Black and white photograph. Elspeth Newman (1947) (identified by T.H. Kneen) on a stepladder picking pears.On reverse, "Athol Shmith Studios.....No. 1770A."elspeth newman, stepladder, pears, orchard, student working outside, publicity, athol shmith

Note by T.H. Kneen 26 February 1992, "?Pre WW2-note dress-jodhpurs-but could be a Land Army Girl during the War years." Further consideration by Eric Littlejohn suggests that the student at work is Jane Lorimer 1941 graduation. (Also see B91.141, B91.143-146)Black and white photograph. Female student using 3-pronged cultivator between rows of vegetables.On reverse, "Athol Shmith Studio Illustrative Photograhy 125 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1. Cent. 27. No.10383 Position G."female students, 3-pronged cultivator, vegetables, athol shmith studio, jodhpurs, land army girl, jane lorimer, student working outside, orchard

Black and white photograph. Female student, Elspeth Newman, empyting pears out of canvas bag, attached to her with a harness, into wooden packing case. Pear tree and wooden ladder behind her.On reverse, Athol Shmith Studio Illustrative Photography 125 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1. Cent 27. No. 17701 Position E.elspeth newman, pears, canvas bag, packing case, athol shmith studio, students working outside, orchard, pear tree, ladder, publicity

Black and white photograph. As for B91.144(2). No. 1083 Position E. Students working in the vegetable field. Photographer Athol Shmith, No 1083 Position C. Note by T.H. Kneen 26 February 1992, "June Bishop a second year student 1943." Also see B91.141, 143, 145, 146.female students, athol shmith studio, students working outside, june bishop, orchard, vegetable plots

(1) Note by T.H. Kneen 26 February 1992, Student is June Bishop" (identified by Eric Littlejohn 5 February 1992.) (1) 2 female students working in a field of beans. (1) On reverse, "Athol Shmith Studio Illustrative Photography 124 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1. Cent. 27. No. 10383 Position E.", "June Bishop." female students, beans, athol shmith studio, june bishop, vegetable field, orchard, students working outside

2 copies black and white photograph. As for B91.144(1). No. 1083 Position D. 2 female students working in a field of beans. On reverse, "Athol Shmith Studio Illustrative Photography 124 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1. Cent. 27. No. 10383 Position E.", "June Bishop." Note by T.H. Kneen 26 February 1992, Student is June Bishop" (identified by Eric Littlejohn 5 February 1992.female students, athol shmith studio, orchard, june bishop, beans, students working outside, vegetable plots

Photographs donated by James Leslie (Les) Provan. (1) Note by T.H. Kneen 6 May 1992, "James Leslie Provan went to Melbourne University - graduated B. Agr. Sc-and later 1942 became Principal Burnley and 1946 Principal Dookie Agricultural College."Black and white photographs and negatives. (1) 2 photographs and negative. Les Provan reclining on the ground infront of a Kentia palm and part of the pavilion behind. (2) Includes negative. Les Provan and another male student seated on the lawn. (3) Note attached, "English lad, Fred ?, ?, Jack Allen." 4 male students seated on the lawn in front of the Pavilion. (4) Male student with calf. (5) 3 male students squatting on the lawn in front of the pavilion, one holding a football. Note by E.B. Littlejohn 6 May 1992, "Student on left is R. Fred Gillespie ? Jack Allen (centre) was later on staff as an Instructor. (6) Mrs Kneen and two children walking through the Administration Building under construction. (7) 4 men standing next to Dahlias judging them. (8) Student walking along path between ponds and Pavilion.(1) On reverse, "Student Les Provan 1922 &1923. Dux 1923. Background is Kentia Palm & the Chemistry classroom of the old Pavilion. (2) On reverse, "Les Provan & ? 1923." (3) On reverse, "Group of male students 1922 or 1923." (4) On reverse, "? name an English lad, student 1922 or '23." (5) On reverse, "The Football Team L to R. Fred---Jack Allen & ? 1923." (6) On reverse, "The new College building in course of construction early 1946. Mrs. Kneen & children." (7) On reverse,"Judges in trial Dahlias Burnley 1943. Left to right Jack Reid, Castell, Charlie Stone, Geo. Russ, Norm Scable." (8)) On reverse, "June Bishop-student," and, "Athol Shmith Studio Illustrative Photography 125 Collins Street, Melbourne C.1. Cent. 27. No 10383 Position J." Note by E.B. Littlejohn 4 March 1992, "June Bishop standing at junction of paths one of which leads to main entrance to Pavilion."les provan, kentia palm, chemistry classroom, pavilion, james leslie provan, dookie agricultural college, jack allen, r. fred gillespie, dahlias, jack reid, castell, charlie stone, geo. russ, norm scable, june bishop, cows, student group 1922-1923, football team 1922-1923, administration building construction, mrs kneen, kneen children, athol shmith, garden view, dux, calf, main building construction

Note by T.H. Kneen 26 February 1992, "June Bishop a second year student 1943." Also see B91.141, 143, 145, 146. On reverse, "Photographer Athol Shmith, No 1083 Position C."june bishop, orchard, vegetables, students working outside

John Browning Opticians were at 182 Collins St, MelbourneA small, spiral bound book featuring black and white photos of the John Browning Optician shop.Printed in white on grey sticker on inside back cover, bottom right: 'ATHOL SHMITH/ F.R.P.S F.R.S.A/ 125 Collins Street, Melbourne/ MF 5224'ink, paper

The Gown of the Year Program was a gala event in Melbourne's cultural calendar. Australia's supermodels of the day, such as Diane Masters (pictured), Bambi Shmith, and Betty Jackson modelled clothes by Melbourne's leading designers, Hall Ludlow, Le Louvre, and others. Diane Masters has played a seminal role in contributing to the Design Archives through her personal and professional fashion archive, her role in the Hall Ludlow collection and archive, the Laurie Carew collection, and her generosity in gifting items from the Frederick Romberg archive to the RMIT Design Archives. She has been and remains a key figure in Melbourne and Australian fashion. Suzanne Davies, 2017Black and white photograph features fashion designer Hall Ludlow (right), holding his trophies for winning the 1959 Gown of the Year at the Menzies Hotel, Melbourne. Model Diane Masters (right) is wearing the winning gown: a pale full length gown with short sleeves, scoop neck, and ruffled skirt. The matching coat also features small ruffled down its length.Verso: Stamped in black ink, bottom right: 'Photographed by/ ATHOL SHMITH/ F.R.P.S . . F.R.S.A/ 125 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE/ TELEPHONE MF 5[illegible]4australian fashion, fashion design, mid-century modern

At the conclusion of their term of office, former deans of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons would have their portrait taken.lennard travers

At the conclusion of a term in office, the Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists would have their portrait taken.This photograph is one in a series which documents the history of the development of the Faculty of Anaesthetists through portraits of past deans. The tradition has continued through to the development of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, although that also marked a transition to oil paintings rather than photography. This portrait was photographed by renowned photographic artist, Athol Shmith. As such it holds both historic and artistic significance.Black and white image of Dr Robert Orton, wearing the robes of office of the Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (predecessor to the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists).robert orton, faculty dean, dean's robes, official portrait

Photograph of Coooper shearing plant.Photograph of Coooper shearing plant.Cooper 2-stand semi-poratble sheating plant powered by pilot air cooled petrol engine circa 1949 Photography by Athol Shmith Pty Ltd 125 Collins St. Melbourne No. ......shearing machinery, cooper engineering company pty ltd athol shmith pty ltd

Ballet Victoria On Tour, Bendigo, 20 June. Program. Articles on: Elaine Fifield, Rex McNeill and Laurel Martyn. Photographs of: Elaine Fifield, Rex McNeill, Laurel Martyn, Julie Mann, John Nunn, Margaret Wilson, Dianne Parrington, Sherril Smith, Robyn Niblett, David Pierce and Halina Zdanowicz. Ballet Victoria. Artist Director: Laurel Martyn. Administrator: Peter K Burch. Artists: Elaine Fifield, Rex McNeill, Dianne Parrington, Sherril Smith, John Nunn, David Pierce, Julie Mann, Margaret Wilson, Robyn Niblett, Halina Zdanowicz, Gaye Sinclair. Administration: Maurice Scott, Stefan Wenczel, Jennie Miles, Val Baenziger, Arthur Turnbull, Janina Cunovas, Stefan Wenczel, Richard Divall, William Ilster, William Baxter, Luba Nedbajlo, Athol Shmith & John Cato. Production: Graham McGuffie, Barry N W Benson, David Brindley, Judith Allen & Judith Sinclair. Head office and Studios: 49 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053. Short articles with photos of; Elaine Fifield, Rex McNeill and Laurel Martyn. Photographs of Julie Mann, John Nunn, Margaret Wilson, Dianne Parrington, Sherril Smith, Robyn Niblett, David Pierce and Halina Zdanowicz. The Victorian Ballet Guild Patron: The Lady Casey. Chairman: W C Jewell. Directors: Harold Badger, Brian Dixon, MLA. L St. B Foster, R N Grove, G J Troup, J Scandrett. Ballet Victoria Production Credits: Lighting for all Ballets was designed by Graham McGuffie. Shoes and tights supplied by Martin's Ballet Boutique Advance Manager's car supplied by AVIS Rent-A-Car Audio consultant Graeme Thorne All scenery and costumes made in the Ballet Victoria workshops. Ballet Victoria wishes to particularly express its gratitude to Dame Peggy van Praagh, D.B.E., Co-Artistic Director . . . 20 June Bendigo. Some advertisements also appear in program.Kenneth James Print Melbourneentertainment, theatre, ballet victoria, ballet victoria on tour, bendigo, 20 june. program. articles on: elaine fifield, rex mcneill and laurel martyn. photographs of: elaine fifield, rex mcneill, laurel martyn, julie mann, john nunn, margaret wilson, dianne parrington, sherril smith, robyn niblett, david pierce and halina zdanowicz.. artist director: laurel martyn. administrator: peter k burch. artists: elaine fifield, rex mcneill, dianne parrington, sherril smith, john nunn, david pierce, julie mann, margaret wilson, robyn niblett, halina zdanowicz, gaye sinclair. administration: maurice scott, stefan wenczel, jennie miles, val baenziger, arthur turnbull, janina cunovas, stefan wenczel, richard divall, william ilster, william baxter, luba nedbajlo, athol shmith & john cato. production: graham mcguffie, barry n w benson, david brindley, judith allen & judith sinclair. head office and studios: bouverie street, carlton, victoria, . elaine fifield, rex mcneill and laurel martyn. photographs of julie mann, john nunn, margaret wilson, dianne parrington, sherril smith, robyn niblett, david pierce and halina zdanowicz. the lady casey. chairman: w c jewell. directors: harold badger, brian dixon, mla. l st. b foster, r n grove, g j troup, j scandrett. ballet victoria production credits: graham mcguffie. martin's ballet boutique avis rent-a-car audio consultant graeme thorne. dame peggy van praagh, d.b.e., co-artistic director . . . 20 june bendigo. advertisements in program.

Photograph of Cooper shearing plant.Photograph of Coooper shearing plant.Cooper 2-stand self contained shearing plant powered by 1 H.P. electric grinder motor circa 1948 Athol Shmith Studio Illustrative Photography 125 Collins Street Melbourne C.I. Cent. 27 No. ..... Position ....... 2/F/18512shearing machinery, cooper engineering company pty ltd

Description: 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 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.Photographer notations on slide: commerce, clubs and associations, queen anne style architecture, federation/edwardian style architecture, railways, card games, department stores, agriculture, tourism