Murray Comrie Collection. This photograph shows business on the north end of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla. From right: the brick Baptist Church (now private residence), Stafford's Blacksmith Coachbuilders and funeral/undertakers (since demolished), & Norwood's Tarnagulla Hotel. Information collated by Murray Comrie: Stafford's premises were built on land previously occupied by the stables of the George Hotel. The Stafford's building was later taken over and run by Frank McNamee. This photograph is a dark copy created from an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting the north end of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla. A large wagon with team of horses is standing in the road. Three girls are walking down footpath at left side of image.Written on the original: 'Specially produced for Renshaw & Co' and 'Commercial Road (North End) Tarnagulla'. Written on this copy: 'Baptist Church Staffords Blacksmith Coachbuilders and funeral/undertakers, & Norwood's Tarnagulla Hotel'.tarnagulla, commerce, industry, blacksmithing, smithing, coachbuilding, businesses, stafford, norwood, mcnamee, buildings, hotels, churches, commercial road, main street

Murray Comrie Collection. Shopfront located on west side of Commercial Rd between King and Poverty Streets. Original print.Monochrome photograph of a shopfront in Commercial Road, Tarnagulla. tarnagulla, buildings, businesses, commercial road

Murray Comrie Collection. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph. View of Commercial Road Tarnagulla looking south. A man at centre, walking toward camera. Right of this figure are two carts standing at the road's edge. Far right is Renshaw's Drapery and left of that the Golden Age Hotel. A man is walking along the footpath in front of Renshaw's. Typed caption on original is 'Commercial Road, Tarnagulla, looking south from Poverty Street'.tarnagulla, commerce, stores, shopping, shops, draper, hotels, golden age hotel, buildings, commercial road, main street

Bank deposit book issued to customers of the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited. This book issued to the Estate of W.J. Partington by the Greensborough branch100 p double sided, black on white paper, cream cardboard coverEst of W. J. Partingtonbank deposit books, banks and banking, partington family

The Commercial Club, located on Dean Street is in the heart of Albury’s business and shopping district. It began on 7th May 1902, when 11 men met in the rooms of the Border City Club to form a new club. Auctioneer John Chenery chaired the meeting and in June was elected foundation president. Membership fees were set at one guinea ($2.10). The name Commercial Club was adopted, and the Club was founded as a professional and business gentlemen’s only club. A pub called the Salutation Inn and the blacksmith’s forge of Johnny McEachern once stood on the Club’s Dean Street frontage. The Club secured the site in 1935 and built the Wool Exchange on the frontage and the club behind.Peak business came during regular wool sales in the Wool Exchange, which remained part of the Club premises until 1978. The Club survived crises, including in 1916 when the whole committee was replaced. Commercial Club membership was not opened to anyone under 21 until 1997, though the voting age in Australia had been lowered to 18 in 1973. A special disco tavern for 18–21-year-olds operated briefly in 1986. By 1972 there were 800 male members. It now has almost 30,000 members both male and female and employs almost 300 staff.This badge is representative of the role played by licensed clubs in the local community.A blue and silver enamelled membership badge issued by the Commercial Club Albury, NSW for the year 1980-81Around the centre of the badge: "COMMERCIAL CLUB ALBURY" On small disc added to badge:"80/81"commercial club albury, licensed clubs albury

Murray Comrie Collection. A monochrome photograph depicting buildings on Commercial Road, Tarnagullatarnagulla, commercial road

Photograph of Sunbeam shearing machinery at a commercial display.Photograph of Sunbeam shearing machinery at a commercial display.Commercial display - full range Sunbeam shearing gear electric vertical & horizontal heavy duty models farm models for small flock owners Shearpower overhead shearing gear single and double ended electirc and belt driven grinders circa 1956 Ingerson-Arnold Studios Limited 84-88 Franklin St., Adleaide telephones LA 2848 LA 5867 To reorder quote No ....... AB 4569shearing machinery, ingerson-arnold studios ltd

Murray Comrie Collection.Photograph of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla (northern end, looking south). Photo probably taken in the 1960s. tarnagulla, buildings, streets

Murray Comrie Collection. Burstall Hall appears to still be standing in this image.Monochrome photograph depicting a view down Commercial Road, Tarnagulla. WIlliams and Clouston's store visible at right.tarnagulla, commerce, commercial road, main street, clouston's, williams

Murray Comrie Collection. This photograph is an original print.Monochrome photograph depicting view down Commercial Road, Tarnagulla. Circa 1960s vehicle parked at curb.tarnagulla, commercial road, buildings

Murray Comrie Collection. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph. View of Commercial Road Tarnagulla looking south from around King Street. At right is Victoria Hotel next to a weatherboard building at far right.Printed caption on original is 'Tarnagulla'.tarnagulla, commerce, stores, shopping, shops, hotels, victoria hotel and theatre, buildings, commercial road, main street

This exercise book was owned by Audrey Sack and was donated by David Sack at the same time as a typewriter in its case plus accessories (refer to RN 3087). It has hand written notes of Commercial Principles class lessons from Warrnambool High School, written by Audrey Sack including pages dated 1938 and 1939. Audrey was the daughter of William Sack, owner of the business Sacks Jewellers at 115 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. William commenced trading in the early 1900’s; and the typewriter was used by Audrey in the business from the late 1930’s through to about 1996 when the business was sold. William and his wife June had three children, Eric, Audrey and David. The children were owners/partners of Sack’s Jewellers after William’s passing in 1976. Eric and David were ‘owners of the business’, with Audrey carrying out much of the clerical work. Eric died in about 1984 and David sold the practise in 1996. During the 65 years of business the typewriter was used for all the normal applications of a jeweller’s; preparing invoices, guarantees, taxation records. But in addition the four members of the Sack family were very involved in Church activities, particularly in lay administration and lay preaching in the Baptist Church, and the typewriter gained a lot of after-hours use. The family actively supported overseas Missions in India, SE Asia, and Africa. After the sale of the business in 1996, Audrey took the typewriter home for her community activities (David got a computer). In the 1980’s David volunteered as the Clock Repairer at Flagstaff Hill for the historical instruments. In the early days this took some long hours to get the clocks working, but in recent years he has just been ‘on call’ if needed. He is an alert 85 year old and just in the last 12 months has given up a busy schedule of Sunday Lay Preaching around the district. (2015)The exercise book is associated with a typewriter and text book, which is of local significance, being previously owned and used in a local business established for about 100 years.Book, student's exercise book with brown paper cover over soft cover. White pages have printed blue lines. Notes written in script with nib pen. Correction marks are on some pages. The book has entries from front to just past the centre pages, the turned upside down and written from back to almost centre pages. It belong to Autrey Sack, who was a Commercial Practices student at Warrnambool High School. Handwritten ink pen inscriptions are on the front cover and within the book. Notes are dated as 1938 and 1939."Commercial Principles" "Audrey Sack /. Commercial / W.H.S."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, commercial principles, warrnambool high school, sack’s jewellers warrnambool, william sack, david sack, audrey sack, sack’s jewellers, exercise book, student notes, business education

Murray Comrie Collection. Original print.Monochrome photograph. View looking up Commercial Road, Tarnagulla, from the Poverty Street intersection. Street deserted - no people or vehicles visible. Building with text 'Williams & Clouston's' visible at far right. Willersdorf;s store opposite, and the Borough Council Chambers can vaguely be seen in the left distance. tarnagulla, businesses, commercial road

NVS series Morris Commercial chassis, built in MFB workshops, early 1950's. First enclosed cabin vehicle used by MFB. Fitted with 250 gallon per minute pump.First enclosed cabin vehicle used by MFB.NVS series Morris Commercial chassis, built in MFB workshops, early 1950's. First enclosed cabin vehicle used by MFB. Fitted with 250 gallon per minute pump.Registration number LHW 102, "Car 43".car, fire, morris, commercial, hose, carriage, pumper, 43, truck, 1950

Fir Tree Hotel was formerly the Commercial Hotel built in 1869 by Patrick Murphy. Fir Tree operated as a bistro/bar and B&BPhoto of Fir Tree Bistro and Bar- formerly the Commercial Hoteltrentham, hotel, fir tree, commercial

Newspaper article glued to backing board: HERITAGE WEEK - HISTORICAL PHOTO COLLECTION The launch Heritage Week (April 8-15 [1984]), the Kew Historical Society has arranged the display of large colour photographs (the Koelmeyer-Edmonds Collection) of early suburban Melbourne Street scenes. This important collection may be viewed during Heritage Week at the City of Kew Library, Charles Street, Kew. Laurie Koelmeyer, a collector old and rare photographs, commissioned Jenny Edmonds, a noted local artist, to paint scenes such as Kew Junction, Auburn Village and the Hawthorn Railway Station in historical detail from old photographs. The paintings were then colour photographed for the heritage Week display. Kew residents will see twenty photos in all at the Kew Library. We should feel honoured that our suburb has been chosen for this display. The Koelmayer-Edmonds team was invited to launch the public exhibition in Kew at the instigation of the Historical Society and its President, Rae Brunette, who are to be congratulated for their efforts in arranging this special collection. The State Bank has indicated its support for the photographic display. Later it is proposed that the completed paintings will be exhibited at the Head Office of the Bank to coincide with Victoria’s 150th Anniversary celebrations. The display at the Kew Library is a significant honour for our City and is one which you should not miss. The Kew Historical Society can be contacted on ’80 3657.”Framed oil painting on board of the 'Commercial Heart of Kew', copied and painted from an early postcard published 1905.Labels on reverse: "THE COMMERCIAL HEART OF KEW / COPIED AND PAINTED FROM AN EARLY POST CARD PUBLISHED 1905 / RESEARCHED AND DONATED BY MR LAWRIE KOELMEYER APRIL 1982 TO KEW HISTORICAL SOCIETY." "SMALLER COPY OF THE KEW HISTORICAL PHOT0 DISPLAYED IN THE KEW LIBRARY."jenny edmonds, cotham road -- kew (vic.), lawrie koelmeyer

The main entrance to Franco's was from Main Road. It was run by Sammy and another family member. Franco's was a 2 story restaurant. Pizza take away downstairs. Licensed, BYO upstairs. Downstairs originally had a female pianist/singer and the walls were a peachy pink colour with horse shoe shapes in the plaster, upstairs was a full function room with dance floor. It was renovated in the early 90s and a full bar added downstairs. They sold up and then opened a take away pizza shop on Bolton Street. The Penguin Drycleaners building was an extension built right over the entrance garden; the building to the left the former Volumes now Missing Gorilla. One of a series of 6 images taken by Eltham Shire Council officers recording litter being prevalent around the shopping precinct and carparks spreading from Luck Street through Commercial Place top Arthur Street, Elthamarthur street, car park, carparks, commercial place, eltham shopping centre, eltham shops, litter, luck street, franco's pizzeria, missing gorilla, volumes, penguin drycleaners

The financial account book was used by the Warrnambool Harbour Board for its Emergency Account. It records transactions made with The Warrnambool branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited during the year 1931. The Secretary of the Warrnambool Harbour Board would have used this book in 1931. James Menzies, Pilot arid Harbour Master from 1929, was appointed as Acting Secretary for the Board in 1932 and held this office until the Board ceased in 1936. Warrnambool’s CBC Manager during this time was L E Whitney; he was Manager from 1924 to 1939. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited opened in 1893. On January 1, 1927 the CBC amalgamated with the Bank of Victoria. In 1981 the CBC merged with the National Bank of Australasia Limited and on January 1, 1983 the bank started using the abbreviated name of the National Australia Bank (NAB). Warrnambool Harbour Board- The Warrnambool Harbour Board was constituted by Order of Council on May 29, 1928, under the Harbour Board’s Act of 1927, taking over from the Ports and Harbours Branch of the Public Works Department of Victoria. The Board was then the only body with power to manage and control the whole Port, including shipping, facilities upkeep and improvements of the port. The work it carried out involved dredging, building of port facilities and drafting of port regulations, and collecting taxes, tolls, rates and charges. The Board was officially dissolved on June 30, 1936, at which time the Public Works Department again had control. The Warrnambool Harbour Board had rented out the Lighthouse Keeper’s Quarters from the 1920s until 1936, when the Board closed down. However, rentals continued with other currently unknown landlords until Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village opened in 1975 and began renovating the Cottage, in stages. Text on the fly page of the book is as follows – “The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited with which is Amalgamated THE BANK OF VICTORIA LIMITED. Head Office – SYDNEY. Melbourne Office: 237 COLLINS STREET. BANKING Business of every description transacted. BRANCHES throughout VICTORIA, NEW SOUTH WALES and QUEENSLAND, and ADELAIDE BRANCH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, and AGENCIES throughout AUSTRALASIA and NEW ZEALAND on which DRAFTS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT Are issued and also on LONDON BRANCH and AGENCIES in all the PRINCIPAL CITIES of the world. Telegraphic Remittances made, Bills Negotiated or Forwarded for Collection, Advances made, Deposits received, Current Accounts kept. FURTHER PARTICULARS ON APPLICATON. “ This bank transaction book is of local and state significance for its association with the Port of Warrnambool and the Warrnambool Harbour Board. The Warrnambool Harbour Board was the only board formed under the 1927 Harbour Boards Acts, even though other Victorian ports were eligible. The book is also significant as an example of bank records used by Australian and overseas branches of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited, and the Bank of Victoria Limited.Maroon coloured rectangular book with textured cover and cream coloured label attached. Label has a printed title on book plus hand written titles added in black and red. The corners of the book are rounded. The white pages have pre-printed text and lines. The book was used for transactions between the Warrnambool Harbour Board’s Emergency Account and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limited during the year 1931.Handwritten in black “WARRNAMBOOL HARBOUR BOARD “, “EMERGENCY A/C” Printed in black “IN ACCOUNT CURRENT WITH”, “The Commercial Banking Coy. Of Sydney Ltd.”, “WITH WHICH IS AMALGAMATED”, “THE BANK OF VICTORIA LIMITED”, “Page …”warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, warrnambool harbour board, financial account, emergency account, financial record, commercial banking company of sydney limited, 1931 bank book, bank of victoria limited, transaction book, financial management, stationery, deposit book, public works department, ports and harbours, commercial banking company of sydney ltd., james menzies, harbour master, l e whitney, cbc manager warrnambool, harbour board act, port of warrnambool, warrnambool harbour, lady bay, harbour pilot

Primary School 502 “Back to School” 1922 group of people in fancy dress. In front of Commercial Hotel and Bank of Australasia Main Street StawellBlack and white photo of a group of people all in fancy dress. A cane pusher with a man in it in the foreground. The group are in front of the Commercial Hotel.stawell education

This plate comes from the Commercial Hotel in Warrnambool. This hotel, situated on the north west corner of Liebig and Timor Streets, Warrnambool, was established in 1865. It was built by Thomas Mickle and the first licensee was Charles Anderson. From 1928 on the O’Dwyer family was associated with the Commercial Hotel, either as licensees or owners, for fifty years. The plate would have been first used during the times when Patrick O’Dwyer was the licensee – 1928-1931 and 1932 to 1934. Today the Commercial Hotel still trades as the Whalers Hotel.This plate is of interest as it is a memento of the 1920s and 30s when Patrick O’Dwyer was the licensee of the Commercial Hotel. This hotel, trading today as the Whalers Hotel, is the oldest hotel in Warrnambool and a prominent landmark in the city. This is a white china plate (dinner plate size) with the inner section slightly recessed. The plate has a black line around the outer rim and initials and a hotel name in a scroll pattern on one outer edge. The names of the maker and supplier are on the base of the plate and the top of the plate is somewhat stained. ‘P O’D Commercial Hotel Warrnambool’ ‘Made expressly for John Dynon and Sons, Melbourne Vitrified Globe Pottery Co. Ltd Cobridge England’ commercial hotel / whalers hotel, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

Upper Main Street Stawell. Mining Exchange and Commercial Hotel built 1861. Photo c1880. Hotel housed the Victoria Theatre. Commercial Hotel built and licensed in 1861 and added to over the years. About 1865 an assembly room/theatre was erected at the hotel, part of this was the assembly room of the Quartz Miners Hotel in Upper Main Street which had been demolished on account of the increased mining in the area. The assembly room was the only theatre at the Reefs until the Town Hall was erected. It was called the Victoria Theatre. In 1878 the Stawell paper reports that the Court of Petty Sessions had been held in the Victoria Theatre at the Commercial Hotel. Mr Sauerbrey was the owner of the Hotel in 1869 and he advertised extensive additions of sitting-rooms, bedrooms & bathrooms. First class stabling and carriage house. Rooms for Mining Meetings and bookings for Cobb & Co.Commercial Hotel with first floor balcony. Eight men lined up in street and three women on balcony. Two horse drawn buggies on right.stawell streetscape, hotel

Concert held at St Kilda Town Hall on 3 May 1924 to raise funds for the St Kilda Branch of the Alfred Hospital Auxiliary. The Commercial Travellers' Association of Victoria operated from 1880 until 2014 and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities, including the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation and several hospitals. The concert program contains a photos of the Concert Party members. Black and white photocopy of printed booklet. Four pages.Handwritten notation on the back of each page 'Commercial Travellers Concert - May 1924' and the page number.hospital fundraising, alfred hospital, the alfred hospital auxiliary, commercial travellers concert party

During the 1940's students learnt typing as part of a Commercial Course. This book enabled students to complete a practical course by following the graded Exercises and Lessons and by testing their progress. Historical: Typing was taught at Intermediate level during the 1940's for students living in the Kiewa Valley. Green hard cover book bound at the top with black border, title, author & symbol of Pitman's on the front. Towards the bottom of the book (front and back) is an eyelet with a hole enabling a brown cord to pass through (held by a metal T stopper). This enables the book to be stood up next to the typewriter for easy to see copying. The back cover of the book has 3 white stickers with typed information. On the back cover -typed - 'Janice Burnett (nee Seager)... Also "1946 George Seager (Ted) was in Intermediate Commercial "A" ... Some pages have penciled markingstyping. commercial education. janice burnett. george seager. office work

The Bank of Victoria was established in Wodonga during 1873. This two storey bank was constructed on the site in 1876. It later became the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. In 1876 the Albury Banner and Wodonga Express reported that Mr. Nation had gained the contract for the erection of a new building for the Bank of Victoria, at Wodonga. The site secured for the bank was at the corner of South and Sydney streets, and immediately opposite the new Post and Telegraph Offices. The original bank was demolished in the 1950s and a new bank was built on the site. The new building was constructed with innovative foundations designed to prevent damage from vibrations caused by heavy transport vehicles along High Street which was then part of the Hume Highway. A contemporary newspaper article provides detail of the new bank. The well-lit building with open banking offices was designed by Melbourne architects, Turner and Stephenson, and combined a bright and attractive appearance with a stream-lined working layout. Alderson Swythyn Blackett-Smith, the manager of bank at time of move to new premises stated that the growth of the district and the bank’s business had made the old premises unsatisfactory due to insufficient space. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (CBC) merged with the National Bank of Australasia in 1982 to form the National Australia Bank and the second bank was closed. The building has since operated as several retail (including video hire and framing shop), commercial and community functions. It is currently (2025) used by the Wodonga Indie School.These images are significant because they document the development of an important financial institution established in Wodonga in the late 19th century.A series of images showing the evolution of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney building in Wodonga from its construction in 1876 to the development of the site in 2025.commercial banking company of sydney, banking wodonga, wodonga financial institutions

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