the play was often interrupted by rain squalls, causing the groundsmen to cover their carefully prepared wicket with tarpaulins to protect it. “How’s the wicket, Bert?” is the question on everyone’s lips – Will it be a batsman’s nightmare? A bowler’s dream? Will the spectators see a full day’s play or will rain spoil it? With a twinkle in his eye, Bert “Maker of Pitches” Luttrell, the MCG curator’s response is: “It’s not the wicket when batsmen get out early, it’s good bowling!” FRC Published: The Age 17 November 1936 Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer.  Photographer notations on slide: "Covering wicket during Vict v Sth Aust Cricket at M.C.G. Nov 1936 B117" Published: Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 17 November 1936, page 13 Published title: SHEFFIELD SHIELD CRICKET. Published caption: Placing the tarpaulin over the wicket during one of the showers. This was done four times during the day. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205952141 Description: Nine men wearing black macintoshes and hats drag a tarpaulin over a cricket pitch. There is a bucket containing pegs in the foreground. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: During the four day Victoria v South Australia Sheffield Shield match, held 13-17 November 1936 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the play was often interrupted by rain squalls, causing the groundsmen to cover their carefully prepared wicket with tarpaulins to protect it. “How’s the wicket, Bert?” is the question on everybody’s lips - will it be a batsman’s nightmare? A bowler’s dream? Will the spectators see a full day’s play or will rain spoil it? With a twinkle in his eye, Bert “Maker of Pitches” Luttrell, the MCG curator’s response is: “It’s not the wicket when batsmen get out early, it’s good bowling!” Albert (Bert) John Wesley Luttrell 1875-1951, was born in Geelong and worked as a painter and decorator. He played cricket for Clarendon Cricket Club while helping to prepare the wicket at Kardinia Park. In 1890, Mr Phillip Russell, a wealthy merino sheep breeder of Osborne House, North Geelong, offered Bert the job of curator and cricket player for his team “The Nondescripts”, a social team who played at his private oval at Osborne House. After five years at Osborne House, Bert took up a position at Geelong Grammar School and then in 1900 he was appointed curator of Warehousemen’s Ground, Albert Park (later called Albert Ground). There he prepared the tennis courts for the 1908 Davis Cup - Australia v USA featuring the eventual winner of the tournament, Wimbledon champion Sir Norman Brookes. Following the retirement of the MCG curator, Bert was offered the position there for the 1919/20 season. Sport was resuming at the MCG after the suspension caused by the Great War and the Spanish Influenza pandemic. Cricket grounds and matches are always at the mercy of the weather. Sudden heavy downpours can make the ground unfit for play. In 1933, Bert invented and patented an absorbent roller for soaked pitches. Similar to a lawn mower in appearance, it was fitted with a rubber sponge which sucked up the water and then squeezed it into a tank. The sponge was said to mop up a gallon (3.78 litres) of water in 32 seconds and remove 100 to 120 gallons (378 - 454 litres) of water from any wet sports ground in an hour. Bert worked as a curator of the MCG for nearly 30 years, invariably creating his famous “shirt front” wicket. He retired in 1947 due to ill health. He was married to Emma and they had six children- Albert, Harry, Nell, Lily, Frank and Jack. Bert died at home in South Yarra in 1951 at 76 years of age. References: SHEFFIELD SHIELD CRICKET. ENGLISH FLYING BOAT. VICTORIA DOCK. (1936, November 17). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205952141 To Dry Grounds (1933, May 13). Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954), p. 3 (Edition2). Retrieved May 20, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183038194 No title (1937, February 25). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206185862 GOSSIP of THE GAME (1937, November 12). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 21. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244541623Photographer notations on slide: "Covering wicket during Vict v Sth Aust Cricket at M.C.G. Nov 1936 B117".cricket, 1930-1939

Newspaper article reads as follows: "Ringwood's turf wicket - Ringwood's rival to the M.C.G.- The turf wicket being put down at Jubilee Park is coming along nicely now, Merri Creek soil is being put on, and will shortly be followed by the sowing of the grass. Batsmen will not the long drive to the boundary - the oval will actually be bigger than M.C.G." Article "Mail 8/3/56". Stamped on back of photograph, "John Gallagher, Photography".

A box decorated with Christmas paper containing Australian news and cuttings of items of interest in Australia. Includes the history of the M.C.G., Lord and Lady Casey, Treasure from Gilt Dragon wreck, Flinders Street railway station, 'The story of 100 years by Roy Bridges, The 24th Annual Report of AMPOL 1960, magazine titled,' A picture of the Commonwealth' and various other items of news. 1960s.Australliana 5australia, history, general item of interest, lydia chancellor, collection, australia, australiana, history, person, melbourne cricket ground, flinders street railway station, governor general of australia, 'gilt dragon' wreck, australian history

Black and white photograph mounted on light brown frame. 8 Police Officers in 1920s uniform pose in uniforms with helmets. Standfing in a terrace with an open brick building with windows and a set of stairs on the background. Amongst them is William Arthur Poulter.Handwritten: BILL POULTER // 3RD FROM RIGHT Handwritten: The M.C.G. Gang // Collingwood - 93 PTS V Melbourne - 43 PTS // 21.8.26 Stamp: PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN // AT YOUR OWN HOME // P. J. DWYER // Onr. Harding & Salisbury Sts. // COBURG // PHOTOGRAPHS COPIED // AND ENLARGEDpoulter, william, william arthur poulter, victoria police museum, dwyer, p. j., police officers

1. Press - daily seat ticket. Printed on blue paper and pasted to white card. Press pass to the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. 2. Daily Staff Duty Pass. Printed on white (now yellow) paper pasted on card. Daily Staff Duty Pass with no seating allocated.Logo on left hand side: XVII OLYMPIAD / MELBOIURNE 1956 (Olympic Rings & Torch in middle.) 1. MAIN STADIUM - M.C.G. / PRESS / DAILY SEAT TICKET / DATE.............................. SEAT NO............................ / No. 1247 / £1-1-0 (Inc. Tax). 2. VENUE...Roof 1 Front. No. 26 / DAILY STAFF DUTY PASS / NO SEATING RIGHTS / THE BEARER IS ENTITLED TO / ADMISSION ON ..............(DATE) / FOR DUTIES AS ............................................... / Authorised by ...........................................melbourne olympics, 1956, press pass, daily staff duty pass

An invitation on damaged card with the words, ' In Honor and in the Presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, K.G., P.C., G.M.M.G., G.C.V.O., G.M.B.E., M.C. The Government of Victoria Requests the honor of the Company of The Worshipful the Mayor of Bendigo & Mrs. Curnow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Monday, 31st May, 1920 at a Demonstration of Physical Culture to be given by Children of the Metropolitan State Schools. Admit two only. Guests are requested to be in their places at 1.40 p.m. Please present this Card at the Members' Entrance. The Lower Tier of Seats in the Grey-Smith Stand, is on the West Side of the Members' Pavilion, is Reserved for Government Guests to the extent of its seating capacity. Entrance near the Bowling Green.'civic mementoes, royal souvenirs, invitation, lydia chancellor, royal family, melbourne cricket ground, m.c.g., official invitation, invitation, royal tour, the prince of wales

Hardcover book made in 1968 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the home and away season of 1968. Carlton would win their ninth VFL/AFL premiership in 1968 defeating Essendon by 3 points in the 1968 Grand Final. Essendon 2.1 5.1 6.4 8.5 53 Sat 28-Sep-1968 2:50 PM Att: 116,828 Venue: M.C.G. Carlton 2.2 6.8 7.9 7.14 56 Carlton won by 3 pts Hardcover book, navy blue

Hardcover book made in 1914 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the season of 1914. Carlton won their fourth VFL/AFL premiership in 1914 defeating South Melbourne by 6 points at the MCG. Carlton 2.3 5.8 5.8 6.9 45 Sat 26-Sep-1914 2:50 PM Att: 30,495 Venue: M.C.G. South Melbourne 2.5 2.5 3.11 4.15 39 Carlton won by 6 pts Coach – Norman Clark Captain – Billy Dick Leading Goal-kicker – Bill Cook 27 Goals Hardcover book, worn

Hardcover book made in 1915 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the season of 1915. Carlton won their fifth VFL/AFL premiership in 1915 defeating Collingwood at the MCG by 33 points. Carlton 2.5 6.6 6.8 11.12 78 Sat 18-Sep-1915 2:50 PM Att: 39,343 Venue: M.C.G. Collingwood 3.0 4.2 5.9 6.9 45 Carlton won by 33 pts Coach – Norman Clark Captain – Billy Dick Leading Goal-kicker – Herb Burleigh 46 goals2 x Hardcover Book, worn

Hardcover book made in 1921 to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the season of 1921. Carlton were defeated by Richmond in 1921 Grand Final by 4 points. Richmond 1.2 1.3 3.4 5.6 36 Sat 15-Oct-1921 2:50 PM Att: 43,122 Venue: M.C.G. Carlton 2.2 3.4 3.6 4.8 32 Richmond won by 4 pts Coach – Norman Clark Captain – Charlie Canet/Gordon Green Vice-Captain – Jack Greenhill Leading Goal-kicker – Horrie Clover 58 goalsHardcover book, wornR. Hunt Grandview Rd, Brighton 12/2/1922

Hardcover book made in 1987 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the home and away season of 1987. Carlton would win their 15th VFL/AFL premiership, defeating by 33 points in the 1987 Grand Final. Carlton 3.5 6.8 10.11 15.14 104 Sat 26-Sep-1987 2:50 PM Att: 92,754 Venue: M.C.G. Hawthorn 4.2 4.9 7.13 9.17 71 Carlton won by 33 pts Captain: Stephen Kernahan Coach: Robert Walls Leading Goal-kicker: Stephen Kernahan - 73 goals Best & Fairest: Stephen Kernahan Hardcover book, blue

Hardcover book made in 1962 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the season of 1962. Carlton would finish as Runner-Up, defeated by Essendon in the 1962 Grand Final. Essendon 6.5 7.7 10.10 13.12 90 Sat 29-Sep-1962 2:50 PM Att: 98,385 Venue: M.C.G. Carlton 1.1 5.6 7.8 8.10 58 Essendon won by 32 pts Coach: Ken Hands Captain: Graham Donaldson Vice Captain: John Nicholls Leading Goal-kicker: Tom Carroll - 62 goals Best & Fairest: Serge Silvagni Hardcover book, blue

Hardcover book made in 1979 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the home and away season of 1979. Carlton would win their 12th VFL/AFL premiership defeating Collingwood by 5 points in the 1979 Grand Final. Carlton 0.4 5.7 10.12 11.16 82 Sat 29-Sep-1979 2:50 PM Att: 113,545 Venue: M.C.G. Collingwood 2.2 5.6 7.9 11.11 77 Carlton won by 5 pts Captain & Coach: Alex Jesaulenko Leading Goal-kicker: Ken Sheldon - 53 goals Best & Fairest: Mike Fitzpatrick Hardcover book, navy blue

Hardcover book made in 1970 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the home and way season of 1970. Carlton would win their 10th VFL/AFL premiership in 1970, defeating Collingwood by 10 points in the 1970 Grand Final. Collingwood 4.8 10.13 13.16 14.17 101 Sat 26-Sep-1970 2:50 PM Att: 121,696 Venue: M.C.G. Carlton 0.3 4.5 12.5 17.9 111 Carlton won by 10 pts Captain: John Nicholls Coach: Ron Barassi Leading Goal-kicker: Alex Jesaulenko - 115 goals Best & Fairest: Adrian GallagherHardcover book, navy blue

Hardcover book made in 1972 made to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the home and away season of 1972. Carlton would win their 11th VFL/AFL premiership, defeating Richmond by 27 points in the 1972 Grand Final. Carlton 8.4 18.6 25.9 28.9 177 Sat 07-Oct-1972 2:50 PM Att: 112,393 Venue: M.C.G. Richmond 5.4 10.9 15.15 22.18 150 Carlton won by 27 pts Captain: John Nicholls Coach: John Nicholls Leading Goal-kicker: Greg Kennedy - 76 Best & Fairest: Geoff Southby Leading Brownlow votes: Alex Jesaulenko, Trevor Keogh - 11 Hardcover book, navy blue

Hardcover book made in 1947 to keep original copies of “The Football Record”. This book contains all Football Records relating to Carlton games for the season of 1945. Carlton won their 8th VFL/AFL premiership in 1947, defeating Essendon by 1 points at the MCG. Bert Deacon also became Cartlon’s first Brownlow Medallist in 1947. Carlton 4.0 8.0 10.4 13.8 86 Sat 27-Sep-1947 2:50 PM Att: 85,793 Venue: M.C.G. Essendon 3.7 8.11 10.15 11.19 85 Carlton won by 1 pt Captain: Ern Henfry Coach: Percy Bentley Best and Fairest: Bert Deacon and Ern Henfry (Tied) Leading Goalkicker: Ken Baxter (42) Brownlow Medallist: Bert Deacon Blue hardcover book

Football Wimmera Team. Members of the Wimmera football Team taken in Melbourne at M.C.G. Wimmera team v. Gippsland Played on Show day at MCG 1929. Back row: S. Freeland (Sect.) Nuske (Dimboola) Wearmouth (Rupanyup) C. Parsons (Warracknabeal) F. Gill (Nhill) H. Caust (Warracknabeal) A. Oliver (Stawell Sec.) Centre row: L. Westcott (Dimboola) J. Rice (Murtoa) R. L. De'Gares (Nhill) A. Wood (Horsham) A. Doyle ( Horsham) L. McKenna (Nhill) Front row: W. Twomey (Stawell) G. Simmonds (Murtoa) E. Pope (Nhill) E. McConnell (Nhill) H. Hunt (Stawell) J. May (Stawell) Jack. O'Rouke (Horsham) The photo is a copy of the original loaned for copy by Alison Neil. Miss Neil's father A.E. Neil was for many years secretary of the Wimmera League.Black and white photograph of a team of footballers and officials. Three rows of team members. Note the large W on the jumpers.stawell sport

Published: The Age, 10 November 1936, p. 13. Published title: CENTURY MAKERS AT THE M.C.G. Published caption: In spite of an impressive cordon in the slips. Lee (Vic.) cuts a ball through a gap and scores four in the match against England yesterday. Lee was eventually bowled by Farnes after making 160 run. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939431 Cricket: Victoria vs. England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, November 1936. Lee, the left handed Victorian batsman, plays a cut shot. The ball is visible. Victorian ROSS GREGORY scores one of his 11 boundaries, on his way to making a game-saving 128 runs. The bowler is MCC all-rounder, Jim Sims. During a chanceless time at the crease, ROSS GREGORY was in command of a full range of shots, dealing with short balls by hooking proficiently and demonstrating a perfect pull shot technique. Sadly this shot was also his downfall, as he pulled a short one from paceman Ken Farnes onto his stumps, ending his innings. After publishing the full photo the next day, The Age used this cropped action photo of Gregory twice more to accompany future stories about him. Featured in "Newsworthy : Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936", an exhibition held at East Melbourne Library from October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Ernie Ward. Photographer notations on slide: "Lee (Vict) bats against Eng at MCG Nov 1936".cricket, 1930-1939

This book contains some of the earliest details of competition results formalized in a notebook format. The competitions date from 1939 and proceed until 1950. As special interest it contains details of events held during the years of the Second World War when the South Street Competition was in recess. Basic details on the competitions covered by this book, and the pages they are listed on can be found below: Table of Contents: 2. 1939 Bendigo Contest – A Grade 4. 1939 Bendigo Contest – B Grade 5. 1939 Bendigo Contest – Street March 6. 1939 Bendigo Contest - C Grade 8. 1939 Bendigo Contest – D Grade 9. 21/05/1939 – Hawthorn Band Contest 11. 29/01/1940 – Kyneton Contest 13. 23/03/1940 – Bendigo Contest – C Grade 15. 12/10/1941 – Massed Bands M.C.G. – Oval March / Street March 16. 21/09/1941 / 05/10/1941 / 19/10/1941 / 09/11/1941 – Group Contest 17. 02/12/1944 - 03/12/1944 – Frankston – A Grade 18. 02/12/1944 - 03/12/1944 – Frankston – B Grade 19. 02/12/1944 – 03/12/1944 – Frankston – C Grade 20. 02/12/1944 – 03/12/1944 – Frankston – D Grade 21. 02/12/1944 – 03/12/1944 – Standard Newspapers Shield, Frankston – Full Results Table 23. 04/02/1945 – Williamstown 25. 27/04/1945 – Solo & Party Championships (Kelvin Hall) 26. 27/04/1945 – 28/04/1945 – Solo & Party Championships (Kelvin Hall) 27. 28/04/1945 – Solo & Party Championships (Kelvin Hall) 29. 26/12/1945 – Fern Tree Gully – D Grade & C Grade 30. 26/12/1945 – Fern Tree Gully – B Grade & A Grade 31. 29/12/1945 – Frankston – D Grade 32. 29/12/1945 – Frankston – C Grade 33. 29/12/1945 – Frankston – B Grade 34. 01/01/1946 – Frankston – A Grade (Australian Championship) 35. 01/01/1946 – Standard Newspapers Shield, Frankston – Full Results Table 36. 29/12/1945 – Frankston – Solo & Party Competitions – Events 1 - 6 37. 29/12/1945 – Frankston – Solo & Party Competitions – Events 7 – 10 38. 29/12/1945 – Frankston – Solo & Party Competitions – Events 11 – 13 39. 22/04/1946 – Colac Contest 41. 01/01/1948 – Maryborough Contest – D Grade 47. 28/03/1948 – 29/03/1948 – Bendigo Contest – B Grade 48. 28/03/1948 – 29/03/1948 – Bendigo Contest – C Grade 49. 28/03/1948 – 29/03/1948 – Bendigo Contest – D Grade 50. 28/03/1948 – 29/03/1948 – Bendigo Contest – Aggregates 52. 06/09/1948 – St Kilda 53. 05/09/1948 – Heidelberg 57. 28/10/1948 – Ballarat – D Grade 58. 28/10/1948 – Ballarat – C Grade 59. 30/10/1948 – Ballarat – B Grade 60. 30/10/1948 – Ballarat – B Grade (Cont.) 61. 30/10/1948 – Ballarat – A Grade 62. 30/10/1948 – Ballarat – A Grade (Cont.) 63. 28/10/1948 – Ballarat - D & C Grades – Street March 64. 28/10/1948 – Ballarat – B & A Grades – Street March 65. 30/10/1948 – Ballarat – A & B Grades – Trophy listing 66. 30/10/1948 – Ballarat – C & D Grades – Trophy listing 67. 26/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition 68. 26/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition (Cont.) 69. 27/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition 70. 27/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition (Cont.) 71. 27/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition 72. 27/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition (Cont.) 73. 27/10/1948 – Ballarat – Solo & Party Competition 79. 13/03/1949 – Bendigo Group Contest 81. 20/03/1949 – Gippsland Group Contest 83-84. 17/04/1949 – Bendigo Easter Contest – C Grade 85. 07/10/1949 – Heidelberg – C Grade 87. 27/10/1949 – Ballarat – D Grade 88. 27/10/1949 – Ballarat – D Grade (Cont.) 89. 28/10/1949 – Ballarat – C Grade 90. 28/10/1949 – Ballarat – C Grade (Cont.) 91. 29/10/1949 – Ballarat – B Grade 92. 29/10/1949 – Ballarat – B Grade (Cont.) 93. 29/10/1949 – Ballarat – A Grade 94. 29/10/1949 – Ballarat – A Grade (Cont.) 95. 25/10/1949 – Ballarat – Solos 96. 25/10/1949 – Ballarat – Solos (Cont.) 97. 25/10/1949 – 26/10/1949 – Ballarat – Solos 98. 26/10/1949 – Ballarat – Champion of Champions / Solos 99. 29/10/1949 – Ballarat – Special Quickstep 100. 29/10/1949 – Ballarat – Special Quickstep 101. 19/02/1950 – Leongatha – D Grade 102. 19/02/1950 – Leongatha – D Grade – Full Results Table 103. 12/03/1950 – Bendigo Easter Fair Contest 104. 12/03/1950 – Bendigo Easter Fair Contest – Full Results Table 105. 12/03/1950 – Bendigo Easter Fair Contest – Selection / Hymn / Aggregate 106. 28/08/1950 - 01/09/1950 – Solo & Party Competitions (Assembly Hall) – Events 1 - 2 107. 28/08/1950 - 01/09/1950 – Solo & Party Competitions (Assembly Hall) – Events 3 - 7 108. 28/08/1950 - 01/09/1950 – Solo & Party Competitions (Assembly Hall) – Events 8 – 11 109. 28/08/1950 - 01/09/1950 – Solo & Party Competitions (Assembly Hall) – Events 12 – 15 110. 28/08/1950 - 01/09/1950 – Solo & Party Competitions (Assembly Hall) – Events 16 – 20 111. 10/10/1950 – 12/10/1950 – Heidelberg Contest – Solos – Events 2 – 11 112. 13/10/1950 – Heidelberg Contest – C Grade 113. 24/10/1950 – South Street Victorian Championships – Solo & Party Competition 114. 25/10/1950 – South Street Victorian Championships – Solo & Party CompetitionThis book is very significant to the history of the Victorian Bands' League due to the richness of historical data that it contains and the amount of competitions that were covered. Leather bound notebook, 190.

Photographer notations on slide: "General View Of Lord Mayor's Dinner At Town Hall Nov 1936 B112" Published: The Age, Tuesday 10 November 1936, page 13 Published title: LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET Published caption: The brilliant scene inside the Melbourne Town Hall last night during the Lord Mayor’s banquet. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939431 Description: 700 guests (all men) are seated around numerous tables in the Melbourne Town Hall for the Lord Mayor's dinner in November 1936. Before the stage is a top table of 35 men, all dressed smartly in black dinner suits, with either a black or white bow tie. Many are wearing their medals. The Lord Mayor has on his Mayoral chains, and to his right is the Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntingfield. The stage is heavily decorated with fresh flowers. Research by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie: This image takes up one quarter of the photographic space on page 13 of The Age on 10 November 1936, reflecting the importance of the event and also the sheer dramatics of the image: 700 guests (all men), a top table of 35, and all dressed smartly in black dinner suits, with either a black or white bow tie. Many are wearing their medals. The Lord Mayor has on his Mayoral chains, and to his right is the Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntingfield. Further to his right is a man with an impressive sash across his chest. It is a very animated, and rather informal, moment. Banks of fresh flowers smother the stage, which is decorated in the manner of a terrace at an English stately home. Tables are laden with food, drink and decorations, and the wait staff (men and women) are also formally dressed, in the manner of Downton Abbey. It is spectacular, dramatic, and luxurious, and perpetuates the proud descriptor of “Marvellous Melbourne” as conferred by London Journalist George Augustus Sala when he visited the city in 1885. During its 1880s boom, Melbourne was the second-largest city in the British Empire, after London, and reputedly the richest city in the world. At times the expression was used with some irony, but "...in Victoria’s centenary year, 1934, with the city mired in another depression, a publisher bravely entitled a book of souvenir photographs Marvellous Melbourne, claiming that the subject ‘still finds apt expression in the happy one-time sobriquet’.” This photo seems to reflect an ongoing pride in Melbourne and a desire for it to live up to its descriptor and celebrate its post-centenary era in style. So it is no surprise to find that on page 11 of The Age on the same day, a second photo is to be found – a cropped view of one table – along with a very detailed description of the night, its purpose, and a surprise announcement. But, who was the Lord Mayor in whose honour the dinner was held? In 1934, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne was Cr. Alexander George Wales, (born Richmond, 11 October 1885, died Elsterwick, 31 May 1962). His father was a contractor and quarry-owner, but was blinded in an industrial accident in 1899. Consequently Alexander, then aged 14, left Brunswick State School to become a railway labourer working at a quarry, and in 1903 joined the Commonwealth public service as a clerk and began studying at night school, determined to improve himself. In 1907 he was appointed secretary of the Albion Quarrying Co. (in which the family had an interest), then its managing director and chairman. As the Australian Dictionary of Biography notes, he was instrumental in expanding the company’s interests, "...becoming director of the Hardware Co. of Australia Pty Ltd, the Twentieth Century Building and Investment Society, the Albion Sand Co. and the Geelong Brick Co.”. His public career began in 1914 when he was elected to the Brunswick council. He was mayor 1917-18, and in 1925 progressed to the Melbourne City Council where he remained for 29 years, being a member of most council committees. He served three successive terms as lord mayor (1934-37), was Chairman of the council’s decorations committee for Melbourne’s centenary, president of the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board (1936), and Chairman of the Public Works Committee (1937-39). In 1936 he was elected to the Legislative Council with United Australia Party support, but later resigned over possible State government contract tender irregularities. Wales received "the customary reward” of a knighthood and was invested at Buckingham Palace by King George VI whose coronation he attended in 1937. He was an early director of what is now Ampol, and helped the development of the petroleum industry in Australia after visiting the USA in 1943 and 1946. He was impressed by that country’s wartime shipbuilding efforts and supported closer ties with the USA. “While president (1947-48) of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, Wales was a vocal critic of the Federal Labor Government, ...a staunch anti-socialist ... and a focus for conservative opposition to the Curtin and Chifley governments...” He is described as “a natural leader in business and civic politics,... a powerful force in the Melbourne City Council... opposing democratic reforms such as the creation of a Greater Melbourne Council and the abolition of plural voting, but advocat[ing] the redevelopment of city-owned property like the Eastern and Western markets...” So, this Lord Mayor’s dinner marks the third successive term in office for Governor Cr. A G Wales. The room is filled with powerful and influential men, and provided a platform for the Premier of Victoria, Albert Dunstan (1882-1950, United Country party) to announce that if the City Council would bear half the cost the State Government would build a bridge at Punt Road “at once”. He announced that the Government proposed to have the bridge built by the Country Roads Board, and allow the City Council to pay its share on convenient terms, and further, it would investigate the shared provision of more Yarra bridges. The proposal for the Punt Road Bridge was met with applause as the Yarra River constituted a serious traffic barrier. On 12 November 1936, two days after the Lord Mayor’s dinner, The Age published an article, “Building without a Plan”. It questions the appropriateness of the next Yarra bridge being the one at Punt Road, and encourages a “proper procedure” to look at the provision of additional Yarra bridges as a whole. But in fact this topic had been canvassed back in August when Melbourne City Council’s public works committee had recommended the replacement of the footbridge at Punt Road with a bridge, and if the Country Roads Board would declare this portion of Punt Road, including the river crossing, a State Highway, this could give the Board authority to construct the bridge and allocate the cost. Hence the reference at the dinner to a shared expense. Still an integral part of traffic management today, the Hoddle Bridge carries Punt Road over the Yarra River between Richmond and South Yarra in Melbourne. It is a five-lane road bridge with narrow footpaths on either side. It is of continuous reinforced concrete T-beam construction with five segmental arched spans, supported on transverse piers, and linked by concrete cross-beams. “The piers terminate in a series of tapered concrete pillars with Art Deco-styled steamlined decoration. Each pillar supports a Victorian-style lamp. The infill railings are geometric-patterned painted metal. Construction began in late 1937, and it was opened by Premier Albert Dunstan on 22 December 1938. It replaced an earlier footbridge, which in turn had replaced a punt service. The bridge (originally referred to as Punt Road Bridge) was named after Robert Hoddle, who planned central Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid, the grid of streets which form Melbourne’s central business district. Hoddle arrived in Australia from the UK in 1823 and went on to carry out surveys in NSW and Queensland before arriving in Melbourne in 1837. He designed layouts for both Melbourne and Williamstown, and later Geelong and other Victorian country areas. He was keen that major streets be at least 30 metres wide. ”With remarkable foresight he provided for wide boulevards from the city to the suburbs, but the subdivisions of early speculators in inner suburbs created the bottle-necks of today. After the separation of the colony in 1851, he became Victoria’s first surveyor-general... and advocated the provision of three-chain (60 m) roads and the widening of all existing main roads from one (20 m) to three chains." However, he was met with constant opposition and in 1853, was eased out of office. As a small and interesting aside: Hoddle was appointed auctioneer for the first sale of crown land in Melbourne on 1 June 1837. His commission was 57 pounds 12s 7d. and he bought two allotments for himself at a cost of 54 pounds. After he died his second wife married Richard Buckhurst Buxton, a member of the family which in 1860s Melbourne established the Australian property dynasty of Buxton Real Estate, Becton, MAB Corporation etc. Returning to the dinner and The Age article of 10 November 1836: Another topic of the after-dinner speeches was a reference to the upcoming Armistice Day. “The Minister of Customs (Mr White) said the proximity of Armistice day reminded us that eighteen years ago we had high hopes of prolonged peace.” The term “Armistice Day” was coined after WWI: “At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms on unconditional surrender. Therefore on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was renamed Remembrance Day after World War Two to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars. Today it refers to the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts, accompanied by the words, "We will remember them, Lest we forget"." There was comment at the dinner about the need to remain firm in supporting the “democratic government in the British Empire to avoid a “plunge into savagery”. There was a grave responsibility on the British people to keep democracy alive, and that could not be done without adequate defence forces... Many weak governments in non-British countries had been swept aside by strong-fisted dictators, who now were the real threat to peace”. With the benefit of hindsight these were very pertinent comments and tragically prophetic. The Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance had only been dedicated two years earlier, at a ceremony attended by the Duke of Gloucester, son of King George V. Over 300,000 citizens attended: one third of the population of Melbourne. It became the location for the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Originally the march travelled from the Shrine into the city, however, in 1936, this was reversed, and the Shrine became the termination point for Anzac Day Marches. Also significant in 1936, was the installation of a statue in the west forecourt of the Shrine: “The Man with the Donkey” (aka 'Private John Simpson and his Little Donkey'). The work is said to represent the “valour and compassion of the Australian soldier”. Its full citation, according to the City of Melbourne City Collection is: West Side of Base: "The / Man with his Donkey / Gallipoli, April 25 to May 19 / in Commemoration / of the valour and compassion / of the Australian Soldier" AFTER LANDING AT GALLIPOLI, SIMPSON, WITH HIS LITTLE DONKEY, WORKED ALONE, DAY AND NIGHT TAKING WATER TO THE FRONT LINE AND CARRYING THE WOUNDED BACK TO THE DRESSING STATIONS. HE AND HIS DONKEY WERE KILLED BY A SHRAPNEL SHELL ON THE 19TH MAY, 1915. SIMPSON WAS MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES BY SIR IAN HAMILTON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE MEDITERRANEAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. / Erected by Public Subscription under auspices of the / Red Cross Society. East Side of Base: Private John Simpson." Their summary in background states: "A bronze figure of Simpson and his donkey with a wounded man on the donkey's back on a granite pedestal. Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick’s intrepid and short-lived exploits during the Gallipoli campaign have made him a popular figure of World War One. He has been mythologised to represent the lauded values of the digger, and he symbolises all those who went into battle unarmed. Born in England in 1892, he came to Australia in 1910. He enlisted to make his way back to England, but as a member of the 3rd Field Ambulance AIA was sent to Gallipoli. After just three weeks of bearing wounded soldiers across Shrapnel Gully on the back of his donkey, Simpson was killed by shrapnel fire. Simpson’s story became a powerful propaganda tool for enlistment in Australia, but following the war he was quickly forgotten. With the Shrine of Remembrance nearing completion in 1933, the memory of Simpson was rekindled to commemorate all who gave their lives to help others during the war. One plaque reads: ‘The / Man with his donkey / Gallipoli … / In commemoration / of the valour and compassion / of the Australian soldier’. In 1935, Wallace Anderson’s design for the memorial was selected though a competition organised by the Australian Red Cross. Anderson had served during the war and worked at the Australian War Memorial after his return. His Man with the Donkey was cast in Italy, and after some debate was sited near the shrine. Unveiled 20th June, 1936." The sculptor, Victorian-born William Wallace Anderson (1888-1975), served in France during WWI and afterwards produced a number of bronze war memorials and memorial portraits, predominantly in Victoria. “His most famous work is that of Simpson and his Donkey (1935), which he completed after winning a competition conducted by the Victorian Division of the Australian Red Cross. Anderson’s fee was 350 pounds; the cast, made by the Chiurazzi Foundry, Naples, Italy, cost 40 pounds. The work... has become well known as a symbol of the Anzac tradition.” A debate as to the siting of the statue arose from a strong view expressed by General Sir John Monash that no representation of individual members of the Australian Defence Force be located on the Shrine itself. Hence its location off to the northwest of the forecourt, in a garden of rosemary. And finally we return to the photo of the grand Lord Mayor’s dinner! An article in The Argus of 4 November 1936 refers to “Brilliant Scene at Lord Mayor’s Ball – Hall Becomes a Garden”. So now it becomes clear why the Town Hall, location of the Lord Mayor’s Dinner on 10 November 1934, only 6 days later, is so lavishly decorated. The floral decorations from the Ball are still in place - an early example of “recycling”, which is gratifying to note at a time of Depression. The reporter has captured the scene with enthusiasm: “Hundreds of tiny rose lights, hidden among pink roses, transformed the Melbourne Town Hall into a magical garden last night, when the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Councillor A. C. Wales, M.L.C., and Mrs. Wales) entertained about 3,500 guests at a ball. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Huntingfield) and Lady Huntingfield were present, while Rear-Admiral and Mrs. Lane Poole and officers from the visiting squadron were among the special guests. The balconies all round the hall were hidden by a white trellis, covered with pink blossoms and greenery. Rosy flowers were issued up every pillar, and great golden lamps, hanging from the door, were seated in greenery and trails of sweet peas. The organ gallery was converted into a terrace garden with stone steps leading to banks of pink azaleas, pink pelargoniums, masses of calceolarias, and the lovely deep mauve and blue of cinerarias. Slender Japanese maples and poplar trees grew from the higher slopes amid thickets of hostas, while a fascinating illusion was created by the lofty conservatory windows, which formed the background, and which were tinted cerulean blue to simulate the sky seen through glass. Large fern baskets hung from the conservatory roof, and the whole scene was enclosed in trellises of blossom. In the entrance palm green shrubs stood like sentinels round the passed floor, and flowers bloomed in misty golds. The long corridor upstairs leading to the council chamber was lined with an avenue of poplar trees in tubs. In the Lower Town Hall great banks of calceolarias and azaleas decked the upper dais, and each supper table was adorned with a different coloured flower with sprays of roses and Japanese maple laid on the snowy cloths. The adjoining supper-rooms were fragrant with the scent of huge bowls of stock in mauve, purple, and pink, while the white walls were covered with palm leaves and flowers. The roof garden below the clock tower was enclosed as a buffet with rose wreathed walls, and flowers were arranged attractively in the Lady Mayoress's rooms." References: LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET. CENTURY MAKERS AT THE M.C.G. BEFORE THE CHANGE. (1936, November 10). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939431 'Portrait of Sir George Wales (Lord Mayor 1934-1937)', City Collection, City of Melbourne, https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/portrait-of-sir-george-wales-lord-mayor-1934-37/ Graeme Davison, 'Marvellous Melbourne', eMelbourne, https://www.emelbourne.net.au/biogs/EM00906b.htm THE LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET. (1936, November 10). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205939643 BRILLIANT SCENE AT LORD MAYOR'S BALL Hall Becomes a Garden (1936, November 4). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 14. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11932746 'Hoddle Bridge', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoddle_Bridge 'Hoddle Bridge', Victorian Heritage Database Report, Victorian Heritage Council, https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/195689/download-report David Dunstan, 'Wales, Sir Alexander George (1885–1962)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/wales-sir-alexander-george-8951/text15737, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 26 September 2024. Marjorie J. Tipping, 'Hoddle, Robert (1794–1881)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hoddle-robert-2190/text2823, published first in hardcopy 1966, accessed online 26 September 2024. BUILDING WITHOUT A PLAN. (1936, November 12). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205949762 NEW BRIDGE AT PUNT ROAD (1936, August 12). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11902131 'The Shrine of Remembrance', Beaconsfield’s Soldiers: https://beaconsfield.org.au/digitalmemorial/shrine-introduction/ 'Shrine of Remembrance', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_Remembrance Ken Scarlett, 'Anderson, William Wallace (1888–1975)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/anderson-william-wallace-9362/text16441, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 26 September 2024. 'Man with the Donkey', City Collection, City of Melbourne, https://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/man-with-the-donkey-aka-private-john-simpson-and-his-little-donkey/ 'Remembrance Day', Australian Army, https://www.army.gov.au/about-us/history-and-research/traditions/remembrance-day Photographer notations on slide: "General View Of Lord Mayor's Dinner At Town Hall Nov 1936 B112".melbourne town hall, mayors, lord mayors, centenaries, bridges, dinners, clothing and dress, festive decorations, dances and balls, eating and drinking, shrine of remembrance, governors, monuments and memorials, 1930-1939, plants