Gold & brown wooden framed photograph or 7 women & children in formal dress - Queen, attendants, flower girl & pages.Diggers' Queen - Colac Centenary, 1937 Queen - Miss Florence Ryan; Attendants-Misses E. White and L. Ryan; Flower Girls- J Christie and P Heath; Pages-B. White and A. Cowley. AMOUNT RAISED, [pounds] 406/6/8

Studio portrait of Dorothy Armstrong as the winning Queen of the 1924 Queen Carnival, in aid of the Vermont Sports Reserve. Her attendants are Stuart Corr, Lily Stevens and Lucy Brockell. The photograph is mounted on card.vermont reserve, armstrong, dorothy jean, queen carnival 1924, corr, stuart, brockell, lucy, stevens, lily

Photograph Queen Kath Sayers Male attendants John Chalmers Ernie Hocking Tom Calvary Treleor Duncan Alf Stark Lindsey Henderson Dave Clarke Charlers Attendants Annie Clarke nee Wise Isabelle Styles Margaret Picken Kath Sayers Queen Jean Dunkley jessie Dunkley|Black and Wite Photograph of Queen Kath Sayers Male attendants John Chalmers Ernie Hocking Tom Calvary Treleor Duncan Alf Stark Lindsey Henderson Dave Clarke Charlers Attendants Annie Clarke nee Wise Isabelle Styles Margaret Picken Kath Sayers Queen Jean Dunkley jessie Dunkley|Photograph Olive and attendants Maude Annie Queen Laurel Carlton Heiffer Heiffer Wilson Jean Whittingham Stark Norma Gum Val Anderson Honor Ayton|Photograph Oliver Heiffer Egglestone Gold Queen Male attndants John Chalmers Ernie Hocking Tom Calvary Treleor Duncan Alf Stark Lindsey Henderson Dave Clarke Charlers Attendants Anne Heiffer sister Maude sister Laurel Carlton Wilson Jean Whittigham Val Anderson Norma Gum Stark Honor Aytonwaratah cricket club, cricket

Shoulder Uniform Flashes issued to Doug Blackney, RSL Representative Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, who was a Queen's Car Attendant for the Visits in 1954.Two embroidered cloth patches (.1) & (.2)Handwritten on back of .2: From DOUGLAS BLACKNEY / (MAJ RETD.)royal visits

Official opening of the Lake Bolac Memorial Hall on Friday 9th June, 1922. Depicted is the Queen Carnival, held to raise funds. Shown are Queen Doris Cameron (Quin) and her attendants. To immediate left of the Queen is Isabel MacKenzie (who later married Stanley Moreton).mackenzie

This is an invitation to George and Annie Rolfe of Lyndoch, Warrnambool, to attend the opening of the first Australian Parliament in Melbourne in May 1901. A smaller invitation card was first sent to the recipients and this larger invitation was sent after the event for the recipients to keep as a souvenir. The six Australian colonies became six Australian States in the newly-formed Commonwealth of Australia in January 1901. George Rolfe (1836-1919), a tea merchant from Melbourne, began buying blocks of land in Warrnambool near the mouth of the Hopkins River in the 1870s. By the early 1880s Rolfe owned 50 acres of land in the town and other nearby pastoral properties. He used the existing building on the land near the mouth of the Hopkins River as holiday accommodation, calling the property Lyndoch and adding stables, bone and chaff sheds, jetty, boathouse, reservoir and windmill and an extensive garden. George Rolfe spent most of his later life at Lyndoch. Today the area is the site of an aged care facility. This certificate is of considerable importance for two reasons: 1. It is an important memento of a signal event in Australia’s history – the Federation of the States in 1901. 2. The certificate was an invitation to George Rolfe of Lyndoch and his wife. Rolfe was a prominent Warrnambool person at that time. This is a piece of cardboard containing an illustration of a young queen in battle dress and on horseback bowing to an image of Britannia. The queen is about to be crowned. There are several lady attendants in the background and two large columns depicted on the sides of the illustration with shields and banners. An extract from Kipling’s poem, The Young Queen, is printed at the bottom of the card. The invitation is coloured in brown, yellow, white and orange tonings. The name of the recipient of the card is handwritten in black ink. The card is slightly scuffed and marked. The card is an invitation to Mr and Mrs Rolfe to attend the Opening of the First Australian Parliament in Melbourne in May 1901. ‘Mr & Mrs G. Rolfe’ federation in australia, george rolfe and family, history of warrnambool, lyndoch warrnambool

Identification has been given as follows: Young women: (?) Elizabeth Cooper, Ilma Bodley, "Queen" Avis Andrews, Marion Fair, Lynette Elliott. Names of girl and boy attendants not known by donor. The Queen Carnival was a fundraiser for the Holy Trinity Tennis Club. The Queen Carnival Coronation was held in the Canterbury Memorial Hall on 11 June 1940. Mrs F Eastwood was the trainer and the Honorary Secretary of the tennis club. The donor Mary Holborn married Geoffrey Stroud Clucas in 1946 in Surrey Hills. The photo documents a social fundraising practice common in the early 20th century. Queen carnivals were also popular in New Zealand. In both countries they were particularly common during World War I and in the years after, when they were used to raise funds for returned soldiers. The first such carnival is believed to have been held in Napier, New Zealand, in 1913. The carnivals were not always annual events, and were held in various locations throughout a year.Black and white group photo of 5 women, 2 girls and 2 boys in formal costume mounted on cardboard which has been roughly trimmed. The 'Queen' is seated in the centre and the 2 young girls and 4 young women are standing beside her. The 2 'pages' seated in front of her on the edge of her train. The photo appears to have been taken in a hall. REAR: "Holy Trinity Tennis Club Queen Carnival / June 11 / 1940 / M Clucas / 33 Jurang St / Balwyn"sport, tennis, holy trinity anglican church, 1940, clothing and dress, queen carnival, mrs mary clucas, miss mary holborn, mrs f eastwood, elizabeth cooper, ilma bodley, avis andrews, marion fair, lynette elliott, canterbury memorial hall

Donor identifies the following: Parish priest - Dr W M Collins Queen - Molly Baker Attendants - Marg Wise, Lola Sans, Gertie Baker Flower girls - Madge Wise, Molly Brown, Rita O'Sullivan Probably taken in Our Holy Redeemer Hall, Mont Albert Road, Surrey Hills.This is one of only a few photos in our collection which are evidence of Queen Carnivals which originated as fundraising events. They were particularly popular in both Australian and New Zealand during the early 20th century. They were particularly common during and after World War I when they were used to raise funds for returned soldiers. It is currently the only photo in the collection of a social event connected to Our Holy Redeemer Church and the only one which includes Dr William M Collins who was the parish priest from 1933-1941. Dr Collins was a significant figure in the Catholic Church in Melbourne in the first half of the 20th century. REF: The Advocate: The first priest-editor by Fiona Power; Kairos Catholic Journal Volume 22, Issue 16. - 2 September 2011": Summary: Born in Kilmore in 1884, William Collins attended South Melbourne College and then the University of Melbourne, where he assisted in the formation of the Newman Society of Victoria. After graduating in arts in 1911, he worked at the Melbourne Public Library and the Education Department. In 1912, at the age of 28, he went to Rome, where he studied for the priesthood at Urban College. He obtained doctorates in philosophy and theology and was ordained on 3 June 1917. He returned to Melbourne and was appointed curate at St Mary’s, West Melbourne, and St Francis’, Lonsdale Street. In 1918, Dr Collins became editor of The Advocate. He remained in the role for seven years. Dr Collins was parish priest of Dandenong, Daylesford, East Malvern, Surrey Hills and Kew, and administrator at St Francis’. He died in 1959 and a Requiem Mass was held at Sacred Heart, Kew. Black and white photo of the participants in the Queen Carnival arranged on a stage in a tableaux of the coronation of the Queen. To the right are the parish priest and the archbishop and there is a man at the bottom of the stairs centre front of the stage. Guests are seated at a table to the right of the stairs and to the left of the stairs is a table with floral arrangements and other objects. "1938" hand-written on the original photo in upper LH corner.festivals and celebrations, queen carnivals, our holy redeemer church, dr w m collins, rev william m collins, (miss) molly baker, (miss) marg wise, (miss) lola sans, (miss) gertie baker, (miss) madge wise, (miss) molly brown, (miss) rita o'sullivan

sepia photo on fawn board. A group of eight young ladies in fancy dress, as attendants of a queen, taken in the photographic studio of W. Vincent Kelly. The large ermine edged robe is swirled on the floor in front of the standing and seated damsels six of whom are holding bouquets. Inscription: 'W. Vincent Kelly\Mitchell St\Bendigo' on mount. RHSV stamp on back, Bendigo branch. Handwritten' with love from Marjorie 1917?'W.Vincent Kellyperson, group, fancy dress, queen and attendants

This is a photo of the "Queen Competition", probably the best remembered entertainment of the 1930's. Four local lasses were chosen to represent the following: Bellfield Hotel, Grampians House, The Cricket Club and the Grampians Mountains. When the long awaited evening came each Queen and her attendants paraded through the hall, the results were announced and the winner (who this year was Valerie Evans) took her place on a throne erected in the middle of the stage. The other Queens made their way to thrones on either side of her. The audience were treated to a right royal display as the "Bishop" placed a crown on the winner's head. Much merriment followed including a play, with students dressed as Minnie and Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters. For the names of the people in the photo refer to "Bridging the Gap" by Ida Stanton, p.88. The photo shows a group of people arranged on and below a dais. There is a woman dressed as royalty sitting on a throne in the centre, flanked by a man dressed as a bishop on the left and a man dressed as a courtier on the right. There are two young girls in long white dresses wearing flowered bands in their hair standing in front of the men. There are more girls in white dresses and flower bands along both sided of the dais and two youths wearing ruffle fronted shirts and holding batons/walking sticks(?) at the front of each row of girls. Carpeted steps lead down from the dais and in front of the dais on either side are two boys dressed as pages. Flower arrangements flank the foot of the stairs.recreation, entertainment

Photographer notations on slide: Town Hall Nov 1936 W.H. Everard [unknown] Friendly Society Concert B117 Published: The Age, Mon 16 Nov 1936 Published title and caption: CROWNING THE PRINCESS OF LOVE ON SATURDAY. Mr. W. H. Everard, M.L.A. , about to crown the winning Princess in the Girls' Friendly Society's competition at the Town Hall. Reference: CROWNING THE PRINCESS OF LOVE ON SATURDAY. (1936, November 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved October 29, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205953075 Description: The photograph captures an elaborately staged coronation of a queen, on the stage of Melbourne Town Hall. 25 female attendants in long gowns are holding posies. There are five flower girls and several wigged male attendants. An audience of mostly women and children is standing from their chairs to view the activities. The Age, Thursday 5 November 1936, page 6: "Princess" Coronation Ceremony. Thirty-eight branches of the Girls' Friendly Society are competing in the Princess competition, which will culmi nate in a coronation ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall, on the evening of Saturday, 14th inst. The princesses are Love, Joy. Youth, Beauty, Courage and Friendship. Mr. W. H. Everard, M.L.A., will crown the winning queen, and Mrs. F. W. Head, president of the G.F.S., will be the guest of honor. A programme of music and dances is being arranged. This is the first time that members of the G.F.S. have organised such a big effort to raise funds, and proceeds will be devoted to the building fund for the new hostel in Spring-street. Reference: "Princess" Coronation Ceremony. (1936, November 5). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved October 29, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205944373 GFS Australia Inc, https://gfsaustralia.org.au/ Girls' Friendly Society, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls%27_Friendly_SocietyPhotographer notations on slide: "Town Hall Nov 1936 W.H. Everard [unknown] Friendly Society Concert B117".melbourne town hall, town halls, dances and balls, societies, 1930-1939, fundraising events, clothing and dress

1911–2005: Gordon George Powell, who has died at 94, was for many years the highly influential minister at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Sydney and a popular radio broadcaster and author. He began Wednesday services at St Stephen's in Macquarie Street soon after arriving in Sydney from Melbourne in 1952. They grew to become the biggest regular lunch-hour services in the world, with up to 1300 people crowding the church and the hall below. In 1953, with the help of Vernon Turner of the Christian Broadcasting Association, services were broadcast on radio. The broadcasts continued even when Gordon moved back to Melbourne, so for 30 years he maintained a successful weekly radio ministry. While at St Stephen's, he was also involved in the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade in Sydney, attended by 980,000 people over two weeks. Gordon was born in Warrnambool, Victoria, the son of a dentist, George Powell, and his wife, Louisa (nee Clarke). He went to school at Scotch College. He gave up plans to become an electrical engineer after hearing a call to the ministry and studied arts and then theology at the University of Melbourne, where he formed a close friendship with Edward (Weary) Dunlop. Gordon rowed in the Ormond crew, winning the university's inter-college trophy five times. He was a passionate sports lover all his life. He was awarded a scholarship to Trinity College, Glasgow University, in 1935, and for three months stayed with the great Scottish churchman George (later Lord) MacLeod. While on a cycling trip around Scotland, he stopped by the shores of Loch Ness and saw a long neck appear. The monster swam about 300 metres at great speed; Gordon counted three or four humps. Later, when he saw a skeleton of a plesiosaurus at the Victoria and Albert Museum, he recognised it as Nessie. For the rest of his life, he retained an avid interest in the Loch Ness Monster and its attendant scientific debate. While in Scotland, Gordon wrote a weekly article for The Messenger, the official journal of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. This led to a life as an author of articles and books. He also wrote long letters home to his mother, a habit that later led to his weekly "Dad's Diaries", which were distributed to the wider family. Failing eyesight put an end to his reading and writing two years ago. On returning to Australia in late 1936, he became assistant minister at Toorak, the second-biggest Presbyterian church in Melbourne. There, at last, Gordon married Gwen Gilchrist, whom he had courted for nine years. They moved from the wealthiest church to one of the poorest, at Port Adelaide, which was still in the grip of the Depression. There, he was finally ordained, in May 1938, and the first two of their four children, Rosemary and David, were born. In 1941, Gordon became assistant minister to Scots Church in Melbourne and the following year, after the birth of his third child, Mardi, he reluctantly volunteered as an RAAF chaplain. He was a pacifist but felt bad at not being in uniform. For the following three years, he was stationed in New Guinea and Australia. His war reminiscences were published as Two Steps to Tokyo and sold 6000 copies in 1945 alone. At 34, by then the father of four children, he was invited to be minister of the Collins Street Independent Church in the heart of Melbourne, now St Michael's Uniting Church Before being inducted, he undertook a lecture tour of the US, speaking to Rotary clubs in 48 centres, from Michigan to Maryland. He met, and was impressed by, the liberal theologian Harry Emerson Fosdick, and the US religious leader and author Norman Vincent Peale, who became a close friend and mentor. Back in Australia, Gordon founded and fostered the first Alcoholics Anonymous group in Melbourne. In 1952, he took up what was to become his happiest ministry, at St Stephen's in Sydney. When Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured two years later, Gordon and Gwen were not only invited to lunch with them, but sat beside them. This was a highlight for Gordon, an ardent monarchist. In 1960, Gordon and Gwen embarked on a world tour that included the US, where he was invited to give the opening prayer in the Senate, with vice-president Richard Nixon presiding. After another five years at St Stephen's, Gordon returned to Scots Church in Melbourne. It was a time of bitter debates over church union with the Methodists and Congregationalists. Gordon was in favour, but Scots ultimately voted to stay out and remain Presbyterian. By then in his mid-60s, he and Gwen moved to New York, where Peale was his neighbour. They had six happy years there before retiring to Melbourne. Gordon is survived by Gwen, and children David, Mardi and Jenny (daughter Rosemary died in 1992), 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. [From the obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald, 2005, written by Jenny (Powell)] Gwen and Gordon Powell coming out of the Toorak Uniting Church 50 years after they were married there. Gwen and Gordon Powell coming out of the Toorak Uniting Church 50 years after they were married there.gordon powell; gwen powell; port adelaide; toorak presbyterian church; st stephen's presbyterian church sydney; presbyterian minister

Seven seated and fifteen standing men dressed in suits around a long table in a panelled room hung with formal portraits of men. A trophy sits on the long table amongst loose paper sheets. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: The Commercial Travellers’ Association of Victoria (CTA) was formed at a meeting of 40 commercial travellers held at the Duke of Rothesay Hotel, 24 Elizabeth Street on 1 December 1880. Their charter was to advocate for better working conditions for commercial travelling salesmen, including improved accommodation at discounted rates and travel concession fares. At first by locomotive, horse and buggy, steamers and horseback, later also by motor car and motorcycle, “The Man on the Road” went into the back-blocks of the country to extend the interests of commerce to the stores and households of Australian regional towns and isolated settlements. Affiliated organisations existed in all states and New Zealand and in 1895 they integrated to form the United Commercial Travellers’ Association of Australasia (UCTAA). By the turn of the 20th century, the Victorian branch of the CTA had 421 Association Members and 520 Club members. The CTA continued to hold meetings in leased rooms in hotels and offices until 1898 when they commissioned purpose-built premises at 190-192 Flinders Street (extant, now the Macstore, next to former Metropolitan Gas Company Buildings). Designed by leading architectural firm of brothers H.W. & F.B.Tompkins (Dimmey’s Model Store, Swan Street, London Stores, Herald and Weekly Times, Myer building, Diamond House, Centreway Arcade, Manton’s Store) in the Queen Anne Revival style at the cost of £20,000, the four storey building had a facade of red Northcote bricks and an entrance of Pyrmont stone. It was very modern for the time, featuring elevators, offices, bars, kitchen, dining, card and billiard rooms and 31 bedrooms with shared bathrooms for the footsore travellers. However, despite adding two storeys in 1901, and another storey and a basement in 1905, they soon outgrew their premises, and in 1912 the CTA commissioned a new building at 328 Flinders Street. At this time, buildings in Melbourne were constrained by the city height limit of 132 feet (40 metres)- the maximum height of firefighting ladders. The new CTA building was the tallest building in Melbourne until 1932 when regulations changed allowing the Manchester Unity Building to be built. The new CTA headquarters was the epitome of comfort and luxury with cutting edge facilities to ease the fatigued salesman and prepare him for another stint on the road. General Secretary, James Davies travelled to Britain and America to acquire the very best and latest innovations. After visiting the new premises, Punch magazine 11 June 1914 reported “furnishings, appliances, and labour-saving conveniences which were more than up to date- they were up to-morrow.” The Edwardian Baroque style building was again designed by architects H.W. & F.B. Tompkins at the cost of £100,000 and built by contractors F.E. Shillabeer and Sons (Nicholas Building, Kellow-Falkiner Pty Ltd car showroom). The nine storey plus basement building is of steel frame construction with concrete floors. The ground floor facade is of grey granite and above that it is faced with cream glazed bricks chosen to combat discolouration from the pollution emitted by Flinders Street Station trains across the road. The facade is decorated with mascarons, gum leaf trim and balconies with classical style balustrade. The club was entered through revolving doors into a two storey high, circular, domed lobby with white columns, American oak panelled walls and intricate mosaic flooring. The ceiling is festooned with plaster gum leaf and gum nut detail, a theme that is repeated throughout the building. The basement kitchen had modern, labour saving appliances that would be the envy of any Edwardian housewife, including an electric toaster, a potato peeling machine, heated dumb waiter, dishwashing machine and electric refrigeration and cooking. It serviced the commodious second floor dining room which seated 200 people and the cafe/breakfast room, 80 people. Members were permitted to entertain their lady friends there for afternoon tea between the hours of 3 and 5 pm every day, except Sunday. The members’ facilities included a barbershop, clothes pressing machine, boot cleaning chair, pipe and cigar stall with electric humidor, public telephones, lockers and safe deposit. The building was serviced with five elevators, a built in vacuum cleaning plant, hot water radiators and linen and postal chutes. The first floor was devoted to business and relaxing, containing the Board, Writing, Reading and four Business Rooms. The board room had Queensland maple panelling with huge blackwood tables topped with blue morocco and golden tortoise-shell trim and cane bottomed chairs. Large framed photographs of past presidents since 1884 lined the walls. The Reading Room ran the whole width of the building. Arthur Streeton’s painting “Between the Lights, Princes Bridge 1888” and Frederick McCubbin’s “Looking North from Mount Macedon” were hung there, as well as paintings by renowned Australian artists Hans Heysen, Walter Withers, John Mather, Jan Hendrik Scheltema. The Argus 30 May 1914 quipped “Around the walls hang evidences that the commercial traveller's soul has not been killed in his pursuit of commerce”. The blackwood panelled room was furnished with Queen Anne style tables and chairs and green leather armchairs with inviting rocker foot rests allowing weary travellers to relax after traversing the railways and dusty roads of Victoria while planning their next sales trip. “The Australasia Traveller” Volume 10, Number 2, April 1914 page 35 noted “An attendant will be constantly employed on this floor to take care of the stationary supply, to tidy up newspapers, and generally study the convenience of members.” The third floor was for amusements with billiards, a bar and four rooms for playing cards, dominoes and chess. The huge billiard room had seven Alcock billiard tables including a table in a partitioned match-room for tournaments, exhibitions and matches. The walls were lined with members’ cues and for spectators, comfortable lounges with marble topped tables and electric bell pushes for drinks service. There were 150 bedrooms over five floors, each with their own telephone and wash basin and five suites with a private sitting room attached. There were four bathrooms per bedroom floor and capacious, well-lighted shaving rooms. Top rate club tariff for bed and breakfast - 6 shillings, if called for a country train leaving Melbourne before 8am - 4 shillings, suite and breakfast- 9 shillings, sixpence. “The Australasia Traveller” Volume 10, Number 2, April 1914 page 35 reported “All “early calls” will be made from the Club Office to Bedrooms by means of the Telephone, so that instead of waking everybody else up on the corridor, only the member concerned will know that it is his unpleasant duty to get up.” The new CTA premises was widely regarded as the finest club in the Southern Hemisphere. The CTA also built the adjacent six storey Commerce House with 52 sample rooms for travellers to display their wares with the remainder rented to retail businesses and a post and telegraph office. After the CTA moved into their new, larger premises in 1914, neighbouring department store Ball & Welch expanded into the former CTA. The CTA saw themselves in a nation building role and were an influential lobby group to the Government. They advocated for inter city trunk telephone lines, standard gauge railway lines between NSW and Victoria, improved roads and highways, the Murray River water scheme and maintaining the White Australia Policy. They were very active in fund raising for the war efforts. The CTA offered its members support in other ways with benevolent funds for widows and orphans, mortuary, accident, sickness and an annuities fund for members over 65 years. There were scholarships for members’ children and home purchase scheme to assist with home ownership. A secondary membership scheme provided access to non commercial travellers (men only) to its exclusive club premises. They also organised social events and activities such as billiard tourneys, golf tournaments, dances and an annual “Smoke Social” which was a social event where men gathered for a formal dinner, community singing, lectures, speeches and of course, to smoke! Daylesford born James Davies OBE, (1865-1931) worked at the CTA for 50 years, starting as an office boy and working his way up to General Secretary and editor of the monthly trade journal for UCTAA members, “The Traveller” (1890-1905, later “The Australasian Traveller” 1905-1924 and then “The Australian Traveller” 1925-1976) and the annual colour supplement magazine “Australia To-Day” (1904-1973). “The Australasia Traveller” featured commentary on the issues of the day like wars, tariffs and trade, articles on new products and hotel recommendations and their rates and lots of advertising, especially alcohol, tobacco and accommodation in regional hotels. There were regular columns, each illustrated with a line drawing and these included “Our Immigration Record” a state by state summary of arrivals of “desirable immigrants” to Australia, while bemoaning the declining (white) birth rate. The column followed the arrival of British boys sent to Australia as agricultural apprentices to work on rural properties which were short of labour. Between 1913-1928, 1750 “Barwell Boys”, some as young as 14 years of age arrived in South Australia to work. NSW had a similar program known as the Dreadnaught Boys Scheme where 5595 boys immigrated between 1911-1939. The boys were considered of “good British stock”. There was a “Home Page For The Ladies” showcasing the latest fashions in women’s clothing, millinery and hairstyles and tips and trends in home furnishings.“Children’s Corner for Dear Little Folks” which featured puzzles, jokes and stories and members could send in photographs of their children. “Road Echoes” devoted to “The Man On The Road” and his doings. “Face Massage, Smiling is the Best Face Massage”, the humour page full of jokes and funny stories. “Railway Rumbles” news of innovations, timetables, tickets and grumbles about lavatories, food and drinking water on trains and at railway stations. And in case we forget that members had a home away from their CTA home, gardening tips with “The C.T. as Gardener”column. The annual magazine “Australia To-Day” was a vehicle to promote Australia here and overseas as a modern, prosperous country with abundant opportunities and pleasant climate. It sought to showcase its manufacturing, agriculture and tourism and encourage British immigration to Australia. The magazine featured articles about recently arrived migrants at work, quirky native flora and fauna, beach culture, recreation and the Australian way of life in the settler nation. Many of the articles were written by politicians of the day, including Robert Menzies. The UCTAA commissioned original artwork for the front covers and feature articles of “Australia To-day” from leading Australian artists. These included Norman Lindsay, Frederick McCubbin, Napier Waller, Lionel Lindsay, Hans Heysen, C Dudley Wood, Louis McCubbin, Penleigh Boyd, Louis Buvelot, Christian Waller and Ellis Rowan and her Australian wildflowers. Some of the photographs in “Australia To-Day” were provided by state and federal government departments as well as manufacturers, newspapers and mining companies. Amongst of the credited photographers was Helmut Newton who later earned world acclaim as a fashion photographer and architectural and industrial photographer Wolfgang Sievers (unfortunately their photographs remain in copyright and aren’t available online). Also featured was Richard C. Strangman, a professional photographer from Canberra, William Howieson of Melbourne, who has 22 photographs in the collection of NGV, Tasmanian wilderness photographer Frederick Smithies, Athol Shmith, portrait photographer and educator from Melbourne, Gordon de Lisle, a Melbourne commercial, industrial, aerial and society portrait photographer. (One of Gordon’s assignments was as the stills photographer for the 1959 movie “On The Beach” filmed in Melbourne). Photographs taken by acclaimed Antarctic and official war photographer Captain Frank Hurley OBE for Adelaide’s Centenary were also featured. The Australian Government was keenly aware of the influence and quality of the UCTAA publications. On 1 June 1914 The Age reported that to advertise Australia in Great Britain and elsewhere, the Department of External Affairs purchased 6500 copies of “Australia To-Day” magazine for £515 to distribute free to “places where they are most likely to come under the notice of a desirable class of immigrants.” In 1950, the office of Prime Minister Robert Menzies ordered 2550 copies of that year’s issue of “Australia To-Day” for the Department of Commerce and Information to distribute. The CTA donated their archives to University of Melbourne Archives which includes original artworks and photos used in “Australia To-Day” (Melbourne University has digitised 1114 photos) and sundry items including trophies, ashtrays, commemorative souvenirs, menus, a rare “Safechek” sovereign changer, a bust of James Davies and even a CTA embossed wash bowl and chamber pot. After the death of General Secretary James Davies in 1931, the CTA held the annual “James Davies Memorial Cup” golf tournament at various Melbourne golf courses, the winner receiving a splendid silver cup. “Table Talk” magazine photographs from 29 June 1933 depict the travellers beautifully (and I would say correctly) attired in tweedy plus fours, Fair Isle knitwear, flat caps and of course fringed brogues. I have been unable to ascertain whether the trophy in our photo is for golf or another CTA social activity. The CTA Victoria membership peaked in 1951 with 4,672 Aassociation members and 3,693 Club members. In 1959, Hollywood came to Melbourne when film stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins and Fred Astaire descended to film ‘On the Beach,’ directed by Stanley Kramer. The film is based on the bestselling Neville Shute novel about the aftermath of World War Three, a nuclear war that has obliterated most of the Northern Hemisphere. Radioactive dust is heading toward Australia and everyone is preparing for death. Scenes with Anthony Perkins were filmed in the CTA billiards room as the exclusive Pastoral Club. Anthony Perkins’ character, Lieutenant Commander Peter Holmes of RAN tells Gregory Peck’s character, Commander Dwight Lionel, that The Pastoral Club is…”A mahogany and polished brass sort of place-some people claim it was the stuffiest club in the Commonwealth” before assuring him that despite shortages, the club is likely to have some Scotch left. In a scene at the Pastoral Club two, old (probably red faced) codgers discuss the challenge of drinking all of the 400 bottles of Gould Campbell vintage port in the club wine cellar before they succumb to radiation sickness in five months time. The NGV has 12 photographs in their collection of wardrobe stills of Ava Gardner modelling costumes designed by the Fontana Sisters of Rome for “On The Beach”, taken by Italian photographer G.B.Poletto. During the filming, Gregory Peck and his family stayed at “Kurneh” 206 Domain Road, South Yarra, the former home of three times Grand Slam winner Norman Brookes. Through the decades, Australian society was changing and in order to stay relevant, the CTA had to change too. In 1971, two women were elected for club membership, although they were only granted limited access to the club’s facilities and in 1972, women were invited for the first time to participate in the previously men only annual “Smoke Social”. In 1975, dwindling membership forced the closure of The Commercial Travellers’ Association building and in 1977, the building was sold, with the CTA ceasing to operate in 2014. It was the end of the road for the “Knights of the Road”. In 1992, the CTA building at 328 Flinders Street was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register in recognition of its architectural and cultural significance. The building has been meticulously restored with many of the original fittings, decorative plasterwork, mosaic flooring, stained glass windows, columns, chandeliers and the panelling made from Australian timbers retained. After renovations the building became first the Euro Asia Hotel, then the Duxton Hotel and in 2005 The Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne. In tribute to the history of the building and the film “On The Beach”, the Rendezvous Hotel has the Ms Ava Bar, Perkins room, Mr Tompkins restaurant, Commerce Room and the Davies Room. References: COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA. (1899, May 27). The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), p. 25. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138615498 COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. (1914, May 30). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 8. Retrieved February 13, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7272511 NEWS OF THE DAY. (1914, June 1). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189414314 COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' "AT HOME." (1914, June 11). Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), p. 32. Retrieved March 19, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129699692 https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/69669 https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/757 http://www.pikitiapress.com/blog/2015/1/26/australia-today Commercial Travellers at Yarra Yarra (1933, June 29). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 6. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149547845 https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/537460 https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE7420895&file=FL19171568&mode=browse https://www.history.sa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Barwell_Boys_Catalogue-compressed-compressed-compressed.pdf Australia Today," 1927 (1926, December 11). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 15. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223844810 https://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/librarycollections/2020/12/19/an-inhabited-space-helmut-newtons-lovers/ https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/artist/2075/ https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/?s=Poletto+&type=collection https://rendezvousmelbourne.com.au/digital-history-tour/Photographer notations on slide: "Commercial Travellers Group B6".clubs, department stores, 1930-1939, commerce, manufacturing, federation/edwardian style architecture, railways, tourism, games, agriculture