4 small sepia photographs Written on reverse 2434-1 & -2: "Part of old stockyard, Blood's Paddock, Wonga Road. Arnott's, 1910." 2334-4: "Last post of stockyard in Blood's Paddock, corner Wonga Road and Warrandyte Roads"

Author: Alan Judge Holt amassed a significant collection of historical material related to the Surrey Hills area. Born in Moonee Ponds in 1912 to Edmund Holt and Ellen Ruby Sutton, he married Edna Jean Pallot in 1937. They lived at 62 Broughton Road, Surrey hills, had 3 sons and were strongly associated with the Surrey Hills Methodist Church. Alan was Secretary of the Victorian Lands Department and in his spare time recorded the occupancy of every property in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert at the beginning of each decade from 1890 to 1980. His collection of files and individual cards covers people, places, churches, clubs, businesses and other organisations in the area. Alan used this information to give talks and tours of the area and gifted his material to the local history collection through Jocelyn Hall.A spiral bound manuscript which includes a physical description of Wattle Park as well as covering aboriginal occupation, pastoral and timber cutting, the original purchasers and locations of neighbouring farms.back creek, wattle park, delany's paddock, cleary's paddock, blood's paddock, conran's paddock, udimore lodge, (mr) george thomas usher, (mr) orlando fenwick, phoenix grange, (mr) john filson, (mr) denis delany, (mr) john crimp, (mr) james atkinson, (mr) john lawler, (mr) henry de carle, (mr) walter craig, (mr) daniel dunn, (mr) frederick goyder, (mrs) eliza welch, metropolitan tramways, d h dureau, (mr) robert beckett, (mr) alexander gerald proudfoot, (mr) james conran, (mr) thomas blood, (mr) william smith, payne and glass

Located on the north side of Bridge Street at the intersection with Bolton Street, facing Bolton Street (now part of present day Brisbane Street and occupied by the Kitchen Design Centre). Show's an original early settler's cottage in Bridge Street. The cottage was built by Mrs Mary Jane Smart's parents, Edwin Bailey and Jane (nee Matthews). Mary Jane Smart was born in the cottage. She married an Englishman, Alexander Wilson Smart who disappeared to Western Australia in the early 1900s in search of gold. He ultimately married again in W.A., committing bigamy and then committed murder and was hung in 1911. This photo was taken c.1903 not long before both Mrs Bailey and her grand daughter both passed away. Jane Bailey died 2 Dec. 1904 and Mary Jane Smart and Ruby Jane Bertha Smart died July 1903 are all buried in Eltham Cemetery. SMART'S HOME AT ELTHAM. HIS WIFE AND SONS. In a little bush cottage surrounded by tall gum trees, through which appear glimpses of a willow fringed creek, of road ways hedged by masses of snowy flowering hawthorn, of growing crops and vividly green grazing paddocks, lives Mrs. Smart, the lawful wife of the man who is now in the hands of the police of Western Australia on suspicion of having committed a dreadful crime. Here, about half a mile out of the picturesque village of Eltham, she was born, and has lived her whole life — about 50 years. Smart himself lived here till the time when many years ago, the "lure of gold" got into his blood and he cleared out to Western Australia, to follow the digging rushes, gradually becom ing more and more estranged, till at length all communication ceased and be became lost to his wife and children. "I did not want him to go away," said Mrs. Smart, "because I had heard of so many men who had forgotten their homes in the excite ment of gold seeking, and of many others who died unknown and uncared for. But he would go, and when I saw his mind was set on it I placed no obstacles in his way. My parents built and lived in this cottage, where I was born, and they died in it. When I grew up I met my husband, a young Englishman, and married him. His name is Alexander, not Alfred, and his age is 52. We were very happy here, and although we were not well off we were comfortable, for he was a steady, sober, industrious man and had constant employment. He was just a manual worker, but could turn his hand to anything. We had five children, but one died. Four sons grew up in this little cottage. Thus three generations lived in it, somewhat unusual in an Australian bush home, I think. My eldest son is married and has a family; one is in Western Australia— not with his father— another is away working for him self, and one (indicating a young man by her side) has always stuck to his mother. He is my sole support, and he is as good to me now as his father once was. Yes, his father was a good, home-loving man in our younger days. He was fond of his children and was highly respected in these parts.' "It is fifteen years since my husband went away first. He had then been work ing for the Metropolitan Board of Works, and was engaged in the tunnel under the Yarra near Queen's-bridge when it col-lapsed. After he went to the West he sent me money regularly and wrote constantly. He came home three times — twice for a week or two at a time, the third time, eight years ago, when the Eitham railway was nearing completion. I induced him to stay till the railway opened, and he re-mained with me several months. I tried to get him to leave the West and settle down in his home, but he would not; he seemed restless and anxious to be off. One day when we were in Collingwood together he left me, saying he wanted to see what boats were going West. I implored him not to go away, and he said he would see. However, he returned to me soon after wards and said he had taken his ticket and would go by the next boat, and he went. For a year he wrote at irregular intervals, and then his letters ceased and I heard no more of him. For seven years I have not known whether he was alive or dead. Before that time my two sons in Western Australian used to see him some times, though they did not live with him; they used to tell me in their letters that he was well. It was a hard blow to be forgotten by him, but as my sons grew up I became more reconciled, and now I seem to look back at my life with him as some thing that happened a long time ago and is only a memory. Of his life and doings in Western Australia I know nothing. The last time I heard of him he was working in a foundry at Midland Junction. He was at Cue working on the railway when it opened there, and he caught the fever, but all that time he sent me money. When he returned the first time he took our eldest son with him, and the other boy followed later. They did not stay with him, how ever, and as far as I know they did not know how he lived." 'Mrs. Smart is a quiet, toil worn woman who has the respect of everyone who knows her.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 strips Associated print from negative (Copy of original print)Fuji 100bridge street, cottage, smart home, houses, mary jane smart (nee bailey), smart family home, alexander wilson smart, bigamy, bush cottage, early settlers, eltham, jane bailey (nee matthews), murder, ruby jane bertha smart

Believed to be Mrs Jane Bailey (nee Matthews) (d. 1904) and her grand-daughter Ruby Jane Bertha Smart (1890-1903) in front of the Smart family cottage in Bridge Street, Eltham, c.1903 Located on the north side of Bridge Street at the intersection with Bolton Street, facing Bolton Street (now part of present day Brisbane Street and occupied by the Kitchen Design Centre). Ruby Jane Bertha Smart born abt 1890 died in 1903 in Eltham. Her brother Alfred Francis Smart was born abt 1887 and died 1966 in Mont Albert, Vic. (Accessed via Ancestry.com) Show's an original early settler's cottage in Bridge Street. The cottage was built by Mrs Mary Jane Smart's parents, Edwin Bailey and Jane (nee Matthews). Mary Jane Smart was born in the cottage. She married an Englishman, Alexander Wilson Smart who disappeared to Western Australia in the early 1900s in search of gold. He ultimately married again in W.A., committing bigamy and then committed murder and was hung in 1911. This photo was taken c.1903 not long before both Mrs Bailey and her grand daughter both passed away. Jane Bailey died 2 Dec. 1904 and Mary Jane Smart and Ruby Jane Bertha Smart died July 1903 are all buried in Eltham Cemetery. SMART'S HOME AT ELTHAM. HIS WIFE AND SONS. In a little bush cottage surrounded by tall gum trees, through which appear glimpses of a willow fringed creek, of road ways hedged by masses of snowy flowering hawthorn, of growing crops and vividly green grazing paddocks, lives Mrs. Smart, the lawful wife of the man who is now in the hands of the police of Western Australia on suspicion of having committed a dreadful crime. Here, about half a mile out of the picturesque village of Eltham, she was born, and has lived her whole life — about 50 years. Smart himself lived here till the time when many years ago, the "lure of gold" got into his blood and he cleared out to Western Australia, to follow the digging rushes, gradually becom ing more and more estranged, till at length all communication ceased and be became lost to his wife and children. "I did not want him to go away," said Mrs. Smart, "because I had heard of so many men who had forgotten their homes in the excite ment of gold seeking, and of many others who died unknown and uncared for. But he would go, and when I saw his mind was set on it I placed no obstacles in his way. My parents built and lived in this cottage, where I was born, and they died in it. When I grew up I met my husband, a young Englishman, and married him. His name is Alexander, not Alfred, and his age is 52. We were very happy here, and although we were not well off we were comfortable, for he was a steady, sober, industrious man and had constant employment. He was just a manual worker, but could turn his hand to anything. We had five children, but one died. Four sons grew up in this little cottage. Thus three generations lived in it, somewhat unusual in an Australian bush home, I think. My eldest son is married and has a family; one is in Western Australia— not with his father— another is away working for him self, and one (indicating a young man by her side) has always stuck to his mother. He is my sole support, and he is as good to me now as his father once was. Yes, his father was a good, home-loving man in our younger days. He was fond of his children and was highly respected in these parts.' "It is fifteen years since my husband went away first. He had then been work ing for the Metropolitan Board of Works, and was engaged in the tunnel under the Yarra near Queen's-bridge when it col-lapsed. After he went to the West he sent me money regularly and wrote constantly. He came home three times — twice for a week or two at a time, the third time, eight years ago, when the Eitham railway was nearing completion. I induced him to stay till the railway opened, and he re-mained with me several months. I tried to get him to leave the West and settle down in his home, but he would not; he seemed restless and anxious to be off. One day when we were in Collingwood together he left me, saying he wanted to see what boats were going West. I implored him not to go away, and he said he would see. However, he returned to me soon after wards and said he had taken his ticket and would go by the next boat, and he went. For a year he wrote at irregular intervals, and then his letters ceased and I heard no more of him. For seven years I have not known whether he was alive or dead. Before that time my two sons in Western Australian used to see him some times, though they did not live with him; they used to tell me in their letters that he was well. It was a hard blow to be forgotten by him, but as my sons grew up I became more reconciled, and now I seem to look back at my life with him as some thing that happened a long time ago and is only a memory. Of his life and doings in Western Australia I know nothing. The last time I heard of him he was working in a foundry at Midland Junction. He was at Cue working on the railway when it opened there, and he caught the fever, but all that time he sent me money. When he returned the first time he took our eldest son with him, and the other boy followed later. They did not stay with him, how ever, and as far as I know they did not know how he lived." 'Mrs. Smart is a quiet, toil worn woman who has the respect of everyone who knows her.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Original print 10.5 x 16.5 cmFor postcard print: Inscribed on envelope: "Return to Mrs H. Butherway, 22 Bridge St, Eltham." Also "Photo Mrs Clark Hampton (nee Smart), original Smart's house - Bridge Street, 95 years ago." Also "Right - Mrs Clark's grandmother Mrs J Smart Left - Her daughter Ruby dies soon after photo taken. Brother Alf Smart died about 6 years ago." Inscribed on back of photo "247 Vincent St, Leederville" It is believed that this inscription may be somewhat mixed up.sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, bridge street, alexander wilson smart, bigamy, bush cottage, early settlers, houses, jane bailey (nee matthews), mary jane smart (nee bailey), murder, ruby jane bertha smart, smart family home, smart home

Black and white photograph"Attached to photograph" Back Row- L to R: Edward Flynn, Bruce Graham, Graham Morgan, ?, ?, David Allan, Ken Ward, ?, Arthur Gillespie, Ken Manning. 2nd Row- L to R: Ellen Crouch, Val Anderson, Helen Bond, Elvie Hancy, Doreen Lloyd, Phylis Reardon, Valma Bisset, Bernice Dixon. 3rd Row- L to R: Patricia Mathews, Betty Stoney, June Parker, Lorna Hill, Betty Reed, Hazel Morgan, Betty Adolphson, Jean Smith, Kath Hamson, Dorothy Fyfe. Front Row- L to R: Frank Lloyd, Walter Hazelwood, Rupert Shearer, ?, Lloyd Holmes, Milton Blood, Bob Seeby, Don Martin, Bob Sievers, Edward Jackson. Teacher: Miss Paddock

Plan of Subdivision LP41463 - Part of Crown Allotment 43, Parish of Ringwood, County of Mornington. Map includes Bedford Road, Homebush Court, Vista Avenue and Vista Court, Heathmont. Allotments include LP201659, LP139446, LP115253, LP207494, LP216905, PS335874, LP206161, PS305345, PS300083, LP92899."Reaghill”; a 30 acre property in Bedford Road, Heathmont was bought from the Blood family about 1910 by Mr Seymour Davies as a weekend retreat from his busy life as a manager with the Glenferrie (or Hawthorn) branch of the English, Scottish and Australian (ES&A) Bank. He and his family came by train to Ringwood and then drove a pony cart up Bedford Road to a gateway at about number 139 and then a long drive, which wound up to the top of the hill. There was a wonderful view of Mount Dandenong which later became obliterated by tall eucalyptus trees. The land which became “Reaghill” was part of an 80 acre crown land sale to Mr Robert Blood on 12 March 1872. More information on the Blood family involvement with the area is given on pages 13-17 of the original 1974 edition of Hugh Anderson, Ringwood, Place of Many Eagles. Another section of this land was bought by Mr Frank L Walker and subsequently became "Wombalano Park". There is a quarry on the property from which stone was used for the long driveway. The garden was mainly left natural although we have two large Liquidamber trees which were planted by his wife Dora Davies (nee Hall). Surely these were some of the first to be planted in Melbourne gardens. A small weatherboard, galvanised iron roofed cottage was built on the top of the hill. At the time the house was built there was a strike of plasterers - as a result it was lined with timber, an unusual combination at that time. The Davies had a daughter and two sons - Dora (born 1897), Geoffrey (1900), John (1902). All studied medicine at Melbourne and practised, Geoffrey in Sydney, John in general practice Melbourne while Dora went to England in the 1930s and never returned. John and Dora married in 1933 and 1938 respectively and had families. Soon after the beginning of the 1939-45 war Geoffrey enlisted in the AIF as a Medical Officer and was in Singapore when it fell to the Japanese. He spent the remaining war years in various POW camps, including Changi and others in Malaya and Thailand. While there he earned the gratitude of his fellows by his innovative use of available plants to treat tropical diseases. After this war Geoffrey returned to Melbourne and worked as a pathologist at the. Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital while living for part of the time at "Reaghill". Seymour Davies died in October 19-35 and his wife, Dora, in February 1945. Of their children, John died in 1976, Dora in 1985 and Geoffrey in 1986. In July 1968 Geoffrey moved to East Ringwood and the two acre house block* and an adjacent one were sold to Dr James Hamilton Kelly, then of New York State, USA (Title Vol 8740 folio 991). As far as is known he never lived there. The house was let to a Mr and Mrs Ingamels for some years. The relatively fertile lower slopes on the south side of the land were cleared and farmed by descendants of the Blood family. At the time of the 1957 subdivision there were clear signs of the ploughed area. It was said that they used to grow strawberries in those paddocks. In about 1955 Dr Geoff Davies decided to sub-divide the property, he was unmarried and found it too large to maintain. Initially five of the seven normal house sized blocks fronting Bedford Road were sold and in about 1957 the remainder, was divided into 15 blocks (averaging nearly two acres) and put on the market. These were sold for £1000 ($2000) per acre. Homebush Court and Vista Court were formed to give access to- these blocks. The Homebush Court blocks have close access to Heathmont and the others to East Ringwood although all are lumped into East Ringwood by the municipal and postal authorities. The name "Reaghill" possibly comes from the Davies family's Irish origins. Homebush Court was named by Geoff Davies from the Sydney suburb of that name where he had lived in the 1930s. It was originally the name of a property owned by one of the early NSW Governors. Vista was a reminder to Geoff Davies of the once-grand views he remembered seeing from the hilltop. The earlier history in this article was recounted by my mother, a niece of Mr Seymour Davies, who remembered coming on a great outing to "Reaghill" as a child. Other recollections are from our own conversations with Geoff Davies. Ian and Margaret McKellar. 16 January, 1996