The Melton & District Historical Society complied a selection of photographs from their districtMelton: Yesterday & Today Volume 1 November 2005melton, clydesdale horse, chaff mill, high street, city of melton council, electricty, exford weir, jongebloed family, melton reservoir, arch bridge, pinkerton family, railways, viaduct, the willows

This list of factories in the City of Sunshine is an extract from a report by K.G. Wilson, L.R. Dryer & R.A. Scaramella, prepared for the Melbourne Western Region Commission (WRC). The Melbourne Western Region Commission was a major inter‑municipal planning and advocacy body operating across Melbourne’s western suburbs in the late 1970s and 1980s. It coordinated planning, heritage studies, and regional development across multiple councils. The Commission brought together a broad sweep of western-region councils City of Altona, City of Essendon, City of Footscray, City of Keilor, City of Sunshine, City of Williamstown, Shire of Bacchus Marsh, Shire of Melton & Shire of Werribee. The Melbourne Western Region Commission was one of the most important institutional predecessors to the region’s later heritage, planning, and community‑development frameworks.This report records the business name, type of industry and address of businesses operating in the City of Sunshine in 1984.Factory Name or Occupier A. Korinfsky & Connolly A.J. & J.N. Cook A.R.C. Engineering Pty Ltd Air Refiners Aust Pty Ltd Ajax Pumps Pty Ltd Albion Explosive Factory (Department of Defence) Alliance Printing Co. Pty Ltd Aqua Heat Australia Pty Ltd Aranem Furniture Pty Ltd Arrar Pty Ltd Australain Tube Mills Pty Ltd Australian Quality Closures (Volanda Nominees Pty Ltd) Aztec Sheet Metal Industries Pty Ltd B.G. & J.M. Douglas Nominees Pty Ltd Berkeley Appatel Pty Ltd Berkshire Kitchen Cabinets Pty Ltd Blade Engineering Pty Ltd Boka Engineering Pty Ltd Boneham Engineering Pty Ltd Brand Engineering Toolmaking (Vic) Pty Ltd C.G. Carlton Pty Ltd C.J.T. Niven Pty Ltd C.M.A. Foam Group (Cablemakers Aust Pty Ltd) Campbell & Paterson Engineering Pty Ltd Cargo Newpack Industries City Insulations Pty Ltd Classic Garage Construction Cliff Poole Industries Pty Ltd Collie Cooke Consolidated Conlo Constructions Pty Ltd Connor Shea & Co. Pty Ltd Consolidated Partition Industries Holding Pty Ltd Cosmoplitan Clothing Manfacturers Crea Fashions Pty Ltd Currie Furniture Manufacturing Pty Ltd D. Richardson & Son Ltd Dalco Hardware (Dalco Pty Ltd) Daveyduke Industries (Mimvic Nominees Pty Ltd) Debora Downs Pty Ltd Deer Park Engineering Pty Ltd Deer Park Flyscreens (Azzopardi & Associates Pty Ltd) Dieselflex Pty Ltd Donald Minahan Pty Ltd Drava Continental Butchers & Smallgoods Manufacturer Drilling Equipment (Van Dyke Pty Ltd) Dunham Welding Engineering Pty Ltd E. & F. Industries Pty Ltd E.P. Morrisey & Co. Pty Ltd Elite-Built Holdings Ltd Englehold Engineering Pty Ltd Everlast Steel Products Explosive Factory (Department of Defence Support) Extruded Metals Pty Ltd Exy-Fit Screens F. & D.M. Costa Pty Ltd F. & I. Pfeffer Holdings Pty Ltd F.J. Humphrey Pty Ltd Fallshaw Holdings Pty Ltd Ferrous Forgings Pty Ltd Fleet Engineering Pty Ltd Fletcher Chemical Co. Ltd Franklin Printing & Lithographic Co. Pty Ltd Fraser Cabinets Pty Ltd G. & L. Stone Pty Ltd G.A.M. Engineering Industries Pty Ltd G.P.I. Automotive Products Pty Ltd G.U.D. Manufacturing Co. Pty Ltd G.W. Gregory Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd General Printing Ink (Aust) Pty Ltd George Press Pty Ltd Griffiths & Beeren Pty Ltd Gubbata Nominess Pty Ltd Harkrome Electroplaters Pty Ltd Hills & Mason Pty Ltd Hydraulic Equipment & Cylinder Service Pty Ltd Hy-Du-Ex I.C.I. Australia Operations Pty Ltd I.H. Mono & Co. Idea General Engineering Industrial Engineering Invicta Group Industries Pty Ltd K. & B. Windows Pty Ltd K.C. Furniture & Cabinets K.D.S. Manufacturing K.M. Tubular Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd K.P.T. Clothing Manufacturers (K.T.P. Fashions Pty Ltd) Kanga Engineering Pty Ltd Keilor Footwear Pty Ltd Kelgrif Patterns Pty Ltd Klipspringer Pty Ltd Krueger Transports Equipment Pty Ltd Langmar Pty Ltd Layton Granite Industries Pty Ltd Lesvos General Products (Gabbia Pty Ltd) Lewis Foundry Lysaght Durham Chemical Company (Austram Corporation Ltd) M.C.I. (Aust) Pty Ltd M.J. Billings M.S.M. Cabinets Pty Ltd Maidstone Cabinet Works Marble Art Company Marib Cutter Sharpening Service Massey-Ferguson (Aust) Ltd McIntyre Steel Industries (Vic) Pty Ltd Midway Press Business Forms Mirna Cabinets Manufacturers Pty Ltd Monsanto Aust Ltd Morgan Cabinets Morris Structural & Engineering Newroll Industries Pty Ltd North Sunshine Cases Novio Insulation (Vic) Pty Ltd Olex Cables (Dunlop Olympic Ltd) Ordnance Factory (Department of Defence Support) P. & S. Siegel Pty Ltd P.S. Fenech Pty Ltd Pacific Carpets Internations Pty Ltd Pattern Productions Pauls Woodworking Pty Ltd Penthouse Furniture Co. Pty Ltd Peter Bouris General Steel Work Pomona Printers Pty Ltd Presstool Manufacturing & Grinding R.E.M. Constructions Pty Ltd R.J. Thompson Nominees Pty Ltd R.M.D. Press Co. Pty Ltd Ralph McMay Ltd Reeco Industries Pty Ltd Regina Terrazzo Tile Robcliff Printing Rockwell Standard of Australia Ltd Saturn Quality Trailers Pty Ltd Sedco Pty Ltd & Sunshine Extrusion Die Co. Pty Ltd Sign City Pty Ltd Smithweld Pty Ltd Smorgan Consolidated Industries Solo Signs Spafco Pty Ltd Stafford Engineering Pty Ltd Star of Paris Pty Ltd Steel Improvement Pty Ltd Sunset Joinery Pty Ltd Sunshine Engineering Pty Ltd Sunshine Group Industries Pty Ltd Sunshine Joinery Pty Ltd Sunshine Metal Polishing Pty Ltd Sunshine Trailers Sunshine Vitreous Enamellers Pty Ltd Sunshine Wrought Iron Super Cartridge Superstyle Tubular Manufacturers Pty Ltd Talkprint Pty Ltd Tenderfoot Shoes Treble Printing Co. Trifoleum Pty Ltd Ultra Scales Pty Ltd United Scales Pty Ltd V.P. Hawthorne Nominees Pty Ltd Vinidex Tubemakers Pty Ltd Vitas Engineering W. & H. General Engineering Pty Ltd W. Pridham (Aust) (Peerless Processing Co Pty Ltd) W.G. Engels Pty Ltd W.L. Allen Foundry Co. Pty Ltd Wakefield Repetition & General Engineers Warren & Brown Co. (Repco Ltd) Westbury Joinery Co. Holdings Pty Ltd Western Containers Pty Ltd & Chanel Press Pty Ltd Westgate Engineering Westside Joinery Pty Ltd (The Bulman Family Trust) Westwork Industries Wiltshire Tools Pty Ltd Worsted Finishers (Aust) Pty Ltd melbourne western region commission

In the Sunshine Advocate of 21/03/1925 it is reported that Wunderlich Ltd decided to establish works in Sunshine for the manufacture of terra cotta and faience for the facing of city buildings. The product was intended to imitate granite, which would give a brighter appearance to concrete walls. A stone surface finish to the terra cotta could be achieved by applying a variety of colour combinations of glazes with a special 'spackle' gun. A building that is still standing and has the imitation granite finish terra cotta is the Nicholas Building at 21 - 47 Swanston Street, Melbourne. The Nicholas Building was designed by Harry Norris for Alfred Nicholas (Aspro fame), and was built during 1925 - 1926. The building is classified by the National Trust (B4079) and has the Victorian Heritage Register (H2119). During my employment in the factory from 1964 to 1969 the tiles were generally faced with single colour glazes. For some small jobs a light coloured mottled finish was achieved by spattering a white glaze over a cream coloured background or vice versa. There were no imitation granite jobs done, probably because of changing attitudes to the intended appearance of buildings. The green coloured tile in our collection is an unfinished (untrimmed) retain tile typical of the green coloured tiles that were made for the two stages of the Commonwealth Centre Building (colloquially known as the Green Latrine), that was once located on the corner of Spring and Victoria Streets in Melbourne. Similar coloured tiles were also used on some shop fronts. The Commonwealth Centre Building no longer exists, however the Century Building at 125 - 133 Swanston Street, Melbourne is covered with single coloured tiles (white). The Century Building was built in 1939, with the architect being Marcus Barlow. The Building is classified by the National Trust (B4045). Our tile along with several others were headed for dumping among the asbestos waste at the rear of the two Wunderlich factories (Circa 1968). With permission from the Factory Superintendent of the Terra Cotta factory they were saved and taken home. Several are still in use as pavers around a barbecue in Melton from where our tile was obtained. It should be noted that the Wunderlich Architectural Terra Cotta factory in Sunshine did not manufacture terra cotta roofing tiles, as reported in the Brimbank City Council Post-contact Heritage Study HO 073 former Wunderlich now West End Market. Wunderlich terra cotta roofing tiles were manufactured at their factory in Mitcham Road, Vermont. Document HO 073 contains at least 3 errors. Other References: (1). http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74726224. (2). Armstrong, J. 'Investigating the historic and current use, manufacture and conservation of architectural terra cotta and faience USA & UK'. This tile is an example of the type of facing that was applied to city buildings for over 40 years from the mid 1920's. As building techniques changed the need for this type of facing diminished, and so the factory was eventually sold and demolished. A free standing tall chimney stack which serviced two of the kilns was a significant feature of the North Sunshine skyline. A part of the history of Sunshine disappeared with the demolition of the factory and the chimney stack. Only the façade of the finishing section of the factory where tiles were trimmed and stored remains. Off-white/beige architectural terra cotta tile with green coloured vitreous glaze on the face of tile. The rear of tile is ribbed. wunderlich limited, terra cotta, architectural, commonwealth centre, spring street, sunshine, mcintyre, victoria street, faience, faence, imitation granite, nicholas building, century building

Flyer Official opening of the Sunshine Harvester Branch Library 11 March 1997|Newspaper article The Advocate 15 May 1996 $2.7m project begins Up Front Info Turning of the first sod for the new Sunshine Harvester Branch Library|Typed Notes History of Corio Street Building Sunshine Library|Letter to Brimbank City Council 26 February 1997 S&DHS request to use the Corio Street Library as it's new home|Booklet An introduction to local history resources at the Sunshine Library|Letter from The Library of Congress Washington DC 31 March 1980 receipt of material received Edith Popp Glimpses of Early Sunshine Dawn of a district from aboriginal times to 1901|Letter from The Library of Congress Washington DC Exchange and Gift Division Exchange Program|Plans Harvester Branch Hampshire Rd Library Gound and First Floor|Sunshine Melton Service Annual Report 1990 and 1991|Pamplet ACLIS Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services|Notes on the Interpretive Central Harvester Library 2011 including the purpose of the centre and its history and the role S&DHS and Library Staff|Harvester Site Branch Council Service Centre & Library Preliminary Floor Plan 1995|Introducing The Sunshine Melton Library Service|The Sunshine Melton Library Service Newsletter No 1 January / February 1986|The Sunshine Melton Library Service Newsletter No 2 March / April 1986|The Sunshine Melton Library Service Newsletter No 3 May / June 1986|The Sunshine Melton Library Service Newsletter No 5 September / October 1986|Chief Librarian Susan J Moore letter to Cr. G. Goedecke dated 5th June 1986 - Mobile Library Sites North Sunshine|Sunshine Melton Library Service Annual Report 1983 / 1984|Newspaper Article Star Weekly 3/12/2024 Page 3 - St. Albans Library Upgrade is a hot topiclibrary

A black and white image of twelve turkeys in a farm yard. In the background on the LH side there is a tree and a picket fence next to the farm gate and shed with a wire fence and tree.on back: Melton Shire Council Meeting / Diggers Restcullinan, uraina, eileen, chris, farming, turkeys, farms, bayview farm, george evans collection

Purchased from exhibition at Footscray Arts Community CentreArtist lived in Western Suburbs (Melton)Mixed media artwork

J.T Minns was president of the Shire Council from 1923-24 Isaac Robinson was president of the Shire Council from 1924-25. The Robinson family lived in the area. The following is from 100 Years at Melton: Isaac and Henrietta Robinson. Jeanette nee Rohner Robinson 1985. Creighton Melton. The Robinsons of Wyndham William Robinson married Ann Bee in 1952, Weardale, Durham England. They arrived in Australia on the ship “Ben Nevis” in 1852. They settled in Wyndham in 1855 and began dairying and haygrowing. They bought 50 acres and rented 300 acres until buying 300 acres in 1872 – Mt Pleasant Farm. Their children were sent to school even though Ann had been a school teacher in England. The older boys had to travel 5 ½ miles to Mt Cotterell school before one was built at Tarneit, a mile from their home. The children of William and Ann: George, Thomas, William, Isaac, Mary Ann, Mary Ann , John and Thomas. Thomas moved to Melton aged 19. When Ann died in 1898 Mt Pleasant farm was let then sold about 1920. In 1872 William Snr bought more land in Melton. William, Isaac and George worked on the land until 1887 when George and Isaac bought more land in Melton Creighton. Thomas and John also bought adjoining land. Outside Shire Offices, High Streetcouncil, local identities

Shire Councillors Standing (left to right): Cr HG Townsing, Mr T. G. Little (Shire Engineer), Cr. W. J. O’Brien, Cr. J Beaty, AE Minns, and J.R. Wallace Seated (left to right): Cr J. F. Hornbuckle, Mr G Minns (Shire Secretary), Cr I. Robinson, Mr G Minns (Shire Secretary), Crs. GE Robinson (President), Cr G. Coburn and WM Leakelocal identities, council

Councillors standing in front of the Shire Officescouncil, local identities

Kevin O'Brien at the opening of the school libraryeducation, council

Tom and May at Ferris Road, Meltonlocal identities, council

Jennifer Coral Scott [Barrie] & Peter Barrie, Wendy Barrie, Edna Myers [Barrie], Vivienne Developments representative, Wilma Ryan [Barrie] & Jim Barrielocal identities, council

Tom Barrie served the community in the following Shire of Melton Councilor Member for 32 years 1941–1970 Elected as Councilor for Melton South 1970–1973 Councilor for Rockbank 1943–1944 Shire President for three terms 1958–1959 ditto 1964–1965 ditto Council Representative: Bacchus Marsh High School and Western Suburbs Municipalities. Representative on delegation to prevent Melton post primary students being sent to Deer Park prior to the establishment of Melton High SchoolPossibly being presented with Shire of Melton illuminated address at the Melton Shire Officeslocal identities, council

The Staughton Memorial Lamp 1903, memorial to Captain S.T Staughton, who died at an early age. The Staughton Memorial Lamp was removed from the High Street when the plantation trees removed and the road was rebuilt. 1970. The Lamp was taken to the Shire Council yard. The M&DHS investigated the location and state of the lamp, finding the base with its plaques and the column only. A photograph was taken while at the Council yard. An initiative of the M&DHS was set in motion to restore to monument and return it to the High Street. Peter Staughton a descendent of the family was approached and produced a design for the missing lamp section. After considerable deliberation it was agreed a capping would be appropriate for the top of the column. Architectural drawings were produced by Peter Staughton and students from RMIT were engaged to make the capping. The original lamp section as seen only in early newspaper photographs was not adopted due to the elaborate shape and the cost of production. The ongoing cost of replacing curved glass panes was a contributing factor in the choice of a capping. In 1973 Peter Staughton officially opened the newly located Lamp The Lamp has since been altered with the addition of an oval shaped lamp being placed above the capping. The development of McEwan Bakery Square. Magnet discount can be seen in the background.landscapes of significance

The Bridge Road Bridge built in 1913 by Sir John Monash for the Shire of Melton. It was built to provide railway station access to the new farming areas.Black and white photo of the bridgetransport, council

Things to see and do in Melton brochure council

Information relating to accomodation, history and heritage, parks and nature, things to do and public art in Meltoncouncil

Pamphlet about Melton's historylandscapes of significance, council

Site of early village Section numbers 1 - 17​ Later became the Flat known as the Common​ Robert Russell – Surveyor​ Pinkerton, ​ Sherwin​, Bryan, ​Pyke, ​Yuille, ​ CollyerMelton Town 1853 Plancouncil

Map of the Parish of Derrimutcouncil

In 1861, Mary Dowling and John Luby obtained Crown Grant land on the corner of Smith and McKenzie Street Melton.Section 21 is covers the block of Smith, Henry and McKenzie Street Meltoncouncil

Town Plan of Meltoncouncil

Melton Promotion and Development Group Stickers promoting the City of Meltoncouncil

Part of the PeopleScape Federation Celebration An initiative of the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, celebrating the contribution of Australians to their community and country. The final event of the year long celebrations, held in Canberra, the city that Federation created. The public art installation told the individual stories of Australians from all walks of life, from those living and those who had died. The massive sculpture depicted the life of the nation. The figures were nominated and decorated by individuals, groups of individuals and organisations from across Australia with every state, territory and region represented with approx. half from regional and the remote areas of Australia. The sculpture was installed in alphabtical order, each with a plaque at its base outlining the individual's achivement. The yellow colour of the figures against the green grass represented the colours of Australia.Close ups of Edna's Collo Characterlocal identities

The Opportunity Shop – Established 1975 by Edna Barrie 1992 In 1985 the need for more shop space became apparent. Les [Bone] had plans drawn up (Surv 12/8/84) and approved by the Melton shire Council for a storeroom extension (17.800 x 9500) 1986 the small ancillary rooms at the rear of the timber church were demolished allowing the concrete slab to be laid. The building was completed in 1987. By the early 1900s the old timber Church had deteriorated, this lead to it being demolished in 2/11/1993. It was replaced with a new building containing a Pastoral Office, a meeting room and a furniture and homeware section. It was dedicated by Rev Ian Hickingbotham at 11am Sunday 5th June 1994. Invites to the service of conclusion of the original Uniting Church Opportunity Centre and official opening to the new shop in Melton Southchurches, local identities

"A perpetual spring in the adjacent creek provided a steady supply of fresh water to the site on which the homestead is built. Although we can not be certain of the identity of the builder, the first stage of ‘The Willows’ homestead appears to have been constructed in the mid 1850s. The house is situated on Crown Allotment No.1 (No Section), Parish of Kororoit, an allotment of 5 acres 3 roods 4 perches. Although it had surveyed the land, the Crown did not offer it for sale until 22nd November 1861, at which time it was purchased by Charles March Williams. (Although the property is directly opposite and immediately adjacent to the Township of Melton, and was sold as ‘Suburban Allotment 33’, it was situated within the Shire of Braybrook rather than the Shire of Melton until 1917.) Considerable improvements had taken place on the land prior to the Crown sale. When CM Williams purchased the allotment in November 1861 he paid £23.5.0 for the land itself, and valued the improvements at £400. Even allowing for some exaggeration by Williams, this is an extremely high valuation for improvements, and must have included a house. Some local research has claimed that in 1858 Williams had taken over the interest of a Mr Parkinson in the property, and that Parkinson built the house upon taking possession of the land c.1855. It was definitely built by 1861, when a map shows a square building on the site marked as ‘House’. The property is important in the district for its association with the establishment of the pound. The district pound had been established in 1854, when George Scarborough of Mount Cottrell (Mt Cottrell Road, south of Greigs Road) was appointed pound-keeper. Scarborough resigned in 1857. The pound was moved to Melton following agitation from local farmers and Charles March Williams appointed pound-keeper on 26th April 1858. Williams, the son of a doctor, had been born in London. Reminiscences of local residents of the time, as recorded in the Express newspaper, note Williams’ success in breeding horses on the property. Sales of up to 60 guineas were noted. Whether this was from Williams’s own stock or from unclaimed pound stock is not made clear. Williams appeared before a government inquiry in 1860 and advocated registration of all stock brands in the State. Williams died in 1862 leaving a widow, Catherine, and five living children aged 15 years to five months. At the time of his death Williams had entered negotiations with one Matthew Devenish and had a mortgage of £100 on allotments 1 and 2, Parish of Kororoit. Catherine Williams was appointed pound-keeper on 2 September 1863, with her eldest son Charles as her assistant. Her tenure was short for on 22nd March 1864 George Minns senior paid Matthew Devenish £135 for allotments 1 and 2 Parish of Kororoit (considerably less than Williams had claimed the property was worth in 1861) and on the same day paid William Tullidge £45 for the adjoining allotments 3 and 4. In April 1867, James Ebden Minns, the newly married son of George senior became the owner of The Willows property having entered into a mortgage arrangement with his father to the extent of £200. At the time George Minns was residing in Kaarimba having left Melton in 1867 for a short trip to England and upon his return having taken up a selection in the Kaarimba district with his son Frederick who had a hotel licence there. James paid out the mortgage on 2-1-1873. James Minns was appointed pound-keeper in 1872; in 1885 the pound was moved elsewhere and Minns purchased the old pound site and added it to his farm. The Willows residence underwent a major change about this time. A two room extension, similar in style but with a lower elevation was added to the original rear of the house with a chimney matching the distinctive originals. Window arrangements did not match the original but became a feature of the façade when the new addition became the front of the building. Six buttresses were attached to the east and west walls of the old building, two to the south wall and the whole rendered with mortar to give the appearance of dressed stonework around the windows. Galvanized iron was placed over the shingles and a verandah added on three sides. By 1876 The Willows was the homestead for a thriving mixed farm of 340 acres of which 156 was rented from a H. Ruck. In October of that year the Australasian travelling reporter visited and reported on the property. In common with the nearly every other property in the district the farm had ‘recently’ (generally within the last two years) abandoned cultivation of crops, and turned over completely to cattle pasture. Butter making was the principal occupation of the farm, which had about 50 head of cattle, a large proportion of which were milking cows. The reporter also noted that a ‘large number of pigs are kept upon this farm and are found to be very profitable stock’. Their manure was used in an orchard and garden in which ‘large quantities of lucerne and prairie grass are grown for the use of stock when ordinary feed is scarce’. Two bores attached to deep brick lined wells supplied water for the house in addition to the farm. A commodious timber barn and necessary sheds had also been constructed. Access to the property was improved following the construction of the bluestone ford across the creek c.1887, when the recreation ground came into use. Prior to this date it may have been that the crossing referred to as ‘Mr Minns bridge’ was used. This appears to have been a flimsy structure and has but two references in Council reports in the Melton Express in the 1880’s. It is believed that in the late 1890’s a timber building was added near the rear of the building to house a kitchen, ablutions and laundry rooms and rooms for seasonal workers. This was attached to the house by means of a trellised walkway using the original front entry to the house (long since the back door). A photograph of this building appears in a local history of Melton. This was demolished in recent decades during the period when the house was tenanted (after the Minns family had left). James Minns son, George, took over the property following his marriage to Alice Walsh in 1903. James and Caroline moved into a house on the former JH Games property at the eastern end of Henry Street. George held the position of Shire Secretary for Melton for 40 years. He was a most prominent member of the community being Secretary to, among others, the Melton Coursing Club, the Shooting Club and the Cemetery Trust. He also rode with the hunting parties who sported across the Plains and were entertained at Mount Kororoit. George and Alice had one son, Norman who followed his father into local government and became Secretary of the Shire of Werribee completing a record term in this position. George retired to Werribee in 1951, where he died in 1965. The National Trust records note that James Ebden Minns and his sons were ‘leading men of the district, Justices of the Peace, and Shire Councillors’. It claims that Sir Thomas Bent was a frequent visitor. The Willows passed into the hands of George’s grandson, Bruce Minns and the property was let for a number of years. In the 1960s it became vacant and was subject to vandalism. Major structural problems arose with the part demolition of the roof, the loss of windows and doors and holes dug into and under the floorboards. The outbuildings were particularly targeted. Following widespread public support, the Shire of Melton purchased the house, with 3.75 acres of land, in 1972. In 1975 the Shire of Melton and the Melton and District Historical Society were successful in nominating the building for National Trust classification, and then the Australian Heritage Commission’s Register of the National Estate. The AHC particularly noted its ‘townscape importance’. It was envisaged that the farmhouse would form ‘a picturesque centrepiece to Melton’s planned … historical park, along with Dunvegan bluestone cottage … and similar structures as they become available.’ In a time of great Melton’s ‘satellite city’ development the Council spelt out its broader vision in its submission to the AHC: ‘Melton is destined to become, by the end of the present century, a city of between 75,000 and 100,000 people. Significant relics of the past, such as ‘The Willows’, regrettably will be rare in that situation. It is essential that sufficient tangible links with Melton’s pioneering days remain to promote in the new community a sense of history and continuity’. Under the direction of ‘The Willows’ Restoration Committee and consultant architect John Hitch, all outbuildings, with the exception of the garage and toilet, were demolished and the dwelling house restored. Finances were provided by the Shire of Melton and the National Estate Grants Program, and considerable amount of voluntary labour was provided by the local community. The orchard was removed, and remaining wooden buildings were relocated to provide an open vista for visitors to the Park. The property was furnished with donations from district families keen to preserve this example of pioneer life in the area. The Willows became the headquarters of the Melton and District Historical Society". Invitation to the family reunion at the Willowslocal identities, pioneer families

Cr Robert Hornbuckle Melton Shire President 1882-83, 1896-97, 1997-98, 1907 -08 Justice of the Peace. Melton Mechanics Institute 1st Treasurer 1904, President 1904, 1905 , Trustee 1910 Children of Robert and Mary nee Poulton Sarah, Robert, Emma, William, Charles, Thomas, and Mary Sarah nee Hornbuckle Nixon and Frederick Myers Snr were at school together at the same in the 1880s. CROXTON Court Name of the Hornbuckle and Knox family homePhotocopy of Marriage Certificate of Robert Burton Hornbuckle and Mary Poulton at Kerrie District of Lancefield 27 th May 1869. (some damage to the originial) Descendants of Robert Burton Hornbuckle and Mary Poulton, and Sarah Hornbuckle and George Nixon's Family Treelocal identities, council, pioneer families

Photographs of the construction of the dam wall for Melton's water supplylocal significant events, council, local architecture, local identities

Currently the headquarters of the Melton Historical Society, the Willows was built in 1855 by a farmer called Ralph Parkinson. In 1867, it was purchased and extended by James Ebden Minns. His son, George Minns, was given the property by his father in 1903, George was a council member of Melton Shire for 37 years and after he eft the area in 1951, the property became derelict. Although due to the support of the community, Melton Shire Council purchased the property in 1972 and to assist with the restoration, a group was established called the Willows Restoration Committee. The members included Chairman Cr Ed Gillespie, Lorraine Gillespie, Mr & Mrs Alan Reed, Ken Young, Bill Amor, Edna Barrie, Max Watson, Cr Jeff Robinson and Wendy Barrie.Restoration was completed in 1982.The Willows before restoration in 1973. This is the view of the front of the house and part of side wire fencing.council, local special interest groups, pioneer families, local architecture, local identities

Corner view of front and east side showing telephone insulator connection, and small elevated water tank connected to windmill. This photo was taken before the restoration of the property. local identities, local special interest groups, council, local architecture